Evening star., 1941-12-28
D. {. B|ackout
tuesday 70 Be
Thorough Test
General Rules
For Public Cited
By Col. BoIIes

Washington's first real black
out practice, scheduled to be held
sometime between and 9 pm.
will be the most thorough
test yet staged of mobilization of the
25 ,000-odd civilian defense workers
in the Metropolitan Area.
Furthermore, under plans an
nounced last night by Commissioner
Young, United States civilian de-
fense co-ordinator for the Metro
politan Area, all residents and busi-
ness firms will be expected to
observe "scrupulously' all instruc-
tions which have been issued for
use in the event of a real raid.
Some military authorities fear
there may be a token raid some
time in the near future.
General Rules Summarized.
AS described by Col. Lemuel
Bolles. civilian defense director for
this area, residents of the area will
be expected to observe the following
rules:
Residences: In every residence
where any light may be visible
from the exterior. the occupants
are expected to turn out lights dur
ing the alarm period; if blackout
curtains are effective this will not
be necessary and families should go
about their necessary business.
Business houses: Every business
house in the Metropolitan Area
should turn out all outside adver-
tising lights of any character, and
should extinguish any interior lights
which may be visible from the out
side, and this includes skylights
which, while not visible from the
streets. would be from the skies.
Street lighting: Details of plans
for blotting out traffic and street
lights had not been perfected last
night. Traffic Director William A.
Van Duzer was working on a pro-
gram TO make all traffic lights in
visible TO enemy air raiders. This
may be accomplished by using hoods
and other devices which would per-
AAA@N CAA4S n o44Slll 44slll W SIlOW
underneath the lamp, not visible to
the pilot Of a plane but still a guide
TO emergency aides during a pro-
longed blackout.
Bolles and Sharpe TO Confer.
Col. Bolles and C. Melvin Sharpe,
chief of public utilities services for
civilian defense, will confer tomor-
row morning on details of plans for
street lighting IN the Metropolitan
Area. Col. BolleS said the question
Of backing out street lighting was
not a simple one Some. if not all
OF the street lights in the Metro.
politan Area will be turned out
Commissioner Young said.
Radio: In the test blackout
Tuesday night, residents of the
Metropolitan Area will have the
advantage of a radio service. Since
Washington still lacks adequate air.
raid warning horns, the progressive
/ test signals will be broadcast over
( all radio stations, under plans being
perfected last night by Col Bolles.
This, the official emphasized, is a
/ protection which the Metropolitan
/ Area will not have in any real
emergency when radio service would
be suspended.
Theaters are expected to have all
exterior lights turned of. The shop
windows and other food lighting
should be eliminated.
Motorists Cautioned.
Motorists: During an emergency
blackout, Col Bolles said the indi-
vidual motorist loses his freedom ot
action and every driver should OBJ.
serve the few simple rules" laic
down by the Office of Civilian De
fense. These rules are: Upon tn,
, sounding of an alarm signal, tn,
motorist should draw up to tn
! nearest curb and park his car: turn
, off the engine: turn out the lights
! leave his key in the ignition; clos
the doors of the car but leave then
unlocked; get out of the car an
seek shelter in the nearest buildine
All motorists should be careful nc
. to block alleys or emergency exist
or fire hydrants.
a Questioned about leaving ca
{ doors unlocked and keys in the ig
milton, Col. Bolles said that againS
the danger of theft of any car woul
:, be the vigilance of the entire polio
department. supplemented by volun
teer police, who will stop all movi:i
:, traffic during the alarm period an
insist upon full and complete identi
fication of any motorist who is driv
; ing during a blackout.
Signals: The same siren syster
. which was employed in Washing
tons first daylight test last Sunda
morning. will be used to warn tn
public Tuesday night. This system
has been described by COMMISSIONS
Young as "ludicrous" and by Co
Bolles as utterly inadequate