The Wilmington morning star., 1945-03-06
Wasted Effort

distributed Training Manual for Auxiliary
Fireman" 1t contains 406 pages, plus cover,
is profusely illustrated by photographs, wash
and line drawings, portraying destruction in
notable fires, and approved methods of fight
ing incendiary bombs, with pen and ink illus
trations Of best ways to lay hose and handle
and raise ladders.
Following the Foreword some IS pages are
devoted to civilian defense courses divided
into eight long and highly technical chapters):
one hundred pages to primary course OF fire
mans training; second course at much
greater length third and final, or supple
mentary, course, closing with an appendix
designated a guide for training auxiliary
firemen."
It's pretty thorough job, all told, and
must have kept large staff of workers, in
addition to the editors, busy a long time and
at considerable expense, before it was ready
to turn over to the printers, who also has con-
siderable to do with it's production on per day
or per thousand EN- basis, after whose services
the binders took over first sewing the four
teen "signatures" and finally glueing the
covers In fact we have seen no more expen-
sive piece Of promotion propaganda turn
ed out since the war stimulated this person or
another to rush into print. And the probability
u.s. although we have not read the volume YER
batim but only surveyed the subject matter
sketchily, that every line within it's covers
contains valuable information for the volunteer
fireman. But still 1t seems to represent an
unnecessary expenditure in time, effort, and
money, on the score that voluntary fire forces,
particularly those organized by the Office of
Civilian Defense, were disbanded months ago.
along with air raid wardens plane spoilers
and other home defense units when it became
obvious that, lacking the devils aid, neither
the Germans or the japanese would raid our
shores Nor are there more than handful Of
volunteer fire units under any other sponsor
ship still in existance.
Furthermore, despite the thorough manner
in which the trade of fighting fires is explain
ed in this manual, it may be truthfully added
that all of a years time would be required
by males past school age to master the man.
uars subject matter alone and all OF five
years additional to become dexterous in hand
ling hose and ladders. Were the average bust
ness man, though young, to undertake to be-
come an auxiliary fireman at the standard of
perfection set down by the manual he could
not hope to achieve the goal on the near side
Of middle life, and then only with much of the
intervening time, properly belonging to his
business or profession, sacrificed to ladder
drill
1t could be- however, the manual has been
issued, not for any immediate value, but with
a long range view. Everybody agrees there is
strong probability that we will have another
war in a quarter century, and the wise pro-
phets forecast that when it comes the enemy
will launch the original attack against the
United States Only the other day General
Arnold, head of our air forces, in urging that
we maintain an allpowerful air force after
peace voiced this identical view. If this is
correct, then careful study Of this manual
through the passing years should in all con.
science find us well provided with an efficient
volunteer fire force.
Il On the other hand, if the Big Three have &C
tualy hit upon the means Of perpetuatine
world peace, say, for a century, what shall be
the intimate decision regarding the waste o.
: material, labor and capital invested in thi.
: Training Manual for Volunteer Firemen'
when, for the most part, volunteer firemer
E lhave been inactivated throughout the country!