Student Attendence Increases Slightly In Boston Schools

Boston schools were calm yesterday and black attendance increased as State and Metropolitan District Police escorted buses and guarded students for the second day.

Ninety-five of the 358 black students assigned to South Boston High School attended classes yesterday, compared to 41 on Thursday and one on Tuesday.

Most white students continued to boycott the school, with less than one-fifth of the 1094 enrolled students reporting.

There were no busing-related arrests yesterday, for the first time in several days.

Mayor Kevin H. White summoned more than 400 State and Metropolitan District Commission Police Wednesday after U.S. District Court Judge W. Arthur Garrity rejected his plea for federal marshals.

Gov. Francis W. Sargent said yesterday that he would not "hesitate to bring troops in if necessary."

On Thursday, Mayor White said he would refuse to implement the next phase of school desegregation, which will integrate schools in Charlestown, East Boston and the North End, unless Boston receives federal law enforcement and financial aid.

A team of five Justice Department lawyers arrived in Boston yesterday to investigate possible civil rights violations in connection with the city's school desegregation.

U.S. Attorney James N. Gabriel said there was a "very, very distinct possibility" of taking cases to a grand jury. He said he would investigate attempts to intimidate people, and groups operating deliberately to frustrate the court order.