"CARRIED ON."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 8

"CARRIED ON."

CABLE OFFICE STAFF. earthquake: and war. Difficult!?* encountered in maintaining communications in different parts <»f the world liv the various offices of Messrs. tables and Wireless, Limited, arise iiniii many different causes. *Some of them arc natural and obvious—ordinary "wear and tear," so to speak—but some of them are not so usual; and in recent instances even war and earthquake iiave been numl>ercd among them. The part played by the staff of this world-wide organisation in the disastrous earthquake in Chile, and the fall of Barcelona, in the .Spanish trouble, are described in a cable received, from the London office bv the company's headquarters in Auckland. '•The recent earthquake in Chile paralysed communication with the outside world, ' stated the cable. "The company's office at Conception was totally destroyed, the top storey falling ill. The first floor of the Talcahitano branch office was also damaged through the collapse of the partition wall*. "Owing to the excellent work of the stair communications were speedily restored, the company being the first to contact Valparaiso. Only one member of the stall was injured, and he is now out of danger. "'I he feature of the Spanish civil war lias been the maintenance of overseas telegraph communication's which are operated ill .Spain by companies associated with Cables and Wireless, Limited. During the recent attack 011 Barcelona, communications remained intact all through the time that the city was subjected to frequent air raids and bombardment, after the evacuation by the Spanish Government troops, and while General Franco wus taking possession. "At times it was necessary to utilise temporary offices, from which the services were worked under military control. The company's manager, however, did not leave his post even during the most dangerous periods, and he has been officially praised by the Burgos Government for efficient service and for tli£ facilities extended to the military iiuthorities and to the Press. In both instances a congratulatory telegram has been went to the company's staff from the chairman of the office, Loudon."