NATIONAL SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 23174, 25 January 1939, Page 11

NATIONAL SERVICE

UNIVERSAL RESPONSE NECESSARY PRESS ENDORSES GOVERNMENT'S CAMPAIGN (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, January 24. (Received 'January 25, at 11 a.in.)

The newspapers devote considerable space to the National Service Campaign, and most of them have leading articles supporting Mr Chamberlain’s appeal. ‘ The Times ’ remarks that the address was by no moans alarmist, but it did make clear once again that the best chances of avoiding war was to convince the aggressor that war would be a dangerous adventure. Commcut-

ing on the fact that the Government rejected for the moment any idea of securing ample and organised power and protection through compulsion, ‘The Times ’ adds: “It must not be thought that anything short practically of a universal response will suffice. The nearer the country can get by voluntary methods to universal training and universal service the less likely are both war and compulsion.” The ‘ News Chronicle ’ says the voluntary system must not be allowed to fail. Every man and woman must examine his or her conscience and opportunities of service. “RESERVED OCCUPATIONS" WORK OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. LONDON, January 24. ((Received January 25, at 11 a.m.) Between 6,000,000 and 7,000,000half of Britain’s man-power—is included in the Government’s scheme of “ reserved occupations ” in the Ministry of Labour’s schedule published today. The jobs of these workers are regarded as of national importance and they will not bo enrolled for any form of national service, such as air raid precautions, which would be whole-time in war but not in peace. The schedule shows workers, whether by reason of age or occupation, or both, their jobs are regarded as national service. TWOFOLD PURPOSE BY CIVIL DEFENCE ARMY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 24. Received January 25, at 11.30 a.m.) The object of the Government’s voluntary national service scheme is twofold—(1) To fill vacancies in various branches of military and civil defence ; (2) to safeguard the services of essential industries in wartime. The second object, which involves the prevention of the recruitment of persons who should be retained in wartime in peacetime occupations, is the reason for the issue of a schedule of reserved occupations, while the first object will bo achieved by the distribution of the ‘ National Service Guide,’ giving simple descriptions of the various services. The schedule of reserved occupations covers between 6,000,000 and 7,000,000 men, of whom about 3,000,000 are over 45 years of age. Only about one in five of the adult male population between 18 and 25 is affected by the schedule. The scheme aims at a civilian defence army of 1,200,000, and also a reserve of 600,000. NEW KIND OF WARFARE AERIAL INVASION FIRST. LONDON, January 24. (Received January 25, at 1 pan.) Sir John Anderson, in a speech at the national service rally, said: ‘‘The new kind of war we may have to face will differ in two ways from anything Britain has known for 1,000 years. It will, firstly, bo an aerial invasion, sudden and swift, and perhaps almost continuous. Secondly, there will undoubtedly be military objectives, but it will'test the courage and steadiness of ordinary people. We can give a double answer. Firstly, a strong, wellequipped active defence and secondly, what is wrongly called passive defence —namely, immediate action by an organised citizen army. In order to maintain the war effort we must be ready to brace ourselves to meet the first shock at short notice and be prepared to see that the shock does not paralyse the nation,”