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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1940)
The Weather Forecast; Light howcr to night and ftaturdaT. tlttte rhttf In traiperator. Hlihnt jartwtUy , . It LowMi this """"'"i lrec pita lion Today It Friday Many paopia prefer Bnndj for Ihtlr WANT AOS. Today is rrld. A nod Urns I writ that Aii foe the Sunday mora Ini edition. Ada In briar t:M e. m. Saturday will b properly rlaulflrd. Medford TRIBUNE To I p. ra. Mlerdajrw TO I L III. tnttttj - T. Full Associated Press Full United Presi Thirty-fifth Year MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1940. No. 60. IMlTr'frTl A m frTPM !fl 0J I i i .. i i 1 1 1 w a n p M MD r NfiiL: "SENSATIONAL" MK' ANNOUNCEMENT Washington, D. C. May 31. He will not take the initiative himself, but if "the people" de mand it. Dr. Paul J. Raver, ad ministrator of Bonneville, is will ing to do what he can 'to have congress amend the Bonneville act so that the administration can acquire distribution systems and the generating plants of pri vate power companies in Ore gon and Washington. TVA has such authority and has exercised It, but the Bonneville act con tains no such provision. Another thing: Administrator Raver is prepared to go to RFC and have that federal lending agency make loans to PUDs, thus solving a problem which is caus ing some difficulties in Washing ton state. In the opinion of dr. Raver, public ownership of power Is inevitable and opponents may as well resign themselves to that fact. THE purpose of the Bonneville act, contends the adminis- trator, Is public ownership, yet the act does not go far enough to bring this about. Under the act the administrator can build transmission lines and acquire transmission lines from - private companies, but cannot take over a distribution system, which car ries electricity into the home. . Private utilities, of course, do not want to lose their distribu tion system, leaving them with generating facilities and nothing else. The administrator thinks that to carry out the objectives of the Bonneville act it should be amended, thereby enabling the government agency to pur chase the private utilities, lock, stock and barrel at a price satis factory to all concerned.. Any (Continued on Pag Tan.) AMERICAN FLIERS WILL AID FRANCE Paris, May 31. fP A "La- Fayette Escadrille of 1940 soon will be created with American fliers and money to fight for France, Humbert J. Clemente, commander of the Paris Amer ican Legion post, announced to day. It will be the successor to the famous American air squadron of the world war. Meanwhile press reports said that French pilots in nine Amer ican-made Curtiss planes had held off a wave of 42 German Heinkels attempting to boanb a railway station. The French were said to have brought down six of the Germans as against a loss of two of their own. Contractor Killed Spokane, Wash., May 31. (U.R) One of the most promin ent contractors In the Pacific northwest R. C. Alloway of Spokane was killed today in an automobile accident near Superior, Mont. Alloway's car plunged from the highway and struck a tree causing instant death. SIDE GLANCES TRIBUNE REPORTERS Mno. nan John Lads and his cousin, Vern Johnston, trying to entice a white rat out of the upholstering of the family auto mobile. George Robertson and his new robin egg blue roadster being Just about the sportiest models seen hereabouts in many a moon. Demo Chairman Ward Spatz emerging from the hinterland long enough to be seen about town Decoration Day. Isobel flzryi Stuart having a dreadful time trying to get con firmation of a tad o nmor the Allies had quit and an uprising bad occurred in Germary. Italian Journalists Leaving Paris French Rearguard Makes Way to Channel Rome, May 31. (JP) Ital ians close to the government said today that any announce ment of Italy's entrance into the European war probably would come only after the Italian forces already had moved and that the world probably would learn of the first actions from points outside Italy. Widespread belief that Italian participation was imminent came from Premier Mussolini's call for a cabinet meeting next Tuesday to discuss "important matters. Italy assured Greece five days ago that her neutrality would be safe from any Italian attack, a competent source dis closed. Newspaper posters screamed the theme that English and French resistance is doomed and that therefore it Is useless to think Italy might desert Ger many for the allies in the eleventh hour. Precautions were taken to safeguard colonial frontiers against counter-attack. (By Associated Press) ' Italy's entrance Into the war taking the long-awaited plunge to Join her axis partner, Ger many was generally considered imminent by observers with the German army on the western front today. Hitler was reported preparing a "sensational announcement" Involving Italy as word spread that a communication "of the greatest importance" had been received from Italy by the Nazi fuehrer. Italian Journalists were leav ing Paris today. Rearguard Escapes Paris reported two divisions of the French rearguard cover ing the allies' retreat from Flanders have slashed their way through German lines to the English channel. Half - starved, numbed with weariness, but still wanting "another crack at jerry," tens of thousands of British tommies and French poilus arrived at English ports today while other allied troops stubbornly defend ed the port of Dunkerque to cover one of history's greatest mass retreats. London reported about 90.000 soldier survivors of the bloody battle of Flanders now in its dying hours have landed in England. About 58,000 were British. German Lost Heavy The story of allied casualties remained untold, but both Brit- (Continued or. Page Three.) Italian Entrance Would Add Strength, Weakness for Nazis By the Associated Press Italy would add strength and weakness to the nazi war machine if she joined Germany as a full-fledged war partner. She would strengthen Ger many where Germany is strong estIn men and war material and weaken Germany where Germany is weakest in eco nomic resources. These are the Italian strong , points: Army Premier Mussolini de clared March 30, 1938, that he I could muster 8,000.000 men be tween the ages of 18 and SS. of j whom 5.000,000 would be first , line combatants. Some, of rouse. I would have to defend Italy's i African empire a logical ob jective for the allies. Warplanes Estimates vary, but conservative sources say I Italy has about 8.000 warplanes of which 2,180 are of first line quality. Navy Although Italy' navy is relatively small 717.920 tons as compared with Britain's 2,- 079,863 just before the war- War Bulletins London, May SI (IP) The air ministry announced to night the royal air force had destroyed 12 enemy aircraft and damaged three others. One R. A. F. plane is missing. London, May 31 (P) Brit ish military observers said tonight that it is diiiicult to estimate Germany's casualties in the 22-day-old "real war" on the western front but that a half-million dead, wounded and missing would not be iar wrong. London. May 31. iVPV A bomb dropped perfectly into the funnel of a British war ship exploded in the Interior and sank the vessel, a reli able source said today. Naval men said the odds against such a hit are millions to one. Nothing was said about the identity oi the ship. COLEMAN AWAITS CERTIFICATION TO J. B. (Blin) Coleman, ap pointed county judge by Gov ernor Sprague last Wednesday, following the resignation of County Judge Earl B. Day, said today he would not assume the office until the certificate of his appointment was received. Judge Day asked that the resignation become effective tomorrow, June 1. It was anticipated that the appointment certificate . would arrive by mail today. Governor Sprague will be away from his office for a couple of weeks, and Speaker Fatland will be acting governor during his absence. The county court was sched uled to meet today and name an acting assessor to fill out the unexpired term of Assessor Coleman, when he takes over the county judgeship. The as sessor's term ends next January. There was considerable senti ment that this honor be be stowed upon Miss Linnie Hans corn, a veteran and highly com petent deputy assessor, who is acquainted with all details of the office. It is understood she has been recommended for the position by Assessor Coleman. LOGGI IS PICKETED BY CIO Klamath Falls, May 31. JP) Members of the International Wood Workers union (C. I. O.) established a picket line this morning at the Lamm Lumber company logging camp at Yam say after expiration of the time limit on a series of requests by the union. A meeting was called today by Charles W. King, superin tendent of the camp, to con sider the union's request. she has been building at top speed, especially submarines and motor torpedo boats, a new weapon which the Germans are using extensively in the Eng lish channel. She is believed to have more than 100 of these craft and upward of 90 sub marines. These are the weaknesses: Resources Italy has been struggling to pile up reserves ui uii aim uliu'l viiai commo dities, but she has barely enough to meet her own needs in a long war. If Italy were a belligerent, furthermore, the allied fleets would bottle up the entrances of the Mediter ranean, her trade lifeline. Geography Italy is depend ent on the Suez canal for com munications with Eritrea, Ethi opia and Italian Somaliland, her east African empire, which, therefore, would be Insecure. Although less seriously men aced, Libya, Italy's other Afri can possession, lies between Egypt on one side and French and British territory on the i other. F. R. Increases Defense Fund Requirement; Asks Authority to Summon National Guard ET BILL IS DEFENDED Morgenthau Disputes Repub lican Contention Funds In tended for Ordinary Use Washington. May 31. (&) Secretary Morgenthau said to day the administration's defense tax bill represented a public desire "to be taxed" for the purpose, and disputed a Repub lican contention that it was intended to pay for "ordinary expenses of the government." An increase in the public debt limit and additional taxes both "are essential," the treas ury secretary told the house ways and means committee, to meet expanded defense needs. However, Representative Mc Lean (R. N. J.) Interpreted the tax measure as a "vehicle" to finance ordinary peacetime ex penditures as well, and drew from Morgenthau an agreement that part of the revenue was to go for "all the expenses of the war and navy" departments for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Urging enactment of a $636, 000,000 defense tax bill, the treasury head told the house ways and means committee that as things stood now, the treas ury's borrowing power would be "completely exhausted" by the end of next February. Also, he added, the working balance of the treasury now about $1.300,000,000 would be "dangerously depleted" by that time. POSTAL MONEY ORDERS NOW TABOO FOR LANDS SNATCHED BY GERMANY No postal money orders for delivery In Belgiub, The Neth erlands and Luxembourg arc now being sold at United States postoffices. Postmaster Frank DeSouza announced today. These three lands were put on the ta boo list after the invasion by Germany. Other countries to which money orders are not acceptable for dispatch are Norway, Den mark and Poland, Mr. DeSouza said. a On the other hand money or ders may still be sent to Ger many, England and France, prin cipal belligerents in the Euro pean war. as well as to Italy. Switzerland. Russia and the Bal kan countries in Europe and Japan and China, gripped in a war in the Far East. Of course, Mr. DeSouza point ed out, the postoff ice department offers no guarantee of being able to deliver the money orders In any of the countries in the war zones. There has never been a great deal of business In foreign money orders at Medford postofflce. but now it has dwindled to practi cally nothing, the postmaster said. The Dalles Bings Bring 7 Cents Lb. The Dalles. Ore.. May 31 (IP) The Columbia Fruit Growers' Cooperative sold a "substantial block" of Bing cherries today to the Stadelman Fruit company for 7 cents a pound. The Stadelman firm an nounced the price for Bings and Lamberts would drop to 8 cents next Thursday. Calcutta, May 31 'P Elghty five Germans, including women, most of them recently released from- Internment, were arretted today in a police roundup of "undesirable elements." AXATION Tired, Bewildered Refugees of I Part of the uncounted thousands oi refugees of war which hare streamed into France are shown upon arrival in Paris from home in Belgium, Luxembourg or France, which they may never see again. DULAY OPENS DISTRICT MEET A DeMolay dls'.rlct conclave will be held In this city tomor row and Sunday and will be at tended by members from Klam ath Falls, a recently organized chapter from Tule Lake, Rose burg, Grants Pass and Medford. Headquarters will be Masonic Temple and the following sched ule will be in order: 3 p. m. Saturday Registra tion at Masonic temple. 6 p. m. Saturday Dinner served by DeMolay Mothers club. Temple. 9 p. m. Saturday Informal dance, Steve Whipple's orches tra. 10 a. m. Sunday Business meeting in temple, presided over by Bob Jester, Klamath Falls. district master councilor. Feature of the conclave will be conferring of the DeMolay degree by Grants Pass chapter following the Sunday morning business session. Local members in charge of the affair follow: Don Wood nencral chairman: Bud Hoover dance; Jim Elliott, dates; Bob Childers, housing: Wilson Church, banquet. Jerry Vawter is deputy district master coun ciler. TO CRUISE TIMBER A party of 10 men will take to the field next Monday to be gin a timber cruise In parts of the Union Creek district of the Rogue River national forest, headquarters announced today. The cruise will last at least two months. It is for the pur pose of determining how much marketable timber lies in the various stands of the areas so that accurate plans may be made to govern sales and con servation. Ray W. McClane. Junior for ester at the regional office In Portland, will be In charge of the work. The work will be started, however, under the di rection of Fred MaU of the di vision of timber management, Portland regional' office.. The cruisers comprise school of for estry students from various colleges. Trap Survivors Tell Horror Of Retreat From Flandeis By the Associated Press A Southeast Coast Port In England, May 31. German bomb ing planes raiding the allied retreat from Flanders "attempted to pursue our ships right up to the harbor," a soldier of the British expeditionary force said on his arrival here today." I never expected to get backl alive," he said. "Our work was carried out in a blizzard of bombs and machine gun bullets. Jerry attacked in waves every 10 or 13 minutes. Still they kept coming. "The fun began when we were about six miles off the coast. That's where we had to run the gauntlet." While the men waited to board the long troop trains ready to speed them to the haven of the flowering English countryside, bakers worked overtime provid ing food. Women volunteers, re gardless of fatigue and long hours, cut mountains of sand wiches and served rivers of tea at makeshift canteens. Many of the survivors had to swim to the ships through a hail of bomb splinters. They still were wet and oil-soaked when they landed here. But one of their officers declared: "Our losses in the last few days have been far less than might be expected. But the slaughter among the Germans has been Incredible. The Ger man commanders seem to be throwing away their men's lives." A lieutenant commander In charge of one of the naval ves sets bringing home troops said: "I don't think we have cnlmb of food or even a cup i cocoa left in the ship. My men have been magnificent uncom plaining In the face of bombing and machine-gunning. We are quite determined that not a man shall be left behind for want of a ship." PARACHUTISTS TO AID FOREST FIRE FIGHTING Portervllle, Calif.. May 31 (IP) Parachute fire fighters will protect the Inaccessible regions tf Sequoia national forest from the ravages of lightning fires this year. Forest Supervisor J. E. Elliott announced that such fighters would be dropped from fire pa trol planes just as soon as blazes are reported from lookout sta tlons or the plane patrol. Feet Still Paramount San Diego, Calif., May 31 UP) California chiropodists were told that the human foot, despite the lethal effectiveness of bomb ers and tanks, still Is the "most important instrument" in warfare. SIX INDICTMENTS Six Indictments, five of them secret, were returned by the grand jury, composed of four women and three men, late Wednesday, In a report signed by Oris Crawford, foreman, the grand Jury stated it has not com pleted investigation In couple of matters, but will do so later. The district attorney'! office reported all the indictments would not be made public until those named were in custody. Warrants of arrest were issued today. Cordon Say re Little of Rogue River, was Indicted for carrying a firearm, while being an ex convict. Little, found prowling around an auto, last March, by state police, allegedly attempted to draw a gun. The grand jury was excused subject to further call. G. PASS EKES OUT GRANTS PASS. May 31. (IP) Enumerator Herman Young stayed on the job here after all other census-takers 'quit, trying to boost Grants Pass to the 8.000 mark from its total in 1930 of 4,flB8 names. He hunted for the last man three times, sent In a list of 88 names overlooked In the regular check-up. Then he was told the unof ficial total for the regular enu meration is 3.914. That still unofficially adds to exactly 8,000 population. Albany. May 31. (P) Al bany's preliminary population estimate of 8,620 represents a S S per cent gain compared with 1930, Mrs. Merle C. Stuart, dis trict census supervisor at Eu gene, reported today. Tha 1930 count was 8,323. SPEC1AL MESSAGE SEES POSSIBILITY OF INVDU Immediate Defense Program Now Calls for Four Bil lion and Half Dollar Washington. May 31 (IP) President Roosevelt told corv gress today tha "speedy" en largement of America's defense) program by "over a billion dol lars" was demanded by "tha almost Incredible events of the past two weeks" in Europe'! war. In a special defense message the second in 15 days Mr. Roosevelt said that "as long , . . as a possibility exists that . . . all continents - may become in volved in a world wide war. reasonable precaution demands) that American defense be mad mora certain." $4,800,000,000 Asked The request pushed the Imme diate defense program near 84.100,000,000. "The increased gravity of tha situation indicates that action should be taken without delay," the president said in the mes sage which, in contrast to tha one personally delivered May IS was read to the house and sen ate by clerks. The chief executive made on specific recommendation that congreas grant him authority to call tha national guard, and tha reserve personnel of the defense forces, into active service. He needs this authority, ha suggested, to "maintain our po sition of neutrality and to safe guard the national defense. Future Cloudy "No Individual, no group can clearly foretell the future," tha chief executive asserted. "As) long, however, as a possibility exists that not on continent op two continents but all conti nents may become involved in a world wide war, reasonable pre caution demands that American defense be made more certain." The one most obvious lesson taught by the conflict raging overseas, Mr. Roosevelt said, "ia the value of the factor of speed." 'There is definite danger," Mr. Roosevelt said, "in waiting to order the complete equipping and training of armies after a war begins. "Therefore, I suggest tha speedy enlargement of the pro gram for equipping and training in the light of our defense ede." The president mentioned no specific figure and gave no breakdown of the new program, which follows by 13 days hi oiiginal emergency request for l. 182.000,000 for expansion of the nation's armed forces and shoves the defense bill total to more than $4,300,000,000. STARVES SEVEN DAYS Klamath Falls, May 31. W Exhausted after seven d5fl without food or water, Frank Crlley, about 83, was taken to a hospital by state police last night after he had escaped from a locked box car at Midland. He Is expected to recover. Crlley, who was found un conscious on the road to Klam ath Falls, told Mrs. Altha Urquhart. welfare worker, tha he boarded his involuntary prison at San Luis Obispo, Cal. Tacoma, Wash., May 81. (im Official census figure show that the city of Tacoma has gained exactly 70S persona In the past 10 years. Mrs. Kath ryn Malstrom, census supervis or, said tha 1940 census count for Tacoma is 107.320, com pared to 106,817 in 1MB.
