AIR RAID WARNING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 276, 4 September 1939, Page 6

AIR RAID WARNING.

EFFICIENCY OF EARLY WORK. LONDON CALMLY READY. (Received This Day, 1.40' p.m.) LONDON, September ,3. It was a perfect summer day, but after midnight a rainstorm of tropical intensity, accompanied by fierce flashes of lightning, marked England’s entry into the war. This morning’s air raid warning, reinforced by occasional police whistles, brought everyone to attention and afforded valuable practice in, donning gasmasks and seeking shelters expedU tiously, but there was not the slightest sign of panic. Residents emerged into the streets immediately the allclear signal sounded and subsequently sunned themselves in the- parks and gardens, or watched the world’s greatest city steadily nreparing for eventualities under its corona, of silvery balloons. War police and aiy raid units everywhere are calmly ready for what might befall. The steadiness of the instructional broadcasts which followed Mr Chamberlain’s address tended to reassure everybody. All telephones are working normally. The Air Ministry communique stated that an aircraft was observed at 11.30 a.m., approaching the South Coast. Its identity as could not- be readily determined and an air raid warning given. Shortly afterwards the plane was identified as a friendly aircraft, believed to be Fre,nch, for which reason the “all clear” was sounded.