BEATING BOMBERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23770, 25 September 1940, Page 9

BEATING BOMBERS

SEARCH FOE SOLUTION BEST SCIENTISTS AT WORK AIR MINISTER'S PROPHECY (Received September 24, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24 It is authoritatively stated that Britain's best scientific brains are concentrating on the task of . beating the night bombers. The practical application of recent improve- - ments in defence measures already justifies the hope of fulfilment of SirArchibald Sinclair's prophecy' that the pleasure of night-bombing will cease to be attractive to Goering.. Scientists are studying the problem ' from several directions, including improved anti-aircraft fire, a higher balloon barrage, use of searchlights, and speedier fighter interception. New inventions are given searching investigation, but, contrary to rumour, no entirely new weapon has yet emerged. • It would be a mistake to concentrate on finding a solution that is applicable only in certain conditions. The defenders' aim is to make the reception so hot in all weathers that even indiscriminate bombing will become profitless and dangerous. MILLION BUNKS PROVISION IN SHELTERS USE OF TUBE STATIONS ' (Received September 24, 6.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 2S The indiscriminate bombing of London's civilian population has raised in acute form the problem of night shelters, and the Government's policy on this question was referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, Mr. William Mabane. 7 Mr. Mabane said the current pro-~ gramme of shelter production was being accelerated. There was no shortage of labour for the rapid building of shel-. ters. Other schemes outlined included a substantial increase in the number of shelters available for the whole of every day, and the opening of basements, where these were strong enough, would be applied to blocks of flats and unoccu- - pied and possibly" occupied houses. Mr. Mabane also said shelters would be provided with bunks, double and triple banked, so they could be used as dormitories. One million of these bunks would be made at once. First-aid posts were being established in the large shelters. Speaking of the tube stations, many of which are already used by the public as night shelters, Mr. Mabane said this was now being recognised and arrangements were being made to provide supervision and adequate sanitary arrangements. Plans are being considered for building underground civil and criminal Courts in London. Air raid warnings have resulted in a great hold-up of lists. Two of the four Courts are glass roofed, and are promptly closed during raids. Judges at the Old Bailey at - present are contending with one of the heaviest calendars for many months. BALKAN ALARMS POSITION IN YUGOSLAVIA ITALY STIRS UP TROUBLE (Received September 24, 7.15 p.m.) * LONDON, Sept, 24 The Athens correspondent of the Daily Express states that the Yugoslavian situation 5 is grave. The Albanian minority, inspired from Italy, is . reported to have attempted during the' last few days to overthrow the Government. Anarchist and Communist i\;ovoments in the Skoplje and Kossovo districts are also believed to have received Italian backing. A number of men connected with these movements have been arrested and executed.