Support, I see, is being given in other quarters to
the sug- gestion I made a fortnight ago that soldiers should be called in where desirable to reinforce the civilian defence services. The reasons are obvious. Some of the services concerned, the air-raid wardens in particular, are working under an immense strain. They are in perpetual danger, their hours are too long and their numbers in some localities too few. At the same time there are tens of thousands of soldiers all over the country doing nothing but standing by, pending the development of more active military operations. The task of collating military with civilian effort would admittedly be delicate, for while soldiers might be reluctant to serve under civilians the fact remains that the civilians have been trained long and intensively for their special duties. No doubt some rational arrangement could be reached, perhaps by a clear-cut division of labour. Another case in which the army, in the shape of the R.A.M.C., could obviously step in is where for any reason ambulance and first- aid arrangements are inadequate or there is an undue strain on them. And army-kitchens could render invaluable emergency service to the homeless. This is no time to leave any available resources untapped, and the army is full of available resources. In the matter of shelters I like Mr. Vernon Bartlett's proposal that an O.C. Shelters, with an adequate staff, should be appointed. He could do excellent work.
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