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Served By Leased Wire Of The ■ —11 • - ASSOCIATED PRESS jf W® ♦''4 .« 4 4 tf Dedicated To The Progress Of r::£r I Huntington Horning j^tar -~ -WILMINGTON, N. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1941_ FINAL EDITION ESTABLISHED 1867 Jap Envoy Says Seeks Peaceful ‘Expansion’ Asserts Will Not < Fight Unless U. S. Takes 4'Initiative9 NOMURA AIRS VIEWS Claims Country Will Ex pand Southward to Get Supplies Nearer Home LISTS colonial aims Also Says Tokyo Will Ob serve Treaty Obligations To the Axis Powers By J. C. STARK WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.—(/PI— Stressing that Japan was seeking economic expansion” by peace ful means but refusing to rule out a resort to force. Admiral Kichi saburo Nomura, new Japanese am bassador. said today there would be no American-Japanese war un » United States took the re." dmirat toia ms nrst press ce in Washington that the iplies to Great Britain. "will expand southward lv and economically” to lecessary supplies nearer e said. n not say with absolute ess that Japan will not 5 force, but she is doing ost to avoid this.” Lists Aims ntioned as areas for "eco expansion” French Indo nd Thailand, where Jap fiuence already is strong, rich Netherlands East In th which negotiations for d oil and other supplies progress. eve there can not be any lat should bring our two > fthe United States and iued on Page Six; Col. 5) OPIANS RISE \SNST ITALIANS Troops Threaten to ege Addis Ababa Within a Month • Egypt. Feb. 19.—(#)— 1 warriors of untamed iProvince were described 1 dispatches today as re gamst their Italian rulers 'tain’s soldiers drove for an offensive which may ^ddis Ababa, the capita), month. munique said tribesmen V the British had cap bara, south of Lake Tana, led on I’a^e Nine; Col. 4) Japanese Sailors Stay Close to Positions At South China Sea Base SAIGON, French Indo-C'hina, Feb. 20. — (Thursday) — (m — Japanese sailors at this South China base stayed close to their posts and Japanese officials rushed about in an atmosphere of excitement today, despite pro fessions that nothing was known here about heavy Australian re inforcement of the Singapore base. (In Shanghai, Major Kunio Akiyama, official spokesman for the Japanese expeditionary for ces in China, termed the British reinforcement "belligerent ac tion,” designed to bring pressure on Thailand which “is cooperat ing with Japan in bringing a new order into Fast Asia.” The Australian forces are taking up prepared defense posts in Malaya, guarding against a Ja panese land thrust at Singapore through Thailand.) For hours, military, naval and civilian officials have been dash ing about between hotels where they are living and the Saigon airport, which the Japanese have taken over; the Japanese con sulate aud the 5,170-ton Ja panese cruiser Nagara, which anchored here following two sis ter ships. GERMANS ATTACK BRITISH IN *™1CA Masses of Tanks and Ar mored Cars Assaulted by Nazi Dive-Bombers ROME, Feb. 19—m~.Formidable masses of British tanks and ar mored cars—poised as though for a final thrust into Western Libya —are being assaulted by German dive-bombers, official Italian re ports said tonight. Italians see in the report of the new concentration an indication that the British intend to sweep on into Tripolitania from Cirenaica, the Eastern part of Libya, where General Sir Archibald P. Waveil’s Imperial army of the Nile has established itself. Only the besieged Italian gar rison of Giarabub, an oasis town 100 miles inland from the sea, is holding out in Cirenaica. The Nazi bombing of the mecha nized masses was reported to have had “excellent results” and other German bombers were said to have swej^t over a British base on the North African shore (identified (Continued on Page Eleven; Col. 6) tain Receives Japan’s ffer Of War Mediation N. Feb. 19.—(tf)—Britain i today receipt of a Jap ;r r ediate in the war 1 couched in “courteous lut also accusing Britain -nited States of “warlike )ns ’ in the Pacific. K>uncement was made to ; ol commons by Rich n Gutter, undersecretary a affairs, who said “the terms of this communication are' at present receiving due atten tion.” The diplomatic correspondent of the British Press association, which has close foreign office con nections, commented that “If a reply is deemed necessary, it will not be ready for some time.” (Con'inued on Page Eleven; Col. 8) -— Uand Ready To Meet ny Pacific War Spread ’ORE, Feb. 19.—UP)— Australian, Malayan and liments stood in strength a tonight, manning the Jastion of Singapore to apread of the war in the <nd by bringing in heavy 'l*ents of warplanes the Reared also to have seiz 'a ance of air power in ern Asia. 'epressible Australians, Veci yesterday in singing thousands after a 3,000-mile trip under convoy, took up their sta tions along with fellow imperial troops at every vital position in Malaya and the already mobilized civil defense units—including the Chinese—prepared to do their part. Major General Gordon Bennett, the Australian commander, who brought a wholly-equipped force (Continued on Page Eleven; Col. 8) .»— ■ ■■ mm* 1 American-born Mrs. Juanita Bruton Pagella is one of the two American women in the American ambulance 'orps in Great Britain, voluntary outfit supported by American money From Palo Alto, Calif., Mrs. Pagella married her husband, a British Ma rine officer, a few drys before the outbreak of the war. FINANCE MEASURE PASSED BY SENATE Upper House Also Provides Vote on Consolidation of School Agencies RALEIGH, Feb. 19.—(£)—T h e senate today passed two major pieces of legislation—the finance bill, and a measure to provide a vote on a constitutional amendment which would consolidate state school administration in a single agency. However, the finance bill was returned to the house for concur rence in six amendments which were described as immaterial and not requiring re-passage of the measure in three readings on sep arate days. The constitution stipulates that revenue bills must pass each house on three readings given on dif ferent days, and material amend ments would have to follow the same course. Describing the changes as “a few innocent clarifying amend ments,” Senator Cherry of Gaston explained they would “strengthen the bill and make corrections in it.” The major amendment, he said, would clarify North Carolina’s method of taxing income from property held by North Carolini ans who live in Washington but maintain their residence and vote in this state. The house passed the revenue measure last week in record time, and final senate action—taken on a vote of 38 to 0—came after 16 minutes of Cherry’s explanation. The revenue jjill, which is only a group of amendments to the 1939 continuing revenue act, reduces taxes by broadening sales tax ex emptions and allowing local gov ernmental units 75 per cent of re turns from intangible taxes, rath er than 60 per cent as at present. However, it is estimated that be cause of improved business con ditions, the state’s tax returns next biennium will reach' a new high record high—$163,600,000. The house amended, and then passed on second reading, a bill to I (Continued on Page Six; Col. 6) WEATHER FORECAST North Carolina: Increasing cloudiness and continued cold Thursday followed by snow mixed with freezing rain Thursday night or Friday and in moun tains Thursday; colder Friday after noon. (By IJ. S. Weather Bureau) (Meteorological data for the 24 hours ending 7:30 p. m. yesterday.) Temperature 1:30 a. m. 40; 7:30 a. m. 31; 1:30 p. M. 50; 7:30 p. m. 45; maximum 55; mini mum 30; mean 42; normal 48. Humidity 1:30 a. m. 46 : 7:30 a. m. 45; 1:30 p. m. 23; 7:30 p. m. 65. Precipitation Total for 24 hours ending 7:30 p. m. 0.00 inches. Total since first of the month 2.52 inches. Tides For Today (From Tide Tables published by U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.) High Low Wilmington_ 4:56a -a 5:14p 12:13p Masonboro Inlet - 2:57a 9:10a 3:13p 9:27p Sunrise 6:51a; sunset 6:00p; moon rise 2:27a: moonset l:08p. Cape Fear river stage at Fayette- 1 ville on Feb* 19, at 8 a. m., 11.90 feet. 11 (Continued on Page Nine; Col. 6) j] Arms Housing Survey Slated In Wilmington WPA to Make a Sample Study of Dwelling Vacan cies, Rooms for Rent SUPERVISOR ASSIGNED Workers Will Be Instructed Today and Actual Work Begins Tomorrow Wilmington has been selected as one of the key defense cities in which the WPA nation-wide research project, in cooperation with WPA offices here, will conduct sample sur veys of dwelling unit vacancies and rooms for rent at the request of the national defense housing coordinator, Mrs. Gladys B. Proctor, district di rector of community service pro grams for the WPA, announced yes terday. Clinton C. Oldham, of Asheville, is being sent to Wilmington to super vise this survey for the WPA, Mrs. Proctor said. To Instruct Workers Oldham will give detailed instruc tions today to survey staff members and the actual field work, house-to house canvass, is expected to begii\ here tomorrow. Mrs. Proctor yesterday urged all citizens of Wilmington to cooperate with the defense housing survey workers who call at their homes by supplying them with the desired in formation without hesitancy. The survey will determine the proportion of unoccupied dwelling units in the city and its environs, the percentage available for rent, their condition, facilties, number of rooms, and monthly rentals. Other information will be needed by the national defense housing co ordinator, Mrs. Proctor pointed out, such as the number of single rooms for rent in occupied dwellings. Urgent Need Because there is an urgent need for the information, she said, it will (Continued on Page Nine; Col. 4) PLAN FOR NAVAL OUTPOSTS OKEHED Guam and Samoa Base Pro posal Given Speedy Ap proval by the House WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.— UP)—A plan to develop naval outposts at Guam and Samoa won speedy and unanimous house approval today after the Navy’s high command recommended strongly that any protest by Japan against the Guam project be “totally disregarded.” In sharp contrast to the furore created at two past sessions when the house rejected requests for harbor developments funds for Guam, there was not a word of protest when the item went through today in a bill to authorize a $242,000,000 naval base develop ment program. The measure now goes to the senate. Unusual criticism of the Jap anese as individuals developed on the house floor during the rela tively brief debate. While Rep. (Continued on Page Nine; Col. 5) Brunswick County Road Improvement Is Planned HAS DEFENSE ANGLE Work on 12-Mile Section Of Wilmington-Whiteville Road Costs $135,000 A WPA improvement project for a 12-mile stretch of U. S. highway 74 in Brunswick county — work which has been considered essen tial to the furtherance of the na tional defense program—was an nounced yesterday by W. Joe Pre vatt, Wilmington district WPA su pervisor. The project will cost an esti mated $135,000, said Prevatt, who expressed the hope that the im provement work on that portion of the highway would be completed by June 30. Has Defense Value This particular stretch of U. S. highway 74 in Brunswick county has been designated as being of considerable value to the rapidly expanding national defense pro gram by the war department, Pre vatt pointed out. Improvement work will begin on U. S. highway 74 in Brunswick county at the Columbus county line and will extend eastwardly toward Wilmington to the intersection with U. S. highway 74 going to South port. Approximately 12 miles of that portion of the Whiteville-Wilming ton highway are to receive ex tensive improvement work, he said. Three and seven-tenths miles on the eastern end of the project will have a two-inch hot asphalt wear ing surface and a number of dan gerous curves are to be eliminated. Work on Curves Prevatt said bad curves in ap proximately the center of the proj ect will have a complete new lo cation. The state highway and public works commission is now determining the new locations of these dangerous curves. These new locations will be 22 feet wide, of concrete construction, and conform to the standard speci (Continued on Page Six; Col. 7) Bailey Urges Full British Aid Even If It Means War By RICHARD L. TURNER WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.—(B— Three southern senators backed the lease-len bill today, and one )f them, Bailey (D-N. C.), asserted shat the utmost help should be liven to England even if the ulti mate result is war. “I am hoping this intervention nay not mean war,” he told a suddenly hushed and solemn sen ate. “But if it does, I am ready or it.” Great Britain is standing vir ually alone against a combination if forces whose one purpose is vorld revolution, he said. And if Britain falls, he added, America, "a lone republic in a totalitarian world,” will be in peril. “Are we capable,” he asked, spacing his words to give them emphasis, “of sitting here as a great country—we as senators anu the custodians of the security of that country—are we capable of sitting here with money and guns and planes and ships, saying we will build up our defenses at home but we will bide our time; we will take the chance of being the victims of a totalitarian triumph in which the world will be divided amongst three nations not one of (Continued on Page Four; Col. 5) Australia Is Taking Defense Precautions MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 19—UP)—A. W. Fadden, ac tive prime minister, said to night that the cabinet had re ceived Australia’s defense sys tem and taken “added precau tions against any sudden emer gency.” “No action will be taken, no word spoken which would shat ter peace in the Pacific,” Fad den continued. “If war comes to our front door, it will not be our choosing. “But let nobody think we are helpless and unfitted for such a supreme test.” ITALIANS OUSTED FROM TWO POSTS _ Greeks Claim Fascists Fir ing on Own Comrades to Make Them Fight ATHENS,' Greece, Feb. 19.—(A>)— A Greek government spokesman asserted tonight that members of an Italian company retreating on the Albanian front were fired on by their own comrades and forced to return to their line. This claim was made without amplification, along with a state ment that during the day’s fight ing Greek troops ousted the Fas cists from two fortified villages and took 300 prisoners, including a lieutenant-colonel and six sub alterns, along with important quan tities of materials. (These reported successes appar ently do not materially change the long-static, battle line, however). Through yesterday and today, the spokesma: added, the Italians loosed three counter-attacks after long artillery preparation, all “eas ily repulsed by our men, who in flicted heavy losses on the enemy.’’ Intense bombing activity by Greek aircraft also was reported. 1 ARMY ORDERS VV ASiiJ.J\U±GJN, ICO. IS.— ±UK IY HI Department released the following or ders yesterday, dated Feb. 15. MAJOR GENERAL Shedd, W. E., Washington, D. C., re lieved from detail as a member Gen eral Staff Corps, to command of the 8th Division, Fort Jackson, S. C. BRIGADIER GENERALS Robinson, D. A., General Staff Corps. Fort Lewis, Wash., to Memphis, Tenn., as chief of staff. Headquar ters, 2d Army. lollins, L. P., to command of 18th F. A. Brigade, Fort Sill, Okla. Longino, O. H., Fort Crockett, Texas, to command of 30th Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Camp Edwards, Mass. Haines. R. E., Fort Moultrie, S. C„ to command of harbor defenses of Nar ragansett Bay, Fort Adams, R. I. Hall, C. P., Fort Beniamin Harrison. Ind., to Fort Lewis, Wash. Terrell, H„ Jr., Washington, D. C., re lieved from detail as a member of the General Staff Corps, to Fort Jackson, S. C. Maxwell, R.L., relieved from detail as a member of General Staff Corps, and from assignment to the War Depart ment General Staff. (Continued on Page Five; Col. 4) i Pattern Of Death For German ‘Invaders’ British bombers are making their heaviest raids on the German-held “invasion coasts” these days. This unusual picture shows a British Blenheim bomber over the seaboard of occupied France, apparently during _a daytime attack on German bases. LOCAL SHIPYARDS WO K STEPPED UP Part of Operations at Sun set Park Are Placed on 24-Hour Basis Work on the construction of the North Carolina Shipbuilding com pany yards at Sunset Park was step ped up a pace this week, with part of the operations being placed on a 24-hour basis, J. E. Dennis, contrac tors’ representative, said last night. Approximately 60o workers are now employed and this number will probably be sufficient to carry on present work for the next few days, he said Four pile drivers are now at work on the ship ways, with two of these operating on three shifts. The other two will be placed on three-shift duty probably tonight, Dennis stated. Two power shovels, working on two shifts, are now engaged in grad ing operations adjacent to ship ways No. 2-3-4 and 5, v/here piling is being driven. The dredge Cherokee of the Mer ritt Dredging company is going ahead steadily with dredging opera tions in the Cape Fear river In all, the work appears to be pro gressing satisfactorily, Dennis raid. More equipment and materials are arriving daily and work will be step ped up to meet the increase as A arrives. All temporary buildings have been completed and most are now occupied. Dennis said that further work will be commenced as soon as grading operations are completed. At the present access roads are being built for the transportation of materials and equipment. He said that the Greenfield swamp drainage problem has been solved and roads are being constructed across the marsh. The road, which connects with Front street near the river, will be given a coating of hard surface with in the next few days, he said. FUNDS ALLOTTED RALEIGH, Feb. 19— <£>> — The WPA and the state highway and public works commission have al lotted $247,500 to continue “step by step” reconstruction of the Wright Memorial bridge across Curri tuck Sound, it was announced here today. Will Be Sent ToWashington Agency Today Armory-Auditorium Build ing Is Expected to Cost About $215,000 PAPERS ARE SIGNED Special Bond Election Is Necessary to Finance Undertaking Here A joint city - county application for an armory-auditorium project costing $215,000 in sponsor and fed eral funds has been approved by the state headquarters office of the WPA in Raleigh, W. Joe Pre vatt, Wilmington district WPA su pervisor, announced yesterday. The application was returned to Wilmington for check of details and signatures and was then sent back to Raleigh yesterday for the signature of C. C. McGinnis, state WPA administrator. Going to Washington The Raleigh office intends to* for ward it today to Frank March, project control division, federal works agency headquarters office in Washington, D. C. Approval in Washington is an ticipated and when it comes ma chinery will be set into motion by the city and county to hold a special election to provide bond issues for financing their share of the work. If the bonds are ap proved oy tne voters, work is ex pected to be started immediately. The application, which has been completely checked by the state WPA headquarters office in Ra leigh, arrived here yesterday morning at Prevatt’s office for the signatures of the joint sponsors. Prevatt said the application was signed by Addison Hewlett, chair man to the board of county com missioners, in behalf of New Han over county, and by James E. L. Wade, commissioner of public works, in behalf of the City of Wilmington. Garages Not Included The application did not include the garages for the project, Pre vatt explained, and this phase of the work are to be submitted to the WPA by the city and county governments at a later date. Project plans, he said, provide (Continuer on Page Six; Col. 4) HILL IS APPOINTED N, C. COORDINATOR Heads Clearing House of U. S. Treasury’s Law En forcement Agencies John Bright Hill, collector of cus tome, yesterday received official notice of his appointment as North Carolina coordinator of law en forcement agencies of the U. S. Treasury department. Hill succeeds R. E. Tuttle, of Baltimore, supervising agent, Al chol Tax Unit, who has been pro moted to the position of assistant district co-ordinator for five states. The appointment of Hill was made by Harry Cooper, of Wash ington, D. C., supervising agent, U. S. Secret Service, for the fifth treasury department district com prising the states of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Car olina, and the District of Columbia. Hill yesterday said assistant state coordinators will be: L. O. Padgett, of Charlotte, agent ir (Continued on Page Four; Col. 4) Mighty German Undersea Drive Expected In Spring By DREW MIDDLETON LONDON, Feb. 19.—(M—A great German undersea offensive this spring with 600 submarines let loose against British shipping was predicted today by a neutral naval source. Such a campaign would be for one of two purposes—either to pre pare the way for invasion of these islands or to provide a momen tary substitute for Adolf Hitler’s promised assault, this observer said. “The deciding battle of the war more likely will bo fought in the northwestern approaches to Brit ain than on her beaches.” this 1 source said, as a result of what he pictured as a “vast” Nazi sub marine building program. In the event Hitler elects to sub stitute such an offensive for s spring invasion attempt, the re suits he would seek to achieve were predicted as twofold: to choke the flow of American sup plies and empire reinforcements and to exhaust the royal navy’s already overworked anti - subma rine forces. The Germans are reported equipped to throw 300 submarine* at a time against Britain’s ship (Continued on Page Four; CoL S$ t I
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Feb. 20, 1941, edition 1
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