The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-02-07

THE STORY SO FAR: Colonel Flag.
VIII, acting chief Of CO, u. 8. military
Intelligence department, estimated there
were 100000 European troops In Mexi.
CO preparing for an attack on the Unit
cd States. Posing as Bromlitz, an Amer
lean traitor captured In Paris. Intelli-
gence Ofncer Benning went to Mexico
City where he was unsuspecungly ae-
eepted rs An offlcer BY Van Hassek,
leader of the foreign armed forces In
Mexico. Fincice, another enemy oficer.
4 Y 4 4
CHAPTER VI-Continued
Il read news flash on the Presi-
dents ultimatum in the San Antonio
papers last night before I took off
for Washington, SIR" Benning said.
II my opinion is worth anything,
Colonel, Ruiz will merely stall
around In play for time. He's con-
trolled wholly by Van Hassek"
We're getting ready to mobilize
the army and National Guard, Ben
ming" Flagwin rubbed a torment
ed hand across his brow. "Gad,
what a headache II 1t finally comes
to thatl
"We'n be LUCKY If we get any
thing modified before Van Hassek
hits u.s." Benning predicted. II
mean II we wait much longer"
Waltz Wait? What else can we
do but waltz The people just sim
ply refuse to believe we're vulnera-
Bile. Benning. Late yesterday a
prominent senator dressed down the
President for sending an ultimatum
to Ruiz. Said the present troubled
time Is not one to rock the boat
minated the President was play
ing politics. The press gave that
statesman almost as much space
as it gave the ultimatum. But now
you get busy and type out your re-
port in detail, Benning. General
Hague has called a General Staff
conference for eight o'clock. Hague
has been at his desk constantly since
your report came in yesterday-no
one around here has had any sleep.
III be back as soon as possible"
Benning dictated to confidential
clerk his report covering his move
ments and observations from the
day of his arrival in Paris.
This done, he reproduced from
memory the Van Hassek operations
map with its numerous sinister red
arrows indicating points of possible
invasion of the United States by a
major land force supported by war
ships and aircraft.
Colonel Flagwill came in from
staff conference, his face gravely
tense.
What's fretting the President is
his next move. ca has canvassed
public opinion throughout our nine
corps areas and finds the public isn't
very much excited over the Mexi-
can situation. The Presidents ulti-
matum stirred up more curios-
ity than alarm in the country. Too
many newspapers treat the matter
alphabetically, or question the vigor
and fnality with which the Presi-
dent went after Ruiz"
A stenographer brought in Ben
ning's complete report and Flag
win seized it avidly. His brows met
as he came to the scene in Van
Hassek's quarters at the Palacio
Nacional.
you say, Benning, you saw a
black flag with crossed sabers with
your own eyes-and all the officers
saluted it," he asked sharply.
yes, SIR"
you didn't tell me that In your
verbal account. Man, that's vital
informationl That same flag has
been showing up in Europe among
the armies Of the Coalition Powers.
It's also been reported In Toxic and
China. Reports have leaked out that
the militarists are rallying behind
that flag, hell-bent on taking mat
tiers in their own hands il necessary.
OF course, that's q subterfuge for
Coalition governments 20 maneu-
yer behind while they keep I'D a
pretense Of peace negotiations. But
the presence Of that flag in Van
Hassek's headquarters Is highly sig
nifcant. I'll take your report at
once to General Hague"
Benning spent morning and after
noon checking over the CO reports
on complications and Developments
the world over. Notes of ambassa-
doris, consuls, army and navy at
taches in foreign capitals, and sum-
maries Of press clippings all reflect
ed the unrest and tension that
gripped the world.
Europe continued q maelstrom of
rumor. Germany, Italy, Spain, and
their allied Balkan states were shut
of by rigid censorship. On the plea
Of internal necessity they had closed
their frontiers to foreigners, denied
aliens all use Of mails and wire
communications. Similar action had
been taken by Japan. Unverified