Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 51, Number 304, Decatur, Adams County, 28 December 1953 — Page 1

j Vol. LI. No. 304.

Claims French Forces Desert i Toßed Ranks Viet Mink Rebels . In Biggest Drive M < •" Os Indochina Wat | SAIGON, Indochina UP — Tie z Communist Viet Minh radio tlaim, ® ed today that French Union toiles were deserting to the Reds jn wholesale lots as a mighty Communist offensive drove southward toward Saigon and Cambodia. $ The Viet Minh slashed across Indochina’s narrow waist to border of Thailand Saturday wheeled southward in their biggest offensive of the war. Oth«r rebel forces pushed northward along the tense Thailand border. They were under orders to “destroy the enemy” wherever they found him. - . ■*- f The Communist radio in central Laos said a “vast area” between central Viet Nam on the-coast add the Mekong River had been “liberated" and that “most” Laotiabi troops were deserting to the Communist Laotian government-in-hls-ing. French sources reported toy® ~ Laotian troops fighting guerrilla to delay the Communist advance from the Mekong Rivvjr town of Thaknek toward Savannpkhet, 50 miles to the south. A huge airlift poured French reinforcements into Savannakhet. In Thailand, across the Mekong River from Thakhek, demobilize tlon plans were cancelled and troops were ordered to remain oja duty for three more months. The invasion of Laos, Which fo|> lowed’’repeated “peace" feelers by i rebel chieftain Ho Chi Minh, ed concern throughout Vibe frw world. V 3 In Taipeh, Formosa, Adm. Arthur W. Radford, chairman of the U.. St joint chiefs of staff, said he did not believe the Reds would “bd; foolish enough to attack Radford said, however, he bet lieved the shooting would be locals ized and wouldn’t “bring about a world war” if the Communists poured into Thailand. French newspapers in Paris ap« pealed for outside aid or for help in arranging a to end war in Indochina, now in its eighty year. In a victorious order of the dajg He exhorted his Red troops to “de& stroy the enemy and achieve new feats of arms.” M Field Commander Vo Nguyen Oiap took columns of troops soutnward in a drive to capture Savani nakhet before the French have a chance to strike back. As Vo’s troops moved southward (CoMttewed.ee Pfagre Six) T— — .'5 Says 25 Spy Rings | Operating In U.S. | “ft Statement Is Made By Senator Jenner g WASHINGTON, UP—Sen. Wi| Ham E. Jenner, R-Ind., said testimony by a former Soviet intelligence chief shoWs 25 Soviet spy rings, some of them organizations recognized by law, may be operating in the United States. Jenner said his statement wat \ based on public testimony in OctOr ber before Jenner’s internal curity subcommittee by IsmaU Ege, who broke with the Russians in 1942 after serving as Soviet; intelligence officer in Turkey, that “at a minimum there are 25 spy, networks, legal and illegal,” in the country. | Ege, born Ismail Gusseynovicfe Akhmedoff, was called by thti Hoosier senator the “only former head'of a Soviet intelligence division now-? cooperating with free Ege said the 25 groups included about 20 “legal” such as the Soviet news agency Tass, embassies and other agerit cies manned by persons with Sa vfet passports. ' The “illegal" network wai) manned by Americans and other*; he said, linked with the “legal’* . agencies by secret couriers. -> He testified his information war based on the 1941 Soviet but he was “sure* the Russianswere using the United Nations for intelligence purposes. Ege said he was barred once from using the Institute of Pacific Relations for his espionage work because it was being used already by another Soviet intelligence J 'group. The subcommittee has said the IPR, a private research or? ganisation, whs a “vehicle*’ for Communists to influence U.’ 8. policy in the Far East.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT | ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY y- \\

College Editors To Tour THESE SEVEN EDITORS of college newspapers are shown just before they boarded a plane at Idlewild International Airport, New \ York, for Moscow and three weeks of traveling in the Soviet Union. In the group (clockwise! are: Richard Elden, Chicago, Northwestern University: William C. Ives. Aledo. 111., Knox College;\ Craig E. Lovitt, Galesburg, 'lll., Knox College; Dean Schoelkopf; Minneapolis, University of Minnesota: Richard E. Ward, New Rochelle, N. Y., University of Chicago; David Barney, Eugene, Ore., Reed College, and , Gregory Shuker, Evanston, 111., Northwestern University.

Wil! Withdrawi Two Divisions From Korea American Soldiers Cheer News; South f J Korea In Protest SEOUL, Korea (UP)—President Eisenhower’s disclosure that two American divisions in Korea would be withdrawn brought cheers from soldiers today and protests from South Korean officialdom. The President’s % "progressive ‘ Withdrawal* announcement was the main topic of conversation, even though some veteran soldiers feared tor a while it was Just another "rumor.’’ An official atmy announcement from Tokyo that most soldiers must complete their tour of duty in Korea failed to dampen the Gls enthusiasm. Mr. Eisenhower said Saturday that two of the eight divisions in Korea would be pulled out, leaving enough American troops in the country to repel, any aggressors. The South Korean government, through foreign minister Pyun Tung Tae,. said the President’s announcement was “not welcome.” “No Korean will welcome this situation,” Pyun said. \ c . The outspoken foreign minister said the Korean army should receive more replacements before any American troops are withdrawn. He said he had “heard” the Communists were increasing their strength in North Korea in violation of the armistice agreement. —. Pyun said he would discuss the (TnrxT* Pace six) Soviet Ambassador ;■ •' r Leaves For Moscow Malik To Confer On Proposed Conference LONDQN, (UP)—Soviet Ambassador Jakob Malik was disclosed tonight to have left for Moscow for consultations with the Kremlin on the proposed Big Four foreign minister’s conference in Berlin. The- Soviet embassy announced Mis departure as prime minister Wlnstoh Churchill called a full meeting of his cabinet Tuesday when it is expected Britain will accept Russia’s proposal for the Big Four meeting in Berlin on Jan. 25. Malik, recently returned from the United 'Nations in New York, conferred with Churchill and with foreign secretary Anthony Eden before ho departed Saturday with his farpily on what the Russian ■ embassy called “leave.” j i Diplomatic observers said he f undoubtedly was consulting the Kremlin on western acceptance of - the Soviet postponement. The French foreign ministry announced In Paris that diplomatic consultations already have begun among the three western powers on the Kremlin suggested postponement from Jan. 4 to Jan. 25. A brief Western response Is expected to be ready within * week. * The western reply will be sent (Tar* Te Pace Six)

Meeting Tonight On I Conservancy Plan County Agents Will 1 Meet This Evening Allen county leaders in the movement to form a notheastern Indiana conservancy district—the Maumee; Valley conservancy district—have given first indications that opposition to the district 1 is becoming serious by calling a spacial meeting tonight of county extension agents and advisorj groups from the six counties involved in the proposed district. In a form letter ia Adaths coun-1 ty agricultural agent L. E. Archbold, C, R. Grc»s, Allen agricultural agent stated ; . . “(This) proposal is getting to the point where L feel that my leaders need to know more about it." ’ Informed sources believe this meeting is a direct result of a display of Adams county opposition that was met by Thomas P. Riddle Jr., executive secretary of the Fort Wayne Citizen’s Civic association, at a recent meeting here of the industrial division of the Decatur Chamber ? pf Commerce, to Which Riddle was invited as guest speaker. Following his talk,\ in which he declared the proposed district was “democratic” and the efforts in Adams county to paint Fort Wayne as being the, master of a "diabolical plot” to make Decatur pay for flood improvements to Fort Wayne were erroneous, Mayor John Doan said he thought the exact reverse was true and that the conservancy act, which empowers the district, was “undemocratic” and unrepresentative. Archbold backed up Mayor Doan with his opinion that the proposed district was "authoritarian” and he implied that it took away home rule from counties because, it appeared to him, the district idea paralleled the government con&roled T¥A. To this criticism Riddle rebutted that the exact opposite was true and that-Indiana had always strived to pull ~away from government . controlled projects and eechewed them at every opportunity. v ■ The main bone of contention between the proponents and opponents is the fact that 500 names are all that is needed to bring the conservancy district into the courts and have the district formed. On this point. Riddle stated, giving his assurance, that the district would not “be forced down the throats of the counties In- . volved." The counties are Allen, Adams, Noble, Steuben, DeKalb and Wells. Riddle revealed, however, that petitions were being circulated in Fort Wayne only but that an attempt would be made sometime this winter to have petition* circulated in the other counties affected. A.The meeting is to take place tonight at w: p. m. in the Portage room of the Fort Wayne YMCA, Elmer Kolmertoh. Allen county farm leader prominent in the movement for the district, to act aa chairipan. Ilia not known who from Adams, county win Attend. i t - . ~ ‘

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, December 28,1953.

Eisenhower Calls For Congressional Leaders To Confer On Programs

Fearful Death Toll Is Taken On Highways . 523 Traffic Deaths On Highways During Christmas Holiday • By UNITED PRESS Traffic deaths during the Christmas weekend totaled 523 for one of the nation’s worst highway safety performances, a final showed today. Americans died in traffic during the yuletide holiday at the rate of almost seven an hqur, a United Press tabulation showed. midnight Sunday, a total of 738 persons were killed accidentally. Fires killed 83 persons. 7 died in plane crashes and 125 in miscellaneous accidents. The traffic toll surpassed the fears of -the national safety council, which had estimated in advance that sio persons would be killed during the three-day period. Ned H. Dearborn, safety council president, credited newspapers, radfo and television with keeping the total from going even higher. He said Aha publicity the mounting, ton got on Christmas Duy help&T to slow it down as the holiday neared its ehd. Dearborn said the death rate had started “at a terrifying pace.” The final count was just a fewshort of the; grim record of 541 traffic deathk set during the threeday Christmas holiday of 1960. California led all other states with 45 traffic fatalities. New York was second with 31, Texas and Ohio each had 30. and Illinois 28. Wyoming, Rhode Island and Idaho had none. The all-time record for any Christmas was set last year when 588 persons died in highway mishaps during a four-day holiday. As usual the pace of accidental deaths increased in the hazardous hours from 8 p. m. to midnight Sunday night as bone-weary, impatient motorists sped homeward. The return of snowy, wintry weather in several northern states compounded the danger. ■ ' ‘j Indiana Death Toll Is Relatively Light 12 Traffic Deaths Reported In State By UNITED PRESS Indiana emerged today from a long three-day Christmas weekend with a** relatively light toll of 12 traffic deaths. Mild temperatures and clear highways hhlped keep the number of fatalities down to a level about normal for an ordinary weekend. The holiday weekend count ran from 5 p.m. Christmas Ete to midnight Sunday. Charles M. £ange, 79, Sunman, was one of the latest victims. He died of a heart attack and Injuries Sunday when a car in which he rode was hit by another auto on a county road near Sunman. Douglas Foster, 17, Elkhart, was killed Saturday, night in a two-car -crash on Ind. IB near New Paris. Charles R. Marsh, 26, Seymour, was killed Saturday night or early Sunday when struck by a car on U.S. 31 near Seymour. He was hit as he worked on bis truck, which had developed engine trouble. Raphael L. Dolan, 46, Fort Wayne, was killed on a Fort Wayne street when struck by an auto police said had faulty brakes. The driver was Don Swihart, 21, Fort Wayne. * INDIANA WEATHER Decreasing cloudiness tonight with rain ending southeast Tuesday partly cloudy and -a little warmer. Low tonight 25-32. High Tuesday 40-45. < -■ A —j ' ■ ■;

—.y-r-'r- : ' - - protest Killing Os foung German Boy | Western Allies In I Protest To Russia J BERLIN UP — The Western Allies demanded today that the Russians punish soldiers i|ho shot and killed a 16-year-old German boy in the Berlin suburbs, knd seriously wounded his mother. ! | The Allies also demanded a monetary indemnity for the shootOr •* the boy, Joachim Wozniak, bpd his 40-year-old mother Ida. ■hungry West Berliners asked that Allies get satisfaction from Russians before they discuss the ste for the proposed meeting here at the Big Four foreign ministers. J They fecalled thpt Herbert l|auer, a West Beflin policeman. *as killed in a similar Christmastide shooting last year. Adalbert Wozniak was driving Ms wife and son home to Berlin night in his little delivery van along the superhighway from VFestern Germany after a Christmas visit to West German friends. c .The superhighway passes through the Soviet occupation zone to Berlin, which Is an island in Red ruled territory. ;• j; Wozniak's car was only 50 yards from the American checkpoint, Which marks the line at which the enters West BerHe- territory. > ’When Russian soldiers opehed fire, apparently without warning. “All I heard was a sudden bang add I figured a tire had Mown Ogt,” Wocniak said. “But iny wife s#eamed and my boy silently collapsed.” With the boy gasping out his last breath, and the wife wounded i< the hip, the Russians forced Vfozniak to turn his car and drive back to a Soviet checkpoint. They searched the car thoroughly — especially for bullets which might hive led to their identification. They offered no first aid. Wozniak pleaded vainly that he be permitted to drive to a | hospital. It was 30 minutes before they released the car. Wozniak drove to a West Berlin hospital where his son was pronounced dead. West Berlin guards had heard th? shooting but powerless to- intervene. Police said that five bullets from submachine gun had ripped into the Wozniak car. The jlfOts seemed tb have been fired by: a matt who swunk his gun with the moving car. Police said also that the dying boy’s clothing had (Turn To Pose Six) 43 Rescued From Broken Freighter : Daring Rescue Made In Atlantic Waters BOSTON in* — A U. S. naval ship and a Finnish freighter battled heavy seas on the storm lashed North Atlantic today en route to Scandanavia with 43 crewmen rerscued from a Swedish freighter which split in two and sapk. Mil the crew members, including one woman, were rescued from the Swedish freighter Oklahoma Sunday 360 miles northeast of Argentip, Newfoundland. jrhe daring rescue was made by t|e U. S. naval ship Blue Jacket and the Finnish freighter Orion in near gale force winds. The Blue Jacket picked up 36 survivors and tib other seven crewman were rescued by the Orion. ' , < Capt. Dunward J. Larson, Hasbrouck Heights, N. J., captain of thfe Blue Jacket, radioed ÜBNS headquarters in New York Sunday night that the heavy seas were so severe his ship was making ho progress on its course toward Denmark. The Orlon, en route to Sweden, has not reported'its progress since completing the rescue operation. During the tortuous hours before their rescue the survivors of the .Oklahoma rode huge swells in the jjhip’s lifeboats and huddled to- , gather against the 45 mile winds.

Ike Preparing Messages For U.S., Congress Seeks To Explain \ Overtime Economy Early Next Month AUGUSTA. GA UP ■—President Eisenhower today settled down to the complicated task of explaining an “overtime economy” to the nation and congress early next month. ’ \ Dr. Gabriel Hauge, the President’s personal economic adviser, and Arthur Burns, chairman of the council of economic advisers, were to arrive at Mr. Eisenhower’s vacation retreat here sometime today to work with the President ou an assortment of speeches which will chart the course of the Elsenhower administration next year. Hauge said Sunday on a nationally broadcast radio program that the economic outlook for 1954 was “good,” although the . President and congress would have to make adjustments for an “overtime economy.” He referred to the problem of maintaining high levels of business activity confronting the administration and the current warswollen nature of business. “We are coming down from an overtime economy,” Hauge said. “We are coming down from an economy which was being used nt unusually high rates, and I think .hat we can take that kind of an idjustment without falling on our ace and go forward and have a good year next year.” It was the economist’s only reference to “overtime economy.” The question of whether a depression is on the way Is also a jource of preoccupation for the President's advisers. If it is statistically possible, they will make the best possible economic outlook for the country when the Chief Executive goes before congress aext week. Kevin McCann and Charles Moore, two of the President’s top speech consultants, arrived here late Sunday and wernvto work imrtWra T» Pu* Ftret Gouzenko Says Red Spies Still Active Hundreds Operate In U.S,, Canada WASHINGTON -UP —lgor Gouzenko, former Russian code clerk in Ottawa who uncovered a Red espionage network, said today he believes “hundreds” of Soviet spies are still operating in the United States and Canada. i*As some indication, they (the Russian embassies) spend several million dollars a year in telegrams alone,” he said. “The fact that some of them have been apprehended doesn’t mean that others will stop working,” Gouzenko said in a copyrighted interview In U. S: News & World Report, a weekly news magazine. “Fear is not something that will compel them to stop.” Gouzenko dramatically broke with the Communists In 1945. He walked out of the Soviet embassy tn Ottawa and turned over documents to Canadian authorities that led to numerous espionage convic-, tions, including that of Allan Nunn May, the English atomic scientist And the, evidence for the first time pointed the finger at similar spy rings in this country. Gouzenko said the Kremlin has infiltrated the United States and Canada with “agents resident” who make po contact with other agents. They operate independently and have direct radio contact with Moscow. Gousenko said some of these agents probably still are broadcasting American and Canadian (Ceattaaed «a Page Ptve) -/ *

■■■«* . j ———- Dies Saturday I George E. Wemhoff < ■ - George E. Wemhoff Dies Late Saturday Monumental Works Owner Dies Here George E. Wemhoff, 81, nationally known as a monument dealer and. owner of the Wemhoff Monumental Works ta this city, died Saturday night at Ms home, 309 N. Eighth street, after ad extended illness. tn UH. Ms father, Bernard J. Womheff, founded the local industry and the son started Ms business career that was to extend over 07 years when ce was a boy of 14. He became widely known in this field of business and in 1915 was elected president of the National Retail Monument Association- He was a contributor to the association’s magazine published in the interest of cemetery beautification. Mr. Wemhoff, a son of Bernard J. and Mary A. McClain Wemhoff, was born in Decatur, May 20, 1878. He was married to Osa France of this city, Jan. 12, 1897. ’ He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church, its Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus and the Loyal Order of Moose. Surviving are the wife, three sons, Adrian and Robert, who were associated with their father in the monument works, and Bernard Wemhoff of Detroit, editor of the Automotive Magazine; one daughter, Mrs. Etrfalia Lott of Butler; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Mrs. T. F. Grallker of this city and Miss Estelle Wemhoff ot Fort Wayne and one brother, John Wemhoff, also of ‘Fort Wayne, survive. Qne stm, three brothers and one sister are deceased. Requiem mass will be said Wednesday at 9- a. m. in St. Mary’s church, with the Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Selmetz officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. The body is at the Zwick funeral home, where friends may call ginning this afternoon. " — ‘ V Decatur Lions Will Hear County Clerk Edward Jaberg, Adams county clerk, will be the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Lions club Tuesday evening at 6:15 o’clock at the K. of P. home. Jaberg will speak bn the general topic of elections. Eugene Beam Named As Regular Fireman Mayor John Doan has announced the appointment to the regular squad of the Decatur fire department of Eugene Beam, of 703 Dierkes street, effective Jan. 1. Beam, an owner of the Mobllgas filling station at Monroe and Eighth for the past 10 years and present partner with Gene Moser, said this morning that his interest in the business will ba purchased by Moaor. Beam has bean • volunteer fireman tor the past several years with the local brigade.

..., ■■ ... ... Price Five Cents

Both Parties Summoned To Meet Jan. 5 Effort By tk. To Bipartisan Support For Flans AUGUSTA, Ga. UP—President Eisenhower today called a meeting of Republican and Democratic congressional leaders for Jan. 5 In an effort to win bipartisan support for his foreign policy and national defense programs in 1954. The two-party huddle was set for 10:3b a. m. Jan. 5 at the White House. Press secretary James C. Hagerty, announcing the meeting here at the winter White House, said the President invited the Democratic congressional leaders to join the GOP councils “to discuss his state of the union message, particularly those sections on foreign affairs and national defense.** Sen. Estes Kefauver, D-Tenn., earlier ha 4 called on Democrats to offer a formal legislative program oF their own, but leading senate Democrats shied away from that idea. Other Democratic teaderr tn recent weeks had cautioned the Republicans to take the minority party into account in shaping legislation if tahe GOP wanted to be sure of putting over its program. Hagerty said domestic matters would not necessarily be excluded from the Jan. 5 meeting but that as far as the President was concerned, the accent would be on foreign and defense policy—“subjects of vital importance to every one in this country.” j The President will leave here * for Waddington Jan. 3 and by that time he expects to have most of the work done on a special report to the people Jan. 4, the state of toe union message which he will deliver to congress Jan, 7, his budget for fldeal 1955 and bis economic report scheduled to reach the house and senate late next month. Hagerty said the President would meet at 8:30 a. m. Jan. 4 at the White House with the GOP congressional leaders. Then he will meet the bipartisan group the next day. i ' ; Mr. Eisenhower announced at a news conference some weeks ago that ho expected to call Democratic leaden into consultation sometime after ho completed his basic legislative meetings Doc. 1719 with GOP house and senate leaders and committee chairmen. Invited to the Jan. 5 conference were: Vice President Richard Nixon; Sen. William F. Knowland, RCalif.; Sen. Eugene D Millikin, R-Colo.; Sen. Styles Bridges, RN. H.; Sen. Leverett Saltonstell, R-Mass.; Son. Homer Ferguson, R-Mich.; Sen. Alexander Wiley, R-Wis.; Sen. Lyndon Johneon, D-Tex.; Sen. Earle C. Clement*, D-Ky.; Sen. Walter F. George, D-Ga.; and Sen. Richard B. Russell, DGa. From this house, Mr. Eiiepbower invited: Speaker Joseph W. Martin. RMass.; Rep. Charles A. Halleck. Rdnd.; Rep. Leslie C. Arends, R-I1L; Rep. Leo Allen, R-QL; Rep. Robert B. Chiperfield, R-IIL; Rep. Dewey > Short, R-Mo.; Rep. Sam Raybum, D-Tex.; Rep. John W. McCormack, D-Ma*s.; Rep. Carl Vinson, D-Ga.; and Rep. James P. Richards, D-S. C. Kitchen's Condition Reported Critical James B. Kitehen, Jr., MVoroly burned more than It months ago in a gas heater explosion at his homo In this eity, was reported today la “critical’ ’condition at the Veterans hospital in Fort Wayne, whent bo has been a patient since a few days after the accident.