Evening star., 1942-04-10
Maryland Test
Flashes False
Raid Alert Here
Yellow Light Sends
Defense Officials,
Wurdens to Posts

~ Observation-Disclosures dl lolllk uu4
ing . test in the civilian defense
communications system between
Hyattsville and points in Southern
Maryland resulted In an air raid
warning signal on police and other
communications networks in the
Washington Metropolitan area last
night.
Although official investigation of
the false alarm-the second in the
last fiye weeks-has not been COM
pleted, Col. Lemuel Bolles, civilian
defense director for the Metropolitan
area, said he understood the alarm
originated in a test between Hyatts-
vile and Leonardtown, La Plata and
Prince Frederick.
Yellow Signal Flashed.
The control center in Baltimore
apparently misunderstood the test
and flashed a yellow alert signal
which indicated that enemy planes
are 20 minutes away-to Washing
ton.
The signal was sent at 10:39 pm,
and an AL clear" was flashed at
11:10 pm. after the mistake was
discovered. Meanwhile, civilian de-
tense officials here and some air
raid wardens and auxiliary police
men rushed to their posts.
No Direct Trunk Line
J. Robert Sherwood, civilian de-
tense director for Prince Georges
County, said he understood the test
was made by E. F. Zalesak, the
county's chief AFRAID warden,
after . meeting with a group of
his wardens last night. He added
he was awaiting a complete report
from Mr.. Zalesak.
There is no direct trunk line
from Baltimore, where the signals
originate, to the Southern Maryland
area. The difficulty In transmitting
signals to that area arises from the
fact that the Baltimore signal must
be sent to Washington, then to Hy-
attsville and back to Washington,
thence to Southern Maryland.
As much rs 45 minutes has been
required to get through to Leonard
town In previous tests.
Investigation Started.
Mr.. Zalesak said test signal for
the three Southern Maryland COM
munities originated at the Hyatts-
vile control center the calls being
Felayed through Washington. He
said telephone connection was made
to Leonardtown, La Plata and
Prince Frederick, but in the latter
two towns, the proper AFRAID off,
cials were not reached and the sig
nal was either directed back to
Washington by the operators there
or q Washington operator iradvert-
Antly picked up the signal as 1t was
being relayed.
As soon as he learned that a
Washington alert had been sig
nailed, Mr. Zalesak said he called
control headquarters here and asked
officials to investigate their call.
Shortly thereafter, Washingtons "all
clear" was flashed.
Col. Bolles said he was investi-
eating the source Of Washington
alert signal.
Some Good Is Seen.
In Alexandria, Va, which is con-
nected into the metropolitan area
alarm system, approximately 1900
air raid wardens were called to their
posts for half hour, City Manager
Carl Budwesky, civilian defense CO.
ordinator. said. More than 200 aux
iliary police also were called.
In Arlington County, Chief Air
Raid Warden F. Freeland Chew said
the control center, where some one
is on duty at all times, was COM
pleteIy stated with "a chiefs of de-.
tense services within 10 minutes
after receipt of the yellow signal.
No wardens were called out, how
ever.
Mr.. Zalesak said that while the
Maryland test was not designed for
Washington or Virginia communi-
ties, it served a good purpose and
showed that all air-raid officials
were alert throughout the metro
politan area.