Evening star., 1941-12-23
City Heads Act
To Get Air Raid
Sirens Quickly
so Electrical Devices
Soon to Be Placed
Throughout City

Regardless of the most desirable
type or cost, Washington soon will
be provided with enough afraid
warning sirens to give proper wern-
ing to the public, under plans being
whipped into final shape today by
the Commissioners.
No less than so special noise
making gadgets will be purchased
and installed within a matter of
days" under plans being shaped up
this morning as P substitute for
earlier arrangements for manufac-
ture of nine special type air-pres-
sure horns.
Meanwhile civilian defense offici-
ais announced police today would
begin giving polite warnings" to
proprietors of business establish
ments which so far have failed to
comply with requests that show
window and other night lighting be
dimmed or turned off at night.
Property owners, public or private,
will be held responsible in the end,
though tenants also have duty,
officials said.
Manufacturers Contacted.
Tentative decision on the sirens
was reached last night after phone
calls had been made to several
distant cities to determine what
types of horns or sirens could be
supplied at once. such steps being
taken after a manufacturer of fire
fighting apparatus seid he could
not guarantee to deliver the nine
special AFRAID horns within so
days.
Orders were expected to be placed
today after final report was re-
ceived by the city heads from 1t.
Col. Beverly c. Snow, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner, on his in
vestigation of what AFRAID noise
makers were quickly available.
The Executive Committee of the
Montgomery County Defense Coun-
Gil last night decided to halt plans
to buy six sirens for the county
pending decision by the Washington
authorities today.
Yesterday morning the Commits
sioners were confronted with reports
that the large fire apparatus manu-
facturer had said he could not guar
antee to start manufacture of the
requested District horns until 80
to so days and that some time
would have to be allowed for making
the horns after priorities were
granted Rebelling against delay,
the city heads directed immediate
action to seek what type of substi-
tute horns or sirens could be found,
and before noon yesterday it was
announced some type of factory
whistle probably would be obtained
quickly.
Prompt Shipment Expected.
Later. after calls had been made
to firms at New York, Chicago and
other places, the city heads said
they believed they could order, and
probably today would order. 60
electric sirens from a Chicago firm.
w. S. Dorley &, Co., with the un-
derstarding the sirens could be
shipped promptly.
The purchase cost was placed at
around $4,000, but to this was to
be added pretty heavy" cost of
installation. Commissioner Young
said he did not know what the
total cost would be, but added: I'VE
can't go on waiting for adequate
AFRAID warning signals. We should
have these sirens quickly"
He said the Navy Yard, New York,
San Francisco and some other
places were planning to use the
same type Of sirens. Il expect" he
said, "they will be just as effective
as the ones We had planned to buy"
The nine horns originally planned
were estimated to cost $17,500, but
when the concern reported back
yesterday it was found they would
not be available for about so days
or more and that the cost was placed
at some 100000
Weakest Link" in Setup.
Mr.. Young. civilian defense CO.
ordinator for the Metropolitan Area,
and Col. Lemuel Bolles, civilian de-
fense director, said the air raid
warning signals are the weakest link
in the present setup and declared
prompt action must be taken. They
both praised air raid wardens, VOL
unteer police and firemen and other
defense workers for responding to
the Sunday morning test rehearsal
Col. Bolles announced a second
test would be called "at an early
date" While the exact time is not
to be given beforehand, Col Bolles
emphasized the next educational
mobilization of workers would be the
subject of advance notice similar to