BRITAIN’S DEFENCE PREPARATIONS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 11

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE PREPARATIONS

Air Raid Precautions And National Register

ENCOURAGING FIGURES FOR RECRUITING

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received December 16, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 15. Replying on behalf of the Government in the House of Lords debate on the national register, Lord Birkenhead said that the register was being prepared in such a way that it could be quickly completed in an emergency without unduly disturbing industry. All interests would be fully represented on local committees. It was intended that skilled men engaged in key industries should not be taken from their occupations if that could be avoided. Men who undertook to serve in the national services, such as the 'fire brigades, would certainly be retained in those services, at least during the early stages of an emergency. Giving figures with regard to airraid precautions, Lord Birkenhead said that on October 31 the number of airraid wardens required was 420,000 men and 100,000 women. The number recruited was 350.000 men and 85,839 women.

For the first-aid posts the number required was 140,000 men and 220,000 women and the number recruited was 117,295 men and 194,440 women. Lord Birkenhead added that there would be no pay for time spent in voluntary services, but, if such recruits were called upon to do full time, they would be paid on the same basis as auxiliary fire brigades. > Air Force recruiting had been quite satisfactory, while in regard to the army 221,000 men were required and there was a deficiency of about. 20,000. For the territorial army 223,800 men were required and the number recruited was just ovqr 200,000.

Dealing with the navy. Lord Birkenhead said that the total strength of officers and men in 1935 was 95,000. The strength today was 119,000 officers and men. There was a serious shortage in artificer candidates, but the figures were improving. “We are well aware,” he said, “of the retribution which will fall swiftly and surely on lethargy and slowness, but I can assure the House that we are pursuing a policy which is at once sane and which .will enable Britain to rise again if she is ever threatened.”