Evening star., 1941-12-15
Test BIackout
SET for Tonight
In Montgomery
Nearby Areas
Urged to Rush
Defense PIuns

OerenSe TIOnS
Sixty thousand residents Of tbs
suburban area of Montgomery County
will participate at 8:45 o'clock to-
night in the first test blackout IN
the Washington area.
Gov, O'Conor of Maryland has or
dered all communities of 5000 or
more population to hold test black.
outs.
I'VE are faced with the immediate
organization and completion Of
civilian defense plans of the most
momentous Significance, the Gov
ernor said at Annapolis yesterday at
a meeting of $50 volunteer workers
assembled to perfect the Statewide
alarm system. Our people may be
called upon to use these plans. not In
some very distant months or years,
but tonight or tomorrow night or
some night in the immediate future"
Instructions on the most effective
method of extinguishing incendiary
bombs were given air raid wardens
at the meeting by two Army officers,
Mai. w. E. Caldwell and Capt.
James w. Boynton. stationed at the
Chemical Warfare Station at Edge
wood Arsenal, the Associated Press
reported
After igniting an incendiary bomb.
the officers demonstrated that a
steady stream of water from hose
tends to spread the blaze, and that
the best way to extinguish bombs is
to drench them with fine spray.
Gas Masks Ready Soon.
Capt Boynton predicted that
within few weeks gas masks would
be distributed to the public and in
structed conferees to caution those
in their communities that protection
clothing should be worn to guard
against certain types of gases which
are skin irritantS.
w. Frank Roberts, State Defense
Council chairman, cautioned: We've
gotten off to a good start, but we've
a lot more work to do. Don't be too
optimistic or too critical of your
fellow worker: Mistakes are bound
to be made at first"
Other State officers complimented
the representatives on progress
made They included Isaac S.
George, council executive director;
1t Col. Henry S, Barrett, director
of Air Raid Precautions Service;
DR.. Charles R. Edwards, State di-
rector of medical services. and j.
w Just. State fire co-ordinator.
Beginning tonight. blackout will
be observed at North Beach every
other night from 8 O'Clock until day
light. it was announced by Michael
J. Lane, mayor.
The city's first blackout was in
effect last night from II o'clock to
! daylight.
Twenty-Five auxiliary police were
sworn in Saturday night to assist
in civilian defense. Hebert Mac
Williams was named captain. It
also was announced that the North
Beach Fire Department will receive
5000 from the town for new equip
ment.
Because of crowds swarming its
streets during the holiday seasons,
Baltimore will not take part in to-
nights blackout. Mayor Howard
w. Jackson announced that the city
had postponed its test until after
Christmas.
Virginia Speeds Units.
Meanwhile, Virginians rushed the
organization of local defense units
throughout the State in the face Of
tentative deadline set by Acting
Co-ordinator j. H. Wyse of the
State Defense Council for Friday.
He has asked that units be set up
in every city. town and county, COM
plete with air raid wardens and all
component parts of the civilian pro-
tective program. by that time.
The Virginia State Defense Coun-
Gil telegraphed officials today in all
cities and towns east of the Blue
Ridge urging them to call special
meetings of their town councils this
week to enact emergency blackout
ordinances.
Model ordinances were sent to the
cities and towns Saturday by the
League Of Virginia Municipalities.
Equipment to turn the Herndon
American Legion headquarters into
an air raid hospital within an hour
Will be purchased by the legion with
In the next 10 days, it was announced
today.
With a committee of Herndon
business and civic leaders co-operat-
ing, the post plans to purchase and
store cots and other equipment at
their headquarters in the old North
ern Methodist Church. DR.. E. C.
Shul and DR.. William Meyer head a
committee of citizens attempting to
raise $1,000 to finance the project.
wesley A. Richardson, deputy air
RAID warden for zone II, group 4.
In Alexandria. Va, announced that
special meeting will be held at 7
o'clock tonight in the George Wash
ington High School to witness a
flrst aid demonstration of how to
halt bleeding by exerting pressure
at various points on the body. L. G.
Porter, in charge of first aid work
in the city. will stage the demon
stration. 1t will illustrate emer-
gency measures only and not replace
regular first aid courses, he said.
A meeting has been scheduled at
$50 pm. tomorrow in the st.
Thomas More Church, 1873 North
Thomas street. Arlington, by the
Arlington Chapter of the American
Red Cross to start a five-and- -one-
half week course in first aid instruc-
tion. The class will meet Tuesdays
and Friday nights. Residents of the
area from Fort Myer to the Fairfax
County line and between Wilson and
Lee boulevards are invited to attend,