davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-12-15
D. G. Defense Council
To Meet Wednesday

A first meeting of all members
of the District Defense Council has
been called by District Highway Di-
rector H. c. Whitehurst, executive
vice chairman, for 2:30 pm. We'd
nesday in the board room of the
District Building. The total men,
bership to date is in excess of 10
persons.
The three Commissioners, Melvin
c. Hazen, John Russell Young and
Col. David McCoach, jr., are CO.
chairmen, with Capt. Whitehurst
as executive officer, and there are
the following subcommittee chair
men: Maj. E. w. Brown, superin-
tendent of police; Welfare Director
Robert E. Bondy, Health Officer
George c. Rutland, Sanitary En-
gineer John Blake Gordon, Tax
Collector Guy w. Pearson, who for
merly served the District as chief
clerk of the Engineer Department,
and Philip Y. K. HoWat, who rep
resents industrial concerns.
Evening star., 1940-12-15
Se|fridge Field Will Add
1000 10 5000 More Men
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SELFRIDGE FIELD, Mich, Dec.
14.-Brig. Gen. Henry G.. Clagett,
commanding the newly created sixth
wing Of the Army Air Corps, an
nounced today that a new pursuit
group will be formed at the field next
week, bringing an additional 1000
to 5000 men and officers to the rap
idly expanding air base.
The new group, to be known as
the Sind pursuit group, will add
from LOG to ITO new fighting planes
to the combat equipment now avail
able.
Gen. Clagett also announced plans
for sending pursuit groups from
Selfridge to other bases. About jan
uary Is, he said, the 1st pursuit
group, now stationed at Selfridge,
will be split up to form the 1st and
58th groups. The 58th will be sent
to another base, probably at Baton
Rouge, La, he said.
Tentative plans also call for split
ting up the 3lst pursuit group to
form two new groups, the 49th and
50th, in addition to the 31st. After
a period of training, the 49th and
50th groups are expected to go to
base in Florida, and the 31st to
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Evening star., 1940-12-15

living on short rations. Efforts by
the population to help feed these
captives have been frustrated by the
Germans, who reduce the official
ration in proportion as the prison.
ers receive aid from friends and
relatives outside.
Try to Recruit Spies.
The Germans also have tried to
recruit spies and propaganda agents
in the prison camps. Agents Of the
Nazi Propaganda Ministry appeared
in many of the camps to deliver
lecture courses. Officially attend
ance at these lectures was declared
to be optional, but those failing to
attend were subjected to all sorts
of repressions. such as prohibition
to receiving visitors and food pack
ages, deprivation of the right to
write and receive letters, etc. On
the other hand, prisoners who show
a willingness to cooperate with the
Nazi camp administrations are ac-
corded many privileges.
Today the growing sympathy Of
the population for the British has
reached veritable enthusiasm. The
resistance of the British is uni
versally admired, and frequently one
hears the statement that "if we
French had behaved with the same
courage and firmness in June our
situation now would be quite differ
ent." The blows the British have
been able to deal the Nazis have
well nigh destroyed the legend Of
German invincibility.
(Released by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Ine.)
Evening star., 1940-12-15

Inc urSt invasion attempt was
made in August, the second early
in September. Both failed as a
result Of the application by the
British of brakes method in de-
stroying the Spanish Armada, ex-
cept that it was done not through
the use of ships, but of tanks of oil
and gasoline set on fire by incen-
diary bombs from airplanes.
AS disclosed by Frenchmen in a
position to know, the British sowed
the Channel with oil tanks anchored
sufficiently beneath the surface to
be hidden from view. Parallel with
these the British anchored thous-
ands of gasoline tanks. Then they
waited for the Germans.
On the first occasion the Germans
advanced in approximately 1000
specially constructed aluminium
barges, each bearing about so SOL
diers and equipment. They struck
the oil and gasoline line about mid
way between the French and British
coasts. At the same time British
planes in the skies began raining
incendiary bombs. In a few min
utes the Channel was mass of fire
enveloping the Nazi barges.
Caught Like Fish.
1--WE were caught like fish in a fry
ing pan,' was the way a German
soldier who escaped from the debacle
told a French nurse. Only a few
thousand Germans succeeded in
reaching the French coast. The rest
perished in the sea or were burned
to death.
The Germans tried again in Sep
tember, via another route, and suf-
fered a similar fate. People in the
occupied French ports estimate that
perhaps as many as 10000 German
troops perished in the two attempts.
The fact is that hospitals in oc-
cupied France are filled with Nazi
soldiers. all of them suffering from
severe burns. Thousands of German
bodies have been washed ashore.
According to reports brought back
by persons who succeeded in making
their way to the unoccupied zone,
there was wave of mutinies in the
German Army in September, many
of the troops declaring they would
not again face the burning sea"
when they learned a third attempt
at invasion of England was being
planned.
There are few German troops in
the occupied French ports now, most
Of them having been moved inland.
The population of the northern
coastal area has been driven into
Evening star., 1940-12-15
FIundin Bocker of Nozi Tie
Former Premier Advocated Refusing
To Honor Pledge to Czechs

became French Premier in 1884 when
the Doumergue government was
overthrown. Born April IL, 1889, he
was then As years old and had been
minister six times before.
Portfolios he held under the re-
public, besides the premiership, in
cluded Commerce, Finance, Public
Works, State and Foreign Affairs.
1t was he who went to London
with M. Laval, then his Foreign
Minister. in February, 1885, to lay
the basis for close British French
collaboration, now ended in bitter
ness and recrimination.
Visited Roosevelt in 1894.
M. Flandin, who has spoken Eng
lish since boyhood, was a great
admirer of English and American
institutions. On a trip to Canada
IN 1884, he advocated close ties be-
tween French and English speak
ing peoples and stopped on his way
home to visit President Roosevelt
at Hyde Park.
He learned much of his politics
from his Senator father and entered
public life as a Deputy in 1914 when
he was only Is.
He was one of the first French
youths to take up aviation seriously
and when the World War started
he enlisted in the Air Corps. One
OF his first big posts after the war
was as undersecretary of state for
air and later, even after he became
cabinet member, he often piloted
his own plane.
M. Flandin was one of then-Pre-
mier Lavals closest advisers during
conversations with the United
States over the Hoover war debt
moratorium in 1881 and was Finance
Minister in 1929 when Britain went
off the gold standard.
A lawyer by profession, he was
moderate in the republics politics,
belonging to the Left Republicans,
party of the Center.
Pierre Laval, ousted from the Pc
tain government, has been a sort of
agent between the Vichy govern
ment and Germany.
On october "a, before a long inter-
view with Adolf Hitler, he said he
believed democracy was dead in all
the modern world and that he was
prepared to stake Frances future
with Germany's.
He gave strong impression at
that time that in connection with
that collaboration" he earnestly
hoped for the defeat of England.
The question of French collabora-
ton with Germany is believed to
pivot largely on the attitude of Gen.
Maxine Weygand, who was called
from the Near East in the dying
days of Frances defense to be her
generalissimo.
After the armistice of Compiegne,
at his own insistence, it is said, Gen.
Weygand was sent to take charge
of French North Africa, to keep
that important part of the French
Empire together against the inroads
of the free French" leader, Gen.
Charles de Gaulle, who is a British
ally.
Gen. Weygand's friends often have
said that he is neither pro-German
nor pro-British, but strictly pro-
French" and ready to defend North
Africa against all enemies of France.
Nothing he has said or done pub
licly has indicated he is not wholly
loyal to the Vichy regime of Mar
shall PHILIPPE Petain.
Evening star., 1940-12-15

others. Many valuable private L.
braries and collections were con-
fiscated and transported to Ger
many.
A special interest was shown by
the Germans in laboratories. They
not only seized the valuable in
strllments and equipment but tried
to discover important secrets of
French research workers. There is
evidence that this type of looting
was planned in advance of the oc-
cupation. Characteristic is the case
Of the Curie Laboratory, which the
Germans occupied Immediately after
their entry into Paris. Directing
the seizure was young German
officer recognized by the attendants
as former student of the institu-
ton. Some two years before the
war he had applied for admission to
do research work. This was granted,
and soon the young German at
tracted attention by his diligence
and perseverance. After the occu-
patton it was disclosed that he had
been spy. Under his direction all
the equipment of the laboratory
was requisitioned and sent to Ger
many.
Treasure Exposition Planned.
The Germans have not yet looted
the government museums, but their
turn will come soon. More recently
the Germans announced their in
tention to establish a travelling ex-
position" Of treasures to be collect
ed from Paris museums. This ex-
position is to be taken to leading
centers in Germany with the OBJ
ject of promoting cultural Coop
Grafton" Of the two nations. There
Is certainly reason to fear for the
fate of these treasures once they
leave French soil.
Another factor responsible for the
widespread anti-German sentiments
now existing is the deliberate effort
OF the Germans to spread conflict
and dissension among the French
people with view to making more
difficult the re-establishment of
French unity. The French people
now regard the Germans not as the
conquerors of 1901, who had i'm
posed victorious peace on France,
collected a huge sum in reparations
and deprived her of certain terri
tories without, however, seeking to
destroy the very existence of France.
Today the situation is different
Today the Germans are systemati-
cally trying to split France into
warning camps. They do this, for
example, by stimulating anti-semitic
sentiments as we'll as separatist
tendencies, as in Brittany.
No less responsible for the fierce
anti German feeling sweeping
France Is the behavior of the Nazis
in the military prison camps, where
there are 100000 French troops
Evening star., 1940-12-15

the interior. The British appear
to be well-informed about German
military movements in France, for
no sooner Is a division staff or any
important military unit transferred
from one place to another than 1t
is bombarded by British planes.
Parachutists Landed.
Many parachutists have been
landed by the British in France,
where they receive encouragement
and cooperation. These parachut-
lists are for the most part De Gaul-
list officers and soldiers. The Ger
mans have offered rewards of from
500 to 5000 marks for information
leading to their capture but up to
the time when 1 left France not a
single reward had been claimed.
Comparatively few Frenchmen
are in position to help the British
actively, but it is probably true that
at least 95 per cent of the French
in the occupied territory sympa-
thize with the British.
Six months ago. when the Ger
mans invaded France, the sentiment
of the population was not as clear.
British propaganda, waged by
the Nazis with diabolical cleverness,
aided by the defeatist propaganda
of the Communists, had its effects.
The French, defeated and desperate,
were inclined to give the Germans
the benefit of the doubt, depending
on how they would behave. This
attitude was very soon dissipated.
The reasons were many, but they
can be classified into two groups:
First, the conduct of the Germans,
and. second, the behavior Of the
British.
Population Infuriated.
The Germans proceeded to devour
the country like locusts. What in
furiated the population was the
spectacle Of systematic looting Of
the country. executed with German
efficiency Hundreds of railway cars
filled with manufactured articles
were taken from Lyons alone. The
Germans also looted the industrial
plants, transporting the machinery
and equipment to the Reich.
Nor did the NaZis confine them
selves to looting industrial plants
and food supplies. They did the
same with scientific institutions and
libraries Among the libraries were
those of the Ministry of War, the
Mitzkevitch Library established by
the Poles about 100 years ago, the
famous Turgenieff Library and
Evening star., 1940-12-15
Closer French Link
With Reich Seen in
Custer Of Laval
Dismissed Vice Premier
Not Trusted in Berlin
Despite His Services
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


Diplomatic circles in Washington
see in the spectacular overthrow
of Vice PremiexxYerre Laval and his
replacement as foreign minister by
Pierre -Etienne Flandin another sign
Of a greater French German COL
laboration.
Laval has played along with the
Germans ever since the signing of
the armistice which brought him to
power. But he is known to have a
weak spot for the Italians, especially
for II Duce.
Despite his willingness to do any
thing the Germans wanted, Herr Won
Ribbentrop is reported to have sus-
pected his complete loyalty to Ber-
lin. Laval is undoubtedly a strong
advocate of totalitarianism but there
were doubts as to how strongly he
favored National Socialism. The fact
that he had become Berlin's obedi-
ent tool did not make much differ
ence.
Both Dislike Britain.
Flandin, on the other hand, has a
good pro-German record. In 1887
he headed French mission to Ber-
lin to establish better relations with
the Reich. Since his return he ad-
vocated a policy of rapprochement
to the Reich rather than to Great
Britain. After Munich he became
the principal signatory of a mani
festo asking the French people to
work with the Reich.
Intense dislike and distrust of
Great Britain is characteristic to
both Laval and Flandin. The prin-
cipal difference between the two
men is that while Laval's totalitar-
ianism has strong tinge of Fascism,
Flandin's is strongly pro-Nazi.
Other Changes Seen Likely.
While it is too early to see clearly
exactly what caused Marsha Petain
to get rid of his first lieutenant, it
is assumed in official quarters here
that in dismissing Laval he followed
hints from Berlin.
The new foreign minister has been
living in Paris since the end of the
French-axis war and there he is
reported to have been in close touch
with high-ranking German officials.
Whatever the cause of the dra-
matte shift in the French govern
ment may have been, the dismissal
OF Laval is not regarded as change
in the French attitude toward
Britain.
In some quarters it is thought that
the appointment of Flandin as for
eign minister may be a preliminary
to further changes in European po-
litical orientation.
Evening star., 1940-12-15

greatest advantages for the least
risks in the strictly military sense;
it violates the principle of con-
centration less than either of the
other two plans, presents fewer of
the dangerous aspects of a war on
two fronts.
In view Of the rapid progress of
Italian disasters. we should know
very soon O whether Germany
means to come to the rescue at all,
or has written Italy off as a dead
loss not worth the expenditure of
German resources to succcr; ca If
rescue is intended, just how Ger
many means to proceed to that end.
Copyright, 1910. by New York Tribune.
Evening star., 1940-12-15

of her responsibilities, but its most
dangerous feature is the need for
relaxing proportionately her pres
sure on Great Britain, the crucial
theater of the war from the German
point of view.
Germany can undertake a cam
paign in the Balkans to smash
Greece, but a move into Yugoslavia
will now almost certainly be- re-
sisted: the terrain Is difficult, the
communications bad and growing
worse with the advance of winter.
There is no assurance that German
aid so sent would arrive in time;
indeed, an attack on Yugoslavia by
Germany might produce sharp re-
percussion by Yugoslavia forces
against Northern Albania, thus ad-
ministering the coup de grace to the
Italians IN that theater, whatever
the result of the German invasion
in the north.
Balkan Campaign Difficult.
On the whole, winter campaign
in the Balkans probably offers more
risks than advantage under present
conditions; it is not nearly SO prom
ising as it seemed a few weeks ago.
Even the Bulgarian route is. now
uncertain, and might be defended
by both Bulgars and Turks.
Finally, abandoning italy to its
fate, but striving to Offset the bad
effects in the Atlantic and French
North Africa of the British victory,
the Germans may decide to go into
Spain, attack Gibraltar, use Spanish
ports to extend their air and sub
marine operations against British
shipping both in the Atlantic and
the Mediterranean, and perhaps to
try to reinforce by air the bridge
head in Spanish Morocco, thus keep
ing Weygand at least quiescent.
This procedure seems to offer the
Evening star., 1940-12-15
Eliot
Continued From First Page)

In part into German control, has
been disposed of, the British cannot
afford to withdraw as much of their
naval force from the Mediterranean
as might otherwise be possible.
Moreover, should the Germans gain
control of any ports from which
their own submarines might operate,
the British would then require es-
cort vessels in the Mediterranean as
well as the Atlantic.
In the Eastern Mediterranean, the
Greek Navy can be of considerable
help, however; it possesses IL de-
stroyers and 13 torpedo boats. The
Turkish Navy has four large new
destroyerS and a number of small
craft.
Suez Route Would Help.
The re-routing through the Medi-
terranean of British shipping routes
to India and the Far East, now pro-
ceeding via the Cape of Good Hope,
would be of very great value, pro-
viding a net gain in tonnage which
is difficult to estimate accurately,
but which may be judged by the fact
that the Suez route saves rather
better than 25 per cent of the dis
tance from London to Singapore
as against the Cape route. The cum
ulative effect on the Atlantic sit
uation of additional convoy escorts
and additional merchant tonnage
would be very great, indeed.
Certain other effects of an Italian
defeat might also be expected. II
the Mediterranean becomes Brit
ish lake, the results to French North
Africa must be carefully weighed
by Gen. Weygand Syria becomes
almost certainly a British Turkish
sphere of influence. Resistance to
axis pressure throughout the Bal
kans will probably be stiffened.
Spain will find herself rather more
dependent on British good will.
In sum total, the improvement Of
British prospects in the Atlantic, the
possible check to japanese ambi-
tions in the Far East and the enor-
NOUS enhancement of British pres
tige through Southern and South
eastern Europe and the Near East
represent very great losses to Ger
many.
Are these losses sufficient to cause
Germany to undertake the risks of
direct interference? This is a ques-
ton which only Herr Hitler and his
advisers can answer.
Possibility of German Action.
If it be answered in the affirma-
tive, how can such interference be
usefully undertaken?
There are several ways. Funda-
mentally, these ways involve the
employment of powerful German
army and air forces, since Germany
has no surface navy and cannot
help the naval situation very much
Germany can move directly into
Italy, establish air bases and en-
ploy her air force to attack the
Greek armies and British shipping
This means considerable extension
Evening star., 1940-12-15
3, the Associated Press.

By the ASSOCldteU fleSS
In 6-footer, English-speaking Pi-
erre- -Etienne Flandin, pre-war
exponent of understanding with
Germany, Pierre Laval turns over
the Vichy governments foreign af-
fairs portfolio to an old colleague,
an ex-Premier of France and vet
eran of many ministerial posts in the
vanquished republic
M. Flandin had advocated French
refusal to honor the pledge of the
French h-Czechoslovak mutual as
sistance treaty and became a storm
center in the Chamber of Deputies
when a telegram to him from Adolf
Hitler, expressing thanks for his
efforts to avert war over the Sude-
ten issue, was read October 6, 1888.
"I thank you sincerely for the
amlable fluctuations which you
transmitted to me in your telegram, -
the Fuehrer messaged october 2
1898, three days after the fateful
Big Four Munich meeting.
Il hereby assure you of my thanks
for your energetic efforts in favor
of an entente and complete collabo-
ration between France and Ger
many. 1 have followed them with
sincere interest. I hope they have
wider effects.
with my best regards.
HITLER"
Wave of designations.
M. Flandin was a Rightist influ-
ence at that time and one immediate
repercussion of the telegram, whose
authenticity he acknowledged, was
a wave of designations from his
party. Paul Reynaud, then Justice
Minister and co-founder with M.
Flandin of the Democratic Alliance
party, was one of those who quit it.
Months earlier, in February. 1898,
when the Spanish civil war still was
an issue, M. Flandin urged recon-
ciliation with Germany and Italy
and on one occasion, when he rose
to speak in the Chamber, he was
greeted with Leftists' shouts of Hell
Hitler!"
This was change from the Brit
ish collaboration he once had fos-
tered.
His hope, evidently. was to keep
France on good terms with every
body, especially with the nearer and
greater threat to her security-Ger-
many. His transition to this em-
phasis apparently conceded with
Frances own shift leftwards in the
popular front and radical Socialist
governments, when his group be-
came part of the opposition.
Reversed His Stand.
In accepting, M. Flandin reversed
the stand he took last June l6 when
tottering France made Marshal
PHILIPPE Petain her Premier and
both M Laval and M. Flandin re-
jected posts in what was destined
to be republican Frances last gov
ernment.
His new assignment had been
foreshadowed, however, by predic-
tions in Vichy less than week ago
that Marshal Petain was planning
a shake-up and that M. Flandin
was one of those to whom he would
offer posts.
1t was believed then that he might
become Minister of Interior.
Since the fall of the republic he
has been either in Paris or in the
provinces most of the time, having
Stunned Vichy until just week ago.
M. Flandin, native Partisan,