Evening star., 1942-04-12
Officials Exempt
-:
Some Lights
From B|ackout !
Sirens Will Signal Z :
Test Tuesday Night
Between 9 und II

Between 9 und II
The step-by-step testing of Wash
ington's ability to make itself in
visible to enemy airplanes attack.
ing at night will reach another
milestone Tuesday, when the citys'
first total" blackout will be staged.
Some time between pm. and
midnight-the exact time will not
be announced-air raid sirens will
wall and warnings will be flashed,
sending an army of $1,000 civilian
defense workers into action. The
blackout will last for half an hour.
Although it had been announced
previously that 100 per cent black
out would be staged, formal orders
approved by the Commissioners yes
terday to effectuate the mobiliza-
ton disclosed the following excep-
tions to the blackout restrictions:
/. Exterior warning lights and
signals normally maintained in the
interest of public safety. tTraff1c
signal lights and street lights, how
ever. will be switched of during
the test)
2. Navigation lights and aids to
navigation, both air and water, in
cluding airport. pier and wharf
lights. 2 3
8. Lights on, or incidental to, the
operation of military equipment.
4. Lights in or on Federal Govern
ment buildings where specifically
authorized by the deputy air-raid
warden for Federal buildings.
S. All lights customary for the
normal operation Of railroad and
bus transportation, including termi-
nal and other facilities.
6. All lights customary for the
normal operation of any public
utility, and of any industrial plant
engaged during the prohibited Pc
riod in essential war activity.
7. Driving lights on those vehicles
permitted to operate as emergency
vehicles during the blackout, pro-
vided the lights are hooded or
dimmed.
Speed Is Restricted.
It had been announced yesterday
that, lacking blackout equipment,
virtually all emergency vehicles Will
be operated with either cowl or dim
lights burning. Their speed during
the test is restricted to maximum
Of IS miles an hour.
Charles A. Peters, deputy warden
in charge of Government buildings,
said yesterday a memorandum had
been sent to the wardens OF all
Federal structures stating that
definite plans should be made for
all personnel to follow the procedure
established for AFRAID drills, to
move to designated shelter areas,
to extinguish all lights not pro-
tected by .blackout facilities and
to maintain blacxput conditions
throughout the half-hour period
until the all-ciear is sounded.
"You are urged to review the stu
alton in your building carefully"
the memorandum said, "and to take
all necessary steps so this blackout
test will be complete in all Govern
ment buildings, and SO that your
protective organization may have
complete drill in the procedure
which would actually be followed
under AFRAID conditions"
Have Identifying Insignia.
Vehicles which will be permitted
to operate during the test include
emergency vehicles - ambulances,
medical service cars, etc.-displaying
identifying insignia issued by Police
Chief Edward j. Kelly, and official
vehicles of the United States and
District Governments. All other
cars must be stopped and darkened
during the test.
The same penalties that have been
in effect in other blackout tests-a
$500 fine or a 90-day jail term. or
both-will face violators of blackout
regulations in Tuesdays test, al
though the local civilian defense
ONCE has indicated that, except in
cases of fragrant and willful viola
ton, there will be no attempt to
"crack down" on violators.
Deputy wardens of the Districts
civilian defense areas will receive
final instructions for the practice
test at conference at o'clock this
afternoon with Col. Lemuel Bolles,
executive director of civilian defense
for the metropolitan area, and Chief
Air-Raid Warden Clement Murphy.
The session will be held at afraid
warden headquarters, 1341 Maryland
avenue NE.
Warning to Public.
The first public warning OF the
test will come when the alarm is
sounded by the SO AFRAID sirens
installed on strategic rooftops
throughout the city, and some 20
others, including those at fire sta
tions. the Navy Yard. the Naval
Air Station, Soldiers Home and st.
Elizabeth's Hospital. The civilian
defense workers will be informed
of the blackout about half hour
before it begins.
The blackout order said off1cial
notice of the blackolt period shall
be given by the sounding on the
official sirens for a period of 2
minutes duration, of f1uctuating
signal of varying pitch, each fuctia-
ton to extend over a. period of
approximately 6 seconds The
all-clear will be announced by