Evening star., 1942-02-26
BY DON s. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
An adequate AFRAID warning de-
vice system for the District still Is
on the "hope-to-have-pretty-soon"
basis today-nearly three months
after the shock of Pearl Harbor, and
about one year after formulation of
an original recommendation on
what horns were needed.
A survey made by The Star dis
closes that while considerable effort
has been spent in recent weeks, the
real" warning system of horns, on
which Washington may rely in case
of an air raid, still is dependent
upon priorities, deliveries and in
stallations.
District officials have been re-
luctant to discuss details of the sub
ject in the last two months, but
there has been considerable con-
Germ voiced backstage, and the pres
ent lack of AFRAID warning horns
is the real reason why the series
of blackout practices was halted.
"I have hopes we will be in good
shape soon" was the statement to-
day of Commissioner John Russell
Young, United States co-ordinator
for civilian defense for this Metro
politan Area, upon whom the ulti-
mate responsibility rests. Though
restive under the circumstances. he
desired to go no further than that
brief comment.
Met Competitive Orders.
The problem has been a difficult
one, and it is frankly stated that
but few worried about horns, sirens
or whistles prior to December 7, and
after Pearl Harbor many cities and
the Navy all clamored for priority
ratings for horns, compressors, air
tanks. auxiliary tanks, solenoid
valves and all other units Of air.
raid warning devices.
The current survey shows the
District so far has spent or will
spend to complete the present pro-
gram about $4,000 for signal de-
vices-and as of today 1t has re-
ceived but does not yet have In final
operating form Al electric sirens,
five compressed air horns and one
steam-actuated horn. District Of
f1cials make no claim that this col
lection Is satisfactory,
Actual trial of the sirens was dis
maying. Finding them not strong
enough, the District ordered % air
horns and 20 steam horns to sup
plement the Al electric sirens, but
priorities will determine when the
District may get more of the two
types of horns, upon which District
o. C. D. officials really are relying
to do the job.
According to the latest reports on
the desk of Col. Beverly c. Snow,
Assistant Engineer Commissioner
and chairman of the Civilian De-
fense Policy Committee named some
weeks ago by Co-ordinator Young
well over half of the II electric sirens
have been installed, but these now
must be operated individually and
manually, and are yet to be tied into
the electric system so they can be
set off simultaneously by pushing
a button at the communications
center.
| District engineers are pressing for
faster action and recently orders were
approved for overtime work at extra
pay rates to accomplish this. There
still are the needs OF prioritieS for
the rest of the horns, for production
| Inli Y,rnUiSinr0 nj
leased wires for power to set the
horns going, and for provision oi
solenoid valves which are needed
to make the horns operate auto
maticalIy and simultaneously.
About a year ago engineers work
ing for the old District Council o.
Defense submitted a report recon-
mending the nine powerful air
actuated AFRAID horns, The Sta
was informed. Questions then were
being publicly debated as to whether
the United States would or shoule
!, be drawn into the war, and the re-
port, like others, was left for latel
action. Later there were change
in the membership of the Board O.
Commissioners as well as in tht
District civilian setup. Las fall Col
Lemuel Bolles was ordered intt
active duty with the Army and wa!
detailed to the District as civilian
defense director.
The old horn recommendation wa!
brought back to light as Col. Bolle!
struggled to organize an army o
10000 to $4,000 volunteer workers
but there was no formal action b!
city officials until after the Pear
Harbor incident. Then, the Com
missioners were told, manufacture
of the desired compressed-air horn
could not be started for two to thre,
months-if priorities were obtained
!, Turned to Electric Sirens.
! Aroused over the prospect, official
, sought alternatives and some on
suggested electric sirens could b
obtained almost at once" A httl'
: later orders were placed for sucl
; equipment. They did not come in a
fast as first expected, but they dit
! arrive. But trial of the first tw'
5 or so to be installed convinced tn
! public they were not adequate, ant
: the District officials thought so, toe
: unless much larger number wer
= acquired.
: Somewhat in desperation. munich
: pal officials turned back to the ques
5 ton of steam or air-actuated horns
Y Meanwhile there was some evidenc
S of backstage disputes among sub
{ ordinates over the fact the origina
horn plan han been shelved in pref