AIR-RAID SHELTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1940, Page 10

AIR-RAID SHELTERS

PLANS FOR SYDNEY

USE OF UNDERGROUND RAILWAY

(By Trans-Tasman Air Mail, from "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, October 12

Plans for the protection of Sydney from air raids are being developed. They are based, in part, on the use of basements and lower floors in large buildings, but mainly on the use of the underground railway, which runs conveniently round the centre of the city.

Blast and splinter proof surface shelters will be used in the suburbs because the main thing there is to have shelters that are quickly available to the people.

The Minister in Charge of National Emergency Services, Mr. Bruxner, announced the appointment of a Controller of Training for the N.E.S. and of two more liaison officers to assist wardens in organisation and in training personnel

"The public can now rest assured that the N.E.S. organisation is functioning efficiently in almost every centre," said Mr. Bruxner. "Materials needed for shelters and essential stores are now being obtained and stored in accessible places. Revision and improving are going on constantly in the light of advice and experience in England, and everything is being brought to a state when the system can function smoothly and quickly whenever and wherever the emergency may arise. A special technical sub-com-mittee meets weekly to consider new information on air-raid shelters and precautions work which comes from England."

Censorship and delay still affect all messages from Rumania, but already there are familiar signs of what a German occupation means. Reuters reports that in Rumania is being instituted and the eating of meat is forbidden on three days of the week. Bread of inferior quality is being sold at twice the usual price, and no butter is obtainable from one province, because the Germans want it. Other foodstuffs and fuel are also affected.

Reuters also reports that one Rumanian newspaper has been suspended for publishing articles which are alleged to have been inciting to arbitrary acts and disorders.

The dispute between Rumania and Hungary over the treatment of minori-

ties since the transfer of Transylvania is now being taken in hand by the Axis. A Rumanian representative arrived in Berlin and was received by Herr yon Ribbentrop. It is also reported from Berlin that the former Rumanian Foreign Minister (M. Manoilescu) has arrived in Rome to plead Rumania's case before the junior Axis partner. The Bucharest wireless stated that it was revealed in Rome that the State led by General Antonescu will be considered a State within the framework of the Axis policy.

A Turkish newspaper, commenting today on the situation in Rumania, said: "By the occupation of Rumania Germany has reached the Black Sea and pushed herself like a dagger into the flank of the Soviet Union."

The Soviet Ambassador in Ankara is reported to have arrived in Istanbul on a short visit. ■