A.E.F. AND .LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 138, 8 December 1938, Page 6

A.E.F. AND .LONDON

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DEFICIENCIES REVEALED

drastic steps are to be taken iimmediately to raise the .strength' of London's Auxiliary Kre "Brigade and allied AJU?.. .services, following the disclosure of gra.v& deficiencies experienced duriug the recent emergency, rSiiys the "JD.aily Telegrapii' and Morning P,ost."

, These disclosures are ms.de in the ; report -of the Air. Said Precautions !. Sub-eojnmittee oj the London County |« Couneii, and will foe .discussed '.at a • special meeting of the council. The '': .committee, wMoh reviews .most of the ; special. A33..P- naeasur-es taken fey the L.C.C .-during JSeptembex, states that:

On Saturday,, September 24, only 4200 volunteers to the Auxiliary Fire Seryice for all London had been enrolled out of a required total of UO.'OOO. Only a 'limited number", of the 3000 pumping appliances needed, for London has yet been provided by the Home Office. No more than 800 of the 5000 women- .ambulance drivers needed nave been enrolled. .During the last weejj of the crisis, the committee added. 6000 applications for enrolment to the Auxiliary Fire Brigade were -received, of which .5000 were coupon inquiries -in direct response to Press advertising.

An intensive recruiting campaign for the balance of 20,000 .recruits wanted for the Auxiliary Fire Brigade is now proceeding throughout London. It is understood that production of pumping appliances and similar equipment is to be considerably increased in the near future.

In event of war 360 auxiliary fire stations are to be set up in council schools and similar premises. About 2700 vehicles are being earmarked for the work of towing the fire appliances.

Describing other emergency measures taken .during the crisis, the committee states: "Half a million sandbags were obtained, of which '200;000 were actually filled and placed in position. "The council .and Ministry of Health purchased 1.0,000 beds ■to supplement those available for air-raid casualties,, and 20,000 blankets. , "Provision has been made for emergency stocks of drugs, dressings, and sera to be maintained at all hospitals."

In conclusion the committee states: "It will be seen from the foregoing summary of action . . . that every effort has been made to make air-raid precautions immediately «s!ective should the need arise. It will be realised that in some directions , • • much remains to be done."