BRITAIN ON GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1940, Page 5

BRITAIN ON GUARD

PRECAUTIONS IN EVENT OF INVASION WORKERS ARMED TO DEFEND FACTORIES. EVACUATION OF CHILDREN. By Telegraph—Press Association~Copyright. LONDON, May 31. The Minister of Transport, Sir John Reith, announced that the highway authorities have begun removing signposts and direction indicators which might be valuable to the enemy in the event of an invasion. Munition firms and other factories are arming their employees, who are being trained to use rifles and mach-ine-guns in defence of their own factories. The London County Council is opening 400 schools on Saturday and Sunday for the registration of children for evacuation from east coast areas. The authorities have set June 11 as the limit for householders to erect steel shelters. Failure involves substantial penalties.

The eastern civil defence commissioner has asked golf clubs to dig up fairways to prevent the landing of troop transport planes. The Minister of Home Security, Sir John Anderson, announced: “There is every prospect of an early call on the civil defences. The services should be fully manned in readiness. Members of the air raid precautions, auxiliary fire and auxiliary police services should remain at their posts unless specially released by their commanders.”

The War Office announced that steps are being taken to guard against parachute landings of men and arms in camps where there are prisoners of war and in internment camps.

The Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, Sir Victor Warrender, stated that all neutral vessels entering, or which have recently entered. British ports will be subjected to a thorough search in view of the possibility that they conceal troops. Eire has banned civil flying.