davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-01-22
Temple Heights Plans
Call for S2,500,000
Building Project

Preliminary plans for buildings
proposed for construction on Tenn
pie Heights, Connecticut and Florida
avenues NV, were disclosed today
by spokesman for purchasers of
the property, an undisclosed New
York syndicate.
Plans, according to the prelimi-
nary sketch, call for erection of
eight buildings to house apartment
and hotel-apartment suites.
The project is in charge of the
architectural firm of E. Burton
Corning and Raymond G. Moore.
Associated with them in planning
are Pierre Ghent and Associates and
Associated Engineers, Inc.
Setback Terraces.
Buildings along the Nineteenth
street and Florida avenue frontages
will nave four floors of setback
terraces which will overlook down.
town Washington, it was said.
The purchasers point out that
under zoning regulations rs per cent
of the site could be occupied by
buildings, but that by careful plan
ming building occupancy will total
less than 36 per cent of the property
Loss of some trees on the property
1t was said, would be more than
Offset" by liberal use Of evergreens
Towering trees and shrubs. Many
maple trees will be transplanted and
used for street trees, according tc
present expectations.
Included In the plans are pro-
visions for sunken garden, nursery
school, kindergarten, health club.
gymnasium, swimming pool, clinic,
sun decks and family and hotel
type dining rooms.
The entire project will be air con-
ditioned. Style Of the buildings will
be straightforward and functional, -
and in keeping with Connecticut
avenue styles and traditions" it
was said.
S2,500,000 Project.
Capitalized valuation of the prop
erty for development purposes is in
excess Of $4,000 900, it was said.
Last Thursday Senator Capper,
Republican, of Kansas introduced a
bill for purchase of the property by
the United States as memorial
to defenders Of the Union" in the
Civil War. The bill would author
ize an appropriation Of not more
than $500, 900 to cover cost of pur-
chase Of the site.
The 91a-acre tract recently was
purchased from the Grand Lodge OF
Masons of the District by the New
York group. A number of years
ago plans had been announced by
another group for development to
have been known as Crystal City
and to have been built on plans by
the noted architect, Frank Lloyd
Wright.
Protest against the current plans
has been voiced by the Temple
Heights Tree Committee, which
seeks to preserve trees on the prop
erty.
Evening star., 1945-01-22
6,912 Of 27,253 Planes
Released by Services Sold

The military services have re-
leased 27.253 planes of all types but
on the first of this year only 6,912
have been sold, the Surplus War
Property Board reports.
The agency did not disclose the
amount received for the aircraft.
Overall figures on surplus planes
released include a total of 21,854
military type and $500 civilian type.
In addition, 104 transports have
been allocated to domestic and
foreign airlines.
Most planes sold so far, the board
said, are the light civilian-type craft
which were requisitioned for pre-
liminary Army and Navy training
programs when the war started.
Evening star., 1945-01-22
President Calls on Public
To Grow, Conserve Food

President Roosevelt today called
on the American public to do every
thing possible to produce food and
see that it is conserved and shared
The President declared such ac-
ton is necessary because "the de-
mands for our food at home and
abroad are SO great"
Asked if the statement foreshad-
owed ANY more food rationing
steps," Presidential Secretary Ste
phen T. Early said that question
should be put to the War Food Ad-
miniStration.
Evening star., 1945-01-22
Court HEARINGS
Opened on Cut
In PowerRate
Case Called Nearly
Year After Order
Was to Take Effect

The Potomac Electric Power Co. S
case against the Public Utilities
Commissions order to reduce light
and power rates by a little more
than s1,000,000 began today in Dis
trict Court, almost a year after the
order was to have been in effect.
The PUG ordered the reduction
last July to be effective last March
l. Pepco obtained a restraining
order. Pepco's largest customer, the
United States Government, entered
the case through two agencies,
Treasurys Procurement Division and
Federal Works Agency.
Both filed requests with the PUG
which had come to the District
Court in the record of this case.
The Procurement Division said the
reduction should have been ordered
to the amount of $3,000,000 a year
FWA said the reduction should have
been at least $3,860,000
The case which started today Is
an important one in the electric
power industry and may affect gas
utilities and even railroads. Basic
in the case is dispute as to the
method of arriving at evaluation of
utility properties on which rates are
figured.
Appeal Forecast.
Counsel for all parties predicted
that the case would be taken to
the Court of Appeals and to the
Supreme Court regardless of the
District Court decision.
The reduction, which amounts to
S1,037,189 a year, has not yet been
placed in a new rate scale pending
court action.
Justice j. Foster Symes of Colo
rado heard the argument of S. R,
Bowen, counsel for Pepco in the
first session.
Mr.. Bowen made two principal
points: Cd That the sliding scale
of rates in effect for the past 20
years was by mutual agreement"
and that a new sliding scale as
ordered by the PUG could go in
effect only with the consent of the
company as had the first one. 90
That the reduction of $20,000,00
made by PUG in the company's
capital figure for rate computation
was illegal.
Questioned by Judge.
Justice Symes at one point in
terrupted Mr.. Bowen's argument to
ask After the reduction of S1,000,-'
900 do you contend that the COM
pany will get too little return?"
"Unquestionably," Mr.. Bowen
answered. This reduction in rates
has no legal basis whatsoever" he
said.
At this point he asked opposing
counsel to answer the preliminary
statement of his argument.
George Harrison, assistant cor
poration counsel, answered.: "It
strikes me as a very unusual pro-
cedure to ask counsel to answer pro-
cedural questions. AS the court
knows they have the burden to
show the illegality of this order and
it is very heavy burden"
The litigation is expected to drag
on for at least another year.
Evening star., 1945-01-22
AWVS Issues Call
For Daytime Drivers

A plea for daytime drivers to
operate Army and war agency cars,
city hospital ambulances and the
American Womens Voluntary Serv-
ice Navy Relief ambulance has been
issued by the AWVS Motor Trans
port Division.
Experienced drivers with District
licenses are asked to call Dupont
1478 or visit AWVS headquarters,
1920 Twenty-second street NV.
Evening star., 1945-01-22
Indiun Cabinet Member
To Speak at Press Club

Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, sister
of Jawaharlal Neuru, Indian inde-
pendence leader and the first woman
to attain cabinet rank in the United
Provinces of India, will address a
meeting at the National Press Club
Auditorium at pm. Monday, jan
uary 20, under auspices of the Ma
tional Committee for Indias Free
dom.
1t was enormously announced in
Saturdays Star that the meeting
would be held tonight
Evening star., 1945-01-22

is missing IN
action. the War
Department has
j n + or m e d his
family.
1t. Collier, a
pilot for the I'd
Troop Carrier
Squadron of the
10th Air Force.
operating in the
Ind ! a : Burma
theater, recently
W as decorated
with the Distin-
guished Flying
Cross and has
two Oak Leaf
Clusters on his /
Evening star., 1945-01-22
Hecht Presents Swino

Raymond Gram Swing, radio COM
mentator and writer, will be heard
in Washington over Radio Station
WMAL and the Blue Network Mon
day through Friday at tbs PM,
sponsored by the Hecht Co., 1t was
announced today.
Evening star., 1945-01-22
A Job To Be Done 4ts; 4; ,.1s, 1: His:it s:is

D Aid the War Program

age of nurses as every Army nurse
who can be spared is shipped to the
fighting fronts
But the Boiling Field hospital has
some individual problems, too. The
winter months have increased ILL
Evening star., 1945-01-22
1t. Collier Missing in Action;
Son of Former Star EmpIoye

First 1t. Neil r. Collier. jr., %,
whose father, Comdr. N. r. (Rex)
Collier. Is member Of the editorial
staff of The Star on military leave,
Evening star., 1945-03-25
BY Vivian Lowe

He sat quietly there In the corner, the
little oldish unshaven man wearing
rough leather jacket and holding his
metal lunch box tightly on his lap. The
receptionist motioned that 1t was his
turn. and he came forward.
please. miss, please help me. They've
just told me my boy is missing in ac-
tion." and grubby hand dove into q
breast pocket pulling out yellow en-
velope.
He was appealing to the Foreign In
quiry and Prisoners Of War Section Of
the American Red Cross, Warrington
chapter at l730 E street NV.
The look OF pain was in his eyes-pain
and anguish Red Cross workers have
seen so often during the last three
years.
The young woman led him to = chair
and let him talk about it. It was hard
to say there was nothing she could do.
Words of Hope
No, there was nothing the American
Red Cross could do until that boy was
listed prisoner Of war" Nothing, that
is, to find him or bring actual word of
him. But the volunteers and profess
sional social workers at the Red Cross
listen to your story and then tell you of
similar incidents recorded in their files
with far cheerier endings than that yell
low paper first implied.
I'VE give people the benefit of our &C
cumulated experience, and, in the case
Of missing in action servicemen, give
them a copy of the formula we have
Evening star., 1945-03-25
Casualty Unit Checks Endless Clues
In Search for Men Missing in Action

was needed to get the rest. In this case
all the "Pinkertons" had on two OF the
men were the last names, both mispelled.
In another instance identity was es-
tablished without delay even though no
more pertinent information was offered
than surname, and common sur
name at that. There was not even the
date Of casualty.
The German government reported to
the International Red Cross that an in
dividual had been killed in action in
Italy and was buried in a particular
cemetery.
A thorough examination of ali avail
able casualty records was made. Most
of the possibilities were eliminated for
one reason or another, leaving two in
dividuais to be considered.
1t was determined that the cemetery
had since been captured by the Allies.
Further Investigation
The names and other data of the two
possible persons were sent to the theater
commander with the request that fur
ther investigation be made.
Within few days the commander re-
ported the grave had been located, the
body exhumed and identity definitely
established.
Laundry markings and rife were the
only Identification on another dead
soldier lying on European battlefield.
The Ordnance Department found to
what organization the rife was issued
and to what individual the weapon was
charged.
Evening star., 1945-03-25

furtner cnecklng revealed that the
soldier to whom the rifle WIS issued
was carried by the department as miss
ing in action" The soldiers initials
agreed with those on the laundry mark
ings. Further investigation by the thea
ter commander definitely established
that the soldier was one who had been
reported as missing.
Evening star., 1945-03-25
Steaks, Cigarettes, Racing
Mexico Has Everything!

were won on one recent day by Sea
Biscuits offspring.
The parimutuels at the Hippodromo
Investments can be as low as pesos,
which is about one dollar in United
States money.
And There Isn't ANY Curfew
There is no lack Of variety in night
time amusements. Where there were
only q handful of night clubs four years
ago, Mexico City now has more thar 100,
ranging from the magnificent El Patio
with its Hollywood atmosphere down to
small authentically Mexican spots.
Most Of the night clubs catering
visitors from the North are well-run--
and expensive. There are enough o.
them so that none is too crowded TO:
comfort. and there usually Is plenty of
room for dancing to smooth music
Food and drink are served all night
and the menus are not limited b.
rationing.
The most famous night spot Is Ciro's
next to the new Hollywoodlike Hote,
Reforma. Sumptuous and lush. with
murals by Diego Rivera. Ciro's has been
developed by Alfred c. Blumenthal, for
mer New York theatrical producer, who
recently settled $42,221 income tax
claim in New York. He has introduced
cafe society" life to Mexico City, in
cluding the newspaper gossip column
lists that go with it.
The drawbacks to all this are few
aside from the wartime difficulties of
transportation to Mexico City. For one
thing, North Americans have to be
careful what they eat to avoid upsets.
Salads and fresh fruit are best left
alone. It's safer to drink bottled wa
ter, too. --... .-.
From the viewpoint of Mexico City
residents who are not in some business
catering to tourists. the spending of
pleasure-bent visitors has the bad effect
of driving prices upward on the things
they must buy.
Evening star., 1945-03-25
IfHe Is Listed Prisoner Of War
The Red Cross Is at His Side

to Teheran and then transported by
trans Siberian rail to Russian port
where 1t is picked up by the Japanese
and later distributed to internees and
military prisoners. Only "A words are
permitted in letters to those in Japanese
prisoner of war camps. But no prisoner
OF war mail to any area, air mail in
cluded, requires any stamp. The Japa-
nese are now permitting each prisoner
to send a cable, collect, once a year to
this country and the prisoners or in
ternee's family may answer, at the ex-
pense of the Government, by arranging
with the local Red Cross.
Emergency cables to prisoners of war
in Germany who are worried about their
families or are to be notified Of births
or deaths can also be arranged through
the local chapter who contact the War
Department. The Government then
notifies the International Red Gross.
Special Cases
Among the stories told at the District
chapter is one about local man re-
Gently released from the Philippines who
has written that If 1t weren't for the
Red Cross food parcels received during
1912 and 1943, he would have died long
before his liberation.
"A woman asked If it were true that
the Germans were moving all Americans
to Japan" Mrs. James c. Evans of 48o1
Connecticut avenue q volunteer worker
whose Air Corps husband is Q prisoner
in Germany, said.
Another soldier liberated in the Philip
pines wrote to his family here and told
Evening star., 1945-03-25
By Garnett D. Horner.

There's a saying among visitors to
Mexico City that three things fly
naturally there-birds, time and pesos.
Expediting the flight Of pesos from
North American visitors with money to
spend for luxuries that are scarce in the
United States has become big business
in the Mexican capital. where:
There Is no curfew in the scores OF
night clubs that have sprung up In the
past three or four years to cater espe-
cially to tourists from the North.
Plenty OF cigarettes are to be found
at any tobacco stand, popular American
brands selling for IS to 40 cents pack.
You can get a thick, juicy steak at
most any restaurant any time, and 1t
isn't mere wishful thinking to ask for
more butter.
The only horse racing between Pam
anna and Canada fiourishes at one Of
the most modern tracks in the world,
the Hippodromo de las Americas.
You can hail taxi most anywhere,
and not be asked to share 1t. or hire a
car for = weekend trip out OF town
with no questions about rs this trip
necessary"
Such contracts between wartime liv-
ing in Washington and Mexico City
were especially noticeable to members
of the United States delegation and
large groups of newspapermen who ac-
companied them to the recent inter-
American Conference there.
Wartime Playground
Despite difficulties of transportation,
hotels are crowded with pleasure
Americans from New York to Holly
wood, helping to build up Mexico Citys
reputation as the wartime playground
Of the Western World.
With the recent ban on horse racing
in the United States, the sport has had
q tremendous boom in Mexico City
Many Of the horses running there were
imported from the States. Two races
Evening star., 1945-03-25

agent, carpenter designer and inSur-
ance salesman. He studied at the Art
Students League in New York and when
assigned to Fort Myer he managed to
attend occasional classes at the Corcoran
Gallery of Art.
First selection in the class of draw
ings was an untitled work by Sergt.
Walter Reed Hospital. He was a COM
mercial artist in San Francisco, Calf,
before he took up soldering Second
award went to Soldier Asleep at the
USO," the work of Pfc. Aurelio J.
Yammerino of Fort Belvoir, Va. In
civilian life he had attended the Ma
tional Academy of Design in New York
City.
Approaching Storm" by Sergt. Rich
ard Hood of Philadelphia, on duty at
the Army Medical Library, took first
honors in the class of prints, most of
which represented an interesting COL
lection Of Autographs. Second honors in
this class were awarded to Sergt. Brown.
"a winner, also, in the water colors COM
petition. Entitled Along the Canal"
1t depicts a picturesque row Of houses
on Washington's Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, with the towers of Georgetown
University showing above.
Sergt. Hood was professional artist
in civilian life and one-time State di-
rector of the Pennsylvania Art Project.
He was also State director Of the Penn
sylvania War Services program and
graduate of the University of Pennsyl-
Continued on Page C-5)
Evening star., 1945-03-25
BY Jane Eads,
t
Associated Press Staff Writer.

body was washed ashore on the
coast of Spain.
1t was clothed in the uniform of a
second lieutenant in the field artillery
Of the American Army.
Much later a telegram was delivered
to an American home.
1t bore tragic news to parents who
had been hoping that their sons, report
ed missing in action, would turn up alive
How did the War Department know
1t was their boy? How did his body
get there? When last seen alive he
was standing on the deck of trans
port off the coast of Africa.
Could the War Department have made
q mistake?
The War Department has made
minimum of errors so far and only a
small percentage of cases still remain
on the unidentified lists.
What happened in the case of the
second lieutenant illustrates the ex-
haustive effort expended.
When the lads body was found a
report was made through diplomatic
channels to the United States State De-
partment and the War Department.
Casually Branch Takes Over
The War Departments casualty
branch then took over. 1t became the
job of the status review unit to fit the
jigsaw of available data together.
First, the body was tentatively iden-
titled.
Initials on a fraternity ring, inscrip-
tions on one second lieutenants bar
and an officers field artillery insignia
together with rough description of
the corpse, were checked with files.
Finally it was found that second
lieutenant in the field artillery had
been reported missing in action in the
African invasion, some weeks before the
body was found on the Spanish beach.
The missing mans initials Tailed with
those on the fraternity ring.
No Stone Unturned
But before the War Department noti-
fed the family 1t asked the father to
supply further details. 1t also checked
with the jeweler who had sold the ring.
Proof was pretty conclusive.
There were still margins for error.
Could it be the same second lieutenant?
How did the body get there?
The casualty branch, having estab-
lished where the boy was last seen alive,
checked on tide and weather with the
Navy photographic once and the Army
Weather Bureau. 1t was established
tnat it was possible for the body to end
up where it was found.
The Pinkertons'
Identity of persons reported to the
War Department as casualties is estab-
lished by another group of trained in
vestigators-the special Identification
unit, which Col. George F. Herbert,
chief of the casualty branch, refers to
as "the Pinkertons."
Due to battle conditions and diff
culties in communications from some
areas, a few reports are received in
garbled FORM Sometimes only part OF
q name or serial number is received.
Sometimes there are only laundry mark
ings or f1ngerprints to go on. Some
times no information is available except
the grave location.
There is the possibility, especially in
Evening star., 1945-03-25
Bv Nelson Shepard

From the works of talented soldier
! artists and craftsmen on duty in the
! Military District of Washington on dis
play in the exhibit corridor of the Pent-
egon judges last week selected ii en-
Fries for competition in the finals of
he first national art contest to be
aged by the Army Service Forces.
The final exhibit will open July in
National Gallery of Art in Wash
ton and will continue through Aug
Is.
This first Army art contest is attract
keen competition on the part OF
beral thousand uniformed personnel
ilitary men for the duration Of the
Ar but professionals for the most
lrt in civilian life. Competition Is re-
ricted to officers and enlisted men in
hch of the nine service command areas
Il the country and the United States
Military Academy, West Point, N. Y,
in addition to those on duty in the
Washington area.
National Gallery of Art Finals
Each area is to conduct its own con-
test, with entries limited to eight classes.
Judges in local areas will select the
best two works in each class, and these
will be sent to Washington for entry
in the finals at the National Gallery
of Arts. From these approximately ITO
entries a national board of judges, as
yet unnamed, will choose the winner
of each of the eight classes. The payof
is 500 War Bond to each winner.
That in itself is an additional induce
ment, besides the distinction of having
ones work on public display in the
National Capital. Suitable contest rib
bons will be awarded for first and Sec
ond prizes in each of the eight classes
by contest judges of the various local
areas.
First of these to be held was the one
In .the Military District of Washington.
The Pentagon is the workday home Of
more than 10000 military and civilian
personnel, and the 1913 works of art
and craftsmanship submitted in the
local contest have attracted widespread
attention from Pentagonians.
Maj. Simpson in Charge
Mai. John H. Simpson OF Chicago, on
duty with the Special Service Division
of the Army Service Forces, is in charge
of the Washington contest. While each
of the other contests is being conducted
by the individual service command
headquarters, the national contest finals
here will be under the auspices of the
Special Services Division.
As an emotional and recreational out
let for these artists in uniform, the
contest is considerable morale factor
in breaking the monotony of routine
training and daily Army duties. Com
petition is not limited to the personnel
of the army Service Forces alone.
Among the contestants are represented
practically every branch Of the Army.
On the theory that contented soldiers
make better fighters or workers, the
main object of this first Army contest
y to encourage among them greater