BLITZ DAMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 65, 19 March 1943, Page 1

BLITZ DAMS

PUBLIC “SABOTAGE” AMAZING DISCLOSURE London. 4 Amazing disclosures about the “sabotage of static water reservoirs” were made by the Ministry of Home Security. Drastic penalties were announced for people interfering wiAji these blitz safeguards. w All N.F.S. water tanks and basins are to be fitted with barbed wire. Anyone damaging or throwing rubbish into such a reservoir will be liable (on summary conviction) to three months’ imprisonment or a fine up to £loo—or both.

On conviction on indictment the penalty is two years' imprisonment or a tine not exceeding £soo—or both. Thousands of tons of rubbish have been dumped into dams and basins, the Ministry stated. Adults as well as children are responsible.

Hundreds of tanks have been punctured. Steel dams have collapsed because vital parts have been removed. The record amount of rubbish was 39 tons in a basin in the north. In one dam firemen found: 30 tea chests, eight dustbins, 20 oil drums, one bedstead, one carpet-sweeper, and 200 ft. of gas piping. In another there were 200 milk bottles.

“To damage these supplies of emergency water is just as much an act of sabotage as smashing any other war equipment,” says the Ministry. “A fire pump can be put out of action if rubbish is sucked into it.” Mr. Herbert Morrison, in an appeal to “good citizens” to caution children and report offenders, says: “This scandal must stop.” Nearly 40 children have been drowned in these water tanks. It is hoped the protection to be provided will stop children falling into the water.

Speaking on the new measures in the House of Commons, Mr. Morrison emphasised that these water supplies were of first-rate importance to our war effort. He asked for the co-opera-tion of M.P.’s in impressing on the public the importance of not interfering with them or diminishing their usefulness

Mr. Sorensen (Lab., Leyton, W.) suggested that It might be much simpler to cover these receptacles with metal mesh as was the case in many parts of the country. Mr Morrison replied: “We tried that experiment--and within an hour children were dancing on them and one fell through.” He added that it was thought barbed wire would be effective. It might be a choice between a child tearing its clothes on barbed wire or getting drowned, and he thought the first was the better r’sk to take.