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Newspaper
Grafton Sentinel
Location
Grafton, West Virginia, United States of America
Date
Jul 31, 1940
Page
1
A blast and fire in midtown Camden New Jersey destroyed a million dollar factory and at least 67 homes. Two dead and up to four women and a man missing fueled fears of a higher toll. An army of volunteers aided about 200 people left homeless as injuries mounted and hospitals logged critical cases.
St Louis July 31. Sidney Hillman CIO defense council head is to address the United Automobile Workers convention amid speculation on whether he will diverge from fellow CIO leader John L. Lewis. Lewis denounced conscription and government favors to business, warning it threatens labor rights and democracy.
The Grafton Sentinel invites Mrs J W Brown of 32 Addison Street to tonight's Strand Theatre presentation of Intermezzo A Love Story featuring Leslie Howard and also the Dixie Theatre's Dr Kildare's Strange Case starring Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore now showing.
In German occupied France postal telephone and telegraph services were reported suspended today. The disruption was seen as a possible sign that major operations against Great Britain were imminent. Telegraph and mail between occupied and unoccupied zones were ordered cut off.
Tokyo reports that Japan will refuse any British protest over arrests of British citizens in an alleged espionage roundup. Foreign office spokesman Yukich iro Suma said Britain should not protest and the government will not consider it. He cited "sufficient evidence" against prisoners and noted arrests are continuing.
The Havana conference of twenty one American republics closed with the signing of the act of Havana and supplementary agreements. Eight nations raised reservations while Argentina led a group arguing for ratification by each government before participation.
Berlin reports that German high command says Swansea and Plymouth in the south English coast were bombed on the first night despite bad weather. It claims only a few British planes flew into western Germany and that no damage occurred. Two invading planes were shot down. An alleged attack on Heidelberg was cited as evidence Britain targets nonmilitary objectives.
Charleston July 31 preliminary estimates must be filed after August 5 and final budgets after August 20 under a state act with county school boards required to follow a calendar set by the board of school finance.
Morgantown reports Earl Mayles a huckleberry picker, seeking shelter in a parked truck, was struck and killed by lightning during a electrical storm. His companion Jess Corbett was knocked to the ground but escaped injury.
The Associated Press notes scattered showers offered brief relief from extreme heat across the nation but no broad improvement is seen. Forecasters expect more rain in the Plains, Great Lakes, and Upper Mississippi Valley while temperatures stay high. Nationwide heat deaths climb to 858 with 448 from heat and 410 from drownings as violent storms lash the New England coast, dropping temperatures and causing structural damage.
Miss Lulu Blair, 32, daughter of a Ritchie County physician, is indicted for slaying her mother Mrs A C Blair in Harrisville. Judge E B Pennybacker will rule Friday at 10 a m on a defense motion for bail citing health concerns from confinement. Prosecutor Max DeBerry notes a special grand jury indictment and possible trial date after bond ruling.
The Agricultural Adjustment Administration reported total expenditures of 908,468,872 for the fiscal year ending June 30, including subsidies under crop control programs and price-adjustment and soil conservation payments. Administrative costs were 18,005,846. Texas led with 99,440,488, Town second with 61,464,862, Illinois third with 42,844,046, and West Virginia 1,675.90.
An auto bicycle collision killed Lerd Norris Jr of Camp Creek Wayne County. State Trooper Meryl Langsford said he charged F M Chambers of Huntington with manslaughter and Chambers, quoted, said Norris swerved his bicycle into the path of the car. Chambers, a member of the Huntington district engineers office, was released on $500 bail by Magistrate Curtis Ward.
In Charleston on July 31 the Republican nomination of Wendell L. Willkie for president and Charles L. McNery for vice president was certified to the secretary of the state for listing on the November ballot. Although major parties will have their candidates on the ballot the vote will select eight electors who will cast West Virginia’s ballots. Three sets of candidates Democrat Republican and Communist will appear on the ballot though the American Legion has filed for a restraining order to keep communist candidates off.
Government leaders consider communal assembly line cooking to cut costs. A week long experiment suggests one stove could serve a healthful three course meal for 20 cents. Mass production dining halls may replace home cooking to save food and fuel.
Swiss reports say Mussolini requested permission for Italian fascist units to participate in the planned invasion of Britain and Hitler approved limited land and parachute forces. Italian planes are deployed to bases along Brittany and the Bay of Biscay, with veteran troops moving through Brenner into northern channel ports. The offensive against England is described as imminent.
Virginio Gayda, editor of Giornale D Italia, states there will be no sudden invasion of England. He argues that divergent conditions prevent a stunning lightning campaign like Germany and Italy used against France. Instead gradual tactics aim to wear Britain down, isolating it through air attacks and submarine action.
Romanian Foreign Minister Mihail Manoilescu signaled government readiness to open negotiations with Hungary and Bulgaria to ease tensions. He pledged not to repeat the Besarabia and northern Bucovina cession to Soviet Russia and warned against sweeping territorial demands.
President emeritus Dr. William Lowe Bryan will give the invocation at Wendell L. Willkie notification ceremonies in Elwood Indiana. Bryan signed Willkie’s diploma in 1913 indicating a long academic link to the candidate.
Alfred E. Smith pledges active campaign for Willkie. Wendell L. Willkie expresses gratification at Smith’s promise. Samuel Seabury and the brown-derby figure join Republican support. Willkie plans meetings with party leaders to coordinate farm policy groups and organization efforts.
Italian planes bombed the Red Sea port of Aden, scoring direct hits on two ships and a large oil tank. The raid involved all participating planes returning safely. An earlier attempt on Assab in Eritrea reportedly cost a British bombing plane shot down by anti aircraft batteries.
Charleston report says Fred B. Person charged with selling bonds to West Virginians for nonexistent buildings will face trial in Fayette county on August 1. State auditor Edgar Sims notes Person served a Leavenworth sentence for mail fraud and sought extradi tion to West Virginia after release, deputy securities commissioner Robert F. Brown reports.
Washington July 31 The senate military committee amended the Burke Wadsworth bill to require registration of men aged 21 to 31, instead of 18 to 64. The move follows testimony from Secretary Stimson and remarks on Britain Italy and Germany. The bill moves toward immediate mobilization funds and a strengthened training system as Marshall urges.
Berlin reports air attacks on western ports with ships driven westward as Luftwaffe strikes disrupt harbor facilities. British defenses and German claims clash over port damage and the ability to handle shipping volumes along the coast.
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