WASHINGTON SENSATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 9

WASHINGTON SENSATION

WAR VETERANS EVICTED CLASHES WITH MILITARY CAMP SET ON FIRE I ■ . EXCITING ENCOUNTERS SERIOUS CASUALTY. LIST By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 20, 6.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 29 For tlie first timo since the Civil War tlio capital of the United States last night was under virtual martiM law. Five hundred regular army troops—including infantry, cavalry, machine-guns, tanks and engineering detachments—patrolled tho city. Apparently the troops were "prepared to continue tho offensive against tho "bonus expeditionary force" of war veterans, 1000 of whom were evicted from Federal buildings, where they had been encamped in Lower Pennsylvania Avenne. Fighting had continued throughout tho day between the veterans and the police. One veteran was killed and two were seriously injured. One policeman was seriously hurt. Twenty policemen and veterans and one woman attached to tho "army" were slightly injured or teargassed. Soldiers Carry Out Eviction When the veterans learned that tho military were coming to take charge they greeted the news with cheers. They predicted that "soldiers will not molest soldiers." Many looked forward to a good, oldfashioned /Li-my food ration. Instead, the soldiers, after donning steel helmets and gas-masks, proceeded with systematic precision to evict the veterans, using teargas bombs freely when they encountered the slightest resistance on the streets. Squadrons of cavalry repeatedly charged the veterans, slapping with the flats of their sabres when they were not moving fast enough. Soon after dark, as about 600 reinforcements for the troops from a camp in the vicinity appeared, preparations were made to continue the offensive against a camp in the suburb of Anacostia, which was reported to be in complete chaos, all semblance of leadership having disappeared, although an effort was being made to evacuate the women and children,, who numbered more than 500. Attack on Suburban Camp

The Federal troops began to set fire to the Anacostia camp of the " bonus army " late in the evening. The offensive against the camp was launched by infantrymen with drawn bayonets, who hurled tear-gas bombs into the crowd. The Federal detachments, with General Douglas Macarthur, Chief of Staff of the | United States Army, and an assistant, . occupying a staff-owned motor-car, moved l in on tho camp, after some confusion I over an order alleged to have been issued by the President, Mr. Hoover, to suspend the operations. The soldiers surrounded the camp and unlimbered equipment for any emergency. In the meanwhile the veterans completed tho evacuation of all their women and children. Although somo inflammatory speeches were made, in which self-ap-pointed leaders urged resistance, a general evacuation was started amid the utmost confusion. Midnight Barrage of Tear-gas Many of the veterans jumped on to freight trains. Others started to walk along various highways. Those who remained acted in defiance of the soldiers and set fire to their own shacks, the flames casting a red glow over the whole scene of disorder. At midnight the military threw down a heavy barrage of tear-gas, and this proved . sufficient to effect a general evacuation of Anacostia by the light of I the burning shacks, which had been the I homes of the veterans for the past two months. The weary and hungry veterans started streaming off in all directions, apparently completely disorganised. Soldiers heavily patrolled all the evacuated areas to prevent their return. A few small camps are still unvisited, but it is understood that the military will continue the offensive to-day, and will not stop until tho last veteran has left Government property. It is feared that the presence of the veterans may provoke ' a serious police problem in the immediate future in neighbouring States, as well as at Washington. General Macarthur expressed tho belief this morning that the Government would have been threatened had not Mr. Hoover ordered the troops out yesterday. The bonus campaign by American war veterans was originated early in June in an effort to win full and immediate cash payment of their adjusted certificates, issued as a bonus to soldiers who served in the war. The face value of tho certificates ranges up to £3OO with the average about £2OO. Unless paid sooner as veterans die the certificates are payable in full in 1944 and 1945. Under the original bonus bill, designed partly to postpone cash bonus payments, certificates amounting to £713,000,000 wore 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 were allowed to borrow up to 22i per cent of tho face value of the certificate, but over Mr. Hoover's veto Congress increased the loan value last year to 50 per cent. The agitation was .started to secure the payment of the remainder to the veterans outright. In pursuance of their claim veterans to the number of 9000 or 10,000 marched on Washington alid encamped there.