TRAFFIC DISRUPTION

Evening Star, Issue 23492, 5 February 1940, Page 8

TRAFFIC DISRUPTION

ACUTE FUEL SHORTAGE SITUATION MOST SERIOUS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 3. A desperate fuel shortage in the Midlands and northern districts is a legacy of the great traffic chaos. The situation is most serious. Although four main line railways have reported that their services are almost normal, the first train to Glasgow for a week departed xo-night. Road traffic continues to be dangerous and many roads are impassable. Feverish efforts are being made to relieve cities without fuel. Trees in seven public parks in Glasgow are being cut up for firewood. There have been numerous raids on private coal cellars. A thousand Rirmingham people, armed wheelbarrows, prams, and suit cases, besieged the wharves clamouring for coal. The scenes were reminiscent of the general strike of 1926. The police were called out, and the Lord Mayor of Manchester sent a telegram to the Minister of Mines saying the situation was desperate and urging that the utmost efforts be put forward to send coal immediately. The Minister replied that the railways were making superhuman efforts under the most difficult conditions. POSITION IMPROVING SHORTAGE BEING OVERCOME (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 4. (Received February 5, at noon.) A leading official of the Fuel Control Office said that, although it was still acute, the position in regard to coal supplies was improving. An official of the Mines Department said the shortage was being overcome, and they hoped that supplies would be greatly increased by to-morrow.