MUNICH “BOMBED”

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 November 1934, Page 3

MUNICH “BOMBED”

REHEARSAL OF AIR RAID. MUNICH, October 9. Stark realism was the keynote of Munich’s first air raid protection drill, which was staged here to-day and lasted for two hours. The scene of the performance was an area stretching for some streets around the Eastern Railway Station, Munich’s second important station. This district was roped off, and admission was allowed only after sharp police scrutiny. Couvilliers Square, the scene of the drill, had been carefully prepared for the action. The scenery included imitation shell-holes in the streets, applications of tar-paper to the walls of the buildings which cleverly gave

the effect of huge cracks yawning in the stones, and papering of scores of windows so that they appeared broken. Large signs marked with arrows pointed the way to the nearest underground shelters. A loud speaker in the square announced the progress of the raid and the measures of defence that were to be taken against it. Drill began at 3 o’clock and lasted two hours. Cannon salutes in imitation bomb explosions signalled the opening act. A realistic effect was provided by the opening of a valve of the street main, which shot a geyser of water 60 feet into the air. At the same time flames broke out from an adjacent building, and bombs which had been planted on the roofs of houses gave off clouds of smoke. Air-protection guards in each house herded the dwellers into cellars, and

doors .and windows on the street level were hastily sandbagged. “Defence squads” wore up-to-date . gas masks, and were clad entirely in protection suits of rubber. The first to- appear on the scene collected samples of earth, where the gas-bombs had apparently struck, and returned with a tank car containing a chemical counter agent. This they sprinkled on the spot, apparently making the gas-laden area breathable. Other squads put out the fire. “Dead,” and “injured” were carried off by stretcher parties. —'Reuter.