The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-10
REDS BUSTED
FROM BONUS
ARMY CAMP
Communists Placed Under
Guard in Field, Saved
From Beating.
MENACED BY DISEASE
Conditions Favorable for
Epidemic, Warning of
Health Officers.
BY JOHN REICHMANN
United Press STAFF Correspond.rt

Nv ouAlb 1U.-Ilg-
ging in for long siege, the bonus
army Joined with authorities TO-DAY
to rid itself two menaces-sgi-
tators and disease.
One hundred ffty-proclaimed
Communists were driven from the
sprawling bonus camp in Anacostia
park by members of the army and
police
Most of the Communists came in
Thursday evening with delegations
from Cleveland and New York Civ
Some were spotted at once by fed
eral agents. Others openly declared
their beliefs to the camp at large.
They promptly we're taken in hand
by veterans police, who protected
them from aroused campers. eager
to be at them with clubs and fists.
The whole band was marched to
an open field a mile from the camp
under guard of 100 veterans police
and detail of metropolitan police
officers. The Communists spend the
night IN the field under guard.
Disease Is Menace
Authorities and veterans leaders.
also were making valiant efforts
to combat dangerous health con-
ditions in the camp.
DR.. James G. Cumming. COM
municable diseases officer of the
health department, declared con-
ditions we're worse than he had seen
in army camps in Siberia and
China. He said he had tried TO
segregate tWenty-three men suffer-
ing from severe contagious diseases.
but that when he returned to the
camp the men had mingled again
with the army and could not be
found.
Police Superintendent Pelham
Glasstord was attempting to obtain
Fl. Foote, little-used army post
down the Potomac, as a segregation
camp.
William c. Fowler, District of Co.
lumbia health officer, said the
congested and insanitary conditions
were ideal for an outbreak of
typhoid fever or dysentery. The men
battle and wash their clothes and
cooking utensils in the eastern
branch of the Potomac. which DIR
Fowler said was little better than an
open sewer.
5000 Now in City
About 1000 men now are en-
camped on the duty fields of
Anacostia. The total in the citv il
estimated at 5000. Police say $500
more will arrive in the next thirv-
six hours.
To relieve the congestion, two new
camps were opened-at Camp
Simms, the national guard range in
Anacostia, and at Camp Meigs. an
abandoned post within Washington
proper.
Commander Walter w. Waters
SAID he agreed with DR.. Fowler that
the health situation was menacing
and I shall do my best to eliminate
it."
He again appealed for the war de-
partment or other authorities to
provide tents and equipment.
Police Superintendent Glassford
continued to offer the army free
transportation homeward. The
trucks he provided Thursday went
away empty, with jeers resoundinp
IN the drivers ears. But Glassford
intends to have the trucks on hand
every day, in hope that bad con-
oltlons and exposure to the rigors of
the Washington summer will induce
some to change their minds.
Weather May Have Effect
How far his conjecture is correct
Is difficult to estimate. The
weather since the first bonus con-
tingent arrived has been all but
ideal. Only one scant shower has
fallen. Only one day has given an
indication Of what Washington
heat can be.
The Anacostia camp has changed
vastly since the days the first con-
tlngent arrived to sleep under the
stars. 1t is crowded and hot. The
refreshing field of green has given
way to dust and bumps.
A series of hot DAYS or rainv
ones might have an astonishing
effect on the morale of the campers
Many of them are without bedsacks
or shelter from either heat or rain.
A rainy spell surely would turn the
camp into a sodden series of mud
holes.
Food was not an immediately
pressing problem, although police
have stopped feeding the men. The
army had more than $4,000 in its
mess fund, the proceeds of a bene-
fit show. A few contingents were
receiving supplies from home.
Three tons Of food were reported
en- route from Hoboken, N. j.. the
gift Of the Frank j. Bartletta as
ISOLATION.
Congressman Ask Action
In congress new efforts were made
to have the government care for
the men. Representative Landlord
dem, Ga.) introduced a measure
to provide 100000. This followed
the lines Of that offered Wednesday
by Representative Loring Black
tDem., N. ". Senator Brookhart
(Rep, Iowa. introduced a resolution
directing the war department to
provide tents, cots and blankets.
The bonus army Thursday heard
fighting words of announcement
from Representative John J. Nc
Swain Dem, S. c. and Father
James r. Cox Of Pittsburgh, who
few here to address the veterans.
Both urged the marchers to hang
on until they got their bonus, to
maintain order. and to return af-
erward to their homes in orde, =