⁨⁨فلسطين بوست⁩ - ⁨The Palestine Post⁩, 23 كانون الأوّل 1938⁩ — MILLIONS TO BE SPENT ON BRITISH A . R . P . [⁨للمقال⁩]

MILLIONS TO BE SPENT ON BRITISH A . R . P .

LONDON , Thursday ( R ) . — Sir John Anderson , in the course of his statement yesterday in the House of Commons , on Air Raid Precautions , with particular reference to protection against high explosive amd incendiary bombs , declared thatt no plan would be satisfactory which provided protection only for a . proportion of those likely to be exposed to substantial risks . The aim must be to provide iin the vulnerable areas well-distributed shelters which would be easily accessible after an air raid wairning . As far as possible , the people must be given protection near their homes and places of employment . They must recognise that n < 0 100 per cent protection against hig ; h explosive , and shelters proof against a direct hit , was practicable as part of a short-term plan .

Apart from the difficulties , Sir John Anderson did not believe that we were prepared to adapt ouir civilisation so as to compel a large proportion of people to live and maintain their productive capacity in a troglodyte existence deep underground . What they could and must p : rovide was not bomb-proof shelters ,, but adequate protection against splinters and the blast and fall of debris . No public authority could make itself

responsible for providing this protection at the public expense for everyone . Their responsibility was to provide protection for ali who could not fairly be expected to proviide it for themselvesThe Government would give the technical advice to those necessary who could afford to provide it for themselves . The people must be reasonably protected while at work , and the responsibility for this rested primarily on the employer . Com inn _Legislation

Immediately after Chriistmas , legislation would be introduced imposing certain obligations in this respect on industry and trade . They must also give protection to those caught in the street during ; a raid .

Communal shelters would be provided , either trenches or other forms , which would be carefullsited . Basements y must be strengthened , and standardised steel fittings to strengthen basements would be made available . Steel sheets would be fitted in - peace time with the least possible disturbance to the -time user . A would peacesurvey bo carried out to see how this method could most profitably be applied . Structural support would be provided to blocks of flats or tenements . Steel Shelters Respecting non-basement houses , a special type of steel shelter had been evolved in sections which was to easy put together , placed in * the house and sunk about two feet underground . The Government would proceed immediately to place orders for a very large quantity of steel material . Private shelter for 3 , 000 , 000 people would be prepared and material accumulated for strengthening private basements .

The sum of £ 20 , 000 , 000 would be for this material and this necessary would be borne entirely by the Exchequer . The production of these large lies would lead at once to an insupp creased employment in the steel industry . Sir John Anderson indicated that the Exchequer contribution towards the cost of public shelters would amount to several million pounds . Altogether the protective measures would be designed for nearly 20 . 000 , 000 persons . Replying to supplementary questions , Sir John Anderson said that the figure of 20 , 000 , 000 people for whom _. under these special provisions , protection would be provided , did not necessarily represent the proportion of the population for whom protection ultimately would be available in one or anway other .

Mr . George Lansbury asked : Do any of these proposals deal with the defence of the people against high explosives ? Sir John Anderson declared that he had made quite clear in his statement that the scheme did not contemplate provi _, sions against what could be regarded as a direct hit by a high explosive bomb .