The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 1

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS THE DOMINANT NEWSPAPER Of NORTHEAST ARKANSAS ANP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI TOL. 10 Blytheville Courier Blytheville Dally Newi Mississippi Valley Lwder Blytheville Herald BLYTHEVILLE, ARKANSAS, WEDNESDAY, 1, 1953 FOURTEEN PAGES SINGLE COPIES FIVE CENTS Base Okayed But AAairiy Details Remain Molotov Pledges Soviet Help in Korean Armistice Soviet Leader Endorses Proposal of Chou-En-Lai By EDDY GILMORE MOSCOW, (AP) Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov pledged Soviet assistance today in trying to bring about an armistice in Korea on the basis of proposals by Chou En- Lai, the Chinese premier. Molotov's statement was the first official Soviet comment on the latest Korean.developments.

appeared in the form of a foreign ministry announcement issuec through the official Soviet news agency Tass and broadcast by Moscow Radio. Molotov said the Soviet government 'recognizes the complete justice" of the new proposals "and expresses Its readiness to fully-assist" in realizing them Two Proposals There have been two proposals- one from North Korea for the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners, and another from Chou En- Lai in Peiping for the repatriation of other prisoners of war. Under the latter proposal prisoners willing to return home would be nandled by neutrals. The Chinese reply on exchange of and wounded prisoners was in answer to a proposal made earlier by Gen. Mark Clark, the U.

commander in Korea. Clark has said exchange of such prisoners must be the first concrete step toward reach- Ing a truce. The second proposal on repatriation is in essence India's plan for a truce in Korea, which the Soviet Union had rejected previously in the U. N. Will Continue Fight At the same time, Molotov strongly suggested the Chinese Communists and the North Koreans should be represented In the United Nations.

He declared this would greatly assist in settling: all issues of the Korean War. Prom this it is obvious the USSR intends to continue its fight for Chinese Communist and North I Korean representation in the U. N. Molotov said that the Chinese proposal on repatriation of war prisoners and removes the remaining barriers to realization of an armistice in Korea." Molotov said "of course the question of repatriation of war prison- as also the governments of the Chinese People's Republic and the Korean People's Democratic Republic, naturally insist." Molotov added: "Inasmuch as this question remains the only disagreement between the warring sides in Korea, which stood ath- warj, the pathway of agreement on an armistice, the Chinese People's Republic and the government of the Korean People's Democratic Republic, guided by a striving for attainment of peace and for bringing an end to the war in Korea, made a new step toward final solution of this question." T- Base Approval Ends 3-Year Effort Reactivation Eagerly Sought By City, C. of C.

Reactivation of the World War II Air base in Blytheville will bring to a close an energetic three-year effort by the Chamber of Commerce and city officials. Their effort was frankly aimed at giving Blytheville an economic "shot-in-the-arm" via the payroll that an Air Force installation would bring. It also fitted in with the Chamber of Commerce's long- range program of seeking industrial expansion of this area to make it less dependent on agriculture. First indication that the Air Force had its eye on Blytheville came in August, 1950. A three- man Air Force team the $10,000,000 field built in 1942 as a twin-engine training base, and city officials believed it might be used by a civilian flight contractor for training USAF cadets.

The City Council adopted a resolution asking permanent reactivation of the base or waiving of the government's recapture rights. Since being declared surplus by the War Assets Administration in 1945, the field had been operated by the city as a municipal airport with some areas leas- ed as industrial sites. In March, 1951, the Air Force replied it could not release the field but had no reactivation plans. Hopes here received another blow when no Air Force contract was awarded civilian flight contractors who had bid on the basis of using Blytheville's airport. from air base to airport to air base Renewed government interest was shown, however, in January, 1952, when high-ranking officers of the Tactical Air Command came to Blytheville on what they termed "a shopping tour." Blytheville was definitely being considered, the city learned, and a decision by the Air Force was called imminent.

The city Council Clark Makes it Clear Exchange of POWs Must Come First- Time Limit on Negotaticns Is Asked By ROBERT. B. -TUCKMAN MUNSAN, Korea (AP) Gen. Mark Clark, the United Nations commander, made it clear today that the first concrete step toward a truce in Korea must be exchange of sick and wounded prisoners of war. But he told newsmen, "we're making all preparations and will be ready to go.

We don't Want to do any- to hold up negotiations." Clark's demand that exchange of disabled prisoners be the first 01 der of business came as Re China's Premier, Chou En la cabled to United Nations headquar ters the latest Communist proposa for ending the Korean fighting. Of 132,000 Chinese and North Ko rean prisoners In a. N. stockades only about 81,000 have said the want to go home. The Commu sent the Air Force a "letter of intent" pledging full cooperation in any reactivation project, Then the Air Force gave its tacit approval but left the matter up to Congress.

Introduced in May, 1952, an appropriations bill in which the base was included was cut, and Blytheville's project shrunk from APPROVAL on Page 7 Eleven Years ers as a whole must also be decided in correspondence with the clauses of the Geneva Convention on which the Soviet government, Korean Is A wait Action on Talks Small but Bitter Clashes Break Out Along Battlefront By GEORGE MCARTHUR SEOUL UV-Small-scale but bitter fighting erupted along the Korean battlefront today as U. troops anxiously awaited the outcome of Communist truce overtures. Most combat veterans were hopeful but wary. The Fifth Air Force reported Allied Sabre jets blasted 33 Red MIG Jets out of the Korean skies for only two Sabres lost in aerial combat in March. The monthly air summary showed, however, that 18 Allied planes were lost to all causes 2 to MIGs, 7 to Red ground fire and 9 to other causes.

Army Secretary Robert T. B. Stevens, Gen. Mark Clark, Far East commander; and Lt, Gen. Maxwell D.

Taylor, Eighth Army comrnnnder, toured the battle zone I and visited an observation post overlooking Communist held Olc Baldy Hill north of Seoul. Stevens, in Korea to inspect the combat zone and for a first-hand survey of ammunition supplies, visited several O. S. divisions. At the, 830th Ordnance Ammunition company, the Army secretary was told the ammunition supply at the moment was above normal Weather hampered aerial activities again.

American Marines on the Western Front turned back four small Red attacks Tuesday nigljt, one nists have listed 3,198 American prisoners, all of whom presumablj would want to leave North Korea and about 9,000 other prisoners mostly South Koreans. Many delegates said thj Red proposal appears to represen a reversal of long-standing Com munist demands for forced repat riation of all prisoners The re patriation dispute was the onl; major issue blocking a truce when negotiations broke down last Oct. 8 Both Russia and India moved to speed debate on the Korean question and there was speculation thai Soviet Delegate Andrei Vishinsky brought new instructions from his recent conferences in Moscow. Some observers predicted move to shift the truce negotiations from Panmunjom to United rjations headquarters. U.

S. government officials emphasized that there can be no compromise on the principle that prisoners shall not forcibly be returned home. Spokesmen Hopeful But spokesme generally ap- See POWs on Page 7 Inside Today's Courier News Chicks face tough basket-, ball schedule next year Yanks' jinx over Dodgers holds up Sports Page 8 Relatives of slate TOWs hopefully skeptical about Reds' peace overtures Page It Society news Page 4 Alarkcts Page 7 Van Fleet Amphibious Landing Was Erased by Order WASHINGTON (AP) Gen. James A. Van Fleet testified today he was stopped by orders from making an amphibious landing behind the Communist lines in June, 1951, which he was convinced could destroy the Red armies in Korea.

51 Merchants Sign for BVD Enrollment Deadline Scheduled for Friday Fifty-one merchants have agree participate in Blytheville Valu Days for 1953, Chamber of Com merce officials disclosed today. Thai's about 24 short of the tota of 75 that the Merchants Divisio Wanted on the doted line before th summer trade promotion event gel underway. Deadline for entries Is schedule be Friday night. First of the 13 days has bee: cheduled for one week from today A list of merchants now signei or the program follows: The Accessory Shop, Arkansas Missouri Power Black Whiti tore, Blytheville Sales Clara' Shop, The Darling Shop, Dreifu ewelry, Family Shoe Store, Farmer Bank Trust Feinberg's Fash on Shop, Firestone Store, First Na ional Bank; Goodyear Service Store, G'rabers Alvin Hardy Furniture Co. 'ays Store, Heuers Shoe Store.

Hubard Hardware Hubbard Soi urniture, Hudson Cleaners, R. D. "ughes. Clothing, Jiedel's, Kel- Sec BVD on Page I against Bunker Hill. The Leathernecks listed 41 Chinese Reds killed wounded.

In Eastern Korea South Korean troops reported killing or wounding 64 Reds In raids west of the Mam and near Anchor Hill. Delegates Say Red Offers Presage Post-Stalin Peace Era The former Eighth Army commander told senators he was ready to go with the operation when he received stop orders from Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, then the Far Eastern Commander with headquarters in Tokyo. Van Fleet said the Eighth Army had smashed two Red spring offensives and he recommended "that we follow up with an amphibious landing on the East Coast." Van Fleet's testimony was given to a Senate armed services subcommittee as it opened a televised inquiry into ammunition shortages in Korea.

At the start, Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-Me) declared "there is were shortages" despite the Pentagon's denial that there were any of consequence. She said the inquiry would attempt to pinpoint responsibility. Mrs. Smith, who is chairman of the subcommittee, said she was ratified recent reports the ammunition shortage in Korea had been cured.

But she insisted that would not slow down the inquiry why it ever existed. She said that shortages during 22 months than Van Fleet led the Eighth Army had caused restrictions or limitation upon the ighting "men in the frontline." Another member, Sen. Byrd (D- Va), asserted he was not going to et the Pentagon leaders make the nquiry an occasion for demand- See AMPHIBIOUS on Page 7 UNITED NATIONS, N. Y. U.

N. delegates today viewed the East-West agreement on a new N. secretary general and Communist Chinese proposals to settle the Korean prisoner-of-war question as major steps in the Soviet Union's new post-Stalin peace offensive. With Andrei. Y.

Vishinsky making his first U. N. appearance since his return from Moscow, the Security Council yesterday broke Its long deadlock over a successor to Trygve Lie and nominated Dag Hammarskjold, Swedish deputy foreign minister, to fill the post. Hammarskjold had not previously been mentioned publicly as possible choice. The surprise East-West agreement came on heeli of China's broadcast offer two days ago to settle the major issue standing in the way of a Korean armistice.

That proposal had Immediately captured top attention at the U. N. Agreement on a successor for Lie was the first concord between the Soviets and the West on any major issue before the U. N. in many months.

Delegates hailed it with the speculation that if the cold war adversaries could get together on a new U. N. chief executive, the way may be paved for settlement of other bitter problems harassing the 60-nation world organization. Hammarakjold was approved first yesterday in a secret buddle of the Security Council's five per- See U.K. on Page 'Hot'War Raged While Original Air Base Built To many, re-opening of the Blytheville base will recall the frustrated days of 1942 when Corregidor was about to fall.

Philippine government leader Manuel Quezon and his staff had sneaked through to Australia and the Japanese threatened to overrun the entire Pacific jJJ? Uncle Sam sought to consolidate his Industrial might against the Japanese-Nazi menace. The first hint that a military base would be established in Blytheville came on Feb 5 of that year and the official announcement followed on March 30 when the United States Army Air Corps disclosed that the project had been affirmed. One day previously, Swift and Company Oil Mills, had announced that a $400,000 soybean processing and cotton seed oil mill would be erected in Blytheville and eight acres were to be cleared in another big project on South Highway 81. This was for a $300.000 low-in- Weather ARKANSAS Partly cloudy this iternoon, tonight and Thursday; ooler in east portion tonight. MISSOURI Partly cloudy west, loudy east portion tonight; Thursay partly cloudy and not quite as ool; possibly showers in southeast; ittlc change in temperature to- ight; low tonight 38 northeast to 5 southwest; high Thursday 50 ortheast to 80-85 southwest.

Minimum cms Maximum Sunrise 3unset Prcclp. 24 noun to 7 a.m.—.17. Preclp. since Jan. Mean tempernture (midway between gh and Nomal mean for This Date Last Year Minimum thin Maximum Prcclp.

Jan. 1 to I corns housing project one which did not materialize until 1951. 4,000 Troops Expected Original plans for Blytheville's first air base called for an advanced aomber training school with at least 4.000 troops, aviation cadets and officers to be stationed here "when school is opened in the early 'all," according to Courier News lies. Cost of this air base was said to "in excess of $5,000.000" and property owners' in the Gosnell wea were mailed letters telling to abandon plans for crops in that year as Uncle Sam was preparing to purchase their land through direct purchase and condemnation proceedings instituted in federal court at Jonesboro. Thirty-two landowners relinquished rich farm lands to Uncle Sam at from $115 to S250 per acre and construction that spring.

40 Miles of Concrete An "army" of from 1,700 to 1,800 men moved in to construct the air base and the equivalent of 40 miles of concrete highway was built into the J37 acres of concrete which skirted and criss-crossed the air field. Completed in July, the base proved to be a $10,000,000 installation and one of the largest in the Air Corp's Southeast Flying Training which included Arkansas and all Southeastern states. Cadet training began in August of 1942 when the first and only class of trainees were put through basic training in BT-13 airplanes before the base was converted into twin-engine operation. Mght-Bomber Training Singleengined advanced trainers, AT-6's, followed the basic trainer HOT WAR on Page 7 Cherry Signs 155 Bills, Vetoes 22 Measures Calling For $3 Million for Construction Okayed LITTLE ROCK Gov. Cherry signed 155 bills Including more than 3 million dollars worth of construction measures vetoed 22 others and Ihen went home 111 yesterday.

A gubernatorial aide said a sinus infection from which Cherry has suffered previously had spread to his chest. He was ordered to bed by a physician after completing action on all measures sent to him by the 1953 Legislature The signed bills brought to 675 the number of 1953 acts, a record for recent years. Only 493 bills became law In 1949, during former Oov. Sid McMath's first term, and 403 acts were signed in 1951's regular session, with 12 others becoming law following a special session. Cherry vetoed a total of 37 legislative actions which is higher than the usual gubernatorial rejection rate.

Among the measures he vetoed yesterday was a S2.500 a year "public relations" expense allowance for himself. It was an item on a bill appropriating $1.800 yearly expense accounts for other constitutional officers, which the governor signed. He explained that he felt he was not entitled to the additional compensation because of his larger salary, rent-free house and other privileges not accorded other constitutional officers. Only 10 of the bills signed yesterday dealt with other than appropriations and most of the money bills were routine 2-year allotments for support oi state agencies and departments. The non routine appropriations included: $650,000 for construction See CHERRY on Page 1 May Be Month to 6 Weeks Before Any Construction Starts Blytheville was assured of its air base today, but the next step toward actual reactivation of the World War II installation was neither clear-cut nor likely to come about with any suddenness.

From all indications today, it appeared that it will be a month or six weeks before any actual construction- work gets under way. Reactivation Means Shift Of 4 Groups At least three major steps main to be taken before the in itial reactivation work gets unde way. These include: 1) Completion of purchase the city of 41 remaining acres in 192-acre plot needed by the Ai: Force for runway extension. 2) Receipt of Defense Depart inent directives by the Corps Engineers authorizing the begin nitig-s of construction. 3) Advertising for bids awarding of contracts by the En gineers.

Yesterday's action by the De ense Department authorized the construction of crash, fire and rescue facilities and a cold stor- ige plant. This work wUI cost Tom $200,000 to $225,000. Approval of this relatively small portion of the overall project was tantamount to approval of the entire base, Blytheville res- dents were assured by Ralph Matthews, secretary to Sen. John McCIellan, and Rep. E.

C. (Took) athlngs. Rep. Gainings said in Washing- yesterday that the Defense Department action "apparently has lifted the freeze on the Bly- heville base" and added that he nterprets the action as a go- ahead signal. Of the 192 acres needed in addition to the present base site, 51 have been acquired by the -ity.

Transfer of the remainder the city by the owners, Mrs. Bunch and Mrs. J. P. Raney, is expected to be done this veek, according to Oscar Fender, special counsel for the city air base matters.

Await Directive Col. T. J. Hnyes, head of the Jttle Rock District of the Corps told the Courier Vews this morning that his office nist await notice of the Defense Department approval in the form of directive. Plans are not yet complete on all the facilities called for in the initial authorization, Col.

Hayes said. However, he said, if the directive doesn't require any changes in present plans for the crash and fire facilities, "we have the monty to go ahead." The directive must be received, he explained, in order to tell if any changes have been made. If any changes in plans and specifications are required by the directive, these plans must be turned back to the architect-engineer handling the job for modification of design. Col. Hayes estimated It would be "anywhere from a couple of days to a week" before his office See BASE on Page 7 School, VHQ, Flying Service, CAP Affected Problems of relocation becams more immediate for the four concerns still operating on base property as a result of the Defense Department's authorizing of re-activation of the Blytheville air base yesterday.

Gosnell school, Veterans Housing Quarters and the Civil Air Patrol, still using base buildings and land, found themselves in the dark as to when they will have to move from locations following Defense Department go-ahead orders for some construction. The only commercial firm now operating at the base, Planters Fly- ng Service, will to Manila, Paul Lloyd, co-owner with Fred Stcadman, Bald today. The company- will operate from air field there which was an auxiliary field of the Blytheville jase during the war, and which has been deeded to Manila. Mr. Lloyd said the move would I made as eoon as hangar now under construction at Manila, are completed.

Gosnell School District will laps be affected most by re-open- ng of the base. The district maintains it high chool of 185 students and about 00 pupils in the elementary irades in a building on base prop- rty. The district is planning construc- lon of a new grade sciiuoi with the id of Federal funds already ranted, and hopes to have It ompleted within a year, F. E. superintendent, said yes- erdny.

Plans for remodeling the old chool are being worked out, Mr. ucius said, and together with the ew building, that should provide Sec RECATIVATION on Page 7 Stave Mill Worker, 67, Dies in Fire at Manila MANILA Charley Teel, 67-year-old stave mill Worker here, was burned to death last night in a fire which destroyed the one-room house in which he alone. Exact cause of the blaze was un-ifr determined, but it apparently start- i ed from a kerosene cookstove. I The house, located near the stave UjJ mill, was owned by N. VV.

Wagner. The fire started at 11:15 and had made too much headway to be brought under control when iire- ment arrived. Funeral arrangements were in- Traveling Salesman Claims He Was Abducted in Osceola JACKSON. Miss. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said a travel- Ing salesman told them he was forced at gunpoint to drive an unshaven stronger to Jackson, from Osceola.

Ark. The salesman reported the forced ride yesterday and Identified self as Forrest O. Smith of Memphis. He said a man appearing to be about 35 years old and wearing khaki clothes jumped Into his car at Osceola and shoved a gun In his ribs. Smith said the man took $64 from him when they drove through Memphis.

The salesman said the bearded stranger got out of the car near Jackson. tlnrcporterf at Osceola OSCEOLA The Sheriff's office here had no Information concerning the alleged abduction this morning. Deputy Sheriff Dave Young said his office had heard nothing about the Incident complete this morning. Howard Funeral Home of Manila will be in charge. He is survived by a step-son.

Red rlay of Keiser. Gets $9,600 Drive Tops Mid-Point; Response Still Lags County FFA Meet To Be Held in Joiner Thursday A county meeting of the Future Farmers of America will be held tomorrow at Joiner. Blytheville's chapter will participate in various contests and county champion FFA sweetheart will be selected. Beauton Stallings will represent Blytheville in Hie sweetheart event. Franklin Pierce, Harry Brown.

Tommy Cox, Fay Davis, Billy Colston and Pat Smotherman ore to enter the parliamentary contest and Charles Abbott Is to enter public spending competition. Other chapter members are to compete In the talent event. The session Is due to begin at 9 a.m. and will end in late afternoon, i Still creeping along, Chickasawba District's Ret) Cross fund hit the S9.GOO mark today with reports coming in from various divisions. Mis.

Essie Davis, Flat Lake chairman, reported an additional 53.60 in earnings from Saturday's bake sale. Unlisted in aiding with the bake sale which netted over $100 was the name of Mrs. Foggy Buchanan. Keith J. Btlbrey, rural chairman, announced the following contribu- Sce RED CROSS on Page 10 Little Rock Base Okay Expected WASHINGTON Brooks Hays of Arkansas expects the Defense Department to authorize construction of the Little Rock Jet bomber base within the next few days.

Hays said yesterday that ths Department has completed its study of the proposed base. Its construction has been held up under an order to review need of various military construc- projects..