B. E. F.

Bivouacked in shelters at Anacostia Park, in vacant stores, in charity institutions, some 2,500 jobless War veterans announced last week that they would stay in Washington "until 1945 if necessary" to get an immediate cash settlement of the bonus.* While most of the B. E. F. ("Bonus Expeditionary Force") eked out a meagre existence from day to day on Mulligan stews and coffee, their leaders began to lobby. By the end of the week 145 Congressmen (the requisite number) had signed a petition to force a House vote on the Patman bill for immediate Bonus cashing. June 13 was set for the roll call.

Also by the end of the week General Pelham Glassford, chief of District of Columbia police, had almost exhausted his funds for feeding the B. E. F. General Glassford announced that after a benefit athletic show by Washington's police this week, the B. E. F. would be transported on trucks to points 50 mi. from the city. Meanwhile the march on Washington continued to swell in all parts of the land.

Alabama trucked 190 marchers from Louisiana over the Georgia border.

Seven hundred New York City veterans, the Red half of whom were scrupulously shunned by the nonradical element, ferried to New Jersey where the Central Railroad of New Jersey provided free rides to a freight yard seven miles from the Jersey City Terminal.

Two hundred Cleveland Police man-handled members of a mob of 900 marchers who had clogged the Pennsylvania Railroad's yards for 24 hours trying to board freight trains.

At Aberdeen, Md. a B. & O. engine was cut loose from a string of freight cars when 400 veterans clambered into empty coal gondolas.

Five hundred Texans, starting each day's march with prayer, passed through San Antonio headed for Dallas. Three hundred more Texans left Little Rock, Ark. in style aboard a passenger train, donated by the Missouri Pacific.

Rock Island box cars were good enough for 500 recruits from the Oklahoma oil fields.

A hundred men left Muncie, Ind. with $60 between them.

Colorado's estimated 500 were not quick enough to board swift Burlington freight trains.

Kansas City, Mo. gave food to 200.

At Council Bluffs, Iowa, 250 San Franciscans got their first meal in 24 hours.

The Michigan Central allowed the Detroit contingent to ride in coal cars.

Kentuckians and Ohioans begged truck rides in Cincinnati.

From Far Western points one group of marchers passed through Chicago. With them was a Mrs. Vera Perata, wife & mother, in the character of "Depression Joan of Arc."

*Jan. 1, 1945 is the payment date for adjusted service certificates.

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