Evening star., 1942-01-05
D. C.. Defense
Continued From First PageD

that he had written Commissioner
Young Saturday requesting an ap-
preparation to employ 153 custodians
for eight-room elementary school
buildings. This was intended to
provide for 24-hour telephone serv-
ice In each building. DR.. Ballou
estimated $4,000 would be needed
to carry on this service for three
months.
Alternative Proposal.
But today the superintendent pro-
posed as an alternative that all
elementary school buildings with
eight rooms or less be transferred
to the jurisdiction of the local war
dens. He pointed out that this
would provide protection in the same
manner that the homes Of citizens
are to be guarded by volunteers
among their neighbors.
DR.. Ballou said he knew Of no
military purpose which would be
jeopardized by transfer Of the small
buildings. He proposed that the
public school authorities continue to
see that 24-hour alert" telephone
service Is maintained in all the
larger elementary schools. junior
and senior high schools. vocational
schools and the two teachers
colleges.
DR.. Ballou pointed out that small
elementary schools could not be
heated adequately throughout the
night with the present number of
employees. A substantial expendi-
ture, he said, would be required
to provide heat. He also remarked
that elementary schools did not
have enough teachers to make tele-
phone supervision by them on an
all-night basis possible without a
substantial number of citizen VOL
unteers from each community.
DR.. Ballou suggested that the local
wardens assume responsibility for
protecting those smaller buildings
between 4:30 pm. and $50 am.
In discussing the controversial
matter of whether teachers should
be asked to do guard duty, DR..
Ballou said he wanted to record
that one woman teacher was ac-
costed and threatened as she ap-
preached a school to take UP her
tour of duty yesterday morning.
The police were called, he said, and
took her in the car to search for
the man but failed to find him.
Parents of pupils and relatives of
teachers have pointed out this dan
ger to women on guard duty alone,
he added. pointing out that there
were not enough men teachers to
carry out the service.
DR.. Ballou urged as feasible alter
natives either making the local war
dens responsible for the small
schools or assigning special police or
soldiers.
The entire Metropolitan Area of
Washington rapidly is being welded
into a unit for the protection Of its
million citizens in the event of an
enemy attack, Col Bolles told a
conference Of defense leaders at the
District Building before going to
the sessions at the Departmental
Auditorium.
Blackout Called Big Success.
Col. Bolles said the Metropolitan
sections of nearby Maryland and
Virginia counties were cooperating
100 per cent in, the civilian defense
program
The meeting, which began at
7 am. in the ONCE of Commissioner
Young, was told by section chiefs
that the first experimental blackout
last Tuesday was q decided success.
1t was reported that the Federal
buildings which were the subject
OF criticisms for failing to blackout
effectively were being organized for
better cooperation at future black
outs. Many Of these buildings.
where employees are working all
night, have ordered blackout ma
terials and will have them installed
shortly, it was pointed out.
In addressing the school for vol
unteer defense workers, Col. Bolles
said the training Of these men and
women still left much to be desired.
After December 7, he said, special
lied training was needed by $1,000
workers and instructors were not
available.
Col. Bolles was giving what he
termed a rolgh picture Of the over.