Evening star., 1940-05-08
Webb Miller Killed
In Fall From Train
Near London
Noted War Reporter
Believed to Have Missed
Stotion in BIockout
picture on Page Az
y WILLIAM H STONEMAN

ny V1AA1AN1 1As OxONEN1fANs .
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
LONDON, May 8.-Webb Miller,
chief European correspondent of the
United Press and one of the greatest
newspaper reporters of the present
generation, was killed last night
when he accidentally fell from q
train at Clapham Junction, In South
London.
A crack correspondent who had
f1irted with death in half a dozen
wars since the campaign against
Villa in 1917, Webb was q tragic
victim OF the present conflict. He
apparently was killed by stepping
from the train In the blackout under
the impression that it had stopped
at a station.
Yesterday Webb was in fine spirits
and full of plans for the future. AT
noon he had luncheon with Ray
mond Daniel of the New York
Times and then went to Parliament
to watch Prime Minister Chamber
lain's battle for his political life. He
wrote brilliant color story about
the historic session and then, short
ly before 8 O'Clock, informed his Of
fee that he was leaving for his
home at Gotham, outside London
The accident was first discovered at
Sis o'clock this morning, when the
engineer of the first train passing
Clapham Junction saw the body
beside the tracks.
No Question Of Foul Play.
The police established that there
was no question Of foul play.
Had it not been for the failure OF
the allied campaign in Central Nor
way Webb would not have been in
London. He was one of several
American correspondents who were
scheduled to leave for Scandinavia
about two weeks ago, but who failed
to go because of allies reverses near
Trondheim.
Webb was at the very height of q
long and consistently brilliant career
which had carried him to most Of
the countries of the world and had
brought him some of the finest
beats and scroops in modern news
paper history. One of his most
sensational feats was to secure q
sound beat over the late Floyd Glib
bons on the opening of the Ethiopian
war. II Duce had apparently con-
sented to give Gibbons the ex-
elusive right to cover the opening
operation for America and he had
been transported IN solitary grandeur
to Asmara to await the opening gun
Webb finally persuaded the Italian
Foreign Office that he had some
business in the Near East, wangled
a military pass to Eritrea in ad-
vance, dashed to Asmara by plane
and then, by skillfully organizing
his channels of communication
flashed the news of the first italian
advance to Rome before most
Italians had received the tidings
from their own headquarters.
Was Going to France.
His career was summarized in the
photographed book, Il Found
No Peace" published in 1896.
Despite the lack Of action dur
ing the early months Of the war
Webb did a typically fine job from
the British general headquarters in
France during October and Novem-
Der and then rushed of to Finland
where he underwent a series Of hair
raising experiences. When it be-
came clear recently that he could
not go to Norway he planned to
return to France in anticipation
Of an offensive on the western front
Webb's death came as q heavy
blow to countless friends in Europe
and particularly to other Amer
ican newspapermen whose respect
and deep affection he had alway,
commanded.
tcopyright. 1910. Chicago Daily News, Incl