davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-05-12
House Committee Votes
Small Control Bill

The House District Committee,
by q vote of IL to 2, ordered .
favorable report today on a bill to
regulate small-loan business here.
Loans up to $500 would be permit
ted with a maximum interest rate
of 2 per cent q month on the unpaid
balance.
Action was taken in executive
session following q last-minute pro-
test against several features of the
bill by w. H. Cardwell of Richmond,
who appeared as representative of
several small-loan companies doing
business in Virginia. He suggested
that small loans be limited to $500
and that the ceiling on interest be
3 per cent month.
Loans cannot be made profitably
in this field at an interest rate of
2 per cent" he declared.
Gilbert E. Hyatt, who testified as
an individual, told the committee
small-loan legislation "is badly
needed" in the District. He sug-
gested, however, that tn interest
rate on loans between $500 and $500
be on q graduated scale.
The committee also favorably re-
ported bill authorizing payment
of burial expenses out of public
funds Of needy blind persons vino
had been receiving assistance out
OF the needy blind fund.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
President, Recuperating,
Stays Away From Office

President Roosevelt, recuperating
from an intestinal disturbance that
forced him to bed last week. re-
manned away from his office today,
but felt well enough to devote most
of the day to discussions and work
on international affairs.
He arranged to receive Robert
G. Menzies, Prime Minister of
Australia, who is visiting in Wash
ington on q round-the-world tour.
They were expected to discuss the
Far Eastern situation and other
matters of mutual interest to the
United States and Australia.
The President invited Secretary
of State Hull to lunch with him in
the White House, disrupting the
usual schedule of Monday luncheons
with Secretary of the Treasury
Morgenthau.
Stephen T. Early, White House
press secretary, said Mr.. Roosevelt
planned to work most of the re-
mainder of the day with Harry L.
Hopkins, Lease-Lend Act admin
istrator, who was expected to be "in
and out" of the Presidents study
during the day.
Mr.. Early said that although Mr..
Roosevelt's temperature had been
normal since Saturday and that he
felt fully like resuming work, his
physician, DR.. Ross T. McIntire, in
sisted that he should rest as much
as possible to regain the strength
lost during his illness.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Pefain Returns TO Vichy
After Riviera Vacation

BY the Associat ted Press.
VICHY, France, May 12.-Chief
Of State Marshall Petain returned
here today from six-day vacation
at his Riviera home. Conferences
with his chief aide, Admiral Jean
Darlan, and the United States Am
bassador, Admiral William D. Leahy,
were high on his calendar.
Admiral Darlan, vice premier and
foreign minister of the Vichy regime,
Is due back tomorrow from Paris to
see Marshal Petain on his contin-
uing negotiations with Germany.
They have not conferred since Ad-
miral Darlan, accompanied by eco
nomic experts, left for Paris May Z.
Admiral Leahy was expected to
talk with the marshal within the
next few days-probably after Ad-
miral Darlan-for what the United
States Embassy called a normal
periodic discussion of the general
situation, including the food situa-
tion I"
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Smoof Gravel Strike
Begins, Threatening
Defense Projects
Union Wunts Some
Assurance Thut Some Of
Requests Will Be Net

The threatened strike of Smoot
Sand q Gravel Corp. workers began
at am today as line of pickets
was placed around each of the firms
three plants here and dock in
Alexandria
More than 200 men, according to
labor officials, left their jobs. AS
the corporation is the chief source
of building sand and gravel, the
walkout threatens to bring to a
virtual standstill practically all con =
struction work in the District and
vicinity, including that of three
major defense projects.
r., Clark Ellis of Baltimore, union
organizer, who came here to direct
the picketing, said 24-hour picket
line will be maintained at the COM
pany's plants, one of which is in
Georgetown and the other two in
the southeast.
I'VE will return to work i'm
mediately," Mr.. Ellis said, provided
there is assurance from some author
ity that some of our requests will be
met. In other words, we are open
to negotiations.
The strikers, all members of Local
No. 22,075 of the Sand and Gravel
Workers Union "a. F. L., ask
shorter hours and a wage increase
of per cent. The dispute was
certified to the National Defense
Mediation Board Saturday morning
after two weeks of negotia tions, with
Federal ConciIator Frank j. Shee-
han, had failed to bring a settle
ment. No date for a Mediation
Board hearing was set, however, be-
cause of the boards crowded
calendar.
The strike was voted Saturday
night despite pleas from William
Green, president of the American
Federation of Labor, and the Media
ton Board that they remain on their
jobs.
Defense projects affected by the
strike, according to Federal Works
officials, are the War Department
Building at Twenty-third street and
Virginia avenue NV, the Navy De-
partment Building on Columbia pike
in Arlington, Va, and additions to
the Army War College.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
London Businessmen
AssaiIed for Laxity
In Fire-Watchiing
Damage Would Have Been
Less Had They Done
Duty, Writer Says
BY WILLIAM H. STONEMAN,
War Correspondent Of The Star and
Chicago Daily NeWk

LONDON. May 1.-TWO crimes
were committed in London Saturday
night.
One was committed by the Luft-
waite when it made what is openly
acknowledged to have been nothing
more military than a super-effort
at destruction and bloodletting
The other crime was committed
by number of stupid businessmen
who went away for the week end,
without providing fire watchers for
their premises. If the businessmen
had done their patriotic duty the
Germans would not have accom-
plished tenth of the destruction
they did manage to inflict.
The fact Is that the heroics Of the
air force and the millions of acts
of self-sacrifice and cool courage
which are being contributed by
humble citizens are still being un-
done by complacency and disorgani-
zation in high places and by the
traditional weekend complex of the
numbskulls who still do not know
that there is a war.
Guards Fail to Report.
A number of buildings went up
like torches Saturday night because
volunteer fire watchers had failed
to report for duty and because their
owners and occupants did not make
certain that guards were there. Fire
watchers in other buildings braved
high explosives and risked their
necks on slanting roofs to put out
incendiaries which fell on their
own premises only to find that their
buildings were being ignited by un-
protected buildings adjacent to
them. The flames got out of control
before firemen were able to batter
in the doors of locked buildings.
The aftermath of Saturdays raid
was equally dismaying. Despite
frequent repeated campaigns in the
press against rubbernecks. Londons
streets yesterday were filled with
folks in from the suburbs and coun-
try towns to view the damage They
blocked traffic and interfered with
firemen who still were struggling
with lingering blazes. They crowded
busses and trains which already
were jammed and cleaned restau-
(See STONEMAN, Page A-4O
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Body Of Soldier Drowned
In Potomac Recovered

Harbor police reported late last
night they had recovered the body
of Pvt. Edward B. Parker, 10, of
the Arlington Cantonment, drowned
"a hours previously when a canoe
capsized as he and a companion
were padding across the choppy
Potomac.
The body of the Suffolk CVa)
youth was located by two of his
friends in Company K, 18th Infan-
try. Sergt. Raymond L. Andrew
and Pvt. Emil Kwaczala. They and
other soldiers had been dragging
the river in relays below the spot
where he was last seen, a quarter
Of a mile above Highway Bridge.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Nozis Pound British Airports;
R.A.F Again PummeIs Hamburg
And Bremen, Firing Vast Areas
British Cabinets
Air Raid Shelter
Wrecked by Nozis
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 12.-Under a
welter of smashed stones and
bricks, salvagers today discov-
cred that the air raid shelter
where Prime Minister Churchill
and his cabinet colleagues
refuged when Nazi flyers
threatened them at the House
of Commons had been wrecked
in the German attack on Par
lament buildings Saturday
night.
The shelter where the mem
bers gathered during raids
stood up to the test. Among
the losses somewhere in the
debris are the oak doors of
Commons, the speakers chair
and the government dispatch
boxes.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Diplomatic Relations
With Iraq Set Up
By Russians
Step Follows Rejection
Of Recognition for
Other Arubiun Areas
Ry the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, May l2.-Soviet Russia
has established diplomatic relations
with the government Of Iraq, Tass,
official Russian news agency, re-
ported today.
The step followed Iraq withdrawal
of a request that such recognition be
coupled with a declaration of recog-
milton of other Arabian countries,
Tass said, a request with which the
Russian government asserted it was
unable to comply.
The Foreign ONCE issued a COM
munique announcing establishment
of relations between the two coun-
tries for the first time. .a-
AT the end of 1s4O," the Tass an
nouncement said, "the Iraq govern
ment through its Minister in Turkey
repeatedly proposed to the govern
ment of the U. S. S. r. the estab-
hshment of diplomatic relations be-
tween the q. S. S. r. and Iraq."
This was the proposal to which
Iraq was said to have appended the
request for recognition of other Arab
countries.
May 3, 1941," Tass added, "the
Iraq government through the me-
dunn of the Soviet Ambassador in
Ankara again proposed the estab-
lishment of diplomatic relations be-
tween the U, S. S. r. and Irsq, with
out making this time the establish
ment. of diplomatic relations de-
pendent on any condition such as a
declaration regarding Arabian coun-
tries.
THE government Of the U. S. S. r.
withdrew its objections and accepted
the proposal of the Iraq government
on the establishment of diplomatic
relations"
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Bombs Poured on
Shipyords at Two
German Ports
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May II. British
pilots, trading steel for steel and
fire for fire with the NaZiS, beat
at the German ports of Hamburg
and Bremen again last night in
a mighty bombing attack Off
cially declared to have left vast
areas of flaming destruction.
1t was Hamburg that was at the
focus of these new assaults, the Air
Ministry said, and ".disorganiza-
ton of vital parts" of that biggest
of German harbors was claimed.
Shipbuilding yards 9 miles in
length which line the banks of the
River Elbe were threaded and
crossed with British fire, the Air
Ministry said, and high explosive
and incendiary bombs fell heavily
in all that section.
Among the objectives hit, the Brit
ish said, were the Blohm & Voss
shipyards-where German capital
ships were laid down in the World
War.
Eight More Raiders Shot Down.
All this was accomplished abroad
at the same time that the British
defenders at home-night fighters
and anti-aircraft guns-were shoot
ing down eight more NaH raiders
during widespread attacks on the
islands.
Across the river from the Blohm
Il Voss yards, the Air Ministry News
Service said, flames leaped high
and. away from the dock, industrial
quarters of the town were vigorously
assailed"
The attack on Bremen was as
heavy and successful as that at
Hamburg, with clear weather at
both places, the service said.
1t was the third hammering In
four nights for the great German
ports Targets Thursday night of
the biggest British raid Of the war
the two cities took it again Saturday
night British said an armada of
100 planes belted Hamburg with
Britain's new super bombs.
The same objectives were targets
again last night. the Air Ministry
said, and "a heavy weight" of bombs
was dropped on both in very good
weather.
Many large fires were started and
left burning" a communique said.
Emden Also Attacked.
Four British bombers were report
ed shot down in the nights opera
tions, which included attacks on
Emoen, the docks at Rotterdam,
Ijmuiden, the Netherlands, and a
seaplane base on the island of Texel,
the Netherlands.
German warplanes, returning
after giving London one of its
hardest poundings Saturday night,
caused three alerts last night and
this morning in the capital, but
the government, although ac-
knowledging very widespread" ac-
tivity, said damage was not heavy,
nor the number of casualties large
The bag of night raiders, added
to the SO reported destroyed Satur-
day night during the deadly reprisal
raid on the capital, brought the
total of night bombers shot down
thus far in May to 1872, the British
said. The highest record for a
full previous month was 30 in April.
Night fighters, which got four of
those reported shot down last night,
were credited with getting lot OF
the total.
In addition, the Air Ministry said,
five German raiders were DESTROYED
(See LONDON, Page A-3.)
Evening star., 1941-05-12
No Aluminium for Civilians,
400 Cut in Autos Seen in 1912

biles for the new model year be-
ginning about August l.
The forecast on diversion of alu-
minum to defense needs was made
by William L. Bait, deputy director
of the Production Division, Once of
Production Management, in testi-
mony before the Senate COMMITTEES
investigating the national defense
program.
I'VE have been shooting at too
small target" Mr.. Bait said
bluntly.
Mr.. Bait explained that the an
leea DEFENSE, Faee A-30
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Clipper Reaches Manila
After Singapore Trip
By ths Axsoeiated Press.

By tht Associated Press,
MANILA, May II @.-Pan-
American Airways' California Clip
per landed at the Cavite seaplane
base at 4:46 pm. today to complete
the company's first roundtrip flight
to Singapore. The return to Man
liza was made In 10 hours and 20
minutes.
The big flying boat Is due to take
OF for the United States Wednes-
day at dawn. 1t was delayed a day
at Singapore while postal officials
loaded 1880 first flight covers
aboard, most Of them bound for
Omitted States ssamp eoa1sstors.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Bill Offered to Close
Two District Streets

Chairman Reynolds of the Senate
District Committee today introduced
a bill for the closing of streets in
connection with development of the
Bureau of Standards.
The measure would close Van Ness
street between Connecticut avenua
and Reno road. and Pierce Mill road.
between Van Ness and Reno road.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
SeIossie's Note
To Roosevelt
Hits Aggressors
By the Associated Press.


Adds ABABA, Ethiopia, May
Delayed Halle Selassie declared
today he intended to release British
forces from their task of reconquer-
ing Ethiopia from Italy and aid
them in their defense elsewhere
against "cruel attacks"
In message to President Roose-
welt and the people of the United
States on the occasion of his return
to his capital, he declared 1T was
fitting that the first victim of Axis
greed should be the first to be
delivered"
Since "the unprovoked aggression
of 1885 proved to be the forerunner
of all later aggressions. he said, he
prayed that Its atonement' may
prove to be the beginning of disaster
for all aggressors.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
u. S. War Rumor Sends
japanese Stocks Down
By the Associated Press.

TOXIC, May 12.-Quotations on
the Japanese stock market took a
sharp drop. today as a result Of
persistent rhmors that the United
States was about to participate in
the war.
Shipping issues were especially hit,
Nippon Yusen Kaisha the hardest.
Nichi Nichi, Hoci and other news
papers reiterated the sentiment ex-
pressed by the Foreign Office-con-
trolled Japan Times and Advertiser
that peace in the China affair" was
impossible unless the United States
approved.
Evening star., 1941-05-12

Officials brought home sharply to
average Americans today the far
reaching effects of the Nations
growing defense program.
In statements touching on auto
mobiles and aluminium products, two
of the Nations major industries, de-
fense officials warned:
/. That by some time in 1912 the
entire aluminium supply OF the Ma
ton would be devoted to aircraft
and direct military needs.
2. That 40 per cent cut-instead
of a 20 per cent cut-may be neces-
sary IN the production Of automo-
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Forum Speaker to Talk
On Amending Draft Law

Senator Ebert ID. Thomas Of
Utah, member of the Senate
Military Affairs Committee, will
voice some of his thoughts on
amending the draft law tonight
at $50 o'cock on the National
Radio Forum sponsored by The
Star and the National Broadcast
ing Co.
Legislation to amend the act
is expected to be considered by
the Military Affairs Committee
when it reaches the Senate. The
speech BY Senator Thomas will
be heard locally over Station
WMAL.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Ship Under Panama
Registry Is Wrecked
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BUCHAREST, Rumania (Via Ber-
linz, May 1.-THE merchanship
Bizet, under Panama registry, was
wrecked and presumably lost yes
terday in the Black Sea 80 miles east
of the Rumanian port of Constanta.
Twenty -eight crewmen reached Con-
stanta in lifeboats today.
There was no immediate explana-
tion of the cause of the mishap.
Lloyds does not list ship of that
name.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Germans Report Toking
18th Greek Island
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BERLIN, May 12.-German troops
have occupied Melos Island, in the
Cyclades group rs miles north Of
Crete, authorized German sources
announced today.
Melos is the 18th of Greeces
Cyclades islands which Germany
and Italy have announced occupied
thus far.
The seizure of Melos, the Germans
said, completely surprised" 118
Englshmen and 200 Cretans who
were found there and taken
prisoners.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Hunter Opens
House Debate
On 0verton Bill
Pleads for Deserved
Justice for D. c. in
Fiscal Matters
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Federal share in municipal er-
penseS has gradually decreased.
To obtain more equitable share
tor District. Senate approved
OUerton bill, providing that Fed
eral payments be fired on ratio Of
amount OF land opned by Federal
Government here to total area of
District. On recommendation OF
President Roosevelt, bill Uas
amended by House District Com
n1ittee to proUide that Federal
funds be spent only for capital
ontLduS.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
luftwuffe Aimed at
Tuke-Off Fields for
Enemy Raiders
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, May 12.-The Nazi
Luftwaffe, out to spike the in
creasingly heavy R. A. F. raids on
Germany, pounded 20 British
airports last night, including
many from which long-range
craft take off, the Germans re-
ported today.
Gan authoritative London
source said that while a num-
ber of r. A. F. airdromeS we're
attacked last night, German
claims that 20 were raided "as
usual are grossly exaggerated"
damage was described as slight
except at one or two places where
there were service casualties, in
cluding some killed.
But while these raids were in
progress the high command ad-
mitted that stronger" r. A. F. for
nations were back over Germany,
again heavily assaulting Hamburg
ana bIcIIlcn.
Dead and wounded and some
damage" were inflicted at both Bre-
men and Hamburg.
Several hundred German planes
were said to have participated in
the Nazi raids on the English air
bases. The attacks were called
widespread, but not particularly
concentrated.
Welsh Ports Bombarded.
The pilots sought especially the
airports from which r. A. F. long
distance bombers have been start
ing their raids on Germany.
Moderate air activity against
shipping in British waters also was
reported, and several Welsh ports
we're declared to have been subjected
to bombardment.
The airports bombed were in
Southern, Central and Southeastern
England.
There also were several industrial
targets.
The high command acknowledged
the Hamburg and Bremen raids
inflicted new dead and wounded and
destruction. 1t contended, as here
tofore, that damage was confined
largely to residential sections.
In an unusual official admission,
Yesterdays communique said that
Saturday nights raid on Hamburg
was carried out by strong" British
forces and that destruction and
casualties were heavy.
Seven of the British attackers
were declared downed by Nazi night
chasers and anti-aircraft guns.
In the May Gil period, the war
bulletin asserted, total of SO British
planes were destroyed-19 by night
chasers, six in daylight hours by
chasers, three by anti-aircraft fire
and one on the ground, four by naval
artillery and three by light naval
units"
The Germans acknowledged loss
= Of 18 of their own planes in this
> same period.
d. The high command said that IN
= the raid on the r. A. F. bases fires
were started in hangers, shelters
= and fuel dumps. On several air.
ports, it added, bombs fell squarely
among heavy bomber planes on the
ground. Many multi-motored planes
were believed damaged or destroyed,
the Germans said.
= Merchantmen Declared Sunk.
: Nazi bombers destroyed two mer-
chantmen totaling 5000 tons and
an 8,00O-ton tanker and damaged
three more fighters in a convoy
passing through st. Georges Chan
mel, west Of England, the communi-
que said.
Pembroke and Middlesborough
were said to have suffered heavily
from fires, and explosions were re-
ported to have been seen In the
marlborough iron works.
A 50O0-ton merchantmen in a
: convoy about 300 miles west of Tory
Island, Ireland, was damaged. as
was another of the same size Of
Torquay, the Germans said.
Evening star., 1941-05-12
London Minimizes
importance of Step

LONDON, May II CP. - An
authoritative source, commenting on
Soviet Russias establishment of
diplomatic relations with Iraq, said
today he did not feel recognition
implies very much in the way of
assistance"
Evening star., 1941-05-12
Polish Leader Injured

LONDON, May IL lR.-Gen. CAST
mir Sosnokowski, Polish Vice
Premier, suffered back and neck
injuries in Saturday, nights big
Nazi raid on London, it was disclosed
today,