Evening star., 1941-07-13
Thousands
In Virginia for
Defense Work
Arlington, Fairfax,
Alexandria Civilians
Flock to Enroll

TWIN ~ .ss' 49,
Thousands of residents of Arling-
ton and Fairfax Counties and Alex
andria. eager for role In the
Nations defense effort, flocked to
registration centers in the three
areas yesterday to enlist IN the
Northern Virginia Regional Defense
Councils drive for volunteers In the
Civilian Defense Corps.
Over $500 had registered by clos
ing time last night at the six Alex
andria centers. In Arlington County
over 100 registrants were reported
In 6 of the II county registration
centers by $50 pm.
The registrants included F. Free
land Chew, chairman of the county
board. and the board members
Mrs. Beulah Shipley Goss, co-chair-
man of the county drive, estimated
that approximately 5000 persons
registered.
In Fairfax County over 1000 per-
sons had registered shortly before
the centers closed.
All Fields Represented.
Almost every trade and profession
was represented by the registrants
according to officials. They reported
mechanics, white-collar workers and
professional workers predominated
in Arlington and Alexandria areas,
while many farmers were included
In the Fairfax County Section.
In addition to native-born Amer
leans, registrants included several
English, Italians. Hung ari n S
Dutch, Russians and other nation
alities.
In Alexandria registration was led
by Mayor w. T. Williams and City
Manager Carl Budwesky. Supt. OF
Schools T. c. Williams was another
registrant among the official con-
tingent and listed variety of cap
abilities
Mrs. Frances Parkinson Keyes,
well-knoWn author, declared when
she registered that she is willing 10
loan her home for meetings, bene-
fits and parties and her automobile
and chauffeur when needed.
A breakdown of the first l.50O
reeistrants showed 760 men and TAO
women. Over 400 colored registrants
were included.
MANY Seek Clerical Tasks.
Cf the o. volunteer services listed
In the QUESTIONABLE, 321 persons OF
the first 1900 listed clerical work as
their preference. Second service most
popular among registrants was sew
ing. and typing was third. The few
est preferences listed were IN the
communications air raid wardens
radio operator, and photography
categories.
From the 1900 registrants. 1t was
also learned that of the IA services
for which training will be pro-
vided the majority picked first ald'
while the ambulance motor corps
and afraid warden services were
second and third, respectively Com
munications. nutrition and enter
tainment had the least appeal for
registrants.
A shoe shine boy in Alexandra
said he had no trade or special
qualifications but offered to under
90 training as demolition worker. A
charwoman volunteered to help take
care of defense centers in her spare
time.
Rabbi Among Volunteers
While a rabbi was offering TO
teach histoM, ethics, philosophy or
nerhaps some other subjects, a put-
Ter told a registrar he had had eX-
nerience in taking care of children
and would like to enter some phase
of child recreation work lin event OF
need.
One member of volunteer flre
company had attended a school IN
New York at which handling OF
incendiary bombs had been taught
and suggested he might be able 10
teach class in that essential Waf-
time work. Many members of fire
companies throughout the section
offered their services in this held'
A colorful Spanish American War
veteran with nothing to do volun-
teered in any capacity available. A
night watchman said he would be
willing to spend his off hours when-
ever needed.
German Refugee Volunteers.
A German refugee, with previous
military experience in Germany
who is employed as a soda CLERK
listed himself as qualified for ambu-
lance motor corps and telephone
operator jobs and as willing to train
for fire. AFRAID warden and demoll-
ton work.
An English woman with a degree
from the University of London SAID
she had received British alr-ralc
training.
Mrs. William E. Warren, co-chalr-
man of the Alexandria registration
expressed qualification over the
registration both from the point o1
numbers and the skills revealed.
The registration, which covered
the area included in the Northern
Virginia Regional Defense Council
was the first of its kind in the
State.
The region embraces the cities
of Alexandria and Charlottesville
and the counties of Albemarle, Ar
lington, Fairfax, Culpeper, Fauquier
Fluvanna, Greene, Loudoun, Louisa
Madison, Orange, Prince William
and RappahannOck.