L.T. C0'91ERCIAL 1 PRIDAY, APRIL 2H, l9b] GOOD EVENil«l E'lmYBODY: If there re•1ned any doubt about U.S. reaolve ln Vietnam -- it was dispelled once and for all todQ; ln the Congress of these United States -- under the drallatlc and coapelling presence or General Veataoreland; hOIII briefly -- fro■ hla battle c01111and. The House challber where he spoke -- reaounded to 1 thunderous ovation at hia nrat appearance. A11111bled Bo111e and Senate Mllbera -- later interrupted hll l'9lllrlra nineteen ti•a wlth •re applause. And when he had 11ld what he ca• to say -- a standing ovation aald to rival , .. longest, loudest ever given a Preal~ent. Along the way -- General Veataoreland dr1vlng holll these •1,olnts: One -- that the war 1n Vietnam 11 not .. an internal lns111Tect ion. " "In three years or close atud7 and dallJ observation" -- said General Vestaorelan 6 •• 0 1 have INn wch evidence to the contrary -- docuaented bJ the enea, hluelt -- that lt alaply ls aggression frolil t111 nortb ... Two -- that the ene111 1 a chlef weapon 1-lt-rror .......... 1111tilatlon, abduction and the deliberate 1hellli11 ot lnnocent\-en, woHn and children" -- thee• are the ■nan I bJ which the Viet Cong seek Nto eurclM control tbrolllb fear" -- aald the General. Three -- that Allerlcan bollbinl rald1 ln tilt IOltlb -- are an absolute nece11lty becauae or Ylet COIII actl•l•l•• 1n the South, where "tor year, .. -- sal4 he -- .. the ... ., haa been blowing bridges, lnterruptlng traftlc,1,bttlnl roads, sabotaging power lines, blocking canals and attacking alr fields." And tour -- to wit: "the only strategy to defeat such an eneay is one or unrelenting but diacri■tnatlng ■ilitary resaurenn his whole structuee -- j political and psychological P LEAD--3 at all levels. · · In conclusion -- this fro■ the U.S. COlllllnder 1n V1etna■. " Backed at hoae by resolve, confidence, patience, detera1nat1on and continued support" -- aald he •• "n wlll prevail in Vietnam over Co•unlat aggreaa1on." Congress -- obviously ln overwhel■lng agNNllftt. Senator Fulbright -- for one -- concetlng that lt was a good speech -- and that he agreed with aoat or lt. More laportant --the Senator adding that ■OM of wM "tlneat young •n 1n the world" -- are tlgbtlng tor the United States lit Vletna■; and "I'• glad" -- aald hi -- that the teneral " recognized we are behind the■. " :,-stn reland w · .J '.lnea'.i n"- to Con - • o "ress-- onc!:hor n11'.3,·~..,: of h t.•,c- ic imp0 •t 1nce tod· y--fror.1 the ·1a•.:..c n in .\ ::ie . .; 0.'':! .L • ul in ,n nx .. :'er:icly c·1ndid ro:noting ..;hris tL :n unity • ... he • ope c:1lling cur ent - Ecumcnici.Jl efforts-- a sort of "pr 1 ucle of f lnal harcony . " .. c ding. bowevc!r t t hat t he ?2_r J. CY itnelf--is "the most s rious obst icle" in the path of ver uc!1 · eving ~hrio t ian unit y. This an obvious reference to r " rusal by frot ·tants--to accept the ~ath, lie do_jt!a of 1apal inf llibility • . }hat , ~oe! !:he 1·ope plnr. t:o do a ~oi.:t it? ·:othi.ng-- publicly. "f ho 'Pont i ff -·1y i. ng "';~,it ru'.:her than apolo~ize for the i • 1 : icy--he prPfnrs "for no11--to re:n·iin silent 'lnd HOUST O N Cas~i u s Clay -- today re f used twice to take the oath th at woul d h3ve put him in the U . S . Army . Walking out of a Houston in duc tio, center -- maklng himself liable fo r prosecution as a d r aft evader. Through 1 t all Clay remaining strangely silent; strangely f or him. lb the end passing out a prepared statement; asse r ting " I insist upon my right to pursue my ltfelihood -- ln accordance wlth the same rights granted to oth~r men and women -- who ha v e disagreed wlth the policies cf whatever administration was ln power at the time. " Clay a d ding that he's looking forward to his next title defen s e. But that, too, will probably be ln the courts. The New York State Athletic Comlsslon -- already having revoked both his boxing license and recognition or his title ; and the World Boxing Association -- expected soon to follow sult. VIETNAM Meanwhile, American Marines were 1n the fourth day of a "terce battle -- for c . ontrol of a key hill; conanding approaches fror.-, Laos -- and also North Vietnam. ln response to a call American Jets blasting the hill wtth bombs and napalm -- to strip the eneay of protect1ve cover; d1f.ficult because they are 1n caves and tunnels. MAPLES .a . t Naples , 14'lorl d a -- Doctor Carl Coppolino was found guilty today -- of murder in the second degree; and tmmed1ately sentenced to life 1mprtsonment -- for the slaying of his first wife, Carmella. The v erdict -- a bitter blow to Coppolino -- who was quickly hustled off to Jail. Also to his attorney -- famed criminal lawyer F. Lee Balley -- who had successfully defended the doctor in an earlier murder case. Defense counsel calling the verdict -- "completely inconsistent" with the facts . The Jury took only three hours -- to render a declslon, and all were agreed on second degree, with "no coapro■lse" -- said the foreman. LOCH ~'ESS From Loch Ness, Scotland -- a progress report today on preparations for an all-out search set to begin in two weeks. A scientific, electronic, photographic search __ to find that "Loch Ness Monster." Hlgh speed cameras -- directed by sonar and radar, are now being installed -- on static observatton stations· , also three mobile cameras; as well as high speed chase" boat -- with a silent, electric engine. The hunters also equipped with ancient cross bows; silent weapons with arrows or "bolts" - - capable of piec 1ng a suit or al'IIOr. lot to kill the "Monoster" -- but rather to laplant a tiny transmitter under his ikin; to peralt later tracking -- when and if it ls ever spotted. All this -- financed officially by the International Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau. With Bureau officials promising that lf they fall again to find the •Monster· · -- they will turn the entire 11atter over to LOCH MESS- -2 psychologists; on the theofy -- that hundreds of "Moneter" sightings ln recent years were nothing more than recurrent hallucinations. And then come over here and solve our flying saucer puzzle for us, Warren~ - WRIGHT-PATTERSON Nearly half a century late and formal recognition at last. for se · enty-three-year-old Steve Thompson -- of Dayton, Ohio, as the flrst American pilot everto down an enemy plane. Thompson's "first " -- a German Albatross 1n air co■bat over France; in February -- nineteen-eighteen. Of course there were many before that -- by Allerlcan flying with the French and Englisn. But this the first -- by an American pilot in an American w11form. Records on it were some how lost; 'til last fall -- when the p,roo f was found in the arch! ves or the Air Poree Museum at Wright-Patterson Field near Dayton. And there lt was -- that Steve Thompson was finally honored for hla aerial feat so long ago. His reaction: .. Never thought I'd get it" -- sald Steve. And solang until Monday. WRIGHT-PA'M'ERSON Nearly half a century late and formal recognition at last, for se enty-three-year-old Steve Thompson -- of Dayton, Ohto, as the first American pilot , everto down an enemy plane. Thompson's "first " -- a German Albatross in air coabat over France; in February -- n1neteen-1!11ghteen. Of course there were many before that -- by Allerlcan flying with the French and English. But thla the first -- by an American pilot in an American un1fora. Records on it were some how lost; 'tll last fall -- when the proof was found in the archives of the Alr force Museum at Wright-Patterson Field near Dayton. And there it was -- that Steve Thompson was finally honored for hla aerial feat so long ago. Hts reaction: ·· Never thought I'd get it" -- said Steve. And solang until Monday.