NATIONAL SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 January 1939, Page 7

NATIONAL SERVICE

UNIVERSAL CALL IN BRITAIN MUST BE STRONG TO SECURE PEACE ALBERT HALL MEETING I British Official WlreleMl (Received 26th January, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, 25th January. A universal call to National Service was addressed to the nation in Mr Chamberlain's foreword to the “National Service Guide,” delivery of which began to-day. He writes: “The desire of all of us is to live at 1 peace with our neighbours. But to secure peace we must be strong. The country needs your service and if you are anxious to play your part this guide will point the way.” There is also a foreword by Sir John Anderson, Lord Privy Seal, who urges: “If your wish to live at peace with all peoples is to be fulfilled we must make ourselves strong so that our influence for may be real, and we must make ourselves safe so that others cannot be tempted to thoughts of aggression against us.” The appeal for National Service has the fullest support of all sections of the community, and all political parties were represented at the inaugural rally in Albert Hall, at which the Lord

Mayor of London. Sir F. H. Bowater. presided. It was attended by 9.000 people, including volunteers from all civilian defence services drawn from every London borough. Sir John Anderson, who was the principal speaker, emphasised that: “The preparations we are making do not mean we expect war. While we have, unfortunatley, to reckon with the possibility of war, we do not expect war either now or in the near future. We hope it may never come, but we recognise that the surest method of averting war is to be prepared.”