Evening star., 1951-05-12
Web Defense
Old. {. Altered
For Atom Raid
Setup to Be Geured
To Combat Effects
Of Atomic Attoek

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defense plan was under way to-
day, designed to gear the organi-
rational setup to master battle
plan for combating the effects
! OF an atomic attack.
.s The basic plan. developed as
o standard city defense pattern
by the Federal Civil Defense Ad-
miniStration, was explained to city
officials yesterday by Acting Dis
trict Civil Defense Director John
e. Fondahl.
Working on a principle called
''web defense" the plan as
sumes that enemy bombardiers
will concentrate on placing their
bombs where they would cause
. most damage. In Washington, for
planning purposes. this spot isl
over the Municipal Center at
Fourth and c streets NV.
Hypothetical Bull's-Eye.
An atomic hit on this target
would include a maximum num-
ber of Federal buildings in an area
of almost complete destruction.
The half-mile circle includes the
Capitol on one side and the EllipSe
on the other. If the attack came
in the daytime, it would catch the
major concentration of people in
the area of destruction.
OF course, it is possible that
some other area might be hit,
either by design or by poor aim
on the part of the enemy. If that
happened, the job of the civil
defense organization would be
easier. The hypothetical Bulls
eye was selected on the basis of
the most serious possible situa-
ton.
Inspector Fondahl explained
that that the web defense plan
is designed to funnel all damage
control and rescue operations into
this area of destruction. Radiat-
ing out of the. target area like
irregular slices of cake, the plan
divides the city and surrounding
counties into different zones.
Coordination at Center.
In each, all operations are CO.
ordinated by control center.
which is, in turn, under the over
all control of the city command
center. The District now is in
stalling radio equipment in four
such control centers, as well as at
the civil defense command cen
ter, to provide for decentralized
coordination of the damage con-
troll effort.
The city's various civil defense
operating branches are organized
on a sector basis. conforming
generally to police precinct boun-
daries. Inspector Fondahl said
this pattern would have to be
modified to conform more closely
to the new control setup for
emergency operation.
At the same time. the District
civil defense officials received
copies of the Attorney Generals
list of subversive organizations.
Inspector Fondahl instructed dep
uty directors to "be obServant n
these matters and promptly re-
port" to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation any information on
sabotage. espionage or subversive
activity.
They were warned, however,
that members of the civil defense
services should not attempt to
pursue investigation of these mat
tiers on their own"
Many persons belong to some
of these organizations which are
communiStic or subversive, and do
not realize the seriousness of their
membership. Inspector Fondahl
said.
Other developments brought out
at yesterdays meeting included
the following:
l.. The warden service is work.
ing out plan to use Boy and
Girl Scouts as messengers. in
case regular communications are
knocked out by an attack. Chief
Warden Max Schwartz reported
that the possibility of making use
of older school children is also
under consideration.
Block-tO Block Checks.
2. Registration of casualties and
the homeless after an attack
would be under control of the
warfare service. Plans call for fill
ing records on all persons treated
for more than superficial injuries,
all those who come into welfare
centers and all who are evacuated
to refuge areas outside the city
In addition, it is contemplated
that wardenS will make block to-
block check of their areas to check
on missing persons and new per-
sons who have moved in from
bombed-out areas.
3. A Slmpllfled reglStratlon form
for civil defense volunteers is un-
der consideration. Gardner Moore,
manager of the Shoreham Hotel
and head of the emergency feed
ing service of the welfare branch.
reported that many potential vol
unteers are refusing to sign lip
because of the complicated nota-
rized forms required by the Dis
trict's present law.
Inspector Fondahl told the
group that. because the Districts
civil defense planning is moving
along faster now, he will liold
weekly meetings Of all deputy di-
rectors at pm. Thursdays in the
District Armory.
Man S,vffnre Head InilIrV