Evening star., 1942-07-21
BIuckout
Continued From First Page.)

cism were the business establish
ments where night lights had been
left burning with no provision made
for them to be extinguished on
the alarm at any time during the
night. This violates the rule that
owners are responsible for seeing
that all lights can be extinguished
at a moments notice for the dura-
ton Of the war.
On other scores, Col. Lemuel
Bolles, executive director of civilian
defense, who viewed the city from
the air, said none of the flaws
noted during the test represented
insurmountable obstacles. He put
them in three categories.
Navigation Lights Cited.
First, he said, were the exceptions
to compliance outside the jurisdic-
ton Of the Commissioners. These
included navigation lights, which
clearly outlined the Potomac, and
transportation lights, which made
the railroad yards constant point
for orientation." OCD Director
James M. Lands, who accompanied
Col. Bolles on the flight, has already
started acting on this, Col. Bolles
said.
In the second category, he put
street and traffic lighting, both of
which, he said, were extinguished in
q spotty manner with as much as
IS minutes variation throughout the
city. Further training and CO.
ordination by police who are respon-
sible for street lights and wardens
who are supposed to extinguist
traffic lights, he said, would over
come this flaw.
In the third category, he LISTED
Industrial commercial and residen-
tial lighting, which he said rep
resented the most difficult phase Of
the correction program. He indicated
that prompt prosecution of violators
would be the answer to this problem
Pedestrians Not Panicky.
Afraid Warden Chief William J
Mileham cited the large number ot
presumably emergency cars travel
ing during the blackout and said he
couldn't understand why all of then
were necessary. Instead of auto
mobiles being an exception, he said
he passed one in every block on his
tour of. the city.
officials were pleased that resi-
dents caught on the street showed
no panic, but criticized many Of
them for not seeking shelter. Mr.
Mileham noticed more than a dozer
persons outside a hotel when they
could easily have remained in the
lobby for the half hour blackout.
The lateness of the hour chosen
for the blackout made it easier tt
enforce, officials admitted, since
many residents were already asleep
and others decided to follow suit
when the sirens sounded. That was
apparent from the few lights that
appeared in private homes after the
all-clear sounded.
Col. Bolles explained that tht
blackout had been scheduled late II
the evening because an unan
nounced blackout was bound to b.
IIlOlt udllSclOuo tlldii oiiC 1oi "iiiSi
every one was prepared. The late
ness of the hour would see the ma
jority of heavy traffic off the streets
he explained, but there would still
be enough night life to check VI
on downtown crowds and the re
sponse of theaters, restaurants ant
bars.
Sirens More Easily Heard.
He also pointed out that the quiet
ness of the late hour made it easier
for people to hear the sirens. Al
reports so far on that score, he said
had been favorable. He empha.
sized that people had to becom;
alert to act at the sound of the sirer
and to treat that signal always a!
a genuine warning, no matter why
it was sounded. At the noon hour
he pointed out. the sounding of the
sirens varies from that for the all
raid signal.
He emphasized that there hao
been no time while he was in the