Evening star., 1951-04-30
Civil Defense
Can Lose War,
Caldwell Says

Caldwell Says
Home Front Director
ToIks at Opening of
Federal Stuff College
Federal Civil Defense Director
Millard F. Caldwell, jr., warned
today that "if we don't have a
home front thoroughly protected
clear across the Nation-by an
adequate civil defense program,
we can lose the next war"
Addressing State and city Off
cials gathered for the opening of
the Federal Civil Defense staff
college. Director Caldwell charged
that "too many people are still
playing ostrich in the face. of
atomic warfare"
mo matter what they are told, -
he declared, '%hey are unwilling
to accept the facts that confront
us. They would rather think
about something more pleasant. I"
MIR. Caldwell quoted Air Force
CHIEF Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg to
the effect that nine out of 10
enemy bombers would get through
to their targets if an attack were
launched today. He added that
'if an attack comes, there is rea-
son to believe that it would not
be one or two plane hit-and-run
raid but a grand slam mass as
, sault" aimed at creating terror,
breaking our productive capacity
and our will to survive as a Ma
ton.
Could Cripple Industry.
There is little doubt that the
enemy could accomplish these
aims unless we are prepared
through civil defense to reduce
the impact of the assault" Mr..
Caldwell said.
The local civil defense leaders
were told that, ''if the headquar-
ters and the home bases of our
military forces are smashed in
the early stages of the war, the
military, no matter how valiantly
they may fight, could not fight for
long.
"On the war production front,
a grand slam attack could so badly
smash our industrial complex
throughout the United States that
it would be weeks and months be-
fore it could regain a Semblance
of its former productive capacity.
BY then it would be far too late
to do our military forces any
good" he said.
The effectiveness Of any civil
defense program, Mr.. Caldwell de-
clared. depends ultimately on the
people themselves.
Civil Defense Is Answer.
"The cab drivers and the house
wives and all the rest of ouri
people must shake themselves
loose from this mean fear which
stalks the land. People must
quit mumhling, What can we dol
about all of this?' Civil defensel
is their answer, Let's sell it on
that basis"
After Mr.. Caldwell's address,
the gathering, which included
several State Governors, heard
talk from Sir John Hodsoll,
director of civil defense in Brit
ain. which has maintained staff
college for the last Is years.
The new college is being run
in temporary quarters in the
Cafritz Building, 1925 I street
NV. until a permanent estab-
lishment can be set UP at the
former Longwood School near
Olney. Md.
Those attending the special one
week Introductory course will hear
lectures from staff college in
structors on civil defense train
ing, operational problems, COM
munications, mutual aid health
and welfare. transportation, evac-
uation and other activities de-
signed to protect the public
against an enemy attack.
Regular Courses in May.
Regular courses, which will be
two weeks long, will get under
way May 81.
Yesterday, the visiting officials
held meeting of the National
Conference of State Civil Defense
Directors at the Mayflower Hotel,
urging Congress to give top pri-
ority to a $40 million appropria-
tion for stockpiling civil defense
medical supplies.
Noting that there are not
enough medical supplies in the
country today to meet the re-
quirements of single atom bomb
explosion. the conference called
on Congress to restore funds cut
by the House Appropriations Com
mittee from the civil defense
budget request of $403 million.
The House group recommended
a total appropriation of only
$1S6,75O,000, eliminating funds
for a large part of the Federal
agency program, including medi-
cal Stockpiling. The measure is
now before the Senate Appropria-
tions Committee.
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