FIRE FIGHTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 93, 21 April 1941, Page 7

FIRE FIGHTERS.

WORK IN RAIDS.

System Now Functioning Like ClocKwork. Kritish Official April 2«. Although W ediiOMlay tiisrh"'.- raid «'it Ivoiulun was the heaviest so lar experienced ami the total number of tires exceeded Iho-e on the jiiirli l «• 1' March 19, the number of mure serious tires was actually fewer. This was due to the tact that many minor fires were prevented from becoming serious, largely owing: to the gallant and untiring- efforts of lirewatchers. Now we.'l organised and like an auxiliary lire service, the lire-watchers are lapidly becoming veteran*. The control fViitom. though inn iv.Ho. timetioncd like clockwork. Hundred- of report- were transmitter! with a.-tonish-iu.vr rapidity and accuracy. < "lo»e liaison with the lire services |>ermitled immediate action. In boroughs where tile need was urgent "ill mobile canteens were dispatched tor the relief of liremen. of vv hoiu no fewer than Jil.CNm were engaged. J wo hundred lire parties moved within the London region area a* reinforcement s. I lie coin pet etice of London'- defence, -crv ices has •;i\«• 11 confidence ill its ability to stand up to whatever ler-t----the coming months may bring. 1m lc-- than two mouths lloyal Air force night lighters have -hot <lown *ii» night raidc.r- over UritaMi. c<pii\aleiit to seveial squadrons. "I'lie March total was 21. including 11 in one night. I his month the figure is arreadv 4.">. In three consecutive night* lighterdertioyed '-■> raider*. exceeding the total linnilie.r 1 night bombers brought down by lighters during the whole ol last y ear. "] he«-e. figures lake no account of a large number of raiders probably destroyed over the sea and which in daytime would lie spc.ii to cra«h.

Among t lie rapidly-increasing iiialitlighter ftronjitli of the I'.oyal Air Force, certain squadron* ami individual pilots already .-land out. One squadron which in 194fi accounted for three night raider* lias this year already destroyed 24. Ihe leader of this squadron has 10 victories. I'wo other night lighter squadrons liave for 1041 l.ags of 12 raiders each.

( outpaced with the r-iKeesse- Roval Air Force night fighters are. now achieving, the attempts of the Cerinau A.F to hinder British night bom bins have proved a signal failure, although British night fighters have minutes in which to find the enemy while the. Herman fighters have hours.