DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1941, Page 10

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

Army’s Training TO MEET INVASION LONDON, March 17. With suitable parade grounds, British Infantry battalions will run and march barefooted this Summer, as part of the army technique for making the Tommy the toughest soldier in the world. The “Evening News” says that the training will include living only on iron rations for 24 hours, tramping 30 miles across the roughest country on dark nights, and sleeping on the hard ground for only two or three hours between marches. Industrial Front REGISTRATION OF WOMEN FOR WAR WORK RUGBY, March. 17. The scheme of compulsory registration for war work may be applied to every man over 40 and every woman over 19. No upper age limit has been fixed. Mr Bevin made this clear, in further outlining his plans for the complete mobilisation of the nation’s ma'n and woman power. Men aged 41 and 42, Mr Bevin said, would register on April 19, and women on a date to be announced. Registration in these first groups would be universal, though compulsion would not be applied in the case of mothers with young children, or heavy domestic responsibilities. ’ ___ After the first registrations, the Minister may proceed by calling up either other age groups of men or women, or both, throughout the country, or the whole age group in any particular region. All men and women will, “as far as is compatible with the national interest,” be given choice of occupation.

REGISTRATIONS TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH - LONDON, March IG. Urging industry to redouble its efforts, the Minister for Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin) said in a broadcast: “If we are to beat Hitler, we must have every available citizen employed in the right place. Men are wanted in shipyards and for marine engineering, qs well as in other vital industries. It does not matter if a man is trained, half-trained, or untrained. “If you have been wondering what you can do, go to the nearest employment agency and say, ‘I am willing to work in any labour corps, on the land, in shipbuilding, or in any other industry,’ ” Mr Bevin continued. Mr Bevin announced that the re* gistration of men between the ages of 21 and 45 years, and of women of 20 and 21 years, would begin next month. The object was to find out who 'were engaged on essential work and who were not. He said that, special attention would be paid to welfare workers both inside and outside the factories. Thousands of people had been saying, “Tell us what to do,” continued Mr Bevin. The new regulations would enable all to do their parts in the great offensive. |