Evening star., 1941-12-10
Thousands Offer
Services for
DC. Defense
Volunteers Respond
To BoIIes' Appeal
For $4,000 More

4iOuodliNS Vi IitlhSiic So6SA w AASAP
protect Washington had responded
today to yesterdays appeal by Col.
Lemuel Bolles, executive director of
civilian defense, for 14,000 more VOL
unteers to guard the city against air
raids and other dangers resulting
from the war.
More thousands were pressing to
be enrolled for various services,
lining up at police precincts. fire
stations and with neighborhood cit
liens observation-disclosures raid
warden assistants, auxiliary police
men and firemen, medical workers,
emergency feeding and billeting
planners and other types of needed
volunteers were being enlisted.
Police precincts were crowded last
night as citizens read of the plea
for more auxiliary policemen. Maj.
Edward j. Kelly, superintendent of
police, was gratified at the response
and expressed confidence today the
city soon would have the addi-
tional 5000 volunteers for which
he has asked.
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plication blanks and had to ask
volunteers to return tonight.
Volunteers Fingerprinted.
Fingerprint equipment was In
stalled at the precinct stations. All
volunteer policemen were being
fingerprinted. So were the $500
citizens who have offered to serve
as air raid wardens.
Fire stations reported pleasing
response to the call for 2,400 more
auxiliary flremen.
A meeting aimed at perfection OF
plans for police participation in
civilian defense was held this morn
ing at police headquarters by di-
rection of Maj Kelly.
Final instructions for training OF
auxiliary policemen were discussed
at a conference of all inspectors
and captains OF the department.
Actual training of those slated for
the volunteer work was slated to
begin today.
Also joining in the discussion were
one man from each precinct, one
from the Detective Bureau and two
from the Traffic Bureau. 1t was
explained this group had completed
a Federal Bureau of Investigation
course covering all types of special
police activity during the emer-
gency.
instruction Standardized.
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were to be assigned as instructors
and all instruction was to be stand
ardized throughout the department.
About $50 persons sworn in as air
raid assistants, attended class of
instruction at the Fire Department
Training School
1t. Comdr. j. P. Weatherill of the
Washington Navy Yard spoke on
bombs and poison gas to 65 deputy
raid wardens, representing commu-
mites all over the city.
Some 300 members of the Burleith
Citizens Association at a meeting
last night at Gordon Junior High
School learned how to put on gas
masks. Training masks were DEM
onstrated by Chief Gunner F. C.
White of the Chemical Warfare Di-
vision of the Once of Civilian De-
fense.
Food Training Begun.
More than a score of women be-
gan special training in emergency
food distribution, under the tutelage
of Miss Mary Mason, deputy air-raid
warden in charge of emergency feed
ing and shelter
Col. Bolles emphasized that volun-
teers for the various types of war
service should not report at the
District civilian defense office in
the District Building. but should
inquire at the nearest police pre-
cinct, fire station or citizens aSso-
citation headquarters, or at the Cen
tral Volunteer Bureau, sol Pennsyl-
vania avenue NV. This distribution
of enlistments will expedite the work
of organizing civilian defense, he
pointed out, and his Office is so i'm
mersed in the task of general direc-
ton that it cannot take up lndi-
vidual offers.
Both Col. Bolles and Commissioner
John Russell Young, the defense CO.
ordinator, expressed their gratitude
for the patriotic response Of citizens
of all occupations, men and women
to the appeal for volunteers 20 cope
with civilian phases of the war crisis
An official of the District Fire
Department today gave assurance
that all fire-fighting units in the
metropolitan area of Washington
! including those of Prince Georges
Montgomery and Arlington Counties
and Alexandria, have perfected plans
for Joint, simultaneous action in the
event of emergencies such as all
raids.
1t is understood that citizens ir
some outlying communities hac
voiced fear that there might bt
some delay in transmitting warning!
of air raids to nearby fire depart.
ments
Such warnings will be flashed t.
all fire-fighting units in the metro
politan area as quickly as they ar,
received by the District Fire De.
parment, the official said. Additiona
telephone operators will be available
for emergencies.
Most of the fire departments, botf
paid and voluntary, in nearby Mary
land and Virginia have tripled thei
memberships, and officials say the!
now have sufficient auxiliary fire
men to meet any emergency.
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