BRITISH DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 130, 26 February 1937, Page 11

BRITISH DEFENCE

Fire-Fighting Forces

REASONS FOR SCHEME

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received February 25, 6 p.m.;

Rugby, February 24. Emergency fire stations, street patrols and tire-fighting appliances, referred to by Sir Jolm Simon in the House of Commons statement yesterday to cope with outbreaks which might occur in event of attacks from the air, are the subject of a circular which foreshadows a Bill in the present session of Parliament to deal with tlie subject of fire brigade organisation generally. The circular states that it is hoped that schemes for war time co-operation of fire brigades on a regional basis will be submitted to local authorities for their consideration as soon as the necessary work can be completed. Declaring that the Home Secretary thinks the need for such measures is realised by local fire brigade authorities the circular adds: “It is not related to any belief that war is imminent, but arises from tlie fact that measures to guard against the risk of an incendiary Attack form an impoitant, if not tlie most important, part of the defensive organisation for safeguarding the civil population against effects of attacks by hostile aircraft."

BALLOON BARRAGE

Units For London SUPPLY OF METALS (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, February 24. Balloon barrage units for the defence of London against air attacks are being organised. Balloon units will be formed on an auxiliary Air Force basis, with a nucleus personnel. It was stated at question time in the House of Commons that 309 men are now under training for the nucleus. The recruitment of an auxiliary force would be announced later.

The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence. replying to a House of Commons question whether any action was being taken to secure that the three Defence Departments had the necessary supplies of such metals as lead and spelter, and whether it was proposed to take any action to prevent speculators from holding up supplies, said that the Defence Departments had had no difficulty in obtaining such supplies of these metals as they required. The second part of the question therefore did not arise.

SINGAPORE OIL STORES

Iffindon, February 24. In reply to a question in the House ot Commons, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare, explained that the oil fuel tanks at Singapore are above ground. Asked whether an air raid would not destroy the tanks and paralyse shipping, lie replied that the Government is considering the question of underground storage. ARMING TO CONTINUE London, February 24. Britain will continue her rearmament policy until tlie nations of the world reach an agreement for the reduction of arms, said Lord Plymouth in the course of a brief debate on foreign affairs in the House of Lords.