Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 19, Decatur, Adams County, 24 January 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LI 11. No. 19.

Seine Climbs Toward Record Flood 3P; 3E£’T~"~" : *• — MWify ’ WWFW'fl!’'^W'WfWW 1 ■ ■ ShS** 'lJ*****'?<W -•--- -- 1 •• • HFEB"* iitewi* H< -_ fiNn, .■. l i * .Xa, ? *v - - < Ejfik AB jfflff ' ? ' ■’■' ■ir* > H9k* Hk B ik ~ **** — — ;~,.-..z » . WITH THE SEINE FLOODING their city at the 23 foot mark, Parisione line the embankment, watching the swirling waters creep higher on the Alma Bridge. Outside Paris, 100 U. S. Airmen volunteered for rescue work in removing stranded families from four towns. In the great flood of 1910, the water came up to the chin of the statue at the right.

Craig Fails To Gain Support On Toll Roads Back From Mission At Washington, No Results Apparent INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Gov. George N, Craig returned from his toll road and lake harbor mission to Washington apparently emptyhpnded. The governor conferred with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers and party officials at length this morning and said: _ “I ate bacon and eggs in a breakfast with President Eisenhower but I didn’t bring back'any Ijacon.” Newsmen were barred from the conference and GOP guests were close-mouthed. But Senator Warren W. Martin, of Clarksville, Democratic Door leader, said that the governor brought back no definite promises from Washington authorities and opined that his report did not change the toll road situation. He said: “The senate toll road bill ought to be passed. The governor's lack of information strengthens the position of those who have supported the bill.” Senator Martin referred to the Brokenburr - Eichhorn measure, now ready for second reading in the senate, which would force legislative approved of specific toll road, projects and bar all pay roads which do not start at one state boundary and end at another. The bill, however, has been amended to grant legislative authority for the proposed northsouth road if Washington authorities appropriate money and let contracts for an Indiana harbor on Lake Michigan and for the proposed east-west toll road in southern Indiana, provided Illinois and Ohio officials take substantial action for the project. Martin said that the governor reported that the army engineers have made no recommendation for the proposed port but did say that "bome" engineers favored it. The Democratic leader added that the governor said that southern road might be changed from its original route from Vincennes to Cincinnati, but pointed out that the same boundary states would be involved. Later, Republican Senator Roy Conrad, of Monticello, the governor’s floor leader, confirmed definite commitments from Washington. But Conrad added hastily: “The governor did not expect definite commitments when he went to Washington. He did. however, receive' very encouraging support and I feel that the toll read program has been strengthened by his visit. He said the President stressed the importance of highways, both to the military and economic future of the nation." Sen. Conrad again charged that politics is rampant in the toll road (Continued on Page Eight) > INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy with snow this afternoon and tonight with 2 to 4 inches accumulation mostly over south and central portions. Cloudy with snow changing to flurries tonight and Tuesday. A little colder Tuesday. Low tonight 15-22. High Tuesday 25-30.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Paris Facing Huge Flood Clean-up Job Seine Expected To Reach Crest Today PARIS (INS) — The surging Seine river was expected to reach its crest and begin dropping today, but a gigantic clean-up job faced Taris when the waters began receding from its flooded suburbs. Thousands of Parisians were driven from their homes during the weekend when the waters of the Marne and Seine rivers roared through breaks in the protective dikes and spread over Ivry-Sur-Seine, Saint Maur, the industrial district of Courbevoie. the famous promenade- area of Bois De Boulogne, and many other areas. Suburban areas also felt the wrath of the rain-swollen rivers and U. S. servicemen had to move quickly to shift supplies at several installations beyond the reach of the rising waters. American airmen also donned anti * exposure suits and grabbed rubber rafts to join French rescue teams ferrying marooned flood victims from rooftops to safe ground. Nobody has made any attempt yet to estimate the damage. Flood waters poured into the basements of the Louvre museum, where priceless art treasures are stored; the foreign office and National Assembly building, famed Notre Dame cathedral and they spread over Longchamps race course. Added to thee headaches already faced by the city was an invasion of rats, driven from their customary haunts in the sewers by the rising waters. , ; U’.S. airmen gave up their Sunday leisure time to transport supplies and food to inundated suburban towns located in the heavily pro-Communist area known as the “Red belt.” Officials of the stricken towns praised the rescue work of the American Gl’s, who waded waistdeep in freezing water to reach stranded inhabitants. ; * Fights Increase In Federal Debt Limit House Committee Head Fights Boost WASHINGTON (INS) — House appropiations committee chairman Clarence Cannon (D Mo.), said today he is opposed to increasing the federal debt limit and called on the Eisenhower administration “to live within its income.” The head of the powerful house committee fired the opening gun in what may be a strong effort to block President Eisenhower’s request to boost the debt limit permanently above its present 276 billion dollar limit. IF was raised temporarily last August from 275 to 281 billion dollars, but is now scheduled to revert to the 275 billion belling', next June 30. The President said tn his budget message that he would urge Congress to increase the national debt ceiling again and indicated he may ask for a new limitation of 283 or 284 billion dollars. But Cannon said in an Interview that he would ‘fight with all my power” to keep the limit at its present maximum.

Seventh* Fleet In Readiness For Evacuation U. S., Nationalist Fleets Ordered To Prepare Evacuation TAIPEH, (INS) — The U. S. seventh fleet and Nationalist China’s navy and air force were ordered today to prepare for possible evacuation of 10.000 Nationalist troops on the invasion-menaced Tachen islands. Vice Adm. Alfred M. Pride indicated the'' 1 seventh fleet could be mobilized within two days if ordered, to support an evacuation and said his powerful fleet could cope with "any future development .arising. Jn Furjnosa. .area." .-. Despite official Nationalist opposition to the withdrawal, it was learned the Tachens would probably lie abandoned if America would guarantee to support the defense of Quemoy and Matsu Islands just off the Chinese mainland. The Nationalist air force and navy were alerted to be ready at a moment’s notice while official Taipeh waited anxiously for President Eisenhower's request to congress today for permission to use American forces along a new Formosan defense line. Generalissimo Chiang Kai • Shek and his top military aides were expected to go along with the reported American plan to evacuate the Tachens if the new defense line would insure U. S. military support of positions on Quemoy and Matsu. Pride emphasized his fleet could handle any job in the Formosa area and said “we always have the Tachen situation in mind/’ He said the fleet now has four aircraft carriers, two to four cruisers and enough destroyers for an “adequate” defense of the western' Pacific area. He refused to estimate the Communist air and naval strength opposing the American force. Meanwhile, the Communists maintained pressure on the jittery Tachens, 25’0 miles north of Formosa, and on Nationalist-held offshore Islands farther south. Long range guns blasted the Tachens from the Communist island of Toumen, 14 miles north. It was the first indication the Communists had guns on Toumen able to hit the Tachens, although a Nationalist communique, said most of the shells in a 42-round barrage “fell into the sea." A large Red invasion fleet was sighted near Wuchiu island off the central coast of Fukien province, but made no attempt to land. A Communist force raided Wuchiu earlier in the bitter civil war. Nationalist planes battered Yichangshan island just north of the Tachens in an attempt to slow troop buildups on the island the Reds captured just last week. Three Brothers Die As Home Destroyed LEVITTOWN. N. Y„ (INS) — Three ypung brothers perished early today when flames prevented their father from rescuing them from their blazing home in Levittown, L. I. , Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sheehan were left childless by the tragedy which claimed the lives of their sons, Michael, 6;’ Peter, 4, and Brian, 1. *

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, January 24, 1955.

Eisenhower Asks For Power To Use Military In Defense Os Formosa t■•— • • ■ •

John H. Helm City's First Traffic Death Dies Saturday Os Injuries Suffered Here On January 4 Decatur’s first traffic fatality of 1955 was recorded Saturday evening when John H. Helm, BC, retired farmer of this city, died at 6:05 p. m. at the Adams county memorial hospital. Mr. Helm, who had lived in the McConnell apartments on Madison street since 1950, suffered a broken leg and arm about 10 o’clock the morning of January 4, when struck by an auto at the intersection of Second and Court streets. His condition has been serious since that time. The auto was driven by Vincent Parker. Decatur, who was making a left turn off Second street onto Court when Mr. Helm was struck, A charge of failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian is pending in justice of peace court. The traffic victim was born in St. Mary’s township June 22. 1868, a son of Samuel and Sarah Smithhelm. and was married to Mary Elizabeth Gephart, whoTtteff Dec/ 20, 1936. Mr. Helm was a member of the* Mt. Tabor Methodist church at Bobo. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Artie Jackson and Mrs. Earl Tumbleson of St. Mary’s township, and Mrs. Mildred'Young of Decatur; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. One brother is deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Tuesday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Edgar Johnston officiating. Burial will be in the North Salem cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the Services.

Two Girls Injured In Accident Sunday Auto Leaves Road, Hits Pole, Posts Two girls were injured in a onecar accident Sunday at 2 p.m. in east of Peterson at a county road Kirkland township a half mile intersection. The injured were Jeanette Lee Kruetzman, 19, of Craigville route one. who was driving the car owned by her brother Richard, and Ida Borne, 15, also of Craigville route one. Miss Kruetzman lost control of the car on -a gravel road, went oft the road at the intersection-, struck a guy wire of a light pole and tore down some fence posts. In striking the guy wire some high tension wires were damaged and electricity in the surrounding area was cut off for a short time. The two girls walked about a fourth of a mile to the Luther Arnold residence, where the sheriff’s office and ambulances were called. The driver received leg bruises and a badly sprained back. Miss fiorne sustained a fractured nose and lacerations on the right arm and above the left eye. Both were taken to the Adams county memorial hospital. Miss Borne, was later taken to Fort Wayne for specialist treatment. Both are reported in good condition today. Deputy sheriff Charles Arnold-, who investigated, estimated damage to the car at about S4OO. No estimate of the damage to the wires and fence posts was-avail-able. In another accident Sunday at 11:55 p.m. a new car was badly damaged a half mile east of Decatur on U. S. highway 324 at the junction of the Piqua road. Marion Edward Sheets, 24, of (Continued on Page Eight)

Bloodmobile Unit In City Tuesday ■» Volunteer Workers Listed For Visit Mrs. Ed Bauer, county chairman of the Red Cross blood program, has announced the names of volunteer workers who will assist" during Tuesday's visit of the bloodmobile at the American Legion home. Staff aides include Miss Fan Hammel, assistant chairman, and Mrs. Joe Hunter, Mrs. Arnold Ostermeyer, Mrs. Elmer Heyerley, Mrs. Charles Magley, Mrs. Herman Krueckeberg, Miss Florence Haney and Mrs. Frances Monahan. The canteen workers headed by Mrs. R. C. Hersh are Mrs. Bert Hale} - , Mrs. Rosco- Glendening, Mrs. L. E. Archbold and Mrs. A. Beineke. Motor service will be provided by Mrs. Robert Railing and Mrs. Robert Macklin. Nurses who w-ill assist are Mrs. Joe Azbell, Mrs. Rose Gauck. Mary Jane Miller. Joan Lutes, Edna Meyer, Joan Hawbaker, Lorene Black and Mary Myers. LaVonne Hobbs and Mrs. J. K. Eady will serve as nurses aides. Physicians who have volunteered Their time are Dr. John Terveer, Dr. Harold Zwick, Dr. John Carroll, Dr. Gerald Kohne, Dr. Norval Rich, Dr. James Burk and Dr. Arthur Girod. Sevin .nurses and a custodian from Fort Wayne will accompany the bloodmobile. • * Mt*. ■ Wanda Oeiberg, executive secretary of the iocal Red Cross chapter, pointed out again that the blood donated here is given free of) charge to those who need. The county blood program makes it possible for local residents who need transfusions to get the blood without cost. Among local residents who will testify to the value of the Red Cross blood program is Herman Krueckeberg, who received 17 pints of blood during a series of operations about two years ago. Krueckeberg. who underwent three major operations and several minor .ones as a result of a ruptured esophagus and lung infection, stated that the gift blood probably saved his life and certainly speeded recovery. He emphasized that he was‘not asked to pay for any portion of the blood he received. He and his wife, who,have been (Continued on Page Five)

Explorer Post Is Organized In City Post Is Sponsored By Decatur Elks Fifteen Decatur boys, rangjng in age -frrmr U years upwards, have organized a troop of Explorer Scouts to be known as post number 2062. The new epgaeieation, which is for boys older than those in the regular Boy Scouts, -is bejng sponsored by Decatur lodge B. P. O. Elks. Headquarters will be in the garage at the Elks home and the entire second floor of that building will be used as work rooms and a -meeting hall. Among other projects the new group has made a deal with the local Flks lodge to -take care of the .lawn there. This will give the group a treasury fund with which to start other summer projects. Lyle Mallonnet is chairman of the Fjlks advisory committee and other Elks include: George Bair. Gene RydeH, George Alton. -..Sulßuitfc- Jr— and. Bernard Hain. Clarence Ziner and Oran Schultz, the latter exalted ruler of the local lodge, also are advisors at but not members of the lodge committee. Grant Bean is- in charge of all activities. The group will meet every Monday night and preSeht membership includes: David Ellsworth, Bill Smith, Jim Burk, Steve Edwards, Mike Durkin, Don Brewer, Stanley Alger, Dan Krueckeberg, Tony Kelly, Paul Schmidt, Ted Schrock, Ed Bean, John Dorwln. Bob Rawley and Bill Zwick.

Summon Dulles To Testify On Formosa Status Senate And House Committees Call Dulles To Testify WASHINGTON (INS) —Senate and house foreign policy leaders, acting with unusual speed, today summoned secretary of state John Foster Dulles to closed sessions this afternoon to testify on the Formosa situation. -The decision by the senate foreign relations committee and the house foreign affairs committee came just before President Eisenhower sent his request to congress for authority to use U.S. military power to defend Formosa from Red attack. The house group scheduled its meeting for 1:30 p. m. EST., and | announced that Adm. Arthur W. I Radford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, would testify along with Dulles. ' —— The senate was set for 2:30 p.m. EST. Radford presumably also will go before the senators to explain the necessity for congressional approval of Mr. Eisenhower's proposal. House foreign affairs chairman James t’. Richards (D-8. C.) predicted Sunday that the President will get overwhelming congressional approval for setting up a no-trespassing area against Chinese Communist aggression. He declared, In a CBS interview on “Face the Natiqn," that the U. S. must give blunt warning to the Reds. _ The South Carolinian, whose committee must deal with the proposals of the President, expressed skepticism about the possibility of the United States achieving a “cease fire” in the area. He said "people are, just hbout fed up with truces and cease fires that have been violated by the Communists." Sen. Leverett Saltonstall, ranking Republican on the armed ser(Continued on Page Eight) August S. Homan Dies Last Evening Funeral Services Wednesday Morning August S. Homan, 60, former employe of the General Electric plant in this city, died at 5:16 o’clock Sunday evening at the Adams county memorial hospital following a serious illness of one week. He was born inJay_„Lcaunty July 23. 1894, a son of Bernard and Mary Diller-Homan. Mr. Homan was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church and the Moose lodge. Surviving are six sons, Marvin Homan of Dayton, 0., Robert Homan of Fort Wayne, Laverne Homan of St. Mary’s 0., Sgt. James Homan, in the air force in Georgia: Pvt. Ivo Hoinan, in the army at Ft. Sill, Okla. and Harold Homan of Celina, O.; five daughters, Mrs. Leonard Link of Celina, 0., Mrs. Harry Massonne of Decatur, Mrs. Alvin Luebke of Coldwater, 0., Mrs. Alvin Gottemuller of St. Henry. 0.. and Mrs. Eugene Reinhart of Bryant, and 17 grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a. m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic church, the Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Seimetz -officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. The body was removed to the Gillig & Doan funeral home, where friends may call after 7 o'clock this evening. The Moose lodge will hold memorial services at 7:30 p. m. Tuesday and the Holy Name society will recite the rosary at 8 p. m. Tuesday.

15 Dead In Train Wreck In England Express Train Is Derailed Sunday SUTTON COLDFIELD. England, (INS) — The death toll was set at 15 today with 44 persons injured In the derailment of an express train at Sutton Coldfield station. The speeding train jumped the tracks as it entered the tunnel and crashed into the station platform. Several passenger coaches were overturned and telescoped. Railroad officials credited an unidentified heroine with preventing a second tragic crash. She ran along the tracks waving her arms and stopped a second train l)efore it ploughed into the wreckage of the first. Rescue teams worked under floodlights through the night, cutting into the twisted wreckage in a search for trapped passengers or additional bodies. The derailed train, mpde up of a locomotive and nine cars, was traveling between York and. Bristol. The crash occurred shortly after it was switched off its regular route because of track repairs. Forecast Cold To Continue In State Death Toll Mounts On State Highways (INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — The cold wave continued in ndiana today and there was little prospect for warmer temperatures. There also were snow flurries. The mercury dropped to 12 in South Bend and little relief is in prospect for tonight. The death toll on Hoosier roads mounted during the week-end but the total so far this year was well under that of the same period in 1954. , Thomas Wages, Jr., 24, of Muncie, a taxicab driver, was killed at a downtown Muncie crossing when his taxi was struck by a Big Four freight train after he allegedly disregarded flashing crossing signals. Frankie Waugh, 16, of drowned when his automobile plunged through a temporary bridge over Simon’s Creek a mile and a half north of Milton on Road 1. Two Montezuma higlF school juniors died when their car left Road 36, 17 miles east of Rockville and crashed against a tree. Robert H. Kitterman, 17, of near Greencastle, djed when he was (Continued on Page Eight) —w Annual Report Made Al Catholic Church Annual Report is Presented Sunday A successful annual report of St. Mary’s Catholic parish was presented to members of the church Sunday by the Very Rev. Msgr. Joseph J. Seimetz, pastor. ” Church statistics "for 1954 include 22 marriages. 1? adult baptisms and 111 infant baptisms, 27 funerals and 62,130 Communions distributed. The report also included school enrollment, which totals 516 for grade and high school. The pastor and trustees of the church expressed appreciation for the generosity of the parishioners which made possible a successful financial year. During the past year the church’s building project, which included a modern church, rectory and packing lot, was completed. The report shows that total receipts for the year including the previous balance were $92,113.29. Expenditures amounted to $87,366.99 for a balance of $4,747.30. Trustees Include the Rev. Robert Contant, assistant paster, and Cyril Heiman, Francis Geimer, Ralph Kriegel, William Lengerich, and Fred Wolpert.

4 Five Cents

Asks Congress For Authority To Use Power Asks Authorization For Military Power To Defend Formosa WASHINGTON (INS) — President Elsenhower asked congress today for authority to use U. S, military power to help defend Formosa against what he describes as a serious threat of invasion by Red China. Mr. Eisenhower declared bluntly that the United States “must remove any doubt regarding our readiness to fight,, if necessary, to preserve the vital stake of the free world in a free Formosa . . ” He asked the Democratic - controlled congress to authorize the use of American armed forces to safeguard the Chinese Nationalist stronghold of Formosa and the Pescadores Islands. The President said this authority would be used only to defend islands which are considered vital to the protection of Formosa and the Pescadores. Mr. Eisenhower also asked the lawmakers to approve the use of American ships and planes to help withdraw Nationalist forces from the smaller islands off the China mainland that are not considered necessary to the defense of Formosa. His special message was sent td Capitol Hill as ships of the U. S. seventh fleet steamed jnto position to help' evacuate the Nation-alist-held Tachen Islands. The President drew no line beyond which the U. S. would not permit Communist aggressors to penetrate, but this country reportedly is prepared to defend Quemoy and other islands in the Formosa strait which invaders could use as a stepping-stone for Formosa itself. The Chief Executive declared that the U. S. would, welcome efforts by the United Nations to effect a cease-fire between the Chinese Nationalists and Red China. But he said the situation has become “sufficiently critical" to impel him to ask congress for a specific resolution empowering him to act to “improve the prospects for peace” without waiting for the UN. The President recommended that the congressional resolution expire as soon as he is able to report that the peace and security of the area are “reasonably assured,” either through UN action or other events. Mr. Eisenhower’s special message had the three-fold purpose of clearing up any contusion over his authority to act on his own, demonstrating U. S. solidarity in dealing wlth the Formosa and carrying out his pledge to obtain congressional approval before taking any step which might lead to - '■ The U. S. is committed to help defend Formosa and the Pescadores under the mutual defense pact with Chiang Kai-Shek--bow pending before the senate. The President noted that Communist China has proclaimed its intent of conquering Formosa and has engaged in a series of "provocative" acts in a pattern’ of aggressive purpose. He asserted: this existing and developing situation (Continued on Page Eight) Band Booster Fund > Previously Reported $708.47 J. L. Kocher .... 10.00 1 Anspaugh Studio 10.00 TOTAL .... $728.47 Contributions can be made by sending any amount to Band Booster fund, care of Hugh J. Andrews, principal of Decatur high school. All money received will go toward the purchase of new uniforms for the Decatur high school band.