Evening star. [volume], April 09, 1951, Image 1

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

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99th Year. No. 99. Phone ST. 5000 »** WASHINGTON, D. C„ MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1951-FORTY PAGES. ,£S, 5 CENTS
Reds Open Dam
To Halt Allied
Force's Drive
U. N. Troops Move
Out of Peril on
Banks of River
By the Associated Press
TOKYO, April 9.—Chinest
Communists opened the floodgates
of the massive Hwachon reser
voir dam in Central Korea todaj
and sent thousands of tons ol
water rushing down on Allied-helc
ground.
But the Pukhan River rose nc
more than 4y2 feet.
By tonight the water level was
receding and there was no dangei
to United Nations forces.
Nearly all Allied elements hac
moved above the expected high
water mark.
A United States 8th Army en
gineer said:
“There will be no real strain
They can’t do any worse without
Two D. C. Area Men Killed in Korea
Another Dies of Wounds. Page A-t
Kidgway Emphasizes Communists Won*
Call Off Korean War. Page A-1
blowing the dam and that’s a dam
that will take a hell of a lot oi
blowing.”
Allies Resume Advance.
U. N. troops desumed their ad
vance toward the reservoir as the
flood waters slowly receded.
An Allied task force moved to
ward the dam in an effort to seize
it before the Reels could attempl
any further damage. The task
force met rifle, machine-gun and
mortar fire.
Elements of an American divi
sion had two fire fights with Com
munist platoons south of the
reservoir. A French patrol closed
in on the reservoir without op
position.
The Reds were believed to be
holding camouflaged positions
north of the reservoir and north
of Hwachon City.
Main Point of Resistance.
The Hwachon Reservoir, about
7 miles north of the 38th Parallel,
is the main point of the stoutest
Red resistance in North Korea in
several weeks. In bitter fighting
south of the reservoir today the
Reds slowed or stopped Allied ad
vances at several points.
The dam is 275 feet high. The
Reds opened 10 of its 18 flood
gates. Six gates were reported in
operable.
The Reds may have had two
purposes in loosing their man
made flood:
First, to cut the Chunchon
Hwachon highway, a main Allied
supply artery.
Second, to pave the way for a
counter-offensive down the Chun
chon-Wonju highway.
Although fighting near the res
ervoir has been severe. Associated
Press Correspondent Leif Erick
son at United States 8th Armj
headquarters said there was nc
indication the Reds had started
a mass drive.
Red Regiment Sighted.
An estimated Communist regi
ment was sighted yesterday after
noon between the river and ad
vancing Allied soldiers. Aeria]
photographs clearly showed the
floodgates closed then.
The Chinese apparently opened
the floodgates and pulled out
some time after dark.
U. N. troops of four nations are
deployed around Chunchon. Some
forward elements might be tem
porarily cut off by the rising
water. The high water may ex
tend as far down the Pukhan
River as Seoul, some 55 air miles
southwest.
The reservoir is shaped like an
inverted “T,” with a base and
stem each 15 miles long. The citj
of Hwachon is on its western tip
Chorwon, an important Red
base 17 miles north of 38 on the
Western front, was brought undei
American artillery fire Monday
Only light to moderate ground
contact was reported from this
sector.
There was little fighting or
other fronts.
Pravda Charges U. S. Plane:
Raided Antung, Manchuria
MOSCOW, April 9 (Jf).—Pravtb
today reported an air raid by 24
United States planes on Antung
Chinese city on the Manchuria
Korea border.
The Communist Party news
paper quoted a dispatch from
the Chinese (Communist) Sinhus
News Agency which claimed that
American B-29’s and jet planes
dropped more than 50 bombs on
the city and its suburbs.
Special Section Offers
Spring Cleaning Hints
There's no need for the annual
spring cleaning job to upset you and
the entire household. Not if you read
the special secticn which appears this
W * d n esdoy in
The Stor.
The section
will offer sug*
g e s t i o n s for
quick meals, care
of house and
grounds, storage
and cleaning
services, and
short cuts in the
search tor dirt
from cellar to
ottic.
Don't miss the
12 - page spring
section fh:s Wr. '
4 Phone Sterling 50C
livery.
Truman Under Rising Pressure
T o Act Now in Mac Arthur Rift
President Reported
Aroused, But Next
Move Is Uncertain
By Cecil Holland
A mounting public clamor over
Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s recent
views urging the opening of a
second front against Chinese
Communists built up pressure on
j President Truman today to in
tervene directly and forcibly in
the controversy.
j Some of the President’s friends
at the Capitol, reporting that he
MocArthur Immunity Troced to the Foui
Hots He Wears. Poge A-13
! was highly aroused by the Mac
Arthur statement running counter
to administration policy, said they
thought Mr. Truman might act
quickly in the matter.
However, no one would predict
just what the President would do.
There have been some suggestions
that Mr. Trurtian would issue a
stern reprimand to the Far East
ern commander, or in an extreme
action issue an order for his recall.
The White House today con
tinued its silence on the MacAr
thur case, Press Secretary Joseph
: Short refusing to discuss any
aspect or answer any question
about the possibility of new de
velopments.
I Asked about a story out of Lon
don to the effect that the United
States and Great Britain have
*
MacArthur Greets
Army Secretary Pace
At Tokyo's Airport
By the Associated Press
TOKYO. April 9. —Army
Secretary Frank Pace, jr., ar
rived by plane today at
Tokyo’s Haneda airport. He
i was met there by Gen. Mac
Avthur and top ranking offi
cers of the Far East Com
mand.
Secretary Pace will confer
with Gen. MacArthur and
also plans to visit the Korean
war front.
It was announced earlier in
Washington that Mr. Pace’s
Pacific tour would extend over
two weeks.
agreed on a new declaration o:
policy with regard to Korea, Mr
Short said he had made a checl
and “found no such project ii
the works.”
There was no indication tha
the matter was discussed at th<
President’s cabinet meeting thi:
| morning.
Attorney General McGrath ha:
far more weighty problems on hi:
mind than the MacArthur affair
he told reporters today as the
semiweekly meeting of the cabinei
broke up.
Mr. McGrath quipped, “I'n
thinking of keeping Sawyer ou
i See MacARTHUR, Page A-5.)
I
House Group Votes
Draft Bill Amendment
In Move to Pass UMT
Administration Chiefs
Make Concessions to
Avoid Plan's Defeat
By George Beveridge
The House Armed Services Com
mittee today approved a draft bill
amendment to require both con
gressional and presidential ap
proval of any future plan to put
universal military training into
effect.
This amendment in effect would
force Congress to enact an en
tirely new law to put UMT into
operation even if the mechanics
and principal of UMT are ap
proved in the draft bill the House
will vote on this week.
The committee’s vote clearly was
a further concession to UMT op
ponents, in a move by administra
tion leaders to give insurance to
their chances that UMT will pass
the House in its weakened form.
At the same time, Representa
tive Kilday, Democrat, of Texas,
relaxed his drive to kill the new
plan which makes a national apti
| tude test the basis for college
student deferments. But he said
he will sponsor an amendment to
require that results of the test
will not be mandatory on local
boards in considering students for
deferment.
This revision apparently clears
the way for draft officials to give
the test, starting next month to
about 80p.000 college students.
Far From Original Bill.
The UMT amendment approved
today is a far cry from the orig
inal bill’s provision. The original
would have a commission draw up
details of a UMT program as soon
as possible which automatically
would go into operation unless
Congress specifically rejected it
within 60 days.
As opposition mounted in House
debate, Chairman Vinson—admin
istration leader in the House fight
—announced plans to give Con
gress the right to amend the com
mission’s plan. Further, Congress,
by concurrent resolution, would
have to approve this program
before any men could be inducted
for training.
Today, however, Mr. Vinson
agreed in committee to strike out
the concurrent resolution pro
vision and place upon UMT pro
ponents the burden of enacting
(See DRAFT, Page A-5.)
Late News
Bulletins
Belgian Aid Cut Off
Paul R. Porter, assistant ad
ministrator of EGA. today noti
fied Belgium that the United
States is cutting off further
Marshall Plan allotments to
that nation until there is a
satisfactory adjustment of a
Belgian court action which is
tied up with $7 million of aid
to Greece. Mr. Porter said ac
tion of the Belgians in sup
porting a suit instituted by a
private citizen is inexcusable.
Attorney Is Shot
B. Dabney Fox, an attorney
associated with one of the top
colored law firms in the city,
was shot and wounded shortly
before nbon today in his apart
ment at 1909 Nineteenth street
; N.W. Police Inspector Archie
Winfree said preliminary indi
: cations showed Mr. Fox had
been wounded during an argu
ment with a client now being
sought. „
Daylight Vote Delayed
After lengthy, spirited debate
on a bill to authorize daylight
saving time in Washington for
this summer, the House today
postponed a rollcall vote until
I tomorrow. 1
1 ♦ *
Court Orders Mistrial
In Keleher Alienation
Suit on Technicality
Delay in Final Ruling
On Divorce Bars Actual
Assessment of Damages
A mistrial was declared todaj
in the $250,000 alienation of af
fections suit filed by Mrs. Anna T
(Dolly) Keleher against Mrs. Dor
othy Blake involving Mrs. Kele
her’s husband, John (Blackjack)
Keleher.
Judge Edward A. Tamm dis
missed the jury after a technical
legal point had been raised in i
conference with opposing counse
in District Court, where the tria
had been in progress for two days
The lawyers. James J. Laugh
lin for Mrs. Keleher and Alvir
Newmyer, representing Mrs. Blake
agreed with Judge Tamm on th<
dismissal move. The point wa;
! made that since the actual divorc*
decree in the Keleher case i:
pending in the United State;
j Court of Appeals the trial coun
in the Keleher-Blake case coulc
not properly measure the amoum
of damages to which Mrs. Kelehei
mav bp pnt.it.1pH
Mr. Keleher won his divorce
suit against his wife in March
1950. If that decree stood as final
Mrs. Keleher would be able U
claim damages for loss of her hus
band’s affections up to that date
the court explained. Since the
appellate court still is studying the
divorce case status of the decree
is not final, however.
Should the appeals court re
verse the divorce finding, Mrs
Keleher would be able to claiir
damages from Mrs. Blake in the
alienation suit on the basis o:
compensation during her norma:
life expectancy.
Judge Tamm told the jury thal
jit would be “impossible” for hirr
to give a proper charge regarding
damages in the light of the pres
ent status of the divorce case
The judge added that the aliena
tion suit would be re-calendered
for trial immediately after th(
Appeals Court ruling.
Mrs. Keleher claims that Mrs
Blake lured her husband awaj
some time in 1946. Mr. Kelehei
has described himself as a “re
I tired” gambler.
8,000 British Dockers
Strike as Trial Opens
By the Associated Press
LONDON, April 9.—A walkou
by nearly 8,000 dock worker:
marked the opening today of thi
conspiracy trial of seven docker:
accused of inciting illegal water
front strikes.
The seven went on trial in thi
famous Old Bailey, where Si:
Hartley Shawcross, attorney gen
eral, charged in his opening state
ment that they had tried “to hole
the nation to ransom and defy thi
lafr of the land.” All sever
pleaded innocent.
Civics Lesson Corrected—Roosevelt Was No Suicide
Eighth grade pupils of the Aldie
(Va.) School know today that
their civics teacher made a mis
take when he told them that
President Roosevelt committed
suicide.
They know because one of theii
number, 14-year-old Henry Park
wouldn’t take even a teacher’s
word for something he thought
was unfair to a man he admired
So when he saw a letter in The
Star of March 10 from Mr. Roose
velt’s physician, Vice Admiral Ross
T. Mclntire, on the subject of the
late President’s health in 1944
Henry saw his chance to straighter
things out.
In a somewhat wobbly but bold
hand, he wrote Admiral Mclntire
in care of The Star, as follows:
“I enjoyed yout- letter to The
Star^ ,
1 “Our civics teacher told*the
f- /
class that, among other things
President Roosevelt committee
suicide by shooting himself. He
(the civics teacher) says that is
why Mrs. Roosevelt did not get tc
see the President after he was
dead and why the President die
not lie in state.
“I think that President Roose
velt was our greatest Presidenl
and it is terrible when people gc
around saying stuff like that. Thai
is why I am writing you. because
I think a statement from a persor
that is recognized as knowing
about President Roosevelt woulc
| convince all of the class and may
be even the teacher.
“If you have time to answei
this letter, I would appreciate il
very, very much. Inclosed is a self
addressed envelope. Thank you s
lot.”
Admiral Mein tire's reply tc
Henry follows:
- f' ^
“Dear Henry:
“Thank you very much for your
letter of March 18,1951, which has
been forwarded to me by the Edi
tor of The Evening Star. I am
sorry it was not possible for me to
answer your letter sooner but it
does take time for mail to get
around.
“I am glad to answer the ques
tions that you have put to me in
your letter. I can say positively
that President Roosevelt did not
commit suicide in any way. I am
very much surprised that a teach
er in a school would make such a
statement for teachers should take
the trouble to inform themselves
before passing on information to
their students.
“Mrs. Roosevelt would tell you
that she did see the President after
he was dead and I can say to you
that I know the other members of
the family did also. The President
did not lie in state and thatwvas
a decision that was made by Mrs.
Roosevelt. I can also tell you
that I had heard him express him
self on that subject many years
before he died. He did not believe
in such a practice.
“You are a young man and will
undoubtedly be alive when histo
rians-write the real story of Presi
dent Roosevelt’s worth to the na
tion and the world. You know
from your history books that Presi
dent Lincoln was not given credit
for his greatness until more than
50 years after his death.
“You may use my letter in any
way you see fit and I do hope that
it will have a good effect on your
fellow students.
“Let me thank you again for
writing to me.
“Sincerely yours,
“Ross T. Mclntire,
V. Adm. (MC) U.S.N., Ret’d.
This is the first time ^iat Ad
(See LETTER, Page A-3.)
Rayburn Names
Massing Soviets
As Major Peril
Describes Russian
Concentration 'Here,
There, Everywhere'
By Joseph A. Fox
House Speaker Rayburn declared
today after a White House con
ference “we are in terrible danger”
because the Russians are concen
trating troops “here, there and
everywhere.”
He added, "How many and
where is a little out of my line.”
The Speaker's comment was
made during his discussion of a
speech he made in the House last
i week when he said that this coun
try faces great danger, and added
- that there were troop concentra
; tions — “non-Chinese” — on the
’ Manchurian border,
i Elsewhere it was reported today
1 that the administration was dis
; turbed by rumors that the Rus
sians are concentrating air and
ground forces in Manchuria,
Siberia, and the Kuriles. This
would pose a new menace for
Japan.
Refers to Coue Bywords.
Recalling that there had been
some press coment to the general
effect that he had made his House
speech in an effort to speed the
manpower bill, the Speaker said
bluntly:
“That’s a damn low estimate to
put on what I said about a serious
question.”
Senator McFarland of Arizona,
the majority leader, who was
standing by, interjected:
“What the speaker said was in
the best interest of the United
j States.”
| Mr. Rayburn declared that
' there’s no use of the American
people “trying to Coue ourselves”
because of periodic gains in the
Korean fighting.
His reference was to the French
physician, Coue, famous a num
ber of years ago, whose saying
that “Every day in every way
things are getting better and bet
ter” was a byword in this country.
Emphatic in Stressing Danger.
The Speaker was emphatic in
stressing his belief that America
' must recognize the danger the
Nation faces.
He talked to reporters after the
Democratic cangressional leaders
; at their weekly meeting with the
President had gotten a briefing on
Jthe Korean situation.
Speaker Rayburn said that the
subject of the new involvement of
l Gen. Mac Arthur in discussion of
'Far Eastern policy came up at the
I meeting but that it was only in
cidental and that he could not re
member who broached it.
Lillie LWU U1 1UU1C pcupie
get together now the subject of
MacArthur comes up,” he said.
Wheat Action Sought.
The Speaker said that the
House is going to try to dispose
of the manpower bill this week and
that he was also going to try to get
action on the administration plan
to ship 2 million tons of wheat to
| India, which is stymied in the
'Rules Committee.
The increasing tension in the
fight against communism was fur
ther pointed up today by Secretary
of Defense Marshall. In an inter
view, Gen. Marshall said:
I “Every indication we have from
abroad is of increasing buildup.
It has been noticeable particularly
in the satellite countries. The sit
, uation not only hasn’t changed in
;the matter of being less tense, it is
really more tense than before.”
The best this country can hope
for, he said, is a period of tension
rather than an all-out world war,
and he added:
“What v/e are thinking about is
possibly a 10-year tension—but
the tension has relaxed here in
six weeks.”
Reiterates Call for IIMT.
| Gen. Marshall expressed these
1 views in a copyrighted interview
'iWith the magazine United States
News and World Report, during
which he reiterated his call for
enactment of a universal mili
■ tary training program.
He said he could see no hope
for any early letup in the re
armament program, because even
I if the West and Russia came to
! terms “we would be perfect fools
i to relax our military strength un
til we had evidence of good faith.”
15 THERE A |
LAWYER IN _ *
THE HOUSE?
I
2/0 Known Communists Living
Here, FBI Chief Tells Congress
Hoover Says Loyalty Check Is Effective;
Trained Saboteurs Ready, He Warns
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
has told Congress there are'210
known Communists in Washing
ton.
The statement was made in re
cent testimony before the Senate
Appropriations Committee in
which Mr. Hoover also said:
1. The loyalty program designed
to keep subversives out of the
Klaus Fuchs Labeled "Deadliest Spy";
Pontocorvo Second. Page A-6
Federal Government has been
"very effective” and loyalty checks
have resulted in the dismissal of
304 employes and the resignation
of 2,941 others while under inves
tigation.
2. A "hard core” of sabotage
trained Communists are ready to
strike at vital industries if war
comes and the fifth column men
ace-from 43,217 known Commu
nists throughout the country is
“far greater than in the last war
with the Nazis and subversive
elements.’’
3. A program for fingerprinting
all employes of war industries, in
volving millions of checks, is under
consideration.
4. The FBI discovered that a
woman now facing deportation
from this country was involved in
espionage with a member of Stal
in’s personal bodyguard. The
woman's name was not disclosed.
Mr. Hoover told the committee
the FBI has processed 3,225,611
loyalty forms and has undertaken
14,484 full field investigations of
Federal job applicants.
When he said there were 210
(See LOYALTY, Page A-3.)
Senators Start Inquiry
Into U. S. Job Peddling
Charge in Mississippi
40 Witnesses Scheduled
For 3-Day Hearing on
State-Wide Patronage
By tht Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss., April 9. —A
Senate investigating committee
opens public hearings today into
charges that Mississippi pro
Truman Democrats peddled Fed
eral jobs for $300 each.
Senator Hoey, Democrat, of
North Carolina, chairman of the
Senate Expenditures Subcommit
tee, said that so far as he knew
this is the first congressional in
quiry into State-wide distribution
of patronage. He said the hear
ings would be conducted “without
regard to persons or political
parties.”
“The purpose of the investiga
tion is to get at the truth and not
smear anybody or vindicate any
body,” Senator Hoey said. "We
will make the investigation and if
we believe that there may be vio
lations, then we will give the
transcript of the hearing to the
Justice Department.”
Other committeemen are Sen
ators McClellan, Democrat, of
Arkansas, and Mundt, Republican,
of South Dakota.
Senator Hoey expected about 40
witnesses to be summoned, in
cluding the State’s pro-Truman
leaders. The hearings may last
three days.
Last February 21 Senators
Stennis and Eastland, Democrats,
of Mississippi, told the Senate
about reports that Federal jobs
(See JOB SALES. Page A-4.)
Prosecution Urged
For Pentagon Official
In Freight Diversion
Senatk Investigators
Report Acceptance of
$4,500 in Payments
Senate investigators today sug
gested “prosecutive action” against
a Pentagon civilian official ac
cused of accepting $4,500 in “im
proper payments” for helping to
route Government freight through
a Texas port.
The official named in secret
testimony released in a special
report was Harold F. Dowell. 52,
of 418 Peabody street N.E., until
recently chief of the Port Con
trol Unit, Army Transportation
Office. An Army spokesman said
Mr. Dowell resigned March 16.
Members of an Armed Services
subcommittee inquiring into the
defense effort recommended that
“this case should be referred to
the Departments of Justice and
of the Army for such prompt and
prosecutive action as the facts
justify.”
Denies Diverting Cargo.
Mr. Dowell, who had served
with the transportation unit
since 1942, denied today that he
had helped divert “any Army
cargo into Orange (the Texas
port involved) for the benefit of
Orange or for any compensation.”
Mr. Dowell told The Star he
was approached in New Orleans
in June, 1948, by Orange officials,
“at which time they asked me to
help promote the port—more in
a social way than anything else.
(See FREIGHT. Page A-3.)
Franklin Park Lost
To Soap-Box Orators;
Meetings Are Banned
Parks Office Cites
Complaints, Disorder
In Announcing Move
There will be no more soap-box
orations in Franklin Park.
Washington’s popular outdoor
rostrum will not swing into action
ithis summer by decree of the In
terior Department’s National Cap
ital Park office. Park police have
been ordered to prevent any public
| meetings there.
“We’re not censoring freedom of
speech,” Edward J. Kelly, Na
tional Capital Parks superintend
ent, said. “There are other places
the speakers can go.”
Complaints Received.
He said complaints from hotels,
rooming houses and business places
in the area—plus frequent dis-;
order—caused the decision to ban
the meetings. It was felt that
Franklin Park was in an area too
heavily populated to allow the
meetings to go on. he added.
As Union Square is to New
York and Hyde Park to London,
so was Franklin Park to Wash
ington—until now. Andy Sunday:
in good weather a wide choice of
lectures could be had on religion,:
politics, economics, world affairs
or almost any other subject.
Rules Revised Last Year.
Mr. Kelly said the regulations
governing public meetings in pub
lic parks were revised last year
but not officially adopted until the
middle of last summer. Nothing1
was done then because it was
late in the soap box season, he
added.
Permits may be obtained for
public meetings in other areas in
the park system, he pointed out.
None will be issued for Franklin
Park, he added.
Mr. Kelly said the speakers •
could go to Judiciary Square or ;
to the Mall near Ninth street or
any of a number of other locations 1
in the parks for which permits are 1
available.
—
Truman Pitch to Open
Nats' Season Here
i
President Truman today got in
line for his annual baseball chore,
telling President Clark Griffith of •
the Nationals that he would be on ,
hand to throw out the first ball
when the Yankees open the Amer- :
ican League season here next Mon
day.
The President said he would do !
his pitching left-handed this year.
Sometimes he uses both left and
right hands.
Mr. Griffith called at the White '
House with his business manager, 1
Edward B. Eynon, to present an- 1
nual passes to the President and
Mrs, Truman. <
The President’s was in a wallet;!
Mrs. Truman’s in a fitted black
handbag. Mr. Griffith said that
when Miss Margaret Truman
comes back to Washington there
will be a pass for her, too.
Firemen Extinguish Blaze
In Building at CU
Firemen fought a stubborn blaze
in the basement of the Chemistry
Building at Catholic University for
nearly an hour early today, pre
venting any extensive damage to
the structure.
The blaze apparently started in
trash in the basement, firemen
said. Chemicals stored in the base
ment caught fire and dense smoke
and fumes filled the four-story
brick building.
Wearing masks, the firemen
finally subdued the blaze, described
as “small.” Damage was estimated
as minor and confined to the base
ment. The building is lised for
classrooms only. f
I
Two Probes Set
In 6-25 Crash
At Morninoside
Pilotless Plane Slams
Into Cottage, Killing 2
Children and Uncle
•
Congressional and Air Force
nvestigations were ordered today
in a "tragic series of circum
stances” which sent a pilotless
3-25 bomber crashing into a cot
age in nearby Morningside, Md.t
tilling two children and their
ancle.
Minutes before the big plane
:ame swooping down on the little
Pictures of Course of Bounding Plone and
Burning Cottage. Page B-1
Morningside Bitter, Meeting Set Tonight
on Fatal Crash. Page B-1
Reason for Bomber's Veering From Course
Remains Mystery. Page B-1
Mass Rites Planned for 19 Flyers Killed
on Funeral Mission. Page A-14
immunity late yesterday, its
,hree-man crew parachuted to
safety. After failing in a four
lour flight to dislodge the plane's
landing gear, the pilot had set the
:ontrols, expecting the bomber to
fall 13 miles out in Chesapeake
Andrews Air Force Base had
sent two jet fighters into the air
ay the time the first crewman
had parachuted. Their assign
ment was to follow the derelict
bomber and shoot it down over
Chesapeake Bay.
But something went wrong. In
stead of keeping on a straight
course, the plane suddenly dipped
to the left, and circled three or
four times as it descended.
Crashes Into Cottage.
As fate would have it, the
isolated little village of Morning
side, surrounded by thousands of
uninhabited acres was the un
attended plane’s destination. It
struck a pole and power line near
the intersection of Suitland road
and Lombardy street, roared
along Lombardy like an unchained
monster and crashed into the
cottage of M Sergt. Samuel R.
Snyder, 31.
There was a thundering’’ ex
plosion, a gush of fire and flam
ing death. The two Snyder chil
dren, Kay, 6, and Rena Denise,
2 months, died in the wreckage,
as did their uncle, Irvin N. Guyer
of Cranford, N. J.
Through valiant rescue work,
neighbors and firemen pulled out
the sergeant and his wife, Mrs.
Dorothea Snyder, 32, and Mr.
Guyer’s wife* Violet, 25.
In Critical Condition.
Mrs. Guyer was in critical con
dition at Casualty Hospital and
the Snyders were reported in fair
condition today at Bolling Air
Force Base Hospital, all with cuts.
Today aroused citizens of Morn
ngside were asking: Why did it
lave to happen here? Who gave
the order for the crew to bail
nit here?
Representative Sasscer, Mary
and Democrat, in whose district
-he crash occurred, set out to an
swer these and all other questions
•elated to the tragedy. Chairman
Hinson of the House Armed Serv
ces Committee appointed him
lead of an investigative sub
JOmmittee whose other members
ire Representative Fisher, Demo
:rat, of Texas, and Arends, Repub
ican of Illinois.
Mr. Sasscer said the committee’s
staff had been instructed to gather
mmediately all facts throwing
ight on the accident. The inves
igators wished to trace the history
>f any faulty equipment that led
.0 the crash, he said.
To Probe Water Supply.
The subcommittee also will look
nto Morningside’s inadequate
vater supply situation, and
iharges that the village was re
fused permission to hook onto a
vater main running between An
Irews Base and Suitland.
Officials at Andrews Air Force
3ase, where the plane and crew
vere based, also pressed an in
luiry. They were to interview the
lilot, Capt. Paul V. Chapman, 33,
vho has a distinguished war rec
>rd; Capt. Robert T. Sanders, the
:o-pilot, and Sergt. J. E. Albright,
-he engineer.
npv. a r m *... i i_i m _ • <
**»hm**j vuaiu, ucaucu uy
Uol. Leon T. Berger, commander
>f the 1050th Air Base Group, also
insisted of the flight surgeon
md three other pilots.
Col. Robert A. Gardner, An
Irews commander, invited the
Continued on Page A-8, Col. 3.)
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