December 3, 1968

heaviest arty duel between Jordanian and Israeli forces since '67 war ends with Israeli air attack on Irbid, some 40 mi N of Amman; Israel and Jordan issue similar accts of 5-hr battle in Jordan Valley south of Sea of Galilee; each side accuses other of starting clash; exch was at peak when Israeli commandos struck 2 Jordanian bridges; repts in Jerusalem hold Israelis were firing along 20-mi front against Iraqi and Jordanian troops and Arab guerrillas at at least 1 stage; Jordan holds Israelis shelled towns of El Shuna, Asad, Taiviba and Irbid; Israelis say air attack was intended to silence Jordanian guns; Jordan charges air and commando strikes are aimed at undermining Jarring peace efforts, el-Farra lr to Security Council members; map

slow response of econ to surcharge seen factor in new rise in prime lending rate

Sen (Hart) subcom sets hearings on high cost and low quality or auto repairs; subcom probers develop evidence that piecework pay system using flat-rate manual is largely responsible for high costs; hold system invites mechanics to cut corners, such as using new parts instead of repairing old ones; study finds that number of mechanics has risen by 130,000 since '60 to some 812,000 in '67, but supply has failed to keep pace with demands posed by 100-million vehicles now on hwys; says piecework system often results in shoddy work and questions whether cash customer is subsidizing privileged customers who get discounts; ins cos, fleet owners and mfrs with warranty work

Hundreds of students protesting extra school sessions break windows on Franklin Av BMT shuttle, Bklyn; run out onto tracks, forcing line out of service for 1 hr