Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Sunday:   Fair,  warm, Monday; Fair,  warm.
34TH YEAR, NO. 47—52 PAGES
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER  22, 1940
PRICE TEN CENTS
Tivo City Men Die in Plane Crash
Nazis Avoid London as RAF Increases Attack; Roosevelt Names Board to Speed Conscription
Cleon Hanson, £. A, V/akeman jr. Perish in Fog
i
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Only Isolated Raids Test British Defenses; French Coast Hammered
Army Stays on Alert as Channel Continues Perfect for Invasion; Lull Indicates Nazis May Strike Next Blow in Mediterranean
  !
By EI>WARI) W. BKA1TIK .JK. j
London, Sept. 22 iSiindayi. (UP)~ Anti-aircraft flre rippled across lyondon early today as sporadic German raiders tested the powerful metropolitan defenses, but seemed to avoid the heart of the city. Eariy today they ga>.e up their attempts to penetrate the barrage.
One higli explosive bomb bural in a soulh London area and, it was J feared,  caused  several  casualties. !
fp to midnight British bombers which smashed for three houra In what observers felt was the strongest attack of the war on fjermnn channel bases had been far more*" artive  than   the  German   air  force.
Willkie
Outlines
Program
Must Aid Others To Stabilize U.S. Democracy
Belief was strong that Adolf Hit¬ ler may switch from an invasion attempt to a Mediterranean thrust, but no chances were being taken. Channel weather conditions were almost perfect for an expeditionary force. The sea was glas-sy and the sk.v was clear. SearchliKhts lued Ajjaln
I>ondon's searchlight beams snap¬ ped on again tonight for the flr.st lime in many evenings and search¬ ed the skies for isolated bombers. Few were located. However, the Germans did attack one northwea* lown where damage and fatal casualties  were   caused.
One German plane, attempting to penetrate the London barrage, wa.s shot down by anti-aircraft gun.v in Gidea Park in northeast I^ondo.i early today. There was a rushin? sound    followed   hy
T
BLAMES ROOSEVELT
Says He Was Trying To Pack Court When Aid Was First Needed
President Also Creates New Post to Reorganize U.S.War Department
Massing Troops as Final Showdown With Tokyo Nears
flash and a huge column of smoke as the plane crashed. It was he lieved ths raider fell in an open apace.
The homhing of the French cos't was reported to have been methodi-
Hanoi.   French   Indo-China.  .Sept. 12. (Sundayi  (UPi    French author- ties  aaid   today   lhey   would   reaiat tremendous   any effort   of the .lapanese  to land
Iroops in Indo-China in an attempt to enforce the iillimaliim embrac¬ ing new demands for military con¬ cessions.
Further    evidence    of    .Japanese preparations for posaible action waa
cal and severe.    Large numhera of   ,pp„   j^  (),p  f,f.t   j),at   the   Nippon
parachute flarea were dropped al¬ though the anft-aircraft fire and bursting bombs already had lightci up the coast.
The attack  on Boiilognewas said to have  been  particularly heavy. Lull Aft4>r >li<lnlght
The Germans .stepped up the pace nf their attack afler midnight and bombing and anti-aircraft fire was  inten.se  for  a while.
A lull followed, however, with no homh explosions audible except in the  distance.
One heavy bomb fell on a well known north London golf course nnd created a btand new hazard for Sunday golfers. Windows in the area were shattered.
Airway.s had .suspended their daily air serviie to Hanoi and removed all equipment from the Hanoi air terminus.
Ships loaded with Japanese evacuees sailed from the southern Indo-China port of Saigon la.al night, it waa learned, but latest reporta from Haiphong iport of Hanoi I indicated that the Japan¬ ese who left here en masse on Friday had not yet sailed. French .Mohlliied
The new Japanese demands pre¬ .sented yeslerd.Tv were reported lo include the right to quarter 2n.00ii Japanese troops in Hanoi, as well as   other   military   and   naval   con-
Guna   and    searchlight    batteries i oe(,,if,na. Their presentation precip-
were active in Southeast Fnglapd and the northeast coast area waa raided for more than three houra The Germana met a heavy barrage, however, and were reported to have dropped only one bomb, which fell in a park. Biirata Over Reporters
Three membera of the United Press London staff were driving home from the office shortly afler midnight when a "breadba.sket" burst almoat directly over their automobile, scattering incendiary bomba broadcast. Some tell "un¬ pleasantly clo.se," the men reported.
Three fires were started but wardens with stirrup pumps quick¬ ly extinguished them.
Rural areas of the home counties st well aa outer London were bomb¬ ed during the night. Incendiary bombs were dropped In several south and easl I^ondon districts, (Continued  on   Page  A-l.M
itated a situation which caused the French authorities to take emer¬ gency meaaures.
Almost all available French arm¬ ed forces were reported mobilized and trains were standing hy. ready to evacuate women and children lo southern districts of the colony in event ot an emergency.
French authoritiea were reported standing firm against new Ja|i- anese demands, whicii were .said to include the right to use the Gialam airfield near Hanoi, and control of the Langson-Laokay railway.
Reflecting increaaing tension. Maj. Gen. Issaku Nishihara. head of a Japanese military mission which haa been negotiating wiiii the French here for aeveral week.?, cancelled plana to proceed to Haiphong, en roule to Japan. Most ot Nishiliara's mission left yeater- day for Haiphong, along with large (Continued  on   Page  A-l."))
(Tivic Auditorium. San Francisco. .Sept. 21. (UP) Wendell L. Willkie outlined a six-point foreign policy tonight which he aaid would win the "Battle of America" and charg¬ ed that the Roosevelt adminiatra- tion in ils failure to follow such a policy "must bear a direct share of the responsibility for the present war."
The Republican presidential nom¬ inee in the major foreign affair.s speech of his campaign aaid that his program furnished the elements which some day would make de¬ mocracy in the United States more stable by boo.sling the standarda of living in South .\meriea. the Orient, Mexico, Canada and eventually in "shattered Europe".
Willkie advocated:
"1. We must aend, and we muat keep sending, aid to Brilain, our first line of defense and our onl.v remaining friend. We must aid her to the limits of prudence and effectiveness, and determined by impartial experts in this field.
"2. In the Pacific our hest enda will be aerved by a free, strong, and democratically progressive China, and we should render economic assistance  lo  that end.
"3. The building of a defense system adequate to protect our soil from  aggression  from  any quarter
a defense system so strong that none will ever dare to strike. i
Need Industrial Revival
"4- An indu.strial revival, re¬ employment and encouragement to Anierican enterprises, wilhout which we laniiot hope to maintain our democratic   institutions.
"5.    Wise use of credita and aco- (Continued  on  Page  A-16) <
FIERCE AHM ON
E
Report French Naval Squadron Attacked by British off Africa
Berlin, Sept. 21. (UP)--Well- informed German quarters reported without confirmation tonighl that a French naval squadron had been  ¦ ercepted by British warahipa off the African coaat and forced to put Into Caaahlanra.
(German wireleaa reporta frnm Vichy, pirked up in Xew York, said the ships were forced back lo Dakar.)
The German report was lhat a ¦squadron of three Frenrh rruiaera and three French deatroyers en route In equatorial Africa were in¬ tercepted  by a  British aqiiadron.
According to one report there waa a battle in which one French ahip was damaged. However, there were no detaila on the affair be¬ yond   the   report   that   the   French
In Today's Issue
Mitorlal C—»
< lassifled   A—28
Tolitlca    C—»
Mnviea    B—»
Story   A—^^
Sporta  B—1
Social    A—IT
«^lo  A—M
squadron had been forced lo put in at Casablanca.
(iermans Report Attaek
.New York, Sept. 21 (UP)-The German wireless in a dispatcli from Vichy reported tonight that British warships had attiirked a French naval squadron off Dakar. Africa, and damaged one French ship.
The Reports to Vichy, aaid the wireless, did not make clear wheth¬ er the damaged vessel was one of the aix F'rench warahipa whicl. sailed out of the Mediterranean for Dakar last week or a merchant vessel under escort by the squad¬ ron.
The reports indicated that the ¦ French cruisers declined to accept battle with the British warships because they were badly outgun¬ ned. Instead they headed back to Dakar and were said to have reach¬ ed port safely.
The wireless said the news caus¬ ed great excitement  at Vichy. ,
The   French   warships   were   said tn   have    been   sent    to   Dakar   to escort  French   freighters with aup¬ plies from  the French coloniei to i France. 1
Freight Yards and Gasoline Plants Are Among Targets
London, Sept. 21. fUPi—Th" Royal Air Force was reported to¬ night to iiave launched fierce at¬ tacks on vital links in the German war machine, including the "inva¬ sion" ports, rail communications. 90 per cent of Germany's snythetic oil plants and 80 per cent of her oil   refineries.
Hugh Dalton, minister of eco¬ nomic warfare, revealed that RAF bomber squadrons are bombing se¬ lected targets picked by hia minis¬ try in a campaign to break the backbone of German war power.
"We are destroying Hitler'a power to wage war," Dalton said. "He by destroying children"s homes, ho.spitals and shops is only increaaing our will lo fight on until the decisive victory is won."' Blast (iasoline Plants
Dalton said that RAF raiders have blasted al 90 per cent of the vital plants which produce German oil from coal and 80 per cent of the refineries which turn this oil into gasoline for the .N'azi air force and mechanized  fighting  forcea.
"These targets,'" he aaid. "have been heavily hit. although produc¬ tion is still continuing at a re¬ duced rate.""
These attacks went on side-by- side with a raking blaat of bombs at the invasion bases in which it was officially reported that two German supply ships were dam¬ aged severely last night.
"Strong forcea of RAF bombera," reported the air miniatry, "again attacked enemy-occupied porta at Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Oatend, Dun¬ kirk, F"liishing. Calais and Bou¬ logne last  night.
"Further   damage   was   done   to (Continued on Paga A-18)
Names Members of Draft Committee; Says Middle West Gets Expansion of Aviation Industry
Hyde Park, N. Y., Sept. 21 (UP) —President Roosevelt tonight ap¬ proved plans to reorganize the War Department to expedite national defense procuiement and named a six-man advisor.v committee to speed up conscription of manpower for America's greatest peacetime army.
In a third move bearing on the .^15.000.000.0<X) drive to rearm the United Statea. Mr. Roosevelt prom¬ iaed that henceforth greatest ex¬ pansion of the aviation industry and aviation employment will be centered in the 29 statea which lie hetween the Rocky Mountains and the   Alleghenies.
The new advisory committee on conscription will assist the dire?- tor of selective service, not yet named, who wili supervise the draft under which 400.000 men be¬ tween 21 and 36 will be called up tor a year's service this fall. Tem¬ porary White House officials said the director, who may be either h cixilian or a service man, probablv will be named next week and ex¬ plained that Mr. Roosevelt is de¬ laying his nomination while "wail¬ ing for all concerned to reacn agreement." Personnel  Announced
Personnel of the advisory com¬ miltee:
Frederick Oaborn nf New York City, who waa in charge of Red Cross work in the army area of France during 1917 and 1918. He since has been active in sociologi¬ cal work and recently haa aerved aa conaultant lo the federal bureau of the budget.
Col. Williani H. Draper jr., of New Y'ork Cily, a reaerve olticer and specialist on selective service.
Floyd W. Reeves, professor at the Universit.v of Chicago, who has been serving recently as an execu¬ tive aaai.stant to the Nalionai De¬ fense Advisory Commission.
Joseph P. Harris, professor of political science at Northwestern University, Evanston. 111., also an advisor to the defense advisory commission.
Channing H. Tobias of New York City, director of Negro work for the nalionai council of the Young Men's Christian Association and active in tha Negro youth move¬ ment, j
Wayna Coy, Delphi, Ind., execu¬ tive assistant to Federal Security Administrator Paul V. McNutt.
Stephen T. Karly, Mr, Roosevelt's secretary, announced personnel of the committea and explained that with the exception of Tobias and Co.v, all members were selected by the Presidenl on August 27 to work on problems Involved in procure¬ ment of man power to operate the
Nazi Salute Meets Emergency
New York, Sept. 21. (UP) - The Broadcasting Compan.v today heard the British  radio say:
"Reports from Holland say that the Dutch people in appreciation of German efforts to cross the channel have enlarged the Ger¬ man Heil Hitler salute of the outstretched right arm into the swimming movement of a breast stroke."
gigantic defense machine now In production. Work on man power procurement. Early explained, be¬ gan while the Conscription Law still was pending in congress. War   Department   Reorganized
The War Department reorgan¬ ization, also announced hy Early, sets up an emergency structure in that department almilar to a plan already approved by Congress for the Navy and put in effect.
It creates the office ot Under¬ secretary of War, and centralizes in Secretary of War Henry L. Stim¬ son tull responsibility for procure¬ ment under the defense program. Under present law. Assistant Secre¬ tary ot War Robert Porter Patter¬ son holds responsibility for defense procurement.
If Congress approves the new plan, Stimson will accept ultimate responsibility, but may divide act¬ ual mechanics of procurement be¬ tween the Undersecretary and Aa¬ alatant Secretary. In actual effect, it waa Iinderatood, th* Assistant Secretary will continue to handle most of the mechanics of procure¬ ment, but fhe ultimate responsi¬ bility and decisions will go to Stimson.
"The President this morning ap¬ proved a recommendation of the Secretary of War for the creation of the office of Undersecretary o." War," Early said. "This, of course will have to take the form of a bi." and be sent to Congress for ap¬ proval. It would authorize tiie (Continued on Page A-lfl)
200 REBELS CAPTURED BY MEXICAN TROOPS
Every Term of Ransom Has Been Accepted
MANY THEORIES
Mexico Cily. Sept. 21. (UP)--The Department of Interior aaid tonight that federal troops had captured "more than 200 rebels" and crushed an uprising in the state of Chihua¬ hua.
Fifty rebels wera rounded up near the city ot Santa Maria de las Cuevas and 150 more were taken at Tierras Blancas, it was said.
The rebels. ofTicials here said, were followers of Gen. Juan Andreu Almazan, who was defeated in the presidential electiona in July.
Several rebels led hy Cruz 'Vlll- ahas. unsuccessful candidate for governor, had been killed in en¬ counters earlier, it waa reported.
Family Sits Home Just Waiting —and Hoping
Hillsborough, Cal., Sept. 21   (UP)
Count and Coiinteas Marc de Tristan sat by their telephone to¬ night, 32 hours after their golden- haired baby boy was kidnapped, hoping for the tinkle that would mean contact with the abductor and a possible solution to the "Cali¬ fornia  Lindbergh   Case."
"There lias been no word of any kind and they are just waiting waiting and hoping," reported Charles Hiisc. family friciul iuii! official ot the Columbia Steel Cor¬ poration, who acted as spokesman.
Huac wenl to the Hillaborough police station from the de Tristan mansion to tell reporters gathere.l there that the parenta were bear¬ ing  up   "remarkably  well."
"They are being left absolutely alone," he aaid. "They wait for each succeeding adition of tho newspapera to get whatever infor¬ mation they can. They are juat sitting around by the telephone, hoping." $100,000 on Table
The de Tri.slans had Isolated themselvea in their rambling 15- room home in this iSan Franci.sco suburb. On a table was piled .$100,- 000 in 1.5, $10 and $20 banknotea - the ranaom the kidnapper demand¬ ed In a 12-page note he left behind when he anatched the child from itl nurae yesterda.v.
The money had been obtained hy Louis S. Cates. wealthy step-grand¬ father of the kidnapped child. No price waa too high tor the dia- traught family to pay for the safe return of the hoy. But their anxiety WAS tremendous aa the hours went by.
They had complied, so far as pos¬ sible, with every demand of the abductor.
Almost iver.v officer connected with the caae had a different theory. Police Chief C. M. Hira- chey said the 700-word note Indi¬ cated to him that the kidnapping waa the work of "professional kid¬ nappers." Some officera felt thaf the phraaeology meant lhat the criminal   was   a   foreigner.
Frienda snid thst the strain was (Continued  on  Page  A-IB)
Plow into Trees near Mountain Top Only 40 Feet from an Open Field; Long Search Needed to Find Plane Seen Low Just Before Crash Was Heard; On Way from Philadelphia Where Wakeman Had Applied to Air Corpa
Two prominent Wilke.s-Barre men were instantly killeii last night when their plane wa.s ripped apart and crashed near Mountain Top as they flew in a dense fog.
They were Cleon O. Hanson, l.'i, assistant to the general iiianagcr of the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, and P^dward A. Wakeman jr., 22, grandson of E. A. Wakeman, vice-president and general manager of the firm, doling W'akeman was at the controls when the fatal crash occurred.
P'lying low over the mountain and apparently using a flash¬ light to seek their way through the fog that blanketed their course, the,\' flew into a wooded area, mowing down four
trees  before  the  ship  was   stopped , at a poinl some .iOO yards from the White    Haven    highway    to    Glen Summit,   and   aboul   half   a   mile from  the top  of the  mountain.
The fatal crash occurred abouf 7   oclock.
The plane, which had been heard flying just over the tops ot houses
' in that section for nearly a mile, was found, with the victima under
j it, al 9:45 oclock, after hundreds of
I people, including members of .State
i .Motor Police, had searched nearly three houra. The craah waa hearn by hundreda ot people in th* area when   it   happened.   That   and   the
! aight ot the low flying plane start¬ ed  the  search. Plane Heard Flying Low
Craah ot the plane ia attributed to a heavy fog lhat blanketed the Fairview town.ship valley last eve¬ ning. It waa ao dense few aaw the craft, although sound ot the  plane
I indicated it was but a ahort dis¬ tance from  the ground.
( They were flying from Philadel¬ phia where Wakeman. a pilot of three years experience, had con¬ ferred with army officials relative to joining the Air Corpa. Mr. Han- aon, alao a pilot, accompanied him on the trip. They left when in¬ formed that the youth would be notified when to report tor aervice. Deapite warnings of a storm. Mr. Hanson hoped  to get back In time
CLEON O. HANSON
for tha dedication program ar¬ ranged for Wilkes-Barrt Wyoming Valley Municipal Airport today. The flagship "Wilkes-Barre" of the (Continued  on Page A-IB)
Admit RAF Attacks Have 'Regularity of a Clock'
London  and  Berlin  Give:
Outlook on War
British See Big Test on the Nile; No More Blitzkrieg
By WAIJ.ACE C^ARROLL
London, Sept, 21. (UP)-Th« big teat for Britain, it appeared tonight, is more likely to come on the Nile than on the Thamea.
The Briliah general staff still ex¬ pects invasion. It would lika to have It come now. But there is growing belief among neutral mili¬ tary, naval and air attaches that Adolf Hitler will not attack Britain directly.
This belief ia based on German failure to knock out the Royal Air Force, which to the beat of my knowledge actually is stronger in tighter and bomber formations now than at the beginning of the aerial blitzkrieg.
With lhe RAF still Intact and the British navy commanding the .seas, it would be too risky to at¬ tempt an invasion.
The best informants I know think that the war will develop somewhat as follows:
1. Hitler will continue to bomb Britain, eapecially at night, with Ihe aim nf diarupting war produc¬ tion and making the public war- weary.
2. Ormany and lulv will do their  utmoat to  bring Spain  into
The l>ilted Pre«i aMk«>d the he«da of lt« hureau In lx>ndon and Berlin thia queatJon: What ia the Immediate outlook for the war in Europe? Here ar« their answers, baaed on tlie beat in¬ formation from offlrial ajid nn- offlrikl source* availahle to them.
Germans Still Confident of Quick Victory
the   war   in   order   to  seal   up   the weatern Mediterranean. Expert Drive to Kaat
3.- Italy, with German support, especially in the air, will drive to¬ ward the Nile and the Suez Canal.
The canal is the key to the oil field ot Iraq. Iran and the whole' African continent. If the British cannot check the Axis on th* Nile It will be difficult to prevent Itaiiana and Germans from over- riinni»g the continent and getting control ot the second great empire route around the cape.
The Briliah, however, have mass¬ ed atrong forcea in Egypt and feel ao aure of themselves at home thaf they sent large quantities of good modern material there.
It seems clear now that the war is no longer a blitzkrieg and that it will continue into the spring. Wilh Britain and Germany bomb¬ ing each other's factoriea through¬ out the autumn and winter, Ameri¬ can production becomes increas¬ ingly important and may prov* the derisive   factor, i
Naals Mttll Cnnfldent I
By FREDERirK r. OECHSNER
BerUn, 8ept 31.  (UF)—Tht mftin,
question tonight continues to be whether German bombing of I.x>n- don and olher vital points has aiitTiciently softened British morale and war machinery to permit an aciual invasion attempt by water and  by  air.
If not, the question is whether an unrelieved spell of bad weather ia   going   to   bog   down   the   forcea
By .IO.SEPH W. (iKUid, JB.
Berlin, Sept, 21. (UPl German official aources admitted tonight that Royal Air Force bombers are pounding Nazi "invasion" baaea on the channel coasl and in the low countriea with "clock-like regular¬ ity." and a toll of 1,1 German deaths from British bombardment of west¬ ern Germany last night was rs- ported.
At the same time, it was claimed that the Luftwaffe haa driven the RAF back from the Engli.sh coaat and critically endangered food sup¬ plies of the great London metro¬ politan area.
The firat official admission that the RAF ia countering every blow
on London with a smash at (mer¬ man-occupied co.satal ports came in a dispatch from a apecial propa¬ ganda ministry reporter with Ger¬ man forcea on the channel bases. Regular aa a dorii
He said that the British attacks have come night after night with "the regularity ot a clock".
The Brilish fliers come across the channel at dusk, said the prop¬ aganda  ministry  correspondent.
"Often," he said, "the last attaek must be fended off in early morn¬ ing."
The  more Intense  German  raids have become on London the harder the RAF has struck hack, the re¬ porter said,    RAF planes have even (Continued  on  Page  A-IH)
Search for Missing Army Plane VHith Cen. Honnecutt Aboard
Savannah,   Ga„   Sept.   Jl   (UP) —
Army   officials   late   today   investi-
unlil spring. Ihus dragging Europe   gated  unconfirmed  reports that an
army   observation   ship,   with   Brig.
into   Its   second   war   winter.
That will be no fun, what with ahortagea of food and coal certain in many places.
British resistance without doubl haa aurprised lots of people here, Bul I must say that the mililary and political officials wilh whom I have talked still seem confident that they can clean up the situa¬ tion in a few weeka.
You can bel any money you want on that.
If what we hear about the Rome conference is true. Premier Benito Mussolini and Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop are confi¬ dent, too.
There won't be much  lett  of the British   sway   in   Africa   and   the Mediterranean if Ihe Axis powers preaumably   with   Spain    get   their way.
Tha question U:   Will theyT
Gen. F. W. Honnecutt and two olhers aboard, crashed last night along the Sat ilia River near Wood¬ bine, GA
The plane, ohjert of a day-long air search belween here and Jack¬ sonville. Fla., has been missing since  early  last  nighl.
T. J. McCullough of Woodbine said a group of Negro fishermen reporled to him today that they" aaw a flaming plane crash on the Satilla banka about 20 miles from Woodbine  early last  night.
Army and coast guard planes were hovering over the Satilla area lale thia aflernoon, aeeking traces ot wreckage in the tangled under¬ growth of the river that flows into the marshes between St. Marys and  Brunswick.
The   plane   was   en   route   from [ Fort Bragg, N. C, to J«cksonvill«
last week, to a conference with Col. William B. Ennis. chief of staff of the Second military dis¬ trict of the Fourth Corps Area.
Laat word from the plane cama at «:.14 p. m. (EDT) last night when the plane passed over Savan¬ nah. The pilot. Captain George F. Kehoe, radioed the Savannah air¬ porl a routine transit message and the plane continued on its way in what airport offlcials here de¬ scribed  as  ideal  flying weather.
The ship was scheduled to reach Jacksonville shortly after 9 oclock laat   night.
TTie third occupant of the ship was Corporal R. J. Schmidt of Chicago.
Dispatches from EurO' pean countries are now subject   to   censorship.