L.T. COMMERCIAL, TUF.SUAY, UECEMBER 27, 19bb (Anchorage, Alaska) GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY: Again from Alaska -- a few of the highlights of today's news. While its balmy up here 1n what is often called The Farth North -- we hear how the seoond major snow storm of the winter swept out of the southern Rockies today -- dumpingup to eight inches of snow on the treat Plains. Heavy snow an . d blizzard warnings are posted for areas as far east as Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. As for Anchorage -- the part of Alaska where we are spending the Christmas season -- the temperature today -- thirty above. J0RNS0N Pr esident Johnson -- still in Texas for the holidays studied h1s budget proposal again today. But he is still undecided on whether to ask for an increase in taxes next year. White House News Secretary George Christian says no decision on taxes is expected this week. In Washington, Commerce Secretary John Connor predicts that the national economy will show continued growth in ninteen-sixty-seven, with less inflation than was the case this year. He also foresees " a somewhat easier credit situation " -- which could mean lower interest rates . W A R A Communist Viet ~ong force of about twelve hundred troops overran an American artillery unit today before they were driven back in savage hand-to-hand fighting. American casualties were described as heavy. While about forty-five of the enemy were counted on the jungle battleground some two hundred and ninety miles northeast of Saigon. The Communist attacks came against an artillery campany of the First Air Cavalry Division. American military sources say the Viet Cong 11sed the forty eight ho11r Christmas truce period to resupply their units with large amounts of guns and ammunition. American bombing plates blasted Communist targets inside the buffer zone and along the Cambodian border again today. But low hanging clouds prevented some ~orty bombing sorties against Vietnam yesterday. In Washington, state Department officials said again that the American Policy is to bomb military targets only WAR--2 but they conceded the possibility of what was called -- " accidental " -- damage to civilian areas. This restatement of poli.cy came after Harrison Salisbury -- Assistant Managing Editor ot· the Mew York Times -- reported from Hanoi that American bombing raids have caused extensive damage to at least two towns near the city. KOSEYGIN Soviet Premier Kosygin back in Moscow today after a good will vl slt to Turkey -- appears to have forged new ties with the Turks. But he failed . to budge them from the pro-American camp. A Joint Soviet-Turkish communique expresses "deep alarm" over the Vietnam crisis, and urges a settlement on the basis of the Geneva conference agreement on Indochina. But this is interesting: No mention of Russia's customary demands for withdrawal of American forces, or an end ot the bombing of North Vietnam. Trade ties and increased Soviet Industrial aid to turkey are expected as a result of Kosygin's visit. GUERILLP A British expert on guerilla warfare believes it may require up to ten years to defeat the Communists 1n Vietnam militarily -- and then another ten years to gain control of' the countryside. Sir Robert Thompson -- who has served as an advisor to American forces in Vietnam -- appears convinced there is no shortcut to _ military victory 1n thf1etnamese war. He made his comment 1n London. It was Sir Robert who headed the s , uccessful British G11erllla warfare against the Co•un1sta in Malaya -- a Jungle war much like the one now being fought in Vietnam. EISENHOWER Former President Eisenhower today defend . ad the policy of bombing North Vietnam, saying "you can never be one hundred percent sure that the bombs won't strike non-m1l . itary targets." He made the comment as he walked out of Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, where he underwent an operation earlier this month. President I Eisenhower said the United Stat . es 1s only after JU11aary targets 1n North Vietnam -- but he added that civilians can be found 1n almost any area, and injury to them ts unavoidable in some instances. CAIRO The Palestine Liberaclon Organization has announced the formation of a Secret Revolutionary Council of Arabs, to plot the overthrow of King Hussein of Jordan. Ahmed Shuke1ry -- leader of a socalled Liberation Group -- says the Plotters will opel'&te both inside and outside Jordan. King Hussein has been the target of bitter attacks by Arab leaders for more than a month. " They claim Huaslein '-' ts using Military force to keep Arab leaders from striking across the ISorde r into Isr~l. RUSS If . In Moscow, Agriculture Minister Natskevlch says the Soviet Union has har v ested the biggest grain crop in its history -- solving the problem of feeding its citizens. He also says the increased productivity resulted from better organization and farming methods -- and not because more land was placed under the plow. BIRDS I wonder what ornithologists like Dr. Dillon Ripley of The Smithsonian, and other bird enthuslasts wlll say about th.ls? The U.S. Air Force has decided it can no longer tolerate blrds that . pose a threat to airplanes and the 11 es of people aboarrl them. From now on, starlings, snow geese. seagulls, sparrows, and other birds that like to hang around airports -- will not be welcome. The Air Force ls conducting research on ways to cut down the number of bird strikes against planes in flight. About three hundred birds fly into commercial alT11ners each year. With another five hundred colliding with private aircraft. And, the Air Force says its planes were struck by more than eight hundred birds during the past year -- stx times tho number 1n the previous year. In the past, invest18•t1on reports have blamed birds BIRDS- -2 for the crash of at least two big airliners . Number One menace are those that congregat , e around airports, where planes have to fly through them when taking off or coming in to land. Also high flying birds -- like geese and ducks are especially dangerous when flocks of them are migrating. Is the air for the birds -- or for airplanes, Warren? CROSSING As you all know, George Washington cross the Delaware on Chriotmas Night, Seventeen-Seventy-Six, to launch his attack against the . Hessians , ln Trenton, New Jersey. But he had an eas ) y time or · tt -- compared to what happened during the Foubeenth Annual J;e iinactment of that historic event. What happened? Oh, there was Saint John Terrell, of Lambertville, all dressed up like Oeorge Waahtngton. W1th him a group of Twenty-Five continental soldiers, also decked out in t!olonial costumes. While shivering on the riverba.nks were some two thousand spectators -- waiting for the spectacle to unfold . . Then -- as a loudspea . ker blared martial mus le, Terrell stepped into : the boat and waved the signal -- forward! Whereupon his men began rowtng. But, the boat didn't move. There 1t was stuck tn the ice. The men scrambled out, did some fever · ish chopping; . finally the boat u broke away. Thirteen minutes later, George CROSSING-- 2 Washington Terrel l and his men reached New Jersey. Slowest , Christmas cr'Jss1ng of t h e Delaware by a pseudo Washington in recent history. Next year -- to help celebrate Alaska's CenteMial I suggest St. John Terrell and his pals come north and stage their pageant on the Yukon -- or its tributary at Fairbanks. George Washington at Fairbanks, why not? From KFQD -- Anchorage -- Solong until tomorrow.