By January 1941, with an American declaration of war still a year away, American troops were already preparing for the possibility of an attack. A detachment of 194 officers from the U.S. Army Signal Corps came to SCI for lodging while they conducted a survey of air defense maneuvers for New York City and the surrounding area. The officers "enjoyed their stay at the Institute, complimented members of the staff on the good food, the fine recreation rooms and the clean, comfortable beds." The Joseph Conrad Library was particularly popular with the officers, providing reading material on technical subjects as well as novels and poetry. See The Lookout 1941 February (http://qcarchives.com/sci/items/show/1233)