WIDE AREA BLACKED OUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 10 July 1939, Page 5

WIDE AREA BLACKED OUT

TEST IN ENGLAND

REAL BOMBS DETONATED RESCUE SQUADS AT WORK FULL DRESS REHEARSAL (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.T (Reed. July 10, 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 9. Britain’s greatest air raid defence test was staged from midnight to 4 a.m. when 15 counties, excluding London, were plunged into complete darkness. An area of 16,000 square miles was embraced, the whole of southern England. Hundreds Of thousands of A.R.P. volunteers participated in the nerve centres of the defence areas, working to strict wartime conditions. Real high explosive bombs were detonated and constantly lit up the darkened countryside. Special buildings were set on fire to test the fire-fighting apparatus. 'Gas warnings were given and squads wearing masks and special clothing carried out "rescues” from the wreckage of the bombed premises. London “Attack” Pending

The tests were carried out in conjunction with the Royal Air Force preparatory to the vast exercises planned for August, 'when London will be “attacked.” 1 A complete air raid rbhearsal over Kent and 'Sussex covered 250 miles of vital coastline. Nineteen “bombs” were dropped in the centre of Folkestone, where the test was the most severe. Ambulances raced without lights and the entire resources of one district were rushed to cope with a “major disaster.” ■Policemen operated in several towns wearing capes treated with luminous paint showing up When the rays of shielded car lights fall on them. Trains ran with the minimum of light. The Port of London Authority conducted a separate test overnight. Vital stretches of the Thames were blacked out. Dozens of patrol boats demonstrated the use o'f luminous paint and invisible ultra-violet beams. Landing stages were picked out. Painted discs on boats enabled them to berth in darkness. All craft using the Thames are being fitted with this equipment.