DEFENCES TO BE STRENGTHENED

Southland Times, Issue 23634, 8 October 1938, Page 7

DEFENCES TO BE STRENGTHENED

Britain And France In Close Touch VOLUNTEER SERVICE SUGGESTED PREPARATION OF NATIONAL REGISTER URGED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 7, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 6. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) has departed for Berwickshire, where he intends to rest as long as possible, and no important political activity is expected for several weeks. But when the House of Commons meets again on November 1 there is certain to be lively debates and a searching inquiry into defence deficiencies and future foreign policy. In the meantime the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip), the Secretary for War (Mr L. Hore-Belisha) and the Secretary for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood) are taking stringent steps to strengthen the defences. Simultaneously consultations will be held between the high commands of the

British and French air forces. Sir Cyril Newall, Chief of the Air Staff, and other British officers will arrive in Paris on Sunday. The Admiralty is not likely to remain long without a First Lord, and an early appointment is expected. Viscount Runciman is among the names mentioned.

Mr Chamberlain’s final speech in the debate in the House of Commoons today was unusually emotional. It was notable not so much for any declaration of future policy as for his insistence on the need for strengthening the defences and the implication that the Government would seriously consider a system of national service.

The Government can claim a confidence majority of two above its. normal majority, but a full and accurate list of the abstentions will not be available until tomorrow.

Viscount Cranboume, the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, who made a speech criticizing Mr Chamberlain on Tuesday, did not attend today. The Times in an editoral dealing with the debate says: “Mr Chamberlain, Viscount Halifax and Sir John Simon expounded and defended the coherent and consistent policj' which saved peace last week and offers a hope of saving it in the future. If it fails, its failure will be the work of others and will not involve Britain m weakness and disgrace. “The Government must answer the question: ‘Where and how can I be useful?’ Any volunteer effort must have the orderly direction of a national register. Training must be provided for its services, and democratic energy must be collectively organized.” The Daily Telegraph in an editorial advocates the early preparation of a national register.

LONDON WOULD HAVE SUFFERED HEAVILY AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS ' / ' ( BACKWARD LONDON, October 6. Had war broken out and London been bombed it must have paid a terrible price as the result of the backwardness of the air raid precautions. That is the conclusion of the London County Council committee’s report. The auxiliary fire-fighting services lacked the necessary men and equipment, and the ambulance services were short of vehicles and drivers. Though 30,000 auxiliary firemen were required only 4200 had been enrolled by September 24. Six thousand more had joined up as a result of an urgent appeal last week, but there was no time to train them.