Evening star., 1941-12-10
Innocent Inquiry AIerts' Northeast Seoboord
Washington That Enemy Bomber Approached
Comedy Affecting Population Center

reduced to minimum to avoid
accidents.
The splendid patriotic co-opera-
ton of the citizens of Washington
thus far has been most comforting
and I expect 1t to be continued"
About pm, in view of questions
as to what lights should be dimmed,
etc, Mr.. Young conferred with Col.
Lemuel Bolles, civilian defense di-
rector for the District, and ex-
planned the order meant store show
window lights should be put out,
also lights on gasoline stations
Except pump lights, and lights
on theater and hotel entrances (exi
cept ticket windows at theaters)
that auto driving lights should be
dimmed; that citizens at their res
licences should draw shades and
reduce illumination to minimum
though real blackout was not being
ordered. Spot lighting of buildings
and the like was to be stopped.
At the time it was said traffic
control lights should be continued
for the present" while officials
considered what should be done. II
was said also that ban on outside
Christmas lighting decorations
might" be ordered.
AS to dimmed street lights and
dimmed auto lights, Mr.. Young
warned that added caution would
be needed to prevent collisions and
running down of pedestrians.
Blackout Rescinded.
At $40 another conference was
called with Col. Bolles. Commits
sioner Guy Mason also present.
Order No. was shortly issued. re-
scinding partial blackout, on basis
that officials of War Department S
chief of staff Office, and of the
Washington Provision Brigade, had
given an "all clear" signal on the
reported earlier enemy attack.
1t was argued by one District off,
cial that District stores did not have
shades with which to shut off light
ing used at nights while store prem
ises were being cleaned by char
| women.
Also there was talk that too little
lighting might mean more robberies,
riots, or even sabotage. Also that
in case of real attack on Washing
ton power company master switch
could be pulled, which would put
all lights out in the National Capt.
tal-and all power for operation of
water, sewer and other machinery
! even to lights in hospital operating
rooms until what private power
plants there might be In hospitals
might be started. One official asked
if such a blackout of electric power
might not be as bad as to have some
lights showing.
Capitops FIoodlight DOused.
At any rate, partial blackout Or
ders were rescinded, except that
general advice to the public was
to reduce illumination as much as
possible.
This will be followed in respect
to Government buildings. Last
night the brilliant flood lights that
have made the white dome of the
Capitol at night one Of the loveliest
sights In the country were turned
out for the first time since the
World War.
Preparations have been completed,
1t was announced, for blacking out
the White House.
Thus, it seems, the innocent tele-
phone inquiry after a misunderstood
radio broadcast-perhaps only a few
disconnected words of which were
heard-was able to throw the entire
Atlantic Seaboard into a state of
complete alertness.
The people of Washington should
understand that it was entirely Sc
rious. 1t was no hoax of the War
Department or the Civilian Defense
Administration, as has been ru-
mored, to test the working of the
alert" system.
A hoax of that sort, it is generally
admitted, is bad policy. Such
things were frequent in London dur
ing the first few weeks of the war
but after the people had been fooled
a rev times they began TO d1sre-'
gard afraid warnings.
Serious In Any Case.
Washingtonians may rest assured
that when an alarm comes it is
serious - although quite possibly
mistaken. 1t is not test.
Nobody has the right to stack his
personal judgment against the pub
lie safety, and this is bound to lead
to some curious situations in the
next few weeks.
But the fact remains that Japan
presumably preparing for weeks to
stab Uncle Sam in the back-has
gotten ready more than one dagger.
One Of them might-however i'm
pfobable-be an aircraft carrier IN
! the Atlantic.