AIR DEFENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 607, 8 March 1929, Page 9

AIR DEFENCE

Amazing Nerve Centre of British System A SECRET BRAIN (United SereieeJ LONDON. Thursday A secret mechanical brain, contain mg electrical and other apparatus ot extraordinary ingenuity, is to act nthe central controlling point of Britain's future air defences. Only those intimately concerned will know where the mystery-room situated. It will be deep below the ground and protected by bomb prooi armour, says the “Daily Mail.” l» will also be gas-proof and sound proof, and it will be possible to com pletely isolate is from the world above, merely by the movement of h switch. Those inside the room will b# grouped around a great illuminated map They will be able to send commands to a network of land st.i tions. from whence they will be sent on by wireless to pilots flying at grea’ heights. The map will be a visible, ever-changing centre of a vast spider s web of aerial intelligence. Every gun position and searchlight in the huge network of ground defences will be shown on the map by tiny pin points of light. Tidings will be flashed from a widespread system of listening posts, the sensi tive, sound-locating instruments or which will trace the movements of aerial raiders. The convergence on their objectives of raiders will hr indicated on the map by gradually advancing waves of light. Thereupon orders will be flashed to the defending squadrons, who?** movements the wonder-map will sim ilarly reveal. In this way the hidden headquarters staff will have full know ledge of what is occurring at vast heights in the night sky. They will be no ordinary men, but veritable wizards of science, as, from their subterranean chamber, they will control searchlights, guns and airplanes, ami operate smoke-screens and other obstructions. They will wield almost superhuman powers.