Evening star., 1943-02-24
Army Explains Use
OF Dummy Defenses,
Attacked in House
Strategy Is Common
In Confusing Enemy
Officer Says

The War Department explained
today In response to statement
on the f1oof OF the House yesterday
by Representative Cooley, Democrat.
OF North Carolina. taking the Army
to task for placing a dummy gun
and crew on the roof of the New
House Office Building, that this
was standard procedure in modern
warfare to confuse the enemy.
All the warning countries alter
nate real and dummy gun positions.
both in the field and in guarded
cities to fool their foes, it was ex-
planned.
! What disturbed the Army. Brig.
/ Gen. John T. Lewis. commanding
general of the Military District of
! Washington, later explained. was
/ not that some one disclosed the fact
/ that dummy anti-aircraft positions
were being used here-that was we'll
known to countless persons and un-
doubtedly to our enemies-but that
an actual position was revealed. And
Gen. Lewis pointed out that a dunn
my position is just as important a
| military secret as live" position,
since they may be and are alter
mated at any time.
Confusion Of Foe Is Aim.
1t is almost impossible to conceal
an anti-aircraft placement, he add
ed. but by skillfully interchanging
actual and "phony" positions, it is
| easy TO confuse the enemy
While Representative Cooley re-
ferred to the wooden gun and rag
doll crew he found on the roof as a
decoy, Gen. Lewis explained that it
was not a decoy, which is means of
attraction, but false warning, since
| bombers do not try to reach anti
aircraft-that would mean their de-
struction-but to avoid them.
Gen. Lewis added that Washing
ton was heavily guarded-with real
guns and real ammunition.
The War Department, in a formal
statement, said that in theaters of
operation it was common practice
Ito rotate artillery units from one
position to another, the vacated DO
sltlonS being manned by dummies.
BY this means, hostile observation
and enemy agents are unable to
gain, at any definite time, an ac-
curate picture of the actual defense"
Mahon Defends Army.
A sequel to the Cooley statement
occurred in the House today, when
members vigorously applauded Rep
resentative Mahon, Democrat. of
Texas when at the opening of the
session today he vigorously defended
the War Department from cens,ire
The War Department has been
attacked and ridiculed for the meth
DDS being used to protect the House
Once Building" said Mr.. Mahon.
Il feel impelled to speak as mem
Der of the War Department Sub.
committee on Appropriations. In my
opinion, the attack is unwise and
does not represent the attitude of
Congress. I do not want the War
Department to withhold guns from
men who are fighting and dying in
the battle zones in order to protect
the House Once Building or officials
in Washington. WASHINGTON is
threatened not with bombs from
without, but with bombs from,
within.
IF anybody in Washington is
fearful of his own security here,
when men are dying in the South
Pacific and North Africa, may
Heaven help him! If the War De-
partment wants guns here, real or
wooden, or no guns at all, it is all
right with me. We must trust
somebody. Congress needs no pro-
lection. 1t only needs to prosecute
a more effective policy for victory
and the peace to follow Thinking
in terms of all Americans at home,
l say, not from bombs but from
brain-storming, pickering. backbit-
ing and bungling, oh Lord, deliver
us"
Cooley Not Notified.
Not in the slightest mollified by
the explanation of the War Depart
ment, Mr.. Cooley said he might
suggest to the House Military and
Naval Committees that they write
into all future appropriations a
clause barring use of any OF the
funds for such ''decoy soldiers and
dummy guns" Or he might in
troduce a separate measure, he said
Representative Cooley's recital
was injected into House discussion
OF billion dollar naval construc-
tion bill and brought into the open
story that newsmen had been pre-
vented from breaking by the Once
of Censorship.
Mr.. Cooley also was curious as to
why his unsanctioned rooftop ram
BILE drew no sentry's challenge or
pointed rife. He said "a dozen
entrances to the building were left
unguarded. even late at night when
members Of Congress must produce
their credentials to enter the front
door"
Il guess they think all the sabo-
teurs are going in the front door"
he said.
To reporters later, however, Mr..
Cooley acknowledged that his roof
| scouting had been on the brief side.
.