Evening star., 1942-01-09
dc. May Buy
J Steam Sirens
For Raid Alarms
Electric Devices
Held Disappointing
After First Test


Purchase Of seven steam air-raid
warning sirens, in addition to the Al
electric ones already on order for
the District, will be recommended to
the Commissioners by special
committee investigating the matter.
following . test of two electric ones
yesterday that was pronounced
rather disappointing"
1t. Col. Beverly C. Snow, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner and chair
man Of the special committee, said
the steam sirens will be needed to
give the District complete coverage.
The new devices, which will cost
q total of $3.50, including installa-
ton, are sirens that are steam op-
Grated rather than electric and not
steam whistles.
For the Al electric sirens. the Dis
trict Is spending $4,000, including
installation.
Readily Available.
While admitting that yesterdays
test had been rather disappoint-
ing" Col. Snow said purchase of
the seven steam sirens had been
under consideration prior to the
test. He said he had been informed
the steam sirens are readily avail
able, while only IL of the Al elec-
trio devices have arrived, although
ordered some time ago.
Col Snow explained he has not
received complete report on the
test of the electric signals yester-
day, but that it appeared that the
sirens range of warning was not
as great as had been anticipated"
At the same time, however, he
said it would be impossible to judge
the efficiency of the electric sirens
until all of them have been in
stalled.
The steam sirens, which would be
controlled from central point by
q special valve, would be placed
only at those buildings where steam
was available "a hours Of the day.
Col. Snow mentioned such places
as the District Building, Catholic
University and St. Elizabeth's Hos
pital.
In yesterdays test a big. 5-horse-
power siren was atop the Municipal
Center Building and was sounded
about 4:30 pm, while a smaller
one, on the Thomson School at
Twelfth and L streets NV, was set
of half an hour later.
Col. Snow said he had been told
that a strong wind probably had
cut down considerably on the carry
ing power Of the signals. He couldn't
hear either Of the sirens from his
ONCE. he added.
May Change Police Sirens.
Herbert A. Friede. superintendent
Of the Districts fire alarm system
and chairman of communications
for the District Defense Council, is
to get reports from a number of
listeners stationed within the area.
In connection with the air-raid
signal, the problem of whether
sirens on police cars and fire appa-
ratus and ambulances should be
altered to prevent confusion with
the other signals was to be taken up
by a newly named Civilian Defense
Policy Committee Of the District
this afternoon.
Appointed by Commissioner
Young, co-ordinator for civilian de-
fense for the Washington metropoli-
tan area, the five-man body will
advise particularly on matters where
the possibility of double jurisdiction
by a District department might
arise.
Its members are Col. Snow,
chairman; Capt. H. C. Whitehurst.
director of highways: Maj Edward
j. Kelly, superintendent of police:
Chief Stephen T. Porter of the Fire
Department, and Mr.. Friede.
BIackout Problems to Be Studied.
Among the problems to be con-
sidered at the initial meeting this
afternoon are whether certain street
lights now dimmed should be turned
on full; whether offlcial cars, fire
engines and police cars should be
permitted to drive with lights dur
ing a blackout and what is the best
method to handle blackout of traf-
fic signals.
Washington citizens who perform
meritorious service for civilian de-
fense will be given official citations
or awards, in form yet to be
determined, under new pro-
gram promulgated by Commissioner
Young.
The citations or awards will &c
to individual citizens as well as to
those officially enlisted in the civil
ian defense system, Mr.. Young said
Mai. Gen. P. C. Harris, U. S. A..
retired. was appointed chairman OF
the Committee on Citations and
Awards. r. L. Jarnagin of the
Veterans Administration was named
secretary.
Other members are Frederick E
Altemus, Joshua Evans, jr.; William
w. Everett, Col. Julius I. Peyser and
Mrs. Grace Hays Riley.
At the same time Commissioner
Young announced the designation
Of Engineer Commissioner Charles
w. Kutz as first deputy co-ordinator
for civilian defense for this area
and Commissioner Guy Mason as
second deputy co-ordinator.
Col. Lemuel Bolles. civilian defense
director, was named by Co-ordinator
; Young to act as commander of the
Citizens Defense Corps in any
emergency.