^TftE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE
"Aunt risirs alltubT/»r
VOL. LXXVIII., NO. 11,823
JUNEAU, ALASKA, THURSDAY, MAY p,i, 1951
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
PRICE TEN CENTS
Red Forces A re Fighting With Renewed Fury
KOREA FRONT
WAS GLOOMY
IN DECEMBER
Admiral Testifies Mac
Arthur Thought Armistice
Was Best Solution
WASHINGTON. May 31 — W —
Adm. Forrest P. Sherman today test
ified Gen. Douglas MacArthur ap
parently believed last December tha
UN forces in Korea might have t<
arrange an armistice “on the be?
terms avilable.”
Sherman, chief of naval opera
tions, told senators inquiring int
MacArthur's ouster that the mili
tary situation was regarded then a'
gloomy by both Washington anc
Tokyo.
He said the Joint Chiefs of Staff
after messages from MacArthur, sen:
Gen. J. Lawton Collins, Army chief
of staff, to Tokyo. They also mes
saged MacArthur that they were
“forced to conclude that evacuatioi
is a possibility.”
Armistice Solution
On December 4, Sherman wen
on, Collins messaged from Tokyc
“that General MacArthur feels bes:
solution would be to arrange ar
armistice on best terms available as
soon as possible.”
This was at the low point of UN
strength, after UN troops had been
thrown back by the surprise inter
vention of the Chinese Communists
In the Washington gloom, there
were reports that the UN forces
might have to be pulled out by sea
in a Dunquerque-like evacuation.
The situation changed thercaf >r
and, in the light of reucut ?<■'
counterattacks and the crushing ol
a spring offensive of the Reds, Sher
man told the committee he believe
the Korean conflict is buying time
for improvement of the anti-Com
munists military position all over
the wrorld.
He said in response to questions
he believes “time is on our side” in
the armanents race.
Outlook Gloomy
Senator H. Alexander (R-NJ) told
Sherman he doesn’t believe MacAr
thur alone represented an "apostle
of gloom” in the Korean situation
in December.
Sherman conceded the joint chiefs
felt the same way, but contended
their feeling was influenced by mes
sages from MacArthur.
Sherman was in the witness chair
for the second day before the Senate
Armed Services and Foreign Rela
tions committees. In other high
spots, Sherman testified:
1. He does not know of any mem
ber of the United Nations, other
than Great Britain, which is op
posing a naval blockade of Red
China. This was in response to ques
tions from Senator Smith who said
he believes the British want to pro
tect their trade between Hong Kong,
a British crown colony, and China.
Sherman urged a UN blockade in
testimony yesterday.
Freq to see President
2. President Truman has “made
it quite clear that the chiefs of the
services are free to come to see him
at any time.” Senator Saltonstall
(R-Mass) had asked whether he felt
(Continued on Page Two)
The Washington
Merry-Go-Round
By DREW PEARSON
ICooTTifht. Mil. »i Ben BTMicate. Inc..
T^ASHINGTON.—President Tru
man. talking to a friend from San
Francisco the other day, hinted
that he would soon be making a
whistle-stop campaign through Cal
ifornia. The friend had warned that
Mr. Truman had bettfer come out to
California soon.
"That’s in the cards,” the Presi
dent promptly replied. “That’s in
the cards.”
Then, as an afterthought, he
asked why he was needed in Calif
ornia.
“You’re in trouble out there, Mr.
President,” the friend replied, “As
a result of MacArthur’s visit.”
“Oh, that’ll be all right,” was
Truman’s humorous comeback.
“California’s composed of crackpots
from Kansas, Iowa and Missouri—
like me. Once I get out there and
iContinuod ou Page Four)
Europe Bound Troops
infantrymen of the Eighth Infantry Regimental Combat Team of
the Fourth Infantry Division march np lower Broadway in New
York City receiving the city’s bon voyage from crowds along the
march. Over 5,(130 strong they are headed for an assignment with
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's European Defense Command. Iff) Wire
photo.
AFT E Rj THE SHOW
—Jeannine Holland, 1951 Maid
of Cotton, wearing pre-Civil War
dress, rubs aching foot after long
session in benefit fashion show
at Washington, D. C.
GEN. BRADLEY
STARTS TRIP,
WEST EUROPE
WASHINGTON, May 31 — W —
Gen. Omar Bradley, the Joint Chief
of Staff chairman, will personally
poll opinions and intentions among
the top military leaders in Western
Europe on the trip he starts tomor
row. His poll will cover Americans
and Allies alike.
Thorny problems have developed
in recent months. Although some
of them are essentially diplomatic,
they also have such strong military
complications as to be of direct con
cern to the planning of the uni
formed chiefs like Bradley.
O. BERGSETH
O. Bereseth. general superintend
ent for the New England Fish Co.
from Seattle, came in from Cordova
yesterday and is checking South
east Alaska canneries. He is stop
ping at the Baranof Hotel.
FROM SAN FRANCISCO
O. W. Dahl of San Francisco is
stopping at the Baranof Hotel.
SEATTLE VISITOR
E. B. Davis of Seattle is at the
Baranof Hotel.
ALASKA UNION
SEC. ORDERED
REINSTATED
SEATTLE, May 31 —(£1— Superior!
Judge James W. Hodson ordered the
Alaska Fishermen’s Union (Ind.)
Tuesday to reinstate Ralph E. Ol
sen, ousted as secretary 10 months
ago on a charge of fostering dual
unionism.
Judge Hobson ruled that Olsen
was “deprived of his office by men
who decided the case before they
heard it ..." He held that Daniel
E. Dyggert, member of a rank-and
file committee, wrote and circulated
accusations against Olsen and then
sat on the trial board.
The judge ordered Olsen rein
stated and given back pay at $400
a month and pay as assistant secre
tary until the case is tried on its
merits sometime next fall.
The decision left the union with
two assistant secretaries — Olsen
and Hans Hansen, who was 'Selected
after Olsen's term had expired.
The judge refused to rule on the
legality of Hansen’s election, chal
lenged by John Gelsness and Sam
Bassett, attorneys for Olsen. They
argued that if ballots of Bristol
Bay union members were counted,
Olsen would have been elected. The
ballots were thrown out on the
grounds they were not voted at a
regular meeting of the Bristol Bay
branch.
Judge Hodson said he had insuf
ficient facts to rule on the question.
GOODMAN IV
Mike Goodman of the Whiz Pish
Co. at Pelican was in Juneau over
Memorial Day. He stayed at the
Baranof Hotel.
MRS. ROMIG HERE
Mrs. Howard C. Romig of An
chorage is stopping at the Baranof
Hotel.
STOCKQUOT/mONS
NEW YORK, May 31 — Closing
quotation of Alaska Juneau mine
stock today is 2%, American Can 110,
American Tel. and Tel. 154%, Ana
conda 42% General Electric 53%,
General Motors 49%, Goodyear 78%,
Kennecott 74%, Libby, McNeill and
Libby, 8%, Northern Pacific 41,
Standard Oil of California 45%,
Twentieth Century Fox 18%, U. S.
Steel 41%, Pound $2.80%, Canadian
Exchange 93.68%.
Sales today were 1,200,000 shares.
Averages today were as follows:
Industrials 249.65, rails 79.64, utilities
42.21.
OFFICER
OFNAVY
IS FIRED
Writes Letter Criticising
Foreign Policy Espec
ially in Far East
WASHINGTON, May 31 — 1*1 —
A Navy officer fired for writing
a letter that called the Roosevelt
Truman-Acheson Foreign Policy
Communist-inspired said today his
views are shared by "an overwhelm
ing majority" of American fighting
men in the Far East.
Former Lt. (jg) William H. Evans,
Jr., 27, of Edgewater, Md., said there
is widespread belief among officers
and men of all services engaged in
the Korean war that the State De
partment is "the enemy behind the
enemy.”
That contention already has been
disputed by Admiral Forrest P. Sher
man, chief of naval operations, who
disclosed Evans' dismissal in ques
tioning at the Senate’s MacArthur
investigation yesterday. Sherman
declared he did not think that was
so and said a thorough investigation
showed Evans’ shipmates did not
share Evans’ views.
At a news conference today the
curly-haired ex-officer produced a
copy of the letter that led to his
dismissal and said he felt it was
his duty to write it.
In the letter Evans referred to
Secretary of State Acheson as “Red
Dean Acheson” and spoke of “his
pro-Red gang.” He wrote also of
“that pro-Soviet, one world admin
istration of ours and our senile, ig
norant Congress.
The letter declared that "Ameri
cans are dying by the thousands,
thanks to the pro-Red administra
tion.”
Evans wrote the letter to Alfred
Kohlberg, New York importer and
administration critic, while serving
as assistant operations officer of
the Destroyer Rogers off the coast
of Korea last April, and gave Kohl
berg permission to publish it.
U.S. Chamber
Says to Drop
Price Control
WASHINGTON. May 31 — Iff) —
The U. S. Chamber of Commerce
urged Congress today to wipe out
the government’s authority to con
trol wages and prices and adopt in
their stead an indirect program to
I combat inflation.
Herman W. Steinkraus of Bridge
port. Conn., president of the cham
ber’s executive committee said in a
statement prepared for the House
Banking Committee that price con
trols can only aggravate the in
flation problem by stifling produc
tion and that the present wage board
is encouraging wage boosts rather
than controlling them.
HAINES VISITORS
J. B. Hauser and daughter of
Haines, are staying at the Gastin
eau Hotel.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis
was established in 1845.
• ••••••••••
• •
• WEATHER REPORT •
• Temperature for 24-Hour Period •
• ending 6:20 o'clock this morning •
• In Juneau — Maximum, •
• 60; minimum, 40. •
• At Airport — Maximum, «|
• 59; minimum, 34. •
• •
• FORECAST •
• Ooninued fair tonight and •
• Friday. Lowest temperature •
• tonight near 42 deg. High- •
• est Friday about 67.
• *
• PRECIPITATION •
• <Past 24 hours ending 7:30 a m. todar •
• City of Juneau — None; •
• Since May 1 — 3.81 inches; •
• Since July 1 — 71.86 inches. •
• At Airport — None;
• Since May 1 — 2.14 inches; •
• Since July 1 — 41.41 inches. •
• •
Best Foot Forward
Jack Odom, York, S. C„ raises his feet for inspection by Sfit. Homer Pope (left) Columbus, (la., as other
unshod First Cavalry Division comrades look on near the western Korean front. Daily foot inspection
is routine in the division which, despite its name, must spend most of its time on foot, iff) Wircphoto.
Dept. Stores
In New York
In Price War
NEW YORK, May 31 —</PI— New
York’s big department stores faced
rushes of bargain-hunters today as
their price war on some merchan
dise flourished.
The rain on Tuesday, when price
cuts first went into effect, and yes
terday's holiday slowed the custo
mer reaction somewhat.
But sales Tuesday were reported
up in a number of stores.
Sofne stores hired additional sales
help.
Macy’s started the competitive
price cutting Monday when it an
nounced that at the opening of
business Tuesday it would offer 5,973
items at 6 per cent below the prices
whldh' had been fixed under New
York state’s fair trade law. Such
fair trade laws permit the fixing of
minimum retail prices by agree
ments between manufacturers arid
retailers. Many states have them.
Some of Macy’s competitors fol
lowed suit. Then Macy's made mere
cuts, and the competitors did the
same.
For example — an electric mixer,
fair-traded at $4(3.50. opened at
$43.50 at one store on Tuesday. Suc
cessive cuts brought the price down
to $33.96 at the close.
PETERSBURG WOMAN
DIES HERE TODAY
Mrs. Hugo J. Stoll died at St.
Ann’s Hospital this morning. She
was a resident of Petersburg and
the remains will be taken there for
interment. She was born August
13. 1887 at St. Michaels.
Mrs. Stoll is survived by her hus
band; two sons, Fred and Andrew
Sioll of San Diego, Calif.; two
daughters, Mrs. Atlee Weimnann of
St. Marys,, Idaho, and Mrs. Hawkin
Thomassen of Petersburg; two sis
ters, Mrs. L. G. Petrie and Dora
James, both of Seattle; and three
uncles and aunts in Norway.
Her husband and daughter Mrs
Thomassen were with her at the
hospital.
ing George Is
Belter; Presides
I At Privy Council
X>N60N, MaF 31 —I*0— Kinc
, O' oiYte VI, who is recovering from
; ;ij*'luenai, presided at a meeting oi
li privy council today.
was the' first engagement the
k. <►:’ has been able to keep since
j illness was disclosed last Friday
NAMED [
Sen. Estes Kefauver (D.-Tenn.), |
former chairman of the Senate j
Crime Investigating Committee,
beam*, as be fingers a button in
Nc\v York < itv, after being named
“Fath«r of the Year” by the Na
tional Father’s Day Committee. (/Pi |
Wirephoto.
LOW DEATH
TOLL OYER
HOLIDAY
By Associated Press
The nation's celebration of Me
morial Day appears to have been
one of the safest since the end of
World War II.
The death toll in violent accidents
—128—was one' of the lowest for a
single Memorial Day holiday in sev
eral ye^rs.
A new record low was set in the
traffic death toll. The 80 killed on !
the highways was far below the Na- !
tional Safety Council’s estimate of
110
The Safety Council, noting that
the toll was running below the esti
mate yesterday, termed the record
"a marvelous achievement.” Mil
lions were on the highways for the
season’s first holiday outing.
STEAMER MOVEMENTS
Baranof scheduled to sail from
Seattle Friday.
Princess Louise scheduled to ar
rive tomorrow (Friday) at 7 a.m.
and sails southbound at 9 a.m.
Denali scheduled to arrive Sunday
southbound.
FIRST SOLO
PLANE TRIP
OVER POLE
Pan American Pilot Flies
Norway to Fairbanks on
Vacation in 10 Hours
NEW YORK. May 31—«l—Charles
Blair, Jr., the fil'd man to fly alone
over the North Pole In a single
engine plane, says the record trip
was “awfully easy” but he doesn't
want to do it again.
The 41-year-old airlines pilot flew
across the top of the world Tues
day in his converted F-51 Mustang
fighter plane, the "Flying Gas
Tank.” His 3,300-mile non-stop flight
from Bardu, Norway, to Fairbanks,
Alaska, took 10 hours und 27 min
utes.
About eight hours later, Blair
took off from Fairbanks and flew
another 3,450 miles non-stop to New
York, where he arrived at 3:40 p.m.
EST yesterday.
Once is Enough
Blair, on vacation from his pilot’s
post with Pan American World Air
ways, said:
’It is awfully easy to fly across
the top .... but I wouldn’t want to
do it again. Once is enough.”
Blair said he is ready to dispose
of his plane which he used to set a
non-stop transAtlantic record last
January when he flew It solo from
New York to London in 7 hours and
48 minutes.
Only Beef Sandwich
During the 9-hour and 1-minute
trip from Alaska to Idlewild Air
port, Blair ate only a beef sand
wich.
"I didn't eat when I was going
over the pole.” he said, “because I
didn’t know how to do it through an
oxygen mask.
“But I learned on the way here.
The trick is to take a deep breath,
take off the mask, take a bite and
then put the mask back on."
Blair mentioned no specific pur
pose of the Polar flight, but ad
mitted the U. S. Air Force is Inter
ested in any navigational or opera
tional “dope” he picked up.
Met By Wife
Blair, who resides at Port Wash
ington on Long Island, was met at
Idlewild Field by his wife, Janice,
and their 14-months-old son, Chris
topher.
He told newsmen he flew around
25.000 feet over the Polas area and
encountered temperatures as low as
25 dgrees below zero.
He said his trim scarlet craft
“performed beautifully” all the way,
laden as it was with extra gas tanks.
(Continued on Page Two)
AMERICAN
ADVANCES
STOPPED
Movement Against Two
Strongholds Halted on
One Korean Front
By Associated Press
Red troops fighting with renewed
fury halted American advances to
day 13 miles from the Communist
Korean strongholds of Chorwon and
Cumhwa.
Other UN forces regained control
of the 275-foot high Hwachon dam
.vith comparative ease.
Across the 125 mile Korean front.
Allied forces slogged through the
inud for slow gains or fought off
sharp attacks.
Twelve Red Jets tried an attack
of their own on U.S. B-29 Super
forts. Eight F-86 Sabre jets cut in
Aitli the usual result — two Russian
type jets downed and one damaged.
The B-29s, unharmed, went ahead
with their bomb runs on a north
west Korea rail bridge.
Stiff Fighting
The stiffest fighting swirled
against American spearheads on the
Western and West-Central fronts
pointed at Chorwon, and around
Inje on the East-Central sector.
Chinese units pitched a fantastic
counterattack at dusk Wednesday
against Americans in the hills
around Yonchon. 13 miles south
west of Chorwon. In a night-long
battle the Reds pushed the Dough
boys off the ridges and shoved them
back ^,000 yards.
t>ap 13 Attack
At dawn Thursday the Americans
leaped to the attack. By noon they
had regained their positions on the
road to Chorwon.
Frontline officers estimated at
least two Chinese divisions stood be
tween the Americans and that Red
stronghold, 60 miles north of Seoul.
Yonchon itself, said AP Corre
spondent John Randolph, is a no
nf&n's-land. Americans patrol it by
day, Chinese by night.
The* Chinese started their first
spring offensive prematurely April
22 to keep the Allies away from
Chorwon.
C>ne of the announced objectives
of the current Allied counter-offen
sive is to force ,the Reds into an
other premature attack.
During such offensives the Chi
nese have been cut down in the
greatest numbers.
LLOYD M. RinER
DIES WEDNESDAY
AT FAMILY HOME
Memorial Day marked the pass
ing of another of Juneau’s pioneer
residents, when Lloyd M. Ritter
passed away at the family home
after an illness of several months.
Born in North Webster, Indiana,
in 1879, Ritter came to Juneau in
1898, and had resided here con
tinuously since that time. He was
married to Miss Lydia Kemmer
ling in 1909.
For many years he was associated
with the late D. B. Femmer in the
transfer business, under the com
pany name of Femmer & Ritter.
Later, he was employed by the Army
Engineers in Anchorage, until re
cently when ill health caused his
retirement.
Surviving are his widow, four
sons, Sam, residing in Chicago;
Lloyd, of Santa Clara, Calif.; John,
of Los Angeles, and Grant, in Jun
eau; two daughters, Mrs. Mabel Re
kosh of San Francisco, and Mrs.
Helen Haydon of San Jose, Calif,
and seven grandchildren. A brother,
Glenn of Fredericksburg, Va., also
survives.
Mrs. Rekosh and her two daugh
ters, Elizabeth and Mary, are at the
family home, having come here
about a month ago to spend the
summer.
Funeral arrangements will be an
nounced later, pending word from
members of the family in the states.
The remains are at the Carter
mortuary.
FROM PORTLAND
Walter E. Hutchinson of Port
land. Ore. is at the Baranof Hotel.