Evening star., 1932-06-25
B. E.F. RIFT ST|RS
DEPARTURE HOPES
FactionaI Strife Threatens
Leaders-PoIice Alert
for Trouble.

With its leadership crumbling and
fsctional strife splitting its ranks, the
far-fung bonus expeditionary force ap-
peared today to be disintegrated into
groups the forerunner of what police
officials hope may develop into a gen.
eral exodus from the Cepissl.
AS a precaution against possible trou-
bic. however. all policemen have been
ordered to keep In close touch with
headquarters and be ready for instant
duty in event the bonus marchers at
tempt TO hold demonstrations or become
disorderly.
Fifty Leave on Trucks.
Shortly after noon approximately so
veterans pulled out for home In Dis
trict-owned trucks and their own auto
mobiles. w. d. Springer led a group
Of 26, who are returning to their homes
in Rockport, Ill.
I'VE came down here to influence the
vote" Springer declared. We've done
all we can now, so we're going home to
work politically. There's no use sit
ting around doing nothing in Wash
ington"
He SAID he could not speak for the
entire B. E. F. organization, but ex-
pressed the opinion that If the whole
Bonus Army pulled stakes for home 1t
could do more there than IN the Capital.
The first sign of Commander-in-Ch Chief
Walter w. Waters inability to lead the
l9, 900 soldiers" of the B. e. F. came
yesterday afternoon, when a concen-
tration OF forces he ordered at the Cap
itol failed to materialiZe. Summons
which he issued to camp commanders
TO come to the Capitol, show the Sen
ate we are here" resulted in only few
hundred men going to the Hill and
these soon struggled back to their quar-
ters when reinforcementS failed to ar
rive.
Removal Order Defied.
The youthful B. E. F. commander
also failed in an effort to depoSe John
Pace of Detroit as AREA commander"
in charge of the men billeted on B
street southwest, between Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets. PAGES removal was
asked by Waters in an impassioned ap-
peal in which he charged the Detroit
man was q member Of the Communists
organization, Workers Ex-service Men s
League.
Pace was removed temporily in order
that the men could obtain their rationS
which Waters ordered cut off until
Communists could be separated from
the B. E. F. ranks but late last night
he was restored as leader In defiance
Of Waters ultimatum.
A further weakening Of Waters
strength was seen in the action Of the
bonus army's Executive Committee vot-
ing not to send more men to Camp
Meigs. which the District Commission
ers and Police Chief Pelham D. Glass
ford are anxious to evacuate. Earlier
Waters had defied Glassford's request
to transfer the $50 men now billeted
there to other camps. replying that he
would send as many more men to
Camp Meigs as would go there"
The committees action was explained
as a desire to cooperate with residents
in the vicinity Of the camp.
Brand B. T.. r. as Fake"
Another indication that the men are
breaking away from the leadership OF
Waters and his select committees was
seen in a police report to Gen. Glass
ford that a number Of the Chicago del
eVation OF Camp Marks had branded
the z. e. =. as "a fake" and declared
the rank and file were not in the move
ment at ali. This outfit was reported to
be marching to the White House last
night to camp on the Executive Man
sion lawn ''to show President Hoover
our need" but the movement was moi
carried out.
Waters efforts to separate alleged
communists from the bonus army al
<welfth and B streets southwest were
met with heckling from many OF the
men to whom he spoke. In the mids'
of his address, police reported, some one
in the crowd shouted, II our FOOD l.
stopped I will go out with IL men anc
break the B. E. F. by insulting all tht
women and merchants in town until tht
police run the B. E. F. out OF town
The 35-year-old oregon leader finally
had to cut short his address because ol
the badgering A. H. Milton OF Sal
Lake City, chairman of the Executive
Committee, then read a Communis'
pamphlet which charged Pace, George
Altman and Harold Foulkroid had beer
denied leadership Of the B. z. F. By
police because Of their Communist &C
tivities. Alman. who held the rank o.
commander in chief during a recen
illness of Waters, has been elected from
all oficial duties with the bonus army
because of alleged radical tendencies
Foulkroid, however Is now chairman o.
the Legislative Committee.
Food Near Exhaustion.
Exhaustion Of food supplies by TIN
first of next week was foreseen bl
police as funds continued to dwindl'
with no prospect of replenishment, ex
cept an offer Of Maj. j. M. Roe OF l90t
Pennsylvania avenue to sell a McClel
land Barclay statuette now on exhibi
ton at the Corcoran Gallery Of Art fcl
the benefit of the veterans.
One offer of $500 for the mud
figure, made by Frederick Spillman o
New York is contingent upon some on
else donating $2500, the total to b
turned into the B. z. F. mess fund.
Bonus army leaders are confident
| however that the Government will tax
over the task of feeding and shelterin
them when private contributions ar
exhausted.
Senator Norris Republican of Ne
braska) yesterday introduced motiol
to discharge the Senate Finance Com
mittee from further consideration of
bill to cut from 5 to 8 per cent tn
interest rate on loans made on adjuste'
service certificates. He charged tn
| Government is making a profit ol
money loaned the veterans"