CZECH The European dilemma conies to us in puzzling contradiction I tonight. On one hand - most ominous signs of war. On the other - reassuring words that indicate peace. As for the ominous, we find it mostly in France,IA Paris dispatch tells us that today all French diplomatic representatives were ordered to be at their posts in readiness. That follows similar orders for the personnel of the army arid navy - to be ready. There*s a massing of troops on the German border, the A renowned Maginot Line, the ring of steel.) All is vigilance there. and a late dispatch informs us that the military leaders of France formally assured the Premier of the Republic that the Rhineland % frontier now stands guaranteed against any surprise attack by the Germans. This as a result of the swift defense measures of the past two days, defense measures that are called - mobilization. This is the French answer to the massing of graaixfijsxmjuft the great German military power just Sush beyond the borderGerman troop concentrations said to be stationed behind powerful fortifications. JEj CZECH — ‘1.. Ywa'awy; ^.gr-mart If/ * [And Great Britain too has mustered the armed force of the empire, defense* Eld, ■y ■*«*■ - as if v/aiting for quick action. Altogether, it looks like a gathering of the armed legions just before a war breaks ouo And NineteedFourteen is'recalled. All this, as Czechoslovakia prepares to hand its final compromise offer to the Sudeten Germans, which means - \ to Hitler.)For weeks we*ve been hearing that the time for the final — w<m) — offer is at hand, a showdown. But, this really seems to be the J A. time, the zero hour. CZECH -3 Qn the other hand, the reassuring word is this - indications that the Sudeten Germans, meaning Hitler, are likely to accept the Czechoslovak offer, And^therefs Hitler*s declaration 'dh today to the Nazi Congress at Nuremberg, This*was supposed might be the occasion for the launching of a Nazi stroke against Czechoslovakia, But Hitler1s harangue to his assembled followers today, made no mention of that bedeviled country. Moreover, hereVs something that looks indicative. Henlein, the Sudeten Fuehrer, today mlmm' • mmmnm I the first Congress of the Sudeten German Party, and that Congress is strictly modelled after the giant gatherings of the German Nazi Party, All the regular pomp and panoply will be ~7£e . staged. The SudetenCongressSyili gather in the middle of October, And so it would hardly seem that they expect an explosion before that date. What would be the point of calling a huge propaganda gathering, if war were expected before the time set? IMPERIAL CRQVJN The German Nazis today enacted a highly symbolical ceremony. They took away from Vienna the priceless and historic permanent union between Austria and Germany, making once imperial Austria merely a subordinate province of the Nazi Reich. the Middle Ages, presumed to be a restoration of the empire of the Roman Caesars - which unified the classic world and gave it long centuries of peace. Popes of the Middle Ages placed the imperial crown on the heads of the kings of Germany and consecrated them as the new Roman emperors - the Holy Roman Emperors. For hundreds of years these emperors were of the Austrian House of Hapsburg - until the Holy Roman Empire was finally abolished in the time of Napoleon. But the historic crown and the crown jewels remained in possession of the Hapsburgs. medieval German City of Nuremberg, and then in the troubled and threatening time of the French Revolution they were taken to crown and crown jewels of the Roman Empire to Nuremberg. This Wm ritualistic way of A ' The Holy Roman Empire was the supreme political idea For nearly four hundred years they were kept in the IMPERIAL CROWN - 2 Vienna, ^here they remained until today, now returned to Nuremberg - crown and crown jewels, the diadem, the scepter, mjzhx, the orb and the sword of the Holy Roman Empire, historic, glittering, and of fabulous value. It is said they were offered to Hitler as a personal gift, but he refused them because they were so priceless. He ordered them restored to Nuremberg - the^medieval keeping place. And this symbolizes^that once imperial Austria is just a German province now. JAPAJi They seem to be having a diplomatic shake-up in Japan - Tor today brings word that new ambassadors will be appointed to London, Berlin, Rome, Moscow, and possibly Washington. It may be that Ambassador Salto will be replaced in Washington, but that remains uncertain. The ambassadorial shake-up is the doing of Foreign Minister Ugaki, and they say the reason is that he wants to have his men in key diplomatic posts - when he becomes A Prime Minister. They say that is what General Ugaki is likely to do - take the place of the present Premier, Prince Konoye. That loftyjaobleman is described as eager to retire, because he has no political ambition^and/he thinks a mere vigorous and active >j statesman should take his place* what General gaki would be likely to be - more vigorous and active, especially with respect to Japanfs ambition. Hefs a militarist and a believer armed expansion - as in China, for example. \ < = > MEXICO In Mexico City there*s a rumor to oe received with thoughtful attention by American ears - a rumor that Mexico has concluded a trade agreement with Germany, what they call a barter agreement. (^BSajj^present day Nazi policy to make trade agreements with various nations, not on the basis of money payments, but exchange of goods^The point being - Hitler»s Third Reich is short of cash, and prefers to do business on a direct barter basis, 1*11 give you my merchandise in straight away exchange for yours.^ Hitler has concluded this sort of arrangement with various European countries and also w'ith several Latin-American republics. And now - perhaps with Mexico, if the rumor be true. ^ Itts all based on the revelation today tha^three shiploads of Mexican oil have been dispatched to Hamburg - Mexican js ± petroleum taken from oil properties seized from foreign; owners, American owners largely.^Theoc three--oi 1 ■-ahinmenta-l.o G or many -an ..h&ajsaaa#i ■ ■ When AmerJun an ti where-weu id oil-?-- 5 apan-waK-taerrti.-itgiy-~and-'German- a^^gaod KING The other night, we had occasion to recall how Albert, World War King of the Belgians, perished in a mountain climbing venture.- is? :^e was also a mountaineering king. And the news of that day told how his daughter, the Crown Princess of Italy, had climbed to the summit of Monte Rosa in the Alps, the second highest peak in Europe. Worthy daughter of a mountaineering father. Today the news tells of King Leopold of Belgium, son of King Albert. In the Dolomites, where the Alps are most rocky and rugged, therefs a precipitous peak called Mount Catinaccio, not the highest by any means, but considered one of the world*s most dangerous] for climbing, so steep, so^Ssjprous. Today King Leopold, accompanied by two guides, fought his way to the summit. On one of those perilous slopes, as they picked their way amid terrifying a Violent Alpine storm swooped over them, threatened to blow them clear off the mountain^gfe. The King and his companions were compelled to into a crevice, a cleft in the rock, to keep from being swept away. There they huddled for two hours wnile tne storm lashed over them. When the wind finally subsided, Leopold of Belgium kept on. and scaled the utmost pinnacle of the perilous peak, A worthy son s mountaineering father* _a*a-. ... v.. y. SPANISH PRINCE In today1s news of Labor Day automobile accidents, there*s one headline,of most tragic irony. Surely it would seem as if an ancient and historic fatality had finally overtaken that royal personage, Count^Covadonga^ son of King Alfonso of Spain, ^ Injured in an Mi ^he-time crown prThce automobile accident at Miami* ^ A t^ied today. Can we believe his death to be the mere result of just another crash over the Labor Day holiday? -# Must it not have been that ancient and historic fatal it the historic malady of kings, hemophilia t MiW' otta he dread disease long traditional in European royal families^ associated with the family of Queen Victoria whose descendant. Count Covadonga was. He lived in endless peril of A / the slightest bruise, which might cause his death by internal bleeding. After the overthrow of the Spanish monarchy there were domestic troubles in the royal family, not the least of which were ^ 3 the marrl&o® the former Crown Prince to • commonexm He renounced his right to the succession, so that he might marry as he pleased, SPANISH PRINCE - 2 He lived in flHSHHHHI fashion, was often in the news — the dread spectre of hemophilia attended him always. Early this morning he left a casino in Miami. With him ■sere his secretary and his physician who always accompanied the ailing royal prince. And with him also was Miss Mildred Gaydon - and she was driving as they motored along the road at night. cs - ujuo M* There was an accident, Just another automobile over the Labor Day holiday. The car hit a telephone pole. The girl driving was bruished a bit — and so was i.s.Count ^Co ovadonga, one-time hj§ir to the throne of Spain. His injuries seemed slight, yet even the slightest superficial hurt can bring on the doom of the malady of kings. hemophilia, And account Covadonga,heir to the throne of Spain, A A * died today. Yet here1s the amazing irony. The first reports said his minor injuries caused him to succumb to hemophilia. But later, a formal medical diagnosis says - Ho. Njt the royal sickness at all. It was the shock of the accident; heart failure- that was fatal. UN~A!iISKlCAN Some more news about the Un-American inquiry 5 and the theme once a^ain is Harry Bridges, C.I.O. chief of maritime unions on the Pacific coast. Today Chairman Dies of the Committee that has been taking so many slams at the Coimnunists and the Reds, had some harsh words to say. He didnTt talk especially against Bridges but fired his attack, against Secretary of Labor, Miss Frances Perkins Why hasr*t the Labor Department had Bridges deported as a Communist? The Chairman and Miss Perkins had some hot correspondence on the sabject#/4fe accusing her of protecting the C.I.O* chieftairT^i all his And today he declared that he had asked his Committee to summon the lady Secretary of Labor to appear and explain why she has not had Bridges tossed out of the country. i A prominent army officer sentenced to prison for five years is a rather startling item. Yet we are given mighty little information. The officer in question is Captain MacDonald Jones, noted as a polo player — a crack army athlete in the game of flashing mallets and ponies. Eis trial by Court Martial and his conviction have been kept very much on the Q.T. Today, the War Department tersely reveals that he has been sent to Atlanta Federal Prison for five years; with a dishonorable discharge. So clear intimation of what he may have done HINES The ftines trial was resumed in New York today, and it followed tne usual pattern. District Attorney Dewey put on the witness stand the last of his three Number One underworld witnesses. After Mobster Weinberg and mob-mouthpiece Dixie Davis, today1s chief testimony was given by Harryjshoenhaus, who was a sort of bookkeeper for the Dutch Schultz policy gang. His story was about the same as those of the other two - he told of delivering Schultz money to James J. Hines of Tammany Hall in return for political if' j protection. inrl ftp hrmigbt~~nir>]:Vhr familiar fact that the witness was an underworld character, on whose oath little belief is to be placed. The same as with Weinberg and Dixie Davis, who admitted they had If* perjured themselves in tijjes past. Once more the strategy of the prosecution is to^bolster up the testimony of disreputable witnesses ---- with the testimony of other witnesses ^a£=a reputable. CAPONE 1 h© ! eg end oi bcarfjiC© A1 Csipon© still p8rsistSj and th©r© seems to be *:i bit of misgiving in Chicago as the day approaches for his release from Alcatraz. The one time king of the Chicago underworld may b© turned loose as early as the first of the year with time off for good behavior, too now a Windy City newspaper campaign has been started to agitate against a Capone comeback. Chicago is witnessing a flare of journalistic success with the old far-famed "Herald-Examiner" turning tabloid^ and piling up swift circulation. Right awa^Sditor Walter Howey has started a newspaper campaign to keep tocarface Al from coming back to Chicago, when he is released from prison. They say that the old Capone aosx mobster organization is showing new signs of life, trying to line up a new system of rackets — assembling in preoarstion for a come-back of bcarface Al. It seems largely a matter of gambling rackets and the District Attorney is raiding one gambling house after another^ - DANCING A dark and gloomy prophecy was made today. Portent# of a fate, not for the nation, but for the knees, the knees of the ladies. Within half a dozen years, the young women of this land will be getting - watermelon knees. Just imagine, seeing your flfair and beauteous lady tripping gaily along ¥*ith watermelon knees S Or the lovely young mother., dandling her babe on her watermelon kneel Terrible to think of, but thatfs what's going to happen if the gals keep on dancing swing. The forecast was made today by no theoretical scientist. no bewhiskered professor who has never danced the big apple. XLHLJLa practical scientist, wd—, makes the gloomy prophecy A 4 George Murphy, a night club dancer who has become a movie star. Or maybe it's his press agent doing a little scientific space grabbing. Anyway, George Murphy points out that when the girls dance swing, they kick their hee"' ' against the floor, frequently —. rve >-e-vA-e-r'veC$Ao. "^-s . , and oft. This produces a shock on the patella^ Sounds as if they might be getting a kick in "the patella, but it isn't that at all, The patella is the knee cap, and when girls kick the floor with their heels in swing they injure their patellas and do damage to the knee joint ligaments. This eventually will produce water on the DANCING - 2 % knee, causing the lovelyknees to bulge like watermelons. Yes, sad to think of. So girls, youtd better stop doing the swing, for who would want his ladylove to have knees shaped <5^ *g^v^v\ Allke cantaloupes^ &Bi8e£KS3kattpHaKiaMgBI0pNg^ I111 have my watermelon, Madame, served on a plate and not in your knee. r I. ■ ■ : I JOKE Tonight let's hold up to infamy the world's most pestilent practical joker. I award that invidious distinction to the humorist who played a trick on L. E. Vincent of Monrovia, California. Householder Vincent likes a fine smooth lawn in front of his house, as who doesn't? So he tore up the old lawn, which was not so good - and planted a new one. Or - he thought he did. Right there the diabolical practical joker got in his evil work. He switched the seeds on lawn-lover Vincent, abstracted the seeds for smooth, velety green grass - and substituted other seeds. Fo when these were planted, up grev* the supposed lawn, a frightful looking tangle of radishes, carrots, cucumbers, beets, lettuce and spinach. So now the owner of the lawn is looking for the practical joker. If he finds him - we hope he’ll make him graze for a week on that assorted vegetation, especially the spinach, ^~