Evening star., 1943-09-06
Army Units Rehearse
Acts for Bond Show
Opening Thursday

opening thursday on the Washing
ton Monument Grounds, as movie
stars supporting the SIS 200, 900 00(
Third War Loan drive were sched-
uled to make personal appearance
at the site of the show at 1890 pm
Wednesday.
While cavalry, jeep squads and in
fantrymen practiced their respective
roles in the gigantic military display
ranking Army Air Forces leaders
greeted the arrival on huge trailers
of a sectionalized Liberator bomber
and glider alongside the Treasury
building today. From the Treasury
the caravan was to proceed to the
Monument grounds, where techni-
clans were to assemble the huge
craft.
President Roosevelt officially will
launch the Third War Loan drive
over four networks at pm Wednes-
day. James Cagney, as president of
the Screen Actors Guild, will place
the Hollywood Bond Cavalcade of
stars and all the resources of the
motion picture industry at the dis
posal of Secretary Morgenthau.
After a brief acknowledgement, the
Secretary will introduce the Presi-
dent.
All Stars to Be Present.
With the President will be all the
stars who have come from Holly
wood to inaugurate in Washington
a Nationwide bond tour. Washing
ton theaters will pipe in" the presi-
dental portion of the broadcast in
their auditorium.
Army show stage will include Fred
Astaire, Lucille Ball, James Cagney.
Olivia de Havilland, Judy Garland,
Greer Carson, Kathryn Grayson,
Betty Hutton, Harpo Marx, Muriel
Goodspeed, Dick Powell, Walter
Pidgeon, Mickey Rooney and Kay
Kyser and his band.
AS three days of rehearsals got
under way at the Army show site,
the first unit put through it's PAGES
today was group of eight jeeps
from the Washington Military Dis
trict. Under command of First 1t
N. j, De Rosa, jeeps were driven at
20-mile speed over platforms that
bounced them high in the air, simu-
lating jeep tactics in war zones.
Next to enter the arena for a
"warmup" was troop of colored
cavalrymen stationed at Fort Myer.
This act is expected to prove one
Of the most popular of the one
hour show.
First 1t. A. T. Becnel then led a
platoon of military police, 36 strong,
into the arena to rehearse close
order drill. AS the NJ Ps executed
maneuvers without orders being is
sued, their smart appearance and
precision won commendation from
officers and enlisted men watching
the workout.
Assemble Bomber on Ground.
The Liberator bomber and 64-foot
glider were packed in sections on
four trailers, each IA feet long. The
trailers are the biggest ever built in
America. Skilled mechanics from
the Ford Motor Co.'S Willow Run
plant. where the Liberator was built,
and Air Forces technicians were to
begin assembling the bomber and
glider this afternoon. The task is
expected to be completed late
Wednesday.
Eight additional planes, ranging
from trainers to swift pursuit ships,
are at Boiling Field, having been
flown here. They are to be taken
to the show site under special po-
lice escort, which will precede the
caravan and clear the streets Of
traffic.
Scheduled for arrival today are
10 tanks and mobile artillery
pieces
Quartermaster Corps dogs were
brought to the grounds for brief
rehearsal yesterday and taken back
to Front Royal, Va. These are SEN
try, attack, first aid and messenger
dogs, some DO, 900 of which are being
trained to aid our armed forces.
Tents, House Equipment.
Housed under huge tents sprawl
ing over the 20-acre tract, mecca
for prewar visitors, were equipment
and supplies valued at millions of
dollars. Growing the site were field
artillery and antiaircraft weapons.
Thousands of spectators, includ-
ing Government workers, took ad-
vantage of the Sunday holiday to
visit the grounds and watch the
progress of the show. Meanwhile,
bleacher seats whose construction
was begun Saturday were being pre-
pared for the first show Thursday
afternoon. These seats, to which
admission is free, surround the
octagon-shaped show arena.
Many of the exhibits will include
equipment similar to that being
used today on world battlefronts.
The portrayal of Army organiza-
ton is complete, down to a chapel
and daily religious services pre-
sided over by Army chaplains.
Mock Bombing Attack.
A spectacular demonstration to
be put on nightly by the Coast
Artillery will be mock bombing
attack. AS planes SWo0p over tne
grounds they will be picked up
by searchlights, and battery of
Comm antiaircraft guns will 90
into action.
The Army's Back the Attack"
show is expected to attract more
than 500. 1000 potential bond buyers
during the three weeks of the Third
War Loan drive, officials estimated
Approximately 1000, 900 square
feet of the Monument Grounds
have been converted into an ex-
hibit area. Not since Admiral
Dewey returned from the Spanish
American War and was the honor
guest at q re-enactment of the
Battle of Manila Bay on the Mon
ument Grounds has this site been
the scene of so much activity.
The program, announced yester-
day lists regular events in the
arena each day at 2:30 and 8:15
pm.
Variety Club 10 Honor