MARPLES MUST GO TO MUNICH
IET us hope that Mr. Marples will take time I off this summer to hop on his bicycle and go to Munich to see how the police there are coping
with the 1,000,000 people expected to attend the International Eucharistic Congress, which starts July 31 and ends on August 7, when the biggest crowds are expected.
Last Friday the Munich police announced their plans, which include the use of three helicopters, an airship, and a captive balloon moored over the Theresienwiese, the large open place where the Congress ceremonies are taking place.
Around the Theresienwiese there will be a prohibited zone from which all traffic, except public transport, will be barred.
110 TRAINS
On the closing day about 110 special trains will be arriving in Munich, using two extra railway stations that are being built especially for the purpose. 'I he German Federal Railways expect to be able to take 200,000 people to Munich between three o'clock and nine o'clock in the morning, and three or four of the 16 streets leading to the Theresienwiese will be reserved especially for them.
The police expect about 35.000 private cars and 3,500 omnibuses to come into the city from outside, and so far they have organised parking places for 50,0(X) cars and omnibuses.
Approach-roads leading to the city will be marked with a colour the same as that of the parkingticket issued to motorists attend ing the Congress, and the colourmarking will lead the motorist through the city to his car-park. This way the police are confident that everyone will he able to park in comfort and without confusion.
The three helicopters will watch the approach roads, while the airship will he used to watch the traffic position in the centre of the city.
As a final point, the citizens of Munich have been asked to leave their cars at home on the closing day of the Congress.
The business of housing all the different visitors of many different nationalities is also being tackled with thoroughness.
The work of dealing with the applications for accommodation pouring in from all over the world is increasing day by day, and a report from Munich last week speaks of 18 shorthand-typists working 10 hours a day dealing with bookings.
Among the visitors to the Congress will be two three-year-old orphan girls from Bombay, India. They will be coming with Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay. who is leading a group of pilgrims to the Congress.
The two girls are being adopted by a Munich family who last year saw a TV programme about the Bombay orphanage where they arc
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