Evening star., 1942-11-25
War Emphasizes
Prayer, Work
On Thanksgiving
Some U. S. Agencies
To Have Holiday;
Troin Jam Expected

President Roosevelt will set the
Nations example for tomorrow's OBJ
servance of Thanksgiving Day by
taking just time enough from his
job of directing the war effort to at
tend special services at the White
House, but traffic experts look for
ward to another general exodus of
the rank and file from the Capital.
Most Federal Government depart
ments have announced that tomor-
row will be just another workday,
but railroad officials today were
girding for an overflow of traffic
expected to be we'll under way soon
after nightfall, despite admoni-
tions Of Joseph B. Eastman, Office
Of Defense Transportation director.
In response to President Roose-
velt's proclamation that this
Thanksgiving be a day of prayer,
many churches of Washington will
hold special services.
Many churches will hold their
Thanksgiving services tonight be-
cause so many persons will be work.
Ing tomorrow.
And in keeping with an all-out
effort to win the war, industrial
plants of the Nation in war pro-
duction will be at full blast.
Holiday in Some Agencies.
The War and Navy Departments
will be on the job, as will the Com
merce, Labor and Interior depart
ments, the War Production Board
and Civil Service Commission. The
Agriculture Department., General
Accounting Office and District gov
eminent divisions will take a holi-
day and only skeleton forces will
be on hand at the Justice, State and
Post Office departments. Most en-
ployes of the Office of Price Admin
istration are expected to be at their
desks and the Veterans Admins
tration will take half holiday.
Many business establishments of
the District will remain open and
in other branches of employment
the holiday is not expected to be as
widely observed as in past years.
Nevertheless, officials of the major
transportation facilities working
through Washington freely predict
that carriers will be jammed to the
limit and warned prospective travel
ers not to be disappointed If their
departure is delayed by the crush
for accommodations.
Union Station Crowded.
Crowds poured through the gates
of Union Station this morning
in greater proportions than last
Thanksgiving eve, with even heavier
traffic expected during the after
noon.
Bus depots. while expecting
heavy volume of traffic later today,
reported only slight increase over
the normal midweek travel. The
majority of bus traffic was south
bound and bus officials said hun
dreds of Washingtonians were going
to Virginia and North Carolina to
visit relatives in Army and Naval
posts.
Train passenger arrivals this morn
Ing were small compared with the
departing traffic.
The heaviest volume of train traf-
fic was north and west, the Penn
sylvania and the Baltimore and Ohio
lines reporting heavy reservations.
The bulletin board revealed north
bound trains one to two hours late,
indicating heavy traffic south of
Washington. BY contrast. trains
made up here left on time or nearly
on time.
Airplane traffic, already restricted
by priority given the armed services,
also was in keeping with the annual
pre- holiday travel.
The Pennsylvania Railroad an
nounced that it will try to enforce
as completely as possible a no.
standing restriction for train rides
between Washington and New York
but admitted that there may be
some infractions of this ruling.
Facilities Expanded to Limit.
This road, as we'll as others
operating out of Washington. will
have their facilities expanded to the
ODT limit for the general outbound
excursion tonight and for the re-
turn tomorrow night and early Fri
day.
Food markets and poultry shops
today we're experiencing the usual
Thanksgiving holiday pickup, started
in some sections as early as Mon
day, Prices of poultry were ranging
10 to Is cents per pound higher
than last year.
At the White House the service
will be conducted by the Rev. DR..
Howard S. Wilkinson. rector of ST.
Thomas Episcopal Church, where
the President is communicate.
The President will open the service
by reading his Thanksgiving Day
proclamation. which will be broad
cast to the Nation.
Characterized as service of song
and prayer" the ceremonies will be
attended by members of the cabinet,
heads of the Army and Navy, the
heads Of the independent agencies,
justices Of the Supreme Court, con-
gresSional leaders and members of
the Presidents family.
Services at Cathedral.
Thanksgiving Day services at the
Washington Cathedral will begin
with holy communion at 7:30 and
$50 am. Morning prayer will be
ct II am. when the Right Rev.
James E. Freeman. Bishop of WASH
ington. will preach, and evening
prayer at 4 pm.
Msgr Giovanni Amleto Cicog-
mani. the apostolic delegate, will
pontificate at the Pam American
mass to be celebrated at st. Pat
rick's Church at 1890 am. with
members of the diplomatic corps of
the Latin-American countries and
high-ranking Government officials
in attendance. Archbishop Michael
Curley of Baltimore will preside.
Churches of Northeast Washing
ton will hold a union service at
ingram Memorial Congregational
Church, Tenth street and Massa-
chusetts avenue NE, at 10:30 am.
The sermon will be preached by the
Rev. DR.. Carroll c. Roberts, pastor
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