Evening star., 1942-08-19

Page.
Washington's second surprise"
blackout last night, though far less
than surprise in many quarters.
was considerable improvement
over last weeks test.
Commissioner Guy Mason anG
Col. Lemuel Bolles, civilian defense
director, who viewed the blacked-
out city from an airplane, expressed
satisfaction with the results of the
test. Judged from the standpoint
of perfection, however, last nights
blackout was not satisfactory, Com
missioner Mason said, but from a
standpoint of improvement. it was
gratifying.
63 Violations Noted.
There were So violations of last
nights blackout noted by police
They are to be presented to the
corporation counsel for decision
whether to prosecute.
More than 100 cases were listed
by police during the August 10
test, but they were not prosecuted
because of inadequate regulations.
Street lights still are big OBJ
stacle to completely and quickly
blackening out Washington. the
Commissioner said. Twelve minutes
elapsed last night after the alarm
before street lighting was extin-
guished. though even this, Commis-
sioner Mason said, was an improve
ment over August 10, when 20
minutes elapsed.
1t was indicated this would be
one of the major matters discussed
this afternoon when civilian defense
officials were to hold staff meet
ing
Memorial Highway Lighted.
The Mount Vernon Memorial High
Highway was another brilliantly
lighted flaw in the blackout, Com
missioner Mason said. a perfect
guidepost along the river pointing
toward Washington.
An official of the Park Police,
who are responsible for extinguish-
ing the lights during tests or raids.
said the lights had been turned
off He admitted. however, he had
not received report that the lights
had been extinguished, but said a
dependable man had been assigned
the task.
News of the test had spread by
rumor throughout the city long be-
fore the alert was sounded Air
raid wardens and auxiliary police
men were patrolling streets in many
sectors before they had been off,
cially warned. Pedestrians were
warning friends by 9 o'clock that
there's going to be blackout to-
night"
At Union Station, where lights did
not 60 off during the last test until
Commissioner Guy Mason ordered
them turned out some seven minutes
after the signal had sounded, lights
under the portico at the entrance of
the building began flicking off 10
minutes before last nights warning
was sounded.
Water Gate Audience Dispersed.
At the Water Gate, perform
ance Of Aida" was halted at $50
and 5000 persons in the audience
were warned that a blackout was in
the offing and were told to disperse,
in accordance with orders of Will
liam J. Mileham, chief AFRAID war
den. There was divergence in the
methods of handling large crowds
however. At Griffith Stadium, those
watching the night baseball game
remained in their seats in the
stands, as ordered by United States
Civilian Defense Director James M
Lands.
At Glen Echo Park, rides were
halted as much as Is minutes before
the alarm.
officials at the Capitol Theater
without giving the source of their
information, said they knew yes
terday afternoon that the test was
coming and were prepared for it.
No one saw a free show at down.
town theaters, however, as those
caught outside by the alarm were
herded into lobbies to await the all
clear
The sirens sounded at 9:48 pm
and the all clear did not come
until 1898.
Downtown store windows and
signs normally lighted were dark
ened, street lights f1icked off and
traffic signals followed
Leak Is Mystery.
Civilian defense officials today
were in the dark as to the source
of the leak" which spread advance
information about the blackout so
widely in the city Blackout plans,
it was pointed out, must be made
known in advance to the interceptor