Evening Star Newspaper, January 23, 1942, Page 2

Two Extra Pages In This Edition Late news and sports are covered on Pages 1-X and 2-X of this edition of The Star, supplementing the news of the regular home delivered edition. Closing N. Y. Markets—Sales. Page 22. i 90th YEAR. No. 35,69. MacArthur Beats Off All Dominion Orders Blackouts Of All Cities and Calls For Million Gas Masks B7 the Associated Press. Japan’s march of conquest struck directly toward Aus- tralia today as sea-borne Japanese troops landed in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and probably New Britain in | a sweep jeopardizing not only the land “down under” but also United States routes to t! Deputy Prime Minister Fran he Pacific war zone. ci§ Forde of Australia announced that the only confirmed Japanese landing in the Bismarck Archi- pelago was at Kieta, 250 miles southeast of Rabaul, the capital of New Britain. ‘The locale of the Japanese landing in New Guinea was not given, but presumably the invaders put ashore near oft-bombed Madang, on the northeast coast, 450 miles airline from Cape York, Australia, and 1,200 miles from Australia’s great Port Darwin naval base. At its nearest point, New Guinea is only 100 miles across the Torres Strait from Cape York, northernmost tip of Australia. In general, the news was dark from fronts in the far Pa- cific conflict, relieved only by word from Washington that the United States was beginning to into what has been, until now, a I Situation Critical in pour a stream of reinforcements opsided struggle. Malaya and Burma. Critical hours again were at hand in the battles of Malaya and Burma. Dispatches from Singapore tralian and imperial Indian troop: invasion armies for three days n saild grim-fighting British, Aus- s who had stemmed Japan’s main ow in Malaya are throwing their full weight into a terrific counteroffensive, with the battle raging on an 80-mile front across Johore Singapore. On the Burma front, north of state, less than 70 miles north of Malaya, the situation was equally serious. A withdrawal of outnumbered British troops from moun- tain areas east of Moulmein, a + by a drive of Japanese and Thai troops into Burma, was officially | warships and transports in the | acknowledged in Rangoon. The invaders were reported within 26 | miles of Moulmein. Dutch heavy bombers and fighters lashed out at the Mikado's | {nvasion hordes swarming into the South Sea Islands, scoring 12| direct hits on eight Japanese warships and transports in the Strait | Gulf of Martaban port menaced of Macassar, between Dutch Borneo and Celebes Island. i A ¢ g Australia Invaded | MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 23 (#). — Sea-borne Japanese troops have invaded Australian territory, landing presumably under cover of naval guns and carrier-based air- craft on New Guinea and in the northernmost Solomon Islands, 2,500 miles from Tokio, it was announced officially today. Y On the mainland of Australia, now within close bomber range of the Japanese landings, blackouts were ordered in all cities, militia manned the beaches, a million gas masks were ordered from Britain and the national holiday, Australia Day, January 26, was canceled under emergency defense regulations. Further urgent representations were sent to Washington and Lon- don emphasizing the need for much stronger forces in the Pacific to meet the expanding Japanese at- tacks. Landing Points Unrevealed. Where the Japanese landed on half-Australian, half-Dutch New Guinea directly north of Australia was not disclosed immediately. Deputy Prime Minister Francis Forde announced that the only con- | fiimed landing in the Bismarck | Archipelago east of New Guinea | was at Kieta, principal city on| Bougainville at the northern end of | the Solomon Island chain. Kieta is 250 miles southeast of Rabaul, capital of New Britain, where radio communications with Australia were broken yesterday when 11 Japanese ships were seen offshore. A later message, however, indi- cated that the ships—five troop transports, three cruisers and other escort vessels—had not entered Rabaul Harbor up to 7 am. today (4 pm. Eastern Standard time, Thursday). The ships first were sighted 45 miles offshore 18 hours earlier. Japanese aerial activity was re- ported throughout the morning along the northeast coast of New Guinea. Bulolo reported planes overhead at 9:20 a.m. and the radio station there went off the air. Gas- mata on the southeast coast also reported hearing planes overhead. Mr. Forde declared Australia was facing “the most serious threat in | her history,” but said that with the help of her allies “we will clear the (See AUSTRALIA, Page A-4.) Baltimore’s Population Goes Above 1,000,000 B the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, Jan. 23.—A survey by postal authorities placed Balti- more’s population today above the 1,000,000-mark. Overflow of population from the Nation's Capital and a mighty in- flux of war industry workers, gave Baltimore and its metropolitan area 1,097,810 persons, the survey indi- cated. The 1940 census showed a population of 859,100 and made Baltimore seventh largest city in the country. Auto Crash Kills Four 18-Year-Old Youths By the Associated Press. NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y., Jan. 23.— Four 18-year-old New Rochelle youths were killed early today when their automobile sideswiped anoth- er, caromed off a tree and wrapped itself around a second tree. The dead were James Bugle, Lucas Loewe, Dennis Devlin and Edward G. Mangels. Willilam Morton Mc- Fight on 80-Mile Line SINGAPORE, Jan. 23 (#).—Brit- ish, Australian and Indian soldiers who have checked the main Japa- nese army for three days threw their full and desperate weight today into a tremendous counter-offensive which blazed some 80 miles across the state of Johore. Artillery crashed on the eastern Malay coast; forward troops were fighting the Japanese in the center and in western Malaya, which held the greatest threat to Singapore, the Australians and British were locked in closel quarter fighting with the Japanese, The British command communi- que acknowledged that there were indications the Japanese were filt- ering into the coastal regions in the Batu Pahat area, 60 miles north- west of Singapore, but the main action was being fought out around Bukit Payong, a hill area some nine miles north of Batu Pahat. Planes Over Whole Front. The Japanese. were throwing planes over all sections of the front and once more raided Singapore, where in the last three days their bombs have been officially credited with killing 426 persons and wounded 1,049. One Japanese bomber was defi- nitely destroyed and another was probably shot down, the British command said. “About 54 heavy bombers escorted by fighters” were reported to have made up the aerial squadrons which attacked Singapore yesterday. Six and possibly eight were knocked down the British command said. (A military commentator in London said the Japanese infil- trations eastward from the Batu Pahat area likely meant an at- tempt at a pincer movement to join with other Japanese forces seeking to press the British back in the central sector. He added (See MALAYA, Page A-11) Water Hydrant Sabotage Thwarted in Toronto TORONTO, Jan. 23 (Canadian Press).—Officials said today a wide- spread effort to sabotage Toronto’s fire-fighting facilities in industrial areas had been thwarted with the discovery of 39 damaged hydrants. Officials said 20 hydrants had been found damaged yesterday and 19 more today in an east-end indus- trial area near the water front. The soft brass spindles on the hydrants had been hammered out of shape so that key wrenches used by the fire department to turn on | the water would be of no use. Motorman Is Inju;ed As Car Is Attacked A streetcar motorman was injured yesterday by two colored men who threw a whisky bottle and several bricks through the front window of the car which he was operating at Fifth street and Massachusetts ave- nue N.W. The injured motorman, Pred Johnson, 3338 O street N.W., con- tinued operating the car until it reached the barn. He was then treated at Georgetown Hospital for lacerations of the left side of the head and returned to duty. Court Retrieves $5 BROOKLYN, N. Y. (#.—Throw- ing money away cost a Brooklyn man another $5. He wis fined for disorderly conduct when he stood on a street corner flinging paper money into a crowd. Previously Mahon, ?&dmer of the other car, 15 4 . man had been arrested for playing policeman at & busy intersection. ch the |In ¢ Foen 7’ L 4 ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ny Star WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1942 Japanese Invade Australian Isles; Land in New Guinea, Solomons; Senate Approves Defense Probe Fund After $40,000 Cuz By the Associated Press. The Senate voted $60,000 ad- ditional funds today to its De- fense Investigating Committee, headed by Serfator Truman, to continue inquiry into the war- production program. Chairmar Lucas said the Sen- ate Audit Committee had cut the amount from the $100,000 previously requested by Sen- ator Truman when the latter agreed -the smaller amount would be sufficient for this year. The Truman group, which already had spent $40,000 re- cently, criticized the peogress of the defense program in a re- port. Dutch Bombers Score 12 Hits on 8 Enemy Warships, Transports Jap Fleet in Macassar Straits Hints Attack On Borneo East Coast By the Associated Press. BATAVIA, Netherlands Indies, | Jan. 23.—Dutch heavy bombers | and dive-bombers scored 12 direct hits on eight Japanese Macassar Straits between the | islands of Borneo and Celebes, it was announced officially to- | day. A communique released through the news agency Aneta said 660- pound bombs were dropped directly on a large warship, a heavy cruiser, a smaller cruiser and a large trans- port, while dive bombers scored with their 175-pound bombs on a de- stroyer and three transports. The Dutch suffered no losses, it was announced. (Such a force of Japanese war- ships in those waters indicated the Japanese might be sending a fleet of transports, perhaps to Balik Papan, on the east coast of Borneo, where the Dutch have destroyed valuable oil wells and oil stores.) The Netherlands Indies command announced in its regular com- munique that Dutch aircraft yes- terday attacked Kuching, Japanese- occupied capital of Sarawak, again bombing storage yards which were set on fire, The Dutch also said 27 enemy fighters attacked the airdrome at Palembang, on the island of Su- matra, this morning and wounded two persons. During a light bombardment at Sabang, an island off the northern tip of Sumatra, a small abandoned ship was sunk, the Dutch said. They added attempts to bomb two more ships failed. Sixteen persons were injured and “some sheds and ships” were dam- aged in two Japanese air raids yes- terday on the tobacco port of Belawan, near Medan in Sumatra, another Netherlands Indies com- munique said. The high command report, issued through Aneta, said the first attack came in the morning, when six planes dropped about 60 bombs. These caused all the casualties. Three planes returned four hours later, raiding the town and harbor and causing most of the material damage. Concentrated Attack Made On Muenster by R. A. F. By the Associated Press. LONDON, Jan. 23—Royal Air Force bombers carried out a con- centrated attack on Muenster last night, the Air Ministry announced today. Large fires were left burn- ‘ing, a communique said. Enemy airdromes in the Nether- lands and docks at Dunkerque also were bombed while mines were laid in enemy waters, the announcement added. The communique also reported at- tacks by British fighters on alr- | dromes in Northern France and a | patrol aircraft attack off the Frisian Islands in which a supply vessel was hit. Two bombers were missing from the night’s operations, the Air Min- istry said, while a coastal command aircraft was missing from patrol operations yesterday. Several persons were injured and others were trapped today when a n bomber made a daylight raid on a town in East Anglia. Homes fronting on three streets in a working-class district were de- stroyed. Freighter Hit, Nazis Report. BERLIN, Jan. 23 (Official Broad- cast) (#).—German bombers dam- aged a large freighter and struck last night at harbors and military installations in East and South- eastern England, the high com- mand said today. “British bombers last night dropped high explosives and incen- diary bombs on some places in Assaults Americans Inflict Heavy Losses on Foes in Luzon By NELSON M. SHEPARD. Gen. Douglas MacArthur's greatly outnumbered forces in the Batan sector repulsed all Japanese attacks with heavy losses during the last 24 hours, the War Department reported today in a communique from the Philippines. Reporting at 9:30 am., the com- munique stated that apparently the 14th Japanese Army has adopted “a policy of continuous assaults, without regard to casualties, hoping by great superiority in numbers to crush the defending forces.” A further threat to the safety of the stout American and Philippine defense was seen today in the fact that a local military force of some 10,000 Japanese residents in the Da- vao area have been organized for combat to assist Japanese troops occupying the Mindanao city. Fighting Extremely Heavy. The all-out attack on the Batan front line, smashing at different points simultaneously, was being re- sisted by Gen. MacArthur with des- perate efforts to hold his fortified positions. During the past 24 hours particularly, the fighting was re- | ported as “extremely heavy.” Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma, com: manding the Japanese assault force, is being heavily reinforced as the attack presses. His 14th Army com- prises approximately 200,000 men, and these forces are being augment- ed by troops reported yesterday landing in the Lingayen Gulf and Subic Bay, held by the Japanese. The War Department has care- fully refrained from announcing any estimate of Gen. MacArthur’s de- fending forces, but it was reported in reliable quarters that he is out- numbered perhaps 10-to-1. No re- ports were made on casualties in the last 48 hours of desperate fighting beyond the mere assertion that the Japanese have lost “heavily.” Gen. MacArthur’s losses are not believed to be high, because of his defensive position. ‘Base Being Prepared. Reports that the Japanese forces occupying Davao are organizing civilians into military units indicates further preparations for using this area as a base for cn:;erl!.lomng:lmt1 Singapore and other areas in the Southwest Pacific. The concentration in Davao also, it was feared, will enable the Jap- anese to send reinforcements more swiftly to the Batan sector. While in the midst of battle, Gen. MacArthur was in receipt of a message from Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell, supreme commander of the Allied forces in the Pacific South- west, warmly congratulating him and his command for their “mag- nificent defense” of the Philippines. That defense, which has been con- tinuing with increasing resistance in recent weeks, has served the im- portant purpose of holding a huge Japanese force in Luzon which might otherwise be released for | operations in the attack against Singapore. Japs Using Every Resource. ‘While today's communique gave no details of the continuous assaults on the Batan lines, officials in- timated that the Japanese were bringing every resource to bear in the hope of smashing their way through at least in one vital point. This would naturally include use of dive bombers and tanks, with which the Japanese are liberally supplied. ‘There was no indication that the American lines are yielding at any point. How long the defending forces could hold out in view of the vast superiority of the Japa- nese was a question no official here ventured to give an opinion. As long as no reports are received in- dicating that Gen. MacArthur's lines have been broken, the attitude is one of general optimism. Distict Police Pay Bill Approved by Committee ‘Without debate, the House Dis- trict Committee today approved a bill providing a maximum pay in- crease of $300 a year for District firemen and members of the Metro- politan, Park and White House Po- lice forces who have a rank of cap- tain or less. It also favorably reported a meas- ure designed to end the so-called “baby broker” practice in Washing- ton by setting up a new plan govern- ing the placement of children in fos- ter homes. Action of the committee advanced both bills to the House calendar. The police and fire pay increase legislation was approved despite op- position of the Commissioners, who reported to the committee that their efforts now are to increase 'the size of the police force. Moreover, they declared an increase in pay for po- lice and firemen would discriminate against 17,000 other municipal em- ployes. ¥ Data also was given the committee that the higher pay scale would add about $700,000 a year to the District budget and the municipal treasury is in no condition at this time to stand it. Commissioner Young has bluntly said the District “could not afford” to give police and firemen an in- Western Germany, including resi- dential quarters and public build- & comm ) Three of the British sircraft were declared shot down. such agencies from or re- cetving fees for placing children in foster homes. By BLAIR BOLLES. Dr. Hubertus Van Mook, Lieu- tenant Governor General of the Netherlands Indies, said today the Indies and not Australia are the primary objective of the Japanese drive, and added that Australian representatives with whom he had conferred during his visit here are in agreement. In an interview at the Dutch Le- gation, Dr, Van Mook said his main task since he arrived here 10 days agq, was to persuade everybody con- cerned that the real bases of opera- tions against Japan are the two main Indies islands of Java and Sumatra, rather than Australia. He said he thought the Japanese Dr. Van Mook Says Japs’ Goal Now Is Indies, Not Australia Netherlands Governor, on Mission Here, Claims Antipodes Representatives Agree would be able to give direct assist- ance to Hitler by menacing Indian Ocean shipping to the Middle East if they were able to control the principal Indies strongholds. He said he regarded the Japanese landings on the islands of New | Britain, New Guinea and the Solo- | mon Archipelago as aimed at set- ting up raiding bases for mena: | ing the trans-Pacific, supply lines | from the United States to the South- west Pacific area. | “Everything goes in the right direction,” Dr. Van Mook said in response to a question as to whether American officials in Wash- ington saw eye-to-eye with him | (See VAN MOOK, Page A-2) Only Subways Can End| D. C. Transit Problem, 'House Group Told Capt. Whitehurst Predicts Tunnels for Streetcars Will Have to Be Provided Subways offer the only perma- nent solution to Washington’s acute mass transportation prob- lem, transit and municipal of- ficials admitted before the House District Committee today. At the same time it was revealed steps already -had been taken to| revamp the transit system to pro- vide more efficient service for a wartime city. The plans, it was in- timated, contemplate greater use of streetcars and the rerouting of buses over less congested streets. E. D. Merrill, president of the Capital Transit Co., and Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director of highways, two of the principal witnesses be- fore the committee as it resumed a study of the wartime transportation Women May Operate Streetcars and Buses If Labor Gets Scarce Women may operate streei- cars and buses here if the shortage of male labor for these jobs becomes acute. The possibility was suggested today by E. D. Merrill, president of the Capital Transit Co., dur- ing a House District Committee hearing on local transportation problems. “We have made a brief study of the situation,” Mr. Merrill said, “and probably will have to give more thought to it. The use of woman operators may become a necessity.” problem, declared subsurface street car tracks must be installed, since traffic congestion cannot be ended by improvement of surface facilities alone. “The time is rapidly coming,” Capt. Whitehurst declared, “when we will have to build tunnels for street- cars.” Mr. Merrill revealed his firm plans to ask the Public Utilities Commis- sion to reverse its policy of substi- (Continued on Page A-6, Column 1.) " Chinese Raid on Japanese Isle Off Korea Reported By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Jan. 23.—The Brit- ish radio relayed today a report that Chinese guerrillas had crossed the Yellow Sea and stormed Japanese Vote on Axis Break Seen Today—With or Without Argentina Dr. Ruiz Guinazu Confers For Half Hour With Aranha and Welles By the Associated Press. RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 23.—A | high conference source said to- | day that representatives of the American republics would decide on the severance of relations with the Axis this afternoon— with or without Argentina. The Argentine foreign minister, Dr, Enrique Ruiz Guinazu, conferred | for half an hour with the heads of Brazilian and United States delega- tions a short time earlier, and it was reported on good authority that he had submitted his country’s counter- proposals to the plan for rupture of relations. The counter proposals, these sources said, had been drafted by Ramon 8. Castillo, Acting President of Argentina. The Argentines yester- day balked at the present wording o‘( the conference’s anti-Axis resolu- tion. (Acting Foreign Minister Guil- lermo Rothe in Buenos Aires denied reports that Argentina's delegation had submitted any counterproposal on severance of relations with the Axis. He de- clared Argentina’s position on this issue was unchanged. (Mr. Rothe categorically denied (8ee PAN-AMERICAN, Page A-4.) Sovief Reaffirmed Pact At War's Start, Japs Told BY the Associated Press. TOKIO, Jan. 23 (Official Broad- cast). —Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo told the House of Representa- tives today that at the very outset of the war in the Pacific Japan had received assurances from the Soviet government that Russia would ob- serve her neutrality pact with Japan to the letter. > ‘The foreign minister spoke a few minutes after Premier Gen. Hideki ‘Tojo said “war is not won by money” and expressed confidence that Japan's resources in trained man power would offset the material resources of the United States. He said Japan was assured of further triumphs “in Greater East Asia” because she possesses the “man power, training and materials neces- sary for prosecution of the war.” “In the first factor, which includes the quantity of men” Gen, Tojo said, “Japan tops the world. That is the reason why I am not afraid | lished. of America, although I do not dismiss lightly the huge military ex- penditure called for in President Roosevelt’s message to Congress. “So long as we have men trained in 3,000 years of history, we will not be defeated by America, which relies on material , because after all war is fought by Biff Jones Assigned To Duty at West Point Maj. Lawrence McC. (Biff) Jones, U. 8. A, retired, football coach of the University of Nebraska, was|charge assigned by the War it An Evening N \;Iitr’the.;:fiasz;’s News LOCAL—NATIONAL—FOREIGN Associated Press and (4) Wirephotos, North American Newspaper Alliance, 0 Daily News Foreign Service and The Star’s Staff Writers, Reporters and Photographers. Revised Schedule For Staggerea Hours To Begin on Mondayl Private Employers Asked to Co-operate in Relieving Traffic Rush A revised plan for staggering | the hours of Federal employment | will go into effect Monday coinci- dent with the establishment of the 44-hour week in virtually all Government departments, it was learned today. Budget Bureau officials said de- tails of the revamped system would | not be made public generally until | Federal departments and agencies | have been notified of their new | starting and quitting hours. Letters | of notification are being sent out today and it was indicated a detailed | announcement might be made to- | morrow afternoon. | The new plan has been worked | out by the Budget Bureau in con- ferences with District Traffic Di- | rector William A. Van Duzer and | officials of the Capital Transit Co. Affects Private Employes. Mr. Van Duzer made public a | chart prepared by his department, | showing the starting and quitting | hours by quarter hours of both Gov- ernment and private business em- | ployes in the downtown area under the revised system. The chart shows that the peak during the morning rush hours will | be at 9 am. when 52,000 workers— 27,000 of them Government em- ployes, and 25,000 private industry employes—report for work. The | afternoon peak will be at 5 pm., the | quitting hour of approximately 74, 000 workers. This figure includes about 48,000 Federal workers and 26,000 private employes. Meanwhile, the Board of Trade, | which has been conducting a survey | of the opening and closing hours of private establishments in the cen- tral business area, was taking steps to change the quitting hours of some of the private workers who now | leave their offices at 5 pm. In letters sent to more than a | dozen trade and business associa- tions and several individual firms, President Fred A. Smith of the trade board requested that every effort be made to reduce the 5 p.m. load. Pleads for Co-Operation. “It appears beyond any question | of doubt that something must be | done to relieve the traffic congestion | and mass transportation load which | will occur daily at 5 p.m. beginning | January 26,” Mr. Smith said. “We believe that it is now in- cumbent upon the private employers of the District to make some con- tribution toward the lowering of the 5 p.m. peak,” Mr. Smith added, “and we therefore seek the co-operation of all central-area employers in this effort.” Mr. Smith said he did not believe (See TRAFFIC, Page A-2.) Springfield (11l.) Fire Perils Entire Block By the Associated Press. SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Jan. 23.— Fire caused damage estimated at $300,000 and threatened an entire | business block last night before it | was brought under control efter a | five-hour battle. i The flames swept the J. C. Penney | Co. department store building on | the south side of Courthouse Square. The loss in the three-story struc- ture was estimated at $250,000 by J. E. Crabtree, manager, while an ad- ditional $50,000 in smoke and water damage was sustained by stores in adjoining buildings. Cause of the fire was not estab- Canadian Flyer Found Guilty of Manslaughter last May of Charles G. Walton of Ottawa, was convicted of man- slaughter today by & jury which recommended mercy. Aircraftman Edmond Pa- todsy to active Army duty st the Military Academy at West Point. P) Means Associated Press. THREE CENTS. Roosevelt Plan For Labor Peace Is Accepted C.1.O.andA.F.L. to Set Up Wartime ‘Cabinet’ of Six By JOHN C. HENRY. Peace between the A. F'. L. and the C. I. O. moved nearer to real- | ization today when it was | learned that both organizations | have accepted a White House formula for composing their dif- ferences during the war period. ‘The formula, simple in its struce ture, calls for creation of a jointe six-man committee, three from each labor faction, to sit periodically with President Roosevelt in the capacity of a labor cabinet. For the A. F. L., it is believed that the representatives will be President William Green, Secretary-Treasurer George Meany and Vice President Daniel J. Tobin. Possible C. I. 0. Members. The C. L. O. group is expected to be headed by Philip Murray. Al- though identity of other C. I. O. members has not been learned, it is probable that Thomas J. Kennedy, secretary-treasurer of United Mine Workers, and President R. J. Thomas of the United Automobile Workers, will be designated. It is pelieved certain that neither | John L. Lewis, president of the | U. M. W,, nor William Hutcheson, |a vice president of the A. F. L, | will be ificluded in the group. Arrival at this emergency formula for establishing and maintaining wartime tranquility in the ranks of organized labor resulted from 48 hours of secretive White House con- sultations with officials of both or- ganizations. Although neither President Roose« velt nor White House spokesmen would confirm such meetings, it is know that Mr. Murray visited the Executive Mansion late Wednesday and that Mr. Green and Mr. Meany were in conference with the Presi- dent late yesterday. Proposed by Lewis. Impulse for these developments, however, came from a public pro- posal on Saturday night by Mr. Lewis to the effect that standing committees of both factions should resume toeir efforts to effect a peace merger. It was subsequently re- ported that Mr. Lewis had discussed his plan with Mr. Hutcheson of the rival A. F. L, and there was a marked coolhess in the reception by both Mr. Murray and Mr. Green to the Lewis suggestion. It is understood further that & condition among the consultants for acceptance of a compromise formula was that neither Mr. Lewis nor Mr., Hutcheson would be named to the six-man committee. Although autonomous unions of both organizations might still de- part from any commitments made by this six-man group, it is believed that the weight of public sentiment during the war period and the prestige of the men selected for this service will forestall any important violation of accords reached. Main problem of such a commit- tee, it is expected, will be that of smoothing out inevitable jurisdic- tional disputes among rival unions in the same industries. Would Have Broader Uses. Actually, such a committee prob= ably would have much broader uses and once its effective operation was established it could serve both the President and labor as a whole as an advisory and liaison group in the war effort. It is known that membership of this proposed group was held to six to reduce the chances of disagree- ments and to prevent public dis closures as to its operations. At a press conference today Mr. Roosevelt declined to enter into any discussion of the pending peace efforts or even to confirm that he had talked to officials of both labor organizations. He had no news on the matter, he said, and he would not indulge in any “guessing” about it. Later in the day he was to confer with Chairman William H. Davis of the new War Labor Board and a discussion of interunion attitude in the field was likely. It was under- stood that a main purpose of Mr. Davis’ visit, however, was to speed the selection of alternates and spe- cial mediators for work with the board. Lewis Invited to Council. The Executive Committee of the C. I. O. met in closed session in New York, presumably to discuss peace moves. The committee is composed of C. I. O. vice presidents. The C. I. O. Executive Council— comprising 56 representatives of all C. I O. unions—meets tomorrow and Mr. Murray advised Mr. Lewis last Monday that the latter’s pro- posal would be submitted to the council. He also invited Mr. Lewis to attend and personally submit | his views. Georgefown Main Breaks; Water Cut Off 3 Hours Homes in the middle section of Georgetown were out of water for about three hours this morning after a water main broke under P street between Thirtieth and Thirtye first streets N.W. The break in the 22-inch trunk main sent water gushing into the street, flooding streets in the vicinity, A neighborhood drug store re- ported it had a run on distilled water but soon ran out of supplies and sent out bottles of spring water, ‘The break occurred shortly before 6 am. lowering water pressure in the entire area. A Water Departe ment crew shut off the valves for a section about five blocks long and water was supplied over other lines, Homes again had water at about 9 am. The homes in the vicinity of the break were not affected since they are supplied over another line, It was said repairs of the break would be completed some time today. X