The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1941-07-04
RehearSalS
Frequently Is
c. D. Request

A communication from Governor
Gruenings office addressed to Wran-
CELLS Mayor E. ]. Wheeler was turn
ed over to the local Home Defense
unit this week by Mayor Wheeler.
Wrangells Home Defense unit, spon-
sored by the American Legion, has
as its Chairman NJ. g. Shain.
The communication is a supple
ment issued to the one of December
26, 1910, which. the Territorial Dir
ector Of Civil Defense, W. R. Mulvi-
hill, points out due to changing
conditions and increased knowledge
of the subject it is desirable now
to supplement- the above mentioned
memorandum with one of more
detailed and specific nature"
After pointing out the necessity
of vigilance in regard to prevent
ing sabotage by guarding utilities
and important installations and
keeping careful watch as to sus-
picious characters, the memorandum
points out that all able-bodied men
and women whose patriotism and
reliability are unquestioned and who
are not otherwise engaged in de
Tense projects, should be listed as
to their availability, special abilities
and, in the case of men, the fire
arms they possess.
Wrangell, in compliance to the
former request, has already appoint
ed its defense personnel with squad
leaders and squads assigned to var
ious stations in time of emergency
but the communication received this
week emphasizes the need for more
detailed plan and frequent rehearsal.
1t states:
1t is of the utmost Importance
that complete and detailed plans be-
made for the meeting of every pos
sible emergency. The success of
Civil Defense will depend on the
thoroughness with which these plans
are drawn up, and the energy and
aggressiyeness of their execution. In
this connection every individual in
the group must know what, when,
where and how, he is to do his job,
for upon the success of the indiY-
idual depends the successful oper-I
alton of the plan. The detailed plan
of operation divides itself into three
sub-plans to meet the three aims
of Civil Defense as mentioned in
paragraph 1; The prevention of
sabotage; the combating of Sab
otage; and the protection against
raids.
d The prevention of sabotage
demands the guarding of utilities
and installations during an emer-I
gency by armed men. Certain groups
will be assigned to specific duties
at designated locations with definite
schedules in regard to hours of
duty. There should be at least one
fire extinguisher in every house.
These should be purchased whole
sale by the town and sold to house.
holders at wholesale prices.
(2) The combating of sabotage,
should it occur, will also be thel
duty of the guards stationed at theI
point in question, however, in thel
case of serious trouble such as fire,
it will be necessary to supplement
the usual guard with extra men toI
cope with the emergency. It is ex-
tremely important that this be done
without weakening the guard att
other installations, for if the entire
personnel were to rush to the de-
Tense of one installation the remain
ing ones could be destroyed without
difficulty. To provide for the pro-
lection of the threatened installation
without endangering the others by
stripping them of their guards, it,
will be necessary to assign one
group, consisting of about one-fifth
of the total available personnel, AS
trouble-shooters to be held in re-
serve ready to rush from one point
to another as they are needed. Fire
men and police are specially fitted
for this duty.
90 The protection of a commun-
ity against raids requires careful
planning. Blackouts as a precautionl