Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-03
Attacks
British Government
For Air Weakness
'PIoyins Fool With Greet
Issues, Morrison
Tells Parliament

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 3-Laborite Her
bert S. Morrison, urging the House
of Commons to adopt the labor op-
POSITIONS motion censuring Britain's
weakness In air raid protection,
today accused the government of
playing the fool with great issues
of public policy"
Prime Minister Chamberlain did
not attend today's debate because
he was slightly indisposed."
The labor motion expressed grave
concern at the admitted unpre-
paredness to protect the civil popu-
lation when the country was brought
to the brink of war" in late Septem-
Der.
Draws Grim Picture.
Grimly Mr.. Morrison pictured
death after DEATH" If there had
been a rush to escape bombardment
in inadequate trenches dug in Lon
don's parks during the Czechoslo-
yak crisis.
He asSailed what he charged was
inadequate fireflghting equipment,
non existence of effective air raid
shelters, failure to deliver gas masks
to mental hospitals and lack Of a
policy for moving civilian masses
from the city.
Mr.. Morrison said that anti-air-
craft guns which were wheeled into
strategic positions at the height of
the crisis were such a varied as
sortment that they had been nick
named "Hore- Belisha's War Mu-
seum"-for Leslie Hore-Belisha, war
minister.
Sir Samuel Hoare Replies.
Sir Samuel Hoare, home secretary.
replied to Mr.. Morrison with the
assertion that despite its imperfec-
tons Britain's system Of air raid
precautions would stand comparison
with that Of any country in the
world except Germany.
His reply forecast comprehen-
sive new program to provide blast
proof shelters for every man. wom-
| dll allO (llllo WIZ SdllilOI pAOFlOC
1t themselves"
He pointed to the distribution of
100000 gas masks within few
days during the crisis as an efficient
accomplishment.
Queries on Ship Attack.
Opposition speakers also pressed
the government for a statement on
a Spanish Insurgent warship's at
tack on a Spanish freighter off the
English Coast.
The inSurgent motor vessel Nadir
shelled and sank the government
freighter Cantabria almost at the
moment Prime Minister Chamber
lain yesterday told the House the
Spanish war was mo longer men,
ace to the peace of Europe"
BY his speech, noting that italy
had withdrawn a large number of
troops from Spain and was ready to
withdraw more, the Premier won
House approval to put into effect
the April 16 British Italian friend
ship pact, probably on November Is.
The vote was 345 to 1873.
Opposition Caustic.
When news of the sea attack
reached Parliament, however. one
opposition party speaker snapped
out, They will be up the Thames
next"
In some quarters there was be-
lief the attack indicated Insurgent
Generalissimo Franco had decided
on bold plan to venture far from
Spanish waters to intercept enemy
shipping.
Philip Noel Baker. Labor, told the
House last night that "the Spanish
war comes nearer home. A Spanish
merchant ship on a time charter of
a British company has been attacked
off Cromer by an insurgent trawler
said to be armed from Germany"
Reports not confirmed were that
the insurgent Nabir had been to
Germany for arms and was return
ing to Spanish waters when she met
the Cantabria, leased by the Mid
Atlantic Co. of London, a few miles
outside British territorial waters oil
Cromer, Norfolk.
Attacker Saves IS.
The attacking Nadir and British
ships picked up all the crew Of 81
five children and three women
aboard, Capt. Manuel Arguelles OF
the Cantabria said.