davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
By Chorles A. McAIeer
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

FIR DERI OK SBURG, Va,
April 10.-A spectacular fire at
the Fredericksburg gas plant was
brought under control late today
after threatening to wipe out
the entire southern section of
this historic city.
The blaze, which broke out in
a big propane tank, caused the
evacuation of all buildings in a
12-block area near the Freder-
icksburg railroad station.
City officials ordered the ex-
odus when it appeared the tank
might explode and spread the
flames to other storage tanks
nearby.
Two persons suffered minor
injuries but the property dam
age was not nearly as heavy as
first feared.
The blaze was fought by fire.
men manning Is pieces of equip
ment called from companies as
far away as Alexandria.
Laid to Break in Pipe.
Harry Wheeler, superintendent
of the city-owned gas plant. said
the fire was caused by a break
in a pipe beneath one Of two
30,000-gallon propane tanks.
The fumes seeped into an ada
cent building and ignited from a
Bunsen burner flame used in
connection with plant tests. He
estimated a damage of $25 900.
Mr.. Wheeler and five other
employees ran out and summoned
firenen. When they arrived, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Cafe Bus Boy Slain;
Special Officer Held

A bus boy who had just been
fired was shot and killed last
night during an argument at
the American Restaurant. 1900
Seventh street NV, police said
A special police officer was
suspended and held for action of
the coroner.
Dead was James Harris, 28
colored, of the 100 block of S
street NV. who was shot in the
head.
1t. John w. Nally of the
second precinct suspended Spe-
cial Officer Charles p. Anderson,
48, colored, of the 200 block OF
L street NV, who is employed
by the restaurant.
1t. Nally said the bar manager,
Herman Altschuler, "a, of 1874
Sheridan street NV, told Har-
ris to go home after he showed
up drunk for work. Harris re-
fused, Mr.. Altschuler told police.
and when Officer Anderson tried
to take MIN outside, he started
fighting.
Anderson drew his gun and
fired several shots. police said,
and Harris fell, shot in the head.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Truman Due In Capital
In May for Party Talks

KANSAS CITY, April 10
Stephen A. Mitchell, chairman
of the National Democratic
Committee, said today former
President Truman has accepted
an invitation to attend a meet
ing of the committee May and
6 in Washington at which lead
ers will draw the battle lines
for the 1854 congressional cam
paign."
Mr.. Mitchell, who conferred
with the former President and
Kansas City party leaders. said
Mr.. Truman accepted the invita-
ton on condition he won't have
to work or make any speeches.
The sessions. Mr.. Mitchell
said, will consist of a series Of
panels at which party leaders
will emphasize the issues in the
campaign.
THE principal issues" he said.
will be Ike's performance
against his promises, farm pol
icy. taxes. tight money and
foreign policy"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

CHICAGO, April 10.-The de-
velopment of a small, inexpensive
and portable X-ray machine
which needs no electrical power
source was announced today by
the Argonne National Labora-
tory. A
The active compliment of the
instrument is tiny particle Of
thulium made radioactive in the
heavy water nuclear reactor at
Argonne.
Thulium, an extremely rare
material which thus far has
found little practical application,
is mounted in source holder and
shield equipped with a shutter
| mechanism in order that X-ray
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
By james Y. Newton

The administrations drive to
push through Congress a bull
revising the Taft-Hartley labor
law apparently has run out Of
steam, at least temporarily.
For the past two weeks adj
ministration leaders, prodded
by the White House have been
trying to win quick approval OF
the Eisenhower labor program.
But, as of yesterday, there was
considerable doubt there would
be any action at all.
The main reason for this is
that Taft Hartley revision leg
islation has run into serious diff
Sculties in the House Labor
Committee. Because of this. the
committee, which was expected
to report out a bill last week.
now probably will not act until
Congress returns from Easter re-
cess April 26. if at all.
Court Issue Chief Block.
The cause of the trouble in the
House committee is a highly
controversial proposal. given ten
tative approval, that the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board be
abolished and the handling Of
cases involving labor law viola
ton be turned over to the Fed
eral District courts.
Administration officials are
against the proposition. They
believe the courts are not the
places for settling labor disputes
and that the procedure would
only postpone settlements and
place a further heavy burden on
the courts.
But Committee Chairman Nc
Connell OF Pennsylvania has
made it clear that unless the
provision is included he will not
have the votes to report out any
bill. There are a half dozen
members, the most conservative
Republicans and Southern Dem
ecrats, who will vote against a
bill that does not include the
courts proposition.
After delay of a week, the
committee will meet again We'd
nesday in an effort to settle the
controversy.
Another piece Of unfinished
committee business is the ques-
ton of how far to go in giving
the States jurisdiction over the
handling and policing of labor
disputes. 1t was expected the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
6 Hurt in Collision
OF Auto and Truck
On Student HaYride
Westinghouse Girl
Is Injured Seriously
In Virginia Crash

Six persons were injured, one
seriously. when one of three
trucks carrying Washington Lee
High School students on hay
ride to Great Falls and an auto
carrying 10 persons collided last
night in nearby Virginia.
The accident occurred about
$3.50 pm. on Old Dominion
drive in Fairfax County about
100 feet west of the Arlington
County line
Miss Darlene Rabbit, IS. of
306 South Courthouse road,
Arlington, a ~WaShington-Lee
student, was the most seriously
hurt and was admitted to Arl-
ington Hospital in undetermined
condition. She suffered a back
injury. The other five injured
were passengers in the auto.
The truck was the last in line
Of three trucks carrying about
40 students on a joint sorority
fraternity trip. Students said
the hayride was not sponsored
by the school.
Treated for minor injuries
were Mrs. Betty Binns, 10, and
her daughter. Donna, 3. of 1917
North Nelson street, Arlington,
and three children of Mr.. and
Mrs. Floyd beavers, 1915 North
Twenty first street, Arlington,
John, 6; Mike, 5, and Raymond,
7.
At the hospital, two class
mates of Miss Rabbit were
treated for shock after they Wis
tied her. They were Miss Emita
Kennedy. II. and Miss Betty
Germas, II.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
H-Bon1b and Indo-Chino Issues
Cast Pail Over Geneva Talks
Pessimism Over Ratification Of EDO
Also Will Seriously Affect Coming Porley

in early May. Today. however,
the chances of ratifying EDO at
all look worse than ever. France
and Germany are still firmly
begged down over the question
of who is going to run the Saar
industrial basin.
| French SocialiStS-who hold
key votes on EDC-have come out
against it. And now the top mill
tary officer in France, Marshal
JUN. has sacrificed his career by
announcing publicly that EDO
won't work.
The guess is that if EDO were
presented for ratification today
it would be defeated.
Prospects for the future are
not encouraging. The great
guessing game in Europe at this
point is: when does the "agon-
izlng reappraisal" of American
foreign policy start. and what
will it amount to in this situa-
ton? Fighting in ndo-China
and cries of alarm from Wash
ington have added a new note
of dlscord. Americas galvanizing
call to action has notably failed
to galvaniZe.
The British look on our latest
proposals for united action as a
classic example of our political
immaturity and gift for over
statement.
The French are drifting hope
fully toward compromise
settlement of the Indo-China
war and look on United States
intervention as ill-timed and
dangerous boatrocking.
Reduced to Sorry State.
1t is shocking that the unity Of
the Western allies which shone
so brightly in Berlin should be
reduced to this sorry state in a
few short weeks. The blame GER
tainly is not all on one side. One
of the major factors. however,
has been the growing tendency
of the State Department to
spring major policy decisions on
allies without consulting them
first. If the effect is unfortunate.
the fault is not theirs.
At any rate, preparations for
the Geneva conference are going
forward in a sort of unreal at
mosphere. While everyone urges
his neighbor to keep calm. the
situation is filled with emotion
bordering on despair, careful
doctoring would certainly help.
But at the moment, the opinion
of a good many observers here
is that If the Russians offer the
slightest pretext for calling off
the Geneva conference alto
gether, the United States would
do well to jump at it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Man Who Didn't Pay for Paper
In ~ Now Faces Deportation

Jones was convicted Of simple
larceny and fined SIS.
Later, he made a two-week
visit to Canada. Under immigra-
ton regulations. any alien who
leaves the country is considered
a new entrant when he returns.
In applying for re-entry Jones
neglected to tell immigration Of
f1cials about his conviction.
Last year he failed to file his
annual alien report. immigration
service workers. making a check,
found out about the conviction.
The concealment of the convic-
ton was a violation of immigra-
ton laws and Jones now faces
possible deportation.
A hearing on the case will be
held within the next six weeks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
By the Assoeicfed Press

DETROIT, April 10.-Samuel
Jones. a 72-year-old Detroit pen
sioner, faces deportation to his
native England today because
he forgot to pay for a newspaper
more than 80 years ago.
Jones was born in Oldbury
Worcestershire, England. He mi
grated to Canada in 1910 and
came to this country in 1922.
The newspaper incident &C.
CURED shortly after his arrival
in Detroit.
He said that while running for
a Streetcar he grabbed a news
paper and failed to drop any
pennies in the coin box. Arrested,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
He Wants to Tell
The World About 1t

M. W. 7. B. wos so eIoted over
results from on I'D in Stor Classified
he exclaimed: u feel like telling
the world obout it,"
There's plenty Of reason for M.
w. T. BIS pleasure. In q smoIl I'D
he Offered for sole fireside choirs,
SOTO, rugs. dining room suite. bed.
imported -o-broe. etc. He re-
ports practically oil items were sold
the very first doy.
There's no substitute for the pull
ing power Of on I'D in Stor Classified.
u yod hove something to buy. trode
or sell tell the long established oudi-
enee Of Stor reoders about it. Just
phone Sterling $4,000 ond osk tor
on od-tokeF.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
New Portable x-Roy Requires
No Electricity, Costs Only $40

photographs may be made. The
shutter is operated by a standard
Photographic cable release.
Although the entire unit weighs
less than 10 pounds, the radio
active thulium provides rays COM
parable in energy to a 100000
volt X-ray machine, Argonne an
nounced.
The total cost of the first model
was $40.
For diagnostic purposes equip
ment of this type will be of the
greatest value in isolated loca-
tons such as army field hospitals.
naval vessels and isolated con-
struction projects" the labora-
tory announced. "InduStrially, it
has potential use as density de-
termination device"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
By Crosby S. Noyes
foreign Correspondent of The Star

PARIS, April 10.-There is
growing nervousness here over
the prospects for the Geneva
Conference.
Three things have happened
in the last few hectic weeks that
will have a most serious effect
on the coming talks.
They are Cd worldwide politi-
cal emotion arising from the
latest series of hydrogen bomb
tests by the United States; CO
A new wave of pessimism about
the chances of ratifying the
European Defense Community
and CD developments in Indo-
China and the call for united
action by the United States.
Each of these things in its
own way has placed new weap-
ons in the hands of the Com
munist opposition. 1t can be
counted on to exploit them fully
in any formidable session.
1t is a good bet that the Rus
slams will come along with a
serious plan for atomic control.
The great. fear that has been
exposed by the latest H-bomh
explosion is not fear of war it
self. 1t is fear of the sudden
and complete humiliation that
atomic warfare would bring. 1t
is expressed politically here by
renewed demands for 'relaxa-
ton of world tensions and inter-
national control of the atom.
This fear is mamma from
Heaven SO far as the Russians
are concerned. They know that
the opportunity is ripe to pro-
pose atomic disarmament-in-
ternational controls inspection
and all the rest of it. They also
know that the free world can't
buy it. If it did the free world
would be almost defenseless
against the overwhelming power
of the Red army. And still the
idea of atomic disarmament as
separate from disarmament in
all kinds of weapons makes a
strong appeal to a lot of people.
Reds Have Clear Field.
In renewing their assault on
the European army idea, the
Russians have a clear field.
Western strategists had pinned
all their hopes on the chance
that EDO could be in the bag by
the time the Geneva conference
opened. If not actually ratified,
they hoped that the French
Assembly would have at least
started debate on the treaty and
that a final vote could be taken
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Stevenson 10 Undergo
Operation Tomorrow
BY the As.oe,oted Pres.

CHICAGO, April 10.-An aide
to Adlai Stevenson said today
the 1852 Democratic presidential
nominee will be operated on Mon
day for removal Of a kidney stone.
Doctors at Passavant Hospital.
where the operation will be per-
formed, said Mr.. Stevenson
should be able to leave the hos
pital a week after the operation.
| Mr.. StevenSon's administrative
assistant. william Blair. jr., said
decision to operate was made
after the former Illinois Gov
ernor had undergone a series Of
tests.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

London late today and will go
on to Paris Tuesday, returning
to Washington late next week.
Ahead lies a hard task-to
convince suspicious European
colleagues. particularly Britain
and France, that this Govern
ment's call for a firm warning
against formal Red Chinese en-
try in 1ndo-China isn't an at
tempt to dynamite in advance
the Geneva conference on Far
East problems which is. sched-
uled to open April 26.
COnferS with Eisenhower.
Repeatedly there is a strong
suspicion in Europe that Mr..
Dulles is in hurry to get the
allies to commit themselves in a
warning to Red China. and thus
head off a possible negotiated
settlement of the Indo-China
war at the Geneva conference.
Mr.. Dulles took note Of this
suspicion before his departure
from Washington yesterday.
After half-hour conference with
President Eisenhower he issued
a formal statement saying his
visit to Europe was mot to pre-
vent a peaceful settlement at the
forthcoming Geneva conference"
but to seek British and French
cooperation in a united front
to stop aggression which threat
ems all of Southeast Asia.
He said it is time for Britain,
France and the United States
to Join our strength and add
to it the strength of others in
order to create the conditions
needed to assure that that con-
ference will not lead to a loss of
freedom in Southeast Asia but
will preserve that freedom in
peace and justice"
Mr.. Dulles said he was making
the trip to promote full under
standing" of Americas position
because that would be more sat-
isfactory than cabled messages.
The cabled exchanges had, in
fact, done much to widen the
gap between this country on the
one hand and the British and
French on the other.
Sees Threat to Entire Area.
Mr.. Dulles said the United
States believes that the Com
munists can win "by overwhelm-
ing one-by-one small bits of
freedom, but it is different if we
unite"
Mr.. Dulles said there is dan
ger to 1.-The entire area"
1T affects the vital interests of
many nations in Southeast Asia
and in the Western Pacific" he
said, including the Philippines
and Australia, and New Zealand,
with whom we have mutual Sc
curity treaties"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Duplicate Jobs
In Defense Held
Costing Millions
Rees Says Officers
And Civilian Aides
Do Same Work
BY Joseph Young

An investigation by the Con-
troller General has disclosed the
waste of millions of dollars in
duplication of effort by civilian
and military employees. Chair
man Rees of the House Civil
Service Committee. charged.
Mr.. Rees said a sample survey
undertaken by the General Ac-
counting Office at the commit
tees request showed hundreds Of
instances of costly waste in
top-level supervisory jobs in the
military agencies"
The Kansas Republican said
the investigation uncovered "lit-
orally hundreds of high jobs in
military bureaus occupied by an
officer and civilian sitting side
by side doing the same thing,
with enough work for only one"
Civilian More Economical.
Committee sources said the
study showed that in most cases
it would have been more practi-
cal and economical to have re-
tanned the civilian and dispensed
with the military officer.
Mr.. Rees said the Controller
Generals report would be as
signed to one of the committees
subcommittee that are investi-
eating Government personnel
practices. Some of the military
units already have taken steps
to correct the practices uncov-
cred. Mr.. Rees said.
The Controller Generals study
covered sample surveys in IL
Army, Navy and Air Force field
installations. and nine top-level
organizational units in Washing
ton.
Four Results Listed.
The report said that out of ga
dually occupied positions &C
tually studied, results were as
follows:
l. In 81 cases the dual
staining was found to be UNI
justified. and reductions in
stating have already been
made.
2. In 20 cases justification
has not yet been determined"
and the validity of some Of
these positions appears to be
questionable.
3. In another so cases some
appear to be justified. while
others are questionable.
4. In only sc cases was staff
ing found to be justified by
the workload. and another Is
cases were supported on the
basis of training needs for Of
ficer incumbents.
Accordingly" Mr.. Rees de-
clared. lit appears that only 43
per cent of the cases surveyed
were clearly justified either on
the basis of workload or the need
for training of the military in
cumbent. This sampling irdi.
Gates many unnecessary positions
might be eliminated if these de-
Tense components will conduct
objective re-evaluation surveys"
Agencies in This Area.
The agencies surveyed in the
Washington area included the
Army Department headquarters.
the Army Chemical Center. the
Navy Department headquarters
and the Air Force Department
headquarters. In the field. the
survey included the Chicago
Quartermaster Depot. the Fort
Dix IN. j. Quartermaster In
spection Service Field Office. the
Naval Air Station at San Diego,
(See MANPOWER. Page A-5)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
mr.. Homicide's' Story
Spans 81 Busy Years

THE WAL OF POLICE SIRENS
This wos often the beginning Of .
busy time for Inspector Jeremioh 2.
Floherty, who is now retiring otter
81 yeors os one OF the Police Depart
ment's oee crime Investigators. Story
and picture on Poee A-l6.
SToNEMASoNs' HALLMARKS-
The mosons who built the locks al
Greet FoIls left their morks on the
stones. Whot hos been found dur
ing on inventory OF these morks. IN
relation with similor markings on
White House stones, is told on Poss
AIS.
Complete Index. Poee AZ
Rodio- Tv Proeroms. Poges E-4-5
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

bayonets, killing or wounding
probably hundreds.
The French with lightning
speed struck across long string
Of rebel foxholeS and winding
trenches on the eastern fringes
Of the bastion after a tremendous
artillery barrage lasting nearly
three hours
French gunners pumped thou
sands of shells into Wet Mimi
positions starting just after dawn
today.
Tanks Lead Attack.
Led by tanks, French Union
infantrymen then jumped off on
the counter attack and by 1870
am had driven the Wet Mimi
from a hull several hundred feet
high overlooking the fortress just
f1ve-eighths of a mile from its
heart.
This was the closest the rebels
have come since their about
attack on Diem Bien Phu began
March Is.
A spokesman for the French
side said savage hand to hand
fighting resulted in considerable
losses on both sides.
Earlier. Wet Mini night raid
ers equipped with nitroglycerine-
tipped bamboo poles, attacked
the vital airstrip and blew up
the northern end Of the field by
placing explosives under the steel
mating. But French engineers
said the damage had been re-
paired.
Monsoon Starts Early.
The French attacked as
drenching rains turned the
former dustbowl into a mire in
an early onset Of the monsoon
that will make all military OPP
erations virtually impossible.
The French in battalion
strength-about 1000 men-swept
down from the hill in swift
charges, leaped into freshly dug
trenches of the Wet Mini,
bayoneted them by the score and
then locked in combat with die
hard defenders.
The Wet Mini abruptly gave
up the fight. clambered out of
their trenches under machine
gun and rifle fire and exploding
grenades and retreated into the
hills to the east.
AS they fled, French fighters
roared overhead, heavily ma
chine-gunning them, and B-26
bombers laid down barrages of
half-ton explosive bombs and
showers Of flaming jellied gaso-
line.
Commander Eager for Decision.
The attack demonstrated the
eagernesS of the fortress COM
mander Col. Christian De Cas-
tries, to force a decision in the
drawn-out battle.
Col. De Castries, by this quick
blow, wiped out the nearest
threat to the heart of Diem Bien
Phu. On the eastern fringes the
Wet Mimi positions were only
flve-efghthS of a mile from the
center OF the plain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Dulles Carrying Plea to London
For Stand Against Reds in Asia;
French Rip O pen Wet Mimi Line
Urges Warning
To Communists
On Indo-Chinu

Secretary of State Dulles took
off for London last night, carry
ing with him the Eisenhower ad-
ministration's conviction that a
united Allied stand against
Communist aggression in Indo-
China now can prevent loss of
all of Southeast Asia.
Mr.. Dulles left National Air
port at 6 pm. He will arrive in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

Dulles Aims to Convince Allies Risky
Woy to Peoce Is Best. Poee A
Britoin and Fronce Won't Dulles to Deloy
United Front" Plan. Pooe "A
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

Wet Nam Chief Flies to Fronee to Press
70, independence. Page A.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

London late today and will go
on to Paris Tuesday, returning
to Washington late next week.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Tanks and Troops
Counter-Attuck
At Besieqed Fort
BY the Assoeiatsd Pra.s

HANOI, Indo-C China, April 10,
French Union troops. springing
a surprise counter attack.
smashed a big gap in the encircl-
ing network of Communicated
Wet Mini attack preparations
around the muddy fortress of
Diem Bien Phu today.
They drove the rebels of one
dominating mil at the point of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

(See FIRE, Page ABB
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

tSee KNOWLAND, Page A-50
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11

Mostly cloudy today and warmer, with
chance of showers in the afternoon. High
in 70s. Gull report on Page A-2)
Yesterdays Temperatures.