m NOME NUGGET
OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN ALASKA—MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS_
VOL LXII No 110 NOME, ALASKA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1960 Per Copy 15*
__|_ . . — __L=r=rr
Judge Gilbert Questions Pentagon’s
Heartland Concept of Alaska Defense
“This is an American frontier
and at present the coast line or
perimeter is a sort of no man’s
land. This is America, not West
Berlin in Europe.” That is the
statement made by Judge Hubert
Gilbert at the special meeting of
the Chamber of Commerce Board
of Directors with Adm. William S.
Post, USN, of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. Adm. Post and a group of
about 20 officers visited Nome
yesterday while on a tour of Al
aska military establishments.
Judge Gilbert gave his opinion
of the status of Arctic Alaska
when he criticized the “heart
land” concept of defense which
does not provide any defense of
the coast. He asked “If under this
concept of defense, would you
consider pulling out of Pearl
Harbor?”
Judge Gilbert called attention
to the fact that the nearest aerial
defenses to Nome are at Anchor
age, and when there is an inci
dent in the northern part of our
huge state, it takes about 17 hours
for help to arrive. The defenses
have become no defense and the
psychological result is disturbing.
He cited first the closing of Marks
Air Force Base here because it
was “too close to Russia and too
dangerous for the troops,” and
compared it to the Soviet’s 30
bases on the Siberian coast.
Pete Walsh called attention to
the fact that when Ladd Air
Force Base planes were with
drawn to Anchorage, it was be
lieved these planes would be dis
persed in smaller units through
out the state—but instead they
were concentrated at one base
only—at Elmendorf.
Walsh said, “We are Ameri
cans, both white and Eskimo
people of northern Alaska, and
allies of the other 49 states. Let’s
make a show of strength with
Navy patrol planes based on the
Arctic coast. This is America. We
have good runways, open the
year around and good communi
cation facilities.”
Major L. Flanagan of the Army
Advisor Group to the Alaska Na
tional Guard, explained the won
derful work of the Scout units
who are on 24 hour surveillance
and who report faithfully any
thing unusual that they see or
hear. These patrols know that it I
takes too long for any action to
be taken after they report a sight
ing in the air or in the water.
Flanagan said that a defense unit
of some kind based here would
have a good psychological effect
on the people of Alaska and an
adverse one on those on the Si
berian side who patrol our un
defended coast.
Robert Harwood, of the Cham
ber’s Tourist Committee, said he
felt that tourist travel to this area
has suffered because we are too
close to Siberia without any vis
ible defense. “Is it safe?” is the
question asked by many tourist,
Harwood said.
Admiral Post expressed appre
ciation for the invitation to visit
Nome, where he has wanted to
come because his father made a
survey in the Kuskokwim by
canoe in the 1890’s. He said one
day had been set aside for a fish
ing trip during his group’s tour
of military establishments, but
that he and his party gladly gave
up the fishing in favor of the
chance to come to Nome.
Both Adm. Post and Capt. Joe
Spitler, project officer, explained
the Pentagon’s thinking on the
present plan of defense and the
reasons for conditions as they
are.
“Would you liberate the world,”
was the question posed the group
by the Chamber. The answer was
unanimously in the affirmative,
but only after America was pro
tected from aggression.
The Admiral and his party
were guests at a noon luncheon
where Mayor Steffen Andersen
presented Adm. Post and Capt.
Spitler with souvenir mining cer
tificates, with the admonition that
to keep their claims they must
return each year and perform
their assessment work. The Cham
ber also presented the guests with
sample bottles of gold dust.
Also in the group were Colonels
Patient, Kirchner, Craft, and Tur
ner, and their pilot, Capt. Rogers.
They were taken on a bus tour of
the area before returning to An
chorage.
London Reports Nikita
Ready for Reconciliation
With Eisenhower
WASHINGTON, If)—The White
House said today that Soviet Pre
mier Khrushchev has made no
overtures for a private meeting
with President Eisenhower.
At the same time, however,
some high U.S. officials expressed
belief Khrushchev may seek such
a meeting after his arrival in New
York Monday.
These officials said Khrush
chev’s aim would be to embarrass
Eisenhower rather than to im
prove U.S.-Soviet relations.
Press Secretary James Hagerty
made the White House statement
when asked about a London news
report that unidentified Soviet
diplomatic sources have said
Khrushchev was amenable to a
reconcilation with Eisenhower.
U.S. Sub Scorpion Reports
In After 24-Hour Silence
LONDON, I.T) — The American
nuclear-powered submarine Scor
pion broke a 24-hour radio silence
today to quiet fears that it may
have run into trouble during na
val maneuvers in the Atlantic.
The 252-foot sumbarine, carry
ing a crew of 100, reported ‘‘All
is well” and gave its position in
response to a message from the
anxious British Admiralty.
PRESTWICK, Scotland, UPl —
Ships and planes searched a sec
tion of the Atlantic 190 miles
long and 140 miles wide today in
the waning hope of finding sur
vivors from a downed U.S. Air j
Force B47 bomber.
The bomber, with three crew- i
men aboard, plunged into the sea
two days ago after colliding with !
another B47.
Both Sides Accuse
Other of Exploiting
Religious Issue
WASHINGTON, UP — The Re
publican and Democratic nation
al chairmen called anew today for
an end to the religious issue in
the presidential campaign, even
as they accused each other’s back
ers of trying to keep it alive.
The new round of statements
by Sen. Henry Jackson, the Dem
ocratic chairman, and Sen. Thrus
ton Morton, the Republican lead
er, did little meanwhile to quiet
the controversy concerning the
Roman Catholic religion of John
F. Kennedy, the Democratic pre
sidential nominee.
Morton, noting a Jackson state
ment that the mails are being
flooded with anti-Catholic litera
ture, accused Jackson of “trying
to keep the discussion of religion
alive in the belief it will benefit
1 the Democrat candidate.”
j Jackson, saying he knew of
I none from Republican party lead
ers, charged that the mailings
were an effort to defeat Kennedy.
! Morton contended that Jackson
made charges by innuendo that
“he knows are wholly unfound
ed.”
In a statement replying last
night, Jackson called on Vice
President Nixon “to publicy re
I pudiate those who are carrying on
a campaign of religious bigotry or
forever bear the consequences.”
Los Francisco or San Angeles
LOS ANGELES, UP) — “I’m
happy” said New York Gov. Nel
son Rockefeller, “to be in San
Francisco.”
He said it in Spanish.
But it would have been wrong
in any language.
He was standing on the steps
of the Los Angeles City Hall.
A crowd of thousands—assem
bled Thursday night for the local
celebration of the Mexican inde
pendence day—roared at the gov
ernor’s blooper.
“We New Yorkers don’t speak
Spanish too well,” he admitted,
in Spanish. And he was forgiven.
Nikita Confident Of
Improved Relations
With United States
LONDON, liPl — Soviet Premier
Khrushchev expressed confidence
today that “better times will
come” in relations between the
Soviet Union and the United
States.
He expressed this view in a
message from the vessel Baltika,
carrying him to New York, re
jecting a lecture invitation from
the Forum of the Harvard Uni
versity Law School.
His reply, broadcast in Russian
by Moscow radio said Khrushchev
would be unable to accept be
cause of the U.S. decision to con
fine him to the limits of Man
hattan.
Khrushchev remarked, how
ever, “I am sure that better times
will come in the relations be
tween our countries.
‘T‘he sun will finally rise, the
gloomy clouds will clear, and all
people will understand the neces
sity of friendship and cooperation
between countries.”
U.S. Notifies U.N. Visitors j
That They Must
“Lay Their Pistols Down” j
WASHINGTON, OP — The1
United States is notifying Com- j
munist nations that their delega
tions to the U.N.—including the
one headed by Soviet Premier
Khrushchev—will not be permit
ted to carry guns.
Cuban authorities have already
been notified that Premier Fidel
Castro’s gun - toting bodyguards
will have to put their pistols
down when they to get New York
City for the United Nations As
sembly meeting.
Asked whether the Cubans
would be disarmed if they showed
up with guns, either cpen or con
cealed, State Department Press
Officer Joseph Reap said “I am
confident the New York author
ities would deal with the matter
diplomatically and effectively.”
Irish Troops Match
Wits with African
Witch Doctor
MANONO, The Congo, UT —
Irish U.N. troops matched wits
with an African witch doctor to
day in an attempt to bring peace
to this terrer-ridden mining cen
ter.
And the Irish appeared to be
winning.
Primitively armed Baluba tribes
men roaming the streets agreed
to let the Irish open a mile long
stretch of road to the airport as
an escape route for 73 frightened
Belgian settlers huddled in a tin
mine company’s guest house.
The Belgians—13 women and
60 men — were trapped as hun
dreds of tribesmen armed with
old rifles, spears and bows and
arrows swarmed into the town
Tuesday and attacked African
police led by white officers.
The Balubas, who in this area
side with Congo Premier Lum
umba in his feud with Katanga
Premier Tshombe, were inflamed
by a witch doctor who sold them
a magic formula he claimed made
them immune to “white men’s
bullets.”
The outnumbered police re
treated to seek U. N. protection
after bloody fighting in which 35
Balubas were slain. The only U.N.
authority left in the town was a
contingent of 140 men from the
Irish 33rd Battalion and the U.N.
blue helmet was the only badge
of safety for a white man as
bands of tribesmen prowled amid
smouldering buildings.
President Requests Soviet
Embassy Leave The Congo
LEOPOLDVILLE, W — The
Soviet foothold in the Congo was
slipping tonight.
Documents were burned in the
courtyard of the Czech Embassy
and men nailed covers on giant
wooden crates.
Three carloads of Soviet offi
cials left the Soviet Embassy.
Cars loaded with suitcases stood
in the courtyard.
A Tass agency correspondent |
said: “We are all leaving tomor- |
row.” He said the Soviet Embassy j
has received a formal request to 1
leave the country from President!
Joseph Kasavubu.
Cubans Seize
U.S. Embassy
Secretary
HAVANA, (fl’i — Cuban author
ities late today released Mrs. Mar
jorie Lennox, U.S. Embassy sec
retary arrested in a raid on her
dwontown apartment early yes
terday.
WASHINGTON, UPt-The State
Department expressed today its:
“greatest indignation at the Ges
tapo methods” of Cuban military
intelligence agents in detaining &
secretary from the U.S. Embassy
in Havana.
A department spkoesman said ai
protest described as “blistering’'
has been delivered to the Cuban
government by U.S. Ambassador
Philip Bonsai in connection with
the arrest of Majorie Lennox off
San Francisco. The protest was
was oral and in writing.
Mrs. Lennox, who is divorced,
has worked in Cuba since last No
vember. Her passport does not
carry diplomatic immunity but it
was considered a serious breach
of protocol to jail a diplomatic
employe without referring the
case to the Embassy.
An Embassy spokesman said
she may have been arrested in
reprisal for the recent ouster of
a Cuban consular official in San
Juan, Puerto Rico.
British Speed King Donald
Campbell Goes Out of
Control At 300 m.p.h.
BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS.
Utah, Iff) — British speed driver
Donald Campbell was injured and
his 4,250-horsepower auto, Blue
bird II, was badly damaged when
the car went out of control at 300
miles an hour this morning.
But Campbell’s injuries did not
appear serious and he declared
at a hospital that he was “ready
to go again” in ihis quest for a
new auto speed record.
Peter Carr, chief of the Blue
bird project, said extent of dam
age to their $4Vfe million car was:
not known. He said decision as ta
whether an attempt will be made
to put the car into racing shape
for another try this fall will await
further examination and consulta
tion.
Carr said Campbell had cuts on
the side of the head which re
quired a number of stitches. He
did not appear to have any
broken bones.
Air Force Erases Vapor
Trails of High Flying Jets
BEDFORD, Mass., Iff) — Vapor
trails which in the past have in
dicated the presence of high fly
ing U.S. Air Force jets, will be
ended, the Air Research and De
velopment Command announced
today.
Air Force scientists said the
break-through was reached after
more than five years of research.
A six-engine B47 bomber crew,
following directions from the
ground, first eliminated the vapor
trails from the engines on the
right side while the three left
engines continued to produce the
familiar white vapor streams.
Then the vapor trails poured from
the right engines, while the left
engines left no track behind them.