DEFENCE FROM ATTACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22887, 16 November 1937, Page 9

DEFENCE FROM ATTACK

NO ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY MAKING RAIDS HAZARDOUS LONDON. Nov. 4 Although no defence against attack from the air could guarantee absolute immunity for the civil population, said the Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, in the House of Commons, he believed the British plans would make any would-be invader think twice. Sir Samuel said that in a week or two lie would be in a position to introduce a bill allocating duties, making clear the financial relations between the central and local authorities and providing for a general co-ordination of the activities to be mobilised in this new field of defence.

He believed, he said, that tlie.v would bo able fo build up a system that would very materially assist the genera] system of defence against air attack. Sir Samuel Hoare added that experience was tending to show that while one could not prevent a raid —a certain number of aeroplanes always getting through—one could so organise the defence as to make, it very dangerous to the attacking forces. With a combination of a strong air force, effective anti-aircraft guns and other anti-aircraft defences, and of a well-organised system of passive defence upon the ground, one could ensure two gnat objectives—prevent panic in the great centres of population and ensure a continuation of the essential services upon which a highlydeveloped civilisation depended.