Evening star., 1943-04-29
Afraid Test
Unsatisfactory,
Young Says
'Spotty' Lights Mar
BIockout; Wordens
Slow to Respond

SsOV " sNSSfOs'S 90
Commissioner John Russell Young
Is United States co-ordinator o
civilian defense for the Metro
politan Area, today expressed dis
appointment over results of las
nights AFRAID test which caugh
thousands of persons unprepared.
Mr.. Young, who observed the re-
action to the blackout from the tor
of the Washington Monument, sale
there was room for lots of improve.
ment." With the co-oroinator were
Engineer Commissioner Charles w
Kutz, Maj. Leon Legendre. assistant
co-ordinator. and Brig. Gen. Jci1I
T. Lewis, commanding general fol-
the Washington Military District
with members of his staff.
Observers reported that last
nights test was extremely spotty,'
with lights showing in many areas
long after the first audible sigma
was sounded. Last nights practice
slarm was the fourth since the Army
revised the air-raid signals.
Defense Personnel Slow.
Especially noticeable was the lack
Of civilian defense personnel in the
downtown area. During the last
test, also held at night, air-raid
wardens and auxiliary policemen
we're stationed in every block be-
cause they had received notice
earlier that the test was to be held
during certain hours of the night
Last night the surprise aspect of
the test caught thousands of peoes-
trians. motorists and streetcar and
bus riders totally unprepared Air.
raid 'wardens and auxiliary rolice-
men appeared only after 10 or Is
minutes.
Many lights were observed in the
downtown district. A great many
of the pedestrians sought refuge in
alcoves of stores and remained un-
disturbed throughout the period
when the streets were supposed to
be entirely cleared and pedestrians
we're supposed to find shelter.
Last nights test" Mr.. Young said
indicated that the public needs
many more training experiences to
acquaint them with the signals"
The first indication of the test
Was received by civilian defense
workers at $40 pm. with the
warning signal, inaudible to the
public (the Yellow Ten minutes
later the sustained blast of the
sirens (the bluep signaled the be-
ginning of the blackout. At 9:1C
pm. the wavering signal was sound
ed indicating the, theoretical ar.
rival, Of enemy aircraft tthe red)
1t was on this signal that the publit
vas supposed to remain inside anc
streetcars, buses and automobile,
we're stopped
ALI Clear at 9:35.
The second sustained blast (the
olue) came at $40 pm. Traffic was
again permitted to move and pc.
destrians were allowed on the
streets, but lights were supposed
TO remain blacked out. The in.
audible all-clear came at 9:35 pm.
at which time street lights went or
again.
Mr.. Young said he noticed that
several lights" we're turned on at
The sound of the second sigma
(the red), supposed to clear tht
streets while the lights remain off
He also observed that lights
throughout the area were late in
being turned off. This was especially
true, he said in Arlington County
and in the Southeast section of
Washington. The lights in Rosslyn
ne said, were very late"
Government Buildings Lighted.
Mr.. Young also reported that
lights in several Government build
ings remained on long after the
first audible signal was heard. He
especially cited the Bureau of Print
Ing and Engraving and the Com
merce Department. Observers also
said that lights in the Post Office
Department were visible as late as
Is minutes after the blackout signal
and some windows in the building
at Twelfth street and PENNSYLVANIA
avenue, occupied by the Coast
Guard, we're Intellectually blackeo
out.
The Navy Yard, according tc
Commissioner Young. was com.
pletely dark.
Police reported no violence during
the blackout. During the test. al
a:15 pm, a baby girl was born te
Mrs. Vivian Ahern, 1905 Thirty.
third street Sc. at Columbia Hos.
pital. The infant weighed pounds
IA ounces.
Two brush fire and false alarm.
were sounded during the test. Com.
missioner Young also reported thai
several simulated incidents were
reported to the seven control cen.
ters in the District and that ap
propriate apparatus Responded
promptly to each call Mr.. Youn,
commended the personnel of tn,
control centers for their promp
turnout last night.
Many downtown places wer
caught unprepared when the frs
sirens went off last night, although
the surprise" test had been an
nounced in the papers for the pas
week. Lights in Office building
spotted the downtown area Man
brilliant neon signs and other dis
play lights remained burning for a
long as 10 or Is minutes after tn
blackout signal sounded.
Billboard Remains Lighted.
At Twelfth street and Pennsyl
vania avenue NV. lights on s. larg
billboard atop a building illuminate,
the entire intersection. Across tn
street the old Post Office Building
still occupied by Government work
ers. had several windows through
which light showed during the test
A lunch stand on Fourteenth
street, between F and G, was ablaz
with lights until Is minutes afte
the blackout began. Afraid war
dens and police officers learned tha
the manager of the place had lef