GIBRALTAR TODAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1941, Page 7

GIBRALTAR TODAY

LIFE ON IHE ROCK ACTIVITIES MAINTAINED. GUARDIAN OF WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN. Gibraltar, guardian < f the western approaches to the Mediterranean stands alert today in a vigil that has not been relaxed night and day since war began, writes C H. James, the Gibraltar correspondent of ihe "Daily Telegraph." There was .< time when, after nearly two centuries of undisturbed peace, n was fortress only m name: when small boys clambered unheeded ever were bre..cited to make wk. er carriageways. .Now all it changed. ’ihe f u'titieations have been strengthened and perfected to meet Ute fiercer men1 irac c.p. l.lan populace which b Y p emits and defence regulations hat neon evaeu.’teu. AIR Cr STERN RESOLVE. There are still some few thousands Rock L.i outnumber them. An air o', steti. resolve has replaced the formei eatcless gaiety of me place. Spam, still provides the bulk of Gibraltar > civilian lab nir. both male and lemale; the workers swell the population considerably by day. out all return ,o 1... Linca to sleep. Relations between Gibraltar and neighbouring Spam arc cordial and it is quite obvious that nobody in Andalusi:. wants war—in tael the'very idea tills litem with horrot One may still visit ihe Spanish towns in the neighbourhood, provided one has the right passes, but naturally cwrvbodv on the Rock is too busy .is a rule I-/travel, and the numbers who g.. .ire not large. FEW VVDMEN REMAIN. With '.lie evacuation of so many noneomba’.ants. th. comparative rarity <>t women is .. noticeable fe .lure of life m. Gibraltar Wives and families of servicemen nave gone Home, mid such few Englishwomen as remain are engaged m work considered sufficiently important for limn to be given an exemption from evacuation. Nursing sisters come foremost in this category, while some are wives c.f men serving on the Rock m varying capacities. Some wives who are working lung hours yet contr.ve to do the housekeeping; others are in hotels, but only one hand is required to count lheit number

Prices haw risen on the Rock, ana housekeeping is by i ,u tncans easy, bin there is no shortage of any essentials. Many dress shops haw closed down, and feminine needs are not being catered for. so tltat women are meed either with paying wry high prices or

going without. In compensation, b.ugains may be had if a store decides to sell oil.

The garrison's oIT-duty hours are spent in normal ways that appeal to the Briton—-in boating, bathing, cricket and football in their season, tennis and squash: they all help to use up the surplus energy which is created by a confined existence Amateur theaiiicals provide entertainment in the evenings. With lite addition of some professionals who have "joined up lor the duration" a surprisingly high standard is maintained. AN AERIAL BOMBARDMENT. In repelling aerial attacks the Hock s anti-aircraft gunners have achieved very encouraging results, and there is no doubt that the deadliness of the barrage which they put up saved the Rock from serious damage in a recent raid, when over 100 bombers launched a daylight attack. Within their shelters people listened to the roar and crash bi bursting bomb and shell, -n inferno of sound that doubly echoed oil th<l Rock When the "all clear" sounded and they emerged they were surprised to see comparatively little damage A ruiiwui was circulated that leatlets hud been dropped; it was afterwards discovereu that a regimental office hud been hit and the regimental tiles of one company had been showered over the town. . , Auxiliary fire services, a civilian .m--ganisation. co-operated well m icnueimg assistance, and the i.ud a.is .1. k wed to interfere with the usual routine. Tile evening parade and the Ceremony of the Keys was c.iii ied < that evening. Gallant work has been d< nc too. m Mirt of the day routine by the military experts in removing unexploded vofr.m, lnc.di.-m. lb- < rie ciitr: yn-.r-h "irl'ch*’ ’’ I 1.0 S*XjH t.tv. n//:' the'tri; of bomb through tw< cvi.mv CEREMONY OF THE KEYS., Tin Arc •- ‘ '■ ciy wu-ndent < f m abilit'- t<> d<-..l with, any Mtii..»ai. which may n rse and d >es . o !■ r 1’ Th*' tro m ■ ■■• -- 1 - - the welfare of tbw Rock was remarked that thyi 1 • ■■ ■ . The other evening ■ " ", ‘‘.‘..j I OUS Scottish ivginwm ' ' ’y } ! V. "■■ I- ! ",■ Th<- hcaruming sound 1 . ! th: ■ igb -h<- n..i ■ i t-Lw'vf .. • 11 .‘i-.1-m iot - ni.irvhC..*\ /g tiw K • ; ; ... • ■ ' e • U> ll- -• . . b.iC r