davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Japan's S Quake Casualties
Increase 10 1880
BY the Associofed Press

TOKYO, Dec. 25.-Japanese seis-
mologists predicted continuing after
shocks of unestimated intensity, as
the broad areas devastated by
Saturdays terrific earthquake and
tidal waves today counted 1880
casualties-a toll 500 higher than
previous reports.
The Home Ministry also reported
$4,000 more homless-a total of 150,-
375. Its new count gave 1,172 dead,
1855 injured and 163 missing.
Allied headquarters also boosted
its death count today to 1,058, with
933 injured-an increase Of rs of
its report of deaths, but a figure
still below the Home Ministry's
total.
Scientists here said after-shockS
probably would continue for two to
three months.
Adequate relief measures were re-
ported easing the distress of the
thousands of victims in hardest
hit areas, with food, medicines,
clothing, bedding and medical per-
sonnel already on the scene.
Evening star., 1946-12-25
New Indonesian State
is Proclaimed Formally
BY the Associated Press

DENPASAR, Bali, Dec. "a. ODE
layed.) d.)-Asia's newest government
came into being today when Acting
Governor General Hubertus Van
Nook of the Netherlands East In
dies, in the name of Queen Will
helmina, formally proclaimed the
formation of the provincial state
of East Indonesia.
The 10 delegates who laid the
groundwork for the new state in two
weeks of conferences became its
first provision Parliament, and
elected Rajah Sukawati, Balinese
nobleman, as the first President.
The delegates represent all parts
of the Netherlands Indies east OF
Borneo and Java, with the excep-
tion of Dutch New Guinea. Forma-
ton of the state, which has pop
ulation of more than 100000, was
another step toward establishing a
United States of IndoneSia.
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Wrecked U. 5. Freighter
Abandoned Off England
BY the Associated Press

DEAL, England, Dec. 25.-The
7,60O-ton United States freighter
Northeastern Victory, wrecked yes
terday on the treacherous Goodwin
Sands, was abandoned today by he,
|captain and three other officers, who
had remained aboard after 38 crew.
men had been taken ashore by a
lifeboat.
A 69-mile gale ragged in the Eng
Ilish Channel as boat returned for
the ships master, F. j. Kostrohs OF
New Orleans, and the three subor-
dinate officers.
The Northeastern Victory was
bound from Galveston, Tex, to
Antwerp, Rotterdam and Bremen
with $500 tons of general cargo
including 10000 crates of grapefruit
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Army Pilot and Phone Operator
Save Guests in Macon Hotel Fire

streets on chilly Christmas
morning.
Chief Hudson said police and in
surance investigators were search
ing the ruins today for evidence Of
arson, a theory which was advanced
earlier in the week in Atlanta, fol-
lowing the disastrous Winecoff Ho-
tel fire December 7, when 119 per-
sons were killed.
Ironically the Macon City Coun-
Gil adjourned for 1916 yesterday
after deferring action on a pro-
posed fire-control ordinance in
order to. give its Fire Committee
time to gather additional informa
ton. The proposed law would re-
ouire sprinklers, fire-resistant stair
way doors and fireproof elevators
on buildings of more than two
stories.
1t. Robert L. Smithy, the pilot
told how he smelled smoke, investi-
gated and found flames sweeping
through the rear of the right wing
of the six-story brick building, part
(see HOTEL, Page A-30
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Polar Expedition Finds Island
On Maps for Century Is Myth
Tests Show Swoin's Island, 1000 Miles
Off South America, Was SeoIer's Dream
By Thomas R. Henry
Stor Sfoff Correspondent

ABOARD UsS MOUNT OLYM-
PUS, Dec. 25.-Swain Island, re-
corded on all maps of the Ant
arctic Ocean for more than 10C
years, became a ghostly myth
today.
Supposedly lying about 1000 miles
west of the southern tip of South
America, the island was proved to
be nonexistent when the South Pole
expeditions Western Task Force
made sonic depth testings.
The discovery was made as the
task force pushed southwark
through icebergs into forbidding
Bellinghausen Sea with its great
fields of pack ice reaching to the
coast of Antarctica.
Swain Island apparently was the
ice-born hallucination of Jonathan
Swain, New Bedford sealer, who
sailed these seas in the good ship
Marcia in 1927. He recorded the
precise position of a large island
surrounded by fields Of red water
with radius Of more than 10 miles
and alive with thousands of migra-
Evening star., 1946-12-25
rs Die in Los Angeles Crashes
AS YuIe Fatalities Set Record
Accident Calls Average One Minute;
Liquor and Wet Streets Blamed by Police
BY the Assoeioied Press

LOS ANGELES. Dec. 25.-The
worst traffic record in Los An
geles' history listed Is dead in
highway accidents on Christmas
eve and today. The fatalities
were officially attributed to a
combination of wet streets and
liquor.
The accidents constituted a series
of crashes and no more than two
persons died in any one CT them.
The National Safety Council re-
ported the Los Angeles deaths sent
the California total to 81, which led
all the other States by a wide mar
gin. The council listed only 10 dead
for the entire Nation in the period
between 6 pm. last night and II
am. today.
The total by States: California,
81; Indiana, 8; Illinois, 5; Wiscon-
sin, 4; Michigan, 8; Minnesota, q;
Missouri, 2; New York, 2; Washing
ton, 2; West Virginia, 2; Colorado, l.;
Georgia, /; Kansas, l; North Da-
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Gen. lie CIerc En- Route
To Indo-Chinu Command
By the Associofed Press

PARIS, Dec. 25-Gen. Philippe LIE
Clerc. foremost French expert on
mobile warfare, flew toward rebel
lious Indo- China today in an at
tempt to restore peace to the Far
East colony.
Gen. LIE Clerc, it was reported,
will take charge of all military op-
erations to re-establish French au-
thority over the rebelling Wet
Namese.
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Coast Guard Attacked
As-Curran Urges New
Maritime Labor Front
NMU President Charges
West Coast Unions Use
His Outfit as 'Stooge'
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Joseph
Curran, who resigned yesterday
as co-chairman of the CLOS
Committee for Maritime Unity
today urged joint organization
of all c1o, AFL and Independent
maritime unions for protection
against vicious antilabor mari
time" legislation he said was
threatened.
Mr.. Curran, president of the CIO
National Maritime Union, said the
direct cause of his resignation was
an "intolerable situation" in which
he charged that four small craft
unions on the Pacific Coast together
with the International Longshore-
mems and Warehousemen's Union
were using his organization as a
"stooge."
In a statement explaining his
resignation, Mr.. Curran said all
maritime unions also must organize
Jointly against the activities of the
Coast Guard, now becoming vicious
against the seamen."
Coast Guard headquarters in
Washington, advised of Mr.. Cur
rams criticism, reported it had no
comment.
Mr.. Curran said the NMU was
endangered by the "intolerable sit
uation" and that seamen, particu-
larly NMU members, were being
misled into believing" that strong
unity existed in the GNU.
Says Longshoremen Dictate.
The NMU has 10000 members
while the four smaller unions of the
GNU have only a combined $4,000,
Mr.. Curran stated, and these four,
with the Longshoremen, headed by
Harry Bridges, have been debating
all policies of GNU"
The minority, he charged, has
made our great industrial union
(NMUD virtually a stooge for their
shotgun unity, so to speak"
The "West Coast section" of the
GNU had been responsible for
wrong strategy" and wrong tao
tics" which were costly financially
to seamen and damaging to union
strength, he added.
Joint CIO-AFL-Independent Or
ganization is necessary, Mr.. Curran
said, ito defeat the establishment
of vicious anti-labor maritime laws
which forces among the shipowners
and in the Government are attempt
ing now to pass through the next
Congress under the guise of recodi-
flying old maritime laws and bring
ling them up to date"
Formed for Common Front.
The GNU was formed to present
a common front in negotiations with
shipowners on both coasts.
In San Francisco, Mr.. Bridge.
said, in commenting on Mr.. Cur.
rams resignation, that it was "ar
internal affair of the NMU."
THE action of Mr.. Curran can.
not be regarded as a Withdrawal
of the NMU from the GNU" hi
said in statement.
1.-THE NMU is a part of the GNU
by the secret vote of it's member.
ship. Complete support of the GNU
and its program was recently re-
affirmed by the National Council
of the NMU, meeting in New York.
Mr.. Curran's reference to the
Coast Guard involved objections by
CIO and AFL maritime unions te
the way the Coast Guard has beer
administering regulations it took
over from the Bureau of Marine
(See CTJRPAN Page A-3)
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Taft Will Delay
Decision on AZ
Until Summer
Ohioun NoncommittuI
On Report Brieker
Will Bow Out of Race
BY the Assoeioted Press

Senator Taft today kept open
for six months or more the ques-
ton of whether he will fight
openly for the 1948 Republican
nomination.
Taking only indirect notice of a
report that his fellow Ohioan, Sen
ator-elect John w. Bricker, will bow
out of the race in his favor, Senator
Taft declared he will make no de-
cision of his own until our legisla-
tive job is done and Congress has
adjourned"
Mr.. Bricker himself was non-com-
initial on the report published in
yesterdays Columbus (Ohio) Dis
patch that he had given Senator
Taft "the green light" for 1948.
Il have nothing to say about It,"
the 1914 vice presidential nominee
told newsmen.
Senator Taft did not see reporters
personally after word of the Dis
patch's story reached Washington.
Taft Issues Statement.
But after a long conference with
his advisers, the Senator issued
statement which reiterated his will
lingness to discuss the whole mat
ter" with Mr.. Bricker as soon as he
arrives in the Capital.
"I have always felt that the Ohio
Republican situation would be
worked out in an amicable way"
the statement continued, adding
that Senator Taft, Mr.. Bricker and
other Ohio Republican officials
have worked together and cam
paigned together every two years in
complete harmony"
| But as for presidential politics,
Senator Taft went on, sit is still 18
months before the Republican con-
vention of 1948. The Republicans
have a difficult and full-time job of
reorganizing Congress and enacting
a Republican program on the i'm
mediate problems of reconversion
now before the American people.
1.-The less personal ambition and
presidential politics are mixed up
with that job, the more likely we
are to succeed. AS far as I am
concerned, I will make no decision
on the question of being a candidate
for President until our legislative
job is done and Congress has ad-
! Journed:"
/ July May Be Deadline.
/ Under the new congressional re-
organization law, the 1947 session
which opens January 3 must ad-
journ by the end of July, barring
an emergency. Several Republican
leaders, however, have talked of
setting an unofficial deadline OF
July l.
But even if that timetable is fol-
lowed, Senator Taft might remain
silent on the presidential race issue
for six months.
The Columbus paper, saying its
information came from "unimpeach-
able sources" declared that Mr..
Bricker's reported decision to ste~
aside once more stems from d
desire to serve the full six years in
| tne united states senate, upon the
belief that he can render greater
service in that capacity"
| Moreover" it added '.Mr. Brick
ers public service to the State, in
Guiding three terms as governor,
two terms, as attorney general and
as member of the state utilities
commission, has tended to disrupt his
family life-a factor which also was
said to have influenced the COVER
nor'S decision.
Mr.. Bricker bowed to Taft in 1910,
when the late Wendell L. Willkie
captured the COP nomination; and
Senator Taft reciprocated four years
later, when Mr.. Bricker was teamed
with Gov. Thomas E. Dewey,
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Industrial Production
Al Peacetime Record, /,
Small Tells Truman
Report Warns Strikes
Moy Diminish Gains
In Reconversion
BY the Associoted Press

Postwar reconversion gains al
ready have boosted industrial
production "at least so per cent
above the average of the late 30s
-" and for the last six months
it has climbed from one peace
time record to another"
In disclosing this yesterday in his
final report on the Civilian Produc-
ton Administration, John D. Small,
former chief of the agency, warned,
however, that labor and manage
ment must work together to avoid
further strikes or lose much of
the gain" in high production and
employment achieved since the war
ended.
At present, Mr.. Small reported to
President Truman, virtually full en-
ployment has been reached, with
81 ,O0O, 900 to 58000,0 900 people in jobs
the highest in the country's his
tory"
| Economy Called Healthy.
This figure is 6,000,000 higher than
after V-6 day, 100000 above the
wartime peak and 100000 higher
than in 1899, he said.
Blending optimism with caution,
Mr.. Small declared the Nations
economy was generally in healthy
condition and 'it should be pos
sible to achieve maximum output
for most commodities within rea-
sonable period of time under the
momentum that has been accumu-
lated"
On the other hand, he told Mr.
Truman:
"A new wave of work stoppages
at this time or in the next few
months could well lose for the
country much of the gain that has
been made in recent months"
Mr.. Small emphasized that "some
better solution" must be found TO,
solving labor disputes and cautioned
that "the exercise of wartime pri-
ority and ALLEGATION powers is not
the solution"
Delayed by Months.
1.-THE solution must be reached,
he said,- 'by management and labor
working together, in the realization
that production once lost cannot
satisfy human needs, fill pay en-
velopes, or return profits to the
owners.
Major strikes of early 1946 de-
layed the achievement of today's
record employment and production
by several months. Their effects
are still being felt in diminishing
degree"
| Set up in November, 1945, to take
over activities Of the old War Pro-
duction Board, CPN was charged
with helping industry along the
(See PRODUCTION, Page A-20
Evening star., 1946-12-25

tory birds. His account was SO de-
tailed it was generally accepted by
geographers. Few ships Since have
followed SWANS path and Lcne
passing in the vicinity had been
able to sight his island.
In absence of specific proof to the
contrary, the old sealef was given
the benefit of doubt, especially since
six other ships over a period Of 20
years reported the great red kelp
fields extending over areas of square
miles. These are due to swarming
on species of small crustacean and
usually indicate land near at hand.
The Eastern Task Force was in
structed to settle the question once
and for all by Investigations on the
precise spot with the newest scien-
tific apparatus. The determination
leaves more than 5000 square miles
of sea landless, with the possible ex-
ception of tiny Macy's Island, also
reported by a New Bedford sealeI
more than a century ago and which
also may prove. an hallucination
The good faith Of the old sealers Is
TSee HENRY Pafe A-2)
Evening star., 1946-12-25
.AirIiner Missing
With Aboard
In California
Witnesses Report
Flare of Fire in
Loguno Mountains
BY the Associated Press

SAN DIEGO, Calf, Dec. 25.-
An airliner vanished in the fog
shrouded mountains east of here
last night, and Christmas Day
searchers-guided only by re-
ports of a fire f1aring in the night
feared they would find the IL
persons aboard in charred
wreckage.
The search for the Western Ali
Lines plane-last reported at 7:0s
pm, "a minutes after it left El
Centro in the Imperial Valley for
San Diego-centered in the vicinity
of Thing Mountain.
This desolate 8,000-foot peak in
the Laguna Mountains was the
scene of a passenger plane crash
last march in which % persons
including two infants, lost their lives
List of Those Aboard.
Passengers aboard the missing
plane were listed as:
Mr.. and Mrs. L. r. Ford, Ell Gen.
tro; Miss Adelines Jones, Holtville,
Calf; A. L. Adams, Los Angeles;
w. H. Price, Beverly Hills; Edgar
Martin, Holtville; Fred Bright. El
Centre; L. Barlow, Los Angeles, and
Miss v. Haney, Ell Centro.
The crew: Capt. George B. Sprado,
Chicago, pilot; First Officer R. j.
Weber, Deer Lodge, Mont, co-pilot,
and Miss Glenda Mae Wade, San
Diego, stewardess.
San Diego County sheriff's dep
uties reached the peak, about so
miles east of here, last night and
were prepared to climb its rugged
sides with the break of dawn.
Navy and Coast Guard planes were
also readied to take off at daylight
from fields here to aid in the search.
Plane Crew Reported Fire.
Reports of the fire included one
from an American Airlines plane,
which flew near Thing Mountain,
that its crew saw a plane burning.
This was relayed, but not confirmed,
by Western Air Lines.
Another was from three Jacumba
High School boys, Harry England,
Jim Bolay and Billy Winkler, who
told the sheriff's deputies that from
a distance the blaze was "a glow in
the sky like rising moon" Ranch
ers in the Cameron Valley in the
some general vicinity and the State
Forest Station at La Mesa, a few
miles east of San Diego, were among
others reporting the glow.
A Navy plane from the air sta
ton here secuted the mountain
following the fire reports. 1t re-
ported seeing no wreckage. The
missing plane, a DC-3 transport,
was making short-line triangle trip
here from Los Angeles by way Of
the Imperial Valley. Airline OFF,
cials said there was no indication
in the last radio report from the
pilot, when the plane was over the
Laguna Mountains, that he was
encountering any trouble.
Another Plane Crashed.
It was Southern CALIFORNIA; sec
ond Christmas eve aviation mishap.
A United Air Lines DC-4 crashed
into an instrument shack at the end
of runway at Municipal Airport,
Los Angeles, with Al passengers
from Portland, Greg. aboard No
one was badly injured, but the airf
line said one passenger aboard the
four -motored ship suffered a cut
lip.
Laguna Junction, a tiny cross
roads town high in the Laguna
Mountains. became the center of
the search for the missing trans
port.
Forest rangers, sheriff's deputies,
newspapermen and photographers
for another of the tricks
up towering, sometimes trailless
hillsides which so often in the past
(See AJPT JNEP page A.2l
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Millions in Europe
Have Grim Christmas
Due 10 Shortages
Cold Winds Sweep Town:
Lacking Fuel; Germans
Rutions Increased
By the Associated Press

LONDON, Dec. 25.-Shortages
of food and fuel combined today
to make Christmas a bleak occa-
sion for millions in many parts
of Europe.
Faint hopes for a better future
helped somewhat to brighten the
continents second yuletide since the
defeat of Germany, but throughout
the stricken areas of Central and
Eastern Europe Christmas was
largely a cherries day.
In the Holy Land, thousands OF
the faithful hocked to Bethlehem to
commemorate the birth of the Christ
Child in the Church of the Nativity
Cold Waves Hit.
In many parts of Europe, where
an extra ration of bread constituted
the yuletide bounty, cold waves
swept towns and penetrated homes,
large numbers. of which were with
out fuel.
In Germany the populace received
a slight increase in rations, typical
restaurant menu consisting of pea
soup, fried liver or sausage with
green salad, potatoes and beets,
mixed vegetables and bread. Such
a meal cost three marks go cents
and took coupons for an entire
weeks meat ration.
American occupation forces in
the former Reich dined on tomato
juice, roast turkey with giblet gravy,
mashed potatoes, candied yams,
cranberry sauce, olives, asparagus,
pickles, fruit salad, mince pie,
cheese cake, hot rolls, butter, jam,
cream, sugar, coffee and ice cream.
Best Christmas in 8 Years.
German children, however, en-
joyed perhaps their happiest Christ
mas in eight years, particularly in
the American and British zones,
where thousands of parties were
arranged for them and special candy
rations were issued by the occupa-
ton armies.
In the countries that had not felt
the destructive tide of war, there
was an abundance of food and fuel
and traditional Christmas rejoicing.
But such festivity was in the
minority.
Holland looked forward to a day
of ice and skating. Dutch news
papers, which little more than a
wear ago printed war maps, pub
lished maps to show where the skat-
ing was good.
The United Kingdom prepared for
an unpleasant turn in the weather,
with predictions of rain and snow.
From Rome, also occupied with
fuel problem, came a Christmas
eve appeal from Pope Plus XII to
statesmen of the world to draft an
enduring peace and save Europe
and the world from the flames of
new conflicts"
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Three Saved, 3 Stranded
On Ice in St. Lawrence
By the Associuted Pres!

MONT JOLT, Quebec, Dec. 25--
The pilot and two passengers of
Quebec Airways plane which
crashed into the st. Lawrence River
on Monday were brought here in
rescue rowboat last night, but the
three other passengers from the
plane spent Christmas eve stranded
on an ice foe in the river.
Evening star., 1946-12-25
.SotterfieId Critically III
In Richmond Hospital
By the Assoeioted Press

RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 25.-
Former Representative Satterfield
Democrat, of Virginia was said this
morning to be holding his own at
the Johnston Willis Hospital where
he was admitted yesterday in a con-
dition described as critical.
The former representative, who
resigned from Congress two years
ago to become executive director OF
the Life Insurance Association of
America, with headquarters in New
York, had come to Richmond for a
holiday visit. n
Evening star., 1946-12-25
Trial Of Fritz Thyssen
Is Believed Unlikely
BY the Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. IS.
"A reliable source here said last
night that it was likely that
Fritz Thyssen, German Industrial
ist, would not be tried by the Amer
ican tribunal at Nuremberg because
of lack of evidence.
If Thyssen is not tried, he will
be released from custody, it was
understood. The trial of German
iudustrialists charged with war
crimes, among whom Thyssen now
is listed, is scheduled to begin early
next month.
Evening star., 1946-12-25
II Weather Employees
On Top of'Mt. Fuji
Form Labor Union

By the Associoted Press

TOKYO, Dec. Is. - Eleven
men and one woman, employees
of weather unit stationed atop
12,400-foot Mount Fuji, formed
the worlds highest labor union
yesterday. Explained one men,
ber:
I'VE are working where the
mercury is 80 degrees below zero
and something ought to be done.
We just can't 60 on earthly
rernunerations."
'If they ever strike" quipped
jokesters, will the Mediation
Board climb that high?"
Evening star., 1946-12-25
kota, /; Ohio, /; Pennsylvania, 2
Tennessee. /: Texas. l.
50 Christmas Eve Crashes
Are Reported in Miami
BY he Associated Press

MIAMI, Fla, Dec. 25.-More than
so automobile collisions involving
we'll over 100 cars turned Christmas
eve into a nightmare of crumpling
tenders for Miamians.
Harried police accident preven-
ton squads arrested IL motorists
as drunken drivers. Two persons,
one a policeman, were critically
hurt, but no deaths were reported.
Twelve automobiles piled up in one
accident on the Southeast Second
Avenue Bridge over the Miami
River. Policemen answering acci-
dent calls at times came on several
other crashes along the way.
Patrolman Royal Clark, attempt
ing to untangle traffic snarl caused
by one multiple crash, was knocked
(See TRAFFIC, Page A-3.)
Evening star., 1946-12-25
No Late Edition
Today

The Star observes Christ
mas Day by eliminating late
afternoon editions. Subscrib-
ers to the Night Final Edition
will receive the regular Home
Edition. Il .
Evening star., 1946-12-25

PARIS, Dec. Is (P1.-The French
government has decided to set free
next month 1000 Saar-born Ger
man prisoners Of war now IN French
hands, Paris papers reported today.