ADVICE TO BRITONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 211, 11 September 1940, Page 2

ADVICE TO BRITONS

IF THE INVASION COMES PEOPLE FULLY PREPARED THE ORDER IS "STAY PUT" "If the Germans come, by parachute, aeroplane or ship, ypu must remain where you are. The order is 'Stay Put.' " The above is the striking feature ■of a set of six warning clauses which have been given to every householder in Britain and the distribution (14,3000,000 copies), has been made by the Ministry of Information in co-operation with the War Office and the Ministry of Home Security. A copy of the circular has been received by Mr G. Champion., of New Plymouth, from his daughter, Miss Gwen Champion. Miss Champion is an accountant on the staff of the Empire Wool Council, whose offices are now located in the palatial hotel of a golf course "somewhere in Yorkshire." The preface to the circular says: "The Germans threaten to invade Great. Britain. If they do they will he driven out by our Navy, our Army and our Air Force. Yet the ordinary men and women will also liave their parts to play. "You must not be taken by surprise. "Read these instructions carefully and be prepared to carry them out. Preventing Panic. "When Holland and Belgium were invaded the civilian population fled from their homes. They crowded the preventing their own armies from advancing against the invaders. You must not allow that to happen here. Therefore — "If the Germans come, by parachute, aeroplane or ship» you must remain where you are. The order is stay put.

"If the Commander-in-Chief decides that the place where you live must be evacuated he will tell you when and how to leaver Until you receive such orders you must remain where you are. If you run away you will be exposed to greater danger because you will be mach-ine-gunned from the air. "There is another method which the Germans adopt in their invasion. They take use of the civilian population to create confusion and panic. "Do not believe rumours and do not spread them. When you receive an order make sure that .is a true order and not • a faked order. ; "The ordinary man and woman must be on the watch. If you see anything suspicious do not rusk round telling your neighbours all about it. "Keep watch. Go to the nearest police officer or station or to the nearest military officer and give him the facts. Tell Germans Nothing. "Do- not give any German anything. Do not tell him anything. Hide your food and your bicycles. Hide your maps. See that the enemy gets 110 petrol. If you have a car or motor cycle put it out of action; you must make it useless to anyone but yourself." After giving instructions for block ing roads by falling trees and wiring them together the instructions go on: "Be ready to help the military in any way but do not block roads until ordered to do so by the military or L.D.V. authorities." Precautions are set out for the defence of factories. A chain of command is to be organised and every worker is to be instructed in his duties; particular attention being paid to an understanding how orders are to be transmitted. The last clause says that if in an emergency further instructions are required they wilL be given by the police or military authorities, but no orders will be given over the wireless as they might convey information to the enemy. The leaflet concludes with these inspiring words: : — "Remember always that the best defence of Great Britain is the courage of hea* men andl women. "Think before you act. But think always of your country before you think of youreslf."