Evening star., 1943-05-29
Test Of B|ackout
Signal System
P|ea5es Officials
Find New AII-CIeur
Blast Effective;
Few Violations


of the 40-minute AFRAID test-the
first one in which an audible all
clear signal was used under the
Army's revised warning system.
Officials who observed the test
from various sections of the city
said they believed the final signal
a 15-second steady blast, was effec-
tive in informing the public and
civilian defense workers that the
test was over. They also reported
they had observed few infractions
of the regulations. and they said it
appeared citizens had learned not
to turn on their light at the sound
of the second alert, which permits
traffic and pedestrians to move, but
continues the blackout
The yellow" or inaudible, warn
ing signal came on at 9:07 pm. and
was followed 10 minutes later by the
first signal which the public heard
long continuous blast indicating
the beginning of the blackout At
9:32 pm. the red" signal. a series
of snort blasts or undulating sounds,
was sounded and traffic was stopped
and pedestrians sent to seek shelter
The second blue" another long
blast permitting movements on the
streets, but continuing the black
out, was sounded at 9:42 pm, and
the all-clear came at 9:57 pm.
Confusion in Petworth Area.
Despite official cautions, the new
a no-of i,, l,a cir II u
confusion in at least one partsof the
District. In the Brightwood- Pet
worth area, around Georgia avenue
and Gallatin street NV, the street
lights were turned on at the sound
of the second sustained blast. Bust
ness places, residences and a the
ater Immediately became ablaze with
light, and some wardens relaxed
until they remembered that this was
not the all-clear.
1t was two minutes before the
street lights we're turned off again,
and some time after that before
scurrylng vardens managed to get
residents and storekeepers to darken
their places once more
WardenS in the area blamed the
confusion on the constant changes
which have been made in air-raid
regulations and said that if the
present system of signals is to be-
come final, more practice tests
would be required. Some wardens
also believed that the four audible
signals which are now used are
too many for the public to remem-
ber.
Fewer People Downtown.
Vehlcular traffic was one of the
minor problems of last nights test.
since the gasoline shortage and the
ban on pleasure driving kept most
motorists off the streets. This sit
uation was also reflected in the
number of pedestrians downtown
Despite the fact that Friday night
usually draws many persons to the
downtown area, officers and wardens
said there were fewer persons on
the streets than during the last
test.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director
OF civilian defense for the District
who toured the downtown section
and substantial part of the North
west area, said the public is to be
congratulated for its magnificent
cooperation
1T was easily one of the most
effective tests yet held" he added.
He praised the work of the wardens
and other civilian defense workers
and Of the regular police. He also
said he believed the wardens were
more successful last night in get
ting pedestrians to shelter than
they had been in previous tests.
Driving with Capt. Whitehurst
were Porter Lumpkins. executive Of
fcer Of the Department of Civilian
Defense, George E. Keneipp, deputy
director of civilian defense. and
Norman Kal. who came as an OBJ
server
System Pleases Kelly.
On another car, Maj. Edward J.
Kelly. superintendent of the Metro
polltan Police Department; Inspec-
tor Harvey Callahan and Acting
Chief of Detectives Robert Barrett.
toured parts of the city to observe
the test. Maj. Kelly said he was
pleased with the new all-clear be-
cause it enabled officers and wardens
to learn when the test was over. In
some previous tests, police officers
charged with turning on the street
lights were not informed of the all
clear for as long as seven minutes
after the test ended.
The chief criticism of the Off
cials was leveled against buses
which, they said generally exceed
ed the 5-mlle-an-h hour speed limit
during the two blackout periods in
which traffic was permitted to move
slowly
Wardens in the downtown area
also complained that many pedes-
trians began running at the sound
of the first signal One warden
said he stopped many persons and
told them they had 10 minutes be-
fore they would have to find shell
ter and urged them to walk in the
blacked-out streets. A number of
servicemen. unaware that there was
to be a blackout. were caught on
the streets en- route to Union Sta
ton to catch their trains.
Stores Window Lighted.
The principal violation of the
blackout rules in the downtown area
involved a store on Thirteenth
street between F and G streets NV,
in which the display window was
lighted during the entire period of
the test. An air-raid warden in the
block said the place was locked and
no keys had been left with him to
get at the switch. A police officer
said he would make report of the
incident.
Only few other isolated cases of
lights glowing from office windows
were observed downtown. In a few
buildings. the occupants of some
rooms which faced alleys had neg
iected to turn off all the lights.
Max C. Schwartz. acting chief
AFRAID warden for the District,
visited four areas during the test
and reported that observance was