Evening star., 1932-09-13
GLASSFORD DENIES /!
He ASKED TROOPS
Situation on July % Was at
No Time Out of Control,
He Says.
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less than five minutes and that the
second assault nearly two hours later In
which two veterans were shot. was
halted almost instantly. From that
time until the troops arrived three
hours afterward, he declared, there was
no disorder.
Gen. Glassfords statement follows:
Il certainly do not intend to en-
gage in any controversy with officials
OF the District or Federal govern
ments However, published COM
ments by the District Commissioners
and the Department of Justice upon
my statement raised points which
may not have been fully considered
by those involved. For example:
Il. was never appriSed by the
Commissioners that troops had been
called.
"2. Although 1t has been stated
that the police were threatened with
a mass attack, the actual encounter
was confined to narrow point on
one side of the roped-off area which
had been repoSsessed.
''3. 1 was abe to stop the fighting
IN less than five minute.
a. The second assault. occurring
nearly two hours later, in which two
veterans were shot. was halted al
most instantly. This was a spon-
taneous affair, involving less than
two dozen participants on both sides.
IS. For three hours thereafter
until the troops arrived-there was
no disorder.
With the great majority Of the
unemployed veterans willing to CO.
operate with the police and with no
orders to extend the repossessed
area, am firmly Of the belief that no
situation would have arisen beyond
the control of the police.
Signed.
PELHAM D. GLASSFORD,
Major and Superintendent"
Denies He Will Resign.
This latest statement, coming on the
heels Of the police superintendent S
challenge Of Attorney General Mitchells
report, served not only to widen the
breach between these officials, but re-
vived rumors of Glassford's impending
resignation
Glassford, however, declared he had
not been asked to resign, nor would he
do SO under fire.
from the three inspectors followed pub
llcation in the morning newspapers of
the letter DR.. Luther H. Reichelderfer,
president of the Board OF Commission
ers, sent to the Attorney General. It
was said in this letter that the three in
spectors in addition to Inspector o. T.
Davis, had declared their belief that
had the arrival of troops been delayed,
further bloodshed and death could not
have been averted."
A report from Inspector Davis was
made yesterday by the police superin-
tendent, but it had not been submitted
early this afternoon Gen. Glassford
was advised, however, that Inspector
Davis was writing the report.
Davis was asked for a report because
he was quoted in the statement of At
torney General Mitchell to the effect
that he had received orders to keep
detectives out of the bonus camps on
the Gay the Federal troops were called
to evacuate the bonus marchers.
In spiking rumors of his impending
resignation, Gen Glassford also re-
vealed that he Is planning a vigorous
fight to hold his Job. 8 fS., =.
Il have not been asked to resign and
will not do so under fire. he said en-
tacit admission of inefhciency, and
know I have not been inefficient"
Chief Widens Cleavage.
Gen. Glassford previously had wild
ened the cleavage by issuing his earlier
statement challenging the accuracy of
"a number of assertions affecting the
police" contained in the Attorney Gen
erals report. The statement defended
the character and patriotism of the
B. E. F. as whole and the policies
of humanity and of respect for the
rights Of citizens employed by the
police.
The statement, denying assertions
that Glassford asked lor troops. after
he had mobilized at the riot scene most
OF the city's police force, prompted
Thacher to give out the Commissioners
letter of August 2, in which Glassford
was represented as requesting troops
because the police had lost control of
the situation. The letter also declared
that every available man on the police
force, whether on or of duty, had been
ordered to and was present at the scene
OF disorder, leaving the remainder of the
District without police protection, ex-
cept few scout cars"
The letter said Glassrord conferred
with the Commissioners soon after the
first conflict and that ne was asked
by the Commissioners If the situation
was out OF his control, 10 which he
replied in the Affirmative" He further
stated. in substance" the letter went
on. that the police could no longer
hold the bonus marchers in check. He
was then asked a direct question
whether he thought it necessary to Sc
cure assistance of Federal troops, to
which he replied he did,
Thacher added:
No doubt the Commissioners will
confirm the accuracy of the statements
contained in this letter. They are also
confirmed by written statements in the
possession of the department, made a
few days after the riots by responsible
police officials who were acting with
Maj. Glassford during the course of the
riots on July "a
d. c. Heads Confirm Statements.
The corroborative announcement by
the Commissioners put them on reccri
as asserting positively that Maj Glass
ford stated to them the situation in the
affected area vas beyond the control
Of the police; tha. in response to a di-
rect question as to whether the pre1ence
of troops was necessary Maj. Glassford
stated positively that the presence of
trocps was necessary"
Two of the Commissioners then Wis
tied the scene of the disturbance. and
likewise were convinced that the pres
ence of troops was necessary If law and
order were to be restored and preserved, y
the Commissioners declared.
THE Commissioners believe that the