Evening star., 1942-04-25

Lack Of Beds
Again. 10 Beset
Additional 100 Fail
To Meet Estimute of
, Weekend Influx

Relief for hundreds OF servicemen
denied sleeping quarters here every
Saturday night does not appear to
be in sight tonight. despite the ad-
dition of llo new beds by the Gen.
trail Union Mission, sl3 c street
NV.
Two entertainments for service
men tonight-one at Uline Arena,
Third and N streets NE, and the
other at the Salvation Army u. S. o.
Club at Sixth and z streets NV
probably will attract to Washington
the. largest group of sailors, soldiers
and marines yet, the Central Hous-
ing and Recreation Committee was
told yesterday.
Estimates indicated total of SGT
beds will be available, and that 800
TO 400 servicemen will not be able to
obtain accommodations tonight.
Future Hopes Raised.
However, the Central Committee
sees several silver Innings in the cur
rent housing clouds. On the basis
Of reports submitted yesterday, these
developments appear:
Provision next Saturday for an
additional 100 or more cots at the
Army leave area at the south end
of the Memorial Bridge, giving it a
capacity of $40 beds.
Official offer of space for 80 beds
by the Eldebrook Methodist Church,
River road at Wisconsin avenue, and
the Concordia Evangelical and Re-
formed Church, Twentieth and G
streets NV, provided cots, blankets
and sheets are furnished by agencies
possessing this equipment. All Souls
Unitarian Church is providing space
for some Is cots each Saturday
night, and in addition the service
men guests are given breakfast Sum-
day morning.
: Fair prospects of obtaining Army
permission to utilize some 500 cots
and equipment owned by the C. C.
C. This large number of beds would
greatly alter the local housing short
age. if made available in the near
future.
Station May Care for 100.
Possibility of placing cots in the
east end of the Union Station Ter
minal concourse for 100 or more
servicemen.
Likelihood of providing 100 cots
for colored troops at the Recreation
Center at Howard place and Geor-
gia avenue, proposal awaiting Fed
eral Security Administration ap-
proval.
The Central Committee is can
vassing the downtown district in
the hope of utilizing vacant floor
space for serviceman occupancy
each Saturday night. Alterations
may be made and sanitary facilities
installed in some centrally located
sites at less cost than in projects
calling for complete renovation, re-
pairs and installations, it was sug-
gested.
In the category of potential sites
is the knights of Columbus Build
ing, it was said. Officials of the
K of C. said they could take care Of
SO servicemen each Saturday, night,
provided a fire escape is constructed.
If Federal funds are available for
this purpose, it was indicated to the
Central Committee yesterday that
the K of c. gladly would lend a
hand in entertaining members of
the armed services.
Summer May Ease Situation.
1t. Comdr. william A. Cerley, who
presided during the continued ILL
ness of Col. Hugo Wolter, commit
tee chairman, said the committee is
cheered by the prospects for sum-
mertime bed facilities. The big
problem before the committee. how
ever, is to seek quarters that can
provide heat and comfort during the
winter months, he emphasized.
Encouraged by signs of growing
public group participation in the
weekend housing activities, the COM
mittee members said they would ex-
haust every possible means of meet
ing the situation before resorting
to call for home hospitality. Many
citizens, it was added, are having
servicemen as guests in their homes,
but the committee expressed the
hope that clubs, churches and in
stitutions having floor space avail
able would make their facilities
available.
Comdr. Corley announced that
buses marked Special will leave
Tenth and E streets NV. hourly on
the hour from 10 pm. to am. for
the Arlington leave area each Sat-
urday night. Where servicemen en-
gage cabs, Comdr Corley said, it was
preferable that the men travel in
groups of four for 80 cents. or 20
cents each, and thus help the cab
operators prolong the use of their
tires District agencies should tele-
phone the leave area-Glebe 1441-
before sending any one over by cab
after am, it was announced.