HURRIED PREPARATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23155, 29 September 1938, Page 13

HURRIED PREPARATION

FORMING OF WOMEN'S CORPS AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE (Received September 28, 10,15 p.m.) LOND oir, Sept. 28 There were scenes of activity all night. Special messengers . raced through London, trench diggers redoubled their efforts, streams of sand-laden lorries were moving continuously through vital areas. The anti-aircraft forces were placed fully in position and Londoners awoke to the spectacle of long guns pointing silently toward the sky. The anti-aircraft troops have also been precautionarily called up. Five divisions have already taken up strategical positions in variou?' parts of Britain. Anti-aircraft troops, following the recent recruiting campaigns, have increased in numbers from 26,000 to 45,000. They possess the most modern equipment. Naval men are standing by in response to the call for fleet mobilisation. > Thousands of civilians, mainly women and children, have already left the city and taken up residence in the country. The War Office announces the formation of a women s organisation named the Auxiliary Territorial Service which, in time of national emergency, can perform non-combatant duties with the regular and territorial armies and the Royal Air Force. Categories of first-classi importance will be those of motor drivers and clerks. General duties will include cooking. The number required at the outset is 2000 officers and 23,000 members. The formation of the service is perhaps the outstanding event of a hurried day of preparations against emergency. It will be raised on a national basis through the country Territorial Army and Air Force associations. Married and single women can enrol. Officers will enrol for an indefinite period and members for four years, with the option of re-enrolment for a period of one, two, three or four years at a time. v The Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, says a message from Montreal, has been advised that the Admiralty has taken over the liner Empress of Australia temporarily. At present the vessel is at Southampton. The High Commissioner for Australia, Mr. S. M. Bruce, Visited No. 1 0 Downing Street.