The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-11-21
. COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

Official organ or the Trades Union
Congress General Council. In plain
speaking editorials Labour, while pre-
dieting victory, frankly admits Britain
is suffering from the air war but says
the workers will fight on regardless
of what comes.
Interesting comment is made on the
close cooperation of the labor move
ment with the government in maintain
ing production as far as possible in
the face of air attacks-working even
when the air raid sirens are sounding
or working through the siren," as it
is called.
Let Labour tell the story of the
common peoples spirit:
"War in the air has reached pitch
of fearful intensity. Its results for
our own country are less destructive
than imagination, out-stripping actual
experience, pictured the horrors of
random raids. Industrial production,
transport, and commercial activities
generally have suffered no serious dis
ablements.
x
"The spirit of the people exposed
to danger and heavy strain in every
walk of life has remained unsubdued,
and the pulse of the nation beats
strongly. In all the resources of war
organization for both defense and at
tack, the country has grown more
powerful as measured against the ma
terial strength of the enemy.
Heavier and more decisive blows
than the Nazi Power has been able to
infict upon US have been struck by
our Air Force and Navy at vital CEN
ters-not only at the bases from which
if invasion is attempted, the attack
must be made, but far afield in Ger
many and Italy: their losses in ire
placeable equipment, war material,
and trained personnel for air-tighting
especially, are far more than ours; and
these losses, bring us every day nearer
to parity.
"We are within measurable distance
of surprising the enemy in every es-
sential element of victory"
K x X
Then Labour goes on to discuss the
problem of working under fire-as lit
orally British factory, railroad and
other workers have done in many
cases.
"Air raids" Labor says, "are now
becoming a grim commonplace of the
daily or nightly existence of the vast
majority of people of the British
Isles, and nobody with a grain of COM
nonsense would seek to maintain that
they have not caused a considerable
amount of dislocation in the norma
life of the citizen. The massive wal
efforts of the nation remain substan-
TALLY unimpeded.
"But a strategic defense must leave
nothing to chance, and the steps being
taken to ensure that the production OF
war material shall not be checked
must have the support of all elements
of the community. For this reason
the Trades Union Congress has taker
a prominent part in the discussions or
the problem of working through the
siren
"These talks have resulted in the
production of an informative pamphle
which merits the close attention o,
all workers-especially trade unior
officials. This document outlines tn,
conditions under which, it is felt, work
ers can reasonably be expected tt
carry on despite the presence of hos
tile aircraft in the vicinity of thei
place of work. In preparing these rec
concentrations the safety of the work
er has been the prime consideration
of the Trades Union Congress, whicl
has given special attention to the ques
tion of roof spoilers, and has insisted
that workers remaining at their task
during a raid, or any part Of raid
must have emergency shelters built il
readily accessible positions"