Page 282
Page 282
13
Disposal of Unexploded Mines and Bombs.
71.
The enemy dropped magnetic mines over the London Area on the nights of 15th-16th and 16th-17th October.
Twenty-three of these mines did not explode. Thirteen have now been rendered safe and the remaining ten are being attended to by Naval personnel. One mine at Shoreditch detonated during the operation of rendering safe, causing two casualties.
The number of unexploded bombs in the country remaining to be dealt with is in the region of 3,000. There are some 900 outstanding in London region, where between 50 and 100 are reported each day. A small proportion of these unexploded bombs have subsequently detonated.
Warnings.
72. London has had 23 warnings by day, of an average length of about 40 minutes. On the last day of the period there were six warnings. Liverpool has had six day warnings and Birmingham two. London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol have had night warnings averaging respectively 9 hours 30 minutes, 2 hours 25 minutes, 4 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours 20 minutes.
Civil Defence Operations.
73. An important development of this week is the initiation of a scheme for the appointinent of Aların Officers in Observer Corps Centres. Their duty will be to communicate a more localised air raid "alarm" to certain firms engaged in vital national production. These alarms will augment the system of roof-spotting and the scheme is not intended to interfere with any system of local warnings now in operation.
It is also proposed to appoint Regional Alarm Officers to supervise the working of the system in their respective areas.
Morale.
74. Public morale during the past week has continued on a high level, though there is some evidence of strain.
Despite the incidents involving Tube Stations, the number of people sheltering in the underground system shows no sign of diminishing. It still remains at about 120,000 per night.
245
Page 282
Page 282
Page 282