davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
French Bomb Germany in
Revenge for Paris Raid

The greatest Pans damaC2. oonc
| word censored I found q cafe witt
q great hole in its ceiling and a
windows shattered But tl!c cafe
was open and doing a rushing bus
mess.
A United Press survey showed
that no bombs had struck any Of
tho citV'S faVorito tourist attrac-
tons such as the Louvre. Versailles
PALACE or tie Arc dc Triomph.
Greatest damage was done in the
most densely populated suburbs. In
one suburban street, each house in
a row Of y had been set afire by
incendiary bombs, and apparently
one bomb had struck each house.
Tho biggest fire in Paris occurred
1.-TWO words censored factories
three words ccnsGredD but the fire
was cXtinguiShed rapidly and tho
night shift was able to work
throughout tho night as usual
AS evidence that Parisians were
rot frightened, there was no ex-
oduS from the city, and roads to
the country were almost deserted
throughout the night.
Tho largest German bombs iden-
tilted were of 22o pounds. Of these,
the biggest German bombers were
able to carry one ton each. There
were few ll0 pound bombs, but
n est were smaller including II
pound jncnndiary bombs.
Bombs were scattered over the
Seine, Seine Et Disc and Seine Eft
Marn departments, in a total ra-
dius of so miles from Paris.
Tho war office spokesman sid
that the Germans apparently souaht
to destroy main reads. war factories
railroad and air fields But the air
defense of the capital area at
tanned an all time record intensity
and almost a curtain of fire obliged
the Germans to drop their bombs
haphazardlv. the spokesman said,
and that was the reason for civilian
deaths.
Because of the German raids,
worker started today to replace the
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
Compulsory Army
TRAINING Doomed

WASHINGTON. June 4. CUPD-
proposals that American youths be
compelled to undergo military train
ing got a cool reception in the SEN
ate today.
Sens. George w. Norris. Ind.
N'b,, Homer L. Bone. D.. Wash.
and Claude Pepper, D., Fla. indicat-
nd that they would oppose anv at
tempt to subject youth TO military
training on the compulsory Euro
pcan pattern.
Sen. Tom Connally. D., Tex. au-
thor OF the bill to give military
training to Civilian Conservation
Corps cnrollees. saw mo reason
under existing circumstances" why
such training should not be ex-
tended to all potential soldiers.
No opposition has yet manifested
itself, however, to a bill by Sen.
James F. Byrnes, D.. S. c.. to train
CCC enrollees in trades and skills
which would have wartime value.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
Mason Says Paris
Raid Demonstrates
Civilian Safety
BY }. w. T. MASON
United Press War Expert

Germany'S air raid on Paris has
demonstrated that modern air de-
Tense of cities now far exceeds the
offensive bombing power of air
planes, compared with the results
of the last war Anticipated devas-
tating effects of air raids on civil
ianS have not been sustained by
the attack on Paris, which gives
the first reliable large scale data
for analysis since the beginning of
the war
If the Germans can do no better
in future air operations against civ
ilians than they accomplished in
their assault on Paris, the expected
terrorizing effect of air bombing
against civilian centers will have
to be written down as fiction. The
Germans have been credited with
perfecting blitzkrieg air tactics to
a degree far exceeding the eff
cheney of the last war, but the Of
fenSive against Paris shows no basis
for any such claim.
In the Paris raid, between 200
and $50 planes are said to have
participated. the largest carrying
one ton of explosives each. A con-
Servative estimate would give 200
planes actively engaged with an
average of one half ton of bombs
each. or a total of 100 tons of cx-
ploslves dropped on Paris and the
suburbs. Yet the French casualties
we're only As dead and 149 wound
cd. The total casualties thus equals
less than one for each German
plane, trivial number when COM
pared with the German accom-
pllShmcnt in the last war.
During the whole of the World
war German aviators dropped a to-
tai of only IA tons of bombs over
England. Yet the casualties were
857 killed and 2058 wounded. That
is to say, if 100 tons be accepted
as the probable amount of bombs
dropped during the Paris raid. it
represents 25 per cent more than
the explosives dropped on England
IN the World war. The total Paris
casualties, however were less than
oN'tiI ItI ttIlt Ol Utlc air casualties
IN England when airplanc attack
was first developed.
The principal reason for the de-
crease IN the number of casualties
is the scattering of the population
over wide areas. During the last
war no such advance preparations
to protect civilians from air raid
ers had been made as now. The
evacuation of children from cy-
posed cities TO far off retreats and
the provision of air shelters in
congcStcd areas enormously dc
crease the number of human targets
] Too anti-aircraft guns and defens-
I've lighting planes compel the at
lacking aviators to seek safety bv
flying very high. in some cases
over five miles in the air. They
cannot select objectives at will from
such a height and must drop their
bombs, to large extent promIs-
cuouSly. The French report manv
bombs fell harmlessly in the Seine
4 river.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
Bv RALPH HEINZEN

PARIS. June 4. CUP)-French
airplanes have bombed German ter
ritorv in a swift, determined re-
prisal for the German airplane bonn
bing of Paris. a war office spokcs-
man said today.
The raid was but the first French
rctort - the German attack. tho
spokesman said and others would
follow promptly.
Closest secrecy was maintained rs
to details of the French reprTal
attack, and as to plans for fur
ther raids.
ParisianS uncoWed by Yesterday S
raids which killed as persons ard
wounded l49 demanded That tho
air force take the attack To Ger
many and bomb German cities un-
Sparingly.
Conversations in the streets and
SubWayS turned almost entirely to
the hope that Allied bombing planes
might be alrcady-aS the army
spokesman disclosed they were
raining death on Germany.
Air force experts asserted that at
least 100 German bombing planes.
escorted by an equal number Of
Mcsserschmidt fighters, executed
yesterdays raids in the Paris area
IN which five schools and a hos
pltal were struck among other
buildings, and at least 10 school
children were killed. lie Journal re-
ported today that one German bomD
scored a direct hit on thinly COW
cred air raid shelter trench and
killed 20 children and wounded %
among the hundreds who sourh,
safety.
1t was asserted that the five
schools and one hos .,itaf hit made
up 16 per cent of the total of
buildings damaged.
A great blast of anti-aircraft fire
sent Parisians to shelter again at
3:20 a. m. today.
single German plane was seen
flying direct over the United Press
offices, surrounded by dozens of
bursts from anti-aircraft shells,
but no air raid alarm was sounded
and no bombs were dropped. The
olane was at about 25OOO feet alti-
.udc
Workers at dawn began demolsh-
ing dangerously overhanging parts
of damaged buildings.
An official survey brought the
statement that only one bomb in
each IA dropped in Paris and one
in each II dropped in the suburbs
was effective. At least 40 bombs
fell in the Seine. it was asserted.
Returning today to the center of
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04

my army and my people"
I The friend continued:
On May 26th panic was spread
ing in the Belgian army and the
king addressed an appeal to the
British and French for help, say
ing he could no longer hold out
unless the Allies sent masses of
airplanes.
With the king at that time was
Admiral Sir Roger Keyes of Great
Britain, and London was intimate
ly acquainted with developments
On the morning of May 9th, the
king received news that the Bel
gians were under intense attack.
They had had no sleep for days
and had gone without food even
longer, he was informed The king
said he realized then that there
was no hope.
At this point, the friend of Leo
pold remarked:
THE time comes when NTH
has to decide between sacrificing
life and holding out as a theatri-
cal gesture"
Then he went on with his story:
On the same day-May 27th-the
king informed Paris and London
that he was no longer able to hold
out. May 9th was Monday. The
news of Leopolds surrender was
made public when French Premier
Paul Reynaud announced it in
radio speech on Tuesday when he
said it came without warningD
The king Immediately sent for
a German officer and asked for
peace The German officer went
to the headquarters of Hit
ler which was mot far distant
and returned with the fuehrcr's
demand for unconditional capitula-
lion.
At am. on May 28th (shortly
before Reynaud spoke) the Belgians
aid down their arms
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
Friend Reveals
Leo poId's Story

BRUSSELS, June 3.-Uncensorec
but delayed)-(UP)-The story OF
King Leopold's capitulation 10 Adolf
Hitler was told by friend OF the
royal family today after U. S. AM
'baSSador John Cudahy had diScloS-
ed that the monarch gave him a
message last Sunday for President
Roosevelt.
Cudahy told foreign correspon-
dents that he visited Leopold Sun
day at a palace near Brussels,
where the king has been residing
since his surrender.
The king, he said, gave him a
message for President Roosevelt
stating LeopoldS case and outlin-
ing the circumstances leading to
his decision to offer to Germany
thc capitulation of the Belgian
army.
Since Cudahy is cut off from the
outside world, Leopold's letter to
President Roosevelt was given to
German military authorities for re-
transmission to Washington.
A friend of the royal family said
that on May "a four members OF
the Belgian cabinet tried to induce
the king to flee to France after
SeSing the hopeleSSneSs of the sit
uaton in which the Belgian army
found itself.
The king refused and friend of
the royal family gave his reasons
as follows:
On May 90 the Belgian armies
were completely isolated from their
British allies on their right flank
and were subjected to ever increaS-
ing German pressure.
Compressed with over 100000 Bel
gisn soldiers in a small area we're
100000 civilian refugees in addition
to the regular population. They
had been without food and water
Tor three days and were in a state
of panic
The king, realizing the hopeless
ness of the situation, decided to
capitulate. Until May 25 four mem
bers of the cabinet had been at
SrugeS with Leopold. A friend of
the royal family said that they were
Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot, For
eign Minister Paul Henri-Spaak, !
Defense Minister Gen. Denis and
the minister of interior.
All were in agreement that the
position of the Belgian army was
hopeless and the cabinet decided |
to flee to France, They urged the
king to flee with them but he re-
fused, saying, it was said: Regard
less of what my future would be as
commander in chief of the Bel
glan army and as king of the Bel
gians it would be desertion for me
to leave my country
Again the king was pressed (the
1rle nd continued and again he re-
fused.
"Regardless of what happens to
me, rc repeated, Il will stay with /
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04

sad bags which protect tho priN-
c'pal Paris monuments The sand
IS had rottcd during nine months
KID Ire to sun and rain.
1t was asserted officially that
all traffic in the raided area was
oormal that all railroads wcle
operatirE, that all factories wrrc
going at normal production rate.
and that all crater holes IN main
roadc he'd b. refill2d by 'nim'ght
so that mi:it2"Y conveys wcrn not
interrupted.
Funerals OF mir raid victims
started this mos.,is,- cnd will con-
tinue tomorrow
1t was believed that &C girls Of
from seven to IL years of age who
we're killed in hits on schools aid
on an air raid trench, would be
buried together in white dresses.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
Red Bluff Starts
Defense Fund

RED BLUFF. Cal. June 4. CUP)
"A voluntary national defense con-
tribution of $1,000 today was being
raised by the Red Bluff chamber
of commerce in the hope of start
ing a nationwide movement dem
onstrating the solidarity of the
United States to thWart aggression
on this continent"
The chamber expected to send
the money to President Roosevelt
within the next few days.
by this action the citizens of
Red Bluff earnestly hope that every
community under the protection
of the stars and stripes will follow
our example and give in proportion y
telegram to the president said
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
Britain Ready to
Deal with Reds

LONDON, June 4. tUPD Richard
Butler. underSecretary for foreign
affairs. told the House of Commons
today that the government was
prepared to enter into normal rcla-
tions with the Soviet government.
He added that he hoped to be able
to reply tomorrow to question as
to when diplomatic representation
by a British ambassador would be
resumed in Moscow
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04

not meet tonight, it was stated
officially despite previous reports
that the session would be held and
might decide the time for Italy S
entry into the war.
The official statement eased ten
sion over the possibility of imme-
diate entry into the war.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-06-04
TURKISH PRESIDENT
CONFERS WITH NAZJ

ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 4. CUP)
President Ismet Inonu received
German Ambassador Franz Won Pa
pen late yesterday and talked with
him for more than half m hour, it
was disclosed today. The subject of
their conversation was not dlulged.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-27
The War Crisis

If Arthur B. Purvis, head of the British
for his government and people, it is the com
posite opinion in England that the next 6C
to 80 days is to bring the crisis in the war
against the Axis. Mr.. Purvis has just re-
turned to this country from England and I'M
mediately conferred with Secretary Morgen-
thau of the treasury. Although his lips were
sealed after this conference it is impossible
not to believe that he brought to the head OF
the treasury special message from the Brit
ish government which is looking more and
more anxiously for American deliveries OF
war equipment and to broader financial alo'
Pointing out that Britain's advantage must
come from being able to outpace the enemy
in weapons, Mr. Purvis told reporters that
Britain looks to this country for IAN enthu-
siastic approach to production" Collapse, ne
added, is not in the British dictionary, out
this brave declaration was in part offset III
his interview with reporters when he said
that rapidly increasing production OF wea-
pons in the United States is the keynote OF
stopping this war"
In these two statements, the British pur-
chasing agent gave the American people
something to think about and act upon. Fri
rnarily we need, as he said Britain hopes we
will realize, an enthusiastic approach to pro-
duction. Once we have this, as We probably
shall with an efficient administration OF de-
tense activities headed by Mr.. Knudsen, there
will be no longer any question of industrial
coordination. Instead there will be steady
flow of planes, guns, ammunition, tanks ana
other essential battle supplies to meet Brit
aims requirements.
Once we are on the production job with a
hundred per cent capacity output, we will
have found the means, sounded the keynote,
of stopping this war; Indeed, it is impera-
tive that American war industries be geared
for capacity production to guarantee our own
national security. The approaching crisis,
which Mr.. Purvis declares very near, is no
more Britains than our own.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-27
"Anti-BalkaniZatiOn"

The United States Supreme Courts ruin
on North Cardinals privilege tax is Stir
ring many editors and special writer's to volc
their views in print. An article in the NeN
York Herald Tribune's financial columns
1t reads:
Those who have realized the menace to
national solidarity that is implicit in the
increasing trend toward interstate trade
barriers will derive considerable satisfac-
ton from a unanimous decision of the Su-
preme court yesterday in connection with
the North Carolina privilege" tax. This
law was passed in 1887 and applied an an
nual tax of $3.50 on out-of-state merchants
who exhibited their goods in North Caro-
lima with the intention of drumming of
business -Ir Justice Reed, speaking for
the court, said: Interstate commerce can
hardly survive in SO hostile an atmos-
phere.'' The court dug down to the essen
tial threat which such legislation directs
toward the worlds great free trade area.
THE freedom of commerce which allows
the merchants of each state regional or
national market for their goods is not to
be fettered by legislation, the actual ef-
feet of which is to discriminate in favor of
intrastate businesses whatever may be the
ostensible reach Of the language" IN
court said. Now if similar decisions can
be made to apply to the other slick little
schemes whereby local industries seek to
monopolize state markets, the alarming
trend toward Balkanization of the United
States may be checked.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-27

solini. # these warnings have any affect a,
all they are more likely to increase Aneri
can efforts to aid Britain, rather than decrease
them. The fallacy Of the Axis position lies
in assuming that there is any reason why
the United States should listen to either prom
ises or threats from this source. Hitler and
his now lottery henchman in Rome have made
no secret Of their attitude toward the United
States.
They are out to dominate the world by
force: they have made a treaty With Japan
aimed directly at this country; their agents
are already busy in this hemisphere. II they
are not taking fully belligerent attitude to-
ward us now it is not because they have any
love for U.s. It is merely because they have
their hands full with Britain as it is.
This country has, and fully expects, to main
tain policy of avoiding direct conflict
with the Axis powers. 1t does not want war
and will go a long way to avoid it. 1t should
not undertake any step which is clearly an
act of war. But there is one thing that the
United States will not do and that is be
frightened or bulled into sacrificing its most
vital interests.
Close to the top of those interests now is
our determination to help Britain to defend
herself, The only limit we have set on this
aid is that it shall be ''short of war" But
itself what it can do within the limits of neu-
trality; it will not take the judgment of Rome
or Berlin.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-27
BRITAIN DOUBLES
CHANNEL GUARD
Continued From Page One)

Continued From Page One)
ment said there was little damage
and no casualties.
Some informed persons here sug-
gested that German troop move
ments reported in the Balkans had
the objective of diverting British
attention from the home front, ad-
ding that the Nazis used similar
strategem before falling upon Bel
gium and the Netherlands.
These sources scoffed at III e
speculation that the German troop
movements presaged an onslaught
on Turkey and Greece, through
Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, to lift
British pressure on the Italians in
Libya.
If the invasion is to come, it
will be fought largely with British
weapons, Sir Walter Layton of the
of supply emphasized in
an interview.
He declared that the expected
avalanche" of United States
made armaments would not reach
here until the late summer OF 1941
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-27
Editorial Comment
WE CAN, IF WE WILL
Durham Herald

judging by their speeches, statements, and
so on authorized spokesmen for labor, indus
try, capital, Government all stand ready, will
ing and anxious to do whatever needs to be
done to give national defense the added speed
everyone insists we must have.
Just tell us, said the president of the Manu-
facturers Association on Monday night, what
is required of us and we'll prove to all, at
home and abroad that it is no idle boast when
it is said that American industry can out
produce any in the world.
A few days ago, William Green of the A. F.
of l.. said acquaint us with what is wanted
Of us, show us that it is necessary and We'll
carry our part, without strikes, quibbling, or
protest, except we reserve the privilege of
dealing with admittedly intolerable labor con-
ditions.
Philip Murray of the c. I. O. has outlined
in behalf of his organization what he calls
detail plan for converting the automotive
industry into facilities for turning out as many
as 500 planes per day, within six-month per-
riod.
And, of course everybody knows that Mr..
Knudsen, chief of National Defense Produc-
ton, has called for speed, more speed, and
then more speed to cope with this terrible
emergency
| All right everybody is ready to pitch in
and multiply production. Everybody comedies
that we have what it takes to speed up pro-
duction. Everybody, at least nearly everybody,
agrees that more speed is essential.
What's holding back the wheels and why
is there a demand for effective action when
everybody advocates action?
| The answer, we think, in large part is that
although all hands profess willingness, readi-
ness, and capacity to do what needs to be
done, all hands want to write the terms and
very few are prepared to make the sacri-
fices that are prerequisite to the speed and
central command sought
Industry must relinquish prerogatives and
so must labor. The Government must assume
and assert, firmly when and where neces-
sary, undisputed command, and in the doing
so tell industry, labor, and the public what
is needed, how much, and why.
1t is quibbling, of course, to insist that the
Government go into detail and explain ex-
actly why this or that is needed in this or
that quantity and for what purpose. No one
can do that This is world Of the unpre-
dictable and national defense never has been
and never will be reducable to definite for
mula.
The first thing all of us need to realize
that we haven't yet more than approached is
that we cannot do the defense job we have
assigned ourselves and hold to what is known
as business as usual" That simply isn't pos
sible and those who think it is ought to look
again at France, at Britain and above all at
Germany.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-27
F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgeralds death at the COM
paratively youthful age of A ends the never
quite fulfilled career of the first and ablest
chronicler of Americas jazz age.
The fantastic era of prohibition, of rae
coon coats, of the sad young men of the dis
illusioned postwar generation, was just be-
ginning when Fitzgerald's first novel, This
Side Of Paradise" appeared. A story at once
gay and bitter, romantic and cynical, it was
brilliantly told. Into this book Fitzgerald
poured a distillation of the feelings which
were stirring the young men of his gener-
alton; with it he became the chief prophet
and interpreter of an age.
The young man who wrote that novel never
quite fulfilled the magnificent promise which
critics agreed it showed. His short stories
were wittily and adeptly written, he had a
keen reportorial mind and ear and amazing
gifts but he kept showing promise to the
end. Perhaps the best thing he ever did was
THE Great Gatsby,'' novel of Long Is
land bootlegger which appeared IS years ago
when he was still only 20. For the past five
years Fitzgerald has found himself unable to
write at all beyond few scenarios for Holly
wood.
Perhaps the trouble was that the world
about which Fitzgerald had written so bril-
liantly and of which he was part had al
ready disappeared. Perhaps he found himself
unable to make a reorientation and put down
roots into rapidly changing world Or per.
haps it was merely that the sense of frustra.
ton which was SO much part of the Jazz
age caught up with him and left him HELPLESS
to capitalize on his truly great ability as a
writer. In this respect his career is tragic
story but at least he made a real impact m
American literature and, perhaps, LASTING
eontsihNtiQn.