FACTORY FORTRESSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 247, 26 July 1940, Page 5

FACTORY FORTRESSES.

BRITAIN’S HOME DEFENCE.

DISPOSAL OF PRISONERS

LONDON, June 5

A statement that factories in the Midlands had been turned into forttresses, with bullet-proof shields affixed to the windows, was made by Lord Strabolgi in the House of Lords. “Any one trying to attack them will bo sorry, indeed,” he said, “but a retired major in command in this district has neither the money nor the staff.”

The urged the establishment of obstacles on broad stretches of water and lakes, on which Dornier flying-boats could land, and suggested the adoption of compulsory evacuation, and even the removal of all non-combatants, from some districts.

The Earl of Broadalbanc, in urging co-ordination of the A.R.P., police and other services, said there was anxiety and dissatisfaction over a large part- of the country regarding the preparations for home defence. Too many people adopted an attitude of negligence and supine apathy. The organisation of local defence corps, lie added, had been entrusted to elderly military gentlemen with a mentality of the last war, who were too old to meet the menace of young professional parachuters. The A.R.P. authorities and the police should be given more mobility and more firearms. Special constables in the district with which be was associated were expected to catch parachute troops with their bare hands.

In reply to a question in the House of Commons about the advisability of the transportation of internees and prisoners of war to places remote from Britain to prevent their co-operation with enemy aircraft and parachutists, the Minister of "War, Mr Eden, said that this was being considered.

The same day on which the Earl of Breadalbane voiced his criticism the authorities in London announced the formation of the Ironsides, small bodies of highly mobile and strongly armed troops, for home defence.