TRANSPORT STRANGLED BY SNOW AND ICE

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 March 1947, Page 5

TRANSPORT STRANGLED BY SNOW AND ICE

ROAD TRAVEL IMPOSSIBLE FAR NORTH OF LONDON Received 10.10 p.m. LONDON, March 8 Snow and ice are still strangling transport, food and industrial supplies over most of Britain. Snow fell in many parts of the country last night. The main railways to the north reopened but it is impossible to travel far by road north from London. Coal trains are again moving from South Wales but fifty pits have stopped work. Sixteen pits stopped in east Midlands and most Leicestershire mines closed. Thousands of troops are helping to clear the railways.

Yorkshire had a night blizzard and a rapid clay thaw. Snow fell in London last night and this morning snowdrifts still isolate four Bedfordshire villages after four days. Rations were taken on sledges to north Lincolnshire villages. Planes chopped rations to marooned airmen at Foulsham R.A.F. station.

When a rapid thaw occurred at Hastings hundreds of birds fell out or trees where they had been frozen to death. Birds reduced to starvation by snowbound conditions in Yorkshire are attacking sheep. One farmer found three of his sheep dead with their eyes gouged out and the backs pitted like pin-cushions by sharp beaks. He said crows -were proving the worst menace.

Thousands of railway workers arccontinuing to fight a clear way tor coal and other necessities, but frost has multiplied their difficulties. Railwaymen fought clear many miles of blocked lines and men of the road services continued the battle, which has now been going on almost continuously for four weeks.

Snow has fallen for 25 successive days. Six thousand men and 300 snow ploughs and 50 bulldozers in Derbyshire worked ceaselessly to try to clear the drifts, the men trying pneumatic hammers and spades against the solid ice which formed as the snow thawed. Jet engines were successful in the earlier stages, but according to the Ministry of Fuel have not been so efficient against packed down snow and ice.

Weather records shows a frost every day and night since January 1. The Automobile Association reports that traffic churned up the latest snowfall, and the night frost has given the roads a surface like a vegetable grater.