POLICE FIRE ON VETERANS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 15

POLICE FIRE ON VETERANS.

A WASHINGTON RIOT. VIOLENCE LEADS TO bloodshed. TROOPS ORDERED TO THE CITY. (UNITED PIiESS ASSOCIATION —EY ELECTRIC TELEGRAM—COPYRIGHT.) •(Received July 29th, 8.20 p.m.) WASH INGTON,. July 28. For the first time since tlio Civil War, tho capital of the United States was to-night under virtual martial law, with 500 regular army troops, including infantry, cavalry, machine-gun-ners, tanks, and engineering detachments patrolling the city. The group of United Stales veterans seeking the war bonus to-day resorted to violence. After being evicted from the building they were occupying in Lower Pennsylvania avenue, they chased tho vdicc for some distance, throwing bricks. A later message states that shooting broke out between the police and the veterans encamped on Pennsylvania avenue, two blocks from the Capitol, One unidentified veteran was shot dead, and another was seriously wounded. Troops were ordered out at tho direction of President Hoover. From Fort Myer squadrons of cavalry were rushed into the city, and headed for White House. Meanwhile, down near the Capitol, tho police strove to keep order among tlio veterans, who were in au ugly mood after having been fired upon by the officers.

Kesults of the Combat. This evening tho troops were apparently prepared to continue the oiionsive against the bonus expeditionary force, 1000 members of which were evicted from Federal buildings in the down-town area, aiter fighting throughout tho day between the police and tho veterans. It now appears that besides tho one veteran who was killed, two were 3oriously injured and one policeman was seriously injured, and a score of policemen and veterans, including one woman attached to the army; were slightly injured or incapacitated by tear-gas. When the veterans learned that the military wero coming to _ take charge they greeted the news with cheering, and predicted that "soldiers will, not molest soldiers." Many looked forward to tho good old-fashioned amy food ration. Instead, tho soldiers, after donning steel helmets and gas mask 6, proceeded systematically to evict the veterans, using tear-gas bombs freely on the slightest signs of resistance. On the streets squadrons of cavalry repeatedly charged the veterans, slapping them with the flats of their sabres when they wero not moving fast enough. Evacuating the damps. Soon after dark, as some 600 reinforcements were available nearby, General D. Mac Arthur (Chief of Staff of tho United States Army) prepared to continue th© offensive against the suburban camp of Anacostia, which was reported to bo in complete chaos, all semblance of leadership having disappeared, although an effort was being made to evacuate tho women and children, who numbered more than 600. Later, at midnight, the military threw down a heavy barrage of teargas. This was sufficient to effect a general evacuation of Anacostia by the light of the burning shacks which had been tho homes of tho veterans for tho past two months. Woary and hungry, tho veterans started streaming in all directions, apparently completely disorganised. Operations to Continue. Tho soldiers aro heavily patrolling all the evacuated areas to prevent their return. A few small camps aro still unvisited, although it is understood the military will continiio their operations to-morrow and will not 6top until tho last veteran has left Government property. It is feared the presence of tho veterans will provoke a serious police problem in the immediate future in the neighbouring States as well as in Washington. ■ .i Demanding a full and immediate cash payment of their adjusted certificates, issued as a bonus to soldier? who served in the war, thousands of exsoldiers marched from all parts of the United States and began assembling at Washington during the latter part of June. Their object was to demonstrate to the Government that their demands would have to be met. The face value of the certificates ranges up to £3OO, with the average about £2OO. Unless paid sooner, as tho veterans die, the certificates are payable in full in 1944. Under the. original Bonus Bill, designed partly to postpone cash bonus payments, certificates amounting to £727,000,000 wero issued; Of this amount more than £250,000,000 has already been issued in the form of interest-bearing loans against the original certificates. Up to two years ago the veterans wero allowed to borrow up to 22| per cent, of tho face value of the certificate, but over Mr Hoover's veto Congress increased the lban value last year to 50 per cent. Now the agitation is to pay the remainder to the veterans outright. The House of Representatives on June 15th approved of the immediate payment of the bonuses, but the President was strongly opposed to this being done. Two days ago Mr Hoover gave instructions for tho demolition of the buildings in which tho veterans wore encamped, and an army of cranes was moved to the attack. The veterans were also ordered to leave the city. REASON FOR ACTION. GOVERNMENT SAID TO HAVE BEEN IN DANGER. (liecoivcd July 29th, 9.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 29. ' General Douglas Mac Arthur, Chief of Staff of tho United States 'Army, who is in charge of the evacuation of the bonus veterans, expressed the belief on Friday morning that "the Government would have been threatened" had not President Hoover ordered tho troops out on Thursday. >