Evening Star Newspaper, April 17, 1942, Page 4

A—2 wxx R. A.F. Planes Sweep Northern France; Natis Hig Back Waves of R. A. F. Loosed By Clearing Weather; Foe Claims 11 Ships By the Associsted Prest LONDON, April 17.—Clearing weather unleashed wave on wave of R. A. F. planes today for their virtyally ceaseless offensive against the German-dominated continent, and Nazi struck back savagely at a south coast town which they sald was | Southampton. A great force swept Northern | Prance and returned across the strait, preceded by the angry sound | of German anti-aircraft barrages on the occupled mainland coast Bpitfires blanketed a great area as they eontinued the shutties of de- struction across the waters at 20,000 feet. The first wave was followed inland over France by a second force. The German high command sald 11 British planes were destroyed over the Channel and English south coast yesterday in violent combats. ‘The Germans sald supply installa- tions were attacked “with good re- sults” at Southampton with high explosive and incendlary bombs, West Country Town Bombed. Early this morning enemy planes dropped bombs also at a west coun- try town and roared away before ground guns could come into action. Two waves of R, A. F'. raiders were followed in the afternoon by a strong mixed force of bombers and fighters who headed sou¢heast over the sea from Deal. Scores of air- craft were vislble to watchers who soon heard German anti-aircraft fire greeting the invaders. The night attack kept alive a virtual non-stop aerial assault which had been going on for more than 70 hours when the day ralders bombers | hammered Northern France this morning. The Nazi submarine base at Lorfent and the docks at Le Havre were the targets of the night bomb- eri, and enemy airflelds in Holland and Northern France of the night fighters, the Alr Ministry said. ‘Two bombers were lost, it sald, but the Germans also lost a bomber which was intercepted in the at- tack on one of their airfields, ‘The numbers in the morning raids indicated that the sweeps were as large as yesterday's assault by more than 400 British planes and the drone of high-flying squadrons in- cluded the deep roar of heavy bombers. Blasts Heard Across Channel. Although the planes swept out too high to be identified, they could be henrd passing overhead for almost 15 minutes and then, very soon, ex- plosions began rolling back from across the Channel. Some of the reverberations were strong enough \:dnmo doors and windows on this 8. ‘Within 10 minutes after the main force had crossed to the French side in the direction of , some of the R. A. F, fighters were roar- ing back at less than 1,000 feet. A British report that suddenly changing weather halted R. A. F. attacks on Germany last night in- dicated the night operations were on a smaller scale than the recent heavy air thrusts. The weather over the Dover Strait today was fine with visibility of more than three miles. 1,500,000 Nasis Defending. More than 1,500,000 German sol- diers and civilians are “fully en- gaged in defense against the British air offensive conducted by the bomber and fighter commands,” the Air Ministry news service sald. “In effect,” the news service said, “the bomber and fighter commands are compelling the enemy to main- tain a long and purely defensive western front. At least 750,000 Germans were kept busy in passive defense—as wardens, fire watchers, demolition and bomb disposal squads and am- bulance and hospital staffs, it was estimated. Another 750,000, Vir- tually all regular soldiers or airmen, were sald to be engaged in the immense German active defense system. A searchlight belt 200 miles long and 20 miles deep in places, with batteries of 10 to 20 searchlights every 5 miles, was said to be stretched across Northwestern Ger- meny. In addition, every large Ger- man city has its own searchlights. 600,000 Busy in West. “Anti-aircraft guns are in their| thousands,” the news service added “Between them the guns and searchlights keep upward of 600,000 troops busy in the west. At least 20000 men are needed for the ob- server corps, 15,000 for air-raid com- munications, 20000 of the most skilled for night fighter squadrons and 60,000 for headquarters and ad- | ministrative staffs Besides this diversion of German L NEW YORK.—LIFEBOAT FACTORY BURNS—Eight lifeboats, intended for use by the United States Maritime Commission, were destroyed when this fire broke out in a lifeboat factory here yesterday. A civilian defense test that would entail blacking out all lights throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia is being considered by civilian defense offi- cials, Col. Lemuel Bolles said today. Col. Bolles said no definite de- cision had been made, but that State and District officials are considering the test for sometime within the next two or three weeks. Maryland and Virginia, the District and Pennsyl- vania constitute the third defense region, but it is mot contemplated that Pennsylvania participate in the | suggested blackout test. Col. Bolles said he hoped to be able to correct errors disclosed in the test here last Tuesday. While he has not received a complete of- Blackout Including All Virginia And Maryland Considered THE EVENING ficial report from the civilian de- fense services, he said he believed they would show need for better basic training for all services, better systems for operation of emergency vehicles during blackouts and speedier handling of air-raid warn- ings and signals through the com- munication relay system. On the latter point there had been reports that the communica- tions signals did not reach some sector wardens fast enough. The blackout was so effective that police and other officials could not quickly identify emergency vehicles. They have been identified by windshield stickers, and these cars frequently were halted by police to see if they were emergency vehicles and en- titled to operate. Volunteers Vanquish Gettysburg Area Fire; Incendiarism Seen Four Blazes Burn Over 2,000 Acres of Timber On South Mountain By the Associated Press. GETTYSBURG, Pa, April 17—A devastating fire that burned over more than 2,000 acres of brush and timberland on nearby South Moun- tain was brought under control to- day after an all-night fight. District Forester Thomas Norris said four separate blazes were of incendiary origin. Damage to State and privately- owned forest lands mounted into thousands of dollars, hunting lodges in the Tumbling Run area were be- lieved lost and the community of Wenksville, with a population of several hundred, was threatened. Declaring that the blazes which broke out in an 8-mile section within three hours were incendiary Mr. Norris summoned State police for an ern Prance and the Low Countries “are responsible for keeping half of the fighter strength of the Ger- man air force away from the Rus- sian front” 11 Planes Claimed by Nasis. BERLIN (From German Broad- casts), April 17 (®.—The German high command said today Nazi fighters shot down 11 planes in air combats yesterday over the Channel strength, the news service said R. A. F. fighter sweeps over North- and south coast of England Weather Repor (Furnished by the United District of Columbia—Some lkelihood of a brief shower late this afternoon or early tonight; becomin winds. Maryland—A few scattered sho right; becoming cooler in the interior tonight Virginia—A few widely scattered showers this afternoon ending early by morning iedita tonight; becoming somewhat cooler Tide Tables. Purnished by Tnited States Beodetic Surves) Tomorrow 10138 pm. 0. tomorrow oon. today Automobile ene-balf hour Report for Last 34 Hours. Cosst and t States Weather Bureau) g cooler tonight; gentle to moderate wers this afternoon ending early to- | River Report. | ah clear at | 1y muddy at | | - Temperature. | Yesterday— 4 om S$om .. . - Midnighi e - Record for Last 34 Hours. @Prom noon vesterday to noon today.) Nighest, 84, 5 pam. yesterday. Year nap. 85 Lowsit. 40, 6:48 am. today. Y Record Temperatures This Year. ighest. 91. on Aoril & 6. on January 11. Humidity for Last 84 Hours. noon yesterday to noon today) L. 88 per cent. 0 a.m 83 per cent, M350 pm. 332 788 in Various Cities Precipt- Low. tation Weather Stations. erque, N. Mex Hish Cleveland, Ob | Denver. Gola. - _ Detroit. Mich Fort Worth | Memphis, Tenn. bt Fla | New York. Philadelp! i =, P : t. Louts. Mo &4 Washington, D. C. “‘ 3 immediate investigation. He reported one of the fires started in about 20 points at the same time. Volunteer fire crews, State fores- ters and wardens, along with stu- dents from Mount Alto Forestry School, succeeded in bringing under control one blaze which covered some 1,000 acres ®f the vicinity of the summer rescrt at Laurel Lake. Other conflagrations at Gray Ridge, Pigeon Roost and Tumbling Run roared through the night, prompting dispatch to the scene of 60 soldiers from Carlisle Barracks and 70 volunteers from Dickinson Collegé. Housewives in the area fed the fighters, some walking long distances to carry food. | The fires were described as the| worst in the Micheaux district deer“ country in 11 years and the first| major outbreak in the State this| season. Layettes to Poor Donated Havana's Rotary Club donated | lagettes to all poor babies born there on January 28, the birthday an- STAR, W —A. P. Wirephoto. Communiques Landings on Panay By Japs Reported The tert of the War Department’s | communique No. 194, based on re- | ports received here up to 5 pm., | Eastern war time, yesterday, follows: | 1. Philippine theater: Hostile troops landed early this morning on the island of Panay, at points near Iloilo and Capiz. The Japanese came ashore from eight transports, protected by fire from naval vessels and by attacks of enemy aircraft. Our forces in Panay are in contact with the enemy, but details of the fighting are not at present avail- able, Japanese air attacks on Cor- regidor are continuing. An enemy bomber was hit by our anti- aircraft fire. It immediately left its formation and when last ob- served was rapidly losing altitude. Our big guns pounded batteries in Bataan and Cavite, resulting in a noticeable decrease in enemy artillery fire during the past 30 hours. Aggressive patrol actions are reported near Moncaya, Zam- boanga and Digos in Mindanao, causing substantial enemy losses. 2. There is nothing to report from other areas. The text of the Navy com- munique isued late yesterday tell- ing of the loss of the minesweep- er Finch follows: Far East: 1. The United States mine- sweeper Finch has been sunk as a result of enemy bombing at- tacks on Corregidor during the past few days. 2. There were no casualties to personnel. niversary of Jose Marti, a Cuban hero. . IMMEDIATE DELIVERY ON 3. There is nothing to report from othef areas. UNIFORMS and EQUIPMENT Exclusive Washington agency TO-WEAR UNIFORMS in blues, khaki and whites. qualified to complete all your uniform needs. for Browning-King READY- We are Our expert tallors assure you of a perfect appearance, Store Hours: 9 AM. to 6 P.M. Thursdays: 12 Noon to 9 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 'Henderson Believes Taxes Should Exceed (Congress’ Program Points to Gap Between Buying Power and Value of Available Goods By the Asociated Press, Price Adminstrator Leon Hender- son indicated today that he favored heavier taxation than that provided in Congress’ pending $7.610.000.000 program, as one means of heading off inflation Other Office of Price Administra- tion officials have estimated that | consumer buying power this year would exceed the value of goods available by $17.000,000,000. The pressure of this “inflationary gap” between purchasing power and con- sumer goods, they contend, could not be resisted by any price ceiling, however sweeping. Mr. Henderson in an interview said: “It has always been my idea that the way to plug the inflationary gap is through increased taxes and in- duced savings.” Points to Gap. He refused, however, to say how much he believed the tax burden should be increased, saying merely, “take a look at the gap.” Mr. Henderson’s comments came as other well-placed sources pre- dicted that the proposed retail price ceiling on virtually all consumer goods might be expected “next week or the week after.” They indicated it would not be presented by O. P. A. until after President Roosevelt had presented to Congress an omnibus inflation- control program reportedly now in preparation. Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee neared the end of its hearings on the new tax program. Secretary of the Treasury Mor- genthau, testifying yesterday, in- formed the committee that the Treasury soon would start ringing door bells once a month to stimulate war bond purchases—and hinted broadly that the administration does not contemplate compulsory savings. Plan in Preparation. “We have a plan in preparation,” | he said, to stimulate voluntary pur- chases, which have dropped from a rate of $1,000,000,000 a month in January to $500,000,000. But he quickly explained that the Treasury did not “intend to paint houses yel- low” or put people “behind barbed wire” if they did not buy bonds. Secretary Morgenthau, intensifying his drive to head off forced savings, took four representatives of labor and management from General Motors Corp. before the committee to explain that company’s scheme of voluntary pay-roll deductions for bond purchases. Walter Reuther, United Automo- bile Workers (C. I. O official, told the committee “we believe that the voluntary method is the real way to mobilize the workers” and said, “we are trying to get our people” to | divert 20 per cent of their income to war bond purchases. Favors Voluntary Plan. Mr. Reuther said that he believed | the voluntary plan was better than | a compulsory savings program and would produce more revenue and added that his union already had purchased $50,000,000 worth of bonds “and we're working on the second $50,000,0000.” H. W. Anderson, a General Motors vice president, said that a pay- roll deductions plan was inaugurated last fall, but the results were dis- appointing, at first. An organized sales promotion campaign is ready now in an effort to step up still further the purchases. John M. Jerpe, another corpora- tion official, exhibited charts show- ing the efforts that have been made to induce voluntary savings and an- nouncing & “bond drive for victory.” | He said that “campaign managers” had been named for many plants in an effort to get 100 per cent employe co-operation. Brazil Diamond Prices Set Best quality gem diamonds, finished but unset, have been valued at as high as $650 a carat in Brazil while industrial diamonds are quoted at less than $2.90 a carat. 17, 1942, - LT. GOV. GEN. H. J. VAN MOOK. 'Hoffmann fo Be Called VICE ADMIRAL W. A, GLASSFORD 11. SAN FRANCISCO.—ARRIVE FROM WAR ZONE—The Lieutenant Governor General of the Netherlands East Indies, Mr. Van Mook, who left Java for Australia before the Indies fell to the invading Japanese, is shown after his arrival here. Admiral Glassford was photographed as he was interviewed by newsmen on his return from the war zone. The commander of the United States naval forces in the Southwest Pacific pledged that United States armed forces will go back to Java—just as Gen. MacArthur will go back to the Philippines. —A. P. Wirephotos. e 'Van Mook, En Route To D. C., Lauds Work 0f Gen. MacArthur Dutch East Indies Governor Arrives In San Francisco By the Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO, April 17—Dr. H. J. Von Mook, Lieutenant Gov- ernor General of the Netherlands East Indies, arrived yesterday en route to Washington and London with high praise for Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the opinion “that we all should concentrate on the present” to win the war. “I entirely agree with public opinion in Australia that the ap- pointment of Gen. MacArthur as allied commander in chief for the Southwest Pacific is an exceedingly happy solution of the problem of unity of command in the conduct of the war,” Dr. Van Mook said in an interview, Sees MacArthur Offensive. “I am convinced that Gen. Mac- Arthur surely won't let himself be guided exclusively by defensive con- siderations. The general personally has made a very deep impression on me, the impression of & man who is able to view strategic problems in a broader scope than the limits of his command comprise.” Dr. Van Mook said his main ob- Jject was to go to London and con- sult there with the Netherlands government. - “These discussions will also bear on my future mission and plans,” he explained. “As for my opinion on the future of our effort, I believe we all should concentrate on the present. “Neither will I look back. We have a job to do and we must do it as well as we can. For this we can follow no better example than that given by our fighting men. Cites Illustration. “I think, as one illustration among many, of that Dutch pilot who brought a party of my colleagues in his transport plane from Ban- doeng. “The plane was attacked when landing in Australia. The pilot’s first thought, when everybody was brought in safely, was of the im- portant papers which were still in the plane. “He got them at the peril of his life. Then the thought struck him that there was still a machine gun NATURAL SANDTONE BABARDINES IN THE LEWIS & THOS. SALTZ MANNER $65 These are the same Fine Quality Custom Imperial Gabardines which so delighted our customers last year . . . and many years before that. Hand tailored by one of the best makers in America. This choice fabric is tightly that holds crease, loomed and full bodied . . . the kind drapes easily and comfortably. The color is a becoming new sandtone shade . . . a sharp, clean color. Single & double breasted models. OTHER SANDTONE GABARDINES.___$45 “AZURE ISLE” GABARDINES o~ LEWIS & THOS. SALTZ ----$85 1409 G STREET N.W. DISTRICT 3822 NOT CONNECTED WITH SALTZ BROS. INC. in the plane. He got that, too, put it to his shoulder and actually suc- ceeded in bringing down one of the two attacking enemy planes. Then there was the problem of get- ting the wounded away to a safer spot. The pilot went up in another plane and kept flying for 25 hours. He just kept on the job in hand.” Dutch Will Reorganize Indies Air Force in U. S. MELBOURNE, April 17 (®.— Dutch leaders disclosed today that the Netherlands Indies air force would be reorganized in the United tates under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Rudolph van Oyen. (Van Oyen arrived at San Fran- cisco yesterday with Dr. Hubertus van Mook, lieutenant governor gen- eral of the Indies. They came from Australia.) Many pilots and student flyers left Java before the Japanese invasion of the Indies, it was said, most of them remaining in Australia but others going to America, where the new force will be built up. ‘The Dutch also are selling to Aus- tralia without profit large supplies of planes, tanks, machine guns, rifles and ammunition ordered from the | United States and paid for but not delivered in time for use in the Indies. Soviet Purchasing Unit A Soviet purchasing commission has been established in this country to facilitate contact on lend-lease ‘matters, it was announced yester- day. The announcement was made by Maj. Gen. A. I. Belayev, chair- man of the commission. $1897° MONTHLY \ B \ \ EW choose to perpetuate the occasion of your wed Again fo Testify in "Propaganda Probe Michigan Legislator’s Secretary Also Slated For Second Jury Quiz William Power Maloney, special assistant to the Attorney General, announced today that Representa- tive Hoffmann, Republican, of Mich« igan will be called again to testify before the additional District grand Jury inquiring into enemy propa- ganda and agents. On the House floor recently, Rep= resentative Hoffmann charged that Mr. Maloney boasted he would de- feat Republican members of Con- gress in three months. This Mr. Maloney emphatically denied Miss Helen Boyer, Representative Hoffmann's secretary, who has pre- viously appeared before the grand jury, also will be recalled, Mr. Maloney said. Baxter and Ahearn Called. Scheduled to appear before the grand jurors today were David Bax- ter of San Bernardino, Calif., re- ferred to by the Government as the chancellor of the Soclal Republic | Society, and Michael Ahearn, re- | search specialist associated with | Miss Catherine Curtis, president of the Women Investors in America. Mr, Baxter is slated to give fur- ther testimony before the grand Jjurors this afternoon. The grand jury questioned him for | more than an hour yesterday after- noon in what apparently was an un=- productive session, because the wit- | ness was suddenly taken before Jus- tice F. Dickinson Letts in District Court and threatened with a con- tempt of court citation unless he re- vealed certain information. Seek Name of Leader. Mr. Maloney took Mr. Baxter into court, because, he said, the witness had refused to disclose to the d.- jury the name of the leader ] Social Republic Soclety of Amer! The court was told by Mr. loney that the grand jury, afte: peated questioning, had been to learn from Mr. Baxter the of the socigty’s head. Mr. Baxter, the court was formed, admitted he had and distributed mimeogr} broadsides for the society in members were urged not to “f your arsenal” and to keep a supply of ammunition avi none of which should be more a year old. Reported to Have Answered. In the courtroom, Justice Letts | admonished Mr. Baxter he could be held for contempt of court and the witness quickly agreed to answer | the grand jury's questigns. The jury then reassembled and heard the an. swer. Mr. Baxter is reported to ha admitted he was the leader of the organization. In the courfroom, Mr. Maloney said Mr. Baxter, after repeated ques- tioning, declared a “chancellor” headed the soctety, but he refused to identify the “chancellor.” Mr. Maloney revealed he asked Mr. Baxter in the grand jury room if the “chancellor” was Adolf Hitler. The reply, he said, was that Hitler had no connection whatever with the speiety, but under its rules and by-laws, he was mot at liberty to disclose the name of the “chan- cellor.” ed&ing Ring you ding must fulfill her fondest dreams of loveliness. beauty of charm must reflect The it’'s radiant the happiness that comes to you on your Wedding Day, LOOK FOR THE GOLD CLOCK 708 7+ ST.* ( MEtropoli O M OF PERFE -RFECT 1305F ST. itan 0060