Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A   Paper For  The  Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
Weather
Sunday:  Cloudy, rain.
colder at night Monday: Partly cloudy.
34TH YEAR, NO. 7—60 PAGES
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1939
PRICE TEN CENTS
MAY EXTEND SPEE'S TIME LIMIT
SITTER NAVAL FIGHT
BREWING
-•w
Garner
Announces
Candidacy
In Race Alone And Not in Role Of 'Kingmaker'
Bride Again At Age 14
Houston, Mo., Dec. 16. (UP) — Jennie Lucille Stanton, 14, waa a bride for the second time today.
Her first marriage, to Robert Vestal, 17, ended in a divorce last month and her maiden name was restored. Today she mar¬ ried Ray Johnson, 21, a farmer who  lives  near  here.
POSES PROBLEMS
Puts Pressure on Roosevelt Silence And McNutt Stand
By HARRISON SALLSBCRY
\Va,ihington, Dec. Ifi. (UPl Vice President John N. Garner tonight formally tossed his Texas sombrero into the 1940 Democratic presiden¬ tial   race.
His formal entry into the race apipcared likely to inaugurate open political warfare between Garner forces and unofficial sponsors of a movement to run President Roosevelt for a third term.
Garner's candidacy long the ob¬ ject nf open campaiKnins! hy his friends, especially fellow Texans — was announced in typical Garner fashion. Packed with Dynanille
Spcaltiiig on the front porch of his rambling Uvalde, Tex., home, tlarner dictated a 44-vvord state¬ ment to Bascum Timmons, a Texas newspaper man and Garner intimate.   The statement said:
"I wili ai'ccpt the nomination for President. I will make no ef¬ fort to lontrol any delegates. Thc people should deride. A candidat" should be selected at primaries and conventions as provided by law, and I sincerely trust that all Democrats will p,^rticipate in them."
Thc brevity of Garner's state¬ ment did nnt conceal thc fact that it was packed with political dyna- mile.
Two facts stood out: Garner's assertion tiiat he is in the 1940 political race for himself and nof as a stalking horse to attracf delegates who might be used to throw the nomination to another candidate. j
Thc    Implication    that    Garner's | name wili be placed before voters i at state primaries and preferential balloting   during   the   winter   and spring. right Seem* Certain
I'he announcement made Garner the first unequivocal candidate for thc 1940 nomination. Previously. Federal Security Administrato' Paul V. McNutt had announced himself as a candidate but de¬ clared he would withdraw from the race should President Roose¬ velt agree to" run for a third , term.
This pointed sharply toward the possibility of a knock-down, drag- nut fight In both the prc-ronvention and convention phases of the cam¬ paign in event President Roosevelt .vhould announce himself for a third term.
Political Washington noted that the Garner announcement compli¬ cated thc Democratic situation both for such candidates as McNutt and for the New Deal group which has hoped to keep the way clear for a Roosevelt third term.
With Garner's name going he- fore voters in preferential and dele¬ gate elections, it was noted, pres¬ sure upon President Roo.sevelt to announce his intentions can be ex¬ pected  to increase.
The strategy of New Deal third term advocates has been to attempt to keep thc race open so that, in event the President .should decide tn run again, the path would not be I blocked   by   thc   existence   of  large
(Continued on Page A-21)
Admits Surprise at Russo-Nazi Pact But Blames Allies
jSays NLRB Wanted Fear In Industry
Directdf Claims He Was Fired for Being Impartial
USED 'GOON' SQUAD
Told Petitions of Independent Unions Were for 'Ice Box'
MAJOR BA TTLE A WAITED IN FINLAND'S FAR NORTH
Defenders Fight Delaying Action While Retreating To Main Lines; Victors in South
By RKYNOLDS PACKARD
lnited Press Staff Correspondent
Rome, Dec. 16. (UP) Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano re¬ affirmed Italy's devotion to the Rome-Berlin Axis today, despite Germany's alliance with Russia, which lie said took Italy by sur¬ prise.
Addressing the Chamber of Fas- ciLs (,'orporations for one hour and ,')2 minutes, Ciano gax-w his version of some of the undercover diplo¬ matic moves preceding the current war. Italy had only two day.s' notice of the German-Russian non- aggression pact, he said.
Ciano indicated Italy's dis¬ pleasure with the Berlin-Moscow agreement and bitterly denounced Communism, but excused Germany. Britain and France, he said, forced Germany into the agreement with Moscow by first trying to align Russia on their side against the Reich. He did not refer to the Finnish-Soviet war. Allies Blameil
Principal points stressed by Ciano included:
1.- Italy intends In keep out of the war, but will safeguard all her interests. Italy is ready at any time to aid restoration of peace.
2.—The Allies were to blame for thc war because they failed to make a gesture to Germany, such as cession of Danzing to the Reich.
3.—Collective security is a de¬ lusion. Guarantees by big states to small ones are dangerous both to the small nations and to peace.
4.— Italy foresaw the war, but her efforts to stop it failed because other nations did not understand.
5. Democracies love war, al¬ though they pretend to represent a peace front.
«. Italy's decision not to take up arms when war broke out was l^nown only to Germany on Sept. 1 (The day the Polish invasion started I and to no one else. Berlin Pleased
(In Berlin, Ciano's speech was interpreted by authorized quarters as a "clear athrmation of the Rome- Berlin Axis" and as indicative of "Italy's understanding for all of Germany's actions before and since outhrcalc of the war."
(In Paris, diplomatic circles con¬ ceded that Italy had made several efforts for peace, but profes.scd in¬ comprehension as to why Italy "continues to accuse others of a lack of comprehension toward Italy."
(In Budapest, Hungarian political quarters displayed utmost enthusi¬ asm and were particularly pleased over Italy's indicated faborable atti¬ tude toward frontier revisions and pronounced friendliness toward Hungary.) All World KurpriKCd
(."¦iano said Italy last April or May knew that Germany and Russia were conducting commercial nego¬ tiations.
"We could not think that a politi¬ cal agreement was possible in view (Continued   on   Page  A-2)
Discovery of Stolen Dynamite Ends Fears for New Dam
Middletown. N. Y.. Dec. 16. (UP) —Stale police, directed by an an¬ onymous letter, tonight recovered 700 pounds of dynamite and 1,,500 percii.ssion caps, ending fear.s of a jpossible catastrophe in the mid- Hudson river valley.
The cache was hidden Ucr|i in the woods near Sandy Fields in Rockland county, and reportedly was "all Ihat was taken from the West    Shore    Concrete    Company
In Today's issue
Kditorial    C—2
Claisllled  A—3S
MovlcH    B—t
PoliUci  C—«
Storj   A—M
Sporta  B—I
Social    B—«      I
Radio    A—2t    '
magazine storehouses at Cornwall."
Much of the entire Hudson val¬ ley in the vicinity of the still in¬ complete Hill Gate dam. feared thieves may have intended to de¬ stroy the dam.
Stale police were led to the spot by means of a crude map, detailing exact location of the hidden explo¬ sives. Beneath was a penciled note reading:
"We are not criminals. The map will show where the powder is hid¬ den all of it. We were fools. What would we do with all that dyna¬ mite? If you find it say so in the papers."
No arrests liavc been made.
Five million dollars In damage claims have been filed against the state, since construction of the dam forced many residents from their homes. They have heen ordered to vacate before January 1. [
Washington, Dec. 16. (UP) — James P. Miller, who said he was a $l,50-a-day labor expert, told the ' House National Labor Relations Board Investigators today that he was asked to resign as the board's regional director at Cleveland be¬ cause "I insisted on administering the act impartially."
The Labor Board secretary's of¬ fice, he testified, held to the theory that industry should be made to fear the board and its representa¬ tives and that Secretary Nathan Witt maintained a "good squad" to enforce that view.
It was after he had rejected such views and had spurned sug¬ gestions that petitions of independ¬ ent unions be "put in the ice box" ': that his resignation was requested. Miller testified. The ostcnsiljle rea¬ son for this request, Miller said, was his attendance at a dinner given in New York by a Cleveland attorney who represented employ¬ ers in rases before the board. This, Miller asserted, was not the real cause.
"What  was   the   reason?"   asked Rep. Harrv Routzohn, R., Ohio. '     "Because  I insisted  on  adminis¬ tering this act impartially," Miller replied.
Miller further said, in response to questions by Rep Abe Murdock, D., Utah, that in July, two months after he resigned, he appeared as a witness for the Atlas Underwear Company before thc board's Indian¬ apolis regional office, and was paid "my regular rate"—$150 a day.
He said that the case against this company had been filed with hi.s office when he was director, but that he had decided that there was insufficient evidence to war¬ rant an election and thc case was taken to Indianapolis. He said he saw nothing wrong with his ap¬ pearance as a witness in the ca.sc. Miller denied that he had sought employment from companies In¬ volved in cases before his olfice, .TS charged in reports read Into the record by Committee Counsel f^dmund N. Toland. but said he had expressed an opinion that it would "be very fine" if the Iron and Steel Institute organized a labor relations department. I
".Make   Them   Fear   You"
Eaj'lier, Miller testified that soon after he had accepted a petition of an independent iminn to repre¬ sent employees of the Hoover Company at North Canton. Ohio, Fred G. Krivonos. a special in¬ vestigator from Witt's office, visit¬ ed  him  and  criticized his conduct.
"He said," Miller added, "'you should make them fear you and the   board.'    I   said,   'Fred,   nuts.'"
During that visit. Krivonos "tried to prevail" on the CIO United Klec- trical. Radio and Machine Work¬ ers to file charges of company domination against the independent union Involved in the case. Miller testified, but the CIO union re¬ fused to do so, holding that there was no domination. Similarly, Miller added. Krivonos tried to ge: an AFL union to file similar charges again.st the Newcomers' town, Ohio, plant of Heller Bros. "Put Them in thc Ice Box"
"Krivonos said, 'You'd be le<iS criticized if you would take peti¬ tions of Independent unions and put them in the ice box,'" Miller testified.
Miller referred to Krivonos ami Robert Gates, also an attache rf Witt's office, as "the goon' squad" because he said they were sent to investigate things that did not please Witt.
Murdock asked Miller to explain a memorandum  he  had  sent  Wilt ; on   Dec.   27,   1938.   after   Krivonos' visit saying that the investigator'* aid was "invaluable." Murdock said ! that Charles  Fahy,  NLRB  general counsel,  had given  him  the  mem¬ orandum:  that it waa tiie duty nf thc   board's   counsel   tn   anticipate testimony    so    he    could    answer criticisms. Attended Company Dinner
Committeemen asked many ques¬ tions when Miller started telling about thc dinner given in New York by Glenn Smith, attorney and director of the E. W. Bliss Com- , pany, which had a case before the Labor Board. Miller said that Smith originally paid his railroad fare hut that he repaid it. He fhow- (Continued  on  Page A-2) J
By AXEL KIEIXAND
Svanvik, .Norway, Dec. 16 (UP) — Finnish troops driven back from the Arctic coast dug in south of Salmijacrvi tonight for an expected major battle with Soviet meclian- ized units and infantry battering a path southward along the Norwe¬ gian frontier.
Thc clatter of machine guns with which Finnish "suicide squads" fought the Red Army from frozen hill to hill: the rumble of Soviet heavy tanks which are now prov¬ ing effective in the far north and the roar of land mines as Finns de¬ stroyed roads along which they re¬ tired, gave Norwegian border guards a vivid picture of war which pressed close against their positions.
Russians Control Coast
As the early Arctic darkness clo.sed in. military observers said that the Russians were now appar¬ ently in control of the northern¬ most coast of Finland and had pushed their lines southward tn a ; point on the Pasvik River below ^ Svanvik. [
Reports received here said that .some Russian soldiers suffering i from cold and hunger had crossed the frontier into Norway and been interned. They apparently were the first Russians to cross the border. Finnish sharpsiiootcrs and ma¬ chine guii units were described as making thc Ru.ssians pay heavily for every step they advanced over the snow-covered countryside in bitterly cold weather. But the main purpose of the Finnish rear guard for the time being was to fight a delaying action while the main Fin¬ nish forces were consolidated be¬ hind strong defense works south of Salmijaervi, where Norwegian mili¬ tary experts said they believed a big battle was probable Sunday or Monday. |
The territory which the Russians j have  seized is the  narrow,  bottle- j neck  avenue  to  Petsamo  and  the ] Arctic   coast   between   Russia   and Norway.    On the coast it is about I 25 miles wide and it extends south¬ ward  for about .W miles before it becomes wider.    Fighting has been j in progress in this rich mining area ' .since the war started and now the i Russians have advanced about half ' way down the bottle-neck, making ' some 25 or 30 miles progress in two weeks of warfare as they attempt to  strike  southward  through   mid- Finland   toward  Sompiojaervi,   Ro¬ vaniemi and Tornio—some 325 miles
Polish Dad and Son Slill Fight
7 Allied Warships Waiting as Welders Patch Nazi Raider
Rush Provisions to Ship While Reports Are Heard of Germans Sending Reinforcements to Scene; Both London and Berlin Put Pressure on Uruguay Government
By Rir.\Rl)0 DI.\Z HERRERA
Montevideo. I'ruguay, (Sunday) Dec. 17 (UP)—The (lerman pocket battleship Admiral Giaf Spee, her nose pointed toward the open sea where a formidable a.ssemblage of allied waiship.s waited for her, remained at anchor in Mon¬ tevideo harbor today under circumstances which appeared to indicate no immediate dash for freedom was in prospect.
British and German diplomats continued their battle for a decision favorable to their respective nations in the Uruguayan foreign office, which earlier had set 6 oclock this evening as the deadline for the Graf Spee to leave the sanctuary into which three Briti-sh cruisers chased it Wednesday. The alternative is internment for the duration of the war. May Extend Time Limit
I.«st night it had been believed that the Uruguayan government had not altered its decision, but today the impression gained ground In well-informed circles that a slight extension of time might be granted. ®>	
^y\^K ¦^ir'.r"^' 1^''*'^"' *"'' '' Uruguayan government's foreign while Ado f Hitlers Nazi repre-; ^^^f^^^^ ^,^^^0 Guanl. who also sentatlves here awaited an order as ; .^^^   American
to whether  the  10,000-ton  m«n-of-; j^ ,„„^ti^   representatives,   includ-
r'n'     , Ih" n   ,   1        H"ir       h ''"K United States Minister Edwin hands  of  the  Brit.sii  and  French | ,,,?,	
rather   than   be   interned   for   the i
duration of the war, the vessel it self rode  at  anchor  in  an  almost deserted harbor. Still Patching Hole*
Doubt  that  it  was  ready  for  a thrust at the allied armada await-
Wiison.
At least two messages from Britain were dehvered to Guanl. New instructions from Adolf Hit¬ ler's chancellory were received by the German minister, who visited the  foreign  office  again  this eve-
I'his sturdy Polish citizen and his likely looking son are In training with Polish battalion recruited among refugees in France to fight against Germans.    Large  Polish  force  Is  being organized and  trained.
Jap Blockade-Tester Stopped by British
Search Sanyo Maru 'Like Any Other'; More Ships Sunk
By HARRY U PERCY
London, Dec. 16. (UP)—The Jap¬ anese freigliter Sanyo Maru, carry¬ ing German goods and apparently testing the Allied blockade of ex¬ ports from the Reich, was exam¬ ined tonight by British blockade control officers.
«>-
ing  It  was  suggested   by   the   fact j "'"K' that welders continued to work at ;     It  was   reported   at  least  seven the task of patching holes torn In '¦ British and FYench warships were the   Graf  Spee's   hull   by  six-and-   patrolling the  70-miles  wide  river eight-inch shells from the cruisers   mouth and more were en route, which drove  her  in  from  the sea   Extension Doubled at First three days ago. ,     indications of the failure of Gcr-
That Capt. Hans Langsdorff was \ man Minister Otto Langmann to preparing for the eventuality of a „.in an extension of time were dash seemed certain, however, seen earlier in diplomatic circles, Launches shuttled back and forth ' although none of the participants to the ship through the night carry- | would comment. Langmann left the ing    provisions    while    the    crew . foreign  office  in a grim  and  agi-
away.
Country-.Sidc Desolated
I watched the Russian advance during the day wilh field glasses near Bjoernesund, near Svanvik. The Country-side Is desolated. Fin¬ nish troops have destroyed houses and set fire to towns: blownup roads and narrow passes and other¬ wise used every means of delaying the Red Army. They believe they will be able to hold out for a long time in their main defense posi¬ tions.
A few Soviet planes were re¬ ported in action during the day¬ light hours, bombing Finnish de¬ fense lines, sojnelimes using their machine-guns and seeking out Fin¬ nish rearguard units hidden In the hills.
The hills echoed throughout the day v.ith gunfire and after dark¬ ness came we could sec staccato flashes on the horizon. The Ru.s¬ sians apparently arc advancing in two main columns, nne of whi^h ia close to thc Norwegian  frontier.
I watcncd the advance of 17 Russian tanks near Bjoernesund. They   rumbled   along   the   sloping
(Continued on Page A-21)
I The Sanyo Maru arrived off the British coast from Rotterdam after
I a sudden intensification of sea war that claimed ten more merchant ships in two days.
i British authorities were under¬ stood to be conducting a normal examination of the Japanese ship despite Japanese threats of retalai- lion against the Allied double blockade. Thc examination may continue unlil Sunday night.
To Test Blockade
The 970-ton Japanese freighter had been waiting for almost a week at Rotterdam in preparation for an apparent test of the British and ' Frenc h blockade of exports from the Reich. She carried German nitrate and machinery and a gen¬ eral Dutch cargo, it was under¬ stood.
Many observers believed that the Japanese   government,   which   has I threatened   retaliation   against   the ' Allied nan on (jerman exports need¬ ed   in  Japan,  planned   to  test   thc blockade order and then to decide on steps to be taken  by the Jap- j anese  government.
Briti.ih autlioritios had said that (Continued on Page A-21)
Gets 4 Years for Listening to Radio
Berlin, Dec. 16. (UP)—Willi Falke was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary today for listening to a foreign radio broadcast.
The court ruled that "it is dis¬ honorable for a (German to listen to lying foreign broadcasts which form the main weapon against Germany."
Await Unique Sea Battle
Allied Armada Ready for Spee To Make Dash
labored  to  make  everything ship shape inside.
Militating against the probability of an early thrust seaward was the fact that the water level of the Plate River, which forms the har¬ bor of Montevideo, was more than a yard below normal level, thus adding to the danger of being trapped in the channel. Weather Favors Escape
tated state after his Saturday eve- I ning'Visit.
British Minister Eugen Milling- ton-Drake, however, emerged short¬ ly after 9 p. m. looking mucli mora cheerful than during his earUer visits,
!     "I am happy to have cleared up
, an  important  matter,"  Millingtnn-
Drake   said   when   questioned   re¬
garding his talk with Guanl. He Possibly off.setting that danger declined to amplify the statement In the minds of the Germans, how- hut when asked whether he be- ever, was Ihe fact that weather ; lieved the Uruguayan government conditions were favorable to an would maintain its time limit, he attempt to slip out unobserved. The said: sky was overcast and visibility was "i suppose so." poor. j    When asked whether both Britain
Last night the Graf Spee's power- and Germany accepted the time ful Diesel engines were tuned up limit, he said that he had already and her nose was pointed toward ; communicated the Uruguayan decl- the   sea   pending   word   from   the , sion to his government.
chancellery
Shortly before 1 a. m. the foreign office closed but activity continued
aboard   the   Graf   Spee.     Captain   .     . _       , .     ,  .    .^       ,  u.
Langsdorff   had   gone    ashore   at    °"'5" ,?.«l?  '^ «  !"Al "?,l "'^^.^.
Profit from Sightseers
While lights  blazed and oflSclals remained   at   their   desks   at   the
12:30 a. m. in one of the warship's
launches.
Report Nazis Rushing Aid
crowds were held back from the waterfront by police as the Graf Spee waa rushed through final stages of apparent preparation for
Persistent reports circulated that departure.
Nazi    naval    reinforcements    were After  warming  up  her  engines,
racing to  the Uruguayan coast  to the    battleship    remained    at    her
aid the (5raf Spee and one such un- moorings.     The   weather   v.'as   im-
confirmed rumor that thc German proved after rain early today that
pocket   battleship   Admiral   Schcer would  have aided any attempt  of
and   several   submarines   were   en the   Graf  Spee   to   escape.     Small
Looks Like Happy Christmas For 500 Little Girls in City
Last Monday morning a well known Wilkes-Barre business man appeared in the office of Wilkes-Barre F'ire (^hief Ambrose Saricks and waved a clipping. ... It was frnm an artiile which ippcared in this spai'c of last week's Sunday Independent.
Tho article pointed oul that while the city firemen were making good progress accumulating and repairing toys to make the needy children of the city also know it's Christmas on December 2,'), there was a shortage of some 500 dolls. . . . The man wanted to know if it was true.
When told it was, hc made immediate preparations to have FIVE HUNDRED dolls delivered to the firemen.
That was just the beginning, even if a good one, for a little later another business man whose heart is in the right place also showed up and made arrangements lo provide 200 more. When the (lay was done it was evident the firemen would have some 710 dolls to spread joy with this year.
"It makes mo pretty happy," sai,j chief Saricks, "lo know there are such flne men in Wilkcs-fiarra. It must be a pretty good town."
Montevideo, Dec. 16. (UP)—A curtain of mystery thickened by countless rumors and many Allied and Nazi maneuvers to mislead tho enemy shielded the plans being completed for the patched-up 10,000-ton Graf Spec and her com- lilcmcnl of 90O officers and men under Commander Hans Langdorff.
But with the Graf Spec ordered lo leave Uruguayan waters hy Sunday night or be interned, a scries of developments indicated the possibility that a naval engage¬ ment unique in modern times was impending. These developments in¬ cluded:
1. - Persistent but unconfirmed rumors that German naval rein¬ forcements possibly submarines or sister ships of thc Graf Spec - were expected to engage the Britisli and French war fleet, estimated at seven or mnre .-ihips of the South American coast while thc battle- damaged pocket battleship attempts to escape. ; 3 .More Shipn on Way '
2. -Dispalciies from Recife that three more British warships were racing down the Brazilian coast toward .Montevideo. They were re¬ ported to be the Hardy, the Hero, and the Hostile.
3.- A request hy the British for permission for the 32,0(X)-ton battle cruiser Renown to enter the Rio de Janeiro harbor.
4.—A ronfcrciue al the German legation In which Langdnrff parti¬ cipated with high German and Italian diplomatic representativca (Continued on Pag* A-1) '
route,  but these  rumors were  un¬ verified.
Tremendous pressure was re¬ ported to have heen brought by both Britain and Germany on the i
launches, carrying spectators out to get a close view of the battle ship, boosted their price from • nickel to 25 cents each in the belief (Continued  on   Page  A-2)
'Proof of Gas Against Graf Spee; Berlin Says British Lost Planes
Berlin, Dec. 16. (UP)—DNB, the official German news agency, said today that a neutral medical spe¬ cialist in Montevideo had estab¬ lished that seven German sailors aboard the Admiral Graf Spee were suffering from mustard gas poison¬ ing.
DNB .said also tliat British war- planes had participated in the battle between the (Jraf Spec and three British cruisers on Wednes¬ day and that several of them were destroyed "by the mighty air pres¬ sure from the Graf Spec's shells."
An authorized source, meanwhile, said it was assumed that the time ¦. limit set by the Uruguayan govern¬ ment  on  the  Graf  Spee's  stay  in Montevideo harbor was "fair."
"If the commandant considered the lime limit insufficient for re¬ pair of non-battle damages," this sources said, "the German minister would have taken it up with the Uruguayan government."
DNB's statement about the al¬ leged use of mustard gas shells by the British followed similar bbugei'
by German authorities In Monte¬ video.
The DNB version waa that ¦ British newspaper requested a Dr. Walter Mcerhoff to board the Graf Spee and examine the wounded. The doctor, the news agency added, "found seven sailors with unrais- takeable symptoms of mustard ga< injury—dark brown discoloration, blue swelling, formation ot blisters, swelling of the conjunctival mem¬ brane of the eyes, strong headache, nausea, et cetera."
"Meerhoff," DNB said, "emph»- sized his unmistakeable conclusion* on the mustard gas injuries."
Concerning the airplanes which allegedly took part in the sea battle, DNB said "numerous reliable eye* witnesses confirm heavy British losses."
Dispatches from Euro¬ pean countries are now subject    to   censorship.
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