Evening star., 1941-12-08
By THOMAS r. HENRY.

scattered over what had promised
to be q quiet week end.
Diplomatic Corps. Surprised.
For . fortnight a Japanese war
has threatened but no one, not even
the best-informed circles Of Army,
State Department and White House,
expected 1t so soon.
Vice President Wallace and Post
master General Walker were in New
York. Both took the first available
plane and arrived here at 6 o'clock
Assistant Secretary of War Bundy
came in by plane at 6:15 pm. Col.
William J. Donovan arrived at 7:30
pm. All through the evening men,
bers Of Congress were coming back
to Washington by air.
All the afternoon and evening
there was steady exodus of officers
and enlisted men. ordered by radio
to be at their posts this morning.
The diplomatic corps was taken
completely by surprise. Even the
Japanese, it is likely. had not known
of the suddenness with which the
situation would develop.
No Popular Demonstration.
With the first radio report of the
attack on Pearl Harbor, Lord Hall
fax cancelled all engagements and
remained at his Office in close touch
with the White House and the State
Department. He also was in tele-
phonic communication with London.
Washington had its own problems
Of defense. The actual bombs were
falling 5000 miles away from the
Potomac, but it was only too plain
that Japan had planned the attack
weeks ago. Her undercover agents,
a suicide squad. might have ar
| ranged . surprise here.
Maj. Edward J. Kelly, superin-
tendent Of the metropolitan police
was summoned to the White House
from the football game.
There was fear Of . popular
demonstration-actually nothing Of
the sort developed-against some Of
the Axis embassies. Police were as
signed to guard the japanese, Ger
man and italian Embassies. The
japanese, 1t was learned, already
had engaged 80 private detectives
for the same job. Special guards
were provided for the home OF the
japanese military attache.
But Washington was in no rowdy
mood.
No Announcement at Game.
It's people. for the most part,
stayed at home But perhaps never
before has such general detestation
Of the acts of a foe been expressed
BY nearly everybody.
Curiously enough, the biggest as
sembly in Washington yesterday
afternoon-the 27,000-odd attending
the Redskins-E Eagles football game
at Griffth Stadium-were the last
to know anything about the world
stirring events
Throughout the game there was no
| announcement whatsoever through
the loudspeakers, although broad
casters In the booths continually
| were breaking into their accounts
! Of the game with war bulletins.
But in the interval after the first
half it became evident to the foot
ball crowd that something extraor-
dinary was in progress. Through
out the intermission and the second
half there were constant calls for
various newspapermen, believed to
be at the game, to get in touch with
their offices Immediately and for
high-ranking Army and Navy off,
GERS to call their departments.
Rumors of war spread through the
crowd and by the last quarter many
seats were vacant. 1t was impos-
sible, with such suspense, to take
any further interest in thegame.
Small Crowd at White House.
No announcement of the out
break of hostilities in the Far East
was made, Owner George Marshall
said later, because it is against the
policy of the Redskin management
to broadcast non-sports news over
the stadium's public address system.
There was no gathering Of crowds
in the afternoon. Two hours after
the first announcement of the bomb
ing of Pearl Harbor only two or
three hundred people were gathered
on the sidewalks in front of the
White House and on West Execu-
tive avenue.
Behind the majestic white build
ing the sun was going down at the
end of the short winter day AND
squirrels were playing tag In the
leafless branches Of the trees on
the lawn.
Curious folk near the White House
increased In number after the foot
ball game and as movies let out
their afternoon shows. They were
cleared off the Pennsylvania avenue
sidewalk and concentrated near th(
executive office on West Executiv,
avenue and on the steps before th'
east entrance of the State Depart.
ment.
People Gather in Park.
After a few minutes even this un.
expectedly small gathering wa.
cleared away by the metropolitan
police, acting, 1t was reported. or
White House orders because they
were interfering with the parking
of cars Of of1cial visitors to thu
executive mansion and the Stat.
Department.
Only Steve, Vasilakos, the peanu
vendor, in front OF the White House
was demonstrattve. He was ct tn
! same saand more taan - ysazS -