Britain Braces Herself Against Shock of Air Invasion

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1939, Page 7

Britain Braces Herself Against Shock of Air Invasion

(Received 2.20 p.m.)

LONDON, January 24. gIR JOHN ANDERSON, MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE, IN A k SPEECH AT A NATIONAL SERVICE RALLY, SAID THE “NEW KIND OF WAR WE MAY HAVE TO FACE WILL DIFFER IN TWO WAYS FROM ANYTHING BRITAIN HAS KNOWN FOR 1000 YEARS. “It will, firstly, be an aerial invasion, sudden and swift, perhaps almost continuous. “Secondly, there will undoubtedly be military objectives, but it will test the courage and steadiness of the ordinary people. “We can give a double answer. Firstly, strong, well-equipped and active defence; and, secondly, what is wrongly called passive defence—namely immediate action by organised citizens in order to maintain the war effort. , OBJECTIVES OF SCHEME “We must be ready to nrace ourselves to meet the first shock at short notice, and be prepared to see that the shock does not paralyse the nation.” The object of the Government’s scheme is twofold—firstly, to fill the vacancies in the various branches of military and civil defence; and, secondly, to safeguard the essential industries and services in time of war. The second object, which involves prevention of the recruitment of persons who should be retained during a war in their peacetime occupations, is the reason for the issue of a schedule of reserved occupations, while the first object will be achieved by the distribution of the National Service Guide, giving a simple description of the various services. The schedule is reserved for occupations, and covers between 6,000,000 and 7,000,000 men, of whom about 3,000,000 are over 45. Only about one in five of the male population between 18 and 25 tare affected by the schedule.

Dangerous Suggestion

The “Diplomatic Correspondence" warns against the suggestion that France seize Minorca and Spanish Morocco, which it describes as an astonishing and dangerous suggestion, showing either a disregard for realities or an irresponsible attempt at aggravation.