Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A  Paper  For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Sunday:   Partly cloudy, cool, Monday: Fair, slightly wsrmer.
34TH YEAR, NO. 27-48 PAGES
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, MAY 5, 1940
PRICE TEN CENTS
Plane Sank Battleship
NAZIS ALSO CLAIM CRUISER, TRANSPORT; ENGLAND TO BE A TTA CKED, WARNS ITAL Y
Jacking-up ^Repair* Job on Carey Avenue Bridge Eyed with Distrust by Those Who Must Use it
Britain
Expects
Sliakeup
Public Shouting Dissatisfaction over Defeats in Norway
LEADERS BLAMED
' nf|«rlh   Thcuo
U.S. Health Officials Watch Valley Meningitis
Can't Come Until Requested by State; Two More Cases Here
Air Raid Guns Fire Near London
P Due to the fact that United ^ mUf Public Health officials Isst wpek had expressed rnncern over ths spinel meningitis situation in Luifme county, the manner in which this disea.se most prevalent In cold weather has continued into thf spring: caused speculation last Bl«ht whether or not federal health offirisls would  be called  in.
The situation was spotlighted »hfn two more rases, hoth in the Mme hnuse, were reported yester- "••y in Plymouth where so much of this year's epidemic hss been Miilered. These two brought the total for 1940 to 98. .Hint Re Asked to tome
It was known 'hat while U, .S. P':hlii' Health men in Washington Md expressed concern over the I<><'«1 epidemic and made it quite min that Ihey were watching the •lluatinn Intently, they stated they foiild not come in here to put the ""1 force nf their department •fsinst further spread of menin- rlls unless they were requested to Ho so hv xtale suthorities. ,
in svery instance, however, as »•"  the  rase   several   months   ago
Ijondon, May 4. 'UPi Briti.sh anti-aircraft guns in the Thames E.stuary opened up wilh heavy fire tonight, apparently on Ger¬ man planes. British fighter (ilane."' went up and flew oul toward the sea after 20 minutes of anti-air¬ craft   Are,
before interest in Ihe increased war in Europe and the floods in Wyom¬ ing Valle.v h,id detracted attention from meningitis, slate officials have given assurance that they had the situation   "in  hand."
State officials were quite blunt in this respect at » meeting held in Wilkes-Barre when the public had been aroused to a critical point. After that the disease did show signs of abating, as it did la.st year. However, also as was the case last year, it refuses to fade entirely and sweeps back every so often to claim more vic- timr. Three New ('nM>*
Now cases reported yeslerda.v hoth in the same home in Ply¬ mouth, were thosp of Oorge, age 2, and flenevievp. II. children of Mr. and Mrs. Thnmas ,Iarek, ,17 (Ontinued  on   Page  A-IO)
Policy Racket Paid Detroit Mayor $2M0 a Month, Witness Say a
¦^tmit. May 4. (UP)—Former Mayor Richard W, Reading was •«cu«fd today of accepting nine •enthly payments of $2,000 as his ware of a payoff for protection 2','••'troit'a    $10,000,000    niunbers
Raymond W, Boettcher, a form<r P»"f<- uispector, te.stined he made ^«   2,000   payments   while   R^ad-
n« was mayor, starting In Decem- •t   Ik"    His testimony wa.s given
I the examination of Reading. "oseculnr Duncan C. Mct?rea. 89 wiirem-n and 3« other defend,)nt,s
"" Hre charged by netroit',s ntw- "^"i grand jury with . onspiracv »n.!u "¦"'¦' J>""''« bv allowing the numbers racket to flourish. J ""'¦'If-her said he received $4,000 month    for    distribulion    from
verett I. Wat.son, reputed co-king
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•"oiltics
Movies
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' of Detroit  policy  and  manager  of fighter    Roscoe    Tolcs.     Boettcher testified   he   gave   Reading   $2,000; Buck   Ryan,   mystery   man   of   De- 1 troit policy, $1,000: Fred W. Frahm, \ former   superintendent    (chiefi    ,}f police, $S00, and kept $200 for him- ' self, •Trotection" CnnieN High
The payments to the former mayor were .said to have been made in a Detroit hotel room. ^
Earlier Brumal Penick, a policy i house operator, testified he paid $1.S0 a month to WaLson for pro¬ tection after a confereiue in Ihe prosecuting attorney's office. T'en- ick said the monthly cost of pro¬ tection went up to $600 about the time tho flrat payment was made to the former mayor.
The examination was being con¬ ducted before Judge Homer Fer¬ guson, who left his role as one-man grand jury to act as examining magistrate. The Reading numbers case was the third conspiracy action brought by the grand jury against Detroit and Wayne county officials. Evidence was shown that nearly $1,000,000 was paid for pro¬ tection of various rackets between January, IPS.'S, and August, 1939.       i
Use Old h/laterials, Support Similar to That Washed Away
The  type  of    repair    job    being ! done   on   the   old   Carey   avenue bridge at Plymouth is not finding complete approval.
It holds no assurance that the .section which caved in during the recent flood and now is being jack¬ ed up again with the old materials once more used, will not buckle again when next high water comes. j Since the supply never exceeds the demand in normal times, the shortage of bridges over the Sus¬ quehanna River becomes most acute in time of flood, forcing many extra miles of travel upon Wyoming Valley people and caus¬ ing terrific traffic jams. It is im¬ portant that the Carey avenue [ bridge be made substantial. Appears Temporary Job
Under direction and supervision of the state, the work of repair to the section th^t fell away appears nothing more than atteinpling to push it buck in place once more with the supports, which caused the cave when they were washed away, given no extra strengthen- , ing.
Though repairs have not heen nimoiinced as of temporary nature, they seem to be.
What assurance there Is that the ground under the supports will no' he washed nut wilh the next high iwaler Is nol known. The picture above, showing Ihe caved section and the work of jacking it back up again, shows also the manner In which the 1940 flood washed out the ground under the supports.
As  this   section   is  on  the  Island in   the  middle  of  the  river,    il    is quickly affected by any rise in the river.   That would permit water at , once   to  start  such   damage   as    it i can do to the bridge's supports. Could Prove Tragic
When flood control Is completed, the bridge will be available for traffic through any flood. If water again should wash out the supports i and cause another cave while the bridge is in use, tragedy might be added to thr next story of damage to Ihe old structure.
Curving, narrow, slippery and in¬ adequate at best: damaged scvci.il times by fire and now by flood; Its real strength held in doubt, the Carey avenue bridge "needs a new one."
Explain Usage of Inexperienced Troops As 'What We Had'
By WAI.LAtJK CARROLL,
London, May 4, (UP)—The Brit¬ ish government, on the defensive against rising public dissatisfacUnn over Allied reverses in Norway, pushed a vigorous campaign above I the Arctic Circle today in the hope I of having some tangible success to present to a critical  Parliament,
Allied land and sea forces were reported hammering at Narvik, seeking to drive the Germans out of that important ore  port.
Even a success at Narvik, how¬ ever, did nol seem likely to be enough lo appeaiie Parliament and the public, 'I'here is no air base at .Varvik from which Allied planes could operate, and the port is 300 miles from vital Trondheim, wilh wild, mountainous country between, Germany meanwhile is consolidat- r ing her grip on southern ports and j air bases.
In an apparent effort to temper some of the criticism expected next Tuesday when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill, senior defen.se minister, face Parliament, the government put out explanatory statements of operations   in   Norway. |
I sed Inexperienceil Troops j
One criticism  of the  British  re- [ vcr.ses in Central Norway was that | inexjierienced  troops  of  the Terri¬ torials,  or Home Guard,  had been ' put   into   action   against   the   Ger¬ mans.    Chamberlain told Commons on Wednesda.v that urgency neces¬ sitated   "sending   what   troops   we , h.'ul on hand.
Today,   the   public  was   informed that  Territorials  of the  49th  Divi¬ sion    formed   a   spearhead   ir|   the opening phase of operations, mak- i ing a line through which seasoned I troops pa.saed. j
The Territorials, It was declared, were speedily reinforced by regu¬ lars. This force fought gallantly and held up the German advance despite the German lua o< tanka and low-flying aircraft To Continuo Campaign
The statement was supplemtnted by an authoritative declaration that despite tha withdrawals in South¬ ern Norway, the Allies Intend lo continue operations with the great¬ est vigor,
A   government   shalceup   appear¬ ed   almost   inevitable.     Labor   and (Continued on Page A-10)
Norway Demands King Decide
Oslo, May 4, (UP) -The news¬ paper Tidenategn demanded to¬ day that King Haakon "say the decisive words: Norway shall go to war or maintain  peace."
It also called on the British to cease shattering Oslo's nerves with bombings of the Oslo air base and suggested that there were other places of more vital Intereat for military activities.
Plans were under consideration here for setting apart a large burial ground near Oslo in whici German troops killed in the Nor¬ wegian campaign would be buried. So far, burials have taken place at scattered points in the vicinity of   operations.
TroopsSet
Italian Navy. Planes Ready as Allies Put Fleet in Mediterranean
DECISIVE BAHLE F
Prepare for Nazis Marching North; Norway Giving up
By RALPH FORTE
Stockholm, May 4 (UP'-Well- informed military circles here to¬ night said a decisive battle for Narvik is underway with food- starved German troops under continual bombardment from land ; and sea.
j Both the Allies and Germany are racing against tima in the battle for the alralcgic iron ore port.
The Allies are reported to have drawn up new lines of defense • somewhere n^ar North Mo.sjoen, about 200 miles south ot ^'arvik, to stem a German march from Grong through that unlracked, bleak country to their beleaguered troops in Narvik. Grong is 80 miles south of Mosjocn, Panirhute Men and Supplie*
Meanwhile, German planes weie reported parachuting both men and supplies to the .Narvik garri.son, German sources said, and have even succeeded in improvising a landing   field   for   punsuit  planes.
The attack on Narvik was being pre.ssed wilh vigor, according lo the Swedish radio, but the Germans succeeded in beating off an assault from the north.
An air battle was fought over the town. Two British planes were re¬ ported shot down by German craft based at a hidden landing fleld. Five British planes had attempted to bomb the German positions.
German troopa wera reported to have entered Namsoa shortly be¬ fore I p. m. and Grong about B p. m. They Immediately posted reg¬ ulations in effect in tht occupied districts aimilar to those enforced at Oslo, warning inhabitants against further resistance.
An   engineering  detachment  was repairing  bridges   on   the   Moajoen (Continued on Page A-22)
BOOM WAR SPENDING
4 Japan Ships Caught Invading U.S. Naval Base
Radio Programs
As a service lo Wyoming Val¬ ley radio listeners, the Sundav Independent today presents the complete weeks pr^pram for the valley's radio stations.
These arc in addition to the Sunday programs of the national stations.
The [irngrams will be found today on  Page B-11,
Violation of Area Of Battle Fleet Termed 'Startling'
Honolulu, T, H., May 4, (UP) — Four Japanese boat operators, charged with entering prohibited Pearl Harbor areas where the ! American battle fleet is anchored, ' were held for grand jury action to¬ night as the U. S. Navy adopted what appeared to be increasingly stringent measures against possible espionage activities.
At   least   one   Japanese-operated sampan   penetrated   far   into   Pearl Harbor channel  while  three others entered proscribed area. "Sturtling" \iolations
Ob.servers termed the violations "particularly startling " hecause the iplatively narrow harbor entrance has been obstructed with anti¬ submarine and anti-torpedo nels. Even yachts, which formerly were permitted to enter the channel, have been warned to stay clear of the  restricted area.
Arrested were Nasaichi Ishazaki, 63, released on $300 bond; Kojiro Omura and his son, Robert, releas¬ ed on $100 bond each: and 'Vasa- turu Yaji, relca.sed on $100 bond.
I.shazaki's sampan was seized and held over night. He said high seas carried his boat accidentally into Ihc forbidden ihannel area. The four sampan seizures, coming with¬ in  24 hours,  wera  tbt  first ainct
Japanese Open New Offensive
Tokyo, May 4. (UP)—Tha Domel (Japanese) News Agency said to¬ day that fleld dispatches an¬ nounced the start of an impor¬ tant Japhnese military campaign against about BO Chinese divisions -probably ."iOO.OOO men—inHupeh province, A naval air force led the  attack.
The offensive in Hupeh, the dispatch said, followed defeat of Chinese forces in south Shansi province and in the Taingyang area south of the Yangtze River.
two Japanese crafl were taken into custody a few weeks ago. Constant   Prepautioti
Since the fleet arrived here from maneuvers, there ha.s heen a gen¬ eral air of precaution. At least three destroyers have been detailed to constant patrol off Honolulu harbor and the anchorage where ' the aircraft carriers Lexington and ; Saratoga are. j
Torpedo planes and auxiliary air¬ craft from battleships and cruisers have   engaged   in   extensive   patrol j activities over Oahu.    The two big aircraft carriers  left  their anchor- \ ages   twice   during   the   week   and "disappeared,"  presumably   lo  send their   planes   oul   on   scouting   mis¬ sions.    Patrol   bombers   hsve   been making   regular   flighla   300  milaa i off Oahu daily. i
Feel 'Invulnerable"; Say England Next to Feel Nazi Onslaught
Rome, May 4 lUPi A special decree tonight authorized the war ministry lo spend up tn 8,000.000.000 lire (approximately $4no,o00,000i he¬ tween now and June 3 for "extraor¬ dinary measurea of national de¬ fense,"
The decree was signed by Prem¬ ier Benito Mussolini and King Vic¬ tor Emmanuel.
No indication of the nature of the expenditures was given but it was said that half the sum would be I charged against the 19.'l9-194(t bud¬ ge and half against the 1940-1941 budget.
8,000,000 Troops Ready ! The decree was issued as Italy warned the Allied powers through the F'asciKt press that 8,000.000 , Italian soldiers and 340 warships j are prepared to go into action if ; war comes to the Mediterranean,
While (Germany prepares bases In ! Norway for a great air offensive or even an invasion ot the British Isles, the Italian newspapers said, the Fascist fighting forces make Italy "absolutely invulnerable" against the Allied powers in the southeast.
The most outspoken warnings to Britain and France were voiced by i the    ultra-Fascist    mouthpiece,    II j Teveie, although other newspapers ' joined   in   the   press   blast   to   em¬ phasize the attitude of the govern¬ ment  of  Premier  Benito  Mussolini and lo intensify Allied concern on two widely separated fronls. "Italy Is Invulncruhle"
There are 8,000,000 soldiers ot Italy ready for action today, II Tevcre said, and the Italian coa.st and communications lines are pro¬ tected by aix battleships, 33 (misers, 118 destroyers, 62 torpedo boats and 121 submarines,
"Italy is absolutely invulnerable," the newspaper added. "We are sure , that not a single shell from British ' or  French  cannon   can   fall   in   the industrial centers or on our coast¬ line when the hour comea," j    The   newspaper   referred   to   the i concentration    of    a    British    and ! French   baltlefleet   in   the   Eastern Mediterranean,     near     Alexandria, which was commented on in a de¬ fiant tone  by many  Fascist  news¬ papers,     including     the     Giornale d'ltalia   in   which   Virginio   Gayda often speaks for Mussolini.    Gayda said   Italy   did   not   clearly   under¬ stand   the   plans   of   the   Allies   but i remained "calm and unworried , , , I and prepared to re|>iilse any threat lo Italian interests," Wh.v It4tl.>  FppU Safe
II Tevere listed seven reasons why Italy wa.s invulnerablp;
1 The Adriatic is a closed aea, controlled by Italy.
- A fleet of 121 submarines form an "unbreakable chain" from the Ligurian Sea inear the French- Italian frontier) down the Italian coast to Ihe Otranto Strait, leading into  the Adriatic,
3 The Tyrrhenian Sea (off Southwest Italy) is surrounded by immense airports and patrolled by the Italian air fleet.
4 In the area from the Ionian Sea to the Tyrrhenian Sea (between Italy and Greece' there are six battleships. 33 cruisers, 118 destroy¬ ers and fi2 torpedo boats operating in defense of Italy. (The main British-French b'atlle fleet is eaat of this area >
!t The Italian naval base on the island of Panlelleria, between Sicily and Tunisia, al the bottleneck in the Medilerraiipan, .separates the "enemy's forces."
6 Italy h^ efficient coastal de¬ fenses.
7 —Eight million bayonets sprout from Italian soil.
Allien Prepare Feverinhly
The tension created in Italian circles by the Allied naval moves and the statements of the Fascist press was increased by dispatches from such British Mediterranean strongholds as Malta and Alexan¬ dria, reporting feverish wai; prep¬ arations.
The Pnpolo Di Roma correspon¬ dent al Malta said Ihat niilitarv authorities there ordered a total blackout beginniMK Isst night "to iContinued on Page A-ll)
Berlin Air Armada Says 6 More Ships Blasted at Narvik
Nazis Claim Planes Sank or Hit 100,000 Tons of British Navy in Smashing Victory; Hailed as Proof Of Naval Supremacy's End and .Aid To Italy's Stand in Mediterranean   y
By CLINTON B. CONGER
Berlin, Ma.v 4 (UP)—(Jei-man aii- powei- claimed tonight to have dealt a tremendous blow off .Norway to Briti.sh sea power—a blow .so great that if the (iernian a.ssertions prove true a ba.sic concept of warfare may have been shatteied.
(Jermany claimed that her air armada yesterday bla.sted to the bottom more than ."lO.OOO tons of the British Navy, including a ."JO.OOO-ton dreadnaught of the Warspite cla,s,s, a heavy crui.ser of the Vork cla.ss and a 12,0n0-ton fullv loaded transport. Another .'•fl.OOO to fiO.flOO tons of naval units, including a battle cruiser, two ciuisers. two destroyers and another transport were reported heavily damaged. Hrilons Remain Silent
(The British admiralty declined any comment on the German claims in accordance with a policy of making no comment on (ieiman naval announcements.)
Official (iernian quarto's hailed the reporls as "coticlu.sivp proof of the supremacy of air power over naval power and decisive for the future course and outcome of the war." No Repttrt on Bombers
Tlie (iei'iuan .souree.s made no announcement of the number of bombei's enjrajfed in the operations which were described a.s occurring off Narvik and after the Briti.<!h debarkation at Namso.s. There was no announcement whether any Gei'man plane.s were lo.st in the attack.s.
F'irst assertion of successes by German air power was made by the high command this morninjt in an nfficial communique saying that a British dreadnaught of the Warspite class had heen sunk off Namsos by German bombers. It claimed the warship was hit squarely by a single heavy bomb and sank in an incredibly short time.
Full Report Delayed
.^n interval of some hours follnwed. TTien the German radio carried a .special bulletin detailing the remainder of the asserted British sea losses.
Despite the lapse of time between the two statements, all of the sink¬ ings asserledly occurred at approx¬ imately the same lime yesterday. There was no explanation why this particular technique was followed in making public the German claims.
now at Alexandria is chiefly in heavy naval units.
This, they asserted, should give Italy the upper hand over the Allies  in thai area,
Jt was thought likely here that one reason for the furious tierman assault   on    the   British    ships   off
(British    officials   have    charged   .Namsos and .Narvik was tn aid the
the (Jermans wilh making exagger¬ ated unofficial claims of sinkings in an effort lo draw out the sdmir- altv   and   learn   exactly   how   much
besieged Nazi gar'ison at Narvik by preventing tran.sfer of addi¬ tional troops to reinforce the Allied forces   now   in   far   northern   Nor-
damage has been  caused by  bomb   way
atarks on fleet units,) (lieering to Italy
German quarters Immediately claimed that demonstration of supe¬ riority of air power over sea power was of major importance in con¬ nection with developments in the Mediterranean,
Radio Claims Victories
The special German radio an¬ nouncement said:
"Apart from the announcement nf tiie sinking nf a battleship the British naval forces which yester¬ day embarked the retreating Brit¬ ish landing corps from Namsoi suffered    heavy    losses    from    In-
They   noted    that   Italy's    chief   cessant attacks by German bomb- strength   lies   in  her  air  force   and   ers and dive bombers.
her   submarine    fleet    whereas   the strength  of the Ang#)-French  fleet
"A   heavy   cruiser   of   the   York (Continued on  Page  A-ll)
Victorious Commander in Norway One Of Nazis 'Hardy 'Young Generals'
Berlin. May 4. (UP) -Gen. NiUo- laiis von Falkenhorst, victorious (iprman commander In Norway, is one of the Reich's "young :;en- crals."
Product nf four years of fighlins; on the World War's Western Front, service with the Reich's token army during the post-war disarma¬ ment period and the Polish blitz¬ krieg, von Falkenhorst now has led German troo|>s to a 23-day lightn¬ ing victory in Norway,
At 55, von Falkenhorst looks back on a military career of more than 37 years. From the cadet corps he entered the LiegniU Gren- nilicr Rcsiment as a lieutenant in 1003. When war broke out in 1914 he went to the front with his regi¬ ment as a company commander Later he went tn the general staff where he lemained for two year.« getting training thai was invalu- Thle for his later lareer. Fought In Finland
Von Falkenhorst waa with the t^erm.an forces sent to Finland in 1918 to aid Marshal Carl Gustav von Manncrheim in driving the Russian Red Armies oul of Fin¬ land. There is no doubt that von Falkenhorst in this early Finnish campaign gained firsl hand ac¬ quaintance wilh field conditions in northern countries that materially contributed lo his being chosen as Hitler's commander in chief in Norway,
After the Finnish war for inde- pendencp, von Falkenhorst re¬ turned to Gprmany with his troops where he was given command of the   32nd   pivision   In   the   small
liK.N. \0.\  I'ALKK.SHORST
Treaty of VersaiUe, I.Aler he waa given command of an army corps with the rank of lieutenant general. On the return lo the German army from the Polish campaign army allowed Germany by the (Continued  on  Page  A-10)
Di/tpatchen from Euro¬ pean countries are now Kubjecl    to   censorship.
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