Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-25
CIVILIAN boobies |
HAVE ODD DUTIES
London's New Police Protect
Germans, Save Drowning E.
Men and Patrol Streets. 4 {
Chimney SWEEP FIRST AID

s
By ROBERT sLOss.
(Correspondenee Of The Eveni.g staS
aaa Chicage Daily Eews.D -
Copyright, ipi7D
LONDON. England. November 1o.-Ths
American troops who paraded through
London recently were perhaps too fully
occupied with their own weighty re- ,
sponsibtlities to note that q portion Of
their route was lined with about 500
special constables: or to DO aware q
the subtle compliment implied in the
fact that on the last two occasiont
when the king opened parliament his
route from Buckingham Palace was POI
Iced entirely by this comparatively
new force. Yet this latter fact II NO
mere compliment to the specials. but
rather a practical recognition that
these volunteers now constitute . force
of seasoned men. whose splendid work
during the recent air raids has put
the finishing touch to their reputation
for bravery and efficiency. -
Sir Robert Peel could not have wishe4
better reputation for the "soSei e..
metropolitan police by his act OF 1S2es
Nor could . King OF England be guard
ed by a more democratic body OF men,
They have been recruited from every
class and trade. and in the discharge
Of their duty members of the peera1e
mix freely with day laborers.
Chimney Sweep IS First Aid. =
There IL an authentic instance OF
close contact In which figures q chin.
ney sweep In his capacity OF special.
II 20 at ~ ra0 q 10
liceman who was endeavoring to re-
suscitate a citisen nshed from the
Regents canal. The sweep'e constabu-
larry training In nrst aid enabled him TO
man. who. after prolonged effort. was
finally brought to life-to md that both
himself and the bobby" had been thor.
oughly decorated with the evidence OK
the chimney sweeps trade. =.
London's special constables have been
in existence and gaining in efficiency
from almost the very beginning OF the
war. On August 8. 1914, Col. Sir Ed-
pointed chief stan oiiieer for special
constables. He was asked to organise
a force Of 10000 men Twenty days
later he had that number on dirty at
ger was the presence in London Of
large NUM- bars Of enemy aliens, whose;
internment under English law was
necessarily . somewhat slow process.
Had to Protect Germans.
It was not long before the specials
called to Pro
wrath OF the populace after the nrst
Zeppelin raids. In this task about
900 specials were on daily duty in
reliefs during the anti-German riots
Of May, 1915.
1t was the experience gained in these
riots that convinced the authorities
that a man in uniform. for sustaining
the majesty of the law, is worth four
thority except blue and white striped
armlets. The force is. therefore, FUR
nished with uniforms, to which has
| just been added the ''tin hat" OF the
/ trenches to protect him from shrAD-
mel in air raids. A man must. however,
do twenty duties of four hours each
before he can qualify for Uniform.
the reason being that. as his WORK. Y
but a small allowance for expenses. any,
reasonable excuse for his retirement 10
accepted.
The regular army alone has taken
"veterans" Of the Force.
Yet 1t is a striking tribute to the.
LOYALTY and esprit de corps" Of those
men that the force can boast of $4,000
men who have belonged to 1t for two
years or more. These are the veterAnss
entitled to long service badge II they
have performed a minimum of a hun-
dred and fifty duties. as nearly all or
them have. They constitute well over
half the present active force, for while
this now numbers some $4,000, about
5000 of these are employees OF governs
ment Offices and private concerns, en-
rolled for guarding important prem>
Uses.
Many of these veterans hold special
<o~ hv.or nv
dered from the Royal Humane Society.
the Society for the Protection of Life
from Fire and similar bodies 1t is not
a matter of record that the special VINO
once stopped the late Lord Kitcheners
motor car because its lights were too
strong, ever received a medal. but no
has the memory of the commendatory.
words spoken to him on that OCCASION
by England's commandments.
Help During Air Raids.
Beyond the recruit stage. drilling 70
voluntary, as is attendance at lectures
given by regular police officers. leo
lures on first aid to the injured and the
like But such aids to proficiency are
well patronized, and an astonishingly-
vote directly and indirectly to their
work much more time than is re-
quired OF them. Many have shaken
down into regular night patrol work.
not only for the detection of air raidss
but of violations of the lighting or
ders, Illicit signaling, hres. or other
suspicious circumstances whiie the cry
sleeps.
The force is Differed mainly by re-
tired members of the Irish and colonfaI
constabularies. By voluntary suoscrip-
ton the force has furnished forty. ans
balances for the front
May Serve After War.
The existence of the British special
constable is, of course, not confined to
London; every large city and rural
district has its own organization ana
1t is safe to say that at least 100000 are
on duty throughout Great Britain And
it is probable that they will remain b
feature of British law and order for
some time after the war, for IL -
doubtful If their Intelligent services
can be dispensed with during the Pc
RODS of rehabilitation and reconstruc-,-
ton in this country.