davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
ACT APPROVED
Britain Transformed From
Democracy To Dictator
ship In Three Hours
BRITISH ARE CHEERED


LONDON May 22.-(AP)
Great Britain, achieving
through the methods of de-
mocracy the result of vir-
tual dictatorship, tonight
placed all her men and every
thing they own at the COM
mand of Prime Minister
Winston Churchill in the war
with Adolf Hitler's legions.
Proud of the democratic
machinery which could ele-
vate the prime minister to a
pinnacle of power as high as
Hitler's and yet retain the
right to take it back, parlia-
ment rushed into law a far
reaching act enabling the
government to conscript all
labor and property.
King Signs Bill
Commons pushed the bill
through within two hours
without a vote. The king
signed it tonight.
Within two hours and as
minutes the whole job of
completing the transition
from democracy to virtual
dictatorship was done.
The first steps in this mo-
mentous transition were TAX
en- beginning last Aug. "a
when the king was empow-
cred to issue DEGREES with
the effect of law.
Today orders in council,
prepared even before the par
liamentary process was un-
derway, gave immediate eff
feet to laws setting up con-
trolls under ministers cover
ing labor, banking, agricul-
ture, transport, mining, war
industries and export trade.
War material and export indus
tries will be given absolute priority
and labor will be drafted as re-
Continued on Page -Four; Col. y
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
= aN 49,
| saI,,alls
For No Third
Term Pledge
President Replies That He
Has No Time For Poll
teal Statements
STATEMENTS RELEASED
Congress Works To Pro-
vide Millions Required
For Arms Expansion

WASHINGTON, May 22-tR-Al
M. Landon demanded a no thire
term" pledge from Presiden1
Roosevelt today as the terms Of
republican participation in any
coalition defense directorate, ano
the president asserted, in a coldly
polite reply, that he had no time
for political statements"
The exchange took place after
Landon, republican presidential
candidate in 1896, had lunched with
the chief executive at the latter's
invitation. There had been specu-
lation that the luncheon might lead
tn a coalition cabinet" or some
other form of joint democratic-re-
publican direction of the huge re-
armament program.
Issues Statement
After the luncheon, Landon is.
sued a typewriter statement to a
great cluster of reporters sur
rounding him in a nearby hotel
third-term movement - a move
lobby, saying that republican lead
ers could not at, present enter into
any coalition arrangement without
making themselves a party to the
ment which he held to be incom-
patible with democracy's "basic
principles"
At the same time, he explained
that his statement was not the re-
suit of the luncheon conference as
his proposal had not been made
to Mr.. Roosevelt directly, and the
third term had been discussed in
only a casual and "off-hand' man.
ner.
The Landon expression was
shown to the president, and the
White House statement was quick
ly prepared.
"The president regrets" it said,
that he has no time, just now, to
give to the preparation of political
statements. He is too busily en-
gagged with problems of far great
err national Importance"
The statement also said that MIR
CONTINUED on Page Five, Col. u
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
REPLIES TO SPEECH
Senator Recalls American
Altman Accepted Deco
ration From Hitler

WASHINGTON, May 22.-tR-
Striking back at Col. Charles A.
Lindbergh for his criticism of
Roosevelt administration foreign
policy, Senator Byrnes (D-sC) as
serted tonight that Lindbergh was
mo more qualified" to speak on
the subject than wrong Way Cor
rigan or any other aviator who
may fly the Atlantic ocean,
He added that fifth columns
are already active in America" and
that chose who consciously or
unconsciously retard the efforts OF
this government to provide for the
defense of the American people are
the fifth columns most effective
fellow travellers"
Official Reply
Byrnes' address, prepared for de-
livery over the radio was consid-
cred the administration forces Of
fetal reply to the speech in which
Lindbergh called last Sunday for
an end to "hysterical chatter of
calamity and INVASION" decried
what he considered meddling in
Europe and urged a definite poll
cy" of defense.
Byrnes said President Roosevelt
had a definite policy of defense
already formulated' and had stated
it "time and again."
The senator said that "Mr. Lind
bergh' (nowhere in the manuscript
of the speech did the title "Colo-
neT' appear) had accepted a deco
ration from Hitler. He went on to
inquire:
when Mr.. Lindbergh says, mo
one wishes to attack u.s. is he au-
thorized to speak for Hitler or
Goering? Can the American people.
in the light of recent history, ac-
cept the assurance of this oung
gentleman that if we do not ask
for war it will not come to u.s."
Takes Issue
Byrnes, chairman of the senate
naval appropriations subcommittee,
(COntinued on Page Four: Col, 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
RULING ON BREACH
of PROMISE GIVEN
Decision On Tax Rate For
Vending Machines Also
Handed Down By Court

RALEIGH, May 22-(R-A Wom-
an who has syphilis cannot main
tain a suit for breach of promise,
the state supreme court held to-
day,
In an opinion by Associate JUS
tee W. A, Devin, the court pointed
out that under a 1889 law, license
10 marry could not be issued in
North Carolina until both prospec-
tive bridegroom and bride pro-
duced certificates showing them to
be free Of syphilis.
The tribunal said that 'if
the plaintiff condition was such
as to prevent her lawful entry into
The marriage relation, this would
constitute a valid defense to any
action for damages for breach of
the contract"
The ruling was made in an ac-
lion brought by May Winders
against Walter Powers in Fender
county, The plaintiff alleged that
towers did not keep his promise
10 marry her, Superior Court
Judge Henry L. Stevens, Jr., al
'COntinued on Page Five; Col. s.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
ITALY CELEBRATES
AXIS ANNIVERSARY
Notes Military Pact Birth
day Amid Indications
Country Will Enter War
BY RICHARD G.. MASSOCK

ROME, May 22-R-Press de-
clarations that Italy's pact of steel
with Germany had held British
warships in the Mediterranean and
French soldiers on the Italian
frontier while the Nazi war ma
chine smashed through the low
countries into France highlighted
today the celebration of the first
anniversary Of the Axis military
alliance.
It was a celebration held amid
mounting indications that Italy
might soon enter the war.
King Vittorio Emanuele gave to
Marshal Hermann Goering the
right to call him cousin-by con-
ferring the highest Italian decora-
ton, the collar annunziata on Adolf
Hitler's air chief-and the news
papers unanimously felicitated the
alliance.
One extremist organ, II Resto
del Carlino at Bologna, exulted
over German successes, forecast
that Italy would take from Britain
the Mediterranean island of Malta,
and declared:
". Every bayonet in the back
of a fugitive Englishman avenges
infamies suffered by humanity.
By speaking Of certain known
developments under the alliance
and saying that ''others will be
known at a more opportune time"
the newspaper II Piccolo obliquely
suggested that secret activity be-
tween the axis powers already was
under way
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
DRAINAGE PROJECT
IS STARTED HERE
Will Reclaim About 40
Acres Between Green
field Lake And River

A s16,44O WPA project, providing
for draining and retaining more
than 40 acres of city and county
property, is now under way at
Greenfield in the vicinity of the
small creek running from the lake
to the Cape Fear river.
City officials have estimated the
work will increase the value and U.S.
ability Of the 40 acres of land ap-
proximately 100 per cent.
In addition to making the land
disable and available, it will also act
as a mosquito and malaria control
project.
The xpense is being borne by
the city, the county and the WPA
and the work is scheduled for COM
pletion in about four months.
The project was obtained shortly
after the management Of the Tay-
lor-C olquitt Creosoting company re-
ported that water from the creek
was backing onto its land and dam
aging the logs and timbers stored
there.
The project provides for the re-
moval of bends and shallow spots
from the stream and for the in
stallation of flood gates at its mouth.
The gates will automatically close
the mouth of the creek when the
river rises and will open when the
tide falls, preventing the backwa-
tiers from flooding over the creek
bank.
J. E. l.. Wade, city commissioner
of public works, has estimated the
work will increase the value of the
CITY and county's property in that
area many times the amount of
money. spent in the drainage work.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
CLAIM EX-KAISER REFUSED OFFER
FROM BRITISH TO TAKE HIM TO ENGLAND

ed was the town church, its
tower rising high above the
smoking, crumbled remains.
The business district of the
city of perhaps 5000 population
was only a heap OF brick. Prac-
ticalIy every house on the road
leading to Grebbe hill outside
the city was a skeleton, with
tulips and flowers of spring add
ing a g%rotesquely gay touch.
A little street car stood OH the
main street ready to set forth
wherever possible, but there
CONTINUED on Page Five; Col. s.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Men To Army
Move Reflects Fears Rus
slams May Advance On
Bessarabia Province
BROAD MOBILIZATION
King Carol Cancels An
niversary Celebration
Scheduled For June 8

BUCHAREST, RUMANIA, May
22-R-Rumania today called up
800, 900 reservists and sent most
of them to the Soviet frontier, in a
virtual general mobilization which
reflected fears that the Russian
army might move 500 on the
Rumanian province of Bessarabia.
It was an action which brought
this oil-rich Kingdoms defenses to
what the general staff called The
highest state of preparedness"
Some observers said they saw
in it an indication of deterioration
of Russia's 9-month-old friendship
with Germany. They insisted the
Rumanian Strengthening of the
frontier was carried out with the
approval, if not the counsel, of
Germany.
Russian Before 1918
Bessarabia was Russian before
1918.
King Carol followed up his call
to- the colors with a proclamation
demanding that the nation work
strenuously and hold steadfastly to
its patriotic duty"
He cancelled celebrations sche-
duled for June g., commemorating
the tenth anniversary of his en-
thronement, declaring the money
would be better spent on guns to
defend Rumania's frontiers.
The story behind the reinforce
ment of the Bessarabian frontier,
Continued on Page Five; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
Raps Lindbergh's
Views On Foreign Policy
Dutch Minister Says
Nazis Fired On Queen

WASHINGTON, May 22- Up
- Dr. Alexander LOudOn, the
Netherlands minister, asserted
tonight that nazi snipers in sur
rounding houses had fired upon
queen WlIneImIna and ner
family in their palace gardens
and that nazi authorities had is
sued orders to "eXtinguish the
House OF Orange at any cost"
Commenting OH reports that
Hollanders had expressed re-
sentiment over the queens flight
to England, the minister said
that fifth column" agents had
spotted every move of the royal
family and that it became impos-
sible to protect them in their
own country. The move to Lon
don was understaken at the
urging of authorities, he said.
"What can a queen in the
hands of the enemy do for her
c%Ountry?" DIR. LoudOn remarked.
"Ask MI. Scbuschnigg It h
former Austrian chancellor"
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
ABBEVILLE RETAKEN
Paris Reports Main Contact
Remains Along Somme,
Aisne Rivers
WEYGAND SATISFIED
FRANCE
Bv N C. CASSIDY

PARIS, May 22.-(AP)-
A new 200-mile Allied front
along the Somme and Aisne
rivers checked at least for
the time being tonight the
twin German drive on the
English channel and Paris.
The night communique of
Tie French high command
reported no fresh develop
nents, except that the battle
continued in northern France
and Belgium, but the war
ministry spokesman declared:
"Our troops are holding
the German push at all
points,"
Abbevillc Retaken
Against the masses of AL
lied infantry spread west
across the river valleys and
north along the coastal plain,
the Germans were reported
to have sent ahead only light
scouting forces during the
day. Allied counter attacks
against the German adva.-ce
guards accounted for retak-
ing of control in Arras and
Abbeville.
Although some German
scouts we're acknowledged to
have driven deep into the
French lines, the war minis
try's spokesman said the
main contact remained along
the Somme and Aisne rivers
and the Escaut (Scheldt),
running north into Belgium.
Battle Ground Soggy
huSL VI lllC SICdL DdLIlC SlOuIlu
a soggy from yesterdays rain and
mechanical troops were meeting, diff
ficulties.
French spirits rose with new AL
lied successes and a military spokes-
man declared:
Even the rumors are better to-
day."
He referred particularly to rumors
not Immediately confirmed that
Amiens and Sedan had been re-
taken. Already the recapture of
strategic Arras and of Abbeville, the
western-most point reached by the
Germans, had been foficially an
nounced.
The nightly war communique
summed up the developments gen-
orally by saying merely: Fighting
continued in the north and in Bel
GUM. Nothing of Importance to re.
port on the remainder Of the front"
The spokesman remarked infor-
mally hat there had been hardly
any change along the front in 43
hours, but said that General Maxine
Weygand, the Allied commander-in-
chief, was really satisfied"
Heavy Fighting
He added that there had been
heavy fighting, with results I'M
knokn, during the day between VAL
encinnes and Cambria Gan area at
some points as near as Is miles to
the English channeD.
Germans continued to send out
exploring parties in motorcycles and
whippet tanks, some of them cross
ing the Somme in their movement
the sea, the spokesman said.
But, he remarked, they YER quickly
rounded up and there was nc mass
passage over the river.
Some German scouting parties
also were said to have progressed
west of Arras toward the channel.
While new hope stirred the French
public that the German drive to the
channe' and to Paris would be halt.
ed ahead of disaster, Winston
Churchill, the British prime minis
ter, conferred here during the day
Continued on Page -Four: Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

out from house to house against
a sWift.moving German army
in this little town of southern
Holland, and the charred walls
and still smoking ruins show
how they failed.
Perhaps the hardest fought
battle OH the German march
from the frontier to Amsterdam
unrolled here and along the
Grebbe line, with its water de-
renses, a few miles to the east.
We walked through this un-
happy little community between
Arnheim and Utrecht and one
building which seemed untOuch-
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
SAYS MEN HOLDING
NAH PUSH AT ALL POINTS;
REICH STRENGTHENS FORCES
Germany Pours Men And
Guns Into Battle Zone

from the armies now under
General Maxine Weygand.
The German command looks
for heavy counter-attack from
the south, and it appeared to
be starting tonight W h e n a
French tank thrust was made
in the vicinity Of Laon. The
Germans said it was beaten
off, that ten French tanks we're
set afire and that "A surren-
dered.
At several points further
north, too, the Allied forces
which the Germans consider
trapped put up stiff battle.
ut may be that u present
movements will come to a tenn
orary halt" said General Wal
Their Won Reichenau, high COM
mander in the field. "Weygand
has ordered every one to stand
(Continuedo n Page Four: Col. III
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON
Associated Press Writer

In her hour of direct peril, Brit
ain has invoked fire to fight fire.
With scarcely a murmur of pro-
test, she has abandoned her an
clent and treasured trappings OF
constitutional democracy for one
man rule.
Never in British history since
Francis Drake and the British sea-
dogs of that day drummed SPANS
great armada down the Channel
to establish Brittania's rule of the
wave has England stood in such
peril. To meet the crisis and hurl
defiance in the teeth of her victory
flushed Nazi foe, England has
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
WAR INTERPRETIVE

moved grimly to clothe her own
man-of-the-hour and Hitler's arch
foe, Prime Minister Winston
Churchill, with powers as great as
those of his enemy.
That is the effect of the act con
scripting all Britain's man-poWer,
her vast wealth and her war-mak-
lug resources of every kind and
placing them under direct govern
ment control.
It's unchallenged acceptance by
Parliament means that the British
bulldog has set himself for a fight
to the death, mistaken by success
sive military disasters in Norway,
Continued on Page Five; Col. a
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
Rv LYNN H~EINZERLING

RHENEN, The Netherlands
Nav 22-R- Kaiser Wilhelm
German authorities said today,
turned down an offer of the
British government to take
him and his family to Britain
gin protection when the Nazl
army came this way in ITS
march toward Amsterdam.
Ten miles to the west OF thls
little town, where n OF the
fiercest battles of the occupa-
tion of the Netherlands too place,
the former German Monarch sat
in his home at Doorn' ana a
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
GERMANY
BY PRESTON GROVER

BERLIN, May 22-R-
Cropping for the narrow straits
of Dover, shortcut to England,
the German armies of Fland-
ers tonight poured me and
guns into the battle zone they
have cut into France, wary Of
counter-attack and arming for
"the kill.
From several sources came
evidence that Germany, in
hardening its hold on Belgium
and Northern France and the
"sack" in which it is trying to
hold up to 1,000,0 900 Allie d
troops, is also being bolstered
against hard counter-attack
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

again-for the first time since
1918-the roar of battle.
He could not have missed the
scarlet glow in the evening sky.
Some houses here still were
burning today.
When resistance was stilled,
the German army units rulnb-
led through the main street OF
Doom, pausing to leave a guard
at the former kaiser's gate.
TOWN SHOWS FAILURE
RHENEN, The Netherlands,
May % (Thursday) - R
Dutch soldiers chose to fight it
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
ALLIES ARE FLYING
PLANES TO EUROPE
Bombing Craft Going From
u. S. Factories To Bat
tlefields OF Continent

WASHINGTON, May 22-(R-
Bombing planes, it was disclosed
today, are flying under their own
power from the backyards Of
American factories to the battle
fields of Europe.
The flights can not be made di-
rectly from the United States, be-
cause of the neutrality law. In
Continued on Page -Four; Col. y
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23
WEATHER

FORECAST
Aorth Carolina: Considerable cloud
TsS' scattered showers in west portion
Imursday; Friday partly cloudy; little
|'"aDse IN temperature.
Meteorological data for the "A hours
's ''O P, m. Yesterday.
Ion Temperature
IN 30" a; m. 81; 7:30 a. m. 65; 1:3O p.
mini 10, l;yo p. m, Il; maximum 80:
""'um Is: mean 70: normal ".
lon Humidity
m iS 49, q. m. 90; 7:30 a. m. 50; 1:3O D.
"' ~ 7;5O p. m. Sc.
Total, Precipitation
nn rO,dl lor a hours ending 7:30 p. m.
|O13 5otal slnce first of the month,
Tides For Today
'Dnllngt0n - II :o7a 6:o5a
NaSonbo,o 11:37p Clip
N'OuOoro Inlet cola 2:59a
Sunr;vo 9:32p 3:O3p
rise g.31e o:Voa; sunset Slip; moon.
WlSSnp; moonset 7:O4a.
er 6 nraaln May 22-(R-Weath..
%rainfaaiIg records of temperature and
in tho aOF the "A hours ending 8 D. M,
and ' aiso principal cotton-growing areas
etatlOn
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

Tides For Today
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-23

CONTINUED on Page Five, Col. u
Evening star., 1940-10-03
Starnes Hits al Letting
Aliens Hold Defense Jobs
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEWARK, Oct.. 3.-Permitting
aliens with allegiance to other ma
tions to work in vital defense indus
tries is "blindly idealistic and even
foolish" in the opinion Of Repre-
sentative Starnes of Alabama, chair
man of Dies subcommittee invesUi-
eating subversive activities along
the Atlantic seaboard.
Mr.. Starnes made the observation
yesterday at conclusion OF two Gays
Of public and private hearings after
Evening star., 1940-10-03
Last Big Defense
Appropriation May
Pass Senate Today
Recess PIon Is Delayed
By Row Over Another
Bill for Airports
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The last big defense appropria-
tions bill of the session was ex-
pected. to slide through the Senate
without dif1culty today, but dis
agreement over preparedness air
port construction program put a
new stumbling block on the rocky
road to a recess for Congress.
Senate leaders saw quick passage
for the House-approved 81 ,482 ,693 ,636
defense fund measure, to finance the
peacetime conscription program and
concurrent expansion Of the stand
ing Army.
The outlook was quite different,
however, for a 5000 900 900 War De-
partment civil functions bill, which.
when passed by the House, contained
an 10000 900 item for the start of
work on 1000 new airportS. A brew
ing fight on the airport building pro-
gram threatened to delay Senate
action on this legislation.
Recess Plans Delayed~
Recess plans, accordingly, were up
in the air. Congress started the
week with hopes of cleaning up the
legislative calendar and getting away
by Sunday. Now, however, the re-
cess talk was in terms Of some day
next week"
The 81, ,482, ,693 ,636 defense appro-
priations bill called up for action
today represented an increase of
$12 700 900 over the "souse-approved
total. AS recommended by the Sem
ate Appropriations Committee yes
terday. the measure contained ST.
248 1872 ,636 in cash and $500 900
in contract authority for the Army.
The Navy would get SIS, ,401 900 in
cash and s8,5O0OOO in contract au-
thorization.
Besides funds for conscription and
the maintenance Of an Army of l.
399 Al, the bill allocates money to
expedite airplane construction, to
speed up airplane pilot training and
to purchase 78.015 new motor We
hicles for the Army.
The threat of trouble over the
5000 ,O00. 900 War Department civil
functions bill arose after elimina-
ton of the airport construction proA
visions already voted by the House.
Adams Hits Proposal
The Senate committee cut out
Evening star., 1940-10-03

this item when 1t approved the
measure yesterday, but Senator Ad-
ans, Democrat, Of Colorado said he
would not be surprised If admins
tration sentiment developed for its
return to the bill. The proposed
expenditure-$30 900 900 in cash and
$50, 900 900 In contract authority
would be made under direction Of
the Civil Aeronautics Board.
Asserting that the boards pro-
posal to build 1000 airports was
Outrageous" Senator Adams said
he would oppose any effort to over
ride the committees action. He told
reporters that the board couldn't
build more than 10 per cent of them
even If they got this money"
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
said he had decided to make no fur
ther efforts toward obtaining a re-
cess agreement until next week.
Evening star., 1940-10-03

announcing that questioning Of Wis
itors to the German American
Bund's Camp Nordland had dis
closed hundreds Of Nazi sympathiz-
ers employed in munitions, ship
building and other national defense
industries.
A score Of persons, representing
"a cross section" Of 1000 visitors to
the Andover, N. j.. Bund camp were
questioned during executive hear
ings, he said, and without exception
every witness was employed in de-
fense work"
Mr.. Starnes declared an "abund-
ance Of testimony" showed the Bund