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The China Mail
THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 9, 1938.
Ninety-Third Year of Publication, 8A Wyndham Street, Hong Kong. Telephone 20022. London Office:
7, Garrick Street, London, W.C.2 Notice To Contributors. Subscription Rater.
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Hong Kong, Monday, May 9, 1938.
A TEST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
A
process of decontamination. It is for the performance of such strange, distasteful and danger- ous services as these that the authorities must raise from among the civilian population "air wardens" and ultimately, perhaps additional fire-fighters. Unless, moreover, the menace that overhangs civilisation can be removed by common agree- ment, such rehearsals as that held in London must become a commonplace of civic life.
An instructed civilian popula- tion is the basis of the whole plan, and at present it is weak- est at its base. It is useless to assure the citizen that he can cheaply and easily gasproof a room in which to take shelter if he is given no assistance in acquiring, the materials. It is A recent survey in the unreasonable to expect him to be. "Manchester Guardian" of the enthusiastic about making his progress of air-raid-precaution | home as safe as possible when schemes in Lancashire gives alin most cases he sees nothing fair measure of the immensity of being done to provide for emer- the problem that the local gov-gency in the office or works ernment has to tackle. The task where he is employed. Research is without precedent in our his- on the technical side of air-raid tory. It involves envisaging an precaution is well advanced, and, emergency that is repugnant to though the scientists may dis- reason and to humanity. It de-agree about the precise value of mands instruction in activities this device or that, it is not sug- entirely strange to the bulk of gested that Britain's experts are the population. It is attended in behind those of any nation in some quarters by a feeling that their knowledge of the dangers assistance in such precautions to be faced and of the defences engenders a "war mentality," in that are possible. But to the others by a fatalism that regards average citizen news of the pro- as useless any precautions that vision that must be made is still can be taken. Mr. Baldwin's a matter of mild interest and not much-quoted remark that, what-a thing that concerns his personal ever people may tell him, the life. More, perhaps, will be man in the street knows that the gained when those being trained bomber will always get through" as instructors get to grips with has had its effect. But the truth employers and householders. But of the matter is that, even if no a great apathy will have to be success comes of the rising tide overcome if this unprecedented of demand throughout the world experiment in decentralisation is that Governments should seek to be justified as it should be. agreement to avoid the barbar- There is more at stake than the ism of bombing open towns and assurance of orderly and helpful the worst occurs, the
bomber behaviour in emergency, vitally will only find it worth his while important though that is. The to try to get through if he can success of the plan will give en- achieve his object of demoralis- | couraging proof that the local ing the civilian population by fire. community can adapt itself, if panic, and the shattering of need be, even to uses so strange communications. It is the task as are now demanded of it. of government to convince the citizen that it is within his power The Hour and the Man
as an individual to defeat that aim, and it is a task that has hardly been begun.
**
*** **
Big Ben, the pontiff, if not the
The main obstacle to be over-doyen, of all London clocks, has come is the average citizen's in- lately had his ruling called in
THOMAS COWAN & CO. difference. A valuable demon-question by a visitor from the
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stration of the unpalatable duties country. No doubt to the chag- and activities to which he will rin of Big Ben, if one may judge have to become accustomed if he from his own conduct în, calmly occurrence, the plays his part thoroughly was ignoring the given in London recently, when matter was given publicity in the a mock air raid on the Welling- House of Commons. ton Barracks was staged. That There it was stated that 2 the participants in this case were member of a delegation of fisher- soldiers makes ΠΟ difference men to the House was seen to except in the matter of efficiency. [pull out his watch, and heard to We should all be in the front [murmur, as he glanced from it [line if war broke out and if the to Big Ben: "There's something use of the bomber could not be wrong with that there clock.” A restricted by agreement. The regrettable incident, of course scene enacted by these soldiers from the point of view of Lon- was one that civilians in any doners. Is the apple of London's town might have to face, assist-eye to be challenged by any poc- ed only by the police forces and ket turnip, or perhaps called by the trained air raid volunteers, "cuckoo" by any wag-at-the-wall fire-fighters, and decontamination upstart? Rather will Londoners and ambulance squads. Those conclude that the time is out of who had no special duties to joint.
keep them in the open in the Yet, looking closely, one may mock raid made for rooms that perceive a different aspect to the | had been rendered temporarily affair. Instead of a solemn as- gasproof by simple means. The perison upon Big Ben, was it not others slipped into their emer- rather a gesture, engaging, in its gency outfits of mask, oil-silk audacity and "panache,” remind- clothing, gloves, boots, and the ing the capital of the sturdy in- rest. Some dealt with a fire dependence, that fine local pride, caused by an incendiary bomb, that have rendered the provinces others carried "casualties" to the the backbone of the country? clearing station. A gas sentry And what delicacy there was in gave warning of the presence of the choice of method! Often mustard gas through a special and often in England's need, has detector he carried, and later all the hour produced the man, from who had been in contact with the the provinces. Now, leat she for- gas went through the elaborate get, the man produces the hour.
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