Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Corpus Christi, Texas • 1

of 138 Americans and Missing Egyptian Liner Cloaked in Mystery Two London Broadcasts Indicate Possibility That Ship, 26 Days Overdue, Might Be Safe NEW YORK, May 19, -Two London radio broadcasts heard here tonight indicated the possibility that the Egyptian liner Zamzam, days overdue on a voyage to Africa with 322 persons, including 138 United States citizens, might be safe. A short time later the Berlin radio was heard to state that the Zamzam had sunk "en route from Pernambuco (Recife, Brazil) to Captown," but this report was substantially the same as the one the German station broadcast earlier in the day under a New York has just come in that the Zamzam may be safe after all. We were not less sorry than you about the presumed fate of the Americans on board. Let's hope it's true that the gallant band, disinterested workers fact escaped from the fury of those modern pirates who took their orders from Berlin." There was no explanation of the source of the "good news." Earlier, Edward R. Murrow, CBS correspondent in London, said in a brodacast to this country: "The latest news to reach London concerning the reported sinking of the Zamzam XXX quotes the American vice consul in Alex- Berlin Radio Repeats Am ouncement That Zamzam Had Sunk En Route From Brazil to Capetown andria as saying that the ship was safe at 7:30 Sunday night but he adds that her present whereabouts is unknown." If the Zamzam went down with the loss of all aboard, the loss of American life would exceed that World sinking of the Lusitania, when 124 Americans lost, their confusion lives.

concerning the Zamzam's fate led shipping circles in New York to wonder whether she would be a second Cyclops case. The Cyclops, a United States collier, was never heard from after being reported Loss of American Life Would Exceed That in World War Sinking of Lusitania, If Ship Torpedoes dateline. At that time the source was given as the official British announcement that the ship was "presumably lost." Although there was no official word that the Zamzam had been heard from since leaving Recife April 9 for Capetown, where she was due April 23, a commentator on the British radio said at 7:59 o'clock (EST) tonight "the Zamzam may be safe after all." There was no further explanation. The text of his statement as heard here by CBS: "It's good news, by the way, that sin. -George Eliot.

keep us from Sailing weather rough. If we keep ourselves from op- Corpus Thundershowers, cooler, portunities, God will Thought for Today The Weather Christi Caller ESTABLISHED 1883-Vol. 58-No. 265 CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 20, 1941 Sixteen Pages Today--PRICE FIVE CENTS Vichy Plans War On 'Free French' French Guns Turned Against RAF Over Syria 'Daniel in Senate Race; Won't Quit Governorship Texas Fight 'Has Been Largely Won' Governor Says in Broadcasting Decision To Make Race AUSTIN, May 19. (P)-Gov.

his candidacy for the United States In a statewide broadcast, he got the job done" and asked their of the late Morris Sheppard. He said nothing about resigning failing to one of the his future planswer The governor said nothing could induce him to give up the governorship except the call of duty and he would be derelict in duty if he did not make the race. He declared he would take to Washington with him the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, which in his campaigns he has held up, as the tenets of his personal and political life. Asked by newspapermen immediately after the broadcast at W. Lee O'Daniel tonight announced Senate.

told the people of Texas "We have support in the race for the seat from his present office, thus outstanding questions concerning the mansion whether he would resign O'Daniel replied: "No, I should say not!" A moment later, he added: "And you know the reason why." He did not elaborate. Eighteen other men had filed applications for places on the ballot of the special election to be held June 28 and at least one (Turn to Page 2, Column 3) Wright Pleads Self-Defense At Trial for Sutherland Death Case Given to Jury Near 11 o'Clock After Night Session With Verdict Expected Today The fate of Milas P. Wright, tractor charged with murder William on April 23, 1940, was deliberated by a night after Judge George C. Westervelt in overruled defendant's self-defense plea not guilty. Testimony in the case, which opened noon, was completed shortly before 6 Navy Expansion Program Hit by Labor Disputes Two New Strikes In Shipbuilding, Feeder Industries By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Two major labor disputes directly affecting defense production developed yesterday.

One was a walkout of AFL workmen at the Lorain, Ohio, yards of the American Shipbuilding which is constructing six submarine net tenders for the Navy and has a $7,000,000 order for Navy mine sweepers. The other was a CIO strike at the Apollo Steel Apollo, affecting 900 men and stopping work on $100,000 of defense orders, including galvanized sheet iron for the Navy. Meantime, railroad workers put in a bid for a -30 per cent increase in wages as another big group of workers, the hard coal miners, got together with ators on a new contract providing for pay increases and ending a work stoppage which began Sun- day. AFL To Pass Pickets It appeared that a crisis might be reached last night in the strike of greatest concern to defense officials--that by CIO and AFL machinists which has shut down 11 shipyards and drydocks in the San Francisco area and halted work on $500,000,000 worth of defense orders. Gov.

Culbert Olson of California will address a meeting of the 1,700 strikers and ask them to return to their jobs. AFL metal trades leaders have indicated that if the strike is not settled then they will go past the picket lines leading a back-to-work movement among the 15,000 other employees of the yards. The machinists want $1.15 an hour with double time for over- (Turn to Page 2. Column 2) Princess Released SAN FRANCISCO, May 19. (AP) Maj.

Lemuel B. Schofield, head of the U. S. Immigration Service, announced tonight that Princess Stephenie Hohenlohe of Hungary, held for several weeks for deportation, would be released immediately. missing March 4, 1918, with 293 persons aboard.

Among the unofficial theories as to what befell her were these: 1. She may have been sunk by a German sea raider which took the survivors aboard. 2. She may have been torpedoed or mined. 3.

She may have foundered in rough weather. Or. she may still be afloat, her radio silent. An announcement from London last night said she was "presumably lost," but there was no reason for the presumption other than that she was long overdue and unreported. The vessel, carrying two dozen volunteer British-American ambulance drivers, some of them from New prominent on families, fuelled at Recipe, on March, en April 9 headed for Capetown, where she was due April 23.

She has not been heard from since. In addition to the United States citizens, the Zamzam on leaving Recife carried 64 other passengers an da crew of 120, a total of 322. There was considerable confusion as to the names Americans on board. Thomas Cook Son. New York MISSING EGYPTIAN STEAMER- -One hundred thirty-eight American lives were feared lost when the "Zamzam, upper left, was reported lost due to enemy action in the South Atlantic.

Upper right, commanding officer Captain William Gray Smith who is reported missing. Below are American volunteers for the British-American Ambulance corps believed lost on the SS Zamsam. Pictured as the ship left Jersey City last March are, front row, left to right, Charles A. McCarthy, Weston, Mass; Charles L. Harriss, N.

Y. City, leader of the party; Frederick W. Hoeing, N. Y. City; Capt.

Wm. Wydenbruck-Loe, N. Y. City; George A. Tichenor, Maplewood, N.

J. Rear row, left to right, Wm. A. Davids, Worcester, Mass; George MacF. Butler, Seattle, Wash; Geo.

C. Finneran, Rye, N. of late actor Wm. Faversham, Old Ave Relief Measure Voted House Approves Funds for Texas Defense Guards AUSTIN, May 19. (AP) In a move sponsors, said was designed to assure continued federal matching oL social security funds, the Texas House today overwhelmingay approved amendments to the Public Weltare Act.

The bill which now goes to the Senate resulted from Federal Social Security Board advices Texas statutes do not conform with fedsecurity amendment which becomes effective July 1. The principal in state laws affecting old change, assistance applicants was that all income and resources, except casual earnings unpredictable gifts, must be considered in determining eligibility of an applicant. The bill states assistance shall be given needy qualitied persons who nave not sufficient income or other resources to provide a reasonable subsistence compatible with health and decency. National defense shared interest with social security as the House also sent the Senate a bill appropriating $65,000 with which to purchase and transport small arms and other equipment for the Texas Defense Guard, a home detense organization which has taken over ordinary National Guard functions while the latter organization is in federal service. New Truck Measure Passed to final reading in the House was a measure allotting $1,750,000 to a state cancer hospital and research program.

Proponents failed to suspend the rules for an immediate final vote. The Senate turned to a wide variety of legislation, finally approving, with amendments, a House bill requiring special certificates of necessity for motor (Turn to Page 2, Column 6) passenger agents for the vessel, said the State Department in Washington had instructed it not to release the passenger list on the ground that there was no official word as to whether the ship had been sunk. State Department officials disclaimed any such order, saying it was up to the Cook office to decide whether or not to release the list. The Cook office closed for the day at 3 p. m.

(CST) releasing it. out, there are no survivors the Zamzam will have carried to death a greater number of Amer- (icans than any other ship in war to date. Twenty-eight U. S. citizens lost in the sinking of the Brit liner Athenia on September 1939, a few hours after the start of hostilities, Twelve Americans, including 11 pilots engaged in ferrying planes for Britain, were lost in the sinking British Nerissa last Aprii 29.

Several other Americans have been casualties of the sea, as have two American vessels, the tanker Charles Pratt and the freighter City of Rayville, Two Actions Suggest That New 'Collaboration' With Germany Is Close to All-the-Way Accord; Paris Press Denounces U. S. 'Flour Blackmail' By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Two actions of the French shooting war against the British over threat to recapture the great colonial gone over to the "Free French" that Vichy's new "collaboration" with close to an all-the-way agreement. The challenge in effect made--and cially through the French information LaGuardia Heads New Agency for Civilian Defense More Guardsmen Called: Naval Vessel Authorization Voted WASHINGTON, May 19 (P)- President Roosevelt has selected Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia of New York, it was learned authoritatively today, to head a new government agency dealing with civilian defense. At a long luncheon conference at the White House, the energetic little LaGuardia accepted the post it was learned, with the understanding that he would be able to continue as mayor of the world's biggest city.

He also is chairman of the United States Conference of Mayors and COchairman of the Canadian-American permanent defense board. In his new job he will be asked to organize a nationwide air raid precaution system, co- ordinate federal and local defense projects plan recreation and health facilities in training camp communities and direct related activities. Mr. Roosevelt already has drafted an executive order creating the new agency, it was learned. but formal announcement has been held up for personal reasons.

The agency will be called confined by his physician to the White House living quarters, nevertheless spent an active day. Reports on Capitol Hill said he discussed with congressional leaders the possibility of a special message to Congress on foreign affairs but it was asserted later at the White House that he had no present plans to dispatch such a message. He also issued an executive order calling eight additional air observation squadrons and an infantry and a coast artillery of the national guard to active service. The House also was busy on defense affairs. It passed by voice vote a $350,000,000 measure for the construction of 58 auxiliary naval vessels aggregating 550,000 tons, completed congressional action on extending the export license control system to the Philippine Islands and the Panama Canal Zone to bar their products to Axis powers, and arranged for a conference with the Senate on the bill authorizing seizure of idle foreign ships in American ports.

Rep. Case (R-SD) introduced a bill authorizing the United States to acquire French colonial possessions in the Western Hemisphere and "such ships, airplanes and cargoes as the French government may care to sell." fensive action would be taken soon to regain old French territory, such as vast French Equatorial Africa, which has broken with Vichy and is following General Charles de Gaulle, the officer forces are fighting on at Britian's side. "One of the objects of English politics," it was stated, "is to separate Syria from metropolitan France," and it was added: "France cannot permit a foreign power to intervene." "The hour without doubt has now come for her (France) to retake especially into France all her empire." The Paris press, under Nazi control, denounced United States diplomacy as "flour blackmail." Nazi Colonial Grab government--an undeclared Syria and a stated areas which have forces-suggsted last night Germany would be it was issued offioffice--was that of- GOVERNOR O'DANIEL "Austin Job Done" CROW NE Cadets From Mexico Much more than surface importance may be attached to President Roosevelt's invitation to Mexico to send 50 cadets to the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi for training. The benefits can be limitless. Obvious at first glance are the advantages to be derived from the training itself, affording as it will the opportunity for Pan-American defense according to the United States pattern.

Cadets who will receive instruction at Corpus Christi and at other naval stations and military academies throughout the nation undoubtedly will be used to give instruction in simitraining in Mexico. Complete details have not yet been made public, but the program as applied to Mexico probably will be extended to take in other Latin and South American nations also. Considered long range, the idea has equally as great possibilities for the cultivation of that elusive good will so necessary to a united Pan-America. As General Camacho pointed out here last week, the announcement of President Roosevelt's invitation in Mexico will convince the Mexican peopl of this government's sincere belief in the ideals, principles and practices of democracy. Say what you will about the New Deal from its inception, it still deserves a row of shining stars for its perfect score in setting up and following through on the Good Neighbor Policy.

Works Both Ways We in this country have long needed some plan, some program, that would attract more prosperous citizens of Mexico to live in and visit all sections of the United States. The highway to Mexico City has served its purpose in enabling North Americans to visit Mexico, but its use has been too one-sided. And while the highway undoubtedly has been an instrument in improving relations between our peoples, an exchange is stil' necessary. It is not enough that we who visit Mexico learn an appreciation for her people, habits, customs and conduct; the people of Mexico need a similar experience that they may know us The 50 cadets to be stationed. here, and the other groups of 50 who will be scattered throughout the country, will be only the advance They will have friends and relatives who will be (Turn to Page 2, Column 1) middleaged sand and gravel conHenry Sutherland at Bluntzer Nueces County jury late last Criminal District Court had for an instructed verdict of the charge to the jury at 8:10 o'clock last night, and District Attorney Joe P.

Hatchitt closed the argument at 10:45 o'clock. Judge Westervelt recessed court until 9 o'clock this morning, at which time he will hear the verdict of the jury if the jurymen have agreed. Five witnesses went to the stand before the state rested at 4:50 o'clock. B. D.

Tarlton of Corpus Christi and Roger Butler of Robstown, counsel for Wright, put on four witnesses, including Clyde William Wright. 21-year-old son of the defendant. Alleges Knife Attack at 3:10 o'clock in the aftero'clock. Judge Westervelt The main issue of the case, it appeared last night, hinged on a statement of the defendant allegedly made to R. H.

Sykes and related to the jury by Sykes. The statement which Sykes, a state's witness, said on cross-examination Wright made following (Turn to Page 2, Column 5) Train Hits Car; Driver Jailed Motorist Charged With Drunkenness; No One Injured None was injured last night when a -bound Southern Pacific freight train struck an automobile on the crossing just north of the bascule bridge about 10 o'clock. The car, traveling east toward Water Street on the road running along the north side of the ship channel, was badly damaged. lodged the driver of the machine in the city jail booking him with drunkenness. He was alone in the car when the accident happened.

Votes Counted, School Expansion Plan Talked Votes cast in the $500,000 school bond election on Saturday were canvassed last night by the Corpus Christi School Board as it held its first meeting in the new Board of Education Building, 505 Carancahua Street. The board officially declared the issue carried by a vote of 212 for and 26 against. The entire membership of the board and Supt. R. B.

Fisher, E. L. Harvin, dean of Corpus Christi Junior College, and Business Manager C. L. Cunningham, attended.

A building program for the city school system was discussed but no official action was taken. All this appeared against a background of recurring speculation that the Nazis had promised Vichy help in the restoration of colonial France. France has two island possessions in the Western Hemisphere which are geographically close to American interests Martinique and Guadeloupe-but these have remained loyal to Vichy. What is to happen in another possession, Dakar in West Africa has caused great concern in the United States. That colony is in easy reaching distance of South America, and any German mili(Turn to Page 2, Column 4) Henry Emsheimer, N.

Y. City; Concord, N. H. (NEA The Weather Corpus Christi and vicinity: (Including Port Aransas): thundershowers and cooler today. Highest temperature yesterday 82 Lowest temperature yesterday 71 Sailing weather will be rough, with fresh to strong shifting winds, becoming northerly, with thundersqualls.

Sun and Moon Sunrise 5:37, sunset moonrise 2:24 a. moonset 2:42 p. m. Tides High 1:06 a. 12:37 p.

low 6:51 a. 7:53 p. 11. (U. S.

Weather Bureau report). U-Boat Sinks British Tankers in Atlantic BERLIN (Tuesday), May 20. (P) Authorized persons announced early today that a German submarine operating in the Atlantic had reported sinking British tankers aggregating 33,000 tons. HOUSING FUND VOTED WASHINGTON, May 19. (P)- The Senate approved today a $174.409.630 urgent deficiency appropriation bill which includes $150.000,000 for national defense homes, Philip N.

Faversham, son Four Army Fliers Killed in Crash Two Planes Collide In Midair During Training Flight RAINS, S. May 19 (A) Army fliers were killed near here today in a collision of two planes flying in a formation of six, route from the Savannah, air base to Langley Field, Va. One of the planes exploded on coming to earth and was torn to pieces. The other burned. Witnesses said the wing of one plane apparently struck the wing of another as they banked and that both fell immediately, Army officials Savannah base said the planes were on a training flight to Langley Field.

They listed the victims as: Lieut. Frank B. Ralston, Pittsburgh, Second Lieut. Allen J. Moore.

Reno. Sergeant David L. Boyd, Frost Texas; Corp. Herbert Pruitt, Collinsville, Miss. Two of the planes in the formation continued on to Langley Field while the other two returned to Savannah.

The planes, light bombers, each carried two men. Believe 8 Texans Aboard Zamzam Seven Are Listed Among Passengers On Egyptian Ship DALLAS. May 19 (P)- Eight Texans were believed today to have been among the 120 Americans reported missing in the sinking of the Egyptian steamship Zamzam. Seven were listed, among the passengers, The eighth, W. D.

Dallas, en route to Capetown, South Africa, for a textile concern, was known to have obtained passage on the liner. The others missing were: Dr. and Mrs. J. Paul O'Neal and their 3-year-old daughter, Ann, young Dallas missionary family en route for missionary duty in Nigeria, West Africa.

Rev, and Mrs. W. Ted Fix and their 2-year-old daughter. Mary Leonora, formerly Dallas but more recently of Ashland, en route to Africa for missionary duty. Mrs.

Tinsley Smith, formerly of Palestine, who was en route to the Belgian Congo with her physician missionary husband, Dr. Tinsley Smith and their 16 months old son. Mrs. Smith was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs.

W. R. Minter of Palestine. Two Firms To Build 533 Residences Here The acute housing shortage in Corpus Christi is expected to be relieved by the construction here of 533 houses on two housing projects. Work on both projects will start immediately, according to announcements made here yesterday.

The Barco Development new Houston firm of which Herman M. Cohen, Houston builder and building material man is president, will construct 333 houses on a 54-acre tract adjoining Bel Aire, sub-division on the west. This project will be known as Village. The second housing project here will be 200 houses on a 60-acre tract adjoining Dahlia Terrace on the west, a Defense Homes Corp. project calling for expenditure of approximately $800,000.

Work was to start this morning on construction of a temporary warehouse and office building for the contractor of the project in preparation for the start on the $800,000 job. Actual construction on the houses is due to start within two weeks. The houses will cost approximately $4,000 each and, it is reported, will be for rental purposes. Oscar Holcombe, former Houston mayor, is general contractor. The 333 houses to be constructed by the Barco Development Co.

are part of a project being divided between Corpus Christi, Texas City and Grand Prairie. The entire project amounts to approximately 000, meaning Corpus Christi is assured of an additional $1,000,000 in building. These houses, to be of frame construction, four and five rooms, some with porches, some without but all with garages, will sell for between $3,500 and $3,700. All will have hardwood floors, will be equipped attic ventilation and will have tile floors in the bath rooms. Each house will have every utility, including sanitary sewers, and all streets serving the project will be paved with concrete.

Cohen, president of the corpor ation, said that when work get under way at full speed 10 hou. will be completed per day,.