BOMB MARCHERS AT “NERVE CENTRE”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 9

BOMB MARCHERS AT “NERVE CENTRE”

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, April 13. Wave upon wave of shouting, chanting anti-bomb demonstrators today stormed past police into a quiet wooded area west of London, site of an alleged secret nerve centre from which Britain would be administered after an atom-bomb attack.

Details of the centre, and others, were contained in a document circulated among thousands taking part in the annual Easter week-end anti-nuclear march from the atomic research station at Aldermaston, Berkshire, to London.

The 12-page document claims o set out top secret information about arrangements for running Britain should the central government be knocked out in a nuclear attack

Security men and police confiscated some of the documents from the anti-nuclear demonstrators as they se’ out today from Reading. Berkshire, on the second day of their 60-miie march. One of the secret headquarters is shown in detail in the document, with directions how to get there bv turning off the main road along which the demonstrators were marching. Hundreds ided by signposts erected by anti-nuclear supporters headed up a quie' country lane to the “secret” building—to be met by a squad of police and hastil.v-erp-’ed barriers. The demonstrators, many in ‘beatnik” dress carrying banners with the black and white nuclear disarmament svmbol and carrying guitars left the main body in spite of loudspeaker appeals by organisers not to do so. The first clash came when about 50 demonstrators arrived at the barriers, where about 20 policemen were posted A few miu-tes later hundreds of demonstrators infiltrating thrcu'gh woods came in from the rear. Then ’he main body moved in and forced th? police back An Inspector stationed on a roof fended off demonstrators like the captain of a ship being boarded by pirates.

Within 20 minutes the area was packed with shouting singing demonstrators, including a y r ung couple with a baby in a pram.

Many squatted on the ground and jeered and shouted as police reinforcements arrived in a bus adorned with nuclear disarmament labels put there by demonstrators Nearly an hour after the start of the “invasion,” one of the demonstrators' leaders announced: “We have achieved our object. Now we should leave.” The demonstrators sat in silence for two more minutes and then headed back towards the main road to join the main body of marchers, estimated between 15.000 and 17.000 The march will end. az usual, with a rally on Monday in Hyde Park. LonXon Several foreign contingents are among the marchers, including four Japanese from the atom-bombed city of Hiroshima Several British members of Parliament are among the marchers. In the meantime British defence chiefs were reported to be investigating the leak of information contained in the document, whose anonymous authors call themselves spies for peace "

It was understood that the secret underground buildings would continue to exist but that security precautions for them would be stepped up British members of Parliament are highly concerned about the leak, and Sir Gerald Nabarro. a prominent Conservative back-bencher.

has tabled a question to the Home Secretary (Mr Henry Brooke i asking for a statement on the matter.

A Home Office investigation was begun immediately and officers of Scotland Yard's spy-hunting special branch were called in One marcher said: “I was warned by a police officer that by possessing this document I was committing an offence under the Official Secrets Act and I would be reported ” The document, entitled on its front page. “DangerOfficial Secret." listed what it claimed w : ere the locations and telephone numbers of regional headquarters of Government in the event of nuclear attack, with the names of people it said would take charge It also contained a photograph. and a map of the layout. of what it alleged was one of the concealed headquarters A footnote said: “Note—this map is Crown copyright ” ‘ The Times" gave the antinuclear document story prominence on its main home news page with a lengthy account b? its defence correspondent The document, said the correspondent, was a pamphlet published by an organisation calling itself “Spies For Peace " Security officials believed that this was a cover name designed to conceal the fact that it was sponsored by supporters probably Communist of nuclear disarmament.