davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-07-12
BY the Associated Press.

Ds Vic ASSOCldteu fEeSS.
ROME, July 12.-Italian warplanes
set British aircraft carrier on fire
and seriously damaged two destroy
ers yesterday in the four-day- old
Mediterranean air and naval battle,
the high command reported today.
Declaring that the engagement
which began July lis not yet finally
ended" the communique described
Italian air pursuit of British
squadron of two battleships, an air.
craft carrier and smaller vessels
conveying five large freighters in the
Malta region.
THE aircraft carrier, struck by
bomb of extremely large caliber,
stopped suddenly with flames on
board visible from above, while sew
eral ships speeded to its aid" the
communique said.
1t declared that one of the es-
corted freighters was sunk by
bomb.
The bombardment was said to
have taken place under heavy anti
aircraft fire while the ships were
steaming eastward from Malta.
The high command reported that
Italian planes and light columns
of troops had attacked British
fortress on the Egyptian side OF
the Libyan frontier, destroying a
tank and burning barracks at Sid
ibarani and taking some prisoners.
An air bombardment of British
Somaliland also was reported.
The Italians claimed to have shot
down in flames four British planes
from aircraft carriers. One British
plane was reported down at Sidi-
barani and two others in Kenya
Two Italian planes failed to re-
Evening star., 1940-07-12
War Sinkings Total
4,329,213 Tons,
Germans Declare
Fires Started in Raids
On Britain, High
Command Announces
BY the Associated Press

BY TIE = SSoClaleQ FreSS.
BERLIN, July 12-The German
high command reported today that
1929 ,213 tons of enemy merchant
shipping space or shipping space
usable by the enemy" have been
sunk by German naval and air ac-
ton since the start of the war.
ITO this figure of ships sunk must
be added over 300 ships damaged
primarily by the air force, which,
in part, were hit so severely that
they are unusable at present or be-
cause of necessary repairs will be
unusuable for MONTHS said the
daily communique.
The total given by the high COM
mand amounts to more than half
the total tonnage lost by Great
Britain in the entire World War
1880. .765 tons.
Torpedoes and Mines Lead.
The daily communique, giving new
point to Germany's declaration Of a
starvation blockade" of the British
Isles, divided the sunken shipping
space as Of July 3 as follows:
BY torpedo hits and mines, 1920
439 tons.
BY turface craft and naval means,
1882, ,461 tons.
BY the air force. 1,046.313 tons.
Renewed assaults on airports,
harbors and war industries in South
ern and Central England and the
sinking of four merchant ships and
tanker in the English Channel
were marked up to the credit of
German fighting planes and dive
bombers.
Nine other merchant ships were
reported severely damaged"
British Admit 100000 Tons.
Thus. declared the high command,
Germany's successes in the econom-
ic warfare have reached a height
perceptible to England
The German figures presumably
include all Allied and neutral ship
ping which Germany has destroyed.
not merely British. British losses
acknowledged thus far total nearly
1,000,0OO tons.
The German claim would repre-
sent monthly average of about
100000 tons of shipping space sunk
in the present war, now 10 months
old.
That would be roughly the same
average as the toll eXacted from Al
lies and neutrals in the 2l-month
period Of unrestricted submarine ac-
tivity ir 1918 in the World War.
The monthly average for British
shipping alone for that period was
about 5000.
Channel Bases Helpful.
Germans emphasized that the
present wars rate of sinkings has
increased steadily since bases have
been won on the English Channel
for supplying submarines and planes.
This has saved submarines from
long Journeys to the north around
the British Isles to get at Britain's
Atlantic shipping lanes and has
greatly increased the effective ra-
(See BERLIN, Page A-3.-
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Roosevelt Reiterates
Wage-Hour Policies
Will Be Retained
Sl36,743, 900 in Contract.
Awarded in Move for
Two-Oceon Navy
BY the Associated PreSs

! BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt asserted at a
press conference today that the
administration would go ahead with
its present policy of maintaining
standards under the Wage-Hour Act
for work on the defense program.
The Chief Executive spoke at a
press conference shortly after the
Navy Department awarded contracts
totaling sl36,743,9OO as a part of
the vast program to build up the
Nations Pacific and Atlantic de-
| fenses.
Reads Letter From Fleming.
Mr.. Roosevelt read to reporters a
letter from Col. Philip B. Fleming,
Wage-hour administrator, which
covered the question of the necessity
of raising the ceiling for hours.
above which time and half must
be paid.
Col. Fleming informed the Presi-
dent that any complaints from key
defense industries that the payment
OF time and half for overtime was
making their operation difficult
would be brought promptly to Mr..
Roosevelt's attention. The admini-
strator added that only three such
complaints. all from small estab-
hshments, had been received.
Were there any defense need in
certain industries for abrogation of
the time and one-half rule" Col.
Fleming wrote, nothing could keep
me from so reporting. In my con-
facts with industry no such need has
yet been demonstrated to me-"
Describing the letter as an inter-
esting checkup by an independent
source, the President said he had not
asked for it. that it arrived last
night and that in view of its con-
tents the. administrations present
policy would be continued.
Cites 1917 Order.
Col Fleming cited an order is
sued by the Army chief of ordnance
on November Is. 1917, when the
country was at the height of it's
World War procurement effort.
The order said industrial history
proved that reasonable hours. fair
working conditions and a proper
wage scale are essential to high
production" To wave aside indus
trial safeguards, the order de-
clared. would be short-sighted and
lead gradually toward lowered pro-
duction.
Col. Fleming asserted maximum
production today calls for maximum
efficiency of the machine. This. he
said, usually is obtained by using
relays of workers in shifts sufficiently
short to make constantly intense
effort possible.
French System Called Rigid"
The public's attention, he said,
should be called to the fact that
the French 40-hour week in effect
from 1886 to 1898 was a rigid
limitation" with little resemblance
~rrr3NTcr
Evening star., 1940-07-12
End Of Gravel Strike
Declared Possible
This Afternoon
Col. Fleming Comedies
Thot so Workers Moy b
CIussed as Seomen

Settlement of the five-day-old
strike that has paralyzed District
building construction and laid Of
$500 men is seen as a definite pos
sibility during the afternoon" by
Howard T. Colvin, Labor Depart
ment conciliator.
Mr.. Colvin's statement came after
concession by Col. Philip B. Flem-
ing. wage and hour division ad-
ministrator, that 60 of the $50 strik-
ing employees of the Smoot Sand g.
Gravel Corp. would be classified as
seamen.
Reduced Work Week.
The strike was called by Sand and
Gravel Workers Union, Local No.
22075. in support of the company's
contention that it's dredge workers
were seamen and, therefore, ex-
empt from the Fair Labor Standards
Acts 42-hour-week regulation.
When the company reduced its
work week for these employees re-
Gently, to comply with the wage and
hour ruling that the dredge men
were. not seamen and could not
work more than AZ hours a week
without payment of overtime, the
net result was a pay cut for the
employees involved.
In agreeing to the seamen clas-
siflcation for the 60 men, Col. Flem-
ing stressed that his action was as
administrative Interpretation and
subject to revision by the courts.
His decision was reached, it was
said, after conferences with John
Carmody, Federal works administra-
tor: w. E. Reynolds, commissioner
of public buildings for the F.. w. A.,
and M. H. McCloskey, president of
McCloskey & Co., contractors.
Wants Findings Made Public.
Thomas A. Butt, treasurer of the
Smoot concern, late yesterday issued
a statement inviting Thurman
Arnold, Assistant Attorney General,
"in view of Arnold's announcement
that the Department of Justice will
call for a grand jury investigation
to determine the legality of the
monopoly controlled by the Smoot
Corp to make public the findings
of the investigation which his de-
partment has recently made and
thereby save the taxpayers unneces-
sary expense"
John Lochner, secretary of the
Washington Building Trades Coun-
Gil, estimated that about 1000 had
been added to the number of per-
sons laid off as result of the strike
in the last two days. He figured
two days ago that $500 were idle;
1000 on Federal projects, 1000 on
District projects and the remainder
on private construction.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
japan Puts Contraband
Control on Indo-China
Nv the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
HONG KONG, July 1.-THE Jap
anese Navy dispatched a dozen off,
GERS to Kwangchowan, French
leased port midway between Hong
Kong and French Indo-China, to-
day to block the remaining French
controlled inlet for trade destined
for China.
The japanese said they were es-
tablishing the Kwangchowan con-
traband control in accordance with
the agreement which last week
placed Japanese inspectors at five
key points in Indo- China in order
to sever China's most important eco
nomic lifeline.
Kwangchowan is connected with
the Chinese hinterland by roads and
waterways and with o-China by
regular ship services.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
French to Don Mourning
On National Holiday
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GRENOBLE, July 12.-BaStille
Day, Frances national holiday, an
niversary of the revolutionary storm
ing of the Bastille prison, will be
marked Sunday as day of national
mourning, according to dispatch
from Vichy today to the newspaper
LIE Petit Dauphinois.
Religious services will be held
through France to honor the nations
war dead, while special ceremonies
will be given for schuol children, who
will be instructed in the new aims Of
the regime of Premie' Marshal Henri
Philippe Petain.
At Vichy the religious ceremony
will be followed by q military review.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HOBOKEN, N. j., July 12.-
Maurice Maeterlinck, the Belgian
playwright who wrote the cele-
brated "Bluebird," arrived from
Lisbon, Portugal, on the Greek liner
Nea Hellas today, a war refugee.
The 78-year-old writer wore a gray
wig held down by a hairnet and
clutched French edition of Gone
With the Wind" He said all he
had left in the world was the little
baggage with him.
He plans to stay with a friend
in New York until the war is over
and re-establish himself with a new
play about the Catholic Church
which he wrote in Portugal.
With him was his attractive blond
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Three Killed, Six Hurt
As Mill Boiler ExpIodes
Nv the Associ,ted press

By the Associated Press.
HOLCOMB, Mo-, July IA
terrific explosion of a second hand
boiler in a sawmill here killed three
men. but six others, all seriously
injured, today were expected to
recover.
One of the dead, Farmer w. l.
Compton, SIS. had come to the mill
to get load of lumber. The other
two were mill workers-Luther
Davis, Is, and Elmer Smith, %.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Five Perish, Two Injured
In Cincinnati Fire
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI, July 12-Five per-
sons died and at least two others
were burned severely as fire early
today trapped 80 residents and en-
ployes on the third floor of the Holy
Family Home, branch of St. Fran
els Hospital.
The dead were: Mary Rose Wat
kins, AZ: Mary Theders, 81; Minnie
Brandhoff, 81; Regina Niekamp, As,
and Rosaline Burns, Al.
Injured were Theresa Bukart, 78,
and Jennie Kenster.
Those fatally burned were found
huddled in corners.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Gen. Marshall
Urges Guard
Mobilization
Army Chief Of Stoff
Backs Training Bill
At Senate Hearing
BY ]. A. OLEARY.

Immediate mobilization of the
National Guard and enactment of
the Burke Wadsworth compulsory
military training bill with minor
changes were urged today by Gen
George c. Marshall, Army chief of
staff, in testimony before the SEN
ate Military Affairs Committee.
Gen. Marshall declared it is "ab-
solutely necessary that something be
done at once along the lines" of the
bill, which calls for training on a
selective basis of all male citizens
between 81 to As and registration of
men from 18 to 65
The measure also was indorsed
by Gen. William E. Shedd, assistant
chief OF staff, who defended the
fairness OF selective service over
volunteer enlistments.
$4,000 by October 1.
Col. II. L. Twaddle, War Depart
ment training expert, told the COM
mittee the Army would have $50 900
men in training by October /, if
Congress enacted the Burke Wads-
worth bill. This number would in.
crease to 1,415.O00 by next April, he
testified.
The cost of the training program
was estimated by Col. Twaddle at
81 900 900 900 the first year and about
$3.50 900 900 for each succeeding year
BY June, 1945, at the expiration
OF the compulsory training program
contemplated in the bill, the Nation
would have 100000 men under
arms, backed up by 5000 600 trained
reserves who had completed their
training and gone home, he said.
Gen. Marshall said the National
Guard. with its 100000 men avail
able on first mobilization, should be
called up first to start any training
program. The guardsmen woulc
help form the nucleus for training
the men to be conscripted into the
armed services, he said.
Guard Is Willing.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Wal
Stimson received assurances thai
officers and men Of the Guard art
ready and willing" to respond to 6
summons to active service. The as
surances were contained in a letter
from Brig. Gen. Walter A. De La
mater, president of the National
Guard Association, and Brig. Gen
Charles H. Grahl, president of the
Adjatarts General Association.
President Roosevelt. a little later
told his press conference he had an
appointment with Secretary Stim-
son to explore the desirability of mo-
bilizing the National Guard.
Gen. Marshall recommended
changes in the Burke -Wadsworth
bill to raise the proposed s5-per-
month pay to the s2l monthly
which is basic Army pay, and to in
crease the proposed eiglt-month
training period to at least year.
Man-Power Program.
Col Twaddle told the committee
that If the National Guard is not
called up as training nucleus, it
will be necessary to reduce substan-
TALLY the number of men who could
be enrolled for compulsory training
at the start in September.
If the Guard is utilized for the
first year, the man power program
would develop as follows, he ex-
planned:
On october l this year: Regular
Army, 300 900 men; National Guard,
100000; first class of conscripts,
100000. Total in training, 100000.
BY April l, l94l, Col. Twaddle
estimated the Regular Army would
be up to 375 1000 and the National
Guard up to 240,0o0. Calling in
the second class of 10000 enrollees.
lSee TRAINING page All
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Mats Game Called OFF:
Double Bill Tomorrow

The Washington-Hetroit baseball
game scheduled for today at Griffith
Stadium was called off on account
of rain.
A double-header has been scheG-
uled for tomorrow, starting at 1:30
pm.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
France to Give Bonus
To DemobiIized Soldiers

BY the Associated Press.
VICHY, July 12.-The French
government announced today all de-
modified soldiers will be given a
bonus of 1000 francs, of which 200
will be paid Immediately and 300 by
8 later order.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Petain Takes Over
Authoritarian Reins
OF Remode|ed France
Power Absolute Subject
To Germony's Will;
Lebrun Resigns
BY the Associated Press.

6y tLe hSSOCldleQ EIocS.
vICHY, France, July 12.-Under
the shadow of the swastika, aged
Marshal Henri Philippe Petain took
into his hands today the reins OF
an authoritarian France.
Publication in the official jour-
nal of a constitutional act'' over
his own signature gave the 84-year-
old hero of Verdun" combined
powers of President and Premier
and marked the death of the defeat
ed third French republic. President
Albert Lebrun was forgotten
man."
(The German wireless reported
from Vichy that Lebrun had
placed his resignation in Mar
shall Petain's hands. Marshal
Petain, it said, quoting a French
communique, told the President
he intended to combine hence
forth the Craftsmanship of the
Council of Ministers (cabine)
with the Office of the head of
the French state in order to
assume personal responsibility
for the management of public
affairs -" Lebrun, it added,
with unseldshness for which
the country will be grateful"
submitted his resignation.)
Rights to Govern Limited.
Today Marshal Petain theoreti-
cally held more power than any
Frenchman since Napoleon III, but
his right to govern as he pleases-at
least until a new national as
sembly is formed-actually is linn
tied by Frances position as con-
quered nation.
Another constitutional act" he
signed gives him legislative power
during this period of serious inter-
national tension and internal crises.
The remnants of the old Parlia-
ment will remain through this
transition period, but may not meet
except at Marshal Petain' S summons.
The old Senate and Chamber of
Deputies legislated themselves out
of existence Tuesday and Wednes-
day by granting him full power to
set up a new constitution which
then will be submitted to refer
endum.
Presumably all Frenchmen even in
German occupied areas will be asked
to vote under the plan, but that
apparently depended on Germany S
decision.
1t is not known yet whether Adolf
Hitler will consider residents OF
Alsace-Lorraine-part of Germany
before the World War-as French
men" with the right to vote in such
a referendum.
Although more than half of
France is occupied by troops OF
(See VICHY, Page A-3o
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Burma Parleys Continue.

TOXIC, July II (P.-"Satisfac-
tory progress in the negotiations
on Japan's demands for closing of
the British Burma route to arms
for China was reported by the
Japanese foreign Office today after
a meeting of Ambassador Sir Rob-
ert Leslie Craigie and Foreign Min
lister Hachiro Arita.
The two were understood to be
seeking a compromise on the de-
mands, which Britain's first reply
early this week failed to meet. Sir
Robert had new instructions from
London before today's meeting,
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Philosophy of Plenty

The population of WASH
ington has increased during
the past 10 years by 36 per
cent and of Greater WASH
ington by 43 per cent.
The circulation of The Star
has increased during the same
time in the City and Suburbs
by Al per cent daily and 43
per cent Sunday.
The average advertising
rate of The Star during the
same period has increased
only IL per cent, showing a de-
crease of cost of advertising
per thousand of circulation
of about 20 per cent.
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Summary Of odoy's Star

Foreign
German divisions reported massed
on Portuguese border. Page Al
Plane carrier fired in battle, Italians
claim. Page Al
Petain takes over reins of authori-
tartan France. Page Al
4,329,213 tons of ships sunk, Ger
mans declare. Page Al
British trade raid for raids with
Germany. Page Al
Britain to recognize Selassie as law
full ruler of Ethiopia. Page A-3
Norwegian denies Nazi occupation
was inside job. Page A
Totalitarian shift in Rumania affects
big U. S. stake. Page A
Notionol.
Roosevelt not to attend Chicago
convention. Page Al
Roosevelt says wage-hour standards
to be preserved. Page Al
Evening star., 1940-07-12
English Aircraft Carrier Fired
In New Clash, Italians Claim
Two Destroyers Also Declared Damaged
In Renewed Mediterranean Conflict

turn from the attack on the British
warships, the communique said.
Evening star., 1940-07-12

(See DEFENSE, Page A-2D
Evening star., 1940-07-12

(See PORTUGAL, Page A-4)
Evening star., 1940-07-12

(See TRAINING, Page A-5)
Evening star., 1940-07-12
Weather Forecast

Rain and cooler, with lowest about so
tonight; generally fair, moderate tenn
peratures tomorrow and Sunday. Tenn
peratures today-Highest, 30, at 1870
pm; lowest, 72, at 5:45 am; 76 2 pm.
From the United States weather Bureau report.
Full details Page Az
Evening star., 1940-03-30

said Wen drop you there, Mrs.
Meadows"
He was solicitous in helping Anna
with her coat as if appreciating the
concessions made in his favor. And
Calls mother, who had not been
in a car for five years, sat beside
them with color glowing in her pale
cheeks from the excitement.
Should She Marry?
Gail was touched. Didn't this
prove that Bill was right when he
said it would be better for her to
drop this investigation and marry
him.
A little consideration and tender
ness from Calls husband, the in
terest of new contracts and a new
life would do Anna more good than
any amount of revenge If she
would but agree to it.
Gail, however, knew she wouldn't.
The moment she felt Bill was the
stumbling block in her daughters
resolution she would sacrifice him
as quickly as she had Chris.
When they were alone Gail was
so silent that Bill asked, Now
what?"
Nothing" she tried to reply
lightly. Just thinking"
What is it, Gail? Can't I help?"
Evening star., 1940-03-30

ten all over both Of you last night.
I watched you for over an hour
when you didn't even know was
there"
II like Chris" she admitted.
More than I felt I could the night
I met him. What I mean is 1t
would be very cruel and petty Of
me to hold anything against him."
She's Changed.
You didn't think so in the be-
ginning" Bill reminded her. why
have you changed?"
Perhaps it's 50 hard to suspect
anyone after you know them. I
can't imagine anyone in the store
having been low enough to have
stolen anything much less do 50 and
throw the blame on my father vet
everyone who was working there
five years ago is still employed by
Mr.. Reid" She added, but In any
case Chris and I aren't going to see
each other any more. Mother OBJ
jects and can see how 1t compli-
Gates things"
II suppose that's why he filled up
your apartment with roses" Bill
commented rather bitterly.
mo that had nothing to do with
it. Please, Bill, don't be difncult. I
need your friendship more than I
ever did before"
Not Friendship.
1T isn't friendship I am Offering
you,' the man said gruf1ly. But
presently as If ashamed of his cut
burst he said, 'Ill be anything I
can to you, Gail If it helps to have