Evening star., 1943-02-01
Whitehurst
Civilian
Defense0ath
Drafts Plans for
Operation of New Uni,
Created by Board

Capt H. c. Whitehurst. Distric,
highway director, today took oath Of
office as director of civilian defense
for the District, and as commander
Of the District of Columbia Citizens
Defense Corps. He then began plan
ming operation Of the new Municipal
Civilian Defense Department, Gre
ated by the order of the Beard of
Commissioners last Wednesday.
While deferring decision on new
policies until he has had time to
complete studies of the past and
future setups. Capt. WhitehurSt
planned the transfer to the District
Building of the headquarters of all
Of the District protective services of
civilian defense which have been
located in the Toner School Build
ing. TWenty-fourth and F streets
NV, the offices Of the Metropolitan
OCD staff
Bolles Keeps Office.
Col. Lemuel Bolles, who continues
Is executive of civilian defense for
the Metropolitan Area and as aide
to Metropolitan Civilian Defense Co.
ordinator John Russell Young is to
keep his offices in the Toner Build
Ing.
In consequence of the heavy new
duties conferred on Capt. White
hurst. the Commissioners are max
ing District Engineer of Streets J.
N. Robertson deputy director of
highways, without increase in pay.
Capt, Whitehouse is relieved of all
highway responsibility except gen.
eral supervision.
At the same time, Co-ordinator
Young today released the thousands
OF District volunteers previously
serving in the Metropolitan Area
organiza ton of civilian defense to
the new District Department of
Civilian Defense.
He relinquished further RESPONSE
bility for the activities of civilian
defense committees, civilian mobili-
zation and the Casualty Informa-
ton Service, which was not listed in
the Commissioners order setting up
tne new department.
These instructions make available
to Capt. Whitehurst the services of
66,368 volunteers in all civilian de-
tense elements, including %, 1894 in
civilian mobiliza ton.
Under Districts Jurisdiction.
Mr.. Young specified that in the
f1ltl1rH Of ~,
fense elements will be conducted
TO such extent and in such man
ner as may be prescribed from time
to time by the appropriate author
ity of the District of Columbia"
The co-ordinator's office. he said. |
will give its full support and CO.
operation and will render such as
sistance as may be requested and
legally permissible to the Depart
ment of Civilian Defense.
In instructions issued at the same |
time, Mr.. Young expressed his ap-
probation of the service rendered |
by members of the various trans |
terred units.
Volunteers Lauded.
Their devotion to duty under all
circumstances, the long hours spent
by them in training and their un-
falling Willingness and response to
every demand made upon them for
service to the community Is, and
always will be, splendid example
of the finest qualities Of our Ameri-
can citizen he said.
To the staff of Col. Bolles Mr..
Young formally appointed Maj.
Ennalls Waggaman as a full-time
volunteer assistant. A World War
officer who served many years in
the Reserve Corps, Maj. Waggaman
is retired District businessman.
In addition to other duties, he will
serve as liaison officer with the
counties comprising the Metropoli-
tan Area.
Bolles Lists Personnel.
In reporting the strength of the
civilian defense personnel released,
Col Bolles listed the following
breakdown:
Control and communications 663
Transportation service ---- 870
Fire service auxiliary --- 948
Police service auxiliary $780, 3,849
Warden service --------------2 22,S77
Emergency medical ----------- $500
Public works ---------------- 7,017
Public Utilities ----------- 5000
Evacuation Authority -------- II
Volunteer Office --------- 116
Civilian mobilization - % 1874