AMERICANS HELP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1940, Page 10

AMERICANS HELP.

DEFENCE OF LONDON. PLAN OWN ARMED UNIT. (By Air.) LONDON, August 14. American men in business in London have formed a defence unit which they hope will be affiliated with the Home Guard. Their equipment has been provided for them oy personal friends in America and paid for by themselves. The men who have formed this unit are of every age and business-status; some are 20-year-old clerks, others are men of wealth. It is understood that Mr. Charles Sweeney, American' golfer and business man, is one of the prime movers in the formation of the unit. The planning began at a small meeting of the American Club. in London, and the membership of the unit has now grown to about 60. One of the members eaid this week: "We are doing this entirely off our own bat. You see, the way we feel about it u that'if you are living with friends and there is a> danger of their house catching fire you like to think that you will be able to grab a hose and lend a hand in putting it out. And so with London threatened with attack we want to be able to help in its defence. Our part wouH, xtt couree, be infinitesimal in the defence scheme but it would be something." They have placed themselves under the direction of a retired brigadiergeneral who fought with Pershing in the last war-General Wade Hampton Hayes, who has lived in London for some years and Iβ associated with important electricity concerns. Their immediate plan is for ten protectively armed cars and a number of motor