AIR DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20524, 14 June 1938, Page 7

AIR DEFENCE

BALLOON BARRAGE ! THE PROTECTION OF LONDON I CALL FOR 6000 RECRUITS United Pre?? Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON. May 24 The people nf London are putting great trust In the recently-announced balloon barrage method of defence against air raids. The preparations for the barrage are sufficiently advanced to enable the immediate formation of a corps of operators. A call has been marie for 6000 recruits to constitute three balloon barrage squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force for service in London, and further squadrons for the counties of Surrey. Middlesex and Essex. | There are two principal ways in which a balloon barrage over London may be put up. One is to ring the city with balloons trailing steel cables of sufficient strength tn bring down any aeroplanes which strike them. The other is to distribute the balloons in a chequered pattern all over the city. The latter is considered " the more deadly.’’ By its means it, would be hoped to bring down more aeroplanes. Tf the ring fence, however, could keep enemy aeroplanes away from the citv .altogether, the advantage would he obvious, but the preference for the distributive plan suggests that it is impracticable to enclose a region with an impenetrable wall of steel. Wrecking Purposes The expectation is that a balloon will be developed capable of lifting a strong cable to the height of 25.000

| feef. although if has been publicly stated the earlier training of the corps will bo done with a gear only half that lifting capacity. The height of 23.000 feet has been mentioned as being possibly the limit of “lift ” r•' a cabin strong enough for wrecking purposes, and as providing a ceiling high that any great accuracy of aim in bomb dropping would be out of the question. •• Inaccuracy ” in this connection is measured by miles. Each balloon is to have its ow i single cable and a winch, driven bv the lorry engine, to wind it in. Thus, the location and character of the barrage may be varied from day to day. There has been no precise description of the cables proffered, but official denial has been given lo a suggestion that, they would be three-cornered or otherwise sharp-edged. It was pointed out that it would not be a practical plan to attempt winding such a cabla on the winch, so that it would run out freely with the rise of the balloon. It is emphasised that any stout cable encountered at flying speed should wreck a machine. Enlisted for Four Years Recruits will be enlisted for four years, with re-engagement provisions, and men under 38 will he accepted only if they are unlit for military enlistment in tlie ordinary way. It is to be noted, however, that members of the corps must be “able to undergo some degree of physical exertion.” The type required is “ the educated man nf a mechanical turn of mind.” Five or six hundred men will form each squadron, which will have 50 balloons. A tender complete with winch will be furnished for every balloon. The volunteers will be required to attend for evening or week-end drills and parades, and for 13 days’ annual training. On any evening later In the summer there may spring up against the sky a strange crop of threadstemmed mushrooms.

LOAN OF £80,000,000 PART IOF BRITAIN’S PROGRAMME £180.000,000 SINCE 1937 (Official wireies*.) (Received June 14, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, June 17 The Government will announce tomorrow a national defence loan of £80.000,000, at 3 per cent. The loan is part of the programme announced last year, and makes the total £180,000,000 borrowed since 1937.