London, Feb, 12.
The Government, it Is understood, has decided to proceed with the bulld-Ing of its new offices. at. Whitehall despite earlier reports that the con struction would. be postponed, Defence authorities at. first_made strong representations against "the Dullding because they maintained that the structure, 128 10 high and $0 11, Jong, faced With white stone and ad-Joining the Thames, would be a too conspicuous target in the heart of the administrative centre inthe event of fan air attack, it''s reported to-day, however, that plans have been madided to protect the building against anything except a direct hit, The question of a balloon barrage for the alr defence of London wa: raised In the House of Commons today by Sir Hugh Seely. Liberal member for the Berwick-on-Tweed divi sion of Northumberland, who asked whether the Alr Ministry Intended to adopt the Ariel type of balloon. used by the French Government.
Six Philip Sassoon, Under-Secretary for Air, replied that the Government was going forward with its barrage scheme as quickly as possible.
Satisfactory deliveries of balloons were being made, The Government had not ordered Ariel balloons, the Air Staff considering the type ordered the most suitable, Sir Hugh Seely, interposing, de-'Aerial ballans could rise of 35,000 ft. whereas the Government's type could only rise 18.000 tt, Sir Philip Sassoon replied that aepended on the height one wanted go, but refused to indicate what Height the barrage would be placed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.