DEFENCE MEASURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23162, 7 October 1938, Page 11

DEFENCE MEASURES

BRITISH PROMPTITUDE STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS British Wireless RUGBY, Oct. 5 In the course of his speech in the House of Commons to-day Sir John Simon commented favourably on the results of the trial defence preparations which the precautionary measures had necessitated. He said that while shortcomings had been revealed, there had also been demonstrated the rapidity with which the population could adapt itself and the calmness with which it would meet danger. If totalitarian States imagined, as they might have been told, that democracy was without unity, then they had been very promptly disillusioned.

I The Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, Sir Thomas Inskip, mentioned the impressive speed and smoothness with which the Fleet was mobilised and the various defence units called together. A complete system of censorship had been prepared, and a staff appointed and organised to deal with essential war materials, including a number of rare metals, which were accumulated in stocks sufficient to carry Britain through a long war. Defects in the preparations which had been revealed must be remedied, and arrangements had already been made for overhaul by every department, military and civil, with a view to hastening the steps to be taken to enable the diplomatic services and defences to march hand in hand.

RELEASE FROM DUTY BRITISH TERRITORIALS (Received October 6, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Oct. 5 The War Office announces that all the Territorials who were called out for service during the recent emergency will be released from military duty by midnight on Saturday. The number of recruits joining the Army last week was 243, an increase of 129 over the corresponding week last year.