Sherbrooke daily record, 19 février 1941, mercredi 19 février 1941

[" WEATHER Fair and cold.^luTbrnnkr lailij &rnrîi TEMPERATURES Yesterday: Maximum, 16; minimum, 2.Same day last year: Max., 34; min., aoro.Established 1897.SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1941.Forty-Fourth Year.BRITAIN EXPANDS GARRISON FAR EAST BASE Action Achieves Air Superiority In Pacific Area Thousands of Australian Troops and Great Numbers of Fighters and Bombers of Royal Air Force Concentrated at Singapore in Move Which Completely Reverses Balance of Power in Southeastern Asia.CRISIS SPEEDS UP EXCHANGING OF MINISTERS AÇIFIC DEFENSE, CHAIN V J By C.YATES MeDANIEL #- (Associated Press Staff Writer.) Singapore, Feb.-19.\u2014(Æ5)\u2014-The fighting strength of Britain\u2019s Singapore base was reinforced today by thousands of Australians and by such great numbers of bombers and fighter planes that neutral observers believed the balance of air power in Southeastern Asia has turned in Britain\u2019s favor.The arrival of the Australians made the Malay peninsula a veritable powerhouse of military energy ' and,increased expressions of official, press and popular confidence that the Empire now is ready to meet any threat of an extension of the war to the South Pacific.Malaya today had the greatest manpower strength in its history.The Australians came completely equipped to reinforce British, Indian and Malay troops guarding the great base.Malaya\u2019s volunteer and civil defence units also have been completely mobilized and are in training to support the regiments manning the defences.Chinese residents who form Malaya\u2019s largest and most important racial minority are organizing to help in protecting the country.An air defence programme being vigorously pushed ahead in ail ports and centres of population.Bomb blast screens are installed to protect important buildings in Singapore, and a plan is being perfected to disperse the unessential population to the nearby countryside in the event of an emergency.Hundreds of shelters are being built in the hilly areas of Central and Northern Malaya.(In Shanghai a Japanese army spokesman termed the Australians\u2019 arrival \u201ca belligerent action\u201d aimed at bringing pressure on Thailand, \u201cwhich is co-operating with Japan in bringing a new order into the Far East.\u201d This spokesman said it might prevent success of the Tokyo \u201cpeace conference,\u201d in which Japan is mediating between Thailand and French Indo-China.(Unconfirmed reports reached Saigon that two Japanese flotillas were in the Gulf of Siam, the body of water lying between Indo-China, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula.One was said to be off the mouth of Theme Nam river, leading to Bangkok, the other South of the Thai Island of Koh Chang, on the Eastern side of the Gulf near the Thaiiand-Ir,do-China border.BAD WEATHER OVER THE STRAITS INTERFERES WITH ANY INVASION ATTEMPT Dover England, Feb.19.\u2014(flb \u2014Snow fell after daybreak today in the Strait of Dover.There was an icy Northwest wind, and the sea was choppy.Bad weather over the continent and the Strait prevented any major activity by the Royal Air Force or German fliers last night.Developments in Far East Bring United States and New Zealand Closer Together.By J.F.SANDERSON (Canadian Press Staff Writer) Washington, Feb.19.\u2014C(P)\u2014Tension in the Far East is expected here to hasten an exchange of ministers between New Zealand and the United States.New Zealand is the only Dominion without direct diplomatic representation in Washington and conversations have been opened by Viscount Halifax, the British Ambassador, looking to an exchange of legations.Each country has agreed to the diplomatic exchange but no date has been set or ministers named.Further steps are expected to be accelerated as a result of Japan\u2019s threaten- Continued on Page 2, Col.2 USSR- - SITKA .^ CANADA Wh*r# U.S.will construct or Improve\u2014 Novol Air Botoi S3 Submarine Base* BE Other U.S.Boseij © British Base» 44 Japanese Basel KODIAK I.Pacific Ocean UNITED STATES JAPAN Son Francise Atlantic Ocean CHINA iy\\ PHILIPPINE IS.W MIDWAY I WAKE I GUAM JOHNSTON I.VIRGIN IS ^Singapore PALMYRA I.SOUTH AMERICA! .NETHERLANDS INDIES^\"» » (AUSTRALIA SAOMA IS.Forging new strength into the United States chain of naval air and submarine bases across the Pacific, President Roosevelt has proposed measures to Congress for improvement of present facilities and construction of additional bases.Map spots islands in the Pacific and Caribbean that will benefit hy the new appropriations, which will include provisions for bombproof shelters at stations vulnerable to attack.War And Government Consume Half National Receipts Of Canadians War Expenditures and Costs of Dominion, Provincial and Municipal Governments to Consume $2,700.000,000 of Estimated $5.300.000.000 National Income ot Canadians in Next Fiscal Year.-* SECRETARY TO FORMER KING ALFONSO DIES IN ROME Rome, Fi\u2019b.19\u2014 (VP) \u2014The Marquis Emilio Tores de Mendoza.seventy-three, Secretary to former King Alfonso XIII of Spain, died of pneumonia early today in n Rome clinic.f\u2019e was transferred to the hospital two days ago without being informed that Alfosno also has been gravely ill.Three-Block Fire At Granby Causes Damages Of $20,000 Main Street Buildings Ravaged in Blaze Originating from Overheated Furnace in Robert Block Basement\u2014Fire-Fighters Battle for Hours in Early Morning\u2014Waterloo and Montreal Departments Summoned.HEADS U.S.STUDY OF BRITISH ARMS / Special scientific defense commission which will study Britain\u2019s development of war weapons as it might aid U.S.arms programme is headed by Dr.James B.Conant, above, President of Harvard University.(Bangkok lent some support to these reports, telling of present or imminent visits there of four Japan- Continued on Page 2, Col.3.London, Feb.19\u2014((P)-\u2014The War Office announced today the appointment of Maj.-Gen.J.Buckley an efficiency engineer in civil life, as Controller of General Economy.Gen.Buckley is expected to be a guardian against army waste in materials and shipping space.Godbout Again To Debate On St.Defeats Efforts Lawrence Seaway Quebec, Feb.19.\u2014(ffi\u2014The pegging of butter prices by the Dominion Government last December is expected to come up for discussion when the Legislative Assembly meets today.Cyrille Dumaine (Lib.-Bagot) has inscribed on the House\u2019s order paper a motion asking for copies of all correspondence between the Dominion and Provincial governments, expecting the setting of a price for butter and cheese, from July 1, 1940, to February 1, 1941.The motion was scheduled to come before the House yesterday when the Asembly defeated an Opposition motion urging the Government to resume debate on the St, Lawrence deep waterways project and debated a resolution which would give the Government authority to vote p to one-sixth of the budget before the budget itself has been adopted.The motion for resumption of the St.Lawrence development debate was defeated fifty-four ;o twelve without either a member or a supporter of the Government rising to speak on the question.A vote was called immediately after Opposition Leader Maurice Duplessis told the Assembly tha: President Roosevelt recently said through his Foreign Affairs Department \u201cit is fantastic to believe\u201d that United States aid to Britain depends! on de- \u2019 Granby, Feb.19.\u2014Damages estimated at $20,000 were caused in a fire which destroyed two three-storey building's on Main Street and badly damaged a third before it was brought under control after a four-hour fight by firemen early today.Breaking out in a cellar pool-room in the block owned by Romeo Robert, the flames ran quickly through the building and spread to two adjoining blocks.Fire Brigades from nearby Waterloo and Montreal, sixty miles west of here, were called out to help check the blaze, but by the time the Montreal detachment arrived, at about six o\u2019clock this morning, the flames were under control.None of the occupants of the buildings, which housed apartments on the top floors, was injured, but two fire-fighters were hurt, John Dunn, Police Chief and Fire Director, being overcome by smoke and fireman Leonard Langlois suffering a deep glass-cut on the leg.The Granby Fire Brigade was called at about one-thirty o\u2019clock this morning to the Robert Block at 162 Main Street.An overheated furnace is believed the.origin of the flames, which started in the basement, in which Robert operated bowling alleys and a pool room, and raced furiously through the \u201cFive Cents to $1.00 Store,\u201d operated on the main floor by W.A.Fortin and Company.On the next storey were the offices of Paul Prévost, K.C., and the apartment of Mr.and Mrs.Robert and family.In the adjoining block, owned by Herve Robichaud, President of the Granby Band, are the apartments of j Mr.and Mrs.Robichaud and Mr.and | Mrs.L.Leroux, while the Langlois jBros.Block, also affected by the iflames contained the jewelry store t owned by L.P.Petit, from which the '[stock was removed before the fire [reached it.j The Robert building was completely gutted, and the next block was also badly damaged hy fire, smoke and water.When the Granby e flames had COMPLETE PLAN HITLER OFFER OF CALLING UP ! IS ACCEPTABLE NEW TRAINEES Ottawa, Feb.19.\u2014(®\u2014Representatives from thirteen administrative divisions across Canada have reached agreement on changes in regulations and procedure necessitated by lengthening of the compulsory military training period from.thirty days to four months\u2014hut it may be some days before the changes are announced officially.Late last night chairmen, members and registrars of the divisions ended a two-day conference here.Today their recommendations, affetilng about 75,000 single men this year, will go to Hon.J.G.Gardiner, Minister of National War Services, and later to the War Committee of the Cabinet.Not until official aoproval has been given will a proclamation be issued calling out the men needed for the first four-monih training period starting March 20.Officials said forma] announcement might not be made for several days.However, it was learned authoritatively the \u201cstarting basis\u201d of the initial call-up will be that only twenty-one-year-olds in medical categories A, B-l and B-2 will be affected, although circumstances might necessitate a change to take in 'ther categories.Under the original thirty-day plan, men down to C-l category were summoned in the various age groups affected.A large number of men placed in D category, a special classification for those temporarily eifit, also qualified for training under the old pian after re-examination.Just before the two-day conference ended last night, Mr.Gardiner thanked the delegates for their work, and expressed appreciation to Canadians generally for the \u201cexcellent response\u201d they had given to 'he compulsory training plan and their fine co-operation.Divisional registrars arc meeting again today to consider routine matters.TO AMERICANS New York, Feb.19\u2014((P)\u2014Hitler himself is the target of a message blitzkrieg being waged by anti-Nazi Americans at the German Government\u2019s expense.R.C.A.Communications, Incorporated, said today hundreds of messages of varying vindictiveness are being sent collect to the German radio, which provoked tire blasts last Friday by requesting American comment on its programmes.Despite the fact that one of the first messages asked for a broadcast of Hitler\u2019s funeral, and others followed in similar vein, Columbia Broadcasting System picked up by short-wave last night an appeal for more opinions.The German radio announcer, who identified himself as Jackie Goodseli, said, in asking for suggestions on programmes, that messages up to twenty-five words could be sent collect.A twenty-five word message costs $2.19.R.C.A.said the messages were coming in so fast it had to double its force of telephone operators here yesterday.The German address is Ameradio, Berlin.A sample of the messages: \u201cOn-fhe-scene broadcasts of Royal Air Force bombings of Germany most welcome to Americans, especially of the Chancellory, Berchtes-gaden and Braunhause.(Signed) The United Americans.\u201d Fascist! Casualties Heavy In Fresh Counter-Attacks Blackshirt and Other Picked Units Counter-Attacking on Central Front Mowed Down by Crossfire of Machine-Guns\u2014Greeks Appear Anxious to Wind Up Albanian Campaign Before Germany Launches Attack.»- NOW HE CLAIMS SPAIN\u2019S THRONE zfifflSMttBik, MOVE AGAINST GERMAN AGENTS San Jose, Costa Rica, Feb.19.\u2014 (JP)\u2014F 'or the second time in the last few days, Costa Rica\u2019s Post Office Department announced action had been taken today to prevent the German legation from using the mails for the spread of political propa-j ganda.The German legation has I started to distribute its material by ! private messenger in view of the new postal regulations.Athens, Feb.19.\u2014 M\u2019) \u2014 Italian Blackshirts and other picked Fascist units, counter-attacking on the Central Albanian front behind heavy artillery barrages, were reported in I dispatches from the front today to have been mowed down by a crossfire of Greek machine guns and automatic rifles.The Italians, lunging forward with fury, were said to have been caught in point-blank fire of the Greeks at ranges from 100 to 150 yards.In repulsing the Fascist counter-thrusts, the Greeks reported they i captured heights Northwest of Tepe-leni forming the most important bulwark of the Italian defences in the Central area.Royal Air Force headquarters announced its bombers were keeping up a concentrated attack on Italian j positions in support of Greek ground forces in the Tepeleni sec-j tor.Concentrations of troops in the villages of Kamshisht and Dames,! North of Tepeleni, and motor trans-j 'port and military buildings at Bc-I shiebt ami Cautisti came in for (particular attention from the R.A.| F.! In addition British planes yester-daT div®d through the clouds to I PrInce Don juan »wi]| be tomor.can y out a very successful raid on row wben Spain judges it opportune, Italian _ positions\t.Southwest of the kj of a]] tJhp Spaniards.\u201d So , Tepeleni.Direct hits were scored on said his fat,her form(T King Alfonso troops and motor transport columns XIIIi as he reiinc)uhhed his rights, after suffering a heart attack ami * AU -'Y-: ;\t.-y-v : v.:/ \u2022.' there.named Prince Don, above, claimant to the crown.By FRANK FLAHERTY (Canadian Press Staff Writer.) Ottawa, Feb.19.\u2014®\u2014Sobered by the contemplation of expenditures soaring inlo billions, the House of Commons meets today to deal with Finance Minister llsley's $1,300,000,000 War Appropriation Bill.The measure is not.the whole story of Canada\u2019s public expendi-lure for the fiscal year 1911-42.Mr.Ilsley told the House Canadians would have to devote more than half their total national income to war and other governmental activities.He said he might have to coma hack later in the year to ask for more money for war costs as it was impossible to estimate them accurately.Canada\u2019s total public outlay in 1941-42 might run to $2,700,000,000.He compiled this figure by adding to the war appropriation bill the main estimates for $433,000,000 for non-war services tabled yesterday, $400,000,000 likely to be required to assist the United Kingdom by repatriating Canadian securities held in that country, and $575,000,000 to be spent by provincial and municipal governments.The House adjourned in mid-afternoon after hearing Mr.Ilsley say he wanted the meaning of the financial demands to sink in and after Conservative Leader Hanson described the amounts as \u201cstaggering.\u201d \u201cI feel we ought to take time to ponder over what lias been said this afternoon,\u201d said Mr.Hanson, \u201cEach one must face the situation squarely, as a citizen, to see how it will affect him and then to see how it will affect the country as a whole.\u201d The people were ready to contribute their last dollar but would hold the Government strictly accountable for the way in which their money was spent.Mr.Ilsley said: \u201cWe are asking the House for this appropriation because we recognize the fact that probably this will bn the most critical year in the history of civilization.\u201cI need not say that to carry out the war programme will tax Canada's productive capacity to the limit, will necessitate a continuing and more rapid shift from peace to wartime production and will require for many of us drastic changes in our mode of living and habits of life.\u201d The Minister said the $700,000,-000 appropriated for war purposes-in the present fiscal year would fall short of requirements which he estimated at $875,000,000.A supplementary bill would be introduced.Up to January 31 the actual cash outlay was $538,803,000.Starting at about $25,000,000 a month early in the year it mounted rapidly until it reached $84,000,000 in December and Continued on Page 2, Col.7 velopment of the St.Lawrence.Last, Thursday a similar motion was de- ! feated forty-nine to eleven.\tT-\t\u201e \u201cNo one should lend President!'1 \" \u201c,L T ,arrjved t^E] .Roosevelt fantastic ideas,\u201d Mr.Du- a con?lderad ® 5^av^> ar!d ^or two or pi es sis said.He was believed to be replying to Premier Godbout who said in the House Thursday that any more hours they had to fight a losing ! battle.However, concentrated ef-! forts prevented the fire from spread- ! debate \u201cwhich might be antagonis-1to other buildings on Main I tic\u201d to Canada's neighbors should\ta\u201cd causing further damage.| avoided at the present tim:,\t\u2022 Ten members of the Waterloo; \u201cIt seems to me,\u201d said Mr.Du- j F.ir«l Brigade arrived on the «j.t.c at ! plessis that the Dominion Govern- j shout four-thirty o\u2019clock and ?,:sist-( ment \u201cwould not have the money to i ?d with the work of getting the con-canalize the St.Lawrence,\u201d because ! Bagration undir control.Later this, it recently announced it could not (corning, the firemen were still train-' help the unemployed any longer and ing their hoses on the buildings and was discontinuing grants to direct relief.The motion was introduced by One-sime Gagnon (UN-Matane) and seconded by Antonio Elle (UN-Yam-asa).Debate on the budget resolution brought protests from members of the Opposition that a clause of the measure, which will place a time limit on speeches during voting of the subsidies, was aimed at suppressing liberty of speech in the House.The Government is seeking the right to vote subsidies necessary for the administration of the Province after the end of the fiscal year.The Assembly finally gave the guarding against a new outbreak, ; but it was believed that the situation | was well in hand.i It was the worst fire in Granby ; since the Palace Theatre was raz-ed last fail.Continued on Page 2, Col.6 PLANE MADE FORCED LANDING Rimouski, Que., Feb.19.\u2014W\u2014A Royal Canadian Air Force plane made a forced landing in a field near Matane, fifty miles Northeast of here, yesterday, according to word reaching here last night.The plane was only slightly damaged and the pilot was not hurt.Other details were not available immediately.WAR BULLETINS London\u2014The British, campaigning for everyone to carry gas masks, are handing them to German airmen and seamen as scon as they are brought in as prisoners.* * * Calcutta \u2014 The Indian Seamen\u2019s Union withdrew from the All-India Trade Union Congress as a protest against the Congress\u2019 attitude towards the war and its \u201cfailure to give the required lead to Indian trade unions in the war against Fascism.\u201d Ÿ *\t* Buenos Aires, Argentina \u2014 A British Purchasing Commission, which has 85,000 tom of Argentine butter stored in warehouses awaiting shipment to Great Britain, announced today it will buy no more because of a shortage of shipping facilities.* * * Vichy, France \u2014 General Neubronn von Eisen-burg, recently appointed under the French armistice agreement as a German inspector with headquarters at Hourges, was received with military honors when he arrived here today to confer with War Minister General Charles Huntziger.His visit was described as a routine matter.Speed Decision On Armament Bill Feb.19.\u2014 UP) \u2014 administration sup-the British Aid Bill I GERMANY MASSING WAR |\tMATERIALS\tI\t_________________ ! Belgarde, Feb, 19\u2014f/P) Reports of! Wa,.hi;,,t Feb.19.-(/P)-Am-; vast German war mippiy movements ; f,ri(.ans ar