Evening star., 1943-07-07
Parade 10 Open
Defense Corps
Volunteer Drive
10000 Are Needed
To Fill Districts
Depleted Ranks

A call Tor 20,O00 aQdlt1Onal clVlllan
defense volunteers was issued today
by Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, COM
mander of the District Civilian De-
fense Corps, as plans were being
drafted for big parade to open the
recruiting drive on Saturday, July 81.
Civic and business groups, as
we'll as military and municipal Off
GERS, are cooperating in the pro-
gram, convinced the Civilian De-
fense Corps must be strengthened,
as a matter of insurance" against
possible enemy action. Details of
the program. still tentative, are
being worked out by an Executive
Committee appointed by the Com
miSsioners.
Various classes of military units
are to participate in the parade,
under arrangements promised by
Maj. Gen John T. Lewis, command
ing the military district of Wash
ington, and naval units also will
take part, it was said.
Service Bands to March.
The parade will be enlivened by
the performance of service bands
and probably number of civilian
units Flags and pennants will be
displayed and all civilian defense
workers may be provided slogan rtb-
bons saying. II Do My Part"
The tentative .plan adopted at
meeting of civic and Government
representatives yesterday provides
for the parade to begin at pm.
from Third street and Indiana ave-
nue. NV. to swing down Constitu-
ton avenue to somewhere near
Seventeenth street. However, there
may be some changes in details.
One idea is to turn north on Fiji
teenth street, then east on E street
past the District Building There
still Is some question also as to the
exact time
The parade was described as the
"opening gun in two-Week enlist
ment campaign which will be fea-
tured also by a number of public
demonstrations of Washington's
civilian defense protective forces.
volunteer RANKS SHRINK.
Washington once had some 10000
volunteers. The number of workers
now has dropped to $4,000, according
to Commissioner John Russell
Young He attributed the decline
partly to the belief that. because of
Allied successes, Washington will
not be attacked.
But we can't so on that aSsump-
ton" he said.
William j. Mileham. chief air.
raid warden. also brought out that
much Of the decrease was caused by
the drafting of volunteers for the
armed services.
Capt. Whitehurst. who also is di-
rector of the District Civilian De-
fense Department, emphasized that
regardless of whether Washington
ever could or would be bombed there
was need to provide insurance.
He said it is necessary to be fully
prepared since ''one does not take
out fire insurance because he thinks
his house is about to burn down, but
to cover the cost if it does"
Commissioner Guy Mason declared
that if Washington should be
caught mapping" he feared the re-
sulting "hysteria" would kill more
people than possibly could be at
tributed to any faults in the pro-
tective services. He said he felt the
press had not co-operated in the
civilian defense program to the ex-
g,
was indorsed by Commissioner
Young.
Wants Model Organization.
Capt. WhitehurSt said: The Ma
TONS Capital should boast of a
civilian defense organization second
to none other in the country. We
have nearly $4,000 volunteers now
IN the protective services A survey
indicates We need at least 10000
We are confident there are at least
10000 additional persons in Wash
ington who are willing to do their
part to protect their city if the day
comes when it is bombed"
Fred A. Smith, past president of
the Washington Board Of Trade,
has been named general chairman
in charge of the recruiting cam
paign Assisting him are Capt.
Whitehurst as vice chairman
George E. Keneipp executive sec
retary; Porter NJ Lumpkins, execu-
tive officer, and Thomas K. Ran
dali as budget officer. Also on the
g Executive Committee as honorary
officers are the Commissioners and
Col Leonce R. Legendre, honorary
executive officer.
Subcommittee Heads Named.
Subcommittee heads were named
as follows:
Arrangements, James E. Coli
flower; businessmen associations,
Estes Brand; citizens associations,
Harry S. Wender; civic associations,
DR.. Edward F. Harris; civilian de-
fense committees, Walter F. Bram-
hall: clergy, Rabbi Norman Gersten-
field: decorations and stands, Harvey
Jones' demonstrations, John j. Has
ley. chairman, and Winfield Weitzell,
vice chairman.
District government, Edward A.
Dent; Government departments, AL
vim w. Hall; labor participation,
John J. Locher; lighting and ampli-
fications, G. R. Wilhelm; music, 1t
Charles Benter: parade. Granville
Guide, chairman; Edgar Morris, vice
chairman.
Police and traffic, Maj. Edward j.
Kelly, chairman, and w. A. Van
Duzer, vice chairman; public rela-
tions, Norman C. Kal: reception,
Robert v. Fleming: registration, Mrs.
Harry S. Bernton; Red Cross par
ticipation, Charles c. Koones; re-
tail stores, John Bell; speakers,
Joseph C. McGarraghy.