EMERGENCY TRIAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4535, 11 February 1942, Page 5

EMERGENCY TRIAL

VALUABLE TEST OF PRECAUTIONS SERVICES AEROPLANE ADDS 'REALISM TO TRY-OUT

TESTING TIME ARRIVAL OF THE HOUR A M UNIFICENT RESPONSE Locale: Te Awamutu. Time: 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 10 (zero hour). A tiny speck in the northern sky. | The Spotter became alert. Yes, it was approaching Te Awamutu. ... It was growing bigger—and bigger. No, it was turning away. The Spotter relaxed slightly. Ah! it had disappeared. He searched the sky. Suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, it re-appeared from behind a cloud, making straight for Te Awamutu. The Spotter became the embodiment of activity. Out rang the telephone to headquarters of the E.P.S. at the Waipa County Council offices. “Enemy raider seven minutes distant, sir,” rang out the clarion warning. The Chief Warden gave the signal for the Telephone Exchange to set the alarms going. Short blasts of the sirens at the factory and in the business area of Te Awamutu rent the air and awoke the people into unwonted activity. The Wardens, Controllers and their assistants repaired with commendable promptitude and without confusion to their respective posts of duty. The roaring drone of the raider cauld be distinctly heard, coming nearer—and nearer. The streets were cleared as if by magic. The plane roared overhead, flying low and dropping its first incendiary bpmb outside the Bank of New Zea--4snd in Alexandra Street. The raid on Te Awamutu was in full progress. Flying overhead with a droning noise that betokened its nefarious intentions, the raider circled over the town, dropping bombs and incendiary sticks all over the place, without regard to military objectives. Its sole aim was to destroy—life as well as property. To safeguard communications, the Telegraph staff rushed an emergency connection from the Telephone Exchange to the County office, and within a few minutes the use of a second line was assured. Rolled down Alexandra Street, a lorry with the first batch of evacuees from the bombed areas, taking them direct to the Racecourse, where the Evacuation Committee took details of identification and then served all with a cup of tea and light refreshments. Lorry load after lorry load arrived in quick succession, till nearly 300 qvacuees were being attended to. The Jtiowd was a cosmopolitan one, even mothers with their babes in arms (the said babes being dolls and Teddy Bears). But all had to be identified and entered upon the register. Meanwhile motor cars and lorries were plying hither and thither on the one and a dozen errands and tasks which the emergency had created. While the Auxiliary Fire Brigade made a quick descent on the incendiary stick outside the Bank of New Zealand, the first casualty was reported from the school, and an ambulance sent out and the victim taken to the dressing station in Victoria Park for treatment and attention. An S.O.S. came from Pakura Street w’here the water main had been broken by enemy action. The Works Controller despatched a gang to the scene and repairs were speedily Then, as if to demonstrate the devastation being wrought by the plane, a bomb put the power lines out of gear near the Matariki Hospital—and away went a repair gang from the Power Board. Calls to the Fire Brigade followed in quick succession—an outbreak in Carlton Street first to be subdued. » Then another terror was added to die scene. The raider still circling low over town, had begun dropping explosive bombs, one going off near the Power Board with such a loud report that a Special Constable nearby nearly jumped out of his skin, thinking that the Big Tree had fallen oyer! The authorities were galvanised into still greater energy and efforts. The Works section was summoned to a collapsed verandah in Sloane Street; another gang, along with the Ambulance to the Power Board office; and still another to fix up a broken sewer, left hanging in the air in a bomb crater. Explosions now resounded in different quarters and the main and two auxiliary brigades were kept going ar top pressure subduing the different outbreaks. An explosion and subsequent fire at the Commercial Hotel presented an ugly appearance. The Brigade responded quickly to the sum- > mons. Leads were run right through the front entrance to the back, mine host receiving such a fright that he thought the kitchen really was on fire. He proceeded to investigate, and, on returning, received a severe reprimand for deserting his own post of duty! Here the incendiary bomb created such a dense volume of smoke that the firemen had to don gas masks and respirators, and just as well that they did, for in the smoke and debris they came across a mere youth—who, being under 21 years of age, had no right whatsoever to be on licensed premises—prostrated by the smoke, nearly suffocated, and in a real bad way. The Ambulance men came speedily to the rescue, but a little hitch occurred in securing a van to take the sufferer to the dressing station. In the meantime, food supplies had been despatched to the Racecourse, while all sections were kept busily engaged answering the numerous calls on their services. Crash! Crash!! Crash!!! Followed in the wake of the raider as its hideous droning proclaimed its message of death and destruction. The telephone system was put out of operation and a car with a loud speaker toured the town appraising the Wardens and Controllers of the Catastrophe which had occurred. The demand on the services of the boy and girl runners became greater than ever

■ —and these young patriots did perform yeoman service; in fact, no task was too difficult or hard for them to undertake. Meanwhile the fire at the Commercial Hotel had spread to the switchboard in Roche Street, and the Power Board had to be summoned to the scene, which they reached “in a tick” and effected repairs. Among the many fires reported was one at the Post Office, where the only I death of the day took place. The mortuary van was summoned, but, through some misunderstanding, did not arrive, so the corpse lay there stiff as a poker for a considerable time, till he turned in the job and, like the chief character in the melodrama of old, “Conn the Shaugharun,” got up—and walked away! The raider had his final fling, leaving a trail of havoc in his course. A brick wall was on the verge of collapse at Newton King’s premises in Arawata Street, the dairy factory was half-wrecked by an explosive bomb, the bridge leading to the Racecourse damaged and rendered unsafe to traffic, the power failed outside Craik’s garage, a fire broke out in the District High School in Alexandra Street, an explosion in Young Street caused casualties, sewers were smashed in Kihikihi Road, and the power lines sagged and broke on Ohaupo Road. The crisis had reached its climax. The raider, as if fiendishly satisfied with his dastardly work, took to the high clouds and was last seen flying off in apparent triumph in the direction of Auckland. The crucial test had arrived —and it did not find men and women wanting. All sections worked at top. The medical men, V.A.’s, Ambulance, and kindred attachments attending to the wounded and distressed; the Fire Brigade by herculean efforts subduing the numerous outbreaks; the Works, Power, and Telephone sections working with might and main to repair the damage; and the Police (Law and Order) giving attention to every detail in that respect. And at the psychological moment, telephonic communication was restored—a fact of which all concerned were appraised by the portable loud speaker installed on the car which toured the town. Restoration of communications gave a much needed respite to the hard-pressed but willing runners. An unexploded bomb was removed from Brady Street, the work of rescue, fire-fighting and repairs continued with praiseworthy energy, and then—- “ All clear” sounded by the sirens by prolonged and sustained whistling. Te Awamutu had survived its first air raid and was left to lick its wounds and injuries. “ EXCELLENT !” COMMENTS BY THE OFFICIAL . OBSERVERS SOME VALUABLE HINTS Messrs J. G. Wynyard and H. A. Swarbrick acted as official observers during the raid and toured the whole of the Borough during the hour between the alarm and the “All Clear.” Interviewed subsequently, both gentlemen expressed astonishment how efficiently the Organisation had worked. They paid a high compliment to the promptitude with which the personnel took up their posts. The Law and Order section had had the wholehearted support of the people in clearing the streets, which were speedily deserted except by those on official duty. The public had kept indoors or out of the way in an admirable manner, though some shop-keep-ers had kept at their doors, which was not right. One matter which had impressed itself was that no preparation had been made for the protection of the public. There were no air-raid shelters, and this was particularly pronounced in the business area. There was a tendency on the part of the public, and of the E.P.S. personnel as well, to bunch together and look up when the aeroplane came over the town. This was an extremely dangerous practice, exposing the people to machine-gunning. In any case, it was a recognised fact, born of military experience, that during an air raid people should keep their heads down. Another matter which required rectification in the future was that cars lined both sides of Alexandra Street. This was, also, a dangerous practice, offering good targets for the machine guns. On the other hand, a moving car did not offer a good target for the enemy. The parking of the cars at Victoria Park was also faulty, offering a temptation to the raider. The cars should have been placed as near as possible to the hedge. On the whole, the test had proved excellent. The various stations were promptly on the job and, all circumstances considered, functioned smoothly, without confusion. Hitches there were, but it was to find these out that the trial was undertaken. The lessens learned thereby would be profited by in the future. One tendency was for the authorities to use “too much paper.” That would have to largely go by the board in a real emergency. It was also suggested that the sections should have alternative headquarters, not in the main street, as the danger of fire there was a big hazard. Regarding fire fighting, the opinion was expressed that it should be made compulsory for business people "in particular to keep stocks of dry sand. In this connection it was pointed out that the island at the intersection of Arawata, Sloane and Alexandra Streets would be an ideal place on which to place a dump of sand. “The test,” they emphatically declared, “will give the people more confidence in the event of an enemy raid. The E.P.S. personnel, by doing this job, will know’ in future how to

Disaster —with disastrous consequences—befel one man at the Post Office. By command he was “killed” by flying shrapnel and he fell headlong to the ground and lay prostrate. The mortuary van was summoned, but while it was awaited, a fire was reported nearby. This taxed the patience of the shrapnel victim and to the astonishment of all, the “dead” man was seen to mount a bicycle and ride off to witness the fire. But like a good soldier he obeyed commands and was soon “dead” again. Whether the mortuary van broke down, whether it ran out of petrol or what happened to it has yet to be explained, but when the “All Clear” was sounded the “dead” man once again defied the rule of Nature by rising to his feet, marching off toward his bicycle and proceeding merrily on his way home to tea. Truly the days of miracles have not passed !

Imagination was not lacking and the jester had a hand in affairs. “Here comes Lord Haw Haw,” remarked the wag as the loud speaker approached with some timely direction to the unwary pedestrian. “But its the voice of Gobbels,” said another who, apparently has a sceptic’s opinion of the propaganda and publicity services.

“Are you the Warden hereabout?” asked a citizen immediately the all clear signal gave him freedom of voice and action. Apparently he had watched, not undismayed, the activities of the Fire Brigade while he, perforce, remained under cover and out of reach of the wrath of Law and Order.

On being assured that he addressed the right Warden he exploded. “Then why your grandmother didn’t you stop those blithering what nots from pouring water on my section of hay.” The Warden was a tactful man. He proved a good listener and made clear the fact that there are times when silence is better than explanation.

From the evacuation areas stories of youthful simplicity are many. The child evacuees were assigned to the role of householder and, for realistic effect, carried dolls to impersonate family dependants. On arrival at headquarters records had to be made complete and the “official” questions brought many astounding replies. “How old is your baby?” was a pitfall for many of the impersonating “mothers.” At one stage maternal grief was never more marked by feminine tears than when one of the “mothers” lost her doll and it taxed the official recording system to its limit in the urgently necessary endeavour to locate the missing “evacuee.”

One of the Wardens had a rather baffling experience. Under his direction was a citizen who “no speakee good English,” and who apparently was unaware of the trial. He had noted the appearance of arm bands and the clearing of the streets with evident concern, but the appearance of the plane overhead convinced him that he should tarry no longer. Vainly the Warden endeavoured to make the

do it in every detail. The people will derive comfort from the knowledge that there are men and women on the job who know their job and that order will prevail where otherwise there would be hopeless confusion.” TWO FEATURES OBSERVANCE OF ROAD RULES REGULATIONS DODGED One feature which obtruded itself and which requires rectification is the enforcement of the traffic rules. Motor cars, motorists, and cyclists seemed to disregard “ the rule of the road,” and this is highly undesirable in time of emergency. The only regrettable feature was that several business men, not connected with the E.P.S., made their appearance on the streets well after the alarm had been given. These acts of transgression of the regulations cannot be altogether overlooked on the plea of thoughtlessness; rather they seemed' to be deliberate cases of failure to recognise the duties of citizenship. Most amazing of all, during the emergency one business man, wearing the E.P.S. badge, escorted two ladies up to the Post Office while they posted their mails. These acts were definite breaches of the regulations, and, if repeated at any future trial, should be visited with the utmost penalty of the law, which is made for all and does not exempt people who seemed to be inclined to think themselves entitled to a peculiar privilege. SOME INTERLUDES HUMOUROUS ASPECT OF THE TEST LAUGHTER IN TRIAL Immediately on the sounding of the alarm, members of the Law and Order section (emergency police) took up their appointed places, the letters L.O. on their arm bands arousing the curiosity of a youthful trio as they, in turn, prepared to retire from the streets. “Whats L. 0.”, asked one of the youngsters ? “Lookers-on” came the reply from his companion, who spoke with the conviction of a person who knows no suspicion of doubt. * * * Down near the Triangle at the junction of Ohaupo and Hairini roads, an incendiary made a merry glow, and it caused a merrier interlude. Quickly tackling the incendiary, a couple of men discovered dry sand in the water channel a chain or so away, and with bare hands they carried the sand as they ran backwards and forwards across the road. But their efforts showed little result. What they did not know (until afterwards) was that a couple of small boys had taken shelter in the Triangle only a few feet away from the incendiary, and by means of a handy stick they were scraping the sand away each time the runner’s backs were turned !

now distressed citizen understand, but even Wardens cannot pause long in such circumstances. So, like a good Warden, he abandoned the task of explanation and proceeded to pound his beat. But he had not gone far away before he saw the flight of his charge to fresh fields and pastures new. If he did not “savee,” the citizen concerned did not err on the side of doubt. Satisfying himself that he had a good'start on the Warden, ha literally dragged the other members of his family as he sped to his own selected dispersal area. And, in such circumstances, was he not wondrous wise!

Finally, there is the man about town this morning who declares that there were two raiding planes! And, be it noted, the convivial hour was spoiled last night by the raid.