Evening Star Newspaper, May 8, 1942, Page 8

A—6 Xxx Laws Don't Prohibit War Production in Prisons, Biddle Says U. S., State Bans During Peacetime Not Operative, Roosevelt Informed Federal laws do not prohibit pur- chase by the Federal Government of war materials from either Fed- eral or State prisons, Attorney Gen- | eral Biddle told the President in a letter made public by the Justice Department this afternoon Mr, Biddle's letter was in reply to a request by the President for an opinion on whether industrial facilities at prisons can be utilized | for the production of war materials. 170,000 in Prisons. Prisons in the United States, it is estimated, have about $50,000,000 worth . of industrial equipment, which is currently employed at only about 25 per cent of its maximum capacity. Prison population totals about 170,000. Federal laws governing industnall production in American prisons, though containing restrictions of | considerable effect in peacetime,” do | not prevent any barrier to the full utilization of productive capacity of the prisons in the war effort,” Mr. Biddle said.” Mr. Biddle also said he believed State laws restricting use of prisen- made goods would not prove bar- riers during the emergency. Secretary Perkins Agrees. ‘The Federal law prohibiting the movement in interstate commerce of convict-made goods, he added, is not a bar to the interstate move- ment of State prison-made products | bought by the Federal government. | Secretary Perkins, he declared, | had eypressed willingness to mnkr’! exemptions under the Walsh-Healey | Act for contracts with a State or with the prison authorities of a State for prison-made goods.” Such , & ruling will remove completely any Uncertainty as to the application of the act.” Mr. Biddle said. Gen. fiach;ihur Praises War Savings Campaign A message from Gen. Douglas MacArthur was received here yes- terday by Bert M. Sarazen, chair- man of newspaper publicity for the Treasury Department’s national re- tail advisory council on War bonds and stamps. The council early this week cabled Gen. MacArthur that their goal is “to double and redouble the present sale of War savings bonds and stamps.” In reply, the general cabled: “Your message is one of victory. MacArthur.” Mr. Sarazen, who is also publicity director of the Hecht Co., said that merchandizers are planning a major campaign, with the slogan: “A million retailers unite for war sav- ings—Commandos of Main Street.” | Details of the campaign will be | formulated tomorrow, Sunday and | Monday in sessions at the Treasury Building. Among the prominent merchandizing men attending will be Maj. Benjamin Namm, head of the council; L. S. Janes of Chicago, | Robert Marimon, Cleveland; Willard Campbell, Hartford, Conn., and Allen | Wells, Pittsburgh. W.LB. Arbifrafion Hearing Ignored by Peoria Railroad; By the Associated Press, CHICAGO. May 8—Justice Ben- | Jamin C. Hilliard, named by the War | Labor Board to adjust differences between the Toledo, Peoria & West- | ern Railroad and two brotherhoods, said today that failure of the man- | agement to appear at hearings had | deprived him of the power to arbi- trate, “If both sides had been here, T would have been an arbitrator,” he told the brotherhood representa- tives who were present. “Now, as I understand it, I am to make a rec- ommendation to the War Labor Board and the final decision will rest with that board.” ‘The brotherhoods completed their testimony yesterda: NSO ! Gasoline ‘ (Continued From First Page.) choices of those who were to get tires and the unpleasant task of choosing those who would go with- out.” | Sugar Committees Praised. | He said that the functioning of school teachers in recenf{ days in handling sugar rationing was evi- dence of the ability of citizens “to handle their own affairs.” “The big thing about this meal- ticket basis, as we approach a heavier cut.” Mr. Henderson said,| “is our emphasis on Kkeeping in- dustry going and seeing that people who use their autos for transport get 1t He said persons to be put in the B groups and their allotments would be determined on an individual basis—“on a basis of mileage he es- timates he travels” on his job Within 10 days. he added. the O. P. A. hopes to have a classification of these groups “that will let us know where these burdens fall” and where adjustments might be made At the outset, Mr, Henderson sa‘d thet the W. P, B. had thought it was unfair to compel retail cealers to choose as to essential users of gasoline as the situation became more serious and had been wrc on a plan to be ready around 1. if deemed wit coupon rationing system with “two- way control”; one way as to essen- tiality of use and the other for re- plenishment of retail stocks only by “cashing, in coupons” which pur- chasers had surrendered. Area Is Modified. But the “gravity of the shortage compelled the Government to \ dertake an interim system of the East Coast and therefore 1t vas de- termined that as of May 15 there would be “a meal ticket rationing plan.” It would apply to District No: 1, Mr. Henderson said, which generally covers the East Coast, but which he said was modified yes terday to eliminate the western part of New York. the western part of | Pennsylvania and part of West Vir- ginia. Discussing enforcement of the ra- tioning, Mr. Henderson commented: | “But the necessities are such that in this seven weeks beginning May 15, if necessary, we will ask these (rationing) committees of neighbors o see that there is not an abuse in providing wonkers with necessary gas.” ! THE EVENING STAR, Barrier Reef QBUKA IETA SOLOMON @ LOUISIADE + ARCHIPELAGO - NAVAL BATTLE RAGES IN CORAL SEA—Allied and Japanese warships were engaged today in a battle in the Coral Sea in which 13 enemy ships have been sunk or crippled. Reports indicate the battle began near the Solom on Islands (1) Monday. Allied bombers were reported yesterday to have sunk a Japanese transport in the Louisiade Archipelago (2). Presence of Japanese ships near the Louisiades indicates a possible thrust at Port Moresby (3) or the Northeastern Australian coast, marked here by Australian flag. The Japanese are based in Northeastern New Guinea and New Britain. Lt. Bulkeley, Home From War, Expects To Come fo Capital Says Couple of Hundred Torpedoboats Could Sweep Japs From Seas By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 8—Lt. John D. Bulkeley, whose torpedoboat ex- | ploits in the Philippines etched some of the brightest pages in recent naval history, came home from the war today and expressed the opinion that “with a couple of hundred torpedoboats we could sweep the Japs from the sea.” Waiting for Lt. Bulkeley at the airport was his wife, “the happiest woman in the world.” and waiting at his home in Long Island City was John Duncan Bulkeley, jr. whom his father had never seen—the child was born April 3—and Joan, 19 | | months old. With Lt. Bulkeley on the trip | from the Pacific Coast were Lt.| Robert Kelley of New York City| and Ensign Robert E. Cox, Water- | town, N. Y, fellowofficers who have shared Lt. Bulkeley's adventures in | Philippine waters | Piloted MacArthur Boat. | Lt. Bulkeley piloted the torpedo- boat on which Gen. Douglas Mac- | Arthur left Corregidor for a ren- dezvous with a bomber which eventually landed the general and his party in Australia. = Lt. Bulkeley said that generally the Americans were outnumbered] about 10 to 1 by the Japanese whom | he described as “very brave. very courageous and very pugnacious fighters who will fight until they are | wounded or dead.” “But we can still lick them,” he | added. “Generally speaking, we can handle them at odds of five to one against us and as soon as our man- power is on a one-to-one basis, it will be a steamrollerup.” Expects to Come to Washington. Lt. Bulkeley said he had a 10-day furlough and would spend most of it with his family. He said he ex- pected to go to Washington soon | and probably would be assigned later to the torpedo boat training | center at Newport, R. I. Mrs. Bulkeley admitted that she | almost fainted from joy when she received the news her husband was safe in San PFrancisco, adding: “It was almost more than I could bear. I have always hoped, despite the | terrible danger he faced when tak- ing Gen. MacArthur to Australia, | | that T would see him again * * *! | Now I am the happiest woman in the world.” To Move Billion in Gold B3 the Associated Press. LONDON, May 8—The Daily Sketch declared today the Vichy government is preparing to move “nearly a billion dollars” in French gold reserves to Venezuela from Martinique. The sketch reported in its “Inside | Information” column that two French submarines are en route to pick up the treasure and that they would relay it to four neutral cargo boats chartered to take it on to Venezuela The gold would be distributed among four ships so the loss would not be as great if any was sunk by Axis submarines, the Sketch said, adding Vichy fears that Martinique might be occupied by the United States if relations deteriorate be- cause of the (British) occupation of Madagascar.” It was explained that the gold originally was taken to Canada and then to Martinique, and the Sketch sald a small part later was trans- ferred to Dakar, French West Africa. The “Inside Information” column also asserted that “a number of Vichy officials already have es- caped from Madagascar to Portu- uese Mozambique, among them Comdr. Lagarde, who took docu- ments and files that would have been of value to Britain.” Theft of Jefiélry Valued At $8,730 Reported Here Mrs. Gertrude M. Schloss, wife of L. B. Scholss, general manager of Glen Echo Amusement Park, re- ported to police today that jewelry | valued at $8,730 was stolen from her fourth-floor apartment at 3700 Massachusetts avenue N.W. yester- day. Mrs. Schloss said the gems were stolen from a vanity and dresser between 2 and 10:30 p.m., when no | one was in the apartment. Police reported that the front door of the = apsrtment had been forced. The loot included a diamond wrist watch with diamond band attached, | valued at $3,000: two diamond rings worth $1,000 and $1,500, espectively, and a diamond bracelet worth $2,- 500. The other jewelry consisted | of miscellaneous rings, a bracelet, a | watch and two diamond stiekpins. ! \ }Funeral Services Held For Emerson S. Rush Emerson Stone Rush, 50, who died iin a Cleveland hospital Monday as | the result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident, was buried yes- terday in Monocacy Cemetery, Beallsville, Md. Services were held at his late home, in Shady Grove, Md Mr. Rush was on his way to De- | troit, where the Motor Transport | Division of the War Department, in which he was employed, has been transferred. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Rachel Gott Rush; a daughter by a former marriage, Betty Lee Rush: his mother, Mrs. Columbia Rush of ‘Washington, and a brother, Julian Rush of Richmond, Va. Australia (Continued From First Page.) cruiser, a light cruiser, two destroy- ers, four gunboats and a supply vessel. Damaged and believed a total loss: Another aircraft carrier, Heavily damaged: A heavy cruiser, a light cruiser, a 9,000-ton seaplane tender, a transport and a cargo vessel. These figures included Japanese losses first announced yesterday in a Washington communique covering the initial phases of the battle off the Solomon Islands plus others not | previously reported. Allied bombers were credited with destruction of still another Jap- anese transport in a raid on the Louisiaide Islands northeast of Aus- tralia. 3 Battle Over Wide Expanse. Allied headquarters did not speci- fically name the location of the naval battle, but successive communiques indicated it was ranging over a wide expanse of ocean south of the Solo- mon Islands and extending into the Coral Sea. If actually in the Coral Sea, the battle indicates the Japanese have broken through the outer screen of | islands which shield the Australian continent on the east at a distance of about 1,000 miles. The critical importance of the gi- gantic conflict was apparent—per- haps rivaling that of the disputed World War battle of Jutland, which so far stands as the heaviest naval engagement of all time. It was the first test of strength between the Allied and Japanese fleets since the battle of Java early last March, and first reports indi- cated it would far exceed that bloody —A. P. Wirephoto. Tokio (Continued From First Page.) that the Warspite or any other British battleship had been sunk or damaged in the Coral Sea, as claimed by the Japanese. (The communique and a note which preceded it differed as to the dates of the action, but agreed that a preliminary phase started Wednesday. The note said ' the sinkings took place “May 6 and 7": the communique, Thursday and today.) Text of Communiques. The preliminary announcement said: “Imperial Japanese headquarters confirm in a communique issued at 5:20 pm. Japanese time (4:20 am. E. W. T.) the sinking of two United | States Aircraft carriers, the York- !town and Saratoga, as well as of a United States battleship of the | California class in a naval battle in | the Coral Sea on May 6 and 7. The imperial headquarters text follows: “Imperial navy units operating in the New Guinea area discovered and WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, 'High CourtIs Asked To Reconsider Edict in Sweeney Libel Case Attorney Hits Failure To Decide Dispute By Written Opinion By the Associated Press. Attorneys for 26 newspapers asked the Supreme Court today to recon- sider its recent 4-to-4 ruling sustaining a Circut Court decision which was interpreted by opposing | litigants as holding that under New York law it is “libelous per se” to publish a false charge that a pub- lic official holds anti-Semitic views. The Supreme Court action, on| April 13, taken without a written | opinion because of the tie vote, di- rected a trial before the Northern | New York Federal District Court to determine whether Representative | Sweeney, Democrat, of Ohio had been libeled by statements published | | in 1938 in the Schenectady (N. Y.) Union Star that he was opposing | the appointment of a Jew as Fed- | eral district judge at Cleveland Morris L. Ernst, New York attor- | ney for the Schenectady Union Pub- | lishing Co., contended in the peti- tion for rehearing that a failure to | decide the controversy by a written | opinion “will encourage further mul- tiplicity of suits and the continued . emergence of a crazy-quilt of con- flicting rulings * * *." Mr. Ernst said the suit against the Schenectady paper was but one of “no less than 66" brought by Mr. | Sweeney against newspapers which published the comment on the Rep- resentative contained in “The Wash- ington Daily Merry-Go-Raund” column. The attorneys joining in | | the petition represented 25 of these | papers. Referring to the disqualification of Justice Jackson, a New Yorker | and former Attorney General, from participating in the April 13 action | and the Supreme Court practice, in | the event of a tie vote, or affirming the decision of the lower court ap- | pealed from, Mr. Ernst said: “It is respectfully urged that where a tie vote results from a vol- untary disqualification, the wise ad- ministration of justice requires that before confessing itself unable to de- cide a case rightfully before 1t, espe- | cially one voluntarily taken on for decision by reason of its great im- portance, this court request the self- disqualifying justice to sit. * * *” caught a powerful Anglo-American | combined fleet May 6 in the Coral Sea. “Attacking them on May 7, they instantly sank a _ United States battleship of the California type and seriously crippled a British ‘A’ class cruiser of the Canberra type and heavily damaged a British battle- ship of the Warspite type. “They sank today a United States aircraft carrier of the Saratoga type and another of the Yorktown type. | “The attack is still being con- tinued. The battle will be called | the sea battle of the Coral Sea.” Two battleships, the California and the Tennessee, make up the California class. Both were built in 11919 and have a displacement of 32,600 and 32.300 tons, respectively. The normal complement of each is 1,480 men. | The aircraft carrier Saratgoa, which displaces 33,000 tons, was built in 1925. Her complement, in- «cluding flying personnel, is 2,122. The aircraft carrier Yorktown, built in 1936, is a vessel of 19,900 tons. Her normal complement, in- cluding fiyers, is 2,072. She has space for more than 100 aircraft; the Saratoga's normal aircraft load is 81 planes, her maximum is 90 planes. struggle both in scope and gfter- math, All Australia waited eagerly for‘ news to be flashed on the outcome | of the engagement on which it was generally believed her fate de- | pended. 1Martinique lgpflkeady‘ Jap Purpose Unclear. It was not immediately clear whether the battle betokened a Japanese attempt to cut Australia’s vital supply lines by smashing the Allied fleet, or whether it was the prelude to a new invasion thrust— aimed at Port Moreshy, strategic Allied outpost in Southern New Guinea, or perhaps the East Aus- tralian coast. The first official intimation that the Japanese were on the move | 4 British Planes Felled Over Coast, Nazis Claim By the Associated Press. BERLIN (From German Broad- casts), May 8—Four British planes | were shot down over German coastal | territory during the night, D. N. B, reported today. The news agency said fierce anti- aircraft fire forced the remaining raiders to turn back without un- loading their bombs on Reich ter- ritory. The high command said “the | enemy lost four planes in the course | | of unsuccessful attempted attacks, on the Danish coastal area.” (This| | is German-occupied territory.) | German bombers were said to| | have attacked important war ob- jectives on the English Channel ! coast and Thames estuary yesterday and last night. Surprise for Ration Board | AUSTIN, Minn. (#)—Austin’s ra- tioning board borrowed a box of indelible pencils from Mower County to use in filling out sugar registra- tion forms. When the box was opened, E. C. Banfield, ration board chairman, found each pencil had bold letters “made in Germany.” PARDNER, WE'RE 50RE DOWN IN TEXAS / along the sea approaches to Aus- | tralia was given in the communique vesterday which reported that Al- lied bombers had sunk the Japanese transport in the Louisiade Archi- pelago. The Louisiade Islands are on the route which the Japanese would have to follow in launching a sea- borne assault on eitner Port Moresby or Australia from their bases in Northeastern New Guinea and New Britain—less than a day's journey to the morth by ship. A convoy could steam from the Louisiades to Port Moresby in an- other day or less. ‘Warned of Invasion. Australian leaders repeatedly have warned of the imminent danger of invasion, despite growing Allied air strength and continued bombing at- tacks on Japanese bases ‘The press also has emphasized the great importance to the Allies of holding Port Moresby—which is situated less than 300 miles north- east of Cape York, Australia. Port Moresby itself was again at- | tacked vesterday by eight Japanese Zero fighters, one of which was shot down, Allied headquarters said. An- other Japanese fighter was reported downed by Allied reconnaissance planes over Lae in Northeastern New Guinea. 3@ ”@E-\\ TROUSERS To Match 0dd Coats $4.95. EISEMAN'S—F at 7th IR By 6300 BETHESDA, MD. DISPLAY ROOMS, 6340 WIS. AVE. ERSKINE CALDWELL REPORTS ON WHAT THIS WAR IS DOING "DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS® $o you think Americans have to be east of Chicago, or west of the Rockies, fo get really excited over this war? Well, Siv, you'd better take another look at Texas. With the hum of airplane plants drowning out the cowboy songs, Texas claims she'll soon be producing 3 of every S American planes. And o load of other war chemicals to pilots. LY Writer Erskine Caldwell brings us a firsi-hand report on how the Lone Star State has organized to get those A Read it Sunday, in THIS WEEK Magazine. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE—Stories by Mildred North Siater, Noncy Moers, and Oscar Schisgall . . . Articles by Donald Culress Peattie, Elsie McCormick, Lupton Wilkinsen, Ernest Mortenson, Paul Kearney . . . and other features for olf the family. Che Sunday sentials from critters. MAY ;Baplisls fo Conduct City Mission Work In Washington Rev. M. C. Stith Named Superintendent Here; Population Rise Cited 8, 1942. By the Associated Press. ATLANTA, May 8.—Inauguration | of city mission work in Washington, | D. C, and Birmingham, Ala., has| been authorized by. the Baptist Home Mission Board, Dr. J. B.| Lawrence, executive secretary, an- | nounced today. \ Dr. Lawrence said Baptists in the | District of Columbia reported a | mission problem of “staggering pro- | portions” due to a population in- crease of 36 per cent in the city and | 86 per cent in suburban areas. A petition from the District con- | vention to the board said the city | continues to grow with “unprece- | dented thousands each month.” | The Rev. M. C. Stith, pastor of Brookland Baptist Church in Wash- | ington, was named city superin- tendent for the board in Washmg-’ ton. Dr. A. H. Reid, vice president | of Howard College, was named superintendent of city missions in! | Birmingham. | Sixteenth other missionaries were | named, including 13 students of the Baptist Bible Institute in New Or- | leans, who were appointed as tem- porary workers during the summer Named for permanent work were | Mrs. Ruby Sentifit. New Orleans; | the Rev. Frank Ramirez, Houston, | and Mrs. A. Lopez. Harlingen, Tex. | A debt reduction of $100,00% has brought the board’s obligations down | to $385,000, Dr. Lawrence said. To- tal payments since January 1 hlve: been $165,000. | Receipts for April were $162,064, | an increase of $33,107, or 26 per cent over the same month for last year. Included in the April total was an amount of $14,060 given by the Woman's Missionary Union in | its March offering for home mis- sions. Argentine C;figress To Meet This Month By the Associated Press. BUENOS AIRES, May 8—The | Argentine Congress will convene be- | fore the end of this month, Jose | Luis Cantilo, Radical leader and president of the Chamber of Depu- ties, declared yesterday after a con- | ference with Acting President Ramon 8. Castillo. The constitutional date for the assembly of the new Congress passed | May 1 without a call to meet from the chief executive, who is em- powered to open the session. Radical deputies, who have a ma- jority coalition with the Socialists in the chamber, have declared they | will reopen the question of Argen- tina's steadfast neutrality under which the Castillo government | maintains relations with the Axis | powers. | ‘The war we're in is the war win! Buy War bends! i M S Plan a Picnic for Sunday. Bask in the Sun on the Sands of the Chesa- - peake Bay ot Responsible Prompt Service Star Son: Gee, Pop, you look as cool as an ice cream soda. Father: | sure feel cool, too. |'ve had some - pretty busy days lately . . . but the hegt. never bothers me now that I'm wearing one of . , . D. J. KAUFMAN'S PURE WORSTED Cool as the stratosphere . .. and as smooth and slick and streamlined as a new P-40. . . that’s D. J. Kaufman’s pure worsted, all wool Tropical Suits. Its three points of superior- ity are its advanced styling, its quality fabric and its ability to “breathe.” As dur- able as a Flying Fortress ... it has the added” advantage of keeping its shape through the hardest of trials on the hottest of days. See the many patterns and shades in single and double breasted models at D. J. Kaufman. OPEN A CHARGE ACCOUNT Pay as you get paid 1005 PENN.AVE.N.W. 14TH. 6 EYE STS.N.W. STORE HOURS: Daily 9 AM. to 6 P. Thursdays, 12 Noon to 9 P.M.