DETROIT (Michigan): A pall of black smoke hung over America’s fifth largest city this morning [July 24] after a day and a night of wild rioting, feared to have been the most destructive in the nation’s history.

President Johnson, meanwhile, ordered today about 5,000 federal troops to fly to Michigan and remain prepared to assist local authorities.

The troops were being airlifted this morning to Selfridge air force base, about 30 miles from Detroit. The President ordered the troops into Michigan at the request of Governor George Romney who told him in a telegram he doubted that local police and National Guardsmen (territorials) could suppress the spreading violence without federal assistance.

New York, New Britain, Connecticut, Birming­ ham, Alabama, Englewood (New Jersey), and Rochester (New York state) have all been hit by racial disturbances during the last 24 hours.

In Birmingham, about 71 Negroes stoned cabs and shops after a Negro was shot and wounded by Police trying to arrest him. Eleven people were injured during the outbreak. There were no arrests.

In Englewood, where eight Policemen and a Negro were hurt and several buildings set afire during a disturbance on Friday night, there were only sporadic incidents of trouble last night. Fires, apparently set by arsonists, were extinguished with only minor damage.

Eight people were arrested for loitering and disturbing the peace in the city’s Negro quarter.

As Negro rioters began to disperse from the smouldering ruins in Detroit, the Fire chief, Charles Quinlan, made a preliminary estimate of the damage of 100 million dollars.

The rioting, fire bombing, looting and sniper fire left three people dead, all white — a 23-year-old woman, shot by a sniper, a looter shot by a shopkeeper, and a sniper shot by a National Guardsman.

After touring the city this morning, Mayor Jerome Cavanagh declared that the riot had been “contained” but he said looting and arson continued in some areas.

Mr Quinlan said at least 450 people had been injured, 1,000 arrested, 260 fires started and 1,000 shops looted during the outbreak.

An entire National Guard division of 7,000 men was earlier due in the City this morning to relieve the 1,000 police and 1,500 National Guardsmen who fought the rioters all night.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2017