The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-21
(NEA Telephoto)

protecting" the industrially-rich east, included new features de- veloped from actual war experience in the battle of Britain.
 For four days, until 6 p. m. Fri day physically unimpaired obServ- CTS and team of sightless but su- per-sensitive listeners will keep a. hour vigil at 400 outposts to spot attacking" bombing and fighter planes bent on devastating" huge areas in Massachusetts Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York state east of the Hudson river.
 Twice before, in the south and in New York state, the army has held smaller afraid tests. But today's will have the help of civilians, coast guards, regular army posts, the American Legion and the areas en- tire 6,000,0O0 miles of telephone wire.
 Problem Is Simple
 The general problem is compara- lively simple Enemy" planes, fly ing from undisclosed points will at- tempt to destroy" major industrial centers and cities such as New York, Boston, Providence, R. l., Hartford and Bridgeport, Conn.
 The 7,000-odd observers through out the area will flash warnings of the enemy" planes approach or passage to information centerS that have been set up here and at New York City.
 The defender planes, based gen. erally at Boston, Providence, Hart ford and New London, will seek to drive off the enemy"
 Speed will keynot defense activ- ities. When a "spotter" sights a plane he will pick up a telephone at his post and say to the answering operator:
 Army fash"
 Immediately she will place the urgent call over the regular toll routes to a receiver at a huge mas ter map in the army information center. The observers information will be plotted on various sectors on the map and commanding officers directing the defense area maneu- vers, will proceed with defense plans.
 18O Women Volunteers
 At the information center in Chel- sea armory, 180 women volunteers including Governor Leverett Salton- stalls daughter Emily will be at work sending special communica- tionS to afraid wardenS in key cities.
 As a special project, the army will test group of sightless youths at Waltham to determine if blind per- sons can successfully be used in de- fense work.
 A hand-picked team from Perkins Institute for the Blind, chosen for their super sensitive will serve. With keen ears and special hand-manipulated direction finders, they will assist in spotting planes.
 Supervising the group will be Paul Guiliana of Boston, a Perkins grad uate and blind composer -organiSt at the First Italian Methodist church.
 Giuliana's home is near the Bos- ton airport and since it's opening he has observed" flying airplanes with his ears. The youth has developed the art to such degree that he can distinguish between the sounds made by three single-motored planes flying together and a tri- motored transport. He also is able to tell approximate height at which the planes are flying and whether they are above or below the clouds.
 Arsenal Of Nation
 Hartford, Con-, Jan. 21 - O.P0 Connecticut, arsenal of the na- tion," was under a theoretical enemy air attack today as Army planes roared over Southern New England and eastern New York in big-scale test of a new civilian alarm system.
 Assigned to observation posts on hilltops, lookout towers, farmhouses and city buildings, were nearly 2000 volunteers of the aircraft warning service, who kept a constant watch of the sky for the approach of the invading" bombers.
 Each observation post was equipt ped with special phone over which observers obtained immediate con- nection with army information cen- ters at Mitchell Field, N. Y, and Boston, where the number of planes, their type and altitude speed. and direction were recorded for the de- fense corps.
 Meanwhile, coast guard main- tained vigilance at sea to broad cast warnings as the enemy air. craft neared the coaStline.
 Telephone operators, especially trained for this defense work, were assigned to handle the hundreds of calls which poured into the in- formation centers. Observers were given immediate connections with the centers on anonuncing army flash
 The defense area covered 18,000 square miles and defending" planes were stationed at five airports to AI-A o&A1 LA,-a La~e