Evening star., 1942-11-15
Danger Of Bombings
Is Not YET Passed
0CD Head Asserts
lundis Cites Army Moves
As Proof of Need for
Civilian Defense

As Proof Of Need for
Civilian Defense
Recent civilian defense measures
ordered by the Army, including ex-
pansion of the aircraft spotter sys-
tenn, were cited last night by James
M. Lands, director of the Office of
Civilian Defense, in answer to those
who believe the threat of air raids
has passed.
''The falling off OF interest in
civilian defense, which probably has
occurred in some parts of the coun-
try" he said, lis due to the grow
Ing belief that the danger OF bomb
ings is less. From that standpoint,
people are tending to over-empha-
size the North African offensive"
Mr.. Lands granted there was
some justification in believing that
the winter months do lessen the
danger of attack on the East Coast
but he emphasized that growing
Army interest in civilian defense
measures should be an indication
that military authorities do not
think the danger has passed One
OF the measures he cited was the
War Department order for war
plants to comply with local black
out regulations and participate in
blackout drills. ~.
Equipment Boosts Morale.
Arrival Of fire-fighting apparatus
In target areas, he reported, has
helped the morale of civilian de-
fense forces and the OCD is count
ing heavily on the block plan" of
Victory Volunteers to make people
realize their own close connection
with the war effort.
The problem of keeping civilian
defense forces on the job when peo-
pie did not believe danger was i'm
minent has been faced more than
once by England, he pointed out.
Volunteers who had rushed to serve
when England went to war were
becoming the butt of jokes and
caricatures by the summer of 1910
and the services were being reduced
when the blitz did come" Di-
rector Lands declared, "one of the
reasons it was SO bad was because
the people were not as we'll organ
ized as they could have been.'
Value of Defense Cited.
He also cited a Far Eastern city
which suffered heavily in its first
bombing. Two months later, he
said, under exactly the same bomb
ing conditions there were one
SEVENTEEN as many casualties be-
cause civilian defense forces had
gone to work
At various times in England, there
hasn't been enough even for the
paid personnel to do, Mr.. Lands
went on. Something always hap
pens. For instance, the Birming-
ham raid late in July when the
Germans dropped explosive incen-
diaries for the first time re-awak-
ened the interest of people in de-
Tending themselves.
He also cited as an example the
Dusseldorf raid which showed that
concentrated bombing was possible.
Previously, the danger of serious
gas attacks had been discounted be-
cause civilian defense officials felt
the enemy could not help but scat
ter it's shots over a wide area. max
ing the gas attack generally less
effective. The Dusseldorf raid
spurred renewed interest in gas de-
fense.
WAR games" in lie, of "the real
thing" are now being developed by
the training section of national
OCD. Broad problems involving
several services and several different
incidents will be worked out by
civilian defense forces with umpires
to Judge how effectively they handle
each situation.
Typical Problem Given.
Mr.. Lands gave as an exam
pie a train loaded with supplies
on it's way across the Anacostia
River. A bomb is dropped on the
bridge. Civilian defense forces by
the times given would have to fig
ure out various problems relating
to this situation. They might find
themselves sending train across
the bridge that has already been
bombed If they fail to notice all the
factors involved.
On Wednesday night local civilian
defense forces will participate in an
umpired drill. with apparatus re-
spending to certain number of
calls. The ultimate along this line
Of drill, however, will be related in
cidents in one broad problem rather
than series of unrelated ones, Mr.
Lands indicated.
Mr.. Lands advised civilian de-
tense officials to take advantage of
what may only be lull to perfect
their organizations so that if the
forces must be expanded suddenly,
it can be done without beginning all
over again to recruit and train.
He reminded the public that re-
laxing on one score means more re-
sponsibility on others. For in
stance, he said, if the North African
campaign has lessened the imme-
diate threat of bombings 1t has sent
thousands of men into the field,
men who must be fed. For that
reason, the share e-the-meat cam
paign is responsibility the people
exchange for their increased free
dom Of mind as far as bombings are
concerned.
Blanket Law Is Subject