THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 22, 1938
JOHN
SIR
•Page®
ANDERSON
GETS DOWN TO TASK Announces Programme For Civilian Protection
Steel Shelters To Play Large Part In Scheme
London, To-day.
against falling debris as result of explosions."
SCOPE EXAMINED
The Opposition
questioned Sir John closely respecting the scope of the protective scheme.
Mr. Lansbury: "There would be no protection if a high explosive bomb dropped in the middle of a large block of flats or dwellings."
Sir John Anderson: "I agree." Mr. Herbert Morrison (Labour): "Are we to understand that the Government rejects deep tunnel shelters?"
The Lord Privy Seal, Sir John. Anderson, who is en- trusted with civilian defence of the country, made a very long statement in the House of
Sir John Anderson: "I have tried Commons yesterday on Air Raids Precautions,
to make it plain that I am endeav- with particular reference to protection againsturing to initiate a short-term po- high explosive and incendiary bombs.
licy which could be put into effect Sir John declared that no plan would be satisfac- very rapidly.
"The provision of deep tory which provided protection only for a pro-shelters could not, in the opinion portion of those likely to be exposed to sub- stantial risks.
bomb
of the Government, form part of such a policy. Considerations other than those contained in the present scheme will receive further atten-
Their aim must be to provide in vulnerable areas,
well distributed shelters which were easily action." cessible after an air raid warning.
PRACTICALLY AT ONCE Replying to questions about the
be accomplished, Sir John said he preferred not to be tied down too closely to the actual date, but or ders would be given "practically at once."
"I should
Sir John Anderson: have thought that in those lowly- ing parts, deep shelters would have presented grave difficulties."
EVACUATION SUGGESTED Mr. Lansbury: "I am not sug- gesting anything of the kind. What I am suggesting is that if you be- lieve war may come, you ought to evacuate these people now and not wait,"
Sir John Anderson declared that Mr. Lansbury had raised the point previously, and he (Sir John) "had then immediately instructed, his ad- visers to go into the problem. He would be happy to provide Mr. Lansbury with this advice.
Several members pressed that this Report be made available im- mediately, and Sir John agreed to do so.
Replying to other supplementary questions, Sir John said he would consider all other aspects of the problem of Air Raids Precautions
as rapidly as possible.-Reuter.
AGAINST GAS
At the outset of his statement Sir John Anderson remarked that our preparations against gas were more advanced than other aspects of Air Raid Precautions, and were ahead of all other countries.
If the risk of gas attack seemed less than it did, it might be due to the thoroughness of these prepar- ations.
As far as possible, people must Structural support would be sup- period within which the work might
to their plied
blocks of flats or be given protection near homes and places of employment. tenements.
They must recognise that there Respecting non-basement houses, .was no 100 per cent. protection a special type of steel shelter had against high explosive, and shelters | been evolved in sections easily put proof against a direct hit were im-together and placed outside the The advice of engineers who had with representatives practicable as part of a short-term house and sunk about two feet in collaborated
of the steel trade policy.
the ground.
was that the The Government would accumu-manufacturing operation of steel the difficulties, Sir Apart from
so forth was simple John Anderson did not believe that late the necessary stocks of these shelters and we were prepared to adapt our private shelters, and would bear one, that supplies of the raw ma-bomb must now be brought to the civilisation to compel a large pro- the whole cost of material, portion of the people to live and maintain a productive capacity in a troglodyte existence deep under- ground.
J
What we could and must provide was not bomb-proof shelters but adequate protection against splin- of ters and blast and the fall debris.
GOVT. RESPONSIBILITY
Preparations against the incen- diary bomb. and high explosivè
terial were adequate and that after same state of preparedness. In re- The Government would proceed initial delay while the plant was gard to the former, a plan had been immediately to place orders for a being got ready, production would worked out for augmented fire ser- vices in an emergency, and recruit- very large quantity of steel equip-proceed at a very rapid rate.
ment and training of personnel and ment.
provision of the equipment requir ed was being pressed forward.-
PRIVATE SHELTERS.
Private shelters for 10,000,000 people would be provided, and material accumulated for streng thening private basements.
NO UNDERTAKING Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal): "Can Sir John Anderson assure the House that by the time we return from the Recess he will be able to say what proposals he will have for providing deep shelter accom- modation, particularly in congested
The sum of £20,000,000 was re-areas?" No public authority could makequired for this material, and would themselves responsible for provid-be borne entirely by the Exchequer.
Production of these large ing this protection. at the public
supplies would lead at once to expense for everyone.
increased employment,
Their responsibility was to pro- vide protection for all who could not. fairly be expected to provide it for themselves.
The Government would give the .necessary technical advice to those who could afford to provide it themselves.
British Wireless.
JAPANESE MASS
Shanghai, To-day. Four or five divisions of Ja- in Sir John Anderson: "I can give panese troops are now massed
Hankow. It is not certain where no undertaking at the moment."
Mr. George Lansbury again they will be sent, pressed the point, and complained The situation in Hupeh is that there was no protection for changed. A snowstorm has been
aring for the people in the East End of
the last few days.- Central News.
Sir John Anderson indicated that the Exchequer contribution towards London, the cost of public shelters would amount to several million pounds sterling..
The people must be reasonably | persons. protected while at work, and res- ponsibility for this rested primarily on the employer.
OBLIGATIONS ON EMPLOYERS
'Immediately after Christmas, legislation would be introduced im- posing certain obligations in this respect on trade and industry.
They would give protection to those caught on the streets during an air raid.
shelters
+
Communal
would be in trenches or provided, either other forms which would be care- fully sited.
Basements must be strengthened, fittings and standardised steel would be made available for this purpose.
-
Altogether, protective measures were detailed for nearly 20,000,000
MANY QUESTIONS - Replying to supplementary ques tions, Sir John said the figure of 20,000,000 people for whom, under these special provisions, protection would be provided, did not neces- sarily represent the proportion of the population for whom protection would ultimately be available one way or the other.
Mr. George Lansbury (Labour): "Do any of these proposals deal with defence of the people against high explosives?"
Sir John Anderson: "I made it that quite clear in my statement the scheme does not contemplate provisions against what can be re- garded as a direct hit by a high ex- plosive bomb. It is contemplated to provide in the shortest space of time reasonably adequate protec- Steel sheets would be fitted in tion against splinters and glass a high explosive bomb least possible and from peacetime with the disturbance to peacetime use. falling close by, and protection
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