Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-11

Lieut. Col. u S. Grant. Sd. formally
opened his warfare on park PETERS and
Spooners last night and the names of
five persons charged with various vio-
lations of the colonels nine command
ants for good park manners were on
the docket at Police Court today. All
forfeited collateral ranging from SIS to
SIS. collected by the activities Of park
policemen who afoot. stalked parked
automobiles on the speedway and Hams
Point
One Of the arrests was made before
midnight. the other four afterward. The
four IS offenses were described as park
ing without lights" but ii was explained
that parking without lights covers a
wide field, and that direct evidence of
wiilful violation of the edict against
petting Is most difficult to obtain
Deploying part of his forces for an
advance along the Potomac, the OUT
ragged campaigner for good park man
ners last night raked Hams Point with
a desultory barrage of furtive glances
calculated to wilt arms in embrace and
paralyze lips prepared to puckeT.
With brows drawn into fOrbidding
frowns and eyes peeled for overt acts,
the colonel's ubiquitous men loosed
whitening cross-fire Of peeks on the
automobiles parked By the riverside
with surprising results in many in
stances, according to unofficial reports
Brings General Scattering.
CONSERVATION reigned in the ranks Of
overromantic couples who were enjoy
ing the wonders of nature with too
much abandon, and the first onslaught
Of official scrutiny resulted in a pretty
general evacuation of the Point by the
conscience stricken.
The operations by the forces of Col
Grant last night came on the heels OF
a stirring ultimatum issued few hours
earlier by the director of public parks
The ukase decried the widespread prev
alence of "nec'2ing and spooning" in
Washington and sounded potent
warning of stern measures To come.
Col Grant Is as good as his word.
Having issued the warning, he set about
at once to back it up with action. Ac-
cordingiy, as the gentle noctural zephyrs
began to whisper among the willows Of
East Potomac Park, the figure OF park
policeman might have been seen dis
mounting from his trusty motor cycle
and setting out on a round OF ocular
curiosity
With outwardIy carefree air. but in
ward determination the officer walked
slowly down the line of parked cars
face 10 the front but eyes turned sharp
" 10 the side. Occasionally, on sensing
something unusual in the back Of an
automobile, he would turn his head
quickly toward the suspect tonneau 70
see what he might see.
just what he saw is not matter
Of public record, but IN at least several
Of the instances ne seemed TO meet with
startling success. In such cases the oc-
cupants suddenly decided II was time
70 let somebody else use their parking
space and moved 10 parts unknown.
Col Grant is known to have launched
his drive with great reluctance. He is
loath to disturb motorists who are en-
Toying innocent recreation In Uncle
Sans parks, but he realizes that some
thing must be done to prevent outraged
decency"
win Take Only Legal Steps
His ultimatum pointed out that 1T i,
difficult for the police 10 prevent thest
violations Of law without such close oh
servation Of persons In automobiles ~
would be an intrusion upon the privacy
Of many perfectly harmless persons,
but added that he win take "Whatcvel
measures are necessary and legal u
protect the plblic's proper enjoyment
Of the parks"
From this, offenders may take warn
ing that Col Grant will continue hii
warfare relentlesSly until his sentrie
again sound the reaSsiring cry tina
"All's well along the Potomac"
! lieut. Nina Van Wrinkle chief Of TN