The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-15

Al4S LO OCOOAAAANAAJ Oo WAN A~AN1 himself.
 Friends of mine who have enlisted as air raid wardens tell me that invariably some one faints at the daily nationwide lectures when the effects of gas and explosives are vividly described and necessary de- fense precautions explained. Un- doubtedly millions are haunted and oppressed by the same fears which drove William James Gray to take his own life.
 Faint During Tests
 Women tainted in the streets dur ing the recent air raid test in Marylebone in London. Thomas Spense, a volunteer air warden died from strain after he had en- tered test gas chamber in a mask and emerged unharmed.
 The home office had sent 40 gas troops around the country to en- courage volunteers to enter the gas z chamber to prove the efficacy and to accustom the people to the gas masks which the government is pro- viding for the entire population of 45,000,000.
 As Premier Neville Chamberlain said:
 "We are like people living at the foot of volcano. Many letters l received show the fear of war is hanging over the country's homes" One cannot escape encountering intensive preparations for air war fare in London. Upon moving to my new house at Walton on Thames the other day my tax bill, payable in advance, included .125 pence in the pound Approximately l cent on $20) for air raid precau- tions. The district tax for public health service is .115 in the pound, less than the air raid tax.
 Free Lectures Held
 Your phone rings and you are politely invited to attend free lecture by a local organization on aiy raid precautions with pleas to volunteer as an air raid warden if you are qualified In many districts Wardens are methodically telephon- ing, in alphabetical order, everyone in the telephone book.
 You will receive official notifica- ton that the warden will call to measure your family for gas masks. The warden will teach you how to don them and how to get accus- toned to wearing them.
 With your electric, gas or water bill you receive 8 12-page booklet of instructions on what to do in an air raid, including the most de- tailed specifications for hte con- struction of a gas proof room in your home.
 Haste Is Necessary
 The most significant items in the booklet issued by my borough includes this warning:
 2 "Air raid warning will mean a raid may occure within few minutes perhaps seven to ten." Other auth critics predict that the warning might be less than five minutes ahead of the raid.
 The booklet explains how to gas proof a room by plugging every crack in the floor, walls, fire places, keyholes and drains with putty or sodden newspaper pulp. Wet blan- ketS are placed over doors and Win- dows covered with a fine wire net ting onto which transparent paper may be pasted.
 Supplied Listed
 The booklet suggests list of 39 articles or categories of objects which would be desirable to have in n 11,I,a ai, ;,1r, sounds. They include canned goods, a radio-phonograph with records, books, toys, writing materials, a bucket of sand and fire extin- guishers.
 It also suggests spare blankets to reseal windows if they are blown in. Non-inflammable dark glasses an electric flashlight, air-tight cans for storing food, a toilet, a pot of paste for resealing cracks, brown paper, plenty of water, mattresses to lie upon, first air disinfectants, gummed paper, chairs and tables. The booklet points out that al- , though the raid may be over in a few minutes, 1t might be necessary to remain in the room for several hours until the gas blows away.
 Send Pets to Country It suggests that pets should be sent to the country at the first sign of danger. It informs you that in cendiary bombs, weighing two pounds, may burn for ten minutes at . temperature of 2,000 centigrade. It urges that you choose room away from the direction of the pre- , vailing winds and avoid room with windows.
 You often see in the newspaper , advertisements which read: Safe from air raids, old light . house modernized four room Burn ham-on-Sea. f750" or "Air raid , shelter suitable for garden cheap" In the news reels you see John Smith constructing a bomb proof shelter in a garden which is used as ! a playhouse for his children" or Frank Jones demonstrating the construction of decorative f100 shelter with flowers" Another shows . how to make bomb proof shelter resemble a rock garden. Daily Lessons There is a daily course of lessons on air raid precautions in the Daily