davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Explorers to Make Trip
To Dismal Swamp Sunday

Members of the Washington Ex-
plorers' Club will make a field trip
into the Dismal Swamp on Sunday,
May 2e, it was announced today by
McFall Kerbey Of the National Geo.
graphic Society.
Lake Drummond will afford the
special study on this expedition,
which is closed to all but members
of the club. They will be joined
at Norfolk, Va, by members of the
New York Explorers Club. They will
meet at the new Post Office Building,
CRANKY street and Brambleton ave-
nue., Norfolk, at $3.50 am. Sunday,
and proceed by automobiles to the
George Washington Canal, where
boats will be waiting. All arrange
ments are being handled by Mr..
Kerbey at the National Geographic.
The trip was postponed from yes
terday.
Evening star., 1940-05-13

rumors of success or failure which
are now current in such places as
Brussels or Paris.
Belgium presents picture OF sus-
pended animation. It Is like a man
who has had his skull fractured and
keeps on his feet until thS brain
suddenly becomes numbed. Yester-
day - Whitsunday afternoon - the
country people crowded the road
sides watching British troops pour
in as they might watch the circus
come to town. Dressed in their
Sunday best, they waved to the
Tommies and cheered them and
actually threw flowers at them.
In centers of population the scene
was different. Groups of friends
gathered around soldiers who had
been suddenly called up and were
leaving for the front. Here and
there, small detachments of troops
were collected, ready for entrain-
ment You could tell in an instant
that the country had gone to war
even if you had not heard the sound
of bombs and anti-aircraft guns in
the distance.
(Copyright. 194O. Chicago Daily News. Inc)
Evening star., 1940-05-13
"A. Council Meets:
To Draft Labor Plank
To Give Both Parties
Nonportison Political
Policy Expected to ?
Be Reuffirmed

With the writing Of labor plank
for presentation to the Resolutions
Committees of the Democratic and
Republican National Conventions.
one Of the major items on its
agenda, the Executive Council Of
the American Federation Of Labor
convened here today for its spring
meeting.
In addition to drafting a labor
plank and a discussion Of the best
methods for applying the Fed
eration's nonpartisan political pol
icy In the presidential campaign,
the council will consider labor's
attitude toward developments In the
European war, particularly as these
developments bear on the neutrality
policy Of the United States.
The council is expected to reaffirm
the Federations nonpartisan politi-
cal policy. Though the A. F. L. in
1924 supported the La Toilette
Wheeler ticket, its usual policy Is
opposed to indorsing any political
party.
Indications point to a lively debate
over the Governments prosecution
OF building trades leaders for alleged
violations Of the antitrust laws.
The A. F. L. has taken the position
that Congress, in enacting the anti
trust laws, never intended that they
should be applied to labor unions.
The Department of Justice, in its
prosecutions, contends these laws
apply to labor unions if they act to
restrain trade.
The Executive Council will re.
ceive reports on Federation organi-
rational activities and review plans
for future organizational efforts.
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Congress in Brief
TODAY.

Senate:
Debates Presidents proposal to
transfer Civil Aeronautics Authority.
House:
Considers bill to pension all war
veterans widows and orphans.
Judiciary Subcommittee continues
hearing on bill to bar poll taxes as
requisite to voting.
TOMORROW.
Senate:
viii continue debate on reorRan-
ization Of Civil Aeronautics Author
ity unless vote Is reached today.
Banking subcommittee to hear
Federal Loan Administrator Jesse
Jones on amendment to r. r. G. Act.
10:30 am.
Appropriations Subcommittee con-
tinues work on Army supply bill.
10 am.
House:
Resumes consideration Of con-
ference report on Agriculture ap-
preparation bill. Ways and Means
Subcommittee continues hearings
on Patman chain store bill. 10 am.
Merchant Marine Committee be-
gins hearings on bill to clarity Coast
Guard Act. 10 am. s
Irrigation Committee considers
Boulder Dam bill. 10 am.
Naval Affairs Committee meets.
! 1U.SV an. Es5,FissssSs q ~ sst.&
Evening star., 1940-05-13
u. ). Fleet Drills
In Hawaiian Waters
To Be Resumed
Squadron Moy Operate
As Offensive Force to
Test Lohuinu Defenses
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
HONOLULU. May 13.-Powerful
units Of the United States Fleet
were ordered to Lahaina Roads
today for further training practice
in Hawaiian waters which the Navy
Unexpectedly ordered last week.
Additional ships of the main
force will depart tomorrow for the
rendezvous of the Isle of Maui,
leaving only the normal Hawaiian
squadron and a few additional yes-
self at Pearl Harbor, near here.
The decision to keep the feet
longer in Hawaii was disclosed last
Tuesday when Admiral James O.
Richardson, commander in chief
announced the Navy had approved
his request that it stay here for
a time for additional tactical exer-
cises.
New Schedule Arranged.
It had been expected originally
that the 80 ships comprising the
fleets main body would sail last
Thursday for the California coast
The fleet put in here late in April
after completing extensive ma
neuvers in mid-Pacific waters.
The new operations of Maui will
be arranged In such a way that
ships usually will depart on Mon
days and return Thursday or Fri
day for week ends at Lahaina.
1t was believed that the Ha-
Waiian squadron, reinforced by the
aircraft carrier Lexington, might
operate as an offensive force to
test the Lahaina defenses.
DiSpleased With Fleets Showing.
Reliable San Francisco sources
have indicated that Admiral Rich
ardson was not satisfied with the
showing made by the fleet in re-
sisting attacks after it took refuge
at Lahaina Roads during the re-
Gently completed war games. The
Lahaina problem involved an air.
plane attack against the fleet.
It was believed that In the new
maneuvers the feet would incor-
porate some of the lessons learned
from Europe's War, in which Brit
ish flyers bombed the German feet
base at Wilhelmshaven and in
which Nal bombers attacked the
Scapa Flow base Of the British
fleet.
Evening star., 1940-05-13

their names. and the nerve specialist
would not expand his view.
But the chemist declared 1t was
entirely possible that chemists may
have produced some volatile liquid
which, when dispersed from . bomb,
would be capable of producing par
tial anesthesia in men who inhaled
It,"
Pointing out that ordinary anes-
thetic materials such as ether,
propane and ethylene, If not ad-
ministered in the proper quantities
to produce complete anesthesia,
could leave person In q state of
complete indifference to every
thing" the chemist said 1t was en-
tirely feasible for chemists to pro-
duce = dispersible liquid that would
induce lassitude in men who inhaled
its vapors.
As further illustration of the
phenomenon of partial anesthesia, %
he pointed to the action Of a water
soluble solid that induces so-called
twilight Sleep"
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Nozis Will Be Hard to Hoit,
Correspondent Says


BY WILLIAM H. STONEMAN,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
BELGIUM, May 13.-The allied
crack expeditionary force moved up
TO stem the tide of the German ad-
vance into Belgium today with. the
knowledge that its failure or its
success might sway the whole bal
ance Of war.
1t was equally certain. as British
and French forces moved forward to
engage the Germans in a wholesale
holocaust, that the outcome was far
from certain-that only the most
dauntless kind of stand would be
enough to stop the German sweep
across the Low Countries. All that
the British knew was that they were
prepared to fight the Germans to
the finish.
Moving with lightning speed,
backed by perfect organizat ton, the
greatest air force the world has ever
seen, and by fifth column" sabotage
on'a stupendous scale, the Germans
already are in position of adj
vantage. 1t will be wonder if they
are stopped within the next few
days and it will still be remarkable,
in the opinion of this correspondent,
if they are stopped short of the
French frontier. To a great extent,
it is 1914 all over again, and any
body who expects a miraculous re-
buff Of the Nazi forces is liable to
be badly disillusioned.
The German advance has not only
been a storm-it has been a rending
hurricane.
From this point, nothing can be
reported about the actual movement
Of allied troops, beyond the fact
that they have moved swiftly into
Belgium, have taken up defensive
positions along a line fixed well in
advance, and are probably in con-
tact with the Germans at several
points. It cannot be confirmed
from here that British troops have
been thrown into battle on a mass
scale and up until last night it is
not likely that they had been.
Incidentally, censorship in this
war is such on both sides that
movements of Importance, for the
time being, will be reported only in
ofhcial communiques. Correspond
ents have not yet been allowed to
visit the fighting front, and, for
that reason, it is not possibles to
confirm or deny any of the wilt
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Knights TempIor Elect
Officers TONIGHT

Election of officers will feature
the 45th annual meeting of the
Grand Commandery of Knights
Templar of the District of Columbia
at Z o'clock tonight in the Masonic
Temple, Thirteenth street and New
York avenue NV.
Among those who will attend are
Earle G. Richardson, grand COM
mAnder of Maryland: Samuel T.
Luckett, grand commander of Vir-
ginia: Ernest H. Bitner, grand COM
mander of West Virginia, and J.
Marvin Petit, grand commander of
New Jersey.
J. Fred Huber, District grand COM
mander, will preside.
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Retail Price Index
Unchoneed in April
BY the Associated Press.

6y the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 13.-Fairchild
Publications index of retail prices
remained unchanged during April
after having advanced steadily for
nine consecutive months, it was dis
closed today.
The index as of May l stood at
92.8, the same level as month
earlier, but ~ per cent higher than
a year ago.
Despite repeated advances since
last July l, however, the level of re-
tail prices is still about 80 per cent
below the highest point reached in
1897.
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Typical Unemployed
American Mother
Selected by Delegates
JobIess Conference
Here Chooses Woman
With Eight Children

The typical unemployed American
mothers-as selected by 200 dele
gates to the National Women's Con-
ference on Unemployment, meeting
here-is Mrs. Hughs Easley of St.
Louis, mother of eight children.
She was the only nominee, and
she was to be installed formally at
session Of the Daughters of the
American Depression" as they call
themselves, late today.
A tall, thin woman in her middle
thirties, Mrs. Easley told the con-
ference that her children ranged in
age from 3 to 10. Her youngest
child came along to the meeting.
This family of 10, Mrs. Easley said,
receives e58 a month for food and
$40 month for rent from Missouri
relief funds. The Easleys live in a
four-room house. The oldest girl
is working as domestic, receiving
81 a week in cash.
call on Capitol Hill. '''''~
Delegates went to Capitol Hill to-
day and called on their Senators
and Representatives, urging an in
crease in the w. P. Appropriation.
/ Yesterday, thsy todd sk@5sry Of
pre,ninent Washington women how
some relief families have had to live
on little as 81 week in unemploy-
ment relief money.
Cite Cases of Distress.
The women-W. P. A. workers,
wives of w. p. A. workers or unem-
ployed on relief-emphasized dis
tress caused by the recent reduction
OF IS to $40 q month in the wage
of women with the w. P. A. and by
extensive layoffs of men and women
relief workers.
One delegate described how she
lived on sardines and bread tor
months after she was dropped from
the w. P. A..
A woman from Tampa, Fla, said
unemployed relief there was 81 a
week for families as large as 10.
The jurors included Miss Josephine
Roche, Mrs. Melvin Douglas, Mrs.
John Barry, Mrs. Gardner jackson,
Mrs. Helen Moorehead, Miss Hide
garde Kneeland, Mrs. Henry F.
Grady, Mrs. Murray Latimer and
Miss Hilda Smith. Hearings before
the jury will continue tomorrow
morning, with Mrs. Eleanor Roose-
velt added to the panel. A verdict
will be brought in during the after
noon.
In addition to calling on their
individual Congress members, the
delegates planned to meet a group
OF Senators on the steps of the Capt.
tol early this afternoon.
Hope for Peace Expressed.
Yesterday afternoon the group
placed wreath on the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier, issuing there
statement expressing horror Of
war and hope that America might
continue at peace.
At $50 pm. tomorrow a relief din
ner will be held at the National
Press Club auditorium, at which q
scent meal will be served. Speak
ers will include Miss Kneeland, Sen
ator Pepper, Democrat, of Florida;
Representative Marcantonio, Amer
ican Labor, New York, and Oscar
Chapman, Assistant Secretary Of
the Interior. Miss Sophia Dalza viii
give satirical dances.
Delegates come from 20 States.
Headquarters are at the Roger
Smith Hotel,
Evening star., 1940-05-13

mans had two armored divisions in
the van of the attack; synchronized
with a terrific bombing.
The hurricane rides on the wings
of the German air force.
Despite serious losses in the
Netherlands, Belgium and France
placed by some In the neighborhood
of 200. planes-the German flyers
still are hammering at their OBJ
jectives.
A new front was established by
landings of German parachute
troops behind the allied lines.
Bombs FAN About Hotel.
AS I write, this dingy hotel shakes
with. the thuds of bombs falling
outside the town and with the deep
"twung twung" of anti-aircraft bat
teries.
I have been on the continent just
SO hours, but I have heard sirens
scream the "alerte" II times, seen
six Nazi bombers methodically lay
their eggs, watched two fall burn
ing to earth and seen scars of their
operations.
A railway which Germans bombed
at dawn was uncut. A French OBJ
server counted 18 craters, but said
proudly they are hurried, those
devils, look
Sure enough, there was a train
chugging steadily along the tracks.
AS I Travelled nearly 300 miles
over this little nation-just a bit
smaller than the State of Maryland
I saw grim evidence Of what total
war means.
There was two-way traffic on the
road. Moving toward the distant
sound of guns were British men, ma
terials and munitions in trucks
widely spaced to offer unattractive
bombing targets.
Stream Of Refugees.
Moving painfully away from the
guns was another army-the army
Of the homeless and stricken. Refu-
gees went slowly through the thick
white dust toward the safety that
may lie behind the lines.
The rich rode in cars. The poor
rode huddled in trucks, on burdened
bicycles or walked.
Their voices haunt you:
1--WE knew nothing. Friday morn
ing there came the explosion. Our
windows broke. The little boy across
the street-so bright q little boy
is dead. So we left"
Those Germans. Four years OF
them we had when was middle
Evening star., 1940-05-13
THE STAR wAsHNaron B q, MONDAY NAY "a, 1910
Military Experis Here
Doubt Nerve Gas
Is New Nazi Weapon
Victims Loud Protests
Would Hove Followed Its
Use. Says Army Aide

Military experts here were in
clined today to discount the theory
expressed abroad that nerve gas
capable Of penetrating the ordinary
mask-was the new and mysterioul
weapon employed by Germany IL
capturing the Belgian fort Of Eber
Emael.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Bern, Switzerland, quoted neutral
military attaches there as believing
nerve gas" was the Reich's newest
secret. These sources said such q
type affects the nerves of those In
haling it and brings lassitude and
inability to coordinate the muscles
Discussing this speculation, Army
spokesmen here pointed out that
thus far neither side has used
nerve gas" to any great extent, and
II 1t had been used in great quantity
then 1t was reasonable to assume
that loud protests would have come
from those attacked.
Air Corps officers scanning week.
end'reports are inclined to the belief
the Germans new weapon" was
some type of explosive rather than
a gas. They point to a report that
a German air lieutenant was dec
GRATED for the feat Of capturing
Eben Emael.
New System Of Attack?
The fort is huge block of ma
sonry and it is believed the Germans
may have developed a new system
OF concentrated attack bombing
from the air. This could put the
Tort out Of commission and leave it
open to capture by parachute troops
or rapidly advancing land forces.
Another observer here holds to the
theory that the Nazi air force took
the fort through an attack on its
electric and power systems.
BY wrecdng electrical mechanism
ne pointed out, guns, range finders,
ooor controls and other fighting
machinery would be rendered use
less. This would lay open the de-
lending force to quick attack by
parachute troops or land operations
The Bern dispatch said something
akin to nerve gas" is known &c
have been developed in Germany anG
studied elsewhere in recent months
No Lasting Effect.
The gas has no lasting effect and
soldiers can be protected only BY
certain types of gas masks, they said
The fortress troops at Eben Emael
had only standard Belgian army
filter -l.ASks.
Soldiers inhaling the gas stagger
and fall, it was said.
The gas was reported to have a
faint smell similar to a geranium
and Is almost beyond detection.
The military experts said that il
might be the Nazis' much-vaunted
weapon but that its scope was linn
tied to forts like Eben Emael. where
the ventilating system may not be as
thorough as that of the French
Maginot Line forts.
Allied and Belgian forces are re.
ported to have captured a number
OF German troops equipped with
special gas masks which now are
being studied.
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Norroeonset
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
FIRST RACE+Purse. 81. 900: claiming:
4,year-olds up: 8 furlonEs tchutel.
Glenbroom ~: Mearle) $40 46o $50
Escohigh u. Borup, 77O $40
White Topper tBerser) 4s0
Time. 1:132s
Also ran-Broadway Juel Ouragan Old
Dominion. Dona Montex. Strange Times
war streak. Lees Count Bonnie BUZZ and
SECOND RACE-Purse. $1,000: claim
Ing; 4-year-olds and up: 6la furlones
Sunabell (Taylorl $500 119O 500
Grandpa's Boy (Robart) 1l.4O 400
MAttapony tSuttle) 9 QO
Time, lips
Also ran-Gossles Discourse. Sun Hish
Sandy Bill, Prince Splendor. Secret Cnatrer
Epitaph and Prum
DAILY Double paid Sl354O)
Evening star., 1940-05-13

The Atlantic storm continues to move
north -northeastward and was centered this
morning about 500 miles east Of Boston,
Mass. with lowest pressure about 0OS mil
libars COAT inches). A slight disturbance
is moving southeastward over the lower
Great Lakes region. Buffalo. N. Y. 1OO7.5
millibars (29.7S inches). while another dis
Plains States. North Platte. Nebr. 1OO37
millibars (23.64 inChes). Pressure con-
tinues high over the Southeastern States,
inches). while it is rising over the upper
Great Lakes reeion. and the North Pa
ca11ic States Baker OFeg.. 10227 milli-
hours there have been few light showers
In portions Of the Middle Atlantic States
and the lower Great Lakes region. Showers
occurred also In the northern Plains and
the middle Rocky Mountain region. Tenn
peratures have risen in the Central Valleys
and the southern portion Of the lake re-
gion.
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Imports Of Rubber
Soar During April
BY the Associated Press.


Imports Of rubber in April were
the third highest for any month
in history, the Commerce Depart
ment reports. The total was 10 .699
long tons, and was surpassed only
by the December and January fig
ures, when imports exceeded 71.OOO
tons. March imports were 5925s
tons.
The April entry price was 176
cents a pound, unchanged from
March, but four-tenths Of a cent
above the February price.
Evening star., 1940-05-13
New England Experts Say
Nerve Gas Is Possible

BOSTON, May IL R.-A spe-
cialist In nervous diseases and =
chemist IN this New England msdi-
cal center said tonight that nerve
gas" reported possibly used by the
Nazis to capture Belgian fort was
entirely within the range Of po1h-
bility."
Both scientists declined the use az
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Nozis Push Production
Of Flax in Bohemia
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
PRAGUE.-The government of
the protectorate of Bohemia and
Moravia is increasing hax produc-
ton by force of law.
Farmers whose ground is suitable
and who have mode than IL acres
under cultivation may be obliged to
sdevote . certain area % hax.
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Weather Report
District of Coli

District of Columbia cloudy light beginning
tonight tomorrow; not
about 5e degrees moderate shifting norher tonight
and becoming variable
Maryand-Most cloudy tonight and tomorrow with
showers; not much change in temperature
VgniaFa slightly tonight tomorrow mostly cloudy
followed by showers in north portion.
West Vgna-Mosty cloudy light north
ton tonight and central
in tenn
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Racing Results
Pol->.S
Belmont
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associat ted Press.
FIRST RACE-Purse, $1,000; maiden
3-year-olds UP: furlones (chute)
b Regent (Meade) II 2O SSo q %
In Charge tEccard) 6a0 Se0
Rollo Haas S94
Time. 1:12+s
Also ran-Designation Ramonoy
Tyrone. Count Happy a Iron WIN. Balloon'
Binder sA@
Brookmeade Stable
J. Widener entry.
SECOND RACE-Purse, 81 200: A.ve.,.
olds; steeplechase: miles
kellsboro Banks 400 Alo So
Speculate fWalker) 5+0 AID
Game Runner tLeonard) 3 An
Time, 35O7s wv
Also ran-,Greenvich Time and Flying
Evening star., 1940-05-13
u. S. Chemists Discussed
Nerve Cos for War Use
0y HOWARD w. BLAKESLEE
Associated Press Science Editor.

Associated Press Science Editor.
NEW YORK, May 12-one
chemical which may be similar to
the nerve gas" reportedly used by
Germans has been discussed by
American chemists. It is acetyl
choline-a compound that appears
naturally In the human body.
Its function is not fully known
but it plays a part In the work of
the nerves when they transmit i'm
pulses to the muscles. It is present
In extremely minute amounts.
When little acetyl choline taken
from a chemists bottle in the form
OF liquid is placed in a scratch in
the skin, 1t causes speedy uncon-
sciousness.
Unconscious for Hour,
This kind of use of acetyl choline
1t was suggested at the Rochester,
N. T., meeting of the American
Chemical Society two years ago,
would make a soldier unconscious
Tor as much as one hour. But he
would recover without any bad
effects.
This form Of acetyl choline, how
ever, required direct contact of the
liquid In some sort of a wound OF
break in the skin.
No method was suggested at that
meeting by which this chemical
might be used to cause weakness q,
unconSclousness when breathed.
American military gas experts
have been discussing a different
possibility for a gas surprise in the
present war. They have believed n
is very unlikely that any really new
gas would be used, but they have
predicted that slight change in
the form OF any one of the old war
gases might make that gas pene-
trate any and all of the present Gas
masks. ' . 90
ms possibility is backed up by
certain World War experiences.
Include Nerve Poisons.
These standard gases include ~.
Iect nerve potsons. They are SUBJ
Stances which directly affect the
neart action, nerve reflexes or inter-
lere with absorption and assimila.
tion OF oxygen in the body after the
niood picks 1t up from the lungs
The direct nerve poison gases as
listed in the United States Hand.
oook OF Chemical Warfare Gases
are hydrocyanic acid and carbon
monoxide. In the 1881 edition of
the handbook both were listed as
not considered at present for of1ense
use in war. e1''e
The other standard war gases are
lung irritants, vesicants. which sre
those which burn the skin and
membranes wherever they touch
lacrimators which cause tears
sternutators which produce violent
meezing and coughing followed hv
physical disability, and irritant
smokes. The latter may cause In
tolerable sneezing, coughing and
tears, and headaches even thouah
tne concentration is very low.
The most effective yesicant IL
mustard gas. the chief poison eas
OF the World War, and the one ssid
stu to be the main military reliance
for defense. s
Evening star., 1940-05-13
Arbor Day Observed

WINNIPEG, May 13 R.-Grain
traders remained idle today as the
winnipeg Grain Exchange was
closed IN observance Of Arbor Day.
Operations will be resumed tomor-
row.