Evening star., 1941-12-20
Funds Sought
For 50 Million
Gas Masks
La Guordio Says Army
To Rule on Target
Area Civilian Need

An appropriation estimate cover
ing 100000 gas masks for civilians
in target areas" has been presented
by the Office of Civilian Defense to
the Budget Bureau, o. C. D. Direc-
tor La Guardia told a press confer
ence here yesterday.
He made it clear that before the
Budget Bureau sends the o. C. D.
budget to Congress, the Army will
be called on the decide whether
the masks are necessary.
They would cost S375 each, he
said, and would be given free to
civilians. He specified that the tar
get areas" would include anywhere
from $50 to 300 miles in from each
coast line, including the Gulf of
Mexico.
The Budget Bureau had previous
ly been given s77,oO0,00O o. c. D.
estimate.
Five Types Designed
Five types of gas mask have
been designed by the Army to meet
civilian needs, he said. They in
clude baby protectors, Mickey Mouse
masks for children from 2 to
s years old, small child masks
for those from 3 to 10 or u years
old, small adult masks for people
with small faces, particularly
women, and universal adult masks.
He indicated that the 5O,OOOOOO
masks would only be the first con-
slgnment' but said that after the
money was appropriated, it would
take several months to get them
made and into the hands of the
wearers.
Asked If wearing the masks would
De made mandatory, he responded.
We certainly aren't giving masks
out as souvenirs"
In his first Washington press con-
ference since the war, Mayor La
Guardia surveyed what has been
done and is being done in the in
terest of civilian defense and com-
mented that mo matter how mrcb
tlme We have. we won't have enough
time"
Asked about his conference yes
teroay with local civilian defense
off1clals, he said, II think things
Will commence to move now. There
is no question but that they don't
nave sufficient equipment"
Fair Treatment" for d. G.
During his District Building con-
ference. he gave assurances that the
Capital will be treated fairly and
adequately in the allotment of funds
for public protection.
No city in the country, the d.
rector said, has sufficient freight
ing equipment. He pointed out that
the bill to provide some of the
CIVILIAN defense materials had been
reported favorably although it would
take some time to get the equipment
after the orders were placed.
Several times. he pointed out. he
had been ridiculed, once only a few
weeks ago when he asked for vital
supplies for civilian defense.
He emphasized. in his roundup of
civilian defense activities. that no
air raid alarm is sounded until the
Army gives the signal. He COM
mented that he had been criticized
in New York because of the sound
Ing OF the AFRAID alarm there. but
added, I'VE don't question it if we
get it from the Army. They're In a
position to know"
Sirens Prove Problem.
One defense problem, he said. was
procuring air raid sirens that would
give sufficient warning. Few such
devices, he explained, are on the
market. 1t would require a long
time, he said, to wire horns to light
posts.
Clarifying the difference between
air raid conditions and a nightly
| blackout, he said that when an
alarm is sounded, the streets are to
be cleared and activity paralyzed.
| During a blackout, normal activities
should proceed as usual, he added.
Describing the blackout in Seattle,
which he visited on his West Coast
swing last week, he said that the
first night the airplane plant was
shut down. That was not supposed
to happen, he said.
He said he was pressing and
pleading and begging" for intensive
training of air raid wardens and
emphasized that he didn't believe
enrolment and lectures were
enough.
He criticized the press for pointing
out the differences in the orders
given out by o. C. D. and by local
defense officials and said the diff
ference was due to local conditions.
Severity Recommended in Crimes.
He said he was mot holding back
anything" that he believed people
should start preparing now since
modern warfare is such that no one
can take chances.
Asked about crime and looting
during blackouts, the o. C. D. di-
rector said that police would have
to be much more vigilant and very
severe" if they catch any one loot
ing during blackout.
Discussing the difficulties of warn
ing the people about air raids, he
said radio device had been de-
veloped by which bell would ring
in a small box and the message
would be given. If he could get the
device into production, he said he
could use several million, particular
ly in the schools.