Evening star., 1941-03-27
Training Of Reserve
Police and Fire Forces
Urged for Emergency
Air Raid Possibility
Seen Behind PIon Of
Special Defense Unit
BY JAMES FREE.

Looking e.head TO possible ali
raids in wartime or to peacetime
replacement of men called into
armed services, a special advisory
committee to the National Defense
Commission today urged that cities
throughout the country begin train
ing programs to assure reserve
forces of policemen, firemen and
health officers.
The committee did not specify
what the civil protection" might
be needed for, but the survey on
which its findings were based made
it clear that air raids and protection
from sabotage we're among impor-
tant factors considered.
"A sharp rise" was seen in the
need for trained policemen, firemen
and health officers.
Outline Duties.
Outlining additional duties that
might be necessary in defense, the
survey-made by the American Mu-
nicipal Association, comprised OF
more than 1886 municipalities
SIdtcu GllcSt lIlCluQeU.
Police-Protection of factories
utility plants, etc, from sabotage;
apprehension of saboteurs, training
of plant watchmen; enforcement OF
"blackout" regulations, assistance ir
rescue of victims of air raids.
Firemen-Protection of factories
etc, from fires resulting from arson,
incendiary bombs. etc.
Health off1cers-Maintain sanitary
conditions in bomb shelters, protec-
ton of public from contagious dis
ease epidemics, treatment and care
Of injured.
Cite Training Neglect.
Fully $1,000 of the 165 1000 State
and local police officers in the Nation
received no formal training during
the past year, according to the
survey. 1t was asserted that present
State programs fall far short of
providing a broad, representative
plan of training for even the groups
engaged in performing the most
essential governmental functions.
Reporting to Frank Bane, defense
director of the State and local CO.
operation, the special group, known
as the Committee on Public Service
Training in the Emergency, said
that only about one-seventh of all
State and local government en-
ployes, exclusive of those working
In schools. are now being reached
through training programs.
1t recommended that all govern.
mental bodies cooperate in prepar-
ing programs to meet defense civil
protection needs, that such require
ments be promoted with the aid OF
Federal funds, and that training OF
public service workers be included
in the Federal local and in-service
worker training programs.
Unprotected From Call.
Roy Owsley of the American
Municipal Association, chairman O,
the committee. pointed out that nc
blanket provision has been made
for selective service deferment O.
policemen, f1remen or health off.
GERS. While many may be giver
individual deferment, variation O.
draft board procedure over tn,
country undoubtedly will result il
thousands of these public service
employees being called for military
training.
AS an example, however remote Il
may seem of potential defense
needs, Mr.. Owsley told how Londor
last fall had to swiftly increase it.
f1re-fighting force from 10000 tt
some 100000 persons.
Other members of the committee
are Paul v. Betters Of the United
States Conference of Mayors ane
Daniel w. Hoan, former Mayor O.
Milwaukee and associate director Of
the Division of State and Loca
Cooperation.