Evening star., 1943-07-07
Parade Ju|y3t Open
Drive for 10000
Defense Volunteers

0e1e0Se VOiu1IeeIS WAS loouco ooudy
by Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, com.
mander of the District Civilian De-
fense Corps, as plans were being
drafted for big parade to open the
recruiting drive on Saturday, July 81.
Civic and business groups, as
we'll as military and municipal Off
GERS, are cooperating in the pro-
gram, convinced the Civilian De-
fense Corps must be strengthened
as matter of insurance" against
possible enemy action. Details of
the program, still tentative, are
being worked out by an Executive
Committee appointed by the Com
missionerS.
Various classes of military units
are to participate in the parade
under arrangements promised by
Maj Gen. John T. Lewis, command
ing the military district of Wash
lngton, and naval units also will
take part, it was said.
Service Bands to March.
The parade will be enlivened by
the performance Of service bands
and probably number of civilian
units Flags and pennants will be
displayed. and all civilian defense
workers may be provided slogan rib
bons saying. Il Do My Part"
The tentative plan adopted at a
meeting of civic and Government
representatives yesterday provides
for the parade to begin at pm
from Third street and Indiana ave-
nue., NV, to swing down Constitu-
ton avenue to somewhere near
seventeenth street. However. there
may be some changes in details.
Ore idea is to turn north on Fiji
teenth street. then east on E street
past the District Building. There
still is some question also as to the
exact time.
The parade was described as the
opening gun in two-week enlist
ment campaign which will be fea-
tured also by a number of public
demonstrations of Washington s
civilian defense protective forces.
Volunteer Ranks Shrink.
Washington once had some 10000
volunteers. The number of workers
now has dropped to $4,000, according
to Commissioner John Russell
Young. He attributed the decline
partly to the belief that. because of
Allied successes, Washington will
not be attacked.
But we can't go on that assump-
ton" he said.
William j. Mileham. chief air.
raid warden, also brought out that
much of the decrease was caused by
the drafting of volunteers for the
armed services.
Capt. Whitehurst, who also is di-
rector Of the District Civilian De-
tense Department, emphasized that
regardless of whether Washington
ever could or would be bombed there
was a need to provide insurance.
He said it is necessary to be fully
prepared since "one does not take
out fire insurance because he thinks
his house is about to burn down, but
to cover the cost if it does"
Commissioner Guy Mason declared
that if Washington should be
caught mapping" he feared the re-
sulting "hysteria' would kill more
people than possibly could be at
tributed to any faults in the pro-
tective services. He said he felt the
press had not co-operated in the
civilian defense program to the ex-
tent it should, and this sentiment
was Endorsed by Commissioner
Young.
Wants Model Organiza ton.
Capt. Whitehurst said: The Ma
TONS Capital should boast of
civilian defense organization second
to none other in the country. We
have nearly $4,000 volunteers now
in the protective services. A survey
indicates we need at least 10000.
We are confident there are at least
10000 additional persons in Wash
ington who are willing to do their
part to protect their city if the day
comes when it is bombed
Fred A. Smith, past president of
the Washington Board of Trade,
has been named general chairman
in charge of the recruiting cam
paign. Assisting him are Capt.
Whitehurst as vice chairman:
George E. Keneipp, executive sec
retary; Porter M. Lumpkins. execu-
tive officer, and Thomas K. Ran
dali as budget officer. Also on the
Executive Committee as honorary
officers are the Commissioners and
Col Leonce r. Legendre, honorary
executive officer.
subcommittee Heads Named.
subcommittee heads were named
IS follows:
Arrangements, James E. Coli
flower: businessmen associations
Estes Brand: citizens associations,
Harry S. Wender; civic associations,
DR.. Edward F. Harris; civilian de-
fense committees, Walter F. Bram-
hall; clergy, Rabbi Norman Gersten-
feld: decorations and stands, Harvey
Jones; demonstrations, John j. Has
ley. chairman. and Winfield Weitzell,
vice chairman.
District government, Edward A
Dent; Government departments, AL
vim w. Hall: labor participation,
John J. Locher; lighting and ampli-
fcations, 6. R. Wilhelm; music, 1t.
Charles Benter; parade, Granville
GUIDE. chairman; Edgar Morris, vice
chairman.
Police and traffic. Maj Edward J.
Kelly, chairman, and w A. Van
Duzer. vice chairman; public rela-
tions, Norman c. Kal; reception,
Robert V. Fleming; registration, Mrs.
Harry S. Benton; Red Gross par
ticipation, Charles c. Koones; re-
tail stores. John Bell; speakers,
Joseph c. McGarraghy.