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RISK OF ATTACK

PLANES FROM RAIDER PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY “HIT AND RUN” MOST LIKELY QUESTION OF SHELTERS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) j AUCKLAND, Thursday “ The precautionary measures J being taken by the Emergency Prej cautions Services organisations j under authority of the Emergency ; Reserve Corps Regulations have the I full concurrence of the Government and are the result of recommendations to the War Cabinet by the Gov- ; ernment’s advisers, the Chiefs of Staffs,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, today, replying to the oft-asked question: “ Is there real justification for partial black-outs i and staging total black-outs in this i country, which is so far removed | from the theatres of war?” j Mr Fraser said full opportunity : was accorded recently to the mayors of the four principal cities and other local body representatives, at a conference in Wellington, which was attended also by Ministers connected with defence, members of the War Cabinet, the Chiefs of Staff and himself, when general agreement was reached on lighting precautions. Make Attack More Difficult It was agreed that it was the bounden duty of the Government to adopt any measures that would make mere difficult an attack on New Zealand- by an enemy raider. “It was established that unrestricted lighting could be of material assistance to the navigation of an enemy ship and the J steps taken will materially reduce ] that risk,” said Mr Fraser. j “So far as concerns the nature and !degree of the attack which can b# j anticipated in this country, the ! people of the Dominion can be as- } sured that the matter is under con- | stant review, to the end that prej parations may be changed in ac- : cordance with any changes in the war situation overseas. “ As the position stands today the nature of attack which is most likely is that of a ‘ hit and run ’ raid by an enemy raider, bombing ports from the sea and possibly with a plane or planes attacking from the air. “It may be, of course,” continued Mr Fraser, “ that in view of the distance of this country from any enemy base (such attack would be neither severe nor prolonged; but if adequate precautions were not taken the result might be very serious, particularly in loss of shipping and shipping facilities and of buildings generally. “It is well-known that a plane used by a raider could carry a large load of incendiary bombs, and if measures are not taken to control the resultant fires in their incipient stage the loss of property can well be imagined. Consequently, under recent regulations property owners in vulnerable areas will be required to instal such equipment as bucket pumps and sand rakes and shovels, and occupiers and employees in such buildings will be required to act as fire guards, capable of handling the equipment. “ The General Staff is definitely of the opinion that the construction of air raid shelters at present is not warranted in view of the

probable scale of air attack. “ As I have already stated, the War Cabinet has the war situation continuously under review, and if any change that occurs appears to the Government to warrant action being taken in connection with the erection of shelters such action will be taken immediately. Both the Government and the emergency precautions services in the more important centres have been preparing plans and obtaining the necessary information with regard to alternate means of shelter from blast and flying splinters.

“ Architects and other experts have been carrying out these surveys and reports are being furnished to the Government. This question is being kept under constant review and further definite action will be taken by the Government whenever the war situation demands it.” ENEMY RAIDERS SEEN IN JAPANESE PORT AUCKLAND, Thursday Ten enemy raiders and supply ships had been sheltering in Kobe harbour, Japan, for many months, said a British business man who recently left Japan. One of the ships in Kobe harbour, he said, f 9 the North German Lloyd 18,000-ton liner Scharnhorst. The liner has, he said, been refitted as an armed merchant cruiser, although he does not think that it has been one of the vessels attacking commerce in the Pacific. Also at Kobe when he left was the 7000-ton Ham-burg-Amerika cargo ship Kumberland, five other German ships and three Italians. He also believed there were some more at Yokohama, although he had not seen them.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19411120.2.31

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21583, 20 November 1941, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
733

RISK OF ATTACK Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21583, 20 November 1941, Page 4

RISK OF ATTACK Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21583, 20 November 1941, Page 4

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