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FORECAST: Served By Leased Wires Iof the ASSOCIATED PRESS and the fTMiTirn ppL'cc uniiiiu rni/aa With Complete Coverage ol k State and National News * ^____________ * L ____ VOL. 80—NO. 144. __ WILMINGTON, N. C., TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1947_ ESTABLISHED 1867' Haifa Harbor Oil Fire Does Great Damage Officials Compare Destruc tion To Pioest! Field Wartime Bombing __ SET BY UNDERGROUND Intense Heat Buckles Steel Girders, Destroys Eight Huge Tanks JERUSALEM, Palestine, March *1-Huge oil fires set by a Jewish underground blast in pre dawn darkness raged uncheck - «d in the great Haifa harbor oil storage area today and tonight the smoke-shrouded city still was lit by the glare of leaping flames. Estimates of damage ranged from $6,000,000 to $16,000,000 and Iraq Petroleum co. officials com pared the fire in destruction to the wartime allied bombing of the Ploesti oil fields. During the day the flames and rolling columns of smoke along the waterfront provided a violent backdrop for fighting Detween British troops and some 1,600 Jewish illegal immigrants resist ing deportation to Cyprus. Officials called in fire ighring equipment from a radius of 50 miles to battle the flames and to night they said the blaze finally was under control. It was expect ed to burn itself out in 21 hours. Four firemen were injured, two seriously, when they fell into a pit of burning oil, an official an nouncement said. Eight of the 19 huge storage tanks making Haifa harbor the largest oil port in the Middle East were destroyed, along with all surrounding facilities. Heat from the inferno was so intense it buckled steel girders and forced firemen to carry asbestos shields. Richard Stubbs, Palestine gov - ernment public information offi cer, told a press conference that "the community will pay for the damage’’ and it was understood the government is considering a ■pecial levy on the Holy Land’s 600,000 Jews* to meet the cost. nie blazing tanks shrouded the harbor and city with thick black jmoke as British troops began the transfer of 1,600 refugees rescued yesterday when four British- war ships went to the aid of the foun dering illegal immigrant ship Moledeth some 40 miles off the Palestine coast. MEETING OF IIR GROUP POSTPONED Date For Norfolk Confer ence Originally Set For April 9 The conference of air repre sentatives of several coastal towns which had been scheduled for Norfolk April 9 has been post poned temporarily, according t o John H. Farrell, city industrial agent. Delegates to represent Wilming ton had been invited to the meet ing to take part in discussions relative to the very high fre quency radio range system for coastal cities. The decision to postpone the Norfolk session was made i n order to give the Air Coordi nating Committee in Washington more time to study the requests which have flooded the group *ince the Washington conference early this month at which efforts were made to have air restrict ions lifted at Myrtle Beach and Albemarle Sound, Farrell explain ed. The Army and Navy have maintained bombing areas a t both points and this was the reason given by the Civilian Aero nautics Administration for the delay in installing the VHF ranges along the proposed route for the coastal airways system. HAMBONE’S MED1TATIOHS By Allej - 7“ 1 MAN A% KJJN'L BOB 'BOUT HIRIN' OEE TOM an' RUN'U Bob sat HE HIAHEP 'IM ON^ET FUH A \NEEA AN' Y/UZ. SATISFIED IN ONE PAT!! (R'ltaaed by Tb* Bail Syn «!*.!«, I*e.) Trad* Mark 7^ Ra«. D. «. Pat paw) T~» '*1/ Warns Of \Bust The president of the National As sociation of Manufacturers, Earl Bunting, is pictured in New York during a press conference as he emphasized that government, man agement and labor must wbrk in close co-operation to resist in creased costs and prices to the public. If the price spiral is per mitted to go uncurbed much long er, he warned, “we are in for the biggest bust ever.” (International) FOUR TOWNS MAY GET ABC STORES State Senate Passes Meas ures To Set Up Town Controlled Units RALEIGH, March 31. —(JP)— The Senate, voting orally, tonight pass ed three measures which would set up town-controlled alcoholic bev erage control stores in four munic ipalities. Towns affected are Hickory, Franklinton, Whiteville and Tabor City. Speaking against passage of the bills was Sen. Gordon Gray of Forsyth, chairman of the Finance committee. Pointing out that he was speaking not as the Finance committee chairman but as a rep resentative- from Forsyth, Gray said that he was opposed to any departure from county option sys tem. Also joining against passage of the bills were Sen. Sheldon M. Rop er of Lincolnton, Lee Weathers of Cleveland, George Penny of Guil ford, John McLaughlin of Iredell, Wade Barber of Chatham, Luther E. Barnhardt of Cabarrus, and S. M. Bason of Caswell. Johnson Speaks Only person to take the floor in behalf of the bills’ passage was Sen. Rivers Johnson of Duplin who insisted tViat the people have a right to self government and that he oposed somebody in another part of the state passing legislation which dictated the food and drink of a person in another part of the state. The house passed these measures on the second reading: A highway safety bill, was amend ed to provide for annual inspec tion of vehicles, instead of semi annual inspections, and for the fine for the first speeding offense to be left to the discretion of the court and not a $25 fine; An amended bill to increase in spection fees for milk-processing plants and for bakeries from $10 to $20 annually; A bill to amend the state fertiliz er laws so as to improve the stan dards of fertilizes grades; A bill to require inspection fees for food-processing plants and to regulate sanitary conditions of those plants, and BENSON ASKS FOR LOCAL OPINION ON CHANGE OF TIME City Manager J. ft. Benson in dicated yesterday that he would not take any action on the matter of daylight saving time for Wil mington until state officials acted or until local residents made their wishes known. There has been agitation in several parts of the state for the return to daylight saving time this summer. Thus far, however, no concrete action by state offi cials has been taken. Benson said that he would ap preciate it if the people of Wil mington would indicate their wishes on the matter. Coal Miners Jump Gun For Six-Day Rest ^ty Per Cent Leave -■ Advance Of Dead Sy<A Set By Lewis ; OFFICIALS WORRY Some Fears Expressed That Men May Not Re turn After Holiday WASHINGTON, March 31.—IB Federal officials said tonight that about 20 percent of the nation’s soft coal miners stayed home from work during the day in advance of a six-day “memorial” stoppage called by John L. Lewis. The United Mine Workers chief set the six day period to begin at midnight tonight, the hour he once fixed but later withdrew, for a new coal strike. Lewis set th e“memorial” ob servance to mourn victims of the Centralia, 111., mine disaster. Officials of the Solid Fuel ad ministration said today’s rate of absenteeism was higher than normal, but declined to speculate whether the miners were "jump ing the gun” in violation of their contract with the government or in violation of a federal court anti strike injunction. Question Mark Official reticence served to emphasize the big question mark in the coal fields controversy: Will the miners return to their jobs at the end of the six-day memorial? The layoff is scheduled to con tinue through Easter Sunday, but there was some conjecture that the miners might continue to stay home in tacit execution of Lewis’ original order for a new stoppage. Lewis subsequently withdrew the order, yielding to a Supreme court mandate. By complying with the high tri bunal's ruling, Lewis’ United Mine workers will be required to pay only $700,000 of the $3,500,000 fine levied against the union for con tempt of court in connection with last fall’s 17-day strike. Lewis told newsmen the memorial layoff was authorized in the union’s 1941 contract with the operators and carried over into later agreements including the Krug-Lewis pact under which the mines are operated by the federal government. He aaid the clause was never used before largely because df wartime demands for coal. While state and local investiga tions delved into the Centralia ex plosion which cost the lives of 111 miners last week, Lewis and the government acted to permit the distribution of benefits under the union’s health and welfare fund. BETTER FARMING PROGRAM STARTS C o u n ty Farm Council Holds Initial Session Here; Plans Drafted The first steps toward setting up the “Better Farming for Bet ter Living" program in New Han over were taken yesterday after noon when members of the Coun ty Farm Council met in the office of R. W. Galphin, county agent, and named a committee of three who will direct the farm program. Forest Hall, Jr., was named chairman, E. M. Sullivan, vice chairman; and Mrs. Fred Jordan, secretary. The program, designed as a project tc create better farm and home management through effici ency of the farm and home and conservation of soil resources, is to be carried out in 13 counties of this area. The rural residents or we w Hanover are to begin signing up for the contest in a few days as soon as the plans for staging the event here are more fully devel oped. All participants must sign up before May 1. A lengthy discussion of the bet ter farming plan was held yes terday afternoon by the County council, composed of agricultural, business, and civic leaders. Fur ther discussion and explanation of the program in New Hanover will be held on Thursday night at the Farmer’s club supper when Neil Bolton, agricultural agent of the Tide Water Power company, will address club members. Today And Tomorrow By WALTER LIPPMANN___ While the Administration will in the end be supported by Congress, the way in which it choose to pre sent the C2jfe for intervention in the Middle East has certainly not strengthened i t s hand. The case itself is a very strong one. Indeed it is unanswerable as regards the vital interests of this country and to bring nearer a general settle ment with the Soviet Union I But the real case, on which the I decision to intervene is based, | was announced in hot generalities and has since then been defended by disclaimers, denials, apologies, and assurances which have done little but confuse the issue. * * * The reason for intervening in Greece and^ Turkey is that of all places in the world they are the best suited strategically for the employment of American military power to check the expansion of Soviet military power. The power of the Soviet Union is in its ein exhaustible reserves of infantry capable of pressing upon its wide land frontiers in Europe and Asia. There is no other power or group (Continued On Page Two, Col. 5) — Envoy To Poland Financier Stanton Griffs (above) of New York, according to a White House announcement, has been nominated by President Truman to the post of V. S. Ambassador to Poland. He will succeed Arthur Bliss Lane who recently returned to this country. (International). MAINE RATIFIES TWO-TERM LIMIT Rtipub 1 i c a n Legislature Okays Proposed Presi dential Amendment AUGUSTA, Me.. March 31.—(U.R) — Maine today became the first staie in the union to ratify the proposed amendment to the con stitution of the United States that would limit Presidents to two terms. The Republican - dominated Maine legislature overwhelmingly approved the amendment. The Senate passed it without debate, and the House sanctioned it by a standing vote of 82-7 after only 10 minutes’ discussion. In t h e lower legislative body, the amendment was opposed briefly by the Democratic minori ty whose leaders argued that it should not be rushed through “like a bombshell.” They con tended that Maine legislation should take precedence. BOYD NAMED AS AIRPORT MANAGER County Commissioners Select Trainee As Act ing Head Of Field New Hanover county commission ers yesterday put into effect a two way cleaning job. The first act was the naming of a new manager for the $11,000, 000 Bluethenthal airport, and the second was an order for the clean ing of trash dumps along highways throughout the county. This latter campaign starts today. Henry E. Boyd, Jr., of Wilming ton, was named acting manager of the airport to succeed Jesse Parker, resigned. Boyd is a former service man and now a trainee under the G. I. Bill of Rights. Parker was given a 30-day leave of salary pay over the strong ob jections of commissioner L. J. Coleman. The roadside clean-up campaign came as the result of the appear ance of Col. L. L. Simpson and Hugh Morton before the commis sion, who painted an unsightly picture of the beach roads. It was pointed out that unless rubbish heaps along the highways were removed they might have some effect on the decision of the Veterans Administration locating a proposed hospital here. The Hugh McRae Co. offered the board a 10-acre lot in the Winter Park area for use as a dump, and Hewlett said he would see Morton, a representative of the McRae Co., today with regards to the proffered dump grounds. Meanwhile, the county patrol was instructed to check on the dump ing of trash on the roadsides. It was pointed out that a law against trash-dumping within 100 yards of a highway provided a $50 fine. Along The Cape Fear NUCLEUS OF ACL — Not so long ago we asked for help in gathering data on the early days of railroads in the Port City. Among those kind readers who offered u s much assistance was Mr. C. C. Chadbourn of 4lS South Front Street. In telling of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad, Mr. Chad bourn points out that the line changed its name to the Wilming ton, Columbia and Augusta Rail road and then at a later date be came the nucleus of the famous Atlantic Coast Line. The Wilmington and Man chester ine did not com edirect ly into the Port City but made use of a terminal on the west bank of the Cape Fear River. Mr. Chadbourn recalls that a double-ended ferry boat, the Wac camaw, with a Captain Bates in command, brought both the pas sengers and freight to Wilming ton from the west bank terminal. # * * OVER BRIDGES — Another early railroad, Mr. Chadbourn re calls, entered the Port City via bridges over the rivers. That was the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Rail road. Later t h e line became known as the Carolina Central and then a part of the Seaboard Air Line. This line entered Wilmington by spanning both the Cape Fear and the North East rivers via bridges. Mr. Chadbourn recalls the of fice of the Carolina Central, tell ing us that it was. located in the old General James Owen home on the West side of Front Street between Chestnut and Mulberry (now Grace Street). * * * WHEN BUILT — ‘‘I am unable to state when the bridges were built,” Mr. Chadbourn writes. ‘‘My first recollection of the matter is that the ownership was vested two thirds in the Seaboard Air Line or its predecesor, and one third in the Wilmington. Col umbia and Augusta or its pred ecessor, and I think that is the present status,” he continued. ‘‘When the W. C. fc A. begem using the bridges, the station on the West side of the river was abandoned and the ferry boat, Waccamaw, was sold to Mr. George Harriss, father of Maj. (Continued on Page Two, Col. 3) YANDENBERG PROPOSES CURB ON GREEK- TURKEY AID PLAN; U. S. BLASTS MOLOTOV STAND BluntSpeech By Marshall Scores Point Secretary Tells Ministers “Congested Slum” Pol icy Not Agreeable DIFFERENCES WIDE Immovable Attitude By France Also Censured By U. S .Delegate MOSCOW, March 31.—(^—Secre tary of State Marshall blasted at Russia’s uncompromising stand on German reparations tonight and warned that the United States op poses “policies which will continue Germany as a congested slum.” In his bluntest speech to the Council of Foreign Ministers, Marshall said the four powers could never reach agreements “on the basis of an ultimatum.” He added that the United States “categorical ly rejects’’ the Russian stand that “acceptance of reparations from current production is an absolute condition of economic unity.” Russian Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov, whose proposals also were attacked by British Foreign Secre tary Ernest Bevin, made no con cessions on reparations, but ex pressed hope that differences among the four powers could be reconciled. Same Horse Twice In referring to tne Potsdam agreement and discussions here on reparations, Marshall told Molotov: “It looks very much to us as though the Soviet Union is trying to sell the same horse twice.” Molotov replied: “We did not ap proach this problem of reparations from a point of view of merchants, but we do not want other merch chants selling our horse at a low price without our consent.” Molotov made other similarly bit ing replies to some of Marshall’: points, but his general tone was described as mild in comparison with some of his previous speeche . After Molotov’s statement Mar shall suggested that the ministers meet tomorrow in “restrict ses sion” and they agreed. Excluded from such a session will be the extra official reporters who brief the press, and the meeting may be presented in much less detail to newsmen. The American secretary said thait France, too, had adopted an im movable attitude and had insisted that her demands for German coal be recognized before the ministers proceeded to other important Ger man questions. 35-FOOT CAPE FEAR CHANNEL PROPOSED DECISION EXPECTED Approval or disapproval of the proposed 35-foot depth of the Cape Fear river is expected to be made by the South Atlantic Division En gineerwithin the next ten days, according to officials of the Wil mington District Corps of Engi neers. The survey and report of the proposed project made by the local engineers has already been sent to the Division engineers in At lanta. If approved by the District, the recommendations will be forward ed to Washington headquarters for final action. -, Reserve Group Plans State Meeting Here PRESIDENT SIGNS SUGAR EXTENSION Reluctantly Penning Signa ture, Truman Blasts Hasty Legislation WASHINGTON, March 31 — (JP)— President Truman today signed "with reluctance" a law extend ing sugar rationing only until Oct. 31. He also signed another rush bill passed by Congress during the day preserving federal controls over a small group of scarce ma terials until June 30. Both measures were hustled through Senate and House and sent to the White House in a race against the midnight expiration of the Second War Powers act, basis of the wartime rationing, priority and allocation power. The President, evidently more dissatisfied ,by the short life given sugar rationing than by the cur tailment of his own broad execu tive powers of allocation, issued a sharp statement on the sugar legislation. Oct. 31 "appears to be too early for the termination of sugar con trols,” he said. He added that this had been recognized by many Congressmen “both in committee and in debate.” See Larger Supply Mr. Truman also noted that Congress assumes that sugar sup plies by Oct. 31 “might be ma terially larger than those now def initely in prospect.” The sugar act also extends price control on sugar through October. It otherwise would have expired June 30. The rationing and price control will be administered by the Agri culture department - instead of the dying OPA. Mr. Truman had asked for a year’s extension of sugar controls and an equal extension of major sections of the Second War Pow’ers act. In the latter case, he sought authority to allocate any item in case of a national emer gency. Instead, Congress named these few, at the same time forbidding the allocation of any items not un der control on March 24: Tin, antimony, railroad freight cars, the new drug streptomycin, cinchona bark (for quinine), ma nila and agave cordage and fibre, and tractors built for export. Materials In addition, the act allows “ma terials and facilities” essential to meeting international obligations to be allocated if the Secretaries of State and Commerce certify control is essential. curr¥Tualifies FOR COUNCIL RACE Second Candidate Files For City Primary On April 21 The number of official candi dates for the Wilmington city council rose to two yesterday when Garland Currin filed for re election. Mayor W. Ronald Line paid j his filing fee Friday afternoon. A third member of the council, W. E. Yopp, has indicated that he would be in the race to retain his seat but so far he has not filed, according to H. G. Carney, chair man o^the board of elections. The only newcomer to the scene to reveal political tendencies to ward the council is Warren G. Holleman, 27 year-old local resi dent. Candidates have from now until April 10 to file, Carney has an nounced. The primary will be held April 21 and the election May 6._ Nearly 1000 Officers To Be At Wrightsville May 24 - 25 Plans were laid last night at a dinner meeting in the Friendly cafeteria here by the local chapter for the forthcoming convention of the North Carolina Department, Reserve Officers association, at Wrightsville Beach, May 24-25. Col. John Bright Hill, president of the association, said that ap proximately 1,000 reserve officers were expected to attend the con vention. He said that the Wilmington chapter will be hosts for the oc casion. Committees for the conven tion will be named within the next 10 days, he added. This will be the first convention of the North Carolina department since the war, Col. Hill said. He added that he hoped that a large number of officers from through out the state would be in attend ance. "A special invitation,” he said, ‘‘has been extended to Brig. Gen. Donald B. Adams, national presi dent of R. O. A., and Gen E. A. Evans, executive director of R. O. A., to attend the meeting.” Col. Hill said a number of un important matters would come be fore the convention in the form of resolutions and suggestions which will be brought before the na tional meeting to be held in Miami, Fla., June 18-21. Chapters of the Reserve Offi cers Association, made on the basis of members in various coun ties and geographical location of towns in Southeastern North Caro lina include: Lumberton chapter — Robeson, Scotland and Hoke; Fayetteville— Fort Bragg—Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson; Wilmington — New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen and Pender. Col. Norman McNeill, senior in fantry instructor of Raleigh was present as a guest. He spoke briefly to the members his talk covering the activities of the reserve officers in this state, and especially commended the Wil mington unit for the part it has taken in organizational activities. Col. McNeill, who is a native of Fayetteville, paid tribute to the of ficers of Wirld War II, and said that while there were only iO.OOO regulai officers at the beginning of the war, there were some 900,000 when the war ended. KERMON SPONSORS RACING MEASURE County Commissioners Au thorized To Call Refer endum On Matter A bill enabling the county com missioners to call a referendum on horse racing and pari-mutuel bet ting in' New Hanover county was introduced in the legislature yes terday by Representative Robert M. Kermon. Under the provisions of the mea sure, the commissioners may sub mit the question to the people of the county any time between now and January 1, 1949, Kermon told the Star last night. He explained that a bill was in troduced in the legislature in 1933 relative to the creation of an agri culture and Breeding Association in New Hanover but since that time the law, which contains the racing provisions has remained on the statute books without any action being taken within the county, Kermon’s measure was the first piece of horse-racing and betting legislature to be introduced in the legislature this session. A second bill introduced yester day by Kermon permits the town of Carolina Beach to adopt an of ficial map of the town. In the mea sure, the power to widen, open or close streets is granted to town officials. Surplus Supplies Seen As Boon To Toothaches Johnny, don’t look now but they J are ganging up on you. This little tale is being written to warn you, not to scare you. Here’s the low-down on what’s happening right here in Wilming ton and other North Carolina towns: There’s going to be a lot of dental surgeons in North Carolina —a heap more than in the past few years because they are going to be able to get equipment. And if you are not old enough to unaerstand the meaning of doctor of dental surgery, the plain truth of the matter is you might just call them dentist. You know, partner, the fellows who grind away in your teeth, an^ maybe even pull one or two. It’s all the result of the War Assets Administration releasing a lot of surplus dental equipment. But, Johnny, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Because the doctors now are able to get the needed equipment with which to fix your teeth, it won’t hurt half so badly. Honestly, it won’t. For instance, Dr. James E. Furr, Jr., 711 Murchinson Build (Conttnued On Page Two; Col. 8) Plan Removes Soviet Power To Veto Bill Senator Moves To Clarify Method As Applied To United Nations COULD HALT LOANS _ Amendment Would Give Security Council Author ity To End U. S. Help WASHINGTON, March 31.—yP>— Senator Vandenberg (R-Mich) to day proposed three checks on President Truman’s $400,000,000 aid program for Greece and Turkey, including authority for the United Nations to halt it. But Russia would have no power to block the American move by exercising its veto. Vandenberg specified that any U. N. objections must be based upon (1) “A procedural vote In the Security council” or (2) by "a majority vote in the General as sembly of the United Nations.” Seven of the 11 member* are needed for a decision in a Security council "procedural vote” and the big power veto right does not ap ply. Twenty-eight out of 55 are required for a General assembly majority. Vandenberg told newsmen he offered his amendment “to make it plain that we propose to operate clearly within the spirit of the United Nations.” In response to a question, he said it is not designed as a wedgf in an effort to eliminate the Se curity council veto in other mat ters. ‘It is neither sinister nor prophe tic,” he said. Vandenberg said he has been “disturbed” by criticism that the Greek - Turkey aid proposal by passes the U. N. “I don’t think it does,” he said “I think the worst thing that could happen to the U. N. would be to call upon it to assume a responsi bility it was neither intended nor organized to carry out.” firmg Supporting SENCBA CAMPAIGN Drive Chairmen Gives Re port On First Day Ac tivities Here Twenty local business firms and individuals yesterday joined with the Southeastern North Carolina Beach Association in their attempt to build up this area in sponsor ing events which will attract tourists and vacationists and there by increase business in this re gion. Hugh Morton, chairman of the campaign to enlist 2,000 members and raise $32,000 for the project of the non-profit association which got underway yesterday, said last night that “we are neither pleased nor displeased with the number of memberships secured the first day. For the most part Wilmington seems to realize that the Beach association program is not charity but, in reality, an attempt to in crease business in this area.” . The chairman said, however, that a number of people when ap proached, spoke of how much they had just recently given the church or some charitable organization and they therefore would not be able to give as much to the asso ciation. Morton stated that the committee would like to emphasize again that the Beach association is not charitable or a worthy cause, but a business investment which would benefit every wage earner in business in this region. Last year the organization spon sored a $2,000 fishing rodeo and it has been conservatively estimated (Continued On Page Two; Col, 7) And Sc To Bed It was an otherwise unevent ful night in the office of The Morning Star. Then the telephone rang. “Hello,” said the reporter. “I want to give in some news about a wedding,” said a male voice. “All right,” said the report er, his pencil poised. There was a pause at the other end of the line. Then came a sudden torrent of profanity. “Hello, there!” What was that!” exclaimed the reporter “Oh,” said the male voice apologetically. “I didn’t mean that for you. I was just cussin’ my new- wife.” SENCBA Tourist Attraction Efforts Mean More y Business For You /
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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April 1, 1947, edition 1
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