Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-03
F|REMEN WILL HELP
POLICE TO CONTROL
HUNGER MARCHERS
400 Members of Department
to Be Sworn In as
Special Officers.
LACK OF HOUSING HERE
STILL ACUTE PROBLEM
Army Posts Ready to Rush Troops
if Hoover Issues Summons
Tomorrow.

All members of the District Fire De-
partment not on active duty next week,
will be sworn in as special policemen to
augment the regular force OF the
Metropolitan Police Department, it was
announced today by Maj. E. w. Brown,
superintendent of police, as District Oh
ficials and police made last-minuts
plans for the arrival of the hunger
rnarchers" tomorrow. Three hundred
and ninety fremen will be available
Mai. Brown made the announcement
after a conference with the District
Commissioners. He said the Commits
Eoners had approved the plan.
The firemen will be equipped with
batops. badges and other police para
phe-nalia.
The plan to u-e the firemen was
recommended by Maj. Brown because
the regular force will be materially re-
duc-d by special fat~ils to be assigned
70 the Capitol and White House.
Brown Sees Leaders.
Mai. Brown also announced that ne
had he'd a prolonged conference tnls
morning with william Reynolds ana
Herbert Benjamin, leaders OF the munger
march. who told him that they nave
been able thus far to arrange housing
accommoosticns in private homes for
only about 900 of the $500 marchers
coming into Warrington tomorrow
The march leaders said that while they
lacked housing facilities for the entire
army. they had arranged for adequate
food supplies and would prepare meals
at central kitchen and distribute the
food to the groups wherever they may
be quartered.
After the conference with Maj Brown
the march leaders went to the Once OF
Pubic Buildings and Pub ic Parks TO
demand that accommodations at the
tourist camp in Pct mac Park be made
available for hou.tng the marchsrs.
The leaders of the movement broad
enc. the original program today to IN
cluoc special demonstrations at the
Shipping Beard and the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor
The tension of District ofhcials was
increased by reports of clashes between
police and the advancing columns OF
narchers in Uniont3wn. Fa., and VIII
mington, Del, coupled with warning
by BENJAMIN that "forcible action" would
be adopted, if necessary, to overcome the
superior force OF the washington po-
lice. Benjamin, however, declared that
armed resistance is not contemplated.
In the meantime, company OF Ma
tional Guardsmen modified in the
armory in Cumberland, Md, where one
of the largest columns of marchers
will attempt to billet tonight in defiance
of the annocnced intention of Mayor
George Henderson to hurry them
through the city without step. Use
of the militia in the event OF dis
turbance was authorized by Gov.
Richie.
u. S. Troops May Be Asked.
If trouble develops in Washington,
the Commissioners are prepared to ask
President Hoover to call out the Fed
eral troops if the situation gets beyond
the control of the police.
The Army is fully prepared to meet
any emergency arising out OF the In
yasion by the marchers If request
is made Maj. Gen. George Van Horn
Moseley, deputy chief of staff and acting
Secretary of War, declared today
Despite the fact that neither the CHIEF
OF staff or the 10th Brigade headquar-
tiers in Washington have issued any
orders in connection with the hunger
march" it was learned unoficially today
that commandments at nearby posts are
holding troops in readiness in anticipa-
ton Of any emergency call. This Is
being done on their own initiative.
Gen. Moseley denied emphatically to-
day that the War Department has
issued any unsual instruction to nearby
9 commanders or any orders whatever
in connection with an expected
emergency.
Inquiries at headquarters OF the 10th
Brigade, in the absence of Gen. Perry
l. Mills, commandant of the Washing
ton district, who is at the Army Navy
foot ball game, brought similar denlsls
that any orders had been issued for the
use of troops in Washington at this
time.
Gen. Moseley said that the command
ant at Fort Myer or Fort Washington
could cancel the leave OF men on his
own initiative or hold troops in readi-
ness for any emergency which might
be anticipated without receiving orders
from the 18th Brigade headquarters.
At Fort Myer the post adJutant would
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