May 5, 1972

May 5: (Ohio & Tenn Primaries--Voting Machine Problems in Cuyahoga County--Dem Aspirants' Activities) Sen Humphrey narrowly wins Ohio Dem Pres primary on May 4 but extent of victory is unclear; unofficial results show that Humphrey's slate of 38 at-large delegates defeated slate pledged to McGovern; tally; lack of Pres preference contest in Ohio makes balloting for at-large delegates only measure of candidates' popularity among state's Dem voters; many of dist races remain close; delegates listed as being for Sens Muskie and Jackson and ex-Sen McCarthy ran far behind; split ballots remain to be counted but State Sec Brown estimates these are no more than 2% of total but they could divide between Humphrey and McGovern in some close dists; 13 delegate slates are won by favorite-son slates headed by Repr Hays and ex-Mayor Stokes; Pres Nixon is virtually unopposed for state's 56 conv delegates; furor over breakdown of election procedures in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) continues; US Dist Ct Judge F J Battisti refuses to hear request by attys for Sen McGovern that ballots be impounded to enable Fed marshals to supervise completion of count; refusal is based on judge's inability to find authority to act under Fed law; Battisti does sign order directing County Elections Bd to permit balloting on May 9 in 16 Cuyahoga pcts that never opened on Election Day; later, election official says bd will ask that number be increased to 28 pcts; Battisti's action is extension of request by Humphrey that polling places be allowed to remain open longer

P Gambino, 1 of 5 men that alleged Mafia informant J Luparelli said participated in Apr 7 shooting of J Gallo, is arrested in NYC on charges of violating conditions of his parole; other developments in Gallo case include: Luparelli adding several more details to Gallo's murder, including fact that oullets fired by Gallo's bodyguards almost hit several of assassins; A Bianco, shot to death in Bklyn, was relative of Gallo; digging by NYC police in basement of downtown garage as result of Luparelli information produced signs that at least 1 body had been buried there, though none were found; illus

Nixon Adm, May 4, orders over 50 additional fighter-bombers to Vietnam theater and decides that, for 1st time in the war, 6 aircraft carriers will operate off Vietnam; this increases US air strength in Indochina to nearly 1,000 combat aircraft; carrier Saratoga will join 5 carriers off Vietnam; orders for air reinforcement comes amid strong indications that raids will be resumed in vicinity of Hanoi and Haiphong now that the Paris peace talks have been suspended; one US official thinks raids will be heavier than before; Defense Dept shows newsmen photographs it says are of Communist-bloc ships in Haiphong with supplies on the harbor area; also releases photographs of USSR-made materiel which reptly arrived through Haiphong; comment on speculation in US on how N Vietnam manages to move large numbers of tanks and arty pieces and fuel to press their attacks in the south; US analysts are pleased with naming of Lt Gen Ngo Quang Truong as comdr of the northern provs of S Vietnam

NYS Appellate Div rules unanimously on May 4 that work on controversial Forest Hills housing project can be completed; decision reverses Feb 16 ruling by Sup Ct Justice I Saypol which stated project was so different from one approved by Bd of Estimate in '66 that new approval by bd would be required; appellate decision holds that details of construction were intended to be left to Housing Auth and that changes were not substantial; follows NYS Legis passage of bill which would force resubmission of Forest Hills project to Bd of Estimate on grounds that projects not beyond foundation stage within 5 yrs of approval have to be resubmitted

US and S Vietnam declare indefinite halt to Paris peace conf on May 4; US delegate Amb Porter says decision is result of 'complete lack of progress in every available channel'; charges N Vietnamese and Vietcong negotiators have engaged in 'sterile denunciations, arrogant ultimatums and clumsy evasions'; decision seen clear indication that secret peace talks are also deadlocked; Communists assert breakoff of talks is prelude to new escalation by US; Mrs Nguyen Thi Binh, foreign min of Communist-led provisional revolutionary govt of S Vietnam, declares Nixon Adm is wrong if it thinks it can use intimidation and force to 'subjugate' Vietnamese people; charges US and S Vietnamese forces have completely destroyed' Quangtri; some Communist officials say they expect resumption of heavy US air attacks on N Vietnam