A.R.P. PRACTICE IN EGYPT

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 28, 21 June 1940, Page 6

A.R.P. PRACTICE IN EGYPT

Night Exercises For New Zealanders New Zealand troops in Egypt have recently been put through a series of air raid precaution exercises, mock alarms being sounded at unexpected times to make the men familiar with , the routine The following description is by an official observer: — “In the daylight or darkness, in the middle of a meal or during a parade, the alarm put us to, the test at. unexpected moments. . We shared with the whole of Egypt, civilian and military population alike, the experience of a week of mock air raid and blackout exercises. ‘/In the New Zealand camp realism was achieved by ' strict observance of black-out rules and . anti-gas pro cautions. Active defence , sections/ special pickets and decontamination squads were trained in theirduties. Umpires went their rounds to note and correct faults and to mark out pretended . gas-contaminated areas. Friendly • aircraft played the- role of enemy raiders.. ■. ’ . .“The striving after realism .reached its height-on the last night, when the. \ shattering detonation of ‘bombs,’ exploded throughout the camp, shook us out of our beds. The rattle of gas alarms followed. . . “Each tent was required to attend to its own Dlack-out after dark, while vehicles, travelled with, lights shielded by blue-painted glass. Chinks of light through walls of wooden build- ■ ings were carefully obscured. '* Mecha-nically-minded members of my own unit devised switches which threw . rooms lit by electricity into comparative darkness when outside doors were opened. “The .authorities pronounced the black-out exercises a success, for the people of Cairo and of every other city- and town in Egypt were quick to realize their responsibilities. From a high-flying plane only the silver ribbon, of the Nile was visible in the Cairo area. . Air raid warnings were obeyed, more, and more promptly and smoothly. In the city they • were ■ the signal to take cover, and * people streamed into shelters and other places of • safety, leaving ; footpaths deserted and traffic at a standstill.” ■