31 Mar 1941
Page 1
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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Mar 31, 1941
Page
1
British sources claim the Mediterranean fleet returned to port unscathed after a dramatic victory over Italy's navy. Italy’s crippled force reportedly traded blows among its own ships after the British withdrawal, with several Italian vessels sunk or damaged by 8 inch and 6 inch gunfire.
The U S government seized about 60 ships from Italian German and Danish owners in American ports under Treasury orders. The move aims to bolster Britain by securing shipping capacity while keeping American seamen out of war zones. President Roosevelt was to return to Washington soon amid expectations of swift developments.
Rome reports Britain lost three cruisers and two destroyers in a hard Mediterranean clash. Italy says a heavy British cruiser was sunk by an Italian broadside and two other British ships were seriously damaged. High command warns losses may be serious.
In a dark night clash off Crete the Italian fleet exchanges fire with the British, causing the Littorio class battleship to be crippled. Misidentification may have led to mutual fire as Italians cannot distinguish friend from foe, with 61 officers among 900 rescued and prisoners. Admiral Cantoni missing aboard Pola’s cruiser squadron captain. Action occurred about 150 miles west of Crete.
Earl Stanley 55 chief of detectives of the Cedar Rapids police and longtime officer is in critical condition at St Luke’s hospital after a heart attack at his home on Fourth Street SW He was taken Sunday evening and placed on an oxygen tent after a tiring day with his son and grandchildren and a late supper.
A terse editorial fragment questions the nation’s drift toward violence while professing resolve to move in the opposite direction. It laments narrowing dialogue and warns against complacency as tensions rise.
Cedar Rapids news notes that the high profile phantom recruiter case of Sergt O Leary probably will not be heard in Cedar Rapids as the spring federal court term opens with a light docket and no grand jury. The only arraignment Monday involved John Huhn of Westphalia Missouri, who pled guilty to sending a threatening letter to his estranged wife in St Louis and received a suspended sentence. O Leary remains in county custody as the article continues on Page 2.
Belgrade reports Gen Richard Dusan Simovitch urged citizens to stay home ready to die if needed as Yugoslavia readies army and air forces. Berlin signals possible ultimatum for demobilization while German and Bulgarian moves raise fears of wider conflict in the Balkans and possible actions toward Albania and Greece.
Officials of LaPlant-Choate Manufacturing and the CIO signed a one year contract granting a total wage increase of about 100000 dollars plus a 40 hour week paid vacations seniority and grievance procedure. The agreement follows the CIO victory in the Feb 17 plant election and covers about 480 men effective March 31 with five cent an hour increases retroactive to March 24 and a minimum wage of 60 cents. Time and a half overtime and double time on holidays are provided.
In the spring a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love but women are practical and use Gazette Want Ads effectively. Mrs James Braden of 108 3rd St NW sold a washing machine the first day her ad ran with twenty four inquiries.
The new defense mediation board announced settlements on four strikes assigned by labor department. One strike at Vanadium Corporation of America in Bridgeville Pennsylvania reopened and resumed full operations immediately. Other agreements ended in three cases with wage and demand negotiations continuing. The piece also notes earlier settlements at Universal Cyclops Steel Bridgeville Condenser Corporation South Plainfield and four International Harvester plants.
The Packinghouse Workers union and Wilson and company officials studied John W Confer’s third proposal as a basis to end the Cedar Rapids plant strike. It urges the union to waive closed shop demands, resume bargaining on other contract points, and have all strikers return to work with no loss of seniority when a settlement is reached. A picket was injured when a car hit him, and police investigated the incident.
Walter Zipf, returning from the American Bowling Congress tourney in St Louis, reports his bowling ball dropped from a rack on the Rock Island Rocket after departing St Paul. The ball struck Zipf on the head causing cuts and bruises requiring medical care. The anecdote contrasts Zipf's injury with Newton's apple incident.
Berlin reports a Nazi spokesman called the US seizure of Italian and Danish ships an event of historic importance but would not say if some Germans view it as an act of war. He noted German ships were included, and said Germany would not see the move as friendship. Private shipowners, not governments, own the ships, he added.
Rome withholds comment on the seizure of axis merchantmen by the United States but observers expect a strong eventual reaction from Italian authorities and public.
Italo E Verrando, general manager of the Italian line in the United States, said Monday that the seizure of Salan ships in the U S was part of a pre arranged plan set “in the off ing for some time.” He stated all ships were to be seized for use as planned.
Cedar Rapids weather showed a mild end to March with a high around 66 degrees and a daylong warm rain. Partly cloudy tonight, Tuesday cooler with near 34 degree low, while the day brought sun and drying pavements as residents began lawn and garden plans.
A major blaze at Iowa State College in Ames destroyed the $73,900 agricultural engineering building and damaged equipment of equal value. The fire began in a federal lab in the east wing, as students and staff scrambled from campus. Firefighters fought for hours, with partitions burning and data and records lost, while guards secured adjacent structures.
The U S formally ordered arrest warrants for 875 German and Italian crew members deportation proceedings after ships were seized in port. Senators debated Britain aid and Germany’s possible war excuses while Cordell Hull defended the seizures as non warlike actions.
President Roosevelt held a brief press conference at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and refused to comment on the weekend seizure of German vessel Mahan and Danish ships. He said reporters could make certain assumptions but did not confirm direct involvement.
Hull says no one questioned legality of government actions taking over French vessels in American ports to prevent sabotage. He notes policy of aid to Britain and others short of war and declines to say if seized ships will be requisitioned for service. Some expect a hemisphere-wide move to curb axis vessels but officials doubt immediate plans exist.
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