Evening Star Newspaper, April 16, 1937, Page 4

A—4 x HEARTBEAT CAUSE BELIEVED FOUND Dr. Brewer, U. S. Expert, Tells Chemists About Potassium Isotopes. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. CHAPEL HILL, N. C, April 15— Presence in the body of a minute frac- tion of an ounce of an elusive, radio- active substance may be responsible for the beating of the heart and be Intimately associated with the phenom- ena of growth. This was implied in a report to the American Chemical Society meet- ing here yesterday by Dr. A. Keith Brewer of the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils of the Department of Agri- culture. The substance is an isotope of the element potassium. This ele- ment exists in three forms, or isotopes, of slightly different atomic weights. Two of them are very rare and have the peculiar property of radio activity which they share with the heavy ele- ments. An atom of K40 or K41, as the rare isotopes are known, emits two hard beta, or negatively charged, rays and one X-ray. It has been known for some years that removal of the minute amount of potassium from the body would stop the beat of an animals heart, but that the injection of a radio-active element would start it again. This may be explained by Dr. Brewer's find- ing that the radio-active K4l tends to concentrate in animal and plant tissue. Decreases With Age. He found that K-41 tends to be especially concentrated in embryonic tissue, and that it decreases as the animal or plant grows older. In the heart itself relatively little of the strange isotope was found. Actualy the amount of energy emit- ted by the potassium isotope in a human body is very minute. Never- theless more than 200 atoms are breaking up every second and the total energy, if it were in the form of visible green light, is 500 times as great as the minimum the eye could see. Another curious property of the potassium isotope is its ability to speed up the germination of seeds. Dr. Brewer has conducted a search for the isotope in sea water down to depths of 2'> miles, and in mineral and plant material from all parts of the world. It seems to be especially concentrated in sea pulp and in po- tato vines. The latter sem to reverse the ordinary course of nature in that the amount of isotope increases as they grow older. The ratio of two amino acids, cys- tine and tryptophane, in the blood serum may be an important indicator of acute infections, it was reported by Dr. M. X. Sullivan of Georgetown University Medical School. Dr. Sullivan found thal this ratio | Wwas considerably lower than normal in persons suffering from various acute | infections, notable among which is | ecute arthritis. The probability, he | said, is that cystine, which is a sulphur | carrier, is depleted by the withdrawal of sulphur to fight the infection. It is | becoming of increasing importanee as a detoxifying agent This finding developed from exten- sive studies conducted by Dr. Sullivan on the cystine content of the finger- nails and hair of arthritis victims, Bacteria Improves Butter. Putting bacteria to work to improve the flavor of butter was reported by M. E. Parker of Chicago. The typical flavor of good butter, he said, has been traced to a substance known as di- acetyl. There are about two parts of this material in 100,000 of butter, or a three-thousandth of an ounce per pound. Now Dr. B. W. Hammer of Iowa State College has isolated specific bac- | teria who create diacetyl. This makes | it possible to regulate the diacetyl con- tent to any desired amount. Chemistry will determine for the housewife the best way of cooking fish &t any given season, it was reported by Dr. Maurice E. Stansby and James M. Lemon of the Bureau of Fisheries Laboratory at College Park, Md. The food energy value of fish is largely de- pendent on the oil content, which varies from season to season, they said. Fish having high oil contents #hould never be fried, they pointed out, since the frying process decomposes the highly unstable oil to give rancid flavors. Some species of fish may be | {ried at one season, when they have | low oil content, and are better hroiled or baked at other seasons, when the oil content has reached a maximum In the case of the common mackerel, | they pointed out, the oil content va- | ries from 2 to 3 per cent in Spring to | as high as 30 per cent in late Summer, It will vary in energy value from about, 450 calories a pound in April to more than 1,000 calories in September. Huge piles of coal dust estimated in the millions of tons now are allowed to go to waste in the anthracite flelds of Pennsylvania, but csn be made into smoleless briquets suitable to take the place of anthracite at a cost considerably lower than that of getting the hard coal itself from the ground, 1t was reported by Dr. Foster D. Snell, New York chemical engineer. This is made possible, he said, by | discovery of a new binder—a solution of cilicic acid gel in sodium silicate— which holds the coal particles together | and yields a briquet stronger than the coal itself. Coal briquets in the. past, Dr. Snell said, have had a bad name because they have been very “smoky.” They have been much closer to bituminous than to an- thracite coal. The new product does not smoke. MEDAL IS AWARDED George Raymond Reed Given Honor for Blind. George Raymond Reed, senior at Howard University, has won the Capt. Charles W. Brown Memorial Medal of the American Foundation of the Blind, it was announced today. This award is made annually to the sightless student studying on a schol- arship from the foundation whose | academic record has been highest. | Reed, who lives at 1133 Fairmont avenue, attended Dunbar High School and the Maryland School for the Blind at Overlea. At Howard he has been specializing in history and Eng- lish, and after graduation this Spring hopes to get a teaching appointment in one of these subjects. R e O A.F. G. E. Lodge to Picnio. The American Federation of Gov- ernment Employes’ Lodge No. 31 of the Department of Agriculture will hold a picnic in the Sixteenth Street Reservoir section of Rock Creek Park at 3 pm. tomorrow. There will be |an China | one to me. At first reading it angered (Continued From First Page.) ‘ need, and, astonishing to say, found credence and much publicity. News- papers the world around printed them with screaming headlines. Nanking, the capital, was as much in the dark as Shanghai, but I, with Dr. Kung and W. H. Donald (whom I had asked to fly to Sian) hastened there. (Editor'’s note: Mr. Donald, an Australian, is a close personal friend of Chiang.) I found that, while official circles had been astounded by the unexpected nature of the coup and were wrought up to a state of high tension, members of the Standing Committee of the Central Executive Committee and the Central Political Council had taken action. They had deprived Chang Hsueh-Liang, leader of the mutiny, of his position as a member of the Military Affairs Com- mission and concurrently acting come mander in chief of the Northwestern bandit suppression forces, and referred him to the Military Affairs Commis- sion for severe punishment. In a mandate they denounced him bitterly, “harges Made in Telegram. Earlier in the day a . ular tele- gram had come from Sian signed by Chang Hsueh-liang, Yang Hu-chen (pacification commissioner of . hensi) and their leading officers and bearing the alleged signatures of a number of Central government officials ther in Sian. In this telegram a number of charges were made which, the tele- gram said, “made their hair stand on end.” They said tha they h.d “ad- vised him (the generalissimo) with tears, but were repeatedly chastised,” and that they “therefore tendered our last advice to Marshal Chiang Kai- shek, while guaranteeing his safety, in order to stimulate his awakening.” They set forth a group of .ight de. mands, described as “points of na- tional salvation,” which they hoped the .ianking authorities would “stoop” to adopt, “‘so &s to open one line c " life for the future.” The eight points called for the re- organization of the Nanking govern- | ment, the cessation of civil war (which | clearly referred to the anti-Communist campaign), the in.mediate release of several members of the National Sal- vation Association who had been ar- rested in Shanghai, the release of all 1olitical prisoners, tl. removal of re- strictions upon patrintic movements, the granting of free speech to press and assemblies of people, the carrying |out of the will of the late Dr. Sun | Yat-sen and the immediat> convoca- tion of a National Salvation Conyress. (Editor'’s note: In less diplomatic language, what the Sian rebels were demanding was that Chiang bring about a united front to resist further Japanese aggression in North China. The National Salvation Association is anti-Japanese organization in that has long advocated re- sistance to Japan’s armed thrusts in the north.) Must Assert Views. This was the situation, wrapped in increasing excitement and concern, as | we found it when we reached Nanking | Sunday morning, December 13. I| quickly was to learn that I was regarded as a woman who could not be expected to be reasonable in such & situation, but I more swiftly real- ized that if a common sense solution was to be sought I must assert my views and insist upon & sane line of action being taken. While expressing misgivings as to the wisdom of hastily penalizing Chang Hsueh-liang before the full facts of the situation were known or before Dr. Kung and I had arrived in Nanking, I was faced with a much more serious problem—to wit, what looked to me like an unhealthy obses- sion on the part of leading military officers who asserted that they felt it their inexorable duty to mobilize the military machine forthwith and launch an immediate punitive expedi- tion to attack Sian. To my mind, this was a point of view that was intoler- | able. So, rightly or wrongly, I de- | cided to fight it and strive for a | quick, calm and bloodless settlement of the whole affair. Before 8 am,, I telegraphed Chang Hsueh-liang that Mr. Donald was fly- ing that day to Sian. Pleaded for Calmness. T had determined conferences with the natlon’s leaders. I pleaded for calmness of judgment pending the re- ceipt of definite news. I urged that the Jeaders in Sian, until proved oth- erwise, should be taken at their word, but every effort should speedily be made to get at the truth. | “Perhaps they have a legitimate grievance,” I hazarded. After all, we are all Chinese—don’t let's fight if we | can find a way out of it.” I did not take the eight points men- tioned in the telegram of the Sian leaders seriously. It was known that Chang's men were dissatisfied with the barren conditions of the northwest, so it was surmised that these purely po- litical conditions were merely an ex- cuse in order to bargain for terms for richer provinces. This belief, perhaps, influenced those who advocated an im- mediate punitive expedition. Early in the morning two other delayed telegrams arrived from Chang Hsueh-liang, one to Dr. Kung and me. Then several thoughts flashed through my mind: Did Chang really Sign the telegram? Was he not hav- ing trouble with his men? 1If he did sign it, was it done in an outburst of anger? \ The awaited replies from Chang regarding Mr. Donald’s visit did not come. To save time, Mr. Donald, after lunch, left for Loyang with Col. J. L. Huang, whom I sent in case & translator should be necessary. To Chang Hsueh-liang I wrote a long letter, pointing out the disastrous effects his action would have ‘upon the unity of the nation, and my belief that he meant no harm to the country or to the generalissimo by his im- prudent and impetuous action, but that he should retrieve himself before it was too late. Mr. Donald telephoned me in - the evening that he had arrived at Loyang at sunset to find that, although they were but 11, hours’ flight from Sian, they were just as badly off for news there as was Nanking. Some 20 planes | had made a demonstration flight over | Sian that day, just to show the | mutineers that the government was in charge of the airfield, which Chang had ordered his artillery section at Loyang to seize. They had decided to disobey the order. Mr. Donald said he would fly to Sian next morn- ing whether he heard from Chang or not, but during the night I received & wire addressed to Mr, Donald from Chang asking him to go there, and that removed the apprehension I felt that his plane might be fired at. The duties of the generalissimo had automatically been assumed by the minister of war, and he took over the air force, but despite this I went ahead refreshments and games. with the plans for reorganization of THE HIS is the first installment of two remarkable documents —Chiang Kai-shek’s “Diary of My Captivity in Sian” and Mme. Chiang's own story of how she helped rescue her husband. Flaring headlines in newspapers all over the world told the news of the kidnaping of Chiang Kai-shek by rebellious army:leaders in Sian, capital of Shensi Province, last December. During his fortnight's captivity, wild and conflicting ru- mors were spread telling of his death, of various ransom de- mands made for his release, of compromise terms he was said to have agreed to. All that was clearly known was that Gen. Chang Hsueh-liang, leader of the rebellious troops, demanded that Chiang take a more aggressive at- titude in resisting encroachments by the Japanese in North China and that he strive to bring about & unified China, even at the ex- Pense of ceasing his anti- Come munist campaign. What actually happened behind the scenes at Sian, how Chiang was injured. how he resisted the rebels’ demands and how his wife aided in effecting his release are told in the generalissimo's diary, EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, which he kept day by day while under threat of death, and in Mme, Chiang’s story, which now dispel the mystery that has grown up around the “Sian incident.” Mme. Chiang and the generalis- simo wish it known, both in China and abroad, that exclusive publi- cation rights to their manuscripts, outside China, have been sold to the North American Newspaper Alliance for $5,000. This sum is to be used for the benefit of the widows and children of 21 mem- bers of the generalissimo’'s body- guard who were killed during the Sian coup. The two documents are later to be published as a spe- clal text book for use in all schools in China. Mme. Chiang, a grad- uate of Wellesley College, trans- lated her husband’s diary from the Chinese into English. There will be nine installments in the series, the first four pre- senting Mme, Chiang's story. Chiang Kai-shek and Mme. Chiang are now in Shanghai, where the generalissimo is recup- erating from the injuries to his back suffered when he fell 30 feet into a moat while attempting to escape from the Sian mutineers, " Generalissimo and Mme. Chiang Kai—she)g. smiling and happy after their return to Nanking from Sian, where the Chinese leader was held captive for two weeks by rebellious army subordinates. the Commission on Aeronautical Af- fairs. Around me it was already being whispered that my husband was dead, tainly never would escape from Sian alive. thoughtful, gracious, and sympathetic; | but behind my back, during the next or that, if he were still living, he cer- | few days, D. C, FRIDAY, The Kidnaping of Gen. Chiang Kai-shek Mme. Chiang Opposed Use of Military Force to Gain Release of Husband From Gen. Chang. with pessimism. Universal condemna- tion of the Sian leaders was' unre- strained. From the beginning, it was my su- preme belief that I should exert all my powers to make any necessary sac- rifice, and, whatever the cost, to do the right thing in dealing with these men of the northwest now holding my husband. At no time did I heap im- precations upon thelr heads. I could not shake off the feeling that there was a way out of what then looked to be a black, ugly and des- perate situation, if I could only make people see it. So I argued for restraint before cutting off possibilities for peaceful settlement, for the explora- tion of all possible avenues to obtain the release of the generalissimo be- fore launching an attack and thus condemning him to death at the hands of angry soldiers or people, if not by the bombs and bullets of his own troops. But I found myself running full tilt into the military mind in full ‘panoply for action. I was told that the generalissimo should not have risked his life in such an unwise and unnecessary way. I retorted that, if the generalissimo is worthy of his position, he should risk his life whenever necessary. Argued for Force. “To uphold properly the prestige of the national government,” it was stated, ‘“requires a display of force forthwith.” In my presence, people were | “At this period of national crisis there would and could not be any na- tional government,” I replied, “with- out the generalissimo. Aside from him, just mention the name of a man who has the qualities and character of a national leader.” “Anyway, the generalissimo is al- ready dead,” said some. “What is the life of one man com- pared with that of the state?” asked another. “She is a woman pleading for the life of her husband,” was one taunt repeated to me. “I am a woman,” I retorted, “but I am speaking not as a wife trying to save her husband’s life. If it is neces- sary that the generalissimo should die for the good of the country, I would be the first one to sacrifice him, but, to my mind, to use military force and to attack and bombard Sian would not only endanger the life of the gen- eralissimo, who is the universally rec- ognized leader of the country, but would also cause untold misery and suffering to thousands of innocent civilians, as well as waste our military force, which should be conserved for national defense. Let us see whether or not any channels are open through which we may come to a peaceful set- tlement. “Believe me, gentlemen, when I tell you that I am making this appeal to you not as a woman thinking of the safety of her husband, but as a citizen taking a dispassionate and realistic attitude to secure the least costly solu- tion of a grave national problem. In no circumstances would I hesitate to sacrifice myself and my husband if such a sacrifice could be of the least | benefit to the nation. “I believe that time will prove that my envisagement of this situation, and my idea of how it should be solved, will prove correct. I know that you are just as sincere, according to your lights, as I am, but I am so confident that mine is the correct attitude that I shall use every means possible to have my ideas made effective. Imprecations | will never conquer the rebels, and can- | not help to solve the situation.” When I added that I would per- | sonally fly to Sian to see what might the atmosphere was heavy | be done, my suggestion was received | LOOK FOR THIS TAG ... Your Asewrence of Qyality EERLES FINE FURNITURE REGULAR $1895 VALUE x Buy on PEERLESS’ Budget Plan x CHOICE OF COVERS! SPRING SEATI, Very low pri id design ta| priced, yot built with high quality mate-) rials and mlusinyrnm;. 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I had the feeling constantly with me that if T had been in Sian this situation would not have developed. No tribute that I could pay to Dr. Kung and to my sisters, Mme. Kung and Mme. Sun Yat-Sen, to all my brothers, and to my close friends, for the comfort they tendered me in these hours of mental anguish and physical trial could be too great. Their solicitude was only matched by their philosophy in the face of what, in the silence that enshrouded everywhere at Sian, looked like stark tragedy. Dr. Kung, as acting presi- dent of the Executive Yuan, and there- fore the chief officer of the state, was in a particularly difficult position. While he held to his line of duty he had abundant sympathy for the policy for which I was fighting. POLICE HUNT FOR BOY Youth Writes Note to Mother Telling Plan to Go Away. Police here and in cities on main highways south were searching today for Frank Etzler, 15, of 1011 B street northeast, who left home Wednesday after writing a note to his mother say- ing he was going away to “make some- thipg of myself.” s. Anna M. Etzler said today sev~ eral persons have told her a youth answering her son's description asked them Wednesday the best way to leave Washington for the South. She said her son, & pupil at Eastern High School, was an exceptionally good | pianist and might seek employment | with a dance orchestra. He was de- scribed as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. When last seen | he was wearing a brown leather jacket, | brown hat and brown trousers. His | eyes are blue and his hair brown, his mother said. PLA>NE FUND SOUGHT gine Development. Senator Copeland, Democrat, New York said today he would ask development of Army and Navy air- plane engines of from 3,000 to 4,000 horsepower—the world's most power- ful. Maximum power in present Ameri- can military aircraft is 1,000 horse- | | power, but Army, Navy and civilian manufacturers are working on 1,500 horsepower motors. that power soon would be in quantity production. | Charge Accounts— or 12.Pay Plan $1,500,000 to Be Asked for En- | of | Congress to appropriate $1,500,000 for | Air Corps officers | said it was probable some engines of | Monthly Settlements “Scarlett” Role Held Offered Miss Bankhead Actress Considers Playing Heroine, Manager Says. TALLULAH BANKHEAD. By the Assoclated Press. T. LOUIS, April 16.—Tallulah Bankhead, screen and and return to New York to consider offers to appear in the motion picture “Gone With the Wind,” her manager, Joseph Davis, revealed here last night. Miss Bankhead, according to Davis, is arranging to cancel her appearances in North and South Carolina and Virginia. She is appearing in St. Louis stage | star, will cancel her present road tour at Atlanta, Ga., on May 5 | this week in “Reflectéd Glory.” Davis said Miss Bankhead received an offer some time ago (from the " Selznick Pictures Corp.) to take tha role of Scarlett O'Hara in the picture, but he declined to state whether oy not a contract has been signed. “I am not at liberty to make any announcement for Miss Bankhead &t the present time,” Davis sald, “for she does not wish to discuss the pru= posal until later. But it is true sha will return to New York after May 5 and consider such an effer. After completing her engagement here Miss Bankhead will appear at Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City and | cities in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Ten- | nessee and Alabama, the latter being her home State. STATEMENT DENIED, No One Chosen for Scarlett Role, Officials Say. HOLLYWOOD, April 16 (#)—Selz- nick International Pictures Co. said today that no one has been cast as yet in the film version of “Gone With the Wind.” g Tallulah Bankhead’s manager an= nounced at St. Louis that she had been offered the -role of Scarlett O'Hara. “As a matter of fact,” officials said, “Director George Cukor still is search= ing through the South for an un= known, or comparatively unknown, actress for the leading part.” Norma Shearer recently expressed regret she was unable to enact the heroine after her name was mentioned with Miriam Hopkins, Carole Lombard and others as candidates. BANQUET FOR PAGES Senator Robert R. Reynolds of N: Carolina, recently chosen by Senate pages as the most popular Senator, an- nounced yesterday he will entertain the pages at a banquet April 26. The Senator said James Roosevelt, son and secretary to the President, had. accepted his invitation to address the | boys. Guests will include Col. 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