The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-24
TROOPS READY
TO DRIVE OUT
BONUS ARMY
Tension Grows When
Sheriff Fails to Provide
Trucks for Journey.
TRAIN IS RELEASED
Promise of Transportation
Not Kept, Charge of
Veterans Group.
ByUHifcd Press

OADE I ' LILLE 4ll.f May IL AAC
bonus crusade" OF $50 World war
against whom Illinois
six companies Of militia
to keep railroad traffic moving, was
thrown into confusion today when
trucks to take them to Washing
ton. Ind. en- route to Washington,
d. c., could not be obtained.
The announcement added TO dis
appointment among the crusaders,
en- route from Portland, Ore, whose
leader had gone ahead to meet
them in Indiana. None knew what
would be done next. Some were in
favor Of returning to the attempt
to get a train ride.
AT the same time there was re-
newed activity in East St. Louis. a
few miles away, where the six COM
panies of national guardSmen, come
units armed with machine guns and
gas bombs, were encamped.
The 400 militiamen were under
orders to remain until the tension
caused by the presence of the vet
Grams had been relaxed by their de-
parture for Indiana. Under Lieu
tenant Colonel Robert w. Davis, the
men were made ready for movement
to Caseyville
State Police Patrol Vicinity
Thirty-six state highway patrol
men under command of State Po-
lice Chief Dan Moody patrolled
roads leading to Camp Bonus"
Crowds OF curious. anticipating dis
orders, we're turned back.
Moody would not indicate what
action he planned to take, but
Deputy Sheriff Mike Doyle said he
believed the guardsmen would be
called here to drive out the vet
Grams.
Sheriff A-unie sent out a call to
al deputies to assemble. The veter-
ans were armed only with clubs and
railroad spikes, but declared. we've
come this far and we don't intend
to be stopped now"
Situation Is Tense
The situation grew tense as the
veterans voiced their disappoin.-
ment in not receiving the trucks
efter having been persuaded to re-
lease a Baltimore & Ohio freight
train they held over night.
We've been tricked,' one veteran
shouted.
Sheriff Munie, however, insisted
he had made every effort to obtain
trucks to take the veterans across
the state, but that merchants had
refused TO allow the use Of their
trucks.
4 am veteran myself" he said,
and l don't want the boys TO get
into any trouble"
The army. which had progressed
to East ST. Louis under strict dis
cipline, was leaderleSs and disor-
gained.
w. w. Waters, field marshal" Of
the army. left his command and
went on toward Washington, Ind.
in a bus.
Workers Council in Charge
Il didn't want to get mixed up
in what I saw was coming" he told
Sheriff Munie before he left.
IN the place of their army regu-
lations. the veterans today organ
lied a Communicative workers
council" to assume command.
The ticketless excursion Of the
veterans had been a joy-ride until
it reached East St. Louis, Friday.
Then began a comic-opera war"
with authorities and railroad police.
Railroad men previously had for
babe them to ride on trains, then
looked the other way as the former
fighting men marched briskly in
martial order and clambered aboard
trains
When the men announced here
they we're going TO board a Balti-
more & Ohio freight train and ride
to Washington. railroad Officials Or
dered trainmen to move no freight
cars in which the veterans we're en-
camped.
The veterans Communicated two
trains. but we're repulsed when the
railroad ordered the trains halted
until the travellers disembarked.
Strategy Is Employed
Then By bit Of neat strategy,
the veterans captured a train here.
They announced they had dis
banded. and would not attempt TO
go further.
The railroad took the announce
ment at face value, and secretly
ordered a train made up here, seven
miles east Of East St. Louis, where
the main body OF veterans was
Through a military spy" system,
the veterans learned OF the roads
and sent a scouting force
here which soaped the rails, and
prevented the train from leaving
until they had boarded it.
When the road learned the men
we're aboard. It refused 70 move the
train, and called for the national
guard to prevent conhscation Of its