Evening star., 1942-05-20
12-Hour bIackout
Planned for District
Soon After July |
Tests Also Will Include
Virginia, Maryland
And Pennsylvania

Plans for 12-hour blackout, prob
ably announced only few hours in
advance, some time after July l in
the District, Maryland, Virginia and
Pennsylvania, making up the Third
Civilian Defense Region, were dis
closed today after conference of
defense officials in Baltimore yes
terday.
While the blackout of residences
and office buildings will continue
during the IL hours, street lights
and automobile lights will be kept
on except for a half-hour air raid
test to be held at some unannounced
time during the period. Defense in
dustries will not be interrupted,
backing out as best they can, but
keeping such lights as they need.
Rowland K. Adams of Baltimore,
regional director for civilian defense,
announced that, while it had been
planned originally to hold a simul-
taneous blackout for the entire area,
it had been decided to have black
outs in each State and the District
separately.
Col. Lemuel Bolles, District direc-
tor of civilian defense, who, with his
assistant, Maj. Leonce Legendre, at
tended the conference, told the ON
cials Washington was ready for the
blackout tests today"
Urges Civilian Tests.
Tbe D;sfriot'e J;ro,tor ,,roaJ NJ
Adams to push the matter of black
outs vigorously" adding:
1T is now about six months after
Pearl Harbor, and God has been
good to us-the enemy has not
struck here as yet.
But put the heat on us. Put the
iron on us. We must get ready"
One Of the shortcomings of this
Office Regional Director Adams re-
piled, lis that we can't command.
We can only ask, advise and plead.
But I want this area to be ready to
meet any situation that might arise.
An air raid may come tonight. 1t
may come tomorrow night"
Col. Henry S. Barrett, Maryland
director of air raid precautions, told
the meeting that the Maryland
counties were ready for the test now,
but Baltimore City was not, since its
warning system was not complete.
Because of the lag in Baltimore, he
said, the State would not be ready
before July /.
The conferees were informed that
Virginia would be ready on June 2
and PENNSYLVANIA by June /.
The l2-hour tests, 1t was agreed.
will require backing out or ex-
tinguishing all lights, except those
needed to maintain vital defense
industries without interruption.
Army to Observe Effects.
1t. Col. F. K. johnson of the lst
1nterceptor Command told the off,
cials Army planes would be sent
over the areas to observe the effec-
tiveneSs of the tests.
Mr.. Adams explained that motor
vehicles would not be required to
blackout during the entire u hours
because the Army has not yet
adopted a standard hood for such
lights.
But automobile and street lights
will go out during the half hour of
the raid test. These periods will be
proclaimed by the AFRAID sirens.
Mr.. Adams emphasized that the
regulations devised were minimum
requirements for the defense re-
gion and State or local directors
could enforce more complete black
outs If they wished.
Most of them. however. includ-
ing the District e expected to
follow the general plan. Details
here remain 10 be worked out, 1t
was explained today at the District
Office of Civilian Defense.
During the half-hour periods of
complete blackout, when the test
raid alarms are on. protective prob
lens will be given raid wardens,
bomb squads. auxiliary policemen
and flremen and other civilian de-
fense volunteers
Because Of its size. PENNSYLVANIA
will black out In sections, with east
ern, central and western tested sep
ara tely