AIR RAID TEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1939, Page 5

AIR RAID TEST

STAGED ON GREAT SCALE IN BRITAIN BLACK-OUT OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND. HUGE FORCE OF VOLUNTEERS AT WORK. By Telegraph—P -s Association—Copyright LONDON, July 9. Last night 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." The area. l(i,000 square miles, embraced the whole of southern England. Hundreds of thousands of A.R.I . volunteers participated at the nerve centres of the defence areas, working under strict war-time conditions. Real high-explosive bombs detonated constantly and lit up the darkened countryside. Special buildings were set on fire to test the fire fighting apparatus. Gas warnings were given in order to force squads wearing masks and special clothing to carry out “rescues” from the wreckage of bombed premises. The test was carried out in conjunction with the air force preparatory to vast exercises in August, when London will be "attacked. A complete air raid rehearsal in Kent and Sussex covered 250 miles of vital coastline. Nineteen "bombs” were dropped in the centre of Folkestone, where the test was most sevete. 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 which showed up when the rays of shielded headlights from cars fell on them. Trains ran with minimum light- .. The Port of London Authority conducted a separate test last night. Vital stretches of the Thames were blacked out and dozens of patrol-boats demonstrated the use of luminous paint and invisible ultra-violet beams, lhe landing-stages were picked out by painted discs on the boats, enabling them to berth in darkness. All craft using the Thames are being fitted with this equipment.

SHELTER TUNNELS.

FACTORY DEMONSTRATION

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 8.

The Lord Privy Seal, Sir John Anderson. was chief guest at a demonstration of the A.R.P. organisation. at the new Southgate factory of Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. yesterday. at which 6000 factory workers were" taken to a series of shelter tunnels and basements.