Evening star., 1931-12-08
TACTICS OF POLICE
IN MARCH PRAISED
GIassford's Plan Keeps Army
of JobIess Separated
From Spectators.

Military strategy as taught at West
Point and the art OF mass psychology
which Brig Gen Pelham d. Glassford
applied to his plans for handling the
motley army of unemployment march
ers were credited by police officials to-
day with relieving much of the tense
ness of the demonstrations yesterday at
the Capitol White House and head
quarters of the American Federation of
Labor
AS major and superintendent of
police, Gen. Glassford personally led his
800 bmecoats into action Astride
motorcycle-firSt in natty civilian
clothes and later in a new brass but
toned uniforn-he darted from the
Capitol to the White House and back
again, marshalling his forces. Through
a day holding potentialities of diff
culties. he unanswered the demonstra-
tors and kept them hemmed in at all
times by powerful Gordon of police.
Separates Marchers and Public.
The whole theme of Gen. Glassford's
plan was to keep the marchers between
two hanks Of policemen. 1t was his
theory that either the spectators or the
demonstrators would be the aggressor
IN the event OF disorder, so the palice
HCtC ACRb pClWSCtl ItICiIl.
The best example of the plan was
Illustrated on the Capitol plaza. The
marchers were grouped in a roped-off
arena in the center of the plaza, fully
SO yards away from the spectators on
the Capitol steps and those who lined
the coping around the parkway A
sclid phalanx of uniformed officers, $50
strong, was lined up In front of the
building, facing the marehers. On the
Capitol parapets, overlooking the crowd,
stood squad of other officers armed with
either riot guns or tear gas gTenades.
In addition, Is officers trained in the
use of gas equipment were stationed at
points OF vantage.
White House Tactics Similar.
Had there been an attempt on the
part Of the demonstrators to rush" the
Capitol. as was anticipated when march
leaders twice were denied admission,
police officials said 1T would have been
possible to repulse Immediately the 500
and keep them together on the plaza
The same plan Of strategy was fol-
lowed at the White House, though the
marchers were not restricted by ropes.
Police kept them lined up on the north
side of PENNSYLVANIA avenue, adjacent
to La Fayette Park, and had there been
would have been given for closing the
big iron gates to the White House
grounds.
Ambulances also were available every.
where the marehers went. One was
stationed on the Capital plaza, an
other near the White House, and
third trailed the procession in its three
mile eireutuous march around Wash
ington. Only once, however, was the
service of an ambulance necessary. The
one at the White House was called on
TO carry to the hospital a demonstrator
who was stricken with fit.
Troops Ready for Action.
Aside from the gas equipment the
police were prepared with a second
line of defense in the event Of an
emergency. About 2,o00 soldiers,
sailors and M lrines, stationed in and
near TO Washington, remained in their
barracks, ready for action should the
police need assistance.
But not drop Of gas was used, nor
was a baton raised. The peace and
order of the demonstration, Gen. Glass
ford is confident, was a triumph for
forceful courtesy, mass psychology and
military strategy.
For his success Gen. GlaSsford has
been congratulated, and he, too, is proud
and enthusiastic over the work of his
force in trying situation.