The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-08-10
Help British Organizations
in Rescue and Guard Duties
BY FRED S. FERGUSON
President, NEA Service

uuSlTldl organization nelu al
unusual meeting in London re-
Gently. They did not meet to
discuss postwar business plans
or conversion and there was no
debate or discussion as to when
the war might be expected TO
end.
They met to discuss the best
ways and means of guaranteeing
continuance of the business by
safeguarding the lives of the ex-
ecutives from the fury of the
German flying bombs. II was
decided that it was a dangerous
policy to endeavor TO continue
on a business as usual" basis,
with all of the top men on the
job daily.
In this organization all of the
directors and other executives
have taken their regular turns
as fire-watchers during the en-
tire period of the war. From
this it may be judged that the
common end Of carrying on the
industry and thus contributing
this organizations proper share
to the war effort has not been
accompanied by any class con-
seriousness as between bosses
and employees. All have done
their part, but the uncertainties
of the flying bomb presented
new condition.
TAKE NO CHANCES
For the good of ALL it was de-
cided, the company could not
take the chance of having all of
its executives wiped out by one
bomb. A system Of rotated alb
sences was consequently adopt
ed, and until the danger is
passed one or two of the key
men will always be out of the
flying bomb area, ready to re-
turn in event those on the job
are killed or injured.
This is an example of the type
of planning and readjuStment
British industry and all business
is carrying out to strengthen the
home front defenSes against the
new menace. From top to bot
tom men and women are stick
ing it OUT, regardless Of their
jobs. A waiter in one badly
shaken restaurant grasped a
table for support as shattered
glass came showering from the
windows when a bomb hit a
hundred yards or so away and
Jared the building like an
earthquake while Tom Wolf,
Colonel BLY, Alcal, ~Of tbe Can
adam Army, and l were having
lunch.
81 hope they are not following
me-" the waiter said, as the dust
cleared. This is the second
time I've been bombed out in
two days" Along with the other
walters, he began Strengthening
up tables and rearranging the
scattered silver. Then the serv-
ing of luncheon proceeded. On
the theory that he needed it, we
bought an extra drink for the
waiter.
While these dispatches have
had to do with the British civil
ians in the flying bomb area,
soldiers and civilians
stationed in London are natu-
rally enduring the same condi-
tons. There have been casual
ties among Americans and the
bombs that hurtle over in the
night have no more respect for
American sleep than British.
Many a newspaper correspond
ent or Red Cross worker reports
for duty red-eyed after a sleep
less night or a restless one in
shelter.
AMERICANS HELP
There are acres Of American
army offices of various kinds
scattered over London and many
an officer eases himself down at
his desk for days work after
a night Of alternately diving
under his bed or dashing into all
interior hall rather than hole
up in a shelter. Many officers
and correspondents share apart
ments, and virtually all have
accumulated one or more per-
sonal thrilling stories TO relate.
Meanwhile American soldiers
have been quick TO turn their
hands TO rescue work when
bombs have dropped near them.
Hotel dwcllers-and all hotels
in London are crowded-en-
deavor TO develop more or less
regular night schedules for
bomb sleeping. It's still broad
daylight in London and south
ern England at 10 p. m. in these
days of summer with daylight
time. BY IL o'clock it IS
~ o. N. H..
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