Evening star., 1941-12-26
Ban Placed on Calls
To Defense Agencies
For Afraid News
Army Warns Citizens
Not to Interfere With
Steps to RepeI Attack

The War Department. in an an
nouncement giving detailed instruc-
tions regarding air raid precaution
measures, today warned citizens that
under no consideration should re-
quests for information about reports
Of pending air raids be made TO
Interceptor Command Headquarters
or agencies Of the Interceptor Com
mand
The department said such restric-
ton on requests for information Is
essential because, in event of actual
air attack, all agencies of the Inter-
ceptor Command must be left free
to take necessary measures to repel
the attack"
The official instructions give in
terceptor commanders and their des-
ignated agencies sole responsibility
for initiating orders for blackoutS,
radio silence and the discontinuance
of any activities which may assist
an enemy in navigating to its OBJ
iective, in civilian communities as
we'll as military and naval activ-
tiles"
Military Chiefs to Cooperate.
To civilian authorities is intrusted
the task of enforcing air raid pre-
caution measures in their COM
munities. but military commanders
were directed to advise with civilian
authorities on the adequacy of these
civil precautions as they relate to
the active defense with which each
military commander is charged. The
military chiefs also must cooperate
with civilian authorities in co-ordi-
mating civilian and military defense
measures.
The announcement said all warn
ings of impending air raids and Or
ders to initiate precautionary meas
ures will be issued by Interceptor
Regional Headquarters through in
formation and filter centers, op-
Grated by interceptor commands, to
district warning centers operated by
agencies of the Office Of Civilian
Defense.
The commanding officer of each
military post or activity is held re-
sponsible for arrangements for the
receipt Of AFRAID warnings and
orders for precautionary measures
from the nearest district warning
center the department said. The
commanding officer is also held
responsible for the PRONUNCIATION of
inc nnnnaryoiroo
forcement of, blackoutS, radio
silenceS and other air-raid pre-
cautions for Establishments under
his command.
1T is essential that when air raids
are imminent, no interceptor COM
mand agencies or district warning
centers be handicapped by the re-
ceipt of calls for information Their
organizations are set up to receive
reports of raids from their OBJ
server and detector units and to dis
seminate warnings to all con-
cerned."
Special instructions for West.
On the West Coast, where the
danger of air raids is greater be-
cause of japanese fleet activity in
the Pacific, special instructions for
air raid precautionary measures
will be issued by the commanding
general of the Western Defense
Command"
Taking cognizance of the spread
Ing of false air raid warnings in
Washington and in other centers,
the War Department said:
False rumors to alarm the people
are a recognized form of fifth
column activity. Even loyal individ-
uals report false alarms to military
authorities in good faith. Serious
consequences have already resulted.
All military echelons will transmit
promptly military information to
proper military command authori-
ties, being careful to give the source
OF their information, but will not
divulge it to the public. Reports
Of hostile forces or movements will
be given to civil authorities charged
with public defense only by direction
of commanding generals or corps
areas, of departments. of defense
commands, of each air force or by
higher authority
The announcement said RESPONSE
bility given to interceptor command
ers and their agencies does not in
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