Evening star., 1942-02-06
CiviIiun Defense
Continued From First Page }

trayed an urgent need for the funds
now.
What We need is protection, as
much as We can get, for the years
1912 and 1913" the Mayor said.
After that I think conditions will
change.
But we are In q bad fix right
now. We might as well recognize
the fact that we are in a very bad
situation and 1t is going to be bad
for several months. 1t will be bad
in 1912 and 1t may be bad In 1943.
After that we start pushing"
The civilian defense fund was part
Of a sl60 0000, 900 supplemental esti-
mates bill reported to the House to-
day.
The Appropriations Committee
urged that the Once of Civilian
Defense launch a new survey Of the
tentative distribution Of the pro-
posed civilian defense equipment
among cities and suggested that
Mayor La Guardia's organization
abandon any hard and fast rule for
helping All cities equally within the
target zone" near the coasts:
Some communities In the target
area, because of their strategic 10
cation and industrial value to the
war program, are certain to be
potential marks for such sporadic
raids as might occur" the commit
tee declared in arguing for flexible
system Of community afraid fght-
ing assistance.
Others in Less Peril.
"Other communities in the same
zone, because of their isolated loca-
ton and lack Of industrial impor-
tance. would be less susceptible OF
concentrated attack, though in pos
sible danger from scattered units
Of an assauiting force"
Both the Mayor and the commit
tee emphasized that the air raids
to be expected would be far in.
ferior In intensity and frequency
to those suffered by England and
the European continent. But the
committee added:
The possibility exists that such
raids will come, and due to the
character Of warfare being waged
by the Axis powers, they will en-
deavor to conduct them with Is
great an element Of surprise and
IN localities where they will hope
to accomplish the most damage.
prudence requires preparation at
all points which the enemy might
reach with the character of attack
! that he would have to make, con-
sidering his problem of reaching the
United States and considering the
damage that he would desire to In
f1ict."
No Suicide Missions.
The Mayor was graphic In his
warning against air raids.
do not get the idea that a mis-
sion to bomb the Atlantic coast
would be a suicide mission. 1t would
not be at all. If they can get by
and drop their bombs, they can land
here and be only prisoners Of war
for the duration-a very pleasing
assignment"
The Mayor said that 1t was o. c.
D. policy to discourage evacuation
of civilian populations from raided
areas because Of the questions of
food, sanitation and policing" which
would arise and turn evacuation
into AN enormously difncult prob
lem" He said evacuation from
New York would present "an i'm
possible problem"
In discussing the o. c. D. plan
for distribution Of equipment To be
purchased with the $100, 0,000. 900
Mayor La Guardia said:
We have provided for cities Of
10000 and over and certain cities
under 10000 which are provided for
by direction of the Army and Navy
War Munitions Board. Then there
are some communities in the tar
get area, having important war
production industries, under 1000
which are certified by the War
Munitions Board for protection.
Insignia Protection Desired.
1--WE have provided for armbands
We are very anxious to get then
because all sorts Of makeshifts arr
being sold at this time and the wear
ing of official insignia Is protected
In the authorization bill. This 1!
necessary, because we may hav'
trouble locally here and there abou
the misuse Of insignia.
"Steel helmets are also important
For instance, AFRAID wardens mus
remain on the streets during an al
raid, 1t being their first duty Il
clear the streets Of pedestrians ant
get them under cover. These stee
helmets are necessary and should b.
obtained at the earliest possible
moment.
The cities viii receive this equip
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