Absolute Necessity

Into thousands of British homes each month goes the creepy A. R. P. News, the "National Journal of Air-Raid Precautions." The magazine offers its readers such helpful articles as "Defense Against Fire," "Removing an Insensible Person (with rather astonishing ease)," "Decontamination of Materials," "The Romance of Cement," and "High Explosive Bombs and Their Effects."

A. R. P. News also is a vigilant critic of the Government's protection policies (the latest issue complains that Government-supplied sandbags are of inferior quality and quickly disintegrate) and a mine of cheerless advertising. "An Evertrusty Steel Helmet is an absolute necessity," declares the manufacturer of an extensive line of respirators, decontamination bins, asbestos clothing and safety lamps. "How Many Closets for An Air-Raid Shelter?" asks a maker of chemical toilets who advises everyone to write for his free booklet, Sanitation in Air-Raid Shelters. For protection against fiery thermite bombs home-owners are urged to use Kimoloboard. Other appliances recommended to the reader are Blackout Fabric and steel shutters for windows, first-aid kits, fire pumps.

Last weekend, A. R. P. News readers got a little clearer view of the shape of things that may come. Britain staged its first large-scale blackout, including almost all southern England except London. Planes flew in from the coast to test the skill of volunteer "spotters" and searchlight crews. On vacant lots bombs were exploded to give the volunteer firemen, decontaminators and first-aid crews practice in rushing through darkened streets to danger spots. Observers in the air watched for lights that would be a giveaway to enemy aviators. The blackout, pronounced a success, was on an entirely volunteer basis, for there was no law to compel householders and drivers to put out their lights.

> Vacationers last week were given an ugly warning to take their gas masks with them to the sea shore. But Bulldog Spirit can bring a bit of beautification even to A. R. P., as Mr. C. W. Milsom of Barnsbury, London, has demonstrated. Mr. Milsom, a backyard esthete, has prettied up the corrugated iron bomb shelter lent him (rent free) by the Government. The shelter's roof has been converted into a rock garden, a horseshoe ornaments the entrance, Christmas tree lights are strung inside. Presumably the rococo goldfish tank on the roof will be taken inside in case of trouble.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.