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Served By Leased Wire Of The Dedicated To The Progress Of ASSOCIATED PRESS WILMINGTON With Complete Coverage of And Southeastern North Stale and National News Carolina ._& - — __—--— VOL 74.—NO. 181 ’ y- u v „ _ESTABLISHED 1867 >-( rp German Iroops Ready To Move On Yugoslavia - T. Nazi Minister Leaves Bel grade to Make Report to Von Ribbentrop FIND NATIONAL UNITY Germans Quartered in Bul garia Shifted from Turk, Greek Fronts BELGRADE, April 1—(Tuesday) _(lp_Five German divisions were reported concentrated on the Hun garian-Yugoslav frontier early to day soon after German Minister Viktor von Heeren led the last of German nationals out of this coun try on a special train departing C1„ht minutes before the midnight deadline he had set for the exodus. ■I am going to report to my "uvernmcut." von Heeren said I will see Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop immediately up on my arrival in Berlin. Nation Finds Unity The reported concentration of <omo 75,000 German troops on the Northern Croatia frontier coincid ed with vord that Yugoslavia had found national unity in an agree ment between the veteran Croat leader Valciimir Macek and Pre mier Dusan Simovic. Macek's paper in Zagreb, capital of the highly vulnerable northern province declared: “In historic bmes which may be near, Croat ranks stand united.” In addition to the threat from Hungary. German troops quarter ed in Bulgaria since that nation fell into the Axis sphere early in March, have been shifted from the Turkish and Greek frontiers west v.ard to face Yugoslavia on the, east. Italians At Back At the back of this nation are Italian forces in Albania, for the present thoroughly occupied by the Greeks. Macek's acceptance of the vice premiership in the new anti-Nazi government was reported as Sim ovic ordered Yugoslavs to remain on the threshold of their homes and. "if destiny orders” give their lives to the fatherland. Loudspeakers blared this pro clamation as von Keeren and more than 1.000 Germans left on a spe cial train which was an hour late because of the procession of trains which steamed out of the station (Continued on Page Two; Col. 5) CRAWFORD SPEAKS TO OFFICERS HERE Outlines Certain Policies That Will Be Followed At Camp Davis Addressing- his officers at the Tha Ban Hail yesterday, Col. James B. 1 Crawford, commanding officer of Camp Davis, outlined certain quaifi eations that ar eessentia to the ef ficient miitary eader and certain poi cies that wi govern Camp Davis. “You and I comprise the group of commissioned officers whose duty it "ill be to organize an anti-aircraft •raining center comprising eight anti aircraft semi-mobile regiments with 'd total strength of close to 20,000 men and 900 officers. “When the first reports came in of the marvelous accomplishments of the German army and of the German air force in the battle of I-'rance, X believe that all of us credited the unusual results attained •Continued on Page Three; Col. 1) WEATHER FORECAST North Carolina: Cloudy and mild, rain east and central in forenoon Tues day. Wednesday generally fair and mild. (By XJ. S. Weather Bureau) (Meteorological data for the 24 hours anJIng 7:30 p. m. yesterday.) Temperature 1:30 a. m. 48: 7:30 a. m. 50; 1:30 p. m. a"; 7:30 p m. 00. Humidity 1:30 a. m. 84; 7:30 a. m. 85; 1:30 p. m. ■1: 7:30 p. m. 69. Precipitation Total for the 24 hours ending 7:30 ?. in. 0.00 inches. Total since the first >1 the month 2.90 inches. Tides For Today _ (From Tide Tallies published by U. b. oast and Geodetic Survey.) High Low 'Vilmington _12:37a 8:06a 1:00p 7 :o7p ilasonboro Inlet_10:22a 4:29a 10:37p 4:38p Sunrise 5:59a; sunset 6:32p; moourise :o<ia; moonset 10:56p. • «(age at Fayette o, m., 19.75 | .w. _Col. 5) -- -- i V* ■ V'Y .. Action on New N. Marine Base Fun^ Delayed in Sena* WASHINGTON, March 31.— UP.)—A controversy over a prohi bition against imports of foreign beef for the Army delayed senate action today on a 514,575,000 ap propriation for an east coast ma rine base in North Carolina. The senate was adjourned in a parliamentary move against such an amendment to the fifth sup plemental defense appropriation . bill which carries the North Caro lina item. The marine base, sought by the navy to train a full regiment of about 12,000 marines, already has been approved by the house. SENATORS APPROVE FOREIGN FOOD BAN Coalition of Western Sen ators Catches the Ad ministration Napping WASHINGTON, March 31.— M— A coalition of western senators caught administration forces nap ping for the second time in two weeks today, rolling up a 34 to 29 majority for a prohibition against buying foreign-produced food or clothing out of a pending supple mental defense appropriation. The prohibition was sought by members who contended that its absence would make possible vast government purchases of Argentine canned beef and foreign-grown wool, while administration forces opposed it on the ground that it would cause hostility among Latin American nations. The restriction, which has been approved by the house, would ap ply only to funds spent from the pending $4,389,284,174 army-navy supplemental bill. Still in dispute between house and senate is a similar proviso which would pre vent the navy from buying foreign produced food with any of the money contained in the regular naval appropriation bill for the fiscal year beginning next July 1. Should the joint committee which was appointed to seek settlement of the disagreement eliminate the proviso from the naval appropria tion bill, foreign food purchases could be made by the navy re gardless of the fate of the prohibi tion adopted today. Today s vote, which came after less than two hours of debate, was taken while many administration supporters were away from the floor. To gain time, majority lead er Barkley (D.-Ky) quickly moved a recess until tomorrow noon, when he expected to have enough sup porters present to force reconsider ation. His motion carried on a 37 to 28 roll call vote. The vote on the restriction was actually 33 to 30, but Senator Byrnes (D.-SC), an administration supporter, changed his vote after the result had been announced in order to be eligible to move for reconsideration tomorrow. Senators Butler (R.-Neb.) and Thomas (R.-Idaho) championed the prohibition, 5 SIGN AGREEMENT WHITWELL, Tenn., March 31— (tf)—The Tennessee products cor poration announced tonight it had signed an agreement under which members of the United Mine Workers (CIO) would continue work pending settlement of a new , contract. f r _ Says ‘Free Spain’ Group Is Forming The Spanish civil war has been over two years, but loyalists are still fighting totalitarian ‘‘intoler ance and bigotry” according to Isabel de Palencia, above, who announced coming formation of ‘‘Free Spanish” force similar to de Gaulle’s Free French. The former Spanish minis ter to Sweden and Finland, now a loyalist refugee, recently arrived in New York from Mexico City. JAPANESE MINISTER ARRIVES IN ROME Matsuoka to Confer With Mussolini and Count Ciano Today ROME, March 31.— UP)—Japanese Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka arrived tonight for conference* with Premier Mussolini amid the following war developments: United States seizure of 28 Ital ian ships in American ports; Confirmation of British claims that their Mediterranean fleet had destroyed three Italian cruiser* and two destroyers in the Ionian sea; Removal of Italians and Ger mans from Yugoslavia, which seemed nearer armed conflict with the Axis. Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano and other high political and military figures greeted Matsuoka and shepherded him through a Fascist welcome. The Japanese rising sun, the Nazi swastika and the Italian tri color rippled along Matsuoka’s route to the villa Madama, the government’s guest house. Matsuoka was guest of honor at a private dinner tonight given by Hans-Georg Viktor von Macken sen, German ambassador to Italy. Matsuoka’s first talks with Mus solini and Ciano are scheduled for tomorrow. The press devoted its space al most exclusively to a Japanese friendship theme and relegated to secondary display such develop ments ac the American seizure of Axis ana Danish vessels. While foreign observers consid ered Matsuoka’s trip to Rome as secondary to his calls at Moscow and Berlin, high Fascists declared it was more than a courtesy visit. Newspapers spoke of conferences in which “plans and actions” would be coordinated “to complete deci sions reached in Berlin.” Matsuoka said ne would return to Berlin for additional talks with Adolf Hitler. The Berlin decisions, wrote Vir ginio Gayda, most authoritative Fascist editor, are “political and military secrets.” Some observers said they believed they included an Axis appeal for direct Japanese action against Britain; others that they dealt, only with what Japan would do should the United States enter the wan_ 5 Axis Files Protest On Ship Grab Embassies Act Quickly Aft er U. S. Seizes 69 Craft During Week-End CREWS ARE ARRESTED Italians Removed from Vil larperosa Here Trans ferred to Savannah » WASHINGTON, March 31.—(JO— Germany and Italy protested to the United States today over the government’s action in taking Axis ships into “protective custody” on the grounds of sabotage. The embassies of the two Axis powers acted quickly after the seizure of a total of 69 German, Italian and Danish vessels in sweeping raids during the week end. The contents of the notes were not disclosed, but it was considered likely that Germany’s was couched in more violent language than that of Italy. Denmark Not rrotesung The Danish legation here an nounced tonight that “we haven’t protested and are not going to pro test’’ the simultaneous seizure of 35 Danish vessels along with those flying the Axis flags. Informally, Danish spokesmen explained that they felt that Denmark was in an entirely different category than the other nations in the matter of the ships, adding that Danish crews had no idea of sabotaging their ships. The Italian note was delivered personally by the ambassador, Prince Colonna, to Breckinridge Long, assistant secretary of state. Germany's was dispatched later by messenger to the state depart ment. It arrived after most officials had departed for the day and it was left in the custody of a guard. A long conference of the secre taries of State, War and Navy w?s held at the State department late in the day, but whether it had any connection with the seizure of the ships was not made known. Following up its dramatic seizure of the vessels, the United States today issued formal warrants ac cusing the German and Italian crews of violating the immigration laws. Investigation Ordered A few hours after this action was made known, the Justice de partment announced it had in structed the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate sabo tage of the seized vessels. (Continued on Page Two; Col. 2) ITALIANS ADMIT FIVE SHIPS SUNK Dispute Reports that Brit ish Fleet Escaped With out Damage, However ROME, March 31.—(/P)—The Ital ian high command acknowledged the destruction of three cruisers and two destroyers—Britain’s posi tive claims—in the week-end Ion ian Sea battle, but disputed British reports that their fleet had escaped without damage. The Italians insisted a heavy British cruiser was sunk and two other British warships were seri ously damaged by Italian broad sides. Full British losses, it was added, had not been determined but “might have been seric«s.” The admiralty specifically denied that a fourth cruiser, the Giovanni (Continued on Page Three; Col. 4) British Return To Alexandria Alter One-Sided Win Over Italian Warships BY LARRY ALLEN ABOARD THE BRITISH FLAG SHIP H. M. S. WARSPITE AT ALEXANDRIA. Egypt, March 31.— (TP)—Italy lost five and possibly eight warships including the crack 35,000 ton battleship Vittorio Veneto, when the Fascist fleet fell into a baited British trap Friday west of Crete, British officers said tonight upon their return from the epic night bat tle. Almost 4,000 Italian officers and men also were knocked out of the war, they said. More than 900 of these were rescued by the British. In high good humor Britain’s com mander-in-chief, Admiral Andrew Cunningham, declared: “Not a single British ship was hit by the enemy, and this was one of the most extraordinary actions in naval history. “We are going to do our best to finish off the Italian navy before the end of the year.” The Italian captain, Manlio Des pisi, rescued by the British destroy er Jervis from his 10,000-ton cruiser Pola before she sank, waB quoted by British officers as saying that the “Vittorio Veneto probably sank be fore getting back to Taranto.” Despisi related that British naval pilots scored at least three direct tor pedo hits on the powerful Italian battleship and that the vessel listed heavily at the stern. Her speed was reduced to 15 knots out of a possible 32. Three Italian cruisers, the Pola, Zara, and Fiume, all 10,000 tons, and two destroyers, the Vincenzo Giober to, 1,729 tons, and the Maestrale, 1, 449 tons, definitely were sunk. And in addition to the Vittorio Ve neto, the British believed another cruiser and destroyer were lost. Captain Despisi said the Italian units were enroute to smash British convoys operating around the Greek Island of Crete when surprised by the British, who used the cruiser Orion as a decoy to trap the Ital ians. Italian crews aboard the Zara and Pola which were struck by terrific broadsides from 15-inch guns hung huge white sheets oyer the sides of the ships to indicate surrender, the British said. ■ Altogether 3,000 officers and men Were believed to have lost their lives. Hundreds were known to have drowned after jumping into the sea because German dive-bombers pre cluded British rescues, they said. British officers estimated that from one-fourth to one-half of Pre mier Mussolini’s naval striking power now was at the bottom of the sea or out of commission. Smiling broadly and his blue eyes twinkling, Admiral Cunning ham said: “I don’t know whether the Ital ian ships actually were officered by Germans in this engagement, but there was no doubt the Ger mans exerted pressure on Pre mier Mussolini to send the fleet to sea. “The enemy fleet had not been sighted anywhere in the central Mediterranean since Nov. 11 when the fleet air arm torpedo bombers <Continued on Page Two; Col. 4) c City Selects Council-Manager System, 1,743 To 1,259 Votes, In Unusually Light Referendum -4 How City Changed Government For For | Precincts Commission Plan 1> | Registration First Ward • | 54 | 75 | 611 Second, 1st Precinct | 123 | 171 | 770 Second, 2nd Precinct | 123 | 175 | 710 Third, 1st Precinct I 127 | 167 | 933 Third, 2nd Precinct | 159 | 204 | 1,026 Fourth Ward | 148 | 241 | 1.067 Fifth, 1st Precinct | 109 | 93 | 855 Fifth, 2nd Precinct | 91 | 100 | 634 Sixth, 1st 'Precinct | 125j. | 235 | 709 Sixth, 2nd Precinct | 200 | 282 | 1,193 TOTALS | 1,259 [ 1,743 \ 8,508 F. D. R. Visits Two Forts; Says Greeks To Get Guns WELL SATISFIED World War 75’s Not Only Equipment that Will Be Sent to Greece By DOUGLAS B. CORNELL ABOARD ROOSEVELT TRAIN ENROUTE To WASHINGTON, March 31-—(#>—President Roose velt viewed today two spectacular demonstrations of tne processes by which the Army molds men and machines into fighting trim, but he commented particularly on a group of 75 millimeter guns which he said were going to Greece. He said it was all right for re porters to say that the World war vintage artillery pieces were not all the war equipment which would be dispatched to Greece, but he would not discuss numbers of quantities. First Disclosure The President’s statement that some 75’s soon would be on the way to Greece was the first dis closure of any specific kind of weapons which have been released to Britain and Greece under the lease-lend program. Immediately after congress ap proved the program, Mr. Roose velt approved the first transfer of war supplies, and it was learned yesterday that he had since ap proved additional consignments and that more probably would fol low soon. It. was significant in that con nection that Major General James H. Burns, aide to the undersec retary of war who is in charge of procurement of war materials, boarded Mr. Roosevelt’s special train before it pulled out of Fort Bragg. A responsible authority said Burns and the President were working tonight on the $7,000,000, (Continued on Page Three; Col. 7) BARDEN EXPLAINS BASE LAND PLANS Marine Station Problems Talked by Mass Meet In Jacksonville JACKSONVILLE, March 31. — Farmers, FSA and AAA officials held a mass meeting in the court house here tonight, at which Con gressman Graham A. Barden ex plained plans for appraising land to be purchased for the construction of the U. S. Marine base near here. Hundreds of residents will be forced to move from the area in the near future to make room for the base, and tonight’s meeting was call ed to inform them of plans being made to resettle them elsewhere. Congressman Barden assured the farmers that they would recei\e as fair price for their farms as possible from the government, and that ef forts are being made to secure loans for those who. may need them. Plans are also being’ formed to assist in the locating and purchase of farm lands to replace those taken over by the government. Among others attending the meet ing were Vance Swift, state director of the FSA; H. H. Gordon, regional director; Max Trapnell, assistant in formation adviser; and E. G. Odum, district supervisor. E. Y. Floyd, state director of the AAA, and Lieut. J. R. Murphy, who is in charge of Marines corps af fairs here, also attended. Floyd said that farmers who move to lands in this or adjoining coun ties will receive the same acreage allotments for their crops that they have at their present locations. E. B. Smith, local businessman, represented the farmers and pre sided over the meeting. A__ STAGE MOCK FIGHT Roosevelt Makes 100-Min ute Dash Through Fort Bragg Reservation By NOEL YANCEY FORT BRAGG, March 31.—W— This military post—all washed and scrubbed for the occasion — ex hausted its theatrical possibilities today in order to give President Roosevelt a good idea of how the expanding Army is working. The soldiers staged a mock bat tle, engineers laid down pontoon bridges, artillerymen manned their guns, medical detachments treated supposed - to - be wounded men and draftees marched and countermarched to the bark of drill sergeants. Staged Near Route All these activities were staged near the route the President trav eled in a 100-minute dash through the military reservation. due President saw 2,562 build ings—barracks, mess halls, offices, theatres and fire departments— that have been built at a cost of $32,000,000 since last September 20. That’s pretty good, the President remarked when Major General Ja cob L. Devers, commanding offi cer at Fort Bragg, revealed at a press conference that building? had been completed at the rate of one every 32 minutes. The press conference was held at the end of the quick tour (Continued on Page Three; Col. 5) CONDENSER PLANT STR E CONTINUES Settlement of Walkout Had Been Announced by Me diation Board Saturday WASHINGTON, March 31.—GT)— The defense mediation board an nounced tonight that the 21-day-old strike of AFL workers at the Con denser corporation, South Plainfield, N. J.. would continue. Settlement of the strike, which in volves 2,200 workers, haid been an nounced by the board Saturday. What had arisen to upset Satur day’s agreement was not announced. That agreement provided merely for a resumption of yvork while negotia tions proceeded for a new contract between company' and workers. The board announced it would re convene the mediation panel hand (Continued on Page Two; Col. 6) COMMISSION FORM IS DEFEATED Machinery Set Into Motion for Establish ment of Five-Man Council and Manager Plan of Regime on May 7 PRIMARY WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 21 Junior Chamber Thanks Voters and Mayor Cooper, Fisher and Wade Pledge Co operation to New Government Riding the crest of a light vote—35.4 per cent of an 8,508 registration- -the council-manager form of govern ment yesterday won the endorsement of 1,743 Wilmington vot.ers, thus setting in motion the machinery by which the municipality will replace its present three-man commission form of government with a five-man council and city manag er on May 7. On the basis of complete but unofficial returns, Plan D — council-manager form — received 1,743 votes against 1,259 votes for rotension of the commission government. Twelve ballots were found, in unofficial tabulation, to have been illegally marked. There were 3,014 votes cast. Light Vote The vote was so light that complete, unofficial returns were tabulated 4-5 minutes after the'; polls closed at C :32 o’clock last night. The city election board will meet at noon today in the council chambers of the city hall for its official canvass of the ■ lection. Plan D carried nine of the city’s 10 precincts, failing to secure a majority only in the first precinct of the fifth ward, the vote there oeing 109 for commission government, 93 for council-manager. There are 855 registered voters in the precinct. The council-manager form found its greatest support in the first precinct of the sixth ward, tallying 235 votes against 125 of a total registration of 709 voters. _w _ . _ . F. D. R. OPPOSES COAL STOPPAGE Appeals for ‘Uninterrupted Operation’ of the Bitu minous Fields NEW YORK, March 31. — — President Roosevelt appealed tonight for “uninterrupted operation” of the defense-important bituminous coal fields where a stoppage was set for midnight. An hour after negotiators adjourn ed their 14th day of conferences, deadlocked in their efforts to replace an expiring contract covering S30, 000 miners in the Appalachian fields, this message arrived from the Presi dent, en route to Washington by train: "Uninterrupted operation of bitu minous coal industries extremely im portant. Suggest if necessary you continue negotiations during Tues day looking to satisfactory arrange ment. Shall expect report through Steelman before midnight.” The message was dispatched to Ezra Van Horn, chairman of the joint Appalachian conference, in care of Dr. John R. Steelman, federal con ciliator who held conferences with operators and miners yesterday and today. The conferees had agreed, before receipt of the telegram, to continue negotiations at 10 a. m. tomorrow, and it wras considered likely that the President dispatched his message be fore knowing this had been done. Van Horn was absent from his room at the hotel Biltmore when the telegram was delivered and did not receive it, he said, for several hours. He said at 10:30 p. m. (E. S. T.) that he had not yet prepared his reply (Continued on Page Two; Col. 1) Plans To Enlarge Local Airport Pushed By Board Enlargement of Bluethenthal air port to meet commerial and mili tary size regulations moved a step closer realization yesterday as the board of county commissioners ten tatively approved county participa tion with the Federal government in the proposed project. Action on the airport proposal highlighted a brief regular session of the commission meeting in the courthouse. On motion of Chairman Addison Hewlett, the commission approved county participation in the airport enlargement program, subject, however, to availability of cash funds with which to retain a civil engineer to prepare the project for a WPA application. County Treasurer John Orrell told the com mission that funds were available for the preliminary survey. He re quested the board to withhold pur chase of additional airport land, howevei. until the new fiscal year, beginning July 1. . Chairman Hewlett advised the board that commercial airlines con sidering Wilmington as a route city required runways of at least 5,000 feet in length. Presently, Bluethen thal airport ha6 two 3,000-foot run ways, now being asphalt surfaced, and a 2,200-foot dirt runway. Under the enlargement program the two 3,000-foot runways would be length ened to a minimum of 5,000 feet. To gam that length, the county1 would be required to purchase sev eral acres of land on either side of the present field. James E. L. Wade, city commis sioner of public work6, appeared before the county board to re quest use of county convict labor on the Freenfield park drainage project, undertaken jointly by the city and county. The request was granted. Prisoners serving 30-day sen tences will be utilized on the pro ject, the sheriff was to be advised last night. The project was started with WPA labor, but because of a shortage at that source, labor was sought from the jail and county farm. (Continued on Page Two^Col. 1) / rrimary April zi As a result of yesterday’s election — an election set Ly special act of the state le T - iature to obtain a vote on city manager form of government for Wilmington — a primary will be held April 21 at which time the 10 highest council manic candidates will be named to stand for election on May 6. Council candidates will have until 6 p.m. April 11, in which to file nominating certificates with H. G. Carney, chairmap of the city election board. A fee of S5 is required by state law with filing of the nomi nating certificate. No voter signed petitions are neces sary. The five high candidates in the May 6 vote will be induct ed into office the following day, and at their first meet ing will be required to name from their own membership a mayor. They serve two-year terms. The council will choose a city manager and determine his salary. The manager’s du ties are defined by provisions of Plan D of municipal gov ernments of North Carolina. The man selected as manager need not be a resident of Wil mington. By yesterday’s balloting, the voters abolished, effec tive with the qualification of the five-man council, a form of government inaugurated in Wilmington in May, 1921. The present cicy board is composed of Mayor Thomas E. Cooper, commissioner of ublic r.afety; James E. L. Wade, commissioner of public works, and W. Louis Fisher, finance commissioner. Sponsored by Jaycees The Plan D campaign was directed in its entirety by the Wilmington Junior Chamber of Commerce, whose leaders last night hailed the election results as “the beginning of a new era for Wilmington. ’ Speaking for the junior cham ber, L. C. LeGwin, president, said: “We wish to thank the entire citizenship of Wilmington for the splendid cooperation given us, and iu their faith and confidence in the success of the manager form of government. “We wish to state that we are not a political organization, and we did not consider the sponsorship of this better plan of government as a political movement. “We are at all times interested in Wilmington and anything tha' will be to the best interest of the peoils of this city.” Each of the three city commis sioners issued statements following (Continued on Page Three; Col, 1).
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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April 1, 1941, edition 1
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