The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 1

I. TO 7 FIFTY-ONE YEARS Df THE PUBLIC SERVICE Oldest Virginia Dally West of Bias Ridge if 1 TIIE WEATHER Snow; in north, rain or snow 5 Interior this morning, ending r' this afternoon; continuing cold today and 8at 52nd YEAR. No. DAILY NEWS EST. 1830 MORNING- LEADER EST.

190J STAUNTON, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 8, 1941 MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS AUDIT BUREAU CIRCULATIONS PRICE TWO CENTS eece, Trar key Offered fadn r'. 5c Or Opposition to Bill Collapses Alternative Is Military Drive by Nazis Through Bulgaria Toward Aegean Turkey's Navy Are Some Units Passage by Is Tonight PRESIDENT EXPECTS TO COMEHERE Informs Mrs. Corell Hull He Thinks Sunday, May 4, Will "Work Out All Right" for His Visit to Wood-row Wilson Birthplace; Local Committee Proceeding with Plans for Cermeony. RELAXATION'' OF BLOCKADE FORBIDDEN xS Y- Expected 1 Leaders' Confidence of Reaching Lease lend Bill Vote Based on Ex- pectation No- Filibustering Tactics Will De-velop. By RICHARD L.

TURNER Washington, March 7 (AP) Opposition to the lease-lend bill collapsed tonight, and with administration leaders in secure com- mand of the situation, the senate rapidly pushed the measure to a point where final passage confidently was expected by tomorrow night. This confidence on the part of leaders was based upon an expectation that no filibustering tactics would develop. A possibility remained, of Britain Ships Military Equipment to Greeks and Turks Who Are 3Iassing Defensively Along Bulgarian Frontier Opposite More than German Troops; Yugoslavia Believed About to Join Axis Alliance. By the Associated Press Germany has of fered Greece and Turkey rich settlements in a final diplomatic campaign backed by threats of a military march toward the Aegean within forty-eight hours, it was intimated last (Friday) night in dispatches from German-occupied Sofia. Especial weight was attached to these reports because they were passed by the Bulgarian press office under a new censorship set up after Germany took over the country.

Reported Promises In brief, it was said Germany-promised: To Greece a peace settlement with Italy. The courageous Greecks would keep all the territory they held at the beginning of the war against Italy last October; in other words, all of Greece. To Turkey locomotives, machinery, and various other economic rewards. It-was apparent in Sofia that the Germans, steadily building up their Balkan' army in the event they must strike by force of arms, placed great store upon the success of their diplomatic offensive. But countering-that was Greece's determination, expressed in general terms, to fight against any blow, no matter whence it comes.

The hard pace of Nazi military preparations had continued all day Friday in Bulgaria, and some military observers in Sofia believed that the blow at Greece was set for this weekend, if come it must. Long lines of tanks, -I Turkish torpedo boats are pictured patrolling the I sea to the Aegean which leads Into the Mediter-Bosphorus, sea ofMarmora and pranean. Turkey is in the middle of the. Balkan the Dardanelles, Is the waterway from the Black crisis following the German invasion of Bulgaria. WINTER'S WORST SNOW AND SLEET STORM SWEEPS STATE Traffic Deaths First 2 Months course, that they might, but in a long day and evening which saw amendment after amendment summarily rejected, the opponents of the measure showed no inclinations to indulge in any strategy of delay.

After nearly three weeks of general debate, the voting stage was reached early tn the day, and the opposition rapidly crumpled on a succession of ballots rejecting all the amendments it offered or sup- ported. Most such votes ran nearly or better than two-to-one for the proponents of the bill. First of all, the latter snowed under a succession of efforts to restrict the use of. the nation's nned forces to the western hemisphere. In one guise or another, this proposal was advanced a full half-dozen times, and In each ln- Then the administration wrote Into the measure its own views on 5 FAMILIES ARE ROUTED BY FLAMES None Injured in Fire Causing Damage of About $350, Much Excitement, Commotion, and Keeps Firemen on Job for Hour and Half; Largely Confined to Attic.

An apple basket full of hot ashes burst into flames, which ran up the wall and into the attic of the building at 101 North Augusta street to start a fire that caused about $350 worth of damage and kept firemen on the Job for an hour and a half last night. Pungent smoke the eaves of the structure, which is a combination of rooming house and shops gave warning of the fire about ten o'clock. Two trucks were dispatched to the scene and firemen were able to keep the flames weU under control. The blaze was confined to the attic and with the exception of slight breakthroughs of the flames around the building's two chimneys it was unspectacular. However, a large crowd quickly assembled and watched firemen and others carry ou the household and personal belongings of the ocou-pants.

Five families, Including a number of children, lived in the two top floors of the building. They were said to have gone to sleep before the fire broke out. All were removed and none was Injured. Merchandise from an antique shop In the basement was also removed out of reach of flames and water. Firemen laid a couple of lines of hose, causing traffic to be rerouted for about an hour on the streets in the 'vicinity.

Sardonic laughter burst out when (Continued on Page 2, Col." 20 Not Big, but Here ABOUT $2.000 IS DUE WELFARE LEAGUE According to Mrs. Mattie F. Rice, superintendent, unpaid pledges of about $2,000 are on the Community Welfare league's books and, with inclement weather increasing calls upon the league for assistance, it is hoped that those who pledged and are in arrears will send in their contributions without further delay. The custom of sending out bills by mail is not being followed at this time, in order to conserve funds on hand; however, if voluntary response is not adequate to meet the pressing need, the routine of billing, with its various phases of expenses, will have to be resorted to. Struck One Car Instead of Three; Damage of $38.50 Damage estimated 'at $35 was done to an automobile owned bv C.

J. Groves, Waynesboro Route two, when it was hit by a ton and a half truck here yesterday morning. J. E. Houff, operator of the truck, stated he turned into East Frederick street from Coalter at about ten miles an hour.

On the down grade his machine began to skid In the snow and, in order to avoid striking three parked cars on the north side of the street, he skidded into the left front end of the Groves sedan, which was stop- ped behind a staUed truck. Damage to the truck was esti mated at $3.50. The accident occurred about eleven o'clock in front of the King's Daugh ers' hospital. 1 CORRECTION In the Leggett Department store advertisement carried In yester day's Issue of this newspaper and in the Evening Leader, their regu lar ninety-eight cent hose were shown as being sold at two pair for a dollar. This was an error.

The price have been two pair for $1.50. manpower available for the land forces. Both the National Guard and regular army have expanded to such a degree by voluntary enlistments that by present calculations only about 600,000 selective service recruits will be inducted to provide the total strength of 1,418,000 men contemplated by June 30. Original draft plans called for 800,000 trainees by that date. Specific legislature authority would be required to hold the guard In federal service beyond the current one-year training period unless war should come, or unless congress rather than the President should devlare a national emergency.

Reckord's Views Fort George O. Meade, March 7 A-Major General Mil ton A. Reckord. 29th division commander, said today he believed National Guard troops Inducted Into the federal should be kept on active training "duty "until the job of making soldiers out of the se'ectees" is finished. General Reckord, who commands Maryland and Virginia National Guard units, placed at fifteen months the minimum time during which he believes the National Guard units here should be retained In (Continued on Page.

2.. Col. 5) i awivV I -sis--' lery, and troops moved in commandeered busses, trains, and trucks in steady procession to positions in the Rhodope mountains whence they looked down across Grecian Thrace and the Ae gean. There were believed to be at least 150,000 there and behind them were fresh divisions moving 'along the wng unes or communications from Germany to Rumania. Sending Equipment -The British were sending all the equipment they could spare to the Greeks and to Turks who, massed on the western side of the Dardanelles, were In position to attack from the flank should they decide to go to the aid of their traditional friends.

The Greeks moved quantities of artillery and reserves to bolster their defenses on the new front, apparently leaving thinned lines to hold the Italians in the steep mountainsides of Albania. The population in Trace, It was reported, was being removed and the Greek commander, Gen. Alexander Papagos, apparently did not intend to defend that coastal belt for fear of being cut off by a quick German thrust. His ptan, apparently was to dig i on a narrow trout ta tiie nar I row gorges of the Struma valley and hold It until aid comes from Salonika. (By THOMAS F.

HAWKINS) Sofia, Bulgaria, Maseh 7 flV (The following was approved by the Bulgarian press office under a new censorship) The Germans, directing more energy than ever before toward effecting a Greek-Italian peace, are offering Greece a settlement whereby she would lose no territory held by her at the beginning of the war, it was intimated tonight. (Continued on Page 2, Col. 8) The following letter was recently received by Mrs. Cordell Hull, president of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace foundation: THE WHITE HOUSE 'WASHINGTON. February 21, 1941.

"Dear Fru'nces "I think, as far as I know now, that Sunday, May the fourth, will work out aU light for the visit to the Woodrow Wilson birthplace. "As you know, we can never be sure, of what will be happening by that time but I am putting it down in the date book. "Always sincerely, (signed) "Franklin D. Roosevelt." "Mrs. Cordell Hull Carlton Hotel Washington, p.

The local committee announcement is making all arrangements for the Memorial service to be held at the birthplace on May4 of which the President speaks in his letter. (Continued on Page 2, Col. 3) Anniversary Snow Deepest of the Winter People of this section since that memorable snowstorm of nine years ago when the blanket of white was two feet thick or better have had a way xf feeling that If they got through March 7 without a repetition, probably all would be well. But yesterday, anniversary day, they failed to "get through." Yesterday's snow in this area was easily the heaviest of the present winter and the end Is not yet, it is feared. In fact the weather bureau is not promising the fall will cease before this afternoon.

The storm came in from the northeast whence usually come the worst ones this community has. About dusk last evening the flakes were large and flaky and the worst was feared. However later in the night the precipitation took the form of a fine mist whether snow or rain It was difficult to say with the result that the depth of this snow this mprnlng shows little increase over its stage of late Friday, about eight inches (unofficial). Snowplows of state and city were operated to good effect yesterday and traffic moved with little delay. But those whose cars were not equipped with chains found plenty of misery.

Th was not large, however. Chains and overshoes will be the height of fashion again today, possibly tomorrow. Streamlined Cars Bought By Railroad Fifteen. new streamlined passenger coaches have been ordered by the Norfolk and Western railway, it was announced today at the company's genera loffices In Roanoke. The streamliners, which will be constructed by the Pullman Standard Car Sc Manufacturing company, are expected to be delivered during the month of September.

The cars will be operated in the railway's crack trains, the Pocahontas and the Caavller, between Norfolk and Cincinnati, Ohio. The cars will be equipped with modern, rotating, reclining, individual chairs, with body-monform-ing. sponge rubber-molded cushions, covered with attractively colored upholstering, a fluorescent light with Independent switch will be placed over each chair, which can be turned off or on as the passenger may desire. Fluorescent lights also will be placedf in the ceiling along the center of the car. The interiors will be done In modern color scheme.

Attended 4-H Conference at Harrisonburg County Agent E. B. Morse and J. M. Gorsllne, an assistant in his office, were in Harrisonburg yesterday attending a district conference on 4-H club work In this area.

At the meeting, Mr. Morse said last night, there was discussion on 4-H club policies and methods of procedure in each county and a general exchange of Ideas on how handling the various activities of work may be Improved. Decision of British Government Apparently Dooms Effort of French Government Dave Froten French Assets la U. S. Released for Purchase of Wheat.

Washington. March lJts Th British government, blocking a shipment of cereal, has decided against any further relaxation of the blockade on American food supplies for unoccupied France, it was learned today. An effort by the American Red Cross to include 300 tons fit ftAt meal in a careo of evai children's clothing, and medicine met witn a refusal of British authorities to expand the scope of the existing agreement on French food supplies. The decision apparently doomed the efforts of the French government to have frozen French assets in the United States released for the purchase of wheat here to relieve the bread shortage in France. Gaston Heiuy-Haye.

the French ambassador, described the British attitude as "a dreadful policy" and asked Secretary Hull to intervene with British officials. Hull. later talked with Viscount Halifax, the British ambassador, but said he would discuss the question with Chairman Norman Davis of the Red Cross before taking it up in detail with the British. Davis explained that the agreement with the British government provided only for the shipment to Franca of milk, clothing, and Ua mm concentrates for children. Says Britain Might Obtain Cargo Ships Washington.

March 7. jjpia congressional committee heard tes timony rrom a member of the navy's high command todav that proposed new naval auxiliarv ves sels, such as cargo ships and tank ers, migni oe transferred to Britain under the lend-lease program. Rear Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, assistant chief of naval oneratinns conceded the possibility in reply to fuestlons during testimony befort the house naval committee on leg islation to authorize the construction or acqusltlon of 200,000 additional tons of auxiliaries. No Definite Allocation The admiral quickly and em-phatkaUy asserted, however, that there had been no definite alloca tion of any of the proposed ships.

He was followed by Rear Admiral Samuel M. Robinson, chief of the bureau of ships, who declared the requested authorization had "nothing whatever to do" with the lend-lease bill and had been prepared long before that program was submitted to congress. At the same time. Robinson nr- dicted that before the end of this year the navy would be pinched again for auxiliary vessels." He said at another point, that the additional 200,000 tons of such ships "would not begin to meet" the navy's reaulrements should thi country get into war. Chairman Vinson GaJ precipitated the lively discussion of the possible transfer when said to Ingersoll: 'Let put the cards on the table.

Admiral. Is this 200000 tnr nmi. ed for the maintenance of our fleet, or is part of it for the lend-lease program?" After reiteratinff ther hurl hrn no definite allocation of the ves sels. Ingersoll replied: "We might use part or it' that way." Asserting "we can not forrsre what we may be required to do in the course of the next vwr incpr- soll reminded the committee that tne navy already has exhausted both its funds and authority for either construction or purchase of auxiliaries. An another Illustration of the need for the lezislatlon.

Inrersoll testified the navy had three ocean going minelayers ana lour fleet minesweepers now under construction. Thev wont be readv for nv however, until 1943 or 1944. 11 we should suddenly need such vessels we would have to take over merchant ships adn convert them," ne asserted, aucung mat the navy doesn't have a single rnine-lajer on me Atlantic coast. The number of ships to be built under the authorization was not disclosed. 0 1-IXCH sxow Washington.

March 7 heaviest snow of the winter itn inches at capital traffic tonssbt and snt show-sands of government wwkm pv ding home afoot By Associated Press The worst snow and sleet storm of the winter, which the U. S. weather bureau said probably would continue into the afternoon totiay (Saturday X-sweptacross Virginia yesterday, sharply curtailing highway traffic and Inconveniencing thousands of workers. Traversing the state from west to east, the snow reached a depth of six inches at Roanoke, where It changed to sleet at noon and stopped altogether at two-thirty p. mH and covered many other sections, to an equal or greater depth.

Highways throughout the state were reported slippery and danger and state police and highway recommended the use of chains where it was necessary to venture upon the roads. The snow also changed to sleet in Richmond in midafternoon, but Hibbard, weather bureau meterologist, held to his prediction of "heavy snow" through the night and tomorrow with a probability of reaching six, inches in the capital before It was finished, eight to ten inches was the forecast in the Lynchburg area. Snow plows were put Into service In the areas where the fall was heaviest, and no roads were reported blocked last night, although trafllc was being rerouted as a precautionary measure around Draper mountain on Route 11, west of Pulaski. The alternate route was 101, which avoids the circuitous mountain Temperatures were above freezing through most of the state when the snow, began, and several hours elapsed before the highways were covered. The sleet and freezing rain later added to the hazards of traffic, however.

The surprise blast from the heretofore comparatively mild winter embraced the Middle Atlantic states with the "heavy snow" belt including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Moisture Welcomed Although It camer as an Inconvenience to city workers and many others commuting to and from Jobs elsewhere, Including the big Hercules powder plant project near Radford, agriculture officials welcomed the snow and rain. The winter has been marked by a deficiency in moisture, they said, pointing out that the light snow of Feb. 27 and 28, which reached a depth of 3.3 inches in Richmond, was the heaviest of the season untU yesterday. The six-inch blanket which extended north, south, and west from Roanoke, seriously hampered work at the Radford powder plant.

Only about half the normal number of workers were able to reach the (Continued on Page 2, Col. 5) QUICK WORK Mrs. Barbara 306 N. Madison street, reports that she entered a classified ad in The Leader for one week, paying $1.25 for it, never dreaming that it' would be her good fortune to get immediate results. The ad was for a three-room apartment and no sooner had the paper been published than she rented the apartment; so she had a nice refund coming to her.

Such results indicate conclusively that these ads are watched carefully by persons wanting housing of any kind, be it bedrooms, apartments, or houses. So you had better plare your ad right away. It only costs sixty-five rents for three times, or $1-25 for six. Shows Increase Richmond, March 7 UP) The Virginia state police reported today that at least forty-three more persons have been killed in' traffic accidents in during Jan uary and February of 1941 than in the same two months of 1940. The report stated that the in crease was due to the snow which kept traffic off the state highways for several days early In 1940, and to the greater volume of traffic this year.

"Gasoline figures for January. the latest now available, indicate an Increase of "thirty per cent over 1940, or nearly 95,000,000 more ve hicle miles," it was stated. The police report pointed out that the increase in the death rate for January based on vehicle miles was "only four per cent." "The problem presented by this Increase in fatalities," said Col onel M. S. Battle, director of the division of motor vehicles, "is one that can only be solved by the cooperation of the community, the state, and the individual motorist and pedestrian.

Each has a responsibility to work for greater safety on the highways." Says Carol Used False Passports Seville, Spain, March 7. vP) Former King Carol of Rumania and his companion, Mme. Magda used false Brazilian passports to cross the border into Portugal at six-forty-five p. m. Monday, fifteenth minutes before the frontiers were closed in an attempt to halt them, police disclosed tonight.

the Yugoslav government that in President Roosevelt's opinion it was time to put an end to the successes of the Axis powers even if they were only diplomatic successes. "Mr. Roosevelt also was said to have made known that the lease-lend bill would certainly be accepted by congress and the American government then would have the means to curb efforts designed to create a new order. Improvements Are Under Way at the Visulite Theatre Following with its policy of giving the theatre-going public the "best and most modernistic in the line of entertainment, the Visulite theatre here has begun extensive remodeling work in the lobby and other parts of the theatre, John M. Herndon.

manager, said that each year the Visulite spends between $2,500 and $3,000 on remodeling and and this year will prove no exception. A flourescent lighting system, now so sopular over the coun-(Continuedon Page 2, Cot 6 CONSIDER KEEPING GUARD IN SERVICE LONGER THAN YEAR ASSERTS ROOSEVELT TRIED TO KEEP YUGOSLAVIA OUT OF AXIS what such restrictions should consist of a stipulation In existing laws relating to the use of the army land navy, except where new activities connected with the pro- curement of defense supplies, was concerned. Extraneoni to Bill Next, Senator Reynolds (D-N. was up with a series- of amendments of his own No assistance should go to Soviet Russia, was one tnem.No Nazis or Fascists should be employed by the federal government, was another. Harry Bridges, Australian-born West coast labor leader, should be deported, was a third.

These, too, were turned back, as provisions completely extraneous to the bill. Senator Vandenberg. (R-Mlch.) was next with a proposal that any transfer of defense supplies to other jnatlons first have the approval of the ranking officers of the army and navy. This he called for as protecton against depleting America's own defenses. The amendment was opposed on the ground that it wold give a subordinate of the President power to veto the acts of the commander-in-chief.

Senator Connally (D-Tex.) asked If the senate thought it should give the sergeants power to "tell the captains what to do." The Vandenberg amendment went out thirty-six to forty-five. Then came Senator Danaher (R-Conn.) with a proposal that the bill say specifically that it did not authorize any abridgment of the rights of free speech, or freedom of the press. The administration answer was that the guarantees of the constitution In that respect were sufficient, and Dana-her's amendment was rejected thirty-three to forty-eight. The senate next rejected fifty-four to twenty-eight, a1 proposal by Senator Taft (R-O.) to limit any "defense article" tinder the bill to those or manufactured In the U. Without the aemndment, Taft said, this country might be called upon to "buy Brazilian cotton and send It to England." Majority Leader Barkley said the Taft amendment would block supplies of rubber, tin, and other strategic materials acquired outside the Uni ed States.

It was throughout a remarkably orderly session in view of the freedom with which tempers had flared during the long period of general debate. Usually the voting stage brings an intensification ol any bad spirits which previously had existed. First Night Session But today, and tonight, with the senate holding its first night session on the bill most senators stayed at their places or in nearby senate rooms, and the successive votes came so rapidly that all were surprised. Administration leaders, beaming their pleasure, both at the progress made, and the demonstration of their powerful majority, quickly began figuring on a final vote tomorrow. Their calculations recognized, of (Continued on Page 2, Col.

4) Washington. March 7 (Ph-A re quest to congress for authority to keep the National Guard In ser vice for an additional six months or a year appeared in prospect to day with an official acknowledge ment that such a step was under consideration. The war department; said the request might be made, depending on International developments and the state of national defenses, but stressed that no decision had been reached. President Roosevelt commented that it was all news to him, in response to a press conference question. General George C.

Marshall, war department chief of staff, has expressed doubts that the armed forces will be strong enough to warrant demobilization of 300,000 or more trained and seasoned guardsmen beginning next summer. The National Guard shares with the regular army the burden of training selective service recruits whose mobilization has been de layed by lagging construction of camps and cantonments, upsetting offlcal calculations. A decision on whether to ask authority to keep the guardsmen in uniform longer, than the single year congress authorized last sum mer was said by military men to depend also on changes In Budapest, Hungary, March 7 (T Under 'the big headline "Yugoslavia refuses help from Roosevelt," the Nazi newspaper Magyar-sag printed a dispatch under a Washington" dateline today purporting to disclose that the President had attempted to keep Yugoslavia out of the Axis. The dispatch was credited to "special service," and was the first such "special dispatch" that the paper long in severe financial difficulties ever had carried under a Washington date. "Mr.

Roosevelt promised United States assistance to Yugoslavia the same day that Draglsa Cvetkovlc and Alksandef Cincar-Markovlc (the Yugoslavian premier and foreign minister) were received at the Berghof (Adolf Hitler's chalet) by Hitler," "special dispatch said. (Constantin) Fotlch, the Yugoslavian minister to Washington, was summoned Feb. by urgent telephone call to go to the home of Mr. Sumner Welles (the U. undersecretary of state) where he was given a personal message from Mr.

Roosevelt." The story, which was snatched up by DNB, the official German news agency, and spread throughout Europe, continued: "Mr. Fotitch wen to the rendes-rous and was informed that it was time to tell the Prince Regent and.