Evening Star Newspaper, January 24, 1942, Page 1

Weather Fouctfit ‘Warmer tonight. ‘Temperatures est, 64, at 3:55 pm.; meu.n,-u‘.fi‘-’m. rom the Ot B o Fae A Closi N. Y. Markets—Sales, Pa 90th YEAR. No. 35,697, ‘WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1942— THIRTY PAGES. NIGHT FINAL SPORTS UP) Means Assoclated Press. THREE CENTS. % % X% % % X% X% U.S. NAVY BLASTS JAPCONVOY OFF BORNEO: Late News Bulletins Fire Breaks Out in Virginia Penitentiary RICHMOND, Va. (#.—Fire broke out at the State Peni- tentiary in Richmond today and two alarms in rapid succes- sion sent apparatus screaming to the scene. The n switchboard operator said only, “It’s pretty bad,” before he broke the connection. in the institution. Approximately 1,100 prisoners are Chinese Smash at Japs in North China CHUNGKING (#).—Violen t Chinese attacks on a Japa- nese base and a railway junction along the Peiping-Hankow Rallway in North China were announced tonight by army headquarters. The fighting still is in progress, the communi- que said, and Japanese supply lines in the area have been cut. One point of assault is Siaokan, 40 miles north of Hankow, and Hwaiyuan, between Siaokan and Hankow. Five Colonels Will Be Elevated For Gallant Service in Batan Promotion to brigadier general will be the reward of ‘five colonels who- have distinguished themselves in the battle of the Philippines. On recommendation of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, ~ President Roosevelt disclosed today that he Antended to nominate the five offi- cers for the higher rank because they “extraordinarily distinguished themselves by leadership and gal- lantry” in the fighting orr Batan Peninsula. ‘The colonels who will be nomi- nated are Hugh J. Casey, engineers, Brooklyn, N. ¥.; Clinton A. Pierce, cavalry, Brooklyn; Arnold J. Funk, infantry, Portland, Oreg.; William F. Marquat, coest artillery, Seattle, and Harold H. George, Air Corps, Seattle, one of the Army’s noted flight com- mangders. The President also will nominate for brigadier general, Col. Carl H. Seals, a member of Gen. MacArthi staff. . Col. Seals is from Eufaula, Ale., and during the Hoover admin- istration - was on duty in the War Department Public Relations Bu-| reau. Clerks Busy, Thi ieves Steal Tray of 10 Diamond Rings A daring robbery of an F street Jewelry.store this afternoon netted two thieves 10 diamond.rings val- ued at $4,500. ‘The two men came into Swope’s Jewelry store at 1114 F street N.W. some time after 3 pm. At the time there were about 15 customers in the store, in addition to three sales- people. The men stood near the door of the place for some time and the salespeople, busy elsewhere, did not pay any particular- attention fo them. Mrs. Austin Levesque, 23, of 718 Webster street NW., a clerk in the store, happened to look at the men. When she saw them one of them was withdrawing a tray of rings from a showcase near the door. Then, before she could cry out, they had fled with the tray. They dis- appeared in the crowds on F street. Police were summoned and given a description of the gems. The 10 diamond solitaires had a value of from $300 to $500 each, it was stated. Knudsen Army Rank Is Given Approval By Subcommittee Senate Group Acts On Commission as Lieutenant General By J. A. O'LEARY. The nomination of William | Knudsen, former O. P. M. direc- | tor, to be a lieutenant general in | the Army to supervise mmtary} production was approved unani- | mously by a Senate subcommit- | tee today. Action came after a closed hear- ing at which Undersecretary of War | Robert P. Patterson and Donald M. Nelson, head of the new war pro-| duction board, indorsed the appoint- ment. The same subcommittee, presided | over by Senator Chandler, Demo- crat, of Kentucky, also reported favorably on a number of other Army promotions, including the elevation of former Secretary of War Patrick H. Hurley from a eclonel in the Reserve Corps to a temporary brigadier general. Mr. Hurley headed the War Department in President Hoover’s cabinet. It is understood the subcommittee took the opportunity to obtain from Mr. Nelson a general picture of what he hopes to accomplishin the new production set-up, and Senator Chandler described his testimony in the executive session as “very en- couraging.” The subcommittee was given the impression that Mr. Knudsen will spend a considerable part of his time out in the industrial areas of the country, seeking to speed up production of War Department sup- plies in every way possible. Secretary Patterson told news- papermen the War Department is glad to have the services of a man of Mr. Knudsen's unique abilities in the fleld of production. He will work directly under Mr. Patterson. Senators who attended the meet- ing said no complaints or objections to glving Mr. Knudsen the rank of lieutenant general were raised be- fore the subcommittee, and Senator Chandler said he would submit the favorable report to the entire Mili- tary Affairs Committee early next week. Serving on the subcommittee with Chairman Chandler were Senators Kilgore, Democrat, of West Virginia a major general of artillery, Col. Phillip R. Faymonville to be briga- dier general, Lt. Col. Arthur R. Wil- son to be brigadier general and Col. ‘Earl L. Naiden to be brigadier gen- Casey and President Confer on Australian Position in Crisis Minister Presents Letter, but Won't Say If Aid Plea Is Made (Earlier Story on Page A-1.) By the Associated Press. Australian Minister Richard G. Casey handed to President Roosevelt today a letter from his country’s Prime Minister, John Curtin, who had appealed to| ‘Washington for planes and other | fighting equipment to repel Japan’s southward surge in the Pacific. Mr. Casey smiled away inquiries on whether the communication con- | tained a reiteration of the Austral- ian pleas. It was reported earlier from Mel- bourne that Australia, menaced by the Japanese, had dispatched new appeals for assistance to Washing- ton and Lordon after President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill did not respond imme- diately to first appeals. A Melbourne dispateh qsaid the | messages were unders to have | been sent as the result of communi- cations from Australian armed forces outlining what was most needed. The requests. were said to have in- cluded bombers, fighter planes and naval units. Increased Train Fares In Effect February 10 BY the Associated Press. The 10 per cent increase in pass- enger train fares will go into effect February 10. Officials of the Asscciation of | | American Raflroads, * announcing | this today, said the date for the increase, recently authorized by the | Kelley, Green Appoints Three to Joint Labor Board Would Serve With C. 1. 0. to Settle Jurisdiction Rows BULLETIN. NEW YORK (#).—The C. L 0. Executive Council today ap- pointed a three-man commit- tee headed by Philip Murray, C. 1. O. president, to serve with a like committee from the American Federation of Labor on a Labor War Board suggested by the White House. Named to serve with Mr. Mur- ray were R. J. Thomas of the United Automobile Workers and Julius Emspak of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers. President Roosevelt would be the sev- enth member of the board. (Earlier story on Page A-3.) By the Associated Press. President William Green of the | A. F. L. wrote President Roose- velt this afternoon that he was! appointing a committee of three to serve with a C. I. O. commit- tee as “a combined labor war board.” Such a board, it has been re- putes between the rival labor or- | ganizations for the duration of the war, The text of Mr. Green's letter: “I am pleased to respond to your request that I appoint a committee representing the American Federa- tion of Labor to serve with a com- mittee appointed by Fresident Mur- 1ay of the Congress of Industrial Organizations as & combined labor war board as set forth in your letter dated January 22. “Inasmuch as you requested the appointment of a small committee, 1 submit the following names of three representatives of the Amer- ican Federation of Labor to serve on said committee: . “William Green, president; George Meany, secretary-treasurer; Daniel J. Tobin, sixth vice president, Amer- ican Pederation of Labor. “The members of this committee will be prepared to meet with you at your call and &t your convenience.” Although it was reported here earlier that Philip Murray, presi- dent of the C. I. O, has indorsed the truce idea for his organization, the C. I. O. has not made a move yet to appoint a similar committee. Fairbanks Cites Roosevelt As Champion of Oppressed President Roosevelt was pictured as the “white knight of countless numbers of people all over the world” at & luncheon this afternoon at which Douglas Fairbanks, jr., film star, spoke in behalf of the | President’s Birthday Celebration. “The President,” Lt. Fairbanks said, “has become a symbol of the liberal, courageous new world. He is the leader of all those who aspire to & better and fuller life. It is fitting that we should choose to cele- brate the birthday of a great hu- manitarian, of a charapion of the oppressed and downtrodden, by rais- ing funds to relieve pain and suf- fering.” Speakers on the same program, of which Miss Meredith Howard was master of ceremonies, were Mrs. Robert H. Jackson, wife of the As- sociate Justice of the Supreme Court; Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, commander of the Washington Pro- visional Brigade; District Commis- sioner Guy Mason and Andrew executive director of the President’s Birthday Celebration. The luncheon was sponsored by I. C. C., was agreed upon by railroad | Hotel 2400 and the President’s Birth- traffic managers in consultation with A. A. R. officials. Estimated to add $45,000,000 to railroad revenues on the basis of their 1941 business, the incredse will apply to all fares except the 1% cent-a-mile rate allowed members of military or naval services travel- ing on furlough and to certain extra- . | fare trains. ‘Tariffs putting the increased rates into effect will be filed with the I. C. C. in the near future. The basic first-class fare now is 3 cents a mile in all sections of the country, while the basic coach fare is 2 cents & mile in. the East and West and 112 cents & mile in the South. Markets at a Glance NEW YORK, Jan. 34 ®)— able top, $11.75. Mirs. Carrie Brown Tracy, Actor’s Mother, Dies day Committee. Dr. Yang, 6.W.U. Alumnus, Saes New League Coming By the Assoclated Press. ATLANTA, Jan. 24—Another Leagueé of Nations after the end of World War No. 2 is probable, Dr. Y. C. Yang, president of Soochow Uni- versity and former Chinese diplo- mat, predicted here. In Atlante to speak at Emory Uni- versity’s eighth annual ministers’ week, Dr. Yang, a delegate to the League of - Nations, said nobody knows whether there will be an- other League like the last one, “but thers probably will be.” “I hope there will be some sort of co-operative effort to prevent a of this war,” he added. ations could live in peace if they would.” A graduate of George Wi Dnlvzrslty. Dr. Yang xmm'-'fl in the Chinese Embassies in Washington and London, Since 1927 he has been president of the University of Soochow. X ported, was suggested by the White | House to settle jurisdictional dis- | Japs Violafing [Rules of War, MacArthur Says Prisoners Mistreated, One Is Bayonetted, War Department Told (Earlier Story on Page A-1.) The Japanese invaders are mis- treating prisoners taken in the Philippines and are resorting to ruthless brutality, Gen. Douglas MacArthur informed the War Department late today. The fact that the Japanese are violating the rules of land warfare was disclosed after it had been re- ported both the defending forces in the Philippihes and the invaders were suffering “heavy losses” in flerce fighting now raging in the islands. Gen. MacArthur's besieged army was said to have been unable to prevent new landings of fresh Jap- anese troops on Batan Peninsula despite vigorous resistance. ‘Warships Support Operations: The late day communique shed no ; further light on the course of the struggle in the Batan peninsula where the foe earlier in the day was reportéd to have gained several coastal positions on the defenders’ left flank by employing fresh troops supported by fire of warships. munique issued at 4 p.m. today, told by the Japanese. In one case, Gen. MacArthur said, | & Pilipino scout, who had qistin- | guished himself by extraordinary heroism in action, had been found with his hands bound and his body bayonetted. The department said this was a “flagrant instance among several Japanese violations of the Geneva Convention rules of land warfare.” U. S. Use of Gas Denied. Gen. MacArthur declared there | | 1 governmental radio broadcast yes- terday Philippine troops were shells in the battle of Batan. No matter how provocative are the Japanese actions, he declared, his own forces have no intention of vio- lating the rules of war. “However foul the enemy may act,” the com- munique said, “the general states that he will abide by decent concepts of humanity and civilization.” Japan's mistreatment of prisoners was in direct violation of that gov- ernment’s announcement on Janu- ary 15, through the medium of Switzerland, that she would abide by the international convention re- lating to captured war prisoners. Axis toncemed at Failure To Keep Out Enemy News BY the Associated Press. BERN, Switzerland, Jan. 24— Germany and other Axis countries, particularly Hungary, are reported to be seriously concerned by their inability to prevent the public from listening to foreign news broadcasts. Travelers from Germany say news from London. Moscow and other lin despite strenuous measures taken against those caught listening. if they continue to listen. Com- plaints had begun to arise that the press and radio fail to give a more complete picture of developments in Russia and Africa. Under the title “A last warning not to listen to the radio,” the Reich commissioner in the Baltic States has issued a decree providing that persons who spread news com- ing from foreign countries are liable listen are liable to long imprison- ment. Price Eeilings Blablisl;ed To Curb Export Profits Export price ceilings on scarce commodities are being established to prevent speculation and profiteering in export trade with the Latin Amer- ican republics, Price Administrator Leon Henderson announced today. Mr. Henderson said that a tele- gram announcing this action has been sent to the Inter-American Secretary of State Hull. ings would provide a “sufficient mar- gin” over domestic price ceilings so as not to interfere with the normal flow Qf exports. He explained that the price paid by a Latin American purchaser would approximeate the normal domestic prices, plus export charges. San Francisco Open Is Postponed Again (Earlier Story on Page B-6.) BY the Associated Press. SAN FRANCISEO, Jan. 24.—Be- cause of continued unfavorable play- The War Department, in & com- | of several instances of brutalities | | “was absolutely no truth” in a Tokio | claiming Ameriean and | places is common knowledge in Ber- | The authorities have warned the | public they will be severely punished | to the death penalty while those who | Conference at Rio de Janeiro by | Mr. Henderson said the price ceil- | will be made public tomorrow. Naturalized German 'Charged With Failing To Register as Agent F. B. . in New York Holds| | Former Manager of Aircraft Parts Concern Br the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Jan. 24—The Federal Bureau of Investigation | announced’ today the arrest of | Richard Ernst Weber, 55, 2 na- | ".umllzed German, on a charge | of tailure to register as a foreign agent. | | P. E. Foxworth, assistant dlrecwr of the F. B. I, said Weber, also| known as Richard Dick, was man- | ager of an aircraft parts company | at Babylon, Long Island, for a year prior to last Labor Day. Since then | he had been a fugitive. Mr. Foxworth said the arrest was| linked to a recent spy case which | resulted in penitentiary sentences | for 33 men and women convicted in Brooklyn Federal Court of espionage |on behalf of the German govern- ment ‘Weber Arrested Friday. | Weber was arrested yesterday in | a hideout at Three Bridges, N. J. | He was held in $25,000 bail for a hearing February 17 when arraigned | in Brooklyn Federal Court today. Conviction would carry a posslble‘ maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine or both. A former member of the German | Army who came to_this country in | 1908 and was naturalized in 1928, Weber was arrested during the World War as an enemy alien and | was interned at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 1 For much of the time since his re- | | lease in May, 1919, he had worked as a mechanic in radio and airplane | parts plants in this country. | Returned to United States. In 1938, the F. B. I. said, Weber | went’to Germany and worked in a Berlin magneto factory. During the | following year, Mr. Foxworth said, Weber made several trips to the United States for the alleged pur- pose of obtaining radio manufactur- | ing machinery. One trip was made on a German passport because American citizens were not per- mitted to travel on ships in the war zone. | He returned to the United States | on October 30, 1940, the F. B. I. said. Mr. Foxworth said Weber was an associaté of Gustav Wilhelm Kaer- cher and other persons convicted in the Brooklyn trial and bought a radio set later delivered to Kaercher and found in the apartment of Felix + U.S. Defense Bonds Will Not Be Changed To ‘War Bonds’ By the Associated Press. CELEVLAND, Jan. 24.—Unit- ed States Defense bonds will not be renamed “war bonds,” Treasury Secretary Morgen- thau indicated today. Disclosing that sales in the last two weeks had been run- ning above any of the Treas- ury’s earlier estimates, he told newsmen who inquired about prospects of renaming the bonds: “We gave that a lot of thought, but we had a poll taken which showed, two-thirds of the peo- ple prefer to have them called Defense bonds. They've been going 50 well that perhaps we have Bbecome a little supersti- tious about changing.” 8,000-Ton ltalian Ship 'FromFernando Poo Captured by Brifish Crippled Axis Vessel Is Intercepted and Taken Inta Port by Warcraft BY the Associated Press. LONDON, Jan. 24¢.—The British | Admiralty announced tonight | that British warships had “inter- cepted and captured” the 8,000- ton Italian vessel Duchess d’Aosta. The Admiralty communique fol- lows: “Withi refefence to theif previous | | statement concerning Axis ships re-| ported by the Germans to have | sailed from Fernando Poo (Span- ish-o%ned island off West Central Africe), the Admiralty announces that British warships, dispatched to maké, investigations, have inter- cepted and captured the 8,000-ton Ttalian ship Duchessa D'Aosta. “The Ttalian ship, which was in| difficulty when intercepted, has been taken into a British port.” Graves' Condition Good BALTIMORE, Jan. 24 (#)—Bibb Graves,- third-term candidate for Governor of Alabama, was reported in “goofl condition” today after an operation at Johns Hopkins Hos- pital. The former Governor “had a fine night,” Dr. Hugh Young said. “He Jahncke, another Brooklyn defend- ant. is resf \quietly and is much more comfortable.” | Amusements, ! B-16 | Church News . B-7-10 Comics -.B-14-15 Editorials ...A-6 Editorial Articles .__A-7 Financial ..A-11 Legal Notices -.B-13 | Foreig! Jmt un! battle rages in Libyan Page A-1 les hnd.mz in outer Australian islands. Page A-l Nationai. La Guardia refuses to enlarge on plans. Page A-9 House votes 123 billions for w:x; Today's Star ge. | Washington and Vicinity. unhnn; proposes bill to aid D. C. housing. Page A-2 suspecqmesud in gas prowler Page A-3 1, 000 mqn volunteer firemen needed District. Page A-4 school defense sales average $50 dally. Page A-§ Maj. J..H. Wheat to be buried Mon-~ day. Page A-8 G. P. O. workers make large war fund gift. Page A-9 tion. Mbyrm“mllshnvltufleo WAH Page A-. Payne,: Holden added to birthday ball Jist. Page A-12 Police and firemen pay bill placed on House calendar. PageA-12 ’chmumnmzomu m‘fl‘lw Page A-12 Misceflany. Nature’s Children. plans. “Super” levy on war profits urged by George. Page A-8 Hflll" e Licenses. Births and Deaths. ] REPORTS ON PEARL HARBOR—Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts, head of the committee that investigated conditions at Pearl Harbor prior to and during the December 7 attack, is shown with White House reporters today after filling with President Roosevelt the 50-page report which —A. P. Photo. Justice Roberfs Gives * ‘Report fo President \On Pearl Harbor Responsibility for Lack Of Vigilance Fixed By Special Committee By JOHN C. HENRY. A 50-page report fixing the re- sponasibility for the lack of vigi- lance that resulted in American losses during - the Japanese “sneak” attack on Pearl Harbor December 7 was submitted - to President Roosevelt today by Supreme Court Justice Owen J. | Roberts, head of a special inves- tigating committee. ‘The full text of the report is to be made available for release in to- morrow morning’s newspapers, the White House announced. | Conferring for approximately two hours with the President, Justice Roberts told reporters as he left that | the report contaimed detailed find- | ings with a summary and cenclu- | sions. It was specific in naming in- | dividuals affected, the justice ad- | ded, and was signed by all members of the special five-man commission. Report Will Not Be Censored. Justice Roberts said that the in- vestigating group had reached | Hawali on December 22 and had re- | mained there until January 10. Daily sessions for the taking of tes- | timony and consideration of evi- .dence were held from 9 am. until } the blackout curfew at dusk, he said. After receipt of the report, White House Secretary Stephen T. Early announced that its content would I not be submitted to consorship, im- plying by these words that it con- tains no information considered of value to the enemy. Whatever ac- tion may result from the report, he | said, must await study of at least | several days. “The President read the entire .r:port during his meeting with Mr. | Justice Roberts,” Mr. Early said. “He cxprssed his gratitude to the justice | and considers the report a most painstaking and thorough job.” ‘Work Believed Finished. Justice Roberts told reporters that the committee had adjourned yes- terday sine die and that he sup- posed its work was done. Mr. Early said he also believed the committee had finished its work. In addition to the Supreme Court justice, members of the investigating group were Maj. Gen. Frank R. Mc- Coy, Brig. Gen. Joseph P. McNarney, Admiral William . H.-Standley ‘and Admirel Joseph M. Reeves. An initial report on the Pearl Harbor action, by which Japan launched its war against the United States, was made te the Pezsident and the country by Secretary of the Navy Knox in mid-December. It was announced at that time that major American losses had been the sinking of one battleship, the cap- sizing of another, and loss or dam- age of several minor ships. Loss of life was relatively heavy, it was further admitted, and Secretary Knox publicly asserted that defend- ing forces had not been “on the alert.” Proceeding on the basis of this report, President Roose- | Scott, [One E;e—n_l; Ship: 4 Blown Up, One Sunk, Others Hif: Destroyer Squadron Catches Foe at Night In Macassar Straits BY the Associated Press. The Navy announced late to- day that United States destroy= ers in a night attack on an enemy convoy in the Macassar Straits had made several torpedo and close-range gun hits on de~ stroyers and transports, blowing’ up one enemy ship, sinking an< other and severely damaging some other vessels, The United States destroyers ree Ceived only slight damage, the Navy Department said in s communique, and their only casualties were four men wounded—one seriously and three slightly. The Macassar Straits lead north and south between Borneo and Clebes in the Dutch East Indies, They afford the most direct route— about 1,000 miles—between Davao in the Philippines, now used as & Japanese naval base, and the Island of Bali in the Java Sea. Enemy Damage Heavy. 1‘he text of the communique, No. , based on reports received up to H p.::u !:-Mam Standard Time today: *“The vay Department has been advised by the commander in chief, Asiatic Fleet, that United States destroyers made a night attack on an enemy convoy in the Macassar Straits. Our forces made several torpedo hits and close-range gun hits on destroyers and transports. The effect of the attack was that one large enemy ship was blown up, another was sunk, a third was list- ing heavily when last sighted and considerable damage was inflicted upon other bessels. U. 8. Damage Slight. “Our destroyers received slight damage. Our only casual States as far South as Savannah, Ga. Counter measures against their activities are continuing with favor- able results. “There is ,Dothing to report from other areas.” Youth, 16, Convicted In Slaying of Four BY the Associated Press. LITTLE FALLS, Minn,, Jan. 24— Richard Dehler, 16, Buckman Town- ship farm youth charged with slay- ing his parents and a sister and 2 brother, was convicted of first degree murder by a District Court jury last | night. Young Dehler, who was tried on the specific count of slaying his mother, Mrs. August Dehler, at their farm home near here December 19, faces life imprisonment. Sentence was deferred until today. Mr. and Mrs. Dehler and their 10-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son were found shot to death their home when a passerby noticed the place on fire. Valerie Scott Freed On Bond Pending Trial ¥ the Associated Press. MIAMI, Fla., 24-year-old British tennis star, wes granted freedom from jail on $500 bond today pending trial in Pebruary on a blackmail Released with her on like bond was her co-defendant, Mrs. Mar- garet Schuyler Sternburgh, 44. They are accused of trying to blackmail Frances Lynch, wealthy Baltimore and Miami Beach resi- dent, into giving Miss Scott a posi- tion as secretary and companion. Circuit Judge Ross Williams re- duced the $1,500 bond in default of which the women had been held in jail, but denied a defense plea that the charges of blackmail, co: and vagrancy should be thrown ou on the ground that they are fib vague and indefinite. Late Races Earlier Results and Entries for Monday on Page 2-X. Hiuleah Park . m HIHM 3 '"d &mffih‘.» Also Ho”l'fiim ! Joe ch- “i'é ] e Fair Grounds Purse. 3600: elaiming: ™ M@—m Wflfi‘(hfl.} s ilo i;fl o .::-'a.-éa._....r:;“-" Mlfi m e 1 i 00 24 1080 510 sgo %“s&. g IIMN— Valdina Farm entry, 2 ir fi( b W W VX X Klfiii!!%’i*i‘i‘ifi!’l‘ X X X X 6 XK XXX X X b ¢ Jan. 24.—Valerie D¢ w W Y *i( 3 w w w w * s