Evening star., 1942-05-11
BIackout Test
Due Tomorrow
Night for D. {.
Holf-Hour Period
WiIICome Between
l0P.M. and 2A.M.

On the shortest notice yet CIV
en- publicly, the Metropolitan
Area will stage It's second total
blackout practice tomorrow night
for half hour between 10 pm.
and 2 am.
Announcement OF the air-raid
warning test and blackout, which
calls for the mobilization of the en-
tire Citizens Defense Corps IN the
District and nearby communities,
came from Co-ordinator Young ut
noon today.
The short notice was part of the
trend toward ordering blackout prac-
tices without any warning at all be-
fore the siren sounds.
The late evening period vas sched-
uled so those registering for gas ra-
tions might have an opportunity to
get home before the blackout.
Test for Communications.
One objective of the test win be
check on the communications sys-
tenn. which has been criticized. 1t
is now being studied to decide
whether decentralization, as recon-
mended by o. c. D. Director James
M. Lands. Is essential. For tomor-
row nights test the existing COM
munications system will be followed.
The number of simulated Incl
dents TO be staged, q matter which
was to be decided later in the day.
will be on the basis of the minimum
amount of damage one enemy
bomber could inflict.
All Citizens Defense Corps units
will be modified, as one of the
primary objectives Of the test. Az
in previous blackouts, residents and
businessmen will be called on to
obscure visible lighting promptly.
Street and traflc lights will be
extinguished and the movement of
all trafic will be restricted with
the exception of ofncial Federal
and District cars and emergency
vehicles carrying insignia issued by
the police. which will be permitted
to move with dimmed or masked
lights.
Blackout Longer This Time.
The actual blackout period will
be somewhat longer than the earlier
complete blackout, which lasted
about 20 minutes. The extension Of
time. 1t was explained, was re-
quested by the chiefs Of civilian
defense services, who complained
after the last test that their work.
ers were unable to complete their
assigned jobs before the test was
over.
The blackout order pointed out
that afraid wardens, for training
purposes. have neither right of
forcible entry nor police powers.
Instances Of fragrant or willful vio-
lations of regulations which come
to the attention Of AFRAID wardens
will be reported to the nearest po-
lice ofncer.
Frank Gartside of National Capt.
tai Parks said he hoped plans could
be perfected for the parks ofiice's
emergency services to get q workout
with simulated incidents. Most of
the off1ce's 800 workers will be
mobilized for the blackout, he said,
and report to their emergency sta
tions. He hoped about half q dozen
simulated incidents could be re-
ported through the regular chan
nels from wardens. Work crews to
repair and restore damage in the
park areas would then be sent out
on the alI-cIear.
A spokesman for Charles Peters,
deputy afraid warden in charge
of Federal buildings, said plans were
also being made for Federal build
ing crews to operate at the scene
of simulated Incidents Sealed de-
tails of incidents will be sent to
guard headquarters to send operat-
ing personnel into action against
such possibilities as incendiary
bomb fires within the buildings.
Arlington County will cooperate
in this. the longest complete black
out and air-raid test which has been
ordered in the Metropolitan Area"
County Manager Frank C. Hanra-
(See BLACKOUT, Page A-40