L.T. COMMERCIAL, WEDNF.SDAY, JANUARY 18, 1967 GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY: From the Rockies to the Great Lakes and all the way to Atlanta -- the worst cold wave o f the winter 1+pon us today. The mercury dipping to an unofficial overnight low --o f Fifty-Two below near Phillips, Wisconsin. Down to Forty-Five below -- at Pine River, Wisconsin -- when the thermometer shattered in the cold. Eighteen states in all -- reported sub-zero temperatures. With the cold wave hanging on throughout the day -- making it colder -- in the Midwest, colder -- than in many parts of Alaska. More of the sam for tonfght -- all the way to East Coast. With New England bracing for temperatures of minue twenty or less. PENTAGON Rumors of a coast-to-coast consolidation and reorganization of U . S. military bases -- announced today 1n Washington. Congressional sources -- disclosing the cost-cutting measure; which is expected to involve thirty- three separate moves -- affecting naval districts and army units. Among the predicted changes: A merger of the Thirteenth Naval District in Seattle -- into the Twelfth District at San Francisco; also consolidation of the First Naval District 1n Boston -- into the Third District at New York City; plus a merger of the Fourth Naval District at Philadelphia -- into the Fifth at Norfolk, Virginia. With further details -- to be announced tomorrow -- we're told. CAPEKENNEDY At Cape Kennedy and around the world -- another amazing American space achievement today. A giant Titan Three-C " rocket Bus " -- carrying eight military-co•unlcations-- satellites into orbit; completing six hours of space aerobatics -- before finally depositing its passengers, one by one, 1n carefully-spaced paths ar , ound the globe. The eight satellites -- Joining se · ven radio relay stations already in orbit. Giving the Pentagon a continuous, Jam-free radio network -- providing instant co•un1cat1o~YAmer1can armed forces An Viet lam -- and throughout the world. VIET NAM A new t a ctic introduce d f or the first time today -- in Viet Nam. Big U.S. B-Fif'ty-Twos from Guam launching a saturation firebombing attack - - against a Viet Cong hideaway Just north o ~ Saigon. The same type of attack -- that terrorized German c1ties in World War Two. Laying wa~ighteen square miles of jungle -- adjacent to ~ ~ area known as the Iron Tr1angle~,Affiere R the biggest American land operation of the war -- is steadily destroying Viet Cong guerillas who have terrorized Saigon for years. Whether the firebomb attack killed any Coanwiists it I s hard to say . But it did el1m . 1nate -- one of their last escape routes from the current campaign, )fuich has already neTted -- more than f1•e hwidred enemy dead. Today ' s major prize -- consisting of a vast, two-story underground complex; believed to have been the Viet Cong ' s principal military headquarters -- for all terrorist activities in the Saigon area . BAMGKOK Meanwhtle, in neighbortng Bltngl:ok -- the Untted States today officially acknowledged -- what has been an open secret for three years,\~ fact that American troops are using based in Thailand press the war in Viet Nam. from which to First public disclosure -- by Ambassador Oraha■ Martin. In a speech discussing the American and Thai alliance -- in ftghting Con111un1sm. Martin emphasizing that 11 Tha11and b,.ings as much to that partnership -- as she receives." VATICAN At the Vatlcan ln Rome -- strong cr!t!c!sm today of Pres! · ent Johnson. The Vatlt~n•s weekly magazine -- taking the President to ta,k for his State o f the Union message last week, in which he advocated birth control -- as an answer to the problem of world hunger. The magazine calling growing public support for birth control -- "one of the saddest signs of the times." CONI ~ OR Le ~ than two years in ~overn m ent-- : i ecretary of Commerce John eonnor restgn~d today from the cabinet. The former head of Merck and Company--a big pher ■ eceuticel fir ■ --returning to private bustneaaJ ro"vtev of the President's announced intention--to ■ erge the Uom~erce end Labor Departments. CHICAGO Barney Ros s -- one of the boxing greats of all times a victim today of throat cancer. The champ passing away at the home of' a frlend in Chicago -- where he had long been under treatment. Barney Ross -- a sickly child; who was, nevertheless -- aggressive and hungry. Building his strength and finesse through sheer will and determination; to win fame and fortune -- along with the lightwtight, Junior welterw • eight and welterweight championships -- 1n a lo~ and illustrious boxing career. Later as a Marine in World War Two -- he won the silver star for heroism on Guadalcanal. He was wounded though -- and this led to another greater battle for Barney Russ; for he was injected with morphine to ease the pain -- and+. soon became dope a d dict. Once agtJI again -- through sheer will and d . eterminatton -- he licked the habit. _.iven in this -- his final ~i}ta -- he n ever g av e up. Barney Ross -- a great fighter;, at Fifty- Seven. LOS ANGELES A remarkable experiment in life preservation -- is underway today in Los Angeles. The body of a cancer victim ~ (--J -- whose name ls withhe~d -- lying frozen in aAcylinde~t nearly two hundred degrees below zero -- Centigaade. In hopes that he can be thawed and restored to useful life at some future date -- when a cure . for cancer has finally been discovered. The test revealed by Robert Ettlnger -- a physics professor at Highland Park Community College in sl.lburban Detroit; who helped develop and now is the leading advocate -- of his ~o-called ' ' body freeze theory. 11 Ettinger explaining that the ' man's normal body flQ1ds -- were drained and replaced with chemicals before free,ing; 1n effect -- an anti-freeze to prevent damage to human organs. Ettinger adding: " There is good reason to believe -- that most of the cells a of his body are still alive." Will it work? Only time -- will tell. MIDDLFI'OWN The U.S. Military Academy at West Point -- under frontal attack today from a pretty, Seventeen-year-old schoolgirl. Carla Hammon d of Middletown, Ohio -- demanding that she be admitted to West J',oint as a bona-fide candidate for an Army commission. The Army, of course -- dead-set against the idea. fllaJor General Kenneth Wic.lcham observing that West ~ Point -- is supposed to produce combat leaders for our fighting forces; 11 a profession obviously unsuited to a lady citizen of the United States ., -- said he. Asserting, what's more, that a coed at West Point -- would be most " contrary to the national interest .'! • --14. Ah, but the battle,A.far from finished. Carla asking her Congressman for an appointment to West Point -- and he has Just promised to give it -- providing she can pass a screening board . Car l a herself add ing that " she 'd be glad to be a NIDDLETOWN-- 2 combat leader" -- if only they 1 d let her. Come to think ~~- of it -- what better training then four years among al l " those cadets . ACCIDEN'rS A t~affic safety report -- from Northwestern University; a study of Eight Hundred and Fifty single-car accidents -- on U.S. Route Sixty-Six; shows that small forei _ gn cars and sports cars -- were involved in such accidents about three-and-a-half times as often as standard-sized American cars. While the risk of accident in American compact cars -- was more than twice that in full-sized ~models. In addit~on -- the survey also showing that by far the greatest number of accidents -- full twenty-five per cent -- were caused by drivers falling alleep. But why so many mishaps ln smaller cars -- the experts confes · s1ng: They wish they knew. Also -- why doze off?