Altoona Tribune from Altoona, Pennsylvania • Page 1

cast Scattered from Bureau) WEATHER U. S. Showers Weather Altoona I Tribune when For hypocrite, Today's God what though taketh is Bible thee away hope hath his Thought of gained, soul? the Job 27-8 NINETY YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE Phone 8181 VOL. 97-No. 189 Since Continuously Jan.

1856 Published Thursday Morning, August 13, 1953 Bureau Member of the Circulations Audit Five Cents Reds Claim Right To Hold Back Prisoners Two Die In $35 Million Fire At GMC Flames Set Off By Explosion Sweep Transmission Plant DETROIT- (P) A $5 million dollar fire swept General Motors transmission plant in suburban Livonia Wednesday, killing two and injuring at late, least five other employes. Set off by an explosion, the fire forced 3,500 workers to run for their lives. Some got out by smashing through windows. Brought under control after 3 three hour battle, the fire left huge plant a mass of smouldering debris. The dead were identified as: Lt.

William G. Degner, 43, acting chief of the protection force of the plant. Dan Staley, of Inkster, whose body was recovered after rescue workers were able to get into the plant. COMPLETE LOSS A spokesman for General Motors described the 4-year-old plant as almost a complete loss. James L.

Hagen, Livonia's director of public safety, estimated the loss would run to 35 million dollars. The explosion occurred in the to flywheel department shortly after 4 P. (EST), about an hour after the plant's late day shift had gone to work. Firemen said a spark from a welding torch being used to repair a conveyor apparently ploded some oil. The blaze spread like wildfire through the spraw.ing plant, which is two blocks across and about four blocks deep, The blast rocked the area for miles around.

Flames and smoke mushroomed over the plant and could be seen at least 15 miles away. Juniata Lad Hurt Playing Dangerous Game With Cartridges An 11-year-old Juniata lad suffered a wound of the right thumb when a cartridge exploded in the street near his home Tuesday afternoon where he was playing with a group of five boys. Donald Hamilton, 11, of 809 5th Juniata had a case thumb fragment removed from his right at Altoona hospital dispensary, Wednesday evening. Police said he had gotten two pieces in his body last week but had removed them himself. When police were notified of the lad being wounded they went to Altoona hospital, talked with Donald and then rounded up his companions.

Each was taken to his home and the notified of the dangerous the boys had been engaged game in. Lt. Harry S. Carey said police learned that the young lads were getting .22, .32 and .44 revolver shells from their homes and placing these in which they in turn stuffed newspapers into tin cans. When the paper was the cans politer thrown into ignited the street, found.

This is not only dangerous to the boys playing with them but were also a potential danger to motorists and pedestrians for passing ing fragments whistled through flythe air when the shells exploded. Police said the boys ranged in age from eight to 11 years with several being only 8-years old. Child Injured As She Rides Tricycle Into Car A Juniata tot rode her into the Second street and Twelfth tricycle avenue intersection in Juniata and into a car traveling south on Second street, Wednesday night. Judy Turnbaugh, 7, of 1204 2nd was taken to Altoona hospital dispensary where she was treated for abrasions and contusions of the right of the head, the forehead and the right knee and laceration of the nose in which three stitches were taken. The car was operated by Merrell F.

Mentzer, 520 7th Juniata. He took the child to the hospital. THE WEATHER Eastern Pennayivania Partly cloudy and warm possibly with few scattered thundershowers west and north portions Thursday. Friday partly cloudy, possibly with scattered showers. Western Pennsylvania and Western New York- Partly cloudy with sibility of few scattered thundershowers Thursday.

Dulles Warns Reds Against Holding POW's Failure To Free All Allied Prisoners Will Violate Truce Terms, Communists Told WASHINGTON (P) Secretary of State Dulles warned the Communists Wednesday that any retention of allied prisoners will be regarded as a violation of the Korean armistice terms and the United Nations command is prepared to take counter measures. Dulles said the UN command will hold back a large batch of Red prisoners, who committed crimes during their imprisonment, until the last of the current exchange of POW's--to make sure the Communists return allied prisoners whom they have sentenced to prison. WOULD JEOPARDIZE TRUCE The secretary told his news conference that an open violation of the truce terms would be grounds for raising the whole question of whether the armistice has broken down. However, he cautioned against speculation that it might lead to renewal of hostilities. Dulles emphasized there is nothing to suggest a new outbreak of fighting is likely or possible.

He said the prisoner exchange is moving with regularity so far, with slight infractions charged by both sides. And he noted that the ar. mistice agreement contains "many safeguards" against trickery, including permission for joint Red Cross teams to visit POW camps. Declaring the Communists have "a bad record" for holding back prisoners, Dulles said there is ample evidence they kept hundreds of thousands of German and Japanese prisoners after World war II. The secretary handed newsmen a formal statement taking note of the storm of anger aroused in this country over reports by returning American prisoners that the Communists are holding numerous Allied prisoners victed of so-called crimes by the Reds.

American legal experts said the Communists might claim that under the 1906 Geneva Convention they could legally insist on the completion of sentences meted out to Allied prisoners during captivity. Dulles told newsmen, however, the United States takes the tion that the Korean armistice agreement takes precedence over the Geneva regulations. The truce terms specify that all prisoners are to be freed. Lycoming Team Takes Poultry Honors At 4-H Club Event STATE COLLEGE (P) A Lycoming county team took top honors Wednesday night in a poultry production demonstration as the 29th annual state 4-H club week drew to a close at the Pennsylvania State college. Winning the poultry award were Robert Haas and Duane Miller, both of Montoursville.

Second place was awarded to Westmoreland county with Lancaster county finishing in third. Five demonstration contests ended the competitive part of the week's program. Prizes were awarded at a general assembly, the last event on the week's schedule. More than 1,150 4-H club members from 66 of state's 67 counties will begin the trip home Thursday. Other demonstration winners.

Dairy Warren Annette and Amy Curtis, both Columbus, York, Lancaster. Vegetable production Lancaster county: Kenneth Kreider, Quarryville, and Harold Musser, Mount Joy, Butler, Fayette. Injured In Fall James Allender, 18, of 520 W. 3rd Williamsburg, was admitted to Mercy hospital Wednesday, having been injured when he fell about 30 feet from a scaffold at Diamond Supply Allegheny street. Allender suffered bruises and lacerations of the forehead, a left elbow injury and a right foot injury.

After dispensary amination, he was admitted for observation and X-ray examination. Allender was engaged in painting in Hollidaysburg and was working from swing ladder or scaffold and apparently missed his footing and fell to the cement below. ELEVENTH AVENUE, EASY TERNS Communists Accuse Dulles Of Blackmail Another 75 Americans Among New Group Released By Chinese PANMUNJOM CAP) Red China's Peiping radio sounded an ominous warning Thursday as the 75 Americans and 75 British in the ninth prisoner of war exchange crossed to freedom. The Reds claimed the right under the Geneva Convention to hold back UN captives awaiting trial or already serving sentences. TRUCK WRECKED In Thursday's exchange a Red truck carrying American and other Allied repatriates to Panmunjom overturned during the Communists' third 100-man delivery.

Repatriates in another truck reported that no one had been seriously injured. Two Americans in the third group wore head bandages, but otherwise the returning Allied prisoners seemed reasonably healthy and many were chipper. Wind and rain drenched the area and toppled a tent used by joint Communist and Red Cross teams. Even blacker clouds hovered over the exchange Itself harshly to U. S.

Secretary the Communists tag 'reacted of State Dulles' warning Wednesday. Dulles said the UN command would not return Chinese and North Korean captives convicted of crimes "until we know the attitude of the Communists toward ours." The propaganda broad cast, heard in Tokyo, accused Dulles of "blackmail" and asserted: Prisoners of war against whom criminal proceedings for an indictable offense are pending or who have already been convicted, should be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention." Replying to Dulles' contention that withholding of prisoners would violate the armistice agreement, Peiping said "Throughout the provisions of the armistice agreement there is not a single point which approximates the American claim. On the contrary this claim is contravention of the Geneva convention." Peiping claimed the Geneva Convention provides that prisoners "against whom criminal proceedings for an indictable offense are pending may be detained until the end of such proceedings, and, if necessary, until the pletion of the punishment. The same shall apply to prisoners of war already convicted for an indictable offense." In Washington State department officials pointed out that while the Geneva Convention has certain complicated provisions regarding the retention of prisoners of war, the armistice agreement signed with the Communists overrides them. The officials also noted that neither the United States nor the Korean and Chinese Communists are signatories of the convention, but had agreed to abide by it.

"The armistice agreement provides for a clear cut agreement that all prisoners be returned," one official said. "'The Communists are trying for something to justify their intention to violate the agreement." Several freed American prisoners have said a number of their buddies were put on trial by the Reds sometimes at the last minute- and withheld from repatriation. Air Force Personnel May Apply For Release September 15 WASHINGTON (P) The Air Force said Wednesday that all its enlisted personnel- -male and female in non-critical categories may apply for release on Sept. 15. Airmen and women volunteers normally serve four year tours.

Those receiving discharges under the new policy will be barred from reenlisting within 90 days, the Air Force said, to prevent them from seeking discharge for the sole purpose of obtaining new assignments and re-enlistment benefits. Early releases will be permitted only by enlisted personnel serving in the continental United States and who are "surplus" to the needs of the service. A spokesman said under this policy active military service will include all previous service in any U. S. military branch.

New Enterprise Soldier Freed EDGAR M. HENDERSON President, Industrial Division, Altoona Chamber of Commerce Industrial Div. Officers Are Elected Election of officers was held at all organization meeting of the industrial division of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce Wednesday noon at the Penn A hotel. Edgar M. Henderson of Altoona Factories was elected president; William B.

Bowes of Sylvania Products was elected vice president, and G. Stanley Ruth was elected secretarytreasureroup discussed a number of areas where it expects to work including a more thorough policy work with schools in the city and county. The group planned to set up business-education days. These days will be devoted to a visit school pupils to business establishments and businessmen will then visit the schools, It was felt by the division that there are more business opportunities in the area than most people realize. The group's plans include increased efforts for advertising and publicizing the products of the various local industries.

It will endeavor inform residents of this community and adjacent areas of the extent of industry here, the job opportunities for future of young people, and wares which are produced. There were representatives from 20 industrial firms at the meeting. The group will meet within the next few days set up by-laws and form a program. It will operate as an arm of the Chamber of Commerce. New Shirt Company To Be Opened In Gallitzin Another shirt manufacturing company will be opened in Gallitzin by Sept.

1, Joseph H. Slutz, Phillipsburg, announced Wednesday. The company headed by Mr. Slutz will take over the quarters in the Salvaggio building OCcupied for the last six weeks by the Flushing which has been struck by 51 employes, members of the United Mine Workers district 50. The Flushing company which had sub-leased the quarters from Mr.

Slutz, owner of the McTeague Mfg. will leave the building Saturday on the expiration of its lease. Approximately 75 persons will be employed when the Slutz company begins manufacturing Sept. 1, and an additional 100 will be hired when operation is in full swing, Mr. Slutz said.

Men as well as women will be employed in the manufacture of a woolen army shirt for the U.S. government. The operation is to include pressing, shipping and cutting. Mr. Slutz says his orders assure five years of steady work and permanent residency for the plant.

The Flushing company had taken over the quarters of the former Center Mfg. which has been abolished some time ago. PENGUIN I ET FSOYS: SW, humidity noon temp'ature 79, noon barometer readin' wuz 29.10, an' th' temp'ature at 1 A. M. Thursday wuz 76." "Forecast fer Thursday," sez Mr.

"calls fer PART CLOUDY AN' LIKELY SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS. SAME FER FRIDAY. High Wednesday wuz 83, low 59, wind Pfc. William G. Koontz, son of Mrs.

Edith M. Koonte route 1, New Enterprise, was listed among the American prisoners freed Wednesday In the ninth day of the Korean armistice POW exchange. Neighbors and friends had been calling the Koontz home Wednesday evening to inform the mother that he had been freed. The news was previously carried by radio. Pfc.

Koontz was taken prisoner April 22, 1951, only a month after arriving in Korea. Mrs. Koontz had been receiving mail from him regularly, the last letter received in July, and was written May 2. Pfc. Koontz entered the service in August, 1950, and sailed for Korea in February, 1951.

He is a 1946 graduate of Replogle High school, New Enterprise, and before entering the service was employed by the Ore Hill orchards. Also listed as released on Wedson nesday of was Harry Cpl. William Fichtner, route 1, Hyndman, Pa. PINKHAM QUADS PLAY SCHOOL--The Pinkham quads play school with their half sister, Roxanna, in the nursery of their new home in Standish, Me. The children, now 13-months-old, make appropriate noises to identfy the animal pictures shown them.

Their carpenter father, Death Takes Fred Stormer, Contractor Fred A. Stormer of A. P. Stormer and Son, general contractors, died at 9. A.

M. Wednesday at Jefferson hospital, Philadelphia, where he had been a patient for three weeks. Mr. Stormer had been ill about a month and had been a patient at Mercy hospital here before bring admitted to the Philadelphia hospital Mr. Stormer who resided at Sylvan Hills had been associated with his father, the late A.

J. Stormer, in the contracting business and had continued it upon the latter's death. He was born in Altoona Aug. 4, 1904, a son of A. J.

and Clara Schwerdt Stormer. He attended Sacred Heart parochial school. He was member of St. Mary's Catholic church, daysburg, and of the Frankstown Hunt club, the Altoona B.P.O.E., the Knights of Columbus, the Hollidaysburg Rotary club and the Altoona Chamber of Commerce. Mr.

Stormer leaves his widow, Mrs. Helen Gildea Stormer, and these children: Mrs. Donahue of Frankstown road, Hugh Miss Joan Stormer, who is inStormer of Frankstown road, terning as a dietician at a Chicago hospital, and Freddie Stormer, at home. His mother, Mrs. Clara Stormer of Sylvan Hills; two sisters, E.

C. Davis of Altoona, and Wins. Paul Curran Hollidaysburg, and two grandchildren also survive. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Realtors Urge Restraint On Rent Raises Rent increases locally have not been general since the end of rent controls and those that have been made are, as a rule, only for nominal amounts.

This is the consensus of members of the Altoona Real Estate board who have discussed the question at recent weekly luncheon meetings. Although no formal action was taken by the board and the matter of increases is entirely up to individual owners most members were in agreement on urging a policy of restraint in raising rents. Moderate increases to cover higher municipal charges, labor costs, fuel and other expenses were considered likely by the realtors. Members, their families and employes of the Real Estate board offices will attend a picnic at Sinking valley Rod and Gun club Thursday afternoon. Dinner will be served at 6 P.

M. with a program of sports, swimming, rifle shooting, and activities for the children preceding dinner. Hewitt Shaw is chairman of the picnic committee and more than 80 members and guests are expected to attend. The board will be represented by several members at the state convention to be held in Reading Sept. 20 through 23.

BUY YOUR DIAMONDS AND Silas, built much of the house himself with financial aid and donations of materials from several sources. The quads, left to right, are: rear) Willam and Rebecca; (front) Melissa and Jane. Woman Quizzed In Gaspe Murder Case MONTREAL (AP) Quebec provincial police said Wednesday a woman who tipped them to recovery of a revolver believed used in the slaying of three Pennsylania bear hunters in the Gaspe wilds, has been taken to Quebec for further questioning. She will appear next week at an inquest in the trio's deaths. Police, declining to identify the woman, said she had led them to what they described as important evidence in the case.

As a result of the evidence, Wilbert Coffin, 37-year-old Gaspe prospector, is being held as a material witness in the case. The three hunters, Eugene Lindsey, 45, his son, Richard, 17, and Fred Claar, 20, of Hollidaysburg, are believed to have been killed about June 10. Their remains were found in mid-July. Hospital Surgeon Finds Auto Victim Is His Own Baby Daughter ALLENTOWN, Pa. A (P) The traffic death of a 4-monthold infant girl was a personal tragedy to the resident surgeon at Allentown General hospital.

Summoned to the accident ward to treat the victims of an auto crash, John Madonna discovered the" child was his daughter, Susan Louise. The baby was killed in a crash near Coopersburg. Also treated at the hospital was the surgeon's wife, Eleanor, 26, and their two other children, Eleanor, 4, and Katherine, 2. They had suffered shock and bruises. Four Die In Flaming Crash Of Navy Transport WESTOVER AIR BASE, Mass.

(AP) A huge transport plane became a flaming cartwheel of death Wednesday when it crashed during' takeoff on a routine training flight, killing the Navy crew of four. Witnesses said the four-engined R6D Douglas Liftmaster was about 200 feet above the runway when it went into a sideslip. A wing tip struck the ground and the plane cartwheeled before smashing in flaming mass of wreckage. None of the crew was from Pennsylvania or New York. Heads Luther League OXFORD, Ohio UP) John Curtis Stacy of New Springfield, Ohio, was elected Wednesday as president of the 1 Luther League of America, the young people's organization of the Lutheran church.

Stacy, who will serve a 2-year term, succeeds Ray Cline of Mt. Pleasant, N. C. At 22, he is the youngest person to be elected to the presidency of the organization. BASEBALL SCORES NATIONAL LEAGUE Brooklyn 6 New York 5.

Philadelphia 8 Pittsburgh Cincinnati 10-1 Chicago 6-3. Milwaukee 8-5 St. Louis 2-3. AMERICAN LEAGUE Boston 3, Philadelphia 2 (10 innings). Cleveland 7, Chicago 4 New York '22, Washington 1.

Detroit 7, St. Louis 3. WATCHES FROM A TRUSTED Reds Evacuate Four Air Bases In E. Germany BERLIN UP) The Soviet air force has evacuated four important air bases in East Germany, it was confirmed Wednesday night. Allied officers are temporarily baffled at how to analyze the move.

Carried out with startling speed, the withdrawal stripped Soviet airmen and warplanes from fields Werneuchen, Neupetershain, and Brand. miles east of Berlin, has been The Werneuchen base, largely dismantled. Installations, including reserve fuel tanks, have been shipped off by freight train in the direction of the Soviet Union, German underground informants disclosed. The other fields are still reported intact as far as ground facilities are concerned. But Soviet planes and personnel have been transferred elsewhere "destination unknown." Pointing out that a score of Soviet bases and 600 single-jet fighters and twin light bombers had been regularly maintained in East Germany since the outbreak of the Korean war, an Allied source commented: "It's a cutdown, but the Russians still have lots of planes and fields on German territory between the Elbe and the The jet-powered Soviet air force backing up a army on the Elbe line has been a continual nightmare to strategists responsible Allied Europe's defense.

of delivering 'A-bomb strikes on Then planes are capable London or Paris if the Kremlin has nuclear explosives it claims. Storch Breaks Down On Witness Stand he worked. Storch said: SEES BODY "I quickly turned on the bedroom light and saw something white on the floor-that was the body of my wife." Storch went on the witness stand after the prosecution rested its case with testimony of Walter Henderson who said Storch gave him $1,000 down payment to murder his wife, Alice. Storch admitted he gave $1,000 to Henderson to help end his domestic troubles but denied knowing Henderson intended to kill his wife. The defendant said he also gave $1,500 to Richard Haines, 24, I (Continued on Page 5, Col.

8) JEWELER SLIMS, 1125 BUTLER, Pa. UP) Ernest E. Storch broke down Wednesday as he testified in his own defense after a COnfessed murderer said the balding mechanic' paid for the slaying of his wife and suggested three methods of killing her. Storch described in a calm voice the details of his married life, in which he accused his wife of jealous nagging, and told the Butler county jury how he spent long hours building his new home in nearby Cranberry twp. His composure broke down when he related the finding of his wife's body on arrival home from a Gulf Oil Co.

plant in Pittsburgh where Helicopter Will Fly On Local PRR Points Again Thursday The helicopter which flew over Altoona Wednesday taking aerial pictures of PRR points of interest in the Altoona works and on the Middle division will return Thursday to complete its itinerary over the division, W. G. Koush, chief clerk to Superintendent C. W. Jetfries said Wednesday.

Because it was late in arriving at Petersen Memorial field on which it was based, the helicopter pilot, William Barolet, and the photographer, Tom Hollyman, were unable to complete all the scheduled assignments. Only the Altoona works views were completed, with Works Englneer V. P. Schmidt accompanying the crew to point out the sights. Mr.

Koush said only one assignment on the Middle division was made, that of the Huntingdon ice plant where two preferential freight trains being iced were photographed. Earthquakes Destroy Two Greek Cities ATHENS, Greece -UP) Two Ionian Sea island cities of ancient Greek memory were wiped out Wednesday by a series of nine new earthquakes that rocked and devastated three whole Islands. The destroyed cities were Argostolion, population 10,000 and Zakynthos, 11,315. Flames in the of the quakes that began Sunday sumed what was left of Zakynthos. A member parliament, Kostas Voultsos of Zakynthos, reported they ruin of his home city late Wednesday night in a radiogram from there.

Reports from the three wrecked islands of Ithaca, Kefallinia and Zakynthos said around 000 persons were left without shelter. The U. S. embassy sent its air attache on an air tour of the stricken islands during the day and reported to the state department in Washington Wednesday night "the enormity of the tragedy." Up to a late hour Wednesday night there no offical estimates of casualties in the new wave of quakes. Unofficially, observers said the dead would total in the hundreds.

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