Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 184, Decatur, Adams County, 6 August 1953 — Page 1

Vol. LI. No. 184.

Soviet Troops, Armor Move In East Germany ! Seek To Put Down i Growing Rebellion Os German Workers * BERLIN, UP — Columns of Soviet troops and armor were reported moving toward industrial , centers throughout rebellious East Germany today to put down rapidly spreading strikes by workers who defied a Red ban on acceptance of American "Eisenhower food parcels.” * Heavy concentrations of Soviet troops and armor were reported being massed in East Berlin a few miles from the West sector distribution centers where upwards of 1.600,006 hungry East Germans have collected free food sent by the United . Statesi The anti-Communist “Fighting group against inhumanity,’’ which has reliable contacts throughout e the Soviet zone, reported Soviet ...troops in division strength wpre <-• moving in many areas of the restless, riot-scarred Russian atcupation zone. Other thousands of Russian-trained. East 'German police also were reported moving in on trouble centers. • The Northwest German Radio British reported that 400 freight cars carying Red army men, T-34 tanks, trucks,, artillery and machine guns have rolled into the Magerviehhof freight yards in East Berlin in the last three days. West Berlin police headquarters said members of the military-like people’s police crossed into West Berlin and asked for asylum today. Thirty-seven fled to the west Wednesday. Some 5,000 East German indue-* trial workers were reported on a slowdown strike in protest against Communist confiscation of -food packages and other terror tactics adopted to combat the Western food program. 5 i The Red ban on travel to Berlin was imposed sporadically. In some areas it was strictly enforced and in others food-seekers bought rail tickets to Berlin without trouble. The East German government threw its entire Communist propaganda machine into the battle against the food program but failed to stem the flow of Soviet zone residents to West Berlin. An estimated 150,000 persons received food today, including more thin 50.000 from outside East Berlin. Altogether, about 1.700,000 have received parcels in the 11* days of the program, i Efforts by Communist radios and newspapers plainly showed 'the Red Regime was embarrassed by the thousands pouring across the border to 'pick up “Eisenhower • food packages.” Communist radio commentators and newspaper editors tried to pin labels of “bacon chaser - ' and “package beggar’’ on those who accepted the free food. Communist youth- groups loitered at crossing points to West Berlin closely watching and jeering wo- ; men who returned with the packages. 1 Lists, of the “beggars” with their addresses were printed in Comipunist newspapers. They were called “traitors.” r The official East German news agency, quoting “authoritative” sources, predicted rejection of a United States offer to release |l,* JTwrw ’•’«» Pat» Ftve» Touring 6. E. Girls ' , Are Now In Italy To Be Received By Ik S. Ambassador ROME UP — A group of 140 working girls from Fort Wayne, Indiana, spent their first day in Rome today sightseeing and shopping along the sun-baked streets ■of the Eternal City. The girls, almost all employes of the General Electric plant in Fort Wayne, arrived late Wednesday night by train from North Italy. Later today they are scheduled to be received by U.S. ambassador Clare Boothe Luce at the American Embassy. Their trip to Europe is the culmination of three years of saving for three weeks in Europe’s top vacation spots. About half the group are married. They range between 19 and 64 years of age. They flew to Europe aboard ’ three TWA constellations, believed to be the largest civilian air crossing of the Atlantic.

$ DAYS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY DECATUR I) AI I.Y DEMOCRAT

Sees “Big Switch” In Action SECRETARY OF STATE John Foster Dulles sees “Operation Big Switch” swing into action as he greets Cpl. Raymond Shepard of Pyramid. Ky., after Shepard’s repatriation at Freedom Village, Korea. The corporal was in the first group of 400 happy allied POWs to be returned by the Communists in the mammoth five-week Korean prisoner of war exchange. ■ a - \ ■

Raybum Blasts At Record Os Republicans Taxes Increased, Prices Up, Budget Is More Unbalanced ' hfl-- < WASHINGTON VP House Democratic leader Sam Rayburn said today the voters who demanded a change‘in last November's election “are getting it;| — with a vengeance.” . L Attacking the' Elsenhower administration and the thepublican majority of the 83rd congress, he charged that taxes have been increased instead of tut hinder the new regime, prices have gone up instead of down, L|. S| defenses have been reduced “do:a dangerous low” and “the budget is more unbalanced than they it.” The Texas Dpmacrati ridiculed the “so-called accomplishments” of the recenjt congressional session as President Eisenhpwelr prepared ; to defend the GOP refcord in a nationwide broadcast tqnight. Mr. Eisenhower will speak dfrer all radio networks at 9:30 p.m. e.d.t. Charles A. Halleck, Ind., house Republican leader, had his say for the record Wednesday declaring that the GOP majority had "hammered out a solid retqrd of accomplishment on behalf;of a free, strong and prosperous America.” Deriding that claim, = Raybum said Mr, Eisenhower "mhst be unhappy” with the shewing the Republicans made during first half year in office. K ; “They have failed tp k ee P their 1952 campaign pledges,” he said. “The premised to balance the budged The budget is more unbalanced than they found it. “They promised td stabilize the nation’s economy.,Pric.eS of many commodities are rising.' The cost of living index is at ah all-time high. Farm income is dpim 14 per cent. ; “They promised to reduce the i national debt. Instead they have asked congress to increase it.” “One promise th.e administration made has been fulfilled,” Rayburn said. “The Republicans promised hard money. They have made it harder to get. They raised Interest rates on the little fellow, the hotne buyer and the farmer. But the big bankers and financiers are doing well.” ’ Rayburn said that all; but two of the major bills enacted by the first session of the 83rd. congress were merely “extensions of policies and laws initiated by Democratic conbresses.” The exceptions he noted were the Tidelands oil bill and the measure to admit 214,000 refugees. - . Deadline Nears For State Fair Entries (INDTANAPOLrS UP —Hoosier 44H club members and other planning on entertaining exhibits it the Indiana state fair were reminded today that they have on’y ka short time in which to mail their entries. Betty Weltoley, chief at the entry department, said the entries in open classes must be in the mall by Aug. 21, and 441 entries by Aug. 21. The exhibitors will complete for a share of 34*12,000 1 in prize* and award money.

List More Winners In 4-H Fair Today * Food Tent Busiest Place X)n Grounds Crowds visiting the Monroe 4-H fair Wednesday and this morning simmered down a bit from the big splash on opening day, but the affair is to date considered a big success and even nosing ahead of what it was last year, according to L. E. Archbold, county agricultural agent. The food tent is going great guns end is by far ahead of last year’s business on the second day. Food sales is where the profit comes from, and makes possible a more ambitious fair for the following year. , • Following are the latest judging results: Max Egley, Kirkland township, placed first in the junior tractor driver’s contest Wednesday afternoon. Max is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Egley and is a member of the Kirkland Future Farmers. Lee Buslck placed second, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lydia Busick, Root township and a member of the Root Roving Rangers. Gerry Girod made 'third place, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Girod, Preble township, and a member of the Preble Jolly Juniors. Premiums in division 1 of the electricity project judging were awarded to: Michael Lehman, first; Eddie Lugiribill, second; Phillip Moser, third: Larry Myers, fourth. Marine! Striker placed first in the girls division. Carl Baker won first in division two; Palmer Inftiger, second; Har,ry Mazelin, third; Robert Weiland, fourth. Sharon Beltz placed first in the girls division. In division three Lowell Michaels placed first and Rose Ann Bilderback placed second. In- division three Allen Lehman placed first. State fair entries will be exhibited by Michael Lehrtian, Marinel Striker, Carl Baker, Sharon Beltz and Lowell Michaels. > A Premiums in soil conservation division One went to: Ned Klpfer, first; Bobby Wechter, second; David Gallmeyer, third: Jerdme Rauch, fourth; Karl Rich, fifth. In division two Sherman Arnold won first spot; Michael Lehman, second. Third division first place went to Werner Reifstecl), and second to Robert Bauermeister. a In wildlife division one first premium went to Jerdme Rauch;' Noel Fenner, second; Chester Smith, third: Karl Rich, fourth; Ned Kipfer, fifth. Division two: first place. Ronald Gerber; second, Philip Gerber; third, Paul Teeter; fourth, Clair inniger; fifth, Thomas Ripley. Division four:. Werner Reifsteck, first; Robert Bauermeister, second. Dale Liechty placed first in bird bouse making; Michael Lehman, second; Larry Bittner third; Roger Hawkins, fourth. Reifsteck and Bobby Wechter received first premiums in the bee project. ’ - Forestry, division one: Fred Lehman, first; Sally Beer, second; Richard Kaehr, third; Ned Klpfer, fourth; Charles Fiechter, fifth, Division two: Marinel Striker, first; Michael Lehman, second; Neol Fenner, third; Earl Sprunger, fourth; Roger Koeneman, fifth. Werner Reifsteck placed first tn division five. Entymology, division one: Karl Rich, first; Jerome Rauch, second; Ned Kipfer, third; Jerome Lehman, fourth; Curtis Wulliman, fifth. Second division first place won by Werber Reifsteck and Paul Tester, second. First premium is the 4-H health (Tara Ta Pace Ftra)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY - - - ■ - - _ Vi

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, August 6, 1953

Fear Thousands Taken Prisoner By Reds Will Never Return To U. S. • ■ • , - 'i? t ’ 1 ■ .. r- : r-, ■

General Clark Says More Are Held By Reds Indications Point To Over 2,000 Are Held As Prisoners WASHINGTON, (UP) — Gen. Mark W. Clark, Far Eastern commander, said today the Communists may hold from 2,000 to 3,000 more 'American prisoners than they have agreed to return as part of the armistice. “We have certain evidence indi’cating they (the Communists) have more Americans.” Clark told a news conference at the pentagon. The Comrpunlsts have agreed to return 3,313 American prisoners. Clark said the Communist total is “not far . from the number of American prisoners we estimated the Commuhists held for sure.” But. at the same»time, he said, the United States has “other information that leads us to believe they have more.” Clark did not say how he arrived at the 2,000-3,000 prisoner figure or say on what evidence R was based. Clark said the evidence in American hands is not so certain that this country could make flat charges that the Communists hold more prisoners than they have admitted. But he said the United States intends to press the issue at the armistice commission. And if unsuccessful in getting a satisfactory answer there, the United States will turn the question over to the forthcoming political peace conference. Clark expressed an air of hopelessness about ever getting a truthful answer about the prisoners from the Communists “through political means.” “I don’t know what we can do about it unless we use force —- which isn’t in the cards,” he said. Aside frorn the American prosoners, Clark said “thousands upon thousands of South Koreans are unaccounted for.” j The United States lists 8.705. American soldiers as "missing in action”) in Korea! \ The mystery of what happened to them may be partially —and tragically— solved in the next few days when the Reds submit a list of prisoners who have died. 'For some American families. rr»rw T» Kl*kt> Louise E. Meibers Dies Last Evening Funeral Services Saturday Morning \ Mrs. Louise Elzey Meibers, 78, a former resident of Decatur, died at 8:45 o’clock Wednesday night at her home in Rome City following an illness of three years. • She was born in Bluffton Oct. 20, 1874. and after residing in Decatur a number of years, the family moved to Rome City in 1921. Her husband. Michael, died a number of years a£o. ‘ Mrs. Meibers was a member of the St.* Mary’s Catholic church. Surviving are a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Catherine Meibers, with whom she lived at Rome City, and a grandson, Walter E. Meibers. A son, Joseph, preceded her in death. Funeral services will be conducted at 8:30 a. m. Saturday at the Zwick funeral home and at 9 a. m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic church, the Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Seimetx officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening. The Rosary society will meet at 8 p. m. Fri--day.

Wiley Opposes Red China In Conference Opposes Inclusion \ In Big Four Meet ‘WASHINGTON UP—'Uexander Wiley of the Senate foreign relations committee said today he is strongly opposed to a big power conference that would let Red Chin i discuss European problems. ' ' The Wisconsin Republican said the Chinese Communist regime; has no fright horn in on the Big Four foreign ininifftprs meeting proposed by States, France hnd that conference is designed to discuss German and Austrian problems which are of no concern to Communist China. Wiley was backed up by Sen. Mike Mansfield D-Mont., another member of the foreign relations ijommittee. He said Inclusion of Red China tn the proposed foreign Ministers meeting- would imply U. S. recognition of the; Comihunist regime and "I am opposed to lat.” The senate foreign affairs exrts made the statements as Western diplomats oxer’ the meaning of Soviet Russia’s reply to the U. S.—British—French invitation to attend a Big Four foreign ministers conference oh Germany and Austria. The Soviet reply appeared to accept a meeting on German problems but it was coupled with a strong plea for, a broader discussion of general world problems. It said Red China’s participation would be essential for such a meeting, j . President Not To Sign Tax Repealer WASHINGTON UP —president, Elsenhower said today he will not sigu a bill to execpt motion picture theaters from the 20 per cent federal admissions tix. In a message of “disapproval.” Mr. Eisenhower said that the government "cannot afford the loss of revenue involved and ... it is unfair to single out one industry for relief at this time." To Repair Covered Bridge At Ceylon Will Save Covered Bridge A5 Landmark Thfe covered bridge at Ceylon, known as the Ceylon bridge, will be repaired and saved as a landmark, it was learned from a good source ers desire to meet the wishes of today. Southern Adams county resicounty commissioners earlier this week and 1 asked that the bridge be repaired. It is known that the dents appeared before the board of the petitioners and Frank Kitson, county auditor, contacted slate officials th,iw week seeking approval of the highway department to save the landmark. No official word has been received from the highway department. but it was learned today th»t the commissioners planned to x appropriate sufficient funds to repair the structure. It Js estimated that repairs will not cost more than |1,000; Or 81,200. } The crusade to save the bridge whs started by Earl DaWald, Geneva Attorney and newspaper man. who has been Instrumental; in the move to make Gbneva and surrounding territory a shrine for the late Gene Stratton Porter, who resided there for many yekrs and wrote many of her books in southern Adams county. The drive also was given momentum by the Geneva Lions and Berne Rotarians and the Limberlost association. It is believed that official announcement will be mads in the next few days to the affect that the “bridge will be repaired.”

53-Cent Boost In City School levy Proposed City School Board Adopts $364,001.53 Budget For 1954 The Decatur school ( board in session last night adopted a budget for the 1954 school year and fixed the tax rate at |2.26 on each 3100 of This levy Will produce approximately 3235,400.47 of the budget. The proposed rate is a boost of 53 cents over the current 31-73 levy. Increasing the ; cumulative building fund levy from 30 cents to 75 cents, accounts for 45 cents of the hike. The tuition fund carries a 72-cent levy, an Increase of nine cents over this year’s rate. The special school fund levy is cut one cent to 71 cents on each 3100. Employment of three additional teachers and salary increases voted by the school trustees for the,next year, cause the boost in the tuition fund, W. Guy Byown, superii.tendent of schools, explained. “In fact,* said Brown, “there will be four additional salaries to pay, since the extra teacher in the kindergarten was not included in the current budget.” ' Less than 40 percent of the tuition bill is raised by local taxes. Os the 3190,025.66 listed for teachers’ salaries; 375,307.32 will be raised by tax levy and approximately 31'15,000 will be received' from the gross income The levies for the bond and recreation funds are the same as those in effect this year.. The special fund levy will ; produce 374.100.55, toward an $56i643.00 budget. Comparison Os Rates The rates in effect this year and those proposed tor next year on each 3100 are: Fimd 1953 - 1954 Special 72 Cents 71 cents Tuition 63 72 School bonds 05 05 Recreation 03 03 i > Cuinulai. build. 30 75 Total 31.73 32.26 4-,‘L.— cive Funds raised by the cumulative building levy will be set aside for future buildings in the Decatur school system. The 30-cent levy has been producing approximately 330,000 annually and the 75 cent rate will produce about 378,138.23, based <Tara T» Fa«s Mrs. Ida J. James Dies This Morning Funeral Services Saturday Afternoon Mrs. Ida J. James, 86, died at 5 o’clock this morning at the Richmond state hospital following a cerebral hemorrhage. She had been in failing health for several years. -She was born in. Clinton April 5. .1807, a daughter, of Mr. end Mrs. L. A. Cromley, and resided in Decatur for many yean. Hor huaband, Harvey James, preceded her in death. , : Mrs. James was a member of the First Methodist church. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Mary Evans Os Decatur and Mn. Marvin Barrett of Fort Wayne; one son, Lloyd James Os Kalamazoo, Mich.; 12 grandchildren and* three sisters. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Saturday at the GRlii & Dan funeral home, the Rev. W. H. Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial will be in the. Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock Friday eveniag.

At Least Four Dead In Bus-Auto Crash! Bus Collides With Car Pulling Trailer Okla. UP 1 —A Greyhound bus and an automobile pulling a trailer house collided on a bridge west of here today and plunged into a 30-foot canyon. Caddo county deputy sheriff E. W. Lewis said "there’s at least four* dead and more than 20 injured- and-they’re hurt bad. We’’i be lucky if we get out of this with less than 10 or 12 dead.” Lewis said the crash occurred on| a narrow bridge on U. S. 66 about one mile west of he e shortly before sunrise. The crash scene is only about two miles west of where 11 persons were drowned in a flash flood on the highway five years ago. Wallace Kidd- editor of the Anadarko Daily News- said the bus carried 38 passengers ,and Rs driver. I Lewis said it wa,s qecessary ‘to cut into the bus with hacksaws and axes to remove the victims. He said the bus driver- Bill PrattOHahomu City- was “badly hurt” and unable to talk. Lewis said among the dead were a,\ small baby and an elderly man and woman. The man and woman were in the automobile.. It was impossible to give an early account of the victims’ condition because they were taken to different hospitals. Hope Wanes For 14 On Crashed Bomber Four Saved; Bodies Os Five Recovered; LONDON UP — Hope waned tonight for the 14 American air force men still missing from the crashed RB-36 bomber which plunged in flames into the stormy North Atlantic early Wednesday. A fleet of rescue ships and search planes continued searching 40,000 square miles of heaving, rain-lashed ocean from which tour men were saved and the bodies of five others recovered. But cold, heavy seas and storms of nearly gale force reduced the chances that any additional survivors would be found. However, air force search headquarters stressed that the search will be continued so long as the faintest hope that any more of the 23 men who parachuted from the stricken 10-engine reconnaissance bomber may be found alive. i Hdwling winds in the search' area piled up waves 14 feet high* and cross swells churned the kea into an angry, grey waste. Rain and clouds reduced visibility to less than two miles and the ceiling to a dangerous 400 to 500 feet fbr the 21 American planes in the search. Eight surface ships also were combing the area where the disabled plane went down, 420 miles off Prestwick, Scotland. ; Chinese Reds Boast Os Their Humanity SANTA BARBARA, Calif. UP —The Chinese Communists, in J a newly-released propaganda booklet, boasted today that life in their prisoner of war stockades was a Roman holiday. In the 95-age booklet, now being distributed throughout the world by mail, the Reds maintain they treated United Nations POY’s humanely while the U. N. “slaughtered" captured Red prisoners. The booklet, containing 235 photographs, some in color, attempts to offset stories of brutality and starvation told by Allied POW’s now being released by the Reds in Korea- « ' i''

Price Five Cents

Reds Promise Release Os 81 Yankees Today Fear Thousands Os Others Captured May Never Return PANMUNJOM, Friday VP — The Communists promised to return 81 more, “healthy” Americans at Freedom Gate today, but the joy over their return was dimmed by the growing fear that thousands of other captured Americans may never come back. Three- returning Americans now hayp told of fellow being V sentenced by the Reds on phoney . charges of endangering the lives of other prisoners or “instigating i against peace.” i In Washington, Gen. Mirk Clarke Fat Eastern commander, said the ; Reds may hold from 2,000 :to 34)00 more American soners than they have The 81 Americans to, be returr*a today will bring to 221 the t released by the Reds in the Hi three days of "Big Switch.” ’ — w *' However, the condition of ill anu - haggard prisoners—their appearance reminiscent of victims of the Nazi torture camps of Dachau and Buchenwald—will delay the United States homecoming of the few that are "Wealthy.” American officers at Inchon said the Reds are delivering so few able-bodies prisoners that it may take three weeks or more before enough are collected to make a shipload of 400. ‘ ' A 12-man advance Indian party reached i'okyo Thursday, en route to Korea to study plans for India's role in, the prisoner repatriation. Indian troops will guard the approximately 74,000 Chinese and North Korean prisoners who have refused to return to Communism. Meanwhile, an American warrant officer painted a gruesome picture of North Korea's “death valley” where more than 2,000 American soldiers starved or froze to deaih in the bitter winter of 1950. Fifty-year-old Dwight E. w Coxe, now awaiting shipment home at Inchon, said mass graves were dug by the Americans for their buddies as they perished aV the rate five to 17 a day from starvation, dysentery and exposure. \ Medical attention, he said, was a "farce.” •, . . 4 Returning Americans Thursday hobbled on canes or crudelyfashioned crutches to th£ reception tents for identification <nd preliminary medical examination. Some left thd Communist ambulances on stretchers. |\ a Two Americans were unconscious. They were not identified. One of the South Koreans was returned daad. Another ROK soldier was a living skeleton who tried to pull i his ki n over his ,teeth to smile but couldn’t ; 1 Battle-toughened ~ Marines on duty at the; reception center were _ shocked by the appearance of the gaunt, haggard shells of men. A dazed Negro soldier stood like a robot on the toilgate of hjs truck and toppled into the arms of medics. j ; V The 45 Americans arriving in the first two Russian truck convoys from Kaesong were in worse condition than the 70 Americans released in the first exchange Wednesday, knd more than half of that group had tuberculosis. The remaining 25 seemed in better condition and spirits. - The Communists assured the United Nations that all of the 81 Americans to be returned Friday in the third phase of “Operation Big Switch" are “healthy." But that wag the description the Reds gave of the limping South Korean* returned Thursday. There were more tales of ComOtennTe hm «ue> '1 ■