July 13, 1978

regular contacts with Amer reporters emerge as Soviet Govt's main argument to sustain capital charge of treason and espionage against Shcharansky as his trial goes through its 3d day; centerpiece of case against Shcharansky, according to official statements, has been his conveyance of allegedly secret information to unidentified foreign reporter ‘who cooperated with mil intelligence service of a capitalist state’; defendant's bro Leonid says Robert C Toth of Los Angeles Times had been cited in indictment as agent of CIA; Toth has denied charge (M)

Continental and Western Air Lines rept they have completed 7-mo merger feasibility study; if merger goes through, new co would be US's 7th largest carrier (S)

correction

Article on complications husbands and wives encounter when employed by rival cos; illus (M)

Rept prepared for Pres Carter by Richard C Steadman urges significant revisions in nation's mil command structure and could result in dramatic changes in functions of Joint Chiefs of Staff; suggestions detailed(M)