July 28, 1976

US Navy on July 27 evacuates Amers, Britons and 18 other nationalities from Beirut; protection provided by PLO and Al Fatah; evacuated include Amb Talcott Seelye; Palestinians, Christians and Moslems study draft plan for resolving crisis; plan reptdly backed by Arafat, but Moslem alliance reptdly fearful regarding withdrawal of Syrian forces; fighting continues around Tell Zaatar and other areas; illus (M)

William and Emily Harris, angered over series of rulings by trial Judge Mark Brandler, and knowing Patricia Hearst could be called to testify against them, suddenly rest their case without calling a witness; chief prosecutor Samuel Mayerson earlier told ct Albert Johnson had agreed to let Hearst testify against Harrises; key rulings noted (M)

Reagan campaign strategist John P Sears 3d defends Reagan's choice; says he and Reagan agreed that it would be wiser to make move now rather than wait until conv and then try to deal with fight from party's right wing; other top Reagan aides see move as gamble predicated by Pres Ford's slowly gaining upper hand in delegate vote count; Sears criticizes John B Connally, who has endorsed Pres Ford since Reagan's selection of Schweiker; Reagan chief of staff Michael Deaver says Reagan and Schweiker spent 6 hrs conferring July 24 and Reagan concluded that their ‘basic philosophical thrusts were not that far apart’; says they tested decision on key supporters around nation, who agreed with move once they got over their initial shock; describes Vice Pres selection process; Reagan illus (L)

The United States regained the gold medal in Olympic basketball last night, defeating Yugoslavia, 95‐74. In 1972 the United States suffered its only defeat in 40 years of Olympic basketball when the Soviet Union won a controversial final, 51‐50. The Russians lost to Yugoslavia in Mondays semifinal.

Prime Min Miki vows full probe; Tanaka resigns from governing Liberal-Dem Party; business and pol leaders urge reform of party; illus of Miki with Deputy Prime Min Takeo Fukuda (M)