26 Dec 1953
Page 1
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Newspaper
High Point Enterprise
Location
High Point, North Carolina, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1953
Page
1
Traffic deaths climbed toward a record with 255 lives lost in 39 hours of the 78 hour Christmas period. Fires claimed 37 and 26 others died in miscellaneous accidents, totaling 318 fatalities from all causes. North Carolina reported 21 deaths and South Carolina 210.
President Eisenhower ordered a progressive reduction of U S ground forces in Korea and said two Army divisions will be withdrawn and sent back to the United States as an initial step. An aide noted about 32,000 men are involved in the move.
Vietminh forces enter the town of Thakhek on the Mekong border with Thailand, completing a drive to split Indochina. French evacuation moves concentrate troops toward Savannakhet as Gen Henri Navarre prepares defenses along the Mekong south of Thakhek to protect the Laos air base and transport routes.
Washington Senate Republican Policy Chairman Ferguson predicted Congress will legalize use of telephone wiretap evidence in spy trials. Atty. General Brownell plans to seek permission for such evidence under conditions, while Sen. McCarran doubts chances. Sen. Potter also favors action.
North Carolina records at least nine deaths from violence and traffic wrecks over Christmas weekend. Victims include Primis Lockomy 28 and Fred Taiton 37 in Benson. Henry Spring Jr of New York City in a head on collision near Apex. Ellen Major 11 from Littleton Virginia in Halifax County. Ivy Lee Wilson 46 of Mooresville. Edgar Harvey of Maysville. Barbara Thompson 4 of Raleigh. James Nelson 31 of Norfolk Virginia near Harrellsville. Maning McMillan 41 of Mount Olive.
Across the world Christmas Day brings festivity but also high death tolls from transport accidents. The report notes 255 U.S. traffic fatalities so far, plus rail disasters in New Zealand and Czechoslovakia with hundreds killed, and incidents in Peru Pakistan and Mexico. A teenage girl dies in a head on crash near Bellingham Massachusetts.
In Temoaya near Toluca, 23 worshipers died and about 200 injured after a Christmas Eve panicked rush at the church exits when a wire sparked and lights failed. Parish priest Rev. Jose Cruz tried to calm the crowd as candles provided scant visibility. Bodies were taken to Temoaya for burial amid autopsy plans as officials investigate the electric failure and crowd death.
New Delhi India 2 Mrs Vinjaya Lakshmi Pandit president of the United Nations General Assembly said she saw greater prospects for peace than for some time past at a news conference for three reasons a softer attitude by power blocs a pause and reflection and united decisions by nations She rejected questions on US Pakistan arms talks and the French stance in North Africa saying the press often fuels headlines that misstate international news She added Japan may join the United Nations soon and Red China is believed to seek a seat in the future
Four nations tally a possible 362 deaths from Christmastide train wrecks. New Zealand reports 166 dead after the Wellington Auckland express plunged into a river gorge. Czechoslovakia’s Bratislava Prague crash may have 100 to 186 dead. Peru and Pakistan also report multiple fatalities. Queen Elizabeth voiced sympathy as officials assess the toll.
Associated Press lists train disasters with 100 or more deaths this century. Entries include dates, tolls, and places such as the French Alps on July 9 1917, Nashville Tennessee December 24 1963, France May 29 1948, Formosa September 15 1948, and Yokohama March 4 1952 among others.
President Eisenhower, refreshed by Christmas with family at the Augusta National, begins drafting three messages for Congress including the State of the Union to be delivered January 7. He may also fit in a round of golf as he reviews budget, economic, and administration reports for 1954.
Western sources report the Soviet Union rejected the January 4 date for a four power foreign ministers meeting in Berlin and proposed January 25 or later. Moscow objects to the proposed meeting site in the American sector and wants four powers to discuss Germany Austria and reunification with a broader big five format including Red China.
Long Beach detectives, six officers assigned, investigate the Christmas Day assault on Charles J. Baker 23 a legless Korean War veteran. He was dragged from his amputee car beaten robbed of a Christmas watch and treated for injuries after the attack in Artesia district. Baker who lost legs and fingers in Korea has a wife Bernice and an month old daughter and still receives treatment. Sheriff Eugene W. Biscailuz orders a thorough search for the attackers.
Peiping radio reported Czech and Polish members of the Korean repatriation commission accused the majority of a serious violation of armistice terms by ending the 90 day explanations period. They said the 90 day window allows explanations for both sides and condemned the decision as obstructive to repatriation efforts. The Reds asked for more explanations, with no sign of a policy change. About 22,600 anti Red Chinese and North Koreans refused to return. 3,224 were interviewed and 127 won back.
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