In one respect the circumstances of the raid were different
from all others yet experienced. The threatening lowness of the raiders, as it seemed, was a portent not to be disregarded, and the vast majority of people sought shelter. It is now understood universally that the danger in the streets is far greater than inside houses,for many more people are killed by fragments, whether of bombs or shells, than by the direct hits of bombs. Certainly for a quarter of an hour or so many streets in the "Metropolitan area" were quite deserted. This new readiness of people to be sensible and coolly and calmly to take cover rather changes our point of view as to official warnings, especially as it is proposed now that only " short warnings " should be given when a raid over a particular district seems absolutely certain. What we objected to was a general warning for London such as would be delivered by a con- tagion of bell-ringing. That would mean general, and perhaps frequent, paralysis of industry and business over a vast area, and would concede to the Germans one of the results they aim at. If " short warnings " for- particular areas can be arranged, that is another matter altogether.
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