CIVIL DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 5

CIVIL DEFENCE

IMPROVEMENTS IN BRITAIN LESSONS FROM AIR RAIDS RUGBY, Jan. 26. When opening a new Civil Defence Staff College in the Home Counties, the Minister of Home Security, Mr Herbert Morrison, said a very great deal had been learnsd from the heavy air raids in 1940 and 1941. Every raid taught a lesson, and these had been applied in improving civil defence progressively, so that Britain was now far better equipped to meet any future onslaught. „ .. “ But we cannot rest,” said Mr Morrison. “ Improvements are being made in the technique of air attacks as well as in their defence. The Germans have no doubt learned their lessons, too, and we may be sure that if and when they take the offensive here they will try the newest tricks. It is essential thqt the members of the civil defence services should be fully informed of everything that experience and experiment have taught us. That is the purpose of this college, which in fortnightly courses will educate key men and women not only from the civil defence services of local authorities, but also from the staffs of our war factories, railways, docks, and so on. Special attention will be paid to the co-opera-tion of the military and civil defence services in every invasion. One of the most valuable features of this college will be the free exchange of views and experiences, which is to be encouraged both in and out of the lecture rooms.” Mr Morrison also announced that the new regulation about saluting in the national fire services had been amended to withdraw the provision requiring women to salute men officers.