davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-12-04
No Threat Of Flood
Seen in D. {. Vicinity
Despite 2-Day Rains
FuIl TotuIs 1.53 Inches;
River Observers Expect
No Sharp Potomac Rise

District river observers saw no
immediate threat of floods in the
vicinity today despite rainfall
exceeding 1h inches in the last
two days.
The Weather Bureaus river sec
ton looked for no sharp rise in the
Potomac
Most of the rain in this area fell
along the coast and Rappahannock
basin, with less recorded above
Washington.
The Rappahannock had reached
the bank-full stage and there was
possibility of overflows at Rapi-
dan, Remington and Fredericksburg.
In the Roanoke area where the
Roanoke River had risen to II feet
above normal, the water was reced-
ing without serious flood damage.
Earlier, business concerns in the
low-lying areas were reported ready
for evacuation.
The town of Scottsville on the
still-rising James River was flooded
in sections to about a foot early
today.
At National Airport, the rainfall
since Thursday midnight was re-
corded as 153 inches.
At Alexandria, some cellars were
reported flooded and at Bladens-
burg, water on the road at Peace
Cross was up to automobile hub
caps, but traffic was moving through.
The Weather Bureau here fore
cast clearing skies this afternoon and
tonight, with increasing cloudiness
tomorrow followed by rain tomor-
row night. Tonight's minimum
temperature will be about 38 degrees.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
New Dispute Leaves
Western Ports Idle
Nv the Associoted Press

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. "A
jurisdictional dispute left Pacific
Coast ports idle today despite the
settlement of a three-month strike
by five maritime unions.
Longshore workers ordered last
night were sent home and no dock
gangs were called in San Francisco
today.
The AFL Sailors Union of the
Pacific, which did not strike, but
was made idle by the walkout of five
other unions September 2, refused
to sail until settlement of the juris-
dictional dispute.
Harry Lundeberg, executive secre-
tary of Ahe union. said his men
would not man the ships until they
are guaranteed that new CIO Long,
shore and cooks and stewards con-
tracts will not infringe on jobs
claimed by the AFL union. These
involve longshore work on coastwise
steam schooners and cooks on the
Alaska steamship run.
Harry Bridges CIO Longshore-
men threatened damage suits if the
AFL sailors prevented them from
returning to work.
Mr.. Lundeberg had promised no
with loading or un-
loading, but the ships can't sail
without the AFL crews. He said
promised yesterday they
would abide by existing contracts
with his union. but added his men
demanded detailed agreement on
the controversial issues.
Evening star., 1948-12-04

The availability of music library
valued at $25,OO0 will be lost to
the National Symphony Orchestra,
with the resignation of DR.. Hans
Kinder, its founder and conductor
Nearly all the music played by
the orchestra since it was organized
excepting only rented new
scores-is DR.. Kindler's personal
property. When he leaves next
March, the music will go with him.
This was disclosed by DR.. Kinder
in a telephone interview last night
from Syracuse N. Y, in which he
also:
Revealed he has had three new
job offers since he announced his
resignation last Tuesday. Two Of
the offers, he said, are very in
teresting."
Declared he resigned because Il
need a new perspective" and not
because Of any criticism or any dis
agreement with the Symphonys
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Ship Disasters
Loss OFF Shanghai May
Be Worst in History
RX the Assoeiofed Press

NEW YORK, Dec. 4.-The explo-
sion which sank a Chinese ship near
the mouth of the Yangtze River
early today may be the worst ma
rine disaster in modern history. At
least 5000 are feared drowned.
Other major recorded non-mili-
tary ship disasters:
October 16, 1926-Troopship blown
up in Yangtze River; 1900 killed.
August %, 1916-Chinese steamer
Hsin Yu sank off China coast; 1000
lost.
May 20, 1o14-Canadian Pacific
steamship Empress of Ireland sank
after colliding with Danish Storstad
In st. Lawrence River; 1924 lost.
September %, 1872 japanese
steamship Kicker Maru sank off
coast Of Japan, 1000 killed.
April IA, 1s12-Steamer Titanic
sank in North Atlantic after COL
lision with iceberg; 1,517 killed.
June IS, 1904-Excursion steam
ship Gen. Slocum burned in East
River, New York City; 1,021 killed.
October %, lS67-Several ships
wrecked at St. Thomas, West Indies,
by hurricane; about 1000 killed.
April 20, 1865-Steamer Sultana,
carrying exchanged union prisoners
OF war, wrecked on Mississippi River
near Memphis, Tenn, by boiler ex-
plosionss approximately 1850 killed.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Owning TeIevision Set
Ruled Grounds for
Eviction of Tenant
By the Associated Press

WILMINGTON, Del, Dec. A.
Ownership of a television set is
grounds for eviction, the Will
mington Housing Authority
says.
Arthur j. Scotch, director,
yesterday ordered Charles P.
Hoon to vacate his home in
Wilmington's Riverside war
housing project by December IA.
Mr.. Scotch said Mr.. Hoon
violated a clause in his lease
barring tenants from using
tacks, nails or screws. The tele-
vision antenna was screwed to
the roof.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Notiono! Symphony Due to'Lose
$4,000 Kinder Music Librury

Board of Directors. His health had
nothing to do with it, he declared,
and said he had tried to resign
twice before, but the board per-
suaded him to stay.
He commended study of a possible
merger of the Baltimore Symphony
and National Symphony Orchestras,
but added he thought the Capital
should maintain its own orchestra
if possible.
DR.. Kindler's music library con-
tains more than 600 different scores
which have been available to the
symphony practically rent-free. He
said he will need the scores himself,
declaring:
"I expect to continue my career"
He has number of guest-con-
Quoting assignments to fill following
of his season with the
National Symphony, he pointed out.
Since his music win not be avail
lsee SYMPHONY, Page A-2o
Evening star., 1948-12-04
BY the Assoeioied Press

NANKING, Dec. 4.-Chinese
Nationalist and Communist
Armies moved today toward a
head-on collision south of Su-
chow-a new battle which may
determine China's fate.
Five Communist columns under
Gen. Chen vi eased their pressure
on the governments new Hwai River
defense line, 100 miles northwest of
Nanking, and were heading north
to meet the three Nationalist army
groups that abandoned Suchow
Wednesday.
CThe Chinese Communist radio
asserted that the Suchow gar
riSon troops were fleeing west
ward, after being beaten only 10
miles south of the big Nationalist
base
(The broadcast, heard by the
Associated Press in San Francisco,
asserted the three army groups
had suffered thousands of cas-
ualties." The Reds are in hot
pursuit" the radio added
Gen. Chen's force was estimated
at 100000. Three other Red columns
totalling possibly $1,000 men, already
are engaging the 250.000-man Su-
chow garrison about 80 miles south
of the big base.
In addition to those Communist
forces, two other columns were re-
ported approaching the battle scene
from the east. Thus, it appeared
the three government army groups
constituting the core of Generals
simo Chang Kai-sheks strength in
East China-will be considerably
outnumbered.
While official attention was riveted
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Syrian Ex-President
Forming New Cabinet
BY the Assoeioted Press

DAMASCUS, Syria, Dec. 4.-For-
mer President Hasem Attassi today
undertook to form a new cabinet
for riot-torn Syria.
Rioting has ceased and the
strikers have returned to their jobs,
but the country's security still rests
in the army's hands.
Mr.. Attassi interviewed President
Sayed Shukri al Kuwatly this morn
ing, and Immediately began con-
situations preliminary to forming a
new cabinet. Jamil Mardam Bey
and his cabinet resigned during the
rioting which flared in protest
against the governments handling
of the war with Israel.
The army took over yesterday.
A Cairo dispatch said Mardam Bey
was reported to have fed to Lebanon
for safety as result Of the bloody
rioting.
Censored messages from Damascus
have given no appraisal of casualties
but elsewhere in the Middle East it
was reported that about 10 were
killed and more than 120 injured in
disorders at Damascus and Aleppo
The latter is a commercial city in
the north.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Cairo's Police Chief
Killed by Grenade in
Riot at University
Three Guards Also Lose
Lives in Bottle With
Striking Students
BY the Associoted Press

CAIRO, Egypt, Dec. 4.-Police
Chief Selim Zaki Pasha was in
jured fatally today by an ex-
ploding hand grenade in a
student riot at Faud University,
police announced.
Police told newsmen three police
guards also had been killed by gre
nades of striking students.
The university opened this morn
ing after two-day close-down
which resulted from a previous STU
dent strike against British policy in
the Sudan.
The blast which killed the police
chief occurred in the vicinity of the
School of Medicine, where striking
students shouted slogans against
Premier Mahmoud FANNY Nokrashy
Pasha's government.
Many Students Arrested.
Ambulances carried injured stu
dents from the scene. Four loads
of arrested students, many of them
with bloodied faces, were seen be-
ing taken away in police trucks.
Students said demonstrators
shouted, Sudan for Egypt and Pal
estine for the Arabs" and Down
with Nokrashy."
Student witnesses gave this ac-
count of how the riot started. A
group of students compelled DR..
Ibrahim Shawki Bey, director of
the university, to accompany them
as they marched toward the Prime
Minister'S office in the presidency
of the Council of Ministers. One
police Gordon allowed them to pass,
but second blocked their way
and the fight was on.
Police Start Firing.
After the chief was injured police,
who had been firing in the air out
side the university surged into the
school grounds behind an armored
car. They started firing inside and
oNllOol
Police said they used tear gas
bombs and fired into the air until
the grenade incident. Mounted po-
lice later arrived at the scene and
joined in pursuit of the rioters in
SIDE the school grounds. They were
stoned by the students.
Situation Reported Quiet.
Saber Tantawi Bey, chief of pub
lie security, said the situation was
quiet this afternoon.
A police source said 259 students
of the medical school were arrested,
majority of whom were injured
Eighteen policemen were injured
sllahtly by stones thrown by the
students, the informant said
Twelve police constables and eight
police officers in civilian clothes
guarded the acting United Nations
mediator for Palestine, DR.. Ralph
Bunche, and his assistants during
visit to Cairo today.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
West Berlin Elects
New Administration
For City Tomorrow
CIoy and HowIey Spike
Red Scare Compoign
On Eve Of BoIIoting
BY the Assoeiofed Press

BERLIN, Dec. Western
Berliners vote tomorrow for a
new city administration in their
island of freedom" 100 miles
inside the Soviet Army's ram
parts in Europe.
Blockaded Berlin is going to have
a legal election that the Russians
couldn't stop.
The ballot is merely a list Of three
Nnti-CommuniSt parties competing
for municipal jobs.
But the East-West struggle for
Germany has made the local politi-
cal contest a straw in the wind to
show which side the Germans pre-
fer.
Vote May Indorse Allies.
If a high percentage or voters ap-
pears at the polls, the United States,
Britain and France will claim Ger
man Endorsement of their fight
against Russian efforts to Sovietize
Berlin.
If the voting is relatively meager,
Communists will hail it as a vindi-
cation of Russian efforts to force
the Western Allies out of the city.
But no Western observer expects
the Communists to admit reverse,
no matter how many Berliners ig-
more their demand to boycott the
election.
The Communist gangs have been
attacking opposition political meet
ings all week But if the vote is
heavy, past tactics suggest the Com
munists will cry fraud by reaction
ary War-mongerS.
Clay Spikes Red Campaign.
Gen. Lucius D. Clay spiked Com
munist election eve scare campaign
today by assuring Berliners the
United States will not be forced out
of the four power city.
The American military governor,
answering Communist declarations
that the Western powers would
withdraw from Berlin lext month,
said:
Responsible representatives of the
United States Government have de-
clared the United States will not be
forced out of Berlin.
My own headquarters will con-
tinue in Berlin and. there will be no
See BERLIN, Page A-2.)
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Chang Forces and Reds Moving
urdShowdownNeor Suchow
Nationalist Garrison Beaten, Fleeing West
10 Miles From City, Communists Claim

on the impending battle, the frantic
scramble of Chinese to leave Nam
king and Shanghai continued.
The Marking garrison attempted
to slow down the exodus from this
capital by closing the main gates to
railroad yards and to the Yangtze
River docks. Gen. Tan Gen-pO,
garrison commander, ordered all
transport facilities placed under
military control.
For the first time in days, there
was considerable optimism in Off
cial Marking circles regarding the
military situation northwest of here
Officials expressed belief that the
forthcoming fight south of Suchow
will result in government victory.
Informed foreign military quar-
ters said that even partial Nation
alist success could delay for so to
90 days the necessity for govern
ment evacuation of Marking.
However, government hopes for a
victory hinge mainly on an effort
by the encircled 18th Army Group
to break through Red columns in
the Suhsien sector and join the
Suchow armies. After eight days
of encirclement, the 18th was re-
ported under artillery fire and fight
ing Communist night attacks.
The 18th. short of food and am
munition, is being supplied by air
drops.
Where the Suchow force is now is
not exactly known. 1t last was re-
ported about go miles north of this
line and running into stiff resist
ance.
But at least it had given the
thin ranks of troops holding the
(See CHINA, Page Az.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Truman Participates
As Missouri Honors
'MightyMo al Norfolk
Gift of Silver Service
Suggested by President
Presented by Governor
By Joseph A. Fox
Stor StoH Correspondent

NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 4.-With
President Truman an interested
participant in the ceremony, the
State of Missouri today present.
ed a silver service to the battle
ship Missouri on which the Jap
anese surrender terms were
signed.
Gov. Phil M. Donnelly, who made
the presentation for his State, in .
tribute to the President, disclosed
that it was Mr.. Truman who sug-
gested the gift. s
"It was entirely fitting" he said,
that the suggestion that silver
service be presented to the U. S. S.
Missouri should have been made
by the President Of the United
States, who is a native of Missouri" !"
"It was this Missourian." the
Governor continued, when the sur
render took place, who was the
Commander in Chief of all the
armed forces of the Nation.
Truman's Services Praised.
"He was admirably fitted for this
high command because of his splen-
did combat record in World War I,
his service to the Nation as a United
States Senator. as Vice President,
and finally, as President.
He understood then and under
stands now, the problems of mill
tary as we'll as civilian leadership"
AS he formally presented the sill
yer service to Capt. James Thach of
Missouri, Gov. Donnelly said:
Upon the great seal of the State
of Missouri are engraved the words
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
There is also engraved on it the
State motto, in Latin, which trans
lated means The welfare of the
people shall be the supreme. law
This seal is engraved on each piece
of the silver service.
I'VE commend these thoughts to
the people of our Nation, to the off,
GERS and men of the battleship
Missouri. and to posterity. They
represent our deepest feelings to-
ward our country, toward the people
of our State and toward the people
of the United States
Ship Won't Be Retired.
The ceremony on the battleship
took on additional interest because
of the report current a couple of
days ago that the big battlewagon
was to be retired to the ''mothball
fleet"
That, however, was denied yester-
day by Navy Secretary John L. Sui
livan and Admiral Louis E. Denfeld,
Chief of Naval Operations, who said
the Navy has mo plan or intention
at present" of laying up the ship.
President Truman and his party
came down here for the ceremony
aboard the Yacht Williamsburg. leav-
ing Washington at 10 O'Clock last
night.
The return trip will be made to-
night and the Williamsburg is due
to arrive at her mooring at Naval
Gun Factory at 10 am. tomorrow.
Receives 21-Gun Salute.
The usual honors were accorded
the President when he boarded the
Missouri at Norfolk Naval Base.
with a 21-gun salute putting him
over the side.
After the presentation there was
a luncheon aboard the ship.
Gov. and Mrs. Donnelly accom-
panied the President and his fam
lily to Norfolk. Aboard the Will
liamsburg also were three other
Missourians who were instrumental
in having the silver service pre-
sented. They are Federal Judge
John Caskie Collett, Kansas City;
Richard Macy, Jefferson City busi-
nessman, and Brig. Gen. John H.
Harris, adjutant general of Missouri.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Hearing Set January 6
For Swing After Man
is Shot in Firm's Office
Cause Of Quarrel
With Former EmpIoye
Remains Mystery
pictures on Page A-3.)

The cause of a quarrel which
police said led up to the shoot
ing of a former employe by
Edward Marshall Swing, 60-year-
old coffee company head, re-
manned a mystery today as a
court hearing was continued
until January 6.
In Mount Alto Hospital with two
minor flesh wounds in the left
thigh, Malcolm B. Talbert, SO, o1
1898 Minnesota avenue Sc, tolc
police he was shot by Swing yes.
terday in the latter's Office at the
M. E. Swing Coffee Co, 1913 z
street NV.
Now a cab driver, Talbert until
three years ago was employed as
salesman at the firm.
Hospital attendants quoted Tai
bert as saying the quarrel was over
money matters"
Hearing Is Continued.
Swing appeared in Municipal
Court today to face charges of as
sault with a dangerous weapon, but
the hearing was continued to en-
able Talbert also to appear.
Until then Swing will remain free
under $4,000 bond posted at the first
precinct yesterday when he was
questioned and flngerprinted.
This is the police version of the
shooting on the second floor of the
coffee company shortly after 4 pm
yesterday:
Talbert and Swing had been at
odds for some time for reasons not
learned by Investigators. Yesterday
Talbert, drinking in the neighbor-
hood, repeatedly sought to see Swing
in his Office.
Talbert's wife Myrtle is employed
at the Polly Trent Candy Co. owned
by Swing and adjoining the coffee
concern, with entrance in the 500
block Of Eleventh street NV. In an
effort to appease Talbert, Swing
released Mrs. Talbert from her job
for the remainder of the day, hoping
she would persuade him to go home.
Alteration in Firms Office.
Later, however, Talbert managed
to get into Swings Office and an ar
gument followed, during which No
lice believe Talbert threatened
Swing, seated at his desk, with a
heavy paperweight picked up from
the desk.
The way police reconstructed
what happened, Swing took a 32
caliber revolver from a drawer and
fired two shots at Talbert's legs. Tai
bert walked out unaided and called
a cab, which took him to Emergency
Hospital. Later he was trans
ferred to Mount Alto.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
By Robert K, Welsh

The House Committee on Un-
American Activities has obtained
conclusive proof" of the iden-
tity of the person who turned
over highly secret State Depart
ment information to Whitaker
Chambers, an avowed Commu-
mist agent before the war, a COM
mittee official disclosed today.
This proof consists of additional
documents dug up by committee in
vestigators apart from 10-year-old
microfilms which were found hidden
in pumpkin on Mr.. Chambers
Maryland farm. and which con-
tanned pictures of secret State and
Navy Department documents from
State Department files, Robert E.
STRIPPING, chief committee investi-
gator, said.
Mr.. STRIPPING refused to discuss
the nature of the additional evil
dence he said the committee dug
up, or the contents of the micro
films. He also refused to disclose
the identity of the person who, on
the basis of the reported documen-
tary evidence, gave the material to
Mr.. Chambers He indicated, how
ever, that some of the additional
material in the committees posses
sion was obtained from sources other
than Mr.. Chambers.
Documents Subpoenaed.
The committee has issued sub
poenas for documents and micro
films which came to light both at
deposition hearings for Mr.. Cham
bers and his wife in Baltimore last
month, and the microdlms which
Mr.. Chambers produced from the
hiding place on his farm.
The dispositions were taken in
connection with slander suit filed
several weeks ago by Alger Hiss,
former State Department official,
against Mr.. Chambers. The suit
grew out of testimony in which Mr..
Chambers told the House committee
last August in public session that
Mr.. Hiss belonged to prewar Com
munist apparatus" in Washington.
Mr.. Chambers testified he himself
was a Communist agent at the time
and was closely associated with Mr..
Hiss in 1884 and 1885. When Mr..
Chambers repeated his charges in a
radio interview, Mr.. Hiss filed suit
for $4,000 damages.
Reopening of the Hiss-Chambers
inquiry by the House committee is
practically certain, Mr.. Stripping
said. Sessions may be held next
week, but a final decision will not
be made until he confers with Sem
ator-elect Mundt, Republican, Of
South Dakota and Representative
Nixon, Republican, of California
both committee members.
Mr.. Nixon, en- route to Panama
aboard ship, notified Mr.. Stripping
today that as soon as he lands in
the Canal Zone next Tuesday he
will take a plane back to Wash
ington.
Stripping to Phone Mundt.
Mr.. Mundt, committee officials
indicated earlier, planned to fly here
today from South Dakota. Mr..
Stripping, however, said he was not
sure that Mr.. Mundt would come.
but that in any event he planned
to talk with him by long distance
today and probably would have
statement later.
Mr.. Stripping had a stack OF
photostatic papers on his desk when
he talked with reporters today.
These, he indicated, included the
additional evidence" which the
committee has obtained either from
Chambers or someone else. He
would not say whether the material
1caa GIIANGRERS PAGE All
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Yoshidu Puts Democracy
Ahead of Peace Treaty
Nv the Assocjoted Press

TOKYO, Dec. "A peace treaty
is impossible until Japan estab-
fishes a firm, democratic govern
ment, Prime Minister Shigeru
Yoshida told the Diet today.
With that brief remark, he dis
missed the Diets recent resolution
urging an early peace treaty for
Japan.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Merchant, Found Sick
In Clothing Store, Dies

Charles Scheer,. 48, of 1413 Sara
toga avenue NE, who was found
semiconscious in his clothing store
at HOO North Capitol street shortly
before 10 pm. November %, died to-
day in George washington Hospital.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
will perform an autopsy later today.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
BuIwinkIe Improving

Representative Bulwinkle, Demo-
crat, of North Carolina, patient at
the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, was
reported resting more comfortably
today. He entered the hospital three
days ago for treatment of a serious
sninal ailment
Evening star., 1948-12-04
Bulletin
Nine CIergymen Summoned

Summons to appear before
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Clark King next week were
sent today to nine clergymen
who repeatedly failed to file
notices of marriages they per-
formed here recently. More
than 100 clergymen are ex-
pected to be called in, MIR.
King said, to explain reports
they failed to file notice of 140
marriages they performed be-
tween last March and Septem-
ber.
Evening star., 1948-12-04
House Probers
To Reopen Spy
Hearing Tuesday
Identity Of Persons
Who Supplied Dotu
Reported Found
BULLETIN

The House Committee on
Un-American Activities will
reopen public hearings at 2
pm. Tuesday to bring out
conclusive proof" on the
identity of the person or per-
sons who repeatedly fed secret
State and Navy Department
information to a Communist
agent before the war, the
committee announced today.