Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-05-08
Basement Areas
Held Dangerous
In A.Bomb Raid
Federal CD Aide
Says Tests Upset
Safety Theory
Rv Tyoehv E Novee
By Crosby S. Moves

buildings may be among the worst
places to go during an air raid,
spokesman for the Federal Civil
Defense Administration warned
today.
Raymond D. Spencer, director
of the FCDA shelter division, out
lined the results of recent research
in shelter design before a confer
ence of nearly 1000 national lead
ers today in the Hotel Statler.
The tests have shown. he said,
that, contrary to certain beliefs.
basement areas generally do not
provide suitable shelter, as there
lis great hazard from existing
utilities and the possibility of ex-
its being blocked by debris from
collapse of buildings"
In large structures, he said, the
best shelter can usually be found
near the core of the buildings, be-
tween ground level and four stories
from the top"
Home Easements Hazardous.
AS for private homes, the expert
noted that certain publicity has
been given to the use of basement
areas as protection against atomic
ATTACK"
These areas are generally haz-
! ardous unless strengthened against
: building collapse or unless lean-to
type shelters are provided within
1.-THE basement to shield from fall
ling debris" he declared.
Based on tests just completed by
the Lehigh University Institute Of
Research, specific criteria for
shelters, ranging from individual
family types to large communal
structures, soon will be in the
hands of State officials, Mr.. Spen-
Ger said. In addition, information
on how to strengthen existing
buildings to offer maximum pro-
lection will be available, the con-
ference was told.
/ The speaker said it is believed
communal type shelters will be
required in practically all indus
trial areas, as existing buildings
are generally not type that pro-
vides proper protection"
Our schools and hospitals" he
added, will undoubtedly be found
inadequate for suitable protection.
Communal shelters will certainly
find wide use in the solution Of
this problem"
Truman Urges Strong CD.
Last night. delegates to the two
day conference were told by Presi-
dent Truman that "the lives Of
many millions of our fellow iti-
zens may depend on the develop
ment of strong civil defense"
/ Mr.. Humans speech before the
leaders of more than $50 national
organizations emphasized that the
ipresent foreign policy of the
United States as we'll as organiZa~
ton for civil defense, is aimed at
protecting American cities from
the horrors of an atomic attack.
A major portion of the address
was devoted to a defense of our
course in the Korean war.
Delegates were told bluntly that
mo matter how good our air de-
Tense may be, or how big an air
force we build. determined air
attack by the Soviet Union could
drop bombs open this country"
I'VE must organize ourselves"
the President said, lin every city.
factory, Office and home. Civil de-
Tense is a responsibility which be-
gins with the individual is shared
with the country. the State and
the Nation"
| Delegates were asked for their
"help in getting our fellow citi-
zens to realize that this is a very
serious business. So long as we
face the threat Of an atomic at
tack on the United States we have
got to build a strong civil defense
organization" President Truman
said.
Next War Atomic.
Remember this" the President
cautioned, If we do have another
world war it will be an atomic
war. We could expect many
atomic bombs to be dropped on
American cities. And a single one
of them would cause many times
more casualties than we have SUI
fered in all the fighting in Korea"
Speaking on the same program,
Federal Civil Defense Administra-
tor Willard F. Caldwell, jr., told
the delegates: If America is to
have a sound security structure,
then our civil defense program
must be co-equal with our mill
tary program.
In modern war civilians are
in equal danger with the men in
uniform at the fighting fronts"
Mr.. Caldwell continued. Should
atomic bombs be used on our
cities it is entirely possible that
civilian casualties would be great
er than the combined total of all
military casualties in history"
The Federal civil defense chief
predicted that IF we take the
road of realism and positive &C
ton we still have time to pre-
pare, brief as that time may be,
If we continue to follow the road
of apathy and inaction in the
face of today's danger, then, in
spite of the valance of our mill
tary defenders, the home front
will be lost"
The conference was to wind up
its session at a luncheon meeting
today, at which Gov. Warren of
California was scheduled as the
principal speaker.
Center Rummoqe SuIt