COMMUNAL EXISTENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24399, 10 September 1940, Page 8

COMMUNAL EXISTENCE

SOUTH COAST RESIDENTS CLIFF TUNNELS AS SHELTERS | LONDON, Aug. 30. Residents of part of the south coast of England are calmly settling down to a communal existence now that they have reorganised their lives to accommodate themselves to daily air raids and shellings. Many undamaged houses shelter two families, and " what's mine is yours " seems to apply generally. Housewives take turns at cooking, cleaning and shopping—shopping is generally done about dusk, when there is usually a pause between raids. Milkmen and bakers, anticipating the usual morning raids, deliver their wares in the evening. When night falls all descend into tunnels running into the cliffs. These are roomv. quite warm, well ventilated,, and allow of babies being brought in in prams. Friends place mattresses and deck-chairs together, and deposit clothes, vacuum flasks and breakfasts, generally wrapped in brown paper. A warden who is stationed at the entrance to the tunnels awakens the men on time., " I get them to work every morning," he said. " I am very similar to the Ritz hall-porter, only my customers do not leave out their boots." Although this part of the coast is deservedly nicknamed "Hell's Corner," verv few of the residents have left their homes. A fisherman said: " My people sat here and awaited invasion for centuries, and never got it. Well, here I sit and here I stay."