The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-11
London Is Saved From Ruin In Air Raid Test
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of the balloon barrage had been raised. In war time the balloons would be anchore dthousands of feet in the air, with cables dangling from them to trap planes.
 Despite the report of the raiding plane squadrons, it was apparent to observers on the ground that the blackout was only partial. It appear ed that what with those window lights which showed during the the blackout hours of midnight to 4 a. m. today, and the lights of of au- tomobiles and trucks in the streets, raiding aviators might have been able to trace London areas by rib bons of reflected light. Sits of light escaped from curtained railroad coach windows, and some stations remained lighted.
 Lights Going By Error
 In the area near St. Fouls Cath edral in Central London, street lights remained burning, by error for half an hour after the blackout test started.
 Thus it was apparent that in war time enemy planes would have even greater difficulty because everybody would have a stake in the success of the blackout.
 Some Britons took this mornings test seriously, and showed their re- sentiment of any one who did not cooperate fully. In the west end dis trict of London, a man with an um- brella climbed shop front in Re- gent street-comparable to Fifth avenue in New York and smash ed lighted shop sign to the cheers of crowd which remained up to observe the success of the test. In the suburb of Ilford a crowd smash ed 8 shop window which remained lighted.
 Several Collisions
 There were some casualties - not from raiding planes but from the blackout itself. Numerous automo- piles, market trucks and busses col- lided on the west, dark streets.
 In parts of the city the blackout was complete.
 A correspondent who peered from darkened window of the United Press office was unable to see across the 30-foot street.
 Another, stationed in tower atop the United Press offices, heard airplane motors. In moment, searchlights had been switched on in all parts of London. They at once picked up three "raiding" planes.
 In unique and thrilling chase. the three planes broke formation and flew southward trying to escape. Searchlights picked up each one of them, and held them until the planes had been picked up by other batteries on their course.
 Big crowds stayed up in the west end. They saw only tiny wing lights and rear lights of the few auto mobiles in the streets and the oc- casional flash of flashlight as some drover groped for the white-painted curbstone.
 War time shouts of put that
 - light out" were heard when- ever anyone lit a cigarette.
 Lasted Until Dawn
 The blackout test lasted until dawn throughout 28 English coun- ties containing 20,000,000 people. Over 27,000 square miles hundreds of thousands of ground defense workers, men and women, engaged in their first big realistic test of war time conditions.
 Special police details on the ground, and specially assigned Royal Air Force aviators in the air, ob- served conditions in specified areas and reported on the extent of visi- bility. In war time, any report from police that lights were showing would have brought drastic pen- alty. Tn London, policeman was stationed at every police box in the city. Twenty thousand policemen, special constables and war reserve officers were on duty in London as emergency policemen.
 At least six men, and probably Il,