MIMIC RAID LESSON

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1928, Page 4

MIMIC RAID LESSON

CIVILIAN DRILL URGED. Australian Press Assn.—United Service LONDON, Aug. 18. Britain appears to be faced with the fact that bad the mimic air warfare been real, at least half of London would be in ruins, and an area across tbc Thames was gas-logged with poisonous fumes, wlienee the fumes were dispersed by n south-westerly wind into crowded areas, bringing death and desolation--

The evidence suggests that mass dugouts should be devised in the West End squares to be useable as motor garages in peace time.

Tt is generally estimated that fifty per cent of the bombers penetrated the defences; that two hundred tons of bombs were dropped, being equivalent to only a little less than the whole of the bombs dropped by the German air forces during the entire

The experts emphasise that destruction would have been more terrific had not the dice been loaded against the raiders, who were forced to use large slow night bombers, heavily woighted whereas an attacking enemy prefers fast,-flying light machines. Earl Ilalsbury, who at the time of the Armistice was in charge of the plans for the bombardment of Germany, deliberately warns the nation that it is in deadly peril. He says that while Europe is building colossal air armadas, England is content with a few squadrons, mostly of antiquated machines, and that she practically is disarmed in the air, and is at the, mercy of any hostile force.

Earl Halsbury describes the air manoeuvres as “a farce carrieud out at night at a height of twenty thousand feet.” He asks: “What enemy would drop bombs from such a height when bo could attack by day, swoop down to ono hundred feet, and drop the bombs with safety. Everyone in the world is aware that the bombers are safest near the ground, where the anti-aircraft guns could not be trained.” He adds: “When I was in France recently, the aeroplanes were skimming the roofs of the houses. No scout would dare to dive on a bomber only one hundred feet from the ground. The first gas attack at Ypres cost us five thousand soldiers. What will be the effect of an attack on the civilians in London with gas that Is one thousand times more powerful?” Lord Halsbury recently pointed out that fifty tons of the latest arsenical poison gas would suffice to wipe out Central London.

Brigadier-General Groves, formerly Director of Flying Operations, states that each country will instantly despatch its front lumbers to the enemies’ vital centres, ft will bo the aim of each side to terrorise the civilians. London’s vital points would soon be in ruins, and the gas would render other parts uninhabitable. Me says that local defence in air warfare can only be a palliative. The only effective method of defence is the counter attack.

The “Daily Herald” saiarically asks whether the civilians should not ho drilled in the sudden donning of respirators at five minutes’ notice and tearing them off 2 It queries: 510111(1 it, not ho hotter if they were instructed in rendering first aid to the gassed and in giving rapid hygienic interment to the thousands of the dead? Mainr Turner in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: A force beyond practicable numbers would he necessary, not merely to account for every raider, hut merely to keep out very few. Cities such as London would need hundreds of squadrons. He suggests that the civilians should he drilled. The part played by air warfare is different from any other. All must participate. He says' Fence is merely likely to lie preserved in this manner than by neglect.

An official communique states that the manoeuvres comprised fifty-seven daylight raids, nine of which completely evaded iho defence, cloud and strong winds favouring the attackers. Pay bombers were attacked thirtynine times when coming. and in

thirty-seven when going out. A large percentage of the night flying bombers were intercepted, the weather favouring the defenders. Tbo fighters brought down 151 bombers, the anti-aircraft guns accounting for twenty, while 139 fighters were lost. .

Vice-Marshall Scarlett is satisfied with the efficiency of all units. The aircraft flew 250.000 miles. The only mishap involving injury was that a pilot’s nose was slightly hurt when a fighter overturned.

'flie bombers could have carried a total of 202 tons of bombs, not deducting the bombers adjudged shot down before reaching their objectives. The fighters’ interception of bombers bad much improved since last year, and likewise the standard of pilotage, the use of clouds, and also the searchlight work was invaluable. The exercises were not intended to test the efficiency of the London defence, but the operational efficiency of individual units.