AIR RAIDS AND THE PUBLIC
' [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] _
Sm,—With one clause of your Special Correspondent's grave article I find myself in cordial agreement ; when he says " so far much too little has been done," but I give to these words precisely an opposite meaning to that which they bear in the context.
I am stirred. to indignation when I know that a futile gas- . mask is being stored in.the country at the rate of half a million per week and at a cost of some £5,000,000 to the nation. I denounced its efficiency some months ago and now assert that tobacco smoke penetrates. I am uninterested in the discussion as to the distribution of.. its cost, because whether by rates or taxes we shall have to pay all right.
Yet if it were too per cent. effective, of what use is a muzzle over nose, eyes and mouth against lewisite or mustard gas, to mention but two of the possible vesicants against which protection might be needed.
The last Prime Minister stated categorically what is still demonstrably true " . . . there is no defence . . . the bomber will get through." Is it unreasonable to invite the readers of your journal to be realist ? Then let us contemplate a modern raid, for which we are now so terribly prepared.
The first squadrons will doubtless use high explosive shells, probably in conjunction with thermite shells. The former will disintegrate our four essential services : water, gas, electricity and sewage. It will also shatter glass over a. wide area as well as cause serious structural disturbance in the masonry of all buildings within a wide radius of such shock tactics. The: gas-proof chamber which the citizen has: been told to prepare for himself and his family will thereby be rendered futile. The other type will create fires wherever they fall, against which fire-fighters' will be absolutely helpless by reason of the shattered water mains: Then will come the turn of the .gas-shells and we may. rest .assured they will not be tear-gas shells. Children of tender years are incapable .of wearing a gas-mask. Those who can and preserve any morale at all, will find themselves confronted by a situation impossible to handle.
Short of creating it great depth in mother earth, duplicate social and industrial organisation, by , which hUman asso- ciation and essential services can be maintained,. whilst being effectually sealed off. from the heavier-than-air gases, which otherwise would filter down from the hell-on-earth which the bombers were creating above, I assert, without the slightest fear of contradiction, there is no defence against this barbarity, which, 'in the worship of the pagan deities of this age, we have at- length created.
I therefore repeat, too little has been done. We must now use the same resourcefulness to abolish this hideous nightmare by reorganising human life on the teaching of Jesus—the world's Supreme Statesman. The task of our age is to swiftly establish human relationships on a world-scale in the spirit of the Divine Master. Time presses and there is no other way to either Peace or Security.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully, EDGAR A. SHAW,
Hon. Secretary, Council of Action, Northern Area. 29 Alexandra Road, Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 6.
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