The Montana Standard from Butte, Montana • 6

4, lQ4fi Six. MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY MORNING, MAY Finhtinn Ts Renewed at AlnafraV a I 'ii'i I 1 n-iii i'iimiiv i n. '-ww1'. in Convicts Reject Surrender Demand demolition experts were sent to the island, along with a supply of gas masks indicating possibility that chemical warfare would be opened against the holdouts. vr mini WHERE CONVICTS STAGE6 ALCATRAZ'S WORST RIOT Alcatraz island, pictured top photo, where many of the nation's most vie ious criminals are became the scene of one of the worst prison riots ki American history as convicts, armed with machineguns, mowed down their guards in the main cellblock, shown lower right.

United States Marines and Navy and Coast Guard personnel, as well as civilian police, rushed to the aid of the embattled guards. The map in lower left shows the proximity of Alcatraz island to San Francisco. Fifteen-pound "shake" bombs. designed to blow down cement walls, were dispatched to the embattled island on the authority of Gen. Joseph W.

Stilwell, commander of the Sixth Army. It appeared prison authorities may try to demolish the cell-block barricade where the stir maddened desperadoes were holding out with unabated fury. With two prison officers killed' and 14 wounded, Warden James A. Johnston urgently appealed for and obtained an arsenal of the most modern combat equipment. The U.

S. Army arsenal at Benicia dispatched the following supplies: Fifteen "shake" demolition bombs, 15 pounds each; 100 bazooka projectiles powerful enough to stop tanks; 1,000 fragmentation hand grenades; 720 grenade cartridges; 288 grenade adapters (for guns), and 300 light phosphorus smoke grenades. Leathernecks from a landing de tachment of 20 lobbed grenades inside the shell-pocked cell-block Teaming with the depleted ranks of battle-weary prison guards, they braved a cross-fire from the stir- maddened kidnapers and robbers to open a blazing offensive aimed at suppressing the mutineers. Reinforcements were being flown to Alcatraz. A Justice department spokesman said officers were pro ceeding by air from Leavenworth, Denver, and McNeil Island, Wash.

They numbered be tween 20 and 30. Warden Clinton Duffy" of San Quentin, at the. request of Warden Johnston, sent 10 of his oldest and most experienced guards, armed with rifles, to assist the Alcatraz contingent. They were headed by Captain of the Guards Ted Stanich. Explosions shook "the Rock" as grenades burst inside the cell- block.

But there was plenty of resistance from behind the white-walled barricade. Rifle and small arms fire rattled at the bobbing heads of deploying Marines and guards. Once the convicts hurled out a missile apparently a crude incendiary bomb. It started a fierce blaze in the shrubbery pink and lavender ice-plants sloping down to the edge of San Francisco bay. Marines tried to punch holes in the top of the cell-block but they found the roof too solidly constructed and had to give up the attempt.

Shortly bem-e noon, Warden Johnston informed Warden Duffy at San Quentin that the situation was still out of control on Alcatraz. "We haven't been able to take control of the cell-block yet," War den Johnston said. "Our men have been working long hours under dif ficult conditions. We would appre ciate help." Duffy sent Dr. Leo Stanley, long time prison physician and noted surgeon; Assistant Warden Hartley Teets, and Thomas Cheetham, his secretary and noted criminologist, along with the 10 guards.

United Press Correspondent Jack Dailey, circling the island in a police launch, reported back to the mainland by radio-phone that explosions shook the penitentiary at five-minute intervals in the mid-morning. Approximately 16 kidnapers, murderers, robbers and assort ed crime -hardened federal felons were united in a grim brotherhood that, almost inevitably, seemed destined to end in death or unconditional surrender. The fight now had no apparent purpose except continued bloodshed. Avenues of escape were blocked. Warden Johnston showed plainly he would not bargain or compromise.

He issued orders to "shell them out." The fight went on in bright sunlight that glistened on the white caps of San Francisco bay and on the orange-red towers of the nearby Golden Gate bridge. Thousands of commuters on the San Francisco-Oakland bay bridge approximately one mile and a half south of Alcatraz, had an unobstructed view of the island from in-teruban trains and automobiles. Dead were Guard William A. Miller and Guard Harold D. Stites.

Miller died, his wife at his side saying the rosary, at the Marine hospital. Before he succumbed, he dictated a sworn, death-bed statement identifying his murderer as (Continued From Page 1) will have an announcement for you when It Is completed." It was believed a-ctual negotiations for unconditional surrender of the 16 insurrectionists may be In progress. In addition to the two prison guards killed and 14 wounded in bitter combat extending from 2 p. m. Thursday to noon Friday, several convicts were understood to be injured by anti-tank and fragmentation grenades' fired through the window of the cell- block.

Arsenault said Marine Warrant Officer C. L. Buckner, Memphis, had apparently inflicted cas ualties with the grenade barrage Convicts were heard to scream that they wanted to surrender, he said "We want to give up, we want to get out!" the convicts screamed, ac cording to Arsenault. "This was followed by the sound of rifle fire from within the cell-block, and it was believed by observers oh the island that the injured convicts who had been pleading for surrender had been shot down by their co-conspirators," Arsenault reported. Arsenault said Buckner climbed to the roof of the building.

housing the cell-block and, using an electric chisel, cut holes through the roof into which he dropped the grenades. Small-arms fire and grenade explosions ceased suddenly at approximately 1 p. m. and it became apparent that some sort of contact had been established with the convicts whose cause was now hopelessly and irretrievably lost in two days and a night of The sudden halt of hostilities on "the Rock" terminated, at least temporarily, an assault by prison guards and volunteer servicemen against the rebel stronghold. A band of approximately 16 murderous desperadoes was holding out doggedly but uncompromisingly.

Attackers blasted the cell-block with fragmentation grenades at noon without drawing return fire. Police observers said mortar shells were exploded along the building. Authorities mobilized bazooka guns, demolition bombs and T. N. T.

from Army arsenals on authority of Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, commander of the Sixth Army. Crouching behind a flower-covered embankment, a gun crew of five guards and servicemen sharp- snooted a series of pound-and-a- half explosives through a barred window of the shell-pocked concrete barricade. Bursts of shrapnel, exploding with a orange-colored flash, blasted the interior of the cell-block where approximately 16 slayers, kidnapers, robbers and assorted felons success fully held off a 24-hour attempt to dislodge them.

With at least two Alcatraz guards dead and 14 wounded by accurate but slackening convict gunfire, Warden James A. Johnston reported from his battle headquarters on the island that at mid-day the situation still was out of control. Guards and the Marine detachment of 20 had failed in a variety of maneuvers to overcome the death-or-surrender insurrectionists. United Press Correspondents Dan Bowerman and Jack Dailey, who approached within 50 yards of the embattled isle in San Francisco bay, said the assault crews were hidden from the line of convict fire. They squatted low behind burgeoning bushes of violet and pink ice-flower plants.

"They were using a hew Army carbine propelling a one and a half pound fragmentation grenade," Bowerman reported. "Some burst at the window, with a concussion followed by a blast of orange flame and a puff of smoke. "The force of this explosion propelled the shrapnel inside the cell-block. You think you'd hate to be there, with fragmentation splinters flying in all directions." Most of the explosives were being fired through one window the fifth from the left looking eastward from the San Francisco side. There was no sign of life visible in the cell-block from 50 yards offshore, Bawerman and Dailey said.

Wounded Guard Robert Baker told the United Press he laj on the cold concrete floor of the convicts' cell-block for 10 hours last night, feigning death while inmates poured fire out of the windows oLthe barricade. "I was shot down in cold blood, by Joseph Cretzer, a lifer, along with two other guards, whd lay with me, playing dead lest the convicts return and finish us off," Baker said. Three cases of T. N. T.

and two -r JUDGES AND THE SCENE FOR JAP WAR TRIALS Members of the special tribunal, which will try Premier Tojo and other high ranking Jap war criminals, pose for their first group picture on the steps of Tokyo's Ministry of War building, where the trials will be conducted. Shown in the front row at the top are, left to right, Lord Patrick, United Kingdom; Justice John P. Higgins, United States; Sir William Flood Webb, Australia, president of the court; Ju-Ao-Mei, China; Justice I. M. aryanov, Back row: Justice E.

Stuart McDougall, Canada; Prov. B. V. A. Roling, The Netherlands; Henri Reimburger, France, and Justice A.

H. Northcroft, New Zealand. A general view of the Ministry of War building, scene of the trials, is shown in the lower photo. (Int.) per and Clarence Carnes, 29, kidnapper. A guard was still directing the attack by telephone from a position in the cell-block from which he l.m mnM TTiif, i n-iTti'fiifiiiiiii) iii'i-i if il tiilr.a ir nr 1 iramr ivf-TTii -rt nnilmnifwi mi wn itmt "3 GUARD FIRES ON CONVICTS IN ALCATRAZ RIOTING Guard (third from left) reaches up to fire pistol into cellblock on est side of Alcatraz prison during rioting which caused Warden James A.

Johnston to issue call for help from the San Francisco Bay island prison. Johnston said convicts held most of prison officers at bay in cell-block. (AP Wirephoto.) fti- Truman Flares Up at Conference WASHINGTON, May 3. (ZD-President Truman's sudden news conference flare-up set Washington buzzing Friday with more talk than did his delay in naming a new chief justice. Thursday's meeting with the press, in the crowded White House oval room office, ended with the usual, "Thank you, after the chief executive: 1.

Sharply criticized one reporter for his line of questioning on the red hot Army-Navy merger issue. 2. Told another, but with a smile, it was none of his business what happened at a secret cabinet session Wednesday. These developments came shortly after Mr. Truman opened his weekly conference by saying he had no announcements to make.

To an early question, whether he had decided on the court appointments, the President replied with a crisp, no comment. Later, under further questioning, he said he still is trying to find the right man for the job. Just, he said, as he is trying to find the right three men for the eonomic council to administer the the recently enacted maximum employment law. Things were going a Ions; smoothly enough for a while, de- spite unusual warmth in the crowded room and the dearth of news until Bert Andrews of the New York Herald Tribune put in series of questions. Andrews asked whether the President regarded Secretary of the Navy Forrestal's testimony be-for the senate naval committee Wednesday as "lobbying against the merger bill." The President replied with em-phasis that he did not.

A few moments later, Andrews commented that he was puzzled over whether Forrestal opposed a merger or opposed the bill. Flushing, the President said Forrestal was not opposing a merger and declared the reporter wouldn't have so much trouble if he would read these things carefully. One reporter remarked that he didn't know the cabinet met Wednesday. Mr. Truman, a smile on his face, remarked that there are a lot of things the reporter didn't know about.

To a question as to what was discussed at the meeting, the President told another reporter it was none of his business, that he 1 V' 1 Injured Guard Tells of Fight Joseph Paul Cretzer, 35, a ringleader of the murderous band of rebels. Miller's statement read: 'On this date, May 2, 1946, at about 3 p. I. William A. Miller, being in a critical condition and be lieving I anvnow dying, make this sworn statement that I was shot with a .45 Colt revolver by Convict Joseph Cretzer, who I can positively identify.

Joseph Cretzer shot me cold-bloodely and said, I will kill you." "Cretzer shot me when I was in a cell in which he and other prisoners had placed me." The note was dictated by telephone from Alcatraz to a doctor at the Marine hospital. Miller died shortly before 8 a. m. Fourteen guards and officers, including several taken as hostages in the initial outbreak Thursday afternoon, were wounded in the struggle. Several were shot in cold blood.

Some were tortured kicked and beaten by their captors while they were imprisoned in the cell-block. It was not known how many of the convicts had been killed or wounded by sharp-shooting guards and grenade throwing Marines. They were locked in the west Wing of the main cell-block, and unless an attacker exposed himself to con; vict fire, there was no way of gaining an estimate of conditions inside the block. The ringleaders of the plot were identified by Warden Johnston as Cretzer, bank robber and murderer; Bernard Paul Coy, 46, armed rob bery; Miran Edgar Thompson, 29 kidnaper-murderer; Sam Schock- ley, 36, kidnaper-bank robber; Marvin Franklin Hubbard, 34, kidnap- other cell were Capt. H.

W. Wein-hold, Ernest Logerson, Miller and Cecil Corwin. I don't know who fired into the other cell, but Cretzer stood at the door to the cell I was in and went wild. He emptied a 45 automatic into us. It happened in a second there wasn't time to think of falling to the floor.

The air seemed full of bullets. Simpson stood on the bed. Two bullets hit him in the chest and he fell flat on the cot. Before 4 could wriggle under the bed a bullet got me and dropped me. Sundstrom fell to.

the floor behind me as bullets poured in, but he was unhurt. It was all over in a minute. I thought Cretzer would come in and finish us off, but he left. For 10 hours I lay on the floor, blood splashing from my wound. I pass out the floor was too cold.

Sundstrom hugged the floor without a sound, but I could hear Simpson moaning and knew he was bad off. I didn't dare move to help him, for the convicts kept coming back and looking in. When Cretzer told them he didn't want hostages, one of them had said: "Let's kill these witnesses. We can't leave witnesses." We could1 hear the battle going on. There wasn't any gas used, and finally the' concentrated fire drove the cons out of the cell block.

Guards from outside reached us then and got us out. I could still hear the groans from the other cell. Coy was one convict who did plenty of damage during it all. I saw him pick 'off four guards with as many shots during the start of the fight in the cell tiers. He's deadly with a rifle.

PRISON BOAT PATROLS ALCATRAZ DURING RIOTING Warden James A. Johnston's Alcatraz prison boat (left) joins with Coast Guard boat in setting up patrol of island prison during rioting. Johnston said convict had machinegun and was holding most of prison officers in cellblock. (AP Wirephoto.) 1 could not retreat. Escape was cut off by the convicts range of fire.

Riot Casualties SAN FRANCISCO, May 3. U.R) The following is a list of casualties in the convict rioting at Alcatraz federal prison. Dead: H. P. Stites, guard, whose body was riddled with machinegun bullets.

Stites was the hero of another attempted outbreak when he prevented three men, who had bludgeoned to death a guard, from escaping "the Rock." He shot and killed one of the convicts on that occasion with a bullet between the eyes. Guard William A. Miller, who died early Friday of bullet wounds and a crushed chest, after naming con vict Joseph Paul Cretzer as his murderer. Hospital authorities said Miller had been tortured. Wounded Lt.

J. H. Simpson, shot several times in the. stomach; condition critical. Capt.

Henry H. Weinhold, unspecified Injuries; condition critical. Robert R. Baker, shot in legs; condition "very serious." Cecil D. Corwin, unspecified injuries; condition Fred J.

Richberger, flesh wound in lower leg. Harry Cochrane, serious wound in left arm, near shoulder. Herschel R. Ildman, wounded in left arm and hand and other parts of the body. R.

E. Sutter, slight nose wound. Elmus Besk, leg and face wounds. Joseph Burdett, slight wounds. E.

B. Lageson, slight wounds. Robert C. Bristow, slight wounds. Fred S.

Roberts, slight wounds. Britain now has only one doctor in general practice for every 2,640 civilians. CONFUSES 'EM A secretary in the office of Senator W. A. Stan-fir Mary Gene Miller IS 'becoming quite used to requests for autographs from Capital sightseers.

Her resemblance to Margaret Truman, daughter of the President, is the reason for the confusion. 1 Such errors are understandable as you can see by the above photo. I.i...i.huj.iuih iiii. iw 9 jmy-ijwjjjA'imuwwJW wwmpwm By ROBERT R. BAKER, Alcatrai Guard (An Dictated to the United Preis) ALCATRAZ ISLAND, May 3.

(U.R) For 10 hours I lay on the cold concrete floor of an Alcatraz cell Thursday night, feigning death from a gunshot wound that splashed blood over me ceaselessly, while 'onvicts poured fire out the windows of the besieged cell block. I was shot down in cold blood, by Joseph Cretzer, a lifer, along with two other guards, who lay with me, playing dead lest the convicts return and finish us off. Someone suggested that they hold us as hostages. Cretzer just laughed. "We don't need hostages," he said.

"We're not going to make any agreements. All we want is the Someone said Miller had the keys (Guard William A. Miller), and they threw him on a bench, and kicking him and de manding he give them up. Miller-1 took it as long- as he could finally surrendered some keys, but he held out the most important the key to a back gate. wouldn't tell where it was and finally he passed out from the torture.

Another convict threatening us was Bernard Coy, serving 25 years for robbery in Kentucky. The others seemed to go crazy. Thompson brandished a-rifle and yelled "let's shoot the sons of bitches." (Miran1 Edgar Tompson, 29, is. serving 99 years for kidnaping and life for murder of a police officer in Amarillo, Texas.) The whole mass of them rushed us. They jammed us into two cells, I was in one with Lt.

J. H. Simp-V son and Carl Sundstrom. In the couia noia a cabinet whenever he chose. meeting Truman Eliminates War Agency WASHINGTON, May 3.

(P) President- Truman Friday ordered an end to the Petroleum Industry for War, effective May 8. He asked Secretary of the Interior Krug to take the initiative in co-ordinating and unifying "federal policy and administration with respect to the functlonsand activities relating to petroleum carried on by the various departments and agencies." ENVOY CONFIRMED WASHINGTON, May 3. (U.R) The Senate Friday confirmed the nomination of Walter Thurston of Arizona to be ambassador to COAST GUARD, POLICE BOATS PATROL ALCATRAZ Police and Coast Guard boats speed around Alcatraz island penitentiary in Sal Francisco Bay after Warden James A. Johnston issued a riot call sayine convict had me-chinegun and held most of prison officers in cellblock." (AP Wirephoto.).