Evening star. [volume], April 29, 1948, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast
Cloudy with some sunshine today. Highest
near 60. Lowest tonight about 42. To
morrow, partly cloudy, continued cool. (Full
report on Page A-2.)
Midnight 45 8 a.m... 48 Noon _58
4 a.m,..\_.43 10 am-53 1 p.m_57
* am. 43 11a.m._53 2 p.m_59
Closing N. Y. Morkcts—Sales, Poge A-29.
96th Year. No. 120.
Phone NA. 5000.
★★★
WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 29.
Guide for
Page
After Dark .. A-23
Amusements A-26-27
Comics .C-10-11
Editorial _A-14
Editorial Articles A-15
Finance _A-29
Readers
Page
Lost and Found A-3 j
Obituary .A-24
Radio -C-ll
Society, Clubs . B-3
Sports-C-l-3
Woman's Page . A-28
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1948—SIXTY PAGES
British Artillery Bombards Jews
Holding Battered Area of Jaffa;
Arabs Reject Police for Jerusalem
Sharp Skirmishes
Occur in Valley
Of Jordan River
BULLETIN
JERUSALEM (/Pi.—Cease fire
until 9 a.m. tomorrow was or
dered tonight in the Jaffa
battle between British and
Jews. The truce was proposed
by W. F'uller, British district
commissioner, to provide an
opportunity to arrange a meet
ing with the Jews holding the
Manshieh quarter of Jaffa.
By the Associated Press
JERUSALEM, April 29.—The*
British struck with artillery
and diving planes today at the
battered Manshieh quarter of
Jaffa, which Irgun Zvai Leumi
raptured yesterday after four
days’ fighting with Arabs.
Plans with RAF markings circled
and dived repeatedly shortly after
midday over Manshieh. There was
no indication they had dropped
bombs or fired. Just before dusk
yesterday, a flight of Spitfires ma
chine-gunned positions in Bat Yam,
village just south of Jaffa. i
The promised British counter-'
attack developed as officials of
Egypt and Iraq said large parts of
their armies were moving on Pales
tine.
Sharp skirmishing occurred in the
Jordan River Valley opposite Trans
jordan.
The Jews claimed capture of
Beisan, IS miles south of the Sea
of Galilee. Beisan is a way sta-,
tion for Arabs filtering in from |
the east for the battle over parti
tion.
The Arab Legion informed King
Abdullah in Amman it had occu
pied Gesher. a Jewish collective
settlement in the Jordan Valley,!
and kliled hundreds of Jews. The
Jewish agency denied the claim. |
The legion said the fight started
Tuesday night when Jews killed a
legion sentry Inside Trans-Jordan
territory.
iraq Army negins Moving.
Egyptian Communications Min
ister Dessouki Abaza Pasha said in
Cairo that large Egyptian Army
forces had been sent to the southern
border of Palestine. Regent Abdul
Ilah of Iraq in Amman his country's|
army had started moving toward
Palestine and would pass through
Trans-Jordan.
The British rushed in a battalion
of Irish Fusiliers 10 support their
pledge not to permit the Jews to
occupy Jaffa, the Arab port adjoin
ing all-Jewish Tel Aviv The rein
fotcements brought the British I
force available to about 3.000 men
As far as was known, Irgun ap
peared determined to try and hold
the Arab quarter. Throughout the
night. Irgun forces dug into defense
positions and brought up fresh
troops.
British shells fell in the Manshieh
quarter. Early damage and casual- j
ties were reported small.
News of Cease-fire Hailed.
Tire news of a cease-fire for the
old walled city of Jerusalem was re
ceived here with optimism. Neither
the Jews nor the Arabs, however,
had received instructions by early
afternoon to cease fighting, as their
spokesmen agreed before the United
Nations.
An Arab National Committee
spokesman said he had no word
from his leaders about the truce, A
Jewish Agency spokesman said the
same, but added:
"If there is a truce, it must mean
the Jews and Arabs can walk about
freely in each other's quarters and
the Jews would have access to enter
and leave the old walled city. At
present, all areas around it are held
by Arabs A truce inside the walled
area will have to mean access to it!
through the Arab controlled sec
tions."
Hag ana Refuses to Advance.
In the battle for Jaffa, the Jewish
militia Hagana rejected Irgun sug
gestions that, since the Arab quar
ter was captured, Hagana should
advance f. m its former gunpost
line and take up new positions. |
"The invitation is ridiculous,”
Hagana said in an official state
ment
At noon, the Hagana news bulle
tin said:
British forces attacked ihe Arab
Manshieh quarter with guns and
hrav\ machinegtm fire from about
See PALESTINE. Page A-4 >
Mrs. Roosevelt
Pays Visit to
White House
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt said after
a White House call today that she
is taking no part in political cam
paigning and does not propose to
resign her post as American repre
sentative on the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights.
She refused to say if she is sup
porting President Truman for re
election. tartly telling a questioner
‘I don't think that is • question
• nv one should ask. This is not the
proper time "
Mrs. Roosevelt, who is chairman
of the U. N. Commission, came here
to discuss with Mr. Truman and
the State Department the draft of
proposals which will be taken up
Monday.
The political angle was injected
when a reporter recalled that Mrs
Roosevelt had taken a prominent
part at a recent Philadelphia meet
ing of the Americans for Democratic
Action which has boltedlrom Presi
dent Truman. *
I'm not taking part in any cam
paign.'' Mrs. Roosevelt said flatly,
•dding that she had never been
very active in the ADA.
* V.
Truman Assails
Senate Inaction
On Atom Board
Delay on Lilienthal
Restores Uncertainty
On Program, He Says
By Joseph A. Fox
President Truman toc^ay called
on the Senate to approve with
out further delay the nomina
tions of Chairman David E.
Lilienthal and the other four
members of the Atomic Energy
Commission which have been
snagged by Republican opposi
tion.
In a news conference statement
condemning the proposal from Re
publican quarters to carry the Com
missioners along on some sort of
an interim term arrangement, the
President declared such a move
would restore the pall of uncer
tainty that surrounded the develop
ment of this country's atomic energy
program from the Japanese sur
render to the spring of 1947 when
the present commission was con
firmed.”
In passing. Mr. Truman also crit
icized sharply the action of the Re
publicans in holding up other ap
pointments. He asserted they were
not doing the business of the Gov
ernment any good and he described
as the most terrible thing of the
whole business a Republican move
to shelve the Reciprocal Trade
Agreement Act which expires June
12.
Under the law governing the AEC
appointments the five members are
to^erve staggered terms of from one
'See ATOMIC, Page A-5.)
lO.OOORetiredOfficers
Face Physical Checkup
Under House Plan
Probers Find No Fraud
Bur Stress Need to
Answer Criticism
By the Associated Press
About 10.000 retired Army and
Navy officers face new physical
checkups under a congressional
plan to revamp military pension
systems.
A House Armed Services Sub
committee recommended this move
today as the first step toward “cor
recting" the armed forces' retire
ment programs.
The group, headed by Repre
sentative Elston, Republican, of
Ohio, began its study last Decem
ber after a Senate committee's in
vestigation of Maj. Gen. Bennett
E. Meyers, former Air Force pur
chasing officer.
Meyers, who had been retired
with a $550 a month disability
pension, later was convicted of per-I
suading a business associate to lie
to the Senate committee about
their wartime business deals. He
was sentenced to a 20 months' to
5 years' prison term.
Report I* Quoted.
The Elston report said:
“Public criticism of physical re
tirements has become so intense
that a serious reflection has been
cast upon the integrity of the mili
tary services. We consider it im
perative that affirmative action be
taken.
There appears to be only one pos
sible course, and that is a reexami
nation of those who have been
physically retired."
The committee said that of about
35.000 officers retired for disabilities
between January 1. 1940, and Janu
ary 1, 1948. approximately 25.000 ob- !
viously were physically disabled.
For the remaining 10.000 the com
mittee recommended new checkups I
If these show their health has im
proved since being retired, the offi
cers either should return to active
duty or be dropped from the pen
sion rolls, the report said.
No Evidence of Fraud.
It added that information gained
from 12 public hearings and from
answer to 2,741 questionnaires sent
to retired officers produced "no evi
dence of fraud."
The committee made these sug
gestions for correcting present re
tirement practices:
1. If it is questionable whether a
disability is permanent, the officer
should be retired conditionally for
five years and take periodic physical
checkups.
2. Am^fficer still rated unfit for
| See PENSIONS-Page~A-5J ~
Truman Accepts
Draft-UMT Blend
As Best Possible
Calls Compromise
Proposal a Step in
Right Direction
President Truman said today
he accepted proposals to com
bine a temporary draft and a
universal training program be
cause it was all he could get out
of Congress.
The President told a news con
ference the idea of blending the
draft and universal training was an
acceptable compromise.
Then he added that it was because
it was all he could get. It was, he
said, a step in the right direction.
Mr. Truman asked Congress for a i
temporary revival of the draft to.
expand the armed forces now. He
also asked a universal training pro
gram under which all physically-fit!
18-year-old.s would be trained as a
reserve.
Substitute Found Necessary. I
But when Congress was cool to
that, military men came up last
Tuesday with a substitute plan
which virtually junked the universal
training idea.
The substitute, outlined to the
Senate Armed Services Committee, I
proposed
A draft of 161,000 youths in the
18-19'j age bracket for a year of:
training writh the regular services.
These boys could not be sent over
seas.
A draft of 190.000 men in the
19'2-25 age bracket for two years’,
service in the armed forces.
The House Armed Services Com
mittee has indicated opposition to
this proposal. Chairman Andrews
predicted any effort to combine the i
diaft and UMT would wind up in
defeat of both.
Secretary of Defense Forrestal
talked over the situation with Mr.
Truman yesterday. The President s
news conference remarks presum
ably indicate a decision to stick
with the idea of a combined draft
trainee program for the time being
at least.
Funds Committee Meeting.
Meanwhile, the Senate Appropria
tions Committee was meeting in ex
ecutive session amid indications that
the House-approved supplementary!
aircraft procurement bill would be
reported out today. The bill provides I
for $3,198,000,000 in rash and con-'
tract authorizations for the Air j
Force and Navy and would enable)
the Air Force to start building to
ward a 70-group strength.
The Senate compromise defense
bill would provide for expansion to
66-group strength.
Secretary of Air Symington, Sec
retary of the Navy Sullivan, Gen.
Spaatz, retiring Air Force Chief of I
Staff, and Admiral Denfeld. Chief
nf Naval Operations: Secretary of
the Army Royall and Gen. Bradley.
Army Chief of Staff, were called to
the closed session. j
Secretary Royall and Gen. Brad
ley told a Senate appropriations
subcommittee earlier that they be
lieved B-29 bombers should be taken
out of storage and used to the best I
advantage at least until new type
planes could be produced. Gen.
Bradley estimated that two or three
years would be required for such
new type production.
Called Best Bomber Today.
Their testimony ^indicated that
they indorsed the 66-group Air Force
compromise, but both declared that ,
"the most modern air force and the
one superior in numbers would be
the best."
“The B-29 is the best strategic
bombing plane in the world today,”
Secretary Royall said. “I don’t see
any reason why we should not utilize
them today. It would be the part of
wisdom to use and improve them
until we get others."
Gen. Bradlev commented:
"If you doiA arm the 10 groups
of B-29s now you w’on't have anyj
new' planes for two or three years.
While we are waiting for something
new. why not increase our striking
force until new planes come in. We
should use them until something
better can be produced."
The 18 groups to which Gen.
Bradley referred would constitute
approximately 300 B-29s that would
be taken out of storage and mod-!
ernized to build up the Air Force to
66 groups, as recommended by Sec
retary'Forrestal.
Committee Votes to Admit
200,000 DPs, Ending Deadlock
By the Associated Press
A bill to let 200,000 displaced
Europeans enter the United
States was approved todav by
the House Judiciary Committee.
It would admit the displaced per
sons over a' two-year period and
charge them to future immigration
quotas of their native countries.
In addition, the bill would allow
15.000 displaced persons already in
the United States to stay here per
manently.
Three classes of priorities for en
trance would be set up for people
still in Europe:
1. Farm laborers, doctor--, dentists,
medical nurses, huosehold. constrt^
tion, clothing and garment workers,
or persons possessing educational,
scientific or technological qualifica
tions.
2. Aliens who are blood relatives
of American citizens or aliens who
have been lawfully admitted to the
United States.
3. All other eligible aliens.
The committee action broke a long
deadlock over the issue. At one
point it considered a bill to let in
400.000 people in four years. Presi
dent Truman had supported that
plan.
A SlO.OOO-a-year co-ordinator and
an advisory board to be named by
the President would direct the DP
resettlement program.
Voice Objection
To Foreign Units
In Holy Land
By th» Associated Press
LAKE SUCCESS, April 29—
The Arabs today rejected a
French proposal for an interna
tional volunteer polfce force for
Jerusalem.
The Jews agreed to the proposal
for a 1.000-man elite force to safe
guard Jerusalem's holy places un
der a proposed truce, but the Atab
rejection dashed hopes for its es
tablishment.
Jamal Husseini, vice chairman of
the Arab Higher Committee for
Palestine, told the United Nations
Trusteeship Council the Arabs "ob
ject to foreign troops being sent to i
our country." He said the term
troops also meant police.
Won't Oppose Police Force.
Husseini added that the Arabs
would not resist the proposed po
lice force, but would never agree
to it.
Moshe Shertok, head of the Jew
ish Agency's political department,
said the Jews definitely agree to
setting up a U. N. force for Jerusa
lem.
In response to a question, Hus
seini said:
“We will not shoot at them (the
proposed police force < but we will
not co-operate."
French Delegate Roger Garreau
told the Council the Arab state
ment was not satisfactory. He said
that if hp could not get co-operation
from both the Arabs and Jews he
would prefer to withdraw his pro-i
posal. I
The complications over the police
force came less than 24 hours after
Arab and Jewish representatives
here had agreed to a truce plan fori
the old walled portion of Jerusalem.
This truce was proposed as a pre
liminary to setting up the police
force.
Appeal for Trusteeship.
The United States renewed its ap
peal, meanwhile, for quick U. N
approval of the American plan for
U, N. trusteeship over Palestine.
The American delegation did not
refer directly to published reports
that the . United States was con
sidering a new shift in policy. But
American Delegate Philip C. Jessup
told the 58-member Political Com- j
mittee of the special U. N. Palestine
Assembly there had been no change
In the American position.
Dr, Jessup said he felt the Amer
ican views could be summed up this
way: |
1. The United Nations must be
prepared to accept full responsibil
ity for Palestine when the British
mandate rule ends May 15.
2. A temporary trusteeship ap
peared to be the proper way for
the United Nations to discharge
hese responsibilities.
Clarification Asked.
Earlier a spokesman for the
American delegation had denied the j
speculative reports of a shift in
Palestine policy. The reports, pub
lished in New York this morning,;
caused a number of delegates to
ipproach the American representa
:ives for clarification.
The reports followed the appoint
nent yesterday of Maj. Gen. John
rl. Hilldring as special assistant to
Secretary of State Marshall in
charge of Palestine affairs.
The United Nations Trusteeship
Council meanw'hile resumed its
■Sorts to set up a 1.000-man elite
volunteer police force to safeguard
he holy places of Jerusalem.
J. Fletcher-Cook, one of Britain's
•Palestine experts, told the Council
;he creation of such a force involved
serious difficulties. He said that,
n effect, Britain was no longer in
control in Jerusalem. Only 23
British officers were left in the Holy
Jity, he said.
Mr. Fletcher-Cook said the situa
tion in Palestine and Jerusalem had
ieteriorated rapidly in the past two
lays. He expressed doubts that the
J. N. would be able to get outside
police into Jerusalem if such a
’orce were established.
Broadened Truce Unlikely.
Little hope was held for broaden
ing a Jewish-Arab agreement in
tended to spare the sacred walled
city of Jerusalem from destruc
tion.
Representatives of the Jewish
Agency and the Arab Higher Com
mittee to the United Nations agreed
yesterday that all military oper
ations and acts of violence in the old
city section should cease immedi
itely.
The Arabs said they could accept
i truce covering the larger new
irea of Jerusalem only if it is
widened to take in all of Palestine.
Repeated efforts to enforce a
:ountry-wide cease-fire have stalled
>ver the issue of partition.
The Arabs stress daily here that
to overall truce is possible unless !
he partition scheme is dropped.
Bulletin
Receiving Home Hit
A District {Medical Society
committee today termed the •'
buildings of the Children’s Re- '
ceiving Home “a fire trap." ,
described the food served the .
children as “grossly inade- i
quate” and called for imme- '
diate repair of the structures i
“before a preventable tragedy I
occurs." The group, the so- 1
ciety’s Committee on Medical
Care in Public Institutions,
reported Its findings to the J
Commissioners and to House t
District Committee's Subcom
mittee on Health, Education I
and Recreation. ,,
T
/he looks' harmless'enough
(BUT YOU NEVER CANTQ.Ly-', r~
President Opposes Permanency
For 500,000 War Employes
Flemming Also Asks That Bill Be Scotched,
Branding It as Unfair to Veterans
By Joseph Young
President Truman’s opposition
was registered today against
legislation to give a permanent!
status to war Government em
ployes with five or more years!
of satisfactory service.
The President's stand was dis
closed by Civil Service Commissioner!
Arthur S. Flemming as the Senate
Civil Service Committee began hear
ings on the bill. |
Mr. Flemming also registered the
commission's strong opposition to
the bill, one of the most important
pieces of Federal employes’ legisla
tion in many years. The bill is
sponsored by Chairman Langer of
the committee.
More than 500.000 war service em
ployes, a large percentage of them in
Washington, would be affected by
the bill.. It would save the jobs of
many who, under present regula
tions. will have to compete with out
siders for their jobs.
Mr. Flemming declared the bill's
enactment "would be very unfair to
veterans.”
"More than 14.000,000 men and
women served in the armed forces
during the war and consequently did
not have the opportunity to secure
Government employment," Mr.
i See EMPLOYES. Page A^5j I
30 Women Injured
In Railway Accident
At Union Station
Victims Were Among 800
Coming Here for Tour
And White House Visit
Thirty women were injured. 20
requiring hospital treatment,
when a special Pennsylvania
train carrying 800 women from
Delaware County, Pa., ran into a
rail block at Union Station this |
morning.
Witnesses said the engineer. J. E.
Cavanaugh of Philadelphia, appar
ently did not apply the brakes soon
enough and the electric engine
bumped the block at the east end
of the station platform.
Arriving for a day of sightseeing
and tea with Mrs. Truman, the
tvomen were standing in the aisles,
putting on coats and gathering up
luggage when they were thrown
igainst the seats and into the aisles
py the impact.
Tw’o ambulances took nirfe of
the injured to Casualty Hospital. |
Eleven others were treated fors
minor injuries at Emergency Has-!
pital and released. Terminal physi
cians administered first aid to 10
others.
The women are members of the
Delaware County, Federation of
Women's Clubs. Delaware County J
comprises Upper Darby and vicin
ity in suburban Philadelphia. A
luncheon at the Washington Hotel
had been scheduled for the group
and they were to be greeted at the
White House at 2 p.m. and spend
the remainder of the time in sight
seeing before departing for home
at 6:05 p.m.
One of the injured was Mrs.
Louis Reid, 43. of Newtown Square,
Pa
‘The women were getting up to
put on their coats when we crashed
" (See WRECK. Page A-5.)
Yankees Lead Nats,
3-2, on Two Homers
BULLETIN
The Nats tied the score at j
3-3 in their half of the sixth,
Robertson scoring from third |
on a wide throw.
By Burton Hawkins
Star Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK. April 29 —Home
■tins by McQuinn and Keller sent
he Yankees into a 3-to-2 lead over
he Nats at the end of the fifth
nning here this afternoon.
FIRST INNING.
WASHINGTON — Yost walked.
■Cozar doubled to right center, Yost
topping at third. Coan popped to
Johnson. Vernon fanned. Robert
on was purposely passed, filling the
>ases. Wooten popped to Brown.
NEW YORK — Brown ' walked.
Henrich was hit on the leg by a
jitched ball. Keller hit Into a dou
>le play, Kozar to Christman to
/ernon, Brown taking third. Ver
ton made a fine back-hand stab of
31 Maggio's grounder and beat him
o first base.
SECOND INNING.
WASHINGTON — Christman
topped to Stimweiss. Early was;
tut. McQuinn to Shea, who covered
Irst. Hudson fouled to Johnson.
NEW YORK—Kozar threw outlj
lerra. 'Yost threw out Johnson.
~ 'See BASEBALL. Page ^-37) j
Johnny Palmer Sets
Pace in Capital Open
With 5-Under-Par 31
George Fazio Turns in 33,
Jimmy Thomson, 34,
And Ky Laffoon, 36
BULLETIN
Johnny Palmer and Tommy
Wright tied for the early lead
in the National Capital Open
at Prince Georges Country
Club today with five-under
par 67s. Wright holed long
putts on the last three holes
for his round while Palmer
played the back nine in 36,
even par, with his first nine 31.
By Merrell Whittlesey
Johnny Palmer of Badin. N. C.,
picked up his fifth birdie of the:
first nine holes on the seventh
hole and turned the first nine in
31 strokes. 5 under par, today, to
set the nine-hole pace in the
$12,500 National Capital Open at
Prince Georges Country Club.
Palmer ran a 15-foot putt into thei
cup over the new and rough seventh
green. Jimmy Thomson, playing
with Palmer, was two under par
with a 34.
George Fazio of Philadelphia, for
mer Canadian Open golf champion
who made only pin money on the
recent winter tour, pasted a three
under-par 33 on the front nine.
Fazio was spotting one of his
playing partners, Frank Stranahan,
almast 50 yards per hole off the tee,
but Fazio's putter was in a respon
sive mood while Stranahan, ranking
amateur star. 3-putted four straight
greens and was out in 1 over par 37.
Ky Laffoon, the other member of
the threesome, had a par 36.
National Open Champion Lew
Worsham ditched six of his irons at
the last minute today and left the
tee with borrowed clubs. Worsham
had been taking a kidding from
many of the pros for what, they
termed excessive markings on the
face of his clubs. He did not use
them because if they were found to
be grooved it would mean disqualifi
cation.
A1 Houghton, the hast club pro
fessional who is noted for his race
horse tactics on the golf course,
played his round in two and a half
hours in the company of Clagett
Stevens of Manor. Houghton, with
out a break from his putter, posted
15 pars, a lone birdie on the 11th
• See GOLF, Page A-3>
Joint D. C. Committee
Replacing Senate and
House Groups Urged
Aiken Expenditures Unit
Approves His Bill to
Save Time of Congress
By Harold B. Rogers
Abolition of both the House
and Senate District Committees
and establishment in their place
of a new “Joint Committee on
the District of Columbia" was
recommended to the Senate to
day by the Senate Committee on
Expenditures in the Executive
Departments.
The proposal was contained in a
bill sponsored by all members of
the Expenditures Committee, head
ed by Senator Aiken, Republican, of
Vermont.
The bill would amend the Legis
lative Reorganization Act of 1946.
To accomplish its purpose, it would
change the language of this 1946
law in several particulars.
Establishment of a joint commit
tee for the District long has been
sought by legislators who have com
plained that handling affairs of the
District took too much time of
members of Congress.
To consolidate the House and
Senate committees, it was pointed
out in a report by the Executive
Expenditures Committee, would
make for greater efficiency and
saving of time.
Another proposal for a joint con
gressional committee is pending in
the Auchincloss bill for home rule
and reorganization of the District
government.
Full Power to Report Bills.
In its report on the bill, the com
mittee discussed at some length the
reasons why abolition of the sepa
rate committees of House and Senate
on the District was proposed.
“It does not seem necessary for
38 members of the Congress to
spend so much time on the affairs
of the District of Columbia,” de
clared the report. (That figure rep
resents the total membership of
House and Senate District Com
mittees.*
“If the Congress must function as
a city council for Washington, a
smaller number of Senators and
Representatives should devote their
time to it.
"The provisions of the proposed
amendment give the members of the
Senate and the members of the
House of Representatives who are
members of the joint committee full
power to report to their respective
houses, and in no wav binds them
(See COMMITTEE, Page A-5.)
Cool Spell Due to Continue
With 42 Forecast Tonight
Cold northerly winds probably
will prolong the cool snap in Wash
ington for several days, the Weather
Bureau reported today, with the
mercury staying near 60 this after
noon.
The bureau said today’s sunshine
will be short-lived, with a foiecast
of cloudy skies and a low of about
42 degrees tonight. Tomorrow will
be continued cloudy and cool.
Clouds yesterday held the tem
perature to a high of about 46 de
grees, the bureau said, but at least
the cool weather was consistent.
The District forecaster reported an
“abnormally low" variation of only
3 degrees in the readings yesterday
—from a low of 43 to a high of 46
Apple Blossom Festival Opens;
Crowds Pour Into Winchester
(Pictures on Page B-l.)
By Robert C. Rollings
Stor Staff Cofr«p©nd*nt
WINCHESTER. Va.. April 29.—
A virtually blossomless Shenan
doah apple blossom festival
opened here today with the
coronation of Miss Gretchen Van
Zandt Merrill, national women's
figure skating champion.
The town gave over completely to
Winchester's annual big event.
Streets were hung with pink, white
and green banners and hawkers
sold their souvenirs on every street
corner. Every hotel and tourist
home had the no-vacancv notices
posted as crowds continued to pour
into the city. _
The queen spent -%pe forenoon
touring nearby orchards with her
two maids of honor, her 5-year-old
triplet train bearers and a Lord
Fauntleroy-clad crown bearer.
There was quite a search for trees
still in blossom, but the festival
drum beaters finally found a few 6
miles from town. These trees were
considered fair enough to frame the
beauty of the queen and her party
for the photographers and newsreel
men.
With the 22-vear-old queen were
Maids of Honor Adelaide Coble, 21;
Jody Armstrong, 19; the triplets,
Temple Lee, Carol Ann and Betty
Jean Creedle, daughters of Mr. and
Mrs. T. I. Creedle, jr. The crown
bearer, cute, grim and not entirrly
unafraid in his black velvet-and
~ iSee FESTIVAL. Eage A-5~>~
Gambling Probe
To Get Special
Safeguards
Names of Witnesses
And Jurors Expected
To Be Kept Secret
By Chris Mathisen
Special measures are being
planned to assure maximum
protection for witnesses appear
ing before the special grand .jury
which will investigate Washing
ton gambling and for the jurors
themselves it, was learned to
day.
United States Attorney George
Morris Pay would say only that the
secrecy of grand jury proceedings
would have to be preserved.
It was understood, however, a
District Court justice might be
asked to order that names of the
jurors be kept secret.
Meanwhile. Mr. Fay'held pledges
of co-operation from Commissioner
John Russell Young and Acting
Police Supt. Floyd a. Truscott.
In his order of yesterday, author
izing the investigation. Chief Jus
tice Bolitha J. Laws directed that
100 names of prospective jurors be
drawn tomorrow and that the jury
he impaneled on May 17. The action
was requested by Mr. Fay with the
approval of Attorney General Clark.
Can Subpoena "Outsiders."
! The special grand jury will have
power to subpoena persons residing
outside the District, including num
bers and horse-betting "big shots"
reputed to be controlling a gambling
industry of more than $100,000,000
annual volume from nearby points,
principally in Maryland.
Because of the magnitude of the
[business the investigation is in
i tended to break up. protection of
jurors who would act against the
j gambling barons and of persons
[testifying before them was said to
be receiving careful consideration
| in the United States attorney's
office.
Grand jury proceedings are made
secret by law, but the names of the
jurors usually are not withheld.
District Court can order this done.
Mr. Fay issued a call for co-oper
ation from the public. He said he
was certain that when the puhlie
realizes the importance of this in
vestigation we will have their full
co-operation."
Asks for Information.
| “I not only welcome but invite
any information or evidence they
j have which would assist this in
vestigation," he said, suggesting that
I informants call or write him or one
of his aides. Assistant United States
! Attorneys John W. Fihelly and
Charles B. Murray."
Asked for comment on the com
ing investigation yesterday, Mr.
'Young declared he would be "happy
to co-operate."
He added no information con
cerning large-scale gambling or any
indication of graft involving police
had come to his attention. He said
he would have been the first to de
mand an inquiry, if it had.
Inspector Truscott, said:
“The Metropolitan Police Depart
ment will co-operate in every way
passible, at Mr. Pay's request."
| Questioned as to the existence of
"organized" gambling in the Cap
ital, Inspector Truscott conceded
| there is some. He explained there
1 must be "a certain amount of or
ganization" in numbers betting
operations, for example.
He had no comment when asked
why police permit such activities to
take place.
Recalls 1936 Crackdown.
Inspector Truscott recalled he
; was assigned to the United States
attorney's office during a gambling
crackdown in 1936 and 1937. He
said six policemen were among
! those indicted by a regular grand
jury as a result of that drive, but
none of the members of the force
was convicted.
As to the gambling operations in
adjacent States, Inspector Truscott
said he believes they are “at their
lowest ebb.” largely because of
stricter enforcement in Prince
Georges County, Md.
County police said yesterday this
i was the case and insisted they are
ready to proceed promptly against
any establishment on which any one
can supply evidence of gambling.
Supt. Ralph W. Brown of the
Prince Georges force pointed out
that a crackdown was started there
last September which resulted in a
number of gambling establishments
(See GAMBLING. Page A-5.)
Driver Killed as Auto
Hits Loading Platform
A man was killed early today
when his 1947 Lincoln convertible
first struck a streetcar loading plat
form and then careened into a
streetcar in the first block of Florida
avenue N W.
Taken to Gallinger Hospital at
2:30 a.m., he was pronounced dead
aoout half an hour later. He was
identified as William Taft Bold
ware, 38, colored, of 125 R street
: N.E. Police said he had been ar
j rested several times in the past on
gambling charges.
A passenger in his automobile,
' Inez Wood, 23, colored, of 2617 I
street N.W.. was admitted at Freed
men's Hospital for cuts and bruises.
In other accidents reported by
police last night and yesterday, a
3-year-old boy suffered a broken
leg when struck by a bus and a
pedestrian suffered head injuries
when hit by an automobile.
The boy, John B Maxwell, 1514
Rosedale street N.E.. was injured
when the rear wheel of a bus. tum
I ing from Sixteenth street into Rose
dale street N.E., bounced up on the
curb and struck his coaster wagon,
according to police. The boy was
taken to Providence Hospital.
The pedestrian. James T. Murphy,
j 56, of 4111 Decatur street. Hyatts
ville. was struck in the 2700 block of
Bladensburg road N.E . police said.
He w»s m fair r- iriition at Casualty
H- i'll ted ■ ith. head injuries.