RAID SHELTERS IN LONDON IMPROVEMENTS TO

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23131, 21 September 1940, Page 13

RAID SHELTERS IN LONDON

IMPROVEMENTS TO

BE MADE

CONGESTION OF TUBE

STATIONS

(VXITJSD PHESri ASSOCIATION—COPYIUGHT.)

(Received September 20, 10 p.m.)

LONDON, September 20.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security (Mr W. Mabane) announced in a broadcast speech that active steps were being taken to improve air raid shelter facilities in London, affecting amenities in the Existing shelters and extending the provision of public shelters where the occupants can have satisfactory rest.

Mr Mabane said; "The enemy wants to make casualties of us all. Unfortunately, he must make casualties of some of us, and we all sympathise with those who have suffered already, and admire the fortitude with which sufferings are being borne. But if each of 1 us, by our individual efforts in studying the use of shelter, can deprive the enemy of one casualty, then we, too, like soldiers in the line, shall have played an active part.” The morning newspapers draw attention to the growing danger to London’s transport system of the increasing use of underground stations as shelters.

The "Daily Telegraph’’ says; "The congestion of stations is becoming serious. The news that the authorities are not forbidding the use of underground platforms as shelters has caused a large increase in the nightly migration. Passengers are forced to struggle through lanes of recumbent forms. Hundreds take up their positions about 5 p.m. Some of the ‘refugees’ enter the stations at 3 p.m. each day.”

The “Daily Express” also appeals for a reduced use of underground stations in order to enable workers to travel. This is regarded as a hundred times more important now that the siege is on. “The people's safety will mean nothing if the city’s l work is allowed to slow down or falter," says the “Daily Express.” “One solution would be to disperse children and aged and infirm, and also everybody whose labour is not essential. “The Government also faces the problem of shelters in the poorer districts. Many women and children spend the nights in roofed trenches which are uncomfortable and insanitary and were constructed merely for protection against short raids. It is feared that on winter nights these shelters will cause cases of influenza and pneumonia. It is pathetic to see people queueing up at the West End shelters. Many are turned away. The surface shelters in the suburbs are frequently sparsely populated, most people lieving their homes are as good.” Deep Shelters The “Daily Mail” says: “The demand for deep shelters must and will be met; but it becomes evident that for a number of reasons we are not going to have specially built deep shelters. Sir John Anderson is requisitioning idle basement cellars on a large scale, thereby providing shelter for many thousands. The congestion at the underground stations is liable to get out of hand. It is hoped that the basements will provide room lor all who are denied the use of the underground railways.” , The Minister for Home Security (Sir John Anderson) has issued 2,000,000 leaflets giving employers and workers guidance for working during air raids. In a preface. Mr Churchill says; “Our experience during the last few weeks has taught us that one of our greatest nroblems is to maintain production in spile of raids. This plan has been evolved by the employers and the employed, so let us all work it together until victory comes.” The plan provides for “spotters, and improved protection for workers, permitting them to work until danger is imminent. Workers’ pensions, compensation, and insurance rights are specifically preserved. Six thousand persons have already received personal injury allowances. A British Official Wireless message says that the pvobleni of transporting large numbers of workers from the suburbs to central London has been intensified by the indiscriminate German bombing. Not being directed at military objectives, bombs must occasionally fall in roadways and thus affect tram and bus routes. An observer who toured the southern districts where a great deal ox senseless havoc of this kind has been done was impressed by the speed with which the public transport services have adjusted themselves to the new routes and with the maintenance of services. During rush hour traffic omnibus and tramway employees axe unselfishly and cheerfully working at Ihe highest pressure to get workers to or from their homes, and the success they have achieved is highly appreciated by the public, who are wilhn„ to put up with some inconvenience m the same spirit. At the same time railway staffs have been working magnificent > to repair damage done to tracks and maintain services. In the words always though the railways are making upm> mind for me as to the way 1 do it. Absence from work is extremely rare and the German High Command must be bitterly disappointed that. comp what may, London workers ai rive at their jobs with persistent an stolid regularity.

MONEY GIVEN FOB AIRCRAFT

RUGBY, September 19. The Minister for Aircraft Production fTiord Beaverbrook) acknowledges the receipt of £lB7 towards the purchase of aircraft from the British, French, Portuguese, and Peruvian, residents o Iquitos, on the Upper Amazon nver, acknowledging a fine gift from the Durham Miners’ Association of £IO,OOO for the purchase of two Spitfires, Lord Beaverbrook wrote. X have received in past weeks many generous contributions from abroad, ana from all sections of the community at home towards the cost of new aircraft, but none has moved me more deeply nor given me such immense encouragement as the donation you have sent on behalf of the Durham Miners’ Association. From members of an industry which has known cruel hardship in the past has come a gift so generous that it must kindle the imagination of freedom-loving men and women the world over, giVing them irrefutable proof of our determination to gain a total victory over our enemies.” A message was issued to-night by Lord Beaverbrook to the repair organisation of the aircraft industry in which he gives the highest praise to their magnificent work by night and by day. their indifference to air raids, their maintenance of output in the face of danger, and .their' dwindling record of time out in shelters.

For the week ended September 14, declared Lord Beaverbrook, the output of the repair organisations in operational types of aircraft—bombers and fighters—was in excess of all types lost or destroyed in battles and accidents. The Governor of Kenya has gratefully accepted an offer by five local native councils in the Central Province of £10.095 from their reserve fund as a contribution frpm the Kikuyu, Kamba, and Meru tribes towards the purchase of aircraft to be named “Kikuyu, Kamba, and Meru.”