BRITISH DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20730, 14 February 1939, Page 7

BRITISH DEFENCE

AIR RAID SHELTERS 100 PER CENT SAFETY A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME (United Pres* Agsn.—Elec. TfS_ CopjOftt* LONDON, Feb. 11 Britain's first comprehensive local scheme to provide 100 per oeat safety from air raids is published by the Finsbury Council, London. It is the result of four months' ti>vestigation by distinguished architect* and engineers, who advocate deep underground bomb-proof shelters. It is proposed to construct 15 underground shelters that will hold 132.000 persons and will coat £1,387,600, or £lO per capita. The shelters will be vast multistoried concrete cylindrical drums with spiral rarrtps. They will be 70fL deep and 122 ft. in diameter and will allow six square feet for each person. They will b$ buried beneath Invulnerable layers of reinforced concrete, sand and earth. The top layer will consist of a concrete detonator slab against which bombs will immediately explode. Several entrances will allow of the influx of 40 persons per second. The shelters will have air filters similar to those in the Maginot* Line. They will include stores for food, water, telephones, internal lighting, shortwave radio and first-aid posta and will be connected by tunnels. All the shelters will be able to be used as car parks in peace time. The council’s report challenges the Government's “tinkering'’ policy, and describes Sir John Anderson's steel and blastproof shelters as death traps which w'ould be blown up into the air by exploding bombs. Similarly, the Government's storing up of basements is described as useless and dangerous. WHEATLEBS BREAD MADE FROM OAT FLOUR THE CONTROL OF CEREALS i United Pres* assn.—Elec TaL Copyright) LONDON, Feb. IS The Swansea Technical Gollegs claims to have produced commercially wheatless bread made from oat flour, which is believed to have a higher food value than wheat. As oaU iiian niuii m England and Scotland, and as the other ingredients. sugar and gluten, can be easily stored, it is claimed that Britain can be made entirely independent of Imported wheat in a time of emergency. A committee to advise on arrangements for the supply, control and distribution in Britain of wheat, including flour, and other cereals In time of war, has been appointed by the President of the Board of Trade, Mr Oliver Stanley. In peace time the committee will be an advisory body to which the plans now being made for cereals will be submitted for consideration. In the event of a war the committee, with such modifications as may be considered necessary, will be converted into a Cereals Control Board and will be responsible for tbe supply, control and distribution of all cereals in the United Kingdom. DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA STRENGTH OF STANDING ARMY PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES (United Press Assn.— Dec. TeL Copyright) (Received Fefo. 14, noon) SYDNEY, Feb. 14 The strength of the militia force la 57,759 and only 12,241 recruits are required to reach the aim of 70,000. The Melbourne correspondent of the Morning Herald says it is almost certain that the Federal Government will adopt the recommendation by the Inspector-General of the Australian military forces, Lieutenant-General Squires, for the formation of a standing army of 10,000. Colonel F. <M. Lorenzo, who will direct the organisation of the NewSouth Wales Government's national emergency services, said 20.000 people w-ould be required in Sydney alone to cope with air raids and other emergencies. MELBOURNE, Feb. 14 Action to improve the organisation for the conservation of food in the event of emergency \va* taken at a conference called by Sir Earle Page.