FEAR IN LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 23093, 20 October 1938, Page 24

FEAR IN LONDON

PREPARING FOR WAR ISSUE OF GAS MASKS EVENTS IN RECENT CRISIS. An account of air raid precautions taken in London during the period of crisis when war was expected with Germany is contained in a letter received by an Auckland business firm from one of its English agents (says the ‘ Herald ’). Many banks and business firms made arrangements to transfer their offices from London, and it was assumed that in the event of war the Thames was to be closed for outward sailings, and this meant the diversion to Liverpool of all London goods. All precautions were based on the fact that the authorities expected a very serious and immediate air attack. the effect of which could not be accurately gauged. Hospitals were mobilised and beds proparqd for 30,000 casualties. Describing the air raid precautions when the conference between Hitler and Mr Chamberlain broke down on September 23, and it became obvious that the German leaders were willing to take risk of a European war and take by force what they had virtually been guaranteed peacefully the Writer states that air raid precautions officers had already been appointed in all districts, and the nucleus of an organisation had been formed. In the writers locality the problem was to fit and distribute nas masks, to 10,000 people at the earliest possible moment. The correct size of mask had to be fitted to each individual, the total quantities indented for, and the issue made to each home. house-to-house calls. The local organisation received 18 sample masks of l each size at 10 a.m. on Snndav, September 25. People were collected bv honse-to-bonse calls immediately, a lid fitting continued in the local schools through Sunday and Monday, day and night. (By early on Tuesday morning most of the able-bodied were fitted, there being no lack <>f helpers. Tuesday evening and overnight were spent in fitting the invalids and aged in their homes. Bulk supplies arrived on -Wednesday and were distributed at once by voluntary helpers with ears. It seemed that by then the whole population of London bad masks. At the same time suitable precautions had to be taken within all nomes in accordance with the recommendations of the Home Office, and this involved a whole list of purchases, such as iron rations, dark blinds, candles, and lamps, cellophane, sticky tape, and supplies of sand. FRIGHTENED CHILDREN. “ I have tried to avoid the emotional aspect of the situation.” the writer continues, “ but the sight of frightened children trying on gas masks and anxious women asking for protection for their babies—the devices for infants so far invented all seem to bring on convnlsionk—have filled me with a remarkable hatred for the men Hitler, Ribbentrop, etc., who hold the creed that right is mighty and that no nation can retain its virility unless it bathes itself in blood.” After describing the digging of trenches in the parks and open spaces the writer mentions that two miles of Tube railways were closed to traffic and converted into shelters. Women and children were steadily evacuated to the country and the city streets were full of sand and cement-laden lorries. Photographers were employed in offices making records of hooks and documents. Ready-made concrete shelters in sections were put up in the streets. * NO SIGNS OF PANIC.

There was no evidence of panic anywhere; indeed, everyone had such a lot to do. and so little time to do it in, that there was no time to think about the results of a raid. It was stated that after Hitler? speech on September 26 war was accepted as inevitable. There was no sign of war-mpngering anywhere. AU one noticed, said the writer, tvas a clear determination that the aggression of a bully would not be tolerated and a feeling that if war did come there was no doubt about the ultimate outcome, although it was fully recognised that the cost in air raid casualties might be very heavy indeed in the early days.