davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07
NEWSMEN VISIT
FORT IN FRANCE
Work of Dive BOmbers On
One OF Key Points OF
Maginot Line Shown

FORT HOCHWALD, In Inc MA
ginot Line, Aug. 6.-R-lhe
strange story of his French 1or1'
which held out for nine days a1ter
the armistice, was told tonight to
a party of correspondents taken or
a visit to it by its German captors.
Despite its German name, Hook
wald-High Forest-was n OF the
two strongest forts in the Maglno'
system.
When the Germans finally enter
ed it, they discovered that a dive
bomber raid had paralyzed it.
strongest turret and cracked its
walls Of six-foot reinforced concrete
SO that daylight shone through.
Fort Hochwald is four miles from
the Rhine river at Weissenburg,
opposite the Black Forest.
The Germans knew it was doom
ed to easy capture when the Rhine
crossings were forced and the
Maginot line punctured on both
sides of the Fort last June Is and
16.
They approached the fort from
the rear and found it guarded by
a pair of anti-tank guns and sever
al machine-guns sticking through
apertures in the concrete.
AS French capitulation already
was imminent and German armies
already had passed a hundred
miles beyond, anyway, they made
no immediate effort to take the
fort.
When it refused to surrender
however, a stuka attack wa:
launched June 20. Despite the force
of the dive bombers' onslaught:
the French still refused to give up
Conclusion of the armistice June
% meant nothing to its defender:
as they we're completely out @
communication with other French
forces and refused to believe Ger
man assertions that the fightin,
was over.
The Germans said 200 French
men fled to the rear, quitting tn
fort, after the stuka attack but tina
$50 others held on.
Half a dozen 100-kilo (about 22(
pounds and five 250-klio (about 55(
pounds) bombs e dropped owe:
passages connecting two gun tur
rets. Evidently none struck square
ly atop the turrets but the effect!
were enormous.
One gun turret was damned with
the ceiling passageway lowered tw'
inches consequently derangin,
much gear, and six-foot concfet'
walls of one passage were split OF
both sides.
We entered the fort from tn
southeast on a little train resembl
ing the trolley that carries sena
tors from their offices to the capito
in Washington. For about r e {
miles we rode through a series o
tunnels at various levels under thu
Hochwald ridge to a point where
the guns pointed northwest TOWARD
the Rhine.
The size of the fort was simply
staggering yet despite its greatness:
it mounted only 10 light artillery
guns, none of which were capable
of firing beyond ten miles. :
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07
One-Fourth or Poorly Housed Families In CITY
Found Beyond Reach of Public Housing Program
Inadequate Income Makes
1t Impossible To Give
Them Decent Housing
BY O SPARROW

The picture of inadequate Gus
ing in Wilmington is probably more
forcefully painted in the low IN
come housing area survey CONDUCT
ed as a part of the real property
survey by the WPA under tn e
sponsorship of the N. c. state plan
ming board than anywhere else.
This is true because, as the sur'
vey points out, whereas problems
of planning, construction, and en-
cumbrance apply to all groups, the
pile-up of lacks in adequate hous-
ing falls within the limits OF low
income groups"
Minimum Standards
For the purpose of its survey OF
the low income housing area, mini
mum standards were set up cover
ing the most objective factors in
volved for determining adequacy.
AS a result, a house was designated
as 'substandard" if any of the
following conditions was found to
exist: Cd among the physical fact
ors-Need of major repairs or un-
fitness for use, lack of a private,
indoor flush toilet, lack of a pri-
vate bath, lack of running water
piped inside, lack of installed heat
ing, or lack of installed lighting
facilities (gas or electricity; (2)
among the occupancy factors-An
average of more than n and a
half persons per room, two or more
families in the same dwelling unit;
providing monthly rent is less than
SIS a month should only one of the
occupancy factors exist.
The facts which are presented
here are those which were found
during the taking of the survey in
1899, and while conditions m a y
have changed since the actual emu
meration, hardly enough econ
struction has taken place to affect
the authenticity of the results.
"Of a total of 1855 units" the
report says, "4,678 occupied units
containing 5,1s5 groups were found
to be substandard on the basis of at
least one of the factors listed.
Many of the units listed as SUBJ
standard are so because of a single
factor. By repairing a roof here,
installing electricity there, or
piping water into a house, some OF
the substandard units might be re-
claimed for standard and health
full usage.
Nevertheless, it was found that
well over 80 per cent of all the
substandard units were so for more
than one factor. 1t is this group of
houses that largely constitutes the
city's slums.
Demolition Urged
MANY of these houses were
poorly built at the outset. Some
have outlived their usefulness, and
others have been deteriorating for
too long a period to be reclaimed.
Patchwork and repairs on these
houses will only tend to forestall
their inevitable classification as
unfit for use. A large number of
these houses should be demolished.
I'm terms of community life,"
the report points out, ut is of little
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07

ST. LOUIS. Aug. 6-lT-RoI.r,
j. Thomas of Detroit, president y.
the CLIO United Automobile w., "
ers of America, and Secretor'
Treasurer George F. Adde's Z.
Toledo, were reelected bv
clamation today by delegates ~ ",
the union convention. Tho ".
places on the unions execu,;a ~
board will be filled by vote Of ny
gional caucuses later TODAY. Snr,.'
of the board positions are con
tested. "
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07
Four Navy Apprentices,
At Homes On I.eou.

Four naval recruits ara
their parents while taking a ls'ls
of absence following the con. sS's
ton of preliminary training =,
naval training station has, Ns
Hampton Roads, Va, the local ,' al
station reported yesterday. SUI
TIL " are: William H, spiver
Brunswick county; George n U
of shallotte; William N. White ..,
Eugene E. Williamson, of c,Il
bourn. Upon return from 1o.11
their trade training will CONNIE
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07

HOTEL COMMODORE - Washington,
D. C. Facing Union Station = Capitol
Plaza Room and Bath from $3.50. Mod
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

LUXEMBOURG, Aug. 6.-,P-
The Nazi civil Administrations
Luxembourg decreed German tbs -.
fetal language of the Grand Duc5.
today and predicted that within ].
few weeks the "artificially-amoIiot
exterior French varnish" will b.,.
disappeared, revealing the Germ,
character" of the people.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07

sons. Overcrowded conditions
among substandard units, there
fore, cannot be attributed to any
preponderance of large families
is rather the result of doubling up
among the low income groups, but
or the limitation of living space to
an unhealthy degree in order to
reduce rent payments to sums
within the financial reach of the
family with a low income"
Poor Structures Cause Vacancies
The report quotes figures which
show that owners show the small
est proportion of units to be in
physically substandard condition.
Owners account for about one-tifth
of all substandard units, with white
owners claiming five per cent Of
the total substandard count. 1t is
quite likely that a good number of
these units can be made adequate
through improvements and repairs
either privately or with the as
sistance of existing lending agen-
cies."
1t also quotes figures which show
that vacant units show a very
high occurrence of each adequacy
factor, from which the conclusion
may be drawn that many of the
vacancies are caused by the condi-
ton of the structures rather than
by the lack of demand for housing
facilities.
1.-The major problem in regard to
substandard units lies in the field
of tenant groups" the report says.
Part of it's solution may be found
in a study of the facts concerning
the cost of standard units and the
tenants ability to pay rentals
which would assure adequate
dwellings. An analysis of family in
comes and rentals is, therefore,
necessary to determine the extent
to which private capital can be
economically utilized to provide
low income housing of adequate
nature. These data are also nee
essary to find the upper and lower
income levels which a public body,
such as the United States Housing
Authority, should reach in order to
accomplish the needed rehousing
without infringing upon the proper
and legitimate private investment
market. The data for this survey
were gathered with the object in
mind of providing such an analy.
sis both for public and private
housing.
Private Capital Handicapped
without emphasis upon prox-
unity to employment centers or to
city services and the function OF
this factor as regards construction
expense, a minimum cost of So, DOC
would be required to buy land, pay
taxes, construct and maintain a
standard unit of four rooms. To in.
sure a ten per cent investment re
turn, 5000 a year, or better than ST.
a month, would be the minimum
rental on such properties. Since the
accepted criterion for rent expend.
iture is a maximum of a fifth of the
total income Zone sixth in cases Of
more than six dependents), only
families whose total income is
excess Of $1,000 a year can be
housed adequately by private CAPT
tai with any assurance of econo
mic return.
1T must be borne in. mind, how
ever" the report says, that these
!, cheaply constructed units would
: have a shorter life span and, con
sequently, present the possibility
. through rapid deterioration of be-
= coming substandard in a few years
t This of course excludes houses al
: ready built which could be brough'
: UP to adequacy standards, many O.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07

moment for a family to live in a
standard house in the midst Of
squalor and poor housing con-
ditions. The effect of a neighbor-
hood upon the family group is as
definite as that of the dwelling it.
self. The housing program, there
fore is far more extensive than the
effort to replace unsafe and in
sanitary dwellings.
Sums "Subsidized"
"Slum conditions are costly to a
city. Actually, for many aggressive
slum areas, a program of subsidi-
cation necessarily exists. Tax re-
turns from these areas are at a
minimum, tax delinquency is COM
mon, and the per capita tax return
is far below that of other sections
of the city.
ION the other hand, all city SER
vices and facilities must be &C.
centuated within these areas. Po-
lice costs are often in excess of
thrice that found for other areas.
Costs for fire protection are nat
urally excessive. Public health
nurses find practically all of their
work within the boundaries of slum
sections. Many studies have shown
irrefutable evidence of the high in
cidence of crime and delinquency
in slum areas. The removal Of
slums will not, of course, entirely
eliminate the conditions of poverty
which contribute so heavily to their
rise. It will, however, help elimin-
ate those decidedly traceable to in
adequate housing and slum dis.
tricts.
"a small part of the task of re.
moving slums has been undertake
en- by the Housing Authority of the
City of Wilmington which is build
ing ZIG standard units for white
and 246 units for negro tenants"
the report points out. This repre-
sented the first step toward plan.
ming housing for the lowest income
groups in the city. The new low
income houses, along with their re-
creation centers and modern facili-
ties, will attempt to build a small
community in place of the sub.
standard area. Much work, how
ever, remains to be done and can
be done with private investments,
cooperative efforts Of owners and
tenants in repair work, and through
the furtherance of a public housing
program.
The total substandard units oc.
cupied by both races as revealed
by the low income housing a r e a
survey, is as follows:
Total Owner Tenant
Races 4678* $50 372e
White Race 1923 267 1866
Negro Race 1850 683 2167
Sin addition to this total there
SAT subsandard dwelling unis either
vacant or not interviewed.
Overcrowding Not Serious
OF these units merely 81,
or slightly more than one per cent
were substandard because of oc.
cupancy factors alone; i. e. over
crowding or the presence of extra
families. The greatest number O.
units, 1892 units, were physically
substandard. Overcrowding is no
a serious factor in Wilmington, a!
is indicated by the small contras
between the proportion for the city
in general, about II per cent, ane
that for substandard dwellings
nearly 10 per cent.
Little difference was found be
tween the size of families living il
standard and substandard homes
The average size of family for tn
whole city was $50 persons, tina
for standard units being 3.6 per
sons and for substandard 81 per
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-07
Three Guardsmen Are
Killed In Louisiana

ALEXANDRIA, La, Aug. Clip
Three national guardsmen at
tached to Company I, Medical De-
tachment, land Infantry OF
Gainesville, Tex, were killed early
today when an army water truck
overturned.
The dead we're: Private Kenneth
Simms, Corporal John L. Arnett
and Private Bill J. Goodman.
Five others we're injured. The
accident occurred near Leesville.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
STUDENT PUBLICATION
INTERESTING PROJECT

Tho Mi-li Life student publica-
ton of Milan High School which il
published by the journalism Club
IS one of the most interesting pro-
jects OF the school. Published
every three weeks the most recent
edition contains accounts of the
general assembly, pep meettugg,
Milan High Madcaps". thumb nail
sketches of many of the members
Of the faculty, reports Of school
clubs. an editorial on Good Sports
m%anship', athletic news, and the
gossip columns.
Dorcas Paddock, a senior. is the
editor; Dawn Knaggs, assistant
editor: Ann Heath. business mano-
ger; Phyllis Laskey, adyerttsins
manager; Jean Fersch, school news
department: Kenneth John AMI
%Juanita Wiley, Joke editors; Ken
Meth John. Florine Guy and DorG-
thy Brown. staff artists; William
Squires. sports reporter; Jane An
ten, Mary Ellen HARRISON, Ann
Goodwin. Hamilton Taylor and A..
leno Muter, reporters; Hazel Moy-
err. Rudolph Koczman, Richard
Plasters and Jane Auten, typists;
Jean Wineland, inquiring reporter:
Bob Muter, Jean DeTar and Lou
Berkeley, mimeographers; Doris
Ann Taylor and Rosemary Taylor,
style reporters; and Mrs. Ora
Muter. club sponsor.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
Employees Working to Clear
Debris at Milan Factory

Milan, Mich. No, IL Many
employees OF the Idel Furnace
Company are working at C!--r-s
the debris caused by the dlsas-
trous hre which swept the plant
on election night. and which left
nothing OF the large plant but
the Offices, mounting and shipping
rooms and pattern storage vault.
A fire wall erected ~ 1881 protect
ed the eve southern section CT
the factory. but the combined ef-
forts Of three fire departments.
Milan. Saline and Dundee. were
unable to save the northern and
central sections which contained
the expensive machinery, COM
p%ressors, and patterns which were
in use on the floor.
A steady stream Of persons visit
ed the ruins every day since the
fire. and Sunday brought many cars
from all over the county to view
the havoc that a fire in an indus
trial plant can bring about. Only
the huge cupola constructed Of
iron and steel still st"nds and the
outside cement block wall blacken-
ed and charred by the flames ex-
tends along the Wabash track, its
windows and doors gone.
Various estimates of the loss
have been made from 100000 &c
$500 200, but the greatest loss 70
the company and employees is the
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
FOOTBALL RALLY DANCE
ENJOYED AFTER GAME

A football rally dance for Dun
dee and Milan High School sta
dents and their guests closed the
football schedule Of the season
Friday evening after the annual
Dundee-Milan game.
Streamers in red. white and blue
decorated the school gymnasium
where the dance was held and an
out OF town orchestra provided mu-
sic from eight until midnight. The
dance vas sponsored by members
OF the junior and senior classes
assisted by their advisors. Supt.
Mackey. Vern Paddock and Mrs.
Ora Muter.
Student chairmen OF committees
were decorations. Rose Dunn; tick.
ct Jean Wlneland; advertising.
Helen Dieterle; refreshments.
Dawn Knaggs; and cleanup, Jack
DeTar.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
AMERICAN LEGION POST
OBSERVES ARMISTICE DAY

Starting Sunday morning with
an inspiring chur,- service. events
were planned by the members OF
Earl G~ladfelter Post OF the Ameri-
can Legion and Auxiliary in eele-
bration OF Armistice Day. The vet
Grams and their families attended
the church service in the. Baptist
Church OF which Rev. d. c. Swa-
ney is pastor. Monday morning a
special program was held in the
high school auditorium for the
students and members Of the Post.
Rev. William Johnson, pastor If
the Methodist Church. was the
speaker.
The Post closed the day with the
annual Armistice Day dinner
which was followed by a program
and dancing party in the Legion
Hall.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
BefIeViue
INrERMENT HERE FOR
MRS. ELECTA corr

MtNN, flfA IL AOtNN
Bellevil.e. Mich Nov. Il The
remains Of Mrs. Eleets J. Cornell
who passed away sunday night a.
her home IN Howell. were brought
TO Belleville and the funeral ser.
vices were IN the Roberts Funeral
Chapel. Wednesday at . O'Clock.
with Rev. Alfred Eddy officiating
Burial was made IN Hillside Gene
terry. Baiievllle
Mrs Cornell was the daughter
OF John Carpenter and Chloe
Phippeuy Carpenter. She Was born
In Van buren, Township October
u. 1850 and lived In the town
ship prior 10 her marriase TO
Chauucy Cornell who preceded
her in death. she is survived by
two dauehters, Mrs. Chloe Tow
Ter. Detroit. Mrs. Mary Davis, Hoo
We'll three sons. ChRuncey. Mar
Ian and Clarence Cornell, Detroit.
and their families. ID. H. Ray
mond, Belleyille, a nephew and
many relatives In various parts
OF the state. 4 sister, Mary Ray
m.nd. Belleyille. preceded her in
death. one daughter. Mrs. William
Smell. with whom she made her
home for many years. passed
away IN London. Oct. 81.
Mrs. Cornell was an honorary
member OF the Ladies Aid Of Lon
don Church aud a member OF The
Alpha Class. She was a member
OF the Milan Free Methodist
Church. for many years.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14

coz tracts signed for immediate pro-
Z ction. 1t is believed that 30 days
at least will be required TO put the
plant in semi.production and the
people OF Milan are anxiously
awaiting word from the company
officials whose Offices are in De-
troit that the plant will be re
placed.
Insurance adjusters are working
with plant officials TO bring about
a settlement for the loss.
With the exception OF those now
working at the plant as watchmen
and in clearing up the mass Of
tangled beams and mangled ma
chinery in the are where once
the factory stood. $50 men. most Of
whom have lived in this commun!-
ty their entire lives and depended
upon the company for their livel'-
hood. are now out OF work.
Coming at a time when the fac.
tory had only recently received war
defense contracts. and other sup
plies besides its regular schedule
OF contracts the fire was. undues-
tionably the most disastrous blow
this village has probably ever re-
ceiyed.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
MOMAN'S STUDY CLUB
HAS ANNIAI GIENI NIGH1

over so members OF the Belle
Vile Woman's Study club with
their guests OF the evening en-
joyed annual guest night with din
ner at 8 80 in Charles McKenny
Hall, Ypsilanu, Thursday night.
Mr.. Riddering. superintendent
~ Melyindale schools. was guest
speaker. lie chose Fundamentals
Of Thinss Haven't Changed" as
the topic. - his talk
Miss Nir-iuiI MUttcr. WAYNE.
entertained with a group Of musi-
cal selections. her accompanist
was Miss HaFrod Detroit
Guest night is an annual affair
Of the group OF which Mrs. Cleve-
land Roe is president
Tuesday the study Club mem.
bers attended a meeting of Wo-
mems club groups t-NsyHe-
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
HOME MAKERS CLASS
MEETS WITH MRS. BORN

Twenty members Of the Home
Makers Glass OF Belleville Meth
dist Church met at the home OF
Mrs. Bernard Born. Liberty ST.
Friday at an all day luncheon
meeting.
The group spent the day sewing
on operating towels for Bronson
Hospital, a very nice assortment
Of bath. hand. and dish towels
were brought 10 the towel shower.
Two visitors were present and
invited 10 Join the group. They
Were Mrs. Sarah Shyne and Mrs.
Winifred Coleman.
The next meeting will be at the
Methodist parsonage with Mrs.
Alfred Eddy In the afternoon OF
December 6. Boxes and trimmings
for decorating are to he broueht
and made in readiness for fruit
gifts Each member IS asked to
recite Il promise found in the
scriptures at roll call Of the next
meeting.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
HOLINESS ASSOCIATION

hRo ALL OAN W.T. INV
Oakville, Mich. Nov. l4-Mr and
Mrs. Roy Zorns and family, Mr..
Emma Sanford. Mrs. Ethel Blrg Z
and Orlo Burget attended an an
day meeting of the Southeastern
Michiean Holiness Association az
the Milan Free Methodist Church
Saturday.
Members OF the association were
present from Maybee. Monroe.
Deerheld. Flat Rock, Lincoln Park.
Wayne, Ann Arbor. Jackson. Npsi-
lanti and Adrian. Rev. :. G.
Jennings. Anderson, md. preached
at both the forenoon and after
noon services.
A potluck dinner was served AZ
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore
Greashaber.
The next all day meeting will
be at the home OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry Kendall, Flat Rock.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
EASTERN STAR WILL
INSTALL NEW OFFICERS

Milan Chapter, No. LOG. O. f. 5.
will meet for the purpose OF in
stalling officers for the ensuing
year on November 10, at 8 o'clock
in the chapter room.
Tuesday evening the elective Of
hcers were chosen at the regular
meeting which was preceded by
a potluck supper. They are Mrs.
John ID. lawson. worthy matron:
Rev, William Johnson, worthy pa
tron: Mrs. c. f. Cox. associate
Matron; Clifford Forsythe, asso-
ciate patron; Mrs. Glenn Duns
more, secretary; Mrs Floyd Ernst,
treasurer; Mrs. Kenneth Edwards.
conductress; and Mrs. Leland
Schultz, associate conductress.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
News From OakViIle
The next meeting will be held a.
the Palmer School.


The next meeting will be held A.
the Palmer school.
-
Gusta Edith Burcct was a, after
church guest Sunday al the homs
of Mr. and MIS-. George Condo. near
Milan.
Walter Mason and sister. Mrs
Addie Grams. Milan. We're sunday
afternoon visitors az the home ~
Mr.. and Mrs William Mason Mr..
Mason. who has been confined Ia
his bed lbs illness Tor some time. Is
now able TO be un.
Mr. and Mrs Edwin Milford and
daughter Joyce and SON Edwin.
Flint. spent Saturday and Sunday
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
BY EXTENSION cLU5

The Oakyille Extension Club met
at the Oakville School house Thur
day with - members present.
Mrs. Gilbert Darling and Mrs. Jack
Downing explained the lesson.
The officers for this year are
Mrs. Oliver Atchison, chairman
Mrs. Martin Magnus, secretary
treasurer. Other members are
Mrs. G.. A.. Fallett. Mrs. Fred Greco.
Mrs. Charles Downing, Mrs. Peter
Wedhorn. Mrs. Alice Smuck. Mrs.
Robert Fitzpatrick. Mrs. journey
Brabant, Miss Eta Essex. Miss Al
eeline Grand, and Mrs. Stanley
Binicki.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-14
NEW TAX RECORD SET

Olympia. Wash, Nov. 14-UP -
Revenue from Washineton's sales
and business taxes set a new all.
time record in the fiscal year ende1
April 30. the state tax commission
reported. Income was S~29.935,773,
compared to "S23,294,561 the. pre-.
vious business conditions account
ed for the increase, the comms s
sion said.