News stories from Sunday September 24, 1972

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

The freed American POW's have asked for President Nixon's approval to return to the U.S. with the anti-war activists; the message was signed by Edward Elias and Mark Gartley. Hanoi is said to be trying to make two points: (1) the release of the pilots is being made to the American anti-war movement, not to the U.S. government; (2) using the released POW's for propaganda purposes by having them inspect U.S. bomb damage in North Vietnam.The POWs and their relatives toured bombed areas in North Vietnam including a residential area that was said to have been destroyed by the United States. The pilots said that seeing damage on the ground was different from their view from a bomber, and they hope for peace soon. Gartley's wife Minnie Lee seemed to be the most shocked; her activity in the anti-war movement may explain why Lt. Gartley was selected for release. North Vietnam attacked in South Vietnam south of Danang today, stating the purpose as a desire to create new refugees. [NBC] George McGovern blamed President Nixon for the delay in the return of the three American POW's, and said that military authorities should not insist that the men be returned to them. McGovern did some ethnic politicking in Manhattan's Little Italy; he also visited Brooklyn and attended a fundraising buffet In Queens with New York City Mayor John Lindsay. [NBC] President Nixon did not attack George McGovern directly, leaving that task to Vice President Agnew. Agnew did so in Kentucky today. In Louisville at a dinner for former Governor Louis Nunn, Agnew succeeded in helping raise $200,000 for Nunn's Senate campaign. Agnew criticized McGovern as an isolationist, especially regarding the effect of his defense spending cuts on national security and local economies (including those in Kentucky), and he called McGovern reckless and inconsistent. Agnew heads next for Texas, Illinois and the deep south. [NBC] Democratic vice-presidential candidate Sargent Shriver met with his advisers and they have decided on tougher campaign speeches. Shriver imitated President Nixon's speaking style and mimicked Nixon on the subject of the "American system" in a speech in Las Vegas. A new campaign style is now apparent, marked by personal attacks on the President. [NBC] President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines has ordered the military to seize airlines and utilities. Schools and universities are closed; newspapers have been shut down and radio stations were taken over by the government. Marcos blames a Communist conspiracy for the necessity of these actions. [NBC] Uganda and Tanzania are considering a peace plan that was proposed by Somalia; Tanzanian forces have withdrawn (or been pushed back) from Uganda. The exile of Asians continues; all Asians must leave Uganda by November 9. An emergency airlift was closed due to the fight with Tanzania, but some flights have resumed. Even if all goes perfectly, however, only one-third of Asians can be evacuated by the November 9 deadline. [NBC] Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban stated that Arab terrorism is the only obstacle to a Mideast peace settlement; he also said that the retaliation policy of Israel will be limited to its neighbors. Syria expects to be the next target and is obtaining Soviet arms. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird noted that Russian arms and technicians are going to Syria; the U.S. is said to be concerned. [NBC] The Wankel rotary engine is already in use in some European and Japanese cars; U.S. tests are to come. The engines are being made in Milwaukee; their simplicity and quietness is noticeable. They are also more efficient in burning fuel, therefore they are cleaner and can meet federal emission standards. A popular Japanese car, the Mazda, uses the Wankel. General Motors is pouring millions of dollars into such a motor, as is Ford. [NBC] 31 people, most of them elderly Scandinavian tourists, died in a restaurant fire in Rhodes, Greece. [NBC] A Japanese airliner crashed after landing at the wrong airport and overshooting the shorter runway in Bombay, India. [NBC] Four people fled Czechoslovakia by strapping themselves to the rear axle of a Vienna-bound bus; they made it to Vienna and escaped. [NBC] The FBI reported the recovery of two-thirds of the cash which was stolen Thursday from a Lake Tahoe, Nevada, resort. Four people have been arrested. [NBC] The Italian ocean liner "Carribea" hit a rock at Cannes, France. 880 passengers had to be evacuated. [NBC] Police in Paris, France, reported the kidnapping of the son of the Jordanian ambassador; he was freed in exchange for $40,000 ransom. [NBC]