SHELTERS NOW "
Sm,—Whilst I am delighted that you have pointed out once more in your issue of October 18th the fallacy of the dispersal policy, for which, unfortunately, not only Mr. Morrison but Mr. Churchill has fallen, I should like to query your statement that I over-estimated the casualties which could be caused by bombs. We have had 8,5oo killed in a month, of whom probably 5,000 were in London. If the war continues for another two years, it seems very probable that my figure of 5o,000 Londoners killed may be exceeded. I only hope that I have over-estimated the figure, but we shall not know till the end of the war.
I agree that my book, written in 1938, is out-of-date today, particu- larly where, as in the case of the seven minutes' warning, I was rash enough to rely on British official figures. But had its proposals been carried out every Londoner, at least in the crowded areas, would now have bomb-proof shelter somewhat more comfortable than that provided in public shelters, which are not bomb-proof. And when the book was written the Government was recommending a gas-proof room in every house.
In self-defence, however, I must point out that if I did not foresee many details of modern air-raids in 1938 (although, for example, I did foresee the dangers of flooding Tubes), the A.R.P. Co-ordinating Committee, of which I am chairman, has taken cognisance of the changed situation. We realise that it is now too late to start making deep shelters in many areas ; but they can be made in others, and are being made in Northern England by miners whom Mr. Morrison apparently regards as Fifth Columnists. And they could be made in London areas such as Lewisham.
So for eleven months we have been urging that surface or shallow shelters should be so constructed that they can later be made bomb- proof. This has rarely been done, though some of our recommenda- tions are now being adopted. I think, Sir, that while you are justi-
fled in exposing my lack of omniscience in 1938, you should allow me to point out that I took care to modify my proposals as the situation changed. Had I continued to advocate an obsolete policy, should deserve the strictures which are being made against the
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