Evening star., 1943-04-25
New 4-Day Period Sci
For Surprise Test
|0f Raid Precautions
Begins at Minute After
Midnight Tomorrow
Night, OCD Reveals

one minute aICer mlQnlgnC LOmOr-
row night marks the beginning of
the four-day period during which,
at some unannounced moment, the
air raid warning sirens will blast out
notice of the Metropolitan Areas
21st air raid test. The period ends
at Midnight Friday and will be the
fourth test period since the new
signals went into effect and the
fifth test this year.
All rules and regulations now in
force are mandatory under Air Raid
Protection Regulations No. /, issued
by the Eastern Defense Command.
There has been considerable dis
cussion of the merits of the new
signals. Office of Civilian Defense
officials point out several advan-
tages over the previous system.
One is that after the first warm
ing or '"blue" signal, there must be
complete blackout, but vehicular
and pedestrian traffic may continue
to move.
Time of Full Halt Cut.
The period to meet actual raid, or
the red" period, and its concomi-
tant stoppage of all normal activ-
ity, is reduced to a minimum. II
approaching hostile planes are driv-
en- off before reaching their target,
the "red"signal would not sound at
all. Under the new system, war
dens and other protective services
report on the blue" signal, which
gives them time to mobilize and
report to their pests before the
red" signal sounds.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director
of the District Department of
Civilian Defense, urges all citizens
to remember and comply with these
simple rules:
Blue" or warning signal: This
is a long, steady, non-fuctuating
blast on the sirens or horns, lasting
approximately two minutes. This
signal means hostile planes have
been detected, apparently headed
toward the city, and there is the
probability" of an air raid. All
buildings and homes blackout i'm
mediately. Vehicular and pedes-
trian traffic may continue to move,
but vehicles must use their low or
"down-beam" headlight (normal
city driving lights if the impend-
ing raid is at night, and cannot
move more than Is miles an hour.
During this period, however, both
drivers and pedestrians should be
alert to the fact that the red"
signal may sound at any time, and
be prepared.
Red Signal Explained:
RED Signal: This is the series
of short blasts on the horns and the
rising and falling wall on the sirens
This signal means that enemy
planes are practically overhead" All
traffic, both vehicular and pedes-
trian, stops. Drivers must pull to
the nearest curb, eXtinguish all
lights, leave their cars and, with Pc
destrians, must get off the street
and into the nearest shelter.
AS has been pointed out before.
the "red" signal may not come. If
the enemy planes have been driven
oAs C41C oil S1Co4 WILL NC dll-
nounced. However. the blue" or
first warning-the long, continuous
note-will sound always after a
''red' signal. On the second blue
signal, blackout conditions remain
as before. However, traffic may re-
sumo again under the same condi-
tions as on the first blue"
The "all-clear" signal There is
no audible "all clear" 1t will be
announced on all radio stations and,
if at night, also will be signaled by
turning on of the street lights.
Capt. Whitehurst admonishes all
citizens to obey the blackout rules,
especially the precaution about leav-
ing unattended lights burning at
night.
Since the fourth test on April 13,
1912, blackout regulations have been
enforced by the police, resulting in
fines upon conviction. Since the
first arrest on that date, there has
been total of 153 arrests for black
| out violations.