WHITE HOUSE ------------- The W/J.ite House - a'1ol/J.er "i'1/lalion alert" loda) 1 - as promised las/ week. Tile President's Cotlncil of E c on om i c A d visors , _ I akin g is s tt e w i lli a n II m be r of recent fiscal developments, including increased freight rates in tlie railroad and railroad industries, - ltiglaer costs for lumber, fast climbing meat prices, also, fat pay hikes for construction workers and taxi dr,vers. Ho•ever, the Council saving its biggest guns for a recent contract settlement in the can industries, 111here the United Steel •orkers 1110n a nine perce11t increase in (}'v., ages and b en e fits - in each of the next t It re e ye a rs • T la e Council stating that this will not help at all - in administration efforts aimed at ending inflation. Therefor urging the steel workers to exercise utmost restrai11t in upcoming contract balks with the basic steel industry. Or the result could be - we are told - far reaclll•g and damaging effects throughout tile economy. PEKING ----- · -- At Peking's giant indoor sports arena - before a cheering crowd of some twenty thousand - East meets West. Members of tliat touring U. s. table tennis team - engaging in their first round of "friendly" matches •ith r Red Chinese players. In the •omen's division - a five lo four victory for China; in the men's division - five to three. It's Red Chi,ea's ,aational game - and e1ur players •ere not over•laelmed. Next on the agenda - a visit •itli Red Clli•a's Premier Chou En-Lai. FIRE BASE SIX -------------- In Vietnam - up near the Laotion border - an estimated si x thousand Vietnamese reinforcements were rushed today to the aid of beleaguered Fire Base Six. One unit fighting its way in from the North - u,aother from t11e South; .,,,,, the help of a u. S .• bombi,ag campaig,a - said to be the heaviest one day operation in eigltt months. Military sources adding that many of the ,ae.,ly arrived troops - are hardened veterans of that recent Lao• offe,esive. PENTAGON - -- Here at home - the Pentagon - Def n c S , rt'tar.v Laird disc11 ses f11ture America" policy - with regard to Southeast Asia· saying the u. S. will •aintain air and naval forces there - perhaps indcfi'1ilcly. Alfd this - said lie - in keeping with the u. S. "strateg) ' of realistic deference." Lalrd stressing, lro•ever, that America's ground combat role ht Vietnam - wlll e,ad as of lllls summer. After •llicll - said he - "•e should not make lie• ~ mistake - of committing massive manpo111er to that part of the •orld." And lie added; "military assislat1ce - Y••; America• ground troops - malfpo111er - no." WASHINGTON ------------ Washington again - a report lhal th U. s. is planning an underground nuclear explosion - almost fi ve limes more powerful than any we' ve ever detonated before. Projected date - according lo newspaper accounts - early October. Sile - Alaska's Amcliatka lslaNd - out near the tip of the stormy Aleutians. And this said · to be J,art of a testing J,rogram - in connection 111ith the developme,at of a new Spartan a,rtl-baUstlc missile. All of which has caused quite a stir - up there i,r the earthquake co,ascious Fnr North. As for the u. S. Atomic Eraergy Commissio,r - It admits tleat such on explosion is under consideration. A spokesman adding, however, that a final decision - yes or no - has not been made. MORTON -------- Elsewhere on the domestic front - an ,,,_. investigation into lhe use - on public lands - of dune ~ buggies, snowmobiles, trail bikes and so on. This - by order of Interior Secretary Rogers Morton; 111110 says lae is 'deeply concerned" - that such recreatiot1al vehicles may be causit1g irrepairable damage; especially in desert la,ads - dNfle area - and to elk and deer wintering yards. Morton adding that ind, scriminate abuse of these "fragile public refuges and wild areas -- must be stopped." JERUSALEM - CAIRO ------- · ------------ From the Middle East - Jerusalem - comes a report that Israel has now completed a draft response - lo the latest Egyptian peace move; a response said lo call for tlie lL'?!!..l..!_d_ 11Jithdrawal of Israeli troops from the East bank of the Sicez Canal. Israeli sources addheg that the next step - will probably be an attempt to win Waslti,agton approval. At the same time though - Cairo is saying peace efforts have now reached a dead-end. A spokesman adding that the present Arab-Israeli impass - is fast approaching "tlae moment of an inevitable military confrontation." VIENNA ------- A t t o day 's s ch e du led SA L T la l k s in Vi en n a - { ti' a notable absence; with the Chief Russian negotiator - Vladimir Semenov - still in Mosco,o conferring 1111th Kremlin leaders. This in lhe ,oake of the Soviet's twenty-fourth Communist Party Congress - to •hicll Semeftov 10as a delegate. It also is an indication, •aybe tlial he Is receiving ne,o instructions. In the •eantime - Warren - East and West techftlcal experts are discussi•g •ays and means of improviftg tire prese•t "Hot Lhae" - bet111ee• Mosco• aftd Waslllngto,a. A,ad may that li"e ,aever get too hot/ FLORENCE ----------- At Florence, Italy - where fall and winter showings are now underway - we liear of a new "manlsh look;" includi,ig g 1 • ay knit jodplu,rs and llJesklts with matching gra polo coals - also, broad-brimmed felt hats. From Giovanna Serragamo, also boy's suits with knee length pleated skirts and long jackets. And from Tendresse - among other things - an outfit said to coflslst of baggy paratrooper pants worn with a knit top. As for shoes - many with ankle straps reminiscent of Wa-ld War Two - also, a suyprising number of Chlflese clogs. With those of Ken Scott built so lllgll, in fact - that lais models can barely gel aroufld. Was there a method to tlais madness? Mebbe I FoY one of tl,e girls did fall; landing right in the arms of a nearby male.