Evening star., 1939-05-24
Final Arrangements
For Visit Of Royalty
Made by Police
Entire District Force,
400 Firemen to Help
Handle Crowds

record-breaking throngs expected to
crowd Washington streets for
glimpse of Great Britains King and
Queen during their two-day stay
here next month were being ironed
out today by police and Government
officials.
The plans were discussed in a
noon conference at police head
quarters, attended by Superintendent
of Police Maj. Ernest w. Brown, all
police inspectors and captains, the
District fire chief and representa-
tives of the Secret Service, State
Department, Army, Capitol and Ma
tional Capital Parks.
Maj. Brown, foreseeing one of the
most unusual police problems in the
Capitals history in assuring protec-
ton to the royal visitors and
handling the crowds, said all of the
Districts 1897 policemen will be on
duty June when the King and
Queen arrive to be escorted in
colorful parade down Pennsylvania
avenue to the White House.
400 Firemen to Aid.
The police will be assisted by 400
firemen called to special police duty
and will cooperate with thousands
of soldiers, sailors and marines who
will form the royal escort and line
the parade route. All police leaves
and days off have been Cancelled.
The Fire Department will keep 400
fremen on duty in the firehouses,
leaving only 43 on reserve.
Maj. Brown estimated approx
mately half million people will
be crowded into the downtown area,
along the parade route or jammed
into the park space between Union
Station and the Capitol eager for a
glimpse of the royal party on its
arrival at II am. June s,
The crowd will be augmented by
most of the Districts nearly 900
school children, who have been
given holiday that day, and by
thousands of tourists who planned
their visits to Washington to COIN
eide with the visit of their Britannia
majesties.
Federal and District employees will
have time off to see the parade.
President Roosevelt said yesterday
that department heads had been
authorized to use their discretion
in excusing employees. Many of
those employed in the Government
buildings fronting Pennsylvania ave-
nue. are expected to crowd to the
windows to watch the parade.
Hotel Rooms Reserved.
Hotels along the parade route
have been deluged with requests for
rooms affording view of the pa
rade A Willard Hotel spokesman
said most of its rooms on the Penn
sylvania avenue side had been re-
served as long as a month ago. The
Willard is accepting no reServa-
tions for less than two days for that
occasion. operating on a plan usu-
ally reserved for Inauguration days.
Its choice corner suites, with half
a dozen or more windows giving
view of the parade route, are going
for $40. Most of those making res
ervations are planning to entertain
large parties, the Willard said.
The Willard management plans to
follow another Inauguration day
custom and erect seats on its Penn
sylvania avenue steps and on a
raised platform just inside the lobby
door, charging $3.50 for these
'grandstand" seats.
The Raleigh Hotel also reported
all of its rooms on the lower floors
facing Pennsylvania avenue have
been reserved. at rates ranging from
SO to SIS. with brisk demand for
IS individual seats to be placed in
the ground-foor Raleigh room.
A similar "sold-out" situation pre-
walls at the Washington Hotel, which
would be crowded anyway with a
convention booked more than year
ago. The Washington does not plan
to charge admission to it's roof, from
where the spectators might see the
parade as it nearS the White House
on Treasury place.
No Outside Reinforcements.
Maj. Brown said the police prob
lem in connection with the royal
visit is comparable only to inaugura-
ton day and presents more diff
culties in some respects. The police
have to plan for several special
occasions in addition to the parade
on arrival, including the dinners and
receptions at the White House and
the British Embassy and sightseeing
routes to be followed by their
majesties.
Detective and police reinforce
ments usually are imported from
other cities on presidential inaugu-
ration days, but lack of available
funds will make that aid impossible
for June 8.
The Police" Department will issue
special orders for each of the occa-
sions on which it will be called on
to furnish protection and escort for
the royal visitors.
One of these occasions will be a
review by the King and Queen of
the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of
the District, who will line up on
each side of Pennsylvania avenue in
front of the White House at 4:45
pm. June 8, when their majesties
leave the White House for the gar
den party at the British Embassy
A guard of honor of IL boys and IL
girls will be formed, and from their
ranks girl will present a bouquet
of flowers to the Queen and a boy
will present token to the King. ac-
cording to tentative arrangements.