DANGERS OF AIR RAIDS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 16 August 1935, Page 7

DANGERS OF AIR RAIDS

BRITISH DEFENCE FAILURES. PRESENT SYSTEM USELESS. United Press Association—By Electric Telcgrapt Copyright). LONDON, Aug. 15. Failure and disappointment chiefly characterised an attempt with 5/0 searchlights worked by territorials to pick up 21 bombing ’planes which raided Portsmouth docks last night, says “Tho “Times” aeronautical correspondent. Emphasis is laid by the correspondent on the fact that Portsmouth anc Southampton are dependent on searchlights for protection in wartime. The aircraft were flying at altitudes ot 8000 to 11,000 feot on crooked courses, while moonshine alternating with strata of mist assisted the raiders. The searchlights were seeking faster aircraft, than they had previously encountered. Nevertheless they were ob viously unequal to the task. They even failed to discover the aeroplanes alter the ’planes had fired a-'Verey light to indicate that they had dropped bombs A still more ominous failure was tlie non-co-ordination of sound locators and searchlights. This was vitally important. The failure was apparently due to higher and modern speeds intensifying the possibility of error caused by time lag before the engines were heard.