AIR DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23170, 17 October 1938, Page 11

AIR DEFENCE

BRITISH MEASURES NEW SCHEME FOR FACTORIES EMPLOYEES TO MAN GUNS ORGANISING FOR EMERGENCY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 16, 8.30 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Oct. 15 In announcing the formation of a Territorial anti-aircraft reserve for the protection of factories and vital industries from low-flying aircraft, the Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, said no military development since the war had been so important and no task so formidable as preparation for the defence of the country against an air attack. "At the beginning of April two years ago onir guns and searchlights were manned by about 5000 men," said the Minister. "In the same month a year ago there were about 20,000 men and to-day they are manned by over 40.000 men." In another 12 months ho hoped to double that number again. Employers had been asked to supply a probable personnel of 15,000 men between 38 and 50. Terms of Service "So much for these general defences," added Mr. Hore-Belisha, "but I am now going to ask employers to bring reinforcements to these and to cooperate with the War Office in the provision of particular defences." This reserve will be formed and administered in peace-time by the Territorial Army associations in consultation with the establishments concerned. The personnel will be recruited from employees of these establishments and will be required to undertake to serve only in the defence of the undertaking with which they are employed. Selection of Volunteers "We have surveyed the country and have determined tho-vital points," said Mr. Hore-Belisha, "and employers whose establishments form such vital points will he asked to arrange for a number of their employees to man light guns, emplaced for their own protection against low-flying attacks. The War Office will progressively furnish the guns and instructors. The firms will furnish the personnel, and employees who undertake the manning of the guns will be formed into a territorial armv reserve. "The essence of the scheme is that, in the event o'f war, these employees should remain at civilian work, for which they are paid, but they should be ready in emergency. The volunteers selected for the new responsibility should be men not eligible for ordinary service in the Territorial Army, which must be strengthened." Need for Immediate Action

Speaking at the Cutlers' Feast at Sheffield, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, said there was widespread realisation that the organisation of man-power is a very complicated task. "We must not wait for this organisation until a crisis recurs. In whatever may be the most appropriate foim, we must do it now."

A review of the experience gained in the practical application of the air raid precaution schemes throughout the country during the recent crisis is proceeding, and data collected from local authorities and other sources, and recommendations arising from them, will b& submitted to Sir Samuel Hoare, Home Secretary, early next week. Mr. Eden's Striking Speech The need for a united national effort on a scale never before attempted in Britain in peace time was emphasised by Mr. Anthony Eden in a speech at Cardiff, when he urged that party differences should be sunk. "We are entering a period when the whole tempo of our lives will be radically altered and changes may be called for in our social and economic structure as far-reaching as those which have taken place in some other countries," said Mr. Eden. "We can only enter upon such a period in confidence if the nation as a whole faces facts calmly and willingly, and if we sink differences of party and class in a supreme national effort." Any talk about overtaking arrears and filling the gaps in the national defences, he added, had little meaning unless the simple truth was faced that in the totalitarian States armaments wero being piled up on a basis which Britain had hitherto only consented to adopt in time of war. "In, present conditions we are all agreed that Britain's strength and unity must be its foremost contribution to peace," Mr. Eden proceeded. "We must build our defences in every direction to escape the supreme sacrifice of - war."

CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO GERMAN. ADVERTISING "SELLING" NAZI PRINCIPLES (Received October 10, 8.40 p.m.) MEXICO CITY, Oct. 10 Germany lias begun an extensive advertising campaign in the Mexican press, designed to increase Nazi trade, which has risen 12J per cent in 1938, arid to "sell" Nazi principles and the Nazi version of history. The papers are carrying two pages of material. It is understood this is the start of a campaign throughout Latin America. A typical historical article states that Napoleon was defeated in 1815 by the German, Austrian and Russian Armies, and does not mention the slight British assistance at Waterloo. ALLEGED WEAKNESS ILL-EQUIPPED POSTS GERMAN STATEMENT LONDON, Oct. 14 Jn the light of Mr. Hore-Belisha's plans for the formation of an anti-air-craft reserve, it is interesting to. note that the Hamburger Fremdenblatt last night published a long exposure by its London correspondent of British defence deficiencies as disclosed during the Avar scare. Ho says that only a few of the proposed 6000 anti-aircraft posts could be provided. Many were equipped with Sin* guns of the 1918 model.