MOVING MILLIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 November 1939, Page 4

MOVING MILLIONS

HOW LONDON WAS EVACUATED. “The greatest mass movement of people in history,” described the" evacuation of 3,000,000 from London. How was it done? Few details have yet reached New Zealand. Plans for the evacuation, however, were completed 18 months ago, and comprised two alternatives: First, a general evacuation scheme in the event of emergency; second, a special scheme for the evacuation pf school children by school groups. It is the first, and most comprehensive, scheme that has been carried out.

Those people who could make private arrangements for leaving London were allowed to act independently. The remainder whose presence in the area was not considered essential, were taken to outlying country districts by train and bus. These refugees were warned to take gas-masks and. wear their warmest clothing. Only small hand luggage was allowed, together with food for the journey and a rug. Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, couuld not be taken and it was advised that they be painlessly destroyed. If the plan were carried out in detail, trains and buses were sent to each area in accordance with the number of people who could be accommodated there. Special franked postcards were available so that each refugee would be able to notify relatives and friends of his address. In each town or village the refugees were driven to their billets. Generally the billeting is in private houses, householders being required by regulation to receive refugees up to the limit of one person for each habitable room in the house. Thus, in a house of six rooms with four people normally living there, the householod would have to take two refugees.

Householders are required to give refugees the use of all reasonable household facilities, including cooking and bathroom. Each refugee received 48 hours ration of food when he reached the rail-head. This included canned milk and was provided free. After the first 48 hours refugees were expected to buy their food, of which stores have long been arranged. Those in need of money will be made necessity grants by the nearest office of the Ministry of Labour. The British Government will pay householders on whom refugees are billeted five shillings a. week foi’ the accommodation of each adult and three shillings for each child under 14 years. School-children whose parents could not leave London were sent in care of their teachers and other volunteer workers.

All children so evacuated were taken at least 30 miles from London.

The Government is paying householders who take one refugee child as a member of the family 10/- a week, and 8/6 for each child if more than one is taken. As far as possible, children from the same London schools hare been billeted in the same areas. A similar plan will be followed in the evacuation of other large cities likely to be targets for air raids. Further London evacuations include animals from the famous Regent’s Park Zoo. The most valuable of these, including the elephants, hippopotami, chimpanzees, lions, tigers, bears, and the rare okapi presented by the King of tlie Belgians, have been taken to Whipsnade—'the zoo’s country residence. Here bomb-proof shelters have been built for the keepers and their families.

The moment emergency arises all poisonous snakes in Regent’s Park Reptile House will be killed, by the simple method of having their heads chopped off. Non-poisonous snakes will be put in metal boxes and kept there until danger is over. In the insect house, the deadly Black Widow spiders will be exterminated ruthlessly in boiling water. No way has been devised of looking alter the fish in the aquarium—but none are particularly valuable. They must take their chance in a raid. In case any dangerous animals escape during an improbable bombing raid at •Vhipsnade, a corps of picked marksmen has been organised so that the animals may be shot before harm is done to human life.

Loudon's priceles sare treasures, too, are being evacuated from the great museums and galleries. It has been impossible to move all exhibits, but the most valuable have been taken to safety and the remain' der protected as thoroughly as possible.

Titian and Giovanni Bellini spent lifetimes of genius learning to paint their masterpieces. Yet any fool can make a bomb to destroy them.