Evening star., 1943-06-22
Detroit
Continued From First Page)

'SolJlllueQ from f1TSC PdSe.l
tendent of schools, said few pupils
appeared
Disposition of the rioters to open
violence faded rapidly late last night
as the soldiers moved in
Troops Roll Up in Trucks.
The troops, rolling up in trucks
and ieeps and armed with rifles and
machine guns, reached Cadillac
Square, heart of the city, an hour
before midnight. Word of their ar
rival spread quickly. Within 80
minutes, police said, the situation
had much improved
BY midnight the situation seemed
under full conrtol.
A related incident which occurred
At the Fort Custer Mich Army
post last night was revealed today
in a statement released by Col
Ralph Wiltamuth, post commander.
Members of one of the Negro
ouartermaster battalions." the state
ment said, attempted to secure
arms and trucks at Fort Custer
Monday night, but were promptly
arrested. The men had become rest
less over the disturbance in Detroit
and wanted to 60 to assist their
families. Prompt action by military
authorities quickly restored order.
Five men were confined in the post
stockade awaiting investigation"
President Roosevelt, in a procla-
h Otn
that all persons engaged in un-
lawful and inSurrectionary 40
ceedings" retire peaceably to their
hcmeS. He called on "all good cit .
liens to uphold the laws and pre-
serve the public peace"
At 2 am. Brig. Gen. William
Guthner of the 9th Service Com
mand, in charge of the troops, re-
ported no further serious trouble.
The troops have met with no
violence and have used no violence"
Gen. Guthner said.
Gen. Guthner assigned to Detroit
by Maj. Cen H. S. Aurand. COM
manding officer of the 9Th Service
Command, disclosed that more
troops were being held in reserve
and that soldier forces would be
amplified today so they could patrol
the public transportation lines
Fights on street cars had become so
extensive that some crew men re-
fused to work. Mayor Jeffries Or
dered all transport employees to re-
turn to the job today, however.
Federal troops came to the city on
Gov. Harry F.. Kelly's request as
rioting Swelled to new peaks late
last night with both mob fights and
individual battles so numerous that
police were virtually helpless.
Battle in Apartment Hotel.
Two Negroes met death from
police guns in battle at an apart
ment hotel where. police said, COL
nred snipers were firing from upper
windows. Gun fire and gas gren-
aces from the police drove out ali
occupants, including pajama clad
tenants
In that fight, Patrolman Law
groin. Residents in neighboring
buildings covered behind locked and
barricaded doors.
Time and again fights broke out
in the Hastings street district, a
section of the city near the down.
town area known as Paradise VAL
ley 1t was at this point that the
Federal troops concentrated atten-
ton.
In the nearly "a hours of almost
constant fighting. automobiles were
upset, and set aflre, stores were pill
laged and windows smashed. One
brickbst killed a colored woman.
Loot was extensive and many ar
rests we're made for theft. In the
hospitals nurses and doctors were
hard-pressed to take care of the in
iured brought there in ambulances
and in private cars.
Curfew Ordered.
Early last night Gov. Kelly, de-
claring a state of emergency. Or
dered 10 pm. curfeW, banned the
sale of alcoholic beverages and di-
rected that amusement places close
up at 9 pm. until further orders"
The Governors order, announcing
military rule with the States militia
directed to assist local officers, COW
cred the tri-county area known as
Metropolitan Detroit" with more
than 100000 inhabitants This
area. strategic in war production,
covers Wayne, Oakland and Ma
comb counties.
Rioters, however. ignored the cur
few order. Fights continued and
police squad cars dashed up and
clown in answer to alarms. Then
came the Governors request for
troops and on their appearance
rioting subsided almost immedi-
ately
The Army today began an inves-
t,gation to determine the riots
effect on war production. Major
factories kept production going, but
reported that many workers, both
colored and white, failed to come to
work
Fist Fight Started Trouble.
ClimaXing three years of unrest
between colored and white residents,
the rioting began about midnight
Sunday. A fight on the bridge over
the Detroit River to famous Belle
Isle, amusement spot, seemingly
minor at first. spread ultimately into
bedlam.
There had been previous fareups
IN this smouldering situation, ag-
gravated in recent months by hous-
ing shortages and heavy influx of
war workers from other sections of
the country.
On Sunday, June 13, colored and