SHIPS AND TRAINS GET UNDER WAY AGAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1947, Page 5

SHIPS AND TRAINS GET UNDER WAY AGAIN

Press Assn,

By Teleyraph

,-Copyright

Received Friday 7.50 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 14. The Daily Mail's political correspondent says that as a result bf ihe continued severe weather and diffieulties of rationing electricity, the (lovcrmnent may be compelled to impose L'urther and stricter liieasures inchiding, in certain circumstances, a complete blackout.over the whole country i'or the 24 hours oi' several iays._ The collier Wimbledon, with iee on its deck and liandrails, after an all-day battle with the weather, steamed np the Thames on the evening tide. She had not berthed fivf} minutes belore giant grabs were hauling coal at five tons per minnte from her holds i'or the Wandsworth (kas Company. Emergency craws meanwhile stood by in the darkness at other Thames-side power stations and gasworks to urdoad coal arriving- 1'rom northwest ports. London tonigld was a study in light and shade as it. retnrned to the rigonrs oi a partial wartime blackout. The authorities decided that the lights oi the city's streets will be lit only at intersections and points where the poi iee consider lack of illumination would be a danger to pedestrians. The majority oi side streets are already fully blacked out. The Westminster City -Council announced that the AVest End is to be included in the darkened area bnt early tonight Pie.cadilly and the theatre area were still brightly illuminated. Reports from the suburbs reveal thoronghi'ares there without lights. Nevertheless, the l'ourth day of Britain's battle for coal brought encoiu'aging news that the movement oi coal by rail and sea had restartel and the ci'itical drop in stocks was arrested. A total oi lOd ships carrying a quarter million tons oi coal has leL't northeast British ports lor the sonth while the Ministry of Trans])ort stated that 100,000 tons of coal were en ronte to London by rail. Railway companies, to ensure full prioritv for coal, continne to delete important passenger trains from schedules. For instance the "Yorkshire Pullman" between Kings ("ross and Hnll was withdrawn and" the daily express between Kings Cross and Neweastle will run on Fridays only.