Evening star., 1942-04-05
&C. D.
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first call on critical materials as
well as factory space.
The money has been spent as
follows:
For the development of factories
and experimental work in gas masks,
between $29,0O0,0 900 and $4,000 900.
For f1re-fighting equipment, some
what more than $5700O,000.
For protective clothing, slightly
less than $8,000,000.
For emergency medical equipment,
slightly less than S5,000000.
In the target area, which includes
a 300-mile strip on the coasts and
number of inland communities
which might be sabotage objectives,
are about 100000 people and about
100000 city blocks.
Cannot Protect All.
o. c. D. considered it obvious"
that all these people could not be
protected by the equipment now on
order or for which bids have been
asked. The chances of a COM
munity getting the materials depend
on the Importance of the products
being manufactured there.
All ALLEGATIONS are made with the
approval of the Army, Navy and
Army-Navy Munitions Boards,
which have complete veto power.
Most of the material is being pur-
chased through the War Depart
ment Procurement Division.
Some of the equipment, including
helmets and armbands, already has
gone to the communities. Much of
the rest is now in production with
Dean Lands keeping clolse watch
on progress. Slow delivery is ex-
pected on equipment where the
Army and Navy get the green light
on critical materials.
To keep a single community with
money of its own to spend from
going overheard for equipment for
which other communities have
greater need, o. C. D. and the War
Production Board have to pass on
all orders.
Mask Rubber Deteriorates.
The gas masks produced will be
only incidental to creation of facil-
tiles to produce them. Since rubber
deteriorates fast in the valves, no
effort will be made to store masks.
Although there will be no general
distribution of masks, enough will
go out to equip training classes of
volunteers in the protective services.
The protective clothing and ac-
cessories to be produced include
clothing for decentralization squads,
and helmets and armbands. o. c..
D. considers the armbands impor-
tant because they take the place
of uniforms According to o. C. D.,
if a force invaded the country the
armbands would keep wardens from
being considered guerrillas, liable to
execution, and permit them to be
treated as prisoners of war
the biggest portion of o. c. D.
funds, because of the high cost of
single items, has gone into fire.
fighting equipment. Three types of
bumpers are being purchased. These
include front end pump which
is hitched on to the fore of a
municipal fire truck and uses the
truck motor for power; a skid unit
with a self-contained motor which
is transported on a regular truck,
and two-wheel trailer unit, also
automatic. The average estimated
cost of the third unit is $1,000.
Engine Purchase Prohibited.
These are the only kind of motor
pumps permitted to be purchased
by the w. P. B. which does not al
low the purchase of fire engines.
The units are all supplied with hose,
mostly of reclaimed rubber, at 40
cents a foot.
Some portable, four-gallon pumps
to be distributed on a block by
block ALLEGATION are also beng made.
The helmets cost about 81 apiece
and are only for volunteers in the
protective services.
AS far as the distribution of all
this equipment is concerned, the
size of the community is bat one
factor, and a less important one
than the character of the war ma
terials being produced there.