Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 18, Decatur, Adams County, 22 January 1954 — Page 1

Vol. Lil. No. 18.

Mamie Launches A New Maritime Age ? : §SK| wlfS *''■'' •••?’•> '* . Tiaft~ - - • /?** -cra- £■ ~ I ■ aK _/• ■ i MB ft t .«<_,;u ..^,ot jjIMEiPWMI-.... -/i W.|v awNVw- . ywA;v ■ jFfi®- i • *~.'j 4 ;?yTJE . "11111,1 1"-. wkwh gggU ■** • ?1 Jp* ~ x AMID A BEDLAM of whistles, cheers, music and shouting at. Groton, Conn., the atomic powered' new submarine, Nautilus, rides at anchor, a skeleton crew manning her rail, following launching ceremonies? Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the nation’s first lady (lower left), swung the bottle of champaign which sent this first of the "fission fleet” down the ways to launch an age at sea rivalling the transition from sail to steam and from wooden ships to steel. Months of will folio*', to be climaxed when its tiny "heart" of Uranium-235 will go aboard to give it unparalleled power in naval craft.

Dulles Issues Challenge To Reds On Peace Challenges Russia To Give Germany Chance At Unity BERL'IN (UP) — Secretary of state John Foster Dulles chal- — lenged RuMla today to back up her "word's of peace" with "deeds of peace” by giving divided Germany a chance to be united again through free elections. Dulles was the first of the top western diplomats to arrive for the first Big Four conference with Russia "in five years. He landed at West Berlin's sprawling Tempelhof Airport at 11:53 a. m. (4:53 ' 9 ‘-" •"*’ H '-•* In a statement to correspondents as he stepped from the plane, Dulles said the "whole world would take new hope" if the conference, which opens Monday, could agree on free elections as the first step toward German reunification. “For it will then be apparent that the words of peace are being translated into deeds of _peace,” Dulles said. The U. S. secretary of state will meet with the other two western foreign ministers for the first time Saturday morning for pre-confer-ence strategy talks. The three will map a common plan, particularly with regard to Russia’s announced intention to demand a Big Five world peace conference with Red China sitting in. Dulles flew from Washington in President Eisenhower's private plane “Columbia” stopping only at Prestwick. Scotland, for refuelling. U. S. high commissioner James B. Conant, Maj. Gen. Thomas Timberman, who is West Berlin’s American commandant, and West Berlin Mayor Walther Schreiber Dulles and a large part of the powerful delegation being brought to the conference. A U. S. 6th infantry regiment tank company fired a 19-gun salute and Dulles inspected' an honor guard from the 7.000-man American garrison of the city. French foreign minister Georges ■ Bidault and a 30-man French dele • gation arrived at 1:10 p. m. after an overnight train trip from Paris ........... Bidault said "my first thought on reaching Thia city where the signs of war still are so visible is to avoid any return to such a -war. Our purpose here is, if not to realize peace, at least to ease tensions, 1 hope the spectacle of battered Berlin will inspire the " foreign ministers." Anthony Eden, Britain’s foreign secretary, was the last of The western ministers to arrive. Russia’s fpreign minister V. M. Molotov is scheduled to check in Saturday, rounding out the roster ~ for the conference which may determine whether a “negotiated peace” is possible in the cold war. Communist police already have sealed off the streets around the Soviet embassy in Red Berlin, expected, to be Molotov’s headquarters during his stay? As the western foreign ministers converged on Berlin Communist authorities relaxed telephone restrictions in the divided city -to expedite conference communications. They opened 70 telephone circuits between the Soviet arid western sectors— the first in opera(Tura To Pure Eight)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Governor Calls Kyle Charge Unfortunate No Other Comment On Kyte Resignation INDIANAPOLIS UP — Governor Cjalg, labelled as “unfortunate' today alcoholic beverage commission chairman Joseph B, Kyle’s charge, in resigning, that t .the administration is "saturating’.’ . the liquor Industry with politics. _ Craig and his administrative ! assistant, William E. Sayer, return- . ed by train at mid-morning from , four days in New York and Washington. The governor said he had not ’ yet received Kyle’s resignation, which he requested. Kyle showed ‘ it to Sewsme? Wednesday. Craig said commissioner Dan ’ Cravens. Franklin, the Other nemember ol : the ABC, will become acting chairman. Craig > said he expects to appoint Kyle’s ■ successor within a week. The new 1 appointee may become chairman . or Cravens may be promoted to ' permanent chairman. 1 In resigning, Kyle blasted Craig's administration, saying the ABC , tried to take beer out of politics while some persons in the admin, ■ istration tried to mix the two. “1 think that’s a very unfortuni ate statement on the part of Mr. Kyle,” Craig said. “Other than , that, I don’t care to comment.” Ou other matters -discussed dur- “ ing his eastern trip, the governor ’ made these comments: 1. Drought—Craig said federal officials will “reinspect? the Indiana drought situation. President Eisenhower previously rejected Craig’s bid for federal aid to 22 downstate counties suffering from a summer and fall drought. The governor was concerned aboht etdp reports which showed production in the area 86 to 90 per cent of normal. He said it “would hate been impossible to The governor was concerned about crop reports which showed production in the area 86 to 90 per cent of normal. He said it “would have been impossible to reach that level of production when the area bad no good rain from July to September." Craig was “confident" a recheck of the situation will result in necessary relief. 2. Air ational Guard — Terre Haute has accepted a bid to locate a jet squadron at Hulrnan Field. Craig was unable to confer with national officials to urge approval of the Terre Haute project. He will be "satisfied” with locating the base ar Terre Haute if it meets Air Force requirements, tscxi3. Mental- Health- — Craig ■ received assurance of assistance from national mental health officials in obtaining finances and personnel for establishing “one of the finest research programs” in Indiana. The governor proposed that the American Legion make mental health research programs a major objective. He said 54 per cent of the beds in all veterans hospitals are occupied by patients , with mental or nervous disorders and “it’s high time we found out w’hat causes it." 4. Politics —Craig was host to the Indiana congressional delegation which had "a flhe dinner and talked politics.” All agreed to work together for a Republican victory in 1954. he said. 5. Legislature—Craig had no comment on Tuesday’s action by ■ Indiana lawmakers who rejected a • special session for constructing a (Tura To rase Five)

Democrats May Take Tax Fight To House Floor Tax Exemptions In Democrats* Program WASHINGTON UP — Rep. John W. McCormack said today the Democrats may carry their fight for increased income tax exemptions to the house floor now that Republicans have defeated the proposal in committee. "If President Eisenhower can get tax reductions they should be equitable,” he declared.The only equitable, way to cul, taxes. McCormack told reporters, is to boost individual income tax exemptions from 3600 to 1700 as Democrats have proposed. This proposal came up in the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee Thursday but went down to defeat on a straight partyline vote, 15 to 10. McCormack D-Mass. indicated the next step may be to force a House vote on the House floor. . ?' Committee Chairman Daniel A; Reed R-NY the group might reconsider the plan. But the measure’s sponsor, Rep. Hale Boggs D-La.. said he doubts this. Some GOP members branded the proposal a “political" manenver. to embarrass the Republicans in view of the federal deficit anticipated for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The exemption increase would cost the government an estimated 2 to 3-billlon-dollars a year in revenue, considerably aggravating the deficit which the Republicans are. trying to erase. The exemption dispute arose as the committee was working on a general revision of the tax laws ( that includes many of the President's recommendations. Meanwhile, the President appeared to have picked up little support for the plea in his budget message Thursday that the corpo ration and excise tax cuts scheduled to go into effect April 1 be cancelled. Informed sources pre dieted a compromise, however. Rep. Thomas A. Jenkins ROhio, second ranking Republican on the committee, said flatly the corporation and excise tax reduc tlons will take place despite the President’s appeal. But Jenkins like some, others on the committee, said present levies on liquor and tobacco probably will be continued as requested by Mr. Eisenhower. Mr. Eisenhower’s proposal to move up the March 15 income tax hang deadline to April 15 picked up some congressional support, but the Ways and Means Committee was divided on the issue. Robert Sprunger Is Speaker At Rotary Robert Sprunger, Adams county young man who spent last summer as an Internatienal farm youth exchange student overseas, described his experiences and showed slides of the various farms where he lived at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Rotary club Thursday evening. Sprunger, who lived on farms in France and Northern Africa during his atty, -told of the vast differences in the American way of life arid that in France" ahd Africa. George Litchfield was chairman of the program.’

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, January 22, 1954. --- - - - .

Indian Troops Abandon 21 American Prisoners Turned Communists

Cost Os Living Is Still Near Record Level Slight Decline In Consigner Prices During December WASHINGTON UP — The cost of living continued “stable” as 1953 ended, the government reported today. Consumer prices declined very slightly in December. The bureau of labor statistic’s Index of consumer prices was prac--ticftllX unchanged between midNovember and mid-December. * A slight decline of less than onetenth of 1 per cent in consumer prices left the index at 114.9 per cent of average 1947-49 prices, still near the record level of 115.4 per cent set in October. No major wage contracts are sf-J fected by the December index. The major contracts are tied to the indices of other months. The slight decline also left the 5 cost of living only seven-tenths of 1 per cent above December, 1952* Transportation prices declined; ■■ ntne-tenths of Iper cent, db'e mS‘lh“ ly to a drop in used car prices. Clothing prices fell two-tenths of i 1 tfer-cent. two items were-re- ■ spcsisibfe for tfse slight overaii de- ’ cline in December. Food .prices, ' rose three-tenths of 1 percent, led mainly by pork prices and fresh ! fruits and vegetables. 12 1 The bureau said retail food ’ prices were higher in 31 of the 46 cities surveyed for the index. The ■ Increase reversed a decline which ' started last Augifit. For the year as a whole, .the BLS said the consumer price index moved over a "narrow range,” de- ' dining slightly last January and February, then rising for eight months and declining again in November and December. The main increases during the yeAf were in renrff“afiU'seWlces? Food prices at the end of 1953 were 1.3 per cent below December, 1952. Prices In the housing field rose steadily, but were relatively unchanged between November and December because of declines in prices of home fuels, furnishings, ‘ and gas and electricity. Some cember. o. BLS Commissioner Ewan Clague said “normally” the cost of living 1 Torn To Pose EisbtSoya Recreation Officers Installed : Officers, Directors Installed Thursday Newly elected officers and directors of the-Gentral Soya Recreation Association were installed last eveningin a business meeting at -the Fainway. A dinner was served to the groifli and the retiring officers and directors. Dike Eddleman was chairman of the arrangements. The officers are: Mel Luhman, president;. Don Heiman, iice-presi-dent; Pearl Whetstone, secretary, and Amaline Woodward, treasurer. - Directors es the various activities sponsored by the association are: Dan Seesenguth and Paul Morgan, bowling; Pete Straub,, fishing club; Vic 'Magsman and Will Hutker, softball; Lester Hainee and Gerald Eady, gun club; ■ Qlen Dickerson and Don Bohnke. golf; John Voglewede and Roger Singleton, basketball. Director-at-large, James Bashman. The retiring officials are: Marjorie Yoder, Don Cochran, Jap Bowman, Jesse Schlickman, Dick Gehrig, Bob Houk, Glen Rupert and Ralph Stevens. Plant manager C. I Finlayson . and Newell Wright were guests of- > the group. _ The officers and directors were ' elected at an annual meeting list December. „ * ■ • - 1-: -r- - -

— — . Plan Inquiries Os Captured Pilots Air Force To Hold Formal Inquiries WASHINGTON UP — The air force will start formal inquiries in -about a week into the cases of certain captured pilots who broke under Communist pressure and “confessed” to conducting “germ warfare” in Korea, It was learned to- . day. - ' The inquiries could lead to courts martial of some of the fliers on cbarges that they failed to live up to certain standards of conduct , prescribed by military law while prisoners of the Communists. The air force, along with theother military services, purposely j has been moving slowly in taking , any official action against prisoners who told their captors of “germ warfare” or turned “progressives.” The services have been trying to flld a policy which would take into consideration the hardships endured by the men and yet at the same time preserve certain prln- • ciples of military discipline. After months of investigation into the circumstances surrounding , the “confessions” given by 33 fliers, the air force has decided ?to refer sotn® of the ea ire s "to’ boards of inquiry. The boards cor- - respond to grand juries in civilian law and have the power to clear a nian or recommend that he be I In addition to the 33 air force i fliers, three marine pilots also ‘confessed" to, ."germ warfare.” I The marine corps said today its i three cases are still under “prei .iminary investigatioh." ’, i The army also* said it is still investigating the cases — believed : ;o number less than 50 —of soldiers : who turned "progressives’ ’in orde? o gain certain advantages over iellow prisoners. Ex-Russian Officer Given Prison Term Convicted As Spy For Soviet Russia FRANKFURT, Germany . (UP) —A former Russian army officer convicted of posing as a refugee from Communism so he could op; on Americans for the Soviet Union, complained today that U. S. justice is harsher than the Russian kind. The Russian, Nikita Vladimiro rich Khorunzhij, was sentenced to serve .14 years in prison. Clearly shocked, he leaped to his feet in the U. S. high commissioners' count and shouted: “I wouldn’t have recieved such a sentence in the Soviet Union. 1 should have gone back there.” ; HiS East German wife, Elizabeth, was sentenced to two years in prison for aiding him. ? She paled and sobbed quietly when she heard the sentences pro nounced. Defense attorneys said they will appeal. Khorunzhij, who claimed to have deserted the Soviet army in 1948. wasc. charged “collecting and transmitting for pay to the Soviets, oger A period of two years, information on Russian refugees, U. counter intelligence corps installations and anything else he thought they might need.” Tis wife was accused of acting as a courier for his material, written in secret ink on silk and concealed in the false bottoms of suitcases, the wrappings of candy bars and sewn in her clothing. Prosecuting Atty. Thomas C. (Continued on Paae Elgbt) Kitchen's Condition Reported Critical r ’■ . . ; . i The condition of James B. JCltchen. Jr., of this city, who was severely burned In tin explosion at his hotne early In July, 1952, was < reported today as critical at the 1 Veterans hoepital-in Fort Wayne. I Members of the family stated that ’ little hope is held for bis recovery. < . ... '■■T '. Q ' ~ — y — — -Aif'vortvv

Eight Men Are Feared Killed In Air Crash No Signs Os Life At Crash Scene Os Navy Patrol Bomber * HONOLULU, T. H. UP — A Navy Neptune patrol bomiber carrying eight men struck a mountainside Thursday night and an army rescue team early today reported “no sign of Life" around the burning wreckage. A marine helicopter, searching for the wreckage, crashed a short time after the accident, but none ot the four persons aboard was injured. The homeward bound Neptune plane was making an approach to the Barber’s Point Airbase when it rammed into the 3,000-foot mountain range ibehind Schofield Barracks. The rescue team radioed the wreckage was too hot to approach, but some bodies appeared to be visible. -Tt Mrtr the - ptetre apbpTehtTy rammed into the mountainside with; full throttle, as the impact scattered hits of flaming debris over a large area. j The was du? drihree marine ‘copters sent to search for the wreckage of the downed Neptune. The twin-engined plane was completing a flight from Kwajalein to Barber’s Point naval air station when it crashed during a ground control approach for landing, the navy said,* It was in radio contact with the Honolulu control approach center, "but the center lost radio contact as it was turning over control to the Barber’s Point tower. The pile of the downed helicopter had radioed he thought Jie had sighted the wreckage o?' the Neptune. The navy said the plane apparently crashed and burned about 400 feet up a mountainside two or three miles from a pineapple plantation camp. Residents of the town of Wahiawa, some seven or eight miles away, reported seeing flames two hours, after th? crash. .; 1 The definite number of men (Contiaaed on Pace Six) Big Snow Fails To Fall On This State Warming Trend Is Foreseen Saturday INDIANAPOLIS, UP —Hoosiers but away their snow shovels today. The big snow expected to hit the state didn’t show up. And according to if five-day Weather bureau outlook, snow with be scarce at least from now until Wednesday. An average of less than a tenth of an inch was expected in that period. A special warning Thursday night predicted three to five inches of snow would blanket Indiana today. But the weather bureau said the snow belt halted before reaching this far north. Only traces ot snow were recorded early today at Fort Wayne. Lafayette and Evansville. Other areas were dry. The five-day outlook said temperatures will average three to seven degrees 'below normal, which ranges from 33 to 15 in the north and 43 to 23 downstate. A warming trend was forseen for Saturday and Sunday, with colder temperatures Monday. Light snow was expected about Tuesday and possibly In the north Sunday. Occasional freezing rain dr sleet wks predicted near the Ohio River, ending today. Tonight’s lows were to be 1945 degrees, compared with lows' ranging from 12 at Fort Wayne to 25 at Evansville Thursday night and early today. iwiiwh *"»>waiwan ~ ‘ ’ '*■ r ~.1L.. - _• - —

Democrats Cheer Reversal By Ike Congratulate Ike On Change In Plans WASHINGTON UP — Democratic military experts in Congress congratulated President Eisenhower today on what they termed his reversal of last year’s slowdown in air force spending. They said his new budget - £ - booating air force spending to $16,209,000,000 — puts the air arm back on the road toward 126 combat wings, as projected originally by former President Truman. Support wings still will be fewer than originally planned. Rep. George H. Mahon D-Tex., ranking Democrat and former chairman of the house military appropriations subcommittee, said “We are on the right track again.’’ Mahon joined some other Democrats in expressing concern at the cut imposed by the new budget on the army, which will lose about 17 per cent of its men and three divisions. He said it was “a gamble.’’ Rep. Melvin Price D-IU., a member of the armed services and atomic energy committees, said he «»8 “bappy" administration forces have “reversed themselves, completely on the air force.” Republicans generally praised the 'military budget as evidaace of , reduced waste and taoroswed-busi-ness efficiency-in the ’Pentagon: “I think it’s all right,” said chairman Dewey Short R-Mo„ of the house armed services committee. Mr. Eisenhower projected total military spending of $37,575,000,000 in the 12 months starting July ' 1, as compared to $41,550,000,000 now figured to be spent by the services during the current year. Here is what the three services could spend, compared to what 1 they are spending in fiscal 1954: New Budget Army $10,198,000,000. Navy $10,493,000,000 Air Force $16,209,000,000 (Continued on Pace Five) 0 ' - .. ■ . ■. f »> • Discuss Proposed Conservancy Plan Informal Meeting Is Held Here Today Adams county commissioners, surveyor Herman Moellering and auditor Frank Kitson met with a group of citizens headed by Mayor John Doan at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon in the commissioners chamber at the Court House to discuss the proposed northeastern Indiana conservancy district.;' Mayor Doan and others asked for the meeting so they might explain the proposed project and also enter their reasons for opposing the plan, in its present form. The present proposal to include the several northeastern counties Into a conservancy district is being promoted largely by a group of Fort Wayne citizens. Local people, including many farmers of the county, feel that the cost of such a district would be fare out of proportion to the benefits. Howewer, the local committee has stressed the fact that as individuals they are not opposed to the theory of conservation. Petitions seeking the setting up of a conservancy district have not been filed ibut it is understood that the filing will take place late this winter or early in the spring. The matter then would be placed before a panel of circuit judges from the counties affected by the plan arid this panel would determine if a district was feasible. ■H the panel of judges approved the proposal, a commission would be set up with authority to proceed under the statute. Today’s meeting was called by the local citizens committee to give details of what the local committee had done to date concerning, the proposal. No official action was taken or asked at today’s session.

Price Five Cents

Open Gales Os Compound, Rerik Refuse Custody UN Declares All Freed Anti-Reds Are Now Civilians PANMUNJOM, Saturday. UP — Indian troops threw open the gates for 21 pro Communist American war prisoners a mtidnight and abandoned them in the desolate neutral zone. The action came as the United Nations command declared the 21,00V freed anti-Communist war prisoners civilians. Communist military officers refused to take custody of the Americans and their one British and 325 South Korean companions, insisting they be held captive instead until the Korean peace conference meets. ' '' But the Indians thought otherwise. An Indian officer unlocked the inner door of the compound gate at five mihutes before midnight while Indian troops, muffled against sub-freezing cold, marched away into darkness. ~ . At exactly midnight, the officer opened the outer gate and left. The prisoners then were free to an where they wanted but their . American apokaanjau.. Sgt. Richard s Gorden, said, “Wo will not go vat of the compound unless the rations run out. We will create no trouble.” The men, promised free travel, education and women by the Communists, .now have been written off the books by the United Nations command and their future moves were expected to be directed from the Red’s nearby advance military headquarters at Kaesong. An Indian officer said withdrawal of the guard was made without incident. None of the expatriates made any demonstration although • the Koreans shouted farewells to the cracktroops as they later disappeared behind a hill * ' "We waited outside and at exactly midnight opened the outer gates and left,” an Indian major told newsmen at 12:15 a.m. at Panmunjom about a mile from the pro-Red capip. “I saw no Americans. Some ot the men were outside their huts but they were hardly visible because it was too dark,” the major said. In the meantime, 14,000 antiCommunist Chinese were aboard landing ships bound for Formosa and 7,000 former North Koreans were in two ROK resettlement centers in South Korea. U. N. commander Gen. John E. Hull’s announcement that the POWs in Allied hands had attained civilian status closed the books on ♦ha United Nations’ three year battle tor a new and unprecedented principle of warfare—th? right of voluntary repatriation by POWs. Their return to civilian status had been promised before they were burned out of their neutral zone prison camp by Indian guards three days ago. Angry at their release, the Communist headquarters at Kaesong had demanded in a note to Lt. Gen. K. S. Thimayya, commander of the Indian guards, that the Allied POWs be held captive in the neutral zona until the peace conference could be organized. South Korean President Syngman Rhee ordered ROK national and military .police to “prevent” any of the 21 Americans, 325 South Korean and one British, prisoner from entering his country from the neutral zone when they become civilians. Rhee did not reveal what steps have been taken to prevent the men from seeking sanctuary in South Korea if Communist guards at the northern end ot the neutral zone deny them entry into North Korea. INDIANA WEATHER 5 Partly cloudy tonight and Saturday; somewhat colder tonlgnt and continued cold Saturday. Low tonight 5-10 above. High Saturday 20-25.