Evening star., 1942-01-13
D. G. Defense
Continued From First Page)

Pearl Harbor period so effectively
in the preparation of basic plans
and the appointment Of chairmen
and chiefs for the major activities.
The best of mobilization plans. how
ever. remain on paper without the
enrolment and training of the many
thousands of volunteers necessary
to put them in operation"
Col. Bolles Questioned.
Col. Lemuel Eolles, director of
District civilian defense, described
how Washington was mobilized for
its protection and then was sub
jected to a barrase Of questions.
Representative Arnold, Democrat,
of Illinois inquired if Washington's
AFRAID warning devices are ade-
quate.
IF you mean SIRENS. they are not
adequate at present" Col. Bolles an
swered. "Our plans. however, con-
template the installation OF q large
number"
Replying 10 further questions. the
civilian defense director said he per-
sonally was mot highly impressed"
with the feasibili y Of AFRAID shell
tiers, and did not believe in evacua-
ton of the civilian population un-
less there were completely destruc-
tive fire or prolonged attack.
Col. Bolles also emphasized he did
not believe in trail blackouts with
out sufficient advance warning to the
public. Then when a blackout is
ordered without advance warning,
he said, the pubic will know Its
the real thing"
Health Department Needs.
Health Omcer George c. Rutland
told the committee Gallinger Hos
pital and the tuberculosis Sanatoria
at Glenn Dale, Nd, now have more
patients than they can comfortably
accommodate, a1d the temporary
wings should be added to both IN
stitutions to relie'e the congestion.
Further, DR.. Ruhland said, the
Health Department is understaffed.
He explained tbs public health nurs-
ing unit has less than half the min
imum requirement of 300 for pop
ulation OF 10000, and the depart
ment Is unable 10 operate venereal
disease clinics On q full-time basis
because OF the lack Of personnel.
The health officer said in response
to questions by Representative Ar
mold there had been a recent increase
In venereal disease cases. Among
selectees examined by the depart
ment last fall, he explained, more
than 1000 were found infected.
DR.. Rutland estimated there is
deficiency of approximately 2,100
hospital beds II the metropolitan
area. Temporary additions to Gal
linger and the tuberculosis sana-
toria, he said, would add 600 to 800
beds.
BallOu Sees School Load Rising.
DR.. Frank w. 5allou, superintend-
ent Of schools. testified that the
wartime population growth in the
metropolitan area will increase the
public school enrolment, but said 1t
would be difficult to state where the
pressure will be the greatest.
Within the cay, he declared. the
most pressing needs undoubtedly
will be in the Northeast and South
east sections wi ere most of the de-
fense housing has been located.
DR.. Ballou estimated the school
enrolment at the beginning of the
second semester in February will be
97,057, an increase of S per cent over
the October. 1e41. enrolment. OF
this number, h. said, 58,197 are ex-
pected to be IN the white schools
and 38.860 in Tire colored.
The prospective increase in school
enrolment, the superintendent
pointed out, has made even more
urgent construction OF additional
facilities planned with appropriations
under the Lanfam Act.
The Needed Schools.
Since Congress authorized the
Public Works administration to ad-
vance only po ton of the $4,000, 900
sought by the Commissioners these
projects were abandoned. They
were:
l. Elementary school at Nichols
avenue and Atlantic streets Sc.
2. Junior high school at Forty
ninth street and Washington place
NE.
3. An addition to the Taft Junior