AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18632, 16 February 1935, Page 7

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S PLANS ON EMPIRE SCALE LONDON, Jan. 19. In addition to its scheme for reinforcing the Royal Air Force by 492 'planes during tho next five years, the British Government intends to place 'before Dominion Prime Ministers and colonial representatives an air raid code “on an Empire basis.” This question, with the general problem of Empire defence, will be discussed in conference either before or immediately after the King’s jubilee celebrations in London. With the protection of civilians in wartime as its object, the code will comprise rules and regulations for uniform adoption in every British country. Sir Maurice Hankey, secretary of the Cabinet and of the Committee of Imperial Defence, will co-operate .in the preparation of these rules with chiefs of the armed services and a Home Office committee. The code itself will probably include the arrangement of recognised signals.

giving warning of the approach of hostile aircraft and instructions as to what the civil population must do and where it must go in tho event of air raids. Incidental matters to receive consideration will be tho provision of gas masks and other appliances, the establishment of bombproof shelters in all congested areas, and the advisability ot instituting a system of advice and instruction in schools of all grades and denominations. During recent months, military experts and officials of tho Home Office have been conducting a comprehensive investigation of the available means of shelter and protection in Great Britain. .It has been found that only a small proportion of tho public in cities of average size could hope to escape death or injury in air attacks. Municipalities are therefore being urged to insist that in all future building operations houses and office blocks shall bo provided with adequate shelters underground. The construction of these would bo based on data already collected in relation to tho penetration depth of bombs.