Evening star., 1941-12-27
B|dckout Slated
In D. T.. Homes,
offices tuesday
Decision on Turning
OFF Street Lights
Not Yet Made

A near blackOut OF washington
will be staged for Is or 20 minutes
between 7 and 9 pm. next Tues
day, as the National Capital ex-
periences its first nighttime test
mobilization of defense workers, un-
der plans announced. last night by
Col. Lemuel Bolles, civilian defense
executive for this metropolitan area.
All private homes will be expected
to have lights turned of or blacked
out. Office buildings and stores will
be expected to show no lights what
soever. Officials predicted last night
that street lights or part of them
would be turned of, but this will be
determined later.
Meanwhile the 24-hour watch over
public school buildings. carried on
with the aid of teachers serving
overtime, will be continued through
January 3, under plans agreed to by
School Supt. Frank W. Ballou and
Col Bolles. This was decided at
conference yesterday afternoon,
after considerable speculation as
to the reasons, who gave the orders
and how long the guard should be
continued
Industry Excluded.
In connection with the partial
blackout Tuesday, it was stressed
that no industry would be blacked
out and no lights at Army or Navy
airdromes and no aircraft safety
lights would be turned of during
such training tests. These are Fed
eral rules.
The Tuesday night period was Sc
lected. it was said, as the earliest
hour practicable that was consistent
with giving ample warning notice to
all concerned.
The blackout training test Is the
second of a series of organization
practices to be ordered. The first
was last Sunday morning, when
some blackout conditions were simu-
lated, including a temporary halting
of traffic At the time, defense Off
Gals warned that more rigid tests
were on the way and the new order
was given only after the President
had signed the measure giving the
city heads real blackout powers.
Permits Borrowing Funds.
The Blackout Act gives the Com
missioners unprecedented authority
over District residents. While au-
thorizing the city heads to stage
blackouts, with the approval of the
Secretary of War. it also authorizes
them to borrow s1,000,000 from the
United States for defense purposes,
and to evacuate District residents if
necessary.
1t authorizes them to prohibit
traffic movements, to promulgate
and enforce other blackout regula-
tions. to appoint special police and
to accept volunteer services. Maxi
mum penalties for violation of the
new law would be fine of $500 and
imprisonment up to 80 days and
double penalties would be assessed
for crimes committed during black
outs.
With reference to the public
school guard around the clock, Col
Bolles declined to be specific, sug-
gesting that some one had received
confidential" orders This. he said
he could not confirm or deny.
During the afternoon, however
there was a brief conference between
| Col Bolles and DR.. Ballou. Later DR.
Ballou announced continuation o
the nocturnal watch through Janu
ary 3. which he explained had beer
requested by Col. Bolles.
Previously, it had been explained
the need for the watch was dictated
by a desire to maintain lines o
communications" between schoo
buildings and school headquarters
Also. it had been explained, schoo
teachers were not expected to Civ
the overtime service unless the.
could be accompanied by husband
father or brother as an escort.