Evening Star Newspaper, February 9, 1942, Page 1

Weather Forecast Continued cold, est, 20, at 6 a.m, From the United States Weatner Bureau Report. Full Detalls on Page A-2. Closing N. Y. Markets—Sales, Page 16. 90th YEAR. No. lowest. tonight from 18 to 20. Temperatures today—Highest, 38, at 4 p.m.; low- 35,713, ah £ WASHINGTON, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION Foening Star D. C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1942— THIRTY-SIX PAGES NIGHT FINAL Pr THREE CENTS. NORMANDIE BLAZING, MANY FEARED DEAD HOUSE VOTES ACTOR, DANCER BAN IN O.C.D. Mrs. Roosevelt's Standley New Singapore Isle Unit s Target In Fund Bill Hundred Million Measure Is Sent To Senate By GOULD LINCOLN. Taking a sharp rap at the use by the Office of Civilian Defense of Government funds to employ dancers, movie actors and others to promote shows or other public entertainment. the House this afternoon amended the O. C. D. $100.000.000 appropriation bill to prohibit the employment of such talent. The vote was on the Ford amendment. After taking this action, the House passed the deficiency bill on a voice vote The original plan was to have the dancers and actors operate un- der the O. C. D. Division of Volun- teer Participation. headed by Mrs Franklin D. Rooscvelt The House also voted to retain the Wigglesworth amendment. de- bill $80.000 which the Treasu nded to pay for the Walt Di moving picture in which Donald Duck demonstrates method of paying income tax The Wigglesworth amendment also eliminated $85.000 for increased per- sonnel in the Treasury Department for the division of personnel and for the legislative counsel’s office. Tele: ms were sent to all mem- bers of the House by the Demo- cratic leadership over the week end urging them to be present to vote on the deficiency bill and the amendments. The supposed purpose was to upset the Ford and Wiggles- worth amendments before passing the bill. It became clear today. however, that such action was not possible. Employment of Picture Actor Mel- vyn Douglas and Dancer Mayris Chaney in the Office of Civilian Defense again roused debate to a white heat in the House before it acted on the bill Repres e Taber. Republican New York denouncing parti the activities of the volunteer rticipation division of the O. C D which is headed by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, declared We are down to a point wheie we must say whether we are going all out for n nal defense, or going to continue boondoggling The American people must look this situ- ation in the face. “There was a fellow once who fiddled while Rome burned. “It's about time we got to a point where we do only those things which will lead to the defeat of Hitler. There is an outfit in the O. C. D. 2 :« lot of things be- d the law. which pro- vides only rm an agency which will the civilian population nbing and other attacks of the enemy. Why should we have extra legal activities over there? Cannon Answers Cox Representative Cannon. Demo- erat, of Missouri, chairman of the Appropriations Committee. after listening to Representative Cox Democrat, of Georgia denounce what was being done by the O. C. D and deciare that steps were being taken which might eventually turn the country over to the Reds, called on the members of the House to take a “practical point of view" in dealing with this appropriation bill “There is nothing in this bill which would have the effect of doing what the gentleman from Georgia | has suggested.” said Mr. Cannon. “T love the gentleman as a brother, but we differ widely on this bill. T am dumbfounded at what he has said “The emphasis in the House has been placed on the employment of one or two employes of the Office of Civilian Defense. Nothing is said about the thousands of other em- ploves who are doing splendid and essential work. I say. too, that the charges made against these two em- | ployes are not well founded or sus- | tained | “We have proposed in this bill that the working hours of all employes of the Government be increased to 4 hours a week. That would mean 100,000 more working days, when | only the employes of the Govern- ment in the District of Columbia are considered. No one has risen to d cuss that important recommenda- tion Lowering Morale of People. “Do you think that the members who have talked so much are really interested in this bill? We have got to sell these billions of dollars’ worth of bonds. Yet what the mem- bers have been saying is creating suspicion and tendering to lower the morale of the people.’ | Mr. Cannon, taking up the case | of Mr. Douglas, whose name was | on the O. C. D. rolls at a salary of | $8,000 a year, said that Mr. Douglas was a leading movie actor and such | actors often made more in a week than the salary attributed to him.| a salary which, he said, Mr. Douglas had denied he was getting. He also | said that motion pictures were | necessary, that without them there would be “a lot of suicides.” | “We will dance at the end of a rope if Hitler takes this country,” ghouted Mr. Cannon. “That's what we must g\mxd against. We are losing this war up (See O. C. D.. Page 2-X.) ‘ of Ambassador To Moscow By the Associated Press. Admiral William H. Standley. former chief of naval operations, now retired, was appointed Am- bassador to Moscow today by President Roosevelt. | The nomination of the 70-year- | 'old naval expert was transmitted to the Senate for confirmation. Admiral Standley would succeed Laurence Steinhardt, who has been appointed Ambassador to Turkey. Confirmation of Admiral Stand- leyv's nomination would put a second admiral in the diplomatic corps at a key post. Admiral Wiliam B Leahy. also a former chief of navi# operations, is Ambassador to the French government at Vichy Admiral Standley will not be en- tirely unfamiliar with the prob- (See STANDLEY, Page 2-X.) House Hears Pleas To Repeal Pensions For Congressmen Chamber Upbraided For Not Being on Alert When Bill Went Through A series of demands were made on the House floor today for re- peal of the “pensions-for-Con- gressmen” provision in the new Ramspeck Civil Service Retire- ment Act. Taking the lead, Representative Smith, Republican, of Ohio an- nounced he intends to place a dis- charge petition on the Speaker's desk designed to force action on his bill to prevent memvers of Congress and other elected officials and polit- ical office holders from applying for Government pensions. Mr. Smith said the new retire- ment law would extend pensions to 250.000 political office holders, in- cluding members of Congress. Representative Stevenson, Repub- lican, of Wisconsin told the House he planned to call to the attention of President Roosevelt a section of the new Ramspeck Retirement Act which gives him (the President) power to exclude members of Con- gress from operation of the law. This authority, he declared, is con- tained in section 3 (B) of the act, which reads: “The President shall have power in his discretion to ex- clude from the operation of this act any officer or employe or group of officers or employes in the service | whose tenure of office or employment 1s intermittent or of uncertain dura- tion.” Representative Vinson. Democrat of Georgia upbraided the House for not being on the “alert” when the Ramspeck bill passed under a unani- (See PENSIONS Page 2- Xh Airport Seized, Japanese Claim New Landings Also 1 | | | Are Reported by Nipponese By the Associated Press. A Tokio broadcast recorded by | Reuters news agency in London today said Japanese forces in-| vading Singapore Island had captured Tengah airport, about | 10 miles north of Singapore ! City. | The broadcast said the airport was occupied at 1:30 pm. (2:30 am. E. W. T as the Japanese forces | which crossed Johore Strait during | the night drove a deep salient into the northwestern part of the island. | | New Landings Reported. | | A D.N.B.dispatch to Berlin from Tokio declared the Japanese had made new successful landings from Ubin Island at the eastern mouth of | Johore Strait. It gave Domei. the Japanese news agency, as its au- thorit Meanwhile, Dome! also reported that Japanese troops started an as- sault on British positions near the Jahore Bahru causeway and the great British naval base on the north shore of Singapore Island Emplacements Declared Smashed. | The Japanese were units of forces | which landed at the northwest cor- ner of the island earlier today Three gun emplacements and pill boxes were smashed near the mouth of the Kranji River, Domei said The end of the causeway. breached by the British after their retreat from Malaya, is about two and a half miles east of the mouth of the river. $500,000,000 for China Is Approved by House Bt the Associa After brief disc passed and sent to the day a $500,000,000 approy aid to China. 1 ation author: ing the expenditure was approved last week Chairman Cannon of the Appro priations Committee explained that the money would be used to sure the financial and m: Iy status” since she started to receive adequate military equipment | Despite being cut off from ports | of entry. Mr. Cannon said that | “China has maintained her finan- cial status in a remarkable way" and has continued to fight Japan even though driven to the interior with little equipment “In the last few weeks.” he said, “China for the first time has been adequately equipped and she has been giving a good account of her- self.” ed Press Late News Bulletins Nine Die in U. S. Army Bomber Crash RIO DE JANEIRO #.—A United States Army bomber crashed at Natal Saturday, Killing all nine aboard. it was learned today. The plane, fully loaded with gasoline, cracked up in its take-off. Names of were not available. the victims, all crew members, Pacific Council to Meet in London LONDON (®.—The Ministry of Information announced tonight that a Pacific council row. has now been set up in Lon The text of the announcement said would meet in London tomor- “A Pacific council don on the ministerial plane. Australia, Great Britain, the Netherlands and New Zealand will each have representatives (Earlier Story on the council.” on Page A-6.) Waichow Retaken From Japs, Chinese Say CHUNGKING (®.—A smashing Chinese counteroffensive against Japanese positions in Waichow, in Kwangtung Prov- ince, has resulted in the recapture of the East River port city with heavy Japanese losses, a high command communique announced today. Leahy Calls on Petain VICHY ® bassador Admiral William D. afternoon in the presence of Vice Premier Darlan. —Marshal Petain received United States Am- Leahy for an interview this Informed sources assumed that British charges that reinforcements for the Axis armies in Libya were moved through French territory were discussed. (Earlier Story on Page A-1.) Speer Replaces Todt as Munitions Chief BERLIN (From German Speer, 36, general director of Broadcasts) (®.—Prof. Albert building for all Germany, was named Reichsminister of Munitions today, replacing Maj. Gen. Fritz Todt, killed on the eastern front. designed the new chancellery (Earlier Story on Page A-3.) He and Hitler in the Wilhelmstrasse. G. U. Prep Defeats Landon Georgetown Prep defeated Landon, 23-13, ball game at the loser’s gym today. in a basket Joe McAndrews and John Showell each scored eight points for the winners. ' | ning a private 50-bed hospital. and | ditional beds for Gallinger and 400 NEW YORK.—FIRE SWEEPS NORMANDIE—Smoke that could be seen for miles around flowed from the blazing former French liner Normandie at her Hudson River pier this afternoon. So dense was the pall that one funnel was all that could be seen {a naval officer expressed | poured into her Big Liner Begins To Capsize as Water Pours in Last Rites Given 40 Men; Smoke Pall Visible for Miles By the Associated Press NEW YORK, Feb. 9.—A raging fire broke out this afternoon in the huge former French liner Normandie, tied up at a Hudson River pier, and two hours later fear capsize because of of water being A heavy toll of life among workmen on the { she would |the amount | vessel was feared The officer, who did not give +his name, asked police and fire- | chant v | the ship had been of the liner when this picture was made with a long-range lens from top of the R. C. A. Building. In the background is the New Jersey side of the Hudson. —A. P. Wirephoto. | chant ship in Flames rapidly 'I‘he lmi‘r Nmmandle a\ \he 1ppeared ht‘Iure belnv seized by " the Umted States. 1,700 Additional Beds President Requests 22 Billions To Supply Needs of Army Billion and Half Asked for Merchantmen; $26,495,265,474 Navy Bill Signed (Earlier Story on Page A-1.) Needed in City Area, Taft Tells Hospitals Temporary Concrete Structures Proposed On Donated Land By the Associated Press President Roosevelt asked Congress appropriations totaling $22.838.901900 for various branches of —Associated Press Photo. Laura Ingalls Quoted By Witnesses as Admirer of Hitler Twice Asserted Her Desire for ‘New Order’ To Come to U. S. today for emergency the Army shortly after he had signed a $26,495265,474 appropria- A total of 1.700 additional hos- pital beds is needed for the Met- ropolitan Area, Charles P. Taft of the Federal Secur: Agency today told representatives of the District’s public and private hos- pitals at a meeting called by Commissioner Mason to consider necessary hospital expansion Mr. Taft warned, however. that the pending Lanham bill from which some funds will be available for Dis- trict hospital facilities would prob- ably not provide funds for more than 700 beds for the District alone Commissioner Mason requested the private hospitals to form a spe- cial committee to decide at which hospitals the additioral beds could pest be built. The plan contemplates construction of two-story concrete temporary structures on land to te donated by the hospitals to the Fed- eral Government For the surrounding territory Mr. Taft said at least 50 and perhaps 100 beds should be added to facili- ties in Alexandria, 150 beds for Ar- lington County, 150 for Prince Georges County. which is now plan- tion for the American Navy. ropriation of $1502.000,000 for construction of vessels by the Mari- time Commission and contract au- thority for an additional $2.350.- 000.000. Mr. Roosevelt submitted to Con- gress letters from Budget Director Harold D. Smith proposing the new expenditures. The President noted that he concurred with Mr. Smith’s observations. 2 of the Aimy Items was $13.252,200,000 for “ordnance service and supplies.” Neither this nor any other item carried any detailed ex- planation. Mr. Smith said the pur- pose was “to provide additional re- quirements for the prosecution of the war.” Other Army items included $3.- 011,512,000 for the Office of the Sec- | retary of War in “expediting pro- duction,” $3.391.166900 for the Quartermaster Corps. including Army subsistence, supplies, clothing and equippage, transportation, horses and pack animals; 000.000 for the Signal Co 440,000 for the Air Corps. $171.178.- 000 for the Medical Department, $1,226,300000 for the Corps, $288,336,000 for the Chemical Warfare Service, and $31.769,000 for seacoast defenses. Mr. Smith said the Maritime Com- | mission request was made “to pro- A 100 additional beds in Montgomery County, preferably in Bethesda. Two hundred and twenty-five ad- at Glenn Dale Sanatorium were Mr. Taft'’s recommendations on District public facilities. At the same time. he requested an* Engineers | (Earlier Story on Page A-1.) Laura Ingalls’ contention that her intrigue with high Nazi dip- lomats in this country was merely in the interest of coun- terespionage was disputed this afternoon by the first two wit- nesses called by the Government. The witnesses, Dr. I. Daniel Shorell of New York, a piastic surgeon, and Dudley Steele. Bur- bank (Calif.) airport manager, said that in conversations Miss Ingalls had indicated her full sympathy with the Nazi cause and said she was preparing for the day when Hitler would bring his new order to i this country. The witnesses were called after Late Races opening statements to the jury, se- lected this morning, by the prose- cutor, Special Assistant to the At-| Earlier Results, Entries, Rossvan's | torney General M. Neil Andrews, and Other Selections on Page 2-X. | and Defense Council James Reilly 5 | Mr. Andrews said the Government | ancns 5 yeateoids and-upward: would prove that Miss Ingalls ac-| Moon Maiden (McC'bs) w40 wen Cepted money from Nazi diplomats | Traasient (James) =20 )| to spread Hitler's gospel in this e ] )| country. Mr. Reilly admitted his | A ransister Union | client had accepted the money nnd‘ | consorted with the Nazis, but claimed she was acting in the in- terests of the United States as a | counter-espionage agent. Dr. Shorell testified that (See INGALLS, Page 2 { vide for construction of addi- tional vessels, including facinties therefor, and the production of equipment and material under the Maritime Commission’s ship con- struction program.” The huge Navy appropriation measure signed by the President provided for both cash and contract authorizations. It provided also for adding approximately 25,000 planes to the Navy's sky force and enlarg- ing the fleet for waging war in two oceans at once. allow- | 61y fur- 580 Maemante SEVENTH RACE—Purs ing. 3-year-olds: 1'a m Crah Apple (Wielander) 21.5 Michigar_ Sun (James) Shilka (Brunelle) Time. 1:51%. | Also ran—Alibi Babe. Spritewick. Say Nomore. Sun Risk. Tour. Brave Chance.| —— Question Man, Wadds, Bonnie Golos. L) $1.200: elaim- 220 810 410 320 1330 | augmented by members o . | Lost & Found A-3 men to cut holes in her sides to allow the water to escape. He said the ship, third largest mer- ssel in the world. was listing at a 25-degree angle Early reports that 200 of the 2,500 or 3,000 workmen aboard rapped below decks proved unfounded. a Navy official said, but nevertheless it was feared casualties would be heavy Father William McDonald of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church said he gave last to at least 40 men and that other priests were workir him inside the pier. Ot jured were taken to several hos- pitals Welder's Torch Blamed Fifteen workmen from the ing vessel arrived at Bel pital in a disaster unit of them so severely ned or come that they were carried stretchers to the emergncy The 3d Naval District au publication of a stat ward J. Sullivan said the fire star torel terial on t midships blaze crippled system. making it below ta find their At 5 pm. the f ing fiercely Naval officers said there were 300 Coast Guardsmen. 400 1500 eivilians on fire started. Most Five alarms we: flames attacked t of the $60.000,000 liner an doctors and nurses were sped to the scene with catastrophe equipmer By 4 pm. (E. W. T.), two h after the fire started. the vessel was completely enveloped 1in smoke, which. hindered fire- ers work- ing both from the waterfroAt and from fireboats Dozens of fire boats and tugs plaved steady streams on the ship, Upper Deck Ablaze. The entire upper deck of the 83.- 423-ton vessel. third largest mer- e world. was ablaze. raced through the length of the 1.209-foot superliner, eating at the gray-painted super- structure, Eyewitnesses said, “It the entire ship will go up. Four fireboats pulled into the slip near the liner and began spraying water on the flames on the street also went to work, but the range of their hose lines was ineffective for the after end of the ship. The promenade deck is direct below the boat deck and the fire spread quickly over both levels and began whipping down through lower decks into the inside of the ship Besides fireboats and police launches, police emergency squads and ambulances sped to the scene, the police looks like v bomb and sabotage squads The smoke was so heavy that it obscured the tops of buildings as far south as the garment district. 10 blocks away. The blaze was visible across the Hudson River in Jersey. Third Naval District headquarters at New York authorized publication of the story. Shortly after the fire was reported a large groun of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation was dispatched to the scene to investie gate the possibility of sabotage. Mayor F. H. La Guardia inter- rupted a broadcast after speaki only 5 minutes and sped from Cn\ Hall to the Hudson River pier. John Riley. a Brooklyn driller, said he was in the hold with 200 other drillers when he smelled smoke and some yelled, “Let's get out of here.” Riley said more than 3,000 work- men were aboard at the time The catastrophe unit of Bellevue “"(See NORMANDIE, Page 2-X.) GUIDE FOR READERS Page. Page Amusements, A-10 B-16 B-14 B-14-15 B-6 A-8 Society B-3 Sports = A-44-15 Where to Go B-11 Woman's Page B-10 (Complete Index, Page A-1) ' | Obituary_ Radio Comics Serial Story Editorials___ Editorial Articles Finance A-9 A-16 *F % % F NN »» = » & ¥ "W ¥ ®FEF RN nbnn‘ti'))' * % ¥ ¥ N B F » » » » ¥ ')r:i:: X ¥