GREATEST AIR MENACE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 130, 26 February 1937, Page 8

GREATEST AIR MENACE

Incendiary Bombs Peril

Experts of all countries who are examining the reports of-the effect of air attacks on Madrid have come to the conclusion that, incendiary bombs are a greater war menace than high-explo-sive bombs. Their danger lies in causing disorganisation of industry, creation of pqnic and destruction of war material and property, says Major C. C. Turner, the “Daily Telegraph’s” air correspondent.

They weigh only five pounds or so, and can be carried by thousands in medium bombers, and by many hundreds in light bombers. They are dropped indiscriminately over a big area, some falling in open spaces, but many inevitably on buildings and stacked goods, causing fires. In Great Britain they are known as thermite bombs. They were the subject of experiments during the Great War. I had occasion to witness many of these experiments, and the trial of different methods for extinguishing the fires. They can only be dealt with effectively if the organisation, and abundant materials are on the spot. The heat they burn with is intense, and I heir effectiveness is due to the rapidity with which ail combustible material near them is ignited. Attack by incendiary bombs relies for ilts effect on the simultaneous start-; ing of serious fires in a large number of places, thus defying the organisation of the most efficient fire brigade to deal with them.

The bombardment to which Madrid is being subjected is more effective than London ever experienced. It is obviously petty, however, by comparison with what would occur if two of the Great Powers were in conflict.

This is fully realised by the department of the Home Office, which is engaged on organising means of defence. There is a special section concerned witli the means for combating the fire peril, although it is realised that such means cannot be complete, and can only seek to reduce the danger and avert panic.

II is not Io be expected that a big attack would bo solely by incendiary bombs, or solely by any other kind. In many eases it would be a combination of high-explosive, gas and incendiary bombs.

Defence, if well organised, will have considerable value in preventing the full strength of an offensive from reaching its objective. It consists of aircraft to give battle to raiders before they arrive over the objective, antiaircraft artillery operating in defined regains where aerial battles are not in progress, but hampered by the blinding light of parachute flares, and passive defences such as balloon “aprons.” But those responsible for the defence of Great Britain fully realise that the threat of a great counter-offensive will in all probability play the bigger part, and may prove to be a complete deterrent.