Evening star., 1932-11-04
GLASSFORD PLANS
FOR TROOPS Barred
"Secret" Report Suggesting
Emergency Action Is
Published Here.

Photostatic copies of secret report
of Brig. Gen Pelham D. Glassford
were released last night by Dr. Luther
H Reichelderfer, president of the
Board of District Commissioners, to
contradict repeated assertions of the
former police superintendent that he
never suggested the use of troops in
dealing with the Bonus eXpeditionary
Force.
The report, written in military style
and dated June g. nearly two months
before the eviction of the bonus army
by Federal troops, closed with a rec
ommendation that preparations be
made by the Commissioners to declare
an emergency, and to provide for the
use of the National Guard, or to place
in effect the White plan-a plan fol-
serious internal disorders
Plainly Marked Secret"
On each of its two pages, the report
was plainly marked secret" Dr.
Reichelderfer made it public Just few
hours before Gen. Glassford spoke in
Philadelphia at rally of World War
veterans on his trials and tribulationS
in handling the bonus marchers.
An unsigned statement which accom-
panied phOtoStatic copies OF the Glass
ford report given out to the newspapers
declared it was the opinion Of the for
mer superintendent as early as June 3
that an emergency might arise with
respect to the presence in the District
of the Bonus EXpeditiOnary Force as
to necessitate the use of the National
Guard or the Federal troops, and he
feared such situation was imminent"
The White plan referrd to by Gen.
Glassford" the statement said, lis the
official designation OF the War Depart
ment OF the plan to be followed by the
Regular Army in the quelling of serious
internal disorders. 1t is only applied
under critical conditions, when civil
authority and all other normal sources
of protection have failed. Gen. Glass
ford was undoubtedly familiar with its
general provisions and the seriousness
OF the situation which it enVisioned."
Veterans Billets Listed.
The letter and recommendation,
marked secret" read
To the Commissioners. D. C.:
Reassembly of out-oftown veterans
in this city.
Report tD the following veterans
had been billeted by the Police Depart
ment at 9 o'clck a m. this date:
At Seventh and L streets s,w...... l54
At Twelfth and D streets S.W..... 1863
At Eighth and streets ne........ 299
In AnacOStla Park. k................. so
Total ................... ga
In addition to this number it is esti-
mated that at least 600 veterans are
located elsewhere in the city.
From reports received from various
sources it is expected that not less than
1900 veterans will arrive II. Washing
ton before the end Of this date.
In view of the fact that no other
b!llets in the city are available, and
tentage has been refused by the War
Department. the National Guard and
Marine Corps. it is contemplated that
all new arrivals will be sent Anacos-
tia Park, Section c, where a canton
ment is in progress Of construction by
the veterans themselves with lumoer
furnished from funds donated by the
citizens of the District.
No accurate estimate can be made OF
those en- route, but according 10 Reports
there are several thousand who may be
expected to arrive in the DlStrlct "ltLla
the next seven days.
An attempt is being made in the IN
terest of law and order to separate two
groups. one comprised OF bona hde vet
Grams who have elected commander
and call their organization the Bonus
Expedit!Onary Force. the other group
controlled by a joint committee OF the
Fx-Service Mems League and National
Provisional Bonus March COMMITTEE
which has established headquarters at
9O5 1 street and believed under Com
munistic control.
Emergency Feared.
Funds collected from contributors
amount to 1892 and an additional So0O
is expected from the Veterans OF For
eign Wars. Department OF the Dlslrlcu
of Columbia. Remaining funds actual
" on hand at this time are S73 and in
a commissary established by Allen v.
De Ford, food broker, there is available
provisions valued at approximately Sl73
9 Although no disorders nave oc-
CURED, the plan of the Police Depart
ment is to assemble all dlsaf1ected
groups at Anacostia Park and, should
emergency arise, to hold the Eleventh
Street Bridge against a riotous INVASION
across the Anacostia River. Plans and
preparations are being made to TINS
end, including plans for the use OF
tear gas.
At the same time a force of police
will be held in readiness on the east
side of Anacostia River in order to
localize any riot that may occur. and
to prevent access to the bridges further
north.
3. 1t has been announced to the vet
erans now in town that the Police De-
partment will continue to furnish food
and lumber as long as contributed
funds are available.
No more contributions are being
asked for and nothing further is being
planned for securing funds, except by
means of an entertainment, which may
or may not be held according to the
development situation at Griffith
Stadium, Wednesday night, June 8, 1882.
AS soon as funds available have been
exhausted and no more food can be
furnished by this department, we be
lieve that an emergency situation Will
exist. Such a situation may develop
as early as noon tomorrow.
Recommendation: That preparations
be made by the Commissioners to de-
clare an emergency and to provide for
the use of the National Guard, or to
place in effect The White Plan"
PELHAM d. GLASSFORD,
Major and Superintendent.