BALLOON BARRAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 4

BALLOON BARRAGE

LONDON PREPARES “BLACK-OUT” SCENES SANDBAG PROTECTION EVACUATION OF CHILDREN MANY STRETCHER CASES (Eire. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Scot. 4, 9 a.m.) London, Sept. 2.. England already bears every appearance of a nation at war, a state into which it seemed almost imperceptibly to transform itself. The “black-out” scenes yesterday brought home the gravity of the situ'ation. The main stations were ghostly under the dim blue lights. There were scenes of most intense activity, with men and women in khaki uniforms everywhere, also families leaving London carrying much luggage. Yet there was not the least confusion. Despite the lightless trains which maintained their schedules, travellers queued normally.

The erection of sandbag protection, which during the week proceeded unhurriedly and methodically in basements on skylights and at first floor windows, to-day took a fresh impetus.

Another fresh sign is that the police are wearing steel helmets and masks like haversacks.

Perhaps the most striking spectacle is the balloon barrage resembling a vast flock of huge grey birds in the heavens.

At frhquent intervals signs in Ail parts of London point out tl)B----shelters. Proclamations are also pasted on the walls. Meanwhile, the evacuation of people is proceeding without a hitch, with long lines of children at stations and hundreds of buses streaming out to the country and the seaside. To-day, the evacuation began of cripples, blind persons and also expectant mothers. Nearly 300,000 children were evacuated from London yesterday. The entrance to the German Embassy is bolted and barred to all callers. An official stated that they were not sure when they would be leaving as., no instructions had been received from Berlin.

The saddest member of the Embassy is a dog formerly owned by the German Foreign Minister, Herr Von Ribbentrop. The animal was mournfully gazing from the gate preventing his usual run in the park. Downing Street was quiet with only a few spectators. The Dominion Secretary, Sir Thomas Inskip, was the only Minister to appear early.

The Ministry of Health .issued a statement that in the course of Friday’s evacuation over 24,000 stretcher cases were moved, including over 3000 from the County of London. The number of patients fit and sent home was estimated at between 70,000 and 80,000.

It is now estimated that at least 150,000 beds are available for casualties in England and Wales. In order to facilitate the removal of prisoners from exposed areas a number who are due for early discharge are being released immediately.

No members of the 1.R.A., however, , will be discharged. r Three thousand London taxi-driv- > ers have joined the Auxiliary Fire Service. The cabs will be used to ; haul trailers and pumps. The Ministry of Transport has assumed control of all railways, which are operating under an executive committee. The Minister of Supply has ordered the control of iron, steel, cooper, lead, zinc, aluminium, wool, n§x, hemp, jute, silk rayon, timber, paper, leather, molasses and industrial alcohol , 1