Evening star., 1943-12-10
Surprise Afraid Test
Held Most Successful
Ever Staged in City
Chiefs eIoted by Number
Of Wordens and Auxiliary
Policemen Who Reported

Civilian defense officials. who
toured downtown Washington dur
ing yesterdays surprise air-raid test,
expressed pleasure today over what
they termed "the most successful
daylight test" ever staged in the city.
Of1cial observers were particularly
elated over the large number Of air.
raid wardens and auxiliary police
men who reported for duty. The
presence Of Is additional police off,
GERS downtown to handle abnormally
large shopping crowds also contrib
uted to the success Of the test, 1t
was pointed out.
The first audible signal the sus-
tained blast signifying blue"
warning, came at 2:13 pm.-at a
time when store officials downtown
said they were in the midst Of what
appeared to be their busiest Thurs
day in history. Most shoppers and
theatergoers realized the nature OF
the signal and continued to 70 about
their business.
Streets All But Deserted.
At 2:33, the fuctuating blasts
sounded. In about two minutes.
downtown streets that had been
teemlng with vehicular and pedes.
trian traffic were deserted by all but
few official cars and civilian de-
tense workers. Shoppers were herded
into the nearest buildings. Street.
cars and buses were emptied. Auto
mobiles and taxicabs drew up to the
curb and discharged their occupants.
Deputy Civilian Defense Director
George C. Keneipp and Police In
| spector Harvey B. Callahan, both
OF whom toured the streets, reported
that the only flaw they observed was
an overflow OF pedestrians trying to
crowd into some of the smaller
shops. Some of these, it was re-
ported. remained on the streets when
they found stores packed instead Of
seeking shelter elsewhere.
In few instances did persons
caught without warning attempt to
| flout the civilian defense regulations.
At Union Station, two young women.
carrying suitcases and obviously try
| ing to catch train, dashed across
the deserted plaza. An AFRAID
warden Uhistled at them. shouted,
then took up the pursuit The wom-
en- put on q fresh burst of speed and
disappeared among the throng in
Size the station bc'ore the putting
warden could stop them.
Full Control Staff on Hand.
At the control center full stan
was on hand to man communica-
tions equipment. Several top
priority simulated incidents were
processed during the test.
/ The second sustained blast, allow.
ing traffic to move again and pedes-
trians to resume their business. was
sounded at 2:43. The all clear" q
short blast. came at 2:58 pm.
Like the rest of Washington, Capt.
tol Hill was caught completely by
surprise When the first sustained
signal was sounded, Senator Reed.
Republican. Of Kansas was oddress-
ing the upper house in connection
with the Truman resolution recon-
mending increases in the pay of rail-
road workers. Senate leaders de-
cided to remain in session but the
galleries were cleared of visitors for
the duration of the test.
Members of the House were eulo-
gizing Representative Lewis, Demo-
crat. of Colorado when the first sig
nal was heard. Mr.. Lewis had died
at Walter Reed Hospital just an
hour before. The House remained
in session for a short time after the
test began and then adjourned out
of respect to Mr.. Lewis.
Judges. Attaches Line Up.
At District Court, judges and
court attaches lined up against the
walls on the first floor when the
f1uctuating blasts began. Defend
ants in criminal cases were taken
back to the cell block. where addi-
tional marshals stood guard. mas
much as cell doors are unlocked dur
ing air-riad tests.
/ In downtown department stores,
sales were stopped during the 10
minute raid" period Customers
were directed to shelter areas on
upper floors. Virtually no confusion
was reported, and store officials
agreed that the public co-operated
satisfactorily.
No word of the test leaked out
until civilian defense workers, DO.
| lice and firemen were oiven notice
at LAS pm.