The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-02
Public, ParochiaI Schools Open Tomorrow Mornn,
Air Raid Warden
MerciIess Bombing of London Brought Home to Americans Realization of Horrors of Mod- ern Warfare - State Defense Council Prepares Series of Arti-
 cles on Duties, Activities
 of Wardens.

traditional faculty for calm under statement. But the warden's job IS not over. As the first and official observer, he is the center of in- formation and reference. There were twelve people in that house." point ing the rescue squad to & pile of ruins: or there is well in the back of that house." as the fire chief lays the hose. He turns to a wide-eyed young woman just home from her job: Your parents are all same: they have gone with the others to the schoolhouse." To an agouized mother, T saw them take out the baby, unhurt. You'll find her to- morrow" And when, hours later, perhaps, the work is over and the services" have gone away, it is the warden still who makes the patrol of his area, looking for smouldering fires, finding possibly a suspicious pit in a garden-a time bomb, call- ing for immediave evacuation of the surrounding buildings and another quick report to headquarters. Per- haps 8 bomb has dug up street, torn gas pipes, or water or sewer, mangled electric cables, CT shaken the corner foundation of a building. It is reported at once, and he puts a guard about the escaping gas and detours traffic from the street.
 Gilbert and Sullivan, in the Pt- rates of PenZance, say that The Policeman's lot is not happy one" The warden's lot is so busy that he has no time to be either happy or unhappy.
 The air raid warden is most val- uable agent, not only in action but in precaution: that is, he is one of the most important links in civil- ian preparedness. But the signifi- cant point is that this preparedness is effected through an organization of civilian volunteers
 Civilian Organization
 One could easily imagine an ex- pansion of the army sufficient to man our cities and towns with air raid wardens; with a military cen ter, a G. H. e. for Connecticut, and a commanding officer in each town, and so on, down to sentry in each street. But, even with such demo- cratically formed army as is made up from our own people, the idea of such military surveillance and control of our city life, our neigh borhood life, and possibly our homes even, is abhorrent. Abhorrent alike to our traditions and to our in- dividual feelings. The saving grace of the air raid warden organiza- ton is its essentially civilian char acter, made up voluntarily from, by, and of our own neighborS and fel- citizens. For, it is literally true that he is but one of us, serving the rest of us, doing our work, pro- tecting not only our city, our com munity, our homes, but also our very families and our individual selves. And, no less, each resident of the warden,S area is an unofficial mem Der of his staff, charged under his instruction with duties we are to attend to, ready in time of need to take instant place at his side. The warden is, therefore, pretty responsible agent. He must be well chosen in point of character, per- son, ability and community stand- ing. He must be trained. He must be informed. He must be alert. ever ready, indefatigable at times, 1ndomitable always. To him, in time of air raid, look the people of his area. To him, also, loook all the established and official bodies of his city.
 For there are three great and essential values that he has to sup ply, in case bomb lands within his area. First: he must supply an im- mediate, on-the-pot report of what has happened-where and with what effect. Second: he must sup ply an immediate, on-the-Spot con trol of the situation-instant atten- ton to fires, quick administration of first aid, effective and complete evacuation of all people from the vicinity of danger Third: he must furnish that interaction with the of- ncial services, as they arrive, which will enable them to do quickly and successfully the job they have come to do. To the police, he reports the situation as it has developed. TO the fire department he gives the pie ture as he has found 1t to be by ac- tual observation. And so on, for all the services as they arrive.
 And this, we should remember. VIII most probably be in the niglat- time. perhaps under the darkness Of biackout, possibly In the drlzzle Of rain and in the company Of es- caping gas or spouting water from upturned mains.