TARGETS FOR GUNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 19

TARGETS FOR GUNS

OIL TANKS AND PLANTS POSITION IN AUSTRALIA DEFENCE CHIEFS BLAMED [from ouu own correspondent"! SYDNEY, Feb. 10 The Defence Department was severely criticised in an authoritative quarter for having failed to prevent the construction of oil storage tanks, power-houses and similar works on sites where they would be likely to provide easy targets for an enemy. The defence authorities, it was stated, received a report from one of their senior officers on the vulnerability of the Bunnerong power-house at the time when the large extensions to the plant there were first contemplated, but no action was taken to have the site reconsidered from this point of view. Instead, the proposed extensions were approved.

Similarly, many of the existing oil installations were very badly placed from a defence viewpoint, and for this, it was stated, the defence authorities must bear a largo share of the responsibility, as definite action by them would have resulted in the selection of less vulnerable sites.

A military authority said that whatever new plans might bo adopted for oil storage, and whether the tanks to be provided were built under or above ground, their, location should be carefully selected after a consideration oi tactical requirements, as well as of the need for minimising risk to the civilian population. It was pointed out that even the new naval oil installation at Chowder Bay had not been built underground, as a large section of each of'the two tanks there showed out clearly against the hillside. It was officially stated when the construction of the tanks was begun that they would be screened by trees and other foliage, and would be very inconspicuous. Trees have been planted on the embankment between the tanks and the harbour, but forestry experts calculate that it will be several years before they provide an effective screen, and, even then, it is stated, the tanks will be visible from the air.