Carried Out in Perfect Order

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21207, 2 September 1940, Page 8

Carried Out in Perfect Order

Three hundred and twenty children who left Britain recently as evacuees, being sent to a Dominion by the Children's Overseas Reception Board, were back again last night. They were passengers in a ship which had been torpedoed, but every child returned safely. By Monday morning the parents of every one of them should have received a telegram announcing the child’s safety. The transfer of the little evacuees from the torpedoed vessel to the rescuing ships was carried out in perfect order. The children’s kits were not damaged and this will be a source of additional comfort to the parents. The fact that the children came unscathed out of the adventure is an eloquent commentary on the precautions taken by the board for ihe safety of the little ones under its care. No child is permitted to be berthed below the waterline of a ship, and for at the most every fifteen children a iraened escort is provided. The organisers ensure that there shall not be more than three children to every adult in the ship. Within an hour of getting on the ship the youngsters had there first boat drill and this was repeated twice before the ship reached the open sea. Tonight the children are all comfortably settled in hotels or other quarters. They are excited and more than a little thrilled, but the worse for the of the journey.