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THE REAL WORLD



Kent Killings

The coroner examining the deaths of four students at Kent State University May 4 said yesterday the bullets that killed them were "similar to" military ammunition used by the National Guard.

The report was only two sentences long, and did not explain the meaning of the term "similar to." The second sentence said that it is still undetermined whether the deaths were accidental or homicidal. The cases are under "continuing enquiry," the report stated.

National Guardsmen claim there is evidence that some of the four killed and nine injured may have been shot by snipers.

"I think we have established that there was another weapon fired." a Guard aide said yesterday. He cited a physician's statement concerning one of the injured students, which said that the "size and design of the injury indicated that the student was struck by something other than a military projectile."

Nixon Refuses

President Nixon has refused to meet with nine black Congressmen to discuss problems concerning black Americans, according to Rep. William Clay (D. Mo.), a spokesman for the group.

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The Congressman-all Democrats-wrote Nixon a letter in February requesting the meeting and received a reply through a lower echelon White House staff member on April 20 which said:

"We had hoped to be able to work this meeting out but the President's schedule has been such that we just have not been able to work it in." The White House staffer promised, however, "to be in touch with you if an appropriate time arises."

After waiting a month, Clay angrily released the text of the refusal, intending "to make it known at this time our outright disgust with the President's policies and his refusal to give us an audience." Since they submitted their request, Clay said, Nixon has found time to meet with "representatives of 11 patriotic and veterans groups, the Citizens Committee for Peace with Freedom in Vietnam, golfer Arnold Palmer, and singer Johnny Cash."

Give 'Em An Inch...

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday, Secretary of Defense Laird said U. S. air power may not be bound by Nixon's 21 mile limit of penetration into Cambodia.

However, Laird answered "no" when asked if U. S. troops are slated to enter any other country in the area. He also said that the U. S. probably would not take part in further allied sorties into Cambodia.

Throughout the four-and-a-half-hour session, Sen. J. W. Fulbright (D.-Ark.) and other members of the committee criticized the invasion of Cambodia and its effects at home.

When asked if he would recommend the use of U. S. planes against Communist sanctuaries after the withdrawal of American troops from Cambodia, Laird said, "I would recommend U. S. air power for the sanctuaries if needed."

Fulbright then asked if this would mean beyond the 21-mile limit.

"I don't feel such long term considerations improve our position," Laird replied.

Meanwhile, North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces moved closer to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh yesterday, surrounding the town of Tram Khnar, located on the main highway 25 miles south of the capital. They also attacked a key highway junction and blew up a bridge.

Cambodian spokesman reported several other towns in the same province under "harassment."

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