Chapter 60 Volume 2, Chapter 18, London Doesn't Care

Serious and Lively America's Outrage London's Drainage Plague Threat Shattering Windows Delayed Bombs Memorandum Related to It Unexploded Ordnance Removal Squads Overcame the Danger of Handling Heavy Landmines with Parachutes Retaliating We are bombarded compared to central government needing to move safely to paddocks Herbert Morrison after John Anderson as home secretary Enemies start bombing the National Fire Corps Civilian Air Defense is the Royal Fourth ArmyLondon Forces withstanding Disasters Long-Term Arrangements for Defense Command Warfare I was placed in Pikedilly Avenue Underground Air Raid Room for Safe Return to New Building Germany Another Change of Plans Inland City Coventry Birmingham Air Raid on Ports 1940 The Great Fire of London on December 29 His Majesty the Emperor had an insight into government affairs and a thought for the future at Buckingham Palace.

These are the moments when the English, and especially the honored Londoners, are at their most heroic.They are serious and lively, tenacious and diligent in their work, and they firmly believe that they are an unconquerable people. They can adapt to this new life full of terror, shocks and shocks that they have never experienced before.One evening I set out to inspect the east coast. On the way to Kingscross, the siren blew, and the streets gradually became less crowded, except for a few long lines of very tired, pale people waiting for the last bus.A layer of autumn fog and drizzle shrouded the scene.The air was cold.Night and enemies are coming.With a pang of grief, I felt deeply the torment and suffering that the world's largest city was enduring.How long will this situation continue?How much more tribulation will people have to suffer?Is there a limit to their vitality?Once they are exhausted, what will this do to our vigorous fighting power? 【１】

【1】One night, when I came to the new building, there was a sound of voices and crackling not far away.In the darkness I saw seven or eight National Guardsmen on patrol or on duty gathered at the door.We greeted each other, and a tall man among them said: We persevere, and this is a meaningful life! The ongoing bombardment of London, and later of other cities and ports, aroused in America across the Atlantic a wave of the strongest sympathy ever seen in an English-speaking nation.The flames of indignation burned in the hearts of Americans, especially President Roosevelt, who felt even more indignant.This sentiment is growing in the United States.I feel that there are millions of American men and women, full of enthusiasm, longing to join us in thick and thin, to join us in fighting the enemy at once.It is very encouraging that all Americans who are able to come to England will come here with gifts and their respect, their respect, their deep love and solidarity, but it is only September and this It's a strange way of life, and we're going to go on living it for many months to come.

Under the pressure of bombing, bomb shelters and defense facilities were constantly added.There are three things that worry me deeply.The first is the drainage problem.I think that with six or seven million people living in a large area with dense buildings, it would be very dangerous if the sewers and water supply equipment were blown up.Do we try to keep the sewer system clear, or let the plague spread?What happens if sewage flows into the water supply system?In fact, the main sewer outlet was breached in early October and we had to let all the sewage flow into the Thames, and at first the sewage in Hanoi stinks, and then it smells of the chemicals we poured into the river.But we have it all under control.Second, I worry about the flu, diphtheria, colds, and other contagious diseases caused by millions of people crowded in the street bomb shelters for a long time at night, which can only protect against explosive shrapnel. This danger is planned.Man is a social animal. Obviously, the pathogenic bacteria he exhales will kill each other and cancel each other out.They radiated and devoured each other, so that people were safe and sound.Although this view is not in line with science, it should be the case in principle.In fact, during this catastrophic winter, the health of Londoners is better than usual.Moreover, whenever the common people of a nation are in high spirits, their powers of suffering seem inexhaustible.

The third thing I worry about is that the glass supply will not be available.Sometimes the explosion of a single bomb can shatter every window pane in an entire street.I have anxiously inquired about this in a series of memorandums and recommended that the export of glass should be stopped immediately, but facts and statistics have reassured me that the lack of glass has never occurred. In mid-September, the enemy used a new and very destructive form of air attack against us.They're throwing tons of time-delay bombs all over the place, causing us a nasty problem.Large sections of railway lines, important transport hubs, roads and main streets leading to important factories and airports have had to be disrupted many times and cannot be used when we need them.These bombs must be dug up and either detonated or neutralized.This is the most dangerous kind of work, especially at the beginning, and it is necessary to learn the ways and means of digging bombs from a series of extremely dangerous practices.In the first volume I recounted the dramatic dismantling of a magnetic mine. This spirit of self-sacrifice, though ubiquitous and common now, is still noble.I have always been fascinated by time-delayed fuses, which first came to my attention in 1918, when they were used on a large scale by the Germans to prevent us from using the railways that could have penetrated Germany.I have advocated the use of such bombs in Norway and the Kiel Canal.Since it creates a sense of long-term instability, it is undoubtedly one of the most effective tools of war.Now we get a taste of it for ourselves.We have established a special agency for dealing with time-delayed bombs, headed by General King, a very able officer whom I personally met at Checkers.He gave the job to General Taylor a short time later, and I pushed hard through a series of memorandums.

prime minister to secretary of state for war September 13, 1940 As I mentioned in my call to you last night, what to do with unexploded bombs in London, especially on the railways, appears to be a matter of paramount importance.The increasingly serious congestion in the train marshalling yard was mainly caused by this bomb.It would be best to send cleanup teams from both the North and the West, and expand General King's agency as quickly as possible.Pretty careful planning has to be done to deal with it, and it's likely to turn into a bigger nuisance before long. Prime Minister to Minister of Armaments

September 21, 1940 The prompt disposition of unexploded bombs is of the utmost importance.Failure to address this issue could have dire consequences for the production of aircraft and other vital wartime supplies.Response bomb removal teams are provided with all kinds of modern equipment to facilitate their work.Documents sent by the Secretary of State for War detail the tests being carried out and the equipment being designed.The required equipment should be produced as early as possible and any needs that may arise thereafter should be supplied. prime minister to secretary of state for war

September 14, 1940 I heard that a special type of drill has been manufactured in the United States, which can drill a hole of the size and depth in less than an hour that it would take two or three days for human labor to glue it. I think you should consider ordering a batch of these tools for use by bomb removal teams.The most important thing is that the bomb should be dug up and disposed of without delay. These drills may be expensive, but the lives and property it saves are worth many times more than they are worth.Furthermore, I believe it is our duty to provide these brave people with the best technological tools possible.

prime minister to secretary of state for war September 28, 1940 I have been told that there is good evidence that the drilling method [1] is effective in dealing with time bombs.In view of the increasing serious difficulties these bombs are causing us, I hope that this method will be used extensively.Please send me a report on the extent to which drilling has been applied. [1] The drilling method is to drill a hole in the shell of the bomb in order to dispose of the explosive inside the bomb. Professional teams have been set up in every city, every town and every region. Volunteers scramble to take part in this life-threatening work.A professional group, where life and death are at stake, was organized.Some are alive after we get through this one.Others gave their lives after twenty-three or even forty perils.On my inspection trips, I have seen unexploded ordnance removal teams everywhere I go.Their complexions seem to be somewhat different from those of ordinary people, but they are also very brave and loyal.Their faces were thin, haggard, and slightly blue, but their eyes were piercing, their lips were tightly shut, and their actions were very calm.We too often use the word serious in describing our hard days.This term should be used to describe the unexploded ordnance removal team. [1] The squad I remember in my mind can serve as a representative of many other squads.

It was the Earl of Suffolk, his private secretary, and his rather elderly chauffeur.They call themselves the Holy Trinity.The story of their valor and their ever-accident-free record spread among all who knew them.When digging the thirty-fourth unexploded bomb, they were still polite and smiling, but they were sacrificed when digging the thirty-fifth bomb.The Earl of Suffolk and his trinity all went to heaven, but, we may be sure, on that side, as to Mister Truth[2], all the trumpets sounded for them. [1] It seems inappropriate to record a joke in such a gloomy scene, but in war, a soldier's rough laughter often reflects the suppressed feelings.A bomb removal team was digging up a bomb, and the most skilled of them jumped into the pit to do the delicate work of dismantling the fuse.Suddenly, he yelled for people to pull him up.His companions immediately ran over and pulled him out.They grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him for fifty or sixty yards, thinking they couldn't blow them that far.They fell to the ground, but nothing happened.The brilliant technician was in a terrible mess.His face was pale and he couldn't breathe.Everyone looked at him inexplicably.He said: My God, there's a big mouse there!

【2】The original text is Mr. Valiant for truth, see John Bunyan (1628｜1688) "The Pilgrim's Progress".translator The devotion of the unexploded ordnance team has quickly eliminated the danger for us, but at the expense of many of the noblest men.In less than a month, I was able to write: prime minister to general ismay October 9, 1940 We haven't heard much lately about the time-bomb that seemed like it was going to cause us so much trouble in early September.I have a feeling that things are getting better in that regard.Please send me a report showing how many of these bombs Germany has dropped on us recently, how many have been successfully disposed of, and how many are still in danger of exploding. Are we better off because the enemy isn't dropping such bombs, or because our methods of disposing of them have improved? General Ismay's reply was reassuring again. At about the same time, the enemy began dropping many naval mines by parachute, which were heavier and more explosive than bombs previously carried by aircraft.There have been many terrible explosions.There is no defense against such mines other than retaliation.Germany has stripped away the pretense that aerial warfare is limited to attacks on military targets, which also raises the question of retaliation.I am in favor of revenge, but I have suffered from many censures of conscience. Prime Minister to Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff September 6, 1940 I am not recommending any action that is not in line with our main policy, but I think that at present a few small, sudden, widespread air raids on some smaller German cities two or three nights in a month would be can have a favorable influence on the minds of the Germans.You have to remember that no one ever told these Germans the truth, wherever our air force has not been, the enemy may tell people there that the German air defense is impenetrable.Many factors must be considered early on, some of which are not entirely technical.Therefore, I would like you to consider my intentions and make suggestions to me so that they may be carried out when the time comes. Among those who objected was my friend Admiral Tom Phillips, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy. Prime Minister to General Ismay, Transfer to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (Sent to Admiral Phillips for reference) September 19, 1940 1. We do not object to reprisals against Germany on moral grounds alone.It is to our advantage to concentrate our attacks on a limited number of important military targets.Moreover, the enemy's poor navigational and other skills in indiscriminate bombing do not mean that they are at a serious disadvantage. 2. However, the use of parachutes to drop large mines shows that the enemy has completely abandoned the deceitful talk of only attacking military targets.At an altitude of five thousand feet, the enemy could not see the target of the bombing at all.Therefore, this proves that the enemy is trying to use terror against civilians.We should consider whether the morale of the enemy can stand such a bombardment as well as ours.This is a simple war thought. 3. I am inclined to the opinion that if they drop a heavy mine with a parachute on us, we will return a heavy mine with a parachute to a German city; It's a good idea to make a list of German cities we're going to attack.I don't believe they can stand it, and there's no reason why they shouldn't be nervous for a while. 4. The time and method of announcing this matter should be decided from political considerations.Now what I want to know is when it will be ready.Please note that as soon as this matter is announced, it shall be implemented accordingly.Let the officers come up with the best way to execute this plan on a large scale in the shortest possible time.It would be best to drop mines with parachutes on German towns which have not been bombed before, but if we have to use the thousand-pound aerial bombs we have, please explain if there is too long a delay. 5. I hope to be informed on Saturday night of plans for a proper retaliation, an equivalent minimum, for bombing our country with parachute mines as the Germans bombed their ordinary cities.According to reports, the enemy dropped thirty-six mines on me today, and it is very likely that they will drop a hundred mines tomorrow.Well, one hundred is one hundred, and the most appropriate plan for taking action is made within one week to ten days according to the standard of one hundred per day.If we need to wait, we must wait, but we must not be hindered. 6. Before the above situation is made public, I agree that we should not complain and make loud noises about what has happened.Please give me practical advice on Saturday night. A month later, I was still pressing for retaliation, but objections and obstructions continued on moral and technical grounds. Prime Minister to Air Secretary and Chief of Air Staff October 16, 1940 It is reported that the enemy dropped a large number of landmines here last night, many of which have not yet exploded, posing a great danger. Submit immediately your plans for effective reprisals against Germany. I was informed that we could carry the same mines or heavy bombs to Germany, and that bomber squadrons would very much like to use them, but the Air Ministry would not allow it.I believe that due consideration should be given to my views and wishes. How the Germans treat us, and how we should treat German military objectives, has been three weeks since I urged this to be done.Who is in the way? The misery suffered by the inhabitants of London in the winter of 1940-1941 can hardly be compared with that of the Germans during the last three years of the war.In the final phase of the war the bombs were much more powerful and the air raids were much more violent, but, on the other hand, thanks to the long preparations and the thoroughness of the Germans, a complete and impenetrable air defense system was established, And it is strictly stipulated that all people are forced to go in and hide.When we finally entered Germany, we found that many cities were completely destroyed, but there were still strong buildings on the ground, and there were spacious tunnels under the ground. Able to sleep in the tunnel every night.In many places, nothing more than blasted piles of rubble.But in London, although the air strikes were not as violent, the security equipment was far inferior to that of Germany.No place is really safe except on the Underground Railroad.Very few basements or cellars can survive a direct hit from a bomb.Under enemy bombardment, the entire population of London actually lived and rested in their homes or Anderson family bomb shelters, resigning themselves to fate with British indifference after a hard day's work.Not one man in a thousand had any protection other than equipment against exploding shrapnel, but mental infirmity was not so severe as a physical epidemic.Of course, if the bombs used in 1943 had been used on London in 1940, we would have been in a position where all human organization could be crushed, but everything is always in its order and No one has the right to assert that London is unconquerable, though it is unconquerable. Whether it was before the war or during the period of passive resistance, little or no fortification against bombs was built to enable the central government to continue its work.Elaborate plans had been drawn up to move the seat of government out of London.Many departmental establishments have long since moved to Harrogate, Bath, Cheltenham and elsewhere.Premises had been requisitioned over a wide area for the use of cabinet ministers and important officials should the government withdraw from London, but the desire and determination of the government and parliament to remain in London now under enemy bombardment was unshakable, and I totally feel the same way.Like everyone else, I tended to picture the bombing so violently that it was necessary to evacuate or evacuate it all.Yet as events unfolded, all of our reactions were just the opposite. Prime Minister to Sir Edward Bridges, General Ismay Army or Colonel Jacob and Prime Minister's Private Office September 14, 1940 1. I have never considered the question of the evacuation of black and yellow civil servants from London. [1] This sort of thing is so detrimental that it should only be considered when central London is indeed becoming uninhabitable.Moreover, the new premises of the civilian staff were soon to be found and attacked by the enemy, and London had more anti-aircraft premises than anywhere else. [1] This is the official classification: yellow civilians are those who perform secondary tasks and, therefore, can be evacuated earlier than black civilians.The latter remained in London as long as circumstances permitted them to continue working. 2. It is another matter to transfer the supreme leadership of the country from Whitehall to the paddock or other places.We must ensure that the backbone of government can function actively and in an orderly manner.This was impossible under almost constant air raids.Plans must now be made for the wholesale relocation of the War Cabinet, the War Cabinet Secretariat, the Chiefs of Staff, and the Home Defense Forces Commander-in-Chief to the paddocks, even now in some minor respects.Ministers in the War Cabinet should visit their offices in the paddock and be ready to go at short notice.If they need quiet at night, they should be encouraged to spend the night there.A secret cannot be kept, but it must be forbidden to speak to the public. We should expect that the Westminster area of ​​Whitehall could at any moment be the target of a heavy air attack.Germany's approach is: the disintegration of the central government as an indispensable prelude, followed by a large-scale attack on our country.They use this method everywhere.The Westminster district of Whitehall was so recognizable, and the Thames and the tall buildings on its banks were such reliable indicators by day or night, that the Germans were sure to bomb this area.We must prevent the disintegration of the central government beforehand. 3. There is no need for the Admiralty to relocate.Their anti-aircraft equipment is still considered good.The Ministry of Air Force should start moving.The Department of the Army and Home Defense Forces Command must be ready for everything. 4. Please consult immediately to make all necessary arrangements for the relocation of not more than 200 to 300 principal officials and their direct assistants to the new office, and point out how it should be completed step by step.Please bring me the report by Sunday evening so that I can present a considered proposal to Cabinet on Monday.On Monday, the Cabinet will meet in the Central Operations Command Room instead of the Cabinet Room, in accordance with previous rules. In order to hold on in London, strong outposts of all kinds, both underground and above ground, had to be erected in which the executive branch of the government and its thousands of officers could continue their work.A stronghold had been prepared for the War Cabinet near Hampstead, with offices, bedrooms and telegraph and guarded telephones.We call it the paddock.I ordered a field exercise on September 29, so that everyone would know what to do if the bombing became too intense.I think it's important to get into the paddock.Therefore, the cabinet should meet there next Thursday.At the same time, other government departments should also be encouraged to try out a key personnel transfer exercise.If possible, lunches should be provided for War Cabinet ministers and those attending meetings of the War Cabinet.We held a cabinet meeting in the paddock before dawn, and asked the ministers to inspect the rooms in which they slept and worked, to their full satisfaction.We celebrated this with a nice lunch and then headed back to Whitehall.Cabinet ministers used the paddock only once.We poured six-foot-thick reinforced concrete on top of the combat command room and offices in the basement of the new building, and carefully arranged ventilation and water supply equipment, especially telephone equipment.As the underground offices were well below the level of the Thames, and only two hundred yards from it, measures were taken to keep the occupants from being trapped by the water. October was upon us, cold and rainy, but London seemed to have adapted to this peculiar new environment of life and death.It even feels laid-back in some ways.Due to continuous air raids during the day, crowded commuting hours, and frequent failures on the railway line, traffic in and out of Whitehall became a major problem.I'm looking for a solution. Prime Minister to Sir Horace Wilson October 12, 1940 About two weeks ago, I issued instructions that there should be no more talk about the four-day work week for clerical staff, because I was worried that if it was announced, it would have an impact on the factory, but now I advocate a work week Five days, four nights sleeping in the office (and eating there if possible), three nights and two days eating and sleeping at home.Of course, this only applies to those who work in London and live in the suburbs.I've seen so many queues at bus stops, and it's no doubt that getting in and out of London quickly will become increasingly difficult.Every government department should draw up a plan that is both conducive to the work and convenient to the staff.The work being done now must be done within five days.The commuting time should be staggered, and people should leave as far as possible before commuting traffic congestion time, so that the vehicles passing through during the day can be evenly distributed. Please provide me with your views on this matter, together with the proposed approach in a document circulated to various government departments. This plan failed to materialize and, after careful study, was shelved. There have been major changes in the cabinet since Mr Chamberlain retired due to serious illness.Mr Herbert Morrison was a vigorous and powerful Minister of Quarters, and Sir John Anderson dealt with the Lightning Bombing of London with firmness and aplomb.By the beginning of October, the incessant air raids on the world's largest city had been so violent that they had caused so many social and political problems among the suffering mass of the population that I think it would be wise for a long-trained parliament to It would be very beneficial for someone to run the Ministry of the Interior (which is now also the Ministry of Internal Security).London is where the enemy strikes first.Herbert Morrison, a Londoner, was familiar with every aspect of capital administration.He had unrivaled experience in the administration of London, having been leader of the London County Council, and in many ways a leading figure in the conduct of its affairs.At the same time, I need John Anderson, who has done a very good job in the Home Office, as the Privy Councilor to manage the wider Home Affairs Committee. Many business matters are referred to this committee, thereby reducing the burden on the cabinet.It would also lighten my own burden and enable me to concentrate on directing the war, a task in which my colleagues seemed more and more inclined to give me freedom of action. So I asked the two senior cabinet members to exchange positions.The position I asked Herbert Morrison to fill was not a good job.The difficult problems of London administration are indeed indescribable in this book. Sometimes 10,000 or 20,000 people become homeless overnight; At times, hospitals filled with mutilated men and women were bombed by the enemy; in bomb shelters; at times road and rail traffic were continually obstructed; at times sewers were blown up, and lights, power, and gas supplies were crippled; and, nevertheless, the life of fighting and toil all over London must go on Go on, nearly a million people have to be transported out of and into London every morning and evening so that they can go to work on time.We don't know how long this situation will last.We have no reason to think that the situation will not become more serious.When I invited Morrison to be home secretary, he knew full well that the job should not be taken lightly.He asked to be allowed to think about it for a few hours, but he quickly came to me and said he would be proud to hold this position.I really appreciate his determination to get things done. The Cabinet Committee on Civil Defense was established during Mr Chamberlain's administration.At that time, this committee met as usual every morning to discuss the whole situation.In order to ensure that the new home secretary can exercise all the powers vested in the state, I also hold a weekly meeting (usually on Friday) with the participation of various departments concerned.The issues discussed at the meeting are often very unpleasant. Not long after the change of personnel in the cabinet, the enemy changed their method of air attack, thereby affecting our general policy.Hitherto the enemy's air raids against us have mostly used only high-explosive bombs; however, on the moonlit night of October 15th we were subjected to the heaviest attack of the month when some four hundred and eighty German planes descended on us Three hundred and eighty-six tons of high-explosive bombs were dropped, and another 70,000 incendiary bombs were dropped.We have previously urged Londoners to take cover and improve their protective equipment wherever possible.But now, going to the basement had to go to the roof instead.It will be up to the new Home Security Minister to formulate a solution. A huge fire lookout and fire brigade covering the whole of London (except for the measures taken by the cities in the interior) was soon established.At first the fire lookouts were all volunteers; but so many were needed, and each felt so strongly that the work should be done in turn, that fire lookouts soon became compulsory.This work has been an inspiration to all ranks of men.Women are also clamoring to participate.In order to teach fire lookout posts how to deal with the various types of incendiary bombs that the enemy uses against us, we have organized a large number of training courses.Many of them became experts, and the fire was extinguished before thousands of incendiary bombs burned.People got used to it after night after night, under the bombardment of the enemy, on the roof, with no other protection than a steel helmet. Soon after, Mr. Morrison decided to combine fourteen hundred local fire brigades into one national fire brigade, with an additional large residential brigade, whose members were trained and worked in their spare time.This civilian fire brigade, like the rooftop lookouts, was at first convoked on a voluntary basis, but it was later agreed that the work should become a duty for all.The advantage of the National Fire Corps is that it is relatively mobile, has unified training standards and equipment standards, and has formal levels.Other civil defense teams have set up divisions, which can rush to any place immediately after receiving an order.The pre-war air defense brigade was renamed the civilian air defense team.Very good uniforms were issued to most of the squad and they themselves felt like the Royal Fourth Army.In all of this work, Herbert Morrison was greatly assisted by a brave woman, Alan Wilkinson, whose recent loss we are saddened.She was in and out of the dugout round the clock and played an important role in organizing the civilian fire brigade.Under the active leadership of Mrs. Reading, the Women's Volunteer Air Defense Corps also played an inestimable role. If our city is to be attacked, I would rather have the enemy attack London.London is like a giant prehistoric beast, able to endure terrible pain, and can still survive and move despite being covered in bruises and blood.Anderson-style home bomb shelters were so common in two-story working-class housing estates that every effort was made to make them habitable and to drain water from rainy weather.Later, Morrison-style anti-aircraft bunkers appeared.It is like a heavy kitchen table made of steel, with hard wire around it, which can withstand a small house collapsed, so it can play a certain protective role. Many people have saved their lives by relying on this kind of cover.As for other losses, London cared little.The inhabitants of London have endured what has been theirs, and can endure still greater calamities.In fact, at that time, we saw no other way out than to sit back and watch the entire capital be destroyed. Moreover, as I then pointed out in the House of Commons, the destruction of great cities is governed by the law of diminishing returns.Before long, many bombs were being dropped on houses that had been blown up, only to send a pile of tiles flying here and there.There was nothing left to burn or explode in vast areas, yet the people went about their homes and went on working with boundless tact and indomitable perseverance.At this time, everyone is proud to be a Londoner.London is admired by the whole country, and all the other great cities of our country have taken heart, and are ready to give their all when the test comes, and never lag behind London.In fact, many people seemed to be envious of London's fame, and quite a few people came from the country in order to stay a night or two in London, to share the troubles of Londoners, and to see the excitement.For reasons of municipal administration, we had to stop this trend. Since we have no reason not to believe that the enemy's bombing of London may continue until the end of the war, the central government institutions should be settled and secured in the long term. Prime Minister to Sir Edward Bridges October 22, 1940 1. We now know the approximate limits of the enemy's air attack on London, which will be violent and prolonged.In fact, the bombing of Whitehall and the government center may have continued until all the old and weak buildings had been destroyed. Accommodation, therefore, should be provided as soon as possible in existing dwellings and buildings which are sufficiently strong or capable of fortification to accommodate the cadre of cadres and officers of the administration, as well as the principal ministers and important departments directing the war.This measure was necessary in view of our determination not to be driven out of London by the enemy, and in view of our surrender to the War Office and others of the premises reserved for the clandestine removal in the West of England.Whether we move or stay, we must make a decision and implement it thoroughly. 2. The premises in the paddock are not quite suitable for the needs of the present situation.War cabinet ministers could not have lived and worked there for weeks on end and had the majority of their staff live in worse conditions than Whitehall is now.Apart from the paddock houses, there was no proper shelter or air-raid shelter, and those who lived in Nevel Hall had to run to and fro when the Jem-crow sounded the alarm. The paddocks should be used as a last refuge, among others, for those departments which are not required to remain in central London. 三‧幾乎所有的政府機關建築物和它們的地下隱蔽處不是極不安全，就是經不住一顆直接命中的炸彈。較老的建築，如財政部，正如我們所見到的，已經倒塌，它的地下隱蔽處不能提供任何可靠的安全保障。在查爾斯國王大街兩邊的外交部大樓和貿易部大樓都建造得非常堅固，它們的地下室相當安全。我已批准在作戰指揮室與中央作戰指揮室辦公室以及位於貿易部大樓的本土防衛部隊司令部上面準備一層相當堅固的屋頂防護設備。只要施工不間斷，在一個月或一個半月就可完成。我們必須督促這一工作。即使完成這種防護工程，也不見得完全保險。里奇蒙台的防護未盡妥善，那裡的主要工程受到了現有條件的影響。已要求貿易部遷往新址，當然，他們的大部分職員應在倫敦以外的地方尋找住處，然而，必須把貿易部的遷移作為總計劃的一部分。 四‧在倫敦有幾幢堅固的、現代化的鋼筋混凝土建築物，它們在建造時就考慮到了空襲的條件。應立即將這幾座建築物準備停當，以便容納戰時內閣和戰時內閣秘書處，並為主要的內閣大臣準備安全的住所。我們不必擔心這樣的住處過多，因為這類住處的需要量必然是愈來愈多的。最主要的是，必須使政府的中心工作在保證其效率的情況下繼續進行。 五‧我已要求為議會準備另外的會址。上下兩院在開會期間，危險是十分嚴重的，兩院的建築物與會議廳的被炸，只是時間早晚的問題。我們希望，當它被炸的時候，裡面沒有議員。在議會上下兩院地下室所準備的安全設施完全不能抵禦一顆直接命中的炸彈。威斯敏斯特宮【１】和白廳區是敵人轟炸的一個明顯的主要目標，我敢說，在其附近已經落下過了五十多顆重型炸彈。內閣已經同意讓兩院換一個地方開會，到別處去試試看。我建議，請議會自下星期四起休會兩星期，希望在這兩星期中，在倫敦對他們開會的問題作出某種計劃。 【１】即議會大廈，此地系古威斯敏斯特宮。translator 六‧我認為，應指定一位戰時內閣大臣與財政大臣保持密切的聯繫，對急需進行的重大的和範圍廣泛的工作統一指導和監督；李思勳爵和他所主管的部應在內閣的監督下為此目的而工作。如果我的同僚們同意的話，我將請比弗布魯克勳爵（他已在進行此事）負責主持。 於是便委派比弗布魯克勳爵負責建築足以容納許多國家機關全部重要人員的大批防禦炸彈的據點，其中有十幾個據點（有幾個還是用地道連接起來的）在倫敦一直保存到今天。 有些據點直到飛機轟炸已成過去的時候還沒有完工，而在一九四四和一九四五年敵人用無人駕駛的飛機和火箭襲擊的時候，也只利用了很少的幾處。雖然如此，儘管這些建築物從來沒有依照其原定的用途得到利用，可是總歸使我們有了安全感。 海軍部單獨對著近衛騎兵隊操場修建了一座巨大的建築，鋼筋混凝土的牆壁厚達二十呎，怎樣去拆除它們，這只有在世界比較安全的時候，由我們的子孫去解決。 將近十月中旬的時候，喬賽亞‧韋奇伍德因為我沒有防禦夜間空襲的絕對安全的防空設施，在議會中發動了一場吵鬧。他是我的一位老友，曾在達達尼爾海峽戰爭中受過重傷。 他一向是擁護單一稅制的。後來他對稅制的看法放寬了眼光，並且參加了工黨。他的兄弟是鐵路管理委員會的主席。他們在戰前就有遠見，在匹克迪裡大街建造了一個相當大的地下辦公室。它位於地下七十呎，上面有堅固、高大的建築物。雖然有一顆炸彈曾深入潮濕的底土八十呎，但是，毫無疑問，這個地下辦公室的深度再加上它地面上的建築物，是足夠保證其中任何人的安全的。各方面都開始慫恿我，利用這一隱蔽處睡覺。我終於答應了，從十月中一直到該年年底，只要轟炸一開始我就到那裡處理我晚間的工作，並且安穩地睡覺。當一個人比其他大多數人享有更大的安全時，便很自然地要受到良心的責備；但是，有這麼多人慫恿我，我就只好照他們的意見辦了。在鐵路防空室大約度過四十個夜晚後，新樓已經加固，於是我就搬回去了。我同我的夫人在那裡一直舒適地住到戰爭結束的時候。在這一座用石塊砌成的堅固的樓房中，我們覺得很放心，只有很少幾次才到下面的防空室去。 我的夫人還把我們僅有的幾張照片掛在起居室裡，而我認為最好是讓起居室的牆壁空著。最後還是照她的意見把照片掛上了，事實證明這樣做是對的。在晴朗的夜晚，從新樓圓頂附近的屋頂上可以看到倫敦美麗的景色。他們為我準備了一個帶有防禦彈片的頂柵的地方，可以在月光中散步並觀看轟炸時的火光。一九四一年，我時常在晚飯後領我的美國客人到那上面去。他們總是極感興趣的。 十一月三日晚，倫敦幾乎在兩個月內第一次沒有響警報。 許多人對這種平靜覺得奇怪。他們以為出了什麼事。次日晚，敵人的空襲遍及我們這個島的各個角落；這種空襲繼續了一個時期。德國又一次改變了它的空襲辦法。現在，雖然倫敦仍然是主要的目標，但他們卻把主力用於摧毀英國的工業中心。德國曾訓練了配備新式導航設備的特殊轟炸機中隊來襲擊指定的重要地點。舉例來說，他們訓練了一個編隊，專門用來摧毀格拉斯哥市希林頓地方的羅爾斯｜洛埃斯飛機發動機工廠。這純粹是一種一時之計，一種過渡的辦法。入侵不列顛的計劃暫時是放棄了，而對俄國的進攻則尚未開始，除希特勒的親信以外也沒有人這樣想，因此，殘冬季節對德國空軍來說是一個試驗時期，試驗夜間轟炸的技術裝置，試驗對英國海上貿易的襲擊，並企圖破壞我們的軍事生產和民用生產。如果他們每次只專心於一件事，並且幹到底，也許效果會好得多，但是，他們已經受到挫折。暫時他們自己也拿不定主意。 這些新的轟炸戰術是從十一月十四日夜以來對考文垂進行閃電轟炸開始的。倫敦這個目標似乎太大，漫無邊際，因此很難收到決定性的效果，於是戈林希望能有效地摧毀各地方城市或軍火生產中心。空襲是在十四日黃昏時分開始的，到天亮時，將近五百架德國飛機共投了六百噸烈性炸藥炸彈和好幾千顆燒夷彈。總的說來，這是我們遭到的破壞性最大的一次空襲。考文垂的中心區被炸得粉碎，在一個短時期內所有的一切活動完全停止。被炸死的有四百人，受重傷的人數更多。德國的廣播電台說，我們的其他城市也將同樣遭到考文垂那樣的轟炸。雖然如此，所有重要的飛機發動機工廠和工作母機工廠並未停頓；在此以前從未受過轟炸考驗的居民也未停止活動。緊急重建委員會在不到一個星期的時間裡，在恢復考文垂的日常生活上作出了出色的成績。 十一月十五日，敵人趁皓月當空，又回頭向倫敦進行了一次猛烈的空襲。損失很大，特別是教堂及其他名勝古蹟。下一個目標是伯明翰，由十一月十九日到二十二日接連三次空襲造成了很大的破壞和傷亡。將近八百人被炸死，兩千多人被炸傷；可是伯明翰的生活和精神經受住了這次考驗。一兩天後，當我到這個城市去視察工廠並親自看看轟炸的結果時，發生了一件很令我高興和感動的事情。那時正是在吃晚飯的時間，一位非常漂亮的少女向我坐的汽車跑來，把一盒雪茄煙扔進車裡。我馬上叫汽車停了下來，她說道：我這個星期因為生產成績最好，得到了獎金。我在一個鐘頭前才聽說您要來。這件禮物得花費她兩三個英鎊。我很高興地（以首相的身份）親吻了她。之後，我就去看那長長的集體墳墓，在那裡面剛剛埋葬了許許多多的市民和他們的兒女。伯明翰精神閃耀著燦爛的光輝，它那高度組織起來的、自覺的、明察事理的一百萬居民則絲毫未被他們遭受的肉體上的痛苦所嚇倒。 在十一月的最後一個星期和十二月初，空襲的重點轉移到各港口。布里斯托爾、索斯安普敦，尤其是利物浦，都受到了猛烈的轟炸。後來普利茅斯、謝菲爾德、曼徹斯特、利茲、格拉斯哥以及其他的軍火生產中心也都毫無畏懼地通過了炸彈的考驗。不論敵人襲擊什麼地方，我們國家都堅如磐石，硬似鋼鐵。 十二月二十九日，星期天，這幾個星期的空襲又再一次在倫敦達到了高潮。所有德國人苦心積累的經驗都在這次轟炸中用上了。這是一次典型的縱火行為。空襲的重點集中在倫敦中心金融商業區地帶。轟炸的時間正好是潮水最低的時刻。一開始就使用帶降落傘的重型烈性炸藥包破壞自來水的主要管道。我們要撲滅的大火差不多有一千五百處之多。火車站和碼頭遭到了嚴重的破壞。八座雷恩式教堂被炸毀或受到破壞。市政廳被毀於大火和炸彈，而聖保羅教堂全靠大家的英勇努力才得救了。直至今日，在大英帝國的最中心還有一片空曠的廢墟，但是，當英皇與王后來現場視察時，人們歡迎他們的熱情，遠遠超過了任何皇家的盛典。 在這個還有好幾個月才能結束的漫長的考驗裡，英皇經常是留在白金漢宮。雖然在白金漢宮的地下室裡正在修建適當的隱蔽處，但需要許多時間才能建成。而且，有好幾次英皇陛下由溫莎到倫敦時，正好遇到空襲。有一次他和王后差一點被炸。我得到英皇陛下的許可，在這裡用他自己的原話記錄這件事情的經過。 一九四○年九月十三日，星期五 我們（由溫莎）到倫敦，正遇上空襲。這一天天氣陰暗，下著大雨。王后和我到樓上可以眺望四方院落的小起居室（我無法使用我原來的起居室，因為在上次轟炸時炸壞了窗子）。突然，我們聽到了一架俯衝轟炸機的隆隆聲，聲音越來越大，接著就看見兩顆炸彈掠過白金漢宮的對面，落在四方院落中。當炸彈約在八十碼以外的地方爆炸時，我們看到了火光並聽到了爆炸聲。爆炸風衝進了對著我們的窗子，而在四方院落裡出現了兩個巨大的彈坑。水從一個彈坑中被炸壞的自來水管裡噴出來，通過炸壞的窗子流進過道。這一切都是在幾秒鐘之內發生的，我們很快地跑進過道。一共六顆炸彈：兩顆落在前院，兩顆落在四方院，一顆炸毀了教堂，一顆落在花園裡。 英皇過去曾以海軍中尉的身份參加過日德蘭戰役；他對這一切感到非常興奮，並以能在首都與他的臣民共患難而感到欣幸。我必須承認，在當時無論是我或是我的同僚都沒有發覺這件事件的危險性。要是窗子是關著而不是開著的話，所有的玻璃將被震碎，飛到英皇和王后的臉上，造成可怕的傷害，但是他們作出若無其事的樣子，甚至像我這樣經常見到他們和他們的侍從的人，也是在很久以後為了寫這本書而問及此事的，才了解到當時的具體情況。 在那些日子裡，我們嚴肅而鎮靜地想像著要在白廳的廢墟上戰鬥。英皇陛下在白金漢宮的花園裡設立了一個打靶場，他和王室的其他成員以及他的侍從武官們用手槍和衝鋒鎗刻苦地練習射擊。不久，我從別人送給我的幾支美國短卡賓槍中挑選一支送給英皇。那是一支非常好的槍。 大約在這時候，英皇改變了他接見我的方式，在我上任的最初兩個月裡，通常是每週正式接見我一次，時間是在下午五點左右。現在的安排是每逢星期二我和他共進午餐。這的確是一個共商國家大事的好辦法，有時候王后也在座。有好幾次，我們不得不端著我們的盤子和酒杯到尚未竣工的防空室中去吃完我們的午餐。這每週一次的午餐變成了一種經常的制度。過了最初幾個月以後，英皇陛下決定用餐的時候一個僕從也不要，由我們自己上菜，互相招待。這事一直繼續了四年半，在這中間我覺察到英皇非常專心地閱讀所有呈交給他的電報和公文。按英國的憲法制度，君王有權了解他的大臣們所負責的一切事務，並擁有向政府提出意見的無限權力。我特別注意，要使國王了解一切情況，而在我們每週的會見中，我常常看出他已徹底洞悉那些我還沒有批閱過的文件。在這些決定英國命運的年代裡，能有這樣好的國王和王后真是英國之福，而作為一個君主立憲制的堅決擁護者，我把我作為首相受到英皇這麼親切的接待，看作是無上的光榮，我認為這是安娜女王在位、馬爾巴羅【１】執政以後，就沒有看見過的親密關係。 【１】馬爾巴羅（一六五○｜一七二二年），為英國安娜女王在位時掌權的人物。translator 這樣我們就到了這一年的年末。為了照顧到情節的連貫，我已敘述到整個戰局的前面了。讀者將看到，所有這些霹靂和暴風雨反而愈加襯托出我們泰然處之的冷靜態度，我們的作戰活動就是靠這種冷靜態度來維持的，我們的政策和外交也是按這種冷靜態度進行的。真的，我必須寫明，在最高當局，這些傷害未能致人於死地，反之，它們倒起了積極的推動作用，使我們有明確的看法、忠實的友誼和明智的措施，然而，要是以為敵人的空襲比現在猛烈十倍或二十倍甚至只猛烈兩三倍也同樣會產生我在這兒描述的健康的反應的話，那也是不明智的。