Evening star., 1941-10-25
President Flaws
NdziExecution
Acts Of Desperate
Men, Roosevelt
Calls Killings
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

President Roosevelt hurled a
harshly worded attack TODAY at Nazi
terrorism as manifest by the Ger
man execution of scores of civilian
hostages in occupied European
countries.
These are the acts Of desperate
men who know in their hearts that
they cannot win" Mr.. Roosevelt de-
clared in a formal statement re-
leased by his press relations secre-
tary. Stephen T. Early.
This unusual condemnatory action
was prompted by German execution
within the last few days of 100
Frenchmen, held as hostages after
the murder of two Nazi occupation
army officers in Nantes and Bor-
deauX The penalty killings in oc-
cupied France have now reached a
total of 1875 in reprisal for the slay-
ing OF five occupation officers. An
additional 100 French hostages are
being held against further ultimate
that they also will be executed dur
ing the coming week unless the
Nantes and Bordeaux murders are
solved
Depths of Frightfulness.'
In his statement today the Presi-
dent asserted that Nazi oppression
has reached depths Of frightfulness
never approached even during the
World War. From it. he said, will
come an abiding hatred which one
day will bring fearful retribution
upon the German rule.
The practice of executing scores
of innocent hostages in reprisal for
isolated attacks on Germans in
countries temporarily under the
Nazi heel, revolts world already
Injured to suffering and brutality, =
Mr.. Roosevelt said with sad grim
ness.
civilized peoples long ago
adopted the basic principle that no
man should be punished for the deed
of another. Unable to apprehend the
persons involved in these attacks,
the Nazis characteristically slaughter
so or 100 innocent persons.
"Ghast1y Warming"
Those who would 'collaborate'
with Hitler or try to appease him.
cannot ignore this ghastly warning
The Nazis might have learned
from the last war the impossibility
of breaking mems spirit by terror
ism. Instead they develop their
'leibensraum' and new order bv
depths of frightfulness which even
they have never approached before.
These are the acts of desperate
men who know in their hearts that
they cannot win. Frightfulness can
never bring peace to Europe. It only
sows the seeds of hatred which will
one day bring fearful retribution."
President to Speak Monday.
Mr.. Roosevelt's bitterly worded ex-
coriation of the German conduct
was his only public activity of a day
which was to be devoted principally
to preparation of a major address
scheduled during Navy Day cere-
monies here Monday night. 1t has
VIII iAAOiSc%Cu GIidI tlle CIlleI EX-
ecutive at that time will give a full
dress review of American defense
determination, perhaps revealing ad-
dltlonal steps in the expanded pro-
gram which was discussed initially
at his press conference yesterday.
At that time the President told re.
porters that tank production was te
be doubled and that congressional
approval of a gigantic new overall
armament program would be sought
between now and January /.
The President has laid new en-
phasis OH the occasion of the Monday
observance by designating it as Navy
and Total Defense Day.
M. Early said this morning the
speech will be at least Is minutes ir
length and that except for possibilit!
of an afternoon sail on the Potomac
tomorrow. the President will keep al
work on this task until it is com.
pleted.