davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1962-12-27
Only a ForIorn Hope

There is small reason for optimism
about the reopening this week Of India
Pakistan talks on the future OF the
State of Jammu and Kashmir, the ga
000-square-mile region that borders
Communist China and which lies atop
both India and West Pakistan. For
nearly fifteen years 1t has been divided
along line manned by the best military
strength Of both OF the latter countries.
The talks, in this instance, were
born out of another crisis-the Red Chi
nese invasion of India and, at least in
part, the insistence Of an American spe-
cial mission that one more effort be
made to resolve an issue that has become
increasingly embittered over nearly fif-
teen years. Pakistan'S President Ayub
agreed, at some domestic political risk
to himself, to the proposed confer
ences-to begin on the ministerial level
and to continue, perhaps, in summit
meeting" between him and midas Prime
Minister Nehru. Mr. Nehru agreed, pre-
sumably as part OF the ARRANGEMENT
which has led to the supply OF Ameri-
can military equipment and training TO
his beleaguered defense forces
Almost from the moment Of agree
ment, however, the fate OF the current
meetings has been clouded-mostly by
reports out OF New Delhi. One OF the
first was that Mr.. Nehru had told his
Parliament that any change OF the stat
us quo in Kashmir, most OF which is un-
der Indian occupation, would be Every
harmful" Mr.. Nehru has designated
as his initial representative Railway
Minister Sardar Swaran Singh, choice
which has been interpreted as being
anything but indicative OF a determine
tion to reach any new and meaningful
resolution OF the dispute.
On the record, meanwhile, are nu-
merous United Nations proposals for set
Ting the issue by self-determination
plebiscite-always pronounced accept
able by the PakistaniS, and accepted in
words but never in fact by the Indians.
An estimated IT per cent OF Kashmir's
Evening star., 1962-12-27
Outmoded BUILDINGS

While the Fine Arts Com
mission is considering which
OF Washington's outmoded
buildings is to be the next TO
be torn down. II might take
a look at the building now
serving as Coast Guard Head
quarters.
This building is located In
one OF the most prominent
spots In Washington. Located
at the southwest corner Of
Pennsylvania avenue and
Thirteenth street, 1t Is In
sharp contrast with the Dis
trict Building, Immediately
adjoining II on the west.
This old building was erect
ed many years ago 10 serve
as an office building for the
Southern Railway. II is Of
ulnRy Drlck and presents an
unattractive and untidy ap-
pearance. In addition. the in
terror is OF old and antiquated
design, certainly inadequate
BY present-day standards for
offices.
The Coast Guard has an
enviable record OF top-notch
performance, and deserves a
better home than this dirty
looking, factory = appearing
building. Perhaps the artistic
District Building at l4th and
Z streets could be turned over
to the Coast Guard.
r. Gibson Campbell.
Evening star., 1962-12-27
Poor Mona Lisa

1t is rather enigmatic (as they've
been saying about her smile a good
many years) that the celebrated Mona
Lisa now is buried deep In the cata-
combs Of the National Gallery of Art
where no admiring eye may view her.
All the Fluctuations about the gen.
erouS loan Of the art treasure have
been Souring steadily since the por-
traits arrival, accompanied by pomp
and circumstance usually reserved for
visiting potentates. Unlike the sump-
tuouSly wined and dined state visitors,
poor Mona has been condemned to a
vault deep in the bowels of the gallery.
There she must remain until some
master of protocol decides the time has
come to let the American public have
a fast look at Leonardo da Vincis
marvel
For reasons understandable only
to the savants who pull the strings,
dear Mona is doomed to Seclusion this
brightest season of our year-the holi-
days when many young people are free
from school, and would love to share
Will Vi IIlc ages.
Those in the know say it has to
be this way-there has to be some gosh
awful pontificating about the way our
French cousins loaned us the picture,
and it would be downright disreSpectful
not to wait until January 8, the day
before Congress conveneS, and Presi-
dent Kennedy can properly touch off
a three-week showing.
Well, maybe so-if you are poll
tician. 1t seems to us that Mona Lisa,
and everything like her, needs no elab-
Grafton. All she needs is an opportunity
for as many eyes as possible to behold
this beauty we have heard about since
childhood. Can't somebody liberate her
from the vault? Now?
Evening star., 1962-12-27
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry ,0riterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
terS are subject to condensd-
tion. Those not used tDiH be
returned only When accom- =
panied BY self addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star., 1962-12-27
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Major Step in Balloon TECHNOLOGY
By THOMAS R. HENRY

pressure balloon now has
been launched.
Balloons Of this type will
provide an ideal test bed for
many research projects re-
lated to meteorology and
studies Of atmospheric char
acteristics at high attitudes"
The Air Force has Just es-
tablished a gravity network
all over the United States.
The precise value for the
force Of gravity will be es-
tablished at II measuring
stations to simplify gravity
surveys for other military
and civilian groups in the
surrounding areas.
The operation OF highly
sensitive components such
as accelerometers OF today's
missile guidance systems is
affected by relatively minute
variations In the force of
gravity from place to place.
A more accurate measure
ment also is important In
explorations for new sources
OF minerals and oil.
Battling Phenomena
Gravity remains the least
understood Of physical phe-
nomena. II is known to vary
with altitude and latitude.
Its values in refined detail
remain unknown for many
parts OF the country, or the
accepted values have been
found TO be in error.
Work on the network has
been In progress for several
years under the direction OF
DR.. Lloyd q. ID. Thompson OF
the Air Force Cambridge Re-
search Laboratories. Exceed
ingly accurate and sensitive
meters have been used at
each location 10 establish a
base value.
The accurate base values
established will assist future
researchers In determining
whether or not gravity values
change with time, a theory
over which there Is consider
able controversy at present.
Evening star., 1962-12-27
THE POLITICAL Mill
Ransom a Shot in the Arm for Cdtro
BY GOULD LINCOLN

that all the missiles hak been
taken out of Cuba the
Russians and that noe will
be returned, has no been
met; that the KenneE ad-
ministration has sukested
that we have our ownaneth-
DDS Of obtaining sucfRnfor-
nation which are bett than
inspection by the Unitd Ma
tions. They are anxioV there
shall be no letdown in our
part of pressures agatst the
Communist government in
Cuba.
Some of these congressional
leaders are intent or know
ing Just how the ansom
food and drugs were dtained
and what promises WEI made
to the producers. Thet see no
reason why there Shalld be
any camouflage abot Gov
ernment activities 1 con-
nection with the rsSoming
Of the prisoners.
Tax Status Stresed
They want to knot If the
food and drug produdrs we're
promised they coua take
contributions to the ransom
off their income tax6 - or
corporation tax, as he case
may be. Such tax rehisSions
would, they say, be finan-
cial contributions by 1e Gov
ernment to the fund They
would mean a loss to he gov
ernment of revenue tat 9TH
erwise would be colleced un-
der the tax laws.
President Kenned ex-
pressed his Sympathyfor the
ransom plan, conducted un-
der the auspices II the
American Red Cross, ind At
torney General Kennby aid
ed in raising a great part Of
the $40 million in c$h. Be-
yond this, the Kenndy ad-
ministration has said moth
ing about any aid II may
have given to bring abut the
plans success.
Ransoming of pris0ers has
come down to us through the
ages. In older days l was a
common practice, engaged in
by governments and by in
dividuals. In the United
States, however, ramon of
prisoners by the Government
never has taken place.
There have been exchanges
Of prisoners in time of war
and returns of prisoiers In
peace negotiations. Rdnap-
ers have demanded and re-
ceived ranSoms in thl coun-
try-and ransom has become
a dirty word. However, in
view Of our advertisement
and aid of the Cuban freedom
fighters, there has existed a
moral obligation that we do
something to win ther free
dom. That has now ben ac-
compliShed. And rarBom it
was in any mans lanalage.
So far the administration,
when questioned about a mo
invasion" pledge, has put off
the answer by saying that
negotiations about the whole
Cuban affair and thl Rus
sian missiles were still con-
tinuing. What it eventually
intends doing in this natter
has not been made clear. But
it looks like a waiting game,
with economic pressure on
Cuba still increasing, n the
hope that Castro viii finally
be overthrown or deserted by
Khrushchev and so fall
Evening star., 1962-12-27

population is Moslem, a circumstance
that very likely would result in a pro-
Pakistan vote.
Much of Kashmir is lush and lovely
valley country Other parts are noun
famous and bleak. The obstacles to
accommodation between the two coun-
tries are comparably mountainous, and
the prospects similarly bleak.
Evening star., 1962-12-27

The $50 million worth of
food and drugs, plus $40
million in cash, which is
being handed over to Fidel
Castro for the release Of 1,113
Cuban freedom fighters will
be at least a temporary shot
in the arm for Cuba's Com
munist government. The food
and drugs are vastly needed
there. Furthermore, the full
fillment of Castro's demand
for ransom, 1t is expected,
will be used for propaganda
purposes-to make it appear
that Castro, after all, has
been able to force the United
States to his terms.
He may hope for the resto-
ration Of some Of the "face"
he lost when President Ken
nedy virtually compelled
Khrushchev and the Soviet
government to remove from
Cuba long-range missiles and
missile bases and bombing
planes by establishing a
naval blockade of Cuba and
a threat Of more drastic
measures. All the ranting of
Castro was Of no avail at
the time.
Some leading members of
Congress-now returning to
Washington-are intent upon
getting at the facts in this
ransom payment, particular
ly what part the United
States Government PLAYED
and will continue to play.
They frankly say that they
are glad. from a humani-
tartan point Of view, the
freedom fighters have been
released. They admit that
there existed a debt to these
Castro prisoners in view of
the fact that the United
States Government aided
and abetted the unfortunate
invasion attempt at the Bay
OF Pigs in April. 1861, but
failed to give the military
support which the freedom
fighters had expected.
These members of Con-
gress, some Of them Demo-
Gratis as well as Republicans,
will demand that the ad-
ministration state what part
1t played in the raising Of the
ransom. Whether they will
seek information through
committee action or through
individual demands remains
to be decided.
Questions on Guarantee"
Information about the ran
som Of the prisoners is not
all they will seek to learn in
regard to the Cuban situa-
ton. They applaud Presi-
dent Kennedy's firm action
when he learned of the in
Stallation by the Russians of
the missile bases in Cuba
though they cannot under
stand why that information
came so late. What they
want to know is: Will our
agreement with KhrVshchev
about the removal of the
missiles, bases and planes,
plus the payment Of the ran
som for the prisoners, be re-
garded as a guarantee there
will be mo invasion" and as
a kind Of pledge that the
Castro government, a satel-
lite Of Soviet Russia, is to re-
main in the Western Hemi-
sphere?
Also, they take note that
our demand for on-site in
spection, to make certain
Evening star., 1962-12-27

Current reports OF anony-
nous alcoholics In our Village
Post Office suggest these
structures:
o mailman. In thy hours
OF rush. Keep off thy cheeks
a telltale blushjBy putting in
thy thirsty stomach/Naught
stronger than the (ughD
Potomac. But II spirits thou
must swallow,/Stop when
thou begin'th TO wallow. And
send the empties to Savan-
nah, Kansas City or Ur-
bana, But don't leave them
In the mail room; What thou
needeth: An empty-pail room.
Lynn w. Meekins.
Baltimore.
ssss
Stop the presSesl Hold
that Dag Hammarskjold
stamp and the Boy Scout
commemorative what we
need Is a new prohibition
stamp "a Post Office whs.
key bottle prohibition stamp.
Eleanor M. Clancy.
Evening star., 1962-12-27
LET'S Be Honest

4OAA DCOCHAUCt 6U CulUOI ldl
Let's Be Honest" was most
timely and to the point. 1t Is
incomprehensible how ouI
State Department has SO
often gone in the wrong di-
rection in so many cases
Why don't the responsible
persons shaping our foreign
policy learn from the many
previous mistakes they have
made?
Noise Tshombe has shown
more stability than Adoula.
Britain and France have
shown better sense than our
State Department in the Ka-
tanga situation.
After all, the Monroe Doc
trine says we do not want to
interfere in Old World affairs
and, in turn, neither will we
tolerate interference in New
World affairs by Europeans
and Asiatics. So, why, in the
name Of all that is decent
don't we attend to our own
knitting and not interfere
with other nations. We have
enough trouble right here
without inviting more.
The more I observe the ac-
tions Of the United Nations
the more I am convinced that
1t Is a tool for the Commu-
nistS-a place where spies are
protected. Let's kick the U. N.
out Of the country and quit
supporting it.
Russell Rocks.
Congratulations on youI
Editorial. Lets Be Honest.
believe you would be render
ing a considerable public
service II you would keep us
informed Of what Is happen
ing in this area.
J.K X. Hughes.
-
Thank God there was no
United Nations around when
our own United States
achieved its independence
from Great Britain and
struggled in the birth-pangs
Of forming a new and free
nation. There would have
been no United States Of
America.
Because Of its own history
OF freedom and independence
1 find it incredible that my
Nation is sanctioning, and
even aiding. the attempt OF
the United Nations to crush
Katanga, a new nation with
aspirations like our own. The
excuse that if Katanga does
not merge its wealth with the
have-not tribes of the Con-
go, Russia will take over the
place Is lame and old-hat
We have shown that we can
deal with the Communists
without losing our national
integrity; let us put a little OF
that knowledge and wisdom
to work in the Congo without
sacrificing the integrity and
independence Of the sorely
pressed state Of Katanga.
sincerely hope its leader
Tshombe will continue to re-
sist the pressure, and that
the United States will find
other ways to assist the Con-
go without helping TO crush
the life out Of a nation which
desires and strives TO be free
and independent. Let us find
an objective there that Is
worthy Of us.
Evening star., 1962-12-27

O. What is the origin Of
the word "thumb"7-M. N.
A. The thumb Is so-called
because II was thought OF as
the big. stout. or thick finger.
The word thumb" derives
from the Latin "tumere"
meaning 10 swell.
Evening star., 1962-12-27
Answers to Questions
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE

A reader can set an answer by
mail 10 any question Of fact by
,.ritinE. Ths star Information Bu.
Iean' $50 street n w, Washlna Ton
~ rlsSe infloss return post;
Evening star., 1962-12-27
Super-Pressured

ITO maintain q constant
altitude the balloon Is super
pressurized. The pressure In
side exceeds the outside pres
sure. This means that the
structure must be capable OF
containing the lifting gas
without any change In volume
as the balloon warns and
cools during flight. Flight
duration Is limited only by
the eventual deterioration OF
the balloon material.
THE material used In the
new balloon is mylar. The
50-pound payload consisted
OF instruments to measure
temperatures and pressures Of
lifting gas. q data encoder
and transmitter, and a radio
command receiver which re-
ceived the cut-down siPnal.
All the automatic equipment
functioned perfectly during
the long flight. Data in
dicated that the balloon could
have continued aloft much
longer.
THE balloon was kept un-
der constant radio surveil-
lance. Tracking and data re-
cording we're performed by a
network Of stations OF the
Federal Communications
Commission. A second super
Evening star., 1962-12-27

A new type of balloon
which apparently can remain
aloft indefinitely without any
change in altitude has been
reported by Air Force scien-
lists.
Launched from Bermuda
last May 1t has set new rec
ords for flight duration and
distance, remaining in the sky
for 10 days and terminating
its flight near Two Jima,
5000 miles from the launch
site.
The new balloon, says the
Air Force report, represents
a major advance In balloon
technology. The key factor is
its ability TO maintain a con-
slant altitude over periods of
weeks without the use OF bal
last. 1t maintains a constant
altitude Of $1,000 feet with
variations Of no more than
plus or minus 200 feet.
Balloons Of this new type
are not affected. as are con-
ventional balloons. by varia-
tions in the day-night tenn
perature. These variations,
which require the use OF bal
last to compensate for the
loss Of altitude at night. set
a limit on the time a con-
ventional balloon can remain
aloft.
Evening star., 1962-12-27
Poor Mona

There was a certain female
in a distant country who
had reached that time in life
when a daughter should be-
come an economic asset,
rather than a liability. Un-
fortunately for her father,
the daughter was afflicted
with a facial paralysis which
gave her lips a sardonic ex-
preston. Naturally, the cell
bates in the area regarded
her as something less than
desirable. At length, the
frantic father wrote his big
brother, across the river, that
he wished to send his daugh-
ter over to seek a spouse.
The brothers agreed, with
alacrity, that special ar
rangementS would have to be
made for the daughters de-
but-the celibates on the
uncle's side of the river were
dormant but not dead.
The daughters face, for
the sake of a psychological
influence on the males and
keeping the scandal sheets
alive, was concealed by an
iron mask. Her uncle spread
word that a modern Venus
was being carried across on
a splendid yacht (really q
tugboat altered for an osten-
tatious appearance). He kept
the celibates starved with de-
sire and filled with curios-
ity; this was to go on for
weeks. Eventually they would
be allowed to see her-at a
distance.
The propitious day arrived; /;
the men lined up at her
dwelling. The gentry were
called in first. The plebians
waited impatiently; but not
for long. The gentry emerged
within seconds after enter
ing; with demeanors of
amusement, terror, spleen,
and disgust. Then the pleb-
ian masters arrived to route
them back to the work they
were neglecting; so, the pleb-
ianS left.
1t should be obvious why
the former fled: while watt
ing for the mask to be re-
moved, the lady had starved
to death.
Evening star., 1962-12-27

I arrived on Christmas day
to spend a weeks vacation
In the Nations Capital, a
place I have never visited be-
fore. On my agenda Of
"musts" was the National
Gallery.
I had anticipated eagerly
the chance to see the Mona
Lisa. but where will she be
in the basement for a
couple OF weeks until after I
have gone home, and until
sufficient Democratic "digni-
taries" gather Jan. 8 for a
flashbulb session, In which
I am not at all interested.
During those weeks in the
basement, perhaps a million
or so Of the common people
could get a look-see- If the
Dem ocratic "dignitaries"
weren't so selfish.
Mary Nj, SchOrn.
Evening star., 1962-12-27
Post Office Sponges

Mary M, SchorI
The Nome nugget., 1962-09-07
EIectrOnic Fence Will Protect
 Jungle Fighters
SEATTLE ID

SEATTLE tP - Devices rang ing from an eleetronie fence to protect jungle fighters from sur prise attack to a jet injector which can shoot vaccine into the arms of 1,40o soldiers an hour were de- monstrated by the Army at the Worlds Fair Wednesday,.
 The show, at the National Ad- Vaneed Technology Management Conference, was presented by It. Gen. August Schomburg, who was introduced by Dr. Finn Larsen, Asst. Secretary of the Army for Research and Development.
 The fence is made up of antennae spaced around an area. An alarm is triggered when a signal passing through them is broken by some one passing between the antennae. Schomburg said the fence can operate six months on the power of one flashlight battery As far as We know. there is 10 way of feoling this device as compared, for example, to a light beam in an electronic eye or a radar type device he said
 The general said the jet hvpo- dermic injector will enable mass inmunization of people The vac cine is injected in fine stream at high pressure go the liquid makes it's own opening in the skin and penetrates to a suitable depth. The liquid travels al a speed of more than TOO feet per second, he said.
The Nome nugget., 1962-09-07
Reds 'n Cuba May Interfere With US. Missile Launchings

MIAMI, Fla tP The Cuban Revolutionary Council said on Wednesday night that arms ship ments being sent into Cuba by the Soviet Union would be used to interfere with US. missile launch ings.
 pr. Jose Miro Cardona, presi- dent of the Cuban exile group, said in statement In different sec tions of Cuba, principally in the north coast of the Province of Pinar Del Rio, missile rocket bases and electronic equipment are being in stalled for Warlike operations. y
 Cardona said the equipment would be used by the Fidel Castro regime to "detect and interfere with the launchings from Cape Canaveral in Florida
The Nome nugget., 1962-09-07
Piece of Metal Relieved From Sputnik " Is Found In Wisconsin

WASHINGTON LP - The Space Agency disclosed Thursday that the main part of Sputnik " has re- entered the atmosphere, and that piece of metal found in Wisconsin is being studied as a possible rem nant of the Soviet satellite
 Sputnik ", launched 28 months ago. apparently broke up over Wis consin early Wednesday, causing a rash of reports of flaming uni- identified flying objects.
 The chunk of metal was found on a street in ManitoWoc, 85 miles north of Milwaukee. It was spotted first by two patrolmen who thought it was cardboard in the pre-daWn darkness.
 The patrolmen returned later and found the metal too hot 10 handle. When they heard the re- port that flaming objects apparent ly were part of Sputnik " they went back and retrieved the chunk
 Police obtained the help of steel expert,, Kenneth Gevers of Hy-Ten Steel Products of Chicago, who was in Manitowoc Gevers said the metal appeared to be of high temperature resistance steel, prob ably from the main portion of satellites nose cone.
 Gevers took the object to Ed ward Halbach, Director of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society. Halbach shipped the piece of metal by plane to the Smithsonian Oo- servatory in Cambridge, Mass.
 The object buried or burned hole three inches deep in the street. Limestone in the road was powered as if by extreme heat.
The Nome nugget., 1962-09-07
Lonley Eight Hours

GLENDALE, Calf. 6P-- For eight lonely hours, a little tree was all h. stood between slight. 58-year-eld widow and q deadly l5o-foot plunge into rocky can- yon.
 Mrs. Gertrude Long clung to the tree after her brakeless car hurled down the steep precinice She was virtually blinded by loss of her glasses, bleeding from cuts and stung by insects.
 Tortured by heat and thirst, from 11:30 am. to 7:30 p.n Wednesday. she yelled for help = and could hear voices and laughter of near by residents.
 Once she got desperate and tried to climb back up the cliff but realized quickly she couldn't make it the tree had broken her fall about halfway down.
 T just hung on, said Mrs. Lon. It seemed like years, there in the hot sun When I looked down the car Was, away down there below me.
 Finally a neighbor responded to her cries and called the sheriff's office.
 Mrs. Long, a domestic. was taken to hospital where IT. stitches were sewn in her scalp and she was treated for exposure.