Threads Page #3

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up and down the country,

both for and against the government's

decision to reinforce Europe.

Although most of these passed off

without incident,

police made a number of arrests

for disorderly conduct

at rallies in the North and Midlands.

The government has taken control

of British Airways and the ferries.

They say it's a temporary step

to help move troops to Europe.

Thousands are stranded

at Heathrow and Gatwick.

And the Royal Navy is to guard

the North Sea oil rigs.

The MOD says

it's a prudent precautionary measure.

They are playing with, at best,

the destruction of life as we know it,

and at worst, total annihilation.

You cannot win a nuclear war.

Now, just suppose

the Russians win this war.

What exactly would they be winning?

What would they have conquered?

Well, I'll tell you.

All major centers of population

and industry will have been destroyed.

What industry?

We ain't got no industry in Sheffield.

Yes, and if the money hadn't...

If the money hadn't been spent on

nuclear weapons, you'd have industry.

Get back to bloody Russia!

Where's your red flag?

We'd have put money into welfare,

found alternative sources of energy.

Industry...

Industry will have been destroyed,

oil refineries will have been destroyed,

all our water will have been polluted,

the soil will have been irradiated,

farm stock will be dead,

diseased or dying.

The Russians would have conquered

a corpse of a country.

Let us pray.

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come...

Since the expiry of the US

ultimatum to the Soviet Union yesterday,

there have been intense efforts

to mediate between the two countries.

There is still no information

from Iran itself.

No news teams have been allowed in or

out since phone and telex links were cut.

This morning the Foreign Secretary said

he had no definite news to report

and that it would be unhelpful to

speculate without any hard information.

There's been a run on tinned food,

sugar and other storable items,

which is causing shortages

in some areas.

A spokesman for the main supermarket

chain said panic buying is unnecessary.

Fuel shortages are hindering resupply

in some areas,

but there is no shortage of stocks.

They urge the public to calm down...

They were only 26p last week.

Shop somewhere else

if you're not satisfied.

There's a national emergency

and you're lining your pockets.

Nobody's forcing you to buy 'em.

Put 'em back on t'shelves.

Yes, I will. I'd sooner starve first.

Excuse me, love.

- They've started fighting, Mum.

- Who has?

The Americans and the Russians.

It's just been on the news.

My dad says

you've got to come home now.

Hey, you haven't paid

for them things.

In response to today's news

of the outbreak of hostilities

between vessels

of the United States and Soviet navies,

a special session of Parliament

has passed an emergency powers act.

There will be a special announcement

at the end of this bulletin

and details will be given then

of how this affects you.

The Prime Minister is expected

to address the nation later this evening.

A statement issued earlier

from Downing Street

said the government is optimistic

that a peaceful settlement is at hand.

In the meantime the public is urged

to remain calm and continue normally.

All right?

- Are you all right, love?

- It's noisy.

It must be t'pubs turning out.

People think there is a lack

of information from the government.

The policy

of the government is clear.

We are urging people to keep calm.

Doing a moonlight flit, then?

No, we're going to our Jack's in

Lincolnshire while things get sorted out.

We should be safer over there.

Carol, stop messing about.

Come inside and do something to help.

We'll not be safe anywhere,

as far as I see.

I don't know. We've a better chance

of surviving in t'country, haven't we?

Where our Jack lives

there's only a row of houses and a pub.

I don't think they're gonna bomb that.

- I think that's about it, Ron.

- Mum!

- Carol!

- Have you turned that gas off?

We don't want

the whole street blowing up.

- Come on, Carol.

- Spot! I'm coming.

I can't find our Spot.

He was here a minute ago.

Have you looked inside?

I've looked upstairs,

along t'street, next door's garden.

It's ridiculous, all this. Spot?

- Spot?

- He was here a minute ago.

- Come on.

- He'll be here in a minute. I know he will.

- Spot! Come on!

- Come on, love.

- Spot!

- We're going without him.

- Oh, Mum, tell him. Mum!

- Honestly!

- Spot!

- You're being a right fool.

- Nothing'll happen.

- We're not standing about all day.

- Get in.

- Don't be so cruel. We can't leave him.

- Spot!

- Carol, get in.

- Get in!

- Spot! Spot! Come on, Spot!

The Russians have cut the road

links into and out of West Berlin.

- See you, then, Bill.

- Let's hope so.

It seems an American army convoy

bound for West Berlin

has been turned back at Helmstedt

on the East German border.

Reports say the Russians have offered

a safe passage out of the city

to the US, British and French garrisons.

It's not clear if this news is connected

with yesterday's riots there.

We'll bring you more details on the story

as soon as we have them.

Sutton here.

Yes, I understand.

Do I have to go right away?

No? When?

Yes, I see.

Local authorities have been given

power to suspend peacetime functions

and to requisition premises

and materials for civil defense.

A government spokesman said

this was a precautionary move only.

It was not a cause for alarm.

All right, love.

Take your time.

The AA and RAC

have reported heavy congestion

on roads up and down the country,

particularly those leading to Wales

and the West Country.

Police are urging motorists not to travel

unless absolutely necessary

and, if it is essential,

to use only minor roads

and leave motorways and intercity

trunk routes clear for official traffic.

A full list

of designated essential service routes

is posted outside

your local authority headquarters.

It includes the M1, M18, A63 and A629.

This is an essential service route.

This is an essential service route.

Unless you have official

or essential business...

- We're trying to get to Lincolnshire.

- Not this way.

Essential services only.

You'll have to find another route.

That's bloody ridiculous.

You can't stop people like that.

Excuse me. Where are you going?

Sorry, love, you can't...

- You can't stop...

- Tell you what.

Try Junction 35/36 of the M1.

They've opened up the hard shoulder.

It'll be chock-a-block.

If I were you I'd go home and sit tight.

That's what

they're advising people to do.

This route

is for essential traffic only.

There's growing evidence from scientists

and observers in many countries

that there have been two

nuclear explosions in the Middle East.

There's no official confirmation of what

has happened and the Foreign Office...

I've put half a dozen in.

I can fetch some more if you like.

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