Duties Of Civilians In Event Of Invasion

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1942, Page 4

Duties Of Civilians In Event Of Invasion

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 9. Commonsense and ingenuity would be the best equipment for civilians in the event of invasion, says the Minister for Home Security (Mr Morrison) in a statement setting out civilian duties in some detail. Mr Morrison stressed that the statement was not issued because invasion was imminent, but because it was necessary to be prepared. He made it clear that while a civilian would be expected to carry out his allotted duties with energy and resolution, he should not take independent action in matters such as a “scorched earth” policy. He should not destroy plant or block communications except on definite orders from military police or wardens.

Mr Morrison said the scheme for denying resources to the enemy had been carefully balanced with the needs of their own forces and independent action could have serious results for the military. A plan for a “scorched earth” policy would be carried out if essential solely with a view to national defence and without regard for prifvate interests of any kind.

Mr Morrison said that if small parties of the enemy were moving in areas not occupied, every citizen was expected to help to overcome them.

Functions Of Central Government

Other points in the statement are that regional commissioners will assume the functions of the central government in their regions when necessary, and, with regional representatives of various departments, will act as the governing centre of a selfcontained community.

War zone courts are to be set up to administer justice. Without proclamation of martial law, any member of the armed forces may claim the help and obedience of civilians in an emergency which threatens the safety of the realm. Where they exist, civil defence emergency committees will form, the nucleus of invasion committees. Where there are no such committees, special com'mittees will be constituted.

The possibility of invasion was also disclosed in the House of Lords by the Duke of Devonshire, who said that 6000 or 7000 invasion committees had been set up to provide necessary collaboration in larger towns. He added that the Government had decided on an increase in the Home Guard.