davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Truckmen Are Robbed
OF S59 by Bandits

A truck driver for a downtown de-
partment store and his helper were
forced to turn over $50 to two colored
bandits in the 1900 block Of R street
late yesterday. they told police.
The driver, Harry w. Brady, Of 8
Adams street NV, reported the two
men walked up to the parked truck
and asked him for change for a
$40 bill. Suddenly one of the men
thrust a sharp instrument in mis-
back, Mr.. Brady related, and COM
PEELED him to hand over $29 belong
ing to himself and $50 of the stores
money.
The robbers then took $40 from
Mr.. Brady's helper, Melvin Shetllng,
Of Arlington, Va, police were told.
Three colored men, one armed with
knife. robbed Robert E. Patterson,
4l0 L street NV, of his purse con-
tanning s955 after stopping him in
the 400 block of K street NV. The
men fled through MAYORS court, the
victim said.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
u. 5. Lines Sells 8 Ships
To Belgian Corporation
BY the Associated Press.


NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE United
States Lines today sold eight of its
idle transatlantic ships. including
the 13,869-ton President Harding,
to Belgian corporation for a re-
ported sum of about $4,000, 900.
President John M. Franklin of the
U. S. Lines confirmed the sale, but
declined to disclose the price.
The purchasing firm was identified
as the Societe Maritime Anversoise.
The ships start operations between
New York and England, France
and Belgium within few weeks.
The seven other vessels sold were !:
American Merchant, American
Banker. American Importer, Ameri-
can Shipper, American Trader and
American Traveller, all of about 1000
gross tons. Except for the President
Harding, veteran Of the North At
lantic passenger and cargo service,
all are cargo ships.
With passage of the revised Neu-
trality Act, U. S. Lines ships were
withdrawn from the transatlantic
service, but the Washington ana
Manhattan now are In the New
York-Italy trade, and the firms
eleventh vessel. the President Roose-
welt, is in Bermuda service.
The sale was authorized by the
U. S. Maritime Commission.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
BoIond to Talk on Forum
House Whip to Discuss Trode
Agreements on WMAL Tomorrow

Trade Agreements" a subject now
about to claim the attention of the
House. will be discussed in the Ma
tional Radio Forum tomorrow night
by Representative Patrick j. Boland
of Pennsylvania, the majority whip.
The National Radio Forum Is ar
ranged by The Star and is broad
cast over . coast-to-coast network
of the National Broadcasting Co. It
can be heard locally at l0:30 O'Clock
through Station WMAL.
Administration leaders have ar
ranged to devote most Of next week
to House consideration of legisla-
ton extending the Reciprocal Trade
Agreements Act for another three
years.
Representative Boland was one OF
the IA Democrats on the Ways and
Means Committee who voted in IA
vor Of renewing the trade agree
ments program when it expires
June IL.
He recently polled the House in
formally on the question of ex-
tending the program, and his ad-
dress tomorrow night is expected
to reveal the results of this check.
Mr.. Boland and other Democratic
leaders have freely predicted the
House will approve continuance Of
the system, which Secretary Hull
thinks will be an immediate help to
the development Of international
commerce and an eventual aid to
creating world peace.
In Q report . few days ago, Demo-
cratic members Of the Ways and
Means Committee said ''our high.
Evening star., 1940-02-18

propriated for the current year but
left out of the bill for the coming
year both by the Budget Bureau
and the House.
Since nothing was allowed in the
budget for parity, any amount the
Senate votes for that purpose must
be subtracted from the aggregate
savings ON the other supply bills.
The farm bill. therefore, may decide
whether Congress can keep within
the debt limit without new taxes.
Indorsing the action Of the House
in eliminating from the Navy bill
81, 900 900 to begin improvements at
Guam, Senator Clark declared that
If this country fortifies the island
ut will have to double the Navy to
protect it,"
The Missouri Senator revived dis
cussion yesterday of the proposal to
merge the War and Navy Depart
ments into q single national defense
agency, as an economy move. Such
a proposal was put forward nearly
20 years ago in connection with early
discussions of Government reorgani-
zation, but was abandoned.
He argued that under one ma
tional defense secretary there could
be four undersecretaries, for the
Army, Navy, aviation and procure
ment. The Missouri Senator ad-
mitted, however, such a consolida-
ton could not be considered In con-
nection with current appropriation
bills.
Senator Byrnes' inquiry into the
advisability of changing types of
naval vessels probably will throw
light on the question Of whether the
Senate should restore House reduc-
tions in the amounts allowed for
starting new battleships and cruisers.
The House cut the estimates for
starting two new battleships from
81, ,s00. 900 to 81 500 900 and for start
ing two new cruisers from $2,9O0, 600
to $1.450, 900. The House committee
said it favored building these ships
and that the amounts allowed would
enable the department to proceed
with plans.
It suggested in its report, however,
that before proceeding with con-
struction it should be determined
that the new ships would be superior
to and not merely the equal Of new
construction by other nations.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Army Pilot Found
Slightly Hurt in Wreck

BY the Associated Press.
CORDOVA, Alaska, Feb. IL
Capt. Benton w. Steve" Davis, u.
S. Army Reserve Corps pilot flying
for the Civil Aeronautics Authority,
was found today beside his wrecked
plane near Portage Pass. He was
only slightly injured by a crash
into q mountainside on fight from
Anchorage to VALDEZ.
Wildlife Agents Gren Collins and
Clarence Rhode landed a small plane
in a clearing near the spot where
Capt. Davis plane had struck. With
Capt. Davis in their plane, they
planned an early takeoff from the
precarious landing field for q re-
turn to Anchorage.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
BioH and Chicago Officer
Play Hide-ond- Seek

LOS ANGELES. Feb. II B.-Wil-
liam E. Bioff, Hollywood motion
picture labor leader. was playing
hide-and-seek tonight with a Chi
cago police officer who came here
to extradite him to the Illinois city
on an 18-year-old pandering charge.
Gov. Culbert L. Olson issued the
extradition order today in Sacra.
mento and Police 1t Charles Egan
of Chicago was here to take Bioff
into custody to serve an uncom-
pleted six months sentence imposed
in 1922.
Bion could not be located, but a
spokesman said every possible
means would be utilized in fighting
the extradition. Michael Luddy,
Bioff,s counsel, indicated he would
move for a writ of habeas corpus TO
require officers to bring the labor
leader into court before taking him
out Of the State.
Evening star., 1940-02-18

River Report.
Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers clear
at Harpers Ferry late yesterday.
Weather Conditions Last "A Hsufs.
The disturbance that was . short dis
tance OF the Texas coast Friday night is
advancing slowly northward over Louisiana,
New Orleans. P99.O millibars $3.50
inehss). and 9 warm front is developins
on the South Carolina and Georgia coasts:
Another aisturbance il moyinx eastward
1O13.9 milhbars t29.94 inches). A high.
pressure area. Is moving slowly eastward
over New York and Pennsylvania. Canton,
New York. 1O34.2 millibars (30.54 inches).
and another .o area is moving
the the Dakotas. Pembina. N; Oak. lo36:a
minibars 80 go inches). with . wedge ex-
tending south-southwestvard TO New Mex
ieo During the last "a hours rains have
occurred in the North Pacific States, the
Northern Plateau. the Middle and East
Guif and south Atlantic States. and rains
and SHOWS in Kentucky and Tennessee. the
%ypPer y Lake rssion: the upper Mississippi
Temperatures have fallen slightly in the
Lower Mississippi Valley and Eastern
TeXa4
Evening star., 1940-02-18

Association on February 3. In the
years Immediately following the
World War, military and naval ap-
preparations were sharply reduced.
Though the National Defense Act of
1920 fixed the authorized strength
of the Regular Army at $50 900 en-
listed men, in 1922 the Army was
reduced to 118,75O men. Under the
Washington naval limitation treaty
of 1922, which established a 5-5-3
ratio between Great Britain. the
United States, and Japan, the United
States voluntarily scrapped ships
under construction, whose compile
ton would have given us the worlds
most powerful navy. From 1922 to
1888, Congress voted comparatively
little money for new warships, with
the result that the Navy fell far
short Of treaty strength in under
age tonnage.
Since 1894 national defense ap-
propriations have been stepped up
ward. Soon after President Roose-
welt took once, $238 ,000, 900 of p. w.
A. funds were allocateo to construct
80 naval vessels, an initial move to-
ward building up the Navy to treaty
strength. In the Vinson-Trammell
Act Of 1884, Congress authorized the
construction of the 102 vessels
needed by the Navy to reach the
treaty limits.
On December 81, 1896, the naval
limitation treaties expired and Great
Britain and Japan began to build in
excess of all previous treaty limita-
tions. Germany, italy and France
also embarked upon naval expansion
programs.
Defenses Strengthened.
Last year Congress passed q naval
expansion bill providing for a basic
increase Of more than 20 per cent in
naval tonnage. On January IL, 1899,
President Roosevelt asked Congress
for An extraordinary appropriation
of $525, ,OO0, 900 over and above the
regular military and naval appro-
priations. Two other important steps
were taken last year to bolster our
defenses. One was an increase of the
Regular Army to 165, 900 enlisted
men. The other was the approval
by Congress of bill for new naval
air bases in Puerto Rico, Hawaii,
several islands west Of Hawaii, and in
Florida, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
For the current fiscal year, national
defense appropriations aggregate
more than 81 COZ, 100000.
Following the outbreak of the
European war, last September, Presi-
dent Roosevelt, by executive order,
directed that the enlisted strength of
the Regular Army be increased to
227, 900. He also ordered increases in
the National Guard and the Navy.
To finance the emergency defense
measures, he asked Congress to ap-
propriate $271 .000, 900 for the current
fiscal year, and $500 ,000, 900 for the
fiscal year 1941.
Said the President in his budget
message: Il do not believe that the
majority Of the people in this coun-
try want to reduce the budgeted
estimates of $1,000 900 900 for ma
tional defense. This is an increase,
of course, over the current year, but
is far less than many experts on ma
tional defense think should be spent.
though it is in my opinion q sufficient
amount for the coming year"
The proposed Army and Navy
increases, the President said, were
based mot on panic but on common
sense"
Evening star., 1940-02-18

est national interests" require con-
tinuance Of the trade agreements
program. and that abandonment of
the program would serve notice to
the world that the United States
had given UP its position Of leader
ship rs . peace loving nation,
Debate on the resolution to. con-
tinue the Administrators authority
10 negotiate the controversial agree.
ments u due to begin tomorfow.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Y. S DispIoces Germany
At Top in Turkish Trode
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ISTANBUL, Feb. 1.-THE United
States, apparently as a result of the
war, has captured from Germany
first place in Turkeys foreign trade.
Since the war started trade with
Germany, which formerly had al
most 80 per cent, has dwindled al
most to nothing.
Ofacial reports today showed that
during November and December
Turkey bought and sold more goods
in the United States than any other
country.
The United States has been Sec
ond to Germany, with 10 per cent
of Turkeys trade.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Family of Four Killed
As Truin Hits Car
BY the Associated Press.

By the ASS0c1Ated PreM-
VERO BEACH, Fla, Feb. ia
family Of four were killed today
when their automobile was struck by
q northbound Florida East Coast
passenger train at a grade crossing
here.
The dead were Mr.. and Mrs.
Tommy McWhorter of Fort Pierce
and their two children, Evelyn, 5,
and Tommy, jr., 5.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Shoots Self Accidentally

John Saint, 34-yeAr- old employe
at . shooting gallery In the 1900
block Of E street NV, shot himself
accidentally In the left hand last
night while handling = .25-caliber
revolver at the gallery. He was
treated ct Emergency Hospital for
the wound, described rs not serious.
Mr.. Saint lives At sos Fifth st. NV.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Burn Victim Dies

Hampton Covington, 60, colored,
OF Pierce court NV, burned on his
body and legs when his bed acci-
dentally caught fire Tuesday, died
yesterday at FTeedmen's Hospital
Police said the man was taken to
the hospital the day after the acci-
dent when he collapsed in q cafe
near his home,
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Gorbo's Escort
Creates Nassau
Customs Crisis
BY the Associated Press.

NASSAU, Bahamas, Feb. IT.
Greta Garbo, elusive cinema star,
and Dr. Gaylord Hauser arrived in
a chartered airplane from Miami
today and boarded the yacht South
ern Cross after passing through
customs.
Miss Carlo drew the attention of
q crowd of curious moviegoers, who
were kept at a distance by police.
DR.. Hauser was the center of mo-
mentary ofIicial anxiety after GUS
toms guards noted that clearance
papers issued in Miami listed him
as q German. The tension eased
after he established his United
States naturalization.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Erickson Acquitted
On Charge Of Staying
Best Friend
Youth With 128 |. @.
Smiles at Verdict
Freeing Him
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Feb. 17.-Carl Hubert
Erickson was acquitted tonight Of
q charge Of numbering his best
friend" in an attempt to commit
"the perfect crime"
The verdict was returned by q
jury in Criminal Court.
The jury of nine women and
three men deliberated six hours
and is minutes. The pale. be-
specialized defendant smiled family
when the verdict was read.
The 25-year-old defendant, who
has been rated as q experimental
ity" with an intelligence quotient Of
1913 by DR.. Harry Hoffman of the
Cook County Behavior Clinic, sat
unmoved during the closing argu-
ments.
Assistant States Attorney Julius
Sherwin termed him q cold -blooded
killer" who sought to execute q
thrill murder or a perfect murder
and demanded the death penalty.
Don't put the brand of murderer
on this American boy" countered
Defense Counsel Samuel Hoffman.
There is no motive-no witness.
Don't convict him on the evidence
in the confession. This boy didn't
kill Herbert Wolff"
The prosecutions version of the
Staying was this:
Erickson, brooding because Wolf.
28, had taken his job in a garage,
crept into the garage on the night
of last September % and shot Wolff
as he lay sleeping. Erickson stole
back to his home and went to bed
without awakening his roommate.
Erickson contended he was inno-
cent. He repudiated his alleged con-
fession and maintained he admitted
the crime under duress and to es-
cape mistreatment by the police.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
British Insurance Firms
Ready With Exchange

BY tie Associated Press.
The British Embassy said In q
statement last night that fullest
arrangements" had been made to
enable British insurance companies
to meet claims either in sterling or
IN foreign currency" according to
the terms Of the policy.
1t was assumed that this meant
the British government had allo-
Gated a portion of its foreign ex-
change to the huge international
insurance business of British COM
panies.
Evening star., 1940-02-18

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. IT, Beautiful
Countess Edeltrud Claudette Won
Costentza, 22-year-old Austrian, was
interned as an enemy alien today
after she admitted she had brihed
an Englshman to marry her for his
name.
I The countess said the transac-
ton with p. G. Wharton had
amounted to f25 t$100), and that
illegally or not he married her.
Wharton was acquitted Of bigamy
on his plea that the countess sim
ply used his name.
Evening star., 1940-02-18
MorIund Seeks House Scot

PONCA CITY, Okla, Feb. II R.-
Former Gov. 4. w. Marland, one
time head Of 4 multi-million dollar
oil company bearing his name, said
today he would seek the Democratic
nomination for Congress from the
eiehth district,
Evening star., 1940-02-18

IN eSClmaClng our military and
naval requirements, in the light
of present world conditions,
there are five major factors to
be considered. As the President re-
minded Congress last year, there is
new range and speed to offense." !"
To meet the lightning thrust of the
new odense, the defense must estab-
lish q strong outpost line, and its
key facilities must be ready for i'm
mediate use. Until a few decades
ago, geographical isolation provided
the United States with q large
measure of security against a sud-
den attack from overseas. As q re-
suit Of the increasing range, speed
and striking power Of modern mill
tary weapons, particularly airplanes,
the oceans have shrunk, and isola-
ton has lost much Of its protective
armor.
The military programs Of foreign
powers provide second yardstick for
measuring the adequacy of our de-
fense establishment. In recent years,
the trend, nearly everywhere, has
been toward larger armies and
navies. Today, the United States
faces a world armed to the teeth.
All Resources Required.
Totalitarian war, a recent de-
velopment. also has q direct bearing
on our defense needs. Modern war
requires the mobilization of a ma
tion's material resources. as well as
its man power. Industrial and econo-
mic planning are therefore an es-
sential part Of national prepared
ness.
Under the new policy of hemis-
pheric, or continental defense, the
United States will hereafter share
with other American nations the re-
sponsibility for safeguarding the two
Americans against foreign aggres-
sion. This means naval, air and land
forces sufficiently strong to prevent
the establishment Of hostile forward
bases in South or North America.
BY widening our military RESPONSE
bilities. the policy Of hemisphere de-
fense has thus created a need for
armaments greater thar those which
would be required to defend United
States territory alone.
The European war is another
factor in the equation. No one can
safely predict what the international
alignment. will be after the war. In
appearing before the House Naval
Affairs Committee in January.
Admiral Harold r. Stark, chief of
naval operations, warned that the
United States must face the posi-
bility of an allied defeat. In fixing
the future size of the Navy, he said,
We must therefore appraise the
strength Of the powers that might
combine for action against the
Americas.
In recent years. and more particu-
larly since the Munich crisis, there
has been 4 marked change in the at
titude of the American people toward
national defense. This change has
been reflected In the larger appro-
priations voted by Congress for the
Army and Navy. Realistically. the
American people seem to have ac-
cepted the fact that In a world ruled
by force, and power politics, the
United States cannot safely follow q
policy of disarmament by example.
U. S. Strength Waned.
Our defense establishment at the
time of the 1918 armistice was the
strongest in the world, 1t. Gen. Hugh
A. Drum. commanding general of the
First Army, told the Boston Bar
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Report
FURNISHED by the


District Cobia-Coudy today followed by rain late
this slightly moderate
northeast winds increasing
followed
tonight tomorrow slightly
Vginia-Ran southwest cloudy followed by rain
portion slightly
warmer.
vginiaRain today and not much change
emne ratlre
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Gov. Olson Approves
Extradition Of Bioff,
Theater Union Leader
Must Go to Chicago
To Finish Sentence
Imposed in 1922
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO, Calf, Feb. IT,
Gov. Culbert L. Olson decreed today
that William Bioff, Hollywood the
atrical Union leader, must go back
to Chicago to finish his jail SEN
tence on an 18-year-old pandering
conviction.
He dismissed legal objections
raised by defense attorneys in con-
testing the extradition, refused their
request for q delay pending the Los
Angeles trial of Biof1 on Federal
income tax evasion charges and
took q gentle dig at Chicago law
enforcement.
Illinois authorities asserted In
their requisition that Bioff fed the
State without completing a six
months sentence imposed by a Chi
cago Municipal Court in 1922.
Biof1's counsel maintained, how.
ever, he had been accessible to the
police In Chicago for IA years and
that even after he came to Califor.
MIA in 1886 he made six return trips.
The Governor took cognizance Of
the long delay in re-arresting Bion
on the old charge, but cited legal
authority to show the time element
was not Of paramount importance"
in extradition cases. Bioff was ar.
rested in Los Angeles on a Chicago
warrant last November.
Commenting on the defense plea
that Bioff was fully rehabilitated,
Gov. Olson said:
my attention has been called to
frequent inquiries, questioning. ar
rests and detention by law enforce
ment authorities of Chicago of the
defendant and his associates in con-
nection with illegal activities, made
in comparatively recent years when
he can no longer be considered
youthful.
while it is true he was never
convicted of another offense, feel
constrained to take into considera-
ton the fact that he lived in q
community which has had a type
Of law enforcement that permitted
courts sentence to 60 unsatisfied
for l8 years."
Evening star., 1940-02-18

defense needs and what Is being done to them.
In his January budget message President
national defense expenditure Of for the fiscal
July an aount nearly twice the total cost Of the
teoera 80 Because Of the
involved and the objective Of the
through preparedness urged by George Wangtonnaional
is one Of the most matters now before
congress How large Army and Navy do need and
defense plans adequate? AS and the
East many Americans are asking these questions