IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF TENSION, NATIONAL GUARDSMEN EQUIPPED WITH FIXED BAYONETS, YESTERDAY (MONDAY) ARRESTED 14 NEGROES PICKETING A SEGREGATED DRUGSTORE IN CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND.

A SMALL GROUP OF NEGROES ATTEMPTED TO MARCH DOWN TOWARDS THE DRUGSTORE WHERE THEY WERE MET BY COLONEL MORRIS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD. HE TOLD THEM TO DISPERSE, BUT WHEN THEIR LEADER SAID THAT THEY WERE SERIOUS IN THEIR EFFORTS - HE SAID: "THEY WERE NOT PLAYING CAT-AND-MOUSE" - THE COLONEL CALLED IN HIS TROOPS.

AS THE 14 WERE TAKEN AWAY, SINGING THEIR FREEDOM SONG, WHITE PEOPLE CALLED OUT; "WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THEM ALL OUT AND SHOOT THEM?" AND "MARCH THEM TO JAIL WITH BAYONETS IN THEIR BACK".

AMONG THOSE ARRESTED WAS MRS. GLORIA RICHARDSON, MILITANT INTEGRATIONIST, WHO HAD RETURNED FROM A MEETING WITH GOVERNOR TAWES DURING WHICH THEY WERE BOTH SEEKING A SOLUTION TO END THE TROUBLES. THE DEMONSTRATION WAS IN VIOLATION OF A MILITANT-LAW RULE AGAINST SUCH PROTEST GATHERINGS.

ONLY LAST WEEK THE NATIONAL GUARDSMEN WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CITY: IMMEDIATELY VIOLENCE BROKE OUT ONCE MORE. AN ATTEMPTED SIT-DOWN DEMONSTRATION IN A SEGREGATED RESTAURANT DEVELOPED INTO A FIGHT INVOLVING AN ESTIMATED 400 WHITES AND NEGROES. POLICE WITH FIERCE ALSATION DOGS TOOK TEN MINUTES TO QUELL THE DISORDER.

CAMBRIDGE HAS BEEN A FOCAL POINT OF THE INTEGREGATIONIST DRIVE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS SINCE APRIL, WHEN DEMONSTRATIONS BEGAN AGAINST RACIAL SEGREGATION IN THEATRES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS, AS WELL AS FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEGROES AND IMPROVED HOUSING. THESE MANIFESTATIONS LED TO VIOLENCE IN JUNE, WHEN GUARDSMEN WERE FIRST CALLED IN TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.