Evening star., 1943-07-27
D. C..Agencies
ToC|ose Early
For Parade
$4,000 to March
In Civilian Defense
Spectacle Friday

More than 10000 marchers, in
cluding Army. Navy and Marine
units, with displays of fighting
equipment, are expected to partici-
pate in the civilian defense recruit
ing campaign parade Friday eve
ming, District officials estimated to-
day as last arrangements were being
mapped
Many more thousands are ex-
pected to line the parade route up
Pennsylvania avenue NV. from
Fourth to Fifteenth streets and the
city heads are taking steps to swell
the numbers.
All District Government workers
who can be spared will be released
from work at 3 pm. Friday to per-
NIT them to get dinner before going
to their places as marchers or spec
tators. The Commissioners voiced
hope the Federal bureaus would fol-
low suit where it can be done with
out slowing up war work.
The District OPA said today no
extra gasoline will be allowed ci-
william defense workers who drive
automobiles in the parade, but ruled
that since the demonstration is for
civilian defense recruiting purposes,
use of automobiles will not be con-
sidered pleasure driving.
10000 Volunteers Sought.
The paraoe is the initial event in
two-week campaign to recruit
some 10000 additional civilian de-
fense volunteers, to bring the total
up to a 10000 quota believed by Off
cials necessary for proper function
ing and assured protection. One
other event will be two-hour ci-
william defense demonstration or pag-
cant to be staged at Griffith Stadium
August 81 under the direction OF
Gene Ford of the Loew's Theaters
organization 1t will be called The
Blackout of l943.'
Commissioner Guy Mason warned
last night the. recent Allied successes
abroad and the fall of Mussolini no
doubt would make recruiting more
difficult because feeling of COM
placency may result. But this is
no time to lag" he declared. I'VE
must strengthen our defense Or
ganization and maintain it until the
last battle is won.''
Registration stations are to be
opened for civilian defense volun-
teers in all of Washington's police
and fire stations, in 81 local thcaters,
in the District Building and in the
volunteer booth on Pennsylvania
avenue opposite the District Build
ing.
Details of the elements that will
make up the military section of the
parade, the first main group in the
line of march, were released last
night by Capt. H c. Whitehurst,
civilian defense director, following
conference with the Executive Com
mittee in charge.
This group will be headed by the
Army Air Force Band from Boiling
Field, followed by two companies OF
military police, company OF en-
gineers and a company of WACS.
Then will come motor column
with antiaircraft artillery followed
by the Marine Band, with a COM
pany of Marines and two companies
of the Marine Corps Women's Re
serves.
The Navy Band will head the next
contingent, with one company OF
bluejacketS, one company OF
WAVES and company of SPARS.
Soldiers will carry rifles with fixed
bayonets and in the line of march
also will be two batteries of search
lights, as we'll as tanks, jeeps and
other motorized equipment. There
will be 100 mobile units and IA bands
to give variety to the show. The re-
Gently formed Metropolitan Police
Department Band will be stationed
at the District Building.
Traffic across the parade route
will be stopped at pm. Is minutes
before the beginning of the march.
except that Third street N w. will
be kept open throughout and Sew
enth and Fourteenth streets traffic
will be permitted when there are
breaks in the parade.
Parking will be banned after
pm. Friday, until the show is over,
generally in the parade formation
area between Constitution and In
diana avenues, Third and Seventh
streets, and after pm. along Con-
stitution avenue west to Seven
teenth street and on Seventeeth be-
tween Constitution and Pennsyl-
vania avenues as we'll as on Penn
sy1vania avenue in the formation