BRITISH FLEET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 October 1938, Page 5

BRITISH FLEET

DEMOBILISATION NOT TO BE COMPLETED UNTIL GERMAN ARMY IS ON PEACE FOOTING. MANY RESERVISTS RELEASED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 10. The Australian Associated Press has learned from the highest authority that demobilisation of the Fleet is not being carried out completely before the German Army and Air Force resume a peace time footing. Normal British naval training has not yet been resumed, but the depots have been reopened for recruiting. A large number of reservists have been released.

MACHINERY WORKS WELL. SPLENDID RESPONSE TO CALL. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, October 10. Many of the Navy reservists, called up as a precautionary measure during the emergency period, are now returning home. Officials who were concerned in the strenuous work which naval mobilisation involved are understood to be well pleased with the smoothness with which the machinery worked. Except for the partial mobilisation in 1922, it has not been tested since 1914. Nearly 30,000 men were at their posts within three days of the King’s proclamation. There was a wonderfully enthusiastic response and the officials concerned were particularly impressed by the cheerfulness of the personnel. The King signed the proclamation at 11 a.m. on September 28, but five hours earlier one reservist, having heard a rumour of the comihg proclamation, had reported at his depot. No less than 4000 reported at one depot in twelve hours, and at another 4500 were passed through the whole routine of medical and dental examinations, pay arrangements, issue of gas masks, etc., in twenty-four hours. The majority were drafted to ships without any delay, some being on their way to the ships within three hours of reporting.