Air Raid Precaution with Special Reference to Calcutta

Mr. President, brother members and friends,

After many years a War has come to our very doors and this modern War has taken a new aspect-the aspect of air attack on civil population and property leading to what is known as A.R.P. Measures and Civil Defence. A.R.P. Measures cover a wide range and have many ramifications. I shall confine myself here only with the branch that concerns Engineers, viz., the adequate protection that can possibly be taken against the damaging effects of bombs on life and property. The scientific approach to the subject must therefore be a consideration of the various types of bombs in use and their behaviour and effects a detailed study of which can lead us to the adequacy of necessary protective measures. Even so the subject is too vast to be dealt with in the short time at my disposal and so I propose to put before you tonight only such salient points as may lead an Engineer to the design of such protective measures.