davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
The Far East Crisis
International News service


WASHINGTON-Secretary Of State Hull prepared
sfy worded note Of protest, demanding complete salts
faction for the outrage and conferred with President
Roosevelt Of action
Dispatch of part of the United States fleet to the Far
East regarded possibility today as stern action
planned in retaliation for the sinking Of the u S. gun
boat Panay and three American oil vessels by Japanese
airpanes Marking
SHANGHAI-At least IA persons of the 70 aboard the
Panay still unaccouned for One sailor was dead
and Is wounded Punishment of the fers in three Japa
planes who bombed the American ships by mistake"
promised but gravity of the situation was increased
by japanese ban all foreign ship movements in the
Yangtze The British ship Bee reported here it had
cued from Hoshien where they had taken refuge under
whitening machine gun fire. most of the 54 American sur
vivors of the bombing.
neutrality-suspicious. relations were strained with
renewed suggestions that the British ambassador be re-
called from Tokyo. ''..
ToKYo-Japan strove to keep the incident from pro-
voking joint action by America and Britain Foreign Min
lister Hora personally apoogized to Ambassador Sir
Robert Craige for last week bombing of H. NJ S. Lady
bird.
VATICAN CITY-Addressng five new cardinals Pope
Plus depored the SnoJapanese conflict and the damage
it has caused to the Catholic church.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
AutOist Dies
OF Exposure
In Virginia

Believed to be the viCsim of ex-
posure, the body Of Elton L. San
ford, 81, of 462 F St. S. W., was
found in his car parked in the
300 block South Patrick st., Alex
andria, today.
Sanford was formerly a brake
man employed at the Potomac
Yards. Residents said they
noticed the car parked about $50
o'clock yesterday afternoon, but
did not notice the body.
This morning Mollie Pickerell,
S35 South Patrick St., noticed the
body slumped over the wheel and
called the police, who found San
ford had been dead several hours.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
'Meanest Thief
Takes Lunch Coins

Police today were searching for
an unknown claimant to the title
Of "meanest thief who broke into
a Peoples Drug Store at 6O4 Ninth
st. N. W., early today and stole
a number of milk bottles contain.
ing coins donated for the school
children's luncheon fund. A quaint
ity Of cigarettes, valued at $3.50,
was also stolen. Entrance to the
store was gained by forcing a rear
door and cutting a hole through
a basement partition.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
NANKING FALLS |PANAY BOMBING
TO JAPANESE REFUGEES SAVED

SHANGHAI, Dec. 13 Q.NSO.
Fighting desperately through
streets red with blood and charred
with flame, Japan's army COM
pleted the conquest of Marking at
sunset, communique issued to-
night by Lieut.. Gen. Iwane Mat
sui, Japanese commander, said.
With an immense toll of dead
and wounded inflicted on the stub
born Chinese defenders, the me.
chanized forces of Nippon seized
the capitals city hall and and
raised the Rising Sun flag.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Baby Bond Sales
Pass Billion Mark

QN.SO Sales Of Government
baby" bonds have passed the
$1,000, 100000 mark, with more
than 100000 investors owning
this type Of security. the Treasury
reported today. Up to Saturday,
cash sales of savings bonds
totalled 81. .OOO,566.1s1. These bonds
have a maturity value of $1,334,-
100000 since they are sold to in.
vestors at one-third discount.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
SUPREME COURT
BACKSTREASURY
ON COLD BONDS

QN.S). In a decision which
provoked bitter dissent. the SUI
preme Court today ruled that the
Treasury can call ''gold clause"
bonds in advance of maturity. and
thus avoid possible huge future
losses as the result Of initiation.
The high court ruled that the
Treasury had the legal right to
call ''gold clause" bonds In all:
the Treasury has called s8,S49,-
100000 in advance of maturity.
CALLS CONTESTED
The issue arose out of suits in
which the Dixie Terminal Co., of
Cincinnati, contested right of the
Government to make the call.
The plain purpose Of the Treas.
ury, they contended, was to re-
place all gold clause" bonds with
bonds payable in paper currency
only-and thus avoid the loss Of
billions if the Government resorts
to initiation.
COURT SPLITS, 6 TO3
The court split, 6 to 3, with
Justices McReynoldS, Sutherland
and Butler dissenting.
In a vigorous dissent, Justice
McReynolds charged the Treasury
with dishonesty" in calling the
bonds and refusing to pay in gold,
as provided in TIE bonds.
The high court, while ruling that
the bonds could be called. eSpe-
cially avoided a decision on the
question whether the bond holder
can sue for damages for failure Of
the government to pay in gold..
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Cigarette Blamed
For Mans Death

PRINCETON, N. j., Dec. 13
U.N.SO.-An unnoticed shoulder
ing cigarette was blamed today
for the Princeton University
campus fire which asphyxiated
Lawrence H. Clark, 81, after he
had warned other students that
fire had broken out in his room.
Authorities believed he became
confused and lost his way in
clouds of smoke. His body was
found wedged behind a bureau in
the room of Richard B. Duane,
jr., of Locust, N. J.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13

SHANGHAI. Dec. 13 G.Ns).
With at least is wounded and all
suffering from privation and
shock, most of the 54 known sur
vivors of the United States gum
boat Panay and three Standard,
vacuum oil tankers, destroyed by
Japanese bombs, were safe aboard
the British patrol boat H. M. s.
Bee tonight.
Editors Note-This message,
radioed by the Bee, was believed
to be later information tnsn ad-
vices received by the State De-
partment in Washington)
One passenger and one crew
member from the Panay were
known to be missing, and one
sailor was dead.
Under constant fire as the jap
anese army bore down on Hoshien.
and weak with a days exposure
to the bitter Chinese winter, the
Americans lay huddled in the
marshes along the Yangtze until
picked up by the Bee.
Sinking of the four ships, the
admitted work of three Japanese
airplaneS, brought an avalanche
OF apologies from highest Japar
Continued on Page 3, Col A.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Boy Dies, 60 Flee
Apartment Fire

DETROIT, Dec. 13 Q.N.S0-A
four-year-old boy was burned to
death today in an apartment
house fire that drove 60 men,
women and children to the street
in their night clothing. Max
Willie. jra was found suffocated
and badly burned in his room
after firemen rescued his parents
from the roof Of the building,
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Land
On British Soil

HONGKONG, Dec. l3. QNSJ.
Adding to Anglo-Japanese friction.
military authorities here con-
firmed today that party of Japa-
nese had landed at Patkok, on
British territory, Saturday. The
Japanese were said to have been
pursuing Chinese junk men.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Justice CardOzO
Is I'll With Grippe

QN.S) Associate Justice Ben
jamin N. Cardozo Of the United
Supreme Court was confined to
his home here today with an at
tack of grippe.
Although not seriously i'll, it was
stated Justice Cardozo would be
absent from his court duties for q
week.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Gambling Raids
Net SO in New York

NEW YORK, Dec. 13 Q.N.S0 e.
Again swooping down on gam.
bling and vice resorts in a week.
end raiding tour, detectives
rounded up 90 persons here.
Gambling devices in five establish.
mentS were demolished.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Misses Panay Trip
And Possible Death

SHANGHAI, Dec. 13 GNSO.
One American was believed today
to have escaped possible death
aboard the American gunboat
Panay by insisting upon remain
ing in Marking to face the perils
of battle n the bomb-blasted Chi
neSe capital. He was Arthur
Menken, a representative of a news
reel concern.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13

garding the Far Eastern crisis, For
Isign Secretary Eden told the House
of Commons today.
MAY RECALL ENVOY
Talk once more was revived in
official quarters of the possibility
of recalling the British amhassa-
dor to- Tokyo. Sir Ribert,, Craigie,
and leaving the embassy in Japan
in charge of a counsellor unless
full satisfaction is obtained re.
garding the attacks on British
Yangtze River boats.
1t was learned that Ambassador
Sir Ronald Lindsay is sounding
out officials in Washington on the
possibility that President Roose-
velt might take similar action.
HOSTAGES DEMANDED
AS a result Of the Japanese
threat to fire on vessels moving in
the Yangtze River, the British de-
manded that six Japanese officers
be placed aboard the British gun
boat Bee, one of the craft attacked
yesterday, as hostages.
The Japanese maC- no reply to
the demand up to the time the Bee
left Wuhu to aid survivors of the
sunken Panay.
Japan's threat was transmitted
to the admiralty here by the Bee
and Immediately caused gravest
possible concern.
FLAG TO BE IGNORED
Apprehension was increased by
statement from the Commander
of the Bee that the Japanese com.
mander- at Wuhu had informed
him the Nipponese would be un.
able to recognize the British
flag"
But officials here made no
secret OF their anger regarding
reckless attacks" on British and
American warships, which were
regarded as creating the most
serious development in Japan's
relations with the United States
and Britain since the Far East
ern conflict began.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13

ernments are in consultation.
Regarding attacks on British
and American naval vessels By
Japanese airplanes, Eden said:
eThe seriousness of these in
cidents needs no emphasis hut
in view Of the grave issues in
volved, I hope the house will
not ask for a fuller statement
;today.'S - = o|.,Sf - - .s.1 :
LONDON STIRRED. @
Electric excitement filled Lon
don, and even Eden's plea in the
house could not silence some mem
berS. .#t
Major Clement Attlee, Laborite
opposition leader, asked the for
eign secretary if the government
had been officially informed of the
attacks on American ships, and il
Britain was conferring with the
United States on the Subject of
these repeated attacks"
eyes, I regret to say that a
United States gunboat also was
attacked and actually sunk with
what would appear to be a loss
of life," said Eden. "The an
swer to the second part of the
question is yes, we are in con-
Sultation."
EDEN DECLINES REPLY
Singing words were hurled in
the House by Tom Williams,
another Laborite.
How can Japanese explana.
tions be reconciled," Williams
wanted to know, when first
they say it was an accident,
then say that instructions were
issued to fire on every ship in
the river?"
Gravely Eden replied: "That
is just the kind of question we
would rather not go into"
Intense Indignation over the
japanese warning, which followed
the attack in which the United
States gunboat Pana7 and three
American oil vessels were runk by
japanese war planes, was evident
in British government circles.
The American and British gov
ernments are in consultation re
The Washington times., 1937-12-13

While waiting to see Secre-
tary Hull at the State Depart
ment this afternoon, japanese
Ambassador Hirosi Saito told
newspaper men that the bomb
ing of the gunboat Panay was
"a great blunder" and that he
would present a formal apology
to the Secretary on behalf of
his government.
NAVY LISTS
Official figures revealing one
death aboard the Panay and Is
injured were released by the Navy
today.
Naval officials said the list was
'.the, best obtainable" at the pres
ent moment, but did not vouch for
its accuracy pending receipt Of
more complete reports.
The figures:
Gunboat personnel: SO mem
bers of the crew, including Off.
GERS and 81 men.
Others aboard: 13,
Total, 70.
Dead: /.
Wounded: Is.
Rescued: 81.
Missing: 18.
Hull's conference was viewed as
the prelude to stern action against
Japan as the result of the bombing
and sinking of the refugee-crowded
Panay, and three American oil
tankers.
Meantime, upward of so sur
viviors of the Yanay, were rescued
from Hoshien. where they had
been marooned in withering cur
tain of machine gun and artillery
fire. Fourteen were still unac-
counted for. The we're saved by
the British ship Bee.
FLEET MAY BE SENT
The possibility existed that part
of the American fleet might be
dispatched to the Far East as
part Of the punitive action calling
for complete satisfaction.
The protest, it was learned, will
demand:
/. A complete apology.
2. Full indemnites for the
United States Government, to
the owners Of the oil tankers,
and for the loss of life and maim'
ing of the wounded.
8. Punishment of the guilty
aviators.
The Bees commander first ad-
vised the American Navy COM
mander in the Far East that it
had arrived off Hoshien but had
been unable to locate and contact
the survivors Of the Panay and
three American Standard Vacuum
Oil Company steamers. He say
heavy fighting prevented his ap-
proach. Later he radioed Shang.
hal that most Of the 81 known
survivors had been taken aboard.
SURVIVORS ISOLATED
The commander of the Bee said
that as his ship approached the
vicinity of Hoshien from Wuhu, a
Japanese warplane flew very low,
circled the ship and flew away.
The isolation of the Panay sur,
vivorS prevented all but the sket-
chiest information being received
by anxious State and Navy De
partment officials here.
The American gunboat, U. S. S.
Oahu, also sped. to Hosien to
rescue the survivors, under orders
Continued on Page 2, Col. u
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
Eden Bares Study
OF fAnglo-U. Action
By KINGsBURY SMITH

LONDON, Dec 13 NS.) )-Reveang that the Far Eastern
crisis intense that open discussion in Parliament
must be deferred Foreign Secretary Eden today informed
excited House of Commons that the American and British Gov
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
D. G. Heads Approve
Report Demanding
Suffrage for City
Reorganization Study Passes "In
Principle; Goes to Congress

The District Commissioners approved n principle" and for
warded today reorganization
of the municipal government which would give the District
residents tes group the executive functions Of local Govern
nine departments give resdeats employment prefer
The Washington times., 1937-12-13

politan Police forces. : =
Among other changes, the report
recommended abolition of the &C
tiyities Of the Federal Director Of
the Budget. in passing upon! indi-
vidual items in the District budget.
NO EFFECT ON U. S. COST
It held the expenditure of Dis
trict revenues affects the Federal
budget in no respect except as to
the amount Of the Federal pay.
ment.
In calling for enfranchisement
of the District, the report urged
the adoption of a constitutional
amendment which would permit
representation Of the District in
Congress by two Senators and pro-
portionate representation accord
ing to population in the House, to-
gether with voting rights in Presi-
Dental elections.
The report made no recon-.
mendations for changes in the
legislative branch. In the judicial
branch 1t confined its recommend.
ations to the transfer to the De-
partment of Justice of salaries of
the United States Court Of Ap-
peals for the District and the
United States District Court.
20 IN ACCORD
The recommendations were
drawn up by E. Barrett Prettyman,
former Corporation Counsel, and
20 representatives Of the Wash
ington civic and business worlds.
Prettyman and 10 of his aides
signed the report, and the other
member, Llyod B. Wilson, preSi-
dent Of the Chesapeake and Po.
tomac Telephone Company, was
quoted by Prettyman as offering
nc objections to the recommends,
tionS.
Two Of the committee, Mrs.
Charles Weston and william L.
Houston, submitted a minority re-
port calling for the establishment
Of a tenth department, a District
department Of labor.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
I PRESIDENT AND HULL CONFER ON CRISIS
Il Missing Off Panay;
British Rescue ManV

President Roosevelt Secretary Hull conference shortly
today
NS Secretary State Hull hury his chief officers
behind
called with President thereafter East
arising the bombing of the u.
Included the State Undesecary State
We Assistant Secretary State Hugh Wilson, Counselor R. Walton Moore Chief
Division K.
andleg GreenH
The Washington times., 1937-12-13
LODGE OBJECTS

In another minority report,
Thomas e. Lodge, lawyer member,
criticized as '''unsound in principle
and partially inaccurate" state
nnents Of the balance of the com.
rnittee regarding the Districts fl,
nancial relationship with the Fed
eral Government.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13

gsrding the Far Eastern crisis, For
sign Secretary Eden told the House
of Commons today.
The Washington times., 1937-12-13

Snow or sleet tonight or early tomorN
row; slightly warmer; lowest tonight
about "a.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20
Fewer Occupants Die
In Auto Accidents
'Traffc Topics Shows Decline in Fatalities in State;
November Claims Greatest Number of Victims

While the automobile fatality rec
ord for the United States during
the year 1896 will show an increase
Of per cent or more over the 1885
figure, Connecticut will show a de-
crease Of 10.1 per cent for the same
period, figures from the bulletin
TRAFFIC Topics, issued by Michael
A. Conner, commissioner of the
Connecticut Department of Motor
Vehicles, show. The bulletin Is the
first of the 1887 series and is issued
to disseminate information vitality
important to the citizens of this
stats. one-fourth of whom hold OPP
orators licenses.
Connecticut's fatal accidents in
1885 showed a decrease of 40 when
compared with the mortality figures
FOR 1885. The fatalities in 1896 in
cluded: 252 pedestrians, 1T occu-
pants and Z bicyclists as compared
In 1885 with 253 pedestrians, 227
occupants and bicyclists. A glazing
increase of 1896 accidents was
noted for the year 1886, over 1885
however for In the former year
there were 1862 accidents as COM
pared with 1856 in 1885.
r. l.. Forney, statistician Of the
National Safety Council, who keeps
his fingers on the pulse of the ma
tional traffic accidents sent the fol-
lowing telegram to Commissioner
Cornor:
Connecticut record last year
among the best. complete re-
ports not yet available most states
but probably not more than eight
will show as much decrease from
nineteen thirty five as you did, STOP,
Entire country will show increase
of two per cent or more, Your
rate based on gasoline consumption
about twenty-five per cent below
national averages"
The decrease in fatal accidents is
not so large as had been hoped for
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20

by the Commissioner but 1t is in
deed gratifying, nevertheless. A re-
view of the 1886 fatal accidents is
being made at this time and will
be the subject of the next issue Of
TRAFFIC Topics"
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20
EQUALITY VERSUS SPOILS SYSTEM
Charles G. Morris, State
Vice=PreSident Writes
on Merit Movement

A membership campaign will
open shortly in Waterbury in the
interest Of the Connecticut Merit
System association. 1t is being
sponsored by a newly-organized
local chapter. Horace ID. Taft,
formerly Of the Taft school, Wa
tertown, is state president and
Charles G. Morris Of NewtOwn,
unsuccessful democratic candi-
date for governor Of Connecticut
ON three occasions, Is state vice
president. Mr.. Morris explains
his view in the accompanying
article. 1t should be of timely
interest to many Waterburjans.
1t originally appeared in the
Hartford Courant and reads as
follows:
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20

tirely regardless of which party
is in power. They should therefore
be hired. promoted and fired for
the same basic reason that pri-
vate employers of a similar num-
Der of employees would act on,
proved fitness to do the job. The
citizens who now favor and sup
port the spoils system are inter-
ested in it and often sincerely be-
lieve that 1t Is needed for party
good. Behind the paper law ana
the Commission, the examiners,
the candidates and the employ
es, we must form an organized
group of citizens who arc Just as
intelligent, interested and alert
in seeing that the Merit System
is needed for the public good"
Hartford Courant.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20
BY ELMER C. WALLER
UNITED Press Financial Editor

New York, Jan. 20-(UP)-Trad-
ers operated cautiously on the stock
exchange today pending delivery of
the presidents inaugural message.
Prices moved narrowly.
Firmness in rails featured. South
ern Pacific rose nearly point to
48 "a. Small gains were noted in
Baltimore g. Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and Southern Railway. Utilities
were steady, coppers mixed, and
amusements firm.
American Telephone opened
1888 "a of IA; American Smelling
"a Z, off 3-8; Goodyear 80 7-8, up
7-8 and new high; Standard of
New Jersey SO unchanged; Gimbel
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20
Market Traders We're
Very Cautious Today
They We're Awaiting Words of President in His Mes
sage-Firmness in Rails Features of Market Start

Brothers % 7-S, up / 3-4: Crown
zelderbach 81, up 7-8; Westinghouse
Electric 1853, up Ia; Loew's 70 3-4,
up 3-8; Western Union 81 Ia, up
1-8; Anaconda So IL, up Ia; Du-
Ponr 178 1-2, up 1-2; and Mont
gomery Ward 81 Ia, up IA.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-21
OAR. TAKES VOTE
 ON COURT PLAN

Washington, April 2l-(UP)-The Daughters of the American Revolu- ton adopted a resolution at their 46th continental congres stoday ask ing that the Presidents court plan be submitted to the electorate in the form of a constituoinal amend ment.
 The resolution definitely opposed house and senate bills embodying the court plan as proposed by President Roosevelt and asked that the whole question be submitted to the electorate.
 The resolution was adopted by q voice vote without discussion. Mrs. Robert J. Johnston, Humboldt, Iowa, chairman of the resolutions commit tee, presented the matter. There was a scattering of opposing voices but the ayes were overwhelming.
 The resolution held that the pro- posed court plan would endanger the system of checks and balances of the three branches of govern- ment. It contended that any pro- posal to limit or broaden the scope of powers of the three departments of government should be submitted to the people in constitutional amendment.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-21
Councillor

John R. Hughes of this city was elected a member of the board of councillors, and Robert w. Lowell of this city was elected member ot the committee for increased mem- bership.
 The members voted that a copy Of a resolution opposing the presi- dents plan be mailed to each of Ccnnecticut's representatives in con- gresS.
 At the meeting the following of- ficers were elected: L. Marsden Hubbard, Hartford. governor; Paul Beach Goddard, Hartford, deputy governor; Rev. James Romeyn Dan- fosth, New London, chaplain; Har- old M. Hine, West Hartford, secre- tary; c. P. Tomlislson, Hartford treasurer; Samuel F. Beardsley Bridgeport, attorney; Professor Ar thur Adams, Hartford, registrar and genealogist; Roland Mather Hooker Hartford, historian.
 Herbert H. Walker, Meriden; J Arnold Norcross, New Haven; John R. Hughes. Waterbury, councillors Harold L. Burr, West Hartford Thomas R. Ball, Old Lyme and James D. Gold, Bridgeport, men1- bcrship committee; Harry L. F Locke. Hartford, Robert w. Lowell Waterbury, Rev. J. R. Danforth New London, Edwin U. Root, New Haven, Robert c. Mitchell, South bury, Arthur T. Nettleton. Newton and John N. Wadhams, Torrington, committee on increase membership; Clarence H. Wickham, Hartford, Ed