Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 125, Decatur, Adams County, 27 May 1954 — Page 1

J Z DEC A TUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAM* COUNTY

Vol. LII>No. 125.

91 Die Aboard “Hard Luck” Carrier AIR VIEW of the Navy aircraft carrier U. S. S. Bennington, aboard which an explosion and ftfo killed 91 seamen and injured an additional 201 during a routine training cruise off the New England coast. Called a "hard-luck ship" the Bennington suffered damage as a new fleet addition in a hurricane off Okinawa in the Pacific and, late in 1953 was damaged in a boiler explosion off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Open Inquiry Into Disaster On Bennington Board Will Check For Indication Os Possible Sabotage QUONSET POINT, R. 1.. UP — Fire broke out today on a pier alongside the aircraft carrier Bennington as a special naval board of inquiry prepared to investigate explosions and flames that killed 91 and injured 261 on the great ship Wednesday. A navy spokesman first said today’s fire was aboard the carrier but it proved to be blazing rubbish on the dock. The fire was extinguished and the ship was not affected. At the same time the navy announced that of the 201 injured, 91 were still in hospitals this morning and 110 had been treated and released.,. * The special naval board of inquiry was to convene at 1:30 p.m. A navy public Information officer said that immediately after convening. the board would adjourn for a two to three-day inspection of the stricken ship. The board, headed by Rear Admiral John M. (Peg Leg) Hoskins, will check particularly for any indications that sabotage might have been involved, although navy secretary Charles S. Thomas said preliminary inspection showed no evidence of sabotage. The Bennington's master, Capt. William F. Raborn of Oklahoma City, Okla., said he had no idea what caused the explosions and fire. Other investigations were ordered by the armed services committees of the house and the senate. Bep. Edith Nourse Rogers (RMass.) suggested the possibility that Communists may have attempted to cripple the ship. While the investigations shaped up. intelligence officers and engineers searched the blackened interior of the carrier for clues to the disaster. ■ Capt. Raborn brought the crippled ship to its moorings here from a point 7O' miles at sea where the disaster occurred. Raborn, given command of the 27,100-ton vessel only three weeks ago, was on the navigation bridge when the first explosion occurred as the members of his 2,800-man crew lined up for breakfast. "I am damned proud to be the commanding officer of suqh a heroic and unselfish crew of American seamen," he said. "Their rescue effort was splendid.” Raborn ordered full speed ahead foi Quonset while damage control" parties and rescue workers fought their way into the Choking smoke that billowed from the third deck in the forward port section. Even before the stricken vessel reached Quonset, seven helicopters had flown out to bring the more seriously injured ashore. The time-saving technique developed in Korea probably saved many lives, according.to hospital officials. - • When the carrier- reached port, the dock was piled high with coffins. A corps of medical air men waited to receive the ship's grim cargo. Since Quonset is the home port of the Bennington, scores of wives, mothers and sweethearts were at the base, waiting anxiously to learn the fate of their loved ones. INDIANA WEATHER Mostly- cloudy, acattered showers and thunderstorma tonight and Friday. A little warmer north portlon. Low tonight 52-58 north, 58-65 south. High Friday 75-82.

Long Court Battle Looms On Railroad Loser Expected To Take Case To Court ALBANY, N. Y„ (UP)—A long court battle to decide whether financier Robert R. Young or President William White will control the New York Central Railroad loomed today. Whichever side loses is sure to take the issue of challenged proxies into court, a high legal source said. The start of such court action will depend, the source said, on when the tabulation“of stockholders votes shows a "winning trend.” Three law professors with a staff of attorneys and accountants representing the Young and White forces began counting the millions of proxies at 11:22 a.m. more than two hours later than the scheduled time. - They will work 11 hourst’a day through the Memorial Day weekend in an effort to have the final tally ready by noon next Tuesday, when the Central’s recessed stockholders meeting resumes. If the figures aren’t' complete then, another recess will be taken.' New York Central general counsel Harold H. McLean indicated the railroad would go ho further in its legal action to prevent voting of the "pivotal” 800.000 shares of stock owned by Texas multi-mil-lionaires Clint W. Murchison and Sid W. Richardson. The Texans are Young supporters. "There would be no sense to carrying that action any further," McLean said. However these shares are certain to be the center of any new court action involving challenged proxies. The ballot counting went .on behind padlocked dflors, guarded by railroad police. Jobless Pay Claims In Slight Decrease INDIANAPOLIS UP — Claims for unemployment compensation dropped slightly in Indiana last week and officials said economic conditions “seemed slightly improved.” Director William Stalnaker of the Indiana employment security division said 73.052 claims were received, compared with only; about 16,000 this time last year. Bible School Will Open Here Tuesday Decatur Churches Sponsors Os School (Plans are nearing completion for the union daily vacation Bible school to be sponsored by the Associated Churches of Decatur. The sessions -will be held at Lincoln School from 8:30 to 11 a.m. each day, beginning Tuesday, June 1, and concluding June 11. Department superintendents are beginers department, Mrs. Ray Walters; primary department, Mrs. L. A. Cowans; junior department, Miss Glennys Roop; and'intermediate department, the Rev. B. G. Thomas. A complete list of teacher® and assistants will be announced later All boys and girls 4 to 14 years of age of the community are invited to attend this eo-oper- i ative school. Study material being used is the co-operative series published by the national council of th'e churches of Christ in the U.S.A. The committee in charge is the Rev. John E. Chambers, chairman ; the Rev. William Feller, Miss Glennys Roop. Ed Jal>erg, Guy Brown, and Dr. John Spalding. “ All teachers and assistants are asked to be at Lincoln school at 8 a.m. Tuesday. June 1, for assignment of class rooms.

Rebels Launch Violenl Attack On French Post Launch Assault On Key To Southern Defense Os Hanoi HANOI, Indochina, UP — Communist rebels have launched their most violent attack yet on the Red River defense outpost of Yen Phu, key city in the southern defenses of Hanoi, the French high command announced today. The high command said the Communists brought up large concentrations of 57 millimeter recoilless cannon and were blasting the encircled fortress incessantly in a major effort to crack Hanoi's southern defense perimeter. An estimated two Red divisions were hurled against Yen Phu while another Communist division slashed away at the major defense city of Bhu Ly, seven milM north of Yen Phu, and 32 miles below this northern capital. The fall of Yen Phu would open Phu Ly to a massive auault from the south and threaten the entire French position in the part of the Red River delta below Hanoi and Haiphong, its seaport 56 miles to the east. The Communist-led rebels. In a general upsurge of activity, also attacked six villages within a 10-mile-radius of Hanoi but were driven back. French fighter-bombers swooped down over Red trenches and artillery positions in an attempt to smash’the siege that threatens to turn Yen Phu into a miniature Dien Bien Phu where four red divisions overwhelmed the forthess. The high command said the reeoilles 57s‘ were used in strength for the first time Wednesday. Military sources said the weapons could not have been transferred from Dien Bien Phu and therefore must represent new and important Chinese military aid. ~ • Says Investigation Is Smear Attempt GOP Solon Lashes Foundation Probe WASHINGTON UP — Rep. Wayne L. Hays (D-Ohio) today charged that a house investigation of tax-free foundations is a deliberate attempt by one group of Republicans to "smear" another group pf Republ{pans close to PresIdent Eisenhower. ___ ' "This whole thing," Hays told reporters, “is a deliberately designed smear of the Eisenhower administration by impugning certain people who are known to be close to the President or high up in the administration like the Fords, Paul Hoffman arid the Rockefellers.” - ■ Committee chairman B. Carroll Reece (R-Tenn.) promptly denied the charges. • "It’s another diversionary move on his part to frustrate the hearings,” ißeece said, referring to Hays. (Reece is a former GOP national chairman and staunch supporter of the late Sen. Robert A. Taft (R : Ohio). His investigation is aimed at finding out whether taxfree foundations like those of Ford, Rockefeller and Carnegie have helped subversive causes. Hoffman is a former head of the Ford Foundation and was an early supporter of Mr. Elsenhower for the presidency.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 27, 1954.

Accuses McCarthy Os Obtaining Secret Data Under Criminal Means

Plan Careful . Study Os Red' Truce Plans ! United States And Britain Go Along With French Wish GENEVA UP — The United States and Britain today approved French plans to have a close and careful look at a new Communist plan for ending the Indochina War. The United States at first warned that the'Red proposal would mean a "dishonorable” peace, through partition of all three Indochinese states. But at today's pre-conference strategy session, the western Big Three agreed to go along with France's desires to have a closer look at the Communist plan at today’s secret nine-power conference session. French foreign minister Georges Bidault returned to Geneva today after two days in Paris with others from his government to use, the Communist Viet Minh document as a "working basis” to seek compromise and agreement. Bidault explained his government's position in detail today in his meeting with U.S. undersecretary of state Walter Bedell Smith, and British foreign secretary '£■• thony Rden. The three were reported to have agreed to try today to pin down the Communist bloc (Russia, Red China and the Communist Indochinese Viet- Minh) on whether It is willing to begin immediate work on a cease-fire for Viet Nam — largest of Indochina’s three associated states — shelving the question of Laos and Cambodia for the time being. If this can be agreed upon, diplomatic sources here said, there is a good chance some actual progress can be made; (Turn To Five) Yearbook Is Ready For Distribution School Yearbook Distributed Here (Ravellngs, Decatur high school year book for 1954 is ready for distribution, it wa® anouneed today by those in charge. It is the first time since before World War II that the book has been ready on the closing day of school. The 1954 annual will be distributed to senior class members following commencement exercises tonight and the general public will receive copies Friday. < The book this year is in the form of a diary. It is divided Into six sections including faculty, classes, organizations, activities, sports and advertisements. The cover is purple with gold -letters. The front has D.H.S. in a monogram and a lock imprinted on it also with the word “Diary, 1954.” The stories in the book are written in diary form. Lowell J. Smith was- faculty advisor; Miss Kathryn Kauffman had charge of the art work and Miss Catherine Weidler had charge of proof reading. iMiss Carolyn {McDougal was senior editor of the book. Two Hoosiers Killed Aboard Benningtori QUONSET POINT, R. I. UP — At least two Hoosiers were killed and another injured in the fire aboard the USS Bennington Wredneeday. One of the dead was 'Lt. Charles E. Hopper, son of Mrs. Ida Hopper of Indianapolis. Navy announcements listed Lt Cmdr. (Marvin Reed, son of the Clyde Reeds of Batesville, Ind., among the 91 dead, and SA Dean Allen Parson, Urbana, Ind., among the slightly injured.

i,i’ rt - - .... i Airlines To Fight ' Slash In Subsidies Drastic Proposals j To Lower Subsidies f WASHINGTON, UP — Industry leaders today indicated the nation's airlines will fight at least * some of the drastic new government proposals to slash air subsidies and eliminate “uneconomical” systems. 1 The proposals were made in a I report to President Eisenhower 1 Wednesday by the air coordinatt Ing committee, composed of representatives from, nine govern1 ment departments and agencies. ! Mr. Eisenhower, who ordered i the report last fall, said he plans > to use it “as a guide in the future Consideration of questions related ! to civil aviation and in making , recommendations to congress.” j 1. Most controversial of the re- . port’s recommendations were . Chose involving federal subsidies , and airline routes. The airlines,, themselves, are not agreed on | these questions. Observing that aviation is past , the “infant industry” stage, the ’ ACC recommended that subsidies ! to airlines operating within this . country be cut back as ’’rapidly as possible.” For the country's 13 major, or “trunk,” airlines it recommended ' consolidation “into a more limited number of systems” which could sujlport themselves without federal, aid. The committee also proposed an “orderly” ’end to operations of ‘ any of the 30-odd smaller airlines which do not demonstrate "continued and significant progress ; towards self-sufficiency.’’ ‘ Where it is necessary to continue the services provided by an eliminated airline, the ACC said, the authority should be turned ov- ’ er to a line which can do it "without cost, or at substantially reduced cost, to the government." ! The trunk airlines, all but three of which now operate without subsidy, believe the addition of such local services to their routes would be a financial drain. The ACC said the public Interest can best be served “if each form of transportation is required to compete with other' forms on the basis of inherent service advantage? and true economic costs.” The government will pay about 31 million dollars in airline subsidies for the fiscal year ending June 30. Bernard E. LaClair Enters Guilty Plea Pleads Guilty To Two Bank Holdups SOUTH BEND, Ind., UP — Bernard E. LaClair, 31, Fort Wayne used-car dealer, Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges of holding up two Hoosier banks. LaClair also agreed to face charges on five other bank robberies he allegedly staged in Indiana and three,other states. - Federal Judge Luther Swygert ordered an investigation by probation officers before pronouncing sentence. LaClair entered guilty pleas in connection with holdups at the Hamlet State Bank June 6 and the First State Bank at Bourbon July 25. He is accused of committting seven other bank holdups which netted about $160,000. George M. MJller, Fort Wayne; also faced sentencing. He previously pleaded guilty to an accessory charge in connection with the Hamlet and Bourbon holdups. Lions To Report At 3:45 a.m. Friday The committee in charge of preparing breakfast for the Decatur high school graduating class has, asked that all Decatur Lions club members report at Legion home at 3:45 Friday morning. Those In charge said that local club members who failed to report would receive a telephone call. The Lions have served the graduation breakfast for several years. 1

Harry Essex Quits Stale Highway Post Decatur Man Quits Commission, Godwin Is Named Chairman INDIANAPOLIS, UP — Governor Craig announced today the resignation of two members of the Indiana state highway commission and the appointment of Neil R. Godwin of Franklin to the chairmanship. Craig’s office said Albert Wedeklng. Dale, who has been doubling as chairman and executive director of the Ingina toll road commission, and Harry Essex, Decatur, resigned. That left only Deane E. Walker of Plymouth on. the commission. Godwin was named to succeed Wedeking, whose resignation was fully expected since he said months ago he would quit effective upon appointment of a successor by the governor. William E.' Sayer, Craig’s administrative assistant, announced the resignations and appointment. He said the governor was not making an appointment to succeed Essex at this time. Sayer said Essex was not asked to resign and that it was his own idea since be wanted to return to Decatur. Earlier speculation said Craig might appoint Doxie Moore, state conservation director, as chairman of the highway commission, name Godwin as a commission member and ask Essex to quit. Other reports said a telephone call Craig made to Washington was to urge rejection of former Republican state chairman Cale J. Holder as a new federal judge for Indiana. ■Craig was out of the city and could not he reached for comment on either matter. He and 'Moore made a brief appearance Wednesday at the council of state governments in French Lick. Then Craig went to Barberville, Ky., for a commencement speech today at (Turn To Page Five) Mrs. Minnie C. Uhl Is Taken By Death Former Local Lady ° Dies At Springfield Services for Mrs. Minnie C. Uhl, 78, wife of the Rev. B. B. Uhl, retired pastor of Calvary Lutheran church, and a former resident of this city, were held this afternoon in Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Uhl's death occurred Tuesday in City Hospital, Springfield. She had been ill many months and was a hospital patient since April 8. (Mrs. Uhl bad been an active participant in Lutheran church work during her husband's more than 50 years in the ministry. She was a member of First Lutheran church, a life member ot the Women's Missionary Society of the United Lutheran church and past president of the society, in Springfield. <Her husband retired in 1940. Born in Monmouth, Adams county, Oct. 14, 1875, Mrs. Uhl was a daughter of John and IM ary Catherine Magley-Christen. The family lived in Decatur many years. The Uhls moved to Springfield from Sebring, Ohio Ih 1932. Surviving beside® her husband are three daughters, Mrs. Cathryn M. Mann, Springfield, Mr®. Jessamae Myers, Sebring, and Mrs. Betty Ruth I-a Fontaine of North Canton, O.; one son, Albert C. of Springfield; one grandchild and one brother, Ray D. Christen of Rome City, and several nieces and nephews. Deceased brothers are Ed, Gus, Harry, Bert and Jess Christen. Mrs. td Christen of this city U a sUtardn-law. Burial was made in Ferncliff cemetery:

Air Force Goodwill Visit To Nicaragua Three Atom Bombers On Goodwill Flight By UNITED PRESS Three 10-engine American atomic bombers roared out of the darkness at Fort Worth, Tex., today on an unprecedented "good will" flight over Nicaragua, next-door neighbor of Communist-influenced Guatemala. Brig. Gen. John D. Ryan, commander of the 19th air division, took off in the lead plane from Carswell Air Force base at 2:15 a.m. EDT and the other two superbombers followed at eight-minute intervals. The non-stop trip was expected to last about 17% hours, giving the B36's at least 30 minutes in Nicaraguan skies. They will not land. Defense department spokesmen said officially the flight was a good will mission in observance of Nicaraguan Army Day, made at the request of the South American government. The United States never before had received such a request from a foreign government on the occasion of a state holiday. The flight was ordered only a few days after the United States had airlifted a small amount of arms and ammuriition to Nicaragua and Honduras after Guatemala received 2,000 tons of warmaking materiel from European Communists. ; * Guatemalan exiles in Mexico City reported Wednesday night that in addition to the widely-pub-licized Iron Curtain arms shipment, Guatemala also received five Soviet - built MIG-15 jet fighters, accompanied by "Europeantype” aviators from an unidentified cargo ship. Haile Selassie On Tour Os Washington Overnight Guest Os Pres. Eisenhower WASHINGTON UP — Emporer Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, a frail little man with an indomitable ■will, made a sight-seeing round of the capital with the genial good wishes of President and Mrs. Eisenhower. His imperial majesty started off on a day taking him to Mt. Vernon and the Tor.ib of the Unknown oldier and a dinner tonight. Shortly after breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Eisenhower walked out on to the White House north portico, warmly shook hands with their royal visitor and saw him into his limousine. He was an overnight guest at the White House. The President turned to the Emperibr’s son and granddaughter and said, "I hope you enjoy your entire trip. It was very nice having you here.” . ... . . A servant placed in one ot the cars of- the emperor's motorcade a huge box. obviously a gift to Haile Selassie from the President. Haile Selassei is making his first visit to the United' States. And yet to most Americans his erect 5-foot 4-inch frame is almost as familiar as Churchill’s cigar. V - * A Suspend Business Here Memorial Day Memorial Day, a legal holiday, will be observed Monday in Decatur and Adams county. The bank, post office, court house, public library, stores, offices and taverns will be closed all day Monday. The Daily Democrat will not publish an edition Monday. The county commissioners, whose regular meeting day Is Monday, wil] meet Tuesday morning instead because of the holiday. The American Legion memorial service, an annual event, will take place on Sunday to avoid conflict with the dedicatiea of the new St. Mary’s Catholic church.

Price Five Cents

Angry Wrangle Marks Hearing At Washington Senator McClellan Makes Accusation Concerning Letter WASHINGTON UP — Sen. John, L. McClellan today accused Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy ot obtaining classified government data "through criminal means" as the army-McCarthy hearings generat* ed one of their angriest seelies. McCarthy roared back this challenge: "If any administration wants to indict me, they can go ahead and indict.” McCarthy accused McClellan (ElArk.) and his Democrat colleagues sitting in the army-McCarthy hearings of in effect notifying two million government workers "they think it is a crime to give the chairman (McCarthy) . . 4 evidence of treason." "I'd like to notify them that I think no loyalty to a superior officer can tower above their loyalty to their country.” The angry exchange concerned the untuthorlzed “FBI letter” which McCarthy introduced earlier in the hearings, and which he said was brought to .him by a young army intelligenee officer. Republicans on the hearing subcommittee sat by in silence while the scene in the senate office building caucus room raged on, although chairman Karl E. Mundt (R-S.D) rpade several tentative attempts to cut. it short on grounds it was “irrelevant.” Roy M. Cohn, chief counsel for McCarthy’s investigating subcommittee, was in the witness chair giving the first testimony for his side. Cohn testified the essence of the charges the McCarthy side laid down against army officials were in three portions: Army secretary Robert T. Stevens and army counselor John G. Adams tried to block the McCarthy subcommittee from investigating communism in the service; they tried to discredit the subcommittee’s work; they tried to prevent McCarthy’s group from questioning members of the loyalty screening board. Cohn said Adams first broached last October the idea of ending the subcommittee’s hearings on alleged sutiitersives in the secret radar laboratories at Ft. Monmouth, N. J. He said Adams suggested devising “some formula” for turning the inquiry over to the army. Adams, he said, felt it would be "a more pleasant arrangement” for Stevens and would "solidify his (Adams’) position” as army counselor. “I think he said it would be ‘a feather in his cap*,” Cohn recalled. “There was no direct request," Cohn said. "But he made it clear that if some way could be found for such an arrangement it would be welcome news to Mr. Stevens and Mr. Adams. Cohn said before the committee began its Ft. Monmouth investigations, suspension of security risks there “was zero." — Once the committee got underway. he said, 35 employes were suspended. Os these, he said, one has been returned with full security clearance, and the other 34 are still suspended or have been given non-security jobs. Both Stevens and Adams have testified they did not object to continuation of the Ft. Monmouth investigation — although they would have preferred to have it-taken over by;the army—but they did object to the newspaper publicity on it. They tilamed McCarthy, who reporters at the end of iecret sessions about what had happened. At lunch in New York last Oct. (Tam T« Paae Ftv»> 12 PAGF*