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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1940)
No Substitute! You'll find so Bewnpapc Weather Partly cloudy today and Friday; little change ia temperature. Max. temp. Wednesday 47, mil. 25. River 1 ft. Northwest wind. give taore real aatlsfac Uoa than yoar L4MAL UUUMXO FAI'KK, with it WORLD MEWS pin- HOMti COMMUNITY NEWS. (OUNOQO 1651 ttltiHTY -NINTH YKAB Salem, Oregon, Thursday Morning, January 18, 1940 Price 8c: Newsstands 6e No. 255 General Retreat From .Ren poruecii Salla Italian Warns War May Come At Any Moment New Fascist Secretary Urges Preparedness for Emergency Muti's Tone Indicates little Faith in Allied Aims By RICHARD O. MASSOCK ROME. Jan. lT--The new secretary of the fascist party, Ettore Muti, told Italians today that "Italy may face the necessity and duty at any moment of pick ing up arms." -There is no need." Mutl told a conference of proYlncial party leaders, "to lull oneself with the illation that Italy's present sit uation with regard to war may last forever." Mutl did not Indicate whom Italy might hare to fight and this left unchanged the general im pression In foreign circles that she would remain out of the war as long as possible. However, one passage of his speech was inter preted as a rebuff to British and French gestures of conciliation, such as frequent press commen dations of Italy's remaining on the sidelines. Smugness Is Held Dangerous to Nation After stating that Italy might have to fight "at any moment," Mutl continued: "It must therefore be prepared In Its resources and above all In Its spirit. It Is well to add that it (Turn to page 2. col. 8)- In One Ear.. Paul Mauser's Column X man In Lodl. Calif., recent ly wrota to the editor of The Sat urday Review of Literature seek ing a poem entitled "The Florida Jiew H ai4 It was recited at Lodl tome 10 years ago in a pro gram given by some people from Salem. Oregon. He could only re member the last lines, which went: "Were I an Indian Or a Chimpanzee, What a feast I'd have On the Florida Flea." Well, we have an interest In Lodl because we were a resident of that wine center of the world for a brief per- . ' lod and we did ai bit of research.! We looked up fleas from theK, Odyssey of Ho rn e r to Hllalre Belloe. The f 1 have much to ay about the rapacity of the fleas Inhabiting the AinWUB-Btu"'"' stretches in those days except, "There lay the old dog, Argos, full of fleas!" Hllalre Belloc told abont "the fleas that tease In the High Py renees," but failed to mention Florida. Old Dean Jonathan Swift, whose current work, Gulliver's Travels In Technicolor, Is doing fine, sums up the flea situation pretty well, we found. He wrote: So, naturalists observe, a flea Hath smaller fleas that on him preyt And theae have smaller still to bite Vm And so proceed ad Infinitum. Bat still nothing about Florida fleas. We got to thinking it over and decided the Florida flea couldn't be as bad as the stanza Indicates. Our experiences with fleas ara limited to the Pacific eoast regions, but we do not be lieve any flea, no matter what the ell mate, could equal in downright bloodthlrstinees the San Francis co flea. The San Francisco flea takes a back seat for nobody, preferring the choicer cuts. He Is strictly out for blood. Wi gave up hunting for the rest of the Florida flea poem then and decided to write oar own stansas. So: Your Florida Flea May be a big flea. Bat he beads his knee To the Frisco Flea. For the Frisco Flea Is the bhegest flea AmA I kaow that h Got his growth from me. Blaze Destroys Silverton House SILVERTON, Jan. 17 Firs burned to the ground the Bert Rue home on the Marouam road Wednesday afternoons Only a few small Items were saved. The home and furnishings were par tially covered by Insurance. Member of the family were working beneath the bouse when the fire broke eat.' The Silverton fire track was called out bat was nable to save the boose. . . Mr. and Mrs. Rue bought the mouse only a abort while ago. Patriqtic Orders select Fresid OS . HERMAN LAFKY Lafky Is Elected Societies Leader Un-Americans Opposed by Guest Speaker at Argo Session Herman Lafky was elected president of Salem Federated Pa triotic Societies at the annual ban quet meeting of the federation at the Argo hotel last night. He succeeds Glenn Adams, who has held the position the last two years. Other officers elected are A. T. Woolpert, vice-president; Mrs. C. C. Ray, secretary: and Mrs. Earl Andresen, treasurer. Rev. P. W. Erik8en. guest speaker, told the representatives of 15 Salem patriotic organiza tions present that it is their duty to take a strong hand In prevent ing the toleration of "men like Browder and Bridges, who have come Into our nation like gang sters, undermining our homes and our country." Patriotic orders should exercise more fully their powers to form public opinion. Rev. Erlksen said. G. R. Stover, who was a leader of the organization of the feder ation in 1929 and served as its first president, also spoke briefly. Swede Neutrality Policy Criticized Ex-Foreign Minister Given Parliamentary Support for Stand on War STOCKHOLM, Jan. n-JP- Former Foreign Minister Richard Sandler, was applauded by par liamentary colleagues today when he criticized Sweden's policy of neutrality in the Finnish war, and expressed the fear that Russia might not halt at the Swedish frontier It Finland were con queied. Sandler spoke in parliament daring budget debate In which Premier Per Albin Hanson and Foreign Minister Christian Gun ther also discussed the question of neutrality. "Nobody wants war with the Soviet Union bnt nobody knows if the victorious bolshevik army would halt at the Swedish-Finnish border," he asserted. Hanson declared firmly that Sweden was using her "own free judgment as to what best serves he northern countries' and Fin land's cause." "We have been exposed neither to pressure of the western powers nor to German threats and warn ings," he added. "Responsible governments know we will refuse any proposal of (Turn to page 2, col. 4) V.-kT Deteirse Force Consolidates Position for War Maneuvers SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 17.-ff) The main attacking force of a sub stantial fleet and naval air patrol lay some J 00 miles offshore to night while defending units of air craft and land divisions consoli dated their positions In the west coast military maneuvers. Scouting planes of the defend ing "blue" army were said to have ascertained the general position of the attacking forces as off the coast of Monterey bay. Twenty four patrol flying boats of the "blues" were covering a "great area," defense agencies said, and flew many miles to sea, from Cat alina north, on reconnaisance ventures. There was no word whether the blue forces bad launched any at tack on the "black" Invaders, in retaliation for bomber raids over the San Francisco bay area short ly after dawn. An undetermined number of black bombing planes droned in from sea,' and were engaged over Sao Francisco by 24 or more de fense pursuit planes, in two pa trols. It appeared to some observ ers the enemy ships had been re pulsed by hypothetical anti-air Blockade Held Starving Nazi To Submission Britain Looks Forward to Day When Germany Must Stop War Economic Minister, in Commons, Tells of Nazi Privation By EDWIN STOUT LONDON, Jan. 17 - (P) - Brit ain's government informed the nation today that Its wartime stranglehold on Germany's food and commerce already had re duced the relch to the gnawing want of 1916. Sharp-faced Ronald Homcross, 43-year-old minister of economic warfare, before the house of com mons drew a grim picture of Ger man privation as a result of four and a half months of British eco nomic blitzkrieg. Then, In mat ter-of-fact tones, he said: "We look forward to the day when she shall so strangle Ger many's economic life that she can no longer sustain her war effort." Simultaneously, the spiritual head of the Church of England, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, arch bishop of Canterbury, rejected a high churchman's plea, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him." Importation to Germany Of Foodstuffs Urged The bishop of Birmingham, Dr. Ernest William Barnes, had pre sented a motion in the house of bishops of the church, urging that free importation of foodstuffs in to Germany be permitted by the British blockade. The archbishop sternly replied that members of the government had informed him there was no way to distinguish what raw food stuffs would be used exclusively for feeding of the hungry and (Turn to page I. col. 5) Youth Bound Over To Juvenile Court 16-Year-Old Seattle Boy Picked Up for Theft of Automobiles Daniel Jene Sinclair, 16, Seat tie. told police yesterday how he and a friend, Patrick Kelly, 16 and also of Seattle, "borrowed" Sinclair's father's car, drove it to Portland, stole a car there and another in Salem. Sinclair was arrested by West Salem Patrolman Tony Ramlg only six minutes after the car he stole here was reported stolen. Ramig was following the stolen car through West Salem at the time Salem police broadcast the report. Kelly, who Sinclair said left Salem in the car the pair stole in Portland, has not been apprehend ed. The two split up at Salem, he said, and stole the second car be cause Kelly "wanted to drive." The boys planned, Sinclair said, to go to California to get a job and Intended sending Sinclair's father money to cover having his car returned from Portland. Sinclair will be turned over to juvenile court. 1 Dead, 3 Injured In Logging Mishap ASTORIA, Ore., Jan. H.-iffy-A giant fir tree bowled four log gers against a stump today, kill ing one and Injuring the others. Wslter John Neimi, 26, employe of the Crown' Zellerbach camp near Seaside, died almost instant ly. The Injured were Arthur Un man. Steve Holmes and Milton Armstrong. craft fire and plane actio" before reaching objectives Mills field here, and Hamilton field army base in Marin county. Reports from Reno indicated, however, that nine enemy bomb ers penetrated defense firing tones and carried out a successful "bombing" of the airport there. Some 20,000 men and many ships of the fleet are engaged In the joint army and nary maneu vers. The climax of the games Is expected to be reached tater this week when the black force at tempts landings of troops from transports on the Monterey coast line. Imaginary black troops - who made a surprise hypothetical landing yesterday advanced along Monterey bay today as they pre pared the way for the Invasion of the major force when real sold iers will land with real tanks and real artillery. Headquarters reported the phantom force had reached Sea side, just outside Monterey, on Monterey bay while making a S. 000 yard advance at Avila. SUPPLY TRAIN hs-' - ,r-"-w-,M"., . ...... , y"i i iji mm ni.iu ..ryv-wwwy- .$- - - 7z wJS j 5ri Caption on this photograph from Finland describes it as a broken-down Russian supply train some where in the region about the Arctic circle in Finland. It was the breakdown of Russian supply lines, similar to this one, which aided the Finns in the routs they claimed over the Reds in the Salla region. Browder Counsel Confesses Alias Attorney Claims Use of Assumed Name Only Reasonable Move NEW YORK, Jan. n(JP)- Counsel for Earl Browder ack nowledged late today that the US communist leader used an assum ed name in obtaining a passport he carried on a European trip which presumably was climaxed ty a visit with Soviet officials in Moscow. "We do not deny," said George Gordon Battle of defense coun sel at the outset of Browder's trial for passport misuse, "that he obtained the 'Richards' pass port In 1931 under that name. "It Is in evidence that he is an official of the communist party and certainly a man in his position in that party could not be blamed for traveling under an assumed name through the countries of Europe at that time." Battle's effort to justify Brow der's use of an alias was made in answer to the prosecution state ment before a federal court Jury (Turn to page 2, col. 1) Explosive Hinted Stolen From Army NEW YORK, Jan. 11-(JP)-A national guard official hinted to day that explosive cordite powder seized during the arrest of 17 "Christian Front" members on charges of seditious conspiracy had been taken from a regular US army base. A second development was a charge by the non-sectarian anti nazi league that it possessed evi dence that 27 New York City po licemen were enrolled In the "Christian Front" movement. Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine announced yesterday a departmental investigation had disclosed a suspended police lieu tenant had belonged for a "short period," bat had withdrawn. When Valentine was advised to day that a morning newspaper had received a letter stating that 3,423 members of the police de partment were Christian Front members and was asked concern ing the known membership and plans for investigation, he made this written reply: "The membership of members of the police department in the organization mentioned Is un known, but I doub very much if it is as high as the figure stated. The matter is under investigation by appropriate officials." The New York Times, which received the letter, said it was on a letterhead of the Christian Front but carried no return ad dress. Cattleman Named As State Senator BURNS, Jan. 17-tiPWohn W. Porter, Grant county cattleman, was named today to complete Robert M. Duncan's unfinished term as state senator from Har ney, Grant and Malhenr counties. Duncan recently resigned to be come circuit Judge. He was presi dent of the senate at the last ses sion of the legislature. Airport Approved LA GRANDE, Ore., Jan. 17.- (yP)-Paul Morris, Seattle, Civil Aeronautics authority engineer, said today the CAA and the Works Progress Administration would sponsor an airport project for La Grande if city officials ap proved. CHAOS FORERUNNER OF ROUT Who Takes Care Of Judge's Job, If Judge Judged? State police were trying to contact Justice of the Peace Miller B. Harden yesterday morning. They wanted him at his court where he was sched uled to hear the pleas of several offenders on traffic violations. They couldn't locate him. Reason: Justice of the Peace Hayden was receiving justice In the court of Municipal Judge A. Warren Jones where he paid a $2.50 fine for failure to observe stop sign. "Reform" Forces Jubilant on Vote Ouster of Long Machine in Louisiana Hope of Opponents NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 11.-UP)- juDiiant at partial victory in yes terday's democratic primary, Lou isiana "reform forced looked to day to a runoff test to wrest the governorship from Earl Long and break the 12-year rule of Huey Long and his political heirs. The hefty brother of the slain "kingfish" held a plurality of slightly over 50,000 with only about 150,000 still uncounted but apparently had failed of the clear majority necessary to win the nomination, which is tantamount to election in one-party Louisiana, it marked the first time since '28 that the Long machine had not swept its objectives easily in the first vote. Long refused to admit tonight that he would be forced into a runover but Sam Jones, Lake Charles attorney leading the field of four antl - administrationists. announced he would take the stump this week in preparation for the second primary February 20. With 1.060 of 1,703 precincts reported, Long had 149.920 votes; Jones 99,743; State Sena tor James A. Noe of Monroe. 77.- 867; James H. Morrison of Ham mond, 24,152; Vincent Moseley, Opelousas, 6,442. Total included virtually complete returns from New Orleans where Long ran strongly with the support of May or Robert Maestri. Maintenance of these ratios would leave the balance of power in the hands of those who voted today for Noe, Morrison and Moseley. Cudahy Sees No Cause of Alarm BRUSSELS, Jan. 17-Pr-John Cudahy, new United States am bassador to Belgium, delivered a message from President Roosevelt to King Leopold today as Bel gium continued her precautions against possible Invasion. Cudahy said he could not dis close the nature of the president's message, delivered in an hour's audience In which be also pre sented his credentials. "After talking to a number of people It seems to me there is no cause for any Immediate alarm in Belgium," the ambassador de clared following the audience. Late Sports SEATTLE, Jan. I7p)-Se-attle climbed to a second place tie with Vancouver ia the Pacif ic Coast Hockey league tonight by defeating the Canadians, 2 to 1, in a tight defensive con test in which all the scoring came, in less than five minutes of the second period.. Tieup Threatens NY Fuel Supplies Coal Handlers' Walkout Affects Greater City Homes, Offices NEW YORK, Jan. n(JP) Householders in the greater city, as well as superintendents of of fice buildings, hotels and apart ment houses eyed their coal sup plies anxiously tonight as the tem perature dropped far below freez ing and a strike of coal handlers virtually halted all deliveries. Daniel M. Rugg, chairman of the employers' negotiating commit tee, estimated 75 per cent of the industry was tied up, but Mich ael J. Cashal, International vice president of the Brotherhood of Teamsters and Chauffeurs (AFL), which called the strike for higher wages, fixed the percentage at a lower figure. Cashal said that of the 5000 men handling coal in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, men had struck in yards hand ling about 15 per cent of the dis tribution, while dealers handling about 30 per cent had locked their men out as a retaliatory measure after failure of negotiations to settle differences. The union demanded 11.20 an hour for a 48-hour week and an extra man on each truck to re duce unemployment. The men now receive SI an hour. Mayor LaGuardia said he had assurances from the union that deliveries to schoo's and hospitals would not be affected. Salem Firm Wins $1393 Judgment SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17-(jpy A summary judgment for 11393 was executed today against Dr. St. Louis Estes, raw food advocate and lecturer, in favor of R. S. Gile A Company of Salem, Ore. The company filed suit, claim ing that amount was owed for fruit juices ordered by and de livered to the white-haired back-to-nature advocate. The answer filed by an attorney for Estes entered a general de nial, but Municipal Judge Joseph Golden entered the adverse judgment. China to Regain Old Capital. Prediction of Noted Chinese That the Chinese will be In their old capital at Nanking with in a year was stated as military opinion by Dr. T. Z. Koo, religions leader and statesman from China, Wednesday when he appeared at Willamette university on his present mission of far east stu dent relief. He said that the Jap anese are trying to hold territory the size of eastern United States with 1,000.000 men. Speaking at chapel and In a later interview, the secretary of the World Student Christian Fed eration said money is the biggest neip America can now furnish China, because oar dollar is worth t in the orient. He told the situation of the. 50.000 Chi nese college students In approxi mately lzo schools, 60 of which have been occupied by Japan. The government of China Insists, though, that these students con tinue their education so that thev may be preserved for future lead ership of the nation. About 35 colleges have moved 1500 miles inland. In reviewing the general war situation. Dr. Koo stated that ap proximately 800.000 Chinese troops are operating behind the enemy lines, while 80 new divi Cold, Finn Tactics Cause Rout 40,000 Invading R ussians Soviet Apparently Gives Up Hope of Holding Frigid Sector Against Stubborn Resistance Temperature so Low Touching Metal With Bare Hand Raises Blister; Red Air Force Restrained COPENHAGEN, Jan. 18. (Thu rsday) (AP) A general Russian retreat from the Salla sector of Finland, in volving 40,000 troops, was reported early today in dispatch es to the Copenhagen newspaper Berlinske Tidende. The dispatches, from the newspaper's correspondent on the northern front, said the Russians apparently had given up hopes of holding the frigid Salla front for the winter. Earlier Scandinavian reports said the red army wax planning a major offensive from that sector, which is in th lower Arctic circle, but last night a dispatch from the Fin nish army in Lapland said a small-scale attack by 400 Rus sian troops had been repulsed. The 40,000 retreating Russians O today were reported closely pur-1 sued by Finnish units which hoped to Inflict heavy rear-guard punishment. Temperature Drops to 54 Degrees Below Zero HELSINKI, Jan. 17.-(iiP)-PitI-less, death-dealing cold laid a glacial hand on Russia's war ma chine tonight but the Finns re ported their troops were driving toward a new victory near Salla above tbe Arctic circle. Phenomenal 54 -degree below xero temperatures (Fahrenheit) restrained the Russian air force, which has been raining death and destruction on Finnish towns, and apparently Immobilized Rus sian ground forces which have been attacking on the Karelian isthmus., Temperatures were so low that touching a piece of metal with a bare hand raised immediate blis ters. Movement of tanks and ar mored cars was hazardous even If no shots were fired. Front line trips by correspond ents were called off by the Finns because of the danger of freez ing to death. L'nnsual Resistance of Finns Held Advantage Clad in their warmest Arctic clothing and calling upon their (Turn to page 2, col. 6) Retired Officer Called by Death NEW YORK, Jan. 17.-(P)-Brig.-Gen. Palmer E. Pierce, 74, retired, assistant chief of staff of the American expeditionary for ces in France during the World war and one-time president of the National Collegiate Athletic asso ciation, died tonight several hours after suffering a stroke. He was stricken at a luncheon of the Pan-American society, col lapsing on the speakers' dais. He was an honorary vice president of the society. A native of Illinois, he was graduated from Grlnnell college, Iowa, and from the US military academy at West Point in 1891. He was one of the first athletic directors at the academy and later saw active army service in the Spanish-American war, in the Philippines and on the Mexican border. As a colonel, he commanded the 84th infantry in France, served on the general staff for two years, and was awarded the distinguish ed service medal. He retired at his own request In 1930. sions are being trained to strike simultaneously In all sectors. For finances, China can draw from liberal credit extended by the United States, Great Britain and Russia, Dr. Koo quoted the finance minister. Internally the revenue has declined because of the capture by the enemy of seaports, which furnished half of the Income. Taxes are still collected from 98 per cent of the captured provinces. The Chinese do not regard the war aa their main occupation, but the building of their nation Is primary. Their slogan Is "Resist, Fight, Build Nation." In answer to the question of whether trade routes to Indo china could be cut off by the In vaders, Dr. Koo said that they have cut the highway east of a high range of mountains, but on the west there Is still an excellent route, which will not be lost. Immediately following the ad dress Dr. Koo left for Corvallis He will remain in this country until May, when he will continue to Australia and New Zealand, and from there to India in be half of China. 1 wo Killed in Du Pont Blast State, US to Investigate Sabotage Possibility in Huge Explosion GIBBSTOWN. NJ., Jan. 17-P) -Three tons of nitro-glycerlne ex ploded today with a roar heard 20 miles, killing two men and in juring five at the Repauno plant of the DuPont powder works. The possibility of sabotage drew the immediate attention of state police and federal' burean of investigation. The plant had been heavily guarded. So great was the mid-morning shock that it was felt In Lake hurst, NJ., 65 miles away. It left only a smoke-blackened crater where the little Isolated dynamite mixing building stood. Windows were shattered for miles. Thousands In the vast New Jersey-Pennsy Ivan la-Delaware in dustrial section fled homes and business houses. They feared an earthquake. The dead, with little left for identification, were: Earl Leslie Harbison, 80, Clay ton, NJ. Edward M. Bundens, Jr., 81, Paulsboro, NJ. The Injured are Raymond Shee hand, 53, of Woodbury and Thom as Hicks, 33, Glbbstown, cut by broken glass; Samuel Hartshorn. 69, and Michael Geitz. 43, both of Woodbury, hurt when the roof of another building collapsed: and Joseph Meyers, 40, of Pauls boro, a nitro-glycerine foreman, struck by a piece of wood hurled 500 feet by the blast. Three of the men returned t work after treatment at a hos pital. Townspeople, some of t h e nt women with babies In their arms, stood for hours In a U?ht snow outside the main gate of the plant awaiting word of friends or rela fives employed there. Democrat Enters Presidential Race WASHINGTON, Jan. n-VPr Senator Vic Donahey of Ohio said tonight he had filed in his home state a declaration of his candi dacy for the democratic presi dential nomination, thus becom ing the second candidate formally in the field. Vice President Garner announced last month that he would accept the nomination. At the same time Donahey said he was "completely surprised' at the statement by Arthur L. Lim bacb, democratic state chairman, that the Ohio delegation, al though nominally for him, would support President Roosevelt for a third term, and that he had not been consulted. SP Ticket Agent Dies Unexpectedly A. F. Noth, for the last several years southern Pacific ticket agent in Salem, died suddenly last night at his home, 157S State street. Survivors are the widow, Alice W. Noth; daughter, Vivian Noth, both of Salem, and brother. Her man Noth of Aberdeen, Idaho. Announcements of funeral ar rangements will be made by the W. T. Rlgdon company. Hotel Man Fined PORTLAND, Ore.. Jan. -Ross Enyart, hotel owner, waa fined $50 In district court today on a charge or employing . two waitresses at' Inadequate wages. - The state labor commissioner s office instigated the prosecution.