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

Commissioner John Russell Young
as United States co-ordinator o!
civilian defense for the Metro
politan Area. today expressed dis
appointment over results of last
nights AFRAID test which caught
thousands of persons unprepared.
Mr.. Young, who observed the re-
action to the blackout from the top
Of the Washington Monument, said
there was room for lots of improve
ment." With the co-ordinator were
Engineer Commissioner Charles w.
kutz. Maj. Leon Legendre, assistant
co-ordinator, and Brig. Gen. John
T. Lewis, commanding general for
the Washington Military District,
with members of his staff.
Observers reported that last
nights test was extremely spottv,"
with lights showing in many areas
long after the first audible signal
was sounded. Last nights practice
alarm was the fourth since the Army
revised the AFRAID signals.
Defense Personnel Slow.
Especially noticeable was the lack
of civilian defense personnel in tEe
downtown area. During the last
test, also held at night. afraid
wardens and auxiliary policemen
were 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 pedes-
trians. motorists and streetcar and
bus riders totally unprepared. Air
raid WardenS and auxiliary "olice-
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
were 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"
Last nights air-raid test was dis
appointing to us Porter M. Lump
kins, acting director of the District
Department of Civilian Defense.
declared today.
More frequent tests and firm
dealing with violators appear neces-
sary until every one fully apprecites
his individual responsibility" he
added.
Confusion over the blackout sig
nails also was noted in the suburban
areas, with several nearby counties
reporting incidents
Alexandria police said they had
trouble convincing air-raid wardens
the test was over when police turned
on their headlights after the all
clear had been given.
Rules governing the movement of
vehicles still are being misunder-
stood, Alexandria officials reported.
One warden stopped the fire chief
on his way to fire during the
blackout it was said.
Clifton G. Stoneburner. civilian
defense co-ordinator in Arlington
County, reported several fragrant
violations and said there was still
much confusion over signals.
Montgomery County officials also
reported lights were turned on be-
fore the all-clear signal.
The first indication of the test
Was received by civilian defense
workers at $40 pm. with the
warning signal, inaudible to the
public tthe Yellow. Ten minutes
later the sustained blast of the
sirens tthe blue) signaled the be-
ginning of the blackout. At 9:1O
pm. the wavering signal was sound
ed, indicating the theoretical ar
rival of enemy aircraft (the red)
1t was on this signal that the public
was supposed to remain inside and
streetcars, buses and automobiles
were stopped.
All-Clear at 9:35.
The second sustained blast (the
blue) came at go pm. Traffic was
again permitted to move and pc
deStrians we're 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 on
again.
Mr.. Young said he noticed that
several lights" were turned on at
the sound of the second signal
tthe red), supposed to clear the
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,
he 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 inmates after the blackout signal
and some windows in the building
at Twelfth street and PENNSYLVANIA
avenue, occupied by the Coast
Guard, were Intellectually BACKED
out.
The Navy Yard. according to
Commissioner Young. was COM
pletely dark.
Police reported no violence during
the blackout. During the test, at
9:l5 pm, a baby girl was born to
Mrs Vivian Ahern, 2805 Thirty
third street Sc, at Columbia Hos
pital. The infant weighed 6 pounds
IA ounces.
Two brush fire and false alarms
were sounded during the test. Com
missioner Young also reported that
several simulated incidents were
reported to the seven control CEN
tiers in the District and that ap-
propriate apparatus responded