AIR RAID SHELTERS IN U.S.

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23351, 10 June 1941, Page 5

AIR RAID SHELTERS IN U.S.

SUBWAYS TOO SHALLOW

WASHINGTON, April 22. The War Department disclosed specifications to-day for four familytype bomb shelters which will be recommended to civilian engineers if the necessity arises. The shelters, costing from 230 dollars to 750 dollars, are now undergoing tests “to determine the degree of protection afforded.” „ ~ They were described m a bulletin, Civilian Defence-Protective Construction, to be distributed by the department to municipal governments and civilian engineers. The publication also discusses bomb protection measures for public utilities, factories, and buildings generally. The data in the publication were obtained from British and other European sources. Among its conclusions and reinforced concrete b(hidings are much less susceptible to bomb damage than those of masonry, where the walls support the weights of the floors. _ Most subways in this country are too shallow to serve as air-raid shelters and would afford insufficient protectection against a direct hit. Sandbags are recommended as a means of protection, but they deteriorate quickly in rain or snow and should be regarded as temporary. In building new factories no glass skylights should be used. , Entrances to shelters should be numerous and no matter how smal a shelter is it should have at least two means of egress "since one may be barred by debris.”