The Raleigh Register from Beckley, West Virginia • Page 1

Gen. Clark Favors Reopening of Truce Talks Pact Hopes Up as Reds Accept ROW Exchana tor Red aggression on a "voluntary 45 WASHINGTON, March 28 UR- Cautious hopes that a Korean armistice might at last be possible tonight. Acceptance by the Chinese and Worth Korean Reds of an Allied proposal to exchange sick and wounded prisoners of war was viewed here with some degree of optimism. But officials kept their ringers crossed. The acceptance sent high State Department and defense officials Into a series of unusual Saturday conferences.

Noted particularly was the Communist leaders' statement that all the world is longing for an armi- itice. Officials laid the Communists now may be talking action rather than propaganda, and that Soviet Premier Georgi Malenkov's new Kremlin command may be to take some positive steps for peace. But no one knew for sure, and officially there was no comment except on the prisoner exchange development. On this, Secretary of State Dulles said "the United States government hopes that this exchange of prisoners will occur promptly." At the same time--but only by coincidence, officials said--Dulles joined with French Premier Rene Mayer in warning that any move to use a Korean truce is a 'breather" for Red aggression elsewhere in the Far East would have ''most serious consequences" on efforts at world peace. The State Department, following top level conferences of Dulles and his aides and of Defense Department authorities, announced it considered a Communist message to Gen.

Mark Clark "an unconditional acceptance of the proposal made by Gen. on Feb. 22" for exchange of sick and wounded POWs. Clark is commander of U.N. forces in Korea.

The State Department emphasized Clark had called for the exchange in accordance with a Geneva prisoner of war convention on a "voluntary" basis and it interpreted the Red reply as accepting this condition. Since voluntary return of all prisoners meaning that Chinese and North Koreans who don't want to go home would not have to has been the great barrier to an armistice, the apparent Red agreement in the case of sick and wounded POWs raised speculation and some hope that a break in the truce deadlock might now be possible. State Department officials said Gen. Clark has full authority to proceed at once with arrangements for an exchange of sick and wounded prisoners and that there need be no delay if the announced Communist acceptance of Clark's proposal was made good faith. By MILO FARNETI TOKYO, Sunday, March 29 to-Gen.

Mark Clark said Saturday night his United Nations Command favors reopening the Korean truce talks if the Communists are seri- about exchanging sick and ous wounded prisoners war's end. before the The Reds handed over a note--minus all venom and going straight to the point--at Panmunjom, Korea, Saturday, accepting Gen. Clark's Feb. 22 proposal for such I an exchange. Coupled with the acceptance was a request for resumption of the truce talks, broken off Oct.

5 when the Reds refused to yield to the Allied view that no war prisoners should be sent home against his will. In Washington, the State Department said it regards Saturday's Communist note as an "unconditional acceptance," meaning that the voluntary instead of the forced principle applied to the impending exchange of sick and wounded. The Red move came at a time when world 'ommunism, led by Moscow, appeared to some observers to be trying to lessen ten- xmdcm sions, but whether this fitted into the pattern was not yet clear. Even as the offer was made, the war in Korea reached its highest pitch in five months. Gen.

Clark viewed the Red move with caution. "We are going to study this offer very closely," he said. "We want to be sure there isn't anything in it we don't understand." At the United Nations in New York, Chief U. S. Delegate Henry Cabot Lodge sounded the same note: "This is very encouraging if it is bonafide and sincere." Red China's Peiping and North Korea's Pyongyang radio underscored their emphasis by repeating over and over, in English, Japanese, Korean and Chinese, broadcasts of the note text.

The Red acceptance covered only the sick and wounded, a mere fraction of war prisoners held by either side. The Reds claim they hold 13,000 Allied POWs, including abqut 3,000 Americans. The U. Command disputes their claims. The Allies hold 132.304 Chinese and North Koreans, of which 9,105 are civilian internees and 123,199 POWs.

VOL. 73--NO. 238 SINCE 1880--BECKLEY'S OLDEST INSTITUTION BECKLEY, W. SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 29, 1953 'Unbelievable 9 Wreck Fatal to 22, Injures 61 A TTm I --TEN CENTS CONEAUT, 0-, March 28 grimy, red-eyed band of rescue workers today dug doggedly at the twisted skeletons of 19 railroad coaches in search of more victims of an unbelievable, three train wreck. They have found 22 bodies, and there was a possibility at le-ast one more might be in the wreckage, Erie County Coroner Warren Wood said.

One body was found late today when fingers were seen sticking up from a cinder bed. Some of the dead still were unidentified. Sixty-one injured--only one critically--were in hospitals here and in Ashtabula and Erie, Pa. The scene was a desolate section of the New York Central mainline in Western Pennsylvania, one-half mile from the Ohio line. There are four tracks.

The inner tracks are used by passenger trains. Freight trains use the outer ones. But for a little while, the numbed bursting ran three miles to senses of the uninjured among the 1 400 persons involved in the wrecks to summon outside aid. At exactly 10 o'clock, an 18-inch pipe 35 feet long fell from a eastbound freight. It bent a rail on the westbound passenger tracks.

At that instant, the westbound Buffalo to Chicago Express came roaring past at '80 miles an hour and hit the bent rail The locomotive wrecked the freight and the freight cars spun from the tracks and, in turn, wrecked the flyer. In seconds, the headlight of the eastbound Southwestern Limited split the night, flared briefly across the tangled wreckage in its path and piled headlong at 80 miles an hour into the welter of twisted steel and broken bodies. After- long, anguished seconds of sound of steel on steel, grinding and tearing itself to pieces, quiet came, but briefly. Screams started to come from the coaches, strewn like a carelessly dumped pile of fence posts. Ammo Train Explodes In Indiana Coal Town LEWIS.

March 28 Ifl--An ammunition train blew up in this coal-mining town setting fire to the town and shaking the area like an earthquake for a radius of at least 35 miles. State police said they had an unconfirmed report that two were dead. All available ambulances in the area were called. Firemen from Linton, Jasonville and Sullivan answered calls to help fight the fire. A desk officer at the Putnamville state police post, 35 miles away, said the tremor was felt there.

Vance Sappenfield, a Linton newsman spending the evening at Lyons, 20 miles away, said the explosion blew open the door of the house was in and almost knocked the occupants from their chairs. He said he felt five separate explosions. The train was on the -Chicago, Milwauke, St. Paul Pacific Railroad. A railroad spokesman in Plea for Red Cross Made by Polio Chief "We've got to do something for the Red Cross.

We can't let Raleigh County's chairman for infantile paralysis, W. A. Burke, put this thought before county residents Saturday in the final days of the Red Cross Chapter's drive for funds. The drive officially ends Tuesday. Workers have managed to reach only the one-quarter mark towards the quota of S23.309.

The total to date is less than $6,000. Officials of the county chapter announced the chapter will he forced to close if sufficient funds are not received. "If the Raleigh County Chapter closes because it fails to reach its quota, who wiil be supplying this county with gamma he asked. The serum, a new polio weapon, is being supplied by the Red Cross. West Virginia's first shipment is expected early in May.

Virginia WE A itlER Considerable cloudiness with chance of a few showers. Little change in temperature today. Chicago said he believed it was coming from the Crane naval ammunition depot, 30 miles southwest. Lewis has a population of 275. Search for Plane Resumed Today CHARLESTON, W.

March 28 (ft--Civil Air Patrol pilots from several states joined Air Force personnel in the search today for a missing training plane with one occupant. Rain and murky weather in some parts of West Virginia hampered the air search for the single- engine T-6 Air Force craft. It was missing on a flight from Dayton, 0., to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. Meanwhile, a CAP group commander said that the search was being discontinued tonight until 6 a.m. tomorrow.

3 Raids Staged Sheriff John Ward with several deputies and a constable raided two homes and a beer tavern at Lillybrook Saturday night after three of the deputies had destroyed a moonshine still near Besoco. The three places were raided simultaneously, as follows: The 560 Club, operated by Lewis Graf ton, who was jailed to await hearing Monday. The raiders found a gallon end a half of moonshine, 15 cases of beer not covered by proper licenses, and fireworks. They also found a shotgun on which was pinned this notation: "Pawned for 2 1-2 pints." Oliver and Susie Alexander's home turned up a gallon of moonshine and the pair was told to appear for hearing in Magistrate Meadows' court Monday. Mrs.

Ruth Smith escaped, Ward said, when officers appeared at the home of Frank Smith in Lillybrook. 'A sale and possession charge is pending against the woman. The raiders, in addition to Ward, were Deputies Mason Farley, Jay Miller, Fred Aaron, Boyd Hutchison. H. Hutchinson, Flynn Canady, Ted Brown and Arthur Burks.

Constable Thompson assisted. Collier, Wingler On All-State; See Page 15 Two members of Beckley's triple champion basketball team, Forward Dwayne Winpl-r and Guard Bill Collier, today honored with berths on the 1953 All-State Basketball Team. It marked the fifth time in history that one school has placed two men on the honor team and the first time for Beckley. Other members of the mythical squad are Forwards Bob King of Parkersburg and Price of South Charleston; Centers Rod Hundley of Charleston and Bob O'Brien of Serviced, and Guards Clayce Kishbaugh of Clarksburg Roosevelt-Wilson and Jim Barnette of Class Chattaroy. Complete and may be found on Pace 15.

-U a i ran inree miles to senses of the uninjured among the carry word of the catastrophe and 400 persons involved in the wrecks'' ana wouldn't function. For a few minutes, no one did anything. The wrecked cars, thrashing like alligators in the rapid-fire impacts, had sheared off telegraph poles. There was no communication with the rest of the world. A railroad man his heart near- But passengers and trainmen alike pitched into rescue efforts long before outside help could come.

They pawed through the mangled roaches. About 150 passengers needed help. More than 60 later were taken to hospitals. LJ AFTER SERVING 32 years In prison, Angelo Berlandi, 50, leaves court in Boston with his attorney, David Saliba (right), on winning his freedom. He was confined after an arrest on charge of attempted robbery Sent to Concord reformatory, he was adjudged a defective delinquent Now a judge has ruled he was adjudged wrongly, and thus was imprisoned illegally 32 years ago, (International Soundphoto) West Virginia News Briefs CHARLESTON March 28 (55--The outbreak of a serious swine disease in West Virginia's northern panhandle has resulted in a federal government quarantine on hogs in Marshall County.

Marshall and Ohio Counties both are already under a quarantine established for the same reason by the state Agriculture Departmentt INSTITUTE, W. March 28 UV-The West Virginia State Coile'ge campus here will be the scene next Friday and Saturday of the 16th annual conference of the West Virginia Association Education. of Higher HUNTTNGTON. March 28 factory worker at nearby Bar- boursviile credits his dog, Tootsie, with saving the lives of him and his wife when their home was destroyed, by fire early today. Clyde Turley said he and his wife were awakened about 3:30 n.

after the dog barked beneath the windows and lunged against the front door. Damage to the seven-room rural lome was estimated at $10,000. Damage to Tootsie: her hair was singed slightly from the flames. CHARLESTON, March 28 William Robert Ure, 82, well known Charleston osteopathic physician for almost a half-century, died at a hospital today of a heart condition. CHARLESTON, March 28 Police said that Mrs.

Janie Knight, 56, was charged with murder tonight in the butcher-knife slaying of 46-year-old Fred S. Fields, Officers said the stabbing was a result of a quarrel stemming from Fields' purchase of an Easter suit for the 32-year-old daughter of Mrs. Knight. All of the principals in the case are Negroes. Ike lo Pick Next Chairman of GOP WASHINGTON, March 28 W5 -President Eisenhower probably will personally pick the next chairman of the Republican National Committee and Sen.

Taft (R-Ohio) predicted there won't be any fight over the choice. The chairmanship was vacated fay the resignation yesterday of C. Wesley Roberts, an early Eisenhower supporter in last year's campaign. A Kansas state legislative committee held Roberts was guilty of violating the "spirit" of the state lobbying law. Roberts, who got an $11.000 fee in the handling of a hospital sale the state before he became GOP chairman, charged in his resignation he was the victim of a "plot growing out of a fierce factional fight in Kansas state politics." Roberts today sent out a formal call to all members of the national committee to meet here April 10 "for the purpose of accepting my resignation and electing my Roberts' exit from the GOP chairmanship about two months after he succeeded Postmaster General Arthur E.

Summerfield in the party post stirred speculation about a long list of possible successors. Plucky Marines Defend Outpost By GEORGE A. MCARTHUR SEOUL, Sunday. March 29 OR--A plucky little band of U. Marines, shielded through last night from swarming Chinese Reds by a curtain of artillerj fire, indicated at dawn today it was once more atop bloody Vegas Outpost guarding the invasion route to Seoul.

"We are back on objective we'll dig in," read a radio message at 5:10 a.m. The cryptic words suggested the Leathernecks were once more on the crest where they were knocked off for the third time Saturday night. But they could mean merely they were on the slope. Earlier today a protective Allied wall of artillery fire killed 400 Reds trying to break through to get the Marines. AP Correspondent Forrest Edwards reported from the Western Front that a Marine major gallantly held together the remnants of two hard-pressed Marine units during the harrowing night until reinforcements arrived, then was killed in the last half hour of heavy fighting.

One "-Marine officer reported counting 75 Chinese piled in a- heap. A Marine diviijon staff''officer Price Increase Authorized The Public Service Commission authorized yesterday in Charleston temporary rate increases affecting more than 12,000 customers of Amere Gas Utilities Co. The increased rates will go into effect April 1 in Beckey, Mullens, Princeton, Ronceverte, White Sulphur Springs and nearby areas. The temporary rates were granted by the commission pending a decision on an Amere application for higher permanent rates that would increase the uHIihr's a a War Pay Changes Favored, lo Save Millions Yearly SEOUL, Sunday March 29 lff ---Grimly determined U. S.

Marines won back bloody Outpost Vegas at dawn today, after a thunderous night-long artillery duel with Chinese Reds. "Vegas is all ours--the slopes, the crest, the entire hill" a Marine commander reported from front. "The Chinaman has left it completely." lighted by parachute flares, ringed the Marines while the Chinese swarmed all around outside the shell curtain. The Reds used smoke bombs in efforts to shield them while they recovered their dead. Vegas is one of two outposts in the Bunker Hill area first seized Thursday by more than 3,000 attacking Reds after they had captured Old Baldy, 25 miles to the northeast, from the U.

S. 7th Division. Marines called the disputed crest of Vegas "the highest damn beachhead in Korea." The Red punch--still regarded more as a test than an offensive-has gained little ground at fearful cost. Marine stations also cared for a steady stream of wounded. Many Marines were killed or missing.

In the air, planes kept up a bombing of Vegas that has exceeded 500,000 pounds in three days. Other planes rocked Old Baldy with the bulk of 200,000 pounds dropped Saturday along the front Sabre jets flying cover missions Saturday for the fighter bombers clashed with MIGs in scattered dog-fights and came out of them with the 29th jet ace of the war. Col. James K. Johnson of Phoenix.

commander of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, shot down a MIG and ran his score to 5. Four other MIGs were reported damaged. feomniigsion 28 Wl recommended toda Infant Killed in Wreck PARKERSBURG, March 28 An 18-months-old Ravenswood girl was injured fatally today in a three vehicle auto mishap on U.S. RL 21 near the Wirt-Jackson County line. State Police Cpl.

S. J. Whitman said. Kathyn Lynn Matics, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

Harold E. Matics, died in a hospital here of a crushed skull. Both her father, 23--discharged from the army only yesterday--and Mrs. Matics, 22, along with the victim's grandmother. Mrs.

Cleota E- Matics, also were hospitalized. changes'in pay for combat, fligh and other extra hazardous dut which "it estimated would sav ''upwards of 200 million dollars" year. While combat pay for soldier, airmen and sailors actually unde hostile fire would go' up slightl (five dollars higher than the pres ent $45 per month extra pay) som other extra pay would be clipped including certain flight pay. The five-man commission of citi zens. headed by Lewis L.

Strauss New "York financier, made its rec ommendations to Defense Secre lary Charles E. Wilson. The latte has forwarded it to the Senati Armed Services Committee which requested such a study. The com mission analyzed 16 types of spe cial pays and allowances for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Ai Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service and Coast and Geodetic Survey. In addition to recommendations on extra pay, the commission also proposed that the base pay servicemen be placed on a sliding scale "related to a cost of living index and be adjusted at Intervals of one to two years." It comment ed that servicemen are unable to bargain with their employer or to quit their job.

Here are some of the recommen dations: 1. Flight pay; remove from eligi bility officers and men (unless they are in a training program fo crew-member assignments) whi do not possess technical skills such as couriers and stewards. Re move those "who cannot reasona bly be expected to provide air lead ership or to serve in operationa income by about $500,000. mcrease the utility's annual A second hearing on the permanent rate is set for April 20 in Charleston. The temporary increase wasi authorized with the condition that should the commission find the rates excessive at a later date Amere would refund to customers the amounts in excess of rates finally allowed by the commission.

Amere contended in its application that since 1950 costs of wholesale gas, labor, and taxes have increased by $218.100. If immediate relief were not forthcoming. Amere's lawyers said at a hearing three weeks ago, the company would loss." suffer "irreparable The Increase was protested by the affected communities of Beckley, Princeton, Mullens. Sophia. and numerous individuals.

The new rates applicable in Raleigh and Wyoming counties are scaled down from $1.25 for the first 1,000 cubic feet of gas or less, used per month to 42 cents per l.OOO cubic feet for all over 100,000 cubic feet In Mercer, Greenbrier, and Summers counties the new rates range from a minimum of $1.25 for the first 1.000 cubic" feet to 52 cents per 1,000 for all over 100,000 cubic feet consumed. The new rates will bring in an additional $218.000 a year, an Amere official said in Charleston last night. Pilot injured in Crash On Wesl Virginia Line LOUISA, March 28 Air Force officer, attempting to land his light plane today on a small strip bottom land on the mountanious West Virginia-Kentucky border, banked sharply to avoid hitting a house and dived into Tug River. The pilot, 1st Lt. James W.

Parmelee, 28, of Shaw Air Force base in South Carolina, was seriously injured. There was still some question tonight whether anyone else was with him in the plane. A doctor at the Louisa General Hospital said Parmelee was irrational. "He first told me there was someone with him," the doctor said. "A half-hour later he said there wasn't." Record Spending Forecast; Stock Mart Wavers Bit NEW YORK, March 28 Timidity and doubt went hand in Hand in the Stock Market this week.

Prices suffered. It is quite well agreed throughout Wall Street that a long-term deflationary trend could well be the direction of the American economy. And the market could march along a parallel declining path. While taking that pessimistic view, the good things aren't overlooked by any The Securities. Exchange Commission and the Commerce Department forecast record high spending this year by business on new- plant and equipment--something like 27 billion dollars.

And on the consumer side were reports of heavy Easter spending by shoppers. All areas reported higher department store sales. The total was about 16 per cent ahead of a year ago. But Wall Sfreet gave voice to its doubts when Chrysler nation's fifth largest industrial enterprise, felt it was necessary to -cut prices $100 each on all its models. So far, no other motor maker has followed suit Ward's Automotive reports forecast that motor production in the first quarter of this year would be the second highest such quarter in the industry's history, only slightly under the record set in the first quarter of 1951.

That big output coupled with the Chrysler price cut immediately raised the question--is the auto business over producing? Wfll other industries run into over production troubles? And would that entail price cuts? Volume for the week came to 9,677,000, second highest of the year. A daily average of 1,935,000 shares was Trip on Memory Trail Ends in Fayette Jail FAYETTEVILLE Two Boone! County youths who returned to the Fayette site of a church meeting they attended several years ago--are prisoners today in the capacity" in a war because they Faytte County Jail. are specialized in jobs other than aviation. Require that all the services give to the defense secretary, within six months, a flight status selection system providing for a periodic revieiv of the status of officers and men. 2.

Submarine and diving duty: continue the present $100 for officers and S50 for enlisted men per month extra. 3. Sea and foreign duty pay: extra pay should be stopped in this category for personnel leaving the U. S. for assignment after next June 30.

In connection with the combat pay increase, the commission proposed it be granted to personnel on ships which are damaged and on which casualties occur during the month in which those damages or casualties occur. Extra pay for doctors and dentists would be limited to those who volunteer, excluding those whc are drafted. James Taylor, about 20, and Marian Foster, about 18, gave their address as Bloomingrose when arrested Saturday morning. They told officers they left home "about two weeks ago to take a trip." They admitted taking the Taylor family car and stealing a license plate from the auto of Elwood Williams, at Ameagle. They said they went to Meadow Bridge, where they had attended a church meeting when they were younger, and remained in that area.

In addition to providing transportation the car also served as their sleeping quarters. On March 22 they broke into the Danese store owned by Robert Parker and took a small amount of clothing, shoes, etc. They also told officers they broke into another store in the area, but did not remember the exact location or name. serves Quinnimont District, said he became suspicious of the youths and planned to check them. Seeing the officer's approach, they began driving west on Route 60, where they ran through a police road block.

A radio message was relayed to Deputy Sheriff Millard McGray, who took the two youths into custody on the hairpin curve at Chimney Corner. Deputy Sheriff Leslie Fox, who land Jr. Father Of Governor Palierri in Hospital GLEN ROGERS W. C. Marland, superintendent of the Glen Rogers operation of the Raleigh- Wyoming Mining is reported in "Fair" condition at the Laird Memorial Montgomery, where he has been a patient for the past two weeks.

No details as to the nature of his illness were learned. He is the father of Governor W. C. Mar- Burma to Drop U. S.

By NOEL LAZARO The note, signed by Burmese RANGOON, Burma, March 28 Iflj Foreign Minister Sai Hkun Khio. --The Burmese government, in-j said: volved in guerrilla warfare with Chinese troops who claim allegiance to American supported Chiang Kai-shek, announced tonight it is dropping United States aid next June 30. Burma has received- 12 million dollars in U. S. aid since June, 1950, and the total will reach 31 million by next June under present appropriationi.

"I am to request under Article 5 of the Economic Co-operation Agreement between our two governments that the government of th that we do not desire the aid program to continue beyond June, 1953." The note expressed appreciation and gratitude for materials and services received by the Burmese government under ECA. "which have been of great help in implementing rehabilitation programs." It added: "The government of Burma wishes to make it clear that this action is not intended in any way to cast a reflection on existing programs nor on the ac- Burma." Premier Nu, who left Rangoon by plane today for the Indian border and conferences with India's Prime Minister Nehru, has said that Surma is determined to work out a program of economic assist-, ance with the Soviet Union as soonj as his government completes a survey of Burma's requirements. There was no indication, however, that a Soviet assistance program would replace the U. S. program.

Burma is still being aided by the Colombo plan, a British Commonwealth counterpart of the American Point Four program. There has been some rise in anti- American feeling here recently. The No. 1 issue in Burma today is the presence of 12,000 Nationalist Chinese guerrillas within her borders. Despite American protestations of innocence, the Burmese charge the irregulars are supplied with U.

S. weapons. And they dislike the American policy of equipping Chiang's forces on Formosa. Burma, with neighboring India and Indonesia, has tried to steer a neutral course in the conflict between Soviet communism and the Western world, although she has declared war on rebel Communists within her own territory..