EXODUS FROM LONDON

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 13

EXODUS FROM LONDON

THOUSANDS VOLUNTEER FOR ENLISTMENT TRANS-ATLANTIC LINERS* FULL COMPLEMENTS v tSRtIB PUSS 4SSOCIATIOS —COPTSIOUJ (Received September 29, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON, September 29

Before Mr Chamberlain's speech there was a steady flow of young men to the . recruiting offices in Whitehall, which the mobilisation of the fleet and the calling up of the « naval reservists accentuated. All men allocated to the submarine service had been ordered to proceed direct to the submarine establishment, Fort Blockhouse, at Gosport. The Air Ministry had announced that a number of aeroplanes would make daily flights over London and the east and south coasts for exercising the Observer Corps, Anti-air-craft' Corps and searchlight units. One hundred Germans resident in London are applying for naturalisation.

The staff of New Zealand House organised, as an air-raid precaution, a gas-proof shelter in the building's basement.

The. Hungarian Legation "categorically denied rumours of mobilisation in Hungary. The Nizam of Hyderabad, ruler of the biggest Indian State, has telegraphed to the Viceroy, placing his resources at the disposal of Britain. Nearly 10,000 naval reservistSi many accompanied by their wives and children, arrived at Chatham in response to the mobilisation order. There was not the slightest halt and they were called to work in strengthening all the defence arms and auxiliaries. Thousands of men and women were queueing up at the enlistment bureaux in London throughout the day. The Air Ministry has lowered the age-limit for the balloon barrage corps to 25, and is appealing urgently for recruits within a few days. The Board of Trade, in appealing against food-hoarding, gives an assurance that supplies are adequate and well controlled.

Although the news of the Munich conference stemmed what promised to develop into a stampede from London, thousands continue their preparations to evacuate their households and go to the country. It has become impossible to rent a house or cottage in the . nearer ' counties where thousands are dwelling. Houses have gone to the. highest bidders after fierce competition. Many private schools have closed down indefinitely and parents are taking their families to the country. The liner Queen Mary left for New York with a record complement of 2000 passengers, most of whom are Americans going home. British consular notices in Italy advising Britons to go home have not been withdrawn. German shipping lines have recalled ships at present on the high seas. • Two freight vessels, German and Italian, yesterday suddenly departed from Sydney fo" an unknown destination. The Bremen sailed for Europe from New York with 394 passengers, including many Americans. The Hansa, the only other large German liner at New York; which was to sail to-night, sailed suddenly this morning with no passengers. .

(For later news see Stop Press Column ou Page 1.)