Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Sunday:   Cloudy, wartnar. Monday: Fair, colder.
35TH YEAR, NO. 11—44 PAGES
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 1941
PRICE TEN CENTS
EXPLOSIVE FIREBOMBS POUR DESTRUCTION ON LONDON
Want 'Reasonable Security' in Bill to Lend Aid to Britain
Mopper'Uppers
Report Freighter Sunk Saturday; Say Warships Hit
*
By .lOSEPH W. GRIGG JR.
Berlin, Jan. 11. (UP)—The Ger¬ mans tonight claimed to have In- flirled great losses on the British navy, air force, merchant marine and war industry In widely separ¬ ated  theatres of action.
TTie blows were slruclc In the Mediterranean and the Atlantic In the air over Ihe Calais coast and in raids on British cities, the Ger¬ mans claimed.
The claims followed a.ssertlons by well informed Germans that Uniled Stales aid to Britain, as proposed in President Roosevelt's defense hill, would "come too late." Claim Warship Hit
Againsi the Brili.sh Navy, the high command said, the first Ger¬ man warplanes lo go Italy's aid scored hits on two warships, one an aircraft carrier, in the Mediter¬ ranean. To this claim DNB. official German news agency, added an . "eyewitness" account of hits on a heavy British cruiser and other ships off Malla. damaging hits on a ballleship. an aircraft carrier and a destroyer and the explosion of bombs  near  another ballleship.
In contrast to highly successful raids on Portsmouth List night, the German.'^ said, the British lost eight, and probably nine, planes in » fruitless attack on the German-j held French channel coast. [
And again.st the British mer¬ chant marine, upon which Britain depends for food and supplies, the ligh command reported new aub- narine forays. The U-boat com- •nanded by Lieut. Commander Hans 3erret von Slockhausen on its ¦nosl recent trip sank S2.0()0 tons •)f enemy shipping, the high com- -nand said, bringing its total lo ini..5,'in   tons.
In addition, the .submarine in¬ flicted such damage on a 18.000- ton armed British merchantman that it "can be regarded as a total loss," the communique said. Report Freighter Sunk
DNB reported that a (Jerman bomber early today sank another British freighter, of 8.000 tons, in the  Atlantic west of Ireland.
Th of six planes In the attack on Portsmouth but claimed their fight¬ ers drove back Brili.sh raiders from the French coast, shooting down eight enemy craft in all, and sn damaging a ninth thai It probably  did  nol  gel  home.
In addition tn the large-scale at- (Continued   on   Page   B-fi)
Predict Early Passage But Seek Amendments
Hard  looks may be due lo glare of de.serl sun, but they're British
soldiers engaged in mopping up stray Italians on wcotern desert of
Egypt.   They play impcrtant role in the campaign.   Passed by the
Britisn  censor.
London Says War by (i. S. Worse Than Nazi Victory
Predicts 'Terrible Era' If Hitler Wins But Worse If We Fight; 'Honest Subsidy' To Britain Suggested for Our Defense
Ask Time Limit On Great Powers; Ignore Nazi Charge
By FRANK .McNALGHTON
Washington, Jan. 11. (UP)~ Chairman Walter F. George of the Senate foreign relations committee predicted today that the Senate would, amend President Roosevelt's lend-lease British aid bill lo re¬ quire "reasonable security" from (jreal Britain for arms and ma¬ terial.
Expressing    unqualified    support
of the measure's objectives, George
1 explained   at   a   press   conference
j that   by   "reasonable   security"   he
, did   nol   mean   pledges   of   money
necessarily   and   that  he  was   nol
suggesting    that   Americans    were
out tor any "parsimonious deal."
"But some type of formal security for whatever passes to foreign na¬ tions should be in the bill," he said. "And, I believe it will be in there when the bill passes the Senate."
His views on the objectives of the measure, George said, seem to be shared by the "vast majority ot the American people."
"The bill must candidly be ac¬ cepted as the conviction of this country that it must do whatever seems wise and best for the pre.ser- vation of its own peace and secur¬ ity," he continued. "The implication is that the events ot the last few months have taken oul of the ques¬ tion many of the principles that we had hoped al least would be accepted by the leading nations of the world."
Would Limit Authority
"I am unqualifiedly in favor of the objectives of this bill. It Is frankly giving aid lo those coun¬ tries whose survival we conclude to be vital lo our own peace and security."
New England Republican leaders, likewise expressing approval ot the measure's objectives, suggested an¬ other change—limitation of time on the great powers to be invested in the Pre.sident. Sen. Warren R. Austin, R.. VI., the Republican Sen¬ ate leader, urged a limit of two years.
Administration   efforts   to   push
Many Air Alarms In Switzerland
Trade Pacts Offered All By Moscow
Say Any Nation Can Make Deal As Germany Did
Geneva. Switzerland. Sunday, Jan. 11, (UP)—Unidentified planes tlying over this city brought Geneva its fifth air alarm In less than  flve hours early today.
Sirens screamed the fifth time at 12:24 a. m. The alarm, how¬ ever, la.sted only 29 minutes.
During the fourth alarm, which waa sounded al 11:47 p. m., plane... grouped In two waves, could  be  heard.
Sirens also were sounded to¬ night from 8:48 to 9:32 p. m., from 10 to 10:30 p, m. and again from 10:3.^ to 11:20 p. m. The sound of motors also was heard during the third alarm.
the bill through congress quickly, a move Mr. Roosevelt said was vital lo the country's security, were jolted by a dispute developing between two House committees over jurisdiction of the measure.
The House military affairs com¬ mittee  voted  1  lo  4  to  direct  its j chairman. Andrew J. May, D., Ky., lo  demand  In  the  House  Monday that   the    measure   bs   withdrawn j from the foreign affairs committee and referred lo the military affairs group.   He   was   Instructed   to   de¬ mand a roll call on this maneuver .should  Speaker Sam  Rayburn  re¬ ject    his    motion.    That    demand i could   not   be   debated.   Chairman Sol  Bloom   of  the   foreign   affairs committee   said  that  the   measure "absolutely belongs" to his group.
Rep. Everett M. Dirksen, R., III., said that he believed a consider¬ able number of Republicans would side with May in the dispute. May charged that the hill gives the President power lo "give away the whole navy and "leave the country stripped stark naked" of defenses. However, he said, he favors the general purposes of the bill.
Rayburn refused lo comment on the inler-commlllee squabble but said he had "not one particle of doubt" but that Ihe bill would be pas.sed.
Britoin Has What V. S. Needs George told newsmen that Great (Continued  on  Page  A-10) j
REBUKE CRITICS
Direct Hit Made On Subway Used
As Raid Shelter
Attack as Fierce as Any Yet Known Suddenly Stopped in Puzzling Manner As Blazes from New Type Firebombs Were Foiling Efforts of Spotters; Much More of Capital is Wrecked,' One Bomb Flattens Entire Block
Several, However, Noted Unable to Reach Agreement
President's Plan Gives British Access to Finest Shipyards
I
Tulsa, Okla., Jan. 11.  (UP)—Alt M. Landon *aid tonight that Uniled Slates participation in the European conflict would be a greater calamity . to this nation  than a German  victory.
Landon told the Alexander Hamilton Club at a banquet hers he pre- ! ferred a British victory and favored extending all pos.sible material and monetary aid to England, but did not believe that a British victory was Germans  admitted  the  loss   cs.sential lo preservation of American security, I
"We  have   a  great   and   a  very*——~      — I
real   interest   In   Engli.sh   succe.ss."  social di.«turbances for many years the    1936    Republican    pre.sidentlal. '" <:<""^- i
candidate   said.   "Bui   to   say   our | •T;";'»'l«"" Hitler Win. national security  rests on  her vie- I       "   "'t'"   «;"^'   " ,^"'   \*   » tory   IS   a   mi.s.statement.    Even   Ifi'ne^^' »"<! t"'"'*''* ."^     "^  »  '""*' England wins this war. . . We are   «nd   we   will   suffer   st.l    greater , bound to suffer great economic and  economic and political disturbances
    tor many years.
"But if we get into this war with fighting forces, when the end comes, we will suffer the greatest ' economic, social, and political dis¬ turbances."
War for the United States would mean delegation by Congress of further dictatorial powers to the President, suspension of the bill of rights and other constitutional safe¬ guards, Landon said.
He added that it probably would result in a fourth term for Presi¬ dent Roosevelt.
"Then add ... the terrible eco¬ nomic suffering and racial hatred of minorities which will be the aftermath ot our participation in the war, and the republic may well go through the rock crusher." he said. "In defeating totalitarianism .ibroad. we will strengthen its hold here at home." sees Oil Seizure
He accused Pre.sident Roosevelt of "maneuvering behind the screen of national defense to seize control of the oil Industry" and he con¬ demned the federal oil control bill pending in congress
"The greatest bottlenecks are in its (the government's) manage¬ ment of other businesses," Landon said.
"Even a tew moi'ths more of what we are doing no v will mean economic chaos and a regimented society when the end comes, unless we plan wisely now.
"The survival ot the republic Is not going to be decided in England. II will be decided here."
He said the Democratic cam¬ paign promises of "safely and se¬ curity" had been followed by ac¬ tions which cannot provide them, capped by the President's "lend and lease program" That program, he added, la • (Continued on Page A-10)
PYLE ADMITS HE ERREO IN STORY Tl
Tobey Launches Perjury Charge Before Committee
Washington, Jan. 11 (UP)—Con¬ gressional approval of President Roosevelt's "all-out" aid lo democ¬ racies plan would give Great Britain and her Allies access lo some of the world's finest ship¬ yards, equipped lo take care of the largest battleships afloat.
A number of uses might be made of U. S. navy yards on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in the Ha¬ waiian and Philippine Island.s. British ships damaged in air raids or in battles could be repaired in the nearest American yard. Aids British
The navy yards al Soulh Boston, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Pearl Har¬ bor, Balboa and Hunter Point, Calif, have drydocks capable of handling warships of any size. The New York Navy Yard could not take care ot Britain's super-ships, such as the Hood and Renown, but its facilities are being expanded.
Other than repair*, Britain, under the President's plan, could concen¬ trate on new construction in her own shipyards and send unfinished ?hips lo this .'onntry to be com¬ pleted.
fn Today's Issue
Classified   B—11
Editorial  C—J
.Movies       A^17
roiitici  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..'...'. c_i    !
Radio    B—11
><|M>rt«  .ZZb—1
^'ofy  n—n
^»<''»' A—18
The navy's yards could be used lo handle the entire "fitting out" pro- ce.s.s which, in the caae of a ballle¬ ship, usually takes from 10 montli.s to a year after launching. Latest unofficial information reaching naval authorities here said that Britain now is building nine battle¬ ships, six aircraft carriers, 23 cruis¬ ers, 18 destroyers, and four sub¬ marines. One report .said that five of the battleships have been com¬ pleted but are not yet ready to join the fleet.
Could Finish Ships Here
Under the plan, work on ships whose hulls have been finished could be completed in U.S. yards, thus freeing British yards for new work.
The Uniled States is building battleships at New York, Philadel¬ phia nnd .Norfolk. Any of these yards is capable of handling a nor¬ mal sized battleship or aircraft carrier. Work on smaller vessels could be done al Charle.slon, Puget .Sound, Portsmouth and Mare Island.
British ships operating in the far ¦ Pacific could put in at Pearl Har¬ bor if near that base. The navy also has a drydock in the Philippine Islands capable of handling cruisers and large auxiliary vessels.
Pending  congressional  action  on' the plan, navy department ofHcials declined to speculate on  what  use Britain  might make of  U.S. yards j or  on   what  yards   would   be  best I suited to handle British work.
Washington, Jan. 11. (UP)—Sen. Charles W. Tobey, R., N. H., today accused Oliver A. Quayle jr., gen¬ eral manager of the Democratic National Committee, of giving the Senate campaign expenditures, in¬ vestigating committee perjured testimony about .1!275,OO0 in loans from R. J. Reynolds of the North Carolina tobacco family.
His accusation was made al the final hearing .sesaion of the com¬ mittee which its chairman. Sen. Guy M. Killelte. D.. Ia., said would report lo Congress thai il had found both major parties in the 1940 cam¬ paign tar exceeded that $3,000,000 limit ot the Hatch Act. Gillette said that the two national commit¬ tees apparently had kept within that limit but that both had used a number of "prevalent devices" lo "evade or avoid" the law. Hay He arranged Loan
Quayle had told the committee earlier in the week that he per¬ sonally had negotiated the loans of $27.^,000 for the New York and New Jersey Democratic commit¬ tees to pay for President Roose¬ velt's broadcasts. The slate com¬ mittee underwrote the obligation, he explained, because the Demo¬ cratic National Committee was dangerously close to the $3,000,000 Hatch Act ceiling. Subsequently, however, Reynolds testified that the loans had been negotiated through Wayne Johnson, director of the Democratic finance committee.
"I must have been mistaken In my recollections." Quayle explained when the discrepancy was called lo  his  attention.
Tobey,   who   speaks   so   rapidly that the best Senate stenographers (Continued en  Page  B-e)
RAFANDGREEKS
New Town Taken; More Nazi Bombers Reported at Tirana
Slruga. Jugoslavia, Jan. 11. (UP) —Reports lo the frontier tonight said that British snd Greek planes ,
! carried out another heavy bom- j bardmenl of the fort area of | Valona today after Greek troops In j the Dukati area drove off three i strong Italian counter-attacks. The  bombing  attack  on  'Valona,
' it was said, caused damage lo the harbor installation!.. I^illed seven , persons and wounded 19. Among j the wounded were two Italian offi- | cers. Three houses were aaid to* have been damaged.
]     Another  report  claimed  that .six
j German    bombers    landed   at    the
; Tirana   airdrome   today   and    pro¬ ceeded lo the Elbasan front after a half-hour stay. • No mention nf German planes on '
I the   Albanian   front  has   .vet   been '¦
I made   in   Greek   or   British   com- I muniqup.s.)
The fighting around Dukati was said to have been severe. Frontier reports several days ago said the Greeks   captured   Dukati   hut   this
I has nol been confirmed from Athens.
' Capture  Equipment
According to word here, the Italian attacks were launched In an   attempt   lo   recapture   Dukati
j and    were   made    by    mechanized
! units sent south from Valona.
' Italian losses In the battle were placed al three officers and 130 soldiers killed, seven officers and 200 soldiers wounded, five officers
j and    270    soldiers    captured.    The
1 Greeks also were said to have taken five light guns,  14 machine
' guns, three tanks and two trucks.
; Greek officers were placed al fou;- (Continued on Page A-10)
By HKNRV SHAPIRO
i Moscow, Jan. 11. (UP)—Soviet Russia is determined to maintain and develop friendly relations wilh Nazi Germany, "whatever slales- ' men ot the Eastern and Western Hemispheres may think notwith¬ standing," but is also ready to con¬ clude trade agreements with any other belligerent or non-belligerent, the government newspaper Izves- I lia said today,
I     The newspaper"s assertion. In  an article  hailing  the  new  pads with Germany,  attracted  much  interest in diplomatic circles.    It was made simultaneously with Ihe charge that "some   leading   statesmen"   of   the United   Stales   and   Great   Britain were  twisting  international  law  lo ] defend    Anglo-American    co-opera- lion   while    deploring    trade    rela¬ tions between Russia and Germany. All     major    Soviet    newspapers covered their front pages with news stories,  editorials  and  photographs about    the    new    trade    agreement with   Germany,   and   Pravda   pro¬ claimed   "new   conquests   of   Soviet foreign    policy"   achieved   "despite efforts  of the Soviet Union's  ene- , mies lo drive a wedge between the i USSR and Germany." ! Critirs Rebuked
Izvestia scored Anglo-American critics who "suppose thai the United Slates, acting fully in ac¬ cordance wilh international law and neutrality, may sell England even warships while the Soviet Union must nol sell Gcrnian,v even grain products without violating its pol¬ icy of peace."
(In his speech lo the nation Dec. 29, President Roosevelt, discuss¬ ing aid lo the democracies, said: "II is no more unneutral for us lo do that than it is for Sweden, Russia and other nations near Ger¬ many lo send steel and ore and oil and other war materials Into Ger¬ many.")
Insisting thai the Soviet-German ' pact was not directed  against any third  powers,  Izveslia said  Russia ' was ready lo conclude similar pacts with other countries. j
Izvestia said that Russia was ready this year, as she was last, i to sign trade agreements wilh any other nations. The 1940 list. It was recalled, included the United States, Sweden, Finland, Denmark. Ger¬ many, Slovakia, Jugoslavia and Bulgaria, but not Britain or Japan. No Results for Others
Sir Stafford Cripps. British ambassador, has discussed trade agreements with the foreign trade commissariat repeatedly, but noth¬ ing has resulted from the con¬ versations,       ,
A Rumanian trade delegation has been in Moscow since .November but no  pact has  resulted.
Similarly, no trade agreement was signed with Italy and the Soviet - Japanese fisheries agree¬ ment, whi'^h expired Dec. 31, has yet  to  be  renewed.
Concerning German trade rela¬ tions, Izvestia said:
"The USSR has done its utmost to fulfill all parts of the Soviet- German trade agreement. Ger¬ many, likewise, has executed what-; ever was necessary for this pur¬ pose.
"The    mutual    execution    yielded fruitful  results and laid the neces¬ sary foundation for further develop¬ ment of economic and good neigh- , borly   relations."
By HO.MKR JENKS
London, Jan. 11 (IP)—German warplaneB, u.sing a new and terrible kind of fire-bomb, poured destruction on London for .several furious hours tonight, leaving behind wrecked homes, busine.ss buiidinRs and roads in many districts.
Suddenly the raid ended.
Multiple waves of raiders roared over the capital, sand¬ wiching incendiary and hijfh explosive bombs on fire-lighted targets in an attack as intense, while it lasted, an any the city had experienced in the past.
The new incendiaries exploded a-t they fell, penetrating roofs and spreading flame all around.
The first wave.s droppt^d the famihar "Molotov Bread- ba.<;ket.'5," clu.slprs (if fire bombs which .oprpad over a wide area a.s tlie,v fall. Tlie.v- next dumped hiph explosives on the districts thus illuminated. Finall,v came the new explosive incendiaries and shortly thereafter the all-clear signal. Bombers Ma.ssed over City
Puzzled Londoners sought possible explanations for the abrupt ce.ssation of the attack in reports of worsening weather conditifjns over French air liase.s—conditions such as ended the "fire blitz" of Dec. 29 when the city of London was devastated in a Sunday niglit raid. The all-clear .sounded as numerous tues were shooting to the sky, affording ideal beacons for subse(iuent raiders.
.Scores of I.^ndon districts suffered. The drone of massed
bombers   was   constant   while   lhe«>^ — ___ ^
attack lasted. While anti-aircraft ^^^^ ^ pancaked building next guns cracked away and Royal Air ^„„^ ..J^^ ^„^ ^,^^- ^^ ,^jj Force night fighters sought to "bombs screamed down at four- stem the tide, heavy high explosive   ,(,rond  interxals and .seemed lo be
bombs  showered  on  buildings and streets.
Mountainous piles of masonry blocked roads when the last enemy plane   had   roared   away.   At   one
all   around   me.    The   scene   was lighted   up   wilh   the   glow  of  half a dozen fires reflected by the low- hanging  clouds. "I  could  plainly  see  columns  of
time   seven    hig   tires   ringed   the < smoke     mushroom     skyward     as city,     silhouetting     rooftopa     and • bombs   crashed   among   the   roof-
chimneys for miles.
Ne%v Fire Spotters Teikted
It was the first major test of the newl.v organized civilian fire spot¬ ters .formed after the attack on the
lops. Below me flashlights wer« twinkling as rescue squads fought their way through twisted wreck¬ age to make certain no one was trapped."
German Ships Captured Trying to Sneak Through British Blockade
Bishop-Auckland. England, Jan. 11. (UP)- Hugh Dalton, minister of economic warfare, aaid today In a speech that the navy recently had captured a number of Ger¬ man ships which had attempted lo run the British blockade. He did not elaborate, but il was presumed the vessels had attempted lo lake materials lo Germany or German- occupied territory.
Dalton said he had information which convinced him that Germany already was feeling a severe short¬ age nt many essential war ma¬ terials, particularly rubber, copper, nickel   and   other   ferro-alloys,   as
city ot London.   The British Pre.ss   Bomli HiU Subway F.ntranee
Association       said       their       work.       The bomb which hit  the subway coupled   with   alertness   by   regular   entrance   lifted  surfacing   and  gir- firemen,   air   raid   wardens,    home   ders   supporting   the   street   in   the guards   and   volunteers,   prevented   air and then dropped the shattered destruction  similar to that of two, mass on scores ot persons who had weeks ago. ! taken shelter below.
But     casualties     wer*    believed I     Rescuers dug through the blood- heavy.    One    large   high   explosive   spattered    asphalt,    concrete    and bomb struck the entrance to a suh-   stones  for bodies.  II appeared  im- way .station and killed several per-   probable that they would find any- lons > one   alive.    Darkened    ambulances
"A  train  wa..  just  drawing  Into ! *"«'""  Idling stood  by  while  the the   platform   when   a   tremendous   "scuers  dug.  From   time   to  time expIo.sion   blew   out  all   the   lights   'hey  were   loaded  with   sheel-cov- and filled the .station with clouds of , •"d  bodies  and driven  away. dust."    an    eye-witness    said.     "I i     They  apparently  had  been  pre- groped  my  way  to  the street and i paring   for   bed   when   the   bomb found   ambulances   and   crews   al- \ crashed   down.   The  subway   steps readv working over the injured who   have    been    crowded    nightly    by were cut by  flying debris." people  who brought  meager,  blan-
Many were trapped under falling   ket-wrapped  packages,  paper  bun- masoMr.v.  the   eyewitness   said. dies  or cheap  suitcases  containing
A famous old London chapel was   their most precious  posse.ssions. severely damaged.   In another dis-       Most of them were bedded down Iricl. one of the most historic spots  on the platform, which received a In   I.,ondon.   two   heavy   high   ex-   direct   hit.     For   weeks   they   had plosives  added  tn  the  damage  left   slept   safely   there,   having   gotten hy  previous  raid.s. used to the roar ol the trains and
Fntire Block I'anraked learning how to snatch a few pr«-
Onc   honih   pancaked   an   entire   cious hours of sleep before arising block   of   old   office   buildings   and   early   enough   lo   lake   their   pos- partly   wrecked   an   auxiliary   fire   sessions home and  report to work, station from which, a few moments   "Jerries Playing for Keeps" before.   20   men    had   departed   to      "The   Jerries   were    playing    for answer  a  fire  call. keeps    tonight,"   one    rescuer    ob-
Adjacent courtyards were strewn   served grimly, wilh   debris   and   narrow   passages      Doctors,  wearing  while  tin  hats, between builriingr, were chocked to  stood   out   in   the   gloom   as   they the    level    of   the    rooftops    with  moved  quickly   in  and  oul  of  the rubble.    Roof   watchers    in   some   undamaged subway entrances, parts    of    London    witnessed    the      A grammar school and a theater most    awe-inspiring    spectacle    of  were among the buildings hit.   One cra.fhing high explosives since Sep-   incendiary fell through the roof of tember. the theater and another fell in the
Brydon    Taves    of    the    United   foyer,  but  both  were extinguished. Press London bureau stood "ankle-  A high explosive wrecked a labora- deep  in  debris  and  blasted  timber   lery in  the  school. ______^___^_^_____—^      Four   children   were   believed   to
be among several persons trapped in the wreckage of a demolished house in one district.
Six persons were said to have been extricated already from tht wreckage of an office block that received  a direct  hit.
Incendiaries and a high explo¬ sive bomb severely damaged a big apartment building. Several per¬ sons were reported Injured and many of the occupants had to take shelter in a public rest renter.
At   least   one   and   possibly   two night   raiders   were   reported   shot (Continued  on  Page  B-8)
well as wool and cotton.
'In all these German.v already is experiencing an obvious short¬ age,"  he  said,  but  warned:
"We shall not be able to destroy in a day what Hitler and the Ger¬ man warmongers have built up for seven  years."
Regarding oil, Dalton said there was a wide gap to be bridged be¬ tween   current   supplies   and   Ger¬ man   and   Italian   requirement.s. "This means that existing slocks I are bring continually drawn upon." he   said,   "and   this   is  the   position which we can exploit by means of I air    attacks    on    Germany's    oil I targets."
Dispatches from Euro¬ pean countries are now subject   to   censorship.
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