The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 1

Ik mg THE WEATHER Scattered showers. Day's record, Page 12. Radio, Page 4 Peach Section. THE NEWSPAPER IOWA DEPENDS UPON PRICE 3 CENTS-v VOL. 94.

DES MOINES, IOWA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 26, 1942. EIGHTEEN PAGES 66. aIjv1T PLANE FALLS Senate Lifts Curbs on Soldier Balloti tng I DEFINITION OF COMPLACENCY IF ANY. YOU C-OlNOr MlIf ME? Tt)OYE2 MA, mi mkrr-Y Mk WNBl ftW Rex Receives IN SCOTLAND ON WAR TRIP Brother of English' King in R.A.F. LONDON, ENGLAND W) The Duke of Kent, young est brother of King George VI, was killed Tuesday in the crash of a Sunderland flying boat in northern Scotland.

He was en route to Iceland on active service as air commodore. The entire crew died with him. The duke died on an official Royal Air Force business trip, in his capacity as a staff member of the inspector-general of the air force. The most air-minded of all the royal family, the duke was closely associated with the R.A.F- and was frequently seen at fighter and bomber stations conversing with the men. He always wore his uniform of an R.A.F.

officer. First in Family. His was the first death of a member of the British royal fam ily in an airplane accident. An air ministry announcement said: "The air ministry regrets to announce that Air Commodore His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent was killed on active service this afternoon when a Sunderland flying boat crashed in the north of Scotland. "Ills royal highness, who was attached to the staff of inspector general of the R.A.F., was proceeding to Iceland on duty.

"All the crew of the flying boat also lost their lives." The first public reaction was one of shock and deep regret. The entire royal family had won the admiration and devotion of British citizens because of its war record, probably unequalled in his tory. Kent's brother, the Duke of Gloucester, was wounded in the battle of France in 1940. Nearly 40. Prince George Edward Alexander Edmund Windsor, born Dec.

20, 1902, would have been 40 years old next December. He married Princess Marina of Greece in 1934, and three children were born to them. The children are Prince Edward, Princess Alexandra, 5, and Prince George, who was born last July 4. The youngest son also bears the name Franklin, for President Roosevelt. The duke visited Canada and the United States a year ago, stopping in Washington a3 the guest of President Roosevelt, and making an extensive tour of war plants in both countries.

The duke was named governor- general of Australia in 1938, to become effective the following year. The war caused cancellation of that appointment, and in 1940 the duke was assigned to the R.A.F. Brother of Windsor. He was the fourth son of King George of Britain. His eldest brother, Edward, the Duke of Windsor, now Is serving as governor-general of the Bahamas.

Albert, the Duke of York, be came King George VI upon the abdication of Edward, and the Duke of Gloucester is serving In the armed forces of Britain. The duke, who was a group captain in the R.A.F., relinquished the rank of air vice-marshal in 1940, when he joined the K.A.F., so that he should not be senior to the experienced officers with whom he had to work in his capacity as welfare officer. The duke learned to pilot a plane in 1930, and three years ago he was involved in a plane mishap at Dyce airdrome, Aberdeen. The duke entered the royal naval training college at Dartmouth in 1916. By 1921 he was a midshipman.

He spent eight years as an officer roaming the seven seas. Ill health compelled him to relinquish his naval career. Then he entered the foreign office as a third secretary in the western department, and thus became the first civil servant in the present royal family. But his health interfered again and the prince laft that post in 1929. HUMAN ILVIR BLANKETS.

WASHINGTON, D. C. UP) Human hair is being made inta blankets and carpets in Sweden, The hair is purchased from barber shops and beauty parlors and. mixed with cotton. BLAST AT JAP CONVOY WEST OF SOLOMONS Allied Planes Strafe Two Transports.

ALLIED HEADQUAPw-TERS, AUSTRALIA (WED NESDAY) VP) Allied bomb ers destroyed a Japanese gunboat and heavily strafed two transports Tuesday 450 miles west of Guadalcanal in the Solomons when they encountered a small enemy convoy, it was announced today. Thirteen grounded Japanese planes also were destroyed and an anti-aircraft battery silenced in two surprise attacks on Buna, on the southeastern New Guinea mainland approximately 150 miles to the west of the convoy action, the communique said. One Plane Missing. "Our fighter-bombers attacked a small convoy of enemy warships and transports south of the Tro briand islands," the bulletin said. "A gunboat was destroyed by di rect bomb hits and two transports were heavily strafed.

"One of our planes is missing." The attack on the convoy may have been part of the main Solomon action in the Guadal-canal-Tulagi sector. The dispatch did not explain the con-roy, but it may have been en route to the Solomons icith reinforcements for the Japanese counter-attack there. Allied night raiders also dropped eight tons of explosives and many incendiaries on Japan's New Britain bases at Rabaul and Gasmata, northwest of the Solonftms, leaving fires visible for 40 miles, the communique said. Hangars, runways, and aircraft dispersal areas were attacked. No Allied planes were lost In the successful action against Buna, the communique said.

The two assaults were pressed home despite rain and poor visibility which added to the surprise. Barges Destroyed. A number of Japanese barges and supplies on the beach also were re-ported destroyed by Allied fighters south of Buna. The heavy attack on the airport just outside Buna was the first report that the Japanese definitely were using this recently established airfield Hhich is only about 120 miles from the Allied base at Port Moresby. An Allied spokesman said the ettacks on Rabaul and Gasmata were not aimed directly to tie in with the fighting in the Solomons, but there was no doubt that these raids indirectly aided that strug- The communique also reported Allied medium bombers raided enemy installation on Timor island, northwest of Australia, starting fires.

The Japanese, for their part, sent two bombers over Darwin, Aus tralia, and dropped some bombs near the airdrome during the mght. Damage was negligible. The extensive aerial offensive against Jap bases and shipping apparently is a concerted effort by Gen. Douglas MacArthur to prevent the Japanese from strengthening their counter-attack against American marines in the Solomons. The navy department in Wash ington, D.

Tuesday said a big air and naval battle raged off the southeast Solomons following an attempt by a huge Japanese ar mada to recapture their shore bases at Tulagi. Latest advices were that the Americans had inflicted heavy damage on the enemy, with more than a half dozen ships effectively bombed or torpedoed. These included a battleship and two carriers. During the last month, Allied airmen in Australia have shot down 61 Jap planes while losing cnly 13 of their own. The American, Australian and other United Nations flyers are "hopping up" their planes with unorthodox improvements and are developing into deadly pre cision flyers.

A Desperate Soviet Stand At Stalingrad Map on Page 2. MOSCOW, RUSSIA (WEDNES DAY) CP) Making a desperate stand northwest of Stalingrad, the Red army has. hurled its forces seven times against the foe, the Russian high command said today. But it made clear that the important battle for Stalingrad itself had begun by mentioning for the first time in a communique that industrial city which bears the name of Premier Josef Stalin. This first mention of Stalingrad indicated that the one million Germans who were smashing at the defense walls in a huge pincers movement had made progress.

The communique, however, did not mention any Russian with drawals, either northwest or southwest of Stalingrad where the Ger mans were threatening the city with ponderous masses of tanks, parachutists, air-borne motorcyclists and masses of infantry. "Complicated." But it did say the situation northwest of Stalingrad, where the Germans were pouring rein forcements across the river Don, had become complicated." Late Berlin broadcasts said German tanks had broken through "7Y2 miles of Soviet bunker defenses southwest of Stalingrad. Heavy fighting also was continuing in the lower Caucasus but German attacks in all areas were repulsed, the communique said. An indication of the intense fighting around Stalingrad was seen in Russian claims of heavy tank and airplane losses inflicted on the Germans. German Losses.

One Soviet unit was said to have destroyed 17 tanks in one day, another 22 and a third 14. Soviet planes and anti-aircraft batteries "at the approaches of Stalingrad" downed 92 Nazi planes in two days. The Germans were less than 40 miles from the city on both sides, perhaps much closer in places. Russian dispatches said the numbers of the enemy on some of the approaches to Stalingrad were "vastly superior. In one sector, one dispatch reported grimly: "Fascist tanks are fighting Russian infantrymen." Stalingrad is the key to the Volga river which links the Caucasus to the heart of Russia, via the Caspian sealanes.

The Germans are within 170 miles of the Caspian itself. The Germans said Stalingrad and the Volga were under night and day air attack, that arma ment works had been bombed and that two transports had been sunk in the Volga. Within Stalingrad life took on a quickened tempo. Kiver Darges bearing supplies for the front were being rapidly unloaded in one case in one-fifth the time prev iously required. A huge former tractor factory, now making mu nitions and tanks, was working every minute night and day.

Autumn already is in the air in Russia and the long winter is on its way. But unfortunately, win ter will not be the great ally of the Red army in the south as it was last year before Moscow. Except in the mountains, the weather in south Russia is not severe, thus, Beyond me 000 foot ranges, the mean tem perature in January is 32. At the oil port of Baku it is 38 and at Batum, 43. Nor can rain and the bottomless mud that first stopped Hitler's army last fall be looked upon to help stop German tanks in the Caucasus.

On the northern slopes of the Caucasus where fighting now is in progress, rainfall is more abundant in summer but autumn is unusually dry. Freezes start in the north and center Caucasus about Dec. 1 and continue for three months. On the Black sea and Caspian, winter does not arrive until Jan. 1.

From Moscow to Stalingrad, freezing starts about the middle of November; The first snows between Moscow and Astrakhan, at the mouth of the Volga, fall toward the end of October. VOTES AGAINST POLL TAX RULE USED IN SOUTH Changes in Bill Go Back to House. WASHINGTON, D. C. The senate voted 47 to 5 Tuesday to permit men and women in the United States armed forces throughout the world to vote by mail for senators, representatives and presidential electors without regis- ration and without payment of poll taxes.

The voters, however, would have to meet any other requirements of state laws such as those respecting length of residence within the state, minimum voting ages or property qualifications. An amendment exempting active members of the services from pay ment of poll taxes required by Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mis sissippl, Texas, Virginia, South Carolina and Arkansas carried 33 to 20 over the opposition of a group of southerners including Senator Tom Connally Tex.) who denounced it as an "in vasion" of state rights and as "clearly unconstitutional." Fear Delay. Democratic Leader Alben Barkley of Kentucky and Chair man Theodore Green R. of the elections committee expressed fear the addition of this amendment, because of its controversial nature, might prevent enactment of the bill in time to apply it to the November elec tions. measure, previously passed by the house, goes back there for action on the senate changes.

Green and Barkley also opposed another amendment, carried 28 to 25, extending the provisions of the house-approved bill to primaries, as well as general elections. They contended the two amend ments, as well as one adopted Monday permitting soldiers and sailors serving in foreign lands to vote by mail, imperilled prospects for quick house action. House Version. The house bill confined the mail vote privilege to troops within the continental United States on the plea of army and navy officials that the foreign voting presented almost insurmountable administra tive problems and might permit the enemy to learn troop locations Senator Walter F. George Ga.) believed the senate bill would permit absentee voting by soldiers from all states except Kentucky, whose courts have held that the voter must, under the state constitution, present himself in person in order to vote.

Senator Way land Brooks (Rep Vote- Continued on Page Nine. officers how many children he has, Duke of Kent. Plane Crash Victim. Navy Official Says Convoy Can Beat Sub By C. Clifton.

We haven't lost a ship loaded with troops since the war started," Capt. Leland P. Lovette, navy di rector of public relations, told a luncheon crowd of 800 at Hotel Fort Des Moines Tuesday. "We've lost only six vessels In the coastwise trade in the Atlantic coastal aetense zone since it was established May 14," the officer, was on a destroyer during the attack on Pearl Harbor, added. "I say these things proudly," Captain Lovette, 44, a strapping 192-pound six-footer, tough and bronzed, explained, "although with trepidation, for the navy durea not boast.

We're just country boys in the propaganda business." Tragedies. Captain Lovette, on a tour of midwestern states, told as bluntly and in the same staccato words of some of the tragedies of war. "We must be realistic," he de clared, "and I tell everybody to be prepared for sorrow. The navy, marine corps and coast guard have lost 12,750 dead, wounded and missing. "That's four times as many as were lost at sea in all the World war.

It's a terrible thing. Eut there's no use to pull our punches now. I don't think a war ever can be won by over-confidence." Captain Lovette confessed "we've taken a pretty heavy licking from the U-boats," and said perhaps we always will as long as there are U-boats. "But we have found ways to combat them successfully. The convoy system is the only answer." No Bases.

In an interview with the press after his speech, Captain Lovette expanded upon the submarine warfare on Atlantic coastwise shipping, saying the navy is positive there are no U-boat bases on this side of the ocean. "Modern U-boats," he said, "can make voyages. The average German U-boat has a speed of from 18 to 20 knots on the surface. "They can come over here, carry out their missions, if not hit, and return in two or three weeks. Their major problem is the en durance of the crew.

They are so armored that a depth charge has to be within 15 feet to be lethal." Work in Groups. He contrasted the present boat operations with those of the World war. Now they use wolf- pack tactics, traveling in groups. In the World war never more than three operated off the coast, and they got only 100 vessels, he said Most of the interview was off the record for the benefit of copy desks handling war newal Captain Lovette said many persons have a wrong idea of censorship, and explained it's often Impossible to get the full story of any engagement. He asserted casualty lists should be published, that parents are "proud forever," and but tressed his argument with a dra matic letter from a soldier.

"It seems to me," he read from the letter, "that the American peo Lovette Continued on Page Five. 'Smokes for Yanks' At 22 Cents a Pack AT A UNITED STATES ARMY CAMP IN THE EGYP TIAN DESERT VP) United States troops here are burned up because they have to pay 22 cents a pack for cigarets marked "compliments of 'Smokes for SO IT RAINED; 3 YEARS UNTIL NEXT ECLIPSE A total eclipse of the moon the second this year occurred Tuesday night, but Des Moines folks couldn't observe it because of the rain. The next lunar eclipse visible here won't occur until 1945. Rainfall here amounted to .80 of an inch. Council Bluffs had .85.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms with little change in temperature is the prediction for today and this evening. FIRE SPOILS MOVING DAY Some of the household effects of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Nehre. formerly of Van Meter, burned Tuesday when they caught fire in a truck on Highway 90 at the out skirts of West Des Moines.

The fire apparently started in a mattress. A farmer calling, "Your truck's on fire," finally stopped the truck. Nehre, former principal and mu sic director of the Van Meter High school, was moving to Pella, where he will teach. Japs Boast Planes Can Raid Our Coast LONDON, ENGLAND (U.P.) The Berlin radio Tuesday quoted Japanese war correspondents who accompanied the invasion force to the Aleutian islands as saying that Japanese planes, operating from there, "could attack the whole United States western coast from Alaska to Seattle." Hitler Will Reward Dieppe's Population BERLIN, GERMANY (From Broadcasts) UP) Adolf Hitler, "in appreciation of the attitude of the population of Dieppe" during Com mando raid of Aug. 19, Tuesday ordered the release of all French war prisoners whose homes are in or near the city.

Surprise Blackout For New Yorkers NEW YORK, N. Y. UP) Air raid sirens sounded without pre liminary warning at 9:25 p. (eastern wartime) Tuesday, plung ing the metropolis into its second surprise citywide blackout of the war. The alarm lasted 50 minutes, At a Glance- The War Historical Scrapbook (Aug.

25, 1942.) EUROPEAN FRONT. The Russian War. Russians made seven counter attacks northwest of Stalingrad; admitted no withdrawals. Germans claimed 7-mile advance southwest of city. The Aerial War.

Duke of Kent, brother of British king, was killed in plane crash while en route to Iceland. PACIFIC FRONT. The Solomons. Big air-naval battle raged off southeast Solomons following at tempt by huge Jap armada to recapture U. S.

positions on three islands. ASIATIC FRONT. China. Chinese reached approaches of Nanchang, chief Jap base Kiangsi province. William L.

Simpson, 39, of Ains- worth, la. married and the father of nine children enlisted here Tuesday and was sworn into a navy construction regiment. Under the new service men's de pendency bill, he and his family will receive a total monthly in come of $184.80 while he is serv ing in the navy. "This will take care of the home we own and keep the kids in school," said Simpson. His children are Laird, 16; Bon nie, 15; Robert, 13; Raymond, 10; George, Edith, John, Calvin, 2, and Lawrence, 1.

"And when Junior graduates from high school next spring and reaches 17, he expects to follow me into the navy," the father said. Simpson was born at Ainsworth. He has done bridge work and construction work, as well as general farming. Although not a large man he weighs only 132 lbs. he convinced navy officers that he will be able to handle his share of any assigned task.

Father of 9 in $315 Surprise A Hospital Picture on Page 12. Rex Willis used to think people were tough. Now he has changed his mind. Rex is 20, and lives at 1111 Ken- yon ave. He is the support or hi3 parents, Mr.

and Mrs. Frank Willis, and three younger brothers and sisters. Rex caught his hand in a mill ing machine he operated on the night shift at the Des Moines ord nance plant. His right hand was mangled. Doctors told him he must stay in Iowa Lutheran hospital for at least a month.

Tuesday a man came to Rex's ward on the second floor of the hospital. About all Rex knows is that his name is Mr. Robinson, "Here's some money to help you see it through," said the man "The boys down at the plant hoped you wouldn't be offended if they passed the hat." Rex counted it up. There was $315.85. William Simpson shows recruiting fL i s1 -'JtHMim Enlists; Gets $184 a Month imnm.i I mniiTnirim nii V'" i i.