Evening star., 1941-12-12
Eliminate the Confusion

Eliminate the Confusion
The Commissioners and the Dis
trict Committees of Congress are
correct in seeking speedy authorize
tion of funds to defray anticipated
expenses in connection with local
civilian defense measures. No time is
to be lost
There is immediate and crying
need however, for something besides
money. Mere recognition of the fact
that some confusion is inevitable in
the organization of plans and ma
chinery for protection of civilians in
an emergency does not remove the
necessity of ridding ourselves of such
confusion Immediately.
Too many people are giving sense
less and inane orders. Too few peo-
pie have a clear conception of what
is to be done. Too many people are
assuming authority to issue orders.
There is too much backing and fill
ing; too little comprehension of the
fact that before any instructions are
issued to civilians, they must be pre-
pared with great care and thorough
ly publicized in manner that can
be clearly understood.
Last evening, for no accountable
reason, orders were issued to deputy
air Wardens to patrol their areas
from sundoWn to sunup. The Chief
Air Raid Warden, Battalion Chief
Clement Murphy of the Fire Depart
ment, who issued the orders appar-
emily meant that the deputy wardens
should remain near their telephones.
But the orders issued by telephone
and on the radio did not say that.
There was consequent confusion until
the orders were clarified later in the
evening.
Until Commissioner Young, with
his usual good sense, stepped in and
Strengthened out the mess, defense
headquarters at the District Build
ing attempted to conceal from the
newspapers the location of the ex-
perimental AFRAID siren on top Of
the Pepco Building yesterday. Every
effort should be made at all times, of
course, to inform the public of the
steps being taken in arrangement of
alarm signals and to acquaint the
people with exactly what is being
done. Otherwise, confusion and even
panic are apt to follow. People
should be told where the signals are
and what they are and why they
sound test alarms.
The afraid signals decided upon
by Mayor La Guardia are not the
same as tentatively adopted for
Washington. Until yesterday there
was no agreement here as to what
sort of signals were to sound AFRAID
warnings and incorrect information
was published 1t is unfortunate that
standard signal has not been
adopted that will be recognized
everywhere.
Efficient speed, but not premature
and hasty fumbling, should mark
the course of instruction to the
civilian population on what to do in
case of emergency. One person must
be designated to issue orders, and to
see that they are carried out by peo-
pie who know what they mean
Young men, representing themselves
as deputy air WardenS, were stopping
automobiles on the streets last night
and ordering drivers to dim and even
to extinguish their headlights. 1t is
inconceivable that anybody in au-
thority issued such orders But that
sort of thing is dangerous foolish
ness. This child's play must stop.
The people of Washington are intel
ligent, anxious to cooperate with
the authorities and to learn what is
expected of them. Orderliness and
intelligent direction are needed as
much as the appropriation of money.