THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE
“ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” ^
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1 P.N. Edition
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SATURDAY
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VOL. LXXV., NO. 11,555
JUNEAU, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1950
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
PRICE TEN CENTS
Yanks Pushed Back as Reds Ford Kum River
--— ____ •
NO DATE SET YET
FOR START, SALES
TAX COLLECTION
The City Council did not get
around to setting a date for begin
ning collections of Juneau’s ntw
one-percent sales tax last night.
But at the special meeting, Cie
Council worked long and hard in
an attempt to clear up questions
which would undoubtedly have
arisen after the tax goes into eifect.
The Juneau sales tax ordinance,
approved by voters at a special
municipal election June 20, was
patterned on Ketchikan’s ordinance.
Sales tax rules and regulations
adopted by council motion last
night also followed the lead set
by Ketchikan.
Among the rules set up were:
1. Sales by merchants to bona
fide out-of-town customers will be
exempt from the sales tax; sales
and deliveries in the city of Juneau
will not be exempt.
2. When merchandise is turned
in for trade-in allowance on a
purchase, tax will be charged on
the full value of the article pur
chased.
3. No tax will be charged on
sales of tickets from Juneau to
points within the Territory.
These rules are in addition to
those already in the ordinance, it
was pointed out.
Vessel Operators Favored
Among the rules suggested by
members of the Juneau council and
adopted was one which will ex
empt from tax sales of petroleum
products to boats for use on boats.
Bert McDowell, who suggested the
rules, said he believed that it
would be unfair to petroleum deal
ers within the city to have tc
charge the tax while distributors
outside the city did not, and the
tax might drive fishing vessels
away from Juneau.
The council agreed that all the
rules and regulations necessary tc
make the sales tax fair and rea
sonable will probably not be com
pleted by the time the tax goes
into effect.
"We’ll make the general rules
now, and iron out the ‘bugs’ as
they come up,” Mayor Waino Hend
rickson said. “There'll be plenty
of ‘bugs'.”
A motion was made to permit the
Alaska Electric Light and Powei
Company to begin collecting sales
tax the month following the start
ing date for the sales tax.
This was passed after C. B. Hol
land, assistant manager of the
company, explained that meters
are read on the 20th day of the
month preceding that one in which
bills are sent out.
Meter readings on which bills
sent out August 1 are based wJTe
made on July 20, he said.
Holland had previously stated he
was against a tax on sale of elec
trical energy. He said the cost ol
collecting the tax will be passed
on to the consumer.
Card Table Ordinance
A new card table license ordi
nance was read for the first time
at the meeting. If it is passed in
two more readings and adopted,
the cost of operating card tables
will go up after January.
The ordinance calls for a $35
license fee for each establishment
operating one card table, and $35
each for additional tables.
The ordinance which it will re
place called for a $20 license fee
for each establishment operating
up to four tables and $5 for each
additiona ltable.
SIMMONS OUT OF
LINEUP AS PHILS
PLUG FOR PENNANT
PHILADELPHIA, July 15 — (iP) —
Curt Simmons, the $65,000 bonus
pitcher who made good, won’t be
around to help the Philadelphia
Phillies in their pennant drive dur
ing the first two weeks of August.
Instead of taking his turn on
the pitching mound, young Curt
will be on duty with the 108th
Field Artillery Battalion of the 28th
Division at Indiantown Gap, Pa.,
from July 29 to August 12.
It’s a two-week tour of National
Guard duty Curt has been serving
for the past three years, but this
will mark the first time Simmons
will be lost to the club during a
pennant fight.
One type of catfish in the Nile
gives off on electric shock when
touched.
BRIDGES IS
ASKING FOR
NEW TRIAL
SAN FRANCISCO, July 15—(A>)—
Harry Bridges has demanded a new
perjury trial on the basis of an
affidavit filed in London June 6 by
a one-time bitter waterfront rival
telling of a plot to frame the labor
leader.
Bridges, president of the CIO In
ternational Longshoremen’s and
Warehousemen’s Union, is free on
bail pending appeal of his convic
tion of lying when he told a 1945
naturalization he had never been
a Communist.
Attorneys for Bridges filed in
federal court yesterday the affi
davit of John M. Stewart, known in
Pacific Coast maritime circles as
John E. Ferguson. He is a one-time
official of the Marine Firemen’s
Union.
Stewart’s affidavit said his oppo
sition to Bridges in 1936 and 1937
was financed by enemies of the
longshore leader in government, in
dustry and labor.
WE MAY HAVE TO
EVACUATE KOREA IN
11 HRS-VAN ZANDT
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 15—1®
—Rep. James E. Van Zandt (R-Pa)
said today the United States “may
have co evacuate Korea in the next
,2 hours.”
Van Zandt, a member of the
House Armed Forces committee and
the Joint Atomic Energy Commit
tee, made the statement in a speech
oefore the Pennsylvania convention
if the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
“It is possible we may stand up
and fight for the port of Pusan, or
Normandy will be repeated,” Van
Zandt declared. He referred to the
amphibious operation necessary
during World War II when U.S.
and Allied Armies returned to the
European continent.
Later, Van Zandt told a reporter
he based his opinion on the grounds
that the Kum river is the last nat
ural barrier against the Communist
troops.
At the same time, he said that
his prediction of the imminent
evacuation is entirely his own
chinking and is not based upon re
cent information from Washing
ton.
His remarks contrasted sharply
with reports from military leaders.
COST OF KOREAN
WAR OUT SOON;
6 BILLION HINTED
WASHINGTON, July 15 — —
Congress probably will have to wait
a week before it knows the likely
cost of building up the U.S. military
machine to win the battle of Ko
rea, Senator Elmer Thomas (D
Okla) said today.
Thomas, who heads the Senate
Military Appropriations subcommit
tee, told a reporter he has been ad
vised the estimates of new armed
service funds won’t be available be
fore next Friday, at the earliest.
Although Thomas said no final
figures had been agreed upon. Sen
ator Robertson (D-Va) told the
Senate yesterday he had heard
that the administration will ask for
$6,000,000,000 to pay and equip the
men, and build the planes and tanks
needed to defeat the North Koreans.
WEATHER REPORT
In Juneau—Maximum, 60;
minimum, 52.
At Airport—Maximum, 64;
minimum, 49.
FORECAST
(Juneau and Vicinity)
Variable cloudiness tonight
and Sunday. Lowest tem
perature tonight about 50,
highest Sunday about 64.
PRECIPITATION
(Past 24 hours ending 7:30 a m. today
City of Juneau — None;
since July 1—1.13 inches.
At Airport — None;
since July 1—0.61 inches.
Hub City Alert
System Tried
"Just in Case"
Alaska Cities Warned to
Be Ready for Surprise
Attack-Evacuation Plans
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, July 15—
iP)—Sirens and whistles here and
at nearby Elmendorf Ait Force
Base today will herald new mil
itary and civilian defense prepar
edness programs getting under way.
A new air whistle to supplement
the military siren were tested at
10 a m., base commander Brig. Gen.
Donald R. Hutchinson said.
The Alaska Railroad will test
its siren at noon in the terminal
yards.
The sounds will warn everybody
in the greater Anchorage area of
.vhat an emergency alert will sound
like, just in case.
The machinery for preparing for
defense action in case of actual
attack was recently mapped under
the direction Of Mayor A. J. Lous
sac. with guidance from Governor
Gruenine.
•
“Communities should be prepared
to control fires and care for dam
age in case of attack, attempt to
minimize casualties with plans tor
shelter and evacuation, and pre
vent sabotage or domestic disturb
ances.
‘ Don’t Forget Guard
“They should not lose sight of
.he National Guard, which is a
)art of the military establishment
and which concerns liaison with
adjacent bases.”
In a letter to Alaskan mayors
earlier this week, Col. J. D. Alex
ander, civilian defense chief for
Alaska, warned:
“Communltes in Alaska may be
mbjected to enemy attack from the
lir without warning," but he said
there was no cause for undue ex
citement or interference with every
day life.
Hutchinson today emphasized Na
tional Guard duties concerning
domestic disturbances and material
aid to be rendered to communities.
He points out that air cover and
troop support will probably con
centrate first on protecting defense
oases and the entire territory from
enemy action. Secondly, he said
they would concentrate on commu
nities adjacent to bases.
“Naturally, the military would
not sit back in event an attSck
concentrated on a civilian town."
Get Cities Going
Hutchinson suggested all cities
provide' themselves with “mob'ne
outlie address systems, sirens, air
aid wardens, plant guards and
;uch emergency mechanisms as
should be established to follow in
structions provided by the military
during any alert."
His comments tied in with those
of an Alaskan command public
information officer who said the
military’s first duty would be to
evacuate and shelter military de
pendents and civilian employes and
to put bases on a wartime status
prepared to defend points of at
tack and repel attackers.
ELKS WILL CONDUCT
WILSON RITES MONDAY
Elks ritualistic funeral services
for Frank Wilson, 79, who died
Thursday in Sitka, will be held at
2 p.m. Monday In the chapel of
the Charles W. Carter Mortuary.
Mr. Wilson, a life member of the
Skagway Elks Lodge, was born in
Petersburg, O. He was associated in
Territorial fisheries with Joe
Sprague.
Pallbearers at Monday’s services
will be Bill Feero, Paul Talkington,
Pat Carroll, Henry Messerschmidt,
Cedric Davis, and H. R. Vander
Leest.
Interment will be in the Elks
plot at Evergreen cemetery.
WOMAN FOUND DEAD
A woman, identified as Mrs. Bes
sie McCullough, about 40, was found
dead this morning In the City Cafe
Rooms on South Franklin Street.
The physician summoned by the
manager of the rooms said the wo
man’s death was apparently due to
natural causes. He said there were
no indications of foul play.
finniga\ here
C. A. Finnigan of Seattle is re
gistered at the Baranof Hotel.
ALASKA LINE
PICKETING BY
CIO 'ILLEGAL'
WASHINGTON, July 15 — UT\ —
A National Labor Relations Board
trial examiner ruled today that CIO
Longshoremen’s union picketing ot
the Alaska Steamship Company
May 10 was a violation of the Taft
Hartley Act.
Trial Examiner Wallace E. Roy
ster ruled that the International
Longshoremen and Warehousemen’s
Union, its Seattle Local 19 and its
cannery workers Local 7-C were
all involved.
The examiner held that the one
day picketing was an illegal at
tempt to force the steamship com
pany to stop carrying cannery sup
plies to Alaska for firms of the
Alaska Salmon Industry, Inc., un
less the Industry extended recogni
tion to Local 7-C.
There was no labor dispute with
the steamship company.
After the brief picketing, the
steamship company announced it
would cease carrying supplies for
the canneries.
Local 7-C then won a contract
with the Salmon Industry.
The trial examiner recommended
that all the unions cited for the vio
lation should be required to post
notices to members that they wili
not repeat the action.
_I__
EVANGELIST ASKS
DAY FOR PRAYER;
PRESIDENT PRAYS
WASHINGTON, July 15 — t>P> —
President Truman prayed for divine
guidance in his office yesterday with
Evangelist Billy Graham of North
Carolina.
Graham told newsmen he and
three associates had visited the
President to urge a nationwide day
of prayer and humiliation. The
evangelist said he suggested a
prayer while in Mr. Truman’s office,
and the President agreed. The four
evanglists also prayed in a White
House office before and after the
visit.
THIRTY INJURED IN
AMMUNITION BLAST
NEAR GOSPORT, ENG.
GOSPORT, Eng., July 15—(A"!—
Eight ammunition barges and part
of a munitions train blew up last
night in a series of blasts which
rocked Portsmouth Naval Base and
started a harbor blaze.
Thirty persons were reported in
jured in the blasts which showered
live shells over a quarter-mile area
and shattered windows two miles
away.
LABOR DISPUTES DRAG
TO END OF 2ND WEEK
_____
Juneau’s labor disputes dragged to
the end of their second week today
with the Contractors and General
Laborers, Local 1203 (AFL), still
picketing construction jobs.
Business agent for the teamsters’
union, local 10, was not available
for comment this morning, but no
reports had been received of settle
ment of the teamsters’ strike, which
also began July 3.
Both the laborers and the team
sters walked out over disagreements j
on contracts.
At least 20 local construction jobs (
are affected by the walkouts.
BUCK FAMILY VISITS
Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Buck and,
family, of Sitka, are guests at the j
Baranof Hotel.
—
FROM ANCHORAGE
M. L. Anderson of Anchorage is1
stopping at the Baranof Hotel.
FROM TULSEQUAH
J. George Robertson of Tulsequah, j
B.C., is at the Baranof Hotel.
__
FROM WRANGELL
Vern E. Smith of Wrangell is a
guest at the Baranof Hotel.
FROM KETCHIKAN
Ann W. Erickson of Ketchikan is
at the Baranof Hotel.
A delegation of Portland Chamber of Commerce members will arrive
in Juneau this afternoon (July 15) to begin a 12-day tour of Alaska,
led by George M. Henderson, center, chairman of the Portland Cham
ber of Commerce Alaska committee. In the group of close to 20 will
be II. H. Wrightson, left, (above) Northwest district manager* of
Coastwise Line, which operates twire-monthly scheduled sailings be
tween Portland and various Southwest Alaska ports, and Harold D.
Gill, vice-president of J. K. Gill Co., of Portland, which sells quan
tities of school supplies in Alaska. The Portlanders will arrive via
Pan American and remain in Juneau through Tuesday noon (July 18)
before continuing to Fairbanks, Mt. McKinley Lodge and Anchorage.
With the group will be A. L. Lomax, special consultant to the Port
land Chamber, who will remain in Alaska more than a month to
conduct a market survey for Oregon shippers. Lomax is a professor
of business administration specializing in marketing at the University
of Oregon.
OVER 25 CARS ARE
EXPECTED TO ENTER
IN SOAP BOX DERBY
Another practice run for en
trants in the annual Soap Box
Derby was held Friday night on
the course on Eleventh Street.
More cars were in the trials las'
night than aad been to previous
turnouts. Many cars are still under
construction and the entry list is
expected to total over 25 cars.
The final races, previously plan
ned for tomorrow, will be held on
Sunday, July 23. The winner oi
this race will go to Akron, Ohio,
to compete in the national races
there August 13.
Each Juneau car is sponsored by
a local firm. Several entries frcrr
Haines and Sitka are expected anc
they will probably arrive in Jjneai
during next week.
The Derby is being sponsored bj
the Rotary Club and Daily Alaska
Empire. A Rotarian committee is
now working with the Juneau driv-^
’rs to supervise car construction
tryouts and the racing. The com
mittee is headed by Ellis Reynolds.
PNA CARRIES 36
ON FRIDAY FLIGHTS
Paoific Northern Airlines brought
22 passengers from the westward
yesterday, and carried 14 on the
outbound flight.
Arriving from Anchorage were
Mr. -and Mrs. El wood Boobar, E. N
Hales, John Reed, Catherine Kohl.
Carl D’Epiro, John Argetsinger,
Reinhold Brust, M. Ripke, M. L.
Anderson, John Lode, P. A. Smith
Mrs. H. O. Fairhurst, E. Kirsten
and G. D. Marsh.
Coming from Cordova were N.
A. Jorgensen, Bert Ronning, Doug
Payne, Earle A. Wiison, Chris Wyl
lec, and May and Ronny Maxwell.
Westbound, H. V. Davis, Albert
Cashein, Bernie Corcran, Helen
Mangers and Charles Roman went
to Cordova.
Gwendolyn Williams and infant
were booked to Kodiak and these
persons to Anchorage: E. T. Latta,
Phil Elliot, James Weeks, W. V.
Frisby, Colonel Palmer, Robert Hhll
and Vance Sutter.
FROM PENNSYLVANIA
Mr. and Mrs. J. N. DeFrees and
C. W. Rogers of Warren, Pa., are
stoppihg at the Baranof Hotel.
FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
E. N. Hales of the U.S. Geological
Survey, Washington, D.C., is re
gistered at the Baranof Hotel.
AT BARANOF HOTEL
Lloyd J. Blake, Jr., of the North
west Janitor Supply Company, Se
attle, is at the Baranof Hotel.
FAREWELL SERVICES
FOR LORENZENS WHO
LEAVE HERETUESDAY
Capt. and Mrs. Henry Lorenzen
who have received orders to take
command of the Salvation Army
activities in Salt Lake City, Utah,
will have their farewell services
an Sunday afternoon and evening.
Major Eric Newbould the Divlsiomil
Commader for Alaska, who has
just returned from a tour of duty
.vith the U. S. Army Cnaplafiis
3orps will conduct the s' •■vice.
Capt. and Mrs. Lcitazen came
o Alaska alter having served 12
years as officers in responsible
Army positions in California and
Nevada, and for the past six years
the Captain has been the Divisional
tnd Young Peoples Secretary un
der the leadership of Brig. C. O.
Taylor and now Major Eric New
bould.
The Lorenzen boys, Phillip ahd
Paul left for Seattle a week ago
where they are now attending The
Salvation Army's Band and Music
Camp, and Capt. and Mrs. Lor
inzen and the three girls will leave
m the Princess Louise on Tues
day morning.
Major Newbould states that the
friends and associates of the Lor-,
enzens are cordially invited to the
farewell service which will com
mence at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the
.viiioughby Ave. Hall.
SIX DIVISIONS
WILL BE NEEDED
IN KOREAN FIGHT
CALGARY, Alta., July 15——
Viscount Alexander, Governor-Gen
eral of Canada, declared today the
United States will need at least six
divisions in the field before they can
hope for victory in Korea.
Alexander, who comamnded Al
lied armies in Italy during World
War II, predicted the Korean con
flict will last several months and
could be prolonged if Communist
international brigades are used to
help the Northern invaders.
STEAMER MOVEMENTS
Princess Louise from Vancouver
due at 3:30 p.m. today and sails
for Skagway at 11:30 tonight.
Aleutian from Seattle due Tues
day.
Princess Kathleen scheduled to
sail from Vancouver tonight.
Prince George scheduled to sail
from Vancouver Tuesday, July 18.
Princess Norah scheduled to sail
from Vancouver Wednesday, July 19.
Alaska scheduled to sail from
Seattle, Thursday, July 20.
Baranof from west scheduled
southbound 9 p.m. Sunday.
"OUR TROOPS
NOW DOING
DAMN WELL"'
Chiefs of Staff, Army and
Air Force, Refurn from
Korea, Make Report
WASHINGTON, July 15 — (At —
The Chiefs of Staff of the Army
and Air Force flew back from Ko
rea today with the word that "our
troops are doing damn well there,
and everything, will come out all
right.”
Their return from the war theater
was expected to speed up President
Truman's decision on what to do
about mobilizing American re
sources.
Gen. J. Lawton Collins, Army
Chief, stepped off the plane with
Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Air Force
chief, after a four and a half day
flying trip to Japan and the Ko
rean battlefront.
Collins told newsmen that “you
know more about what has hap
pened in the last 24 hours than we
do.” It was he who expressed the
optimistic summary of the situa
tion in the war area.
Neither General would say any
thing about the nature of the re
commendations they will make as
to stepping up support for the
Americans fighting the Communists
in South Korea.
The Army and Air Force chiefs
left Washington Monday night with
the announced intention of finding
out on the spot how best the De
fense Department and Armed Serv
ices could support Gen. Douglas
MacArthur’s elements In Korea.
Vandenberg and Collins stopped
in Anchorage yesterday ’ only long
enough for a briefing with Lt. Gen
William E. Kepner, Alasa's new
commander in chief, and his staff
members.
Meanwhile two other Air Force
Generals reached Anchorage en
route to the Orient on an undis
closed mission. They were MaJ. Gen.
F. L. Ankenbrandt and Brig. Gen.
Raymond V. Maude.
Alaska Construction
For 1950 Will Reach
3 Hundred Millfion
Approximately $300,000,000 of con
struction work Is already in prog
ress for 1950 or will be before tile
rear is over according to Larry
Moore, manager of the Alaska
chapter of the Associated General
Contractors who is making a tour
of the Territory, checking on work
of member firms in progress and
on labor available for future pro
jects.
The three hundred million in
cludes construction of all types,
Mr. Moore said: highways, military
installations, enlargement of ex
isting facilities, Alaska Railroad
construction, plus housing projects,
ipartment houses, hotels, schools.
Three large apartments in An^
chorage, one completed recently By
the Lewis Construction Company
and two about to be started by
dwelling Construction Company fn
Anchorage should give Anchorage
sufficient housihg units to care fbi
its present needs, Mr. Moore said
Relief of the housing shortage in
Fairbanks will be taken care bf
by apartment buildings and a new
hotel.
Sitka's new apartment is Dull!
by John Cushing.
In Ketchikan, L. S. Ferris is
building an apartment house, and
all Juneau is watching the progress
of the Mendenhall apartments,
Anderson contractors—on which
first floor cement is now being
poured.
Moore left his Anchorage head
quarters a week ago, has made
trips to Ketchikan, Sitka and Ju
neau. He plans to leave today or
Sunday for Anchorage.
Formerly assistant general man
ager of the Alaska Railroad, Mobire
has been with the Associated Gen
eral Contractors since the first ol
the year.
In Manhattan, New York, when
builders dig the basement for a new
skyscraper, they must use pneu
matic stone drills and dynamite to
get through the rock.
TANKS HELD
BACKBUTREDS
BASH DEFENSE
American Artillery Over
ran-! 90 Air Sorties Over
Enemy Despite Weather
(By the Associated Press)
Communist invaders crossed the
Kum river today and an American
Army spokesman said the Ameri
can left flank had been pushed
back west of Taejon, the emergency
South Korean capital and advance
U.S. base.
U.S. troops were said to be hold
ing in the center, despite the fact
the Red forces now have an esti
mated 1,000 to 2,000 men south of
the vital Kum line.
South Korean forces gave some
ground in the northward area of
Chongju, 50 miles from Taejon, as
Communist forces apparently set
off a strong enveloping movement.
Attacking in overwhelming num
bers, the North Koreans tried to
get tanks across the shallow stream
20 miles north of Taejon, but
withering American artillery fire
destroyed three of them and so far
as is known there is no Communist
armor south of the Kum. Several
tanks, however, have been seen on
the two north-south roads west of
Taejon.
The Reds hit hard and overran
one American artillery position after
wading the river. There was no
immediate news of the fate of those
artillerymen.
The Communist objective ap
peared to be to drive a wedge be
tween the Americans and South
Koreans "at* IKst'point and there
was heavy fighting at the Junc
ture. The North Koreans reportedly
suffered heavy losses.
3 Tries Repulsed
Before the Reds finally got their
foothold on the south side of the
Kum, three of their attempted
crossings had been repulsed by the
Americans.
The Sixth North Korean Divi
sion. a veteran outfit of the China
war, was said to be engaged In an
encircling movement north of the
Kum river near Yesan, about 40
miles from Taejon.
Two other Red divisions — the
Fifth and the 15th—are active
around Tanyang, 65 miles north
east of Taejon, which might be the
spring board for a wide enveloping
maneuver to threaten the American
lifeline from the Southern port of
Pusan.
The Second and Fourth Northern
Divisions—closest to the vital city
of Taejon—continued steady pres
sure against South Korean troops
who were said thus far to be hold
ing the line.
Active Behind Lines
Official communiques and field
reports said Red guerrillas, many of
them dressed in American uni
forms, also were extremely active
behind the lines. South Koreans in
the general area of Taejon were
reported to have surrounded a
Northern guerrilla battalion.
In all, the Americans had re
pulsed four Red attempts to wade
and ford the Kum river before
superior forces finally managed to
gain a position on the south side.
The Americans, still inflicting
heavy losses, are fighting a rear
guard action as they withdraw.
Moscow’s Lilterary GazetJ* said
American forces were rolling back
despite support by “a large number
of tanks and artillery." The news
paper published dispatches saying
Nortnern troops are tnreateuing
American units guarding Taejon by
circling toward their rear. It re
ported a group of United States
units in the KumTiver area—which
the paper said had been ordered by
MacArthur not to retreat—had been
surrounded.
The newspaper told of a North
Korean drive along the east coast
toward the American port of Pusan.
Bridgeheads were said to have been
established 85 miles north of Pusan
despite heavy fire from American
warships. The dispatch also said
the South Korean Eighth Division
had been destroyed.
Air Attacks Slowed
Bad weather slowed up Allied
air attacks yesterday, but even so,
American and Australian planes
made 190 sorties between the fight
ing front and the Red-held South
(Continued on Page Six)