AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20989, 16 December 1939, Page 8

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

PROTECTION OF LONDON TRIBUTE TO ORGANISATION STORY OF NIGHT TOUR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 14 A special correspondent of the Associated Press reports that during a night tour of London air raid precautions posts, beginning with the regional war room and ending with the firefloats in action on the Thames, he saw the most complete organisation to protect London in the event of air raids. “These included stretcher parties, ambulances, rescue squads, auxiliary fire services, decontamination rooms and first-aid depots, all of which comprise a personnel of 150,000,” he states. “One-third of the personnel are paid, men receiving an average of £3 a week and women £2.

“The remainder are unpaid volunteers. The majority of those paid gave up well-paid civilian posts on outbreak of the war. The parties include all grades of society, from residents of Mayfair to foreign-speaking workers from Holborn, the majority undertaking duties which compel exposure to bombs and shrapnel. A Striking Aspect “A striking aspect was that there were scarcely any uniforms. The women wore slacks and jumpers, and the men flannels and jerseys. A typical scene was at the ambulance station at Chelsea, situated in a large garage. The officer in command, who was a middle-aged woman, gave a