THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE
^ **ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME*__
VOL. LXXVI., NO. 11,782_
JUNEAU, ALASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1951
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
PRICE TEN CENTS
Congress, Country Split on GeneraVs Firing
Bitterness Expressed by
Some Editors on Firing
Of MacArthur by Truman
_ _A _ *
2 ROARING
AIR FIGHTS
REPORTED
History's Biggest Battle
Takes Place - MIGS
Swosh, Manchuria
By Associated Press
American warplanes shot down
five enemy jets, probably destroyed
two more and damaged 15 today in
two roaring air fights over North
west Korea.
All American planes came safely
out of the battles.
One of the thunderous clashes
was the biggest jet fight in history.
It involved 152 jet planes — 80 Rus
sian-made MIG 15s and 72 Ameri
can F-86s and F-84s—and about <0
B-29 medium bombers.
Reds Pull Back
On the ground, two Chinese di
visions pulled back suddenly and
mysteriously on the Central front
American troops pushed cautiously
ahead in their wake against no op
position. Staff officers said they
were puzzled by the enemy with
drawal.
The two Red divisions Wednesday
bitterly opposed Allied crossings of
the Hantan River south of Chor
won. They fought from the craggy
hills north of the river.
But they broke contact Wednesday
night.
South Korean troops on the east
coast stabbed six miles into North
Korea in the deepest Redland pene
tration of the current UN drive.
Fierce Jet Battle
In history’s biggest jet battle, the
80 MIGs swooshed out of Red Man
churia against 72 U. S. jets flying
cover for 30 to 40 B-29 Superforts.
The B-29s dropped 300 tons of
(Continued on Page Two)
STOCK 0UCT4TI0NS
NEW YORK, April 12 — Closing
quotations of Alaska Juneau mine
stock today is 2%, American Can
109%, American Tel, and Tel. 153%,
Anaconda 40%, Douglas Aircraft
100%, General Electric 55%, General
Motors 52%, Goodyear 74%, Kenne
cott 73%, Libby, McNeill and Libby
9%, Northern Pacific 37, Standard
Oil of California 46 %, Twentieth
Century Fox 20%, U. S. Steel 42%,
Pound $2.80%, Canadian Exchange
94.50.
Sales today were 1,530.000 shares.
Averages today were as follows:
Industrials 251.68, rails 82.58, utili
ties 42.38.
The Washington
Merry-Go-Round
By DREW PEARSON
(Copyright. 1831. py Bell Syndicate. Inc..
"PFaSHINGTON.— The televised
Kefauver crime probe which kept
millions of people glued to their
television sets will have long-range
repercussions this week when Sen.
William Benton of Connecticut in
troduces a resolution aimed at the
further use of television for edu
cation and public service.
Benton made a fortune in the
advertising business, also owns the
Muzak Corporation which pipes
music into thousands of hotels and
restaurants. Now working hard at
his new job of Senator, Benton be.
lieves the priceless TV channels of
the nation should not be parceled
out only for commercial purposes,
but should be used in part by the
universities and public school sys
tem.
So far the Federal Communica-!
tions Commission has ruled that 10
per cent of the TV channels
should be reserved for education.
Senator Benton agrees with FC
Commissioner Frieda Hennock that
(Continued on Page Four)
1
By Associated Press
American newspaper opinion on
President Truman’s removal of Gen.
Douglas MacArthur ranged from a
demand for Mr. Truman’s impeach
ment to vigorous approval of his
action.
Some editorial comment:
Chicago Tribune and Washington
Times-Herald: ‘ President Truman
must be impeached and convicted.
His hasty and vindictive removal
of General MacArthur is the culmi
nation of a series of acts which
have shown that he is unfit, morally
and mentally, for his high office.
. . . The American nation ... is led
by a fool who is surrounded by
v knaves."
Respect to Policy
New York Times: “We do not see
how it is possible to question the
I correctness oi the President's de
cision. Policy with respect to the
conduct of a war cannot be made
in two places. . . . The Constitution
puts the making of policy in the
civilian hands of the chief executive,
and it is the clear duty of the mili
tary to express its doubts or its
dissent through proper military
channels and not in public debate.”
People Angry
Portland Oregonian: “The basic
issue is whether the traditional au
thority of civil government over
military government shall be main
tained. . . . But«now that the Presi
dent has asserted his authority,
what will the people say. of his poli
cies which have led us into a war
which he is unwilling to let us win?
The people’s anger at the firing of
MacArthur is their answer.”
To Please Britain
New7 York Daily Mirror: "Mac
Arthur has been dismissed to please
the cupidity of Great Britain, the
ignorance of Dean Acheson, the
jealousy of General George Mar
shall. America has been defeated by
this act of vengence.”
Louisville Courier-Journal: “A
stronger President would long since
have removed MacArthur from his
Korean command when it became
clear that he would not limit him
self to his ..military job. . . . His
(Truman's) only alternative was to
surrender the power of the Presi
dency to a field commander.”
'Enemy' Hits
Alaska Areas
Quick Attack
HEADQUARTERS, Alaskan Com
mand, Elmendorf Air Force Base,
Anchorage, Alaska, April 12 — The
“enemy” struck again in the Anch
orage and Fairbanks areas of Alaska
early yesterday morning, with bomb
ing and strafing attacks that ended
a four-day lull in military exer
cise "Firestep.”
The sorties were the first major
action since last Friday morning,
when similar attacks were made in
these areas and defending ground
forces at Kodiak fought furiously
to successfully wipe out a threat to
the United States Naval station
there.
For the first time since the "ene
my” secured two footholds in West
ern Alaska during early phases of
the mock operations, there is an
indication of intensified activity
there which has defending forces
mustering their full strength for any
| additional assaults.
DEVELOPMENT BOARD
RECEIVES DIRECTORY
George Sundborg, director of the
Alaska Development Board, an
nounced today that his office has
received a 1951 directory of news
papers, periodicals, and containing
data on every known publication in
the United States and Canada. It
also contains 1951 population fig
ures and other statistical data on
leading cities and towns of the U.
S. It is available to the public for
reference.
FROM HAINES
Haines visitors at Hotel Juneau
Wednesday were Allan MacKenzie
and Hubert F. Holder.
i
California Division Reaches Japan
An Army band plays a welcome as a transport carrying troops of Caiifomla’s 40th Division docks at
Yokohama, Japan. The 40th, a National Guard outfit, will undergo more training in Japan and will
strengthen occupation forces, trimmed sharply since the Korean war drained many combat troops from
! Japan, (ff! Wirephoto via radio from Tokyo.
Suspended from Govt. Job
Former Commander Stephen Brunauer (left), and his wife, Mrs.
Esther Brunauer (right), have been suspended from their civilian
government jobs in Washington, D. C. Brunauer, employed as an
I explosives researcher by the Navy, was suspended “under Navy De
partment loyalty and security procedures.” The Stae Department
suspended Mrs. Brunauer pending the outcome of the Navy’s action
on her husband. She had been employed as the State Department’s
U. N. liaison officer. Both were named last year by Senator McCarthy
in a list of government employees McCarthy regarded as subversive.
OP) Wirephoto.
COURT TURNS
DOWN APPEAL
IN LEWIS CASE
WASHINGTON, April 12 —UPI—
The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals
j today dismissed the government’s
| appeal from a decision which had
I cleared John Lewis’ United Mine
. Workers of contempt of court in
• their 1950 contract strike.
I The lower court's decision, by
J Judge Richmond B. Keech, was
I quickly followed a year ago by a
I contract between Lewis and the soft
. coal operators ending a 10-month
1 dispute. It was appealed by the
■ Justice Department.
The government asked that the
union be punished for prolonging
the strike after Judge Keech had
issued a back-to-work order on Feb
11, 1950. Justice attorneys argued
: that Lewis had given only “sham”
compliance to the order when he
directed the miners to get back on
| the Job. The miners ignored the
Lewis order. The government in
1 sisted that was according to Lewis’
plan, too.
A three-judge panel heard the
government’s arguments and the
i union’s replies last April 26.
J
ALASKA LINE
STEWARDESS
QUITS UNION
SEATTLE, April 12, —M—Nurse
Stewardess Lysbeth Rawsthorno,
for years a beloved figure on Se
attle-Alaska passenger ships, has
resigned from the Marine Cooks
and Stewards Union in protest
over a fine and suspension she said
was levied against her by the un
ion.
Mrs. Rawsthorne, known to
thousands of Alaskans, tourists and
seamen as “The Duchess,” said
she quit the union after a trial
committee fined her $100 and sus
pended her for 30 days for assert
edly aiding a rival union organizer
during a voyage on the SS Denali
last month.
Charges Ridiculous
"The charges were ridiculous,”
the soft-Spokane stewardess de
cclared Tuesday. "The real reason,
I am convinced, was that I refused
to be ruled by fear as a member of
the union.
"It began last January when the
Steward Department crew of the
Denali voted a resolution support
(Continued on Page Two!
CAB RATES
JIG ISSUE
AT TRIAL
Former Anchorage Coun
rilmen Testify in Anti
Trust Case
_
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 12—j
iifl—A former member of the city ,
council testified in Federal Court
yesterday the council asked Anch
orage taxicab operators -to "get to
gether and set uniform rates be
tween 1944 and 1946.”
Victor B. Gill was called as a wit
ness in the anti-trust trial against
two taxicab companies, two asso
ciations and nine individuals.
Gill told the court he "personally
suggested we get the men (cab op
erators) together to bring us some
thing so we could either accept, re
ject or change zone license costs
and rates,”
No discussion of cab rates ap
peared in minutes of council meet
ings for that period, according to
earlier testimony. However, Gill said
only the sketchiest minutes of
council meetings were kept then.
Under cross-examination he ad
mitted that the minutes, although
sketchy, had been approved. He
also said he couldn't remember at
which particular meeting the rates
were approved or which councilmen
were present.
City Asked for Rates
During the trial, in its eighth
day * yesterday, William Rsnfrew,
attorney for one of the cab firms,
has stressed that the cab operators
never fixed a uniform rate until
asked to do so by the city.
The government charges cab op
erators “raised, fixed and maintain
ed” uniform rates and conditions,
thereby eliminating competition.
Another former councilman, Mar
ion P. Smith, testified that cab op
eration, including rates, was a con
stant subject for discussion for some
months during his time in office in
1946 and 1947.
"I can’t recall actually voting on
any cab rates but recall incidents
which indicate to me we finally dis
posed of the matter and accepted
a dollar rate within the city limits,”
he said.
Alvin Marquart, who operated a
(Continued on Page Two)
STUMER MOVEMENTS
Denali scheduled to sail from
Seattle Friday.
Princess Louise scheduled to sail
from Vancouver 8 p.m. Saturday.
Baranof from west scheduled
southbound Sunday morning.
MacARTHUR
TO APPEAR,
CONGRESS
Resolution Sponsored for
Deposed General to Be
at Joint Session
WASHINGTON, April 12 —(j»>»—
House Republican Leader Martin
of Massachusetts said today “there
is a possibility” General Douglas
MacArthur may fly back to the
United States next week to address
Congress.
Martin made the announcement
to newsmen following an early
morning session of the House Re
publican Policy Committee.
“There is a possibility,” he said,
"that General MacArthur will fly
back next week and will be avail
able to address Congress sooner than
the three weeks mentioned earlier.”
Original plans, Martin said, were
for the deposed general to return
from Japan by ship.
Republicans, furiously angry at
President Truman for firing the
general, are sponsoring a resolution
inviting MacArthur to address a
joint meeting of the Senate and the
House.
The House Rules Committee will
consider the resolution tomorrow
and Martin said he is confident both
the committee and the House will
approve it. He said he doesn’t expect
administration Democrats to fight
the invitation proposal.
The Republicans are frankly aim
ing at providing MacArthur with
a forum to outline hi* ' Far Eastern
policy to the world.
Among the Democrats, Senator
Kerr of Oklahoma said it would be
unwise for the general to address
Congress and that he will do what
he can to prevent it. Kerr said a
question and answer committee
hearing for the general would be
better. How many other Democrats
will line up with Kerr remained in
doubt.
Martin did not disclose the source
of his latest information on Mac
Arthur’s return plans.
PRESIDENT GIVES
TOBEY'GO AHEAD'
ON IMPEACHMENT
WASHINGTON, April 12 —UP)—
Senator Tobey (R-NH) said today
President Truman in a telephone
call Tuesday accused him of threat
ening to try to have Mr. Tsuman
impeached and that the President
invited him to “go right ahead.”
Other senators said Tobey told a
Senate Banking Subcommittee Mon
day that the President “could be im
peached” if he suppressed evidence
he once claimed to possess that cer
tain members of Congress had ac
cepted fees in connection with RFC
loans.
Tobey told reporters today the
President called him on the phone j
and said:
“I understand you are going to
have me impeached.”
Tobey said he replied that he
intended nothing of the sort but
the President insisted “I’ve gotten
that information from a source in
whom I have the most complete
confidence. I was told you said you
were going to try to have me im
peached."
Tobey said he reiterated that
"your source has misinformed, you”
but that the President interrupted:
"Now let me tell you this, sen
ator. If you want to have me im
peached, you Just go right ahead
and I’ll help you."
Tobey said he has “kindly” feel
ing toward the President, and is
sorry that the incident occurred. He
has not voiced any public demand
for the President’s impeachment on
any ground.
TAPLEY RETURNS
George Tapley, engineer with the
Alaska Road Commission, returned
to Juneau Tuesday via Pan Amer
ican after several weeks on the
Pacific coast recruiting personnel
for the Alaska Roa^-Commission.
AT THE BARANOF
Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Sorensen
of Kimshan Cove; are at the Bar
anof hotel.
Truman Seeks Vindication
In Firing MacArthur;Makes
Radio Talk; Republicans
Are Aroused by Action
By JACK BELL
WASHINGTON. April 12 —MV
President Truman has pinned high
hopes for peace — and vindication :
for firing Gen. Douglas MacArthur
—on the crushing of a threatened
Communist spring offensive in
Korea.
Mr. Tryman told the nation In a
radio and television talk last night
that he relieved MacArthur of his
Pacific commands because the five
star general disagrees with his poli
cy aimed at preventing the Korean
fighting from spreading into a
World War. Less than 22 hours had
elapsed since the announcement of
the picturesque general’s dismissal
stirred this nation and the rest of
the free world.
“We do not want to see the con
flict in Korea extended,” trie Presi
dent said solemnly and firmly. “We
are trying to prevent a World War—
not to start one.”
Mr. Truman said that the bomb
ing of Red bases in Manchuria and
the use of Chinese Nationalist troops
from Formosa — both advocated by
MacArthur — would involve "a
grave risk of starting a general
war.”
If Reds Crushed
Then he made it clear he be
lieves that if a threatened new mass
offensive by the Communists in
Korea is crushed, the Beds may de
cide that further aggression there
or elsewhere is "folly” then, he said,
the door would be open to a peace
ful settlement “which will not com
promise the principle and purposes
of the United Nations.”
"Defeat of aggression in Korea
may be the turning point in the
world’s search for a practical way
of achieving peace and security,”
the President predicted.
Congress, Country Split
Any such outcome, of course,
would be pointed to by the Presi
dent’s friends as Justifying his dras
tic action in removing MacArthur,
a move that split Congress and the
country into two camps.
In Tokyo, an adviser said Mac
Arthur is preparing to return speed
MIGHTY HO'
WELCOMED
UN DIEGO
LONG BEACH, Calif., Apurll 12—
Un—Home from the wars, the Mighty
Mo’ nosed ouMjNtie fog today and
tied up at Navf%Hpyard, to a roar
ing welcome from thousands ashore
A Navy band from 8an Diego and
a Marine band from El Toro, Calif
played the “Star Spangled Banner"
as the Missouri, bluest U. S. bat
tleship now active, nudged gently
up to the pier.
AT THE GA8TINEAU
Mr. and Mrs. James Townsend
of Seattle are stopping at the Bar
anof hotel.
WEATHER REPORT
Temperature for 24-Hour Period
ending 6:20 o'clock thla morning
In Juneau — Maximum,
44; minimum, 36.
At Airport — Maximum,
47; minimum, 36.
FORECAST
Partly cloudy with scat
tered rain showers tonight
and Friday morning. Cloudy
with light rain Friday after
noon. Lowest temperature
tonight near 36 and highest
Friday about 44.
PRECIPITATION
(Put 24 houri ending 7:30 a m. today
City of Juneau—.41 inches;
Since April 1 — 7.23 inches,
Since July 1 — 65.16 Inches.
At Airport — .18 inches.
Since April 1 — 2.54 Inches.
Sine* July 1 — 38.39 inches.
lly to the United States and to make
a stout defense of his views. Lt.
Oen. Matthew B. Ridgway arrived
in Tokyo from Korea today to take
over. MacArthur did not meet the
plane.
MarArthur's Views
His adviser, Maj. Qen. Courtney
Whitney, said MacArthur feels that
his March 24 statement offering to
meet the Communist commander
in the field for peace talks and 8'
letter to Rep. Joseph Martin. House
Republican leader, "complied metic
ulously with all directives he has re
ceived.”
Both were mentioned in a White
House memorandum as indications
that MacArthur refused to comply
vith presidential orders. The letter
o Martin endorsed use of Chinese
Nationalist troops.
Was Military Situation
Whitney said MacArthur inter
preted both as “dealing exclusively
with the military situation and
within the area of his uncontested
authority to speak.”
Mr. Truman's outline of his poli
cy of containment brought sharp
counter attacks from Republicans
in Congress. Democrats, who had
been somewhat reluctant to join in
the controversy earlier, rallied to
the President's support.
Gamble With Uvea
Senator Wherry of Nebraska, the
Republican floor leader, said bitterly
hat "apparently the President is
willing to gamble with the lives of
our boys in Korea in the hope that
he Russian-directed Communists
will see the folly of their ways.”
"We have heard President Tru
man’s weak defense of his shabby
treatment of MacArthur,” the Ne
braska senator said. "Now let us
hear directly from General Mac
Arthur.”
Preparing Invitation
Wherry and Martin have resolu
tions pending to invite MacArthur
to address Congress. The House
Rules Committee will take up Mar
tin’s proposal tomorrow but Wher
ry’s resolution appears likely to be
blocked in the Senate for some time.
In a transpacific telephone con
versation yesterday Wherry and
Martin were Informed that Mac
Arthur would be willing to apear
before Congress.
Blocking Joint Session
But Democrats moved to block
any Joint session. Senator Kerr (D
Okla) said MacArthur’s appearance
should be confined to testimony Ite
fore a committee, where he would
be subject to questions.
President Truman departed from
his prepared text of last night's
speech to praise Ridgway. He said
Ridgway, as commander of the
Elgth Army in Korea, demonstrated
he has “the qualities of leadership
needed" for his multiple tasks.
Commies Building
The President said there are signs
that the Communists are building
up for a new mass attack in Korea.
He expressed confidence that it will
be turned back.
The “United Nations forces are
tough and able and well equipped,”
he said. "They are fighting for a
Just cause. ... We pray that their
efforts may succeed. For upon their
success may hinge the peace of the
world."
Peace Plans
Mr. Truman saw tnat real peace
could be achieved- on three basic
conditions:
•One: The fighting must stop.
“Two: Concrete steps must be
taken to insure that the fighting
will not break out again.
"Three: There must be an end to
aggression.”
He added that “a settlement
founded upon these elements would
open the way for the unification of
Korea and the withdrawal of all
foreign forces.”
Mr. Truman said that while the
, resolute stand in Korea already has
"slowed down the time table of con
quest” the Communists in the
Kremlin still have the decision on
whether there shall be war or peace.
“It may well be that, in spite of
our best efforts, the Communists
may spread the war." he warned.
“But it would be wrong — tragically
wrong — for us to take the Initiative
in extending the war.”