Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A  Paper For The  Home
SUNDAY INDEPE
Sunday:   Cloudy, cold, Monday: Fair, warmar.
34TH YEAR, NO. i—46 PAGES
I •>*
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1939
PRICE TEN CENTS
NAZIS CLAIM 4 WARSHIPS BOMBED; AIR RAIDERS OVER ORKNEY ISLANDS
6 NEUTRALS AROUSED BY 'DOUBLE BLOCKADE' PLAN
All Dolled up
Allies Ignore Seizure Protests As Sea Warfare Grows Ruthless; Japan Threatens
Seems Best to Woo Girl Instead of Supreme Court
By FREDERICK KVH
London, Nov. 25 (UP)—Great J?ritain and France went ahead to¬ night with plans to seize German exports on the high seas despite protests by six neutral nations, in¬ cluding a Japanese threat of "coun¬ ter measures." Two other nations unofficially complained against the Allied plans.
Officially or unofficially the gov¬ ernment was advised of the oppo¬ sition of Italy, Belgium, Holland, rienmark, Sweden and Japan to the new "double blockade" orders which resulted from (jcrman sea warfare methods—chiefly mines ¦ that took 27 ships and an estimated 238 lives in the last week.
The Japanese foreign office state¬ ment Issued at Tokyo said:
"The proposed measure not only exceeds the limits of reprisal rec¬ ognized under International law but also the undertaking the Brit¬ ish government made to the Jap¬ anese government not to interfere wilh the exportation of German (toods ..." ,
Quration Legality
The Japanese reaction was the strongest of any In the neutral nations. Norway waa expected later to add her representations to those already made to the British government. Finland's press bit¬ terly attacked the British plans hut it was not believed formal pro¬ test would be made to London a.^ Finland is not as directly affected as other nations.
The complaints not only pointed out the harm that would befall the small nations but questioned the legality of the Allied proposal un¬ der international law. Japan made only preliminary Inquiries at the foreign office in connection with the statement Issued in Tokyo but the Japanese ambassador is ex¬ pected to lodge a formal protest early next week, challenging the British action.
It was stated semi-officially that each case is being given the most careful consideration by the British government and that every effort will be made to mitigate the hard¬ ships and inconveniences Inflicted on neutrals by the action. .NeutraN Will Suiter
To  a  certain  extent,  the  neutral nations  were  believed  emphasizing their   neutrality   by   their   protesLs but  it  also was  obvious  that  they ; would  suffer hard.ships and  losses. In   Amsterdam,   for   instance,   the | newspapers    criticized    both    Ger- ¦ many and Britain for infrirVgemenI ] on the rights of neutrals.
The sinking of the Dutch steam- ¦ er .Sliedricht by a U-boat was de¬ nounced "as brutal and barbarous" In the Dutch press.
In Norway, where the govern¬ ment announced a new appropria¬ tion of $113,700 to strengthen de¬ fense, especially by airplane con¬ struction, the Oslo Tidens Tegn predicted that representations would be made lo the belligerent countries regarding intensification of war on the high seas but It was not believed that any joint action would be taken at present.
In Finland, the press bitterly re¬ sented   the   intensification   of   sea war    as    a    handicap    to    neutral , trade,   iirilain  is  one  of  Finland's ! principal customers.  It was pointed out    hnwever,   XUnt   Gcrm<Tn   trade with  Finland  could  continued  un¬ hampered. 1 Pnrt of London C:iosed |
The   partial   closing   of  the   port i (Continued  on  Page  A-9)
Judge Said 'Yes' But Lowther Can't Find the Lovely One
EILEK.N  HERRICK
Wherefore art thou, .Tullet?
New York, Nov. 25 (UP)—Five mellow chimes sounded from a sky¬ scraper clock today and George I Lowther 3rd, In the guise of a mod¬ ern Romeo, set out to find his Juliet j with the blessing of the State Su¬ preme Court.
At 5 p. m. the 10-day separation of the sweethearts decreed  by the court   because  of  parental  opposi¬ tion  expired  and  the  cafe  society j glamor  hoy   started   to  make   the I rounds of the homes of friends of ' debutante   Eileen   Herrick,   whose hand he seeks.
His quest began amid mutterings of renewed court action by Eli Johnson, counsel to Lowther, who charged that the socially prominent Walter Herrlcks were concealing their daughter contrary to the court order that .=ihe be permitted to make her own romantic deci¬ sions.
Lowther was disappointed but determined. He said he had expect¬ ed that the Herrlcks would permit him to visit their home instead of taking Eileen from New York Hns¬ pital without warning yesterday and sending her to the house of an unidentified friend.
He was likewise Irritated because Herrick,   an   attorney   and   former park   cnmmissioner,   said   he   was unable to reveal the  name of the friend due  to her dislike  of  pub¬ licity.   Herrick   took   the   attitude that the court ruling did not compel him to disclose his daughter's spe¬ cific whereaboiits. "Eileen's nurse told me." he said. Ihat she wrote a letter to George I.nwther yeste.day  telling him  she did not want him to communicate with  her  in  any way." I     "My  client has  not  received  any 1 (Continued  on  Page  A-9)
Planes May Be Planting More Mines
Flew In Vicinity Of Naval Base At Scapa Flow
SECOND OF DAY
Shetland Islands Also Turn Guns On German Fliers
I Claim Magnetic I Mines Defeated
j London, Nov. 2,V (UP)—Tht I. British admiralty has found tha j answer to the Nail mins war¬ fare by using "electric aprons" I in mine sweeping, the Sunday ,   Dispatch said.
The electric aprons ars really an electric "field" thrown from i British mine sweepers to clear ! out fields of "magnetic" mines laid hy German U-boats or drop¬ ped by parachute from Nasi planes, the newspaper said.
"The admiralty electrical ex¬ perts devised a means of throw¬ ing a powerful field of electrlo magnetic force some hundreds of feet ahead of the mine sweep¬ ers,"  It  explained.
"This field or apron li con¬ trolled  like  a  ray."
The   newspaper   said   that   tha navy  would  soon   havs   ths  mag¬ netic  mine  situation  under  con¬ trol.
IJoll for a fighting man might seem odd, but this British Tommy would not leave London, en route for embarkation point for France, without this   little   mascot.   Eventually   he   and   mascot   will   arrive   at   the ! Western Front.
Movie Producers Agree To Union Pay Demands
Stril<e Averted That Could Have Closed Theatres
KEYOOOGEPUNl F.iRLEMIN, CALLEOOUTIN   iEXEIERmORNEY,
E
Mediator Seeks
Means to Provide |
Agreement on Wages
Detroit, Nov, 25. (UP)—The United Automobile Workers' Union (CIO) tonight ordered an immediate strike at the Dodge main plant, key factorjl In a 51- day-old dispute with Chrysler cor¬ poration, which has kept 60,000 workers idle.
R J. Thomas, president of the union, said hc had ordered full- j time picket lines established at the plant because of "bad faith" of the corporation. He accused Chrys¬ ler of sponsoring a back-to-work movement which resulted Friday in a melee in which two police and six workers were injured as about 60 persons attempted to en¬ ter   the   plant.
At the same time, he announced
that  Philip  Murray,  vice-president
of   the    CIO,   would   arrive    here
Monday   in   an   attempt   to   speed
(Continued  on  Page  A-9)
Passes Away While Attending Dual Anniversary
No Explanation of Constant Guard Over Office of Late Congressman
Washington, Nov. 25. (UP) Cap¬ ital police maintained guard to¬ night on the office of the late Rep. J. Will Taylor, R., Tenn., after a visit by his daughter lo the House office building failed to dear up the mystery attending the vigil.
Miss Elizabeth Taylor, the daugh¬ ter, apparently dismayed by the presence of newspapermen, did not enter the locked and darkened office. Accompanied by Samuel A. King, an attorney, she slipped into the adjoining office of Rep. Walter Chandler, D., Tenn., from where King phoned the building super¬ intendent that the visit would bs postponed until  tomorrow.
King and Miss Taylor then  left
Dispatches from Eurjo- pean countries are now subject   to   censorship.
the building. As they entered a taxicab. King replied to reporters' qucsUon as lo the reason for guard¬ ing the office wilh the statement:
"This is strictly a family affair."
Asked whether Miss Dorothy Schullz, attractive red-haired woman who had served as Tay¬ lor's secretary for 21 years would be permitted the oflice. King re¬ plied:
"We don't know anything about Miss Schullz or her affairs." At Daughter's Request
Taylor, who had been In Congress since March 4, 1919, died last week of a heart attack at his home in La Follette. Tenn. Subsequently, according to House Sergeant-at- Arms Kenneth Romncy, Miss Tay¬ lor telephoned requesting that the office be locked and guarded. Rom¬ ncy ordered a 24-hour watch.
Romiiey said Miss Taylor's only explanation was that she wanted to be sure no one disturbed her father's private papers until the ad¬ ministrator of his estate arrived.
ATTORNEY .^lACKlN
While celebrating his 50th birth¬ day and the l.'ith anniversary of his marriage as well, Attorney F. Merle Mackin of Exeter, a promi¬ nent figure in the Democratic party of the county, was stricken last night wilh a heart attack and died shortly afterwards. He was in the company of a group of friends al Shickshinny when hi.s death   occurred   at   10   oclock.
The attorney, accompanied by his wife. Mr. and Mrs. John Reilly of Pittston and Mr. and Mrs. James E. Dougherty of Duryea, drove late , yesterday afternoon to visit friends in Shickshinny, later going lo Jacob Balchun's restaurant, where reser¬ vations had been made.
It was while the party was at the restaurant and after the anni¬ versary dinner had been served, that Mackin was suddenly stricken. Dr. C. W. Tressler of Shickshinny was summoned by despite all his efforts Mackin pa.ssed away shortly after 10 oclock. less than an hour after the attack had seized him.
Prior   to   going   to   .Shickshinny, Attorney  Mackin attended a  meet¬ ing of the  Eastern  League al the (Continued  on  Page A-8) i
Hollywood, Nov, 25 (UP)—Wil¬ liam Bioff, leader of the American Federation of Studio Workers, an¬ nounced late today that movie pro¬ ducers-had agreed to union de¬ mands for a 30 per cent wage in¬ crease and that a threat^ed strike would  not take place.
Bio£f had threatened to close every theater in the United States over the weekend if producers con¬ tinued to refuse lo accede to the union's wage demands. As head of the International Alliance of The¬ atrical Stage Employees, Bioff could have called out projectionists In every city and hamlet. Made Ready tor Strike
The announcement came u 20 leaders of the various studio unions were conferring a(^ to the best method of proceeding with a strike.
Bioff had charge of the confer¬ ence. He was called to the tele¬ phone by Joseph Schenck, president of the Producers Association, and was informed that producers had decided to grant the 10 per cent increase for approximately 23,000 workers, most of them carpenters, painters and others responsible for the erection of sets on sound stages.
Previously, producers had said that il would be Impossible for Ihem to meet the wage demands, principally because the war had crippled their foreign market. Faced though wilh the union ulti¬ matum that Ihey agree to the wage increase before nightfall or indi¬ rectly force every moving picture house in the country lo turn away ils cu.stomers, the producers agreed tliat the only course was submis¬ sion. Adds $3,000,000
As Bioff jubilantly left the con¬ ference and headed for his oflSce, he said that the increa.<!e would be retroactive to last Oct. 10. At union headquarters it was said that workers will benefit by approxi¬ mately $3,000,000 annually.
Some sources had es'.imated the
cost to studios as high as $16,000,000 a year, hut union spokesmen said that most of those involved were "off and on" employees and that their average income at present is about .^900 a year,
Bio'f said one part of the agree¬ ment stipulated that approximately 10,000 workers who got increases a few months ago would not have to "kick back" the raises, as pro¬ ducers suggested. The 10,000, how¬ ever, will not be affected by the new agreement.
Union spolcesmen had Indicated that Ihey might call out projection¬ ists in some of the larger cities^ probably New York and Chicago- first and then would proceed fur¬ ther as necessity demanded In the event of a strike. Producers cen- ceded that the union could close theaters If they -vanted to do so.
LoiKion, Nov. 25 (UP)—A jfroup of airplanes, believed to be German, flew close to the Orkney Islands tonight, arousing speculation as to whether they were planting sea mines by parachute.
The all clear signal was given after 35-minute air alarm.
Ths   big  British   naval  basa  at Scapa   Flow    Is    In    the   Orkney Islands, north of Scotland. Air Alarm at Clyde
Earlier  today  anti-aircraft  guns
i had   fired   on   a   Helnkel   bomber
i which flew over the Shetland Islands. Southward on the west coast ot Scotland an air raid alarm lifted after ten minutes, had been sounded in the Clyde shipping area. There was no air alarm In the Shetlands, which have been visited by German planes eight times dur¬ ing the past two weeks.
In the Clyde area, only a few persons took to air raid shelters but all traffic halted and air raid wardens, policemen and firemen took their posts at first aid sta¬ tions.
The Orkneys air alarm lasted for 3a  minutes,   after   which   the   all clear signal was given. .'May Have Planted Mines
(There W'as  no indication  if the
I alarm was cau.scd by a German squadron over the North Sea which Berlin said had scored bomb hits on four British warships.)
I There was speculation on wheth¬ er they were dropping mines at sea. It was recalled tliat German planes flew over the Orkneys last Tuesday,
Berlin Says Direct Hits Certain
Renew Attacks On British Navy In North Sea
E'
More Violations Oppose Renewal of Trade Agreement
PARIS. Nov. 2S. (UP) -Rain and snow limited activity on the front today to deep reconnaissance flights on both sides and brief artillery duels In the Saarbrueckcn and Wissembourg sectors.
The day's two coniniunifiues re- (Contlnued  on  Page  A-9)
Wants Americans to Pay Price of War Security
Vinson Asks Two Billion Needed for Defense Raised Now Rather than Passed on; Revanipintr of Income and Gift Taxes Viewed
Wa.sh ington, Nov. 2.V (UP)- Chairman Key Pittman, D., Nev.. of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said tonight that the United Stales should not even at¬ tempt to "appease" Japan and that conditions between the two nations are "aggravating".
Pittman served notice that he would urge the next session of (.^ongress to enact legislation giving President Roosevelt power to im¬ pose embargoes against Japan.
Molatlons Continue
"I see no occasion fnr acts of ap¬ peasement, or even expressions of appea.senient on behalf nf the Urtited States toward Japan," Pitt¬ man said.
"The conditions between this gov¬ ernment and Japan are the same as they were, if not more aggravat¬ ing, than at the time our govern¬ ment denounced the commercial treaty of 1911 wilh Japan."
"The information I have shows that Japan has continued to violate the rights of our citizens in China under the Nine Power Treaty. Furthermore, it would seem lo "be futile to enter into a new com¬ mercial agreement wilh Japan un¬ til Japan has made some effort to keep her former agreements under the Nine Power Treaty."
Pittman's comments were made In an interview when he returned to his office after a week spent in a hospital recovering from bron¬ chitis. No Move t« Renew
Within the last fortnight there have been reports that the United States was preparing to discuss a basis for renewing in January the trade treaty. This week, however, : Acting Secretary of Slate Sumner Welles emphatically denied that this was the case, and explained (Continued   on   Page   A-9)
DENIED BY BRITISH
London Hears of Capture of U-Boat i
That Sank Royal Oak     '
Berlin, Nov. 25 (UP)—An official announcement tonijfht said Gcnnan airplanes had scored bomb hits on four Brit¬ ish warships in the North S«« today.
(In London there were un¬ official claims that the Ger» man submarine which sank the battleship Royal Oak in
Scapa Flow had heen captured in the Firth  of Clyde.)
The German bombing planes at¬ tacked about ,')50 miles north of tha German   coast   the   announcement said.   The   mileage   would   Indicate that the British warships were off the Scottish coast. "Inmistakably Observed" The  official  announcement said! "A German bomber squadron to¬ day made several bombing attacks on British warships in the northern I North Sea. 900 kilometers from th« German North Sea coast.
"It   was   unmistakably   observed that four British warships received ! direct  hits.   Despite  the  extremely j heavy anti-aircraft fire, all German ' planes returned home unharmed." !     The     German     announcement marked the renewal of direct aerial attack on the Briti.sh fleet, against I which the Nazis have concentrated their greatest aerial and submarina strength in an announced campaign tn wipe out Britain's sea power. Heavy British Losses
The British have admitted loss of eight warships totaling 58,692 tona since the war staried and at least 1,499 officers and men have perish¬ ed in the Nazi attacks
In addition, the Nazis claim that they have incapacitated the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, the batti* cruiser Repulse, the battle cruiser Hood and the destroyer Mohawk. I Britain has denied that these ship* were damaged.)
The lale.st to be reported dam¬ aged before tonight's announca- ment was the 10.000-ton cruiser Bel¬ fast in the Firth of Forth,
London Denies Damage
London, Nov. 25. (UP)—Tha ad¬ miralty Issued a communlqu* to¬ night saying that German aircraft had made two bombing attacks oa British warships in the North Sea but failed to make any hlta or inflict any  casualties.
"Two bombing attacks were mad« by German aircraft on His Majes- (Continued  on  Page  A-8)
Presi- niBside
REFLOAT DESTROYER FROM SANDBAR
Washington, Nov. 25. (UP)—The Navy Department announced to¬ night that thc 1,090 ton destroyer Yarnall, which went aground on a sandbar in Chesapeake Bay, was refloated at 10 p. m.
FIRE AT ROSE RESIDEN(;E
F'Ire broke out in the home of Harold "Bud" Rose, 70'i Short street, Edwardsville, last night at six oclock, but it was extinguished by Franklin and Columbia hose companies after liltle damage. The blaze started in a clothes closet. Garments were destroyed.
Mr. Rosr is an employee of the Times-Leader-Evening News circu¬ lation department He recently moved from Forty Fort. i
¦    Warm Springs, Ga., Nov. 25. (UP)
Chairman Carl O. Vinson. D, Ga., of the House naval affairs committee proposed tonight that Americans enjoying security from the wars abroad pay iiigher imome taxes for a record breaking defense program expected to cost well over $2,000,000,000 during the next fiscal year.
After a conference with dent Roosevelt at his mountail "I tie White House." Vinson sug¬ gested that Americans shoulder tho financial burden of national de¬ fense on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, rather than borrowing and shunt¬ ing the load to taxpayers of future generations. Votes for "Pay Now"
Emphasizing that he has di.s¬ cussed the problem with other members of Congress, Vinson voted "pay now" in response to Mr. Roosevelt's suggestion that Amer¬ icans decide whether lo finance the defense program by emergency taxes or borrowing. The last Con¬ gress approved record-breaking peacetime defense appropriations of $1,760,000,000. With Mr. Roosc- veWs $273,000,000 deficiency request for the armed services, the total bill for this fiscal year will ap¬ proximate $2,000,000,000. The Presi¬ dent said yesterday that in view of the world situation, America must pay a bill at least $500,000,000 greater as the price of national security.
Vinson's    recommendatinn    bore weight since he is the administra¬ tion's spokesman  on  naval affalra in  the Hou.se. Wnuld Bnont l.evle«
Vinson said the additional $,^00,- 000,000  bill  could   be  defrayed   by
i higher taxes on incomes of the "little men," and on gifts and in¬ heritances of the rich.
"I've been thinking about this for some lime and even have discussed it with several members of Con¬ gress," he said.
"It seems to me that this genera- ; tion ought to bear the burden of the cost  of  protection  by  an  adequate national defense rather than wail-
, ing for future generations to pay ' the bill. By a proper adustmenl of the income tax in the lower brackets and of the Inheritance and gift taxes, sufficient money could be raised to support an adequate additional defense." >Iay Revamp Tax Structure
Moves were initialed in the last Congress to lower the $1,000 exemp¬ tion for single men to $800 and the $2,500 for married men lo $2,000. The plan was headed off wilh little difficulty, but Vinson's proposal gave an intimation that exigencies of national defense may develop a
! movement in the next Congress for thorough overhauling of the income tax structure and more severe levies on "little men" and upon middle bracket incomes ranging from $10,000 lo $50,000.
Mr. Roosevelt took no part In speculation on means to finance the defense program. His silence fol¬ lowed the lines he indicated yester¬ day, when he said the problem is one for the country at large to decide. j
Mr Roosevelt spent only a few ; minutes in conference with Vinson and other members of the Georgia delegation. Eleven of the 12 con¬ gressmen representing Georgia called on the President Sen Walter F. George, D, Ga,, was the only i missing member. *
Forestry, Soil Conservation Station to Be Opened Here Soon
Plans for creation of a number of forestry and soil conscrvat:.".r. experimental stations in this local¬ ity are being pushed to the point where a beginning will be made in a few weeks, according to the Junior Chamber of Commerce yes¬ terday. The Chamber's forestry committee, represented by Col. Thomas H. Atherton and Stanley Mesavage, ha.s been engaged for the last three moniha in bringing the plan lo completion.
The Chamber announces that the iliparlmcnt of agriculture of the federal government will supervise the local work and trained per- .sonncl will be organized. A con¬ gressional appropriation of $18,000 is available. It was obtained by activity of the local Chamber through intercession wilh Congress¬ man J. Harold Flannery and U. S. Senators Joseph Guffey and James J. Davis. Several Stations
Different stations will deal with different aspects of soil and forest preservation, and '.he problem will be expanded to deal wilh drainage, erosion, reforeslration and kindred subjects.
From the experiments to be con¬ ducted here, for which congressional appropriations has been made, workers will determine what sort of timber Is best suited to the sur¬ rounding mountains, how forest fires may be minimized: where planting of trees lo lake the place of those burned or cut down would do the most good In preventing Urge water drainage Inlo lowlands |
and particularly Into mines of tht valley; what steps can be take.n. m the'way of planting shrubbery and gfass, to prevent erosion of soil In farming sections.
Except for fire prevention, which has received organized attention In this valley in the last few years, the other factors which with lima will affect the valley's economy have not received serious attention of any group or organization. Find Ready Support
The 'V'oung Men's Division of tht Chamber of Commerce mapped thit as its first large-scale campaign ef activity and has attracted the sup¬ port of influential p'ersons and businesses in the undertaking.
The belief is that no difficulty will be encountered in obtaining satisfactory land ind forest plotj for conduct of the various experi¬ mental stations. Much of the sur¬ rounding tree land is owned or leased by coal companies whieh have taken that step to protect the drainage of their mines and the coal companies are expected to co-operate 100 per cent with tht plan.
In Today's Issue
Editorial  C—I
Clnssifled
Movies B—»
Politica   „ C-«
Story   A—M
Sportt    .»-.l
8«»el«l    „. A—U
Radio