Evening star. [volume], October 25, 1947, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
' " '• > * .
Weather Forecast Guide for Readers
Mostly sunny, with highest about 66 this * W * *
afternoon. Clear and cool, lowest 52 tonight. Page. »8e;
Tomorrow partly cloudy and a little warmer. Amusements ...B-22 Obituary -A-4
(Pull report on Dage A-2.) Church News. A-7-10 Radio -_.B-21
lUHnirrhi so c. m in i, en Comics-B-20-21 Real Estate—B -1 -13
S Ram ’"tn Ll Editorial ._A-6 Society, Clubs....A-7
4 a m' 4r ,na'm' " sfi Ni^m'"''fi7 Editorial ArUcles, A-7 Sports _A-ll
4 a.m. ...48 10 a.m. ...56 1p.m. —67 Lost and Found-A-3 Where to GO....B-12
___An Associoted Press Newspoper
95th YEAR. No. 57,793 Phone NA. 5000._WASHINGTON, D. C., « SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1947—THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. ★* 5 CENTS
Probes Started
Into Utah Plane
Crash Kilting 52
Flaming Airliner Fell
1,500 Yards Away
From Landing Strip
Ry the Ass^. wted Pre**
BRYCE CANYON. Utah, Oct.
25.—Six teams of experts probed
carefully today through charred
wreckage of a United Airlines
DC-6 plane in an effort to de
termine the cause of the crash
which yesterday took the lives
of 52 persons.
Representatives of United Air
Lines. Douglas Aircraft, the plane’s
manufacturer: the Civil Aeronautics
Board and other Federal agencies
teamed off according to their in
dividual abilities.
Experts on electrical installations,
fuselage design, engines and other
features of airplane construction
sought to learn the source of the
fire which caused the plane to plum
met to earth just 1,500 yards from
the emergency landing strip to
ward which the pilot was heading.
Probers Tight-Lipped.
The investigators were tight
lipped. They refused to hazard
opinions on the mishap.
All bodies were left at the scene
until this morning, with guards
posted to protect them from coyotes,
pending an inquest.
The New York-bound, four-en
gined ship, Flight 608 from Los An
Fgeles, smashed shortly after . noon
near the rim of Tropic Canyon, in
Bryce Canyon National Park, and
exploded, scattering wreckage and
bodies over several hundred yards.
Plane Plows Fiei^ Swath.
Trailing smoke and flames for at
least 22 miles before it crashed, the
big plane plowed a smoke-blackened
swath for 800 yards alongside State
highway 22, just east of the Bryce
Canyon Airport. The scene is in
Southern Utah, about 275 miles
south of Salt Lake City.
The engines, scorched and twisted. |
were thrown 200 to 300 feet beyond
the burned area. A piece of the tail, j
15 to 20 feet long, was the largest
part of the craft remaining.
The bodies were burned and un
recognizable for the mcyft part. Two;
infants and 21 or mor|f women were j
among the victims One of the
women was an exp^tant mother.
The remains wpre flung across the
7,300-foot plateau or blown into the
200-foot deep ianyon just behind
the impact point.
Pilot Reported Fire.
Caplr. fe. L. McMillen, Balboa
Park, Calif., the pilot, reported by
radio at 12:21 p.m., a few minutes
before the crash, that Are had
broken out, probably in the plane's
baggage compartment, and that the
cabin was filled with smoke.
Five minutes later the veteran of
15 years of flying on Western routes
opened his microphone and re
ported :
“The tail fire is going out. We
may get down and we may not.
Best place we can * *
The airport tower here reported
at 12:32:
“* • * Fire one mile east.”
The ship had just skimmed across
the top of Tropic Canyon to the
sloping top of a long, sagebrush
covered plateau, seconds of flying
time from the landing strip.
Concussion Heard for Miles.
Concussion from the explosion was
felt clearly 5 miles away. Black oily
smoke billowed into the air.
Among prominent persons aboard
the ship were:
Jack Guenther, 33. New York,
managing editor of Look magazine;
William A. Galvin, New York, vice
(See PLANE. Pace A-3.)
Severe Fighting Reported
On Kashmir State Border
By Associated Press
NEW DELHI, India, 04 25.—A
Northwest Frontier Province official
reported today severe fighting had
broken out along the western
border of Kashmir State. He said
the town of Muzzafarabad was in
flames.
Kashmir’s western border districts
of Poonch and Mirpur, whose popu
lations are predominantly Moslem,
were reported in revolt following
rumors that the state's Hindu Ma
harajah might decide to join the
Dominion of India. There has been
no official indication yet whether
Kashmir would join Indian or Mos
lem Pakistan, or remain independ-j
ent..
The Northwest Frontier govern
ment, acting on orders from the gov
ernment of the Dominion of Pak
istan, is attempting to prevent
tribesmen from crossing the border
to aid their fellow Moslems in
Kasmir State, but the province’s
publicity officer said it was difficult
to control the situation in the
mountainous area.
I (
>
Terse Messages Tell
Of Doomed Plane's
Final Moments
By the Associated Press
CHICAGO, Oct. 25.—United
Airlines headquarters in Chi
cago announced receipt of these
terse messages from the pilot
yesterday shortly before 'the
DC-6 crashed in Utah, killing
52 persons:
12:21 p.m.—“We have baggage
fire aboard. We are coming to
Bryce Canyon. We have smoke
filled plane. Unable to put out
fire yet.”
12:26 p.m.—“The tail fire is
going out. We may get down
and we may not. Best place we
can -.”
12:27 p.m.—“May make it.
Think we have a chance now.
Approaching the strip.”
The airline said the CAA re
ported at 12:32 p.m. that Bryce
Canyon said there was "a fire
1 mile east of Bryce.”
Reporter on Fire-Ringed Peak
Tells of Bar Harbor Desolation
D.C. Residents' Homes
Burned; Exhausted
Men Pray for Rain
By Newbold Noyes, Jr.
Star Staff Correspondent
CADILLAC MOUNTAIN, Me.,
Oct. 25.—You can stand in the
smoky moonlight on top of this
fiery mountain—the highest
point on Mount Desert Island—
and trace all around you in the
predawn darkness a blazing
track of destruction.
It is moving slowly now. Since 6
p.m. yesterday when a 40-mile-an
hour wind blew itself out, the men
around that scorched perimeter
have been pretty well holding their
own.
No one on this island, however,
believes the danger is past. When
the wind started blowing Thursday,
the fire around Hulls Cove, which
had been smouldering two days, was
almost, out. Now there is no'wind.
But if it came back today—and un
less the rain comes—the flames
could travel 3 miles to Seal Harbor
or 4 miles to Northeast Harbor in
less than an hour. Or they could
come back to Bar Harbor and fin
ish the job they began Thursday
night. '
Men Praying for Rain.
That is what the men down there
know. And that is why they are
holding crossed fingers up to the
wind and praying for rain.
Up and down the sides of this
mountain, the green landmark of
the region, fires are licking their
slow way. Most of them are small,
(See NOYES, Page A-2.)
Natives Fear Owners
Of Ruined Mansions
May Not Rebuild
By Herman F. Schaden
Star Staff Correspondent
BAR HARBOR, Me., Oct. 25.—
Nature is branding on *the face
of beautiful Mount Desert Island
a ghastly scar that man may
never heal.
Stark skeletons of magnificent
homes—the summer mecca of mil
lionaires—now stand as unsightly
monuments to a great fire that still
I is running wild on some parts of the
island.
The cost runs into the millions,
inestimable in cold figures, incal
culable in the economic and esthetic
future of the North Woods wonder
land.
One cannot appraise this loss
from afar. He must drive down
Eden street, once the paradise of
the opulent, and see etched on the
background of., verdant firs and
spruces chimneys bleakly rising
three stories into the smoky sky.
Nothing more than chimneys and
fireplaces. Here but a day ago
stood the mansions of the Dam
rosches, the Rineharts, the late
Henry Morgen thaus, sr., and a
score or more of others.
Whimsical Destruction.
Whimsical in its destructive
course, the fire has ravaged one
dwelling, spared another seemingly
as vulnerable, and leaped across
roads to level others.
The week-old terror has ranged
down the East Coast of the island
for 15 miles, clearing a iy2-mile
strip, and now is eating further in
(See SCHADEN, Page A-2.)
Picnickers Cautioned
Against Fire Menace
As Drought Continues
Day and Night Patrol
Of Parks Is Ordered,
With No Rain in Sight
New warnings against the
threat of fire in drought
parched wooded regions of the
Washington area were issued
today as the Weather Bureau re
ported no rain in sight for the
eighth straight day.
The brief drizzle last week resulted
in only .02 of an inch of rain, the
bureau said. The last appreciable
rain fell here on September 26, bu
reau records showed. Twenty-eight
consecutive days without rain in
1901 set the District’s drought rec
ord, officials said.
National Capital Parks officials
have ordered police on day and
night patrols of parks here and
cleanup men have been alerted to
watch for brush fires. Picnickers
issued permits by the District Rec
reation Board also are being warned
to observe all fire precautions.
Leaves Are Greatest Danger.
Irving C. Root, superintendent of
the service, said the greatest danger
to Washington parks is from dry
leaves.
The park service, meanwhile, es
timated it will take 50 years to re
establish forests burned at Acadia
National Park in the fire that swept
through Bar Harbor, Me. The
agency is using Army planes to fly
park and forest service personnel to
the stricken region. Temperatures
in Maine are near 20 degrees today,
the Weather Bureau said, adding to
the danger of other fires.
Considerable humidity was regis
tered in Washington today, lessening
the fire danger, the bureau said.
Mid 60s Forecast for Today.
Today will be mostly sunny, with
temperatures in the middle 60s, the
bureau said. The mercury is ex
pected to drop to the low 50s to
nightt, with more cool and cloudy
weather in prospect for tomorrow.
The low today was 48 degrees at
4 a.m.
Maryland firefighters were kept
busy yesterday by 13 scattered
blazes, but all were brought under
control by nightfall, Ft ate Forester
H. C. Buckingham reported. The
worst fire was a 20-acre blaze near
Galt in Kent County. Firemen
quelled another brush blaze near
Fairfax, Va.
Lane Issues Appeal.
Gov. Lane today asked citizens
of Maryland not to bum debris in
or near forests until after a steady
rain, and not to toss cigarettes or
matches from automobiles. He said
special precautions should be taken
to prevent further outbreaks in
Maryland's sizeable forest areas.
An appeal to motorists, campers
and picnickers to pay special at
tention to the fire danger also came
from the American Automobile As
sociation. The organization partic
ularly cautioned against building
fires when it is windy.
Shinwell Declares Britain
Must Turn Farther Left
By the Associated Prut
DUNDEE, Scotland, Oct. 25.—
War Minister*Emanuel Shinwell de
clared today that Britain, now
ruled by a Labor government, must
turn still farther left to win the
struggle for economic recovery.
“Those people who thing that
the country is again turning to
the right are mistaken,” he told the
annual conference of the Scottish
Labor Party national executive.
“What the country needs is a
stronger turn to the left, and I am
certain that unless this happens we
shall discover in the next few years
that our situation will be more
serious than it is at the present
time.”
Mr. Shinwell linked British and
European recovery directly to the
reconstruction of Germany which,
he said, must be rebuilt along social
ist lines.
“There is no hope of permanent
recovery so long as Germany re
mains a festering sore,” he said.
*
President Declares
Maine Disaster Area,
Orders FWA Aid
President Truman today de
clared the entire State of
Maine a "disaster area” and di
rected the Federal Works
Agency to send in surplus prop
erty to aid the homeless vic
tims of fire.
This will include blankets,
cots and shelter at this time
and later building materials and
perhaps food, Maj. Gen. Philip
B. Fleming, Federal Works Ad
ministrator, said after asking
the President to act.
Gen. Fleming said he took
the step after communicating
with Senator White, Republi
can, of Maine, and Gov. Horace
A. Hildreth, who had asked
Government help.
Turkey Cancels Plan
For Immediate Reply
To Russia in U. N.
Cancels Request to Speak
Today, but Reserves Right
To Make Answer Later
By tha Associated Pret*
LAKE SUCCESS, Oct. 25.—
Turkey unexpectedly scratched
her name from the list of last
round speakers In the United Na
tions “warmonger” debate today,
but reserved the right to answer
later any charges the Soviet bloc
might make.
This development came as the 57
nation Political Committee of the
U. N. Assembly began the third day
of debate on a Russian .resolution
condemning “warmongering.” which
the Russians charged is being car
ried on particularly in the United
States, Turkey and Greece.
Committee President Joseph Bech,
Luxembourg, announced in conven
ing the session that the list of
speakers was closed. Turkey had
asked to speak, but withdrew with
a reservation to answer any of the
12 speakers yet to be heard after
they had finished. Russia was listed
as the last speaker.
Earlier Turkey and the Soviet
Union had announced they would
bring the diplomatic maneuvers of
Hitler’s agents into the debate.
There was still a likelihood this
would happen when Russia speaks,
thus paving the way for Turkey
to take a similar step.
As the tug-o’-war over the Soviet
proposal continued, Czechoslovakia
threw her support to Russia, but
Belgium and South Africa spoke in
opposition. ,
American delegation sources said
they were confident the Soviet reso
lution would be defeated. They
said the United States would op
pose all amendments to the Rus
sian resolution.
Thirteen speakers were scheduled
to be heard yet and it seemed un
likely that the Political Committee
would be able to reach a vote today
on the Soviet proposal.
The Russian-Turkish flareup came
yesterday as Mr. Vishinsky delivered
one of his longest speeches.
Earlier Mr. Sarper denied previous
charges by Mr. Vishinsky that Tur
key sought war, declaring there was
no “warmongering” in Turkey. He
(See U. N„ Page A-2.)
Sweden, France Sign Pact
PARIS, Oct. 25. <£>).—The signing
of a new one-year commercial agree- i
ment between Prance and Sweden
was announced officially today.
Bulletin
Aid Parley Called
Dr. John R. Steelman, as
sistant to President Truman, i
has called a private White
House conference Monday of
Government officials and ap- i
proximately 90 leaders of bust- <
ness and labor for a discussion
of the Marshall plan. The 1
meeting Is planned as an off
the-record session for the
Interchange of views. Whether
President Truman would par
ticipate whs not disclosed. <
\
‘ V*
Arsonists Sought
As Rising Winds
Fan Maine Fires
7th Hamlet Burns;
Calm Night Helps
To Check Flames
ly the A ted Pres*
BAR HARBOR, Me., Oct. 25.—
A calm night gave battling crews
a new defense foothold against
the New England forest fire
sweep but they were working
fast today against freshening
winds as police throughout the
area hunted firebugs.
Hard-hit Maine, with seven com
munities destroyed, reported its
busiest front today in Washington
County and the Weather Bureau
said winds may climb to 15 miles
an hour. Washington County ad
joins Hancock, in which this com
munity is situated, to the northeast.
A dip in temperatures below 20
during the night had left a light
coating of frost on most of the
wooded areas, slowing the flames.
However, by mid-morning, the mer
cury rose again to the 50s.
Reported evidence of arson was
being investigated by police from
Cape Cod to Maine and Massachu
setts was fighting two flareups in
Falmouth on Cape Cod and Glou
cester.
This island resort reported its
stand against flames “the best it
has been” and police authorized Sam
J. Sachman to open his clothing
store to supply fire crews and emer- j
gency workers.
Survivors Barred From Area.
Survivors who escaped in a Dun
kerque-like sea evacuation are
banned from returning for at least
another 24 hours, Police Chief
George C. Abbott said.
A new report of a million dollar
loss by the Mayor of Rochester,
N. H„ brought the New England
fire cost up to $27,000,000.
Relief centers reported housing
an estimated 2,500 fire-homeless in
Maine.
The Red Cross said the homeless
displaced list might reach 6,000 and
estimated that at least 506 perma
nent homes vanished in flames, to
gether with hundreds of cottages.
The fires throughout New England
contributed to a national death toll
of 18, with 11 dead and 100,000 acres
burned over in Maine.
Even as Joseph A. P. Flynn, chief
of the Maine Insurance Depart
ment’s arson division said he had
“well-grounded suspicions that some
of the fires have been set,’’ police
at Biddeford reported they were
questioning a suspect.
Candle Found Near Pine Needles.
The youth was picked up after
Biddeford police became suspicious
of a fire which forced evacuation :
Fire Chief Arthur S. O’Brien
of West Falmouth, just outside
Portland, said there was evidence a
candle had been burning within an J
inch of dry pine needles when it ,
was discovered by two Girl tlcouts ■
on a farm. He described its pres
ence as a “clear-cut case of the ,
work of a firebug.”
Deputy Sheriff Ralph C. Hosmer |
of Standish said burning wood (
shavings had been found near a ,
wood lot in that town, but had been
made harmless. ,
In Massachusetts Royal A. Gaw, -
24, was arrested for arson and
sentenced to two months in the ,
House of Correction after admitting I
he set a fire “on a dare” in the ,
North Reading woods. I
Police in Wilmington, Mass., re
ported they were questioning two
boys about fires there.
Last night Maine saw its seventh :
community go up in flames—the tiny j
hamlet of Unionville in Washington J
County. *
The fire stopped at the Jones- |
boro border, veered toward Machias '
and leveled several buildings. 1
Bar Harbor, scene of a small-scale
Dunkerque Thursday night, ap- ‘
peared like a “ghost town" today. ]
Few Women Left in Town.
Palatial homes, once the show
places of the millionaires’ summer
playground, lay in ruins. Haggard
men walked listlessly around, seek
ing some trace of their property.
There were few women in the
town. Most of them were in Ells
(See BAR HARBOR, Page A-12.) ‘
-- s
Cleveland Man to Head
Editors' Association
By tha Associated Press *
DETROIT, Oct. 25.—Stanley P.
Barnett of the Cleveland Plain
Dealer was elected today as 1948
chairman of the Associated Press
Managing Editors’ Association. He
succeeds A. Y. Aronson of the
Louisville Times.
William P. Steven of the Minne
apolis Tribune was named vice
chairman, while Lee Hills of the
Miami Herald was picked as secre
tary and Herbert P. Corn of The
Washington Evening Star as treas
urer.
The association, which ended a
four-day meeting here today, did
not pick a 1948 meeting ■ site but
left the choice to future action by
its Executive Committee.
'Hostile Witnesses’
In Red Probe Prepare
To Answer Accusers
Four Screen Writers Due
To Follow Eric Johnston
On Stand on Monday
The film industry inquiry by
the House Committee on Un
American Activities was in re
cess today, but the so-called
“hostile witnesses” were busy
preparing tactics for their ap
pearances on the stand when the
hearing resumes Monday.
Most of the "hostile witnesses,"
so labeled by Chairman Thomas of
the committee, have heard them
selves called agitators, Communists
or "party liners" by the "friendly
witnesses” who testified during the
first week of the public hearing in
the crowded House caucus room.
Four of the former, Screen Writ
ers John Howard Lawson, Alvah
Bessie, Dalton Trumbo and Emmett
Lavery, are scheduled to be heard
Monday after testimony by Eric
Johnston, head of the Motion Pic
ture Association of America, who
is considered friendly by the com
mittee.
The parade of witnesses who tes
tified ^jiuring the first part of the
hearing included Actors Adolphe
Menjou, Robert Montgomery,
George Murphy, Robert Taylor and
Gary Cooper and Producers Jack L.
Warner, L. B. Mayer and Sam Wood.
In general they agreed Commu
nists were active in the film capi
tal, particularly among the writers,
but had little success in getting
Communist propaganda onto the
screen.
Chairman Thomas has stated he
will not let attorneys for witnesses
(Continued on Page A-4, Column 3.)
Hughes Schedules Tests
For Big Flying Boat
By the Associated Press
LOS ANGELES. Oct. 25.—Plane
Builder Howard Hughes announced
today that the launching and taxi
tests of his huge $25,000,000 wooden
flying boat, which has been lashed
to a graving dock in Los Angeles
harbor for many months will be held
November 5 to 10.
The announcement was made in
telegrams sent to Senators Brewster,
Fergusqn, Cain and McGrath of the
subcommittee investigating Mr,
Hughes’ Government contracts.
WhattheRussians
Are Saying of Us:
The Moscow radio, broadcasting
in English to the United Kingdom,
said:
“Before the war there used to
be swarms of United States tour
ists traveling about Europe. They
would roam with a bored air
through museums and art gal
leries, pick up souvenirs and leave
dollars in exchange. But times
changed and now it seems that '
it is United States Congress
men who are traveling about
Europe on tours of investiga
tion.
“They do not care about sou
venirs and do not leave any dol
lars. They only promise and
that very vaguely. In the mean
time they present perfectly defi
nite terms to the European
countries and without any undue
squeamishness either. Any means
will serve to attain their end
and so hunger is exploited for
ends of blackmail and postwar
disruption for political pressure.”
Suspect in $225 Safe Robbery
Seized on Nearby Fire Escape
A suspected safe robber was cap
tured by policemen early today as
he clambered down the fire escape
of a deserted building adjoining the
National Cash Register Co. at 1219
K street N.W. after the company
safe had been looted of $225.
The door of the company safe had
been forced open. About $25 in
change in a money bag was re
covered from the suspect, police said.
A second man is believed to have
been with him, but police said they
could find no trace of him. About
$875 in a cash box in the safe was
overlooked by the thieves, police
said.
The suspect, listed as Christian
Garrison Crawford, 38, colored, of
I
\ »
the 1200 block of T street N.W. Is
being held for investigation.
The arrest was made about 6 am.
after two company porters reported j
to work and heard pounding noises
in the rear of the building. The j
men, Wilson Buchanan, colored, of !
847 Twenty-first street N.E., and ,
James Robinson, colored, ^ of 4338
Sheriff road N.E., called police. ,
Policemen Charles A. Morris and
William R. Shelton, of the second (
precinct, reached the scene first in j
their scout car, and were joined by ,
three other scout cars. A cordon
was thrown around the block. i
Pvt. Morris said he heard the ]
sound of running feet on the floor ,
(See ROBBERY, Page A-3.) i
Wheat Drops Below $3 Mark;
Other Commodities Decline
Heaviest Supply of Bread Grain in 5 Years
Contributes to Slump at Chicago
■y the Associated Press
Three - dollar wheat disap
peared in trading on the Chicago
Board of Trade today as needed
rains fell In major winter wheat
States and the call for a special
session of Congress continued as
a price-depressing factor.
However, cotton prices, which
dropped sharply yesterday with
grains, pushed higher on the New
York futures exchange.
After plunging the permissible
limit yesterday, grains opened strong
today. The rise was based on fail
ure of President Truman to mention
any specific measures for combat
ting Inflation in his radio talk last
night.
A reaction set in after trading was
underway, however, and near the
end of the first hour wheat Was 1%
to 3Va lower than yesterday’s close,
December wheat selling at $2.99 li.
Corn was 2% lower to % higher,
with December corn at $2.20 and
oats were 1H to 3% lower, Decem
ber oats selling at $1.13.
Wheat had been selling above $3
a bushel all week.
All classes of livestock were nom
inally steady at Chicago.
An Agriculture Department report
showing wheat stocks totaling the
highest for any October 1 except
1942 also was a depressing influence.
The Agriculture Department also
reported that domestic use of
wheat during the first quarter of
this crop year—July through Sep
tember—was about 15,000,000 bushels
less than a year ago. It apparently
reflected a lower rate of feeding
wheat to livestock than in the same
period of 1946.
Domestic use during the quarter
was estimated at 215,000,000 bushels
of wheat. If the average during
the remainder of the crop year can
be held to 225,000,000 a quarter, the
goal of 500,000,000 bushels for export
can be met, the department said.
But domestic use is normally heav
ier in the winter quarter and hence
the conservation drive is counted on
to help cut consumption so the
export goal can be met.
Regan Modifies Story
Of Bunch 'Mauling'
By Police in Cell
Says He Made Charges
In Hope of Payment
And Aid of Newspaper
Officials investigating the
death of John Forrest ^unch
revealed today that an inmate
of the celL block in which Mr.
Bunch was held for intoxication
prior to his death in Gallinger
Hospital August 4 had modified
a sworn statement he gave
Bunch family attorneys to the
effect he heard police “mauling”
the elderly carpenter ip his cell.
Frank Paul Regan, 40, of no fixed
address, in the last few days has
told investigators, they said, that he
told the lurid story to the attorneys
because he had hoped to be paid by
a newspaper and also hoped the
newspaper would get him out of
trouble in case he was arrested
again.
He discussed the Bunch case with
his brother, John, Regan said, and
when he was arrested for intoxica
tion in October and again returned
to No. 9 precinct his brother notified
a newspaper. Later, one of the
Bunch family attorneys, John R.
Fitzpatrick, came to the precinct,
Regan was quoted as saying, and
put up one dollar of the amount re
quired to get him out of jail. A for
mer employer put up the remainder
of the money, he said.
In a signed statement given Mr.
Fitzpatrick. Regan had said he
heard police "mauling” Bunch,
whose family contends he was beat
en and neglected while in police
custody. In his latest statements
to homicide squad detectives and
the United States Attorney’s office,
Regan says the word “maul” was
not his own, and did not convey the
meaning he intended at the time.
Regan denied he ever received any
money for changing the original
story given detectives.
Regan, a former inmate of St.
Elizabeths Hospital, with a long
police record for arrests for intoxi
(See BUNCH, Page A-2.)
One Killed, 30 Injured
In Texas Train Wreck
ly the Associated Press
MARSHALL, Tex., Oct. 25.—One
trainman was killed and at least 30
passengers and crewmen of a west
bound Texas St Pacific train were
injured early today when the loco
motive and six cars left the rails
as the train was nearing the Jeffer
son (Tex.) depot.
The dead trainman was Identified
as W. C. Dorr, the fireman, of Dallas.
W. c. Allison of Port Worth, en
gineer, was taken to a Marshall hos
pital. The extent of his injuries
was unknown.
At least 29 passengers and crew
members received first aid at hos
pitals and clinics in Marshall and
Jefferson. None was reported se
riously injured.
I
Chinese Reds Attack
UNRRA Craft Despite
Conspicuous Marking
By the Associated Press
SHANGHAI, Oct. 25.—UNR
RA’s China office said. today
that one Chinese relief agency
employe was killed and nine
other persons narrowly escaped
death October 18 when Chinese
Reds "poured heavy rifle and
machine gun Are” into an
UNRRA motor dory and barge
near Pengpu, Anhwei Province.
C. F. Deyoe, Jetmore, Kans.,
UNRRA agricultural office, who
survived the attack, said the
UNRRA craft was conspicuous
ly marked with a large white
flag bearing the initials “CNR
RA-UNRRA” in large Chinese
characters. CNRRA is the Chi
nese division of the relief
agency.
70 Seized in Salonika
As Red Terrorists
ly th» Associated Press
ATHENS, Oct. 25.—Seventy per
sons were reported under arrest to
day as the result of a police round
up which was declared officially to
have forestalled a “Communist ter
rorist” revolt in the northern port of
Salonika.
An official announcement yester
day said the conspirators carried
arms or were sleeping with pistols
under their pillows when they were
taken into custody and that a sup
ply of automatic rifles, pistols, car
bines, cartridges, grenades, mortar
ihells, dynamite and swords had been
confiscated.
The1 announcement said that under
plans found in a print shop, the plot
ters were organized into three groups
each with its own officers, execu
tioners and saboteurs and with
specific objectives in its part of
Salonika.
These groups, the report declared,
were in league with anti-government
guerrillas in the northern mountains
and their general design was to
“plunge Salonika into chaos, dark
ness and panic and to paralyze the
state machinery.”
Two Dead, 3 Burned
In $400,000 Blaze
By the Associated Prats
CLEVELAND, Oct. 35.—Two men
were killed and three firemen burned
critically today In a $400,000 fire
marked by spectacular explosions of
paint products at the Perma Prod
ucts Co.
More than 100 firemen from 15
fire companies fought the early
morning Maze and scores of spec
tators ran for cover as large drums
of paint and stain exploded, show
ering sparks and flaming liquid
over the neighborhood.
Believed killed were Charles
Bastar, 60, night witchman at the
plant, and William Chavin, about
46, a shipping clerk.
G.O.P. Indicates
Rough Going for
Truman Plans
President Tells Nation
Legislation on Prices
And Relief Is Essential
(Text of President Truman’s Address
on Page A-2.)
By Joseph A. Fox
Congress was confronted to
day with a demand from Presi
dent Truman for quick action to
preserve prosperity at home and
prevent a debacle abroad—but
rumblings from the Republican
majority indicated rough going
for the administration program.
In a Nation-wide broadcast last
night in which he told the American
people the reasons for calling Con
gress into special session, Novembe'
17, the President said that “the
threat of inflation” here and “hun
ger and cold in other lands” have
cast new obstables in the way of
world stability, and that "prompt
and courageous action” is the only
remedy.
“Legislation by the Congress is es
sential,” he continued. “The need is
too pressing—the delay too grave—
for Congressional action to wait un
■ til the next regulai session in Jan
uary.”
Asks $642,000,000 for Relief.
When Congress meets, the Chief
Executive continued, he will have a
program for “dealing with inflation,
high prices and the high cost of
living.” He did not specify what
lines this might take. t
On the subject of foreign aid, he
repeated what previously had been
told to congressional leaders, that
Prance and Italy will need a total
of $642,000,000 to carry them
through until March 31, when the
administration is hopeful that the
long-range program contemplated
by the Marshall Plan will be ready
to go into effect.
In addition, he explained, more
money will be needed for the occu
pation areas—Germany. Japan and
Korea—“in order for us to main
tain our position.” This figure haa
been placed roughly at $500,000,000—
the sum mentioned in a speech last
night by Army Secretary Royall.
Halleck Charges “Politics.”
As the President was outlining
his position, the Republican opposi
tion swung into action. Representa
tive Hallack of Indiana, House ma
jority leader, and Representative
Wolcott of Michigan, chairman of
the House Banking Committee, ac
cused the President of “playing poli
tics” by linking rising living coEts
with foreign aid.
Senator Flanders, Vermont, chair
man of a House-Senate subcom
mittee investigating the cost of liv
ing, said the President "has stated
our problem” on high prices but
“has not given much help on how
the thing is to be solved.”
Suggestions from the Chief Exec
utive now, he said, would give "a
three-weeks running start for con
gressional committees.” He added
he thought Republicans had “better
be working on some solution of
their own.”
Taber Has "Open Mind.
Earlier in the day, Representative
Taber, chairman of the House Ap
propriations Committee, had con
ferred at length with Mr. Truman,
but to reporters afterward was non
committal on the subject of the
extra session, which he said he was
approaching with an “op^n mind.”
Senator Morse, Republican, of
Oregon, was more favorable. He
said he thought the President’s
speech “very able” and predicted
Congress would “meet it on the
plane of co-operation it calls for.”
He said the details of Mr. Truman’s
program “should await his message
when Congress meets.”
The President placed principal
emphasis in his speech on the eco
nomic situation at home.
“Startling figures” show how
prices have advanced, he said,
quoting a range up to 40 per cent—
for food—since the middle of 1946,
and placing the avefage for all Items
at 23 per cent.
Costs Still Mounting.
"And the cost of living is still
climbing,” he continued. “In the
last three months it climbed at a
rate of over 16 per cent a year.”
Correspondingly, he added, whole
sale prices are mqving up.
“Millions of families,” the Presi
dent asserted, are feeling the pinch
despite the high employment level,
and “when so many people are not
.shaking fairly in prosperity the
road is being paved for a recession
or depression.”
The President took issue with
critics in Congress who have blamed
prices on scarcities produced by the
foreign aid program, declaring the
“major cause” is the domestic de
mand.
Asks prompt Legislation.
Explaining that he had urged
voluntary action in the form of
price reductions to cope with the
situation, the President said the
people now need the "protection”
of the Government and "for this
purpose prompt enactment by the
Congress of comprehensive legisla
tion is necessary.”
Turing to the situation abroad,
Mr. Truman declared that "the
perils of hunger and cold in Europe
make this winter a decisive time Id
history."
With an oblique dig at Russian
charges in connection with the
Marshall program, the President as
serted that "it is nonsense to say
that we seek dominance over any
other nation. We believe in free
dom and we are doing all we can to
support free men and free gov
ernments throuhout the world.”
The President praised the people
for co-operation in the voluntary
food-saving program undertaken to
buld up supplies for European aid
and stressed that the call for the
extra session “in no way reduces the
necessity” for going ahead with this
plan.
\