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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1939)
Capital The Afternoon Newspaper Leads Tho Capital Journal Is first with the latest news of the European crisis, United and Associated Press news dispatches. The only Salem paper carrying both services. Journal Weather Generally fair tonight and Sun day, with fogs; gentle northwest wind. Friday: Max. 70, mln. 44. Rain .02 In. River -3.7 It. South wind. Partly cloudy. ft Saturday, October 21, 1939 51st Year, No. 251 Entered as second claw matter at Salem, Oregon Salem, Oregon Price Three Cents On Trains and News Stands Five Cents Nazis Wnk Turkey io oland's Fate an' kh "i Suff -3 26 Removed On Stretchers From Harding 73 Injured on Storm Battered Liner Bringing War Refugees By John A. Moroso, HI New York, Oct. 21 (VP) Twenty-six persons were re moved on stretchers from the United States liner President Harding today when the storm-battered vessel arrived after one of the most tempes tuous and dramatic voyages in modern maritime annals. Eyes were blackened, bones fractured and bodies bruised by tumbling furniture and heaving decks when the 13,- 869 ton liner was caught by a howl ing hurricane after rescuing the crew of the torpedoed British freighter Herons Pool. 73 Persons Injured Altogether, 73 passengers and crew members were Injured in the storm. All except the 26 -ere able to walk by the time the ship docked. A cabin boy, Paul (Red) Johnson, was washed overboard and lost when a mountainous wave broke over the decks. Johnson, a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin, was making his fourth trip on the ship. Because of his death, the President Hard ing's flag was at halt mast when she arrived. The hurricane, which had eluded meteorologists as a result of war time restrictions on weather reports from ships at sea, struck the liner approximately 800 miles east1 of Bos ton Tuesday night. Passengers said most of the Injur ies were caused by one huge wave, propelled by a 110-mlle-an-hour wind. Some said it was 100 feet high. A fleet of ambulances and stretch er bearers waited at the dock when the vessel arrived. Wave Heels Ship Over Most of those severely Injured were In the smoking room aft when the wave heeled the ship over to starboard. Tables, chairs, smoking stands and pottery slithered across the floor, pinning passengers against the wall. Of the 898 passengers, S21 were American citizens. Paul van Zeeland, former premier of Belgium, was in his cabin with his wife and four children when the wave struck. All were tumbled out of their beds and piled in a heap against the wall. Van Zeeland was bruised and cut. Capt. Sidney E. Batson, master of the torpedoed freighter who was rescued with his crew of 35, praised the president Harding's commander, Capt. James E. Roberts, for his sea manship. Crew is Praised "I was inside the wheel house when that big wave hit us and the ship heeled over about 30 degrees," Captain Batson said. "The storm blew up out of the southeast, Cap tain Roberts handled his ship In a fine, seamanlike manner." W. R. Clarke, departmental man. ager of the Firestone Tire and Rub ber company in England who was returning to take up new duties In Akron, Ohio, told of seeing the sub marine that sank the Herons Pool. The U-boat had remained on the scene and flashed its blinker lights to attract the attention of rescuers, he said. When the President Hard ing approached the submarine dis appeared. Officers at first thought the men in the Herons Pool's lifeboats were French and addressed them in that language. One of the bobbing seamen finally bellowed "We're British are you going to take us aboard?" Clarke, a native of Orlando, Fla, said the two lifeboats were scuttled after the rescue. Reed's Airplane Found by Foresters Eugene, Ore., Oct. 21 WP) Forest Ranger Ralph Heath and logger Ed Woods last night discovered the wreckage of the army airplane from which Second Lieutenant James O. Reed parachuted to safety after the motor failed yesterday. The wreckage, scattered over 300 yards, was about 44 miles east of here near the McKenzie river. A passenger. Set. J. P. Shine, left the plane at Bend. I iif i tike fA CvavU Four Die In Collision Of U. S. Navy Planes Four U. S. navy fliers were killed when two navy planes collided and burned over Murray Lake, near San Diego, Calif. The charred wreckage of the ships, with a shoe of one of the men (in foreground), is shown. The planes were on a practice dive bombing flight from the Airport Carrier Lexington. Associated Press Photo. U. S. Gold MmFindNo Washington, Oct. 21 (P) The -I,'- 1aaw1 tnrlnn nnwail treasury's gold hoard today passed $17,000,000,000 67 percent of all the governmental and central bank gold reserves in the world, The war has nearly stopped gold shipments here temporarily, but fear of it was largely responsible for the present size of Uncle Sam's gold stocks.. .- . .. . .J-.. ..j. Before the war started, scared Eu- ropeans sent gold here almost as fast as they could in order to get it to a place of safety, and already this year about $2,900,000,000 worth has come into this country, That Includes, however, more than a billion dollars worth which var lous foreign governments have de. posited In their own names in the New York federal reserve bank for safe keeping and convenience in paying for American goods. The re mainder of the foreign gold was sold to the treasury for American dollars which were deposited or invested in this country, or used to pay for American merchandise already ship ped. The treasury .has its $17,000,000,- 000 worth of yellow metal buried in vaults at Fort Knox, Ky., and var ious federal reserve banks and mints. Planes May Carry Troops to Madera Madera, Calif., Oct. 21 W) Move ment of state troops by airplane into tills California cotton strike area was held out as a possible emergency measure today after 18 arrests fol lowed mass meetings of angry far mers and striking pickers. Adjutant General Patrick J. H. Farrell said at Sacramento that if local peace officers and state high way patrolmen were unable to handle the situation national guardsmen could be sent by plane on short notice. Sheriff's deputies, moving through a milling throng of between 2,000 and 3,000 strikers and sympathizers at the county park here, made 17 arrests last night. Decks Cleared for Ousting ofEarle By Harry Craln The contest for state superintendent of banks having this week been decided in favor of Arthur A. Rogers, a dark horse who was not even a candidate up to 24 hours before his election at the suggestion of Gov- crnor Sprague, speculation as to whether the skids are not being greased under Hugh Earle, demo cratic Insurance commissioner whose term does not expire until June 30, 1941, occupies the attention of the political dopesters. In the Rogers appointment some of them sense a maneuver to ease Earle out of his $5,000 Job without giving too much offense to his friends in and around Eugene. While Rogers' present Oregon address Is Portland as state field representatvie of the Federal Land bank of Spokane his recognized Oregon residence is Eugene, where he was connected with the First National bank for some 15 years. The clamor for Earle's scalp from' republican spoilsmen has persisted since Oovernor Sprague took office ineatv Jtanater Tacoma, Oct. 21 UP) A police blockade, set up to capture the kidnaper of George Beaty of Salem, Ore., put two youth ful transients in the city jail after they were absolved of any ponnection with the kidnaping but signed confessions they stole an automobile in Portland Thursday night. The youths, John Benedict, 24, of Midland, Rural Relief Program Sought Washington, Oct. 21 (IP) The Bankheads of Alabama, only broth ers now serving in congress, threat ened today to upset President Roosevelt's effort to limit the spe cial session of congress to neutral ity legislation. Speaker William B. Bankhead or the house, and brother John of the senate, appeared confident that that they would be able to put through an emergency appropria tion of at least $50,000,000 for rural relief in 29 states. Usually the Bankheads keep in close step with the president. But this Is an emergency," ex plained brother John. "We can't let people starve through the winter until congress meets in January." Senator Bankhead started the drive for rural relief funds by calling- together more than a score of senators from states hit by drought and floods this year. He enlisted the aid of his brother in organiz ing a group of house members. Representatives of the farm se curity administration told the group that crop reverses had caused sudden demands from 115,000 addi tional farm families for federal grants or loans. Congress provided $113,000,000 for these purposes this year. The senate group agreed that at least $50,000,000 additional was needed. Senator Bankhead said the senate and house groups would meet Monday to outline their stra tegy. last January. But It was not so easy for the governor to remove him without embarrassment. Earle, who hails from Eugene, has a lot of republican friends In Lane coun ty and, following the defeat of Governor Charles H. Martin who appointed him for renomlnation last year, turned his back on Henry Hess, the left-wing democratic nominee, took off his coat and went to bat actively for Sprague, He campaigned aggressively, al though quietly, among both repub licans and democrats In hts homo county, and when the Sprague war chest ran low last fall Is credited with rounding up a substantial sum In contributions in Eugene. He Is Lane county's sole repre sentative on the salary list of the (Concludrd on Data 11. column Trace of Mich., and Jack Elmo Dixon, 18, of Western Grove, Ark., were taker! off a Northern Pacific freight train here early today as 15 law enforce ment officials searched for the man who kidnaped Beaty in Salem yes terday and forced hjm to drive to Kelso. Suspects Cleared Of the dozen transients taken from the freight only Benedict and Dixon were placed in custody. Beaty looked the youths over this morning and said neither was his kidnaper. Willie Beaty and Sheriff Carl Pritchard of Cowlitz county were enroute, Benedict and Dixon were questioned by police. Detective Captain Cliff Osborne said the youths signed confessions they bought a 32 calibre revolver in a Portland pawn shop Thursday. Next, Osborne said, they toured Portland used car lots, took an au tomobile and abandoned it at Battle Ground, Wash. "Both of them said they started to commit two holdups but one or the other had demurred at the cru cial moment," Osborne said. "Friday they hitch hiked to Vancouver and caught the freight train." Osborne said federal authorities had been notified and would investi gate the possibility of a Dyer act violation. Pritchard and Beaty returned to Kelso after viewing the two prl soners. Beaty Slill Away George Beaty, who claims to have been kidnaped In Salem at 12th and State streets last night, and forced to drive his captor to Kelso, Wash,, after he had been robbed of about $12, had not returned to Salem up to noon today, nor had Vemon Myers, 2325 Center street, whose address Beaty gave Kelso officers. A police officer visited the Myers home dur lng the forenoon. Beaty has not been living In Sa lem for some years, but makes his home at Myrtle Point In southern Oregon. He Is a carpenter by trade, and during the World war served on the Salem police force. Salem police said they had no knowledge of the case except radio Information after Beaty had repor ted to the Kelso officers, and press dispatches from that city. British and Neutrals Heaviest Losers (Br th United PrMO Torpedoing of the Swedish steam er Guetav Adolf off the Shetland Is lands today brought ships lost since the outbreak of war to 75. The British have lost 39 merchant vessels, the French 6, Ocrmans 4 and neutrals 26. Law of the Ouslav Adolf, 1,450 tons, brought the total tonnagn lost to 311,42.1. British tonnage lost to tals 103.071: French 42,179: German '14.764: neutrals 60.869. Senator Blames Russia for Loss Of Liner Athenia Reynolds Says Stronger Circumstantial Evidence Against Soviet Washington, Oct. 21 (IP) Senator Reynolds (D.-N.C), announcing he was opposed to repeal of the arms embargo, told the senate today that, in the sinking of the British lin er Athenia, "the finger of guilt more clearly points to Soviet Russia than to any oth er nation." "Fantastic though it may seem," the North Carolinian asserted, "it is certainly less fantastic than some of the other startling surprises of the past sever al months which already are proved beyond any question. "While at the moment most Amer icans believe that Germany sank the Athenia, there has not been pub lished a shred of concrete evidence to prove this." Case Against Russia "But in the absence of concrete evidence," Reynolds continued, "there is a much stronger circum stantial case against Russia than any other nation. . . . Let us re member that the two principle en emies of Russia are Germany and Great Britain, What could be sweet er than to help shove them into a life and death struggle from which Russia could pick up the profits with little or no cost to herself?" Reynolds said that if the Russians did sink the Athenia "they must have chuckled with glee when they figured the entire world would blame It on their German ally and not on the Russians." Repeal Unwise The North Carolinian, who had not previously announced his posi tion on the administration neutral ity bill, said that while he favored many of its provisions he thought repeal of the arms embargo would be "unwise and dangerous." "I will be compelled," he added, to follow what I conceive to be my obligation as a senator of the Unit ed States (and not of Europe and the world) to vote against such re peal." ' Floating Mine Adrift in Pacific Portland, Oct. 21 OJ.Rl The U. S. navy hydrographlo office In Port land today said the hydroeraphie of fice In San Francisco had broadcast "at least twice," warning shipping of a floating mine about 1400 miles out in the Pacific from Tillamook. L. J. Lason, assistant to Lieut. George Knucpfer In the office, said the information on the broadcast was received from the Puget Sound navy yard, at Bremerton, Wash. Larson said the last report broad cast by the San Francisco office was on October 19 but that no subse quent report had been given, in dicating that the mine apparently was still In the region. The broadcast said: "All ships and stations floating mine, latitude 45 degrees 55 minutes north; longitude 158 degrees 46 min utes west. Wind southwest, barom eter 28.82." Italy Signs Pad To Remove Tyroleans Rome, Oct. 21 (U.R) Italian For eign Minister Count Galcazo Clano and German Ambassadoi Hans von Mackensen today signed an accord governing the transfer to the relch of German nationals residing In the the upper Adlge or Italian Tyrol. The accord supplement previous understaTuHlnna between Premier Be nito Mussolini and Fuehrer Adolf Hitler providing for the re-settlement of the German minority In the Tyrol. Decision for such re-settlement was reached last July after Musso lini and Hitler had agreed that the Brenner pass was "sacred" and that there would be no friction over the minority question. Fugitive Arrested Portland, Oct. 21 (IP) Walter Trent Reed, 28, was arrested last night by Detective H. J. McCormlck as a fugitive from the Washington reformatory at Monroe. McCormlck said he escaped September 15. British Minister On tlines Stra tegy Hore-Belisha Says Russia Has Checkmated Germany in East Allies to Use Waiting War Tactics No Peace Proposals Considered London, Oct. 21 (IP) War Secretary Leslie Hore-Belisha said tonight that Russia had checkmated Germany in the east. He indicated the allies would use "waiting war" tactics to ngm uermany to tne Iimsh. "No peace proposals which rely for their sanction on a broken word can be considered," Poles to Vote Red Plebiscite Moscow, Oct. 21 (VP) Propaganda Is going full blast for tomorrow's "plebiscite" in the Polish western Ukraine and western white Russia, former Polish territories occupied by the red army after the German- Russian partition of the land. Delegates will be elected to assembly, which in turn will vote whether to Join the soviet state through annexation to the Ukraln ian and white Russian constituency republics of the U.S.S.R. The result was a foregone conclu sion as were Adolf Hitler's famous plebiscites. Former prisoners, peasant women and (actory workers were among the nominees for the assembly, Agitators throughout the region were urging a vote "for a new and happy life with the U.S.S.R." A Tass (official soviet news agen cy) dispatch from Kaunas denied a report attributed to the Lithuan ian newspaper Twenty Amgeus that almost 200,000 Ukrainians had escaped, from the territory, occupied by the soviet army into Oermany. Hitler Confers With von Papen Berlin, Oct. 21 (U.R) Fuehrer Adolf Hitler resumed conferences today with Baron Franz von Papen, his ambassador to Turkey, on German procedure to be lohofred. as resutt of Turkey's action in signing a pact of mutual assistance with France and Britain. , It was expected that after an other conference with Hitler, Papen would return to Ankara with fresh future relations with Turkey. Hitler, Instructions governing Germany's It was said, intends to consult Italy's Premier Benito Mussolini on the Ankara treaty as soon as he has completed an analysis of It. Nothing has been revealed re garding Hitler's meeting with Pap en, who returned to Berlin last night to report personally to the fuehrer. Newspapers have not men tioned Papen's presence in Berlin. Reports were circulated that Ger man-Italian consultations, handled by Hitler and Mussolini personally, would be started tomorrow, but it was believed that Hitler intended to study reports of his ambassadors at Rome, Moscow, and Ankara, Tur key, before he initiated formal ne gotiations with Mussolini. Germans Claim Successes at Sea Berlin, Oct. 21 (U.Kl Numerous German warships are active outside home waders and have. Indicted casualties on British shipping far greater than the British have ad mlttcd, the semi-official DNB news agency announced tonight. "German surface ships and sub- marines have conducted successful operations in all sum and British warships sent out against them have not been able to prevent their success Increasing from week to week," the statement said. "It is not surprising that the Brit ish press should remain silent so far as possible regarding these suc cesses. We are In a position to state that the loss of trading ves sels carrying contraband (s consid erably greater than Is officially ad mitted In England." Swedish Steamer Torpedoed Today Stockholm, Oct, 21 (U.R) The Swedish steamship Gustov Adolf wos torpedoed off tho Shetland Is lands today. Tho crew of 10 was saved by the Norwegian steamer Blcny. The Gustav Adolf, 1,450 tons, was bound for Englnnd, Her home port was Gothenburg. ne said, in a broadcast on the prog ress ol the war, ending its seventh week, the former newspaperman said: 3 Courses Open "Three courses are open to nazl Germany to try to smash through by land, sea and air; to remain qui escent in the hope we will prema turely take up the offensive against them; or to lure us into the discus sion of specious terms of peace." As for the first course, he contin ued, "recent military experience snows that an offensive against pre pared positions is unprofitable . . on me western front there are strong defenses and they become stronger every day. The enemy will pay dearly for any massed attack upon them." In words that recalled Prime Min ister Chamberlain's outline of strat egy as the art of concentrating a de cisive force at a decisive point at a decisive time, Hore-Belisha said, "Our commanders are not likely in advance of the timr that suits them to unnecessarily risk the lives of those who compose our armies." Baltic Now Lost Of Germany's ambitions he said "Poland was but an item. The Bal tic states were to be dominated; but from 'these, German nationals are now in retreat. Russia has claimed this sphere of Influence. The corn fields of the Ukraine were coveted. Russia has made sure of this har vest. Through Poland nazi Germany was to have an entrance to Ruman ia. This entrance had been barred by Russia." He referred belatedly to the new French-British-Turkish pact signed Thursday. The -wai minister described the British expeditionary force in France as "the vanguard of the great army now training In Britain. This In Its turn will be Increased by militiamen in their age groups another 250.000 of these we have already taken 50,000 . . . nazl Germany must watch this gathering momentum and rea lize that time is on the side of France, of Britain and the empire." Hore-Belisha said "the final mag nitude of our effort will depend on the extent to which factories can supply equipment and munitions for our men." Planes Driven Off In Nancy Attack Nancy, France, Oct. 21 (P) Anti aircraft guns fired at planes during an air raid alarm which lasted from 10:16. to 10:45 a.m. today, military sources disclosed. The planes were reported flying north at high alti tude. Warning sirens excited the resi dents of Nancy, but the alarm ended without an air attack. Nancy is 70 miles west of Stras bourg, which Is on tho Rhine frontier. British Inflict Losses On German Raiders London, Oct. 21 (IP) The air ministry announced tonight that three of 12 German airplanes attacking a British North sea convoy today were shot down and another was forced to alight at sea. There were no British casualties and no convoy or escort ship was damaged, the ministry said Appearance of unidentified air craft off England's east coast caus ed air raid warnings In the Hull and Grimsby areas. A brief air ministry communique said warships of the convoy opened fire on the nazl planes and "our fighters (pursuit planes) inflicted some casualties on the enemy." The announcement said: "Enemy aircraft were sighted this morning by a convoy In the North sea. In rcsponso to a signal, fighter aircraft were dispatched and the enemy made off. This afternoon an actual attack was mado on the convoy by enemy aircraft, The escort vessels opened fire and our fighters Inflicted casu alties on the enemy." Hold Russia Free to Seize Dardanelles Authoritative Berlin Sources Say Turkey to Be Carved Up Berlin, Oct. 21 UP) In formed nazi circles intimated today that Turkey may be come another Poland. The intimation and it was no more than that; was based on the fact that Izvestia, Sov iet Russian government news paper in Moscow, said Russia had no reason to regret Tur key's action in signing a mu tual assistance pact with Great Britain and France. Authoritative somces said "Rus sia does not need to regret Turkey's new alliance because now she la free to occupy the Dardanelles if she desires." Izvestia's editorial was reproduc ed In the German press. To Seize Straits Commentators pointed out that Russia throughout her history had resisted British attempts to con trol the Dardanelles, strategic gate way to the Black sea. They said that, as long as Turkey remained neutral, Russia could be satisfied to leave the Dardanelles in her friends' hands. But now that Turkey definitely had allied herself with Great Bri tain, they asserted, cause was given for Russia herself to assume mas tery not only of the strategic gate way, but-of Turkey, ." " , They said they believed Turkey probably would be carved up as Poland was by Germany and Rus sia, Challenge Accepted Meanwhile, a release yesterdav bv DNB which said that the challenge of Britain and France in the Euro pean war had been accepted was described authoritatively as Intro ducing no new element into the ex isting situation. Officials said it was Intended merely to combat constantly recur ring reports Germany was on her knees begging for peace. The communique today acknowl edged that French troops held two heights close to the border in the Warndt forest region west of Saar bruecken, but said these were the only French holdings on German soil. Athenia Campaign A German campaign to convince the world that the British were t blame for the sinking of the liner Athenia grew more vigorous, mean while. Berffn morning newspapers, with. unanimity Indicating official in spiration, devoted their entire front pages to alleged disclosures of Gustav Anderson, a United States citizen and a survivor of the sink ing. "Athenia swindle unmasked be fore American investigating com mittee," Hitler's Voeklscher Beo bachtcr headlined a story ascribing the attack to three British destroy ers. Moscow, Oct. 21 (P) The govern ment newspaper Izvestia today as sailed the new Britlsh-Frcnch-Turk-lsh mutual asststt-nce pact, assert- (Concluded on pnge 9, column 8) Earlier the ministry had announc ed that "two unidentified airplanes were sighted off the east coast of England about 2 p.m. and fighter aircraft were sent up to Intercept tJjero," The statement dJd not say whether any contact was made. The communique concluded : "Air raid warnings wero sounded In the Bull and Grimsby areas at about 2:30 and the all-clear signal was given in both areas about half an hour later." Hull and Orimsby are on opposite sides of the Humber Estuary, At one coast town the drone of aircraft and the sound of gunfire was heard before the warning was given. Crowds enroute to football games went to shelters. On ono foot ball field three players who wero air raid precaution wardens left for duty and the game was deterred.
