NOME NUGGET
OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN ALASKA—MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS __
VOL. LVIII No. 154 NOME, ALASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1956 _ Per Copy—15^
Reorganized Army Combat Units
Will Be Geared to Atomic Warfare
SAN FRANCISCO, UF>—Infantry*
divisions made up of five combat
units and geared to fight atomic
aa well as conventional warfare,
soon will replace the bulkier,
three-regirnent divisions.
Armored divisions also are to
be modernized, but changes in
them at this time will be compar
atively minor, the Army yester
day announced in Washington
and at 6th Army headquarters
here.
Field tests have shown that the
unit best suited for modern war
fare is “larger than the old battal
ion and smaller than the regi
ment.” Just how many men it
will have was not disclosed.
The reorganized infantry divi
sions will be characterized by in
creased firepower, greater mobil
ity and the capability of wide
dispersion to survive under atom
ic attack.
The Army announcement said
the plan for divisional reorganiza
tion has been recommended to
President Eisenhower and Secre
tary of Defense Wilson. It re
quires their approval before going
into operation. But the Army ap
parently hopes that approval will
toe forthcoming in time to start
the reorganization in some of the
divisions within the next month
or two.
New Weapon*
A whole new group of weapons
is contemplated for the new divi
sions. The Army has announced
a new 7.62 mm. machinegun,
which it describes as "a light
weight, general purpose gun de
veloped to replace all three of the
present .30 calibre machineguns.
The 7.62 bullet is just a frac
tion smaller than .30 calibre.
There is also a new rifle on
which tests have been completed
which fires the NATO ammuni
tion and embodies certain im
provements.
Anti-Tank Missile
The infantry will have a new
guided missile known as the
“Dart,” transported by light truck
and described as “a simple but
effective anti-tank missile . . .
with a high probability that a
single hit would destroy a heavily
armored tank.”
Improved artillery, mortars,
submachine guns, and the addi
tion of Honest John and other
type missiles will, the Army be
lieves, make the smaller division
much harder hitting.
Helicopters, tooth for transport
ing personnel and supplies, will
play a major role.
Stores To Have 3-Day
Holiday Over New Year
We made a mistake in Wednes
day’s paper—
The U.S. Merc and Nome Hard
ware and the Northern Commer
cial Co. will be closed on Mon
day and Tuesday next week to
enjoy a three-day, well-earned
holiday, instead ol Tuesday and
Wednesday, as stated.
Dorothy’s, Polet’s and Cavota’s
Store will also observe the three
day holiday.
RED CROS& DRIVE
HERE GETS $84 FOR
REFUGEE RELIEF
Rev. W. Mecklenberg, local Red
Cross chairman, reports that a.
total of $84.74 was collected for
the Hungarian refugee relief
drive, over-subscribing the sum
requested from this chapter by
$24.74.
Most of this was due to the vol
unteer work of the Boy Scouts
who gave' their time at a booth in
the Federal Building one day.
Wilson to Continue
As Defense Secretary
At Least Until Summer
WASHINGTON, VP—Charles E.
Wilson indicated yesterday he ex
pects to continue as secretary of
Defense at least until next sum
mer.
Wilson, returning from a holi
day at his Michigan home, was
met at the a’rport by newsmen.
They asked if he would remain
in his job until action on the mil
itary budget is completed by Con
gress, usually in July.
“My present intention,” Wilson
replied, “is to see it (the budget)
through. But I might change my
mind, of course.
“A man never knows what is
going to happen to him these
days.”
Wilson went to the Pentagon to
resume work on the budget. He
had a meeting later in the day
with Eisenhower on the subject.
Half Million Autos
Expected in Pasadena
For Rose Parade, Game
PASADENA, Calif., UR—Pasa
dena Police Chief Clarence Mor
ris estimates that about a half
million cars carrying 1 Vs million
people will swarm into Pasadena
Tuesday for the Tournament of
Roses parade and Rose Bowl
football game.
The 68th annual parade will in
clude 83 flower-decked floats, 20
bands, and about 200 horseback
riders, in addition to banner car
riers and three rose-covered cars
carrying Grand Marshal Eddie
Rickenbacker and other parade
officials.
Correct Spelling Not Neccesary for College Students,
Prof Laments, and Sees Cause of Engineer Shortage
NEW YORK, on—Today’s spell
ing lesson:
“A skeete’r bit the human bean
on the sholder of his boddy,
drawing blud, and he called a
docter and nerse before he divil
iped brane fever.”
If you fail to spot the errors,
you can still go to college, says
Dr. Kenneth B. M. Crooks, zoolo
gy professor of Fort Valley State
College, Georgia.
He says he has seen from 100
to 500 college students make these
same mis-spellings, and more—
words like ginny pig, colur, cur
cle, somthing, punkin, worf (for
wharf), anamal, and sourkraut.
Many college students can’t
spell common words, some do not
know the alphabet, and some
thing should be done about it, he
told the American Assn, for the
Advancement of Science.
“It is well known that college
students do not read, write, nor
comprehend as well as they could.
This study <ovev a 26-year per
iod) proves they can’t spell.”
Dr. Crooks cited these among
the probable reasons:
Children don't get enough drill
in writing and spelling. We are
addicted to slogans, . incorrect
public signs and notices. Most
school teachers seem to feel that
teaching spelling is beneath their
dignity.
“Carelessness and laziness are
apparently encouraged in our cir
cus-style schoolrooms.” Emphasis
is on reading, never on spelling.
Excessive use of audio-visual and
other aids. Cheating. Many teach
ers are poorly paid and unin
spired. Loss of interest in letter
writing.
Unable to read, write and spell,
many high school graduates na
turally shun science courses, and
that contributes to the shortage
of scientists needed in an age de
pendent on scientific knowledge
and research, Dr. Crooks said.
Chamber Is Told
New Armory For
Nome Not Certain
By RUTH McLEAN
The regular luncheon meeting
of the NWA Chamber of Com
merce on Thursday was conduct
ed by acting chairman Boyd Har
wood. He advised that word has
been received that the new ANG
armory for Nome is not a cer
tainty at this time. Federal funds
will cover 75 per cent of the
cost; however, the remaining 25
per cent is to be paid by the
territory.
It was suggested that Cham
ber members talk to their repre
sentatives to the legislature, ask
ing for their efforts to obtain'the
necessary funds. The City of
Nome will also work toward this
important addition to the com
munity.
Rev. W. Mecklenburg reported
that Nome’s quota for the Red
Cross drive for Hungarian relief
had been met through the ef
forts of the Boy Scouts and by
responses to a notice placed in
the Nugget.
The discussion of the proposed
corporation to prospect for min
erals or new industry in the Sew
ard Peninsula area was continued
by Wilbur Arnold.
The next meeting of the Cham
ber will be here Thursday, Jan. 3.
Oil Men File on
599,040 Acres in
Koyukuk Basin
FAIRBANKS, ' Filings on
599,040 acres of land believed to
contain oil and gas deposits were
recorded yesterday • in the name
of a Pennsylvania oilman and
five other persons at the U.S.
Land Office.
It is believed to be the largest
single such filing in the history
of Alaska and cost $152,570 in
fees. The acreage is in the Koyu
kuk Basin, 220 miles due west of
here.
Plans are being formulated to
drill in the region not later than
Nov. 15, 1958, and geological par
ties are to make surveys this
summer.
Oil and gas leases aldeady have
been taken on about 900,000 acres
of Koyukuk Basin land by other
persons or firms.
CITY COUNCIL MEETS
— ■ - ■ ^
Draft Quota Cut
For February
WASHINGTON, WV-The De
fense Department today cut its
monthly draft quota, asking for
drafting of 14,000 men during
February. This compares with
17,000 for each of the last four
months.
The announcement said “the
lower, short-month February goal
reflects an adjustment for larger
manpower gains in January and
February, traditionally months of
high enlistments in both the ac
tive and reserve military forces.
All of the February draft quota
will be for the Army.
It will bring the total of draft
ees called under the peacetime
draft law to 2,166,430.
SUEZ CANAL
CLEARANCE
HAS STARTED
CAIRO, CP>—Lt. Gen. Raymond
A. Wheeler announced yesterday
the Egyptian government has
agreed the U.N. salvage fleet can
begin clearing the southern end
of the Suez Canal immediately.
Wheeler said the clearing opera
tion would begin yesterday.
Cairo newspapers said Egyp
tian technicians already had
started clearing channels at Is
mailia, the canal midpoint, and
Suez, its southern terminus, “pre
paratory to conducting research
about sunken ships.”
But this obviously referred only
to the clearing of mines from the
channel, begun by the Egyptians
earlier this week.
A British ship and two French
vessels also are continuing sal
vage operations in the Port Said
harbor, the canal’s northern en
trance. This work was begun by
the British occupation force,
which also cleared a channel thru
the northern third of the canal
to El Cap.
Wheeler’s statement did not
make clear what salvage ships
would be used in the operation
around Suez. His statement was
released by the U.N. information
office in Cairo.
' NEW FIRE CODE
TAKES EFFECT
ON JANUARY 1
A City Council meeting, de
layed because of the Christmas
holidays, was held last evening
at the City Hall.
The new Territorial Fire Code
was read and studied by the
Council members and plans were
made to adopt a resolution at the
next meeting to comply with the
code, which becomes effective on
January 1, 19571
The new code includes city and
territorial inspection, particularly
of new construction, and it is
planned to eliminate those haz
ards to decrease present fire
losses.
Just how it applies to fire haz
ards and electrical deficiencies in
old buildings will be explained
later.
Addition to Old School
A report was read by contractor
Bill Gillis on the two-room addi
tion to the old school for the
high school. Gillis showed plans
for two rooms 37 x 54 feet, to be
built so that two similar rooms
can be built later above these
rooms, if necessary.
Gillis stated that the structure
can be completed by fall in time
to comply with the requirements
which limit the time of the 1957
building season. A total of $41,
113.70 is requested.
The Council is meeting tonight
with the School Board at 8 p.m.
to make final arrangements.
Insurance on New School
The city clerk reported that in
surance on the new school
amounted to $1,328.57 for three
years.
The Standard Oil Co. requested
a refund on sales tax for which
they had billed the M-K Co. and
for which payment has been re
fused.
The Q Cab has notified the city
that it will move their new build
ing off the sidewalk as soon aa
weather permits in the spring.
Transient Military Personnel
The city received assurance
(Continued on Page T wo)
Alaska Delegation Arrives
In Tennessee on Their
Way to Nation’s Capital
NASHVILLE, T e n n UP>— An
Alaskan delegation, seeking state
hood for their territory, arrived
here today on a public relations
jaunt to Washington.
They are headed by Ernest
Gruening and William Egan, al
ready chosen as senators from
Alaska if and when statehood is
granted, and Ralph Rivers, elect
ed representative on the same
basis. They are accompanied by
their wives.
The group arranged a brief
conference with Gov. Frank
Clement, who will make them
honorary citizens of Tennessee.
Gruening said he hopes Presi
dent Eisenhower will recommend
Alaskan statehood in his message
to Congress.
The visitors leave tomorrow by
automobile for Washington and
plan to stop over Saturday night
at Bristol, Tenn.