THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE
"ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME"
■*-n
VOL. LXXV., NO. 11,547
JUNEAU, ALASKA, THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1950
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
PRICE TEN CENTS
U. S. Troops Rolled Back By Reds In Korea
BOMBER IN
CRASH IN
ALEUTIANS
Wreckage Is Identified by
Crash Boat-Fate of 7
Aboard Unlearned
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, July 6—
—A B-17 missing overnight was
found wrecked yesterday in Kulak
Bay on Adak Island, but the fate of
seven men aboard was not learned.
Their names have been withheld.
The big bomber, a 10th Rescue
Squadron plane, took off Tuesday
night for Shemya at the tip of the
Aleutians to pick up sick personnel
for a flight to Elmendorf Air Base
here.
Radio contact with the craft was
lost soon after the takeoff. BaJ
weather hindered the search for
the missing ship until 6 a.m. when
another B-17 sighted the wreckage.
A Navy crash boat was sent to
the Bay in the Aleutian island chain
and identified the plane as the
missing B-17. The weather had been
extremely poor when the plane
took off, with the ceiling at one
thousand feet.
THOUSANDS LEFT
STRANDED AS BUS
DRIVERS STRIKE
OKLAHOMA CITY, July 6—Wl—
Thousands were left stranded at
bus stops in this city of 242,000 this
morning by a strike of 400 drivers
and maintenance employees of the
city bus company.
The strike was voted unanimously
at 3:30 a.m. after drivers completed
final runs, Gordon Malone, union
business representative said.
Drivers seek wage increases and
other contract provisions, including
insurance and pension plans.
STOCK QUOTATIONS
NEW YORK, July 6 — Closing
quotation of Alaska Juneau mine
stock today is -2%, American Can
101%, Anaconda 30%, _Curtiss
Wright 9%, International Harvester
27, Kennecott 56%, New York Cen
tral 12, Northern Pacific 15, U. S.
Steel 33%, Pound $2.80%.
Sales today were 1,570,000 shares.
Averages today are as follows: in
dustrials 210.85, rails 53.03, utilities
41.09.
rhe Washington
Merry-Go-Round
Bv DREW PEARSON
ICoprrllbt. ikml oj Ball Srndicitc. Ids.)
WASHINGTON — Considering
the fact that they are members of
opposite political parties and once
rival candidates for {he Presidency,
General MacArthur and President
Truman have coordinated on the
Korean crisis exceptionally well.
In fact, they get along better
than some of MacArthur's fellow
generals in the Pentagon Building,
whom “Doug” sometimes treats
with highhanded disdain.
Two historic telecommunication
conversations were held between
MacArthur and the White House
in the first stages of the Korean
war. The first was the night be
fore Truman issued his world
shaking announcement that Amer
ican forces would intervene. The
second was four days later when
MacArthur gave an extremely
gloomy picture of the Korean mil
itary rout and asked for permission
to land ground troops. When Mac
Arthur made this proposal, Pent
agon officials teletyped back the
suggestion that he make a formal
request. MacArtrur replied crisply:
“Consider it made." Permission
was immediately granted.
MacArthur talked on the telecom
in somewhat the same stilted lan
guage he uses in his now famous
communiques. He did not speak
disparagingly of the SoutM Koreans
but used such phrases as “the
Koreans in their efforts to resist
Communism” must be helped.
Secretary of the Army* Prank
Pace stayed in the communications
room in the Pentagon Building
(Continued on Page Pour)
LABORERS AND
TEAMSTERS OUT
IN LOCAL STRIKES
Two labor disputes are darkening
the construction picture in the Ju
neau area.
t The Construction and General ;
j Laborers, Local 1203 (AFLi, have
I placed members of the Juneau
I Contractors and Employers Asso
i ciation on the unfair list after a
wage dispute.
The laborers are asking for $2
per hour, a wage which T. B.
Erickson, executive secretary of the
Alaska Federation of Labor says
will put Juneau laborers on a rate
equal to that of laborers in Ketch
ikan and on the Mendenhall Apart
ment project here.
Independent contractors and the
apartment project are not effected
by the strike.
About 20 jobs have been stopped
by the dispute, Erickson said.
Meanwhile, the strike picture
was furtner clouded by the walk
out on Monday of the Teamsters'
union, Local 10 (AFL), against six
Juneau construction firms.
Steve Feist, union business agent,
said the strike was called “to stop
the practice of employing truck
drivers as laborers at laborers’
wages while they are on the job j
as drivers."
Another cause of the strike. Feist
said, is the lack of a signed work
ing agreement between the con
tractors and the union. The con- !
tracts have been under arbitration
for two months, he said, and no
agreement has yet been made.
All of the contractors affected
by the strike are now paying the
basic union wage of $2.13, Feist
said, except one contractor who is
paying $1.80. The wage scale of
$2.13 was set by the union ahd
agreed upon by the contractor j
members of the Associated General J
Contractors.
The Teamster strike affects some |
independent contractors and some ■
members of the Juneau Contractors !
and Employers Association. Feist j
declined to name the contractors ;
affected, but he said the Menden
hall apartment job is not under
strike.
About 12 drivers are off their
jobs as a result of the walkout.
Feist said he is to meet with
the contractors tonight, and that
he is optimistic of an early settle
ment of the dispute.
President's Action
Heads Off Strike
WASHINGTON, July 6 — —
President Truman today created an
emergency board to look into a
threatened strike against the Pull
man Company by the Order of
Railway Conductors.
The President's action automatic
ally heads off strike action for 60
days. The conductors had intended
to walk out July 11.
RUSS PAY ANNUAL
INTEREST ON LOAN
WASHINGTON, July 6 — (JPI —
The State Department reported to
day that Russia has met promptly
its annual interest payment on
postwar purchases of American
goods.
A $5,117,427 check was handed
to the department Monday to pay
the interest due July 1 on $220,
000,000 worth of goods and services
supplied after V-J Day.
VOICE VOTE KILLS
PLAN OF PLACING
RFC IN COMMERCE
WASHINGTON, July 6 — <AP> —
The Senate today killed President
Truman’s plan to place the Recon
struction Finance Corporation in
the Commerce Department under
the supervision of Secretary Sawyer.
The chamber did so by adopting,
on a voice vote, a resolution to dis
approve the plan just two days be
fore it was slated to become effec
tive.
Senate disapproval of the change
means the RFC, a multi-billion dol
lar lending corporation, will con
tinue to operate independently of
other government agencies. RFC op
erations are handled by a five-man
board of directors.
SEN. DEMANDS
(HECK ON U. S.
ARMS, FORCES
Leaders Also Make Dras
tic Program Cuts to Wind
Up Session August I
WASHINGTON, July 6 — t#l —
The Senate Armed Services Com
mittee wants “all the facts” on U.S.
military forces and supplies avail
able in Korea, Japan and Europe.
Gen. Omar Bradley, chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was in
vited to give the Senators that in
formation next Tuesday.
Senator Morse (R-Ore), a mem
ber of the group, said it should be
ascertained “why we find ourselves
in Korea without adequate equip
ment and supplies.” Senator Know
land (R-Califi proposed that the
committee set up a “watch-dog
check" on such essentials for the
successful conduct of the fighting.
At a morning news conference.
President Truman said he stands
firmerly behind his nomination of
Sumner T. Pike to another term on
the Atomic Energy Commission
and of Martin Hutchinson, Rich
mond, Va., lawyer, to a place on
the Federal Trade Commission.
Both have been reported adversely
by Senate committees.
In connection with the Hutchin
son nomination, Mr. Truman said
that the chairman of the Senate J
Commerce Committee, which re- i
ported unfavorably on the appoint- 1
ment, votes more often with the Re- I
publicans that he does with hisI
own party. He was talking about
Senator Edwin C. Johnson (D-Colo).
The Senate Finance Committee,
buckling down to hearings on the
new tax bill, received a flood of re
quests for deeper cuts in excise
taxes on such articles as fur coats,
jewelry, and movie tickets. The busi
ness group which lodged those pleas
said the $1,010,000,000 in reductions
voted by the House was not enough.
Minnesota’s Governor Luther
Younpdahl went before the Senate
crime inevstigating committee to
urge that the federal government
wipe out the “growing menace” of
crime syndicates which he declared
are challenging the power of some
state governments.
On the legislative front, Demo
cratic leaders in the Senate were
making drastic cuts in their pro
gram in an effort to wind up Con
gress by August 1.
Pro-Communists
Renew Attacks in
French Indochina
SAIGON, Indochina, July 6—(K)—
French military sources said today
that a strong force of pro-Com
munist Viet-Minh rebels attacked
French positions in the Bentre re
gion, 60 miles south of Saigon, two
nights ago and captured two small
forts.
The attack was the first major
action undertaken by the Viet
Minh in Cochin China in two
months.
British Army
Veteran Dies of
Injuries in Fall
LONDON, July 6—Ufl—Field Mar
shal Lord Chetwode, 80, a veteran
of 61 years in the British Army,
died today of injuries suffered in
a fall from a bus last week.
POOR CHICKIE
OAKLAND, Calif., July 6—OH—
R. C. Trotter says he just hasn’t
the heart to tell his little red hen
the facts of life.
He gave her some potatoes to eat
a yreek ago. She’s been sitting on
them since, waiting for the spuds
to hatch.
FROM ANCHORAGE
Frank H. Fuqua, CAA inspector
from Anchorage, is stopping at the
Baranof Hotel.
Rockets Readied for Korean War
• V&v V- .v«v4iMMuii
Staff Sgt. Harold Vanderband of Grand Rapids, Mich., on duty with United States military forces in
Japan, cheeks over rockets at Itazuki airfield before they arc loaded on American P-80 fighters engaged
in resisting the North Koreans' invasion of South Korea. IIPI Wlrephoto.
SOLON WANTS
ACTION ON
STATEHOOD
WASHINGTON, July 6 — (A>> —
Senator Cordon (R-Ore.) said to
day he will formally ask Senate
consideration of the Hawaii and
Alaska statehood bills.
"Reports from the Orient em
phasize the need for early con
sideration of the statehood bills,''
ne said in a statement.
Senator Lucas (D-Ill.) Senate
majority leader has said that Sen
ate action on the statehood bills
depends upon how long Congress
remains in session.
The House-passed bills have been
approved by the Senate Insular
Affairs Committee.
Cordon, a committee member,
voted in committee for the Hawaii
bill and against Alaska statehood.
“While I appreciate the desire
of the present Senate leadership
for early adjournment, this being
election year, I also realize that
the situation in Korea may dic
tate a longer session of Congress
than has been contemplated.” Cor
don said.
“Certainly if it be found in the
National interest to continue the
session there then can be no rea
son why the statehood bills should
not have consideration.”
Cordon did not say when he will
make his bid for Senate action.
The Senate program tentatively
calls for consideration of the ap
propriations bill next week, f61
lowed by the tax bill.
Ammunition Plant
Explodes, Red China
HONG KONG, July 6—•(#!—A
trusted informant in Red China re
ported today that an ammunition
plant explosion in Peiping had killed
or injured hundreds of workers. He
did not give the date.
U. S. ARMS ARRIVE
IN PHILIPPINES
—
MANILA, July 6—(/PI—The first I
shipment of U. S. arms aid to the
Philippines under recent provisions
arrived today aboard the American
Army Transport General Gaffey.
The shipment included small
arms and fire control equipment for
artillery. It was part of the $5,
500,000 worth of arms aid the Phil
ippines will get' under the U. 3.
arms assistance program for Korea.
Nationalist China and the Philip
pines.
FROM KARLUK
Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Gulledge
of Karluk are guests at the Baia
nof Hotel.
Work Toward
Settlement of
Fish Strike
SEATTLE, July 6—(A—A possi
bility loomed today that negotia
tions aimed at settling a strike of
resident Southeast Alaska cannery
workers against the Alaska Salmon
Industry, Inc., will be resumed in
a few days.
The AFL United Alaska Fisher
men and Cannery Workers’ Union
struck yesterday in support of de
mands for higher wages and be
cause of a dispute over employ
ment preference between resident
and non-resident workers.
The union immediately picketed
industry installations in Seattle \
and Belilngham. The action halted
preparations for the Southeast
Alaska salmon-canning season
which operates from Aug. 15 to
Sept. 3.
The union represents about ]>*00
workers. i
Peter Oilmore, Juneau, has been i
sent to Sitka to confer with union
representatives concerning possible
settlement of the dispute.
Meantime, Kenneth R. Bowman,!
AFL Alaska organizer, said the
union’s executive committee has
made plans to picket industry units
in the territory.
—
COMBAT TEAM
COMING NORTH
"NEAR FUTURE";
SAN FRANCISCO, July 6—Wi—|
Sixth Army announces that one bat
talion of the Fourth Regimental
combat team will move to Alaska
from Fort Lewis, Wash., “in the
near future.”
The shift has no connection with
the current Korean situation. The
unit has been scheduled to go to
Alaska for some time but a lgpk of
military housing had delayed its
departure. The battalion will travel
by ship.
STEAMER MOVEMENTS
Princess Kathleen from Van
couver scheduled to arrive 3 p.m. i
Saturday.
Alaska from Seattle due Sunday.
Freighter Ring Splice due Mon
day from Seattle.
Prince George scheduled to sail
from Vancouver Friday.'
Baranof scheduled to sail from
Seattle Saturday.
Princess Norah scheduled to sail
from Vancouver Saturday.
Princess Louise scheduled to ar
rive at 8 a.m. Friday and sails south
one hour later at 9 a.m.
Aleutian from west scheduled
southbound Sunday. J
CHAMBER TALKS
ABOUT SKATING
AT NOON MEETING
The Chamber of Commerce
talked about ice-skating today.
At its noon meeting in the Gold
Room of the Baranof Hotel, The
subject was brought up in the
course of the "project suggestion
forum.”
Trevor Davis proposed that a
dam could be built to raise the level
of Mendenhall Lake, flooding it
and providing a clear skating sur
face.
The problem of winter sports fa
cilities has taken on new import
ance for the Chamber since a group
of transportation companies wrote
inquiring what facilities are avail
able. They indicated that winter
tours to Alaska are being planned.
“I suggest that a wooden dam
with flood gates could be built in
expensively,” Davis said. “Normally
snowfall ruins skating. With a dam
to control the level of the water
the lake cotild be flooded and skat
ers could have new ice after a
snowfall.”
Kenneth Kadow said Mendenhall
Lake is too far away to be generally
useful as an ice-skating rink. He
suggested that an inexpensive
rink could be constructed at the
ball park.
The ice-skating problem Was
turned over to the Civic Affairs
Committee for study and action.
Allen Shattuck suggested the road
between the airport and Auk Bay
be paved.
He was answered immediately by
Chris Wyller, Bureau of Public
Roads district engineer, who said
that the paving job is the next
project for the bureau.
However, he could not give a
definite date for the start of the
job. he said.
Peter Werner suggested that the
tennis courts in Evergreen Bowl be
provided with backstops.
R. E. Robertson said he believed
a road should be constructed from
Seward Street to Evergreen Bowl
to provide a place for school
children to play during recess.
The two suggestions were also
shunted to the Civic Affairs ''Com
mittee for study.
Malcolm Greany, local photog
rapher who accompanied the Cham
ber of Commerce party on its re
cent goodwill tour to Haines. White
horse and Skagway, took Chamber
members on the tour as he showed
color slides taken by A. Blackerby
and himself on the trip.
EARTH TREMORS
MANILA. July 6—UPI—Two slight
earth tremors were felt in town*
in Samar and Leyte today. Nc
damage or casualties were reported
FROM DENMARK
Axel Laurent Christensen of Co
penhagen, Denmark, is a guest at
the Baranof Hotel.
WAR DEAD
! IN KOREA
I PUT AT 20
; American Wounded Plac
ed at Four or Five Times
that Number Is Report
TAEJON, Korea, Friday—(tfl—The
Associated Press was Informed to
day that American dead so far in
the Korean fighting total 20 and
the wounded are four or five times
that number.
(This dispatch filed at 6:34 a.m.
—3:35 p.m. Thursday, Eastern
Standard Time—did not give the
source of the information.)
This word was received as cas
ualties were being brought back
from the fighting lines.
Special care is being given the
wounded. The first to come back
arrived at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
(3:30 a.m. Thursday, ESTi aboard
a gasoline railway car.
(This dispatch, by AP corres
pondent, O. H. P. King, evidently
referred only to ground casualties—
not air.)
They were greeted by a medical
officer, his aide and an Army
nurse. Smokes and candy were
given to the six stretcher cases and
two walking cases. One man was
dead on arrival.
THREAT BY
TRUMAN IN
RR STRIKE
May Take Action Unless
Switchmen Abandon
Walkout
WASHINGTON, July 6 — (iW —
President Truman threatened today
to take drastic action unless switch
men abandon their strike on five
major railroads.
He called it an unjustified strike
and blamed it upon a small minor
ity of the switchmen.
He said the switchmen declined
to abide' by the recommendations
of a very able Presidential fact
finding board.
Mr. Truman told his news con
ference he hopes drastic action
will not be necessary to force the
strikers back to their jobs.
He said the strike is tying up
five main line railroads at a time
when the rail services is needed
especially for the movement of
cattle and wheat from the west.
And he said, he Would act if it
became negiiary. He. declined,
however, to say what steps might
be taken.
About 4,000 members of the APL
Switchmen’s Union are on strike
against the Rock Island, the Chic
ago Great Western, the Denver and
Rio Grande Western, the Western
Pacific and the Great Northern
Railroads. They are demanding a
40-hour week with 48 hours pay.
A Presidential board proposed in
stead, giving them the 40-hour
week, with an 18 cent an hour pay
increase.
WEATHER REPORT
In Juneau—Maximum, 59;
minimum, 48.
At Airport—Maximum, 62;
minimum, 46.
FORECAST
(Juneau and Vicinity)
Considerable cloudiness with
occasional rain showers to
night and Friday. Low,tem
perature tonight about 48
and high Friday near 60.
PRECIPITATION
(Past 34 hours ending 7:30 a m. today
City of Juneau—0.11 inches;
since July 1—0.38 inches.
At Airport — 0.09 inches;
since July 1—0.25 inches.
SALMON LANDINGS
The packer Elfin II landed 22,000
pounds of troll-caught salmon here
COMMIE
PUSH IS
UNDERWAY
Heaviest Air Action of
Present Conflict Re
ported from Front
(By the Associated Press)
A tank-led force of 40,000 Com
munist troops stabbed 60 mile,
south of captured Seoul today on
the heels of withdrawing American
and South Korean forces. Even so,
Gen. MacArthur advised Washing
ton the Americans’ situation was
not considered serious.
American jets and bombers, in
the heaviest air action of the war,
hammered at the advancing Reds,
destroying eight of their tanks and
46 trucks.
In the face of the steady Com
munist push against the American
and South Korean ground forces,
reassuring word came from both
President Truman and Gen. Mac
Arthur.
Truman Hopeful
Mr. Truman told a news con
ference there are no present plans
to call the National Guard or
Armed Forces Reserves for duty.
The President, in response to a re
porter’s question, said of course
he is hopeful that everything will
work out all right in Korea.
An Army spokesman in Washing
ton said Gen, MacArthur had ad
vised the Pentagon the situation of
the retreating GI’s in Korea “Is
not considered serious in any way.”
The spokesman denied , .tHtf.„ ».
American Infantry outpost had been
"wiped out” by the Red advance.
He said the outpost had withdrawn
behind strong defensive positions
with “very moderate” losses and
under approved tactical procedure.
The North Korean tank force
captured Pyongtaek, 36 miles south
of Seoul. Then it overran Songh
wan, another five miles to the
south, and Chonan, seven miles be
yond Songhwan.
Air Force Busy
A spokesman at U.S. headquarters
in Korea said 20 to 35 North Ko
rean tanks and 19 to 25 Russian
built Yak fighter planes have been
destroyed by American forces in
Korea. But the Communists pressed
on apparently unchecked, and the
spokesman confirmed that the
Americans had retreated from their
forward positions. The spokesman
said 150 to 170 Red tanks are be
lieved south of the 38th parallel.
Gen. MacArthur’s headquarter^
said tonight rocket firing F-80 Jets
destroyed eight tanks and five
trucks of the Communist force
pushing south from Suwon. In
addition a flight of B-26 bombers
destroyed 40 trucks.
Troops Rolled Back
The spokesman at American
headquarters in Korea said U.S.
troops had been rolled back eight
to 10 miles but field dispatches
put the vanguard of the tank-led
Communist thrust at least 50 miles
south of Suwon.
The air war picture was less
gloomy. Raids by B-29 Superforts
and strikes by British and Ameri
can carrier-based planes against
North Korea targets appeared to
have had telling results. The lack of
North Korean fighter opposition
over the Pyongyang and other tar
gets has led to speculation that the
Allied strikes against fuel depots
left the Reds short of fuel to get
their planes aloft.
Korea’s rainy season—upon which
the planners of the Communist in
vasion obviously had depended —
hampered air operations at the
fighting front, but planes, includ
ing B-29's, were in action, hammer
ing bridges and other strategic tar
gets. Mustang F-51 fighters, slower
and with greater range than the
jets, are on the way to support the
ground forces. Seven American air
lines have contracted with the VS.
Defense Department to shuttle men
and supplies to the Pacific theater.
Superforts on Way
The carrier Bataan is on tjie high
seas, probably bound for the war
area. More B-29 Superforts—the Air
Force would not say how many—
took off last night from Spokane,
Wash., for advance Pacific bases.
Others left Spokane Tuesday night.
Vice Adm. Arthur D. Struble said
in Tokyo his UB. Seventh Fleet,
charged with guarding Chinese Na
tionalist-held Formosa from Com
, (Continued on Page Two)