Evening star., 1932-07-19
WHITE HOUSE SCARE
CAUSED BY MOVING
OF VETERANS UNIT
Iron Gates Are Closed and
100 Police Called Out to
Guard Mansion.
PRESIDENT, AT LUNCH,
UNAWARE OF INCIDENT
Group of 40 Bonus Marchers Are
Transferred to 21st Street
and Virginia Avenue.

The big iron gates to the White
House grounds were closed this after
noon and more than 100 police called
out to guard the Executive Mansion fol-
lowing reports that a delegation Of
oonus-seeking veterans were en- route
TO picket the White House.
The reports grew out of nove-
ment of about 40 veterans. who were
oelng transferred from former billets
IN southwest Washington to new quar-
ters IN tie vicinity of Twenty-first
street and Virginia avenue. The vet
Grams. however, skirted the White
Rouse grounds, folded the flags they
were carrying and made no ATTEMPT
to picket. p'
FURRY at White House.
ice episode caused furry of ex-
citement at the White House. where
extra precautions had been taken
earlier in the day, due to persistent
rumors that the veterans proposed to
picket the White House As soon as
the reports reached officials that a
oelegatlon OF the veterans were headed
lE the direction of the Executive Man
sion the iron gates were shut and
guards took up previously assigned sta
tons inside and outside the grounds.
Only persons who could satisfy the
guards that they had business at the
the grounds.
President Hoover had left his office
to go to the White House for luncheon.
When the alarm was broadcast OF the
approach of the veterans. He was
said to have been unaware OF the ex-
element outside.
Capt. Edward j. Kelly of the third
precinct took personal command of
tne police arrangements and as soon
as the scare was over, ordered the
men BACK to the station house
Escorted by Officer.
Capt. Kelly said the veterans were
orderly when they passed around in
the rear Of the White House and
showed no signs Of having intended to
picket. A policeman, he said. was es-
corting the men to their new billets.
As soon as the veterans had passed
beyond the limits of the White House
grounds the gates were reopened. A
number OF motor cycle officers re-
mained in the vicinity. but the re-
called out returned to the third pre-
cinct station.
The arrival of the policemen. who
came in patrol wagons. private auto
mobiles and on motor cycles attracted
large crowd OF spectators, who loitered
around in Lafayette Park for about is
minutes.
No attempt was made by police to
carry out the plan of isolating the
White House from pedestrian and We
hiVular traffic, adopted Saturday night
after group of veterans had made an
attempt to stage a demonstration in
'front.' OF the Executive Mansion.
400 More Get Loans.
More than 5000 members of the
bonus army today were headed for
home or seeking to get out of the
Capital, the past "a hours having seen
about 400 started on their way by the
Veterans Administration.
At II o'clock this morning, the ad-
ministration officers reported. there had
been more than 5000 applications for
help. At 9 o'clock this morning. with
the veteran offices ready to open for
the days work, something more than
100 of the bonus army were lined up
prepared TO file their applications.
1t was said the departures totaled
slightly over 2700, 2.275 having gone
out by train and 443 by automobile.
There were about 200 more for whom
tickets had been acquired waiting for
trains
Food Situation Worse.
In the meantime, with this exodus
in progress, the food situation became
increasingly difficult. Supt of Police
Glassford this morning purchased s23s
worth Of food for the veterans to tide
them over the emergency and at the
same time said that this was the last
help that they could expect from him.
He added that something might be
done for individual cases or small
groups because he did not want to
see anybody starve. but that no more
large-scale assistance would be given.
Glassford had to charge the food that
was obtained today because contribu-
tions have fallen off. only $50 being
reported in the last 2i hours and he
said that he was now about $1,000 in
the hole as result of aiding the men.
Commenting today upon published
allegations that racket" exists among
the B. E. F. veterans in regard to OBJ
Continued on Fage 2, Column 81