UNEXPLODED BOMBS

Southland Times, Issue 24821, 13 August 1942, Page 6

UNEXPLODED BOMBS

METHOD OF REPORTING Essential information for reporting unexploded bombs has been received by the Invercargill E.P.S. from Wellington. It is emphasized that only an Army bomb disposal unit will actually deal with such a bomb, but the E.P.S. must give an accurate report as quickly as possible, so that proper steps can be taken by the Army unit. Irrespective of the size of the bomb, it may dislocate traffic, upset communications, or bring to a standstill industries vital to the war effort till it is cleared away, but on no account should any but the bomb disposal unit deal with it. Their transport vehicles will carry a red flag, and free route or access must be given them and the bomb disposal personnel at all times. Forms for the reporting of unexploded bombs have been printed and will be supplied to wardens.

The report of an unexploded bomb is sent to the wardens’ post and thence to the central reporting point, where the E.P.S. priority officer allots a category to the unexploded bomb according, to its degree of urgency as disclosed by the report. The danger arising from the bomb can be classified into four phases: (1) The industrial war effort; (2) communicationsand public utility services; (3) general industry; (4) civilian population. By industrial war effort, is meant any factory, plant, or transport concern necessary in supplying war needs. Communications, which include telephones, rank almost equal in importance. The exact location of the unexploded bomb must be carefully explained and the warden may draw a sketch on the back of the form if necessary. The time of falling must also be reported. The population close to the position of an unexploded bomb in a residential area should be evacuated until the bomb can be cleared. They may be inconvenienced by damage or lack of access to their homes, but this is of relatively less importance than the other phases mentioned above.