davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-07-16
By ths Assoeiotsd Press

ALAMOGORDO, New Mex. July
16.-It happened just four years
ago today-a mysterious explosion
that alarmed early risers In three
Southwestern States.
That was the explosion Of the
first atomic bomb, desert blast
due to alter the course of the
civilized world.
New Mexico residents and their
neighbors in West Texas and Ari-
zona had a ringside seat, although
few learned what they had wit
messed for a full three weeks.
The earth shaking blast was
touched off at $50 am. on July
is, 1945. But not until American
airmen directed the fury of Sec
ond A-bomb on Hiroshima did the
secret come out, on August 6.
Deylayed by mere thunder
shower, the bomb was touched of
less than half an hour after SUM-
rise. Moments later flood of ex-
cited inquiries was unleashed.
From the southwest near Silver
City, Forest Ranger Ray Smith re-
ported seeing "a flash Of fire fol-
lowed by a violent explosion and
smoke" Others believed there had
been an earthquake.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
This Changing World
Dulles in State Department Disfavor
After Charles of Artificial Alarm

tribution-that scare stories about
Soviet troop concentrations were
correct. They followed the Russian
cold war" pattern, after Moscow
had decided to enforce a blockade
on Berlin and believed that we
would be unable to combat such a
blockade.
The official sources add that not
only we in the United States, but
also the French and British gov
ernments, despite public state-
ments to the contrary by their
respective foreign ministers. were
on pins and needles over when the
blow from the East would come.
It was at that time. long before
the British evolved the idea for an
Atlantic Pact, that the Western
European nations made their first
approach for arms and ammuni-
ton from the United States to
equip their manpower for resist
ance to a Russian attack. Repre-
sentatives of the British and
French general stats came to
Washington quietly to discuss the
situation with our military lead
ers and suggest some ways Of
getting armament:
Made Clear by Law.
When it was made clear that
the law governing the European
Recovery Program did not permit
money to be Spent on armament,
some imaginative Frenchmen sug-
gested that tanks and antiaircraft
artillery could be sent under the
label of farm machinery.
1t was at that time that the
State Department approached
some Senate leaders with the idea
that the administration ask Con-
gress to appropriate about 1,000,-
900, 900 to rearm forces of the
newly created Western bloc.
Senator Vandenberg, it is said,
doused the idea with cold water.
He told the State Department
that unless there was some po-
litical treaty to provide a basis
for such a request, the demand
for appropriations to rearm
Europe at that time would have
no chance of passing the House
and Senate.
On the advice Of the chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee the matter was
dropped. The Western European
governments undoubtedly were in
formed about the trend" in Con-
gress, and the idea of an Atlantic
Pact is believed to have sprung
from that information.
Nevertheless. the State Depart
ment feels that the indiscretion
of Senator Dulles-who used on
the Senate floor information
which he gained as a delegate to
the Paris CONFERENCE.-THE injure
seriously the White Houses re-
quest for appropriations for the
arming of Western Europe, which
the department considers to be
essential implementation of the
Atlantic Pact.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
On the Other Hand
Unfair Competition Doing Most
To Speed 75.Cent Minimum. Wage

battle some classes are fighting
with the cost of living" says a
labor representative, "and their
eyes become CLASSY and they re-
mind you of the dangers Of q
police state Speak of the need
to sustain the national purchasing
power and they show some inter-
est. But give them specific in
stances Of factories in their own
States losing business to low-wage
factories in other States - then
they really wake up."
This type of unfair competition
used to be the concern chiefly Of
New England industries as they
saw themselves losing their mar
kets to new plants springing up
in the South. Now it is no longer
a quarrel between the North and
the South. Now there are in
stances of Texas manufacturers
complaining of Mississippi rivals,
Mississippians complaining of
Georgians, Georgians complaining
even of certain Michigan or Penn
sylvania or Indiana rivals. Pockets
of sweatshop operations have been
revealed in the most unexpected
places.
Pennsylvania Case Cited.
There is the case, for example,
OF a Pennsylvania textile mill,
partly owned by a member of
Congress, which is charged by
the Textile Workers Union. with
paying some employees As cents an
hour. whereas the prevailing min
imum wage in that industry is
over 80 cents an hour. This
charge. contained in an open let
ter to the Congressman, has not
been answered publicly. It prob
ably has given his colleagues with
textile mills in their districts
something to think about.
There is the disturbing fact,
too. that wage cuts have been pro-
posed recently by many individ-
ual companies. mostly small. in
the clothing and garment trades,
usually with the explanation that
they cannot meet the competition
OF other low-wage concerns.
Many textile manufacturers have
said privately they would like to
see a decent wage standard fixed
and adhered to throughout the
industry. Only one, however,
Robert johnson of johnson g.
johnson, with factories in New
England. New Jersey and the
South. has made q public state
ment to this effect.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Retail Grocery Sales
Decline 1903 Millions
~ ihs Assoeiatsd Prsss

Retail grocery sales In May
totaled s2,olo.ooo, 900, q decline Of
$1os, 100000 below April and
$134.000.oo0 below May, 194s, the
Commerce Department says. =.
Sales Of chain grocery retailers,
estimated at $7ss, 100000 or 80
per cent Of total grocery sales,
were of $eo,ooo.oo from April
and $50. 900. 900 from May, 1948.
The department estimated total
sales of retail radio and house.
hold appliance dealers at $215,-
100000 in May. . decline of
So, 9,000, 900 from May, 1948, but an
increase Of 100000 over April,
1949.
Retail jewelry store sales for
May were estimated at $50, ,000,-
900, q gain Of $4,000, 900 over
April, but $15.000,000 below the
May. 194S. sales level
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Two Board Groups Approve
Teacher EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Two committees of the Board
of Education have given their ap-
proval to a Senate bill authorizing
the board to join with the States
in the foreign teacher exchange
program.
Personnel and Legislative Com
mittees meeting together yester-
day voted approval of the meas
ure. They met at Franklin School
The full board. however, must
act next, but there was no indica-
ton when it would convene. The
board has no regularly scheduled
meeting until fall, according to
DIR. Hobart M. Corning, superin-
tendent of schools.
Adelbert w. Lee, board member
and chairman of the Personnel
Committee, voiced, objections to
the measure.
Board members expressing ap-
proval Of the bill we're DR.. James
A. Cannon, vice president of the
board; John H. Wilson. Mrs
velma williams and Mrs. Elviria
Magdeburger.
The bill is still before a. Senate
District subcommittee, which held
hearings on 1t July Z.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
3 States Felt First Atom Bomb
Just -Four Years Aqo Today

At the Smithsonian Institution
observatory. 5000 feet up on Burro
Mountain in the same vicinity,
Alfred E. Moore also said the
brilliant flash was clearly visible.
But the sock was unlike earth
quake vibrations. he insisted.
Windows ratified in numerous
Southern New Mexico towns,
cracking some in Silver City.
Across the State line in Ell Paso,
residents saw sudden glow IL
Illuminating Mount Franklin.
The bomb was set off at remote
spot designated Trinity" by the
military.
Hours later, the commanding
officer of the Alamogordo Army
Air Base, issued a statement. He
said:
"A remotely located ammunition
magazine containing a consider
able amount of high explosives anc
pyrotechnics exploded. There was
no loss of life nor injury to anyone
and the property damage outside
of the explosives magazine Itself
was negligible.
Weather conditions affecting
the content of gas shells exploded
Iby the blast may make it de-
Evening star., 1949-07-16
100000 Milk Portions
Consumed by Pupils Here

District school children con-
sumed 100000 half pints of milk
in the school lunch program here
during the past year.
This was disclosed yesterday by
Harry M. Gardner, supervisor Of
the District school lunch program,
on the basis Of preliminary esti-
mates by the Agriculture Depart
ment. The program is directed
locally by the Board of Education.
Expenditures by District public
and private schools taking part
in the program amounted to more
than $584, 900 for food alone, Mr..
Gardner said.
In addition, nearly 100000
pounds Of farm products were
distributed to schools here by the
Agriculture Department.
In the peak month Of the pro-
gram during the past year, "a. 1888
children in 152 schools were served
meals. The year before the peak
was $4,000 children in lit schools.
Mr.. Gardner said the District
received $134,622 in Federal funds
to aid In the lunch program.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
District Trucker Fined
In Silver Hill Death

A District man. one of two
drivers involved in a trafflc col
lision fatal to a Washington
woman, was acquitted in Upper
Marlboro Police Court yesterday
on manslaughter chafge but
was fined $25 for reckless driving.
The fine was imposed on How
ard A. George. 81, of 2147 F street
NV. a truck driver for a local
coffee firm. He was driving the
truck when it collided with a car
on Naylor road. between Branch
avenue and Suitland parkway,
Silver Hill, last May 8.
A passenger in the car. Mrs.
Mary E. McFarran. 43. OF 1924
g street Sc, died five days later
in Casualty Hospital from q skull
fracture and other injuries.
John M. Blyth, So. Of 4505
Temple lane. Temple Hills. Md,
driver Of the car, was cleared of
a reckless driving charge by Trial
Magistrate Arthur p. Owens.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Negroes Hold Own in Jobs
In 10 States, NAACP Told
BY the Associoted Press


LOS ANGELES, July 16.-Only
in the 10 States which have
strong fair employment practice
laws are Negroes holding their
own in the job field. according to
the labor secretary of the Ma
tional Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People.
Clarence M. Mitchell, jr., Of
Washington. D. c., told the
NAACP convention yesterday that
if such legislation is needed where
jobs are plentiful. it is needed
even more during the current
period of rising unemployment.
He listed the 10 States with
FEPC laws as New York, New
Mexico. New Jersey. Connecticut,
Massachusetts,, Rhode Island,
Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin
and Indiana.
In the last two, Mr.. Mitchell
added. the NAACP is continuing
its fight because the laws there
90 not nave adequate enforce
ment powers.
Turning to unions, Mr.. Mitchell
said the colored people have much
in common with organized labor.
He added that 100000 Negroes
are members of unions.
I'VE have been advised by the
American Federation of Labor, +"
he said, that there are now only
two of its member unions that
exclude colored people from
membership by constitutional
provisions.
But this does not mean that
the battle for full recognition Of
colored trade unionists has been
won. We must now bend our en-
ergies toward eliminating segre-
cation among unions"
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Mae West Sues Hotel
For $250,00O in Injury
" ths Assoejofsd Press

NEW YORK, July 16.-Mae
West wants the management of
her hotel, the Chatham, to come
up and see her sometime-and
bring along $250,000.
In a suit filed in State Supreme
Court yesterday, Miss West
charged that defective floor mat
in the bathroom at the hotel
caused her to tumble, breaking
her ankle, last February 26:
She claimed she ALSO suffered
other decorations and bruises
which made her "sick, sore, lame
and disabled" and kept her from
earning $4,000 a week as star of
the stage revival of Diamond Lii"
The show has been closed since
Miss Vests accident.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
u. ). Soldier Returned
After Five Months in
Soviet Sector Jai|s
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

BERLIN, July 16.-An Amer
lean soldier was returned by the
Russians to the United States sec
tor of Berlin last night after
spending five months in Soviet
sector prisons.
The Russians turned over
Christus Rangavies. 81, Of New
York City to American authori-
ties. Rangavies, a recruit in the
10th Constabulary Squadron here.
had been missing since January.
Last previous word on Ran
gavies was received by American
authorities March % from Ger
man girl who said she had seen
him locked up in a Soviet secret
police Jail.
Comply With U. S. Request.
In returning Rangavies. the
Russians complied with a written
demand for his release made In
April by Maj. Gen. George P.
Kays. American deputy military
governor in Germany.
The Berlin military post of the
United States provost marshal
said Rangavies is suffering from
malnutrition. He was sent to a
hospital for examination. He will
have to face a court-martial on
charges of being absent without
leave.
But he's looking forward to an
American stockade," provost
marshal officer said. you can see
the boy has had rough time. He
looks very bad, but there were no
physical signs of maltreatment."
The officer said he could not
Iexplain the delay in releasing the
soldier.
Rangavies' Story.
Rangavies told the officer this
story:
He had been absent without
leave for a month when he went
to the Soviet sector of Berlin with
his German girl friend in the
latter part of February to see her
relatives. He donned civilian
clothes so the Russians would not
pick him up.
But when Soviet sector German
police made an identity check
Rangavies was arrested for lack OF
identification and later turned
over to the Russians.
The Russians thought he was q
spy and questioned him constantly
They moved him from one prison
to another and kept him in solitary
confinement without light for some
time. All he had to live on was
cabbage, soup and black bread, he
said.
Evening star., 1949-07-16


people be kept "artiflcially
alarmed" over the threat of a
Soviet aggression in order to as
sist passage of the Atlantic Pact
in the Senate.
This proposition, Senator Dulles
added on the Senate floor. was
naturally rejected by Secretary
of State hcheson and his ad-
visers.
This indiscretion on the part OF
Senator Dulles, who attended
most of the secret meetings held
in Paris. last month. caused many
Senators to wonder whether the
reports from highly qualified
quarters" in the spring and sum-
mer of 1948, when there was a
strong expectation that the Rus
slams were about ready to attack
Western Europe, were not
prompted by similar political
motives.
Reports Unsubstantiated.
Some Senators in the Armed
Services Committee recall that no
positive substantiation of those
reports could be given them in
executive sessions by the intelli-
gence services of the armed forces.
The officers who appeared were
cautious, saying only that while
our own information agents could
detect only minor troop move
ments. the bulk of the alarming
information came from the in
telligence services of Western
European countries, who fire.
quently have better and more nu-
merous sources than we have.
1t was due to these alarming re-
ports-to some extent, at least
that Congress voted large appro-
priations for the military estab-
lishment and approved the All
Forces 70-group proposal, which
later was reduced to 48 groups al
the request of Defense Secretary
johnson himself.
While the State Department will
make no denial of Senator Dulles
remarks, off-the-record explana.
tions are available. For instance
it is said-not for quotation or at.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
THE EVENING STAR, Washington, D. c.
SATURDAY, JULY Is, Ie49

sirable for the Army to evacuate
temporarily a few civilians from
their homes"
Months later the Army disclosed
it had made elaborate plans to
evacuate towns as far away as
Roswell In event the bomb S
mushrooming cloud veered too
close.
Evening star., 1949-07-16

dltIlOQsll IL u1dy
be set aside temporarily during
consideration of appropriation
bills. A bill, differing in some
important respects-chief1y by
greatly increasing the classes of
workers covered-haS been re-
ported by the House committee by
narrow majority, but is not
likely to be brought up for a vote
until after the Senate has acted.
The Senate committees report
said the bill has three basic pur-
poses. First, to give desperately
needed help to workers in the
lowest paying segments of our in
dustries,3 as an act of Simple
economic justice" Second, the
elimination of unfair competitive
labor practices. Third, to bolster
purchasing power against a re-
cession and maintain employment
stability.
Purpose of Least Appeal.
OF these three purposes. the one
with least appeal to Congress ap-
parently is that of Simple eco
nomic justice" 1t falls well be-
hind the desire to bolster pur-
chasing power, and very far, in
deed, behind the urge Of many
Congressman to eliminate unfair
competition. The latter consid-
Grafton is the one doing most to
persuade hitherto doubtful Con-
gressmen, according to labor lob
byists working for the bill-work-
ing no harder, incidentally, than
lobbyists for some retail groups,
laundries, canneries, cotton proc
essors and Southern lumbermen,
are working against it.
Tell them about the losing
Evening star., 1949-07-16

speech ! a S t
Tuesday. advo-
eating ratifca-
ton Of the At
lantic Pact, he
volunteered the
highly inter-
esting 1nfor-
nation t h a t
during the re-
cent Paris con-
ference it had
been suggested
by some West
ern European
leaders tn a t
tho American
Evening star., 1949-07-16

again requested
in his mid
econ o m ic re-
port. Reported
unanimously by
the Senate La
Dor and Public
Welfare Com
mittee, such a
bill Is now on
the Senate cal
endar to be
taken up fol-
lowing the vote
on the North
Atlantic P a c t.
although it may
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Deaths Reported

(From the D. c. Bureau of Vital statistics)
William Bevard 90. 1853 st. NV.
Annie Marks, 81, a47 G st. sw
Agnes Drury. Sc. 217 1Ith st sc
Gwendolyn Glider, 50, 1911 34th st. NV.
Ella Smith, is. 2115 st NV
Jeannette Griffin. rs. Chevy Chase. Md.
John Franklin. 50, 3700 Massachusetts,
Lewis Lane. 81. 1411 Harvard st. NV.
Mary Duvall. 81, 2237 Que St NV
Hina Manner. SO. 6"41 Oakawn rd Sc.
Fred Acena, 81 1440 Clifton st. NV.
Infant Richards. 80 E st. NV.
Infant Crane, unknown
Infant Glover. Ala 10th ST ne
Mollie Keys so, 1905 Park rd NV.
Lonnie Shsmley, 70 123 F st sv
Nathan Armstrong. 70, 733 4th st Sc.
John Thomas. Is. l1l7 c st. Sc.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Bv LoweII MeIieff

Prospects appear to be good for
the enactment before Congress
adjourns of a 75-cent minimum
wage bill. which the President
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Bv Constantine BrotCn

Senator Dulles is in the dog
house as far as the State Depart
ment is concerned.
In the course OF his maiden
Evening star., 1949-07-16

Labor day was made q legal
holiday by oct Of Congress In 1894.
Evening star., 1949-07-16

Freeman Moves Office
Carl M. Freeman Realty Co.,
Inc. has moved its Offices to
1913. Fifteenth street NV, it
announced, today.
Evening star., 1949-02-10
Big Liquor Tax Boost
Asked by Citizen Group

The Rhode Island Avenue Citi-
yens' Association last night asked
that the tax on alcoholic berev-
ages be increased from so cents
a gallon to $1.25 and that both
beer taxes and liquor license fees
be doubled. A 10-cent-per-gallon
tax on wine also was requested.
In other action. the group voted
to request that officials assign
white policemen to white neigh
borhoods and Negro officers to
Negro sections In the area. A. D.
Sartwel said he believes officers
Of both races would obtain bet
ter cooperation that way"
Roy Z. Stokes, $3.50 Clinton
street NE, was elected as the
associations director on the Board
Of the Greater Woodbridge Land
Covenant Alliance. c. Brantley
Duncan, president. appointed j..
A. Duerksen. 1884 Monroe street
NE, as auditor for the group to
the alliance.
The meeting was held in Bate
mans store. 1904 Rhode Island
avenue NE.
Evening star., 1949-02-10
| Air Officer Says
Atomic Bomb Is
| Size of Golf Ball
Ry me Asseeiotsd Press

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10.-An
Air Force officer says the atomic
bomb Is the size of q golf ball and
is equal to 5.400.000 pounds OF
TINT.
1t. Col. William r. Stark, men,
ber of a five-man team from the
Industrial College of the Armed
Forces, puts it this way in a sum-
mary of a speech prepared for
delivery today at the Navy Armory
here before industrial leaders at
two-week course on economic mo-
bilization:
THE atomic bomb, the size Of
one golf ball, would be the equiva-
lent of 270 ten-ton TINT bombs,
the damage of such bomb comes
from three sources-blast, flash
heat and radioactivity."
He said the flash heat can in
f1ict burns at 3 miles and radio
activity was responsible for
10 per cent of the deaths.
Evening star., 1949-02-10
Conflicting Stories
Reported on Charges
Police Beat 7 Boys

Complaints by two colored
boys, IA and IL. that they were
beaten by two colored policemen
January 10 at No. 13 precinct
station differ from the stories told
by the policemen and. in some
respects. from versions given by
two other boys held there at the
same time, Police Inspector
Clarence H. Lutz said today.
Inspector Lutz expected to COM
plete his investigation report and
submit it to Police Supt. Robert
J. Barrett late today. He refused
to reveal evidence he has obtained
or indicate his recommendation,
except that he will suggest that
the matter be referred to the
Complaint Review Board. recently
set up to consider complaints of
civilians against policemen.
DeLong Harris. attorney repre-
senting the mothers of the two
boys. said he filed a formal COM
plant with Supt. Barrett charg-
ing that the two boys were sub
jected to a third degree and
severely beaten" One received a
black eye and the other COM
planned he was kicked, Mr.. Harris
said. The attorney added that
one also asserted his hearing was
temporarily impaired by a blow
on the ear.
The four youths. ranging in age
from y to 16, were arrested Janu-
ary 10 for questioning about a
HOUSEKEEPING and 1862 theft
from the home of a colored news
vendor at 255 v street NV. They
were released later in custody of
their parents and are to appear in
Juvenile Court February %.
Inspector Lutz did not disclose
the names of the two policemen
accused by the two boys. He indi-
Gated that the two policemen had
denied the charges but he said
any further comment on the case
would have to come from Supt.
Barrett after the investigation re-
port Is submitted.
The stories have been so con-
hicting, other department officials
said, that the whole matter may
be referred to the Complaint Re-
view Board for a decision on
whether the policemen should 60
before O trial board.
Evening star., 1949-02-10

often is nearly exhausted by nor.
NAL daily requests from hospitals
Nearly every day, according tt
DR.. Kenneth r. Nelson, medical
director. requests from hospitals
canont be filled, until donors ap-
pear to replenish supplies
For each pint of free Eed Cross
blod given to hospital patients
the center expects a pint Io be re-
placed. This can be done by
friends and relatives of the pa
tients. But it is more important
DR.. Nelson said, that volunteers
Evening star., 1949-02-10
6. W. Drive 10 Rep|enish
Low Blood Stocks Planned

George Washington University
will begin a concentrated "fol-
low-up" program to get relatives
and friends of patients who receive
free blood to replenish the low
stocks of blood at the District Red
Cross Blood Center.
The supply is so low at the CEN
ter that it's stock of donated blood
Evening star., 1949-02-10
OYSTER Bed Bill introduced

A $4,000 payment by the Fed
eral Government to the State OF
Maryland to cover damage to nat
ural oyster bars in the Patuxent
and Severn Rivers. done by Navy
dredging operations. would be au'
thorized under a bill introduced
In the House yesterday by Rep
resentative Sasscer, Democrat, OF
MARYLAND,
Evening star., 1949-02-10

to the charge before Judge Walter
J. Casey in Municipal Court. The
mother, Mrs. Ida BoWles, 81, col
ored, had complained that the
radio was stolen from her home,