Evening star., 1943-01-31
D. {. Defense Concert
Clashes With National
Van Hyning Declares
Report Of Resigned Chief
Of Civilian Mobilization
Reaches City Heads

asserted yesterday IN memOran-
dunn to Defense Co-ordinator Johr
Russell Young submitted with his
resignation as chief of the civilian
mobilization division of OCD.
While the resignation, accom-
panied by the memorandum and q
nine-page report, was on it's way to
the commissioners. the city heads
announced that Capt H. c. White
hurst newly appointed civilian de-
tense director, would make a sur
Vey to determine the functions of
each group set up under civilian
mobilization.
Groups with a direct bearing on
emergency conditions in the District
but without special relations to a
possible attack, will be correlated
with the Civilian Defense Depart
ment.
Committees whose activities would
be wholly incident to an attack or
bombing will be organized on a skele-
ton basis with personnel on q re-
serve status, the Commissioners
said.
To Seek Amendment of Act.
When the survey has been COM
pleted, they added, the city heads
will ask Congress to amend the
Blackout Act to provide payments for
necessary full-time staffs or to grant
a separate authorization for these
payments.
Although number of recommen-
dations have been submitted for a
civilian mobilization chief to succeed
Mr.. Van Hyning. the Commissioners
said they hoped the interim commit
tee headed by Clarence A. Aspinwall
would continue as the group in
charge of this function.
Mr.. Van Hyning said that while
he was preparing his report the an
nouncement of the reorganization
OF civilian defense had been made.
judging from reports of the reor-
ganization, he added. he believed
the local concept of civilian defense
was in conflict with the national
concept. He said that civilian de-
tense meant the stimulation of
civilian activities which would con-
tribute to the shortening of the war.
Defense of communities, he de-
clared, was one part of the program,
to be used only in case of enemy
action.
Relative Status Unimportant.
He said the important thing was
not whether civilian mobilization
was auxiliary" to the defense or
ganization, but that it be given the
support of the Commissioners and
that the citizen leaders of Washing
ton be given an opportunity to
analyze its purpose and its functions
land that its continuance be de-
cided upon On the basis Of whether
it is or is not needed as a means of
securing the citizen participation in
matters deemed by the National
once of Civilian Defense and by
other Federal agencies as of vital
Importance to the prosecution Of
the war"
Contending that the division had
made clear its policy of avoiding
duplication OF effort within the
areas, he declared that area civilian
mobilization chairmen had been
specifically instructed to find out
whatever war service activities were
under way in any of the area Or
ganizations and to make use Of them
In the total area program.
He reported that child care and
Sar4facfiar, c,Ihoo,,, 1,ol hoon
formed in 81 of 66 areas; consumer.
Is areas; war hospitality and rec
reation, l6; nutrition, 8; housing,
!; health, 2; War savings, 3, and
Victory gardens, 2.
Summarizes Divisions Work.
He made the following summary
of the work of the divisions over
all committees:
Child care and protection-Con-
centrated on bringing to a head
plans for the operation of nursery
schools and day care units for the
children of working mothers and
maintained a day care office to ad-
wise parents on day care facilities.
Family security-Set up the Sc
lective Service Referral Center to
assist draft boards in investigating
dependency cases and delinquents.
Health-Worked on plans for pro-
lection of food and milk supplies in
event of an attack drafted CO.
ordinated plan for venereal disease
control, and made complete study
of District hospital bed needs at
the request of the Offlce of Defense
Health and Welfare Services
HouSing-WIth the support of the
Washington Board of Trade organ
lied the Housing Registry since
taken over by the National Hous-
ing Agency; worked on simplif1ca-
ton of inspection laws covering
rooming and boarding houses and
is now studying building conver-
sion TO increase housing facilities.
Nutrition - Gave demonstrations
on preparation of nutritious and
economical meals. trained block
workers for voluntary meat ration
Ing program, worked on the school
lunch program, is now consider
ing the nutrition of Government
workers.
War Hospitality Activities.
War Hospitality and Recreation
Sponsors and co-ordinates extern
sive entertainment program in mill
tary posts surrounding Washington
developed lodging and recreational
facilities for servicemen and Gov
ernment employees, organized home
hospitality program for servicemer
to visit in private homes, operates
through a subsidiary corporation 9
number of servicemen's clubs, di-
rected formation of several ares
hospitality committees to eXtenc
recreation to servicemen and Gov.
ernment workers.
War Transportation Committee
New committees first assignment Il
to direct local mileage rationing'
plan outlined for communities b,
the ONCE of Defense Transporta
ton and OCD.
Consumer-Distribu factual in
formation on where and what Il
buy TO get the most for ones money
conducted sample price check
ing" survey, carried on share your