Evening star., 1945-08-15
100000 in Capital
Celebrate Peace With
Noise and Gayety
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HvsSS WIN VUyCly
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ed the heart Of the city into a roar
mg, blaring surge Of merrymaking
The dense crowd that sureed
through Lafayette Park across Penn
sylvania avenue to the White House
tense got out Of hand for a time
Police and MPs could not hold the
people back. Several soldiers
cnmned ON top Of q street car. Others
clambered on the roofs Of stranded
automobiles.
As soon rs the news spread to
other downtown streets, motor horns
began blaring. Torn papers fluttered
out OF windows. Later other noise
making devices added to the din.
Live ammunition was placed on troll
ley tracks. Pistols were fired at the
streets and even from the windows
OF cabs. Trucks made their engines
backfire.
Night clubs were reminiscent of
New Year eve, but the celebrating
crowds mostly were orderly. There
was an early rush for tables, and
most Of those lucky enough to get
them stayed where they were, leav-
ing others waiting in line or mill
ing In vain for seats.
A sailor said to q waiter: II know
you are probably . veteran. too. No
hard feelings. But we would like
cur drinks when you get time"
Cafes Closed Early.
The Lotus and the Trade Winds
closed about $50, fearing the late
crowds might prove too rough. The
Neptune Room closed about an hour
later. The Cafe Of All Nations and
the Casino Royale remained open
until their regular closing time.
The crowd at the Russian Troika
gave few outbursts of song or
laughter. Mostly they slipped their
drinks and listened to the floor show.
Celebrants likewise were quiet at
the Embassy room of the Statler and
Mt the Mayhower. Champagne was
In demand.
The Chesapeake IL Potomac Tele-
phone Co. reported sudden hush
when news Of the surrender came.
Most phones were dead. Then there
was q deluge Of local calls, followed
by an unusually large number of
long distance calls. The local calls
dropped of after a time, but long
distance business was heavy
throughout the evening. Ohacials
said $4,000 distance calls were
made, 20 per cent above normal.
Early in the celebration, soldier
rode a white horse up Eleventh
street from Pennsylvania avenue,
turning east on E street to the cheers
and amusement of passers-by.
At the United Nations Service
Center, 500 North Capitol street,
about Is GIs greet the news quietly.
AS a radio band played "The Star
Spangled Banner" some of the boys
choked with emotion and tears were
in many eyes.
The tension was broken when a
soldier leaned over a WAVE and
said. WELL did my bit in this war.
How about kiss?"
He got the kiss, and cheer broke
1rom the others.
All Police Called Out. .
The police radio advised all police
men OF duty to report to their pre-
cincts. Two emergency operators
were called in to help handle the
calls which flooded the switchboard
at headquarters. Extra policemen
mingled with the ceIebrants down.
town, but they rarely interferred
with the exuberance of the merry
makers, overlooking such technical
violations of the law as fitting up |
liquor bottles on the street.
Crowded Union Station was one |
Of the last spots in town to hear the {
glad news. The station authorities s
refused to broadcast the historic
tidings over the loudspeaker sys-
tenn. "Our address system is for
railroad business only" they ex-
planned afterward.
AS q result, people poured on and
OIL trains for fully 20 minutes un-
aware Of the moment in history.
Then extra editions of The Star ap-
peared on newsstands. People rushed
up W u dulS waving IlcduuIlcS dG Qc.
parting and alighting passengers.
T/Sergt. Robert Clifford, Is, of
Moosic, Pa, a veteran of three years
overseas, grabbed one Of the papers
and kissed 1t. II
On the Capitol Plaza one CT 1
jumped into the fountain. Friends
hauled him out, and he broke loose
and leaped in again.
Up on r street an old woman was /,
sobbing. Did you lose son?" some
one asked.
NO. she said, I'm just happy"
On Connecticut avenue a tavern
keeper, the moment he heard the
news over his radio, began mixing
Tom Collinses. He carried them over
to the tables, handing them out to
every customer who came in There
was no charge.
Two women, one elderly, found
their way into The Star city room
during the feverish moment when
the staff was getting out the peace