Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 1

ft I It fill itii ifeta i The Weather Generally fair and cooler today and Thursday; higher humidity; northwest' wind off coast. Max. Temp. 82, llin. 46.

River 4 ft. Southwest wind. Football Finals Look first to The States is: man for first accounts of the games and scores daring the big 1930 gridiron wars now resuming over 'the country. 1631 EIGHTY-NINTH YEAR BaJem, Oregon, Wednesday Morning, September 27, 1939 Price Newsstands 5c No. 158 fried.

ie Broken hy mi ha jr i iiii i POUNDDD IT rs is. Hblei A hndjiitkFores.eeh Saar Blasted in 1 Defenses STORM-WRECKED SHIP CREW SWIMS ASHORE During British Ships All Fight in Sub Campaign Nation's Merchantmen Join Navy in War, Churchill Says Admiralty Chief Reports Convoy System in Full Operation A- Germans Feverishly Hasten to Cover Vulnerable Spot as Artillery Protects From Attack Poilus Seep Through to Shadow of Siegfried Wall in 30 Mile Drive in Other Sector PARIS, Sept. 27-( Wednesday )-(JT)-rrench artillery was reported today to have blasted a hole in the Siegfried line fortifications between Merzlg and Saarbrnecken. Dispatches said the entire French-German frontier, between the borders of neutral Luxembourg and Switzerland, blazed with artillery fire. These advices said heavy German coonterfire on advanced French positions in the Saar and Palatinate regions was designed to protect feverish- efforts by German troops to rebuild shat-tejted blockhouses backing their line from Merzlg to Saar-brueeken a distance of about 20 miles.

BASEL, SWITZERLAND, forces were reported in advices At least 85 persons were believed drowned in the Pacific ocean near Los Angeles In the violent rain and wind storm wbich roared out of the tropics Sunday following southern California's recent deadly heat wave. Dramatic picture above shows members of the crew of the fishing barge Minnie A. Cain swimming ashore after the craft was beached off Santa Monica in a 60-mile gale. Off Oxnard, CaL, meantime, a sport fishing boat capsized, drowning 24 persons Two were saved. (UN photo.) i attained a number of limited objectives set at the beginning' of a series of attacks launched Saturday along a 40-mile stretch of the western front.

Only before the towns of Zwejbruecken and Pirmasjns, in the central sector 15 and 30 miles east of the industrial town of Saarbruecken, were the French attacks said to have been thwarted by the Germans. The central area was reported to have been the scene First American Visits Famed Siegfried Line Lochner, With Other Newspapermen, Conducted Into hig Defense Works; Concludes Break-Through Would Be Attained Only hy Heavy Losses (Louis P. Lochner, chief of the Berlin bureau of The Associated Press and a 1938 Pulitzer prize winner, was taken today on a 200-mile tour of sections of Germany's Siegfried line and along the Belgium-Luxembourg border. This is his story of what lie saw on the first tour by newspaper correspondents to that part of the western front. His tour tomorrow will take him dose to Qm French lines.) By LOUIS P.

LOCHNER WITH THE GERMANY ARMY ON THE WESTERN Hitler Weighs 'Ultimatum' to Allied Powers Western Situation Is Irksome; May Ask -if War Is Aim Fuehrer Back in Berlin Hears Warsaw Holding Although Stormed BERLIN, Sept. 26-)-Adolf Hitler returned to Berlin tonight to concentrate his energies on the war on the western front while his foreign minister prepared to leave for Moscow to discuss po litical Questions" arising from the German Soviet Russian occupa tlon of Poland. The fuehrer, self-styled first soldier of Germany, had been absent, from his Berlin chancellery since he joined his troops in the east on September 8, the day Britain and France declared war on Germany. The taking of Warsaw appeared to be the most serious business remaining in the east. A commi-que today said German forces had started to storm the city after failing to win a negotiated surrender.

"German PaUence" Near Snapping Point Hints were heard, meanwhile, that "German patience." about which Hitler speaks frequently, was approaching the exhaustion point oyer the situation along the Western front and at sea and that England soon would be called npon to declare positively whether she wants war or peace. Today's military communiques mentioned only artillery fire and minor scouting operations on the western front. In official quarters It was point ed out that Germany thus far has not recognized a state of war be tween her and England and France, but it was expected in many quarters that the German attitude toward the western opponents soon would be clarified. There were informal reports in Informed quarters, but without official substantiation, that an ultimatum to England either to make war or peace was among suggestions being weighed by the German government. Hitler was represented as being particularly exercised over the British sea blockade of Germany which Germany calls a war on women and children.

France Disperses Com, nunist Party Outlawing Believed Reply to Russian Tactics Toward Poland PARIS, Sept. 26-OP) The French government today outlawed the communist party in France in what political circles interpreted as an answer to soviet Russia's lineup with Germany and invasion of Poland. The severe decree adopted by Premier Daladler's war cabinet also meant the end of all the party's affiliates and banned commu nist propaganda in France. Pen alties not yet revealed were pro vided for violations. The action had been foreshadowed by suppression of the news papers, L'Humanite and Co Soir, dismissal of communists from par liamentary committees and a break between the communists and the General Confederation of Labor.

FRONT, Sept 26 (AP) German officers told me on a tour of the German border facing Belgium and Luxembourg today that their preparations had left nothing undone to Duel Sept. 26 (AP) French reaching Basel today to have. of heavy German counterattack thisf afternoon following three days of stubborn German resistance to the French attacks. Village Control Changes Times Dispatches reaching Basel said the "fighting had been so intense between small, picked forces since Saturday that the village of Bottenbach, just north of the frontier between Pirmasena and Zwejbruecken, had changed hands five times. BASEL, Wondering for three weeks whether it would hear a shot; or see action on the hereto- fore; dormant Rhine-front, stretching north of the city, both saw and heard today.

A French plane flew over the German side of the frontier nearby, apparently to see how far it could go. The French plane winged its way about a quarter of a mile over nazi territory, then circled back, then turned over the border again. French Active In Air War Its second sortie across the bor der brought such a concerted burst of German anti-aircraft fire tun; muusaiiuB ui aeci ttmeui scrambled to rooftops in anticipa tion; of witnessing their first air battle. roared into sight, crossed the-Rhine and escorted the plane safely back to the French side. PARIS, Sept.

26-CP-French Infantry, edging forward under cover of a heavy artillery barrage, were said by military sources to have hit Germany's main Siegfried line through a salient formed at Hornbach on the western front. These sources described the bat tle this way: German big guns replied to the French barrage with blasting fire, sending shells screaming into the wooded hills and steep ravines southeast of the German town Zwelbruecken. Overhead French and German air forces clashed, the French holding their own against superior numbers. Surprise Attack By Nazis Turned Despite violent German reac tion the French succeeded in consolidating the Hornbach salient, which was one of the most impor- (Turn to Page 2, Col. 8.) 1 Seaplane Attacks Dutch Air Liner AMSTERDAM, Sept, 26-P-Aa unidentified seaplane, attacking from! the rear, killed a passenger aboard a Dutsch K.L.M.

airliner off the German fortified island of -Helgplund today while eight other passengers sat calmly unaware. Then the seaplane flew off toward Germany. The assailant's fire continued for five minutes, a member of the transport's crew reported. One bullet throuh the back of his chair killed a Swede named Lamm. In all.

fifteen bullet holes were found in the plane. Other passengers however, did not notice the attack. The neutral plane bore; the name "Holland" painted in large' letters on both sides. BERLIN, Sept. 26-(ffr-An official announcement late tonight said a Netherlands commercial airplane flying over the.

North sea near Helgoland was shot at by German aviators but managed to continue its flight The statement said the "regrettable incident" occurred because the attacked plane resembled a typej of enemy aircraft and had no distinguishing marks visible aK. a long Von Ribbentro Visiting Slavs' Leaders Today Second History Making Parley May Mean Military Pact -1 Soviet Sore at Estonia for Sheltering Sub in Her Waters MOSCOW, Sept. Russia announced tonight the expected arrival of German Foreign Minister Joachim Von Rlbbentrop tomorrow for a second history- making visit which diplomatic quarters predicted might lead to a Russian-German military pact. At the same time the govern ment lifted the veil on mysterious negotiations with neighboring Estonia by charging that country was harboring unknown submarines in her Baltic waters. Tass, soviet official news agency, announced Von Rlbbentrop was coming at Moscow's invitation "to discuss with the government of the soviet union problems connected with developments in Poland." Non-Aggression Pact Follow-up Seen Some observers expressed the belief that Von Rlbbentrop was following up his August 23 visit, when he signed the German-Russian nonaggression pact, to negotiate a military pact between the two gdvernments.

The accusation against Estonia was included In a communique which said negotiation! had begun with Estonia when her explanation of the escape of the Interned Polish submarine Orzel proved "unsatisfactory." The submarine made a dash to freedom from Tallinn, Estonia. Sept. 18 after having taken ref-ge in the Jiarbor there. The Estonian government said the craft escaped under fire but Russia accused the Tallinn regime of "abetting." i i In view of dissatisfaction at the Estonian explanation, the soviet communique tonight said the negotiations were opened "regarding measures ensuring the security of soviet waters against diver-sionist acts on the part of foreign submarines hiding In Baltic wa- The i communique said that according to 'the Estonian account, the submarine was damaged when It entered Tallinn harbor, and added that "it is Incomprehensible how, under the circumstances" it could have escaped. Submarine Is Refueled And Repaired, Charge "It la Relieved almost verisimilar (having the appearance of trr.th) that In Tallinn the submarine was repaired and.

probably provided with fuel," the communique said. "Bearing in mind that according to a report from Leningrad, periscopes of unknown submarines were lighted today at two spots in the area of Luca bay, one can arrive at the conclusion that some unknown submarines have a secret base somewhere near the Estonian coast. "In consequence of these circumstances the question of ensuring the security of soviet waters against dlverslonlst acts on the part of 1 i submarines acquires great importance. Soviet Seize 1 More of Poland A soviet high command com munique meanwhile said soviet troops advancing towards the Ger man-Russian demarcation line in Poland occupied a number of additions 1 towns on a line running southwest from Ballystok. Thirty trainloads of Polish troops numbering about 25,000 were said to have been seized between Brest Litovsk and Voldava.

Moscow tonight was a center of European diplomatic activity with i Von Ribbentrop's arrival awaited. the presence of Turkey's foreign Sukru Saracoglu and the expected return of Karl Selter. Estonian foreign minister who suddenly left Moscow yesterday 1 after arriving only Sunday night for mysterious negotiations. The Intentions of soviet Russia toward Estonia, and toward Bessarabia, incorporated Into Rumania after the World war, aroused intense speculation in foreign quarters at the red army In Poland neared the lines of demarcation arrived with Germany. Premier Kaarel Eenpaul of Es tonia, declared through his secre- tary, he was confident soviet Russia would respect Estonia's neu- trallty.

The spokesman refused to comment on reports negotiations over possible trade and nonaggression acta were not going well. ma Mid Estonian officials were not aware of any- special soviet 1 troop movements near Estonia borders. California Storo. Deaths Mounting 100 May Be Counted Lost if Fears Realized on Unreported Craft LOS ANGELES, Sept. Deaths resulting from the tropical storm along Southern California's coast may approach 100 if the fierce gales of Sunday sank any appreciable number of the numer ous small ocean-going craft still missing or unreported today.

More than two dozen boats. mostly pleasure cruisers and yachts, had not been heard from since the storm broke. Aboard these craft were parties ranging from two to ten persons each. Best available information Indicated the average number was at least four or five persons. Alreay dead or believed dead were more than 35 persons, most of whom perished in boat wrecks.

These include 24 lost when the fishing boat Spray capsized near Oxnard. At least 14 boats are known to have been sunk or wrecked. The US coast guard began a systematic search today from Santa Barbara to San Diego for missing craft along the beaches, In coves and on island shores. Several pleasure boats previous- listed as missing were reported safely moored today. After leaving probably more than $1,000,000 damage under cloudy skies, and a new all-time rainfall record for September, the Storm practically ended today.

(Turn to Page 2, Col. 5.) Tiny Salem Boat Puts Into Trisco SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 26-UP) -John Osland, 22, Salem, lone mariner who sailed his homemade 21-foot ketch Talubus from Coos bay to San Francisco, said today light winds were responsible for his prolonged 18-day trip. Osland arrived last night and furled his sails today off Belve dere, across the bay from San Francisco. A 40-mile an hour gale kept Osland busy for two days, but otherwise he was plagued by faint breezes and one day made only four miles "Otherwise, I had no trouble.

said the calm-voiced sailor. "I took thing sas they came." Osland built the Talubus at Sa lem and sailed Oregon inland riv ers before he attempted the trip down the coast. He said he wanted to sell the boat here, but after that his plans were indefinite. LONDON, Sept 26-3)-Great Britain's first lord of the admiralty, Winston Churchill today told the nation that enemy submarines were being checked with greater success than in the world war and that the empire's merchant marine was being armed for a fight that "is only Just beginning." Speaking in the house of commons immediately after Prime Minister Chamberlain had made his fourth report on the war's pro gress, Churchill stole the show from his chief. He declared that Britain had seiied more German cargo than she had lost to submarines.

British losses have been reduced from 65,000 tons in the first week of war to 46,000 tons in the second week; 21,000 in the third and only 9000 in the past six days, he said. Overwhelming Naval Power to Prevail Chamberlain added "a word of warning against over-optimism' but expressed belief Britain's sea power eventually would cripple German ability to prolong hostili ties. The first lord of the admiralty, back in his world war post, also added the caution that "we must not dwell upon these reassuring figures too much We must expect further losses. "The whole vast business of our world-wide trade continues with' out Interruption or appreciable diminution. Great convoys of ships are escorted to their destinations and enemy ships of commerce (Turn to Page Col.

1) Grid Fans' Train Wrecked, Two Die Engine Crew Victims; 100 TCU Rooters Escape on Journey West MILLSAP, Sept. 26-0T)-A Texas and Pacific train bearing Texas Christian university football fans to Los Angeles was wrecked near here early tonight, killing the engineer and conductor, and injuring the fireman. None of the passengers was re ported seriously injured. The dead: Leonard J. Perry, engineer.

Fort Worth. M. McNeely, conductor. Fort Worth. J- B.

Hammer, 55, the fireman, was taken to a hospital at Wea- therford, where his injuries were said to be not serious. More than 100 persons, includ ing the Texas Christian university band, were aboard the special. which was to have picked np the university football team at Sweetwater, where the squad had gone on a regular train earlier in the afternoon, and stopped for a workout. The wreck, cause of which had not been determined, occurred three miles southeast of Millsap. The engine and baggage cars were almost demolished.

The diner and most of the remaining six Pullmans and lounge car, turned on an angle on their sides. The fans were en route to the season's grid opener at Los Ange les Friday between UCLA and TCU. War Briefs BUDAPEST, Sept. 27-(Wednesday (JP) Warsaw's dogged defenders called upon again today to surrender to "save the lives of your women and child- The call went out at 7 a. m.

(1 a. EST) from a German radio station broadcasting on the wave length of the now -silent Warsaw station on the 20th day of Warsaw's siege. The command of the Polish capital's defense was condemned in this broadcast for "permitting the city to be destroyed and Its citizens killed. The German annoancer added: "The German staff deeply regrets the needless destruction of so many people, bat ft Is entirely dne to the obstlnancy of the resistance. (A German communique yesterday said that a big scale assault to crush the Warsaw defense had been launched.) LIVINGSTON, Mont, Sept.

26 -WVAn uncensored letter from England to a Livingston school teacher said the Bremen, pride of the German merchant marine, was captured by the British navy and (Torn to Page 2, CoL 2). 3' smash any attempt of Britain or France to break through these neutral countries. But from the German side of the border I saw no signs that these two countries were making preparations which might; indicate fear of German attack. American Treads Together with two other Amer ican, one Netherlands, one Norwegian and one Finnish newsmen, was able today to go where no Americans hitherto have set foot on the Siegfried line for 200 miles from Cologne- to Trier and more particularly on 100 miles of German soil directly and Immediately along the Belgium-Luxembourg frontier. More than that, we were taken into the depths of that gigantic fortification and were shown things that, according to conser vative estimates, not more than 100 living persons have seen to such an extent and -over such a vast space.

We drove along roads skirting the Belgium frontier within 10 feet. Along 100 miles of the Bel-(Turn to Page 2, Col. 4) Silverton Child's Death Is Probed Trace of Arsenic Is Shown by Autopsy, Trooper Captain Reports Captain Walter Lansing of the state police disclosed here last night that an investigation was being made of the death of Mary Ann Silverton child, in a Portland hos pital Sunday night. An autopsy performed in Port land "showed the presence: of a small amount of arsenic- in the body," Captain Lansing reported. State troopers and District At torney Lyle J.

Page spent several hours yesterday in Silverton in connection with the investigation, Page said he was awaiting a de tailed report from autopsy sur geons, i The little girl was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Summerfleld, who moved to Sil verton from North Bend follow ing her birth In July, 1938.: Also surviving is a brother, Robert. 40th Portland Victim PORTLAND, Ore- Sept. 26-CF) -Portland recorded its 40th traffic fatality of the year tonight when Mrs." Anna Hummer4, 67, succumbed to injuries suffered when struck by a car on South east 82nd avenue.

Elma Long- well, 22, the victim's granddaugh ter was walking with her at the time and suffered leg and arm Injuries. Patrolman H. Steven- son. who Investigated, exonerated the driver. Shade Pulled On Sea Fight British', French, Nazis Silent on Reports off Norway Area COPENHAGEN, Sept.

t6-(-The situation off the Norwegian coast for the last 24 hours or more remained a mystery tonight, in the absence of British, French or German confirmation of reports telling of a "naval battle." The latest reported action was between noon and 1:40 p.m. and 4:40 a.m. PST) today, off Lister Fjord in southern Norway. Inhabitants of that region said they clearly saw three warships, two submarines and smaller war- craft and heard between 30 and 40 shots and the drone of airplane motors. They said eight or ten merchant vessels steamed toward shore dur ing the The mystery deepened when newspapermen at Farsund, near Lister, questioned by i telephone Copenhagen, said police had forbidden them to tails to any points outside Norway.

The Norwegian admiralty discounted any connection between sounds resembling gunfire heard yesterday off Bergen and ships reported maneuvering offshore. An official statement said dynamiting in necessary works on nearby islands caused the explosions and concussions heard and felt in the area. Hopgrowers' Vote Rejects Changes WASHINGTON. Sept. agriculture department announced today that growers of hops in Oregon, California and Washington rejected amendments to a federal marketing program affecting their crop.

The amendments, submitted to a grower referendum earlier this month, received 65 per cent of the 445 'votes. A favorable two-thirds majority was necessary. The amendments included: A redefinition of the term "grower-dealer" so as to exclude from this classification growers who handle only hops' of their own production, and 1 provision making applicable to 1938 crop hops the 1939 allotment of a grow er. If such grower's 19S9 production could not equal his 1939 i of senate opponents repealing the embargo at which it was de cided to concentrate upon the em bargo Issue alone and exclude from the debate Other questions presented by the administration neutrality bill. Besides the embargo repealer, the administration bill contains clauses forbidding American ships to carry goods to belligerents and banning loans to them.

Ninety-day commercial credits would be per mltted in the president's discre tion, .1 his press conference today. President Roosevelt said he conld not i explain the 90-day credit It was a complicated question, he said, on which he. had. as yet, no knowledge. Swedish Protest Handed Germany Rap on Sinking of Ships Believed Pressure to Gain Safeguards COPENHAGEN, Sest.

Sweden protested to Germany today' against the sinking of two ships In what diplomatic observers here believed to be the forerunner of pressure by neutral northern countries for an early agreement on the future of their marl- time commerce. The Swedish ships and two Fin nish ships were sunk within the past week by, their crews said, German submarines. Finland lodged a protest In Ber lin Saturday. Three of the ships were carrying wood pulp to England. Sweden was expected by informed Danish sources to take the lead in seeking a settlement with Germany regarding sea trade, since Germany gets more than 70 per cent of her ore requirements from Sweden.

Some observers said Sweden could halt all exports until negotiations with Germany were com pleted. Theatre Strike Averted HOLLYWOOD. Sept. threatened strike of X00.000 theater workers in the United States, set for noon today, was averted when' motion picture producers agreed to a 10 per cent wage Increase for studio craftsmen. Club Invitation Four bands will parade the streets: the Salem high school band directed by Vernon Wiscar-son, the Willamette -university band directed by Ralph Nohlgren, the Master Bread band directed by Joseph Hassenstanb and the Salem Municipal band directed by H.

N. Stoudenmeyer. Theatres will join in presenting special, attractions Thursday night and the official Fall Opening with both old time and modern orchestras playing, will be held at Crystal Gardens from 9 m. to midnight. The Ad club departed from Us past Fall Opening custom of night features only after observing.

the success of all-day opening pro- grams conducted In Portland, Chi- cago and other large Come Early, Window Shop Al Smith Comes to Aid of FDR Neutrality; Speech Set Late9 Is Ad Believers in bargains, members of the Salem Ad club will offer Salem, Marion and Polk county window shoppers a day-long eyeful of autumn merchandise Opening day. WASHINGTON, SepL 26--Alfred E. Smith, often a bitter critic of the Roosevelt administration, has come to the president's assistance on the neutrality question, it was announced today, and will present his views in a radio speech next The Columbia broadcasting system said Smith "plans to support President Roosevelt's proposals," which include the highly controversial point of repealing the present embargo on shipments of arms, ammunition and Implements of war to the Europeans belligerents. The radio speech is to be made at 4 p.m. PST, under the auspices of union for concerted peace efforts, Thjs word came simultaneous-.

ly today. with' a strategy-. meeting Men and women, boys and gins may come early and stay late at this year's "opening" because it will start at i o'clock In the morning and last until midnight. That's the Ad club bargain nine hours of Fall Opening, with its myriad enticing window and shop displays, more than has been offered in years past when the program did not begin until nightfall. The daytime program will consist of unveiling of spectacularly decorated store windows at a.m., style shows In several leading business places, special features In all participating ho i and music- i.