Miscellaneous - This Day That Age

dated April 19, 1952: Conditions of Indians in Ceylon

Senator Peri Sundaram, President of the Ceylon Indian Congress, appealed to the Government of Ceylon to take immediate measures to restore to disenfranchised Indian residents in the island their legitimate rights before the elections due shortly were held. He was delivering the Presidential address to the 12th Annual session of the Congress. Referring to the unexpected death of Premier Don Stephen Senanayake, he pointed out that the early election had been brought about due to that sad demise. But, at that crucial time, one-tenth of the population of Ceylon found itself without the right to vote; this was an unusual emergency state which demanded extraordinary measures. Senator Sundaram concluded, "It is hoped that the Government will not fail to use their special powers in the interests of equity."

Mock Invasion of Britain

Early on the 17th of April, an imaginary enemy suddenly invaded East Britain. Thousands of troops brought into expectant stand-by by emergency signals issued on the night of the 16th, swung into action as alarm sirens wailed at 5-00 G.M.T. Troops were sent out to various positions in deployment to ward off parachute attacks from Washdown up to the south-east coast. London was also included in the list of areas to be defended.

The imaginary attack, and the steps taken to frustrate the invader, were code-named "Exercise Hedgehog" which was intended to test Prime Minister Churchill's plan to keep all regular military depots in a state of combat readiness. Soldiers who normally undertook administrative tasks also took part in the exercise. Mr. Winston Churchill had told the House of Commons, in December 1951, that he had ordered the numerous regular military Centres in Britain (containing nearly a quarter of a million men in training schools, depots and other units) to be placed on immediate combat footing. "Our country should suggest to the mind of a potential paratrooper-invader the back of a hedgehog rather than the paunch of a rabbit," he had observed then. That was how the exercise came to be named as Operation Hedgehog.

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