1938-05-28 — Page 11

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THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 28, 1938.

1,000,000 A.R.P. WORKERS Speed-Up Of British Precaution Plans

TRENCH SYSTEMS AND SHELTERS

(From A Special Correspondent) Nearly all the million volunteers needed for air raid precautions services in Britain must be en- rolled before the end of the summer.

ing large numbers of people at

of instructors were adopted. small number of points.

Among the most important ques- If this policy were to be follow-tions raised by the local authorities ed, and if the population were to was that referring to "red tape," be reassured, it was essential that particularly in the official sanction- the survey of available accom-ing the local expenditure. modation which could be streng- urged that the Home Office should They thened and adapted as shelters take all possible steps to speed up should be undertaken without decisions.

delay.

This

Closer collaboration in the pre- survey should include all the open spaces

paration of schemes between cer- around big tain local authorities was discussed. cities which could be planned for a The meeting approved Sir Samuel

The whole complex problem of

Hoare's. view that efficiency as well casualty hospitals was being exed by a joint scheme between adja- as economy would often be attain- and it was hoped that their survey would be operated by a joint com- amined by the Ministry of Health, cent districts. Such a scheme of available accommodation would

By the end of the year there must be a compre-proper trench system. hensive organisation of air raid precautions in every important area.

These two formidable objectives were set be- fore the representatives of 1,700 local authorities in England and Scotland by Sir Samuel Hoare, the Home Secretary, during the conference called at the Home Office to consider ways of accelerating the A.R.P. programme.

From

be completed in a few weeks.

mittee.

that in addition to a poster cam-sent out to the Associations in paign, there should be an extension few days.

2

INSTRUCTORS' CLASSES

Sir Samuel said that the draft of After discussion it was agreed the Finance Regulations would be

Details of these re- of the number of instructors quali-gulations need not déter any fied to hold classes. Practical pro-authority from going ahead with

As the result of two

and a 350,000 and 400,000 volunteers posals for increasing the numbers their preparations. quarter hours' frank, but friendly, have so far been enrolled. discussion, it was also agreed that: now on, therefore, local authorities To stimulate enrolment of per-must recruit at least 100,000 men sonnel the Home Office shall and women each month. arrange for recruiting posters to be displayed throughout the country;

More qualified instructors shall immediately be made available, and

survey of avail-

The current able accommodation suitable for air raid shelters and of all open spaces where a trench system could be usefully planned should be finished by the end of the

summer.

In an opening speech, Sir Samuel Hoare, while recognising the diffi- culty of the task placed upon local authorities, emphasised strongly its urgency.

Sir Samuel said that, although the danger from gas must still be reckoned with, recent events had indicated that the risk from incendiarỳ bombs and from high explosives was pro- bably greater.

Therefore the expansion of the URGENCY OF RECRUITING Mr. Walter Elliot, Secretary for and training of auxiliary firemen fire brigade service, the enlistment Scotland, and Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd, to Under-Secretary

use the special fire engines for the Home which the Government Office, were present and the local viding was essential. organisations represented were:

Association of Municipal Cor- porations;

were pro-

GAS MASK FITTING He attached great importance to the house-to-house canvass by air County Councils' Association; raid wardens. This canvass Was Urban District Councils' Asso-designed to bring home to all ciation;

householders their own duties, to

Rural District Councils' Asso- explain what was being done, to ciation;

discuss the contents of the house- Association of Councils of holders' handbook, and to fit them Cities in Scotland;

Convention of Royal Burghs;

and

Association of County Coun- cils in Scotland.

It is estimated

that between

with gas masks.

1

As regards high explosives, Sir Samuel said the Government maintained their view that dis- ersal of the population was pre- ferable to the risk of concentrat-

Mystery Englishman

Arrested After

Burning Of Liner

Paris, May 8.

insurances had been negotiated in French police inquiries into the London shortly before the fires des- burning of the 25,000-ton liner La-troyed the ships, and an English fayette to-day extended to London, seaman came forward to swear that following the detention of an un- he had been offered a substantial named Englishman and the dis-sum to set fire to the Atlantique. covery of mysterious insurance policies effected on the ship during that past few weeks.

did not originate from the owners The London mystery insurances-

the persons actually paying the pre- of the ships, but all efforts to trace

miums failed.

Certain claims were not met by the underwriters, and though this failure led to threats of litigation, the threats were not carried out.

Experts. are sure that the fire which destroyed the Lafayette in dock was not accidental, but was deliberately brought about by the saturation of danger points with petrol, which caught fire as soon as the boilers were lit up after over haul,

In the present instance, it is The circumstances are almost alleged that mysterious men were identical' with those in the two pre-seen about the dock shortly before vious mystery fires affecting 'the fire broke out. French liners, the Georges Philli- Two experienced officers of the par and L'Atlantique.

Surete Nationale are being sent to

CLAIMS NOT MET

| England to investigate the `suspi- In each of these cases mysterious Icious. recent insurance policies.

Mummy taste too

it's good OVALTINE

Pusks

There is nothing

like crisp deli- cious 'Ovaltine' Rusk

8

for

keeping your child happy and contented.

Through infancy and childhood Ovaltine' Rusks – help - more than anything else to ensure that baby teeth grow strong, sound and beautifully regular.

- “Ovaltine' Rusks are highly nourishing, too, because they are made from the purest unbleached wheaten flour combined with health-giving “Ovaltine'.

Every child should have “Ovaltine' Rusks from the

a first

little tooth is due. They provide the biting exercise which $ ensures easy, comfortable teething. This exercise also keeps, the teeth firm and healthy, and encourages the correct forma- tion of the mouth.

VIR.S.C.7