Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

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A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Sunday:  Cloudy, warmer,
occasional rain, snow. Monday: Fair, moderate.
35TH YEAR, NO. 3—48 PAGES
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, NOVEMBER  17, 1940
PRICE TEN CENTS
ITALIANS QUITTING MAIN BASE
U.S. Warships May Have Caused Germans to Scuttle Army Pilots to Go Through Picket Lines for Planes
^  Air Corps Acts to Take Completed Ships from Strike-Bound Factory
Planes Needed for Training Purposes; U. S. May Step in To End Deadlock
(UP) Corps strike
^
Downey, Calif., Nov, 1« United States Army Air pilots will pass through picket linea at the Vultee aircraft plant Monday to take delivery on 17 training planes needed by the government, Maj, Oakley G, Kelley aaid tonight.
Ivelley, army representative at the, plant, said that army pilots from Moffett Field at Sunnyvale would enter the atrike-closed plant and fly away with the training ships urgently required by the gov¬ ernment.
The n planes, he emphasized, arc ready for delivery. Hence neither the striking members of the United Automobile Workers' Union nor company officials are concerned with their movement. The decision to have army pilots remove them from the plant was made on the grounds of urgency in connection with the army's training program. All Work Stopped
The plant was closed Friday when members of the Automobile Workers Union, a CIO affiliate, -ailed a strike over wages. The inion said 3,000 of the 3,600 pro- luctlon workers in the big plant ,vere   union  members.
Scores of warplanes and trainerij H'ere In the- process of construc¬ tion *hen the strike stopped all work. The 17 the government will take  we'e  completed.
The great sprawling Vullee plant, which had been going at top speed to produce warplanes for the United Statea and Great Britain, waa ahut down by the first strike that a union had directed against the aircraft Industry since the na¬ tional defense program was launch, ed.
The strike was called by the United Automobile Workers be¬ cause the company refused to ac¬ cede tn a union demand for a wage increase of 25 cents an hour above the current rate of 50 cents an hour.
Besides the training ships, many other planes were on the floor at Vultee jn various stages of com¬ pletion. Some were more than half finished. Orders Worth $80,n<H),000
The union had ,50 pickets at each nf the seven gates of the plant. Union leaders said they were de¬ termined lo hold oul as long as necessary to win their demands. Company officials were adamant in their contention that Vultee was in no position lo make a ,50 per cent increasje in the minimum hourly wage   paid   heretofore, j
Both the company and the union looked to the National Defense Commission In Washington for aome action aimed al breaking the deadlock. Federal conciliators were active,   but   thus   far   could
PEACE ARE ISSUES
Burn Ship At Sight of Destroyers
Three Others Flee; Say British Violated Pan-American Zone
One Way to Chase Congress Home
Lewis and Hillman Deny Split but Admit Differences
no  progress   In  settling the strike. I convention.
Atlantic Cily, N. J., Nov. 1«. (UP) The   Congress   of   Industrial   Or¬ ganizalions'  rival leaders — John  L.. I.*wis    and    Sidney    Hillman-said loday  there  would   be  no  split   in CIO   ranks,   but   their   convention- eve   statements   Indicated   po.ssible floor fights on the issues of peace and i-ommunism in the labor move¬ ment. I     Lewis   said   that   predictions   of American     Federation     of    Labor President  William  Green   that  the CIO   would   split   and   that   Lewis I would   lead   the   left   wing   group I were    characteristic    "whistling   by i the  grave  yard"  and  unworthy  of particular comment.
".Mr. Green is characteristically doing a liltle whistling when he is going by the grave yard,'' Lewis said. "I doubt that Mr. Green is in a pasition lo admonish the CIO or accurately prognosticate what will occur  in  the  CIO,
'In addition to all that, he has a few problems of his own regard¬ ing his association with grafters, swindlers, racketeers and panderers in his own organization. There is a biblical injunction something aboul taking the mote out of your own eye before taking it oul of your neighbor's. When he doe/) that, wc will be gratified to hear that he thinks we should do." Admit Dirferenerg
Hillman earlier had told reporters at a press conference that "of course" he did not believe there would be a split In the CIO.
Bul the two men made it equally plain that all their differences over policy had not been ironed out by last night's unscheduled but none the less significant, 90-mlnute con¬ ference.
Hillman said his Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America would prcxs for adoption of resolu¬ tions which Lewis referred to as "propaganda."
Although Lewis wrote a ban on Communists into the constitution of his own United Mine Workers union many years ago, he has never suggested a similar provision in the CIO constitution, and the amal¬ gamated resolution to bar them from paid offices or jobs will be the first time thai this issue has report ; been brought into the open in CIO
NO SHOTS FIRED
Believed Carrying Supplies for Nazi Raiders in Atlantic
It was estimated that Vultee had a backlog of orders totaling .1180.- 000,000 when work was hailed Fri¬ day.
FIVE BOYS BORN IN NESBITT HOSPITAL
I
Five boya were born at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital over fhe week end -not all In one family, but distributed   as   fnllows:
To Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Ben¬ dick, « Wilson street, Larksville. November 15.
Mr. and Mrs. John Lavook. 484 Grove street, Pringle, November 1,5.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schollen- berger, 228 Franklin streei. West Pittston,   November   Ifi.
Mr.   and   Mrs.   Ira   Weaver,   2fifi
^Iiirray to Be Preaident
Ivewis and Hillman arc in agree¬ ment on (^O Vice-President Philip Murray as I^wis' ,succe.ssor when the CIO head retires next week in accord with his pre-election pledge to quit if President Roosevelt were re-elected for" a third term. I.^wis hacked Republican Wendell L. Willkie and Hillman supported Mr. Roosevelt.
Hillman said that his differences with Lewis had never been per¬ sonal, and that their major dispute
over politics and Mr. Roosevelt -had been settled by the electorate and labor on Nov. 5. when Mr. Roosevelt  was  re-elected.
Tampico, Mex., Nov. 16. (UP)—A German merchant ship committed suicide and three others were forc¬ ed to turn back lo Tampico today when they allegedly were pursued by British or Canadian warships off  the  coast ot Mexico.
One vessel was scuttled and fired as a result of the attempted block¬ ade running, but its three com¬ panion ships, scurrying back to Tampico, were safe. I Tonight' as the pcssibility arose that the German vessels had been frightened by United Slates war¬ ships on neutrality patrol—the captains of two of Ihem testified under oath, during examination by Mexican officials, that four British vessels had chased them hack to the safely of Mexican territorial waters. Claim   Neutrality  Violated
If the testimony of Captains Heinrich Froemke and KInno Ull- ferf whose vessels turned back lo safely-should be substantiated, the presence of British or Canadian vessels so close to Mexican shores would constitute a violation of the Pan-American   Neutrality  Zone.
If the ves.iels, on the other hand, .should prove to be warships of the United Slates fleet, they would be operating in conformity with the Pan-American agreement reached by the 21 American republics at Panama last year.
The attempted dash to sea re¬ sulted in the burning and scuttling of the 4,137 ton Phrygia by its own crew and the abandonment of the blockade-running project, at least for the present, by the three other   vessels, I
Tells of Being Chased '
Froemke, ."kipper of the Idar- wald of 5,0,33 tons, said that a destroyer, using signal lights, de¬ manded hia surrender and that hs refused, lurned and ran a zigzag course toward the mouth of the Panuco River, which he had just descended fi>om the port of Tam¬ pico. He safd that the destroyer chased his vessel to within two miles of the Mexican coast. i
Ullferf, commander of the 6,031 ton Rhein. said that he saw a large warship transmitting signals in code to destroyers. He said he also turned toward the Panuco River and when,he almost had reached the river mouth a warship tried to intercept him, but the Mexican gunboat XJueretaro interfered and signalled witij Ils lights, whereupon the Brilish or Canadian vessel altered its course and both the Idarwald and the Rhein gained the safety of Tampico Harbor. j
Well informed circles in both Tampico and Mexico City tonight aaid that as far as could be ascer¬ tained no attack was made by any warships within Mexican territorial waters. \
Burned Ship .Sinks |
The Phrygia, after burning throughout the morning, sank shortly after noon.
Us seacocks had been opened, it had   been   set   afire   and   its   crew ;
i»^ .Jt
WiPI
As.sistanl   Clerk   James   F.   Scanlan   of  House   Appropriations,   left,
ind   Architect   David   Lynn   would   like   lo   see   Congress   close   up
and   go   home,   so   Capitol   roof   can   be   repaired.   It's   in   danger
of collapsing,
U.S. Shipyards to Build Freighters for British
Will Replace Those Lost as Sea Toll Rises
Now British Claim Secret Weapon; Say it Worked on Italian Fleet
Alexandria. Egypt, Nov. 16. (UP) j lo the advantage of the British. —Great    Britain    used    a    "secret i     The   attack   on   Taranto   harbor
ivespon" In last Monday's smash¬ ing aerial attack nn the Italian N'avy at Taranto, it was asserted ^ today by Britlah sources which described the weapon as highly I latisfactory,
&   Rome British experta thought .the
Ttev   weapon   would    revolutionize
^•srfare in the Mediterranean zone
i
In Today's Issue
( lasilfied	
fMitorlal   	
¦Movies    „	
Polltlr.   „...,
Radio       ....
Sports  	
Story
"••ial   ,.,.
B—ll C—2
 A—19
 C—2
 B—ll
....B—1
 B—10
Main street, Luzerne. November Ifi. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony P.'rlis, ,'!25 Colley   street,   Lyndwood,   Novem- | had taken lo lifeboats on the orders ''^'" I'i ; of  Captain  J,   Shurt.   His   was   the
vessel that presumably \ as closest to the "enemy," for it was unable to turn about and dash back up the Panuco River.
Captain Shurt as.serted that no shots were "-ed, and this state¬ ment was emphasized by quarters which believed the Germans had encountered United States' vessels on neutralll.v patrol.
First reporls of the encounter indicated that three warships had comprised the "enemy," although the sworn statements of tho two German captains emphasized there were fnur ships involved in the sea adventure near the mouth of the Panuco. i:, S. Ships In Vicinity
A rehable source said that UnileiJ Stales warships of the neutrality i patrol had been seen in the general I vicinity of Tampico, but it was not I believed that there were any units j of the British West Indies squa- ' dron   so   far   Inside   the   Gulf   of
sank or crippled seven Italian w.ir- shlps. Including three battleships, according to official statements.
The attack was made by the air arm of the Mediterranean Fleet. Sweep  .'Me<ilterranean
The fleet has completed a 3,000 miles sweep of the Mediterranean during which they showed over¬ whelming superiority against the Italian fleet, British officers said. j Latest type British fighters, at¬ tached lo the lir arm, successfully defended British aircraft carriers against Italian  dive  bombers.
Messages of congralulalion were pouring In on HMS Illustrious, the ¦ Mexico.
aircraft   carrier   from   which   the       One current  report  was that the raid on Taranto was conducted,       '        (Continued on Page A-IB)
By SANDOR S, KLEIN
Washington, Nov. 16. (UP)—The British government, threatened by new shipping losses, has completed arrangements for the construction of big freighters in shipyards on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, it was learned tonight.
Negotiations were completed at conferences in New York between a British shipping mission. Mari¬ time Commission officials and representatives of two shipyards.
Contracts were expected to be signed next week. A number of ways at each of the two shipyards will be allocated for the construc¬ tion of nothing but British freight¬ ers. These ve.s.sels will be of stand¬ ard designs and gross about 10,000 tons each. The number to be built was  not  revealed.
Buying Many .%loro
In addition, the mission is seek¬ ing lo buy available privately- held American tonnage. Approxi¬ mately   40   freighters   are   sought.
I The British were expected to bid 'on Ifl ships of the '>larl- time Commission's laid-up fleet of wartime freighters offered for sale this week. Officials here scoffed at (3erman
I estimates of Brilish shipping losses
¦ in recent weeks but said that in¬ formation received here from reli¬ able sources indicated that de¬ stroyed tonnage was high neverthe¬ less. According  to  informed  quarters,
i the British still have available ap- proximately 15,000,000 tons of ships despite the heavy losses of recent monihs. Notwithstanding the large amount of tonnage remaining, the efficiency of the British commercial
i fleet is impaired by the slow pace of convoys and by time required for lepairs and olher essential opera¬ tions.
Sea Loaaes .Mounting
In the 16 weeks from July 28 to Nov. 10, Britain lost 1.256,000 tons, which included their own and foreign merchantmen taken over by them, these sources said, and be¬ tween Jan. 1 and Nov. 10, British shipping losses totalled 2,816,000 tons. From these figures it can be seen that Germany's campaign againsl Britain's sea communica¬ tions has become increasingly more efTectlve since mid-summer.
II was estimated that the British had approximately 17,000.000 tons of shipping available on Aur 5. This figure included not only Bril¬ ish tonnage, hut Dutch, Norwegian, Greek and other ships which were I requisitioned or chartered.
FAREASITROOPS
Japs Softening But More Definite Sign Is Needed
By HOBART C. .'NION TEE
AVashington, Nov. 16 (UP)- Con¬ tinued despatch of reinforcements for British and American fighting forces In the Far East tonight ap¬ peared to indicate British and American uneasiness over the sit¬ uation tliere despite surface indi¬ cations that the tension has eased the  lasl  fortnight.
The American arm.v recently sent a squadron of pursuit planes to the Philippines, Another squa¬ dron is expected lo leave San Francisco within 10 days. The question of sending further rein¬ forcements. Including additional units for the U. S. Asiatic Fleet based al Manila, probably will not be decided until the situation te- sultlng from Japan's ambitions In the South Pacific has crystallized. Singapore   Strengthened
Great Britain recently sent addi¬ tional land and air forces to Sin¬ gapore lo strengthen that giant naval base and Briti.sh authorities have indicated that victories in the Mediterranean may permit addi¬ tional warships  for the  Far East.
Administration officials here re¬ peatedly have asserted there is no agreement for joint British-Ameri¬ can action or co-operation In the Far B>ast, but it long has been appircnl that both government:! have been acting along such close¬ ly parallel lines there as to amount to unity of action.
Japanese official spokesmen have adopted a conciliatory lime in wnrd and act since the United States advised its nationals to re¬ turn home and sent special ahip.s for them. Word from Tokyo that Admiral Nomura, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy known to be friendly toward the Unitid States, Is to be Japanese ambassa¬ dor to this country was regarded as conciliatory gesture. Oil Soothe* ilaps
Offlcials here believe that the agreement concluded this week by the Japanese, Oiitcl East Indies and American and Dutch oil inter¬ ests whereby, Japan is assured 1.800.000 tons of oil annually frnm the East Indies, may go far to- (Continued on Page A-16)
^'Another Coventry' Promised
Nazis Admit Raid On Hamburg and Threaten Revenge
SUCCESSES CLAIMED
Creeks Advance All Along the Albanian Front
Seize Vital Supply Line to Koritza As Heavy Fighting Continues in Mountains Around Italian Key Base; Greeks Claimed Already in City Hy Early and Unofficial Reports; Fascists Bomb, Machinegun Villages
By BKN AMES
Athens, Nov. 17 (Sunda.v) (TT)—Gipek forfe«i ar« advancing along the whole .\lbaniHn frontier from the Ionian Sea to the Pindus .Mountains, report.s reaching authoritative Greek military official.s this morning indicated.
In .-^ome places the Greek troop.s are advancing without even making contact with Italian troops. Control of the vital Italian communications line between Koritza and Aig.Moka.slion has heen seized by Greek units pushing be¬ tween  gapN  in   the  retreating  Italian  line,  these  reports
Londoners Have Quiet Saturday After Pounding of Friday
By JACK FLELSC'HER
Berlin, Nov. 16. (UP) -N zls re¬ ported officially tonight that the German air force had made prob- j ably its greatest mass assault of the war on London, had again raided Coventry and olher Indus¬ trial targeLs and had dive-bombed four ships   in   British   convoys.
British  bombers struck  al Ham-1 ,,„..„„ipj burg, Amsterdam and elsewhere, itj"^'™'"'*
was officially stated, but most of Hcav.x'fighting contlnuea in the Kotltza sector in the mldst them were driven back despite of wild niouiilaiius overlooking the Italian ba.'ie citv, which large-scale attacks that admitiediy ^^.^jg i.epoi'ted still burning throughout the night as the result
of lieavy Greek artillery bombardment. Italians Hold One Summit
I The principal battle .still wa.s being fought around ]Mount h'an, noithea.st of Koritza. Lale.st reports of the fighting jin these .iunibled mountains indicated that, contrary to pre¬ vious report.s, the Italian,^ still were holding out on tlie summit of Blount Ivan, despite repeated assaults by ,'5kirted Evzone Greek warriors.
did some damage
The British bombardment of Hamburg "will find puni.ihment jusl as the raid on Munich found puiii.shnienl" in the Nazi mass at¬ tack on Coventry, the official news agency DNB said.
According' to (he high command, the British attacks damaged an ad¬ ministratinn buildinc at the Wharf, sel fire to a silo, damaged a hos¬ pital and killed or wounded several persons. (laim IS Plane* Downed
The high command said that seven British planes were shot down during the lasl 24 hours hy German fighters and six others b.v ground and nsval flre. Six German planes  were reported  missing.
At Amsterdam, three civilians killed and six wounded in British raids thai damaged a dozen houses, the agency said.
Nazis said that the raids on Lon¬ don were "one of the greatest aerial blows on the Brilish capital since the beginning of the war," and that several hundred planes dropped hundreds of thousands of pounds nf bombs.
Coventry also was attacked, they said, but nol as strongly as on this previous night.
Saturday Hiiid on I^ondon la Light
By KDWARD W. BKATTIE .IR.
London, Nov. 17 (Sunday). (UPl —Following an early evening flare- up, when London's anti-aircraft guns poured shells at high-flying relays of heavy German bombers. Saturday night's raid tapered off and tlie all-clear was sounded shortly  after  midnight.
A long lull with no activity what¬ ever preceded the all-clear, al¬ though earlier ocusislonal planes had flown in from the northwest, dropping Incendiary bombs and following these wilh a few heavier high   explosives.
The secnnd raid warning of the night was sounded not long be¬ fore dawn, several hours after the first raid terminated. Brief hursts of anti-aircraft gunfire were heard in the London area shortly before the  warning sounded. j
Eleventh Week of Bombing |
Heartened by the courage if bomb-shattered Coventry — visited yesterday by King (Jcorge VI and steeled by Friday night's record at¬ tack on London itself, Londoners tonight started their eleventh wci k of life under a continuous air bombardment, such as no city of the  world ever endured  before.
Yesterday was quiet, nol aloiit in London but over all England, after the Luftwaffe had sent an estimated ,")00 planes over the Brit¬ ish 'apllal and given it as bad a pounding if not worse as any In the 10 weeks which have gone be¬ fore.
Last night attack started with planes coming in at high altitude and dropping bombs on one dis¬ trict of Ixindon. The AA guns barked furiously at them. Thin other guns crashed into action when relays of heavy bombers, taking advantage of cloud protec¬ tion rame in at fairly low heights. A shower of lncendiarie.s fell 'u one London district. Searrhliglils were active againsl raiders coming in from the 'I'hames Estuarv din • tion.
Raiders  appeared   over  a  north¬ east    town    and    other    parts    of Britain as well. Kent Hit During Day
Daylight   activity   was   confined
largely to light bombing of a town
In Kent and  a machinegun  attack
on   two   point.s    in    the    Hebridea
(Continued on Pace A-16)
The Greeks already hold the Morova Heights, forming half the horseshoe of mountains around the town. If they succeed in dislodging the Italians from  the last heights of i\Iount
tliat the Italians still in the
Greek towns and villages, a com¬ munique issued by the ministry of public security said, but Uttle damage ensued.
On the southern tip of the island of Corfu, Italian planes machine- gunned a village, peasants in ths field and even flocks of sheep. Some bombs were also dropped.
Retreating Italian soldiers in the Epirus region were said to be pil¬ laging and burning towns and vil¬ lages as the.v withdrew. Several Greek towns and villages in the Epirus sector  were  also bombed.
There was no official confirma¬ tion of the report that Greek troops had entered Koritza but Greek sources said that their troops continued to advance. They promised "some good news" within 48 hours.
'A broadcast of Radio Athens heard In Sofia said that the fall of Koritza is expected "at any moment.")
The Italians were said to havs removed what artillery they could from Koritza but had abandoned much in mountain positions cap¬ tured by storming Greek Bvions mountaineers. Heavy guns wers said to be in action to cover ths Italian retirement. Ore«t Lomieia of Material
There was said to be littJs pros¬ pect of early Italian counteraction because of their great losses of heavy material  in  their retreat
Many additional Italian prisoners were said to have been captured today and several hundred mor* have arrived at Greek rear bsMI in the past 36 hours. Salonica re¬ ported  the arrival of about 300.
British  planes were said to ha^^
Intensified  their attack on retiring
columns   and   Italian   air   actlvltjf
appeared murh  lighter,  possibly Sbl
(Continued on  Page A-16)
Ivan, militar.N' sources expect
c:ty will be obliged to withdraw northward through difficult moun¬ tain passes toward Lake Ohrid and Tirana, since the road westward to Argyrokastron ia under Greek artiller.v fire.
Greek shells are falling on most roads leading into Koritza. It was reported this morning that Greek gendarmes already have been dis¬ patched to the Koritza sector to police the town when and if it is captured. j
Italian troops In the city of i Koritza began withdrawing yester¬ day (Saturday), a war ministry communique Issued early this morn¬ ing said, adding that great quanti¬ ties of war materials were cap¬ tured by advancing (Jreek troops. Claim Koritza Has Fallen
The communique, reporting the heaviest fighting in the region east of Koritza, came as still uncon¬ firmed reports were circulated here that Greek troops already had entered    Koritza. i
Reports direct from the front said that Greek troops had suc¬ ceeded id cutting the Koritza- Argyrokastron road, thus isolating Italian forces in Koritza from their most important source of supply and  reinforcement. I
It was staled that the Greeks had achieved one of their main objectives of the present sti eof the campaign in severing this vital supply route for the key Italian base   at   Koritza,
Many more Italians were taken prisoner on .Saturday, particularly In the Epirus sector where fight¬ ing was heav.v, the communique added. Artillery, machlneguna and othe war booty were captured. It . was   claimed. 1
Bonih  and   .Marhlnegun Tnwna  and   Fields
Italian   bombers   raided   several
Duce May End Silence to Deny Destruction oi Navy by British
Rome, Nov. 16. Benito Mussolini Monday may break the public silence he has maintained since Italy entered the war wilh a speech designed to re¬ fute Brilish claims of destruction to the Italian  fleet at Taranto.
The address, it was said, may be made from the balcony of Venice Palace from which II Duce announced lo the Italian people her entry into the war. However, rumors circulated thai Mussolini may go to the harbor of Taranto itseH for his speech.
Well informed circles said Mus¬ solini's speech would be most brief and probably would be con¬ fined lo an attack on British propaganda   methods.
Reports that II Duce will speak were supported l)y the slatement of his frequent niputhpiece. Virginio Gayda, in th> Giornale d'ltalia to¬ day that British claims of damage at Taranto will be refuted by the bighest authority.
(UP)—Premier I    Mussolini. It was noted, ts Itaiyi Monday     mav i minister   of   navy   as   well   as   har
premier.
Fascist Chiefs to Gather
It was believed generally that the speech would be made In Rom* since Mussolini ia expected to r»- ceive on Monday Fascist chiefs from all over the nation and pre¬ side at the supreme self-sufficiency commission meeting.
Special radio hookups have been arranged for the occasion, which is the first real Fascist celebration of a holiday since Italy went into th* war. Ihe day is the fifth anni¬ versary of the imposition of sanc¬ tions against Italy at the time of the Ethiopian War.
Dispatches from Euro¬ pean countries are now subject   to   censorship.