Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-01-06
Prince Georges
Defense Chiefs
Retain Posts
Mrs. La Coppidon and
Lepper Withdraw
Their designations

Mrs. Daisy F. La Coppidan. chair.
man, and John w. Lepper, vics
chairman of the Prince Georges
County Defense Council. last night
withdrew their designations and a
general reorganization and expan-
sion of the Advisory Committee Of
the council was approved at a meet
ing In the County Service Building
at Hyattsville.
At the same time the Executive
Committee of the Montgomery
County Civilian Defense Council de-
cided not to use Boy Scouts as
messengers because the work was
described as too dangerous" In the
event of an actual air raid.
In the Prince Georges County re-
organization, 1t was agreed to extend
membership of the Advisory Com
mittee to leaders Of all groups di.
rectly interested in county civilian
defense. j
Acts to Still Rumors.
In a session which continued past
midnight, the committee acted to |
still rumors of dissatisfaction in
civilian defense ranks. These rumors
have persisted despite official denials
since Mrs. La Coppidan and MID
Topper last month offered their
designations to Gov. O'Conor and |
the State Defense Council Mrs.
La Coppidan presided at last nights
meeting.
AS a result of the decision to exc
pand the committee membership, in-s
vitations to Join the group will bes
sent to Mrs. Ruth P. Keane, chair
man Of the womens division Of /
county civilian defense: Mrs. w.
Parvin Starr, county chairman of
the Federation Of Women's Clubs;
Mrs. Catherine T. Reed, newly
appointed co-ordinator of defense !
activities in county schools. and to /
the Mayors or defense officials of all !
incorporated towns.
officials noted this morning that !
the committee had, in effect, been !,
reorganiZed along lines of those Sue 1
cessfully established in Montgomery |!
County.
Names Subcommittee.
In an attempt to solve the prob |
lem of providing an adequate alarm
system for the county, the commit {
tee appointed subcommittee to
work out details in the use of fire
company warning sirens and to in
vestigate the possibility of obtain
ing new sirens where they are
needed.
Members of the subcommittee are
T. Howard Duckett, Representative
Sasscer and J. Robert Sherwood.
1t was indicated the committee
will confer with chief Karl Young.
county defense fire co-ordinator. on
the possibility of establishing a CEN
trail alarm signal to be operated
from defense headquarters in the
County Service Building.
Following the decision Of the
Montgomery County Council Execu-
tive Committee not to use Boy
Scouts as messengers. special COM
mittee was appointed to investigate
other duties for which the Scouts
might be used. Thos appointed are
School Supt. Edwin w. Broome, DR..
Dexter M. Billiard, Police Chief An /
drew M. Newman and Paul L. Ban (
field.
Permits Will Be Limited.
The committee decided to issue a
limited number of driving permits
which are to be used during black
outs. to keep traffic movement at a
minimum. The permits will be
issued only to certain classes Of /,
emergency workers and applications
will be submitted for approval to a
committee, the members Of which
will not be made public.
Montgomery chief AFRAID ward
en-, Arch Mcdonald. was authorized
to prohibit solicitation of funds by
county afraid wardens. Such funds
may be collected only by authorized
representatives of the Finance Com
mittee, headed by Joseph A. Cantrel,
who will bear Identification letters
on stationery of the county COM
missioners.
1t also was decided to discontinue
the single siren blast which has
been used to summon firemen on the
first warnings of an alert. It was
agreed that the single blast sub
jected the community to unnecessary
alarm. In some instances an actual
raid alarm will not follow the alert
signals.
About 100 physicians attended a
"refresher course" in first aid at the
National Institute of Health last
night. The class was conducted by
DR.. L. M. Thompson of the national
headquarters of the Red Cross.