Imperial Valley press., 1932-11-04

Statements
CHALLENGED
Washington Officials State For
mer Chief Urged Use OF
Troops Against Vets.
SECRET LETTER QUOTED
Generals New York Speech
Asserts Bonus Army Goaded
Into Resistance.

WASHINGTON, Nov 4. up
Soon after the bonus army occupa-
ton of Washington began, former
Police Chief Pelham D. Glassford
recommended arrangements be
made for emergency use of Nation
al Guard or regular army troops,
according to secret letter from
Glassford made public by the Dis
trict of Columbia commissioners.
The letter was disclosed by the
commissioners after conferences at
the White House. 1t was revealed
just before Glassford in an address
at Philadelphia criticized use of
troops to evict the bonus marchers
from Washington.
Glassford's letter was dated June
8, nearly two months before the
eviction. The communication re-
cited the arrangements made by
the police to care for veterans and
cope with disorders, and concluded:
Recommendation: That prep
arations be made by the commits
sioners to declare an emergency.
and to provide for the use of the
National Guard or to place in eff
feet the White plan"
District Commissioner Reichfel-
derfer explained "the White plan"
is the war departments official
designation "of the plan to be fol-
lowed by the regular army in the
quelling of serious internal disor-
ers. 1t is only applied under crit
ical conditions when civil authori-
ties and all other normal sources
of protection have failed General
Glassford undoubtedly was familiar
with its general provisions and the
seriousness of the situation which
it envisioned."
War department officials de-
clined to discuss the white plan"
in any way. 1t was learned from
other sources that the plan is one
of many worked out by the army
general staff for dealing with do
nestle and foreign contingencies.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 4. (U.P) -
Brigadier General Pelham D. Glass
ford renewed his attack on the
Washington administration for its
eviction of the bonus army here
last night with the charge that the
veterans were tantalized into a
show of resistance so troops could
be called.
The retired army officer adj
dressed 5000 persons who packed
the Metropolitan opera house, while
$4,000 more jammed surrounding
streets, listening to amplifiers.
Glassford described what he called
the inside story of the battle of
Washington" and contradicted
President Hoover's statement that
troops were called ito assist au-
thorities to restore order"
1.-THE real objective" Glassford
declared, was made known to me
by General Macarthur while the
troops were on their way. He said
I'VE are going to break the back
of the B. E. F. Within a short time
we will move down Pennsylvania
avenue, sweep through the billets
there, and then clean out the 9TH
er camps. The operation will be
continuous. 1t will all be done to-
night
Then Glassford described the
eviction in these words:
Armed with the most modern
implements of warfare, the peace
time army of our present Com
mander-in-Chief, Herbert Hoover.
drove from the national capitol at
the point of the bayonet, the dis
armed, disavowed and destitute ar
my of Woodrow Wilson"
He said he knew that for weeks
troops had been held in readiness
and given special training for the
eviction.
Glassford described his efforts
to provide the veterans with shell
ter and food, for he said nothing
leads more directly to disorder and
disturbance than hunger"
1T was either feed them or fight
them" he continued. Consequent
ly tolerance and sympathy were
pecaSSar.Uo