Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
The Weather
Mostly cloudy with littl* change In temperatura.
42ND YEAR, NO. 18 —-^5 PAGES
VMITKU   PRIM Wlf«   N««i
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1948
PRICE TWELVE CENTS
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I
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Asks Aid of U. S. To Save Territory; Says British Navy Looicing for Incident
Guatemala City, Guatemala, Feb. 38 (UF)—^President Juan Jose Ar«- valo called on th« United States (oday to defend the Interests of Latin-American nations In their territorial disputes with Great Bri¬ tain.
Failure te *ct "with unity, energy and speed. In eonnectlon with Ar¬ gentine, Chilean and Guatemalan claims would mean the "bankrupt¬ cy" of the Inter-American system, President Ai*valo said. *
Simultaneously, the govermnent disclosed that a third British war¬ ship —the sloop Sparrow—had been sent to British Honduras, together with the cruisers Sheffield and De¬ vonshire. WiU HiUt Messt Shlpmento
Officials aaid Congress wiD be asked to consider requests that dip¬ lomatic relations with Britain be »vered and added that Guatemal- ftn meat shipments to Britain will be auspended.
In a statement prepared jointly with Foreign Minister Enrique Munos Meany, President Arevalo said:
"TTie Guatemalan government and peofsle, who have been allied wtth the United States In all IU Irsternatlonal aifflcultles, siddress themaelves to that great natitm to say that small Latin Ameriean countries rely on Its attitude cft categorical and unquestioned re¬ ciprocity, in favor of the Interesta of thie continent" Says British ProvooAtiTe
The eutcment added tbat tbe Britlah "^ovocatlon" on the srve of the Bogota (CoIomlMa) Pan I American conference Is "eloquent I evidence" that tbe Guatemalan, thesis calUng for the end of col-L oBiea In the Americas should be'* supported hy  all  delegatdona.
Vandenberg Asks Speed In Action to Stop Reds
•^-<s»org*   Oarey
Kingston Cop With New Night Safety Gear
To provide added proteoUon to memlbecm ol tbe Kingston poUo* department, luminous Bam Browne bidta and glovea have .been added to the equipment of the West Side force. Leo Pinkonmricl, World War H veteran of Navy warfare In the Pacific, who Joined the Kingston police organization several months ago, is ahown with the nenv belt, strapped tut>und his vndat and over Ma ahouldera, 'While directing traffic at night on Market street
Patrolman Plnkoiwaki Is alao ahoiwn holding the new trafBo batoa iwhich t>eama a red light ¦• a warning signal for motoricta to hatt.
Cbisf d Police David FranoU aald the additlMi of aafety devlcia aa part of the uniform haa been particularly effective ia helping motorJata to ae* the pt^oemen and their wamlnga at a aaife diatance.
WllkeB.^Ban« poiice hav* been *onaid*r<ng purcbaa* o< Ibia aqulpment for aome tima
Floods^ Winds and Cold Smash at Middle West
Contmunists' Moves Force Decision on How Far U.S. Will Co
Waahington, Feb. 28 (UP)—Citing the Communist coup In Checho¬ slovakia and new So'viet pressure on Finland, Senate President Arthur H. Vandenljerg tonight urged C^ongress to speed action on U. S. aid to lum-Communlst forces in Europe and China,
The Republican foreign policy spokesman said Increasing Com¬ munist expansion throug-nout the world made "time of the essence." C>>ngzeas must decide quickly, he said, how far the United States shall go in efforts to keep Communists from seizing governmental control
Says laoideiit Sought
Liondon, F«*>. 28. (UP) — The Guatemalan government charged today that Britain apparently la attemiptlng to "manufacture an in- :ident" by sending t'wo cruisers to
le disputed crown colony of Brit- Honduras to stand by for pos¬ sible     raida     by     "irreq>onsiMe" Guatemalan guerrillaa. Fomaal Complaint Lodged
Guatemalan Mlnister-CSeneral to Britain Miguel Ydigoras-Fuente said he sent a note to the British Foreign Office today registering the formal complaint of his gov¬ ernment about the British action in Ontral  America.
He said Guatemala already had lodged complaints with the United Nationa, the Pan-American Union and all American republics.
The British, he charged, appear to be attempting to "manufacture an Incident" In Belize, capital of British Honduras, to tie in with the current preas and House of Commons campaigns to restore the British Navy to Its pre-war pres¬ tige.
Tdlgoras made the charges as the admiralty announced that an undisclosed number of troops from the cmlorful Gloucester Regriment would arrive at Beliae early to¬ morrow.
2 PERSONS INJURED IN AUTO-BUS CRASH
Kane, Pa., Fe*. 28 (UP)—Two persons were Injured laat night when an automobile crashed Inte a bus carrying 34 Johnsonburg High School students, including the bas¬ ketball  team,  to a game at Sbef-
curred when Mrs, Robert Stlce, 84, of RIdgway, became 111 while driv¬ ing and swerved her car in front of the bus, which was driven by Thomas Vollmer.
Mrs.   Stice   was   taken   to   BJlk C!ounty Hospital st Ridgway. girl   student   suffered   a   sprained ankle.    The students were able to continue their trip to the game.
SOFT COAL FEARS MB WILL END CONTRACT MAR. 30
Raises Threat of Strike Once More; Lewis in Florida
Washington, Feb. 28. (UP)—Soft coal operationa said today they will know by Monday whether John L. Lewis will terminate his contract March 30 to clear the way for a nationwide strike on the Issue of pensions for miners.
TTiey said there are rumors In the coal flelde that Lewis may take such action this weekend.
Just a month ago the president of the United Mine Workers dis¬ patched a letter to Operators threatenlrvg "indeipendent action" to enforce his demand for pensions. This dispute is still unsettled a-fter 30 iaiyt. Operators are iwondering if a letter from Lewis Is In the mails, for delivery Monday, notify¬ ing them oif a March 30 contract termination.
If the present contract should expire ¦without agreement on a new one, th* miners presumably would follow previous practice and refuse to work without a contract. Oovemment Will Act
However, the govemment has announced that it will use the "^'o- national  emergency  strike  provis-
Stat* police said the accident oc- it,„,   of   the  Taft-Hartley   law   to
prevent a soft coal walkout. These provisions authorize presidential intervention and court Injunctions to  delay a strike 80 days.
The  union  had  no  comment  on the  rumors  of  a  March   30  con- One^ tract termination notice. A spokes¬ man  said  Lewis  has   not  yet  re¬ turned   from   a   Florida   vatatlon. (C>>ntiniued  on Page A-2)
Warden Sends Murderer to School; Children Don't Mind, Parents Do
Oancm City, Colo., Feb. 28 (UP) because    he    did    the    household
—Warden Roy Best's plan to send a murderer out of state prison daily on a bicycle to attend classes in the city's grade school had the town bitterly  divided today.
The   children   were   for  it.   In  a poll   taken   by  their  teacher,  they said   they  had  no  objection  at  all to   sharing   a   classroom   with murderer.
chores and she didn't. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder laat week and arrived at the state prison under a sentence that will free him when he is 21.
Best said he was not disturlied by the furore.
"I'm  going to  give  this  boy an
a I education even if I have to use one
of   my   college   degree   trustys   to
But   their   parents   mainly  were teach him,   he sSld, against    it    They    showered,   the!    Colorado   has   no   facilities   for sehool board with proteste and as child-murderers.  It either was con.
f
the result the state attorney gen
eral was asked to rule on legality.
The   decision   will   be   made   next
week.
Killed  Sister over  Chores
finement In the state prison or no confinement.    But Best refused to assign prisoner No. 24,939 to a cell block.   He took him Into his home and announced that he was going The  murderer  is   only   12  years to "raise him like a kid of my own old.  He  is  James  Melton,  bespec- ... I can't put that kid  behlntl timid-appearing,
tacled   and   timid-appearing,   who killed  his sister,  Phyllis Marie 16,
4« —
In Today's Issue
Editorial    C—4
Classliled  C—»
Movies     ,. 0—8
Obituary A—16
Radio   „..„ „.... „ .C-«
Social    B—1
' Sports   O—1
bars with the toughest thugs and bums in the state." Principal Startled
Best's next step was to notify the principal of Washington grade school that James would be bicycl¬ ing to classes daily frc«n state pri¬ son. The principal was startled, referred the matter to the school board. The school board asked the attorney general to rule whether (Continued on Pag* A-a)
North Dakota and Minnesota Buried Under Heavy Snows
Chicago, Feb. SS (UP)—Swollen and ice - choked rivers staged 'spring" floods today while Old Man Winter put North Dakota and part of Minnesota practically out of business.
High idnds added to other area^ weather troubles and there was even 6Ui earthquake in New Eng¬ land.
Th* snowfall 'wfaldi blanketed North Dakota ranged from five to 20 in<^es and was ao heavy In most localities the State Highway Depati:mpnt gave up 6Uid called In  the  snow  pltrws.
Beneath the snow was three to five  Inches  of  io*  resulting   from yesterday's  rains  and  last  night's sudden  temperature  drop. It aties Crippled
Twenty-two cities in Northern Minnesota were without telephone service, power lines were down in others, and old settlers along the Ked River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota described the storm  as  "tha  worst  in  years."
At Maddson, Wis., residents ot 117 trailers were forced from their camp-homes when ice jammed the mouth of a culvert and tbe creek water backed into th* area, Dar¬ lington, Wis., and Galena, HI., busi¬ ness districts were under several inches of water, and the MU-waukee Railroad canceled trains through the Wisconsin town.
A thirty foot chunk tjt th* dam holding back the BUia River near Wllber, Neib,, waa cracked off by an Ice-jam and the water left the river's course for the lowlands.
At Norfolk, Neb., the Blkhom River flooded the city park and park employes rescued a large fam¬ ily of rabbits, moving them to high¬ er ground, Ohio River Rising
The Ohio River was rising, but was expected to crest at 37.5 feet at Cincinnati tomorrow. Flood stage there is 52 feet
The snowfall was not confined to the Dakotas and Minnesota how¬ ever. New England states counted their 22nd of the winter, but suf¬ fering and damage there was light
Despite  Weather  Bureau  warn¬ ings,   the   North   Dakota   blizzard caught moot persons unawares. Ac¬ customed to hea-vy snows and how ((Sontlnued on Pag* A-2)
in western Kurope, <3hlna, Greece and Turkey.
'Ehrenta in Ocechoelovakia and Finland of th* past few days makes It obvious that time is of essence In doing whatever we are going to do," Vandenberg said.
As chairman of thrf' Senate for¬ eign relations committee, Vanden¬ berg released a report urging ap¬ proval of th* 61-month European recovery program. The report call¬ ed the program America's assur¬ ance to the world that "peac* and prosperity will prevail"
The commltte* called Russia's "Molotov Plan" the strongest So¬ viet weapon against the Marshall Plan and one that ¦will slow Eu¬ ropean   economic   recovery.
The report said the Russians had tightened control over ttb* trade of saitellit* countries by restricting agreements under the Molotov pro¬ gram which jeopardize re-eotlbllsh- ment of normal esust-west trade.
"In Ih* light of the Molotov Plan and th* attitude of the Comlnform (International Communist Organ¬ isation) tiher* ean b* no certainty tbait ttl* 6issumed rsstoratlon of trad* will actually occur," th* com¬ mltte* said. World Situation Dlscmssed
Th* day produced a series of foreign policy developments on Capitol  HiU.   These  were:
1.—A two-hour meeting of Van¬ denberg's oomniititeie at whieh "the entire world situation" was can¬ vassed and a decision made to rush consideration, beginning March 10, of the new $275,000,000 military air
TRUMAN SIGNS BILL TO INCREASE PENSIONS
Key West, Fla., Feb. 28 (UP)— President Truman tonight signed ihe Federal Employe Retirement Bill that Increasea pension benefits to 120,000 retired workers and some 1,500,000 still in govemment service.
Retired govemment workers get Increases in their annual pensions of 25 per cent or $300, whichever Is smaller,  under the new law.
For the flrst time widcws and dependent children will receive beneflts upon the death of em¬ ployees still on tho payroll, or re¬ tired emptoyees. Employees who through no fault of their own, are laid off after 26 years will get Immediate, although reduced, pen¬ sions. Workers who leave the gov¬ ernment can collect money thev have paid Into the retirement fund,  with  Interest.
Under the new law, government workers will pay Into the fund 6 per cent of their salary. Instead of the  i>resent   S  per   oent.
request for Greece and Turkey and the $670,000,000 China aid program,
2.—A heretofore secret American pliedge to build up a Chinese na¬ tionalist air force of 1,071 t»'*nw at a cost of more than $300,000,000 was revealed by top government officiala. It was denounced by Chairman Styles Bridges of the Senate appropriations committee as "inadequate . . . not meeting cur¬ rent  requirements."
8.—The Senate committee's E)RP report warned that war and eflo- nomlc disintegration might b* the alternative to the long-range re¬ covery program calling for an Initial 12-month U. S. expenditure of   $6,300,000,000,
4.—Sen. Joseph H. Ball, R., Minn., told a reporter the Republican "revisionist" group would meet Tuesday to consider his amend¬ ment to chop $1,800,000,000 off the initial ERP grant. They will con¬ sider other proposals to "tighten up" the program. Ball aaid. Blunt  Warning
But tt waa Vandenberg's blunt warning that Congress must say soon how far the United Statea 'will go to stop Communism which high-lighted developments. He told reporters he hoped the Senate, which begins debate on the Euro¬ pean plan Monday, would pass the bill In two weeks.
Because of the urgent need for speed  in   this  legislation  Vanden¬ berg's   committee   voted   to   limit hearings on the China and Greece. (Continued on Page A-IS)
Communists Purge Czechs' Press, Movies and Radio
By OEOROE PIPAL
Prague, CTzechoslovakia, Feb. 28. (VP) — The new Communist-led government began a drastic purge of the press, movies and radio to¬ day as Communist Premier Klem¬ ent (Jottwald called for the expul¬ sion of "all agents of home and foreign  reaction."
The action committees which rule all phases of national life fired 216 "negative'' employees of the nationalized movie industry and called on the journalists' union to expel 32 newspapermen. Including a member of the United Nations commission on freedom of the press. U. S. Publications Banned
Twenty - seven foreign publica¬ tions—including the Baltimore Sun, the CJhicago Tribune and Time and Life   magazines—were   banned   by
Finland Preparing To Answer
Soviet Minister Meets With Finns' President On Kremlin's Desire For New Alliance
the ministry of information.
Broadcasts by foreign commen¬ tators over the government radio were forbidden "until further no¬ tice,"
The information ministry an¬ nounced that only two flrms—one in Prague and one in Bratislava, capital of semi-autonomous Slo¬ vakia—^would be permitted to sell foreign puiblications not affected by the ban,
A Life photographer and an American employee of Charles Uni¬ versity were detained by the police for 90 minutes yesterday after the photographer attempted to take a picture orf atudents in front ot tlie university.
Police and officials of the foreign mini-stry demanded that the U. S. InformaUon Service withdraw from its display window a C^iech trans¬ lation of the French-British-Amer¬ ican protest against the coup. The protest waa rejected by Gottwald's government without being men¬ tion^ by the press. The copy was removed. Veteran Mayor Expelled
The Association of Political Pris¬ oners—aurvivora of wartime ccn- centration camps—expelled Nationaj .Socialist Party President Petr ZenkI, long-time mayor of Prague and a prisoner of the Nazis from 1939 to 1945,
It was officially announced that
SOUTH CAROLINA
With Southern Aoc To Keep His Name Off Election Ballots
Washington, Feb. 28 (UP)— South Carolina tonight joined the Southern States getting set to op¬ pos* President Truman's re-elec- tltm because of his civil rights program,
Th* South Carolina Democratic executive committee will meet on Monday at Olumbia to decide on steps to withhold the state's elec¬ toral   votes   from  Mr.  Truman.
Mississippi and Virginia Demo¬ crats already hav* such suitl-Tru¬ man plans under way.
Alabeuna Democrats, mean'.vhll3, ar* studying a secession proposal under which southerners would walk out of the Democratic Nat¬ ional Convention next Summer. AoticMD Depends on Platfonn
Southern delegates imder the Alabama plan, would bolt the i)at- lonal party If Its platform In¬ cluded the anti-poll tax, anti- lynching or anti - discrimination planks of President Truman's dvil rights progrram.
Sen. Burnet R. Maybank (D., S. C.,) predicted South C^Iarolina Dem¬ ocrats would "join hands with our good southern neighbors to fight for states' rights and against the President's cl'vil rights program." He will attend the meeting at Ckj- lurabia.
"He predlcfted the meeting would decide upon a method of naming "independent Democratic" electors Who would not be boimd—legally or morally—to vote for the national party's presidential and ¦vice presi¬ dential  nominees.
These electors, under plans be¬ ing studied, would be selected (Continued on Page A-2)
E FEEDING EUROPE-
Says United States Should Not Have to Bear Full Burden
- Willmar, Minn., Feb. 28 (UP)— Henry A. Wallace said today that he favors sending food to Europe, but that he thinks the program should be handled by the United Nations rather than the United Statea.
Wallace came to Willmar—heart of a far;ning area that has support¬ ed third-party movements since the days of the Populists—to deliver his first major campaign address to Minnesota farmers. About 1,100 persons, most of them farmers, at¬ tended. Others who could not at¬ tend because of snow-clogged roads sent telegrams.
Wallace said he approves that part of the aid-to-Europe program which Involves sending food to those countries not yet able to sus¬ tain themselves.
"But we should not bear the full burden," he .said. "The project should be one for the United Na¬ tions rather than for the United States alone." Europe Has Own Wheat
He added that the Europeans now are in a much better position than they were 4 year ago. He said the winter wheat crop in Europe this year promises to be twice as large as that in 1947.
ITie former Vice-President re¬ newed his attack on the administra. tion's "get-tough" foreign policy, asserting that "the Truman doc¬ trine has democracy on the run in Europe and apparently things are not going to get any better."
He urged farmers to unite with labor In opposing both major polit¬ ical    parties,   which   he   said   are ((Continued  on   Page  A-2)
By »IATTI HAKKARAINEN
Helsinki, Finland, Feb, 28 (UP)— President Juho K. Paaslklvi re. ceived the So'viet minister, Lt. CJen. Gregori M. Savonenkov, today and advised him of Finland's reaction to Premier Josef Stalin's Russo Finnish alliance proposal.
The ailing, 78-year-oId preaident informed Savonenkov of the steps that were being taken to produce a definite reply to the Soviet desire to include this tiny neighboring country in Its web of "friendship and mutual defense" pacts.
Paasikivi's secretary aald no offi¬ cial report of the meeting could be expected. Asked if Savonenkov had brought any new letter of informa¬ tion, the aecretary said he did not know of any.
Following the brief meeting which lasted only 15 minutes, the 'Russian minister went unconcern¬ edly to . Helsinki Stadium and (Watched the skating championships in which a Russian team partici¬ pated. Paaslklvi, ill with a cold, remained confined at the presiden¬ tial palace. Top Reds Meet
(Coincident with the conference, Helsinki's top Communist leaders had met in secret conference.
Following the meeting, WiUe Pessi, party secretary-general an¬ nounced ;
"The Communist party is of the opinion that such a pact would be useful for Finland. An increase in friendly relations and mutual un¬ derstanding between the Soviet Union and Finland cannot hurt re-P latlons between Finland and other, countries."
Other party meetings were held but no decisions were reached be¬ cause nol all prominent leaders attended. However, both the Social Democrats and the Ck)nservatives were known to disapprove of a defense alliance with the Soviet Union. The Agrarian party view wili not be decided before next Tnursday, according to party sources.
Ijeadera  of  other  Finnish  poHM- ca' parties flocked — with oatenta- tx-iis  casualness  —  to the skating (Conttnued  on  Page A-15)
Dr. Prokop Drtina, National Social¬ ist minister of justice before the Communist coup, had been hospit¬ alized with a fractured skull after a "suicide attempt" Police said Drtina jumped from a window of hia apartment after writing a sui¬ cide note. °
Another official announcement said Soviet Deputy Foreign Min¬ ister V, A. Zorin had left tor Moscow at 8 a. m. after "partici¬ pating in the creation of an asso¬ ciation for Czechoslovak - Soviet friendship" during his 10-day stay here.
Zorin arrived in Prague a week ago Thursday, the day before th* resignation of 12 non-Communist ministers touched off the crisis which resulted in the Communist seizure of power. Boy Scouts Gone
Not even the Boy Scouts wer* exempt in the reorganization of Czechosloval^ life. Along with all ! other youth organizations, the scouta were absorbed by a new "Society of Czechoslovak Youth,"
Gottwald spoke at two mass meet¬ ings today to 6,822 armed police .and workers' militiamen in the old town square after a victory parade, j and to 120,000 farm delegates at th* opening session of the National Peasants' Union.
The paraders included 1,450 police (Continued on Page A-2)
Jews Blast Arab Garage, Killing S, Injuring 3*0
VACLAV NOSEK
Nosek is Czechoslovakian minis¬ ter of the interior, whose Com¬ munist "security police" stormed headquartera of opposition parties and local governijient offices to speed the country's capitulation to Ctommunist controk
'^
Valley Scene
Chief Deputy Shei-iff Lee Welker se.rviny aa traffic cop, halting seemingly endless line of traffic in front of Court House to pertnit Cotirt House workers to crosa the street.
Cost of Choice Meat Cuts to Drop With Poorer Grades Slightly up
Chicago, Fob, 28. (UP)—Choice outs of beeif should drop in cost with poorer grades rising slightly, the Department of AgricuiturS In¬ dicated today.
Buyers were concentrating on cutter, common and medium steers and heifers, with top grade ani¬ mals tiropping from 50 cents to $1 during the week, the department reported in its weekly livestOL*; review.
Hogs finished ths week about $1 lower, with the closing prices for good and choice lightweight ani¬ mals ranging' from $23 to $23.75 a hundredweight
The nation's cattle markets were closed today.
All grains closed higher today, with corn and Bo^peana showing the greatest gains over yesterday's prkieiL
Trading on the New York Stock Exchange was moderately active, with major airline and aircraft stocks featuring a slight upswing. These Isaues jumped upward near the close as rumors started cir¬ culating in Wall Street that an¬ other administration plea for more air  power  would  be  made.
The stock market ended the month on a steady basis, but an analysis of the sharp price breaks early In February revealed a loss of  almost  3  billion  dollars.
¦Wholesale butter sold lower dur¬ ing the past week, tis two eastern chains reduced tho retail butter price. In Chicago, dairies and chain stores started a price war over milk. In two days the price dropped four cents, and milk was selling at two quarts for 38 cents today.
REPORTS YANKS DIG IN ALONG KOREAN BORDER
New York, Feb. 28 (UP)—Amer¬ ican Broadcasting Oirrespondent Ray    FalR    radioed    from    Seoul,
I Korea, today that American troops
jare digging in along the frontier separating the Amerioan and Rus¬ sian    occupation    zones,   ABC   re-
jported.
"Fox holes are being dug at reg¬ ular  intervals  along  the  38th  par-
I allel,"     Falk     reported     to    ABC.
'"American soldiers are also digging in  new gun emplacements;"
1    ABC said Falk radioed his report
|Upon his return from a visit to the
I frontier area.
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Stokes Hits Failure To Aid Partition
Is the United Nations com¬ promising itself out of existence —as did the League of Nations?
Is the United States taking the position of leaclership that is its due?
Did this country do much to bring the decision to partition Palestine and then refuse to back It up?
Read the column by Thomaa L. Stokes, on the page opposite the Editorial Page, in the Sunday Independent today.
Sign on Mr. Spini's barber shop in Laurel Line Sation, readings "Closed. Vacationing at General Hospital."
Young woman ordering noon lunch in writing and adding explanation that shi had lost her voice at Barons- Indianapolis game the night before.
Group of Veterana Adminis¬ tration secretaries wearing bou' ties — fo match thi' universal neckwear pattern of their male colleagues
Car on Northampton street displacing 1948 license plates —which are not legal until March  15.
Say Arabs Had Bomb For Jewish Quarter; Syrians Report Attack
« By ELIAV SIMON
Jerusalem, Feb. 28 CUP)—Flv* Arabs were killed and 30 were in¬ jured today when Jewish Haganah agents blew up an Arab garage in Haifa,
Haganah  sources  said  the Jews
had averted another "Ben Yehuda street bombing" by touching off the blast  
They said the bomb which explod¬ ed was intended for the Jewish quarter, but that Haganah agents surprised the Arabs and blew up an automcbile in which the bomb had been placed. All the Haganah agents returned safely to their base, these sources said.
The explosion touched off spor¬ adic shooting in which 12 Arabs and Jews were wounded.
A large number of Arabs, mean¬ while, attacked the Jewish colony at Maanit, 20 miles south of Haifa. An offlcial communique said four Iraqui Arabs and two Jews wer* wounded in that attack. Report Jews In Syria
Arab sources in Beirut reported that Jews had crossed the border into Syria for the first time. A band of Jews reportedly raided a village near the Arab frontier town of Banias. The raid was believed to have been a foray to obtain food. There was no report of casualties.
First reports said the Jews, carrying bombs and machine-guns surprised the Arab villagers and forced them to surrender food, including 23 cows. Arab sources said the raiders apparently came from Dan, in Palestine, and were suffering from a food shortage re¬ sulting from Arab highway Mock- ades.
Today's bombing, whidi damage^ the garage and two adjoining building.s, followed the discovery of a murdered Jew on the Haifa-Tel Aviv road. The victim had been blindfolded and his arms were tied behind his btick. He waa ^ot through the head. British  Help Jews
British troops aided Haganah forces in repelling the Arabs at Maanit One of the Arab, tnicka turned over befor* reaching Maaniti
Later    today    Haganah    troopa (Continued on Page A-5^
Steeplejacks Struggle for Lives As Fire Burns Through Ropes
Memphis, Tenn. Feb. 28 (UP»— Two steeplejacks suspended 100 feet in the air while fire burned through the ropes holding them won a battle against death today.
D. S. Thrailkill and T. G. Gross managed to slide to safety moments before the ropes burned through and broke.
The accident occurred as the two men were welding sheet Iron on ths insulated water pipes of a lofty water tower.
Slung from the tower rigging in Bo'sun's chairs, they were on their last—and topmost—piece of work. The welding  torch  set  fire to  felt
"1 pulled back up again and tried to help him get free," Thrailkill said. "I swung my chair around the burning  stack  to  reach him."
The flames burned faster through the life ropes and smoke blossomed in their faces. They could scarcely see. A crowd gathered below but nobody could help. Gave Vp His Gloves
Gross couldn't free his lines, Thrailkill said, "so I gave htm my welder's  gloves."
"He slid down the wire cable Oiat we were using as a hoist," Thrail¬ kill  said.  "Then my own line got
fouled. I had to swing hand over wrapping which enclosed the glass ihad along one of the horizontal insulation. !steel struts to get frcm tho burn-
In a flash the felt began burn- ing pipe back to the ladder." ing furiously and the rope holding! All this time his own rope waa their chairs started to smoulder, burning as he groped for safety. Thrailkill started down only • to He made the ladder and swung have Gross call and say his lines free of the bo'sun's chair, were fouled and he was stuck as Thrailkill said that momenta the flames began to eat into the later hia line burned in two awl th* hetufi, lAalr Ml fra*.