AIR RAID SAFETY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22988, 16 March 1938, Page 14

AIR RAID SAFETY

BRITAIN'S SECRET DEVICE HINT BY AIR MINISTER LONDON, March a Britain has a secret device against air raiders and it will remain a secret unless war should come. This device, ■which has been tested in conditions approximating as closely as possible to those of actual warfare was guardedly hinted at by the Minister for Air, Lord Swinton, when ho referred to the progress in air defence and the promising investigations being pursued. It is neither a balloon barrage, th° efficiency of which is dubious in view of modern aircraft speed, nor any type of so-called death ray.

Expenditure on the Royal Air Force this year will bo six times that of 1935 and the cost of London's balloon barrage will be £.340,000. No provision is made for provincial barrages, although, if further tesits are successful, „ these will be orgmised. While explosives are considered to be the worst air raid peril, incendiary bombs run fairly close. The London County Council holds that London's fire-fighting services must bo strengthened to meet this risk, especially since tho communications so cssontial to firo-fightnig might be seriously dislocated and the water supplies in industrial areas might bo inadequate.

The advocacy of ruthless air warfare by General \Joe:ring, German Air Minister, coming, as it did, from Hitler's first lieutenant is regarded as leaving little hope for the British proposals for the abolition of air bombing and discount.', the chances of Royal Air Force limitations which Mr. Chamberlain considers essential to a Four Power pact. Britain's answer is her £102,000,000 air force vote, with expectation of a large increase in 19.-19.