Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-13
Racial Strife in Cambridge
Curbed as Troops Return
Persuasion
Turns Back
2 Marches
BY JOHN BARRON
Star Staff Writer

CAMBRIDGE, Md, July 10.
"A show Of simple courtesy
and massive force has brought
quiet, If not permanent peace,
to Cambridge.
More than 400 National
Guardsmen put the town to
bed early last night by enforc-
ing a 8 o'clock curfew imposed
under stringent militia law.
The streets on which five
men were shot by gunfire
which reverberated almost un-
til dawn yesterday were free
Of racial strife for the first
time this week.
Much Of the calm probably
was ascribable to diplomacy by
Commanding Gen. George
Gelston who twice stopped the
kind of demonstrations that
have ended in violence before.
Hats March by 100
AS about 100 integrationists
began to march at 7:15 pm,
the general halted them with
appraised arms and politely
said:
you are demonstrating in
violation of regulations i'm
posed under authority granted
by the Governor Of Maryland.
I will have to ask you to stop
demonstrating"
Negroes Immediately sat
down in the middle Of the
street, sang a hymn and started
to pray.
The general removed his cap
and bowed his head throughout
the lengthy prayer.
When it was over, Gen. Gels
ton began to reason with the
crowd.
1.-THE National Guard has
been brought here to try to
bring peace to protect all peo-
| pie regardless Of race. ;. I
ask you to obey the laws Of
your State and to cooperate
with u.s."
Critical Moment
The moment was a critical
one.
Massed q block away were
soldiers carrying fixed bayo-
nets. If the Negroes had
chosen to remain congregated
in the street, the general would
have had no alternative but to
order the troops to dispense
them forcibly.
After a minute Of silence, the
crowd rose, turned and quietly
walked back to the church
where the demonstrations reg
ularly began.
Gen. Gelston, who had ap-
peared entirely poised snd
casual, put a cigarette in his
mouth. then asked a reporter
to light it for him, saying he
was not sure his hands would
be steady enough.
During a short meeting of
the integrationists back at the
church, Stanley Branche a
.NAACP field representative,
said:
I'VE are going to respect the
National Guard just as they
have respected U.S."
Employs Persuasion
Earlier in the afternoon, even
before the arrival of troops dis
patched by Gov. Tawes to pre-
vent more bloodshed, Gen. Gel
ston employed persuasion to
disband a group of integra-
tionists who we're marching
downtown to engage in a sit-in
demonstration. Cambridge in
effect now is being ruled by
the DEGREES Of the general.
The only substantial differ
ence between the prevailing
militia law and full martial law
is that anyone arrested will be
tried in civil courts rather than
by courts martial.
The general has directed all
businesses to close at Z o'clock
nightly, completely banned the
sale of alcoholic beverages and
ordered everyone to stay off
the streets after 9 pm.
He warned that anyone car
rying firearms will be arrested
and the weapon confiscated.
Automobiles may be stopped
and searched at any time.
The Guard has admonished
all non-residents Of Cambridge
to stay out Of the town between
sunset and sunrise.
However, despite the enforced
See CAMBRIDGE, Page A-s