VILLAGE HORROR

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21034, 9 February 1940, Page 6

VILLAGE HORROR

ONE IN TEN SHOT TWO AMERICANS INCLUDED (United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 9. 12. 15 a.m.) WARSAW, Feb. 8 The victims in the Polish village of Wawel, where the inhabitants were lined up by the Nazis and one in ten shot as a reprisal for the killing of two soldiers by Poles who were resisting arrest, included two Americans, named Szcygiel, father and son.

evacuees, as well as many tens of thousands of unofficial ones. Of these, between 80 and 90 per cent were working full time at school. Some of the older evacuees were short of practical facilities, but soon some would be going to the 20 new camps which already had been allocated to schools. In regard to the danger areas, a further lead must be given by the Government if children in towns were to be saved from demoralisation. Of nearly 1,500,000 still in danger areas, about 400,000 were receiving neither schooling nor medical care. Changes Must be Made Whatever the risk of air raids—and he thought the risk was still great—the situation could not be allowed to continue. Although education was not simply the affair of the Board of Education but a system of partnership with the local authorities, the Minister said he accepted the responsibility of the Government to give a lead, especially in wartime. He grouped the help which the Government could give to the local authorities under three heads, as follows: Compulsory school attendance, return of school buildings, and air raid precautions. While there were no facilities for schooling, it was dishonest to speak of enforcing attendance, but in the immediate future every child would have to go to school somewhere. If parents were not willing to send their children to school in comparative safety in the reception areas—a possibility which had been and was still open to every child—then they must send them to school in the towns. Acquisition of Accommodation As soon as accommodation was available, even if only at first for part of the time, attendance would be enforced, and assistance to that end would be given to the local authorities. Regarding the return of buildings, the Minister said the Office of Works had handed back 72 of 79 schools taken. The real problem was where school buildings had been taken by a local authority for civil defence purposes. That problem was being met in consultation with the Ministers of Security and Health. Local authorities would be instructed to proceed with the building of air raid shelters and as soon as their completion was in sight, children would be admitted to the schools.