The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, April 12, 1951, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE ¥ YALL THUE NEWS ALL THE TIME™ VOL. LXXVI.,, NO. 11,782 JUNEAU, ALASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1951 MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS ongress, ountry Split on General Bmemess Expressed by Some Edifors on Firing 0f MacArthur by Iruman 2 ROARING AIR FIGHTS REPORTED History’s B}@sl Battle Takes Place - MIGS Swosh, Manchuria By Associated Press American warplanes shot down five enemy jets, probably destroyed two more and damaged 15 today in two roaring air fights over North- west Korea. All American planes came safely out of the battles. One of the thunderous clashes was the biggest jet fight in history. It involved 152 jet planes — 80 Rus- sian-made MIG 155 and 72 Ameri- can F-86s and F-84s—and about 40 B-29 medium bombers. Reds Pull Back On the ground, two Chinese di- visions pulled back suddenly and mysteriously on the Central front. American troops pushed cautiousiy ahead in their wake against no op- position. Staff officers said they were puzzled by the enemy with- drawal. The two Red divisions Wednesday bitterly opposed Allied crossings of the Hantan River south of Chor- won. They fought from the craggy hills north of the river. But they broke contact Wednesday night. South Korean troops on the east coast stabbed six miles into North Korea in the deepest Redland pene- tration of the current UN drive. Fierce Jet Battle In history’s biggest jet battle, the 80 MIGs swooshed out of Red Man- churia against 72 U. S, jets flying cover for 30 to 40 B-29 Superforts. The B-29s dropped 300 tons of (Contlnued~ on ‘P;ge Two) STOCK OUGEATIONS NEW YORK, April 12 — Closing quotations of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 2%, American Can 109%, American Tel, and Tel. 153%, Anaconda 40%, Douglas Aircraft 100%, General Electric 55%, General Motors 52%, Goodyear 74%, Kenne- cott 73%, Libby, McNeill and Libby 9%, Northern Pacific 37, Standard Oil of California 46%, Twentieth Century Fox 20%, U. S. Steel 42%, Pound $2.80%, Canadian Exchange 94.50. Sales today were 1,530,000 shares. Averages today were as follows: Industrials 251.68, rails 82.58, utili- ties 42.38. The Washington Merry - Go - Round By DREW PEARSON (Copyright, 1951, vy Bell Syndicate, Inc., ASHINGTON.— The televised Kefauver crime probe which kept millions of people glued to their television sets will have long-range repercussions this week when Sen. William Benton of Connecticut in- troduces a resolution aimed at the further use of television for edu- cation and public service. Benton made a fortune in the advertising business, also owns the Muzak Corporation which pipes music into thousands of hotels and restaurants. Now working hard at his new job of Senator, Benton be. lieves the priceless TV channels of the nation should not be parceled out only for commercial purposes, tut should be used in part by the universities and public school sys- tem. So far the Federal Communica- tions Commission has ruled that 10 per cent of the TV channels should be reserved for education. Senator Benton agrees with FC Cammissioner Frieda Hennock that (Continued on Page Four) { self to his military job. . . . By Associated Press American newspaper opinion on President Truman'’s removal of Gen. Douglas MacArthur ranged from a demand for Mr, Truman's impeach- | ment to vigorous approval of his‘ action. | Some editorial comment: | Chicago Tribune and Washington Times-Herald: “President Truman must be impeached and convicted. | His hasty and vindictive removal | of General MacArthur is the culmi- nation of a series of acts which have shown that he is unfit, morally and mentally, for his high office. . The American nation . . . is led | b\ a fool who is surrounded by knaves.” } Respect to Policy | New York Times: “We do not see how it is possible to question the correctness of the President’s de-| cision. Policy with respect to the! conduct of a war cannot be made | in two places. . . . The Constitution puts the making of policy in thel| civilian hands of the chief executiv and it is the clear duty of the mil tary to express its doubts or i dissent through proper military | channels and not in public debate.” | People Angry | Portland Oregonian: “The basic! issue is whether the traditional au- | thority of civil government over | military government shall be nmm»‘ tained, . . . Butmow that the Presi- | dent has asserted his authority, | what will the people say.of his poli- | cies which have led us into a war | which he is unwilling to let us win? ¢ (alllorma Dwmon Reaches Japan An Army band plays a welcome as a lransport carrying troops of California’s 40th Division docks at Yokohama, Japan. The 40th, 2 National Guard outfit, will undergo more training in Japan and will strengthen occupation forces, trimmed sharply since the Korean war drained many combat troops from Japun » wirephvm via radio from Tokyo. Suspended !rom Govi. ,Job CAB RATES The people’s anger at the m—mg of | MacArthur is their answer.” Arthur has been dismissed to please the cupidity of Great Britain, the || ignorance of Dean Acheson, the jealousy of General George Mar- shall. America has bcen defeated by this act of vengence.” Louisville Courier-Journal: stronger President would long smcc‘ have removed MacArthur from his | Korean command when it became | clear that he would not limit him-, His | (Truman’s) only alternative was to | surrender the power of the Presi- dency to a field commander.” "Enemy’ Hits Alaska Areas Quick Atfack HEADQUARTERS, Alaskan Com- | mand, Elmendorf Air Force Base,| Anchorage, Alaska, April 12 — The “enemy” struck again in the Anch- orage and Fairbanks areas of Alaska early yesterday morning, with bomb- ing and strafing attacks that ended a four-day lull in mimary exer- cise “Firestep.” ' The sorties were the first major action since last Friday morning, when similar attacks were made in these areas and defending ground forces at Kodiak fought furiously | to successfully wipe out a threat to the United States Naval station there. | For the first time since the “ene- | my” secured two footholds in West- | ern Alaska during early phases of the mock operations, there is an indication of intensified activity | there which has defending forces mustering their full strength for any | additional assaults. ! DEVELOPMENT BOARD RECEIVES DIRECTORY | George Sundborg, director of l.he‘ Alaska Development Board, an- nounced today that his office has- received a 1951 directory of news- | papers, periodicals, and containing data on every known publication in ! the United States and Canada. It also contains 1951 population fig- | ures and other statistical data on | leading cities and towns of the U.| 8. It is available to the public for reference. | FROM HAINES Haines visitors at Hotel Juneau Wednesday were Allan MacKenzie and Hubert F. Holder. l | Judge | auickly followed a year ago by a Former Commander Stephen Brunauer (left), and his wife, Mrs. Esther Brunauer (right), have been suspended from their civilian government jobs in Washington, D. C. Brunauer, employed as an explosives researcher by the Navy, was suspended “under Navy De- partment loyalty and security procedures.” The Stae Department suspended Mrs. Brunauer pending the outcome of the Navy’s action on her husband. She had been employed as the State Department’s V. N. liaison officer. Both were named last year by Senator McCarthy in a list of government employees McCarthy regarded as subversive. P Wirephoto. DOWN APPEAL (COURT TURNS| ALASKA LINE STEWARDESS IN LEWIS (ASEI QUITS UNION WASHINGTON, April 12 —(®— The U, S. Circuit Court of Appeals today dismissed the government’s appeal from a decision which had cleared John L. Lewis' United Mine | Workers of contempt of court in their 1950 contract strike. The lower court’s decision, by Richmond B. Keech, was contract between Lewis and the soft coal operators ending a 10-month dispute. It was appealed by the Justice Department. The government asked that the union be punished for prolonging the strike after Judge Keech had issued a back-to-work order on Feb 11, 1950. Justice attorneys argued that Lewis had given only “sham” compliance to the order when he directed the miners to get back on | the job. The miners ignored the Lewis order. The government in- sisted that was according to Lewis’ plan, too. A three-judge panel heard the government’s ‘arguments and the union’s replies last April 26. SEATTLE, April 12, —(®—Nurse- Stewardess Lysbeth Rawsthorns, for years a beloved figure on Se- attle-Alaska passenger ships, has resigned from the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union in protest over a fine and suspension she said was levied against her by the un- ion. Mrs. Rawsthorne, known to thousands of Alaskans, tourists and seamen as “The : Duchess,” said she quit the union after a trial committee fined her $100 and sus- pended her for 30 days for assert- edly aiding a rival union organizer during a voyage on the SS Denali last month. Charges Ridiculous “The charges were ridiculous,” the soft-Spokane stewardess de- cclared Tuesday. “The real reason, I am convinced, was that I refused to be ruled by fear as a member of the union. “It began last January when the Steward Department crew of the Denali voted a resolution support- " (Cuntinued on Page Two) - BIG ISSUE ATTRIAL Former An?lgrage Coun- citmen Testify in Anti- Trust Case ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 12— M—A former member of the city council testified in Federal Court yesterday the council asked Anch- orage taxicab operators-to “get to- gether and set uniform rates be- tween 1944 and 1946.” Victor B. Gill was called as a wit- ness in the anti-trust trial against two taxicab companies, two asso- ciations and nine individuals. Gill told the court he “personally suggested we get the men (cab op- erators) together to bring us some- thing so we could either accept, re- Jject or change zone license costs and rates.” No discussion of cab rates ap- peared in minutes of council meet- ings for that period, according to earlier testimony. However, Gill said only the sketchiest minutes of council meetings were kept then. Under cross-examination he ad- mitted that the minutes, although sketchy, had been approved. He also sald he couldn’t remember at which particular meeting the rates were approved or which councilmen were present. Ony Asked for Rates the trjal, in its eighth duy yesterday, William Renfrew, attomey for one of the cab firms, stressed that the cab operators never fixed a uniform rate until asked to do so by the city, ‘The government charges cab op- erators “raised, fixed and maintain- ed” uniform rates and conditions, thereby eliminating competition. Another former councilman, Mar- ion P. Smith, testified that cab op- eration, including rates, was a con- stant subject for discussion for some months during his time in office in 1946 and 1947. “I can’t recall actually voting on any cab rates but recall incidents which indicate to me we finally dis- posed of the matter and accepted a dollar rate within the city limits,” he said. Alvin Marquart, who operated a (Continued on Page Two) STEAMER MOVEMENTS from Denali scheduled to sail Seattle Friday. Princess Louise scheduled to sail from Vancouver 8 p.m. Saturday. Baranof from west scheduled sauthbound Sunday morning. PRICE TEN CENTS ’s Firing MacARTHUR |Truman Seeks Vindicafion In Firing MacArthur;Makes CONGRESS| Radio Talk; Republicans Are Aroused by Action TO APPEAR, Resolution STonsored for Deposed General fo Be at Joint Session WASHINGTON, April 12 —(P— House Republican Leader Martin of Massachusetts said today “there is a possibility” General Douglas MacArthur may fly back to the United States next week to address Congress. Martin made the announcement to newsmen following an early morning session of the House Re- publican Policy Committee. “There is a possibility,” he said, “that General MacArthur will fly back next week and will be avail- able to address Congress sooner than the three weeks mentioned earlier.” Original plans, Martin said, wert for the deposed general to_retur: | from Japan by ship, Republicans, furiously angry at President Truman for firing the general, are sponsoring a resolution inviting MacArthur to address a joint meeting of the Senate and the House. The House Rules Committee will consider the resolution tomorrow and Martin said he is confident both the committee and the House will approve it. He said he doesn’t expect administration Democrats to fight the invitation proposal, The Republicans are frankly aim- ing at providing MacArthur with a forum to outline his-Far Eastern policy to the world, Among the Democrats, Senator Kerr of Oklahoma said it would be unwise for the general to address Congress and that he will do what he can to prevent it, Kerr said a {question and answer committee thearing for the general would be better. How many other Democrats will line up with Kerr remained in doubt. Martin did not disclose the source of his latest information on Mac- Arthur's return plans, PRESIDENT GIVES TOBEY "GO AHEAD' ON IMPEACHMENT WASHINGTON, April 12 —(®— Senator Tobey (R-NH) said today President Truman in a telephone call Tuesday accused him of threat- ening to try to have Mr. Txuman impeached and that the President invited him to “go right ahead.” Other senators said Tobey told a Senate Banking Subcommittee Mon- day that the President “could be im- peached” if he suppressed evidence he once claimed to possess that cer- tain members of Congress had ac- cepted fees in connection with RFC loans. Tobey told reporters today the President called him on the phone|?2 and said: “I understand you are going to have me impeached.” Tobey said he replied that he intended nothing of the sort but the President insisted “I've gotten that information from a source in whom I have the most complete confidence, I was told you said you were going to try to have me im- peached.” Tobey said he rejterated that “your source has misinformed you” but that the President interrupted: “Now let- me tell you this, sen- ator. If you want to have me im- peached, you just go right ahead and I'll help you. Tobey said he has “kindly” feel- ing toward the President, and is sorry that the incident occurred. He has not voiced any public demand for the President’s impeachment on any sround. TAPLEY RETURNS George Tapl2y, engineer with the Alaska Road Commission, returned to Juneau Tuesday via Pan Amer- ican after severgl weeks on the PacMfic coast recruiting personnel for the Alaska flflommmlon, AT THE BARANOF Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Sorensen of Kimshan Cove; are at the Bar- anof hotel. By JACK BELL WASHINGTON, April 12 —(®— President Truman has pinned high hopes for peace — and vindication for firing Gen. Douglas MacArthur —on the crushing of a threatened Communist, spring offensive in Korea. Mr. Truman told the nation in a radio and television talk last night that he relieved MacArthur of his Pacific commands because the five- star general disagrees with his poli- cy aimed at preventing the Korean fighting from spreading into a World War. Less than 22 hours had elapsed since the announcement of the picturesque general’s dismissal stirred this nation nnd the rest of the free world. “We do not want to see the con- flict in Korea extended,” the Presi- dent said solemnly and firmly. “We are trying to prevent a World War— not to start one,” Mr. Truman said that the bomb- ing of Red bases in Manchuria and the use of Chinese Nationalist troops from Formosa — both advocated by MacArthur — would involve “a grave risk of starting a general war.” If Reds Crushed Then he made it clear he be- lieves that if a threatened new mass offensive by the Communists in Korea is crushed, the Reds may de-. cide that further aggression there or elsewhere is “folly” then, he said, the door would be open to a peace- ful settlement “which will not com- promise the principle and purposes of the United Nations.” “Defeat of aggression in Korea may be the turning point in the world’s search for a practical way of achieving peace and security,” the President predicted. Congress, Country Split Any such outcome, of course, would be pointed to by the Presi- dent’s friends as justifying his dras- tic action in removing MacArthur, a move that split Congress and the country into two camps. In Tokyo, an’ adviser said Mac- Arthur is preparing to return speed- MIGHTY MO’ WELCOMED SAN DIEGO LONG BEACH, Calif., Apuril 12— (M—Home from the wars, the Mighty Mo’ nosed ou:ée fog today and tied up at Nat pyard, to a roar- ing welcome from thousands ashore. A Navy band from San Diego and a Marine band from El Toro, Calif., played the “Star Spangled Banner” as the Missouri, biggest U. S, bat- tleship now active, nudged gently up to the pier. AT THE GASTINEAU Mr. and Mrs, James Townsend of Seattle are stopping at the Bar- anof hotel WEATHER REPORT Temperature for 24-Hour Period ending 6:20 o'clock this morning In Juneau — Maximum, 44; minimum, 36, At Afrport — Maximum, 47; minimum, 36. FORECAST Partly cloudy with scat- tered rain showers tonight and Friday morning. Cloudy with light rain Friday after- noon. Lowest temperature tonight near 36 and highest Friday about 44. PRECIPITATION (Past 24 hours ending 7:30 a.m. today City of Juneau—41 inche: Since April 1 — 7.23 inches; Since July 1 — 65.16 inches. At Alrport — .18 inches; Since April 1 — 2.54 inches. Since July 1 — 38.39 inches. ily to the United States and to make a stout defense of his views. Lt. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway arrived in Tokyo from Korea today to take over, MacArthur did not meet the plane. MacArthur's Views His adviser, Maj. Gen. Courtney Whitney, said MacArthur feels that' his March 24 statement offering to meet the Communist commander in the field for peace talks and & letter to Rep. Joseph Martin, House Republican leader, “complied metic- ulously with all directives he has re- ceived.” Both were mentioned in a White House memorandum as indicatiohs that MacArthur refused to comply vith presidential orders. The letter o Martin endorsed use of Chinese Nationalist troops. T Was Military Situation Whitney said MacArthur inter- preted both as “dealing exclusively with the military situation and within the area of his uncontested authority to speak.” Mr, Truman'’s outline of his poli- cy of containment brought sharp counter attacks from Republicans in Congress. Democrats, who had been somewhat reluctant to join in the controversy earlier, rallied to the President’s support. Gamble With Lives Sernator of Nebraska, the Reputlican floor leader, said bitterly ‘hat “apparently the President is willing to gamble with the lives of our boys in Korea in the hope that the Russian-directed Communists will see the folly of their ways.” “We have heard President Tru- man’s weak defense of his shabby treatment of MacArthur,” the Ne- braska senator said. “Now let us hear directly from General Mac- Arthur.” Preparing Invitation Wherry and Martin have resolu- tions pending te invite MacArthur to address Congress. The House Rules Committee will take up Mar- tin’s proposal tomorrow but Wher- ry’s resolution appears likely to be blocked in the Senate for some time. In a translPacific telephone con- versation yesterday Wherry and Martin were informed that Mac- Arthur would be willing to apear before Congress. Blocking Joint Session But Democrats moved to block any joint session, Senator Kerr (D- Okla) said MacArthur's appearance should be confined to testimony Be- fore a committee, where he would be subject to questions. President Truman departed from his prepared text of last night's speech to praise Ridgway. He sald Ridgway, as commander of the Eigth Army in Korea, demonstrated he has “the qualities of leadership needed” for his multiple tasks. Commies Building ‘The President sald there are signs that the Communists are building up for a new mass attack in Korea. He expressed confidence that it will be turned back. - The “United Nations forces tough and able and well equlpped he said. “They are fighting for & just cause. . . . We pray that their efforts may succeed. For upon their success may hinge the peace of the world.” Peace Plans Mr. Truman said that “real peace” could be achieved on three basic conditions: “One: The fighting must stop. “Pwo: Concrete steps must be taken to insure that the fighting will not break out again. “Three: There must be an end to aggression.” He added that “a saememem founded upon these elements would open the way for the unification of Korea and the withdrawal of all foreign forces.” Mr. Truman said that while the resolute stand in Korea already has “slowed down the time table of con- quest,” the Communists in the Kremlin still have the decision on whether there shall be war or peace. “It may well be that, in spite of our best efforts, the Communists may spread the war,” he warned. “But it would be wrong — tragically wrong — for us to take the initiative in extending the war.”