THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 8, 1939.
PRIME MINISTER GIVES GENERAL REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS IN CAMPAIGN
London, To-day.
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS yesterday after- noon, Mr. Neville Chamberlain made his first statement on developments since the war broke out on Sunday.
manently manned and ready for ac- tion.
1
"In London, for instance, there are over 1,800 fire pumps ready for action, against about: 125 In peacetime,”
Concluding, Mr. Chamberlain hoped his statement would show the country that Britain's war. `effort was rapidly
He emphasized that he could give only a general gaining momentum..
idea, as it was not in the public interest to go into details.
FULL WEIGHT
"It has behind it the full weight of all the people of this country, who are
cause,
The Poles, he said, were fighting hard against torri-united in their conviction that no na- fic weight of numbers and an overwhelming tion ever went to war in a higher superiority of aircraft and artillery. The Polish soldier, ever courageous and determined, was fighting every yard of the German advance.
The morale and courage of the would increasingly bring the problem Polish people was unaffected.
under 'control.
The manning of the defence posi- tions in Britain had been, carried: out quickly and efficiently by the Na- Honal Defence Companies aided by the Territorials. The mobilization of the British Army had been smooth, and the morale was high._____
GOASTAL COMMAND
The activity of our fighter and coastal command, if less conspicuous, had been no less intense.
From the early stages of the emergency all squadrons of the fighter command had been the
at their war stations and in a state of Instant readiness.
He paid a special tribute to Women's Territorial Service, which was undertaking heavy tasks under arduous conditions and thereby spar- ing soldiers for active service.
NAVAL REPLY
Speaking on
the
naval matters, Prime Minister referred to the sink- ing of the Athenia, which, with its scenes of death and horror, might be said to have really opened, the war and no denials or inventions on the part of Germany would convince the public of German innocence of this crime which has horrified and shocked the world.
British naval dispositions were now complete and with modern methods
"We are greatly- heartened by. the knowledge that in a struggle for the defence of liberty and free Institutions, and the preser- vation of all that makes life worth living, we can count on the support of overasza`members of the British Commonwealth.
FREE WILL
"On their own free will, and under no form of compulsion save the moral: compelling force of right, these na- tions have declared their intention of co-operating in a cause which is no less precious to, them than it is to the people of England."-Reuter
+
The coastal commands had also been engaged in extensive recon- EGYPT JOINS naissance over surrounding areas in order to locate and destroy enemy
THE WAR
submarines.
Pages
ITALO FRENCH RAILWAY SERVICES RESUMED
London, To-day. Train services between Röme and Parlswill be resumed to day. The train service; between Swit zerland and Italy has already been partly rosumed.
The "Orient Express" will, now travel as far as Paris, Instead of anding -138 service at. Milað.
The Belgian, airline resumed. service yesterday between Bos- glum and England,; after, having 'suspended. "ita Spohodule" for
wook-Reyter.
GREENWOOD ASKS FOR PROMPTER NEWS
London, To-day. Mr.. Arthur Greenwood (Deputy Labour leader) thanked Mr. Chamberlain in the House of Commons for |his statement, and asked the Prime Minister to keep the "I must now say something about The Ministry of Information an the organisation of the home defence nounges that the British Government country informed promptly services which are being rapidly com- has been officially informed that the whether the news was good pleted.
Egyptian Government, have decided "The regional organisation is functo sever diplomatic relations with or bad. tioning well. There is still someGermany-British Wireless. shortage of wholetime personnel but this is chiefly now to be found in country districts.
BLACK-OUT ENFORCEMENT
"Enforcement of the black-out is of submarine detection and destruc- proceeding satisfactorily. With the help tion used, the problem of the German of Air Force reconnaissance every submarine menace should become in-night it has been possible to discover creasingly under control.
Apart from the case of the Athenia,
there had been attacks on other Bri- tish merchant ships, and three or four. ships had been sunk by German U-boats. said the Prime Minister.
On our side the Admiralty had taken Immediate counter-més. gures. British destroyers and. other anti-submarine oraft had, been very active, and large réin. forcements of anti-submarine and escort veasels were rapidly be: coming avaliable,
As Mr. Churchill had already in- formed the Commons, steps were being taken to establish the convoy system at the earliest possible mo- ment.
*This method of protection could obviously only be instituted after the outbreak of war, and it took time to bring it fully into operation, but the House could be satisfied that it was being applied with the utmost possible speed and with rigorous vigour.
•
lights irregularly showing, and action at once taken to deal with the affen-
ders.
"The Government decided last Thursday that the plans for evacua- tion, mainly in respect of school- children and young children and their mothers, should be put into operation. The operation has now been substan- tially completed, and has covered not only those towns for which plans had. been worked out beforehand but also 'a number of other vulnerable areas.
"So far, approximately 1,473,000 children and mothers have been evacuated in the country as a whole.
ASSIMILATION
•
"The process of assimilating this large increase in population.in .the receiving areas will take time.
*"Bchools are to be re-opened In the receiving areas as soon as possible, and 'both the publle au- thorities and voluntary helpers will be busily occupied with mea- Bures for the welfare of the 'chit- dren's and for the asslatance of householders who are so gener. ouafy providing homes for mothers and children.
"Over 200,000 hospital beds are
Most of the ships which had been attacked hitherto had been vessels which commenced their voyages be- fore war had broken out, and natur-ready to-day. for air raid casualties. ally for them the full scope of our defensive organisation could not im mediately be provided.
Over 11,000 auxiliary nurses have joined the Civil Nursing Reserve for service in hospitals and air raids, posts, but more trained nurses are needed, especially women who can give whole- time service in any part of the coun- try,
AUXILIARY FIRE) SERVICE
While a certain proportion of week ly losses could be expected, and we should not minimise the threat to our shipping, he thought the House and country might rest assured that the Navy, with all their wartime experi- ence in handling this problem and "The Auxillary Fire Service was with the added advantage of methods | mobilised quickly and on the whole of submarine detection and destruc-amaathly, and in the main available tion which had since been developed, fire-fighting units are being kept per
London, To-day.
If the magnificent statement about the Kiel action had bean, published on the day it occurred; it would have heartened the people."
A course of A. R. E. Lectures in Mr. Chamberlain in reply said that English will be given at the Club Lust, he did not want to circulate any in- Itano on Mondays, Wednesdays and formation until all the facts were as- Fridays at 5:30 p.m. commencing on certained, but with experience he hop- the 11th Instant. Mr. E. F. Buttress, ed they would do better in future- B. Sc. will be the lecturer.
Reuter.
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