Evening star., 1939-10-13
Warp|anes 10 Raid
Capital Tomorrow
In Night Maneuvers
Maryland Guordsmen to
Test City Defenses
In Mock Attack

The District will get a closeup
of modern warfare methods to-
morrow night when enemy" planes
of the 1O4th Observation Squadron
of the Maryland National Guard,
based at Baltimore, will stage a
mock air raid over the city under
cover of darkness.
Defending forces, composed of
260th Coast Artillery anti-aircraft
gunners under the command of 1t.
Col. Walter w. Burns, will seek to
repel the attack with searchlights,
anti aircraft guns and machine
guns from emplacements on the
Mall.
The National Guard order, issued
by Brig. Gen. Albert l.. Cox, limits
firing to territory south of the
line including Lincoln Memorial. the
Mall, the Capitol and west of Sew
enth street.
The mock battle, part of an in
tensified recruiting campaign initi-
ated this week by Gen. Cox to fill
the quota of $50 men authorized by
Congress to increase the strength
OF the guard, will demonstrate
exactly how defending forces would
operate in event of a genuine war
time raid.
Airmen to Drop Flares.
In lieu of the bombs the National
Guard airmen will drop flares or
Very lights.
Attacking planes will fly directly
over the Capitol to the Mall, where
defending forces will be concen-
trated.
Although ring of forts surrounds
the District, along with barracks
filled with troops, Gen. Cox said he
felt residents of the Capital should
become familiar with the well-knovn
methods of protection against air
raids.
Efficiency of both the defending
and attacking forces will be demon
strated. The number of bombing
hits will be measured against the
number OF 'anti-aircraft hits"
scored.
Although blank ammunition will
be used by both forces, it will be
possible to tell whether the District
is well defended.
Guard to Get Additional Equipment.
The 260th Coast Artillery's equip
ment includes searchlight batteries,
3-lnch anti-aircraft gun batteries,
radio units, telephone units, motor
transportation operating units, mo-
tor transportation repair units, sup
ply units and administrative units.
The War Department received
$2,50O,OOO in the last appropriation
bill for the District National Guard.
Additional equipment and arms will
be purchased for District troops.
Gen Cox said the latest anti aircraft
guns, a 3-inch piece of great ac-
curacy, would also be supplied to
the Guard.
In the recruiting drive, the anti
aircraft unit, which has assumed
greater Importance than ever since
the demonstration of the effective
ness OF bombing raids from the air
by German planes in Poland, will
be increased by 465 men.
At present the National Guard
numbers more than 1.700 men: the
increase will bring it to a strength
Of more than 1900. Gen. Cox esti-
mates the drive will be over within
two weeks.
To accelerate enlistment, Gen.
Cox has divided the city into eight
sections, each under the adminis-
tration of battery captain of the
Guard. Citizens groups, fraternal
orders and other organizations have
been pressed into service to assist in
the drive for enlistments.
Numerous demonstrations will be
held throughout the city by units
of the Guard to interest young men
in the branch of service which will
play the greatest part in defending
the CAPITAL in event of war,