DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 98, 25 March 1942, Page 5

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

IN EVENT OF INVASION A DUTY TOR ALL. (United Press Association —Copyrights (10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 24. Making a statement on the work falling to the civil population in ‘he event of an invasion of Britain, the Lord President of the Council (Sir John Anderson) said in the House of Commons:

“The first essential 'is that, except under a definite order, everyone shall stand firm so as to avoid those refugee movements which proved so disastrous in the Battle of France. “This will not mean,’’ Che Minister added, ‘'that the civil population should adopt a purely passive role. On the contrary, the Government has always expected the people will offer united opposition to tiie invaders. Those who are physically lit will want to light, but to do so effectively they must be organised and armed. “All fit men who can find time for the necessary training should therefore join the Home Guard. At a later stage it may be practicable to include in the Home Guard, under special conditions, men who arc anxious to fight but cannot find time for the amount of training now required. This cannot be arranged yet. “Meanwhile, there' are many ways in which those and others can help. In many parts of the country invasion committees have been set up, the duty of which is to survey local problems and consider what may be their needs if the fighting reaches their districts, how these needs can be met, and how the civil and military authorities can best help each other. There arc countless ways in which the civilian can help, such as cooking, distributing food, digging trenches, filling shellholes, and providing billets. In each village or small town the invasion committee will be able to allot a. specific duty to particular individuals, and most of the able-bodied inhabitants will know in advance what their role wiil be.

“In the larger towns this will not be possible The problem will have to be tackled on different lines, but the committee will be responsible for seeing that all needs are thought out in advance and the town organised to cope with them as they arise. “I want to emphasise that this is primarily a local problem, and those who want to help must rely largely on their own initiative rather than look always to a higher authority for detailed direction. General directions can be, and will have to be, given hy the Government Regional Commissioners, hut neither can prescribe in detail all that must be done.

“There arc three broad principles: We should all boar in mind that all our people must help and do everything they can to help each other; no one must do anything which would be of the slightest help to the enemy ; and, lastly, all have the right and duty' to do everything they usefully can, under responsible direction, to defend their hearth and home and native land.” Further reinforcements of Canadian troops have arrived safely in Britain. The convoy also brought hundreds of Canadian airmen as well as a Canadian Army general hospital and Polish and Netherlands soldiers. —Official Wireless.