Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-17
Central Alarm
System Planned
In Maryland
Nearby Virginia
DecentruIizes Its
Civilian Defense

Direct telephone connections to
speed air raid alarms in Montgom-
cry and Prince Georges Counties
and decentralization of defense Or
sanization in nearby Virginia were
announced by civilian defense OIL
Gals today.
The central alarm system for fire
departments in Montgomery County,
sought by various organizations for
many years, will be set up under
pressure of defense needs for the
eastern suburban area.
A new switchboard for all reports
of fires coming in on the Shepherd,
Sligo and Silver Spring exchanges
except those in Takoma Park, will be
established with direct lines to the
Kensington and Hillandale fire de-
partments. The board will be set
up in Silver Spring firehouse and
have a direct line to the Silver
Spring police substation. Making
ARRANGEMENTS for the new system is
a committee composed OF John
Oden, Charles E. Defflnbaugh,
chairman. and Victor Bender.
New Method Explained.
Representative of the Bethesda
FIRE department. the Bethesda VOL
unteer department, and the Chevy
Chase. Glen Echo and Cabin John
DEPARTMENTS met at the Chevy
Chase firehouse last night to hear
Raymond B. Leavitt. manager OF
the Bethesda exchange Of the Ches-
apeake & Potomac Telephone co.
explain a similar setup for the
western suburban area.
Final action will be taken at
meeting early next week, 1t was
announced. These installations. 1t
has been estimated, will save from
four to five minutes in spreading
the alarm in case of an air raid.
The Prince Georges County COM
missioners yesterday authorized an
appropriation for installing direct
telephone line connecting the county
police headquarters with the air
raid warning Office here in order to
assure speedy notification in the
event Of raid.
Virginia to Fix Authority.
In Virginia, a plan for placing
more responsibility for defense
measures on local organizations
was outlined at a meeting OF North
ern Virginia Regional Defense
Council officials and representatives
from 10 counties and two cities IN
the area.
School children in Arlington
County will be protected in an
emergency under plan announced
today by County School Supt.
Fletcher Kemp.
Mr.. Kemp said he has issued m
structions to each of the county's
26 school principals pending the
completion of the civilian air RAID
warden organization in the county
Each school principal has been des-
ienated senior warden of his school
and each teacher will serve as
deputy assistant warden.
All of the county schools can be
notified of an air raid by the SUI
perintendent's Office within 20 min
utes, Mr.. Kemp said. The teachers
have been instructed to gather chill
dren in small groups on the lower
floors of each building If a RAID
comes.
Meanwhile, DR.. j. r. B. Hutchln-
son has been named chairman OF
the Medical Committee for Airing
ton of the Northern Virginia Re-
sional Defense Council. He sue
ceeds DR.. C. P. Cake, who resigned
because of his duties at a Washing
ton hospital.
Other Medical Chiefs.
Medical Committee chairmen in
the various jurisdictions of the Re
pional Defense Council other than
DR.. Hutchinson were announced as
DR., H. L. Latane, Alexandria; DR..
Robert Carpenter, Fairfax County;
DR.. George H. Davis, Fauquier
County: DR.. J. T. Jackson, Loudoun
County. and DR.. j. McI. jackson,
Prince William County.
Col Frank Wray, commanding the
18th Battalion of the Virginia Pro-
tective Force, said today company
has been authorized for Arlington
County and will be organized I'M
mediately under supervision OF Maj
Everett Hellmuth, battalion execu-
tive officer.
Enrolment will begin tonight and
continue tomorrow and FRIDAY
nights. Officials will be on duty al
the county courthouse from 7 te
$50 o'clock Men between the ages
of 18 and As are eligible.
Civic and fraternal associations IN
Herndon, Va, are cooperating u
equip the unused Methodist Church
as an emergency hospital, according
to H. r. Stutsman. Use OF the
building has been donated by the
American Legion post. Plans call TO
a 25-bed hospital for which fund
are being raised by the Herndor
Emergency Hospital Association. o
which DR.. E. C. Shull is chairman
he said.
Robert Forrest, Prince George
County chief air raid warden, vii
sneak at a meeting of the Cheverl.
Citizens Association at 7:3O o'clocl
tonight in the Cheverly Legion Hall
Fred w. Cast, president, announced