SYDNEY “JITTERS”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23796, 1 May 1939, Page 15

SYDNEY “JITTERS”

A WEEK-END SCARE (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Apl. 21. Sydney had the “jitters” badly last week-end when rumours that war had broken out spread like a raging bushfire through the populace, and newspaper offices and broadcasting stations were plagued by anxious inquirers seeking confirmation or denial. Apart from the expectancy of war in the news from Europe, a factor which contributed to the scare was the decision of the State Government to enrol an auxiliary police force. That was a perfectly legitimate step in the State’s plans for cooperation with the Federal Government for any emergency. The plan was not fully announced before the rumours began, and though it was fully explained as part of a denial that it was put into operation because of the imminence of war. the denial did not catch up with the rumours until after the week-end. When details are completed it is expected that about 7000 men will be sworn in as auxiliary members of the New South Wales Police Force, but they will be called up for duty only in case of extreme emergency. Each of the 3700 members of the force was given the right of nominating two men between the ages of 20 and 40 years, the appointments being subject to the nominee being of good physique and character. It was the unauthorised steps taken by some police to obtain their nominees that began the flight of wild stories round the city and beyond it.

Police were trying to gel their nominees before the auxiliary force plan had been officially announced. It has since been ascertained that some statements made by the “ recruiters ” went beyond common sense, and these seemed to “snowball ’’ into wild rumours. One story which was on many lips was that the regular police force was being sent to Darwin and New Guinea, and its place would be taken by an auxiliary force. Sydney’s Labour newspaper published last Friday an extravagant report giving the gist of these rumours without apparently trying to check them. The temporary cancellation of all police leave was another move which did not help to allay public fears. The duties of the auxiliary police force, when it is formed, will include the patrolling of docks and wharves and other important assets which might be imperilled by the activities of enemy spies and sympathisers. It will be recruited as far as possible from returned soldiers, whose knowledge, experience, and sense of duty will be invaluable in time of a national emergency. They will be paid for their services by the State Government in the event of war, but their remuneration will not begin from the time of their enrolment. It will probably become a permanent adjunct to the ordinary police force, because the services of the men sworn in could be used not only in war time, but when special men are required to help the ordinary police and firemen in quelling bushfires and at other times when life and property are menaced. The men sworn in as auxiliary policemen will have to be prepared to go to any part of the State where their services might be needed. The auxiliary force will probably not be uniformed, but will wear distinguishing insignia, such as armbands and badges.