Harvard to Organize For Local Air Defense

In a move supplementing the organization work now being done by Cambridge citizens anxious to prepare their city for prompt fire, first aid, and police action in case of a bombing, President Conant yesterday appointed a Committee of Civilian Defense to integrate Harvard's defense work with that of Cambridge.

This committee, says the official announcement issued by the News Office, "will consider all matters that concern collaboration by the University with local and national committees on civilian defense, and cooperation with the Student Council and other student groups in civilian defense problems."

Eight Men Appointed

Members appointed by President Conant are Donald Scott, director of the Peabody Museum, chairman; Keyes De W. Metcalf, director of the University Library; James A. McLaughlin, professor of Law; Mason Hammond, associate professor of Greek and Latin; Andrew J. Casner, professor of Law; Henry Chauncey, assistant dean; John M. Russell, assistant to the President, and Aldrich Durant, business manager.

All property of the University, including the buildings and contents of the museums and libraries, will come under the jurisdiction of the new committee.

Officials have invited individual undergraduates or undergraduate organizations which are interested in the national defense effort and wish to take part in Harvard's preparation program, to consult members of the committee. The latter will "serve as a clearing house of ideas and will undertake to help in the organization of such activities as seem desirable."

Some Already Active

Phillips Brooks House, under the leadership of Harry Newman '42, has already taken the initiative as far as U. S. O. work is concerned, and other groups such as the Student Council, the Harvard Liberal Union and the Student Defense--League have volunteered to work in conjunction with P. B. H.

Newman stated last night that the Defense Service Committee, formed by P. B. H. to perform this social service work connected with the national emergency, would gladly cooperate in any way possible with the new committee established yesterday by President Conant.