Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              /
A   Paper  For The  Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The  Weather
Sunday:   CMoiidy.   w»rm»r. MondnvK; Showprn.
34TH YEAR, NO. 2^-44 PAGES
RETURN
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 1940
PRICE TEN CENTS
REFU6EES UNDER WAY
Allies Are Set to Start 'Strangle Blockade' of Reich
Will Cover. All Europe And Pacific
Scandinavia is CeTiter of Drive; Attack Air Leaks
Wyoming Valley's LASr Flood?
SOME TO AMERICA
Iron Ore a Target; Want British Subs Sent to Baltic Sea
London, April « (UP)- Great Britain and France were reported tnniKht lo have rompleted broad plans for "total blockade" of Ger¬ many In all poKsible spheres, in¬ cluding the Pacific Ocean and pos- ¦ibly aerial transport routes over Europe and the Atlantic. i
The plans were woil<cd out "step ' by step" in two preliminary i:on- fprence.H in which French Minister nf Blockade Georges Monnet and British Minister of Economic War¬ fare  Ronald  Cross  participated.
Fnr rietaili nf alarni felt in (ierniany and Srjindinavia as Allies  aft  aee   Page  A-10.
Their talks re.sulted in full agree¬ ment on procedure fo' measures to "choke Germany more and more" and were reported to have covered a wide field, including;
1. An intense trade drive lo cap¬ ture markets and otherwise prevent minerals, oils and fats reaching Germany from countries adjacent to the Reich.
8tiidy I^alio to I. S.
2. Methods of checking aerial traffic to Germany, especially over routes leading from Spain and Portugal and thus connecting with the Pan American trans-Atlantic routes to the United States.
3. Reduction of shipments via the Pacific Ocean and Soviet Rus¬ sia to supply the Nazi war machine and the problem of Soviet oil ship¬ ments to Germany.
4. -The question of Scandinavian Iron ore shipments to Germany. both by way of Norwegian terri¬ torial waters and by way of the Gulf of Bothnia (which will soon he free of icei and the Baltic Sea, into which some naval experts have urged that British submarines venture.
Because Solomon's Creek through South Wilkes-Barre and Hanover town.ship is still uncontrolled and its mouth offers easy access for liigh water from a flooded Susque¬ hanna, this |)icture was po.s.sible. At the present time, officials of Wilkes-Baire and Hanover have yet to reach agreement on what is to be done and army engineers can¬ not start work.
The picture was taken from a plane, looking from the Plymouth side, over the lower Plymouth bridge, toward? the Bre.slau sec¬ tion. Acro.ss the foreground runs the dike, which was holding, but the water behind it had come in from the mouth of the creek. In the rear i.s the flooding creek inun¬ dating still another section. i
.Millions Remain I'nused I
Also still unprotected, despite the fact that millions of dollars of fed¬ eral funds have been appropriated for the purpose but remain unused, are Plymouth, Forty Fort, Swoyer- ville, Nanticoke and West Pittston. Plans lo safeguard the airport are included. For the purpose, more than  $1,- i
War Squeeze Is Put on Scandinavia
Long Awaited Move To Cut Resources From Reich Brings Alarms and Threats
U. S. Has Last Word on Peace
By IMTEU  PRKS.S
The Heat was on Scandinavia— and to a lesser extent -other European neutrals tonight. The long-awaited Allied cffoil The questions discu.ssed pre.iented to tighten the blockade of Gcr- Ihe most difficult problcni.s for the many and cut off the Reich from Allies, it was understood, and were vital neutral war resources wa- line    with    the    Briti.sh-Krench   moving   forward   with    increasing;
tempo.
Repercussions in Scandinavi.T came almost immediately. Both Norway and Sweden feared they would be caught in a "squeeze" between the Allies and Germany which might cost them neutrality and end with involvment in the war.
Exact nature of the Allied move 111 .Scandinavia was not yet clear. But reports from London. Oslo, Stockholm. Berlin and Copenhagen indicated the goal of the Allies likely was to cut the trade lines between German industrial and war factories and Scandinavian raw materials. :
Blorliing  (ieriiwn  Shipnienta |
There    were    some     suggestions \ that the Allies sought the right  to
In   	
communications to Norway and Sweden emnhasizing in a friendly hut stern manner that the Allies could not stand aside and see in¬ crease of (;erman or Russian power in the northern neutral zone. Air Traffic a Problem
Particular intere.st also was aroused by the reported plans for interrupting air traffic to Germany, which is said to have heon sendmn and receiving articles of great value by air iraii.sport in order to cir¬ cumvent the Allied blockade of ex¬ ports and imports to the Reich.
The problem of ho'v to intercept aerial transports, such as the Dutch are running, obviously would he a most difHcult one and there was no immediate suggestion as to methods that might be employed. 'Under   international   law,   it   was
Ottawa, April «. (UP>- The United States will have "the la.«t word" in any peace made in Enrnpe. Archduke Otto, pre¬ tender to the Hap.sburg throne, said  in  an  interview today.
"It doesn't matter whether the country goes to war or remains in its present neutral position," he said, "it will still have the last  word."
Otto spoke of President Roose¬ velt as "one 'of the greatest brains in the world right now" and said he was struck by Ameri¬ can sympathy for the Allied cause.
The archduke saw no immedi¬ ate possibility of revolt in coun¬ tries  seized  by  Germany.
"They are too clever for that," he said. "They will lie quiet for two or three years until Hitler has weakened his own  position."
Turkish views which predicted that the Balkans would be the next "hot spot" in the war.
The coniern of Scandinavia at the situation was voiced in Oslo by Premier .lohan N.vgaardsvold who insisted that Norway would carry on trade with both Britain and Germany as usual. Sweden was understood to take a parallel posi¬ tion. Both (oiinlrieit Alarmed
Uneasiness was apparent in both countries. Un( onfirmed rumors flew around   the   Scandinavian   capitals.
Warrants out for U. S. Red and Bund Leaders
Dies Wants Law/ to Make Communists Register Like Aliens
Washington, April 6, (UP)—The Dies committee tonight issued al¬ most 1(X) subpenas for Communist, German-American bund and other Fascist group leaders throughout the nation.
Among those subpenaed in a comprehensive effort to get a broad picture of activities of sub¬ versive groups was William Z. Foster, Communist party presi¬ dential candidate, and Earl Brow- der, secretary general of the Com- |
Reds in Siberia Again Fortify
Tokyo, April 6. iUP) Russian forces along the Manchukuo- Siberian frontier have resumed construction of pillboxes and permanent fortifications with the approach of the spring thaw, the Domei (JapaneseI News Agency reported today from the border town   of   Heiho,
have been issued by Federal .Tudge George A. Welsh. The warrants the men violated civil in    connection   with    the
the committee.
Reds R4>ruae t« Talk
Fifty of the subpenas were for Communist leaders and 40 were for leaders of the German-American Bund, whose fuehrer is Fritz Kuhn, convicted last year on embezzle¬ ment  charges  connected  with  that ;
organization's  funds.  The  commit-
mine  Norwegian  territorial  waters
believed,  a blockade  might  be  en-   to close the neutral avenue throush
forced against aerial  transport by  which German shipments now ro
belligerent  airplanes   forcing   them   Another   possibility   was   that   the
lo land or to pass contraband con-   Allies seek to halt  completely  iror,
liol  points such  as are now estab-   ore   shipments   to   Germany   from
lished for .ships at sea. • Norway.
It   was   reported   that   the   Ger-       Whatever the Allied design.s. they   One  report  was  that  Norway was
mans    have'   been    sending    small   doubtless   were   outlined   in    com-   willing   to  halt   all   iron   ore   .ship- scientific   instruments   and   chemi-   munications to the  Norwegian  and   ments from the Arctic port of Nar
cals  by  airmail  for sale  abroad  in   Swedish  governments  presented  to
order to increase  their foreign ex-   the Scandinavian ministers in both
change   revenues   in   spite   of   the   I.,ondon   and  Paris  yesterday.    The
Allied blockade of German exports,   text   of   the   communications   was
These    instruments    might    be   of   not   made   public.
great   value   and   their   sale   might       German    reaction   to   the   Allied
make an important loophole in the   economic offensive was prompt and
blockade. forceful.    Germans warned  that  if
I'.S, Clippers on Route Scandinavia   co-operated   with   the
Such   air   mail   traflii;   has   been   blockade    it   would   sacrifice   neu-
reported carried on from Germany   irality.
to   Holland   and   thence   by   Dutch       The   authoritative   Diplomatisch-
planes  to  Spain  or  Lisbon,  Portti-   politische   Korrespondenz,   German
gal. where connection can be made   foreign office organ, hinted that the
with   thr   trans-Atlantic   routes   to   Allies  may  be  seeking  a  test  case
of neutral co-operation  in  the eco¬ nomic   sphere. Balkmi'i .May Be Next
The suggestion was that if the Allies succeed in obtaining Scandi¬ navian   aid   In   the   drive   to   shut .———r:        .       „
Germany   off   from   economic   re-   ^ ^^^^««*'; ^"JXMhodM^^ cerning the  party.   Questioning of
.sources,   the   same   technique   will   ference   of   the   Methorti.st   i nurrn »      _	
be    applied    later    to    the    Balkan   held at Athen.s.  Pa countries, where Germany also gets important supplies
munist   party   who   was   convicted J'.^"''**'^
recently on passport fraud charges, "berties
The announcement  bv Chairman """'t.'.'
Martin   Dies, followed his announce- ^f""   »f"on   angered   Dies.   After
ment that Congre.ss would be asked C""'*'''"'"'? ^''h Committee f'ounsel
to  pass  this  session  legislation  re- Robert E. Lynch, Hurley and Howe,
quiring   the   Communist   party   to ^' announced  he  would  .seek  legal
register   like   an   alien   agent   and ¦¦••»t''a"it of activities  of  the Com-
give out information  about its ac- '""""t party which would prevent
tivities  and  finances. '' '¦¦°"' dodgmg inquiry.
Among those  named  in  the sub- Voorhis proposed a $10,000 fine on
pcna.s, was  William  Dudlev Pelley, ^^'^^ organization refusing to regis-
chief   of   the   Nazi-inclined   Silver t*'''.  and  »1,000  fine  and  two years
.Shirts.   It   is   a   new   subpena   for '"   pnson   for  any  official   submit- Pellev, he having been brought here . ""K '«'«•  "tateraents or failing to
earlier  this  year   to   testify   before di.sclose   data   required   on   blanks
'he United States. The Pan-Amer¬ ican Airways runs clipper ships on the route from New York to Lis- hon and these recently have avoided Bermuda, where their cargoes are subject to inspection hy the British contraband officers.
It was believed probable that any plans    for    intercepting    such    air (Continued on  Page A-U)
vik to which Swedish ore is ship¬ ped by rail if necessary to prevent involvement with the great powers.
Cnn.sultation between the Swedish and Norwegian governments was expected before any answer is made to the Allied communications.
In France, the quickening tempo of the economic drive was revealed
with word that a high British war being subpenaed cabinet official unidentified but bring the records possibly Winston Churchill has been in Paris this week checking details of AnRlo-French naval co¬ operation for tishtening the block¬ ade.
prescribed by the secretary of state.
Meanwhile, two Boston (^om- ( munists arrested Friday on war¬ rants alleging contempt of the com- ; mittee were freed on bail through habeas corpus writs. The two. T. F. Patrick O'Dea and Phil Frankfeld, were   out  on   $1,000  bond  each   for
\ appearance in court Monday. They
gained the writs on the contention tee did not release the names of | (hat the arre.sts were Illegal since others. i the   Dies   committee   had   not   sub¬
mitted the contempt citations to the House for approval.
Dies   emphasized   that   the   com¬ mittee  was  not  contemplating  go¬ ing out and seizing records. Those are    asked    to
Flannery Demands Probe of Dike Break
000,000 has been allocated for Ply¬ mouth, $500,000 for the Forty Fort- Swoyerville work, $380,000 for Nan¬ ticoke and $100,000 for West Pitts- ton. Nothing has as yet been done with the money.
Photographer, for the Scranton Tribune, was A. J. Sandone. The plane was piloted by John R. Bur¬ leigh. I
Asks  Chief of Army  Engineers For  Explanation Of Kingston Flood
"A thorough survey and complete investigation" of the break In the dike which flooded Kingston, caus¬ ing heavy losses, has been de¬ manded of the chief of army en¬ gineers by Congressman J. Harold Flannery.
Acting last week upon news of the manner in which flood waters poured Monday morning through an opening left for passage of a railroad spur. Congressman Flan¬ nery communicated with Major General J.  L. Schley.
As all local investigations have brought the report that no one is to be blamed, results of the con¬ gressman's letter will be awaited, particularly by residents and property owners of the large .sec¬ tion of the West Side which was safe and dry until Monday and probably would have remained un¬ damaged had not the one weak spot in seven miles of dikes given way.
Following is Congressman Flan- nery's letter: Major General J. L, Schley Chief of Engineers War Department Wa.shington. D. C. My dear General Schley:
In the disastrous flood of the Susquehanna River, with par¬ ticular reference to the Wilkeji- Barre-King.ston area, may I say that the dikes, only partially constructed, appear to have vin¬ dicated the Army Engineers In every detail and reflect credit on your Department In their purpose, their design and their construction. And despite the fact they are as yet incomplete the damage was tremendously reduced in the face of the most severe  conditions.
May I say further that Cap¬ tain C. P. Hardy has shown the highest attributes of an engi¬ neer, officer and executive and deserves great credit for his work.
It is unfortunate, therefore, that in one section, at least. where the construction was temporary in character that the barrier gave way, resulting in a partial flood of the Kingston area which up to that time had been untouched. Various rum¬ ors have ari.sen a.s to the cause of this break. In order that the air be cleared I request, in behalf of the people of Wyom¬ ing Valley, a thorough surve.v and complete investigation on the situation generally and more particularly with refer¬ ence to the so called "tempor¬ ary gate" near the vicinity of the oil company storage plants, which Is said to have given way and also with particular refer¬ ence to the "railroad bed barri¬ cade" which is also said lo have been washed out.
It i.s desired to know whether or not a temporary construction at these points was a matter of necessit.v or local conven¬ ience and in any event why they were so built and further if any outside agency contri¬ buted in any way dlrectl.v or indirectly to the regrettable re¬ sults which have just occurred.
Tlianking you for your co¬ operation in this and awaiting your advices, I remain.
Yours very truly
Washington Watched Flood
Startled but a few weeks ago by word of the Shenandoah sub¬ sidence, official Washington, from President Roosevelt down, evi¬ denced immediate concern and anxiety last week as word canae by press, wire and radio of new trouble in the anthracite region, this time from flood.
Keeping close contaot with the Wilkes-Barre situation through national quarters of the Red Cross, War Department and fed¬ eral relief agencies, financial and material assistance was readily forwarded   to  stricken  areas.
Washington newspapers de¬ voted columns of space to cor¬ respondence and pictures from the flood area while theatres fea¬ tured newsreels of the rampag¬ ing i5usquehanna in Wyoming Valley. Most local interest was manifest, however, on Thursday night at annual meeting of the Luzerne County Club of Wash¬ ington where any new word from the flood area immediately occu¬ pied   the   limelight  of  discussion.
May Have All in Homes .By Tonight
Danger of New Flood Is Remote Though Snow Remaint
SCHOOL TO REOPEN
'FLYING FORIRESS'
J. HAROLD FIJVNNBRY.
F.S
Huge Army Bomber In First Successful Trip of its Kind
Ijingley Field, Va., April (  (UP)
Major Carol McDanlel of Langley
' Field  made  aviation  history  today
; when he piloted one of the army's
new  Boeing  flying  fortresses  from
Mitchell Field, N. Y., to Langley ; Field, In the first totally "blind" i cross-country     flight -including    a
"blind "  takeoff  and   landing—ever
completed  successfully. j     McDanlel flew the entire distance
nf over .tOO miles with a canvas I hood   in   front   of  him   so  that  he
could   see   nothing  but  the  instru- j ment board of the plane. I     "It was an uneventful trip." Mc-
Daniol said. "We had good weather
all  the  way,  and  never  once  had
any trouble."
Co-Pilot Never Needed
Throughout the trip. Lt. W. C. Masscny, co-pilot, sal at the spare controls, ready to take over and fly by visible control in an emergency, but his assistance was not needed.
I The flight in the big four- motored Boeing B-IT, one of the army's latest type bombers, was completed in two hours and one minute   at    an    average   speed    of
' about 200 miles per hour, Mc¬ Danlel   said.
i A reporter and photographer accompanied McDanlel and Mas- aeny on the trip, "to make sure 1 didn't   peek."  McDaniel said.
! The fliers took off from Mitchell Field at 10:0.'5 a. m. (EST) and landed at Langley at 12;0fl p. m.      i
I BU'YCI.K  RE('0\ KREI) ^
Detective John Burke recovered a girl's chromium bicycle from a vacant house on .South Washing- !toM street at 7 oclock last night , and brought it to the police station. The bike, believed to have been stolen, can he claimed by the own¬ er upon  Identification,
ALL'S QUIET ON ALL WAR FRONTS
Traffic Near Normal; Towns Tackle Task Of Cleaning up
Wyoming Valley Red Oo« x ed far into the night on plans tt re-establish 1,4^9 flood refugee^ evacuated and housed for the b«b> ter part of the week In nine dlf« ferent shelters here, as the Sus¬ quehanna River early this mom« ing continued to recede. It !• hoped that by some time tonight all these people will b« returned to their homes.
Gratifying signs laat night war« reports that hundreds of (amiliei who were forced to flee their homes on the morning of Sundajr, March 31, already had r«tume<L Scores of boats were preseed into service to return folks to Inuiw dated streets. All were eager t« get home, despite the fart that facilities were not of the moat desirable sort.
The river continued to go 4«wa and, despite the fact that lb* drop was low during the day and nighV observers are confident that damag* has pa.ssed its peak. It waa drop* ping near the 22-foot mark thta morninf. Another Flood Hemoto
Most heartening report WM thsf given by E. A. Hoffman, one of th« most accurate river observer* la Northeastern   Pennsylvania.
"Only with a long warm rain af one or two days, with preeiplutloa of one to two Inches," he said last night, "could there be a recurrence of the flood here in the valie/ equal to  that  of  the  past  week,   deplta the fact that there is enough snow on    the    Susquehanna    watershed j east of Sayre to cause one." I    He completed a survey of a aonc ! 20   miles   wide   and   H>0   mile*   in ' length, a total of 7,000 square mllee along  the  Susquehanna  River,   hf fore  making  the statement.    Two- thirds of the snow has gon« frcni I the upper watershed, Mr. Hoffman ! reported,  and  the  remaining  third has   a  water   content   equal   to   an average   of   two   Inches   over   the entire    drainage    basis    north    »t Towanda.
This snow, he said, has been compressed by the rains and melt¬ ing and would run off very quinkly and freely in the event of warm rains.
"Warm weather alone," said Mr, Hoffman, "even should the tem¬ perature rise to considerable height, would not bring down this snow In sufficient volume at any one time to raise the river at Wilkes-Barre much above the j 20-foot stage." Schools Reopening
A number of schools, closed In the valley since high water hit the region, will open tomorrow. Orthers will resume sessions on Tuesday or Wednesday. All Wilkes-Barre schools, with the ex¬ ception of Meyers High Srh««l, will resume tomorrow. Flood ref- ugess, 2,'! In number, were taken i from the building last night. It ; will be fumigated today. Meyers has several feet of water In the cellar.
Schuyler, Dorrance, Maple, Penn ' and   Prinsle   school    buildings   In (Continued on Page A-ll)
ATHENS CONFERENCE CONSIDERS SALARIES
Rep. Jerry Voorhis, D., Calif., a member of the Dies committee, announced tonight that he has drafted a bill embodying the ob¬ jectives Dies is seeking to control the  Communist  party.
This move waa made in the face of a series of legal tangles plagu¬ ing Dies committee investigators In their efforts to obtain member¬ ship   records  and   other  data   con-
fn Today's Iitaue
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Polities	
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Story  	
Sports  	
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"What    actually    is    happening," asserted    the   German    organ,    "is that   the    plutocratic    powers   are I suggesting    to    the    Scandinavian [ nations that they should alter their relations    with    the    Reiih    which have  been  based on  tlie  most   cor¬ rect   conception   of  neutrality.' i    This suggestion was in line with
moved yester- dav to establish social legislation designed to fix minimum salaries at $1,200 a ver.r for full members. The resolution was presented by Rev Ralph L Williamson, rural institute leader of New York, who deplored   the   differences   in   salary
witnesses has been futile, the wit¬ nesses  preferring to  risk  jail  and fines    for   contempt    rather    than talk. Warrents for Dies Agents
In Philadelphia, where Dies com¬ mittee investigators seized two truckloads of doi uments, warrants
le\Tls     He  said  that  salaries   paid   calling  for the arrest  of two com- to   some   ministers   were   too   low   mittee   agents.   George   F.   Hurley and    incnnsistert    with    the   ideals   and   Chester    Howe,   and   a    l«ral , of Christian  brotherhood. police   lieutenant,   Albert   Graaitz,
Even Hatch Act Permits Prayer
Washington, April (!. (UP) - Attorney General Robert H. Jack¬ son held tonight that a federal employee may pray for his parly without violating the Hatch clean politics   act.
He advised E. H. Birmingham, Iowa state Democratic chairman, that the Rev. D. Owilym Roberts, a Presbyterian minister employ¬ ed as walcnman on a National Youth Administration project, would not be engaging In "per¬ nicious political activity" if he opened the party's state conven¬ tion with a prayer.
The attorney ;;eneral waived a Justice Department rule against rendering Hatch Act opinions in individual cases lo set the Rev, Roberts'  mind  at  ease.
Paris, April 6, (UP)- The western front was quiet today on this 2,1rd anniversary of American entrance into the World War,
The high comm/ind'a communi¬ que called it "a calm day,"
(In Berlin, the German high command had "no particular events" to report. It was an¬ nounced that permission had been granted for foreign military, naval and air attaches to visit the West- wall, The trip will be made shortly by special train under guidance of army officialsi,
French military circles reported only one minor engagement. This occurred west of "he Vosges when a German detsichment crept up to a French outpost in Indian style. In the ensuing figlt the French said they wounded the German noncommissioned officer in charge of the attack and made him pris¬ oner.
South of Saarbruecken in the Forbach sector French artillery fired on German labor camp work¬ ers who were constructing fortifi¬ cations.
Poor weather discouraged aerial reconnaissance.
Marry British Subjects in Haste To Spy on Great Britain at Leisure
London, April R. (UP)—British authorities prepared to crack down I on German aliens tonight after discovery of numerous "two day wives" who marry Britons, some only long enough lo obtain pass¬ ports, others to get valuable in¬ formation for the enemy.
Special branch officers of Scot¬ land Yard and the intelligence de¬ partments have compiled a "black list" of enemy aliens who will be examined by new tribunals starting ntxl week. These includ" "dangerous" aliens, ' whose immediate internment is re¬ garded as necessary to the safety of the country.
An    investigation    of    marriage \ licenses    in    connection    with    the I tightening  up of alien  restriction;; ' disclosed  a number of  "marriages for convenience"  between  German women   and   British   subjects.    For ^ example,   A  German  woman   mar- I ried an  admiralty  employee  short- I ly before the war started.   She dis¬ appeared     two     days     later    and
authorities     wonder      what     «ht found   out. Short  Marriages
Several cases were disclosed of German women who married Brit¬ ish subjects but stayed with them only long enough to get British pas.sports. Police submitted to the war office a speiial report regard¬ ing these marriages and officials ordered that the women be traced if  possible.
.\nother move to trap German spies will be the establishment of protected areas in the neighbor¬ hood of naval bases, where police are now conducting an extensive inquiry into the S'tivities of all aliens regardless of whether they have previously been before tribu¬ nals and are under restrictions.
Dispatches from Euro¬ pean voitntries are now subject    to   censorship.
fv