§ Sir GEORGE GREENWOODasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the firing of maroons is liable to create a panic leading to loss of life, being frequently mistaken for the firing of antiaircraft guns, he will once more consider the desirability of giving warnings of coming air raids by means of syrens or police rattles, or otherwise?
§ Sir G. CAVEIt is true that on Monday Last a regrettable loss of life was caused by a panic which occurred among some aliens in the East End, but I do not think that this affords sufficient reason for abandon-1944W ing the use of the sound warnings by day and in the evenings. These warnings were urgently called for by many public authorities and by a large section of the public in London, and there can be no doubt that they have saved life by the prompt clearing of the streets. Syrens have been tried, but they cannot be heard because of noise of the traffic in those streets where the danger would be greatest, and rattles are less effective than the police whistles already used. It would be very undesirable to change the system of warning, especially now that most people have learned to recognise the sound of the maroons.