BRITISH MILITIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 July 1939, Page 5

BRITISH MILITIA

FIRST BATCH OF 30,000 MEN CALLED UP

UNITS TO SPEND SUMMER UNDER CANVAS.

WAR OFFICE TRAINING PLANS.

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 15

The first batch of militiamen, numbering about 30.000. has been called up under the Military Training Act passed earlier this summer, and reported for duty today. The bulk of those allotted to the infantry will be quartered to begin with in the barracks of various regimental depots, while the majority of the other units are going straight under canvas for the summer months. By autumn the wooden huts now under construction will be ready. Queen Mary went to Shorncliffe camp today to see the arrival of the first militiamen.

The War Office has made it clear that the training is being arranged to allow for grading and regrading so that the most forward shall not be held back by those of less aptitude. Those who show special aptitude and character will complete their last two months’ training in a junior leaders’ wing. AIR DEFENCE BRITAIN’S TREMENDOUS EFFORT. WITHOUT PRECEDENT SAVE IN GREAT WAR. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 14. The Secretary of Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, speaking at a new Rolls-Royce factory at Crewe, said that, except in the late stages of the Great War, Britain had never in her history made such great efforts in air defence. The increase in personnel requirements, together with various measures that had been taken to augment the effectiveness of the Royal Air Force, had made it necessary to submit the supplementary estimate for a further increase of 32,000 officers and men in the strength of the Air Force service' and for the vote for a further substantial sum of £40,000.000. This brought the gross total votes for the air services to a new high level of £260,000,000 for the year.

VISIT TO ULSTER. RECRUITING FOR RESERVE UNITS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 15. It is announced that the Secretary for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, accompanied by senior officers of the Royal Air Force will pay a visit of inspection to the reserve units of the R.A.F. in Northern Ireland on July 28 and 29. Sir Kingsley Wood will be the guest of Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, and Viscountess Craigavon. and he will discuss the question of recruiting for the reserve and auxiliary units of the R.A.F. in Northern Ireland. RAID SHELTERS, SUPPLY TO HOUSEHOLDERS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 15. Householders have now been supplied with a total of 850.000 steel shelters and 1,000,000 steel helmets have been delivered for. the air-raid precautions personnel. Nearly another million will be completed before the end of July.

Supplies of first-aid equipment being issued to local authorities include 6.000,000 bandages. 4,000,000 dressings and 80,000 splints.