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No gains without pains.

By Carrier: Charlottetown. llslmasdda 815.00 per assnusn. liuwhero in P.l.l. 80.00. Othu Provinces and U.S.A. 12.00 per annum.

Covers Prince Edward Island Like the Dew Cl-IARLOTTETOWN. CANADA, MONDAY. DECEMBER 23, 1953,.

DRAMATIC ORTH ATLANTIC RESCUE SAVES

I

Russia Seelcsl,Postponemeni: Of Big Four C

F rancels Sorry Plight” Seen In Political, Labor And Economic Matters

PARIS. (AP)-Frenchmen say- ing "merry Christmas" or "happy New Year" during this holiday season are doing so a little hol- lowly. There is nothing very merry about the political. eco- nomic and labor headaches they have suffered in the past weeks.

For one thing, a strike of com- munications workers has swept the sky clear of all commercial air transporttaion at a time when thousands of persons normally come to Paris to see the old year out and the new one in.

Only one plane took off from Orly airport here. It was bound for Indo-China to help in the French war effort there. l

Most airlines. including Ameri- can and British. continued to div- ert their planes to Brussels, shuttling passengers to Paris by train. There was little hope the

strike of 2.000 control tower. radio and radar operators would end before Jan. l.

A strike of postal letter scrters has reduced holiday mail deliver- ies-usually at their peak-to a trickle. More than 100.000 bags of mail from all over the world are piled high in the big Paris railroad stations. Even if the strike should and now. and there is no sign it will, it would take two weeks before deliveries could catch up.

Strikes After Election

The strikes hit the French Just as they had begun to sigh with relief over the election of a new president.

French morale. which is already low. suffered a tremendous beat-

lbontinued on page 5. col. 0)

Volcano Eruption, Cause Of N. 7. Train Disgier

By J. C. Graham Canadian Press Cva sporndent AUCKLAND. (CP)- An eruption

of the 9.000-foot volcano Ruapehu in the centre of New Zealand'a North,1sland has been established as the cause of a Christmas Eve railway disaster which took ltd lives.

Mountaineers who examined the summit of the mountain Sunday found evidence of a volcanic up- hoaval which sent a vast volume of water from Crater lake rushing in an inuistablo flood down the mountainside.

The lake. which normally covers 14 acres. is in the crater of the volcano. Several times in living memory it has been dispersed by eruptions. Usually the water runs down the many streams which have thlohir source on slopes of the moun- a .

Sweeps Away Bridge

This time the upheaval appears to have forced a tremendous vol- ume of water over the southeast edge of the crater carrying an avalanche of ice, snow and volcanic ash down the mountainside into the narrow Wangeahu rlvsr, swell- ing, it to 25 feet above normal level and sweeping away the railroad arldge on the plain below.

Thousands of tons of ice were carved out of the glacier and swept down with the debris.

Coming Events

"Dance in alanroy School to- night. Good music.

"Dance in Kelly's Cross school Wednesday, Dec. filth.

mi. 11' m ' Mu ",0 I I mm, soul. M”

James . Dac-

w"Daaec. an .:ugustus Hall.

. . Burke's Cr-

ahastra

”Croklnole Party. North River

Hall. Tuesday. I run. Miniuidn loo. lvoryono welcome.

"Dance, Nrtuna Hall. Tuesday. gooiaber I. Molwura Orches-

”Variety Concert and Dance at Lot at Hall, December nth. I o'clock.

"Dance South Ruatlco l-lall Monday. Dec. 3. Alex Macuan new four piece orchestra. Canteen service.

"Annual meeting 1.. O. L. and 1.. 0, B. A. Monday. December ma All members both Lodges are re- duasted to attend.

War In Indo- China Carries On

Iy Larry Allen

HANOI. lndo-China, (AP) Communist-led Vletminh troops dug in near the border of jittery Thailand Sunday to meet expected French counter-measures following the lightning Red thrust across Laos which sliced Indo-China in two.

The rebels. who launched their four-day. 100-mile drive from the Annam coast, completed the push Saturday, rumbling into the Lao- tian border town of Thakhek on the heels of retreating French troops.

The French pulled out oi Thak- hek in the face oi the overwhelm- ing Red pressure and began oalling in reinforcements for a. counter-

attack which observers predicted would come swiftly. This is the first time in -the

eight years of the Indo-China. war

that the Vietmlnh have reached the Thailand frontier on the Mekong river. The Reds came within 30 miles oi the Mekong

last April in their invasion oi Laos --one of the three French-assocb ated states in Indo-china. But, after threatening the Laotian cap- ital of Luangprabang. they quit with the approach of the rainy

Spiin Predicts first Surplus Since Civil War

MADRID. (AP)- Spanish tax- payers will have to dig deeper next year to meet the highest

budget in Spain's history.

But there .is good news for the national economy: Generalisslmo Franco's government predicts a surplus in its funds for the first time since the civil war.

The Cortes Parliament unani- mously approved last week a budget for 1954 of 25.020.77.835 pesetas--13 per cent higher than 1963-aimed to leave a surplus of 53,422,164 pesetas.

At a valuation of 2 U2 cents for the peseta. that is a budget of about S650.519.000 and a sur- plus of 31,335,000. Defence costs will account for a little less than 30 per cent of the money. That is a drop of about 10 per cent from this year.

The United States is supplying Spain s226.000.000 by next June 30 under the 20-year aid-for-bases agreement signed here Sept. Of this. 5141.000.000 will lo for military equipment and the rest for defence support. meaning use in some way in the development of military strength.

Queen Replies To CanadiaL Message

OTTAWA. (OP)-The Queen's re-t ply to the Christmas message sent her by Governor-General Vincent Massey on behalf of the Canadian people. states: ,

"Please convey to the people of Canada the sincere thanks of my husband and myself for their kind

Wants Alleasi Three More Weeks

for Preparation

WASHINGTON. (OP) - Russia moved Saturday to postpone for at least three weeks the Big Four for- eign mlnlsters' conference in Bar- lin on the German and Austrian problems.

The Russians. in notes to Britain, the United States and France, pro- posed that the conference be set back from Jan. 4.-the date sug- gested earlier by the West-to Jan. 25, "or any subsequent date.”

The U. S. state department and British diplomatic quarters indi- cated the date change would be accepted by the Western powers. French sources welcomed the pro- posal because the delay may pro- vide enough time for a new govern- ment to be chosen. Premier Jos- eph Laniel's government must re- sign when the new president, Rene Ooty, is installed Jan. 11.

In a statement accompanying re- lease of the Soviet note, the state department hers administered a mild reproof, but appeared resigned to the delay.

Waiting Since July

”The soviet note would appear to delay for three weeks but not to prevent this meeting. which the three Western powers have long sought and in which they attach high importance," the statement said. -

Citing the Russlans' assertion that more time is need "for ap- propriate preparatlon." the state department commented:

"This seems somewhat curious in light of the fact. that the three- power invitation to the soviet Un-

ion has been outstanding since last-

July.” It added:

"In suggesting a postponement, the Soviet Union refers to the neo- essity of assuring conditions for all four governments. The Soviet Union presumably has solicitude for other participating governments and assumes that it is better quali- fied than the governments of France, the United Kingdom and the United States to decide what best suits their own interests."

The Russian note said the Soviet

- (Continued on page 5 col. or

Urges World Atom Pool

NEW YORK. (AP) -David E. Lilienthnl. first chairman of the U. S. atomic energy commission. Saturday night urged prompt im- plcmentation of President Eisen- hower's plan for a world atom ponL

Any long delay may well be fatal to the plan and world peace, he told a national radio audience "NBC Lecture Hnll".

The pool can be operating in a modest way "within six to eight months from today." he said.

In his prepared speech. Linen- thal suggested Belgium as a site for an experimental atomic power plant and Geneva as the home oi the international research organ- ization outlined by Eisenhower.

The former 11.8. ntnm chief, who once headed the vast Ten- nessee Valley authority hailed the Eisenhower proposal as an "elec- trifying . . . gift of peace on earth" and "a courageous ef- fort. to establish a basis for some degree of confidence and mutual faith."

"After years of exposure to un- disguised atomic lingo-lam by les- ser man, this country has at last put its case before the world on the highest level of moral leader- ship," he declared.

and loyal message of good wishes"

WINNIPIG. (C?) - Pour per- sons maroonod in a anowbound bruh piano in northeastern Mani- toba wero rescued Sunday after a six-day ordeal in frosting weather which saw his and death come to In Indian baby.

The child was born Tuesday to Mrs. Annanias Harper of Therese Point. Man.. the day after the piano carrying her homo became lost and was forced down no miles northeast of Winnipeg. The plane. piloted by Paul Rickey. 87. of Win- nipeg. also carried Mrs. Harper's children. lflisabsth. 0. and Joseph.

All were safe when an RCA! Iaaroh piano tted the craft. A radio raaagtbrought one of the plane's ski-equipped sister ships from Central Northern Airways to

the scene. and the four were flown

Four Persons Rescued After Six Days In Bush

.E.....:mM.....M....m. so miles south to island lake hoa- pltal.

Rickey said he become lost about dusk last Monday after taking off from Bigstorle like for a 86-mile flight. to Island laks. I-is landed in a clearing. ,

He had plenty of gasoline but heavy anow prevented a takeoff the next morning.

A few hours later. Mrs. Harper gave birth to the child. Then it began to snow, cutting off any hope of early search or rescue From Tuesday to Saturday. the group huddled around the plane. which was well equipped with emergency rations" heaters and sleeping bags.

With the temperature falling to il below at one point. the new- born baby died Saturday. Condi- tion of the four at hospital was not immediately known.

OIIFEPEIICG

An Entire Family Of Five Lost In Tragic New Zealand Disaster

WELLINGTON. (Reuters)- Bun- day's casualty list of New Zea- land'a Christmas Eve rail disaster included a.n entire family of five.

The list. fourth to be issued, raised the total identified dead to 73. Rescue teams now have re- covered ll-f bodies of the 166 per- sons killed when the Wellington- Auckland express thundered from

a broken bridge to destruction in am

the Wangaehu river-"River of Death." The train caried 267 per- sons. Many were injured.

The Benton family of Norm Is- land township was wiped out. Searchers have found the bodies of Mrs. Florence Benton and her three daughters, Glenis. 9. Bever- lay. 6, and Roselyn, 3. They are still looking for the body of the father. E. R. Benton. a former garage attendant. .

Search parties Sunday combed an 80-mile stretch of the Wangaehu from the disaster scene at Tang- lwae to the sea coast. for the fifth

time.

Many of the victims. some of them naked, were found washed up on the wild. rubble-strewn banks of the river. Others were dug up from the grey slit of the river bed.

Bound For Holiday

Fifty-two bodies still are mis- g.

Many of the victims were young woman and teenaged girls, bound for a. holiday in Auckland.

Prime Minister Sidney Holland has ordered a public inquiry into the rail disaster. New Zealand's worst in history. Government ex- perts will investigate whether it was a steaming sulphur lake in a volcanic crater north of Welling- ton or a cloudburst which caused the floods that wrecked the brirlizo,

The span collapsed when a wall of water loosed an avalanche of ice and snow into he narrow river. swelling it to 25 feet. above nor- mal level i

Ike Orders Reduction Of Ground Forces In Korea

By Marvin L. Arrowunith

aucusra. Ga. (AP)-President Eisenhower Saturday ordered a progressive reduction of American ground force strength in Korea. But he solemnly declared any new aggression there will be opposed "with even greater effect" than be- fore.

As an initial step in the reduc- tion of United States forces. the president announced "two army divisions will soon be withdrawn and returned to the United states."

Eisenhower cautioned that U. S. combat strength n Korea still will be maintained at a. leval calculated to discourage new aggression. The forces staying on, he said, will be highly-mobile naval. air and am- phibious units.

The units being withdrawn from Korea were not identified. but an Eisenhower aide who asked not to be named said they are manned by upwards oi 32.000 combat troops.

Units Unknown

An army spokesman at Washing- ton said no decision has been reached on which of the six army divisions in Korea will be with- drawn. '

The army's eight divisions in the Far East-including two in Japan -number about 140,000 men. Two marine divisions have about 20,000 and an airborne regiment is es- timatod at 3.000. s

in Ottawa. a defence department spokesman, commenting on the announcement. said the United Na- tions hav given no indication that it wants Canada to reduce her ground forces in Korea, The spokes- man added that Canada hasn't asked to withdraw any troops. At

present Canada. has about 1.000 ground troops in Korea. Gives Meaning

In his statement. Eisenhower

said the reduction of American forces in Korea means:

"We move forward in pursuance of our broad policy to make evi- dent to all the world that we our- selves have no aggressive inten- tions and that we are resourceful and vigilant to find ways to reduce the burden of armament and to promote a climate of peace."

Word of Eisenhower's decision was given to President Srngman Rt-re: of south Korea earlier last wee .

Lose ISFcondIChild By Drowning

DRUM!-IIZLLER. Alta. (cry .. Mr. and Mrs. James Tuckwood of Bali: Coulee have lost their second child by drowning in two years. Lawrence George Tuckwood. 1. was drowned Christmas Eve near his home when, the ice gave way while he was skating on the Red Deer river. His six-year-old sister was drowned hear the same spot two yoars.sgo.

ARTIST? I-IOAX

OXFORD. Ingiand 4GP)-A stu- dent hoax went undiscovered by crowdt visiting a university stu- dent art display. The new college art committee snnourlced that a much - admired "conventlonai” painting called "descent" was a poster-paint product of three stu- dents who turned it out in less than half an hour.

Death of Veteran Newspaper Man

BRAN-DON. Man. LOP)-William Noakes. B2. dean of western news- paper men and veteran editor of the Brandon Daily Sun, died Sun- day.

one of Canada's oldest working editors, Mr, Noakes had been with The Sun since 1921. Despite his years. he worked daily at the sun office. and on Wednesday prepared editorials for next days paper.

He enjoyed good health through- out Christmas holiday. spent with most of his family who still live here. He died in his sleep.

Mr. Noakes was the author of "Sun Gleama." a column of pithy. Springhlily humor which brought chuckles to readers throughout Canada. He was often called the country's most. quoted paragrapher.

Born at Bunvash, Sussex, Eng- land. Aug. 20. 1871, William Bill Noakes entered the publishing bus- iness as an artist and engraver. Later. his wanderlust took him to Ireland. the United States and Canada as a. reporter, feature writ- er. desk man. press bureau editor and newspaper editor.

u. S A. Limits Imports Of Non- Canadian Oats

AUGUSTA. Ga., (AP)-President Eisenhower. ncting to protect Am- erican producers. has decided to limit imports of onts into the United States from non - Canadian sources to 2.500.000 bushels from Dec, 23. 1953. to Sept. 30. 1954.

The move. announced Sunday. supplements an earlier agrcvment which restricts shipments of oats from Canada to 23,000,000 bushels during the period Dec. I0, 1953. to next Sept. 30. -

Argentina is the biggest exporter of oats to the U. S. aside from Canada.

Eisenhower's action limiting oats imports from non-Canadian sources was based on studies by the United States tariff commission made in accordance with the Agricultural Adjustme t Act. That law provides for import restrictions when such shipments are interfering with or threaten to interfere with domestic price supports or marketing pro- grams.

Equitable Basis

A White House statamml: said that Canada. in agreeing earlier to a simlliar limitation. did so "with the expectation that substantial quantities of oats would not enter the United States from other sources and thus dlsplacp the com- petitive. position of Canada, which has traditionally supplied almost the whole of United States imports of oats." The statement added:

"Accordingly. today's action by the president in limiting imports from other sources is supplement- ary is) the Canadian decislon.'rakcn together. the two actions will have the effect of treating import: of cats from all sources on an equit- able basis."

Queen And Duke Leave Auckland For Maori Grounds

WAJTANGI, New zealsnd. (Reu- ters)-The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh leave Auckland by air today for the Maori treaty grounds here, the first stop in a. 2.250-mile air, train and car tour of New zealand.

At Waitangi-Maori for ing waters"-the Queen greeted by descendants of the Maori chiefs, who, in the same place in I840, submitted to Britain's rule.

During the ceremonial welcome, she will be asked to stand on Waitangi's sacred mat-the first British sovereign to do so.

Her plane will land at Kalkohe. on the narrow North Island penin- sula jutting out into the Pacific. From there she and the duke will- drive to Waitangi, in the lovely Bay of Islands.

The couple will lunch and spend the night at Whangarel. a short drive from the old Maori treaty ground.

Then they will continue their tour of New Zealand. covering 700 miles by air. 800 by train and nearly 950 by car. 'I'hiri.y-three days later they will rejoin the royal yacht Gothic at Bluff. New Zea- land's southernmost point .

"weep- will be

To Present Colon

Before leaving Auckland this morning in a specially-equipped air force C-1'1, Elizabeth was sched- uled to present colors to the Royal New zealand Air Force.

A large crowd lining Auckland's streets gave an impromptu three cheers for the Queen Sunday as she drove bank from morning ser- vice at St. Mary's Cathedral. Dur- ing the service. a silent prayer mourned the 166 persons killed in the Christmas Eve train wreck.

.m..m..1.:.j-J

Czechs Hall News On Xmas Train Wreck

VIENNA. (AP: - Czech railway and police authorities prevented any further leakage of informa- tion Sunday on the Christmas eve train wreck in Moravia which is reported to have killed more than 100 persons.

Czech officials. evidently acting on orders from higher authorities, rebuffed all enquiries on the sub- ject made by telephone from Vienna.

However. the Prague newspaper Rude Pravo, organ of the Czech Communist party. said by telephone it would carry the following re- port on the accident today:

"A mllway disaster occurred on Dec. 91 one hour after midnight when the Bratislava-bound Balkan expra-a ran into a passenger train near Sakvloe. The collision caused I. large number of casualties. The Czech deputy traffic ministers Ri- chard Urx and Andrej Gerec, as well as the Czech vice minister for the interior. Jindrlch Kotal. and other top ranking personali- ties, arrived at Sakvice."

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rm-ms MAN

What is well begun is half done.

10 PAGES

NEW YORK, (AP)--A dramatic night rescue in the stormy North Atlantic saved 43 persons early Sunday after their ship broke in two off Newfoundland. All appar- ently were unharmed.

However, one of the rescue ves- sels. the U. S. military sea trans- port ship Bluejackct carrying 36 of the 43 survivors, reported late

Sunday she was making little progress. ”l-love to due in mountainous

seas and severe storm", a mess- age from the Bluejacket said.

The entire crew of the Swedish freighter Oklahoma. 42 men and g woman, were hauled from four lifeboat: some 400 miles off New- foundland after the ship cracked up.

ThP)' spent 10 hours or more in llleboats on the icy. windswept ocean before their rescue by the B1U9.lacket and the Finnish freighter, which carried the other seven survivors.

ldui. a coast guard spokesman Sflld that since the seven were rescued about the same time 3; the others, and the Orion pro. ceeded on her course toward Eur. 0De. it could be assumed the sev- en also were unhurt.