Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A   Paper  For The  Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
ciMnH^v-   n^narnllv fair.
34TH YEAI^ NO. 2i—56 PAGES
WILKKS-BARRE, PA.. SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1940
PRICE TEN CENTS
German Destroyers Sunk
NOR WA Y'S ARMY FIGHTING DESPERA TEL Y ROOSEVELT CONDEMNS GERMAN INVASION
^. ¦ . .
Berlin Says British Navy Blasts its Way
Into Ore Port at Narvik; Battle on to Capture Town
Violent Clashes In South Norway; More Nazis Land To Speed Advance
SENT BY AIR
Troopship Sunk; Heavy Ivosses in Battle at Narvik
By RALPH FORTE
.Stockholm, April ],T tUP> Norwegian troops were reported in newspaper dispatches tonight tn be fighting German forces along the fllomma River in .iouthea.«tern Norway. while Nazi reinforce¬ ments landed on the south coa.»l to aid operations toward the Swedish   frontier.
One newspaper di.spalch said that German troop.s had landed Sniiirday at Skjehcrg. ea.it of Oslo Fjord, and that the Nazi ext°n«inn of control along the coast   was    proceeding   rapidly.
The Aflonhladet correspondent st Kongsvinger said there were "violent clashes" between Nor¬ wegian and German force.i in the Aarnr.'i. Vormsund and Kidsvold area, northeast of Oslo, hut de¬ tails were lacking. Vormsund is near Kongsvinger. which lies fill miles northeast of Oslo. The .same newspaper reported that Eid.'VoUI. ibo nnrth of Oslo, had been (inmnrd. Report  Nail Transport Sunk
In connection with the British sdmiralty communique saying Brit- i»h warships had sunk seven Ger¬ man destroyers at Narvik, on the .\nrwogian Arctic Coa.sl, dispatch¬ es received here said that Nor¬ wegian troops had joined in the fighting.
Losses were reported heavy on hnlh sides in the .Narvik district, where previou.s dispalrhcs had said some .10.000 Norwegian troops wore concentrated to isolate the Germans   on   the   land  aide.
Reports reaching Norwegian sources In .Stockholm tonight said it was estimated the Germans had 40000 tn 50,0fi0 troops in Norway al pre.senl. but that the Norwegian forces still were holding their linos north and cast nf the capital. Frnple Riding food
A broadca.sl picked up here and described as coming from Nor- Wfuian military headquarters said that the German communications lines had been interrupted and that the .Norwegian people were unit- . ing In every means ot opposing the   (lermans. including the withhold¬ ing of food supplies.
The food shortage at O.'-lo. which Is occupied hy the Germans, re¬ sulted in rationing, the broadcast said.
A spokesman al the Norwegian legation said that the commander nf the Norwegian destroyer Draug had reported that his ship sank a German transport ship with gun¬ fire, near Hauge.siind. north of Sta\'anger.  on   the \^-eat coa.st.
The commander of the Draug •aid that he had rescued 67 Ger¬ mans, who were taken to England, where the Draug joined the British naval forces. The flerman crew menihera were Interned. The com¬ mander's report said that the HrauK was attacked by German bombing planes while it was sink¬ ing the transport ship. Air Ferries Rushing
r>ispalchea from the coast, near S,,roeniatad, In the .Skagerrak. aaid that many planes were seen flying • "day between Germany and Nor¬ way, apparently carrying reinforce¬ ments and ammunition for German IContinued  on   Page A-IOi
\ Stepping Stones
I'os.'iciision   of   Denmark   gives   Germany   short   cut   to   Norway,   unless
Briti.sh   succe.fsfullv   cut   Skagerrak   routes.     Alternative    then    would
ba by way ot Sweden, where distance from Danish soil, near Haelslng-
boro is two   niles.
British Report Raid on Nazi Airbase in Norway
Heavy Damage and Shooting Down of Plane Is Claimed
RAF PLANES HIT TWO GERMAN SHIPS
By   DAN   <A>irBKLL
London, April 13. (UPi British coastal command planes bombed the Nazi airdrome at Stavanger. Norway, shot down an enemy crafl in flame.s and did "extensive dam¬ age," the air mini.slry announced today a.s Allied sea and air fleets carried the fighl to Germany in the  northern  theater  of war.
British officials said al least one Norwegian port. Narvik In the north, was closed to further Nazi landing parties an I that yesterday three large transports or supply .ships had been bonihed and a munitions storehouse destroyed at Bergen.
Meanwhile, two more German trawlers, captured off the Nor¬ wegian coast, were hroughl lo a .Scoltiah port by British prize crews.
The coastal command's air at¬ tack on Stavanger took place this morning.
Report  Heavy  Diuiiage
"Salvors of heavy hombs were dropped and It is believed exten¬ sive damage waa done lo the han.fjar and planes, on which mechanics wne seen working,' the   air   ministry   said.
"One of our planes was re¬ peatedly attacked hy lwin-engin<' (ucmy   fighter  which  fired several
London, April 1.1. (VP> Official sources said tonight thai British coastal command planes fought German planes of the lale.sl Mes- sersclimidt 110 type over .Norway on Saturday, destroying one and iiadly damaging another.
The damaged .Messersc hmidt waa forced to dive for ita base after being attacked by a single British plane.
Over Sola airdrome, the British pilot sighted a number of German planes on the ground and several seaplanes off shore. He met in¬ effective anli-aricrafl fire and con¬ tinued his survey to Stavanger, when one of the newest Messer- schmidt crafl which carry can¬ non    attacked   him.
bur.sts at very close range. The rear gunner of the Briti.sh plane, altho.igh wounded.. continued to fire until the enemy fighter went down   in   flames."
The German tiawelers Norland. 393 tons, and Blankenburg, 344 tons, were brought lo the .same northeast Scottish port where the German trawler Friesland, 247 tons, waa taken yesterday. The crews  were  interned.
Yesterday's air atlack.s on the (Continued on  Page A-10)
President Bitter Calling Seizure  Unlawful' Use of Force Again
EMPHATIC NOTE
Sees Civilization Threatened; Asks Safety for U. S. Ships
1 Wa.shington, April 13. (UP> ¦ President Roosevelt tonight con- , demned the invasion of Denmark and Norway as an "unlawful exer- else of force" and warned that civ¬ ilization cannot survive unless .small nations are guaranteed against aggression from their more powerful neighbors. j
In  a brief statement,  the Presi¬ dent said: I     "Force   and   military   aggression ' ' are    om e    more    on    the    march ! against   small   nations,   In   this   in- I stance    through    the    invasion    of Denmark and Norway.    These two I nations  have won   and  maintained I during  a   period   of  many  genera- lions   the   respect   and   regard   not only  of  the  American   people,   but of all peoples, hecause of their ob¬ servance  of the  highest  standards of national and international con- 1 duct." ^ "Reiterates with Eniphauls" |
"The   government   of   the   United Stales   has  on   the   occasion   of  re- I cent    invasions   strongly   expressed iU   disapprobation   of  such   unlaw- \ ful   exercise   of  force.    It   here   re¬ iterates, with undiminished empha¬ sis,  Ita  point  of view  as expressed ' on   thoae   occasions.    If  civilization Is   to   survive,   the   rights   of   the smaller   nations    to    independence. ; to   their   territorial   integrity   and to  the   unimpeded   opportunity  for .self-government  must   he  respected by their more powerful neighbora." I     Mr.   Rno.sevelt's   denum iation   o£ the   latest   war   move   followed   th* pattern  of hia previous condemna- I lions  of agKre«aion  against  (^ina, : Ethiopia,     Poland,    Czechoslovakia and   Finland. Prior   to   issuing   the   statement, , the chief executive  conferred with Wilhelm Munthe de Morgenstierne, I Norwegian minister here.    He held a   similar   conference   with   Danish Minister   Henrik   de  Kauffman   on Thursday.
Morgenstierne would not disclose details of the meeting but he de¬ nounced the Nazi-sponsored gov¬ ernment in Norway aa a regime "set up by the enemy," He added that King Haakon and Prime Minister Nygaardarold head the only "legal constitutional govern¬ ment in Norway." Demand Safety of I'. 8. Ship*
Earlier the Slat* Department called upon European belligerents to give safe passage home lo three American freighters trapped in Norwegian waters when the Ger¬ man war machine rolled up th* Scandinavian  penin.sula.
Davis and the chief executive also discussed relief problems in Green¬ land, now cut off from its normal Danish supply lines.
The   Slate   Department,   through its emhaasies at Berlin and London (Continued  on  Page A-ll)
Norway Grip Tightens
If it Makes You Feel any Better: California's Having a Heat Wave
B.V li.MTKD  PRI-XS
While the West Coast sweltered 'n Its first heat wave of the year, * mass of cold air swept down from Alaska over the eastern half of the "«tlon Saturday and killed the breath of spring with .snow, alcel antl chilly rains. The quick freezes caused serious damage to southern crops.
Rivers ro.se above flood stage in Aikanaaa, Connecticut and Maasa- chinetls. Highways and atreet.s in "i^ny eastern slates were coated with sleet; many accidents were fepnrled.
Coaled and shivering Ihnuaands Jipwed frost-nipped bln.ssoms of »Va.shinglnn'a       Japanese       cherry
'n Today's
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trees. The formal opening of the Cherry Blo.s.som Festival, scheduled for Friday night, waa postponed to Saturday night when a snow and hail storm brought 26-degree tem¬ peratures.
Tempeiaturcs on the West Coast .soared meanwhile to as much as .10 degrees above normal. The temperature reached 104 at Ann- helm. Calif.. 94 at Los Angeles, 83 at .Seattle. Wash. Atlanta  Hit   Again
Al Atlanta. Ga., the mercury dropped to 27, coldest April 13 on record. Mi.ssls.sippi and Tennessee experienced below-freezing teni- peraturea. Georgia orchadists had been warned of the impending cold and were able to prevent damage to their peach crop, but in South¬ ern Missouri, Kansas, the Pan¬ handle country, Arkan.sas and MissLsslppi. fruit and truck garden crops  suffered.
A special weather hulletin to Florida growers foreca.st below- freezing temperatures early Sun¬ day In North Florida and frost In much of the north and central portions  of  the  state.
Boston Store's Supplement in Today's Paper
A special I'J-page supplement IS included in today's Sunday Independent for Fowler, Dick and Walker, the Boston Store, on the occasion of its Sixty- First   Anniversary.
One of the oldest of local department stores and one of the nations most distinguished institutions, of its kind, the Boston Store uill observe its anniver,sary with an extraordi¬ nary offering of merchandise at great   price  concessions.
Seventy thou.sand homes will receive the Boston Store's sup¬ plement in today's Sunday Inde¬ pendent, it heing the desire of Ihis newspaper a.s well as th* store that knowledge of this important event be as wide- .spread as the printed word can make   it.
You are advised to save the supplement for extra careful perusal prior lo and during the Boston Store's Sixty-First Anni¬ versary Sale It lists hundreds of genuine bargains in wanted merchandise that every home on both sides of the Su.sque¬ hanna from Bloomahurg tn Towanda   should   share.
Claim Sinking of 2 British Subs And Cruiser York
SWEDEN WARNED
Report All Points Reinforced Without Allied Interference
By DANA  SCM.MIDT
Berlin, Sunday, April 14, tUPV— Nazi circles and the official press as.serted today that Germany's military grip on Norway waa be¬ ing steadily tightened and com¬ mented ominously on the position ot Sweden, Holland and Belgium in connection with Europe's spreading war. In support of claims that Allied j counter-attacks In Scandinavia had i "failed completely" the official news agency asserted that two British submarines had been sunk in the North Sea on Saturday and thet a British warship pre¬ viously reported hombed was the R.2,">0-ton cruiser York, which later sank.
Neutral sources speculated on the possible meaning of preaa anil radio comments on countries still out.side the war zone but so con¬ cerned over developments that thev have taken extensive military de¬ fense precautions this week end. These include Holland, Belgium and   Sweden.
The German warning to Sweden coincided with announcement that German positions in the north had been va.stly strengthened by rein¬ forcements and artillery.
"German fighter airplanes, scout¬ ing the North Sea today, surprised two British submarines on the. sur¬ face," the agency continued. "They attacked both suhmarines with sev¬ eral bombs and sank them with direct hits."
Previously, the Nazis had re¬ ported since Monday the sinking of six British destroyers i including three at Narvik; and the damaging of at least 14 warships and several transports, in addition to ten British planes shot down Friday off Norway. F'ive Nazi planes were admittedly lost. j
Say Planes Sank Cruiaer I
In addition to today's air attack on British, the agency said a pre¬ vious air attack in the North Sea had seriously damaged a British destroyer when Nazi bombs fell in the water close to the ship's stern. "Water pressure of the explo¬ sions hurled the ship SO degrees to port," the agency said. "II will cost the British ship a long stay In  dock." I
German positions at all strategic coastal   points   have   been   consoli- (Contlniied on  Page A-ll) '
Warspite Ends 20-Year Jinx
London, April 13. ilIPi-The .1,'i.OOO-ton battleship Warspite re¬ deemed herself in British eyes at Narvik today after more than two   decades   of   bad   luck.
The Warspite was known aa a  "hoodoo ship"  because:
Her steering gear was dam¬ aged and ahe circled crazily as a target for Gorman guns in the World War battle of Jutland, suffering   severe   damage.
She struck an uncharted ob¬ struction in the Aegean Sea in 1928 and was saved by a bulge keel.
She collided with the battle¬ ship Malaya off Cihraltar, with¬ out  damage,  in  lit.1l.
She was reconditioned at Porle- mouth in 1934 but broke down three   times   during   trials.
Vice-Admiral William .lock Whitworth, who commanded the Warspite at Narvik, la .^5 and was naval secretary to Sir Sam¬ uel Hoare, Alfred Duff-Cooper and Lord Stanhope when they were first lord of the admiralty. He had been in the navy since 18H9 and laat July hoisted hia flag on HMS Hood aa command¬ er of the battle cruiser squadron.
Battleship Warspite Leads Way in I       To Knock Out Guns Placed on Shore; Report Nazis Fleeing Inland; Success Claimed from Air Thrusts All Along West Coast of Norway
By DAN {:A>IPBKIX
],ondon. April 1.3 (UP)—The British Navy, fighting to wre.st the .stiategic .Noruegian iron ore port of .Narvik from the enemy, reported it had hlR.sled it.« way (hioagh the f.jords into Narvik Harbor today in a battle in which .seven German destroyers went down.
An admiralty communique tonight indicated the battle still wa.s in progre.s.s for full control of (he town—above the .Xrttlc ("ii'cle—after a triumph over (German sea forces by a British squadron led by the huge .¦i.").flOO-ton battleship \\ai'spite— heietofore knonn as the "hoodoo" vessel of the Royal .Na\y.
In the attempt to recoup from the abortive attempt to seize Narvik Wednesday in which al lea.«l two British destroyers were lost the admiralty claimed that in the fare nf the German losses the Britijh squadron received only slight damage to three destroyers in the coastal invading unit. Reported Fleelnc Over Hills
The German land forces in the fjord town were reported fleeing inland, and emphasis to reports nf a Briti.sh determination lo land in force for the first time since Nazi troops entered Norway last Monday, and repel the invaders cam* in public messages from King George and a British general.
AS FRANCE CALLS
Germans Launch Series of Attacks; Artillery Let Loose
BulRii
Maxis Report l<'ar»es ResUt Knglish
Berlin, April 13. (UPi The official news agency reported in a dispatch from Copenhagen tonight that British naval forces occu¬ pied the Danish Faroe Islands, north of Scotland, only after firing shots and throwing hand grenade* to overcome resistance of th* inhabitants. '
Kxpecl Battle Near 'I'rondheiiii
Skalslugan, Swedish-.N'orwegian Frontier, April 13, (UP)- A broadcast by the Norwegian radio station al Aalesund tonight indicated preparations for hostilities in the Trondheim sector, to which 22 German   bombing  planes had  flown.
Trondheim is held by the Germans but there have been per¬ sistent reports for two days that the British were concentrating warships. Norwegian troops were being concentrated at Steinkjer, which  is  between  Namsos  and  Trondheim.
Ciernian Troops OoMipy Halden
Stronslad, Sweden, April 13. (I'P) German troops occupied Halden in Southeastern Norway tonight without encountering Nor¬ wegian resistance. Halden is about flv* kilometers from th* Swedish border.
Mnn Volunteers on W'a.T
Helsinki, Finland, April IS. (UP) A group of 200 to 300 volun¬ teers left today in 12 motor lorries for Norway. One of the lorries flew   the   Norwegian   flag.
The volunteers were believed lo be mostly Norwegians who fought for Finland against the Red Army. Other volunteers in Finland from other countries said they were ready to go to Norway to  flght.
Merlin Fear* Allie* to Invade Holland
Berlin iSunday, April 14. (UP)~The (Jerman newspapers today reported that American newspapers said a British transport fleet  was al sea with orders to land troops In Norway or Holland.
All morning newspapers carried th* story and commented that "it proves that since the beginning of the war England haa pursued no goal as steadfastly as that of drawing small neutral peoples into the war."
.N'ew York, April 13. (UP' No newspaper in the llnited States, so far as was known, has published reports of a British transport fleet on the seM preparing to land troop* in Norway or Holland.
By RALPH HEIN7.KN
Pans,     April     13.     (UP)—Tile
French      war     committee which
meets only to transmit important instructions to the fighting forces -convened at the Fllysee Palace today with key members of the cabinet and the army, navy and air   staff   chiefs   in   attendance.
Premier Paul Reynaud conferred with British Anibassailor Sir Ron¬ ald Campbell before the war com¬ mittee meeiing and with Swedish Minister Einar Hennings and Bel¬ gian Ambassador Pal Ie Tellier immediately afterwards.
For the flrst time aince the war started the Germans had attacked in the Rhine sector, which pre- viciousiy had been limited in action to machine gun fire between case¬ ments. The attack waa repulsed, the French said, but there was speculation that it might portend more and stronger one.s. Nazi Attack Repulited
The Rhine sector attack waa fol¬ lowed   by   "hot    patrol   encounters between   combat   troops"   in   other (Continued  on  Page  A-ll)
That the Allied counter-offensive against Nazis in Norway was gain¬ ing  momentum   ws.s   Indicated   by:
A message from King George VI lo King Haakon of Norway, a.saiir- ing him that th* Allies "are bring¬ ing all the help in their power" into the fight aRainst Germany's "rash and wicked" invasion of Nor¬ way. I Thrusting at tloaat                              I
A British general (unidentified) broadcast a message lo all Norway telling the people that "Allied help ia coming quickly" and telling them to "hold oul" against the Germans. Instructions were given the people as to how to oppose the Nazis.
Repealed British aerial thrusts al the Norwegian coast. Including the bombing nf German transport and supply ships en route to Nor¬ way, the boinhing of the Nazi air¬ drome at Stavanger, the bombing of a munitions depot at Bergen and two clashes 'n which British pilots today brouKht down one or perhaps two nf the newest German Messerschmidt 110 planes, which carry cannon. British Prestige at Stake '
But the question of whether the British fleet could fighl its way through to the Norwegian coast was still unanswered and British naval prestige was al stake when the Warspite, flving the flag of Vice-.^dmiral William Jock Whit¬ worth. led a squadron of probably nine destroyers and a number of mine sweepers into Narvik waters to face seven German destroyers carryiiiK more than  1.000 men.
The thrust at the Narvik fjord waa the second since the Germans occupied    that    Arctic    zone    with
were   forced   to   retire   afler  losing ¦ two ships sunk, one badly damaged I and another slightly damaged, ' Battleship I.earfs Way
But today, the British Nivy went hack to do the job and they took alonir enough fighting power lo carry through.
A "strong" force of warships and minesweepers—the 2nd destroyer flotilla -steamed Into Vestfjnrden led by the battleship Warspite.
The German.s had mounted guns nn shore and reportedly had about a dozen airplanes in the harbor, but the battle of la.st Wednesday had taken Its toll and the British block¬ ade was reported to have prevented reinforcements from coming through to the Narvik naval units,
A field howitzer opened up from the shore, hut the British destroyer Cossack which participated in the rescue of British prisoners frnm Ihe (German ship Altmark on the .Nor¬ wegian coast some weeks ago—soon put the gun oul of action. Four Quickly Sunk
Then the guns of the attacking destroyers and Ihe big l.^-inch guns nf the Warspite began wrecking the isolated German forces in the har¬ bor. Some of the Nazi destroyers had heen damaged on Wednesday and four of them were quickly sunk, the admiralty said, by broad¬ sides from the superior British fleet.
Three others tried to flee and were driven into Rombahf Fjord, a small inlet behind Narvik, where they were  also  "destroyed."
The Warspite soon wirelessed the admiralty that the attack was a success and reported that group* of men, believed lo be German sol-
German merchant ships and with destroyers, which the British said were the biggest and heaviest in the Nazi navy. In the first battle Wednesday  five  British  destroyers
Fire Rages in Cristobal, Panama Canal Entrance
Cristobal. Canal Zone. April 13. (UPl Firemen from the United United Slale.s army and navy posts tonight battled a tremendous Are sweeping through a main section of Cristobal, al the Caribbean en¬ trance lo the Panama Canal.
The fire was still oul of control lale this evening although firc- flghlers were even dynamiting buildings in an effort to halt the flames. It was feared thai a large number of per.sons had been killed or injured, and rumors circulated that there were 100 casualties.
Damage was e.slimated al l.'iOO.OOO and   the   Are  was still  spreading.
There wa.s no telephone service In  the city tonight.
The navy was setting up flrst aid stations lo care for the injured.
A fire lug from the naval base In the Canal Zone was called in lo fight the blaze and was using all Its   equipment.
Much of picturesque Front Street, mecca of visitors lo Panama, was In flames and merchants were carrying their wares oul of shops Into the streets. Put   Ip   Reiugne  Hhelters
Brig.   Gen.  Joseph   M.  Cummin*
marines disguised as sailors aboard   diers,   were   seen   fleeing   over   the
hills, where it had heen reported that Norwegian troops In fore* were wailing lo co-operale with th* British  attack.
Narvik is the port from which Swedish iron ore is shipped and railroad lines from the town ru» directly lo Sweden, ten miles away. Tor-Hold  Won
The action was al the northe-n- niost point of German occupation, but it gave the British a toe-hold from which to expand if desired. Due to the fact that there are no railroad lines running southward along the Norwegian coast, how¬ ever, it was believed more likely that further landing operation* would be attempted to the south, possibly around Trondheim. wher* much acti\'ity was reported this afternoon.
The attack in force on Nan.dk climaxed a 24-hour period of in¬ tensive Allied sea and air action. British coastal command plan** hombed the Nazi airdrome at .Stavanger Norway, and did "»%• (Continued on Page A-10)
TOO   l,.*Tr.  TO  n.ASSIFT
.\   Mn«(   iniu«ii«l  opportiinilT f"r •  l»*t «g» is 111 .VI. Nn eiponence necessary. No   inveninpni   required.     A.   SUT*   Job wnh sure psT
PrRMANENT Apply   Mon.   A.   M, HI   \V. I mon  St. Apt.  1
of the ai-my base was ordered hy Gen. Daniel Van Voorhus, chief of the army forces in the ("anal Zone, to establish a refugee camp lo feed and   shelter   the   fire   victims.
He said that the army would lend every pos.sible aid lo the Panama   authorities.
Cristobal is one of the two ler- mainal ports of the Panama Canal and the Junction city of the gov¬ ernment-owned Panama Railroad which cros.sea the canal zone.
.After several hours, the flames sweeping front streets were check¬ ed. On other streets, however, the fires were still burning and blast¬ ing operations continued with the aid of Ihe soldiers from Fort Davis.
The  army  base  was not believed in  danger. lO.IMM HoMielest
An army estimate placed the number of homeless al 10.000 as the flames continued lo light the sky. I It was understood that 2!S resi¬ dential streets had heen gutted by the blaze believed to have started at ,^ p m. in a house on the corner i of Sixth atraat aad Boitl* Alley.
Dispatches from Euro¬ pean countries are now subject    to   censorship.
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