EXODUS OF GERMANS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 256, 30 October 1939, Page 9

EXODUS OF GERMANS

MANY LEAVE THE RAND EFFECT OF CRITICAL WAR $ NEWS e .... I, u PROTECTIVE STEPS TAKEN IN p SOUTH AFRICA F JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 2. Many Germans left the Rand last night, 'the majority apparently making for Portuguese East Africa. Throughout the night motor-cars, heavily laden with luggage, were seen 11 travelling from Johannesburg and 1 Reef towns eastwards on the Lourcnco s Marques main road. j* Garages dealt with many German " motorists who were trying to obtain '' cases of petrol, in an effort to make “ a non-stop journey to Lourenco P Marques. Others have arranged to *■ leave the Rand a few days ago, and. “ last night, when the news became ’■ critical, they set oft immediately. ' While this exodus was taking place, “ public authorities throughout the a Union redoubled their efforts to put ‘ into immediate effect schemes to prevent incidents. The S.A. Police Force, the Defence Department, the Railway Police, and the municipalities were extremely busy. All policemen have received instructions to be armed with revolvers and now, in addition to all leave being i cancelled, they have been specially , warned that they must not leave the areas in which they are stationed. c Most of these police precautions are ’ to guard against a display of public feeling similar to that at the outbreak ' of war in 1914. The display of police- • men, it is hoped, will give the public ‘ a sense of security and at the same time create an atmosphere of respon- ' sibility. Close Watch. Although at the present stage it is|V impossible for the police force to guard private buildings and firms, policemen on beat duty have been told. In pay particular attention to certain places io prevent trouble. II is under- ' stood that these instructions also apply to premises in which large quantities of foodstuffs are stored. While the uniformed police are taking these preventive measures, detec- ■ lives arc busy day and night, lapping ( confidential sources ot information. A < wealth ot information now accumulated gives the police a very good ( idea ot public feeling and th'..' extent ■ of subversive activities, 'they arc now ~ in a position to act instantly. j In Johannesburg the police have extended their guards to the German Club, the consulate and other places where Germans foregather regularly. Allhough lhe German Club is heavily barred two policemen acting in con-[ junction regularly patrol the vicinity, j A close watch is also being kept on; other clubs, consulates, shipping: offices and balls in South African! towns and cities. The Johannesburg municipality has redoubled its guard on the power, stations, reservoirs and other vital | points, and the police are keeping al close check on private guards who are | being employed by the Rand. Water I Board, petrol companies and Govern-1 ment departments. i Private guards in the centre of | Johannesburg arc ,also operating at ■ Hie Supreme and Magistrate's Courts | ' and all guards are visited repeatedly i during the night by police officers to | make sure that they are at their ■ posts. I Drill Hall Activity. Last night scores of policemen were I ordered to stand by at the Centrali ' Police Barracks. The usual beat duty ! ' was carried on; but additional patrols | in the central area were on duty. The Drill Hall in Johannesburg yes-1 terday was a scene of great activity.; Many Active Citizen Force officers had ' been called on for duty, and a large i number of clerks were busy dealing i • with the routine procedure of making i certain preparations in the event of an , emergency. ) At the office of the Navy League in ; ~ Johannesburg, a considerable number of young men called and asked if they . could serve in the Royal Navy. Direct _ enlistment in the Navy cannot, how- , t ever, be effected here. - There is great pressure of work at ' the headquarters of the South African ) Railway Police in Johannesburg, i I- Members of the staff have been work- ; ing 'till long into the night, and , thought the authorities yesterday i were not prepared to make any kind 1 of statement as to the nature of the I ' extra work, there is reason to believe r that most stringent further precau- i tions are being taken for the prolec- [ ’ tion of the railways, especially in its I key departments.