FEBRUARY 26, 1951
WELTER BELT CHANGES HANDS AGAIN! RUTLEDGE GOES DISTANCE TO WIN DESPITE KNOCKDOWN
Denny Arena, Boston, Mass. – Ira Mitchell (27-5-0, 19 KO) vs. Danny Rutledge (22-1-1, 15 KO) – Referee: Jerry Rowe
Ira Mitchell is the Welterweight Champion and he reached the pinnacle of the weight class through hard work and persistence. Mitchell failed on his first chance at the belt but capitalized on his second chance. The veteran pugilist was trying to successfully defend his title, which no welterweight has done since Mac Erickson in November, 1949.
Danny Rutledge is a boxer most fans would recognize because of a good battle in his first title shot. While he was knocked down four times, he lasted until the judges’ cards were counted. Erickson was unstoppable at that point in his pro career and Rutledge licked his wounds and bided his time. As you can see from his record, the loss to Erickson was Rutledge’s only blemish on his won-lost record.
The bookmakers took in as much money from those who backed Rutledge as those who backed Mitchell. While Mitchell stood in the champion’s corner, the odds favored the challenger, albeit slightly. Most pundits felt this bout would be a toss-up. Referee Jerry Rowe was officiating his fourth welterweight title fight – and fifth overall – in his career for the veteran official who is one of the most respected in the profession.
Denny Arena was filled with fight fans and neither side had a larger rooting section. Boston, with its long history of hosting boxing matches, has been without a title fight in almost three years and in that last fight, Erickson won the welterweight title.
Mitchell and Rutledge were ready to go. Rutledge missed on his first punches while Mitchell was quick to get away from any potential harm. Mitchell, the southpaw, countered with a left hook to the body that was a great opening shot. For the next minute, Rutledge alternated favoring his ribs, clinching and missing with his attempts, but he finally connected on a solid hook about two minutes into the opening round for his first scoring punch. From there, Rutledge got his licks in during the final twenty seconds of the first round to gather some momentum.
The second-round script was the same as the first round, with Mitchell starting strong and Rutledge getting even towards the end of the round. A wayward hook by Rutledge with seconds left in the round caused instant swelling under Mitchell’s right eye. In Round 3, Mitchell was a little more aggressive with an impactful cross that caused Rutledge to swing against the ropes. His jabs kept Rutledge at bay until a hook to Mitchell’s jaw stopped him in his tracks.
Rutledge received a pep talk in his corner between Rounds Three and Four, with his trainer instructing him to start the round on time, which focused Rutledge. This time, it was Rutledge who came out firing with a cross that forced the champion to hold on to the challenger. Rutledge did not wait for Rowe to pull them apart, as Rutledge pushed Mitchell off him to continue his offensive. Rutledge owned the battle in the fourth round despite a body shot from Mitchell as the bell sounded. The swelling of Mitchell’s right eye was noticeable as both fighters retreated to their corners.
It was clear that Rutledge was trying to target Mitchell’s eye and went upstairs with most of his punches, which also stopped Mitchell from being able to mount a counteroffensive. Rutledge had the upper hand for the next few rounds and began to build a lead. Mitchell was able to turn the tables in Round Nine. The round started innocently enough, with the challenger coming through with a cross, but he let his defenses down, if only for an instant.
Mitchell saw the opening and began peppering Rutledge with hooks, but graduated to crosses, uppercuts, and a combination that finally felled Rutledge. For a fight that was heavily tilted towards Rutledge, this sequence by Mitchell brought life to the crowd and set the scene for the final rounds. Rowe counted to five and Rutledge reached his feet and was ready to continue.
Swelling was evident around Rutledge’s left eye during Mitchell’s barrage in the ninth round. After an evenly battled Round 10, Rutledge went back to controlling the match in the eleventh round. After catching a couple of well-timed jabs from Mitchell, Rutledge landed a hook, followed by a couple of uppercuts to put Mitchell in the danger zone. Mitchell tried to use his shoulder to sucker Rutledge’s jaw, but Rowe saw that illegal move and stopped the fight to warn Mitchell.
By Round 13, both combatants looked worse for wear. The swelling and puffiness were not helped with a full minute of attention from each boxer’s corner. While both fighters may not have seen each punch coming, both measured their punches extremely well as a lot of them landed. Mitchell carried the round and Rutledge carried the next one.
Heading into the final round, both fighters touched gloves in the center of the ring. Within ten seconds, Rutledge had Mitchell in a headlock, throwing punches at Mitchell’s head. Rowe issued a warning. Later in the round, Mitchell pinned Rutledge’s arms and leaned on the challenger’s neck. Rowe issued another warning. Both fighters were pulling out all the stops in a match that seemed to hang in the balance.
The fight went the distance and no fewer than 50 Big Boppers were thrown. There were haymakers in every round and 11 of the 15 rounds contained at least one from both sides. It was a wonder there was only one knockdown in the fight! By any measure, it was a slugfest.
Mitchell had the only knockdown of the fight and attempted more punches, but Rutledge carried the play for most of the bout and landed more punches. Two of the judges gave Mitchell three rounds and the third judge awarded five rounds to Mitchell, but Rutledge was too much to handle.
Danny Rutledge (23-1-1), much like Mitchell before him, became the Welterweight Champion of the World on his second try. Rutledge is five years Mitchell’s junior and at 26 years old, he still may have his best fighting years ahead of him.
Mitchell (27-6-0) will go back to the grindstone and his deep well of persistence. Maybe he gets another shot at Rutledge, maybe he has to wait it out. But even at the age of 31, only a fool would count him out.
BOLOGNA’S BIG BOPPERS
Round 1: Tied, 2-2 (M: 0:45 left hook/body, 2:20 hook/head; R: 2:40 hook, 3:00 combo)
Round 2: Rutledge, 3-1 (M: 0:50 uppercut; R: 1:18 right/head, 1:54 uppercut, 2:52 hook/head)
Round 3: Tied, 1-1 (M: 0:24 cross; R: 1:55 hook/jaw)
Round 4: Rutledge, 4-1 (M: 3:00 right/body; R: 0:11 cross, 0:47 jab, 1:21 cross, 1:52 right/chin)
Round 5: Rutledge, 2-0 (0:46 hook, 2:24 hook/head)
Round 6: Tied, 1-1 (M: 0:40 cross; R: 1:36 cross/face)
Round 7: Rutledge, 3-1 (M: 1:52 right; R: 0:54 combo, 1:09 hook/midsection, 2:29 hook/midsection)
Round 8: Rutledge, 3-1 (M: 0:42 hook; R: 0:27 hook, 1:04 right/jaw, 2:52 right/midsection)
Round 9: Mitchell, 4-1 (M: 0:33 hook/side, 1:04 hook, 1:22 cross, 2:32 combo/knockdown; R: 0:19 cross)
Round 10: Mitchell, 2-1 (M: 1:05 combo, 2:54 left/midsection; R: 0:19 uppercut)
Round 11: Rutledge, 4-1 (M: 2:43 hook/midsection; R: 0:54 hook, 1:09 uppercut/head, 1:47 uppercut, 2:22 right)
Round 12: Mitchell, 2-0 (1:45 combo, 2:49 hook)
Round 13: Mitchell, 3-1 (M: 0:11 uppercut, 1:30 left, 1:47 combo; R: 0:31 right/ribs)
Round 14: Rutledge, 2-0 (0:56 hook/head, 1:35 combo)
Round 15: Rutledge, 2-0 (0:47 combo, 2:15 uppercut)
TOTAL: Rutledge 30, Mitchell 20
SCORECARD FROM RUTLEDGE TITLE FIGHT WIN OVER MITCHELL
- February 28, 1951- National Auditorium, Washington DC - welterweight Rudy Perry (30-6-1) vs Dale Roy (37-8-1)
- February 28, 1951- Lakeside Auditorium, Chicago - Middleweight Mark McCoy (22-2) vs Calvin Collins (8-0)
- March 10, 1951 - National Auditorium, Washington DC - Italian middleweight Hugo Canio (18-2-2) faces Denny Palmer (30-9)
- March 11, 1951 - Bigsby Garden, New York- Rising heavyweight contender Brad Harris (19-1-1) makes his first appearance after his title fight loss to Hector Sawyer in facing Scott 'The Chef' Baker (24-6-3)
- March 17, 1951 - Thompson Palladium, Detroit - World Middleweight champion John Edmonds (33-3) defends his title against Millard Shelton (30-5)
- March 23, 1951- Dominion Gardens, Toronto- Rising Detroit born heavyweight Joey Tierney (22-0) meets Canadian Dick Kowalski (25-4)
- March 30, 1951- Baltimore, MD - Canadian heavyweight Phil Easton (32-6-2) meets rising local Baltimore fighter Rob Feagin (9-1)
DEFENDING CHAMPS TO OPEN CONTINENTAL SLATE
FABL Unveils '51 Schedule
April 16 may just be declared a civic holiday in Cleveland as that will be the day the Foresters hang their 1950 World Championship Series winning banner at Forester Field. It will go alongside the 1934 flag as just the second WCS win in franchise history. The Foresters will have the full attention of the Continental Association on that day as they will host the Philadelphia Sailors in the lone CA game on the docket. A day later, Tuesday April 17, the rest of the CA will shift into action.
The Federal Association slate also opens with just a single game on April 16. That will be the annual lid-lifter in Washington as the Eagles will open against the Philadelphia Keystones. President Truman has not yet confirmed but is expected to be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, should his other duties not interfere with the task.
THESE ARE YOUR NEW YORK GOTHAMS?
It wouldn't be surprising if many fans didn't recognize the starters for the first week or two of spring training games when Citrus League action gets underway March 5 against St Louis. Yes, it's that time again. A couple of weeks to knock off some rust and now we play games. Except, you might not catch Red Johnson or Walt Messer at the plate or Ed Bowman toeing the rubber. With six weeks of games manager Bud Jameson, as has been his habit, will use the first week or two to get a look at prospects and callup possibilities.
"Having been through this myself many times, it's my opinion that the vets don't need more than 20 or so games to get ready. Players like Red and Walt don't want to be leaving too many hits on the spring training field. Our veteran staff only need 5 or 6 starts to be ready. And it's a chance for me to see some of the kids and make decisions on the reserve roles for the season."
Players Jameson will be looking at include pitchers Jerry Fordham who was in Cuba this winter, along with Jimbo Williams, Alfie Barnes and Doc Woodward. Catching prospect Jack Hebert, infielders Harry Murray and Hank Estill. Adam Sharp and Chief Lewis will get a look in the outfield. Most likely these players will return to minor league camp later in the spring. But you never know when a kid will show that he's ready now for the big leagues.
In other camp news, Lefty Allen has been working on a new pitch and seems happy with his progress. When asked about adding to his arsenal at 36 years old he smiled and said, "After almost 500 games they've seen everything I've got. I decided to add a couple of wrinkles to keep them guessing." Allen, who had his first 20 win campaign in 10 years last season, now sits at 245 wins in 479 starts. He is the active leader in wins and with a couple more strong seasons would put him in serious contention for the Hall of Fame.
SHAMROCKS EXTEND LEAD, DUKES DEALT CRITICAL BLOW
The New York Shamrocks moved closer to locking up their second straight NAHC regular season title thanks to a four game winning streak that has extended their lead on second place Montreal to 7 points with 12 games remaining. Orval Cabbell continues to hold the hot stick for the New Yorkers after notching 10 points in his last four games. Cabbell has 23 goals and a league best 67 points on the season.
Toronto's Quinton Pollack is second in scoring with 55 points, including an NAHC best 28 goals, but that is likely the full extent of Pollack's production this season. The 28-year-old center crashed into the boards Wednesday evening against Detroit and suffered a concussion that is likely to take seven weeks to recover. With just a month remaining in the season and the Dukes six points back and looking up at Boston for the fourth and final playoff berth, Toronto's task of reaching the post-season just became a whole lot more difficult.
Injuries may also play a role in the battle for second place. The Detroit Motors have not been the same club since Graham Comeau was hurt on January 13. Comeau was among the league goal scoring leaders with 19 in his first 39 games but a serious shoulder injury has hampered him. Comeau has suited up for 5 games in the past month but has not scored and is clearly having difficulty handling the puck. Detroit has gone 6-10-3 since his injury and the Motors, after losing in Montreal last night, now trail the Valiants by two points in the battle for second place and home ice advantage in the semi-finals.
NAHC RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK
MONDAY FEBRUARY 19A rare Monday game in the NAHC and it looks like the Detroit Motors did not get the message for the early start to the week. New York outshot the Motors 51-18 and coasted to a 5-1 victory behind a hat trick from blueliner Ryan Kennedy and two assists from league scoring leader Orval Cabbell.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21
Detroit 2 at 3 Toronto : An important two points for the Dukes who are chasing Boston for the final playoff spot but it came at a hefty cost as club scoring leader Quinton Pollack suffered a concussion that likely spells the end of his season, and perhaps the Dukes faint postseason hopes. Tim Brooks, J.C. Martel and Rob Painchaud all scored first period goals to stake Toronto to an early lead and they held on for the win.
New York 4 at 3 Chicago : Orval Cabbell had a goal and two helpers to pace the Shamrocks past Chicago 4-3 in a game that saw the Packers forced to play without Tommy Burns, who is sidelined for a week with a minor elbow injured suffered in practice earlier this week.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22
Boston 1 at 3 Montreal :The Valiants pulled ahead of Detroit and into sole possession of second place after they overame an early deficit and pulled out a win over the fourth place Bees. Jacob Godin gave Boston a lead just over two minutes into the game but Montreal tied it in the second period when Brett Lanceleve found the back of the net before Shel Herron got the game winner midway through the third period. Wayne Augustin added an empty netter, his 16th goal of the season.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24
Toronto 0 at 1 Boston : In a game with big playoff implications for both clubs, Oscar James and Gordie Broadway hooked up in a goalie duel. James and the Bees got the better of the encounter with the 27-year-old Boston netminder making 21 saves for his 4th shutout of the season. Mike Brunell, with his 17th of the season, scored the game's only goal - a powerplay marker early in the third period. Boston is now 6 points ahead of Toronto in the battle for the final playoff spot. The Bees have 12 games remaining, one less than the Dukes.[*]Detroit 4 at 2 Chicago :[/b] Detroit pulled back into a second place tie with idle Montreal by doubling the Packers 4-2. Lou Barber scored twice and added an assist to pace the Motors offense.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25
Detroit 1 at 2 Montreal : A tight-checking possible preview of the semi-finals saw the Montreal Valiants nip Detroit 2-1 thanks to Claude LeClerc's 9th goal of the season with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. The two clubs had traded first period goals with Adam Sandford lighting the lamp for the Vals before Nick Tardif notched one for the visitors.
New York 6 at 2 Toronto : The Shamrocks exploded for four unanswered goals including three in the final six and a half minutes to down the Toronto Dukes 6-2. Orval Cabbell had four more points, including two goals, to increase his league leading points total to 67, 12 ahead of injured Dukes center Quinton Pollack.
UPCOMING GAMES
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28
New York at Detroit
THURSDAY MARCH 1
Toronto at Montreal
Chicago at Boston
SATURDAY MARCH 3
Toronto at Detroit
New York at Boston
Montreal at Chicago
SUNDAY MARCH 4
Montreal at Detroit
Boston at Toronto
DUKES PLAYOFF HOPES DIMMING
Playoff hopes are fading for the faithful followers of Toronto hockey. The week started with a big win then ended with two losses including a heartbreaker to Boston that leaves the Dukes six points back of the Bees entering the final month of the season.
On Wednesday the Dukes ran their winning streak to 3 with a victory over Detroit in Dominion Gardens. Toronto came out fast against the Motors ambushing the visitors in the first to take a 3-0 after 20 on goals by defensemen Tim Brooks and J.C. Martel, along with recently returned after missing a few games Rob Painchaud. Toronto continued to carry the play in the middle stanza testing Millard Touhey 16 times in the Detroit net but Touhey robbed the home side on numerous occasions. Dukes goalie Gordie Broadway was far less busy in net although he surrendered the only goal of the second when Francis McKenzie lit the lamp at 3:45.
Between periods many Dukes fans were murmuring that the team should have put the Motors away in 40 minutes, the game was far tighter than the play. Detroit came out with new life in a fast paced final period. The crowd went silent when Lou Barber narrowed the gap to one assisted by McKenzie and Spencer Larocque just before the eight minute mark. Toronto did not fall into a defensive shell continuing to press Detroit. Both Touhey and Broadway did not let another puck past them allowing the Dukes to hang on to a 3-2 win. Early in the third period Quinton Pollack had to be helped from the ice after appearing to be knocked out after hitting his head on the ice when dumped on a hip check. He would not return for the balance of the week.
Travelling into Boston for another important game with the Bees Saturday both teams, knowing the importance, came out tentatively in a dump and chase game. It was a chippy first with lots of penalties for stickwork. Toronto has a golden opportunity when Willis Beane received a major for a headshot by could not take the lead. Boston started to take the game over in the second, hemming the Dukes in their own end for extended periods of time. Broadway stood tall, but he was beat on a rebound off a Robert Walker shot that went to Mike Brunell for a tap in. Toronto carried the play in the third though they had no success in putting one behind Oscar James who chalked up his 4th blank sheet of the year 1-0. Quinton Pollack's absence was keenly felt in this loss.
Home Sunday to play the league leading Shamrocks the Dukes seemed to shake off the gut wrenching defeat in Boston in the first period. In a wild first Alfie Dennis opened the scoring only to have Toronto come back with two by Lou Galbraith and Painchaud, with his 11th, to take a 2-1 lead. Orval Cabell, who feasts on Toronto, beat Scott Renes in the last two minutes of the period to send the teams to the dressing rooms knotted at 2.
The fast pace of the game continued after the ice was resurfaced with many scoring chances at both ends. Only one chance was successful when the Shamrocks Rusty Mullins found a loose puck in Renes' crease to make it 3-2 with just over three minutes remaining in the second. New York tried to protect the lead until the Dukes ran into penalties after the midway mark of the final period. The parade to the box opened the door for the Shamrocks to put three more behind Renes in the last 6 minutes - two by Alfie Dennis and then Cabell again, while up a man and New York won it going away 6-2.
Coach Barrell- "We did not lose any ground to Boston over the week but then again did not gain any. 6 points out with 12 to play. Pollack is out for at least a month, everyone else is going to have to dig deeper. I still have faith in my players. We can make the post season if we play to our potential. Lou Carlson will wear the "C" for the balance of the regular season. With both Pollack and Bobbie Sauer out we need a entire team game to advance."
- Chicago moved its record against Rochester to 6-0 on the season with a pair of wins this past week, keeping the upstart Panthers in first place. Chicago won all three of its games, ran its winning streak to four and has now won seven of eight. Surprisingly, the back-to-back home games against Rochester only yielded an average of 2,700 fans at Lakeside Auditorium. While Chicago's ticket sales languishes, the team now boasts the best record in the league at 30-13.
- In the first game against Rochester, Chicago mastered the glass in the 76-50 win, out-rebounding the Rockets, 91-66, led by Luther Gordon's career-high 29 rebounds to go with a game-high 24 points. Both teams shot terribly, with Chicago (23.6%) barely edging out Rochester (23.0%). The back-end matchup was even worse for Rochester, as the Rockets shot under 20% (19.3%) in the Panthers 68-55 victory. Rochester was much better on the boards, but the additional 23 shot attempts did not help. Chicago actually had two more field goals, led by Joe Hampton's triple double (20 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists).
- The Mustangs have missed a golden opportunity to jump into the top three in the West with the Falcons losing four of five, but Detroit had three tough tests in a row: last week's tough two-point loss to Rochester and this week's two-point loss to Washington before falling on Saturday night to Chicago, 86-72. The Mustangs are a game and a half behind Toronto for the third and final playoff spot with about a third of the season to play. Detroit can definitely control its own destiny with four left against Toronto, five against Rochester and four versus Chicago, with its next two coming up against the Panthers at home.
- Washington lost its fourth straight game against the Knights, a team the Statesmen will have to learn to beat if the Statesmen want to repeat as league champions. Their latest meeting should sound a wake-up call. New York stormed out of the gate with 37 first-quarter points and never looked back, thumping the Statesmen, 106-62. The Knights called off the dogs at the half, leading 63-35, and the bench brigade poured 30 points onto the bonfire in the fourth quarter. Scott Lagasse led the way with 27 points on 60% shooting (12-for-20). As a team, the Knights were a shade under 40% as a team (39.5%, 47-for-119). They will play at the National Auditorium tonight in the back-end of their home-and-home.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT PICTURE COMING INTO FOCUS
With two weeks left in the collegiate basketball season the 32 teams that will make up the field for the annual year end AIAA championship tournament are starting to take shape. Fifteen of the 32 berths will go to the champions of each of the 15 division one conferences and the remaining 17 positions will be selected as at large teams.
If the tournament were to start today the Great Lakes Alliance and South Atlantic Conferences would lead the way with five schools from each section cracking the final 32. Next up would be the other two power sections in the Deep South Conference and West Coast Athletic Association, each of whom has three schools projected to make the field including Noble Jones College, the defending national champions from the Deep South Conference.
Here is a look at the teams on the bubble and the projections for each of the bigger conferences.
RESULTS FOR RANKED TEAMS
MONDAY FEBRUARY 19
none
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20
none
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21
#7 Noble Jones College 57, at Georgia Baptist 48
#9 Coastal California 49, at Northern California 36
Western Florida 51, at #10 Opelika State 49
at #12 Ellery 62, Eastern State 59
at #13 Brunswick 47, Sadler 38
#19 Utah A&M 60, at Cache Valley 54
at #21 Dickson 53, Henry Hudson 32
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22
#1 Western Iowa 54, at Lincoln 45
#3 Carolina Poly 65, at Richmond State 48
#14 Central Ohio 72, at #4 Whitney College 65
#8 Indiana A&M 66, at Wisconsin State 47
#11 North Carolina Tech 35, at Petersburg 34
at #16 Lambert College 54, Northern Minnesota 44
at #17 Charleston Tech 43, Central Carolina 40
at #18 Chesapeake State 45, Coastal State 36
#20 Mobile Maritime 40, at Bulein 26
at #25 Detroit City College 47, St. Ignatius 36
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23
at #2 Rainier College 53, Spokane State 43
#6 CC Los Angeles 63, at #24 Lane State 50
at #13 Brunswick 65, St. Blane 60
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24
at #1 Western Iowa 74, St. Ignatius 43
at #3 Carolina Poly 58, Coastal State 40
#4 Whitney College 64, at Lincoln 41
at #7 Noble Jones College 50, Cumberland 27
#8 Indiana A&M 60, at Minnesota Tech 56
at #10 Opelika State 58, Mississippi A&M 46
#11 North Carolina Tech 54, at Bulein 40
at #12 Ellery 51, Grafton 37
at #14 Central Ohio 66, #25 Detroit City College 39
at #16 Lambert College 69, Ferguson 47
#17 Charleston Tech 52, at #20 Mobile Maritime 41
#19 Utah A&M 57, at Wyoming A&I 48
George Fox 46, at #21 Dickson 38
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25
#2 Rainier College 92, at Idaho A&M 64
#6 CC Los Angeles 45, at Portland Tech 36
at #24 Lane State 73, Spokane State 43
ST MATTHEW'S ABANDONS FOOTBALL DUE TO "UNCERTAINTY OF TIMES"
St. Matthew's University in Washington DC has decided to drop intercollegiate football, effective at once. It was such an unexpected move that even the school's athletic director was taken by surprise. The announcement was made by the president of the university, who made public a letter written to his athletic heads.
By its decision, St. Matthew's because the first "name" college to quit the gridiron, although about several other smaller football programs, including Strub College, earlier made similar decisions.
The uncertainty of the times with the possible draft of 18-year-olds before the next academic year, was a paramount factor in the decision. St. Matthew's already has adopted an accelerated scholastic program to help give its students as much education as possible before their induction into the armed forces.
*** Other Sports to Continue ***
The school president did emphasize that St. Matthew's would continue to field varsity teams in basketball, baseball and track, as well as such minor sports as golf and tennis.
The Senators had a 9-game schedule arranged for next autumn, but as the president noted, only a few were to be played at home. The Senators, who played as an independent went 2-6-1 last season and their now former head coach, while admitting his disappointment, said he "saw the handwriting on the wall" in steadily declining gate receipts and the uncertain future of student enrollment.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 2/25/1951
- President Truman warned the Russians that the U.S. has doubled its armed forces in the last nine months, to nearly the 3 million mark.
- All mention of the 38th Parallel was banned from news stories about the Korean war in a surprise move by Gen. MacArthur's headquarters. Correspondents covering Korea have been told of a prohibition on any mention of the parallel and on "synonyms in any form."
- The United Nations is reported to be making another move to discuss peace in Korea with Red China.
- An American tank force rumbled into the former Chinese stronghold of Chunchon, being met only by flag-waving Korean civilians.
- A Senate committee declared it would be physically impossible to hold all of Alaska and the Aleutians in the event of an all-out war with Russia.