BRITAIN PREPARES FOR WAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21154, 29 September 1938, Page 9

BRITAIN PREPARES FOR WAR

EMERGENCY DECREE ISSUED Royal Navy Mobilises Parliament Convened United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. Faced with the grim fact that hours, not days, remain to decide the fate of the nations, London is calmly yet terribly anxious. Since Mr Chamberlain’s broadcast the city has sought unsuccessfully a glimmer of hope in the early morning news from Europe. All are waiting to see what happens to the reported German mobilisation at the hour of 2 p.m., and the momentous meeting of Parliament at 2.45 p.m. Throughout the night there were scenes of activity. Messengers raced about London, the trench diggers redoubled their efforts. Streams of sandladen lorries are moving continuously in the vital areas. The anti-aircraft units are fully in position. Londoners awoke to the spectacle of long guns pointing silently to the sky. Naval officers and men are standing by to respond to the call for fleet mobilisation. Thousands of civilians, mainly women and children, have already evacuated the city and taken up their residence in the country. STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY KING’S MESSAGE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28. 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. The Order-in-Council under which the defensive units were called up last Monday is published. It states that the King has declared a state of emergency exists. BRITISH FLEET MOBILISES DEFENCE UNITS CALLED UP PRECAUTIONARP MEASURES IN LONDON United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 27. It was announced after a meeting of the Cabinet that the British Fleet is being mobilised. The Admiralty announced after the Cabinet meeting that the Fleet was mobilising as a precautionary measure. Instructions are being issued on Wednesday after His Majesty the King issues a proclamation calling up all naval reserves. The notice will direct the men of the Royal Fleet Reserve, Class B, to proceed to the depot on Wednesday morning, not awaiting tor individual summonses. Officers and other naval reservists and pensioners are receiving individual summonses if their services are required. It is announced that as a precautionary measure all physically defective children in schools and institutions under the control of the London County Council will be evacuated tomorrow morning. The formation of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service is, perhaps, the outstanding event of a hurried day of preparations against emergency. It will be raised on a national basis through the country Territorial Army and Air Force Associations. Married and single women are eligible to enrol. Officers will enrol for an Indefinite period and members for four years, with the option of reenrolment for a period of one, two, three or four years at a time. British anti-aircraft troops, as a precautionary measure, have been called up. Five divisions have already taken up strategical positions on various parts of Great Britain. The anti-aircraft units, following the recent recruiting campaigns, have increased their numbers from 2,600 to 45,000 and possess the most modern equipment. PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLING PRECAUTIONS IN THE CITY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 28, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. Tlie House of Commons meets at 2.45 p.m. to-day. Mr Chamberlain will probably begin to speak soon after 3 pan. and will occupy more than an hour City banks and business houses are arranging a duplication of records and in some cases are moving their offices to the country. Many precautions in Lancashire include the rapid construction of trenches in Manchester parks. Women’s Part The War Office announces the formation of a women’s organisation named the Auxiliary Territorial Service which in a national emergency will perform non-combatant duties with regular and territorial armies and the Royal Air Force. The categories are motor drivers, clerks and general duties, including cooking. The number required at the outset will be 2000 officers and 13,000 members.