PREPARATIONS FOR EVACUATION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23587, 14 March 1942, Page 8

PREPARATIONS FOR EVACUATION

♦ —— ADVICE ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT Suggested preparations for evacuation if it should be necessary, were contained in a circular from the National Service Department which has been received by the Mayor and Chief Warden (Mr E. H. Andrews). After urging Emergency Precautions Services authorities to canvass their districts to find out how much accommodation was available for evacuees, the letter gave the following points:— “An E.P.S. in a receiving district should endeavour to arrange to cairj a surplus supply of stocks of essential commodities. . “It should also endeavour to arrange with certain farmers for milk fresh meat, eggs, bacon, potatoes, vegetables, and fruit. _ . . -It shoujd arrange with certain bakers to ‘stand by’ to ensure breadbaking facilities. • , „ , “If bulk supplies of such controlled commodities as flour, tea, and sugar are not adequate, the National Service Department should be advised. ‘-‘ln a forwarding district, the E.P.S. should be prepared to forward, with evacuees if possible, supplies of dry goods, to ease the position in the receiving district.” “Very careful consideration has been given by the Government and its advisers to the question of evacuating the civil population,” the circular states. "There can be no certainty as to when an enemy attack will develop, nor the locality which will be the object of an attack. Consequently, the most important action to take is the rapid completion of comprehensive organisations to give effect to evacuation immediately it becomes desirable or necessary. "This course of action must be based on the assumption that workmen would be removed to the most limited degree so that the national war effort would be preserved. It is extremely desirable to maintain continuous contact with military commanders in conwith the preparation of plans, and to ensure that evacuation can be brought into operation smoothly and promptly at any time,” stated the circular.