August 19, 1972

6 fires in 4 midtown Manhattan stores on Aug 17 and 18 found caused by identical incendiary table tennis balls; investigators say devices were apparently planted in stores (Lerner Shop, Woolworth, Kress and Korvette's) before closing time, Aug 17; while bomb experts dismantle 3 other incendiary devices found in Tudor Hotel room, woman who identifies herself as member of Puerto Rican Revolutionary Movement, one of groups that staged demonstration outside UN on Aug 18 in support of Puerto Rican independence, calls Associated Press to say that several bombs have been placed in UN area; fire marshals and police detectives stress that motive of arsonist or arsonists is unknown but rept 'good leads' in investigation; map

Aug 19: F M Sibley Jr, who hijacked plane to Seattle by way of Canada, asserted during flight that he belonged to a 'well-disciplined paramilitary orgn' against the Vietnam war

Sen approves overwhelmingly on Aug 18 measure to convert Fed Govt to metric system over period of decade and placing switch by private indus on voluntary basis; 11-member Natl Metric Conversion Board will design conversion plan for Govt; vote follows scrutiny of 3-yr Commerce Dept study that concluded that US would be at competitive disadvantage in world trade without metrification; study added that although cost of going metric might total $10-billion through redesign of machinery, US would stand to increase foreign trade by at least $1-billion per year; bill is revamping of original measure calling for mandatory switch by all elements of Amer society

Cost of Living Council Dir Rumsfeld announces on Aug 18 that auto indus will not be allowed to raise prices in time for scheduled introduction of '73 models in 2d half of Sept, White House news conf; says it will be 'well into Oct at earliest' before Price Comm reaches decision on mfrs request for price rises; says comm will hold hearings starting Sept 12 and will keep record open for submission of briefs until Sept 30; GM says it will go ahead with plans to offer their new cars on Sept 14 and Sept 21; Chrysler Corp chmn L A Townsend says co will press for its request of $110 increase but says it does not expect to raise prices that much because of competitive reasons

Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky agreed to a draw after 43 moves of the 15th game in their world chess championship match in Reykjavik, Iceland. The 16th game will be played tomorrow. Details, Page 30.