BRITISH PEOPLE CALLED ON TO DO THEIR BIT IN COAL CRISIS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 February 1947, Page 5

BRITISH PEOPLE CALLED ON TO DO THEIR BIT IN COAL CRISIS

Press Assn.

By Telegraph

Q -Copyright

Received Wednesday, 9.45 a.m. LONDON, February 11. Mr. Attlee, broadcasting tonight, said the country was facing an emergency of the utmost gravity. He was sure everyone would do his bit as they did in wartime. The weather had delayed the coal ships and ice and snow had disorganised rail traffic and blocked tunnels, rendering nearly 40,000 loaded wagons immovable in colliery sidings in the north-eastern area alone. Everything possible was being done to keep coal -oving and it had been given absolute traffic priority. . 1 Cabinet is considering the employment of military flamethrowers to clear the way through snowbound Britain so that coal supplies can be ensured, says Reuter. It is understood that the Army, Navy and Air Force have been warned to be ready to give whatever assistance may be required- with trucks, tractors and other military vehicles. The Navy may use escort vessels to help coastal shipping bring supplies and auxiliary vessels to free the icebound eanals for coal barges.

Reuter's lobbyist says that Cabinet may decide soon to extend the domestic electricity cuts to the whole country, including Scotland. The spreading of domestic cuts thus would mean a big saving in electricity consumption, even if ■ the big industrial users remained unaffected. I Food Cuts Unlikely The Minister of Food, Mr. John Strachey, said today that he did not think the fuel crisis would last , long enough to necessitate food ra- j tion cuts or shortages. It was announced today that all national daily and weekly newspapers were reverting to their wartime size from February 12 until further notice. i The reintroduction of double summer time is being considered, said Sir Guy Nottbower, departmental secretary of the Fuel Mini-' stry, who added that the continu-i ation of summer time throughout next winter would have to be considered very carefully. I Snow and bitterlv low temperatures in many parts of Europe have dislocated transport, held up food supplies and clogged the wheels of industry. i Airliners were grounded all over Europe and no planes left London's Continental airport, Northolt. The heaviest snowfall for many years halted all traffic in Norfolk. Several towns and scores of villages are isolated. The freezing of the German inland waterways deprived Hamburg of coal, and 150,000 tons of wheat and flour at Bremen cannot be

moved because of the traffic dislocation. Icefioes smashed the main bridge over the Po River at Piazenza. Critical Power Position fcThe British Ministry of Fuel announced that 22,550 tons of coal was saved in the restricted areas yesterday, which is 35 per cent. less than the previous daily consumption. The Ministry added that it was doubtful if the coal saving yesterday had much improved the stock position in power stations in the restricted areas. Better deliveries and reduced consumption were still not assUred. Warnmgs had therefore been issued to all public supply undertakines in the areas not now affected that the restrictions may be extended to the whole country, excluding North Scotland. Power stations barely held their own yesterday, and it is evident that the public todav were not obsprving the instructions as well as yesterday. Production of coal this week for supply to power stations next week would be hindered still more if the severe weather continued. The weather was still blocking road deliveries. Suburban Trains Cancellecl The Southern Railway announced the cancellation of 60 suburban trains, to take effect tomorrow. The London Passenger Transport Board has announced drastic reductions in the tram and trolley bus services. The board will cancel undergiound trains according to the decline in traffic.