davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-12-18
Definite Hirohito
Undertaking Is
Awaited.
HORROR TALES
ARE WITHHELD
Officials Fearful of
Indignation by
Public.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Nothing but a definite undertak-
ing from Emperor Hirohito that the
lives, property and rights of the Amer.
lcan citizens living under japanese
rule in China will be guaranteed will
satisfy the administration.
The eyewitness reports, especially
those from 1t. Comdr. j. j. Hughes
and Secretary of Embassy George
Atcheson, have helped intensity the
situation in the last "a hours.
Reports Are Withheld.
The dispassionate description of the
horrors perpetrated by the Japanese
Army and airmen told in cold official
language is such that many officials
believed it would be advisable to delay
the publication of those reports; other
wise, it was believed in certain official
quarters, the wave of public indigna-
ton would be such that any further
pacific action on the part of the ad-
ministration would be rendered i'm
possible.
In administration quarters the sit
uation is viewed with more pessimism
today because of indications from
Toxic that the japanese government
intends henceforth to dilly-dally on
the serious charges which come out
Of the reports of officers and officials
on board the Panay.
While there are no reports from
Ambassador Joseph Grew to the effect
that this is indeed the new policy of
the Japanese government. it is be-
lieved that the stories written from
Toxic were inspired by foreign office
of1lcials who want to prepare the
ground for tergiversations.
President Gets Reports.
The administration, however, con-
siders last Saturdays incident as far
too serious to allow the Toxic diplo-
mats to play the old game of immedi-
ate excuses that dodge the main issues
The reports Of the commanding and
executive officers of the Panay have
been submitted to the President. The
result of the board of inquiry held
today in Shanghai is expected hourly.
As soon as the facts contained in
the various reports are officially con-
hrmed before that board, some fur
ther diplomatic action-possibly of a
peremptory characters expected.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
SIX KILLED AS CRASH
BREAKS CAR IN TWO
California National Guardsmen
Had Just Left Christmas
Party Of Company.
b. the Associated Press,

B. the Associated Press.
LODI, Calf, Dec. 18.-Death wiped
out party Of six young National
Guardsmen in terrific automobile
crash IL miles east of here early to.
day.
The men, who had just left Christ
mas party Of their artillery company
in Stockton, were: John D. Plumb,
27; David A. Connard, 81: Joseph N.
Green, 20; Raymond Meadow, 81, and
Anton Dee Bray, 29, all Of Stockton.
and Gail Borden Lewallen, %, Of
Isleton.
Their automobile crashed into .
tree after skidding from the highway
with such force that it broke the ma
chine completely in two. The back
part of the car, in which five of the
bodies were found crushed, was
wrapped around the tree. Plumb's body
was soms distance away.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
CLOSED D. c. BANK
TO DIVIDE $38,6O0
1000 Departmental Depositors to
Share in Dividend-North
CAPITOL Checks Soon.

Distribution of per cent dividend
to more than 1000 depositors of the
closed Departmental Bank will begin
at 9 am. Monday at the old Park
Savings Bank, Fourteenth and Ken
yon streets.
Receiver John F. Moran said the
Office will be open from am. to S
pm. Monday and Tuesday and will
remain open until pm Wednesday
and Thursday for the convenience of
depositors.
The distribution amounts to $685.
600 and brings the total dividends OF
this bank up to IS per cent.
Checks for the additional dividend
OF 6.25 per cent, recently authorized
by Controller of the Currency j. F. T..
OConnor to be paid to 5,857 depositors
OF the closed North Capitol Savings
Hank, are not ready as yet, Mr.. Moran
explained, However, they will be
available some time next week so de-
positors can have their money for
Christmas shopping.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
CLAIMS OF VICTORY
IN SPAIN CONFLICT
Insurgents Deny Loyalists'
Assertion TerueI Is
Surrounded.
By the Associated Press.


HENDAYE, Franco-Spanish Frontier
Dec. 18.-Conflicting claims of victory
came today from the Teruel sector
where insurgent and government
troops apparently were engaged in a
major battle.
A government communique said
Teruel, insurgent strong point at the
southernmost tip of the Aragon front
was completely surrounded" and
many positions around it had been
captured This the insurgents en-
phatically denied, saying wait and
See."
The government said series of hard
fought insurgent counter attacks
failed to establish a link between
Teruel and the rest of Gen. Francisco)
frances territory"
Earlier government dispatches re-
ported severance of communications
between Teruel and insurgent terri
tory to the north. Teruel is at the tip
of a narrow corridor driven into gov
ernment territory some months ago
when the insurgents threatened the
life line" between Madrid and coast
cities.
The insurgents said government
attacks around Teruel had been met
by opening the lines when the gov
ernment attacked, then closing them
again and trapping the attacking
troops"
Evening star., 1937-12-18
U.S.B0ARD RUSHES
INQUIRY OF 'PANAY
Japanese Also Investigate
Destruction of Four Amer
lean Ships.
BY the Associated Press.

ny tHe aSSOCldleu FTeSS.
SHANGHAI, Dec. 18.-An official
United States naval court of inquiry
rushed an unvarnished, factual inves-
tigation today of Sundays japanese
airplane attack on American shipping
in the YangtZe River.
The naval court hoped to complete
its investigation before the United
States cruiser Augusta, flagship of Ad-
miral Harry E. Yarnell, commander
of the United States Fleet in Chinese
waters, sails for Manila tomorrow.
Naval officials aboard the Augusta
said they we're informed japanese
officer had boarded the Panay seeking
information when the gunboat was 10
miles down the river from the scene
of the attack.
They said, however, the officers
call had no connection with the
bombing.
japanese, at the same time, an
nounced they were undertaking an
other thorough investigation of the
disaster in which the United States
gunboat Panay was sunk, three
Standard Oil Co. vessels were de-
stroyed and four lives were lost.
Machine Cunning Is Question.
Both boards of inquiry attempted
to settle disputed question in which
the United States took serious view
did japanese deliberately machine
gun the Panay's survivors?
naSrrintionc of tho Of 10 ol, h., .,,r
vivors who reached here yesterday
contended that low-fying japanese
planes strafed them as they fed the
sinking ship.
They asserted machine cunning
japanese planes few so low they
should have seen our flags" and that
two Japanese army boats went to the
Panay before she sank, colors nying.
Japanese both in Shanghai and
Toxic have denied the sinking Panay
was machine-gunned japanese also
have declared they had no surface
craft in the vicinity.
Next Objective in Doubt.
The direction of Japan's next Of
fensive in China, meanwhile, was
clouded in doubt. All that was known
was the declaration of Vice Admiral
Kiyoshi Hasegawa, commander of
japanese naval forces in Chinese
waters, that:
THE japanese government is not
satisfied with the success of its arms
with the capture of Nanking. The
situation is far from settled"
Japanese already had speared
Evening star., 1937-12-18
ARREST PREDICTED
IN WIDOW Staying
Reformatory Suspect Said
to Be Lacking Funds and
Easily Identified.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NORRISTOWN, Pa, Dec. 18.-Dis-
trict Attorney Frederick B. Smillie
predicted today the early arrest of a
19-year-old former reformatory in
mate who is wanted in the Staying OF
Mrs. Wilma " Carpenter, 38-year-old
widow.
He hasn't much money and hes
easily recognizable from his pictures, .
Mr. Smillie said.
Other officers hastened to add that
the youth, identified through picture
by Mrs. Carpenters companion the
night of the Staying as Wendell For
rest Bowers, can't stay out of trou-
BILE"
Scores of telephone calls came to
his Office, Mr. Smillie said, after 5000
police posters warning suspect Is
armed, be careful" were distributed.
Two suspects already have been
questioned-one in Florence, NJ j., and
another in Philadelphia.
Smillie and detectives said that sew
eral clues indicated that young Bow
ers was heading south.
His father, Roland F. Bowers, car
penter at Amber, Pa. told Mr. Smil-
lie that the former Huntingdon Re-
fornlatory inmate said he expected to
get job on a road-construction prof.
ect near Winchester, Va, but highway
officials said later they knew of no
such work in that section.
While the hunt continues, Miss
Mary Griffin, %, companion Of the
slain woman at the time of the crime
Monday. remains in a hospital re-
covering from beating inflicted by
the killer in an attempt to assault
her.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
So FOUND GUILTY
. Of PLOT TO BOMB
/. C0ALF|ELD TRAINS
Most of Defendants Affi|.
lated With Progressive
Miners Union.
ALL ARE CONVICTED
ON THREE CHARGES
Jury Out l4la Hours-Federal
Prosecutor Halls Verdict-Jail
Terms and Fines Faced.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Dec. 10.
Thirty-six defendants, most of them
affiliated with the Progressive Miners
OF America Union. were convicted to-
day by a Federal court jury of con-
spiracy to bomb Illinois coal field
trains.
All were found guilty on three
counts after the largest mass trial
in the history of this Federal Court
district. The verdict was reached 141a
hours after the jury received the case.
The trial lasted five weeks.
Several Progressive officials were
among the miners convicted of con-
spiracy to dynamite trains, obstruct-
ing the mails and interfering with
commerce.
Federal Agents Entered Case.
The evidence was compiled by Fed
eral agents after State and local au-
thorities had failed to cope with the
1882 and 1885 reign of terrorism in
the Central and Southern Illinois coal
fields.
Sheriff Earl (Nip) Evans and the
other defendants were charged with
dynamiting trains hauling coal from
mines operated by members of the
rival union, the United Mine Workers
OF America, in an effort to force
employment of progressives.
The defendants took the verdict
quietly. but wives of some of them
broke down and sobbed. AS Federal
Judge Charles G.. Briggle ordered
the courtroom cleared, Chief Defense
Attorney Arthur M. Fitzgerald said:
Il never anticipated any such re-
suit. Certainly some of these men
should not be classed with some of
the others"
Praises Verdict.
Welly K. Hopkins, assistant to At
torney General Cummings and chief
Of the special staff of prosecutors sent
from Washington, said:
1T was a righteous verdict, properly
rendered"
During the trial, which started on
November Is, 25 of the SO defendants
took the stand to deny all charges as
Fitzgerald attempted to blame John L..
Lewis and the United Mine Workers
for the trouble in the Illinois coal
fields.
Besides Sheriff Evans John H. Fan
cher, vice president of the Progressive
Union, also was convicted, along with
Executive Board members Dan McGill
and Jess Anderson of Harrisburg. For
mer President William Keck Of the
P. M. A., another defendant, suffered
a heart attack and was given a mis-
trial.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
Plane MuffIer
May Hamper .
Its Detection
= the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MONTEREY, Calf, Dec. 18-Army
flyers said today an airplane motor
muffler invented by a sergeant may
b. developed to hamper detection Of
planes by an enemy.
The device, built by Technical
Sergt. Frank Newton, consists of a
vacuum box" which replaces the
exhaust pipe. Pipes under the box
are open at both ends and are con-
nected with the box
When the plane is in motion, air
rushing through the pipes causes
suction which creates a partial
vacuum in the box. Since sound
cannot travel through vacuum, the
exhaust explosions are silenced.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
BUT THE TAX REMAINS

ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. l8 R.-Re-
nunciation of American citizenship
Will not necessarily exempt the
Countess Haugwitz Won Reventlow,
Woolworth 5-and-10 heiress, from the
New York State income tax.
Roy H. Palmer, assistant director
of the State Bureau Of Personal In
come Tax, said today that a nom
resident OF the State, regardless of
nationality, is subject to taxation on
income received from property owned
and from business trades and occu-
pations carried out within the State
Evening star., 1937-12-18
Response to Toy Motinees
Bluies Gloom of Children
Heavy Patronage Assures Needy That
Santa Viii Remember Them-ShOre-
han, Party Piles Up Gifts.

Unhappiness was swamped in q
heaven-high mountain of Christmas
gifts this morning as thousands of
Washingtonians appeared at the wick
cts Of IA Warner Bros. theaters, up
town and down, presenting as the
price OF admission toys and clothing
for the needy folk Of the Nations
Capital. Every occupied seat meant
one less empty stocking. filled by the
generosity Of persons needing the mes
sage Of the seventh annual Star-War-
ner Bros.-N. B. c. Christmas Cam
paign, "You are Santa Claus"
All green traffic lights led to Warner
Bros theaters as crowds began as
sembling at their entrances at an
early hour. By the hundreds busy
mothers Of the District. Maryland and
Virginia sent or accompanied their
children TO the mornin6 matinees,
Evening star., 1937-12-18

where hard-riding two-gun men, fair
maidens and funny folk, Donald Duck,
Popeye and Mickey Mouse disported
on the screen for audiences light
hearted from the pleasure Of giving.
II believe that the collections ex-
ceed the record number made last
year." said John ]. Payette, general
zone manager of Warner Bros. for
Washington, as he watched the aston
ishing piles Of packages heaped IN
the Earle Theater lobby just before 9
O'Clock this morning. Downtown at
the Earle and Metropolitan q larger
proportion OF grown-ups. apparently
bound for their own Yuletide buying
after the performances, was present
than in the neighborhsod houses, but
all ii theaters were jammed to capac-
ity. Later in the day. Mr.. Payette
(see TOYS, Pas32-3.)
Evening star., 1937-12-18
Mercury at II
Near Noon, With
RecOrdPOssibIe
BULLETIN.
The temperature scared to the
72-degree mark at 1890 pm. today.

Reaching II degrees shortly after
noon, a fast-rising mercury today
threatened to topple modern December
hot weather records here.
If it climbs three more degrees dur
ing the afternoon, the temperature will
equal an all-time record of "A set De-
cember 10, 1924.
Regardless of further ups or downs
Of the thermometer. it still was one of
the six hottest days in December
since 1872.
Since that time. the mercury has
approached or equaled the 70-mark
this late in the year half a dozen
times. The last 10 reading in Decem-
Der was on the fifteenth of the month
in 1929.
The temperature started climbing
at midnight, when the reading was So
Yesterdays high" was 81 at 4 pm.
The December heat is expected te
be short-lived, however, with the fore.
caster predicting generally fair ant
colder tonight and tomorrow. Before
dawn tomorrow the temperature prob
ably will drop to around 80 degrees.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
new UNION PLANNED
BY NIGHT CLUB GIRLS
Ban on Being Required to Sit
With Guests to Be
Demanded.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Dec. 18.-The caper-
Ing cuties of the chorus in night
clubs and restaurants are going to
get a chance to join union.
And one of the first things the
union will demand is a ban on the
girls being required to sit down with
guests.
The Chorus Equity Association
"a. F. of L. announced yesterday
plans to extend its activities from
chorus girls of the uiieater to the
chorus girls of the post -theater night
life.
A $40 weekly minimum salary. a
bond to guarantee salaries, limitations
on rehearsals without pay and ade-
quate notice of the termination of
an engagement were other demands
outlined by Miss Edith L. Christen-
sen, executive secretary of Chorus
Equity.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
WOMAN, "a, FOUND DEAD
HANGING FROM BEDPOST
Had Been Ill for Several Years.
Body Is Discovered
by Daughter.

Mrs. Margaret E. Crothers, "a, was
found dead today in q second-hoor
bedroom of her home at 739 Butter
nut street NV, hanging by the neck
from q bedpost.
A daughter-Mrs. Jennie Walker
who lives at the same address-found
her mother suspended from the bed
by pair of stockings which had been
looped about her neck. She was dead
before a physician could be summoned
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
said he was informed Mrs. Crothers
had been Ill for several years.
A certificate Of suicide was issued,
Evening star., 1937-12-18
BAKER is IMPROVED

CLEVELAND, Dec. l8 P.-New-
ton D. Baker, Secretary of War in
President Woodrow Wilson's admins
tration, was reported by Mrs. Baker
to be much improved today following
q slight illness requiring physicians
attendance.
He was only a little upset." Mrs.
Baker said. Baker is 66.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
Church Burned.
Firen,en Miss
Special Service
By the Associated Press.

LYKENS, Pa, Dec. 18.-The Trans
nguration Baptist Church, whose pas
tor had invited local firemen to attend
a special service tomorrow, was de-
stroyed by fire last night. The Rev,
H. B. Rittenhouse had just completed
With Fire"
Evening star., 1937-12-18
DUCE'S DAUGHTER BEARS
COUNT CIANO THIRD SON
Mussolini Is overjoyed at News
From Foreign Minister-Child
Named Mario.
By the Associated Press.

oS ZIG aooOS1otCA ACoos
ROME, Dec. 18-Countess Edda
Mussolini Ciano, daughter of the
Italian Premier, today gave birth to
her third son. He YVES named Mario.
The father, Foreign Minister Count
Galeaz7o Ciano, Immediately informed
Premier Mussolini, who was overjoyed
at the news. To the Italian masses
the event meant that the countess
was showing, herself wife conform
ing to the big-family ideal of Fascism.
Diplomats regard Countess Edda as
II Duce's most intimate conf1dante.
Appointment Of her husband to be
foreign minister after a brief diplo-
matte and military career was at
tributed to her. The Cianos other
sons are Fabrizio, 6, and Raimondo, 3.
Evening star., 1937-12-18

By the Associated Press.
Senate passage of the "ever- normal
granary" bill shunted to a small
group of legislators today the problem
that Congress has been unable tt
solve in four weeks of debate-hov
best to help the farmer.
A joint committee of Senators ano
Representatives faces the task of recon.
Cling major differences between the
Senate measure and a crop-control
bill previously passed by the House.
Leaders have abandoned hope that
the committee can agree on a myriad
of details before the special session
adjourns next Wednesday. Final
enactment of farm legislation, listed
first on President Roosevelt's program
for the extra session, thus will be de-
layed until Congress convenes again
in January.
The Senate approved the farm bill
last night, SO to 20. Three Republi-
cans-Capper of Kansas, Frazier and
Nye of North Dakota-joined 81 DEM
ocrats and Senators La Toilette, Pro-
gressive, of Wisconsin, and Norris
Independent, of Nebraska, in support
ing the bill.
The measure narrowly escaped the
ash heap, however, when proponents
of the McAdoo price-fixing farm pro-
gram came within six votes of SUBJ
stituting their bill for the ever
normal granary" proposal. The vote
was 40 to 46.
Lee Substitute Defeated.
A similar price-fixing substitute by
Senator Lee. Democrat, of Oklahoma,
was defeated without a record vote.
The granary program, embodying
some Of the ideas of Secretary Wallace,
is designed to adjust the supplies of
farm commodities to the demand, thus
eliminating surpluses and lifting
prices.
Although the House and Senate
measures are similar in broad general
tiles they differ in many important
provisions.
The Senate bill provides stricter
controls over the farmer than does
the House measure, and levies more
stringent penalties for violations of
its provisions.
Marketing quotas under the Senate
measure would 60 into effect earlier
than those in the House bill, because
the former would impose quotas when
supplies of commodities are smaller
The Senate program would require
corn and wheat farmers to sign con-
tracts limiting acreage as a pre-
requisite to receiving loans and bene-
Evening star., 1937-12-18
Fire Destroys Needy's Yule.

MANISTEE, Mich, Dec. 18 R-
Fire destroyed the Salvation Army
headquarters here last night and with
1t the toys and candy which would
have been distributed to 400 needy
children on Christmas.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
FARM BILL FACES
DELAY UNTIL 1888
Ever-NormaI Granary, Ap-
proved by Senate, to Un.
dergo Changes.
BACKGROUND

BACGGROUND-
Department OF Agriculture and
farm groups hare been asking
tarn-aid legislation eper since in
Udlidotion Of A. A. A. When Con-
greSs LETT last summer, it pledged
that sue ha measure Uould head
merit order OF business. In special
session House and Senate hare
drafted and enacted ,oidely differ
ent measures, ,otth department be-
ing severely critical of both.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
|PAY BILL SETBACK
IN HOUSE THWARTS
|CH|EFS' PROGRAM
Motion to Recommit Wins.
Rayburn Is Unable to
Block Rebellion.
FARM BILL APPROVED
IN SENATE, So TO 20
Lower Branch in Session Today to
Debate Legislation to'Spur
Housing.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Four pieces of major legislation
Dere specified as Job facing Con-
greSS Uhen President Roosevelt
called for special session. Chances
of enacting tUo, reorganization and
regional planning, faded quickly,
but administration leadership er-
erted all possible effort to force
tarm-aid bill through both branches
and to haze House enact Udge-
hour measure as companion to Sem
ate bill OF last summer.
Evening star., 1937-12-18
Machine Cunning
Believed Basis
of Note.
SHIP BOARDING
ALSO is SCORED
Admiral Hasegawa
Offer to Resign
Reported.

BACKGROUND
United States gunboat Panay and
three Standard Oil Co. tunkers
,Dere destroyed By japanese ,Dar
planes last Sunday in Yangtse
Riuer dboUe Nanking. President
Roosevelt directed personal pro-
test to Emperor Hrohito, demand
ing an apology, guarantees for the
future and compensation. Japan
,Dds quick to make amends, but re-
ply to American protest is still
ntDuited.
BULLETIN.
TOXIC, Dec. 18 (P,.-Emperor
Hirohito tonight received a de-
tailed report on the sinking of the
United States gunboat Panay from
Premier Prince Fumimaro Konoye.
The Sovereign received the pre-
mier in audience at 9 pm. q am,
E. S. T) at the palace following an
extraordinary session of the cabinet.
Evening star., 1937-12-18

(See INQUIRIES, Page A-13.)
Evening star., 1937-12-18

(See CONGRESS, Page A-13.)
Evening star., 1937-12-18
WEATHER.

u s. Weather Bureau Forecast)
Generally fair and colder tonight and
tomorrow; temperature tonight about SO
degrees; fresh winds. Temperatures to-
day-Highest, 72, at 1890; lowest So,
at midnight; 81 at pm
Full report on page Az.
Evening star., 1937-12-18

(See FARM, Page A-13.)
Evening star., 1937-12-18

.(see TOYS, Pass 1-3.)
Evening star., 1937-12-18

(see TOXIC, Page A-l3.)
The Washington times., 1937-09-16
BUSINESS Law
CLASSES START

Glasses are now enrolling for
the fall term of the Metropolitan
Law Institutes courses in business
law and public speaking, which
will convene September 20.
M. L. I. is under the direction
of DR.. Herbert o. Eby, one of the
city's younger educators, a gradu-
ate of Maryland and Geogetown
universities. and author of num-
ber of legal works.
A new schedule has been ar
ranged for this course that will
be found convenient to : greater
number. The course can be COM
pleted in eight months. Glasses
meet three times a week at $40
and 7:45 p. m.
The subjects embraced are:
Contracts, bills and notes, agency,
suretyship, mortgages, real prop
erty, ETC., all of them concomitants
of everyday business. Those who
successfully complete the course
are given a business law certifi-
cate, which not only forms a val
liable background for other edu-
cational attainments, but is i'm
portant in seeking employment
and advancement.
The registrars office, Room 438,
Evening Star Building, will be
open each evening until 8 o'clock.
M. L. rs public speaking course
can be completed in 16 weeks of
one session a week. Glasses for