FORECAST Served By Leased Wires
•t the
Wilmington and vicinity: Rain and UNITED PRESS
slightly colder tonight; Thursday cloudy g,(
and continued cold with possible light ASSOCIATED PRESS
snow‘ With Complete Coverage of
. State and National New*
YOLT80.—NO. 67. WILMINGTON, N. C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1947 ~ ESTABLISHED 18fi7
I i ' -- 1 ■ —— - - - _
HISTORIC ACT
Truman Shifts Atom
Program To People
Executive Order Places Nation’s Vast
‘Energy’ Facilities In Hands Of
New Civilion Commission
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—OT
—President Truman, in a his
toric year-end ceremony, Tues
day signed an executive order
shifting control over the na
tion’s $2,250,000,000 atomic
energy program from military
to exilian hands.
Coinciding with his procla
mation declaring the World
War II “period of hostilities”
ended, Mr. Truman turned over
the Army’s famed Manhattan
project to the new Civilian
Atomic commission.
The order, effective at mid
night also transfers possession
of atomic weapons, fissionable
materials, equipment and re
search scattered over 18 slates.
" In the future, the President
is empowered by Congress to
authorize the production of
atomic bombs or other atomic
weapons, but Tuesday’s cere
mony placed emphasis on the
productive peace-time use of
atomic energy.
Chairman David E. Lilienthal
and other members of the civil
ian group looked on as Mr.
Truman signed the formal or
der. Also present was Maj.
Gen. Leslie Groves, head of the
Army’s wartime district which
developed the atomic bomb.
Groves’ part in the program is
now ended.
Conscious of the dramatic
overtones, Lilienthal told news
men.:
“Tonight at midnight, the
people of the United States
turn over to five civilians the
most potent weapon of all
times. With a Congressional
charter, they take direction of
a program to develop the
peaceful and beneficial possi
bilities of this great discovery
developed before the war.’’
City Bond Sale Slated
For Approval By Council
THOUSANDS GREET
ARRIVAL OF 1947
Light Mist Fails To Dampen
Celebration Here On
New Year’s Eve
A light mist was falling at the
stroke of midnight last night, but
the spirits of thousands of merry
makers was not dampened, as car
after car passed along Front street
with their horns blowing. Still
hundreds of residents and service
men-visitors walked up and down
the “main drag” blowing horns
and taking advantage of other
methods of making noise to Usher
in 1947.
While many lined the streets,
other Wilmingtonians attend watch
night services in many churches
throughout the city.
Night clubs reported a brisk busi
ness. Private parties were being
held in many homes throughout the
city.
Last night’s celebration, the sec
ond New Year’s since the end of
World War II, was much larger
than last year. More people, auto
mobiles and more noise was noted
in the down-town area.
Many retail stores and govern
ment offices will be closed today,
it has been previously announced.
The post office will observe the
day by closing, although the parcel
post window and the general de
livery windows will be open from
10 a. m. until 12 o’clock noon.
There will be no home deliveries
by carriers, Postmaster Wilbur
Dosher said.
The county courthouse, city hall
and customshouse will join with
the offices of the Community Chest,
the Veterans administration, N. C.
Veteran’s commission and North
Carolina Employment service in
closing.
The Community Center will be
closed for the day as the USO takes
over to entertain visiting service
men.
Many hunters are expected to
take advantage of the extra day
hunting allowed in lay-day counties.
(Continued On Page 2; Col. 4)
BANBONE’S MENTATIONS
By Alley
----- 1 1
U>0K UK A HEAP
o' £AN'l PATES DON'
4»T MANS VOTES IN
DES HOME TOVSN
10O MANS K»N FOU4S,
I KECK'Nl
(Released by Tbe Bell Syn
Inc.) Trade Mark . - - - w
See. u. b. Pat, Office) J
Local Government Commit
tee Expected To Offer
Issue January 14
The form in detail for the sale
of $1,003,000 in city bonds is slated
for approval at a meeting of the
city council Thursday morning,
City Manager J. R. Benson said
last night.
Benson explained that the bonds
will be sold in Raleigh January 14
by the local government commit
tee, with a good deal of interest
in the issuance of the bonds ex
pected from individuals and syn
dicates throughout the area.
The council, which will hold its
regular bi-monthly meeting Thurs
day instead of today in view of
New Year’s day holiday, is ex
pected to approve final arrange
ments for the sale of the bonds
and associated coupons. Delivery
is scheduled for February 4, with
the bonds going to the bidder of
fering the lowest interest rate.
Also included on the Thursday
agenda is action on a raised bid
for steam radiators recently offer
ed for sale by the city. A bid high
er than the one tenatively accept
ed at the sale has been received
and consequently another sale is
required. Benson said.
Bids for a mess hall building at
tile Marine hospital site were re
ceived at the same time as bids for
the radiators but since no higher
price has been offered and since
the time limit for consideration
of other offers has expired, then
the building is in another status
and is not scheduled to be offered
for sale again.
Bids on cast iron piping, used
by the city for extending water
into new areas, will also be opened
at the council session. Benson
pointed out that even though a cer
tain amount of pipe is now on hand
for the city, more will be needed
and bids will be considered with
this in view.
“Dates” Galore
NEW YORK, Dec. 31. — (TP)— If
you don’t have a nice glossy 1947
calendar to brighten your wall
Wednesday, it won’t be the fault
of the nation’s remembrance ad
vertising industry.
Approximately 150,000,000 calen
dars have been made and distribu
ted for the new year, mohe than
enough to provide one for every
person in the United States.
An industry spokesman it sure
that this is an all-time mark. He
estimates that the banks, railroad
companies, insurance firms and
others who like to have their
names before your eyes all year
have spent $100,000,000 on the 1947
calendars, another neiV record.
fPeels Potatoes
Pvt. James M. Hill, 18, of Robin
son, 111., wtio earned the praise of
his commanding officer by a tale
of balking bandits attempting a
payroll robbery at Hamilton Field,
San Francisco, last night was do
ing KP after the FBI proved that
his story was just brilliant imagi
nation.
WOMAN WOUNDED
BY FAKE CAMERA
Allegedly Hired By Man,
To Take Picture, Blonde
Shoots Young Wife
NEW YORK, Dec. 31 — (jP) — An
attractive blonde — who said she
apparently had been duped by a
vengeful husband — snapped what
she thought was a concealed
camera’s shutter in a crowded
Times Square subway station
Tuesday and critically wounded a
young Brooklyn housewife with a
terrific shotgun blast.
Mrs. Olga Rocco, 28, her right
thigh torn by the full charge from
a 12 guage sawed-off shotgun hid
den in a package trimmed with
gay Christmas wrapping, fell to
the platform in an agonizing
scream as startled subway passen
gers scurried to cover.
Police took into custody Miss
Pearl Lusk, 19, a well dressed,
pretty blonde who, still standing
stunned with the package in her
hands, told them she thought she
was taking a picture of Mrs. Rocco.
Patrolman William V/alsh, the
first policeman on the scene, said
he asked the wounded woman,
“Why did this woman shoot you?”
Mrs. Rocco replied, he said:
“You fool, she didn’t shoot me. My
husband did.”
Police said Miss Lusk then said
(Continued On Page 2; Col. 5)
BIRDCOUNTHERE
MAY WIN TITLE
Local Club Tabulates 97
Species During Annual
Census
Wilmington’s chances of leading
the entire state in the annual
Christmas bird census for 1946 are
extremely bright following the
release last night of the report on
the December 28 count made in this
area.
Each year all over the nation
local bird clubs, groups and indi
viduals cooperate with the National
Auduborn society in making the
Christmas count of the number and
kinds of birds in their respective
communities.
The count made here last week
showed 97 species and 3402 in
dividual birds, according to Mrs.
Cecil Appleberry, president of the
local bird club. Other officers in
the organization are Miss Helen
Lovering, vice president; Miss
Marjory Voss, secretary; and R.
Warwick Baker, treasurer.
In 1945 when the first bird cen
sus was taken here a total of 61
species was tabulated. And accord
ing to the current issue of “The
(Continued on Page 2, Col. 1)
Today And Tomorrow
By WALTER LIPPMANN
BARUCH’S EITHER—OR
If it were true—as Mr. Baruch
declared the other day—that “it is
either — or,” everlasting peace
would be just around the corner.
But in fact it is neither the one nor
the other. ,
It is not true, and it was never
true, that the Canadians, the Brit
ish, and the French, who have
been disposed towards “voting
against our (Mr. Baruch’s) posi
tion,” thereby “agree that a crim
inal” should have the “right” to
“nullification of punishment by
what can be called a subterfuge.”
Not even in the heat of debate was
Mr. Baruch entitled to suggest that
General McNaughton, Sir Alex
ander Codogan, and M. Parodi
have been trying to help criminal
governments to resort to subter
fuges.
Nor is his alternative — as Mr.
Baruch has stated it—a true one.
He said that he would not recom
mend to the Senate a treaty on
atomic energy “which is open to
nullification of punishment.” His
argument is that if “a violator”
does “not have a veto to protect
himself against the consequences
Continued On Page 5; Col. 3
Utility Firmj
Reveals Plan
Of Expansion
One And A Half Million
Dollar Program Told
By Tide Water
RATES CUT TODAY
Consumers In Area To Save
$60,000 Under New Re
duction Schedule
A new construction ana general
improvement program involving
the expenditure of one and a half
million dollars and covering ali
phases of operation in southeastern
North Carolina was revealed yes
terday by officials of the Tide
Water Power company.
It was pointed out at the time
of the announcement that plans
for the program had been mapped
for some time but delays followed
on the heels of war and post-war
shortage of materials and equip
mes.
At the same time, rate reductions
effecting savings of $60,000 a year
to consumer* was announced by
company president Warren Bell,
with the reduction to go into effect
today.
The rate cut followed discussion
by the city council of the utility’s
proposal for a reduction in the
basic power rate on March 13 of
this year. The proposal had been
placed before the state utilities
commission at an earlier date.
Four hundred and fifty miles of
electrical service extensions, large
ly in rural areas, figure prominent
ly in expansion plans announced
by the company.
Among other major projects is
(Continued On Page 2; Col. 4)
NEW YEAR CALLED
FINE OPPORTUNITY
Dr. John Glenn Addresses
Methodist Youth * At
Night Services
"The New Year affords us the
opportunity of making 1947 better
than the past one,” Dr. John C.
Glenn, superintendent of the Wil
mington District of the Methodist
church, said in his New Year’s
message to the Methodist youth
of Wilmington at a watch-night
service in the Grace Methodist
church here last night.
Dr. Glenn spoke on the subject:
"1947—A Golden Gate of Oppor
tunity.”
“We are facing the new year
in the midst of a world filled with
many difficulties. The problems
incident to the period of re-adjust
ment, strikes, civil wars in distant
lands, universal peace efforts, and
domestic ills have caused many
Americans to degenerate into a
hysteria of fear. They see only the
black spots on the checker-board
of life,” Dr. Glenn stated.
“As we face 1947, let us learn
the Master’s secret. We cannot
control international events,
strikes, floods and earthquakes,
but there are many things we can
control. Here is where Christian
ity comes in,” Dr. Glenn Con
tinued.
"We cannot control the length of
our days, but we can determine
the breadth and quality of life. No
man can determine his physical
height, but he has all to do with
the height of his thoughts.
"Man cannot determine the phys
ical atmosphere of his city or na
tion, but he can determine the
moral atmosphere. It can be
warm, radiant and pleasant, so I
regard 1947 as the Golden Gate
of Opportunity,” Dr. Glenn con
cluded.
LABOR GOVERNMENT TAKES
OVER BRITISH COAL MINES;
TRUMAN ORDER CUTS TAXES
- i,----- -
Proclamation
By President
Big Surprise
Presidential Action Yields
Many Government War
Powers At Midnight
CONTROT. SCRAPPED
Unless Congress Acts, Rev
enues Will Be Lowered
As Of June 30, 1947
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31_
(/P) — President Truman
sprang a major New Year’s
Eve surprise Tuesday by yield
ing many of the government’s
war powers—an action which
means a $1,500,000,000 tax
cut and scrapping of the
biggest strike control weapon.
The White House bomb
shell took the form of a procla
mation which declared that
"hostilities of World War II” ceas
ed as of noon Tuesday.
The result of this legal recogni
tion that the shooting was over
was that 18 extraordinary laws
died forthwith. The proclamation
also meant that 33 others are doom
ed to die next June 31, or later.
About $1,500,000,000 a year will
be knocked, off the nation’s tax
bill six months hence—unless Con
gress legislates otherwise—by the
(Continued On Page 2; Col. 3)
GROUnO LAUNCH
FIGHT FOR FUNDS
Wilmington Port Commis
sion Joins Forces With
Other Eastern Ports
A proposal that the Wilmington
Port Commission join other eastern
ports in seeking the release of riv
ers and harbors funds, now frozen
by the federal government, was
adopted yesterday at a meeting of
the commission.
Members of the group indicated
their approval of a program initiat
ed by the American Merchant Ma
rine' institute whereby all ports on
the Atlantic combine forces in ef
forts to have money for port im
provement released.
Meanwhile, the decision was
reached to seek the aid of the
North Carolina congressional dele
gation in filing a complaint that the
local port has suffered from dis
crimination as concerns water
borne commerce.
The port commission is prepar
ing to present a formal complaint
to the Interstate Commerce com
mission charging that Wilmington
is faced with discrimination by
shippers as regards service and
rates.
C. D. Hogue, chariman of the
local body, suggested that a con
ference of tobacco and textile offi
cials of the state might result in
bringing more tonnage to Wilming
ton.
Along The Cape Fear
HAPPY NEW YEAR — Amid the
usual quandary that Along The
Cape Fear finds itself when we
start the arduous task of making
New Year resolutions, we wish to
pause to wish each of you a most
joyous New Year.
And we sincerely hope that high
on your list of New Year resolu
tions is to continue the most gra
cious aid and assistance that you
have given Along The Cape Fear.
Without the encouragement we
receive in the form of letters,
postal cards, telephone calls, per
sonal visits, and tire loan of valu
able old photographs and booklets,
plus the kind words that float our
way Along The Cape Fear’s daily
chore would become a burden.
As it is, we look forward each
day to seeing what local lore, in
danger of being forgotten in the
Port City, we can dish up for our
readers.
So again let us extend a most
hearty Happy New Year to you
and yours.
RAIL CHATTER—The Port City
without the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad company is just about as
conceivable as Wilmington without
the Cape Fear river. So important
is the ACL to Southeastern North
Carolina that anything about rail
roads is always of interest.
Thanks to Forrest Hull writing
in the current issue of “Tracks
Chesapeake and Ohio Lines Maga
zine,” we can bring you these
notes on the early days of rail
travel:
Strong drafts created by the
great balloon or diamond-shaped
smoke stacks of pre-War Between
the States trains sent live sparks
from the wood-burning fires flying
over the countryside, setting fire
to woods and fields, and also to
clothing and whiskers of bearded
passengers.
In those days trainmen refused to
wear uniforms, objecting to them
on the grounds that they smacked
of English servants’ “livery.”
(Continued on Page 2, Col. 2)
In Spotlight Show
These swans are one of the main feature attractions at the annual
poultry show being held in Madison Square Garden, New York City.
They were hatched in a special incubator. (International)
The Weather
FORECAST
South Carolina — Rain Wednesday and
Thursday mixed with sleet and snow
extreme northwest portion Wednesday
night and Thursday. Slightly colder
Wednesday and Wednesday night and
continued cold Thursday.
North Carolina—Rain on the coast and
freezing rain, in interior Wednesday
changing to snow in mountains Wednes
day and over central portion Wednesday
night. Slightly colder Wednesday and
Wednesday night, Thursday cloudy and
continued cold with light snow.
(Eastern Standard Time)
(By U. S. Weather Bureau)
Meteorological data for the 24 hours
ending 7:30 p.m. yesterday.
Temperatures
1:30 a.m. 42; 7:30 a m. 44; 1:30 p.m. 48.
7:30 p.m. 49.
Maximum 50; Minimum 41; Mean 46;
Normal 47.
Humidity
1:30 a.m. 82; 7:30 a.m. 72; 1:30 p.m. 74;
7:30 p.m. 71.
Precipitation
Total for 24 hours ending 7:30 p.m. —
0.00 inches.
Total since the first oft he month —
2.10 inches.
Tides For Today
(From the Tide Tables published by
U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey).
High Low
Wilmington - 4:06 a.m. 11:27 a.m.
4:28 p.m. 11:47 p.m.
Masonboro Inlet - 1:40 a.m. 8:05 a.m.
2:00 p.m. 8:32 p.m.
Sunrise 7:18; Sunset 5:14; Moonrise
12:55 p.m.; Moonset 12:58 a.m.
River stage at Fayetteville, N. C. at 8
a.m. Tuesday, 11.2 feet.
SNAPPYNEWYEAR
GREETS AMERICA
Weatherman Offers Chilly
Greeting To Most Of
Nation Today
By The Associated Press
The Weather man wished most
of the nation a very snappy New
Year today.
There was plenty of warmth—in
side both America’s homes and its
citizens—but Little Kid 1947 walk
ed in on a chilly reception from
mother, nature.
The old year blustered out, leav
ing most of the country covered
with a cold air mass stretching
from the Rockies to the Atlantic
coast and even dipping into some
normally balmy areas.
Texas was gripped by one of its
worst snow storms in recent years,
with the heaviest fall reported as
seven inches at Dennison on the
Red River in North Texas. Cotton
Bowl fans at Dallas found numer
ous highways into the city impass
able because of an icy coating.
Texas cities receiving sizable
snowfalls included Fort Worth,
Waco, San Antonio, Big Springs,
Abilene and Brady.
GOP TO ATTEMPT
OUSTER OF BILBO
Senate Steering Committee
Votes To Start Proceed
ings Against ‘The Man’
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 — (U.R) -
The Republican drive to bar Sen.
Theodore G. Bilbo, D., Miss., from
the Senate went into high gear
Tuesday night with a unanimous
decision by the GOP Steering com
mittee to start ouster proceedings
against “the man."
Sen. Robert A. Taft, R., O., chair
man of the committee, said his
group will make its recommenda
tion to the POG conference when
it meets Thursday afternoon.
The Ohioan said it is now “cer
tain" that Bilbo’s right to his
seat will be challenged and that
the only point unsettled is the tim
ing of the move.
He said the Steering committee
has not decided yet whether to
challenge Bilbo before he is sworn
in for his third Senate term Fri
day or to seek his removal after
he is seated.
Taft said he intends to discuss
the question with both Republican
and Democratic Senators, includ
ing Senate Democrat Leader Al
ben W. Barkley of Kentucky.
Word of the GOP strategy lead
ers’ decision came after the Sen
ate Campaign Investigating com
mittee divided along party lines
on the question whether Bilbo
should forfiet his place in Congress
for raising the white supremacy is
sue in last July’s Mississippi pri
mary.
TWO BOYS BORN
AFTER MIDNIGHT
IN STORK DERBY
Baby boys were born at 12:01
a.rn. this morning in James
Walker Memorial hospital to
share honors as Wilmington’s
first arrival for 1947-.
Hospital attaches reported
that both Mrs. Evelyn Bland,
231 Vance street, Maffitt Vil
lage, and Mrs. Daphene
Scruggs, 23 North Jackson
street gave birth to a son be
fore the New Year was two
minutes old.
Mrs. Bland was attended by
Dr. William Dosher and Mrs.
Scruggs by Dr. George John
son.
Both mothers and sons were
reported “doing fine’’ early this
morning.
PAGE MARS
Huge Warhead Goes Up
But Hasn't Come Down
I
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—(ff)—
Scientists and War department
ordnance experts faced the New
Year Tuesday night with a worry
never before experienced by man
since Newton went to sleep under
an apple tree.
What goes up must come down.
That’s the law of gravity, discov
ered when the falling apple hit
Newton.
But does it always
That’s what baffles the experts
in trying to account for a one-ton
warhead which disappeared off a
modified German V-2 rocket out
in “the wild blue yonder” over New
Mexico.
Lt. Col. Harvey Rivkins of
Ordnance headquarters disclosed
Tuesday that the warhead vanish
ed ten days ago when the rocket
“blew its top” at an altitude of
114 miles—the highest ever at
tained by a man-made contrivance.
Col. Rivkins, just returned from
(Continued On Page 2; Col. 5)
Attlee Faces
Supreme Test
Of Socialism
World-Girdling Communi
cations Network Also
Passes To People
CABINET “HUDDLES”
Lord Hyndley Declares New
Move Is “Great Adven
ture By Public”
LONDON, Dec. 31_(>P)_
Ownership of Britain’s vast
coal industries and world
girdling communications net
work pass to the government
as the New Year’s bells ring
Tuesday night, heralding a
supreme test of socialism on
which the Labor government
will stand or fall.
Operating the coal mines
successfully, in the face of an
unprecedented shortage of fuel
which<has threatened to close down
major industries, is the govern
ment’s greatest challenge. And the
government knows it.
In comparison, the public own
ership of the communications of
Cable and Wireless, Ltd., will pose
few problems.
But coal is the bed rock of Bri
tain’s industrial economy, and the
coal bin has been showing bare
spots now for more than a month.
Government possession of the
vast industry is the first major
accomplishment In the Labor
(Continued On Page J; Col. 4)
BENSON URGING ’
TRAFFIC SAFETY
City Manager Cites Danger
Arising From Faulty
Turns In City
City Manager J. R. Benson yes
terday appealed to Wilmington
drivers to cease cutting across
traffic lanes when turning at inter
sections within the city, and cited
a series of accidents and near ac
cidents to support his request.
The record shows accidents are
caused by many drivers turning
right from the inner traffic lane on
four-lane streets instead of steer
ing to the outside lane before
making the turn. The same thing
holds true, he said, when operators
attempt tot urn left an an intersec
tion from the outside lane or the
lane nearest to the curb.
Benson pointed out that these
conditions are especially found at
intersections on Market street and
on Third street, the city’s main
traffic arteries.
Aside from the confusion and ac
cidents resulting from the wrong
turns, Benson explained that such
traffic maneuvers were in violation
of the law and called attention to
section 19, chapter 14 of the city
code and section 115 of the motor
vehicle law of North Carolina.
These ordinances state that the
driver of a vehicle intending to
turn to the right at an intersectio*
should approach this intersection
in the lane nearest the right han4
side of the street. When turning to
the left, law continues, the driv
er should approach the intersec
tion immediately to the right of
the street center line.
*
And So To Bed
Frank LeRay, 1816 Carolina
Beach road, ia seeking the Good
Samaritan who ' ’
ride into town M
mg.
Says, Mr. Lf
waiting for the
nice person voi'
me a lift. We
about the colt
and things, like
arrived at Fro
Streets I got on
But, the reaso
driver is becsn
eye glasses in
“And, I can’t se
Star without then