Evening star., 1945-04-14

n President Roos evelt this afterr
and much Travelled presidential rail-
road car.
Police dashed in and cut off the
rush Of curious spectators.
The presidential car was laden
with floral offerings. Shades were
lifted in the living room section
giving the spectators a momentary
glimpse of the interior of the ia
nous Rolling White House"
Down Constitution avenue a team
Of six white horses drew the four
wheeled caisson on which the caSket
of the fallen President lay. The
Marine honor guard snapped to at
tention as the wheeled catafalque
passed.
Three cars to the rear rode Presi-
dent Truman.
A woman Marine, SPAR, a
WAVE and a WAC marched abreast
ahead of companies from their or
CARNATIONS.
There he goes" said a red-faced
WOiIldll Ill DldSh otdiluAAiS III 1AoiAe
of the National Art Gallery. She
burst into tears and moaned.
And there's Mrs. Roosevelt just
as dry-eyed," said another woman,
in admiration.
There's Elliott, see his generals
STAR said some one else
| Mrs. Roosevelt and Elliott were in
conversation across Ann Boettiger
in the tonneau of the black limou-
sine behind the caisson.
The woman who burst into tears
was only one of many along the line
who gave free rein to their grief. 1t
was apparent that many women
were trying to keep the tears back
but an occasional one was weeping
openly.
Two tall and erect sergeants
walked slowly behind the caisson,
holding their standards high, the
blue flag of the President and the
flag of the United States.
There's Truman"
There's Truman" people said
again and again as they recognized
one of the occupants of a third
limousine with two Secret Service
men walking beside it.
No one said, There's the Presi-
dent"
The President they knew was up
ahead
The next car was the White House
convertible sedan, with the top
down, from which President Roose-
welt had waved his hat to the
crowds along the same curbstones
on his returns from Hyde Park from
his November triumph.
The Secret Service men were
plainly worried about the behavior
of the crowds in guarding their new
charge. Again and again they
stepped of the running board of the
open car and barked directions at
the police to keep the people back.
Where Seventh street crossed the
line of march hundreds of colored
persons were in majority in the
crowd. One tall, young colored man
was weeping openly.
Children were running along the
sidewalk behind the crowd at places
to try to keep up with the procession
Hundreds of others were sitting on
the curbstone in the warm April
sunlight with their parents above
them telling them who was passing
by.
AS the caisson passed the National
Art Gallery, "a four -motored Liber-
ator bombers flew overhead in the
same direction as the procession,
their surfaces cleaning like silver
against the blue sky. They were
followed by 48 Thunderbolts. just
two squadrons of the 100000 Mr..
Roosevelt had called for after the
fall Of France-and got.
Women in Uniform.
The companies of military women
in uniform, a sight never seen before
in a presidential funeral, preceded
the caisson; a company of the WAC,
company of women Marines and
company of WAVES. They held
their ranks in line as well as any
of the groups of men in uniform
except the Annapolis midshipmen.
BY the time the procession reached
Pennsylvania avenue in front of the
White House, an estimated 10000
mourners had gathered in Lafayette
Park.
No one was allowed on the side
yryo1ly in, 0f hn White
from the State Department to the
Treasury.
About 200 of the staff and their
families stood silently on the lawn
beside the roadway leading to the
portico An Army guard of honor
was massed directly in front of the
door, with the Navy Band standing
a little to the east side of the lawn.
The staff was weeping openly.
James Sloan, veteran Secret Service
man from the time of President
Harding, twice entered the police
box at the gate to regain his COM
posure. One secretary suddenly
turned and leaned against the tree,
burying her face in her hands.
AS the caisson reached the north
gate of the White House, it executed
a sharp left turn and then rolled
slowly up to the portico of the
Executive Mansion, where a detach-
ment of soldiers, sailors and Marines
such as that customarily called out
to honor a chief of state was drawn
up at attention.
Hail to the Chief"
As the caisson rolled to a stop,