Evening star., 1942-01-12
Civil Defense Chiefs
Emphasize Need for
More Volunteers
Brass Tack Meetings
TO Speed Protective
Program Get Under Way

Civilian defense officials were try
ing today to straighten out snarls in
the protective program described last
night at the first of a series OF
brass tack" meeting, held in the
board room Of the District Building.
At the meeting, called by Commis-
sioner Young as defense co-ordina-
tor and attended by chairmen OF
defense committees, it was brought
out that more volunteers and greater
speed in organization were needed
in certain sectors.
DR.. John A. Reed, chief of the
medical service, said he needed more
stretcher bearers to aid medical
field units already fully organized.
Each of the IS zones will be asked to
furnish IL stretcher bearers. DR..
Reed said 81 District hospitals had
been equipped as emergency base
hospitals.
A few areas have failed to organ
ize emergency feeding squads, Miss
Mary Mason, chief of that service,
said. and she urged chairmen OF
these zones to get them under way
at once.
Housing Setup Half Complete.
Randolph Bishop, chief of Emer-
gency housing, said the personnel Of
this branch was only so per cent
complete. The service should be
fully organized at the end OF the
month, he said, so that every area
will have file Of temporary hous-
ing available for citizens who might
be bombed out of their homes.
Householders are being asked how
many persons they could care for
in an emergency.
Mrs Dorothy Bourne, executive
secretary of the Civilian Volunteer
Office at SOL Pennsylvania avenue
NV, asked community chairmen
to send to her Office names and
qualifications of all volunteers en-
rolled in the neighborhoods, so that
the central bureau would have
complete file.
Col. Lemuel Bolles, director of
civilian defense for the metropolitan
area, advised volunteers to tighten
their belts and prepare for a long,
hard, heartbreaking pull"
Col. Bolles stressed the RESPONSE
bility of each community for its
defense organization, pointing out
that the local ONCE Of Civilian De-
fense intended only to exercise gen.
eral supervision and it was up to
each zone to plan effectively for the
protection of its homes.
Distribution Of Work Urged.
Most of the tagging results when
zone poor. overworked individual
has been assigned too many tasks"
he added, urging that the work be
distributed fairly.
Col. Bolles said Fire Chief Stephen
T. Porter still was in urgent need
of additional volunteers for the
auxiliary fire fighting service. Per-
haps, Col. Bolles suggested, some
were deferred by the so hours of
training required for this branch.
but none the less volunteers could
perform q vital duty here.
The series of meetings, OF which
this was the first, he added, will be
just the opposite of a mutual cd
miration society. Criticism end
suggestions will be welcome, he as
sured the defense leaders.
Conrad Van Hyning, chief Of vol
untary participation work, explained
thAt his organization planned to
handle diverse activities affecting
morale and welfare. The effects
Of tire rationing, adequate recreation
facilities for soldiers on leave and
additional hospital and school facil-
tiles will be among the matters
taken up, he indicated.
The other meetings will be held
from time to time for specialized
groups Of defense workers.