Evening star., 1942-05-16
Only $50 Beds
Available Here
For Serviicen,en
Weekend Facilities
Still Inadequate;
Projects Pending

Only $50 beds could be counted
for servicemen on leave here this
week end as the District Service
mems Lodging Committee marked
time on two projects that promise
to add another 400 beds to the city's
still inadequate housing facilities
for enlisted men.
Most serious deficiency tonight,
when between 900 and 1000 service
men will visit their Nations Capt.
tai on leave, threatened to be the
Washington recreation area, near
the Memorial Bridge in Arlington,
Va
Tactical troops In transit are
being billeted at the leave area,
forcing a sharp cut into existing
facilities there, the committee
learned yesterday, following Its
weekly meeting in the District
Building.
A few additional beds we're count
ed last week end and are expected
to be available again tonight. All
Souls Unitarian Church has in
creased its beds to AZ, while the
coming of warm weather has made
possible more places at the Soldiers,
Sailors and Marines Club. One
hundred and seventy-two service
men were accommodated at the lat
ter place with the opening of the
outdoor court.
May Use C. C. C. Camp.
In the event of rain. however,
this number will be cut at the en-
listed mems club, 1t was feared.
Other facilities for this week end
were Central Y. M. c. A., so beds;
Twelfth Street Y. NJ. c. A., for COL
ored servicemen, so; Gunton Build
ing, 1876, and the leave area, 300.
The last has afforded places for as
many as 500 men in the past, and
that number is expected to be avail
able near the end Of the month, ac-
cording to Col. Walter Long, COM
mander of the camp.
Meanwhile, the Lodging Commit
tee, subcommittee of civilian mo-
bilization for metropolitan civilian
defense, disclosed yesterday that the
use of Fort Dupont C. c. C. Camp
for housing men on leave remained
a possibility. The group expressed
optimism that release of the area
which could accommodate approxi-
mately 300 men would be forthcom-
ing from Federal authorities.
Its release hinged on its use by
the Army. the committee was told.
Tax Status Unaffected.
The committee also disclosed that
work was to begin this week on
renovation Of the Banneker Field
House, where 100 colored enlisted
men are to be taken care of each
week end. About $4,000 had been
earmarked from Federal Security
Agency funds for the project. It
W 40 CotAiidlCd tlldt 4ClllSNlCAllAS VI
the house would require at least
three weeks. or more.
The need for additional facilities
for colored soldiers was emphasized
yesterday when it was reported the
Twelfth Street Y. NJ. C. A. had been
swamped with requests for beds
during the past two week ends. A
large number of colored troops are
stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va, and
these men come to Washington
when on leave.
Comdr. w. p Corley, U. S. NJ. re-
tired, reported that the District
Commissioners had ruled that the
tax-exempt status of local churches
providing sleeping quarters for men
at nominal cost would not be af-
fected during the war emergency.
The question had arisen that
churches using their gymnasiums
and halls for such purposes might
lose their tax exemption privileges.
The committee also received a
proposal from commercial interests
offering a four-story building in the
600 block of Pennsylvania avenue
NV, which would afford beds for
ITO men.
Hugo Wolter. committee chair
man, presided at the meeting.