v i % Can We Afford National Defense? The communist coup d'etat in Czechoslovakia, coupled with Stalin’s demands for a ‘“‘defense” agreement with Finland and mounting totalitarian pressures in France, Italy and other Euro- pean nations, has brought the international situation to its worst point since 1939. Serious accidents since V-J Day Hospitalized Killed DALLAS 2 11 ; INGSTO 4 A : ONRO TOW. 1 MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER, A COMMUNITY INSTITUT. ION It is clear that those who dislike and envy us abroad respect only one quality in a country — and that quality is military It is not war mongering to say that the United States strength. must maintain a defense establishment far more effective than any we have ever had in peacetime so long as the world remains in ‘its present explosive state. That vival. is simply insurance for our sur- According to those who know best, all branches of our mili- tary forces, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard alike, are in a dangerously weak condition. We have sunk, in the space of about two years, from the greatest military power on earth to a third-rate military power. This was only partially the result of the postwar demobiliza- tion. The armed services have been denied requested appropri- ations for research and development which they consider absolute- ly vital if they are to keep pace with the Soviet Union, whose army is reported to be still at wartime strength. This has been done, of course, in the name of economy. But while military budgets have been cut, there has other directions. been the most flagrant waste in As an example, no one can say that socialized government power plants are necessary to the nation — taxed, regulated pri- vate industry can provide the service at the lowest practical cost. Yet the billions that we are now and to build new ones, are far in want for basic research. Those difference between a progressive, which is going downhill. The spending to operate these plants, excess of what the armed forces billions would help to make the prepared armed force, and one proposed St. Lawrence Seaway is another example of an incredibly costly public work that, in the view of many experts, is not needed and could not possibly justify itself on economic grounds. And so are various flood control and reclamation projects that, in reality, are a camou- flaged form of public power development which simply duplicates existing, adequate facilities. This is not a political matter. The national defense is the first function of government, regardless of what party is in power. And to say we cannot afford a at a time when we are wasting mislead the people. first rate military establishment untold billions, is to criminally FROM. PILLAR TO POST By Mrs. T. M. B. Hicks, Jr. A chimney fire is a terrifying thin g. There is a rush and a roar, and suddenly the stove-pipe glows cherry red, first in one small spot and then all around the clock. Shutting off the draft, discouraging the blaz- ing logs with salt and water, then snatching them from the Franklin stove and heaving them into the tub of water under the pump takes only a minute of actual elapsed time, but it seems like a century. Then there is that ominous black cloud pouring from the chimney, a cloud which is soon lighted by sparks and then by tiny tongues of flame, while * remember the ho the roar gathers momentum and the stove-pipe threatens to melt. Be . PAN Under stances it is the fire department in Etgene, gon. And also reflect that thank goodness the roof is shingled in asbestos. Everybody in Eugene, Oregon, burns huge chunks of heart-fir in the furnace instead of coal. The furnaces are made with especially large doors, suitable for the admis- sion of tremendous chunks of wood. The basement, instead of harboring a coalbin filled with anthracite, is stacked with cords and cords of pungent fir, the variety that is full of pitch and needs no kindling. To light a fireplace in Eugene, you touch a match to a protruding splin- ter, and the black pitch starts boil- ing out on the hearth. For the furnace, the big slabs are easily split with one blow of the ax, com- plete cleavage ‘every time and with very little effort. This type of fuel leads to chim- ney fires. Residents of a year or more, ones who have already cut their wisdom teeth on the wood- burning furnaces, pioneers so to speak, think nothing of a little chimney fire. They reflect that they had a couple last year, and that all they did, outside of creat- ing a dense cloud of smoke ‘and much interested comment on the part of the neighbors, was to re- move the soot from the chimney, leaving it as slick as a whistle. But to a newcomer, one who had never before met up with a wood- burning furnace, the experience was truly nerve-shattering, and led to an S.0.S. to the fire department. The fire department in Eugene plays checkers in a big way. If the game then in progress was not too engrossing, you stood ‘a chance of getting a ripple of inter- est from the department with your chimney fire, but if the tournament was tight, you got good advice. We got good advice. With the long lateral chimney pipe red hot and the chimney proper starting to roar, we felt that we needed aid, comfort, and assistance instead of kind words. “Well, now, you're new to this country. You're going to get an occasional chimney fire when you use heart-fir in your furnace. Thing to do is cut off your draft, douse your fire, and stay down basement to watch your chimney fire. If the fire doesn’t start to let up in about twenty minutes, or if your pipe drops in two, give us another call and we'll be up right away with the chemical outfit. G’bye.” And that was that. Within twen- ty minutes, true to prediction, the fire was out, but twenty minutes (Continued on page five) vans Conducts Famous lc Sale Sells Two Items For Price of One Plus lc Evans Drug Store in Shavertown, Rexall druggists, are this week con- ducting a Rexall original One-Cent Sale. According to Mr. Evans hundreds of nationally advertised Rexall pro- ducts are available to the public all over the nation on the money saving “Two for the Price of One, plus 1¢” plan. Throughout the years the Evans Store has continued to expand from a small enterprise opened in Shavertown during the depths of the depression to one of the out- standing inland drug stores in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Mr. Evans early saw the wisdom of continued advertising in his hometown newspaper and through every other means availiable to him including billboards and circulars. He has been a consistent advertiser in The Post through good times and thin and the growth of his business is evidence of how the prompt service for customers, wide range of items carried and adver- tising can bring results. $327 Contributed To Cancer Fund Those handling the Cancer Fund Campaign in the Back Mountain area were cheered this week when they received contributions totalling $327.50. This amount was given by only fifty contributors. The largest amount received from any contribu- tor was $100 and the smallest was $1. $182.50 was received in en- velopes forwarded to W. B. Jeter, treasurer, and $145 was contributed in Wilkes-Barre but applied to the credit of this area. Joseph MacVeigh is chairman for the Back Mountain Region. Letters were mailed to 1,100 residents of the community by a committee headed by Mrs. Fred Howell of Shavertown. Assisting her are Mrs. Harold Flack, Mrs. Harry Ohl- man, Mrs. A. D. Hutchison, Mrs. Granville Sowden and Mrs. Thomas Reese. Organizations and schools who do not have coin collection boxes, are asked to send their contribu- tions direct to Mr. Jeter at First National Bank. The Drive will con- tinue until the end of this month. Vol. 58, No. 16 Fire Destroys Scovell Home Lack Of Water Hampers Three Fire Companies Fire of undetermined origin com- pletely destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Scovell of Hunts- ville shortly after one Wednesday afternoon. The fire started’ in the second story of the hople located on Fol~ Lehman Vgluntee, ire Company. Dr. Henry M=¥aing Fire Company was summoned and Lake Silkworth Company also responded but fire- men were hampered for lack of water and the flames soon ate their way through the entire structure. Mr. and Mrs. Scovell who resided there with their three small chil- dren, were unable to save anything except a refrigerator which was partially burned. Loss was cover- ed in part by insurance. Mr. Scovell, a contractor and roofer, formerly employed by Bert Bryant, will probably rebuild. Until such time as the family can find other accommodations they will live with a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Field- ing, Wilkes-Barre. Wilson Elected To Manage Team Two New Teams Join Bi-County League Tex Wilson was elected captain of the East Dallas team of the Bi- County Baseball League at an in- formal meeting of team members Sunday at the home of Ted Wilson. Walter Schultz was elected assist- ant captain and Ted Wilson was elected manager. Robert Pickett is secretary-treasurer. lies Road and ghad gained coustion able headwa; coop ree arrival of Matters of interest pertaining to the club, which last year won the League championship, were dis- cuscussed. J 0 It was decided to b equipment for the the same unifi Consideratign**was given to buying new bases and a home plate, the selection of umpires and the advisi- bility of a mobile back-stop or bat- ting cage. Teams in the Bi-County League are: Beaumont, Vernon, Carverton, Noxen, Harding, Orange, Shaver- town, and East Dallas. Both Hard- ing and Shavertown are newcomers this year. Addition of these teams, plus the number of returning ser- vicemen, is expected to produce a faster brand of ball this season. East Dallas won the regular sea- son championship last year with Vernon placing second. In the play- offs East Dallas truimphed over Noxen. The Bi-County League schedule opens Sunday, May 2, weather per- mitting, and clubs will have their preliminary meeting the previous Sunday to decide on a schedule and to approve team rosters. Manager Wilson said, East Dallas will welcome any one from this section who wishes to tryout for the team. Candidates should be on hand Sunday, April 25 at the Dallas Township field. Attending the meeting were: Ted Wilson, Melvin Morris, Tex Wilson, Howard Garbutt, Bob Pickett, Wal- ter Shultz, Al Morse, Peanuts Aus- tin, Warren Stanton, Mike Kozik, Chet Austin, Walt Shultz, and Gord Austin. Those unable to attend were: Harry Martin, Fred Stevens, Art Bellas, and Robert Heminway. Dallas Scouts’ Exhibit Receives An "A" Award Boy Scout Troop No. 281, spon- sored by the Dallas Methodist Church, under the leadership of Scoutmaster Fred Butcher, received an “A” Award for its booth in the Boy Scout Merit Badge Show held at Kingston Armory, Friday and Saturday. Members of the troop set up a booth on canoeing in which they had a large canoe mounted on rollers. During the show, scouts gave exhibitions of proper methods of paddling and handling the canoe. Roast Pig Supper Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire Company will hold a roast pig Supper at the Church of Christ Hall next Thursday. (a small city near Nuremburg, the FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1948 6 CENTS PER COPY Fernbrook Park Makes Way For New Industry Fernbrook Park takes on an unfamiliar aspect as woodsmen fell trees and wrecking crews raze buildings to clear the ground for the new plant of Bloomsburg Mills. Col. John P. Kirkendall Returns From Russia, Germany and Near East Colonel John P. Kirkendall, who® has just finished a three-year tour of foreign service in Germany, Rus- sia, and the Near East, is spend- ing a short time in Dallas prior to proceeding to the Mobile Air Material Depot, Brooklyn Field, Mo- bile Ala., his new command. On this his latest tour of duty, Col. Kirkendall left the States in March 1945 as a member of the U.S. Military Mission to Moscow. On completion of his duties in Russia, he was ordered to Berlin, in charge of Air Operations, atten- dent to the Big Three Conference held there in July 1945. Following a short tour of duty as Chief of Staff of Berlin Air Command, which was dissolved shortly after the con- ference, he commanded two Air Depot areas in the American Zone of Occupied Germany. The two depots being Kassel, on the edge of Russian territory and Ansbach, Teter Explains New School Act Back Mountain Lions Discuss Consolidation The Back Mountain Lions Club was host to school directors and citizens of Hunlock, Ross and Union Townships on Tuesday evening at Roaring Brook Baptist Church Hall. E. S. Teter, Superintendent of Luzerne County Schools, discussed recent legislation pertaining to schools. He stated that fifty per cent of the schools in Luzerne County were one-room schools and recommended that several smaller districts unite to form a larger district which could operate more efficiently. He outlined the number of pupils and teachers necessary to provide an ideal administration unit in both elementary and secondary schools. self-styled capitol of German Na- tional Socialism. His last service was on the staff of L. Gen. Curtis LeMay. Col. Kirkendall’'s duties on the job required extended| While the law requires the Coun- periods of service in Persia, South! ty Superintendent to make plans Arabia, Egypt and North Africa. for union school districts and sub- Col. Kirkendall arrived at West-, mit them to the Bureau of Educa- over Field, Mass. in March of this| tion before July ¥st, he stated that year, having returned on the Army| he had no defjhite plan to offer, Transport Command’s C-54 ‘“Sky- but would leav: e directors master”. and people of the districts to pro- Prior to his last departure to| vide a plan. Europe, Col. Kirkendall served 14' He recommended an eight-room months in England, during the school for Hunlock Township, and height of the German Blitz,. on a six-room school for each of Union the staff of Gen. Ira C. Eaker. He and Ross Townships. Problem of served in charge of the American financing the construction of .these Office of Reciprocal Aid (Reverse schools, estimated at $15,000.00 per Lend Lease) in which capacity he room, which greatly exceeds the was able to obtain from the British borrowing capacity of the districts, many million dollars worth of aid was left to the directors. during the early stages of the war. | The Club also heard reports from This program of which the majority the committee preparing to cele- of American people knew little or brate Lions’ Week jointly with the nothing, performed a great service Twin Cities Club at the Shickshinny in the housing, feeding, and equip- Ball Park beginning May 10th. ping of American troops quartered Attorney Miner Aylesworth pre- on the British Isles during the sided and introduced a new mem- entire length of the war. | ber, Russell Worrall. Col. Kirkendall returned to the States in July, 1943, because of a physical breakdown caused by a severe attack of pneumonia. On recovery he was assigned as Deputy Commander to the Air Materiel Command, Middletown, Pa. Col. Kirkendall was born in Dal- Fishermen Disappointed While hundreds of fishermen visited nearby streams yesterday for the opening of the trout season, they found creeks high and fishing | poor. No one reported any good catches. Fire Auxiliary Plans Annual Garden Party Ladies Auxiliary of the Trucks- ville Volunteer Fire Company met in the Fire Hall on Monday evening. Mrs. Harold Yorks presided. Ten dollars was contributed to the Can- cer Drive. Plans were made for the annual Garden Party to be held at the Hall on July 14. Mrs. Murphy, of Scranton, will read a current best seller. | Mrs. Vern Pritchard will be gen- eral chairman, assisted by the fol- lowing committee chairmen: Pro- gram, Mrs. John Kennan; Tea Ta- ble, Mrs. Lincoln Long; Decorations, Mrs. N. ‘Silverman; Kitchen, Mrs. ' D. Schooley; Posters, Mrs. R. A. Finney; Tickets, Mrs. Jacob Harri- son. The public is invited. The Auxiliary will purchase three dozen additional chairs for use in the Hall. Refreshments were served by Mrs. William Gregory, Mrs. El- mer Coolbaugh and Mrs. Charles Palmer to the following ladies: Mes- dames R. A. Finney, Earl Gregory, Sr., R. J. Gregory, Lincoln Long, Samuel Miller, Franklin Hawke, Raymond Greenwood, Joseph Ma-| ther, Clifford Johnson, Vern Pritch-! ard, J. B. Schooley, Miss Pauline Besteder, George Shaver Jr. D. A. Roberts, Jr., D. E. Schooley, S. B. Dilcer, John Dykman, Karl Stock, Harry Glace, William Glace, Floyd Wells, David Williams, Morris Lloyd, Myrtle Rineman, Dorey Rogers, Neual Kester, V. J. McGuire, John Cowell, Joseph Boyle, George Parry, S. D. Finney, John Kennan, Harold Yorks, N. Silverman, Dale Zimmerman, Charles Palmer, Elmer Coolbaugh and William Gregory. Firemen Save Barn But for the timely arrival of Leh- man Fire Company on Saturday a large barn on the Skopic pr in Lehman Township mi; been destroyed by flam The company exhaus gallon water tank before it extin- guished a large pile of hay that was burning within thirty feet of the barn. The hay caught fire when high winds carried embers from a pile of rubbish which mem- bers of the Skopic family were burning. Lt. Peter Skopic, Army Air Corps navigator, home on leave from the Canal Zone, highly praised the work of the firemen and expressed his family’s appreciation. las and attended Dallas schools. He also attended Seton Hall Acade- my, Orange, N.J. before obtaining an appointment to West Point. He was graduated from West Point in 1924 and has been on active service ever since. He contem-| Mr. and Mrs. Jon Suis arrived plates ten more years of active last week on the SS New Amster- service in the Air Force and upon dam from Amsterdam, Holland, and retirement plans to return to Dal-! are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. las and live. S. James of Trucksville Gardens. Col. Kirkendall is a son of the, Mr. and Mrs. Suis are enroute to late George T. Kirkendall of Lake! Baker Field, California, where they Street and a brother of George B.| will spend some time with Mrs. Kirkendall of Boston, Dr. Henry L.| Suis’ son and daughter-in-law, Mr. Kirkendall of Worcester, Mrs. Jean and Mrs. J. P. Van Wingaarden. R. Kelly of New York and Mrs. Mrs. Van Wingaarden is the former Helen L. Hart of Dallas. | Dorothy James. 4 Mrs. Kirkendall will remain in Mr. Suis, 45, operates a Ford Dallas for several weeks before Parts Agency in Holland. Though joining her husband in Alabama. he has learned English only in the past year in expectation of his trip : to America, he speaks it well. Ham Supper Both he and Mrs. Suis are im- W.S.C.S. of Lehman Methodist| pressed with the wealth and con- Church will serve a ham supper at| veniences of this country and es- the church starting at 5 on Tuesday | pecially with the beautiful rolling Dutch Couple Impressed With American Standard Of Living .| Each person is allowed a half ounce evening, April 20. hills of this area. “In Holland”, he said, “one works eight years to see America.” “Everything there is rationed” he said, “except potatoes and greens. of coffee and tea for two months. The weekly ration of meat is two ounces. Cigarettes are seventy-two cents per package, the weekly allow- ance being two packages for men and one for women. Use of auto- mobiles is not permitted on Sun- days.” During the war, Mr. Suis was ac- tive in the Dutch underground. He lives near Poulton, the town with- out men. It was there that an at- tempt was made on the life of Ger- man general Rauter. In retaliation all men of the village were sent to concentration camps. None has ever returned. ; ’ BOX SCORE Back Mountain Highway Deaths and Firemen Order Fog Equipment $5,088 Is Pledged To Jackson Company Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company has purchased Hi-Pres- sure Fog Fire Fighting Equipment from the John Bean Company of Lansing, Michigan. The equipment will be mounted on a new F-6 Ford 2-ton truck chassis purchased from Motor Twins. Delivery is expected before May 30 so that the company can enter the Sweet Valley Community Parade on Memorial Day. The purchase was made Monday night at a meeting of officers and trustees of the company held General Norman Smith’s hom Huntsville. 1,200 feet of hos, be included in the equipmen More than $5,800 has been pledged to the company with four districts yet to be heard from. $1,490 of this amount has been paid in cash. The balance is to be paid within a year. , Officers hope, however, that en- ough will have been paid in by May 20 so that $6,800 can be paid on delivery of the equipment. The next report meeting of solici- tors will be held at Mountain School on May 10 because the Rome School will be in readiness for the primary election on the following day. Township Band Highly Praised Took Part In Scout Program At Armory Dallas Township High School Band, led by Alfred Milliner-Camp received scores of compliments and was enthusiastically welcomed last Friday when it appeared as the guest attiaction Lt the opening of the Boy Scout Merit Badge Show in Kingston Armory. Wyoming Valley Council officials had nothing but praisé for the local musical organizati and the fine spirit of cooperation shown by Township Schogl Board i er permission for the b 0 volunteer its services and do its part in mak- ing the show a success. A high official of the Scouts said: “Dallas Township can well be proud of this capable organization which represents their school and town- ship. Many people had no idea that there were such fine musical organ- izations in the Back Mountain area.” ‘Mildred Borton Elected Queen Township May Day Scheduled For May 6 Mildred Borton of Alderson, dau- ghter of Harold J. Borton, Lehigh Valley Station Master in Dallas, a senior enrolled in the Home Econ- omics Course at Dallas Towns ip Schools has been chosen er Queen, by popular vote of’ Hi School Students, to reign the May Day Ceremonies. Her maid of honor will be Peggy Martin of Fernbrook. The senior at- tendents of the Court of Honor will be Mary Carey, Daisy Bellas, Nancy Anderson, and Phyllis Kunkle. Underclass attendents who were chosen are Jackie Mahoney and Clara Ann Evans, Juniors and Lois Klein and Nancy Deibert, Sophomores. - St. Therese’s Troop Wins Award At Kingston Boy Scout Troop No. 232 spon- sored by St. Therese's Church, Shavertown, under the leadership of John Butler received a “B” award for its booth in the Boy Scout Merit Badge Show held at Kingston Arm- ory, Friday and Saturday. The troop set up a booth featur-. ing “Wood Handicraft.” During the show, the scouts operated a lathe, small circle saw, and jig-saw which were novelities in that Scoutmaster John Butler had made the equip- ment from an old sewing machine. John says that he couldn’t saw. a board straight so he devised a way to make equipment by using a sew- ing machine and now he can do most everything.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers