BLACK-OUT RELIEF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20133, 30 December 1939, Page 5

BLACK-OUT RELIEF

“STARLIGHT” IN LONDON NEW SYSTEM WELCOMED LONDON, Dec. 21. Small, faint lamps on top of tali standards have appeared in the West End to gwe London its first relief from the blackout. The tight is sufficient to enable pedestrians without torches safely to negotiate kerbs and sandbags, yet it is insufficient to assist enemy aircraft, either in identifying towns or in obtaining a bearing on other objectives.

The light roughly equals starlight, tut is far less luminous than moonlight. In fact tiie system is _already being called “synthetic stai light.’ On a fairly light night, with only a little moonlight, the small lamps are scarcely noticeable, but their riincipal function is to relieve the complete blackness, and allow people to continue their shopping after the tlackout begins. The blackout now starts at 4.20 p.m.

The new system is especially welcome to shopkeepers, whose Christmas trade *s being seriously curtailed.

The light is equivalent to the illumination cast by a • ingle candle 70 ft away. This effect is obtained by 15 or 20 watt lamps placed at such a height that they cannot cast a gleam on the road, and so hooded that no light ; s visible from above. The lights can safely be left on during air raids.