Evening star., 1941-03-15
Mobile Tea Kitchen,
Lost for Hour, Keeps
Senator Waiting
Iron Duke Finally Gets
Back on Schedule in
British Aid Tour

The bomb-dented Iron Duke" was
lost in Washington traffic for more
than an hour this morning. much to
the bewilderment of the Reception
Committee and motorcycle escort.
The mixup in the itinerary OF the
mobile tea kitchen from the British
battle front kept Chairman George
of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee waiting in vain for a
half hour on the Capitol steps.
EVERYTHING was Strengthened out
before IL o'clock, however, and the
rolling tea kitchen embarked on a
crowded schedule in the course OF a
Nationwide tour to raise funds to
buy equipment for serving hot ra-
tions to military and civilian forces
combating Hitler's air raids on Eng
land.
One itinerary called for the Iron
Duke, with its load of sample stores
and air raid souvenirs, to arrive
at the District line and Bladens-
burg road at $50 am. The chauf-
feur, Thomas Andrews of New York
City. brought the vehicle over from
Baltimore.
General Lookout Broadcast.
He arrived before $50 and drove
on to Radio Station VOL at Sew
enteenth and K streets NV, where
the British War Relief Society Com
rnittee was to broadcast at $50
o'clock. Failing to find the commit
tee. the chauffeur telephoned Mrs.
F. Hugh Treherne- Thomas of New
York, a former officer of the Worn-
ems Volunteer Service in England,
who was to take part in the broad
cast.
Mrs. Treherne- Thomas suggested
the chauffeur return to meet his
motorcycle escort. She understood,
she said, the escort was waiting on
"Brandenburg' road at the Dis
trict line. The Iron Dukes driver
couldn't find such a place.
Meanwhile, Motorcycle Policeman
Elmer Couture reported at Bladens-
burg road and the District line. He
was told the Iron Duke had gone
into town and followed. When he
reached VOL the Duke was missing.
He telephoned headquarters and a
general radio lookout was broadcast
for the tea kitchen on wheels.
George Waits Half Hour.
While the work was in progress
half a dozen local members of the
committee waited at VOL, along
with publicity agents, reporters and
photographers. Police finally found
the Iron Duke at BladenSburg road
and New York avenue and escorted
the vehicle to the radio station.
Senator George had been re-
ouested to meet the Iron Duke at
the east steps of the Capitol at
9 o'clock to receive a souvenir
bottle of ashes which fell on the
tea kitchen while on duty during
the fire raid on London December
%. The Senator and his secretary
waited until they received mes
sage the Iron Duke couldn't be
found.
The battered tea kitchen and
field commissary was taken to Clar-
endon Circle on Wilson boulevard
to be displayed under auspices of
Arlington branch, British War Relief
Society.
1t was to be parked at the relief
headquarters, 1913 Connecticut ave-
nue. this afternoon, where the kitch-
en- was to be inspected by Maurice
Evans, Shakespearean actor now
playing at the National Theater.
The Iron Duke is to remain on
a parking lot at Thirteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue NV. from
$50 to $50 O'Clock tonight.
Itinerary Tomorrow.
The itinerary tomorrow includes a
stop at Chevy Chase Circle from 9
to 1880 am. At noon the vehicle
will be taken to the British Embassy
to be inspected by Lord and Lady
Halifax. 1t is to be at Massachusetts,
and Wisconsin avenues NV. from
1:15 to 2:30 pm. tomorrow and at
1926 Sixteenth street NV. from 8
to pm.
The Iron Duke, which has been
under air bombardment 80 times
while serving soldiers and civilians
In London and on the channel coast,
was brought over in British ship
last month to aid In the campaign
for funds. The next stops will be
warrenton, Richm m o n d, Newport
News and cities along the coast
10 Savannah, Ga.
The English Tommies rick-narned
the Iron Duke because 1t seemed
to lead a charmed life under bonn
bardment, it was said.