“Bonus Army” Routed

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 193, 30 July 1932, Page 7

“Bonus Army” Routed

Unparalleled Scenes

Troops Summoned to Washington

Camping Sites Now Scarred Areas

[United It’tss Association—By Cable —Copyright.] (Received 30, 10.15 a.m.)

Washington, July 29. The United States army, summoned yesterday by President Hoover, had by to-day smashed the grip held on Washington for months by thousands of veterans demanding immediate payment of a bonus for war-time army services. As mute evidence of the struggle that has no identical parallel in this country, four scarred areas mark the once populous encampments of the bonus expeditionary force. William Huska, of Chicago, an ex-soldier, is dead and scores are nursing injuries. The troops remained in command. The veterans were driven forth by tear-gas and flaming torches were applied to their crude shelters. Clustered in small groups or headed from the city, the veterans are seeking to organise elsewhere. Walter Waters, of Portland (Oregon), commander-in-chief of the bonus expeditionary force, was not at Anacostia when it was emptied and burned. It is reported that he had left telling some of his followers to meet him in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Earlier he issued a statement saying: “No matter what may happen from now on the bonus , expeditionary force will carry on. We have gone too far to quit.”

WHOLESALE ARRESTS. (Received 30, 10.30 a.m.) Washington, July 29. Wholesale arrests of radicals who have been active with the “bonus army” took place this afternoon under instruction from President Hoover that local authorities should at once find the instigators of the attack on the police yesterday, which led to the killing of one veteran. On leaving a meeting in an abandoned church at Fifth and Victoria avenues, near where the Communistic wing of the “bonus army” had been billeted, more than 30 were taken. In addition 70 were lined up two abreast along the sidewalk. It appeared that the police planned to march across the District of Columbia border line. Those arrested were held for investigation by the immigration officials.

WARLIKE ACTIVITIES. (Received 30, 10.30 a.m) Washington, July 29. The use of troops, cavalry, infantry, tanks and a machine-gun corps was ordered by the President after the police efforts to carry out the demand for the immediate evacuation of Federal property had precipitated a riot. When the District of Columbia turned to White House, the President summoned his Cabinet aides and his order went forth, bringing in from Fort Myer, Virginia, 300 cavalrymen, and 350 infantrymen, who assembled near White House and then marched down Pennsylvania avenue to the first of the “bonus army’’ camps almost in the shadow of the Capitol.

After a pause to give the veterans a chance to move out peaceably, ,the khaki line, steel-helmeted and in full battle equipment, moved forward with tear gas bombs and fixed bayonets, the cavalry, with drawn sabres pressed the charge home. The job was quickly done, despite resistance. The troops then moved on and cleared two other camps in the city, then one at Anacostia, six miles from down-town Washington. The withering combination oi fire and tear-gas left the veterans leaderless, .demoralised and without shelter. They spent the night in open fields aud pains, and many started for home.

The troops hurled tear-gas bombs and set the shacks of the bonus army afire in the vicinity of the Capitol again on Friday afternoon at the time when President Hoover at White House was serving an emphatic notice that the Government cannot be coerced by mob rule. The President said he considered the disturbance on Thursday a challenge to the authority of the United States Government, which had been met swiftly and firmly. A s the President read the statement, cavalrymen, who had returned through Pennsylvania Avenue, clashed with a group of veterans gathered around a baseball diamond. the troopers charged, scattering them. Some ran off and climbed trees, and one plunged headlong through the open window of a passing automobile. The cavalrv halted and the infantry swept the street' with gas bombs. There was no resistance except from some who refused to move until tear-gas was used. The cavalry kept the streets clear of spectators as a great roll of smoke poured out of the block into nearby residences. A strong wind fanned the flames and the shacks burned fiercely.