FORCE REORGANISED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 59, 11 March 1942, Page 5

FORCE REORGANISED

A.R.P. IN BRITAIN “GET ON YOUR TOES!” Rugby. March 7. At the opening of Penge’s warshin week, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Securitv, Mr. W. Mabane, advised civil defence workers to get on their toes and stay there. “There are facile optimists who imagine that the German bombers will never return, just as there were those who said they would never come at all.” he said. “Do not heed such people. Look instead at the pictures of our own raids on the Renault works. Read the speech of the Air Secretary on bombing policy. Realise that an offensive of unexampled force and fury against Germany is part of our contribution tn the efforts of our gallant Russian allies in the spring. Thon be ready for German raids in reply. “When these raids come, then once more wardens, first aid and rescue parties, firemen and the rest, will deploy into action. They must, be there in sufficient numbers, trained and eouinped. It has been our job at the‘Ministry of Home Securitv to see to this during the lull. We have not been wasting our time. We have been reorganising the services and nutting into practice all we could learn from the long ordeal of last winter. ‘We now have a large body of men and women who for a long time have been occupied full-time in civil defence. They are now fully trained and efficient. While the lull lasts thev want to be making a more active and vital contribution to the war effort instead of merely standing bv. We are going to do all we can to make this possible. When the raiders return they will return to their posts, but meanwhile, so far as mav be. they will be released, and their places filled bv part-time members.”— 8.0.W.