EVACUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1940, Page 5

EVACUATION

DELAY OF MOTHERS. (United '.Press Association Per Electric Telegraph Copyright), ■/;; LONDON, Sep. 12. The ‘‘Daily Telegraph’” says: “Despite -pearly a week of intensive bombing, London’s' working class mothers are still reluctant to co-oper-ate in the Government’s and the local authorities* evacuation, scheme. An. official declared; : “We expected that a very ''jump ifi the evacuation .-registrations wpuld follpw the mass air raids, but we are frankly disappointed; It is ! true that the registrations have risen from fj. few hundred weekly to one thousand a day but that figure is far less' than was anticipated, because a 'scheme was ready for the evacuation.- of a quarter of a inilliop within a few .days. “Serious, problems,” he said, “are now arising from, the use of the public air raid shelters in the outlying districts Of ' London as nightly dormitories by the people living in the seyerely-damaged eastern areas. Thousands from the'East End and also from, the inner ; Eastern London suburbs flock every evening into London’s green belt, taking with them blankets, mattresses, and food. These people fill the shelters when .the raid sirens sound. They sleep as J best they can. llieij they go home in the morning.” Many of these shelters were intended, primarily, for the. pedestrians who are caught in the street, but not for all-night use. .■ • * . Similar problems have arisen in the AVest End. Members, of the A.R.P. squads say that persons, tour the shelters in the day-time and then select the most comfortable ones.

NOT HIT.. LONDON, Sep. 13. •There is no' foundation for a Berlin claim that a bomb hit Reuters’ building in Fleet Street.: This building in fact is untouched. »f