“TUBES" USELESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 142, 18 May 1936, Page 5

“TUBES" USELESS

IN LONDON AIR RAIDS. THE GAS MASK PROBLEM. In its endeavour to provide for the safety of the public in the event of c possible air raids, the British Gov- i eminent is confronted by two puzzles: 1 Where to find effective underground 1 shelter for London’s millions; and how 1 to supply the nation at large with 1 iio,oou,o(/0 gasmasks. Although a “Householders’ Hand- ( book,” giving full advice for safe- ] guarding the home against gas attacks, J lias been drafted for the benefit of 10,- ‘ 000,000 householders, the puzzle creat- ] cd by hundreds of thousands ol slum- ' dwellers in London and the big pro- j vineial cities, whose present homes can never be securely "proofed” against gas lias still to be solved. Already it is being suggested that • thousands of these houses will have to be completely evacuated in time of national emergency; alternatively, a ; big proportion ol the 80,000,000 gas , masks which the Government plans to have in reserve all over the country may have to be distributed free to all ■ these persons. The Home Secretary, Sir John Simon, is expected to make mi early]] statement on the Government’s policy! regarding this distribution oi gas masks, and some nutation of plans rorj the protection of the slums may then be made. According to the Morning Post the | public will be offered, roughly, two] main lines of defence. The first, protection of the home (where all mem-, hers of the civil population will he advised to seek refuge in a raid) will be comprehensively described in the! hand-book about to be issued. This will ( suggest such obvious measures as use of brown paper, sealing ol windows, and elementary treatment ol casual-] ties. Without raising controversial issues, and avoiding all political refer-, cnees, the Home Office intends this] document to be the frankest and most, comprehensive guide yet offered to the] , public. ... . ~ | j The second line ol defence will be tnc ( | use of gas masks, but the luauutaetui o, distribution, and sale of these offei an ; immense problem. The Government is nut prepared to spend £10,000,000 m ; presenting 30,000,1)00 respirators to i the general public. Despite the act, that these gas masks ■, | —the outcome of long and intensive experimental work—will be prootod ! against most gas likely to he encounterect in war time, tncre are certain forms of attack, notably mustard gas, against which respirators will be wholly inadequate. j Members of the essential or muiuci- ! pal services, numbering at least : 250,000, will all receive gas masks tree, together with some form of protective clothing. Wholesale distribution of such clothing to the general public, i however, is out of the question, and ! for this reason home protection will l he emphasised at a vitally important factor. The other problem eon I routing the Home Office is the provision of shelters in London. The authorities have decided that no underground or “tube railways can bo used for shelter. With visions of the chaos which occurred m Loudon during the war, they have decided that this network of underground shelter must be kept free, although the provision of airlocks to protect passen- ' gers is ' under consideration. i! An official of London transport has >' been “seconded” for work as liaison i i officer with the Home Office, to assist i in considering the whole question ot b London’s transport in relation to de- - fence plans , , 3 All local authorities in England have now been fully acquainted with the Government’s desires by the Home Office; and with practical advice they 3 are making rapid advance with the t training of essential services, provision r 0 f shelters, protection of vital supplies, - control of lighting, and plans for ac- . tion in emergency.