Evening star., 1955-06-16
Mock Martial Law
Ordered for Marion
Eisenhower Acts
After Assessing
H-Bomb Toll
BY CECIL HOLLAND
Star stan Correspondent

EMERGENCY PRESS HEAD
QUARTERS. Operation Alert
June 16.-President Eisenhower
today declared mock martial law
throughout the country as part
of a national civil defense exer-
else that saw 81 American and
territorial cities blasted in atomic
and H-bomb attacks.
The action was announced
from the Governments top re-
location center after officials
spent hours assessing the theo-
retical damage and frightful cas-
ualties in the simulated air blitz.
ut was the Presidents opinion
that such action would be essen
tial to the national interest under
these circumstances until the
Congress could come into session
and normal channels of govern
mental control and action be re-
established" the announcement
said.
A civil defense spokesman
said the martial law action was
taken after top Government Of
ficials at 81 secret relocations
out of Washington reviewed ex-
ecutlve orders and proclama-
tions that would be needed in
the event of an actual emer-
gency. Earlier, the President
had declared a state of civil
defense emergency.
Peterson Halls Action
Federal Civilian Defense Ad-
ministrator Val Peterson hailed
the Presidents action in de-
claring martial law.
ut will give assurance that
the authority and resources of
the Federal Government-both
military and civilian-are sup
porting the civil defense effort"
Mr.. Peterson said.
The President also called a
regular meeting of the National
Security Council during the day
at the Governments command
center in secret place outside
Washington.
Other officials also planned
conferences to assess the results
Of the simulated air attacks in
which supposed casualties rose
to 7.6 million and million in
jured on the basis of civil de-
tense reports compiled at 2 am.
Uncounted millions were re-
garded as homeless.
UnderScores Unreadiness
The exercise underscored the
country's appalling unreadiness
in a civilian defense way for an
H-bomb attack. At the same
time, it revealed, encouragingly,
the Nations ability to maintain
a continuity of Government and
launch massive counterattackS.
In the simulated attack, 55I
Continental United States cities,
including Washington, Chicago
and New York, theoretically were
damaged severely in air strikes
lasting one hour and % min
utes. They sent President Eisen-
hover and $4,000 top Government
officials and key employees sour
ring out of Washington to carry
out three-day exercise in main
tanning the Government under
conditions of an actual attack.
Mr.. Peterson said on a visit
to this press headquarters late
yesterday that the test "as of
right now was a success" al
though he had no information
at the time on evacuation exer-
cises carried out in number of
cities hit by make-believe bombs.
He explained that even negative
results in the way of heavy cas-
ualties. communications break
downs and other difficulties would
be helpful in civilian defense
planning for future needs.
Flies to See President
Mr.. Peterson flew here after
top-level conferences with Presi-
dent Eisenhower and other Gov
ernment officials at the secret
command relocation center some
where in a 300-mile radius of
Washington.
He was the first of several
Government officials, including
cabinet officers, expected to visit
this press office and give first
hand brief1ng on the actions of
See COMMAND. Page AS