Evening star., 1943-08-14
$4,000 Watch
Defense Raid
On Model CITY
Services Drumutized
At Stadium to
Win Volunteers

WIN volunteers
While anti-aircraft shook Griffith
Stadium and incendiary bombs
scattered flame, more than $4,000
people were shown last night what
could happen here-and why civilian
defense is seeking 10000 more VOL
unteers.
The demonstration, climaxing a
two-week recruitment campaign for
volunteers to man the protective
services, gave onlookers a chance to
decide which service they would like
to join.
They saw them all in action, and
heard little about each as the men
and women now enrolled IN the
protective forces fought fires, car
ried victims from burning build
ings, treated casualties, caught
''looters." neutralized poison gas,
fed the homeless and generally
showed the results of their months
Of training.
Astounded by Match Test
The audience also learned a few
thongs about protecting themselves
just before the demonstration
started, John j. Hasley, chairman
of the Pageant Committee, gave
the signal for every one to strike
a match in the darkened stadium.
The audience gasped at the glow
of the thousands of tiny flames
lighted the ball park.
Now you see why your warden
asks you not to strike matches on
the street." remarked Mr.. Hasley.
The demonstration followed an
hours variety show, featuring thea
ter and night club performers, and
a parade of the protective services
led by Metropolitan police in "
formation and the Air Forces band.
Fred Smith, general chairman of
the recruitment campaign, headed
the volunteers.
While the audience was applaud
Ing the units, which included pla-
toons of men and women of the
armed forces, plane was heading
toward the stadium.
In the press box were two officers
Of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Com
mand of the Military District of
Washington. On the roof of the
stadium they had set up an "ob-
servation post" Field wires also
kept them in communication with
the soldiers on duty at searchlights
and anti-aircraft guns on the field
Field Blacked Out.
While units of volunteers were
still passing in review, the field was
suddenly blacked out and the
marchers scattered as the wall of
the sirens began.
Actually, the timing of the black
out was as much surprise to the
men behind the sceens as to the
audience. The hostile" plane, not
pre-arranged schedule, de-
terrnined the moment
There was no time for the pre-
1iminary warning that had been on
the program nor for the signal that
an attack was imminent. The plane
was almost overhead when the first
warning came-and that, too, could
happen here
Searchlights picked up the plane
as the officers in the press bov gave
the order to fire-with blank am
munition. Dull red flame spouted
from the guns as the stadium
rocked with the explosions.
THE building on the right has
been hit by high explosive bomb"
yelled the narrator 1T looks from
here as though there are people
trapped in there"
Plane Returns.
The audience heard the warden
dial number, heard a woman's
voice respond. Control center"
heard the warden report the dam
age. Then light centered on the
control center as fire and medical
officers dispatched equipment.
No sooner had the victims" been
extricated from the demolished
buildingAone of row of house
fronts centering around likeness
of the apitol-then the plane
again crossed the field. That was
a reminder that an air raid isn't
over until the all-clear signal Is
sounded.
This time, the enemy" scattered
incendiarv bombs. Fire guards
fought to keep the fire isolated.
Across the street" man and
woman rushed from store as
another explosion shook the sta
dium-a delayed action bomb.
At the control center, the bomb
officer got a message. Bomb recon-
naissance agents were needed. An
unexploded bomb had been located.
Suddenly, the lights playing on
the victim street took on a pale
green. The sound Of clackers gave
warning that the enemy had resorteo
to gas.
AS the decentralization squad
rushed TO neutralize the area and
Sergt. John Ryan, who Is IN cnarge
of the auxiliary police, told the
audience what to do about mustard
gas C"shed your clothes-that's no
time for false modesty'o, another
house began to smoke.
Leaps from House.
A moment before the house be-
came a mass of flames. a man
leaped from the second story into
a life net. He was a member OF
the District Fire Department. The
department had insisted that reg
ular fireman, long trained in jump
ing into nets, make that jump.
Sergt. Ryan, who kept up a run
ming chatter from the press box be-
tween incidents" gave one more
notable piece of ADVICE.
IF you 60 in the cellar, the house
will fall on you. If you go up to
the attic, you'll ride down with it.
Take your choice"
AS the phalanx of announcers who
had shared In narrating the episodes
folded IN their scripts and Gene