Evening star., 1932-08-04

police. The leaders of the veterans pro-
tested to their followers and to the
| public that this attack was led by radi-
Gals and that the veterans participat-
ing in the attack were not under the
/ control of their veteran leaders, but
were entirely controlled by red agita-
tors, whose sole purpose was to bring
about disorder, riots, bloodshed and
death
7. During the riot of the morning of
the 2Sth of July no lives were lost,
! though several policemen were seriously
injured. Later in the day a second riot
occurred. Thereupon the Commission
erS of the District of Columbia advised
the President tin writing) that a riot
was in progress. blood had been shed,
a number of police and rioters h3d been
injured and one person had been killed.
(Another who was wounded at that
time has since died) The Commission
erS of the District of Columbia advised
the President that the civil government
was unable to restore law and order and
was unable to maintain law and order
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia then requested the President
to bring to the scene of disorder United
States troops for the purpose of stopping
the riot and protecting the lives of the
people Thereupon, with the riot still
in progress at 2:55 pm. on the 28th of
July, as Secretary of War, issued the
following order:
To Gen. Douglas Macarthur, chief of
staff, u. S. Army:
The President has just now informed
me that the civil government of the
District of Columbia has reported to
him that it is unable to maintain law
and order in the District
you will have United States troops
proceed Immediately to the scene of
disorder. Cooperate fully with the Dis
trict of Columbia police force, which is
now in charge. Surround the affected
area and clear it without delay.
Turn over all prisoners to the civil
authorities.
In your orders insist that any women
and children who may be in the af-
fected area be accorded every consider
alton and kindness. Use all humanity
consistent with the due execution OF
this order"
Soldiers Restored Order.
8. After the arrival Of the United
States troops, force of about 600 men,
not one shot was fired and no person
was seriously injured. Law and order
were promptly restored.
9. The statements made to the effect
that the billets of the marchers were
fired by the troops is a falSehood. The
billetS were fired by retreating radicals.
The tents that we're burned belonged
to the District of Columbia National
Guard and had been loaned to the men
who burned them. 1t is true that after
the marcherS had fired their own billetS
and had evacuated the soldiers did
burn some Of the already partially
burned ShackS to cie=n up the area
and in the interest of sanitation. The
shackS and tents at AnacoStia were
set on fire by the bonus marchers be-
fore the troops crossed the Anacostia
Bridge This area was also cleaned
up by the soldiers after having been
evacuated by the bonus marchers.
10. The statement that women and
children were evacuated by troops IS
false. On the contrary, after the ar
rival of troops in the area where the
riot was taking place, the building oc-
cupied by the women and children was
protected and no one was permitted
to moleSt them. The billetS at Ana
costa were practically empty when the
troops arrived and were fred by the
marchers before the arrival of the
troops. The Red Cross Immediately
announced that it would be responsible
for all women, their children and their
husbands: would shelter them, feed
them and transport them to their own
homes. Some marcherS had their own
cars and were drawing compensation
from the Government. These did not
take advantage of the Red Cross offer.
Others did avail themselves of the as
sistance offered by the Red Cross and
others.
No Reason Given.
IL. No one has yet given a salts
factory reason why these marcherS
remained in Washington after Con-
gress had adjourned, as there was in
Washington in the absence of Congress
no authority to comply with their de-
mands. The Congress had provided
for the transportation of all veterans
to their homes. Congress had pro-
vided for assistance to the States where
the States we're not able to supply the
needs of the veterans upon their arrival