Evening star., 1942-04-30

SfImS0n Explains
Voluntary Efforts Failed
To Obscure Coast Towns,
Secretary Asserts
(Story on New York Dimout on
Back Page, Section A.
Secretary of War Stimson said
today the imperative necessity" of
controlling lighting which might aid
Axis submarines was a prime reason
Coast military area.
Voluntary efforts to control light
ing on coastal resorts and cities
have failed, Secretary StimS0n told
his press conference.
The Secretary said friend re-
ported witnessing destruction of a
ship off ST. Augustine. Fla. which
was facilitated by the glare from the
shore"
Secretary Stimson stressed also
that no mass evacuations were con-
templated on the East Coast like
those on the Pacific Coast, but in
stead policing and control of GER
tain vital but limited areas with the
aim of prohibiting potentially dan
gerous persons, whether alien or cit
izen, from entering these areas.
Bulk of Aliens Loyal.
The War Department, he said,
felt sure the great bulk of aliens
were fully loyal, and the Army had
no disposition to discriminate
against aliens as such.
Secretary Stimson was comment
ing on the announcement made
Sunday by 1t. Gen. Hugh A. Drum,
commander of the Eastern Defense
Command and the 1st Army, of
preliminary plans for establishing
an Eastern Military Area along the
Atlantic Coast at an early date.
The War Secretary told ques-
toner he believed the order would
permit resorts to continue to op-
crate, but added "if it is question
between bright lights and the lives
of men aboard tankers who are
bringing us oil, the lights will have
to 60 out"
He said he noted on recent visit
to Miami, Fla, en- route to an in
spection of the Panama Canal, that
the blackout was nearly complete,
yet did not seem to dampen the
enjoyment Of that resort.
Urges Rousing Send-offs.
The Secretary also called on the
''home towns" OF the thousands of
young selective service inductees to
give the ma 'rousing" send-of as
they leave for reception centers.
That is the time to show we are
proud Of them and regard them as
the key men of the country" the
Secretary declared.
I'VE in the War Department favor
very strongly demonstration of |
feeling for the boys who are going to |
encounter hazards in all parts of the |
world" he said. I'VE have been very |
sorry for the lack of display of this
feeling in many towns. We are at
the point when our new Army Is set
ting the pace for the morale Of the
country"
Secretary Stit1son also announced !
today selection Of a division camp
site high in the Colorado Rockies
for .large-scale training of hardened +
troops. Men for the outfit
will be hand-picked from skiers,
guides trappers and others.
- Cadets Required to Enlist.
p. Other requirements: -1 sfa.@ssg,r
For the duration candidates for
enrolment In the advanced course
of college r. @. 4. C.. unitx Will be
required to enlist In the Reserve
Corps This course Is the last two
years Of the four-year r. o. T. G.
training.
Four new senior. r. o. r. C.. units
were authorized for colored college
students. This brings the total of
seven units to provide future Negro
officers for the Army.
The new units and their types are:
West Virginia State College, field
artillery: Hampton Institute, coast
artillery; North Carolina Agricul-
tural and Technical College, In
fantry unit, and the Prairie View
Texas State Normal and Industrial
College, infantry unit.
More Colored Ohicers Trained.
Secretary Stimson said that In
the established officers training
schools of the Army, the number Of
Negro candidates for commission
rank had increased 46-fold since
February l, compared with . six
fold increase among white candi-'
dates. A total of 374 Negro SOL
diers are now attending these ON
Ger schools. Il
The Army has appointed 81 |
groups Of officer recruiting boards
to commission men in the Medical |
Corps in States east of the Missis- |
sippi River. These boards will be-
gin recruiting physicians inmedi-
ately. States west Of the Missis-
sippi will be covered at later date.
Heading the boards in this area
are First Its. E. B. Sirotta, Medical
Corps, and Samuel T. Faber. infan-
try, for Maryland and the District. |
In Virginia Capt. R. M. Jacobson,
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