DURANT PRAISES "PERFECT" BLACKOUT

In an atmosphere distinguished for its calmness, Cambridge held its first blackout of the war last night from 10 to 10:30 o'clock.

"Amazingly cooperative" was the description lavished on the University's student body in a statement issued late last evening by Aldrich Durant, Chief Air Raid Warden of the Harvard District.

Durant Thanks Students

"In behalf of myself and the University," Durant added, "I should like to thank wardens, voluntary police spotters, students and all others connected with the practice for their parts in the blackout."

The sirens wailed promptly at ten o'clock, and, within two minutes the University had blacked all its lights except for a few isolated spots. Traffic was stopped, and pedestrians were herded indoors, where they remained until the all clear signal was given at 10:30.

Fire Breaks Out

Only emergency to occur during the drill happened when fire broke out in the Boston Elevated yards at Memorial Drive and Boylston Street. Defense workers and fire fighters sped to the blaze and were able to extinguish it auxiliary fireman turned in the alarm, auxiliary firemen turned in the alarm, and those fire engines who were detailed to take care of the "incident" used specially made "blackout lights" while going to and from the yards.

Two-Sirens

There were two sirens used in the drill, one located atop Widener Library, the other situated in Central Square. They were supplemented by about ten factory whistles located in various districts around Cambridge, and the resulting din could be heard over much of the Greater Boston area.

So perfect was the blackout that, according to some, the only light not extinguished in Cambridge was a "tilt" sign on a pinball machine in Mike's Club.