Evening star., 1942-06-05
A||-Night Test
B|ackout Set for
D. C., Virginia
BoIIes Decides to
Join With Stute in
June II Experiment

Washington will stage its first
dusk-to-dawn practice blackout on
June II as the Metropolitan Area
joins with the whole of Virginia in
the all-night test.
Col. Lemuel Bolles, executive of
District defense, confirmed late yes
terday that he had telegraphed J.
H. Wyse, Virginia defense co-ordin-
ator, of the decision to join in the
practice.
1t will mark the first test Of this
kind for the District and the first
time the city has joined in the test
with the whole of another State.
City Manager Carl Budesky, Alex
andria defense co-ordinator, some
time ago said that that city would
disregard Statewide AFRAID tests
unless they coincide with these for
the District. Hence Washington's
decision to join in the test, it was
explained.
The Metropolitan Area includes
Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax.
Mr.. Budwesky also disclosed that
for the first time, the citys Is air
raid sirens, heretofore operated man
ually and Independently, will be
connected on one circuit to give the
alarm simultaneously.
Arlington Will Participate.
Chief Air-Raid Warden F. Free
land Chew of Arlington County said
today that area will take part in
the blackout. Previously there was
some doubt Arlington would par
ticipate because it was not then
known that the District would prac-
tice the test. The Metropolitan
Areas of Washington in Virginia
have been authorized to participate
In all District-ordered afraid tests.
1t will not be known until this
afternoon whether the Metropoli-
tan Areas in Maryland will engage
in the June II test or will black
out with the southern part of the
State in another test planned a
short time before that date
Col. Robert S. Barrett, Maryland
afraid precautions director, was
to confer with Montgomery and
Prince Georges County officials this
afternoon on the situation.
Virginia merchants who wish to
kssp their places of business open
the night of June II must darken
their show windows and see that in
terror lights do not shine outward
when doors are opened, John j.
Howard, State chief of AFRAID pre-
cautions, said.
Army Planes Will Check.
Plans for the test have been ap-
proved by the Third Regional De-
fense Headquarters and the Army's
1st Interceptor Command, and the
Army will check effectiveness of the
blackout by observation planes.
Full cooperation on the part of
the public, Mr.. Howard said, may
make it unnecessary to have fire.
quent repetitions of the night-long
test later on.
4SSPI VI 1dA"dJS OpCl-
ating in the State will meet at Rich
mond at 10 am. Monday to agree
on steps to conform their operations
to the blackout.
Motor vehicles may continue mov-
ing with lights dimmed or parking
lights on and pedestrians may come
and go.
Some time during the night there
will be an AFRAID test alarm,
when a complete blackout will be
enforced. Traffic will stop, its lights
extinguished and people on the
streets must seek shelter. Afraid
wardens and auxiliary police and
firemen will go to their posts for
a thorough checkup on their weeks
of training.
War Plants to Operate.
Plants operating on war materials
will not be required to cease opera
tions. but Mr.. Howard said they
should be prepared to enforce
complete blackout in the event of
an actual raid. 1t will be the duty
of local defense co-ordinators, he
said, to satisfy themselves that such
plants have held the necessary
drills and are prepared to black
out, should the need arise, in con-
formity with Army requirements.
Mr.. Howard said authorities rec
ognized that Wednesday night was
church night for many Virginians,
but pointed out that at this season
of the year darkness did not settle,
under the Eastern War Time sched-
ule, until around pm and there
fore it was felt the blackout would
not greatly inconvenience the
church programs. Should services