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~5- end the contractor was demanding possession. The dem buildings was necessary to the extension of Coustitution Avenue and the further development of the ball area. On iday 16, 1932, the Treasury Departucnt has awarded a contract for the completion of the Department of Agriculture Extensible Building, which included, as a part of its site, the tract within 12th and 14th and B ang C Streets, S. W. In this area the Bonus Army had, without permission, scized and occupied some buildings and open areue, from which it wes necessary to exeovete earth to fill and level off Reservations A and B. Sub- contracts had been let for the wreck:ng of the buildixgs, but the sub- contractor could not proceed, and only limited excavation was possible. Kkequest was wade by the Treasury through the Superintendent of Police on July 20th that these buildings be evacuated, The Superintendent of Police reported that he had conferred with Commander Waters of the Bonus Army, who objected that he would not move bis men into the open, and insisted that be intended to hold together a number of vetcrans in the District of Columbia to accomplish the object for which thoy had essenbled, notvithstending the adjournment of Congress. ition of the There are statutes in the District of Columbia authorizing ines”, Sumary removal by its officers of any person unlawfully or forciuly 2°: withholding the possession of governnent property. Oa July 23d tie® 9+ Treasury Department served notice on the Bonus Army occupants of > > these several areas to vacate, On July 25th attorneys for the Bonus’ Amy conferred with the Treasury officials, who granted a 24-hour extension of its order of vacation to July 26th. On July 26ta the attorney, he, Herbert S, Werd, aad Captain Doak Carter, one of the deaders of the Bonus Army, presented a proposal consisting merely of the statement that the veterans were willing to withdraw from the covern~ Rent areas end retire to some private property which they were permitted to occupy, but that they required tentaze and equipment, and demanded the gasistance of the Treasury in procuring such equipment, with a view fo their permencxt encampment in the city. They requctod’ yhet the Treasury had no power or authority to grant. This propoeal was only a Tepetition of former statements made by Commuder “aters, and nothing Fas accouplished. On July 26th a further letter was written by the Treasury to the Conmissioners of the District, stating that the Treasury Planned to begin Work in the area between Sd end 6th Streets and Penn- Sylvania and Missouri Avonues on the morning of July 27th, and requested that a sufficient detail of police be on hend to prevent any interference with the contractor or his workmen. On the 27th, the proposed resumption of possession by the Txeusury wac again postponed to July 28th, and on the morning of Thureday, Jy 28th, e small portion of the old National Guard Armory on the space referred to, including an area about 25 yards in all directions surrounding it, wes ct cupied by Treasury represent= atives unger police protection. it was at this point that the serious disorder comuenced. as 4. The riot ant the use of troops. At the time of resuming possession of the susll area on Pennsylvania Avenue on July 28th, it was not nlansed imuediately to attemit to regain~s, Possession by the Govermacnt of any of the other tracts oceypied by the Bonus Aimy. Iv was hoped that their evacuation could be gradually Accomplished. The small number of bonus marchers occupying this build- {he Vacated it, forcible resistence having been offered only by two or threa, one Was ourt by this movenent, end the persons «victrd were given ample opportunity te pack and leave. Hovever, while this woo taking Plece, speeches of an incendiury nature were boing wmde at Carp Marks, an open area across the Anacostia River, on which e large bonus camp had becn cstabiished. Aout noon, when the situation on Pennsylvania Aveme was well in hand and entirely maceful, the bonus sarchers from Camp Marks started across the Auecostia R.ver to the Ponnsylvenia Avenue tract in large nurbers by trucks and other means. Tuey gathered in the street aren near the property, then in the Possession of the Treasury Department, which was being cuarded by 75 policemen, end their number increased to 2000 or 3000. Suddenly, during the noon hour, the mod that had come from Cawp Marke rused =<. the policemen and attacked them with bricks and rocks. Some of the tor, Were felled with clubs. The police had revolvers, but had ordere oe