Evening star., 1942-03-26
Test Of beamed Horn
Leaves D. T.. Heads
Cool on Purchase
Air-Roid Warning Device
Found to Be Spotty
In Carrying Power ,

A big, powerful AFRAID alarm de-
vice developed for the Once OF
Civilian Defense made plenty OF
noise in its first official demonstra-
ton here yesterday, but not enough
to convince the Commissioners
that they should change their plans
to include the new device-for the
time being at least.
The o. C. D. alarm, an -actu-
ated horn with a mechanism that
directs it's sound on a beam, was
not ruled out definitely as pos
sible future addition to the Dis
trict's air-raid alarm system. but
the Commissioners, after listening
to a 44-minute tryout Of the device
announced late yesterday they
aren't in the market for it at the
present time.
Instead. they declared. the Dis
trict will stand pat on the 38 electric
sirens already. installed and A other
horns and sirens now on order. The
Commissioners said they believed
that when all of these signals have
been placed in service Washington
will have adequate coverage.
Defense Onicials Pleased.
Commissioner Guy Mason and
Engineer Commissioner Charles w
Kutz reached that conclusion in the
face of glowing comment by Federal
and District civilian defense officials
on the noise-making ability Of the
new horn.
Commissioner Mason suggested
however, that the device be given q
nighttime test at some future date
to determine its effectiveness during
the blackout hours.
Although reports from various
sections Of the city indicated the
device was spotty in its effective
ness, Gen. L. D. Gasser, national
director of civilian protection
thought the results were "astonish-
ing" and Col. Lemuel Bolles, Gi-
rector Of civilian defense for Wash
ington, described the noise of the
horn wonderful"
o. c. D. Director James M. Ian
dis wouldn't commit himself on
whether he thought the device was
entirely satisfactory, but said he
was convinced 1t is efficient. Both
Mr.. Lands and Gen. 0asser praised
the device for its low cost and the
fact that q minimum of vital de-
fense materials went into its con-
Struction.
1t was the construction angle
however, which apparently ruled
the device out Of immediate con-
sideration for Washington. Com
missioner Mason pointed out that
the horn is still in the model stage
and is not yet being manufactured
on q commercial basis. For that
reason, he said he felt it woulc
be something in the nature OF
buying a pig in q poke" to order
a new device that is not yet in the
manufacturing stage.
May Order Later.
Mr.. Mason said the District will
60 ahead with what it has ano
perhaps later use the horn to sup.
plement the system if it is founc
necessary-andi If the new horn i.
being manufactured by that time
The city heads pointed out thai
the District has obtained prioritie.
on the ~ alarm devices-20 steam
horns and "a compressed air de.
vices-now on order and is in line
to get them as soon as they are
built.
While the new alarm made
enough noise in its tryout to stor
pedestrians in downtown streets
it was heard only moderately vel
in some outlying areas, family ir
others and not at all in some sec.
tions.
The spotty effectiveness was best
illustrated by reports from fire sta
tions. Fire Chief Stephen T. Por.
ter said No. ~ Engine Co., more
than 4 miles distant, heard the
alarm moderately well. while some
other engine and truck companies
much nearer heard 1t only family
or not at all.
The National Broadcasting Co
praised the horn after one Of it,
employees in the Trans-Lux Build.
ing reported that blasts from the
device were heard inside q sound
proof inner studio. A later check
disclosed, however, that q nat note
from q pianist in the studio wa
responsible. That's what N. B. G
reported, anyway.