North Carolina Newspapers

' . ■< . Served By Leased Wire Of The + \ -“ sgy ummgtnft tfltnrtmuj Star lilli l—NO. 283 ~ ” ---— -----— — ^--------WILMINGTON, N. C., TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1941 _FINAL EDITION ESTABLISHED 1867 Retention bill Passage Seen By Two-T o-One SENATE POLL TAKEN Administration Confident of Keeping Selectees, Re serve, Guard Longer WASHINGTON, July 28.—(K)—An informal administration poll indi cated today that the Senate would „rant two-to-one approval of legis lation empowering the President ,o prolong the service periods of all army personnel. The poll, taken by White House lieutenants, showed the opponents could master a maximum of only 30 votes, out of the total Senate membership of 95. Chairman Rey nolds (D.N.C.), only member to ote against Military committee approval of the bill, conceded it would be approved by a substan +ia. majority. Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the majority leader, announced that the legislation would be taken up Thursday, and said he hoped de bate could be completed "in a few days” Reynolds said the opposi tion had no disposition to delay action, and added that approval by Saturday was possible. The Military committee, report ing the extension measure formal ]vtoday, said it would serve notice on the world “that this nation is continuing without cessation to do everything necessary to provide a strong, effective and adequate national defense." Pointing out that the army hac requested a declaration of national emergency, the committee report said that such a declaration was not included in the legislation be cause it might precipitate consider able debate and prompt action was necessary. The measure simply empowers the President to hold all soldiers in service “for such periods of time as may be necessary for national defense.” Mean wane, owwiui xaxt \ Ohio) introduced a substitute bill to carry out his plan for holding selectees for 12 months beyond their present service period and reservists for 24 months. Under existing law, both groups would serve only a year. Senate leaders said that the Far Eastern situation, with its poten tial threat to American interests, had made easier their task of pass ing the draft legislation approved by the Military committee. "Sentiment rapidly i- crystalliz ing behind the bill,” said Senator Pepper (D.-Fla.), a member of the Foreign Relations committee. "Members ot the Senate are realiz ing that our vital interests are in volved in the Pacific, and they do not want to impede any steps th? government may take to protect them.” Late in the day the Senate con firmed President Roosevelt’s nom ination of Douglas MacArthur to he a lieutenant general in com mand of the United States Army in the Far East. Although some observers had predicted earlier that the nomination would open up the whole issue of American poliev in the Far-East, precipitating ex tensive debate, the confirmation "as made ie routine faslnon, with out dissent. 2 -- Jap Press Indicate? Reprisals Dutch East Indies Object of Bitter Denunciation; Ac tion Bluntly Hinted By The Associated Press TOKYO, Tuesday, July 29.—The Japanese hinted today of far-reach ing consequences of the action of the Netherlands East Indies in cut ting off oil supplies, breaking off a monetary agreement and freezing commerce with Japan. The foreign office-controlled Ja pan Times-Advertiser, already call ing the United States “hostile” and attributing to her the leadership of the economic offensive against Ja pan, declared that the Dutch colo nial government was “in league with the United States and Britain.” The Japanese press discussed the East Indies action in a pessimistic vein. “In general, financial circles are inclined to believe that formidable difficulties will be encountered in at tempting to make a new monetary agreement with the Java bank,” said the Times and Advertiser. This referred to the Java bank’s accord with the Yokohama Specie bank, suspended by the Batavia govern ment. Far-Reaching Effect The Dutch action, Japanese said, possibly will bring consequences even further-reaching t^ian the United States action In freezing credits of Japan since the Dutch islands are Japan’s nearest sub stantial source of oil. In fact, it was said, oil may be (Continued on Page Two; Col. 3) SOUTH CAROLINIAN HEADS ROAD BODY Succeeds Wilmington’s W. Louis Fisher As President Of Ocean Route Group ELIZABETH CITY, July 28.—UP) —The Ocean Highway association in stalled Robert Clark of Charleston, S. C., as its president tonight to suc ceed W. Louis Fisher of Wilmington, and then adjourned its sixth annual business meeting. The association also passed two resolutions: Endorsing the efforts of groups in Savannah, Ga., and Beaufort and Charleston, S. C., to obtain necessary bridge construction to shorten the hihway district between Charleston and- Savannah and the immediate coastal points, and, Again requesting the North Caro lina Highway commission to widen (Continued on Page Two; Col. 2) AS THE ARMY THANKED WILMINGTON—In appreciation for the hospitality and generosity of the citizens of Wilmington and New Hanover county to Camp Davis, its officers and men, the Coast Artillery anti-aircraft firing center yesterday played host to the city and county. Three thousand persons in more than 500 automobiles trekked to Holly Ridge to view the camp and its modern training facilities. One of the high lights was, above, the exhibition of latest type anti-aircraft guns. Photographed on the platform of one of the mobile rapid-fire cannon were, left to right, Mayor Hargrove Bellamy, Addison Hewlett, Sr., chairman of the county board of commissioners, and Brig.-Gen. James Crawford, camp commander. Camp Davis Tour Thrills 3,000 Wilmington Visitors By ROBERT BIGGS Wilmingtonians en masse were the guests of Brig.-Gen. James B. Crawford yesterday as Camp Dav is held open house in celebration of “Wilmington” day. A throng estimated at between 2,500 and 3,000 civilians took advantage of the opportunity for a first-hand in- 1 spection of the anti-aircraft base, i Highlight of the day was a re- ] view of the 93rd, 94th and 54th Coast Artillery regiments, which i closed the program. The ranks of ' precision-marching soldiers with their rifles, the stirring martial ; airs of the band, the national em blem, combined to leave the im pression that perhaps America is not so helpless, militarily speak ing, as a lot of people seem to think. Lieut.-Col. Eugene Villaret com manded the 93rd C.A., and Lieut. Col. Richmond T. Gibson the 94th. : These regiments comprise the 17th Group, which is under the com- i mand of Col. George F. Humbert. The 54th is commanded by Col. ; Oscar C. Warner. Col. Humbert and his staff took, the review. Colonel Gibson, troop commander for the review, was in line with I them. Welcome Address Assembling at the main theatre in the early afternoon, the visitors heard brief talks by General Craw ford and Mayor Hargrove Bellamy of Wilmington. The commanding . Marriage To Evade Draft Summons Spiked By New Service Board Rule Local draft board officials have ten advised by state selective service headquarters that regis trants who marry on the eve of in duction, or after being odered to rePort to the doctor for physical examination, will do so at their CWn risk and will find that their Carriage will not keep them out cf 'he army. Policy of leniency toward mar ried men is being modified by ^eral J. Van B. Metts, state WEATHER „ FORECAST • °nii Carolina, South Carolina, Geor ' aml Florida: Partly cloudy Tues ■. and Wednesday; continued warm. /\, V. S. Weather Bureau) fu I „ te2rological data for the 24 hours fnihn« 7:30 p. m. yesterday). 1Temperature Jp:-?!"- m. 70; 7:30 a. m. 79; 1:30 p. m. niiim-1 p' m- 85; maximum 93; mini 11 mean 84; normal 79. i.oft Humidity 5'. - »• »>■ 93; 7:30 a. m. 86; 1:30 p. m. ‘-“9 P. m. 73. t.. . . Precipitation r, ” J” the 24 hours ending 7:30 of Hi. 00 lnches. Total since the first the month 7.41 inches. Tides For Today S. Tide Tables published by U. ast and Geodetic Survey). "“mington- “ijfla 8:36a i„,et_aVfsa fidSE Sunrise s .o, 11:41P 5:45P 10-470. * 0 ■4-la: sunset 7:15p; moonnse ‘a’ nioonset 10:45p. a 8mV"ll,35K?ee^VayetteTille 8 (Continued on Page Two; Col. 3) director of selective service, the officials were advised. Policy Set Forth The modified policy, which was passed on to all Selective Service agencies in the state is as follows: “When a registrant acquires married status after issuance of ‘Notice to Appear for Physical Examination,’ it should be as sumed that both parties concluded the marriage knowing that the registrant was subject to early call for service and were prepared to take the consequences, and there fore deferment in such cases would not appear to be justified. But when a registrant has indicated on his questionnaire that he is en gaged, giving the date set for the wedding date falls after issuance of ‘Notice to Appear for Physical Examination,’ his case should be considered in the same way as those who married after registra tion, as provided by Amendment No. 77 to Selective Service -Regula tions. Of course, there may be other conditions which would ob viously temper the above an nounced modification of policy, e. g., proof that the wife was preg nant, or conclusive evidence of absolute dependence wherein the wife would suffer undue hardship if compelled to live on the regis trant’s income as a soldier, etc.” This modified policy, General Metts pointed out, is in line with a recent amendment to the regula tions, which is as follows: “It is not advisable to defer any (Continued on Page Two; Col, 5) PENDER MYSTERY SUSPECTS FREED Trio Held in Jail Released After Recovery of Negro’s Body from Creek Reporting that he was satisfied they were not involved in the drowning of Luther McDowell, col ored woodyard operator, Pender County Coroner H. E. Blake last night ordered the release of three men who had been arrested Sun day on suspicion of complicity in the death. The official announced that all suspicion of complicity of the three men—two white and one colored— had been erased following recovery of the negro’s body from Island creek, five miles east of Castle Hayne. Examination of the negro dis closed his lungs were filled to capacity with water and there were no marks of violence. Body Found Floating The negro’s form was seen float ing, head upward, after the coroner and other officials started to renew a search for the body yesterday afternoon. He said he believed the motion of the five and one-half horsepower motor of the boat (Continued on Page Ten; Col. 6) general expressed thanks to offi cials and citizens of Wilmington, 'or their cooperation and extern sive efforts on behalf of the Army post, and Mayor Bellamy gave issurance that such cooperation vill be continued in the future. Addison Hewlett, chairman of he New Hanover county board of commissioners and George W. Jef ries, of the regional defense coun cil, also made brief remarks. A lumber of other city and county ifficials were in the audience. Following the brief program the ;uests returned to their cars, vhich were divided into convoys )f ten or twelve each, and escorted py officers on tours of the camp md reservation. Although all con poys did not follow the same route, each group visited similar build ngs and other points of interest. Inspections were made of bar racks, mess halls, infirmaries and pther company buildings. Probably he one thing that left the most putstanding impression on the ma ority of the guests was the striking (Continued on Page Two; Col. 3) WRITE-UP LAID TO POWER GROUP Carolina Company Alleged To Have Issued $22,00$, 000 “Valueless” Stock RALEIGH, July 28.— UP)—Federal Power commission counsel claimed today that two investigations by other governmental agencies had uncovered more than $22,000,000 of Carolina Power ana Light company stock “issued without apparent value.” The attorneys quoted a report from the Federal Trade commis sion in 1930 and a report from a South Carolina legislative investi gation committee in 1931. Both reports, they said, found a $22,000,000 “writeup’ in the value of property acquired from the Pigeon River Power company in 1926, during a merger of five Elec tric Bond and Share company sub sidiaries to form the present firm. The commission today began the second week of a hearing into (Continued on Page Two; Col. 2) 97 Deaths Attributed To Heat As Nation’s HeatWave Continues By te Associated Press Showers cooled New England yesterday and relief was sighted in the northern -tier of states but the season’s worst heat wave con tinued broiling the midlands swel ter belt. Deaths attributed to the humid heat kept pace with the mercury, totaling at least 97. There were, in addition, 106 drownings report ed. Forecasters at Chicago said showers would cool the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin and that the New England and New York state shower zone would spread to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and possibly to Washington, D. C. They said, however, that “the end is not yet in sight” for Illi nois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, lower Michigan, the middle Mis sissippi and Ohio valleys._ Burlington, Vt., reported the temperature down to 66 after show ers and New England became the coolest part of the nation except the Pacific northwest where Ta toosh Island, Wash., had 57. Rain made the Saratoga racetrack in New York muddy for its opening but gave New York City some re lief. Showers gave brief respites to other scattered points including Detroit, Mich., Carbondale, 111., Advance, Mo., Evansville, Ind., near South Bend, Ind., in northern Michigan and north central Iowa But generally the 12:30 p.m. readings reported to the weather bureau were in the sizzling 90’s or above. They included: 102 at Bal timore, Md.; 100 at Frederick, Md.; 99 at Richmond, Va., and (Continued on Page Two; Col. 1) Commissioners To Set Bond Schedule Monday With New Hanover county on the brink of launching perhaps its greatest school improvement pro ram, officials yesterday were pre paring to arrange details for is suance of bonds voted in the re cent $500,000 election. A New York bond attorney firm, Masslich and Mitchell, was under stood preparing forms for the proper procedure in the authoriza tion for sale of the bonds and oth er details. County commissioners are ex pected next Monday to adopt a resolution fixing denominations and life of the bonds. Full details have not been publicly announced, but some quarters have stated that the bonds will be for 25 years and will be dated January and July of each year. No difficulty is anticipated in the sale of the bonds. Some of ficials believe the bonds may com mand a premium, because of the excellent condition of county fi nances. Meanwhile, members of the county board of education are con sidering plans in the extensive im provement program for the 25— 13 for white and 12 for colored— schools in the county. Some of the schools are to be renovated and new buildings are to be constructed at other schools. Plans are yet to reach a complete paper stage and officials have in dicated they do not care to an nounce details until they are com pleted. However, it is expected that bids for the various work will be ad v^stised soon. There are 11,000 school students in the county. 1 NAZIS ADMIT SMOLENSK BATTLE STILL RAGING; REDS CLAIM SUCCESSES _ w _1_ GERMAN DRIVE FAILS Russians Report Nazi Of fensive is Cracking After Futile Frontal Assaults By The Associated Press MOSCOW, Tuesday, July 29.— Soviet Russia officially claimed to day that the German offensives aimed at Moscow and Kiev are “breaking against the tirmness and stubbornness of our troops” and that counter-attacking Red soldiers had inflicted heavy losses on the Germans in some areas of the vast front. xne neaviesx ngnung was in me Smolensk' sector, where the Ger mans are attempting to break through to Moscow, and in the Zhitomir area, the battleground for the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. The Soviet information bureau indicated in its morning communi que that Russian forces passed to energetic counter-drives after the German drives bogged down. No Great Changes Aside from the Smolensk and Zhitomir fighting, the communique said, there were no important com bats on the front. It declared that 109 German planes were brought down Satur day while only 36 Russian planes were lost. At sea, the Russians asserted Red planes had sunk a German torpedo boat and two patrol boats in the Baltic. The communique ac knowledged the loss of a Russian torpedo boat. Reports last night had indicated that Red troops had seized the initiative on the approaches to Kiev and Moscow. This turn in the battle for West ern Russia, which followed Mos cow’s official claims that the whole of the Nazi invasion had been re duced from Blitzkrieg tempo to a siege of the Soviet vastnesses, was indirectly reported by the Soviet high command itself in a communi que of extraordinarily confident tone. “Fighting actions of our troops continued in the directions of Nevel, Smolensk and Zhitomir,” said the afternoon war bulletin, thus aban doning for the first time in days a familiar phraseology which had re ported only exclusively defensive op erations in “stubborn battles” and “fierce fighting.” At Tip of Salent Nevel is at the northern end of the central German salient pointed (Continued on Page Two; Col. J) JAPANESE SHIPS GIVEN CLEARANCE U. S. to Permit Vessels to Touch and Clear Ameri can Ports Temporarily WASHINGTON, July 28.— (TP) — The United States informed Japan tonight that prompt clearance would be granted '"Japanese ships from American ports. This action apparently assured that Japanese vessels now waiting off the west coast for clarification of the United States’ "freezing'’ or der would proceed into port. Among these is the big Japanese liner Tatuta Maru with a large number of American passengers aboard. The assurance of prompt clear ance under present conditions was given by Sumner Welles, acting sec retary of state, at a conference with the Japanese ambassador, Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura. Bolivian Charges Irk Nazis Berlin Hints that United States Responsible for “Forged” Documents By the Associated Press BERLIN, July 28.—G e r m any struck again today at Bolivian charges of a German conspiracy to overthrow the La Paz government and a "third power” was accused by a spokesman of the crude forgery of a letter involved in the incident. It was strongly implied that the "third power” was the United States. In a setting of microphones, cameras and foreign newspapermen, the German foreign office made pub lic a note to Bolivia saying the Reich’s government “again launches the sharpest protest” against the falsification in the crudest manner possible” of the letter, which pur ported to be from Major Elias Bel monte Pabon, I 'ivian military and air attache who has been dismissed by his governmnet on a charge of treason, to German Minister Ernest Wendler, expelled from La Paz. Reads Declaration Maj. Belmonte Pabon himself read a prepared declaration in Spanish to the foreign correspondents declaring that, “upon my word of honor as an officer . I never addressed either this letter or any other piece (Continued on Page Two; Col. 5) A. C.L/S INCOME SHOWSINCREASE Revenues for First Half of Year Exceed 1940 by $8,500,000 An increase of more than $8,500, 000 over the last year’s operating income figures was shown by the Atlantic Coast Line railroad com pany during the first six months of 1941, report issued at the general offices of the company here yester day indicates, more than $34,788, 000 in revenues was taken in this year. Operating revenues for the first half of 1939 were $26,119, 358. The half-year report also show ting revenues for the past month were $5,230,953 in comparison to $3,407,932 for June of 1940 and $3,404,486 for June of 1939. Operating expenses for the first half of this year totaled $22,736, 293 against $20,669,331 for the first six months of 1940 and $18,892,282 for from January 1 to June 30 of 1939. The halfyear report also show ed net operating revenues of $12, 042,521; deduct taxes, $3,750,000; operating income, $8,292,521; Equip and Jt. Fac. Rents, a de ficit of $1,407,887. Net railway operating income for the six-month period was, $6, 884,634 in comparison to $1,143,051 for the corresponding period in 1940 and $2,711,882 for a like term in 1939. The June report disclosed oper ating expenses of $3,553,553; ne’ operating revenues, $1,677,400; de duct taxes. $600,000; operating in come, $1,077,400; Equip, and Jt Fac. Rents, deficit of $261,453, ant net railway operating income $815,947. 4 PREPARE NEW ASSAULT German Command Avers Moscow Next Objective After Clean-Up Action By the Associated Press BERLIN, July 2S.—German forces were reported tonight on the thresh, hold of victory in the fierce “battle of Smolensk” and a direct assault on Moscow was forecast as the next of fensive stroke for Adolf Hitler's le gions. Another Red army division — the third reported within 21 hours—was said to have been wiped out and war dispatches said the newest one de stroyed had been shifted all the way from the Par East to buttress the wavering defenders of the Soviet capital. ' Divisions Shattered Previously, military reports had re ported two Russian divisions annihi lated in an encircling operation near Bogilev, on the south side of the Smolensk salient, with 23.000 sol diers captured and 61 cannon, 80 anti-tank guns and 750 vehicles seized. The latest German war reports pic tured the Russians as hopelessly split up and trapped in a German pocket at Smolensk. A brief but confident communique from Hitler’s headquarters said: "The battle of Smolensk is draw ing to a successful conclusion. All Bolshevist attempts to prevent the annihilation of encircled Soviet units were nipped in the bud.” Once that bloody battle ends with the outcome the high command evi dently regards as assured, military commentators predicted that the center of the German front would be ready to move on Moscow. (Smolensk is 230 miles southwest of Moscow, but it guards a gateway eastward between the Dvina and Dnieper rivers where Napoleon broke through after a two-day bat tle in 1812. 1 Never Acknowledged (The Russians never have ac knowledged being pushed back from Smolensk, but the Germans have claimed it fell into their hands July 16 and have reported their motor ized vanguards operating as far eastward as the region of Vyazma, midway between Smolensk aim Moscow.) The German reports indicated the Russians were breaking in a losing battle which has been costly lo them in men and equipment. DNB, official German news agency, said that the coup de grace to the new division reported de stroyed was delivevred by German tank forces and that prisoners dis closed the division haiNbeen shifted some 4,000 miles from one side of Russia to the other. (This was the first indication that the Russians may have drawn on their Far East army to strengthen the front against the Germans, it has been regarded as fundamental Russian strategy to treat the Far Eastern army as a completely Inde pendent, self-sufficient and almost autonomous force guarding the So viet's Pacific frontiers.) Stalin Gives Turks Assurance of Peace ANKARA, Turkey, July 28.— (/P)—Joseph Stalin, following a British suggestion, has written President Ismet Inonu of Tur key assuring him that Soviet Russia has no intention of seiz ing control of the Dardanelles, Turkish gateway between the Mediterranean and Black Seas, it was learned tonight on the highest authority. Florida Officials Launch Search For Missing Lelia Bryan, Daughter NIPPON TROOPS TAKE OVER BASES Trucks Arrive in Indo China With Thousands Of Japanese Soldiers (By The Associated Press) SAIGON. French Indo-China, July 28—(iP)—Japanese troops moved to ward their new Indo-China bases by land anci sea today under a Tokyo Vichy agreement giving them use of this French possession’s roads and possibly railroads. Four transports and four destroy ers were expected here Wednesday (Continued on Pace Two: Col. 21 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 28. If Mrs. Lelia Bryan and her four year-old daughter, Mary Rachel, missing for nearly four months from their Carolina Beach, N. C., home are in this vicinity and aren't found it won’t be because of lack of publicity and intensive po lice search. A request of the 'Wilmington Star News at Wilmington, N. C., chat a search be instituted for the pair be cause they had been reported in this area was initiated today when an unusual tri-county dragnet was spread along the western Florida coast. Chief of Police Joe Russell of Clearwater, Fla., who received the request of the newspaper at Wil mington, brought the matter to the attention of state, county and city authorities all along this particular section. As a result, officers have been and still are keeping a ctfGe watch for a woman and a child answering the Bryan descriptions. In addition, radio stations at Sarasota and Bra endton in Manaete county, Tampa in Hiilsljoio county and Clearwater and S't. Petersburg in Pinellas coun ty have brought the matter to the attention of their listeners, seek ing immediate information as to the possible whereabouts of the wo man and child. According to information received at Clearwater the missing woman and child were reported In Wil mington as having been seen in the Pinellas county seat. Should this report be true it is believed that the publicity given the case in this section will locate or at least bring some trace of them. Investigation, said authorities, win be facilitated since this is an ex ceedingly quiet season along the coast with practically no-tourists in the vicinity