PROTECTING LONDON

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1936, Page 12

PROTECTING LONDON

DURING AIR RAIDS. Flans -for -protecting London and other great centres of population in the eVent of : air raids are beginning to‘take definite shape (says the “Daily Telegraph”). . Wing-Cmdr. A. H. Steele-Perkms, head of the Air Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office, is convinced that the co-operation of municipal authorities and big utility undertakings is essential to the success >of any scheme that can be devised. Much of the preliminary work of the past few months has been carried out with that idea in mind. Local bodies in London and elsewhere would have to maintain essential public services as well as provide gas-proof shelters, rescue casualties and deal with fires caused by bombs. The riext step has been to secure the co-operation of authorities and companies responsible for lighting, 'heating arid the water supply. In London the Metropolitan Water Board and the gas and electricity undertakings will appoint their own committees to work jvith the Government department. One direction in which their cooperation is needed is the quick darkening of all streets of London. In the opinion of the Precautions Department this should be done in 10 minutes, the maximum safety margin after enemy aircraft have reached the English coast. The compahies and undertakings are also considering plans for the maintenance Of their services if some of their Sources of supply are put out of action. The great-power stations at Battersea, Barking, Deptford and Fulham, upon which London relies for electricity, would be specially vulnerable froin ’the air. The provision of protection for them, and measures for a prompt change-over to an alternative source of supply, is one of the chief plans under consideration. The'gas companies have their own special problems in dealing with similar risks. In their case the solution may involve the provision of duplicate mains, mains linking the gasworks of different companies, and additional containers. One of the duties to be undertaken by the Metropolitan Water Board will be the 'extension of the scheme, already in existence as a result of drought experience, for providing alternative supplies, so that if one reservoir were 'bailly damaged water would be immediately .forthcoming from another. One danger which is being provided for is £h'at of'flooding from a reservoir badly dafhagdd by bdmbs. -A -tbchriidal •donihiittee is advising -the depaffiiieiit'dn other precautionary measures.