*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
FROM NASA COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE, JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
Houston, May 27 (AP).--NASA's top officials confirmed today that repeated satellite observations of Mars have revealed the Red Planet's most extraordinary secret: scattered about the surface of the planet are pyramids constructed of carved stone.
"We waited to make the official announcement until we were absolutely certain," said Milton H. Wenschel, NASA spokesman. "We've counted and counted, had the orbiter make repeated passes, looked at the photos in every kind of light known to man. There's just no doubt about it."
"Spread over the surface of Mars from the subtropical regions to the equator is a giant chain of pyramids. These are definitely not natural formations. Our technology allows us to see clearly that the pyramids were carved into big blocks, then fitted together."
When asked how many pyramids were known to exist, Wenschel became ebullient. "Exactly 1,914! And they are laid out in a sort of connect-the-dots pattern. We're still analyzing all the possibilities, but right now, it looks like a sort of watchtower pattern."
Meanwhile, in a related development, officials at Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, have announced a major press conference for 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. . . .
Bill