On a theorem of Halin

This note presents a new, elementary proof of a generalization of a theorem of Halin to graphs with unbounded degrees, which is then applied to show that every connected, countably infinite graph G with a subdegree-finite, infinite automorphism group whose cardinality is strictly less than continuum, has a finite set F of vertices that is setwise stabilized only by the identity automorphism. A bound on the size of such sets, which are called distinguishing, is also provided. To put this theorem of Halin and its generalization into perspective, we also discuss several related non-elementary, independent results and their methods of proof.