 Here is Robert Crock with five minutes of the latest news It's a gray winter Sunday in most of the northeastern states snow flurries sleet and freezing rain in Philadelphia A national Airlines four-engine plane bound from New York to Norfolk, Virginia With 22 passengers aboard came into land at Philadelphia's International Airport and crashed on the runway Seven persons killed 16th apparently survived the crash The weather is bad in Korea too bitter cold around Wanzhou where the United Nations defense line is now threatened by enemy troops Who are up to their old trick of stepping around behind the allied positions and who seem to be just as successful at it as ever United Nations intelligence officers on the spot estimate that between seven and 30,000 North Korean communist troops are now in position some 20 miles behind the United States second division in that Wanzhou sector on the east-central front and that's just one place where the Reds have infiltrated Major General Robert McClure the second division commander has been replaced abruptly by Major General Clark Ruffner No major fighting reported at the moment from Korea The biggest military news comes from Tokyo today with the bear announcement that the two top United States Intelligence officers and the Army and Air Force chiefs of staff are in Tokyo and have had a three-hour Sunday conference with general Douglas MacArthur We don't know what the meeting is all about In fact, everything has been cloaked in secrecy including the arrival in Japan of General Beatle Smith the director of the Central Intelligence Agency General Alexander Boling the Army Intelligence chief General Lawton Collins the Army chief of staff and General Hoyt Vandenberg Who's the Air Force chief of staff at first the Tokyo censors would not allow the newsmen there to report that all four generals had Indeed gathered in Japan in Washington the Pentagon says the meetings just a coincidence and is of no special significance at all Congressman in Washington are waiting for President Harry Truman's message on the budget Which everybody expects is going to call for some 70 billion dollars for the coming fiscal year The Republican Party's minority leader of the House Representative Joseph Martin of Massachusetts didn't even wait for the budget message to be delivered tomorrow He's already attacked it today saying the president is trying to turn the United States into a socialist economy Taxpayers around the world will notice with interest the report today from a small town in France Where the local blacksmith has been arrested for threatening murder because he sent a miniature coffin to the tax collector The big Senate fight on foreign policy may break wide open tomorrow if the brass gives Republican Senator Kenneth worry gets a chance to bring up His resolution forbidding the president to transfer American troops to Europe without congressional approval Illinois Democratic Senator Paul Douglas has now joined those who said the president should ask for Congress's approval Not because he has to he doesn't but for the sake of national unity in the crisis The administration hopes the issue will be settled when General Eisenhower returns from his European tour and reports to Congress as he probably will do Today General Eisenhower is resting in London before tomorrow's big meeting with British Defense Minister Emmanuel Shinwell and the British chiefs of staff Who are expected to offer to double British arms production and also make more fighting men available as part of the Atlantic Alliance's Rearmament Britain is still struggling against that severe influenza epidemic Graves are being dug at night in the light of flares and a quarter of a million persons are now ill with influenza in northern England alone In Germany, West German Chancellor Adonauer says the allies can have German soldiers to help fight communism But only at the price of absolute equality for the Germans in Moscow Joseph Stalin's son who's an Air Force general has now been nominated for a seat in the Supreme Soviet Which more or less corresponds to a parliament and the Soviet government has just given out the annual prizes to mothers who have the most children The 1950 winner now has 12 and she won 65,000 rubles at the moment the rubble is worth 20 cents It's hard fighting reported today in Southeast Asia where the French say they've beaten off the Indochinese Communist-led rebels who made a big attack on the defense line 60 miles long that protects Hanoi All the French tell us is that they did it with artillery and in Paris the Lafayette society announces that Margaret Truman is Going to sing in Paris and of course in the spring Listen again next Sunday at the same time for Robert Kraut and the latest news Enjoyed to Lula's big show with Jimmy Durante today on NBC The National Broadcasting Company presents counter spy Harding counters by calling Washington Home Tonight's kind of spy report to the American people is brought to you in cooperation with the New York State Civil Defense Commission Welcome to Baltimore and to the National headquarters of Superamerica incorporated and here is the chairman of Superamerica Incorporated Henry Hector Have called this emergency meeting of you our keys Superamerica leaders from all of the country to discuss the new crisis confronting our nation The possibility of attack from the air by conventional means and we fear atomic bombs All over the country the citizens are rallying to their local civil defense organizations But as in every crisis everything cannot be left to government officials It is up to us super-Americans to provide leadership Wherever patriotic work is to be done there you must see a super-american Should disaster strike from the skies it will be our super-american task to form the very backbone of several defense I See that you all understand Presently my secretary Dela Crane will hand you your individual assignment sheets We must make the civil defense of the United States our great objective Thank you Very good speech. I'll be sorry to lose you Dela. Are you sure you and Steve will be happy in Finnsburg? No, but I'll do my best Steve's already been out there found an apartment and a job the bombs between super-Americans are very strong Better excuse me mr. Hector. I've got to give out the assignment sheet by all means Dela Give us just a few weeks that I think we super-Americans will turn civil defense into civil collapse I Let's continue shall we ladies and gentlemen? As you know, my name is Blair. I'm the zone director I'm very happy to see so many new volunteers here tonight During this week. I expect to make the final assignments aircraft spotters communications helpers medical aid helpers and so on I Feel that by the end mr. Blair May I ask a question? I certainly mr. Crane. Well, do I understand you correctly that assignments haven't all been made yet? Well, that's right mr. Crane most of the time so far has been spent in planning Does that cover your question? Well? Yes, I guess so for now anyway I was saying ladies and gentlemen most of the time has been spent in planning from the top down We get our overall plans from the national civil defense headquarters in washington Then through our state director down through our city director here in finsburg Since this particular zone covers the most important industrial section of the city This building is the main control center for the entire city Now Are there any radio hams among you amateur radio operators? 2344 that's fine fine after the meeting will you please report to mr. Avery? That's mr. Avery over by the window You'll become the nucleus of a special squad To go right to the scenes of any disasters and report back by radio now the next Yes, mr. Crane Say mr. Blair. I I'm new here and maybe I ought to open my app but I'll say would you mind if I come right up front there so everybody can hear me? No, not at all come right ahead I I just take this whole thing so darn serious uh, well folks My name's steve crane and I just hit this fine city of yours today and Boy from what I've seen so far. I'm gonna be mighty happy about it. Yes, sir Well, um, I've been sitting and listening to the interesting things mr. Blair has been heartlining and I'm here to say that everything sounds great The only trouble is and I I don't know just what we can do about it. The trouble is not much as definite So much is still in the in the planning stage. You know what I mean? Mr. Crane I might explain to you. I know you can't just do things without planning We're all intelligent enough to know that but here's what bothers me Suppose somebody drops a bomb on us tomorrow. Where are we? Hiding our heads under a plan No, I I I hate to criticize and I no, I don't want any of you to think that's what I'm doing But holy smoke what's been going on here since the trouble started in korea way back in june Mr. Crane, I think you want to realize I know I know these things take time but We've got to work faster. Nothing's any good Being almost ready isn't like not being ready at all Holy smoke. We'd all be better off getting out of the city. Now. What do you say? We all mr. Crane, please I understand that to a newcomer like yourself it may seem we've done very little But I don't want anybody here to forget the enormous amount of work that's been done Why sure sure mr. Blair? I'm right behind you and like I said I I don't want to talk out of turn, but I don't want anybody to kid themselves. How much time do you think we've got? Ladies and gentlemen, please Please let's have some order and discipline here Ladies and gentlemen, please And we've been getting them like that from various spots all over the country mr. Hunting Strange a sort of a sudden paralysis the national director of civil defense thinks that people just don't realize the danger I wonder Hmm people are all talking about the danger of war of a sudden atomic attack Two days ago. I was in Ohio. It's a live subject there Same in New York on the west coast everywhere tremendous interest All of a sudden according to these reports it dies out You're right back at the beginning chief people just don't realize I'm not one of those who blames the people every time Something goes wrong not until I'm sure nothing else is wrong Peters how many of our agents are now unassigned in the first classification Oh, maybe ten or a dozen. Well, good get those men together tonight here in my office. You'll be here too I see you've got a scheme. Yeah, that's right now from all these reports. We're going to pick out the localities having the most trouble Then you fellas are going into those cities undercover to join the civil defense group says ordinary citizens To find out if you can what's wrong And frankly I I must admit ladies and gentlemen I've I've had to turn in a disappointing report to city defense headquarters. No, I'm not about you who are here, but About those who've been dropping out And so tonight I've I've got to ask you to get in touch with everyone you know Find out why they seem so uninterested in what we're doing here. I'm sorry, mr. Blair Yes, mr. Crane I can tell you right now what's eating everybody. I mean those who aren't here Oh, can you I've talked to lots of people trying to get them in here to work and they all say what's the use Nothing's ready We're not getting the help we need from washington and I tell them well, it's up to us too. We just mean Yes, if you'll allow me to interrupt the other speaker. Well, yes, go ahead Well, I agree with what he says People just don't have any faith in the civil defense outfits And my name is peterson. I just come to finnsburg. I'm a reporter on the finnsburg press And let me tell you we're helpless And I just don't see any point in excuse me, mr. Peterson, but I don't see any point in discouraging ourselves And that's what we're doing some of us. Oh, it's intended to help. I know Well, if you're just trying to protect a bunch of washington incompetence, mr. Blair I don't see why I'm protecting no one mr. Peterson. We're all trying to protect ourselves All right, that's all for tonight. I'll see you all on more. I hope on friday Say peterson Peterson, yeah My name's steve crane I'm the guy you're cutting on. Oh, I hope you weren't so Oh, I'm the contrary glad to see somebody else here with a nerve to talk up Uh, sir, are you um, are you busy the rest of the evening? No You and me seem to agree on a lot of things Why don't you come on home with me for a drink and uh See what else we agree on Oh, don't go yet, mr. Peterson. Can't I give you another drink? Oh, no, no, thanks, mr. Crane It's really time. I went home. I'm glad you came home with me peterson Glad to know you and me see eye to eye on a lot of this Civil defense stuff. You bet crane Well, thanks for a very pleasant evening, mr. Crane. Maybe you'll come again. Give us a ring anytime I'll certainly bear that in mind. Uh, this way. Yeah, I'll just do it Good night. Good night. Well What do you make of him della Seems to have his heart in the right place last two or three meetings. He's been backing me up and good too Great little discourager and all the time he sounds like the God this eager beaver you ever heard Maybe he'd make a super american That's what I thought it's time. I tip mr. Hector anyway You ought to be coming here to finsburg for a general look see and that's when we can meet peterson You are listening to the case of the double crossing defender on counter spy Today over most nbc stations carry grant and betsy drake star in the premiere of a delightful newcomer to your nbc sunday lineup Mr. And mrs. Blandings its top listening for the entire family with mr. And mrs. Blandings in a troublesome dream house Sunday also means another broadcast of the big show and today your hostess to lula presents fred allen judy holiday von monroe and many many more Now back to counter spy Harding to peters spot check of 11 civil defense groups shows similar activity by persons belonging to super america incorporated and flying to finsburg Yes, mr. Harding. I'm gonna find the interview you about your trip here. Oh, I don't see any other reporters, mr Peterson mr. Harding. I guess i'm the first man here. I had an inside tip that you might be on this plane Uh, I wonder if we could just step away from the crowd here, of course Tell me, uh, how long do you expect to stay in our city, mr. Harding? Long enough to survey the civil defense organizations here Chief this fellow. Henry Harrison Hector is arriving in finsburg in a couple of days Anything about super america incorporated? Well, it describes itself as a super patriotic organization But it's literature follows the communist party line like one snake after another Well, how's that tie in with what you know of crane and his wife? There are a couple of smarties, Dave Crane gets in his dirty work by seeming to be a really good beaver His wife has joined up too. She does the same but actually they discourage people that seems to be the idea Probably following a national pattern. Well, uh, uh, here come reporters from the other papers Well, thank you very much, mr. Harding and lots of luck to you and you stay here I'll be at the riverside hotel Peter Okay, Peterson tell your paper to get behind this campaign to step up civil defense so long And here mr. Hector, here's a layout of the civil defense control center Very complete Steve's work. He's good at that sort of thing He's down there tonight doing extra volunteer work if you know what I mean Oh These are the main phone lines the trunks run into the basement here Main water valve there Main power line here and main switch next to it radio room. Um, second floor Good setup. Steve says modern equipment big control board to keep in touch with radio hands in the city in case of attack medical departments Aircraft spotting room third floor Phone communications with a hundred observation posts in a big ring outside the city and uh here Director's office This man Blair we have a file on him and also his staff good liaison with police and fire departments public health authorities welfare and public information Transportation here big garage trucks and so on a depressingly efficient set up Dylan Sure But what good is it unless the civil defense people themselves are really pepped up And they're not Your plan has been working beautifully. And so I've heard from many other It's lucky because actually these defense setups are good If we can only keep the people so discouraged they don't use them to the fullest advantage That's where I thought this man Peterson might come in. We can always use new recruits. Have you checked on him? No, I haven't had the time. I hoped you might from baltimore. He's an unknown. I think we better Would that be I hope so put away that matron. Yeah Good evening. Mrs. Crane. I'm afraid I'm a few minutes late. Hello. Come on in. Thank you This is harry peterson and this is mr. Henry harrison hector national chairman of super america incorporated How do you do sir sit down mr. Peterson and let's have a long honest talk shall we Mr. Harding peterson of the finsberg press. Oh, hello peterson tonight. I met the man hh Yes, the scheme is to destroy civil defense morale I gave him a lot of personal detail based on new york city The same we've used before in similar cases as I understand I'll wire an hh h is on the level and he'll drop you because of your supposed record as a subversive But if he's not on the level, we'll see I'll check you tomorrow. Good night Then he wants you in spite of your fakes subversive record. He may be our man All right. Well, I understand there's to be a test alert very soon. I hope we can run this down before that Steve as I understand your duties at the control center, you are a guard at the main entrance That's right. Mr. Hector della volunteer assistant at the medical center and our friend peterson information center assistant to the director I've been thinking And as super americans, we must always think ahead of everyone else An ordinary test alert is no test at all because everyone knows it's fake Now What if we make this a real alert? By spreading the alarm during the test that it's the real thing that's taking a chance, mr Hector at an appropriate moment suddenly give a a false report start shouting The real thing a real attack You understand Rather they'll be a panic people injured and killed mr. Hector Suppose that were the real thing people would be killed were they not You can't make an amulet without breaking eggs Very well, that's all Uh, peterson you leave first Okay, good night all see you at the test whenever it is I gather you've got an okay report on peterson. Mr. Hector. Yes from new york. He's going to be a valuable man I'll get a dollar. No, never mind steve Hello Yes, mr. Hector is right Oh, are you sure? Yes, I'll tell him. Thanks. Goodbye Huh that calls from new york. Mr. Hector they checked further on peterson He's not all he said he was what he may be some kind of undercover agent Oh, what a dumb mistake for us to make no regrets now Steve yeah during the test alert see to it that Peahorson is one of the people killed in the panic that ought to be easy and when I At what the lights are blinking steve. That's the first signal for the alert We've got 15 minutes to get to our post and get going and remember your orders Area four radio operators disaster area four medical core and ambulances to medical post seven and 13 Seven and 13 report the communications on arrival Trucks for utilities repair Trucks for utilities repair to the boundaries of disaster area four Turn off gas and power lines to prevent explosions reopen block sewers Guides for injured and homeless Stay in your vehicles till you reach rallying points guide injured and homeless through shelters nine 11 and 17 9 11 and 17 Everything going all right blare so far. Yes, mr. Harding, but oh Here's one of the men. I was telling you about The one that's always spreading discouragement. His name's peterson. Hello, mr. Blair. Oh, mr. Harding. Can I speak to you, sir? Yeah I just came from meeting hector chief. They're going to start a panic And it's a real attack the real fifth column trick. All right. I'll alert one of our squads outside Hey, listen everybody This is no fake attack. It's real that's Steve crane following orders The first bomb hit the suburbs. There's nothing left of him. There's nothing we can do save yourselves The next bomb will hit the middle of the city Save yourself. Oh wait, wait, everybody stand by your posts. No matter what happens stand by your post Don't listen to that fool save yourself. Chief that's hector himself among the crowd. What's your way near him here? Man women listen to this. This is Harding United States counter fire. Listen to mr. Harding Now don't be panicked by a rumor. This is the time to prove you're well disciplined Don't let anyone leave this room or the building. All right back to you, mr. Blair Check your outpost right zone director to all spotters Have any real bombs been dropped any real bombs Not one mr. Harding. You see it was a rumor a deliberate rumor by fifth columnists trying to start a panic Crane was caught at the door mr. Harding and here's the boss of the bunch Henry Harrison Hector Well, the chief super american himself mr. Harding you misunderstand our purpose We wanted to make this a real test. Well, that's too bad for you Hector One of your newest recruits is going to be the star witness against you and your organization Take him away Peter. Come on Hector. Mr. Harding. I'm very grateful for your help But are we past the danger as long as there's danger of war blare There's the danger of fifth column and the best protection against them is Vigilance and courage you've done it here. I know every american can do it Tonight's counter spy program originated in new york was directed by mark's b lobe Dramatized by paul r milton and featured don mcgluckland and mandel kramer Lionel rico speaking counter spy is a phillips h lord production three times mean good times on nbc In a moment kerry grant and betsy drake star in the premiere of a delightful newcomer to your nbc sunday lineup Mr. And mrs. Blandings it's top listening for the entire family with mr. And mrs. Blandings and their troublesome dream house Sunday also means another one-hour production by theater guild on the air It's the delightful comedy the fortune hunter starring gene crane and john lund This is nbc the national broadcasting company