Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 97, Decatur, Adams County, 24 April 1953 — Page 1

Vol. LI. No. 97.

Freed Yankees Jell Bitterly Os POW Deaths v Released American War Prisoners Tell ( Os Red Brutalities .'4 , . f ! FREEDOM VILLAGE, Korea UP *— Freed American war prisoners told bitterly today of the deaths of at least 743 more American soldiers at the hands of the Reds, and of a “Death Valley” where dead Gl’s were carried out by “the Korean cartloads.’’ Their stories raised to nearly-’ j 3.000 the number of United Na- ’ tions prisoners Wh|ch liberated PQWr have charged died of torture, starvation and neglect. It was the largest: single total of American victims yet reported. In Washington it was reported that congressional leaders were trying to delay proposed, investigations of Korean war atrocities for fear it might endanger, the lives of prisoners still in Red hands. Today’s stories {came from among 40 Americans released in the fifth day of the exchange of United Nations and Communist sick and woupded war prisoners, ft brought to 119 the number of Americans released sq far, and to sko the over-all total of U. N. prisoners released by thi Reds. The Allies have returned 2,500 Reds. Reds promised 17 more\ Americans Saturday.- * At today’s meeting pf liaison officers ( the U. n| proposed that the exchange of sick and wounded be continued for the difration of Korean hostilities. The \U. N. proposal would test Red ‘claims they are repatriating “all” U., N. sick and wounded. ~ . The story of a\ "Death Valley” on the route from the front to the "— prison campat Changson gas disclosed by two Americans. “They were carrying dead Gl’s I out of there by the Korean cart- i ! loads,” said pfc, Harold L. Witt of Bartlesville, Okla. I Witt said he knew pf at least ;l 20r Americans who died in "Death Valley.” Cpl. Joe L. jjewell, Cincinnati. 0.. supported Witt’s stdry. Jewell estimated thM 260 Americans never came out of the\valley. "Most of them died of starvation,” he said. ? Pvt. Paul E. Clements. Indianapolis, Ind., said 400 sjck and' injured Americans died on a winter march in 1950. 5 \ Pfc. Ambro W. Vaippran, Maurepas. La., said about 100 menout of 300 to 400 on-one march died of sickness in 1951. * t •> ’ Pfc. Vernon L. Rphrbaugb, 21, Bismarck, W. Va., said four men died or were killed during a march that began May 18. 1951, and ended some time in June.

Seek Truck Driver \ For Selling Load _ ■ i \ t CARMI, Jll., UP — ; Authorities searched today for a Texarkana, i Ark., man who drove a truck to ~ Evansville, Ind., sold its load of produclp for $360 then disappeared with the money. V William R. Dyer, Texarkana, told local authorities he' hired a William Wren to drive his truck from Texarkana to .Evansville and instructed him to sell the produce and wire the money \to Dyer. . Instead, Dyer said.iWreri phoned to tell him the tryck had broken, down about 10 miles west of here. Authorities found the truck but Wren had disappeared. \ ' ' / — — May Fellowship In Decafur On May 1 The annual , pVflay fellowship, sponsored by the council of united i church women will be observed in this city, Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Christian church. Host churches along with the, First Christian church will be the Trinity Evangelical and United Brethren, Bethany Evangelical and United Brethren, and the First 1 Missionary church. ' A' panel difcussiod* using this 1 ♦year’s theme “Citizenship — Our Christian Concern,” will be presented. Immediately following the program, a fellowship hour will be enjoyed: \An invitation is extended to the men and wpmen of this community. ' \ 1 INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy and windy with occasional showers and thunderstorms tonight and Saturday. Some thunderstorms locally heavy. Low tonight 50-55 north and near 60 south. High Saturday 55-60 north/ ■'. and 60-70 south. ' i I • ■ • f

DECATUR DA 11Y DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

' Reorganization ‘ Coming I ■' Ik wlßlk > ? ■ b WEI FOLLOWING a White House conference with President Eisenhower, house speaker W. Martin Jr., (R) Mass. (1.) and senate majority leader Robert Taft, (R) Ohio, told reporters that the administration will arnounce plans for a sharp reorganization of the state and defense departments. ‘ ; > j

NATO Council Urges Quick Ratification Dulles Warns Aid To Europe Depends On Treaty Action PARIS, UP {— The North Atlantic treaty council unanimously agreed On a U. S. resolution urging quick ratificatfhu <bf the European army treaty todar when secretary of state John pister Dulles warned Ameriban aid to EurSpe depended on fast actiqi. The resolution was submitted :o ~a drafting committee and will ?e vpted upoh this afternoon. It then will be made public. Dulles told delegates front 14 nations to the 11th melting of the council of lhat speedy approval of the treaty Was "indis-' pensable” for Europe's 1 defense. In introducing the U S. resolution. Dulles said the, patience of American congressmen was wearing thin because the Europeans had been slow in making up their minds of defense strat ?gy. He said the speech with which the European: army-came into being would greatly infli ence “legislative and executive t linking” on American aid to Eurhpe. J, The ministers then endorsed the resolution despite sotie coolness from France, which his been jlb-j ing slow op (;he |ssife of a European army which Would include 500,006' Germans. i I In B onn the upper house of West Germany’s parliament voted 20 to TS to delay ratification of the treaty until the\ high court at KaTlsruhe decides whether rearmament is constitut onal,. The French obviously had been annoyed by Dulles’ blunt remark to a press conference that haps tfte French ■ want to send troops to fight and die for Germany while the*}Germans sit by as spectators but we Ame-icans don't •want to.V ' 'n| I But am'baspadpiv Herve Alphand, France’s permanent representative to NATO, told the couricil that six member of European defense community 'project — France, Gerniany, Italy and ( Benelux —had reached agreement on six controversial protocols to the treaty. . ' ' F . ' West Germany previously’ had objected to the. protocols on the ground; they Were discriminatory in suggesting that France be permitted to withdraw troops from the European army for .duty elsewhere. ~ [' : I ■' . ■{ ' . France, m turfi, had 'Written the protocols to guarantee her projection in the event Germany befTnrm Tn «*lirht S J]'’ . ' 1 Two Applications For School Head Two applications have been received for the position of County school riuperintpndyht for the , next four yeirs—Layke Sherry, instruc- i tor at Berne-French high school of' social studies and idrlvqr training; and Glen bustard, incumbefit school superintendent. This was announced todaj] by toWnshij) trustee, L. A. Mann. : It was learned recently that Jack Lee, principal of iGeiieva high schooj. had spoken with tlie l ru ?‘ tees about position Which is to be voted on by the 12 trustees May 2, but no formal application as yet been introduced’ according to Mann. { :

Sees Rent Control Action By Senate ''jn B ' di| Capehart Hopeful Os Senate Action, •WASHINGTON UP — Chairman Homer E. Capehart R-Ind. of the senate banking committee said today he expects the senate to act on a rent control extension bill before-the present law expires next Thursday. He conceded, however, that he was expressing more of a hope than a prediction, J The senate refused Thursday by a vote of 51-21 to lay the~J.«iig debated tidelands bill t<yi take un a bill extending rent controls and other provisions of the; defense production act. >; ! 'Meanwhile, the house passed legislation to extend thWf administration’s general rent, control authority to Aug. 1. This., bill woiild continue through April 30, 1954, th? rent ceilings in effect in Communities qualifying under a 1 new and more restrictive definition of “critical defense areas.’ Capehart’s committee. has approved a hill with a similar pro vision for critical defense areas and with general rent control powers expiring Sept. 30. » Hciweyer, this measure aliso contains mhny other provisions, including those to extferic the authority df the government to allocate scarce goods to defense This authority does not Expire until ‘June 30 tinder present law. f ’ Another v proviSioA in the bill woiild give the fyeeident- stand-by authority t’o order a 90-dhy freeze of wages and prices in case of national emergency. Existing wage and price control powers which expire next Thursday are no long»r being used. ? /‘There is no urgency about any thing in the deifense production act except rent control," Capehart told a reporter] "and I suppose we\ll find some way to handle that.” He suggested that an attempt may be made to pass the houseapproved rent control bill before next Thursday. Then other issues involved in the bill reported by the senate committee would be left flor action later. The bill passed by the house, 187-66. would j; continue general federal rent ceilings to Aug. g in some 1,300 communities including 31 cities with populations over 100,000. Some of the teities are Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia Bittsiburgh, Newfirk, N.J., San Francisco, Cleveland. Baltimore, Louisville, Ky„ sL Louis, Cincinnati. Jersey City, N. J„ Providence, R. j., Dayton, 0.,; Worcester. Mask, and Youngstown, O. The proviso approximately 4,260,000 of the 5,600.000 dwellings still under federal ceilings. Pre-School Exams Hpre Next Thursday The anniial pre-school {examination for Decatur children who will be five years old before Sept. 15, will be heldi at Lincoln School next Thursday, under sponsorship of th§ parent-teachers association. Mrs. D. Burdette Custer is chairman of the examination. With Mrs. Robert Odle and Mrs. 4H. H. Krueckeberg as assistants. Decatur doctors will conduct eye and physical examinations beginning at 8 a.m., with th< children taken in alphabetical ordeit, starting with A to L, and at 9 a.m. for those from M to Z. Parents ate urged to bring their children for this free examination.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, April 24, 1953.

MacArthur Reveals His Secret Plan To End War In Korea—Bomb Threat -i • L ' > . ■ r ■ d\ i 1 > ' L F \ ;

U. N. Proposesf' Continuation Os POW Exchange 40 Americans Are Returned; 17 More Promised Saturday PANMUNJOM. Korea UP — The Communists returned 40 Americans today and promised 17 mors for Saturday as” the United Nations proposed that the exchange of ailing prisoners be continued until the Kprean war ends. Both .sidej have now agreed to deliver more prisoners than i they first promised under the current exchange agreement. The U. N. proposal to continue the exchange for the duratioq of the war will test the truth or falsity of the'Communists’ claim that they now tnean to return “all” sick and wounded prisoners In their hands. Tho&e Gl’s who passed through Freedom Gate today told of the death of more than 743 Americans on forced marches .pr in prison camps in North Korea. \ it brought to nearly) 3,000 tile total pf U. N. prisoners reported dead as the result of Communistt brutality. In response tp the Communist promise to deliver “dll” ailing I N. prisoners, the Ul bL -command announced today it will deliver additional Colmmunist prlsoners.\ fi At she request -of the Communists, Rhe of full scale urjnist|ce talks, for Saturday, was postponed untß 2 p.m. • Sunday midnight Saturday e.s.t, ■ J Apparently the want the <elay in connection with ithe increased number of prisoners to be f!ree<l under the present exchange agreement, hoping to get th U. N.j negotiators In a friendly frame of mind. * • This agreement was signed here April 11.| Under it the U. N. agreed to hand over 0,033 Communist prisoners in exchange for 605 U. N. prisoners, including 120 Americans. Today the Reds handed over 40 Americans, A Britons, four Turks, one Canadian, one Netherlander and 50 sdtith Koreans. This brought the total of Ameri-I pans freed to 119. The U. N. daily delivery of sffo Red prisoners was two men short today. Ohe Red’ prisoner balked w’hen the, prisoners entrained at Pusan for Panmunjom—hp had decided he did not want to go back, to Red-ruled territory. I Another man was taken off the train en route find sent to a hospital when he started coughing up blood. Saturday the Communists are to deliver 17 Americans, four Britons, four Turks and 75 South Koreans. Navy Transport In Crash, Five Aboard Crashes In Oceari Off San Diego SAN DIEGO, Calif. (ijjP) — A (win-engined navy DC-3 transport plane crashed into the oeean off San Diego Thursday night five persomr aboard, it was disclosed today. . •[ j A radioed report frotn coast guard, vessels searching the area j ■said A life Jacket had . been found floating about one and one-half miles south of the tip of Point Loma, at the entrance to San > Diego Bay, 4 of the Pacific fleet 1 air foilrce said the plane was on a regular passenger flight from El 1 Gentry to Alameda, Califl, With a stop at San Diego. | ■ ’ A 'qoaet guard light watcher at the Point Loma lighthouse report- " ed bearing a low flying pjane and I hearing a thrash. HO touched sass I a navy and coast guard search. < The[ navy said the aboard l included three crewmen and two I passengers. ]

tour States Are Warned Os Storms Tornado Warnings Are Issued Today By UNITED PRESS Tornado warnings were issued for \>arts of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and lowa today after twisters struck in \Oklkahoma and iTexas during the night, killing two persons. i I Violent winds and rain swept the southwest, with amounts ranging up z to four inches in Oklahoma, snd thundershowers were forecast for the upper midwest. U. S. meteorologists, warned pf the “possibility of one or two tc rnadoes between noon and 8 fun. c.s.t. in an area south of txe nCduncil Bluffs - Marshalltown, Ih., line.” Two twisters weye sighted in Kansas and tornado warnings were issued for this afternoon for the area comprising Wicihita. and learned, Kan.: Lincoln, Neb., and Tarkio. Mo. Forecasters said the danger period Could last until 5:30 p.m., c.s.t. Twp more tornadoes swept through the air northwest of Kingman. Kan., bitt apparently did not touch the ground. Meanwhile, winter staged a camelback in North Dakota, dumping tip to eight inches of snow *ihe northeast. Wet snow and rain blanketed the entire state.V One man kras killed and two persons were injured when a tornado hit Henryetta, OklA. Another twister hit \<he tiny Negro community of Eagletown, destroying five hbuses and damaging six. Clarence Lewis. 45, tyas killeid. and his wife, his father and his F children were hurt. Still another tornado struck arkana. Tex.* hurling a house 100 and wrecking other property. No one was reported injured. Showers and thunderstorms extended central Texas to the border and east to Indiana. . 1 ' > But rain was needed in Wisconsin. One of the worst fires in the state in more than a year burned about 2,100 of grass and timber near Adams, Wis„ before It was brought under cdptrol. Other /Turn Tb P«Ke Kight I H , ■- i ■' i Plans Are Approved For Adams Central Elementary School | Plans Approved Plans for construction of the two elementary school buildings as the final unitsi of the Adamg County Central consolidated, school system at the site, just west of Monroe, were approved Thursday night at a joint meeting of the board of school trustees and the holding cmr.pany directors. The latter was organized to issue bonds and supervise construction of the grade school units and then lease them to the school corporation for a period of years. .Albert Heeter, Fort Wjayne architect, who has engineered the plaps for the gymnasium and school building units, also has (been retained architect for tl?e holding company. Heeter attended th° meeting and presented the for mt I plans. Each ptf the tiwo units will contain eight rooms, one to be built at the, east side of the area and tHe other to be constructed just west of the gymnasium. \ Tt also was anounced at the joint session that more than threefchirths of the common stock in the holding comiipany had been paid for After approval of the plans, Heeteji want to Indianapolis and th? blueprints will be filed with the various state agencies for approval. D. Burdette Custer and Robert Smith, Decatur attorneys, who have handled all legal matters for the school board ami the holding catnpany, also attended the joint sekion and approved the legal del--for presentation of -the blueprints to the Estate agencies.

Four Warships Win Duel With Red Artillery Battle With Shore Batteries, Rescue Wounded Allied SEOUL, Korea UF —Four U.S. warships fought and won a thunderous duel with Communist shore 4>ttteries in Wonsan Harbor Thursday to evacuate wounded from an Allied-held island at the harbor’s; entrance. The naiy, which reported the action today, said the U.S. warships defied heavy Red shelling to carry out the daring mission, A fleet pf carrier planes joined the naval rifles of the cruiser Manchester and the destroyers Owen, Henderson and Epperson to silence,, the enemy aryilejry. The navy gave no further details of, the action and did not say whether'any of the American ships were hit in the furious exchange. United Nations turned back 14' separate Communist attacks on the battlefrpnt today in air and ground actions that gave the U. S. its fifth double ace ol the war. The ground war flamed as the Reds launched the highest numbei ( of assaults since March 2< ( ranging from the Panmunjom truce-vicinity to the rugged ’ Punchbowl area in the east. They failed to' take a ' single position. Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr., shot down a Communist MIGIS in a blazing dogfight over Korea. He became the I fifth American fighter pilot to destroy at’least, 10 enemjt planes: , ’ , McConnell got his kill while rescuing another fLs6 Sabrejet. The MIG was behind the Sabrei and McConnell said he dived into action because "It looked bad for that F-86.” I ' '' • • “I fired ttfoßi 1.500 feet and clob, bered him (dhe MIG pilot) good ” McConnell, o| Apple Valley, Calif., said. B-29 Superiforts and B-26 light bombers dronied over North Korean targets durihg the pight to wreck kn airfield and devastate a {roop (Tur» To Pa«e Screw) Mrs. Lillie Gerber Dies This Morning Funeral Services Sunday Afternoon Mrs. Lillies K. Gerber, 65", of Craigville, died at 12:45 o’clock this morning {at the Clinic hospital in Bluffton following a year’s illness of carcinoma. She' was horn in Gridley, W., Dec. 13, 1887, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Gramm-Ringger, and wasmarried to Samuel Gerber, June 5, 1938. Her husband died Dec. 4. 1946. { She was a member of the Apostolic Christian church. Surviving gre seven step-sons, Ervin and Heijnian Gerber of Bluffton noute 4, Whiter Gerber of CraigVille, Ralph {Gerber <j( Bluffton, Clifford, Arthur jind Kenneth Gerber of- Craigv lle; five step-daugh-ters, Mrs. Ray Ringger and ; Mrs. Orval Ringger of Munroe, Mrs,; Clarence Steffen, Mrs. Ezra Kaehr and Mrs. Ivan Frauhiger, all of Decatur route 4; 48 grandchildren; |wo great - rrandchildren; four brotherg, Ed iingger of Bluffton, George'Ringge r of Decatur route 4. Bernhardt and Henry Ringger of Gridley, . 111., and a sister, Mrs. I/Jix Kurtch of Qridley. One brother and one step-son are deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 12:15 pm. CDT Sunday at the Jahn funeral home In Bluffton and at 1 p.m. at the Apostolic Christian church. Burial will be in the chtarch c smetery. The body will be removed from the funeral home to the residence, where friends may call after 7 o'clock this evening. ; j '

Tass-Hartley Law Indicted By Lewis Urges Congressmen - ■ Wipe Out Labor Laws WASHINGTON, (UP)—John L. Lewis urged l \ongress today to wipe out all labor relations laws, and Sen. Robert A. Taft. R-0., asked if the United Mine Workers chief favors “return to the law of the: jungle.” Lewis replied that repeal of the . Tafit-Hartley act, including hold- > over parts of the old Wagner act, . “wpuld not be a return to the law t of the jungle" becau^public opini ion is “more enlightened* than it was. \ . s Lewis delivered a rumbling in- . dictment of the Taft-Hartley act > at a. senate labor committee hearing on proposed amendments. He I called rt. "discriminatory, punitive. r restrictive, repressive, compulsive j and oppressive." j Taft, co-author of the law and senior Republican on the.commit- ? tee. presided at the hearing. Un-til jr Taft had to leave .-to open the een--5 ate; both he and Lewis maintained an i air of good humor, although 1 the lUMW boss had no kind words > for the Ohio se.nitor’s handiwork, n Lewis a packed-house to e senate caucus room, where hear>f ings have been droning along for a rtionth. - V e Labeling tha present labor law r a "fraud” he asked, that it be res moired from the statute booksVeo y laltpr and industry could negotiate i “free from |the brooding shades’ i which presently hover over all bargaining tables.” t Taft aajped If this would mean l repeal Wagner act provisions . retained in the Taft-Hartley law. i Le'wis said It would,. ) Taft Recalled one point that President Truman had proposed . drafting railroad strikers in 1946. >, LeWia remarked that the late I President Harding had "deployed" /Tara Ta Paarr Klxht) Indianapolis Police Sergeant Is Killed Assailant Is Slain During Gun Battle INDEANAPOLIS UP — An Indianapolis policeman and his assailant killed today and the assailant's companion was wounded critically after a brief gun battle. Dead were Police Sgt. Ray Whobrey, 38, and Jack Silcox, 26, Indianapolis. Injured was John Stack, 28. also pf Indianapolis. Authorities said the shooting occurred when Whobrey and two patrolmen stopped a car driven bj J Stack. They said Whobrey approached it to question the occupants when Silcox fired, hitting Whcrt>rey beneath the heart. Thb patrolmen then opened fire as the two men leaped from the ' oar amd started to run. Silcox was killed instantly. Stack w’as struck in the chest. Whoibrey died in General Hospital aibout an hour after the incident. A-bout 30 policemen waited there to give him blood transfusions. Police said Silcox had a record . of armed robbery and was paroled Feb. 23 after a prison term. Dr. W. W. Cravens Is Rotary Speaker Dr< W. W. Cravens, director of feed research and putrition for the Central Soya Co. in this city, was ' the guest speaker at the weekly 1 meeting of the Decatur Rotary club Thursday evening. Dr. Cravens discussed the great advances made in recent years in the study of nutrition, both for humans and animals. T. C. Smith was chairman of the < program. e I i The Rotary club will meet with I thp \L|ons club in a joipt meeting i next Tuesday evening, replacing < the usual Thursday meeting. Guest ‘ speaker will be Hilliard Gates, not- i ed spirts announcer for radio st a- < tion WKJG, Fort Wayne, ’

Price Five Cents

Main Feature A Threat To j U 'i - : ■ ■ -■ ■ Bomb China Senator Byrd Makes Letter Public On MacArthur's Plan (UP) — Gen. Douglas MacArthur today gave the j nation a peek at his celebrated secret plan for ending the war in Korea. The main feature: A threat to bomb Communist China. “A warning of action of this provides the {leverage,” he said. ‘Ho induce the Soviet to bring the Korean struggle to an end without further bloodshed.” The former supreme Allied com. • mander in the Far East revealed I his proposals in a 1,500-word leti ter to Sen. Harry F, Byrd. D-Va.. i who had queried] him on Korean . ammunition shortages. Byrd made > the letter public. - ' The proposals obviously reprer sented the “clear and definite solution” which MacArthur alluded r to in his famous Dec. 5 speech in - New- York and later discussed pri- > vately with President Eisenhower » and secretary of state John Foster ; Dulles. •?* 1 “We still possess the potential to destroy Red China’s flimsy industrial base and sever her tenuous* supply lines from the Soviet.” he £aid.| “This would deny her the resource to support modern war and sus'&iin large military forces in the Meld. This in turn would greatly weaken the Commupist hold upon Asia.” MacArthur said Russia is not “blind to the dangers” confronting it irt the Far East so that a threat of a “Reo- China debacle might well settle the Korean war and all other pending global issues on equitable terms.” 'He indicated such a threat would not in itself touch off World. War 111, as some experts have suggested, because in the final analysis Russia will pick its own time to attack if it is bent on world conquest. Its decision, he said, would be governed by its atomic and industrial strength relative to the .United States rather than any Allied action in the Far East. Ihjhis letter to the general. Byrd particularly asked, for comment on testimony former army secretary Frank Pace gave the senate armed service subcommittee investigating the ammunition problem. Pace suggested that MacArthur’s optimism about an early end to the Korean war contributed to the plow ammunition buikkup. But the general l branded this “completely fantastic." “The overriding deficiency incident to our conduct of the war in Korea was not in the shortage pt ammunition or other material.” he said, "but in the lack of the will for victory.” Ammunition was critically short when the Allies had their "backs ,to the sea” in the early months of the war, he seid, but there was hardly any optimism. That didn't some, he said, until the Inchon landing turned the tide. fn bitter words reminiscent of following his dismisthe spring of 1951, MacArthur recalled how "Washington, overruled hi® plans for pressing the war to a victorious conclusion, •after Inchon with the bombing of Manchurian bases, the blockade of Red China and the use of Chinese Nationalist forces. “The inertia of our diplomacy failed utterly to utilize the victbry of Inchon and subsequent destruction of the North Korean armies,’’ he said, “as the basis for swift and dynamic political action to restore peace and unity to Korea.” Thrf, he aseerted, was “one of th® great contributing causes.” of Red China’s intervention and the "new war” it brought.