davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Newspaper al La Sale, ILL.,,
Is Wiped Out by Fire
By fhe Assoeioted Press

| LA SALE, Ill, Dec. l8.-An early
morning fire today reduced the two.
story newspaper plant of the daily
News Tribune to one-story hear
of smoldering debris.
Causing damage unofficially esti-
mated at $500,0O0, the blaze de.
stroyed the recently modernizec
newspaper building in the heart o1
the business district.
The fire started about am. from
causes not Immediately determined
The plant was not occupied by the
papers news or printing plant per-
sonnel at that hour.
Publishers of the News Tribune, q
member of the Associated Press, are
Mr.. and Mrs. Peter Miller. They
announced plans to continue emer.
gency publication using the printing
plant of the Republican Times al
nearby Ottawa and establishing edi.
torial and other Offices in the La
Sale armory.
The loss included a recently re-
built press, linotypes just converted
to teletype operation, new printing
equipment, a morgue of about 25,00C
engravings and bound volumes OF
all papers published in La Sale
since around 1880.
Mrs. Miller is a niece of Col. Rob-
ert R. Mccormick, publisher of the
Chicago Tribune,
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Dutch Set Up Interim Regime
In Indonesiu Without Republic
Announcement of New
Military Operations
Declared Planned
BY the Associated Press

THE HAGUE, the Netherlands,
Dec. 18.-The Netherlands gov
ernment today proclaimed the
establishment of an interim gov
ernment in Indonesia without
the 1ndonesian Republic.
The government described its
action as milestone" on the way
to complete freedom and sover-
eighty for the East Indies Islands,
in the form of a projected United
States of Indonesia.
Irresponsible diplomatic officials
in London said the Netherlands
will announce officially tonight
that she is starting new military
operations to maintain order in
Indonesia.
(The informants said a COM
munique would be issued from
The Hague at about 7 pm. q
pm, Eastern standard time).
Actual formation of the new in
term regime will not be possible
until some time after January l
There has been speculation here
and in Batavia, Java, that estab-
lishment of the new government
might bring about renewed warfare
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Koreans Slain in ATTEMPT
Against Governors S Life
BY the Associated Press

SEOUL, Korea, Dec. 1S.-Twelve
Koreans were killed during an un-
successful assassination attempt
against Gov. LIE Nam Kyu of South
Cholla Province yesterday, the Home
Ministry announced today.
The governors party was attacked
by 200 guerrillas. The ministry re-
ported that the governors secretary
nine police guards and two guer-
rillas were slain. The guerrillas
fed after a clash with others in the
governors guard.
Gov. LIE was en- route from
Kwangju, provincial capital o1
South Cholla Province, to Sunchor
to attend memorial services fol
South Korean officers slain in the
short-lived October 20 rebellion.
Leaders of the rebellion, accused
of being Communists from Russian.
occupied North Korea, still remain
in the area.
During the clash the guerrilla.
robbed one of the governors at.
taches of 100000 won (about
$4,000, the Home Ministry said.
Other details were lacking.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Fresh Fighting Reported
In Burmese Mine Area
BY the Associated Press

RANGOON, Burma, Dec. 49,
Fresh fighting was officially report.
ed today in Karenni state, 230 mile!
northeast of Rangoon, and in areas
surrounding the British owned
wolfram mines at Mawchi.
The secretary of the Karenni AT.
fairs Ministry said there were
clashes daily between government
troops and Karen rebels who were
creating widespread trouble" He
said the Mawchi mines are now
held by the rebels.
j. R. Fairlie. general manager Of
the Mawchi Mines Co., is in Ran
COON. He said reports received from
Mawchi showed the rebels were not
harming British employees and that
the mining installations were safe.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Girl, ;, Killed, 7 Boys Hurt
By Pop Bottle 'Firecracker'
By the Associoted Press

JACKSON. Miss, Dec. ia s.
year-old girl was killed and her
brother and a 6-year-old playmate
seriously injured when pop bottle
packed with firecracker powder ex-
ploded yesterday.
The girls father, E. E. Nicholas, a
World War II veteran, suffered a
heart attack when told of the acci-
dent and was admitted to hospital.
Blond, curly haired Patsy Nicholas
was killed by what police described
as homemade bomb. Her 16-year-
old brother, Leon, and a neighbor
Jimmy Harrison, were given emer-
gency operations at a hospital
Young Harrison's chin was blown
off and he suffered severe lacerations
Of one eye. Young Nicholas lost
several fingers.
The blast occurred in a front
porch-hallway in the duplex home
shared by the Harrison and Nicho-
las families.
City Detective Eddie Browne sur
missed the children were making a
homemade bomb from a soft drink
bottle and firecracker powder. Only
the top of the bottle was found.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Hulk Attempt to Ambush
.Quirino Reported Fooled
BY the Assoeioted Press

MANILA, Dec. 18.- Philippine
constabulary sources reported today
that an attempt to ambush the train
of President Elpidio Quirino was
thwarted Wednesday,
They said four Hukbalahap guer-
rillas, captured after a clash about
go miles southeast of Manila, ad-
mitted a band of some 70 Huks had
been waiting for the Presidents
train to pass.
Mr.. Quirino didn't make the trip
to the southeast until yesterday,
however. He went to Lucena, about
10 miles from here, to dedicate a
hospital and returned today.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Ho|dup Suspect E|udes
200 Policemen and
75Cars in Chase
95-MiIe-un-Hour Flight
From Baltimore Ends in
Wreck, but Man Escapes

Search was pressed today near
Laurel for a Baltimore holdup
suspect who eluded 200 police
men in a 95-mile-an-hour chase
through West Baltimore and
Howard and Montgomery Coun-
ties last night.
The man. wanted for questioning
in connection with series of Balti-
more robberies. escaped after wreck
ing the stolen car he had been
driving.
Montgomery County police joined
squads from Baltimore and Howard
County and Maryland State troop
ers in the search. They estimated
that rs radio cars were used in the
chase
The fugitive outmaneuvered and
outsped his pursuers in spite of the
widespread net and numerous road
blocks. He finally cracked up on
the Sandy Spring-Laurel road, near
Burtonsville.
Police Search Wooded Tract.
Volunteer firemen set up flood
lights beside 30-acre wooded tract
there but police combed the area
without success. The search was
still concentrated there today.
Just before dawn police radios re-
ported that truck driver on the
Washington Baltimore boulevard
had refused a ride to nervous
man who asked ride to Bethesda.
The driver quoted the hitchhiker
as saying he had wrecked his auto
mobile and needed a lift. The
hitchhiker was said to resemble the
Baltimore suspect.
The manhunt began shortly after
Baltimore grocery and a candy
store were robbed of more than
5000. City police attributed these
to the same man who executed a
dozen other recent holdups.
First Car Riddled by Bullets.
Detectives said the bandit robbed
liquor store Wednesday, then
drove off in the owners automobile.
The dealer fired several shots at
the vehicle. A bullet-riddled car
was found later in the same block
from which another automobile was
stolen.
When last nights holdups were
reported. Baltimore police kept
watch for the second stolen car. A
patrol squad spotted it and started
out in pursuit.
The chase followed trail through
West Baltimore. along the old Fred
erick road to Catonsville, to Ellicott
City and into Montgomery. Several
times the stolen car was seen by the
policemen, but they we're never able
to overtake it.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
More u. 5. Ships Going
To Mediterranean
BY the Assoeioied Press

LONDON, Dec. 18.-More Ameri-
can naval power-an aircraft carrier
and two destroyers-will show itself
in Mediterranean waters after
Christmas, Admiral Richard L
Connolly announced today.
Admiral Conolly is commander in
chief of United States naval forces
in the Eastern Atlantic and Medi-
terranean, with headquarters in
London.
The vessels are the 27,100-ton car
rier Tarawa and the destroyers E. j.
Buckley and Hawkins, both new,
2,200-ton ships. Ali are en- route
from the Pacific to the United
States.
Admiral Conolly said their first
port OF call after leaving the Pacific
will be Colombo, Ceylon, where they
will arrive December 20 for four
days. The ships will call at Bahrein,
Persian Gulf oil port, from January
8 to 10 and pass through the Suez
Canal January 1921.
Their schedule for Mediterranean
ports lis now being arranged and will
be made public as soon as it is COM
pleted,' Admiral Connolly said.
The force is commanded by Capt.
H. L. Young, commanding officer of
the TaraWa.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Reds Return Britons
Captured on Border;
Radio Fight Goes On
Germans in Russian Area
Face Slim YuIetide as
Result Of Roll Dispute
BY the Associoted Press

! BERLIN. Dec. ia British
Russian frontier incident ap-
peared settled today, while the
squabble over Radio Berlin went
on.
Six British soldiers, held by the
Russians since a border clash We'd
neSday. were returned last night
A seventh. Pvt. Charles Knill, who
was shot in the chest in a discus
sion after one Briton was detained
for crossing the zonal border on a
rabbit hunt, is in a British zone
hospital at Duderstadt Officials at
Bad Oeyhausen announced Knill is
improving.
Gen. Sir Brian Robertson, British
military governor, described the in
cident as regretable, but of no
great importance.
Clay Commends French.
In Frankfurt, Gen. Lucius D.
Clay commended the French for
blowing up the towers of Soviet
controlled Radio Berlin. The tow
ers stood near Tegel air field in
the French sector and their de-
Struction kept the Communist
mouthpiece off the air IL hours.
Il am grateful to the French for
their action in removing a real
source of danger to our pilots on
the airlift," Gen. Clay told newsmen.
Asked if he cared what. the
threatened Soviet retaliation hight
be. Gen. Clay replied, No"
/ The Russians were still angry
about the incident, however.
| The Soviet military administra-
tion denied through it's official news
agency that the French had asked
1t to remove the towers of Radio
Berlin before they were demolished
Thursday.
! The French blew up the structure
after describing it as menace to
airlift planes landing at legal air
port. They said they had told the
Russians last month the towers
would have to be removed, but the
Soviets ignored the notice.
Yule Parcels Blocked.
EaSt-WeSt differences threatened
to make is slim Yuletide for Ger
mans in the Russian area.
A new Soviet-American disagree
ment has blocked delivery of more
than $4,000 Christmas gift parcels
to Germans in the Soviet zone and
American officials said they will not
send any more railway cars to So
viet-occupied Germany, because the
Russians don't return them.
Maj. Gen. Semenikhin, chief of
Soviet communications. wrote to
Eugene H. Merrill, American COM
munications chief, protesting the
stoppage. Mr.. Merrill retorted that
the Russians apparently used the
gift parcel system to hold on to
1,7O0 rail cars belonging to the
American and British zones.
Freed Britons lin Good Shape.
The six newly freed British SOL
diers were reported in good shape.
A regimental officer said the men,
who were held in a house near the
border, found their Soviet guards
quite friendly" He said the Brit
ons were fed Russian Army rations
and made comfortable.
An official account of the incident,
released by British Army of the
Rhine headquarters, said:
During the afternoon of Decem-
Der Is corporal of a British unit
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Vital Testimony
Promised atSpy
Hearing Monday
House Group to Hear
Ex-Red; Assured Of
FBI Protection
BY the Asseeioted Press

A member of the House Com.
mittee on Un-American Activi-
ties said today it has located a
new witness who will give vital
testimony in the spy hearings
Monday.
The member, who didn't want his
name used, said the witness is q
former Communist who agreed to
talk if given FBI protection. This
was arranged and a subpoena served
on the man for appearance here
Monday, he said.
Evidently the new witness is one
of two persons questioned in New
York yesterday by Representative
Mcdowell. Republican, of Pennsyl-
vania. Mr.. Mcdowell reported aft
erward that he had obtained some
new leads that required immediate
attention and some highly i'm
portant and valuable information.
Seek Ex-Reds Advice on Law.
In a separate development, the
committee planned to quiz two adj
nlitted former Communist couriers
for expert advice on how to plug
loopholes through which Govern
ment secrets have been sneaked out.
Acting Chairman Mundt said il
intends to go into the subject with
Whitaker Chambers and Elizabeth
r. Bentley.
They were two of the groups
prize witnesses in the spy hunt
which eventually turned up evi-
dence that secret papers had been
lifted from the State Department
decade ago.
I'VE have proof the spy rings eX-
listed and stole vital secrets and doc
uments of the Government" Mr..
Mundt told reporters. Nov we in
tend to find out how they were able
to get started"
Other committee members have
expressed belief that the Communist
spy rings still operate in this coun-
try.
Will Consult Clark First.
Both Mr.. Chambers and Miss
Bentley have appeared before the
New York Federal grand jury which
this week handed down a perjury
indictment against Alger Hiss, for
mer State Department official
named by Mr.. Chambers as one Of
his chief sources for secret docu-
ments.
Mr.. Mundt said the House group
will not try to get either of the two
former Communists as witnesses
again without consulting Attorney
General Clark.
For a change Mr. Clark and the
committee seemed to agree on one
point-that legislation to tighten
anti-espionage laws should have
quick attention when the new Con-
gress meets next month.
Mr.. Clark told reporters after a
cabinet meeting yesterday: Well
have some recommendations right
at the beginning of the session in
January-amendments to the pres
ent statutes on espionage"
Wants Wire-Tap Evidence.
The Attorney General said one
recommendation will be that wire
tapping be allowed in spy cases.
Apparently he meant that informa-
ton obtained by such means should
be admitted as evidence in those
cases.
Opposition to this procedure is
based on the argument that wire
tapping is an invasion of private
rights. Mr.. Clark's Office indicated
that the proposal will be given
careful study" to safeguard con-
stitutional guarantees.
Mr.. Clark also said the Justice
Department probably will seek
(See SPY INQUIRY, Page A-2)
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Snow May Fall Here Tomorrow;
Low of About 81 Due I oniqht

To make it more conclusive that
winter is almost here, the bureau
pointed out that at 5:45 pm. Tues
day winter will arrive officially in
the Northern Hemisphere. At that
time the sun will cease its south
ward journey and turn north.
Actually on Monday will be three
seconds more daylight than on
Tuesday, and Wednesday there will
be one second more.
Yesterdays high temperature was
So degrees. recorded at HAS am,
while low of "a degrees was
chalked up at ITO am. today.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Ecuador Army Orders
Arrest of Ex-Dictotor
BY the Assoeiofed Press

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador, Dec. 1S.-
The army has issued an order for
the arrest of Col. Carlos Mancheno.
who once was military dictator of
Ecuador.
Military authorities last night or
dered his seizure in connection with
plot against the government which
was reported thwarted with the ar
rest of seven civilians in Guayas
province. Col. Mancheno ruled the
nation for 10 days after President
Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra was
overthrown in 1947.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Abdu|Iah Reported Barring
Crown Prince From Throne
BY the Associated Press

CAIRO, Dec. 18.-The newspaper
Akbar ell Yom said today that King
Abdullah of Jordan plans to
keep his son, Crown Prince Emir
Tallal, from inherlting the throne
The paper said Tallal opposes Alb
dullah's plan to annex Palestine.
In Damascus dispatch, the week
ly paper said mediators are trying
to obtain q statement from Prince
Tallal approving his fathers actions,
which he has opposed in public.
Egypt, along with some of the
Arab states, is bitterly opposed to
the scheme under which Abdullah
would hook Arab Palestine to his
own domain
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Taft Ready 10 Fight
Proposal for Outright
Repeal Of Labor Law
Senator Hints He Wants
To Retoin Leadership
Of Republican Minority

Senator Taft, Republican, o.
Ohio declared today he will fight
administration efforts in the
new Congress to repeal the Taft
Hartley Labor Relations Act.
Just back from a several week.
trip to Europe, the Senate Repub.
lican leader discussed at a news con.
ference the working of the Marshal
Plan, plans for labor and genera
legislation in Congress and the mat.
ter of leadership of his party II
the Senate
Senator Taft limited that he want!
to retain leadership of the Repub
lican minority in the new Senate
but declared he will not seek a placl
on the Foreign Relations Commit
tee. He said he gave up that ides
when his party failed to retain con
troll of the Senate.
Undecided on Policy Post.
II did not start any ideas about
stepping down as chairman of the
Republican Senate) Policy Com.
mittee," he told reporters. He add.
ed that he will talk with other
Republican leaders before finally
deciding whether to seek another
tenn as chairman of the group
However, he did not foreclose the
possibility that he might also be a
candidate for Republican floor lead
er, a post filled temporarily by Sem
ator Wherry of Nebraska.
Mr.. Taft described President Tru-
mans plan for outright repeal OF
the Taft-Hartley Act as "a peculiar
way to 60 about" the. handling OF
labor legislation. He added that
the law Incorporates features of the
old Wagner Act and he doesn't see
also wiping out the Wagner law.
how 1t could be repealed without
The administration and Presiden,
Truman repeatedly favor following
repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act with
quick re-enactment of the old Wag-
ner law. Then, according to thu
administration view, Congress coulc
consider amendment of the Wagner
Act in an impartial atmosphere
Federal officials would tack on a few
Taft-Hartley provisions such as the
bans on union jurisdictional strikes
and secondary boycotts.
COP Fight Promised.
Mr.. Truman will reveal his views
on labor legislation in his state ot
the Union message to Congress
January S.
Senator Taft promised that the
Republicans will make a fight te
save Taft-Hartley provisions.
AS for the European Recovery Pro.
gram, the Ohio Senator said HI
found it was doing a good job.
He said he thought a reduction ir
the amount of aid-but mot grea1
deal"-might be possible in the sec.
ond year. In the third year, he
continued. there should be- a ma.
terial reduction and that European
governments should be made to un.
derstand that the program is not q
permanent one.
On other subjects, Senator Taft
refused to say whether he would be
a candidate for the presidency in
1852 and refused to comment, pend
ing further study, on the question
of military alliances abroad
Expects Hard Reelection Battle.
Il am running for reelection to
the Senate in 1850 and I am not
thinking beyond that he said in
answer to the question regarding
ambitions. He added
Evening star., 1948-12-18

BAD WEATHER HITS Most of
Nation; Storm on West Coast.
Page Az.
1t may snow tomorrow, the
Weather Bureau says.
The forecast said Sunday will be
cloudy, rather cold, with some snow
or rain" possible.
Today's cloudy skies will continue
through the night. the bureau said.
The temperature was expected to
reach the low 400 by this afternoon
and drop back to about 80 degrees
tonight in the city and a few de-
grees colder In the suburbs.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
ForrestaI Asks Truma|
To Request Military
Training Law Again
Report Also Urges 500
More Funds to Equip
Reserve and Guard
By John A. Giles

The defense establishment ha
asked President Truman to seel
again passage of a universe
training bill and to boost bulge
requests for reserve and Nationa
Guard training by so per cent, i
was learned today.
The proposals are contained in 6
report to Mr. Truman by Defense
Secretary Forrestal on the reserves
progress since the Presidents Octo-
Der Is directive that a vigorous
Army and Air Force reserve program
be instituted.
Mr.. Truman asked the last Con-
gress to pass UNIT and a limited
Selective Service law. The legisla-
tive branch failed to provide the
former but passed a Draft Act which
expires June "a, 1850.
The draft law provides that 18-
year-olds may volunteer for one year
and then serve for protracted periods
in the reserves, but the defense
establishment, pointing out that this
will not continue indefinitely, seeks
UNIT to provide the reserves with
a continual flow of pretrained per-
sonnel.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, mean
while, have started to re-examine
the priorities on equipment, facil-
tiles and instructors accorded the
National Guard and Reservists. The
armed forces say these deficiencies
are largely due to insufficient funds
and, therefore, are asking the boost
in next years appropriations.
The Munitions Board, the report
said. also is attempting to bring
about increased joint utilization o1
existing facilities.
There are 20-odd recommends
tons in the Forrestal report. in
Guiding the one which he announced
at a news conference to provide fol-
taking control of the Air National
Guard from the States and giving
1t to the Air Force. The polit-
ically powerful National Guard AS
sociation announced its opposition
to this move yesterday and it was
learned that the Adjutants Gen
erals Association probably would
meet here soon to map showdown
fight on Capitol Hill.
Other important recommended
tions in Mr.. Forrestal's report in
cluded:
l. Legislation to provide personnel
Evening star., 1948-12-18
u. N. Unable to Confirm
.Thut IsrueIis Attacked
Rx the Associnted Press

HAIFA, Dec. 18-United Nations
truce headquarters here said today
it is unable to confirm Egyptian
charges that Israeli forces attacked
the trapped Egyptian garrison al
Faluja.
An official spokesman said U. N
observers have sent no information
about the allegations of new vio-
lation Of the true agreement.
Egypt charged yesterday that
Israel had attacked the entrapped
forces at Faluja, in the Negeb
Desert, with masses of troops" and
asked the United Nations Security
Council to place the matter on its
aeenda for discussion.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Dutch Editors Told
To Expect Important
News This Afternoon
BY the Associated Press

AMSTERDAM, Dec. 18.-
Dutch newspaper editors here
were warned by their Hague
correspondents today that i'm
portant news might break to-
day between 4 and 8. pm" I'll
am. and 3 pm, EST. They
added there are indications the
Dutch Army may go into &C
ton in Indonesia.
At least one newspaper was
preparing to issue an extra edi-
ton, an unusual event here
since in the postwar period no
papers have been published on
Saturday afternoon or Sunday.
A news conference for Dutch
correspondents was called by
the Ministry of Overseas Terri
tories at the unusual hour of
$50 pm. Q:30 pm, EST. For
eign correspondents were not
invited.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
Three in Santa Masks
Rob Atlantic City
Bootyord of 5000
ey the kssocioted Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., Dec.
18.-Three men wearing Santa
Claus masks visited Eli Hack
ney. operator of the Hackney
hoatyard. last night, but they
left no gifts for him.
Instead, he told State police,
they drew guns, forced him to
hand over $4,000 from a small
safe and escaped in an automo-
bile after ripping out telephone
wires.
Evening star., 1948-12-18
z Killed, 10 Injured
In HuIifox Plant BIust
By the Associoted Press

HALIFAX, England, Dec. 18.-An
explosion in a machine shop where
spindles are manufactured killed
two men and injured 10 other per-
sons today.
Machinery from the workshop was
hurled into the street by the blast,
which shattered nearby store win
dows. Cause of the explosion was
not Immediately determined.