Evening star., 1941-09-17
Civi|GuardUnits
To Be Formed in
Nearby Virginia
Lyman Kelley Heads
Only Authorized
Protection Force

Enrolment in the Civilian Pro-
lection Corps of the Northern Vir-
ginia Regional Defense Council will
be started in the next few days, it
was announced today by Maj. Ev-
erett A Hellmuth of Alexandria,
chairman of the State Guard and
Civil Defense Committee of the
council
Organization plans have been
completed and only selection of the
various county chairmen remains
before actual enrolment can start,
1t was explained by Gardner l..
Boothe, chairman of the regional
council, following a meeting OF the
Executive Committee. Lyman Kelley,
chairman of the Civilian Protection
Committee. will have charge of re-
cruiting the corps to full strength
In each community.
Unauthorized Group PrObed.
Meanwhile, Gov Price announced
in Richmond that he had referred
to the adjutant generals office and
Mr.. Boothe for investigation several
inquiries concerning an emergency
protective organization in Fairfax
County. headed by Maj. Alexander
Gait, jr, of Falls Church.
1t was said at the Governors S
office that the organization is not
part of the Virginia Protective Force
organized after the National Guard
was inducted into Federal service
and has no authority from the State
to exercise police powers. There are
several units of the Virginia Protec-
tive Force in the territory of the
Northern Virginia Defense Council,
which includes Fairfax County.
The Civilian Protection Corps, it
was stressed, is the only organiza-
ton designated by the Defense
Council to exercise the functions of
a civil guard force until it becomes
necessary for the Virginia Protective
Force to take over.
Supplements Other Forces.
Designed along the lines Of a
similar organization in England, it
will supplement other regularly con-
stituted forces in the community
acting as auxiliary fireman, air raid
wardens and undertaking guard
duty when so ordered by State
police or military authorities.
The corps will operate in the area
In which it is organized to give
protective aid to all victims of any
major disaster, to work in close CO.
operation with the American Red
Cross Disaster Committee in the
event of a major catastrophe in
which the Red Cross is giving disas-
ter relief. guard life and property
and assist in maintaining order
when necessary. Es7 K
"In cases of emergency arising in
the territory" Mr.. Kelley explained,
members assigned to guard duty, are
subject to control and regulation of
the duly constituted State and police
authorities until such time as they
are relieved of duty by State or Fed
eral troops.
Members will not have the privi-
lege of arrest, but will be furnished
with insignia showing their au-
thority to act in the capacity of
guards and to distinguish them from
other citizens"
Caution in Selecting Personnel.
All county and division chairmen
have been directed to exercise ex-
treme caution in selecting the per-
sonnel of the corps and stress the
fact it must be a well-disciplined,
carefully regulated organization,
subject to the control of the re-
gional council until such time as
the State police authorities deem it
necessary to call it into service
Membership in the corps is not Sc
cret, but publicity as to its actlvi-
ties will be carefully supervised by
the regional and local chairmen and
will emanate from the regional
council office.
In thickly populated areas air.
raid warden details will be organ
lied to protect civilians in the event
of air raids, prevent the curious
from entering danger zones and as
sisting in rescue work where needed.
The State wide plan now being
undertaken by the Virginia Defense
Council will be put into effect in
the next few weeks with the aid of
Mr.. Boothe, Mr.. Kelley and Maj.
Hellmuth and others in local areas.