davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-04-27
BY Reyes Beech

6ST DON'T WANT to try to tell Joe
Stain what to do said It. Gen.
William e. Kepner, ''but Ii I were going
to try to take Alaska I'd do 1t with
paratroops."
The Russians pioneered parhtrooping,
and Just In case Stain has something
like that iii mind. Kepner wants his
Alaskan command to be ready.
That's the reason for Operation Fire.
STEP" These maneuyers, which got un-
der way early this month and continued
through last Wednesday, were aimed at
repelling an airborne invasion.
/ learned about the operation when
came through Alaska on my way home
from Tokyo couple Of weeks ago. For
the first time in the history of Alaskan
war games airborne troops were taking
part. A battalion of paratroopers was to
be flown UP from Fort Bragg. ~ c., in
test run to see how long 1t would take
to get reinforcements up there from the
States In case they're needed.
The Army. Navy and Air Force are
participating in this uniquely unified
command. That Alaska is an airman's
theater is recognized by the fact that
Kepner is an Air Force general. But he
has naval officers in top staff positions,
and his chief of staff is an Army general.
You never can tell when fellow is
going to try to come in your back door,"
said Kepner. "Or start fire in your
back yard to divert your attention from
the front Of the house,
Alaska, in our overall strategic plan
ming. Is Americas back yard. From Si-
IBERIA, which lies only 40 or SO miles from
Alaska across the Bering Straits, is Rus
sia's shortest bomber run to such ripe
targets as West Coast aircraft plants,
the Hanford plutonium plant--and up
per Midwest industrial centers like
Detroit
II the Air Force knows what the Rus
slams are up to on Chukotski Peninsula,
which juts out from the Siberian land
mass like threatening thumb, it wasn't
saying.
But" said Kepner with glance at
the polar map on his spruce -paneled
wall. I'VE know they have enough planes
over there to put up Is or 20 to one Of
ours. They've done it,
1t is also reported the Russians are
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Pleasant Ridge Report

AS taxpayer in the Pleasant Ridge
subdivision, wish to make clear that
the report OF the committee of the
Pleasant Ridge Taxpayers Association
in the Sunday Star of April 90 repre-
sented the views of only the six COM
mittee members.
It not only does not represent the
views of probably the majority of tax
payers in this small subdivision, but
does not even represent the views of
that taxpayers group. for the report
has not yet been presented to the mem
bership for consideration, but was re-
leased days in advance Of the meeting.
The report itself shows great ignorance
OF the needs of the Fairfax County
schools today, and the ridiculous charges
OF extravaganza in a budget that falls
so pitifully short of providing adequate
school facilities due to the absence of
new construction funds. and which has
already been pared of some essentials,
make it necessary for some one to make
clear that many citizens of Pleasant
Ridge are not unwilling to pay for
proper schooling for their children.
1t is surprising and disturbing that
the opinions Of few citizens of Fair
fax County have been given greater
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Politics and Postmosterships

The shocking extent of the ostal-jobs-for-
sale racket in Mississippi as revealed by a Post
once Department investigation ought to force
congressional action on the dormant Hoover
plan for taking postmasterShipS out OF politics.
department official has told Senate COM
mittee that proof has been obtained that postal
jobs have been sold brazenly by political stooges
of Since-repudiated "Trumanite" faction in
Mississippi Four acting postmasters and four
temporary rural carriers already have been fired
as result of the departments inquiry and
charges have been brought against four per-
manent poStmaSters and So rural carriers.
The Hoover Commission did not go SO. far
as to say that political selection Of postmas-
ters was attended by corruption. It did report
that ambition is discouraged and efficiency
reduced" by the injection of political patronage
into the postal field. 1t recommended that the
present system of requiring Senate confirmation
of postmaSters be abolished, that the Postmas-
ter General be divorced from any official con-
nection with political party "a policy already
adopted with the appointment of Postmaster
General Donaldson, career NAM and that all
postmasterships be filled strictly through the
merit system.
The Hoover recommendations were referred
last year to the Senate Committee on Post Office
and Civil Service, which promptly pgeonholed
curtailment Of their privileges in having voice
in the appointment of postmasters That, how
ever, was before the scandal in Mississippi was
exposed by Senators Eastland and Stennis who
demanded Senate investigation. This investi-
cation confirmed all that the Mississippi Sena-
tors had charged and unearthed much more
The Senate group even found that the Demo-
cratic faction in power in Mississippi had "sold"
Federal jobs that did not exist. The price for
job was contribution" to the State COM
mittee
The Post Office investigation was conducted
independently after complaints were received of
Irregularities in the Southern State The de-
partmental inquiry is continuing. Enough has
been uncovered, however, to support the Hoover
Commissions denunciation of political post
masterships. Postmaster General Donaldson
Fundamentally has Endorsed the Hoover plan.
He now is prepared to produce convincing evi-
dence of the dangers of mixing politics with
postal appointments
Evening star., 1951-04-27
To Infuse New Life in the Reserves

The reserve reorganization program recon-
mended by the Defense Department will lay
the groundwork for a military manpower
reservoir of the type proposed under pending
universal service and training plans. Some such
Reorganization of the Army, Navy and Air Force
reserves is necessary ifethe service-or-training
program is to be carried out as enyisioned at
the Pentagon. The graduates" of service or
training cannot be fitted easily into the existing
reserve setup.
The reserve organization today consists Of
organized units and volunteers not regularly
assigned to units Both classes of reservists are
subject to call In time of war or national
emergency. Reservists who cannot devote
suficient time to reserve matters during peace
time may find themselves relegated to inactive
status, but may be called in an emergency.
There is no provision in the overall program
for steady influx of new men from training
camps or for automatic release Of stale" re-
servists to make way for UNIT graduates or
men who have completed required service in
the regular military establishment
The organized and volunteer classifcations
would be eliminated under the new Pentagon
plan in favor of two active and one retired
classes The active classes would be the Ready
Reserve. liable for, active duty call whenever
military necessity requires, and the Standby
NGSSIVS, SuUJ6Ct VI Cdll Only III G1INS u Wal OI
national emergency. The Retired Reserve would
consist of members who had completed 20 years
of service or who have become disabled. AL
but the disabled might be ordered to active duty
in wartime or national emergency.
Legislation proposed by the administration
would require all men drafted for service or
UNIT to enter the Ready Reserve upon compile
tion Of active service or training. They would
remain in the Ready Reserve for at least three
years Then they would have the option of
transferring to the Standby Reserve for period
yet to be established by Congress Among the
advantages of this plan are: Cd Reservists would
have definite idea of how long their periods of
service would be, and (2) the reserve organiza-
ton would be strong live outfit constantly
infused with new blood from the regular forces
or UNIT camps. The reserves long have been
In need Of some such infusion-coincident with
elimination OF deadwood which now hampers
eficient operation.
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Air Forces Photo.

building up fuel supplies on Chukotski.
There are two reasons why the Rus
slams might attack Alaska. In the minds
Of military planners, the first would be
to deny US its offensive use as takoff
point for long range bombers headed for
Russian industrial and population CEN
ters. Alaska has one of the largest air.
fields in the world. From 1t, B-36s car
rying atomic bombs could-and probably
would-take of for such Siberian indus
trial centers as the Lake Baikal region
That's where the Russians are reported
to have their own atom bomb plant.
The second reason would be ito use
Alaska to mount an air attack on the
United States.
THE Russians could land in Alaska
tomorrow. if they wanted to. just as we
could land in Siberia" said Kepner. 1--WE
have thousands of miles of coastline.
But whether they would 60 anywhere
after they landed is another matter"
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Fair Play for Foirfox Teochers

The Fairfax Board of Supervisors is juStified
In its determination to reduce the proposed
county budget to a minimum consistent with
good government With heavy increase in taxes
facing county residents as a result of sweeping
reaSsessment of real estate, every non-eSsential
item should be trimmed from the tentative
&6,167,370 budget for the next fiscal year. But In
carving OF the fat, care should be taken not to
cut into any vital spots. One such vital spot is
the allowance for a modest increase in teachers
salaries
Teachers in Fairfax County are notoriously
in-paid. They receive less money than teachers
in any other part of the Washington Metropolitan
Area, yet they are required to work under dis
graceful conditions Of overcrowding. bond
issue to rectify these conditions has been held up
by litigation so that immediate relief is not to be
expected The minimum salary for teachers in
Fairfax County is $2,200 as compared with
$2,500 in Arlington and 81, 400 in Alexandra and
Falls Church. The maximum salary in Fairfax
is S., ,60o compared with "a, 800 in Arlington and
$500 in Aexandria and Falls Church. The Fair
fax School Board is asking that the minimum
be raised to $500 and the maximum to $4,000.
If increases asked by school boards in neighbor-
ing Virginia Jurisdictions are granted, the pro-
posed Fairfax scale would still be well below that
prevailing in the area.
The budget recommended by the school
Board Is $40 million None of this money would
60 for school construction. It is essentially an
operating budget The Fairfax Federation of
Citizens Associations has pointed out that even
with the proposed increases Fairfax County still
would be spending one third less than Arlington
Evening star., 1951-04-27
The Reol Motley Hall?

George Kennedy's article on Broad
Greek. in recent issue, treated of one
OF the most interesting but least known
areas OF suburban Washington. Few
rural districts can boast such a number
OF authentic colonial structures still
standing, and there are some remarkable
features associated with each.
Harmony Hall. J" the beautiful Collins
mansion. was built in 1928 (the same
year and by the same workmen who
constructed st. Johns Church nearby
and its floors. woodwork, stairway and
built-in cabinets are notable.
An equally famous structure stands
below the mansion on the bank of Wide
Water Cove. clearly visible from the
home above; want Water" although
ruinous now. was built in 1704, and ex-
tensive information concerning it is on
file at the Library Of Congress. It is one
Of Prince Georges minor tragedies that
proper restoration was not undertaken
when it was possible to do so without
incredible expense.
Within few yards of Harmony
Hall" and on the same estate. Is 4
charming example of 18th century con-
struction with startling background: !:
For a century and half, this house stood
in the Piscataway vicinity. several miles
away, until dismantled and carefully re-
assembled on its present site in the
lS30s. The double chimneys with win
dowless pent between are rare feature
in this area.
Some question exists as to whether
Mr.. Kennedy's picture of Motley Hall"
is indeed the house dating from the
1680s. The Historic American Build
ings Survey Catalog" curiously ignores
it, although the writer's and researchers
here were in many instances the same
who compiled the Maryland Guide
Book" Certainly, its roof construction
Evening star., 1951-04-27
The Defense Of Americas Back Yard

The defense Of Alaska is built around
the "heartland" concept which was sup
posed to be secret until a news maga-
zine published the whole plan five
months ago.
Between Alaska's heartland and the
ocean lie thousands Of miles of trackless
tundra and Jagged saw-tooth mountains,
inhabited only by Eskimos and animals.
In the defense concept, this sea of
tundra is considered as effective bar
rier as the ocean itself.
We don't mean to say that an enemy
couldn't cross it," said an Air Force Off
Ger. but his supply problems would be
: so great as to make it highly imprac-
tical."
The islands" Of defense in the heart
land form a triangle. They are Elmen-
dorf Field at Anchorage. the Island
naval base of Kodiak in the Southwest,
and Ladd Field at Fairbanks in the
North-only 90 miles from the Arctic
Circle.
To avoid spreading himself too thin.
Kepner has concentrated his forces in
these three areas. But the idea is to de-
fend all Alaska from the heartland-rot
just the heartland itself.
To defend an area twice as big as
Texas, Kepner is relying primarily on
air power. His 500-mile- e-an-hour Jets,
equipped to fly and fight in any kind of
weather. can be over any part of Alaska
In whoosf
He has roughly a regiment of ground
troops, and could use more If he had
some way of housing them. Housing is
the military's number one headache in
Alaska.
It is assumed that any Russian attack
would come with Pearl Harbor sudden
ness To guard against this, the Alaskan
coast is being ringed with radar stations.
These stations are usually situated on
the highest mountain top that can be
found. to give maximum range
Building these stations is a task that
takes months. Merely getting the equip
ment to the site over frozen mountains
and tundra is staggering job.
In addition to radar. Kepner is rely
ing on bush" pilots-Alaska abounds in
them-the Eskimo's "muckluck tele-
graph" fur trappers and other dwellers
of the remote North.
(chicago Daily News Foreign service.)
Evening star., 1951-04-27

event, tiny and dilapidated though it
may be (nearing its third century,, 1t
has an astounding feature. Lacking a
basement, there are. nevertheless. two
underground brick vaults quite close to
the house. which local residents will tell
you were, tombs until recent years. The
larger Of the two is nearly the size of
the house itself, and some builder in by
gone days lavished great care on his
workmanship with diversified. handmade
bricks in his walls and vaulted ceilings.
Today they serve as macabre forts for
the local cowboy and Indian element.
Broad Greek is an interesting neigh
borhood, and we owe thanks to Mr..
Kennedy for publicizing it.
James C. Wilfong, jr.
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Mr. 7. Isn't Caesars Wife

One important aspect of the Truman
Macarthur controversy. which seems to
demand immediate Qualification in the
public interest, is the mistaken assump-
ton that President, when exercising
his authority as Commander in Chief,
should automatically command the sup
port of the country.
That theory presupposes that Chief
Executive. like Caesars wife, can do no
wrong. None of our Presidents has yet
acquired that mantle of infallibility, and
least of all Mr.. Truman. ITP.
Evening star., 1951-04-27
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.


BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.
@. OF all the banks suspended between
1921 and 1888, how many were national
and how many State banks?-N. H. S.
A. According to the records Of the
Federal Reserve Board, there were 1,226
banks suspended in this period. OF this
total. 1,676 were national banks, 440 were
State banks, members of the Federal Re-
serve System. and 9.110 we're non-mem-
ber banks. The last includes private,
mutual savings, and State banks, not
members of the Federal Reserve System.
@. How long can angel cake be kept
in freezer and still be edible?-M. r.
A. Baked angel food will keep for
year if it is carefully wrapped and
sealed. Angel food and sponge cake
can be kept in frozen storage much
longer than cakes made with fat After
thawing they are like freshly baked
cake.
@. Why did the Japanese call their
suicide planes kamikaze' or divine
wind"?-L. L.
A. On several occasions windstorms
have helped to shape events in the
past history Of Japan. In 1880, when
Kubla Khan tried for the second time
to invade Japan, typhoon destroyed
his fleet Of 1000 ships. Earlier, wind
had scattered an invading fleet.
@. When does the rainy season occur
in Florida?-C. C.
A. Comparatively speaking. Florida
has two seasons. rainy and a dry,
the former beginning in June, when
the average is seven inches, and end
ing in September. Rainfall diminishes
in October July, August and Septem-
Der are the wettest months.
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Letters to The Star
All letters are subject to condensation.
Pen names may be used If letters carry
Driters' correct names and addresses.

is inconsistent with 17th century build
ing, and the condition of its brick walls
would lead one to doubt the age claimed
for it.
Probably Prince Georges most mac
cessible colonial structure stands gaunt
and wearily below Motley" on the bank
Of the Potomac. known locally as Lower
Motley" or "Rozer House," there is
strong possibility that this is actually
the Motley Hall'' of history. In any
Evening star., 1951-04-27

prominence and more detailed reporting
than the resolutions in favor of the
proposed budget passed in every PTA
in the county Except one, which merely
appointed a delegation to represent it
in supporting the school budget at the
public hearing), for the PTAs have a
membership of not six citizens, but 5000
citizens of Fairfax County
The many school children of the county
who. even if the proposed budget is
passed, will be attending school in half
day sessions. and in corridor, Sunday
school, basement. firehouse and audi
torium classrooms, will have been Woe
fully neglected if this minimum budget
is cut.
Edward A. Macy.
Pleasant Ridge, Annandale, Va.
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Children in War

Sobt0tSH Us w w
The other day, my children went to
school excited over the prospect of their
first atomic bomb drill.
At the scheduled hour, with sirens
screaming throughout the city, was
chilled by the stark realization of their
significance, and filed with an acute
hofror of war and fear for the future
of children growing up In such an era
as the present one.
One could recall the children of Po-
land, fighting with the underground and
attacking German tanks with gasoline
bombs; the children of China, orphaned,
lost and starving; the children of Greece.
stolen away from their homes, families
and country. And. more recently. little
babies in Korea, naked and abandoned
in the ice and snow.
These are the tragically innocent ones
who pay in war. For If they survive at
all, they pay with a childhood that is
nightmare and with lives that are
shattered almost before they are begun.
The people of this country are fortu-
nate, and blessed that they have never
been faced with invasion, defeat and
occupation by barbarians. This blessing
will not long be ours, however. unless we
begin to fight. and fight hard, to rid
ourselves of softness and apathy, of
incompetent and dishonest leaders, trail
tors. appeasers-and policy that sells
out our friends and gives support to our
enemies.
If we begin to fight hard enough at
home for our children, our freedom and
oil that .this coi,nfrv means ~ NC fI,a,,
it may never be necessary to fight
another war to end all wars, and this
characterization. Mother.
Evening star., 1951-04-27
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer to
any question of fact by either writing The
NvennR 81 S5ar ss lnIornapon bureaM Ivy street
return postage or by telephoninR ST. 1858.
Evening star., 1951-02-20
Artificial Kidney Filters Poison
From Blood, Saves Woman S Life

at Lansburgh's department store
stepped in and supplied her daily
requirements. One Saturday mid
night, she desperately needed two
pints of blood. None was in the
hospital blood bank. But, some
where. it was found.
After her normal body supply
of six quarts of blood had been
replaced more than three times
over, her internal bleeding stopped.
She began to recover rapidly.
Yesterday Mrs. Hoover was
ready to go home for a reunion
with her six-year-old son. Michael.
and her husband. James. a Gus
todian officer at the District Jail.
The hospital had spent more
than $4,000 on her cure. Mrs.
Hoover can pay some Of it, the
rest will be charged to the hos
pitfalls charity budget.
She didn't remember too much
about her stay or her miraculous
recovery. For two weeks, she was
semi But one thing
she did know-she would look at
the labels on strange bottles after
this.
Evening star., 1951-02-20

TIE blood. has been in operation at
Georgetown since May, but Off
cials said it had mainly been used
in treatments of persons with
chronic kidney ailments.
Recovery of the patient. Mrs.
Marian Hoover. %, of lis Iroquois
way, Forest Heights. Md. was
even more remarkable because.
after successful treatments by the
artificial kidney. she suffered
severe hemorrhages and needed
TRANSMISSION of 40 pints of blood.
Heart Becomes Affected.
Physicians had nearly given up
hope early last month for Mrs.
Hoover's recovery. Her kidneys
had not functioned since Decem-
ber 26, when she swallowed two
grams of a poison doctors declined
to name. BY January 9. she was
critically ill with uremic poison
ing. and backed-up body poisons
were beginning to affect her
heart.
On that day, she was wheeled
to a bed set up next to the 500
pound artificial kidney. which
looks something like glass
enclosed squirrel cage.
For five hours a steady stream
of her blood flowed from her
body through the artificial kidney.
which purified 1t of body wastes.
and back into her body. The
blood ran through a tube attached
to an artery and back through a
vein at the rate of about $50 cubic
centimeters a minute.
Briefly. the machine works like
this: The blood runs from the
patients body through 100 feet
of an especially processed cello
phane tubing. The tubing is wound
around a cylinder of wire mesh
which continually rotates. Body
poisons diffuse out of the cello
phane and drop to a tank below.
The purified blood continues
through the tubing and back into
the patients body.
BY January Is her kidneys,
which were only temporarily in
operative, began to function nor
mally again.
Then intestinal hemorrhaging
began. One doctor said staff
physicians had never seen such
a bad case of internal bleeding
For three days she received round
the-clock transfusions of whole
blood in both arms. For IL days
she received daily transfusions.
Nearly Depletes Supply.
Complicating matters, Mrs.
Hoover had the rare type A Rh
negative blood. The Red Cross
blood bank was nearly depleted.
Mrs. Hoover's former co-workers
Evening star., 1951-02-20

credited today
with saving the
life Of a young
mother who ac-
cidentally took
a lethal dose OF
poison.
The patient
was the first
whose life was
saved by the
hospitals arti-
fetal kid n e y,
physicians said.
The machine.
which removes
Evening star., 1951-02-20
Students Elect Officers

FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Feb.
20, (SpeciaD-StudentS at Mary
Washington College of the Uni
versity Of Virginia have elected
Miss Gwendolyn Amory of Hamp-
ton as president of Student Gov
ernment. Miss Carol King of
Baltimore, was elected president
of the Recreation Association and
Miss Nancy Stump of Hollins,
president of the campus Young
Women's Christian Association.