Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 95, Decatur, Adams County, 22 April 1954 — Page 1

Vol. LU. No. 95.

Replaces McCarthy i -1 I > *4* r ' ■ 1 | g. m Bw . a "i <- SEN. KARL E. MUNDT (R)._S. D.. (right) welcomes Sen. Henry C. Dworshak (R), Idaho, as the newest member of the senate investigating subcommittee, to fill the place vacated by Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy for the duration of hearings on the controversy between the Wisconsin senator and army leaders. Mundt announced that during a private meeting of the group it was voted that McCarthy’s latest target, assistant defense secretary H. Struve Hensel will be considered "as a principal” in the hearings.

Wilson Serves Blunt Warning To Aggressors 'New Look' Defense Policy Designed To Deter Aggression WASHINGTON UP — Defense secretary Charles ’E. Wilson said Wednesday night the administration’s “new look" defense policy is designed to "deter both a major war and local aggressidn.” * In hie first semi-annual report since adoption of the "new took”, Wilson' served blunt warning to mounting retaliatory capability of our air units gives* full warning to any aggressor of the possible consequences of rash actions on his I part.” He added that this country’s decision to keep substantial forces of all types readily available and to expand its continental air defense system should destroy an aggressor’s chances for "a quick and easy victory." Wilson’s report, with accompanying statements by the army, navy and air secretaries, was sent to President Eisenhower id be forwarded to congress. It covered 'the six months Which ended last Dec. 31.

Wilson said his defense economies are producing “increased strength at reduced cost.*’ But he said he was “not satisfied" on one point—the status oh reserve forces — and pledged big improvements here. The defense secretary said that since the United States itself ■would be a target in any new war, trained reserve forces must be ready for immediate action and “not nine to twelve months later.” Air secretary Harold E. Talbott, whose service became 'dominant under the new look, said the "review of national strategy confirmed previous appraisals of the key position of airpower in our national defense structure." There has been some criticism in congress — particularly by Democrats — that the new look, with its emphasis on air-atomic power, might not be sufficiently flexible to deal with small "brush fire” wars, Wilson said IT. S. military policy is tailored to cope with both big and small wars. DAV To Conduct Forget-Me-Not Sales In County Sale of Disabled American Veterans forget-me-nots will start in local industries and stores Friday afternoon, it was announced today. General street sale of the blue flowers, proceeds of which go to the local rehabilitation program, will be Saturday. Mrs, Violet Smith, D.A.V. auxiliary commander, is in charge of the local Girl Scouts who assist in the Saturday sale, Victor Steiner, first junior vice commander of chapter 91, said today that commander David Smith would have charge of ,the entire drive in Decatur. Rufus Somers is chairman of the Geneva sale; James Halberstadt has charge of the sale in Berne and Gordon Brodbeck has charge of the Monroe sale. All sales will be conducted Saturday. There are no paid solicitors. chairman Steiner .said, and all members of the county chapter will take part in the sale. _ g I

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Soviet Agent Asks Political Asylum Sent From Moscow On Murder Mission BONN, Germany, UP A Russian agent of the Soviet secret police, sent from Moscow on a murder mission, and two East German Communist agents he recruited as assistants announced today that they have requested U.S. political asylum. The three told their cloak-and-dagger story to a packed press conference In the offices of the U. S. high commission. , Nikolai E. Khokhlov, the MVD agent from Moscow, acted as spokesman for the group. He said he was sent out from Moscow in October, 1953, under ‘ orderstbdsaassinate Georgi S. Okolovlch. a leader of the NTS (an antl-Communist Russian refugee organization) in West Germany. American intelligence agents said they had carefully investigated every- detail of the story told by the three and were “completely satisfied” as to its accuracy. The two German agents identified themselves as Hans Kukowitsch arid Kurt Weber. Khokhlov said the assassination plan was titled “Operation Rhine" in the secret files of the MVD. He said plans for the assassination Os Okolovich were carefully worked Out before he “recruited” his two German assistants in the §ovipt zpne of Germany. The two Germans, he said, were taken, to Moscow and given special training for their murder assignment. They were instructed in judo, use of side arms and in automobile driving, he said. They were supplied with maps showing Frankfurt —where Okolovich was located — in minute detail, pictures of their victim and descriptions of his habits. On Dec. 19, 1953, the Russian said, the three were flown out of Moscow to Berlin to begin their mission.

A U. S. high commission spokesman showed reporters special “poison pellets” and “specialized pistols” which were supplied the assassins in Moscow. “They were made by experts,” the American official explained. On Jan. 15. Khokhlov said. Mos.cow ordered, the assassination postponed because Russia did not want the death to oceur in Germany during the Big Four foreign ministers’ conference in Berlin. After hiding out first in Vienna and later in Zurich, Khokhlov said he began to have doubts about his mission. On Feb. 18 the MWD agent went to Okolovich’s apartment in Frankfurt and told the intended victim of the plot against his life. Then Khokhlov arranged a meeting with American intelligence agents and asked for asylum. He persuaded his German assistants (Tur a To Page Seven) Daylight Time To Go Into Effect At Midnight Saturday Decatur, with much of the nation, will switch to daylight saving time Saturday night at midnight, with the clocks moved ahead one hour. Business houses, offices, industries and courfty and city offices will operate on the so-called time, as will churches and schools. Railroad and bus schedules will be revised because of the time change. Daylight time will be in effect until Saturday midnight, Sept. 25.

French Pilots Seed Dry Ice On Red Roads Desperate Tactic To Slow Supplies For Red Forces HANOI, Indochina, UP — French pitots, adopting American rain-making measures, seeded dry ice today in heavy clouds over Communist supply routes in the Dian Bien Phu area, French military sources reported. The desperate tactic was aimed at turning into mud the roads that lead from the border of Red China to Communist Indochinese forces encircling the fortress. « The monsoon season itself was expected "shortly in Indochina. If French Union forces can hold out against* the creeping Communists, the summer rainstorm’s might" wash out Red military operations against Dien Bien Phu. French high command spokesmen announced that the Communists have been bearing down hard on the fortress' shrunken defenses at the embattled fortress. Dien Bien Phu’s defenders, awaiting reinforcements being flown from Paris by U.S. pilots fired machine guns and tank cannon on rebels creeping forward on , the bastion’s main runway. The high command said the rebels apparently were trying to slice farther onto the airstrip and make it impossible for the defenders to receive ammunition and food by airdrop. -— A morning downpour of rain cut French air activity to a minimum. French patrols engaged rebels in small - scale combat on .points northeast of the stronghold’s defense lines. Hixon Says Strength America's Best Bet Nixon Spells Out Republican Policy DES MOINES, lowa (UP)—Vice President Richard’ M. Nixon said Wednesday night that a show of strength in Asia was America’s best bet to prevent World War 111. He said, however, that American material aid could be made to serve as a substitute for American troops in Indochina. Nixon spoke at a >25-a-plate Republican dinner here.

Nixon spelled opt administration policy when he said, “American policy is to give maximum, material aid to the forces of the French and associated states (of Indochina).” He said the United States mudt give such aid to “avoid sending our boys” into the battle in Indochina. Nixon told about 3,800 persons nt the lowa GOP centennial dinner that the Communists are out to conquer the world, and if they should take Indochina “it would swing the balance of power to the Communists." "The Kremlin then might think the time had come to start World War III,” he said. Nixon expressed confidence to newsmen that the Indochina war can be won “by French and Indochinese troops with the aid the United States has given and is giving." In his speech, he disputed claims that showing'strenfcth in Asia will bring war. • “We will not keep our boys out of Indochina by telling the Communists they can come in,” Tie said, “The purpose of our policy is to avoid sending our boye to Indochina or anywhere else to fight. ' “The administration believes that a position of strength in Asia and Indochina is the only way to avoid war." Contingent Leaves For Physical Exam Leaving this morning by bus, a group of 10 Adams county young men traveled to Indianapolis for physicial examinations. They include WalckjA Conrad, Ralph John Steffen, PWrner Louis Schwartz, Dale Eugene Fruechte, Walter LeRoy Graber, William John Susdorf, Leroy Wayne Yoder; Howard Jay Habegger, Buddy Don Sheets and Carl Richard Yoder. In This Issue ■ ' Two sections, pages one to eight; one to six A, 14 pages. Editorial page, 2A, serial story i 2A; pages 3A and 4A. <

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMB COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 22, 1954.

Army General Relates Pressure Exerted By ■■ ‘ * Sen. McCarthy, Cohn t A ■

GOP Senators Lash At Nehru Plane Action « Denounce Refusal To Allow Planes To Fly Over India By UNITED PRESS Senate Republican leaders today denounced Indian prime minister Nehru’s refusal to let American planes fly across Indian soil with .French troop reinforcements for Indochina. GOP floor leader Wiiam F. Knowand caed it “a very ead thing" and compared Nehru to a man who.woud cut a fire hose strung across his lawn<o help put out a fire in a neighbor’s home. Chairman Homer Ferguson (RMich.) of the senate Republican policy committee said Nehru's action "gave aid and comfort to the Communist world.” Other congressional news: Postal rates: Postmaster general Arthur E. Summerfield appealed to the senate post office committee to approve the administration’s bill to raise postal rates to avoid a possible postal deficitcf 750 million dollars a year. . Farm: Senate GOP lea de r Knffwland said a series of amendments proposed by farm bloc senators would “kill” the administration’s wool price support bill. ‘He ' predicted the amendments will be defeated. Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D-N.M.) also warned the farm bloc may, wreck Its own power if it insists on “loading" the wool bill with amendments designed to extend high price supports on other commodities. Sen. Allen J. Ellendejf* (D-La.), with strong bi-partisan backing, has proposed an amendment to the wool bill which would extend for two years present 90 percent of parity supports on' the “basic’’ crops: Corn, wheat, tobacco, peanuts, rice and cotton. The rigid supports on all these commodities except tobacco are scheduled to die in December, and the administration wants to replace them with a flexible support system which could be varied between 75 and 90 percent of parity.

Republican senate leader William F. Knowland hinted strongly that President Eisenhower would veto the wool measure if the amendment is approved. That prompted Anderson to warn: “If you throw the wool bill out of the window, I say it will tear (Turn To Page Seven) Slight Living Cost* Decrease During March Food And Clothing Price Cuts Bring On Slight Decline WASHINGTON UP — Price cuts in food, clothing and some other items brought another slight decline in living costs in March, the government reported today. A decline of two-tenths of 1 per cent between mid-February and mid-March put the bureau of labor statistics index of consumer prices at 114.8 per cent of average 1947-49 prices. This was one-half of 1- per cent below the cmtober record high of 115.4 per cent of the base period. The March decline was the fourth since the October record and the second straight month to show a drop. No major wage contracts with cost of living escalator clauses are tied to the March index. The March decline resulted mainly from a decrease of four-tenths of 1 per cent in both the food and clothing fields.

tyßenson Statement Adiitted To Trial Collaborated With Communist Captors WASHINGTON, UP —An army court martial has received an admission by Cpl. Edward S. Dickenson that he collaborated with Communist captors in a Korean prison camp. The statement, taken by army intelligence officers in Tolyo after Dickenson’s belated repatria- : tion, was admitted as evidence late Wednesday over vigorous protests of defense counsel. In it, Dickenson said he decided to go along with the Communists after being caught in an escape attempt and being subjected to cruel and brutal treatment. 1 He admitted writing articles for Communist newspapers, making recordings and signing and circulating peace petitions among fellow prisoners. It did not include anything about informing on fellow prisoners,, also charged by the army. - He said some prisoners who accepted Communism were sent home to form the nucleus of a revolutionary group. He said they were Instructed to meet in Chicago, at a time to be set later, to - lay plans for a revolutloffToTe staged after a depression which *the Cqmmuntsta predicted woj»l< come in five years. Dickenson, a Crackers Neck, Va. • mountaineer, was one of two ori iginal non-repatriates who came i home after the mass exchange of i prisoners. The other was Cpl. Claude J. Batchelor of Kermit, ’ Tex.?'who also is slated for court I martial. Twenty-one other Amer--1 leans remained with the tßeds. i ■ Soviet Correspondent Termed Key Figure Soviet News Agency Writer In Embassy CANBERRA, Australia ’UP — An Australian newspaper described a Soviet Tass news agency correspondent today as the key figure in a Red spy ring bared by refugee Russian diplomat Vladimir Petrov.

The Sydney Sun said the Russians plan to send the correspondent, Victor Antonov, back to Moscow as soon as possible. Antonov vacated his apartment in Sydney without giving notice to his landlord two days before Petrov dramatically asked for asylum and exposed the existence of the spy ring. • Soviet embassy third secretary George Khartkovetz cleared up the mystery about Antonov’s disappearance. He said Antonov was staying in the embassy. Petrov, according to Sydney reports, often had. been a visitor to Antonov’s apartment. The Sydney Sun said Australian security police believed Antonov was a key figure in an Australian spy ring. Khartkovetz Antonov was being sent back to Moscow' because of Petrov's defection and said his transfer was routine. Antonov's wife, who also disappeared after she had escorted Metrov’s wife to a Sydney airport on what had intended to be a one-way flight to Moscow, was presumed to be held Incommunicado at the embassy here along with her husband. Mrs. Petrov, who was granted asylum at her request after Australian security guards had disarmed two Soviet couriers at the Darwin Airport, left Darwin in a Royal Australlan air force plane, for a reunion with her husband at an undisclosed destination. She departed unnoticed after Australian security agents used elaborate means to protect her from a possbile-Soviet attempt to kidnap her. An Australian agent put on women’s clothes and wore a black veil in assuming the role of “Mrs. Petrov." He went to the airport from Darwin’s parliament house under heavy armed escort. (Turn To Page Six)

Sen. Capehart Suggests Plans To Check Abuse Would Blacklist Some Os Builders From FHA Program WASHINGTON, (UP) — Sen. Homer E. Capehart today sug- < gested the "blacklisting” from the < federal housing program apart- i ment builders, who reaped “wind- « fall" profits from excessive goy- « ermhent-backed loans. The Indiana Republicans, chair- I man of the senate banking com-' 1 mittee, also proposed that'build- ‘ ers be required to turn back im- 1 mediately any part of a govern- 1 ment-insured loan that exceeded ' the cost of the project for which c it was borrowed € Capehart offered these possible legislative steps to check abuses I in the housing program as his t committee today called? spokesmen c for th® building industry financing I in its investigation of the multi- « million dollar housing scandals. « Representatives of the national « association of mutual savings tonks, the national association *uf t! real estate boards, the American ® bankers asso<:iaJl(MhAhd the; life t tdwifance nssocratton were ached- < vied to testify. 1 Hundreds of builders have been accused of making quick profits by < obtaining FHA-inauredloedefor i apartment construction in excess 1 of the actual cost of the projects. 1 Housing chief Albert M. Cole told a senate appropriations sub- 1

committee Wednesday that there is nother “illegal” about these “windfall" profits but said they may not be “ethical or fair.” He said the profits are “not necessarily wrong” since soma efficient builders constructed projects for less than they had estimatd. . Capehart said, however, that congress did not intend that builders should make “windfall" profits from the government mortgage insurance program. His suggestion o' a “blacklisting” of builders who obtained excessive loan would have the effect of cutting off their major source of credit.

Reconsider Route Os Indiana Toll Road Picketeers Obtain Promise From Craig SOUTH BEND. Ind. UP — Picketing Junior Chamber of Commerce members, and third district Republican veterans got a promise from Governor Craig Wednesday night that he would reconsider the proposed route of the Northern Indiana toll road; About 30 men and women met the governor and his party as they walked to a gathering of GOP veterans, carrying signs reading "-For whom does the road toll, George,” and "Hoosier lives vs. eastern dollars." Craig told them that although the Indiana toll road commission must move fast because the state is paying $26,000 a day interest on bonds for the east-west road, the location of A controversial interchange north of South Bend will be re-studied. Craig later lashed out at “back biting incidents" within the Indiana GOP, split into factions headed by his followers and those of Sens. Homer E. Capehart and William E, Jenner. “An” admTnistration which iloes its utmost to make good its promises and keep peace with the people is entitled to support of the official element of the Republican party,” he told the 600 veterans. • *~ “The party must be big enough to shoulder responsibilities. It must provide leadership and not back biting incidents,” he said. Craig, on a three-day speaking tour, will inspect the Fort Wayne (Tuna To Page Seven)

Public Invited To

Hear School Report Report Results Os Survey Here Friday The Decatur school -board, through superintendent W. Quy Brown, has issued an Invitation to all citizens of Decatur to attend the public meeting at . Decatur high school auditorium Friday night at 8 o’clock. At this time members of the Indiana University school survey commission will make a formal and final report on a year of study of the Decatur public school system. Recommendations for facilities, personnel, financing and other related matters will be made by the commission members. The survey was started more than a year ago, following several joint meetings of the Lincoln parent-teachers association, the school board and other interested citizens. Friday’s report, which will be printed in pamphlet form, will be the result of the more than a year of work, during which time many Decatur men and women cooperated in taking the school census and assisting the survey group In gathering other necessary data. A complete census of all children; In Decatur of kindergarten and school age was taken under the chairmanship of Mrs. D, Burdette Custer’ and IQff volunteer women. Many of the charts, maps and other required information were prepared under the guidance of Harry Dailey. Decatur high school faculty member. Friday’s meeting will be the public presentation of the school plan and recommendations. The report then will be turned over to the school board for further action. The general public is invited to the meeting.

Mumford Appointed Congress Librarian Selection Made By Pres. Eisenhower AUGUSTA, Ga. UP — President Eisenhower today selected Lawrence Quincy Mumford, now director of the Cleveland, Ohio, public library, to be the new librarian of congress. Mumford's nomination will be sent to the senate later today. He was named to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation last July of Dr. Luther H. Evans who joined UNESCO. Selection of the new librarian was announced as Mr. Eisenhower prepared to fly to Washington and after a brief stop-over, on to New York tor an important address tonight before the American Newspaper Publishers Assn. His speech was billed in advance as an effort to point the free world away from “an age of atomic hysteria and horror” and into an era of international nnderstandtirg: ~~~~ Mr. Eisenhower was scheduled to take off from Augusta at 1 p.m. EST. He will stop briefly in Washington to speak informally to the Daughters of the American Revolution.

After 40 minutes in Washington, Mr. Eisenhower will continue on to New York,*speak to ANPA, then return to the While House. He will spend FrldtmAtuKentucky, flying in the early niorning to Ft. Knox, "■ lunching at Hodgenville where Abraham Lincoln was born, speaking at Transylvania College in Lexington and returning to Aulate„EddMU. He wfll rpfarn. to Washington late Sunday. The ANPA speech, which will be broadcast and televised, will be made against a backdrop of inter* national tension based on developments in Indochina and the forthcoming Geneva conference on a permanent Korean peace. What the President wants to do tonight is encourage the editors and publishers of American newspapers to help correct what he considers foreign misinterpretation of (Turn To Fase Six)

Price Five Cents

McCarthy-Army Row Hearings Opened Today Testifies To Great Pressure Brought To Obtain Commission WASHINGTON UP — Maj. Gen. Miles W. Reber testified today that I Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy and Roy M. Cohn exerted great pressure on him to try to get a speedy army commission for G. David Schine last summer. “I recall no instance in which I have been put under greater pressure" in 10 years of dealing with senators, Reber testified. Reber said he was-not “intimidated” by Cohn or McCarthy and did not consider the calls "improper effort.” But if there had not been so many calls, he said, “I don’t believe frankly I’d have moved quite as fast” in efforts—which were futile —to help Schine, unpaid chief consultant to the investigating subcommittee of which McCarthy is chairman. He did not qualify for ed. He is still a private. Reber, former army Maison officer with congress, was the first witness in the subcommittee's public hearings on the months-old feud between McCarthy and the army. The army has accuSeTthe senator and Cohn, his subcommittee chief counsel, wi|h trying improperly to get special treatment for Schine. The general, now commanding general of the U. S. Western European army, served 10 years as « military liaison officer with congress. The hearings opened before television cameras in the senate’s biggest hearing room which was jammed. The main issue is the arfav's charge that McCarthy and Cchn tried to get preferential treatment for Schine, former subcommittee aide, before and after he was drafted.

McCarthy and Cohn nave counter charged the army used Schine as a “hostage” to "blackmail” them into calling off investigation of alleged communism in the army. The first session started at 9:32 a.m. CST and recessed at 11:44 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. CST when Reber will return to the stand for cross-examination by Cohn. When it was McCarthy's turn to question Reber during the morning session, the senator charged Reber showed "bias and prejudice” because Reber's brother had had a run-in with McCarthy's aides. McCarthy charged Reber’s brother made "vicious attacks” on Cohn and Schine last year while they were touring Europe to inspect state department overseas libraries. McCarthy identified the brother as Sam Reber and said he was at that time acting U. S. high cbm* missioner in Germany. . —- The hearings started on a clashing note. Before any testimony was taken McCarthy objected to permitting army secretary Robert T. Stevens and army counselor John G. Adams "speak for the army,” rather than as Individuals. McCarthy called them "Pentagon politicians.” Senator McClellan thereupon challenged McCarthy’s right to sign his answers to the army charges as subcommittee * ‘chairman.” Senator Mundt (R-S. D.), who was made temporary chairman relieving McCarthy for the duration Hi . ihfl . luvfiJitlgaHam put these — “points or order” aside until later. INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy tonight with showera and scattered thunder- _ showers'south and central, cooler north. Showers and scattered thunderstorms north and central Friday, partly cloudy and warm < extreme south. Low tonight 42-49 north, 49-69 south. High Friday 53-58 extreme north, 78-82 extreme south.