Bradford Evening Star and The Bradford Daily Record from Bradford, Pennsylvania • Page 1

LIBRARY MUSE HARRISBURG, PA. BRADFORD EVENING STAR w. fair and con- International News Service Weather: tinued cool tonight and Friday. and BRADFORD DAILY RECORD and United Press Ass'ns Leased Wires XXXII. NO.

85. "Read With Assurance" BRADFORD, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 9, 1940. For Accuracy" PRICE THREE CENTS Duce Maintains Strict Silence On War Plans Avoids All Reference To Foreign Situation In Army Day Address ROME, May 9 (UP) Premier Benito Mussolini made an "army day" appearance on the balcony of Venice palace today and climaxed Italy's war preparations and her long and bitter antiallied press and radio campaign by telling a cheering crowd: "You must get accustomed to my silence." The crowd shouted "Tunisia!" referring to Italy's claims on French Tunisia, and set up a terrific din, expecting to hear some vital statement on the international situation. but Mussolini only said: "As for the past month, you must get accustomed to my silence. Only will break my silence." Avoids Comment on Rumors Rumors here and abroad for a week that the Allies were getting ready to strike in the Mediterranean: the recalling of British merchant ships from the sea: predictions by lesser Fascist leaders that Italy's hour of destiny was almost at hand and that when she went to war it most certainly would be on Germany's side; sharp denunciations of Britain and France by the press and radio: the maneuvering of the Italian fleet at full battle strength all failed to draw any comment from Mussolini.

The occasion was the fourth anniversary of the founding, with the entrance of the Italian army in Addis Ababa, of the new Italian empire. It also was army day, and had been started off with morning newspaper editorials praising the power and efficiency of the army and saying that Italians would not remain passive forever in the face of European events. 75,000 Hear Address There were 75,000 persons in the Venice square to hear Mussolini and watch him present gold medals to 37 mothers, wives and sweethearts of Italian soldiers killed in Ethiopia, Spain and Albania. Of the occasion, Mussolini said: "A glorious day in the history of our nation is May 9. 1936.

It was a day of sun-flooded victories." A group of more than 1.000 students, that had led the cheering. broke away and paraded the streets toward the German consulate. shouting: "Heil Hitler! Down with England and France! Down with democracy! Tunisia! Tunisia!" The leaders wore Fascist student uniforms. They carried Fascist and Italian flags. They stopped once before a cafe and had the orchestra there play Fascist hymns.

Mussolini, meanwhile, was getting an ovation from the crowd in the square. The cries of "Tunisia Tunisia!" were unique in that they were shouted without the accompanying cries of "Corsica" and sometimes "Savoy," other Italian demands on France. As soon as the uniformed group started shouting "Tunisia," the cry was picked up by the crowd in the square. Committee Delays Action on Hatch Bill WASHINGTON, May 9 of a scheduled house judiciary committee meeting today delayed further consideration of the Hatch "clean state politics" bill. Chairman Hatton W.

Sumners called off the meeting when arrangements were made for the house to convene at 11 a. instead of noon, its usual meeting time. Rep. Abe Murdock, Utah, was ready to move that the Hatch bill, which would prohibit political activ1ty among state employes paid with federal funds, be reported to the house for a vote. SPCA Asks Injunction To Halt Bombing Test BALTIMORE.

May 9-(INS)-A second attempt was made today to stop Lester P. Barlow, explosives inventor. from carrying out his tests of "mass death" on 250 live goats staked out in a field at Aberdeen proving grounds. The Maryland Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals petitioned Judge C. Gus Grason in Towson court for an injunction to halt the experiment on the goats scheduled for May 16.

Barlow is to demonstrate to government officials the deadliness of his explosive. Judge Grason signed an order giving Barlow until May 15 to answer why an injunction should not be granted. Red Army Boss NEA The unexpected delay of Russia's victory over little Finland was echoed in the appointment yesterday of Marshal Semyon Timoshenko, above, as Soviet war commissar. He replaces Klementi Voroshilov, Red Army chieftain during Russo- Finnish Death Claims Mrs. C.

L. Beck Respected Resident, 88, Dies Following Ill- ness of Three Weeks Mrs. Jennie L. Beck, 88. a highlyrespected resident of this city for the past 56 years, died at her home, 9 Terrace street, at 7:45 a.

m. today. She had been seriously ill for the past three weeks of complications accompanying her advanced age. Born in Brunswick, Germany, June 24, 1851, she came to this country, and to Bradford, 56 years ago. She was the widow of Carl L.

Beck, who died 32 years ago. A member of the Grace Lutheran church, she was active in local public affairs and through her loving personality endeared herself to many. Surviving her are three sons, Oscar F. Beck of Pittsburgh and William and Henry Beck of Bradford; three daughters, Mrs. Jennie Robby and Mrs.

Martha Patterson of Pittsburgh and Mrs. Gretchen Hutchinson of Portland, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, Joyce McKay of Bradford. Funeral services will be held at the McAllister funeral chapel at 2:30 p. m. Saturday.

The Rev. A. A. Kleindienst, pastor of the Grace Lutheran church, will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.

Friends may call at the McAllister chapel. Norwegian Soldiers Rout Nazi Mine Crew STOCKHOLM, May Norwegian battalion today surprised and put to rout a German detachment busy mining the iron ore railway south of Bjoernfjeld station near the Swedish border. The Nazis already had placed mines along the track and in a nearby tunnel but fled before they had time to detonate them. BPWC TO MEET IN BUFFALO ALBANY, May 21st annual meeting of the New York State Federation of Business and Professional Women's clubs will be held in Buffalo May 23, it was announced today. Five hundred representatives of 47 local units are expected to attend.

Former Utility Head Indicted For Mail Fraud Howard C. Hopson and Associates Accused of Defrauding Investors NEW YORK, May 9-(UP) -Howard C. Hopson, former head of the billion-dollar Associated Gas and Electric Co. system, and three associates were indicted today in mail fraud and conspiracy charges by a federal grand jury which accused them of defrauding investors of more than 000.000. The indictment.

in addition to Hopson, named Charles H. Travis and Garrett A. Brownback, attorneys for the utility empire. and Frederick S. Burroughs, a principal officer of the system.

The indictment contained 18 counts alleging mail fraud and one of conspiracy and each of those named faces if convicted a possible maximum of 92 years in prison and a $28,000 fine. They will be arraigned Tuesday. Hopson Claims Illness Hopson, who presented medical evidence that he was a "mental and physical wreck" in an effort to avoid testifying before the grand jury is alleged to have conceived with his three co-defendants a plan which produced "unlawful profits in excess of $20.000.000." This was done. the government charges, by using his control of Associated to induce the various member companies of the system extending from Canada to Florida, to enter into devious transactions with him for his benefit and to defend him when actions were brought seeking an accounting of his stewardship. Prosecutors said this was the first time that lawyers and 8.

banker (Burroughs) accused of preparing the setup for an asserted fraud had ever actually been indicted along with the principal defendant. Gets $500,000 in Salary Burroughs. according to Assistant United States Attorney Hugh Futon, has received almost $500.000 in salary from Associated since 1932. While he was an officer and stockholder of the former investment banking house of Harris, Forbes and company, he was instrumental in inducing that company to sell more than $400.000.000 of Associated system securities to the public. Associated formerly had more than 200 subsidiary companies, 000 investors and combined assets of $1,300.000.000.

Travis and Brownback are senior partners in the firm of Travis, Brownback and Paxson which is alleged to received between 000.000 000.000 000.000 000.000 $6,000,000 for legal serhave, vices to Hopson and Associated in the past 12 years. Travis alone, according to Fulton, allegedly made more than $1,000,000 while Brownback received "over half a million" above all expenses. Law Firm Accused The lawyers are charged with failing to represent the system in stockholders' actions and with trying instead to assist Hopson to avoid the accounting "for which they knew he was liable." The expenses of these defenses and various settlements made out of court with litigants were charged to the system and thus, it was charged, gas and electric consumers were deprived of the lower rates that might have been ordered by state authorities had a larger profit margin been shown. The story of Hopson's rise was detailed in the indictment and by (Continued on Page 2, Column 4) Nazi Press Charges Miller Murdered by Secret Police BERLIN, May German press, apparently on orders from above, charged today that Webb Miller, European manager of the United Press, had been murdered by the British Secret Service. Miller's body was found alongside a railroad track in suburban London yesterday.

Taking their cue from the official news agency, D. N. which had circulated the charge last night, today's newspapers featured it under sensational headlines. (In London, a spokesman for the foreign office commented on the D. N.

B. charge as follows: "Mr. Webb Miller, who was held great respect and affection in both government and journalistic circles in London, met by accident. It was understood he was traveling home after debate in parliament and, opening the wrong Chamberlain Fights Opponents in Commons House Prepares Aid Bill for Senate Action Dies Ousts Transport Workers' Chief Climax to Wednesday's riotous Dies by police of witness Michael J. Quill, Transport Workers Union, as he Martin Dies and Secrecy Veils U.S.

Diplomacy Roosevelt Issues Flat Denial of Peace Offer To Premier Mussolini WASHINGTON, May 9 (U.P.)., Whatever diplomatic maneuvers this country may be planning remained hidden in official silence today, though President Roosevelt had denied that he offered Premier Benito Mussolini a mediation or peace plan and that Mussolini rejected it. The president and his foreign affairs advisers have been worried for days over signs that the war would spread soon to other nations. But the only official word came last night in what the White House said was a "flat denial" of a newspaper dispatch from Rome. This dispatch said that Mussolini had rejected an offer by Mr. Roosevelt to attempt another peace effort: that the offer had been submitted to Mussolini by U.

S. Ambassador William C. Phillips. Denies Any Peace Move The White House statement said: "The White House tonight flatly denied a press dispatch from Rome, saying in effect that President Roosevelt, acting through Ambassador Phillips, had offered Premier Mussolini a mediation or peace plan which the latter had rejected. "The president authorized issuance by the White House of the following statement: "'The report is completely erroneous.

It has no basis in fact'." The Rome report said that the alleged overture to Mussolini did not contain a specific proposal for peace or mediation, but that only the offer of another peace effort had been made. State department spokesmen said that the White House statement had been intended as a denial of this particular report. Think President Active For a week it has been believed here that President Roosevelt was engaged in some diplomatic maneuver. The belief was based on conferences between Phillips and Mussolini and the fact that many foreign affairs experts have been callers at the White House. Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles has been 8 frequent one, and Welles and Assistant Secretary of State (Continued on Page 13, Column 3) Great Britain Calls New Troops to Colors LONDON, May the presence of the privy council at Buckingham palace, King George VI today signed a proclamation calling up for military service all males from 19 to 36 years old.

The measure, designed to increase Britain's fighting strength and vastly reinforce the armed forces, affects all who today have reached the age of 19 but are not yet 37: in other words, all born between May 10, 1903 and May 9, 1921. It was estimated the proclamation will extend liability for service to more than 2,500,000 in the eight new age groups involved, Solons Advance All Measures Urged By James Senate to Reconvene Monday Night to Eye House-Approved Bills HARRISBURG, May 9 (INS) Opening the third day of the special session, the Republican-controlled house prepared to pass and forward to the senate today Gov. Arthur H. James' entire program, including the deficit appropriation of $71,850,000 for relief. The house will then recess this afternoon until next week, reconvening on Wednesday or Thursday to consider possible senate amendments and a motion to adjourn the legislature sine die.

The senate, which recessed Tuesday after a few brief sessions, will reconvene Monday night to consider the house administration measures. The Republican leadership has indicated it will permit public hearings in the senate on the measures, probably on Tuesday and Wednesday, before final enactment. Some Bills Delayed During seven hours of continuous session yesterday the house gave second reading to all 17 administration measures, placing them in line for third reading and passage late today. Non-administration measures remained pigeon-holed. All Democratic attempts to amend the bills were defeated, but two Republican amendments were adopted.

The first, presented by William E. Habbyshaw, Dauphin, directs the retention of about 40 service employes of the newlyconstructed northwest office building who are under civil service, but transfers supervision of the building from the liquor control board. its occupant, to the department of property and supplies. The second amendment, presented by Charles W. Sweeney, Philadelphia, directs the Pennsylvania turnpike commission to terminate the proposed extension of the Pittsburgh to Harrisburg superhighway at Philadelphia, thus preventing a possible by -pass around the city.

All other amendments went down to defeat. Relief Bill Ready to Pass The measures in line today for house passage are: the $71,850,000 relief bill: extension of the turnpike to Philadelphia at federal expense; transfer of $61,000,000 five state funds, including 000 from the motor fund, to be repaid by June 30, 1941; reduction by $4,419,000 of the 1939-41 budgets of state departments and institutions. Also, transfer of supervision of the northwest office building from the liquor board to the department of property and supplies; revision of the election code to permit the filling of legislative vacancies when the general assembly is in session; appropriation of $1,000.000 to financially-distressed schools; a (Continued on Page 2, Column 6) Rules Blossom Fete 5 Joan Payne, 18-year-old Three Rivers, high school senior, was chosen from a field of 22 comely entrants to rule as queen of Michigan's 18th annual blossom festival in Benton Harbor. French Cabinet Weighs Crisis Premier Expected to Keep Post Regardless Of Chamberlain's Fate PARIS, May 9 (U.P). The French cabinet adjourned at 12:45 p.

m. today after a two-hour and 20-minute discussion of the British cabinet crisis. Premier Paul Reynaud is now believed by French political experts to be in a stronger position regardless of the fate of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's cabinet. Reynaud announced that the cabinet would reconvene at 10 a. m.

Tuesday and that a ministerial council meeting scheduled for 5 p. m. today had been postponed. President Albert Lebrun was to have presided at the ministerial council session. Reynaud Not Censured Reynaud, who must stand censure along with Chamberlain for the failure of the Norwegian campaign, is said to be subject to less criticism than Chamberlain inasmuch as the Norwegian campaign was largely a British venture.

Reynaud, observers reported, has shown exceptional ability as a coordinator and parliamentary trouble fixer and he is expected to weather the present storm, particularly because of the need for immediate Allied action toward taking the initiative in the war. Reynaud's position was further strengthened by the outspoken assurance of former Premier Leon Blum that his Socialist party would continue to support the cabinet. Await British Action Reynaud's postponement of the cabinet meeting was not only for the obvious reason of learning the fate of the Chamberlain government (Continued on Page 13, Column 3) "Good Old Neville" Draws Support from Actor-Cousin NEW YORK, May he first came to this country a year ago Alan Napier's American friends advised him not, for goodness sakes, to mention "that cousin" of his. That cousin was Neville Chamberlain, and the memory of Munich and Prague was fresh in everyone's mind. Since then, however, the British prime minister has taken it on the chin so frequently that Napier decided to "wage the war for good old Neville." Hardly any of the mean things his critics say about Chamberlain are true, Napier asserted in an interview today--least of all the legend that the prime minister's black umbrella is a sort of Freudian symbol of timidity, naivete and arch conservatism.

"He carries an umbrella," Napier said shortly, "simply because he Prime Minister Firm In Decision To Retain Post A committee session was the ejection center, president of C. I. O. shouted his defiance at Chairman the committee. Britain Stiffens Spy Penalties Home Secretary Asks Commons to Approve New Set of Regulations LONDON, May 9-(INS)-Stringent measures against pro-German "fifth columnists" in Great Britain--including the death penalty in some instances -were announced in the house of commons today by Home Secretary Sir John Anderson.

Sir John said the new regulations will include the death penalty in grave cases of espionage and sabotage. He added that the government was introducing four amendments to existing defense regulations "strengthening the hands of authorities to deal with any possible attempt by the enemy to undermine resistance to any attack upon this country." Bill Gets First Reading The house of commons formally gave first reading to the bill to "make further provisions for trial and punishment of treachery." Powers given to the government under the new regulations include internment of non-enemy aliens who ordinarily would be deported, but could not be deported owing to circumstances arising from the war. Seven years imprisonment or a fine of 500 pounds sterling or both are stipulated for any person or organization publishing matter calculated to foment opposition after disregard of a formal warning. The regulations also provide for restriction of entry into Britain from enemy territory of those who technically are British subjects but who have no close connection with British interests and for detention of any suspect pending examination of his credentials. Also provided for is restriction of suspect aliens to residence within a specified area.

Control Printing Presses Sir John announced that it would be considered an indictable offense (Continued on Page 13, Column 3) Sweden Seeking Soviet Trade Pact MOSCOW. May 9 The Swedish government is sounding out the Soviet government on the prospects of a trade agreement and a Swedish trade mission is expected in Moscow shortly, a reliable authority reported today. The Swedish government, the informant said, is seeking to develop the Soviet market as well as obtain foodstuffs and oil. Sweden Sets Mines STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May (U.P) Sweden has mined the entire island area off Stockholm inside Swedish territorial waters in order to relieve the neutrality guard, Vice Admiral C. F.

Tamm, commander in chief of the navy, announced last night. Extensive areas on the west coast had been mined previously. Slim Confidence Vote Interpreted as Defeat For Leader of Cabinet LONDON, May 9-(UP) The House of Commons broke into uproar today when Robert Boothby, conservative, told Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain that his government as at present constituted did not possess the confidence of the country in sufficient degree. Chamberlain had indicated, his presence in the house and by a promise to agree to debates or 1 war policy after a Whitsuntide recess, that he intended to fight it out against his opponents and remain in office despite the narrow confidence vote which he obtained last night after the bitter two day debate on the Norwegian campaign. The vote had been interpreted as a defeat rather than as a victory, Disagree on Adjournment Chamberlain had proposed an adjournment until May 21, Boothby, with the support of some other dissidents, proposed an adjournment only until next Tuesday in view of the international situation.

Boothby recalled that government speakers told the house yesterday that the strategic situation was serious. "There is no use pretending that the situation has not been aggravated by what took in this house yesterday," he "We are place. not confronted with a serious tion at home." Laborite Clement Davies supported Boothby, and demanded reconstruction of the government. "At any moment there may be new thrust," he said. "Holland 1s waiting, not knowing when its hour of destiny may arrive.

The same applies to Belgium." The house rang with angry shouts when Boothby made his "no confidence" statement. Chamberlain Sits Tight Chamberlain sat tight. It was evident that whatever happened, whether Chamberlain reorganized his battered ministry or whether at some time he gave way to another man, Britain had now made up its mind, in its deliberate way, to face the war squarely and fight it to the end of all its resources and all its strength. In commons, Sir John Anderson, home secretary and home defense minister, had announced that the government would ask passage of legislation to cope with any attack on the country. King George had signed a proclamation making an additional 500.000 men liable for military service.

Many people, including well informed commons members, had been convinced that Chamberlain would resign, perhaps today, But as commons opened he told Maj. Clement Attlee, labor party leader, that the government was ready to debate conduct of the war when the house reassembled after its recess and would agree to a secret session on economic warfare. He announced the commons legislative program for the next session, as if he intended to remain in door on the railway carriage, WAS instantly killed by a train approaching on another line. His death is mourned in London where he had a host of friends and not the in government circles who had least reason over a number of years to appreciate him not only as a fine correspondent but as a warm Zwoelf Uhr Blatt said: "Secret Service against the U. S.

murder of the chief correspondent of American news agency Webb Miller was too critical of the government. He was made to 'fall out' of a train." The Boersen Zeitung, in a special edition, said: "If any further proof were needed of the nervousness which is overtaking leading English circles, it is given by the treacherous murder of Miller. In their perplexity, Miller was too dangerous for the London clique." (Continued on Page 2, Column 6) doesn't want to get wet when it rains, a thing that frequently happens in my country." Napier, 37, and an actor, is a native of Chamberlain's home town, Birmingham, and is the prime minister's first cousin once removed. He is making his first American theatrical appearance, with Gladys George in "Lady in Waiting." All of Chamberlain's so-called mistakes mistakes--appeasement, the "sacrifice of Poland, the Norwegian fiasco -were the inevitable results of Great Britain's lack of preparedness, Napier said, and should be blamed on circumstances which the Chamberlain government inherited from preceding ones. "If he weathers his present difficulties and remains in office until the end of the war," the actor said, true greatness will manifest itself." Dies Probers Delay Showdown With Quill WASHINGTON, May Dies committee today postponed until next week a showdown with fiery, Trish, Michael J.

Quill, head of the Transport Workers Union, on whether he will be permitted to resume testimony in answer to charges that he and his union are Communist-dominated. Committee members said a heavy legislative program in the House caused a scheduled session on the Quill controversy to be deferred. Shouting defiance, the former New York city councilman was forcibly ejected from the committee room yesterday. Today he declared he had not retreated one whit from his position..