1938-02-26 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 26, 1938

Colony Black-Out Precautions Broadcast Talk Given By Colonel Irwin

No Waiting Till The Last Minute

individuals

him of screening his essential lights the air; so really the most seriously and knowing this, on task is not such a difficult one. the occasion of the last "Black-Out,"

DON'T FUNK IT!

I flew over the hospital circling the

next

A thorough explanation of the reasons for fu- ture “black-out" practices, and an appeal to the pu blic to co-operate, were made by Colonel N. M. S. Irwin, G.S.O. I, in an address broadcast from Z.B.W.der your present lighting conditions convenience will be caused. But yesterday evening.

Colonel Irwin said:-

It may be thought that the Gov- ernment is being unnecessarily an- noying by imposing on the

a restriction which, for convenien is called a "Black-Out." It may considered that when the

make it difficult for him to pick out the Military Objectives.

arises demanding a total occaet

of

BEST OF A BAD JOB

building twice. I saw no tell-tale The conditions: of the lights whatever. When I returned "Black-Out" practice have been to my office I rang the Medical Offi-published in the Press and some cer in charge of the Hospital and explanatory announcements are also had been and added this question The rules are simple and if strictly told him how successful his efforts being made daily from this studio. "Are you prepared to carry on un-adhered to relatively very little in-

for two months"? He said he don't funk it like many people did was. That shows exactly what we in December and just put out your want and what can be done.

lights. and walk in the streets or In a similar way we want people go to bed. That is not practice. to arrange the screening of their Will you, therefore, regard this own house lights so that they can- coming "Black-Out”

and others not be seen from outside and in which will inevitably follow at cer-

added

I am afraid we cannot be satis-¡this connection it is comforting to tain intervals as real practices to fied with such a gamble and besides, know that it takes quite alenable you to carry out your own are you so certain that the air-thin curtain to screen a light so experiments in restricting lights and man will aim at a Military objec-long as the colour of the curtain is to get accustomed to a degree of tive only, releasing his death deal-dark; similarly blued electric light subdued lighting which will enable the lights of the Colony the reasoning load only if there is no chance bulbs or shaded lamps directed away you to continue to exist in War will be so cogent that the people will of it falling other than on a Mili-from windows provide adequate in-in reasonable comfort and

No, you cannot be ternal lighting without being con-security. be ready enough to turn out their tary target? lights and sit in darkness until the certain. The bomb will be released spicuous from outside.

The alternative must be the ab- you naked light which is most con- solute "Black-Out” achieved only by danger is passed and, therefore, why all right and what interests

make spicuous from the air, a screened cutting off all power and light at inconvenience the public by having most, therefore, is how to

And so we light, even 2 I will the best of a bad job. practice "Black-Outs" now?

car side lamp, pro-source, a measure which the Gov- give you two very good reasons why come to the "Black-Out" as one vided it has a thin paper covering ernment wishes to avoid and which we cannot wait until the last minute, means of making the best of a bad is, except from extremely low al-I am sure you will agree

The term "Black-Out” is, as titudes, practically invisible that is to say, until just, before an job.

from if possible, be avoided. air raid arrives, before extinguish-I said earlier, convenient, but it is

It is the

ing all the lights in Hong Kong and not quite appropriate because it im- He Returned From

we

Complete

why, therefore, in war we wish to plies the very condition that keep the Colony in such a perman-thing it wiser to avoid. nent state of dim illumination that "Black-Out" would only be possible

at by cutting off all lights

the its presence would not be readily

mains, and consider for a moment disclosed to a hostile airman.

what life would be like under such

SHORT WARNING

is

should

Siberia After 22

Years In Exile

waeré ne

and some sacred pictures, which ɩne Tsarina distributed each time she arrived.

Charge

are

interrupted conditions. So cine- The "Pesti Naplo" reports the re- to Siberia and put on a free footing. mas or amusements to keep up our turn from Siberia of a Hungarian In Irkutsk Balog Nagy met & spirits, could continue under these sergeant called Balog Nagy, who Russian widow whose husband and The first reason in that placed conditions. Think of the alarm was taken prisoner on June 6, 1916, been killed at the storming of as we are on the edge of the sea and probably panic which might during the Brusilov offensive. Przemysl, and married her, becom with no outlying territory on the occur in crowded houses when the in Д Darrage that rasucu xorty-ing the father of two sons, The lines of possible attack, we cannot lights suddenly go out and when eight hours, Dalog Nagy received family lived happily until last Bum- hope to get early warning of the in hot weather the fans stop as several wounus. ne was · picked mer, when the wife-and two sons approach of air raids. Therefore well. What of operations in Hos-up by Kussian sochers and sout totaled of cholera. only a few moments at the most pitals cut short at critical momentse Grand Duchess Laza 8 os

Having no further ties in Russia before the bombs start to drop can until alternative illumination canpical in: TsarskojsTIO,-

Balog Nagy set out for Moscow on we expect to get news that an air be brought into action, or lifts sud-remained for nearly a year.

foot, taking months on the way, and raid is coming. When we get the denly stopped leaving you entrapped Almost every day the nospital was received a permit to return to Hung- information at our Military Head between floors. Furthermore, many visited by the

Mary from the Hungarian 'i'sarına and her quarters how can we get the news technical difficulties follow with

d'Affaires.. daughters. These visits were some- out to everyone in time to get them street lighting, with hot water or wnac troublesome to the prisoners, to turn out their lights? No sort cold storage and refrigerator sys and brougao no advancage except of warning signal can be so abso- tems, and even with milking pro- two sweets wrapped in suiver paper lutely effective as to ensure this. cesses at the Dairy Farm. But there is a method of acting in-

Throughout a war in which we stantly and thereby darkening the Colony on receipt of news of an are exposed to air attack, should we

balog Nagy had belonged to the impending raid, and that

accept these dangers and disadvan- by turning off all light and power at tages or should we try out a self sixty-sixth regiment, and had suc-

restricted or ceeded in rescuing the source by pulling out the switches imposed degree of

regimental and closing the taps at the electric subdued lighting all night and every light and gas works. That results night, which will be just enough to meet our own essential needs, but in a complete "Black-Out" and İs a course of action which might be not enough to be of material effective were it not for the second sistance to the Bomber aeroplane? Sub reason I am about to give you; but The Air Raids Precautions

Committee believes this - latter to in addition this course brings with it many difficulties and dangers The slogan "Business as

be the correct policy.

which I will refer to in a moment.

The second good reason why we

which formed almost the basis of cannot wait until that last minute the British Home Policy in 1914, If is that the aeroplanes can see lights sensibly applied might well become from a great distance further, of the Colony so long as "Business the slogan for the Lighting Policy

fact, than the sound of the aero- plane's engine travels, therefore, be fore, we have even received the warning of the aeroplane's approach it has probably picked up the lights To implement this policy success- of Hong Kong and so confirmed that it is on its proper course,

Balog Nagy states that many hun- dreds of Hungarians are scattered over Siberia farming small plots of ground. Those who adopted Rus- sian citizenship are given the same rights as born Russians, and favoured above the Hungarians who retained their own nationality. Since Balog Nagy left the hoa- pital about twenty years ago he has flag and in carrying it with him to carried his regiment's flag on his the hospital, where ne had some dif- person day and night, sewn into the nculty in keeping it concealed

un-lining of his waistcoat. as- der his pilow.

Many bullet holes may be seen on In the summer of 1917 he went to the torn faded piece of silk, and a Moscow, where a large number of few rags of the ribbons which were Hungarian soldiers were waiting to the farewell gifts of young girls be- be sent home. Instead of this, fore the regiment set out for the however, the Hungarians were sent front.

usual"

as usual" does not cause us to de- tract 'one whit from our determina- of invasion by land and sea.. tion to surmount the great danger

fully, much practice, much honest co-operation and understanding by

You will probably think that this the people will be necessary.

second reason is not a very good

QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL one because even if the enemy aero- plane does locate the direction of To give you an example of what Hong Kong, by the time it arrives can be done by individual effort. I at the point when it has to release will tell you the case of the Queen its bombs it is fairly certain that Mary Hospital. You all know what most of the lights will have been a prominent heavily windowed build- turned out, in any case enough of ing it is. Well, the Medical Officer them to confuse the airman and in charge took the problem before

Those who know....

Insist on

EWO

Jardines-Tel. 30311