FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW
 DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR

 REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
 COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC




 No. 31 19th February. 1940




 DENMARK: ALTMARK -
 AVERAGE DANE'S OPINION.




 "That’s a tremendous loss of prestige for the Germans"



 This comment on the Altmark incident was made by a Danish citizen

reading news flashes outside a
 newspaper office in Copenhagen yesterday and
his expression of opinion was generally representative of the view of the
Danish "man-in-the-street".


 The affair has almost completely monopolised the Danish Press and the
criticism of the British action was said to be stronger than the Danes would dare

use against Germany. The British argument was relegated to the inside

pages of the
 newspapers which all censured the British action.


 The strongest comment came from the KRISTELIGT DAGBLAD which stated:
"This affair is really reminiscent of the attack on Copenhagen in 1807.
Regardless of the protests of two Norwegian torpedo boat commanders, the

English forces
 fought a battle inside a N orwegian fjord and retired

triumphantly with their plunder."




 U.S.A. ALTMARK INCIDENT FEATURED.




 The view that the British action in boarding the Altmark was justified
in the circumstances, is
 generally taken in today’s New York Pres.

 The NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE writes: "There is undeniably a good deal
of grim humour in the wild cries of anger and pain and of outraged moral
virtue being sent up by Berlin, in connection with the Altmark case. The

nation whose governors made brute force their deity; which has torn up

one treaty obligation after another with no regard for the law of decency;
which butchered the Polish civil population without compassion; which

torpedoes crowded liners without warning; which has strewn murderous mines
in the world’s shipping lanes without thought of either the rights of

humanity or neutrality and which never admitted that any feeble ’plutodemo-
cratic’ considerations could stand in the way of its sacred amibitions, has
had the tables turned upon it in mild way.
 a relatively

 "It suddenly shrieks to the high heavens of this 'criminal’ inversion
of the natural order of things.


 "It would seem that the Norwegian authorities failed in their duty of
 of the
defending their neutrality when thay overlooked the
 presence
Altmark ’s prisoners. One really doubts that
 anyone outside Germany is going
to be profoundly shocked and that Norway is going to be forced into war as


a result.
19.2.40. 2




 "Many Americans,listening to the German outcries, and remembering
how little help that country has given to the reign of law, are hardly
able to repress a sardonic smile."


 The view of the NEW YORK TIMES is expressed in the words: "The failure

of the Bergen officials to discover, or even suspect the presence of more

than prisoners, who declared they howled and yelled and beat on the
hatch covers, seems incredible."


 In another section of this newspaper, the view is taken that Germany
is probably suffering more than Britain and France from the period of waiting
in the present war.



 "One wonders whether Germany does not suffer more in this latest

phase of the war of nerves than her foes." it is declared, "All standards

of living must fall, but
 her's, which is already low, falls most. All
trade is restricted, but her's is strangled. The
 period of unrestricted
G
 e
 rman success is ended. There is the possibility of German defeat to be
reckoned with. There must be those within Germany who see that every day
of this ghastly waiting is in itself a German defeat. German strength is at
its peak, but that of her enemies is still mounting."

 The New York Press yesterday stressed the Altmark incident as the biggest
story of the war so far. The NEW YORK TIMES and NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE
featured London dispatches on their front pages, as well as stories from

 Leith, Oslo and Berlin. The British Admiralty’s statement was carried
verbatim on the inside pages. Headlines used were "Reich Ablaze with Wrath"
and “Nazi Prison Ship Captives Saved".

 One correspondent described the Altmark as a "floating Concentration
Camp”, and an
 agency dispatch used the phrase "Conquering British
Destroyer Home To-night."




 SWEDEN: BRITAIN’S ALLEGED VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY.




 The Altmark affair has been given great prominence in the Swedish
Press and the SVENSKA DAGBLADET described the incident "A
 yesterday as

deliberate violation of Norway's neutrality."

 In a
 leader, this
 paper summarised the details of the action and
concluded: "It is a question of the Altmark being an auxiliary cruiser and the
propriety of the
 transport of prisoners through Norwegian waters. One

assertion faces the other. But even if the grounds for the English assertion
remain, the fact is that there has been a deliberate and grave violation of

neutrality."

 The DAGENS NYHETER wrote.: "The grave violation of Norway’s sea frontier

by British men of war, in connection with the attack
 Altmark, has on the

naturally resulted in immediate energetic Diplomatic activity. The

Norwegian protest to the British Minister was made as a matter of course."
19.2.40 3




 Referring to the Admiralty's order to the Cossack to enter Norwegian
waters, this paper stated: "This is what respect for the neutrals' rights
is worth when great powers
 ?
 interests are at stake. ....
 while crowds

cheer in Leith, and the latest heroes are being received, the Norwegian
Foreign Office is burning the midnight oil."


 Criticising M. Hansson's attitude to the Finnish war, the SVENSKA
DAGBLADET declared that M. Hansson had misjudged public sentiment and

concluded: "The Parliamentary champion of the Swedish home life is
unsuitable to be the helmsman of the ship of State in a raging storm."


 The DAGENS NYHETER considered it natural that Finland should turn
first to Sweden for help and asserted that help had already been provided,
greater than the public imagined. This paper, however, went on to stress

that the assistance for Finland was still insufficient and declared: "If
it is impossible to
 supply fighting men in addition to volunteers, the

people wish to know the reason why.


 "The ill matched Russo-German Pact also influences the situation, but
despite the delicate nature of these matters, they must be reported to the

public which must have a guarantee that all volunteer help possible,
without abandoning the principle of neutrality, will be given."




 BELGIUM: NEUTRALITY PROBLEM ALTMARK AFFAIR.




 Since the
 "The Norwegian attitude deserves no reproach from Germany.
German navy has frequently shown that it scarcely respects neutral property,
 have
the Reich is in no
 way entitled to pretend that Norwegian ships should
fought the British squadron”


 This comment on the Altmark affair was made in yesterday's XX me


SIECLE, the Catholic newspaper.


 Flemish Catholic journal wrote: "The British
 The STANDAARD, the

 the kernel of the problem", but added: "Whenever such a
 prisoners were

 the when
breach of neutrality occurrs, it must be condemned, all more an

 with
 act consistently
 against Norway that the did nor
allegation is made

neutrality."

 the
 Discussing against neutrals, the GAZETE VAN ANTWERPEN,
 the Nazi war
 have
Christian Democratic newspaper declared: "Many Greek and Portuguese ships
 that these nations not
 pretend
 are
joined British Convoys and no-one can

 best to the
neutral. It must be seriously considered whether the answer


Nazi actions is not to make use of Britain 's organised convoys."
 4




 19.2.40.



 HOLLAND: "CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF SENSELESS WANTONNESS".


 The Dutch Press has continued to comment strongly on the sinking of
 the
 Burgerdijk and the UTRECHTSCH DAGBLAD stated yesterday: "The Burgerkijk
 is likely to become a classic example of an absolutely unjustifiable and
 senseless wantonness."


 HET VOLK, the
 organ of the Social Democratic Labour Party, stated:

 "Germany expects us to take it with a good-natured smile but if
 you are too

 good you are apt to be made a fool of."


 The Catholic organ DE MAASBODE affirmed: "Goebbels has tried to stem the
tide of neutral indignation with a speech about neutral policy but without

success..... The German Press gives a completely false view of happenings and
 it is a sure sign of weakness if a Government has recourse to such pitiful
methods to
 justify this by responsible submarine commander.
 action Similar
 a

actions might create a situation having unpleasant results for Germany."


 The NIEUWE ROTTERDAMSCHE COURANT, the Liberal newspaper, admitting the

special responsibilities of
 neutrals, declared: "It would be un-neutral
to recognise the arbitrary thesis of one of the belligerents which is unfounded
in international law."




 FINLAND: GERMANY WORRIED.


 Germany is worried about the possibility of having to wage war on more than
one front, according to the Berlin correspondent of the HELSINGIN SANOMAT.


 "Germany now considers that each anti-Russian blow is also an anti-German
blow," added this correspondent. "This is increasingly evident since Germany
 well Russia felt
as as has the consequences of the Finnish war."


 UUSI SUOMI reported from Kaunas that German experts are to re-organise
Russian industry and help in the construction of new aircraft factories.




 TUNIS: RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAR.



 The blame for the Anglo-French-German war has been laid by a section of the
Tunis Press on Hitler and Stalin.


 The Arab newspaper EN-NAHDA accused the two dictators being responsible
 of

for the war because "they deprived the weak nations of liberty thus forcing the
democracies to take a defensive attitude.


 "A german offensive will be a bloody disaster. Therefore she will lose
when her raw materials are exhausted. Hence inany case the patience of the

democracies will have achieved its goal after which the world will enjoy a


quiet peaceful life."


 The editor of this paper approved the French repression of Communists.
 5




 19.2.40.



 SYRIA: WHY SYRIA SUPPORTS DEMOCRACIES.


 The AL ANNAHER
 Syrian newspaper has inaugurated a plebiscite on "Why
we support the Democracies" with the answer of Sheikh Bishara Khouri, the

leader of the Constitutionalist Party.

 The Sheikh declared: "I wish victory for the Allies because it is my
conviction that they fight for justice and the protection of liberties
necessary for world happiness.

 "On the German side we see nothing but the teachings of hatred, aggression,
broken promises and racial arrogance."



 EGYPT: LOYALTY TO BRITAIN.


 Egypt's loyalty to Britain demonstrated at Press
 was a representatives'
meeting with Mr, Eden when three well-known journalists voiced Egyptian sentiment
in support of the Allied cause.



 Mohamed Husein Heikal Pasha stated: "All Egypt is extremely anxious
 that Great Britain and her Allies should win the war,
 "




 Gabriel Takla Pasha stated; "It is the wish of
 everyone at this meeting
that our feeling be known towards England. "




 Paris Nimi Pasha declared that the Allies' cause was Egypt’s cause and that
this feeling was shared oil over the Arab world.




 ROUMANIA: ITALO-ROUMANIAN FRIENDSHIP


 The visit to Rome of M. Sidorovici, the leader of the Roumanian Youth
Movement is taken up by the Roumanian Press to stress Italo-Roumanian friendly
relations and their prospects for the future,


 "The political efforts of Italy from the beginning of the
 war, to create
and maintain in the Mediterranean and South-Eastern Europe, an atmosphere of

peace and confidence, had a fox-reaching effect on Roumania", writes UNIVERSUL

today, "The sentiments of the Roumanian Nation towards Italy have never been
slackened and the remembrance of the common sacrifices ensures mutual confid-

ence. Roumanian public opinion, sensitive to the Italian manifestation of

 greatly appreciates Italy’s, international political action.
friendship,

 "Roumania desires the Italo-Roumanian friendship to be as closely enduring
as possible.


 CURENTUL states; "Italo-Roumanian friendship has never been dimmed. The

Read to Rome, is the Road to Peace, Rome is today the guarantor of European
civilisation, Italy's policy is a non-belligerent one, not one of passivity.

 the Road to Peace, The Balkans
 "Roumania and Italy have met each other on


feel they have today a great partner."


 "Thanks to Mussolini’s political fore-sight Italy today is
 the guardian of
 and the Balkans,” declares ROMANIA, "Italy has
Peace in the Mediterranean

 contribution towards improvement in the collaboration of the
made a helpful
Balkan States,
 19.2.40. 6




 FRANCE: BRITISH ACTION ON ALTMARK APPROVED.


 Unanimous approval of the British action in the Altmark affair has been

expressed in the French Press, the French view being, as the PETIT JOURNAL

stated yesterday, identical with that of the Admiralty,

 Pertinax in the ORDRE thought the incident would probably make the

Scandinavian States attention to their obligations as neutrals.
 pay more


This Diplomatic correspondent wrote: "The status of a neutral carries with
it rights and complementary duties. These rights cannot be put forward
to one belligerent, except in so far as the other has respected them -




 If not neutral
either willingly or compulsion.
 under this were so the

would be likely to provide material help for the most brutal and the most

enterprising belligerent -
 the one most ready to
 ignore the obligations of
international law,"


 also strictured the repeated complaisance of
 Madame Tabouis in the OEUVRE
 towards the German Navy, and the FIGARO and other organs recalled three
Norway
 to the
German violations of Norwegian territorial waters as an answer

 incident the official German
tendentious account of the Altmark given by
News Agency.


 The EPOQUE was amazed that Germany, of all Powers, should have
 the.
 in the of international law, against action of the
cynicism to protest,
 an
 name


British Navy fully justified by the circumstances. This paper wrote:

 who the first to unloose the blind force of mines, who torpedoes
"Germany, was


 thought for and children; Germany who sinks
passanger ships without women
 attack peaceful
neutral ships without warning, who sends her squadrons to


fishing boats; Germany whose destructive madness has no respect for humanity
 high the
 guilty every day of "murder
 seas
 for who is on
or agreements,
 in the of international law
Germany has the effrontery to protest name
 the
against an act of the British fleet which was plainly justified by.
 in
circumstances. Our readers will judge for themselves which side is


the right.

 Reich is only law
 "But that for the there one
 we know already of course

-
 German law."


 the advanced positions on the Mannerheim
 The Russian encroachment on
 needs
 warnings that Finland
 men
Line caused the Press to accentuate its

 well as munitions. M.Blum in the POPULAIRE told the Scandinavian
as

countries that Finland is their advanced guard and that they are being
 and Hitler, and
drawn into the war, not by England and France, but by Stalin
 of the fate which Berlin and
the semi-Official EXCELSIOR warned them

 it "Pontius Pilate's gesture"
Moscow have in store for them they repeal

 the PETIT PARISIEN and
 Lord Chatfield's speech was well-reported,
 his phrase about England's having
other organs quoting in prominent headlines
had a narrow escape when she sought Russia's friendship.




 ITALY: ALTMARK INCIDENT DWARFS OTHER NEWS.

 entirely dwarfed in last night's press by
 All other front page news was

 from the Altmark.
the Cossack’s feat in rescuing British prisoners

 of
 graphic descriptions
 the
 from London gave
 Long dispatched
 Halifax's
 Lord
 statement.

 printed well as
 protests
 as
Norwegian and German were

 version of the incident stressing the alleged
A German message gave the German

British shooting of unarmed Germans.
 7




 19.2.40.


 HOLLAND: PANAMA CANAL ALLEGATION,


 HET VADERLAND, the Liberal newspaper, commenting on the Altmark incident
 wrote yesterday: "The British action in Norwegian waters shows that the

 wrong is not all on one side.” A Berlin dispatch to this paper stated that
 the Germans were stressing the fact that Britain had transported prisoners
 through the neutral Panama Canal,


 A London Message in this journal declared: ”It is true that the Norwegian
 authorities did not do their duty as neutrals and the British action can be

 explained by that.”


 Sweden’s decision regarding Finland has been noted by the Dutch Press

 but one
 paper said that”it must have been done with a bleeding heart.”

 DE TELEGRAAF yesterday printed a long letter from Professor Telders com-


 paring the Altmark and Venlo incidents, pointing out that the Altmark should
 have released her prisoners and should not, as an offensively armed merchant-

 man, have been in the territorial waters or ports at all under article three

 of theNorwegian neutrality laws. It was stated that article four permits
war-ships twenty-four hours in territorial waters so the British did not in

 that
 way violate neutrality. The Norwegians were also in error -
 they should
have refused the ship entry or taken the prisoners off, but doubtless

"they were fooled or were the victims of lies.”


 The letter concluded: "The Venlo me the worse incident as the Germans

killed a Dutchman but the British killed no Norwegians,"

 DENMARK: PRAISE FOR BRITISH NAVY.


 The Altmark incident still monopolises the Danish Press to the exclusion

 Norway is published
 to in
of other news, and the text of the British note

all papers.


 Praise for the British Navy is contained in a dispatch by the London

correspondent of the NATIONALTIDENDE to his
 paper. This correspondent writes

 today: "The drama of the British fleet’s liberation of the Altmark prison-
ers has made the blood of British seamen flow faster through their veins. The

 will in British Naval history side by side
boarding of the Altmark go down
with the Battle of the Plate.”




 SWITZERLAND: ”IS GERMANY THE ONE TO COMPLAIN?”


 in
 The Swiss Press to-day publishes long accounts of the British action

boarding the Altmark and the British statements are well displayed.


 The GAZETTE DE LAUSANNE writes: "Germany has violated international law

in many cases and has no respect for territorial waters. In these con-


ditions, the carefully elaborated principles of international law become

non-existent. It is not doubted that the British Admiralty, having given
 clearly violated maritime law, must ask ourselves
precise orders, but we


'Is Germany the one to complain so indignantly?'”
19.2.40. 8




 The JOURNAL DE GENEVE writes: "The Altmark, armed at the
outset of her cruise, was the auxiliary of the Graf Spee, and must be
considered a part of the German war fleet. Therefore, it has no right
to remain over 24 hours in neutral territorial waters."


 The Press continues to show resentment over the Federal prohibition
of Doctor Rauschning's book, resulting in a German demarche.


 The NATIONAL ZEITUNG writes: "By its decision, the Federal Council
acted contrary to the Swiss peopled deepest sentiments of freedom.
The capitulation before the arbitrary German interpretation of neutrality,
which is directed towards the subjugation of all foreign freedom of thought,
must result in destroying the independent development of Swiss public
opinion."
 19/2/40 -
 No.l.


Not to be quoted as an Air

 Ministry announcement.




 HOW THE ALTMARK WAS LOCATED.


 R.A.F. Pilots’ Stories.




 It is now possible to give a fuller account of the location
of the German Fleet Auxiliary Altmark by aircraft of the Royal
Air Force Coastal Command on Friday, February l6th.


 The leader of the formation of three aircraft which went to
find the Altmark said that he had been warned the
 on previous
night that he would be on morning long-range patrol across the
North Sea, but he had no idea then of the real nature of his
task.


 "I was roused at 6 a.m." he said, "earlier than had been
arranged, and in the station Operations Room was told that a very
special job was in hand.


 "When I heard the name, Altmark, I looked at Lloyd’s
Register of Shipping but found that the name was not there. I
was given a verbal picture of the ship. I was told that she
was a 20,000
 vessel of the ton
 tanker type, and that, when last

seen, she
 painted black with yellow or white upperworks.
 was

A distinguishing feature of the ship, I was told, was that her

large single funnel was aft.


 "We set off, first, for the opposite coast.


 "Visibility was not too good, but our crews have done
this journey a number of times since the war began and there was

never any likelihood of any of us wandering from our course, or

losing touch for long.

 "It later became a beautiful day, with gorgeous sunshine
and a Mediterranean sky. Visibility increased to more than

40 miles.


 "I said to myself that if ever I was to have any luck, I
should have it now. Near the coast we found the sea frozen

over. It looked like pack ice, with great tracks of clear water
through it where the ice had been broken up by currents or ships.

 "The coast of Norway, with its snow-covered mountains, was
visible more than 30 miles away.


 "We proceeded to comb most thoroughly an area from the
extreme south point of Norway northwards. Flying well outside
territorial waters, I examined every mile with binoculars. Then
15 miles ahead I saw a smudge of smoke and a minute later a ship
with a black hull and cream upperworks steaming directly towards
us. We swung out slightly to get a broad-side view of her.

My heart sank when I recognised from her lines that she could not
be our quarry.
 ”But fifteen seconds later I spotted something else
a grey ship, with funnel aft, the distinctive feature of the
Altmark. We flew up to her at 1,000 feet and inspected her
through glasses at mile Then turned
 a range. we in on top
of her for a close inspection.


 "Just as we had turned to dive low on the ship, I saw
another aircraft of our formation also sweep down. He was

going ’hell for leather and I thought for a moment he would
hit the sea. But he flattened out over the stern and I came

in on his tail two seconds afterwards. At the same moment
I noticed that the third aircraft was also diving.


 ”As we dived, my eyes were rivetted on the stern,
searching for a name. I saw letters about a foot high.
Because of the speed at which we were diving, the letters
seemed to dance in a jumble. I expected that when they could
be read they would spell a Norwegian name.




 ”I could not suppress a whoop of joy when I saw that

they read ’Altmark'. Of course, we know now that the German

had reverted to her own name earlier in the week.


 "The pilot of one of our aircraft told me afterwards
that he saw the Altmark’s name on the stern below what

appeared to be a Norwegian flag.

 All the members of my crew saw the word ’Altmark'.
I caught sight of my men out of the corner of my eye. They
were not holding one thumb up
 -
 the signal of success. Each

man had both thumbs up.


 "For a few moments they ’went wild’ as we swept across

the Altmark’s decks at funnel height. I could see only one

man on the deck. He was hanging over a rail as if seasick

or looking for mines. There was no other sign of life aboard
and not the slightest evidence of any alarm. Not a shot

was fired from the Altmark’s hidden guns.


 "But we could guess that after our three aircraft had

flashed over the ship, the German crew must have been feeling
a bit uneasy. We took note of the Altmark’s position, and

having accomplished the task of finding her we headed for

home.


 "How thrilled we were when we heard of the Royal
Navy’s magnificent operation.”

 The three British aircraft returned safely after an

8-hours flight across the North Sea and hack, during which no

enemy aircraft was seen.




Air Ministry,
 Whitehall, S.W.1.
 19/2/40. - No.2.




 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE
 MORNING




Paris, Monday, February 19, 1940.




 The following official communique was




 issued this morning from French G.H.Q.


 During the night, to the East of the


 of detachments suffered
 Nied, one our




 some losses when stumbling into an



 ambush.


 On the Rhine firing from the



 casemates on either side.
 19/2/40. -

 No. 3.




 PRESS NOTICE.




 The following telegram has been received


by the First Lord from General Manager, Officers' Merchant


Navy Federation:


 "Please convey to officers and all concerned



 the thanks and admiration of 18,000 navigating

 and engineer officers of the British Merchant


 Navy for their brilliant success in


 rescue of Merchant officers and seamen from


 'Altmark'. This daring exploit will create


 yet another bond of enduring comradeship between

 the Royal and Merchant Navies".


The following reply has been sent:


 "Your tribute to the officers and men who


 rescued the ’Altmark' prisoners will


 strengthen the ties between the Royal Navy

 and their comrades of the Merchant Navy.



 Winston Churchill.




ADMIRALTY,
 Whitehall,
 S.W.
 19/2/40 -
 No 4.



 OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE




 The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce




that H.M., destroyer DARING, Commander S.A.Cooper, has been



torpedoed and sunk. One officer and 4 ratings have been picked


up.


 Nine officers and 148 ratings are missing and it is


feared have been lost.


 The next of kin have keen informed.




ADMIRALTY, S.W.l.
 19th February, 1940 No. 5.

 M.A.F. 154


 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT.




 POSTPONEMENT OF CALLING UP FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.




 Farmers are reminded that if they wish to apply
for postponement of the calling up of any of their workers
who registered on 17th February and are not covered by the

Schedule of Reserved Occupations, applications must be sent
to their County War Agricultural Executive Committee on

Form N.S. 100A to reach that Committee not later than

Saturday, 24th February. It is of great importance that

the registration number and the name of the Employment
Exchange at which the worker registered should be quoted
correctly on the form, otherwise it may not be possible to
trace the worker in time to withhold his calling up notice.
 19th February, 1940. No.6.




 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE.


 NEWS SERVICE FOR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS No. 14.


 PEAS AND BEANS.



 Fair Crops From Most Deeply Cultivated Soils.



 Peas and beans occupy a leading place among the valuable


food which be successfully grown in gardens and allot-
 crops can




ments and should be a prominent feature of war-time cropping.


Although these crops succeed best in well manured soil, fair crops


can usually be grown on soils which are deeply cultivated, moderately


fertile and not short of lime. Peas do quite well on freshly


broken 'land provided it is well consolidated and in a tilthy


condition at sowing time.


 Superphosphate is a valuable fertiliser for both peas and



beans and should be applied and well worked into the soil before



sowing, at the rate of 2 oz: per square yard.


 There are many varieties of peas of different habit of



growth, dwarf, medium and tall, ranging from 1 1/2 ft. to 5 ft. Some


succeed best in some districts and some in others and it is



advisable to be guided by local experience when selecting varieties.

Peas require support, and where sticks are scarce or expensive dwarf

and medium varieties will be found quite satisfactory as they can be


supported at less cost.



 Peas can be sown in warmer districts during the latter


part of February but generally speaking March is early to
 enough

make the first sowing, beginning with the round-seeded varieties.


Sowing be continued at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks until
 can
 July.

Broad drills from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 in. deep should be drawn and the seed

scattered thinly and evenly. To protect against shake the
 mice,

seed in
 a tin with a little red-lead or paraffin before sowing; a



few strands of black cotton stretched over the rows about 6 in. from


the ground will protect the germinating seeds from birds.




 1
 peas should never be watered in dry weather but


 overhead syringing in the evening will help the plants to



withstand drought. If mildew attacks the later-sown crops,


dust the plants with a little green sulphur.

 Broad Beans, either the Windsor or Longpod types,


can be sown in late February and early March. The seed should


be in 3 and 9 and in double
 sown drills, in. deep in. apart rows.



Pinch out the tops of the plants when the first flowers are




opening.


 Dwarf or French beans are tender plants and should not


be sown until late April or early May according to the district.


If weather conditions are warm and showery, the plants will


produce a
 crop in about eight weeks. To provide a succession


of crops, sowings should be made at intervals of 2 or 3 weeks


until August. A good rule with both peas and French beans is


to sow again when the previously is well above the
 sown crop


ground. French beans should be sown in single rows, in drills


3 inches deep, spacing the seeds 12 in. apart. Unless the crop

is being grown for dried haricots, the beans should be picked

frequently, at least twice weekly, in order to prolong the



plants' bearing period.

 Runner beans are also tender and should not be sown



until May. They delight in well manured soil and succeed best


when a trench is taken out and the lower spit of soil


incorporated with well rotted manure. A little bone meal or



superphosphate should be added to the top soil. Sow the seeds


in double rows, in drills 3 in. deep, and the at
 space plants

least 1 foot apart. The beans crop best if staked, but fair



crops can also be secured by pinching out the growing shoots

to produce dwarf, bushy plants.


 Slugs are very partial to the young plants of peas and


beans, especially French beans, and a watch should be maintained

for signs of damage.



 2
 BOY SCOUTS DO THEIR GOOD DEED.



 The Horticulture Committee for the town of Leamington Spa


have enlisted the help of Boy Scouts for the distribution of



propaganda leaflets, and they have dealt with 10,000 leaflets to date.




 SPEEDING THE SPADE.


 The Sunderland Horticulture Committee has secured the



co-operation of the local Technical College in the testing of soil



samples. All the allotment soils have been tested for their lime



requirement and the results have been published in the local press.


 The Public Museum at Sunderland has also proved useful


for the exhibition of specimens of insect pests and fungus diseases


of plants. Horticultural lectures are to be given every Thursday.


 In Public Libraries, displays of books on gardening,


propaganda posters and literature are being arranged. Printed


lists of the works are often available for further distribution.




 PROGRESS AT BRADFORD.


 Bradford reports a net gain so far of 172 tenanted



plots and 138 new allotments. The Corporation Parks Committee


report that 30,000 cabbage seedlings have been supplied to a large

number of growers at practically cost price. Plans have also been


made for providing seed potatoes in several varieties at reduced


prices at the Committee’s office.




 LEICESTER ASKS FOR MORE.


 Enough Corporation Land Available For 4,000 New Allotments.


 Over 1,000 applications for allotments have been


received by Leicester Corporation since the war began. The


Corporation have accepted them and are asking for more. In fact


Mr. Harold Ledger, the estate manager, states that there is



sufficient Corporation-owned land for 4,000 new allotments. There


are 300 acres that can be made immediately available for this



purpose.




 3
 The numbers of new applicants do not compare with


 those of the last war. But this is because the last war made


 Leicester allotment-minded and the movement has thrived ever




 since. Also there are many gardens attached to the houses on




 the new housing estates.


 Instruction in the arts of allotment management Is



 being arranged through the various societies in the city and


 here, as in other centres, the Society of Friends are doing

 valuable work through their scheme for supplying seeds and



 implements to the unemployed at low charges and easy payments.




MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES,

 10 Whitehall Place,


 London, S.W.1.


 4.
 19/2/40 -
 No. 7.




 THE ALTMARK INCIDENT.




 The following is issued to the Press by Naval Affairs
 for such use as they may wish to make of it.




 The German Captain of the ALTMARK, which was an auxiliary


vessel of the German Navy and does not therefore appear in the



register of the world’s merchant shipping, has invented a pretty


story of the incident. Unfortunately for him, however, he has


contradicted himself more than once. He said that the ALTMARK


had entered a small fiord and was lying there with the entrance



guarded by Norwegian gunboats. Quite untrue, but he goes on to



say that the British destroyers signalled "If you don’t heave to,

we fire!" This is contradicted since the ALTMARK was not on




passage but lying in a fiord with very little sea room for so



large a ship. What the Captain of the ALTMARK conveniently


forgot to mention was that the signal received from the British


destroyer was an order to stop engines since he was manoeuvring


these in an attempt to ram the British destroyer. This, the


first hostile action, was on the part of the Germans.


 The German Official Trans-Ocean Wireless states that the



Captain of the ALTMARK declared that there were only 133 British


prisoners on board. Strange since more than double that number


were rescued by H.M.S. COSSACK and brought back to England.


 The Captain of the ALTMARK says that the British sailors


boarded the ALTMARK and opened fire on the unarmed defenceless


German crew. This is slander of which disciple of
 a only a




Nazism could be capable. The true facts of the case are as



follows



 The British destroyer evaded the ALTMARK 'S attempts to ram



her and drive her on to the rocks -
 the initial hostile action


on the part of the Germans -
 and went alongside the German Naval


auxiliary. Boarding parties went on hoard the ALTMARK in order to


find and release the British prisoners which the German Naval


auxiliary was illegally trying to take.............


 to/
 2




to Germany through Norwegian territorial waters. The only

violence shown by the British at this stage was when the Captain


of the ALTMARK had to be removed from the Engine Room Telegraphs

in order to prevent him from continuing to manoeuvre in his



attempt to drive the destroyer on to the rocks. Later when the



boarding party was searching the ship for the prisoners, a




British Officer - Mr. Smith, Gunner-in-Charge of the after



boarding party -
 was shot and wounded. This was the second


hostile action of the Germans, and no shooting took place until


Mr. Smith was wounded.


 Meanwhile some of the armed guard which had been placed

on board the ALTMARK by the scuttled German raider ADMIRAL GRAF


SPEE had clambered over the stern of the ship and made their way


across the ice to the shore. These men were not civilians, but



active service personnel of the German Navy -

 a fact which is


proved since one of the British sailors came back from the


incident with a German naval rating can as a souvenir. Nor were



these men unarmed. For when they reached shore they opened fire


on the British boarding party which was then on the after deck of


the ALTMARK. Thus once more the Germans started the shooting.

If the British sailors fired back it was in self defence. It



was during this firing that two Germans were hit as they were on



their way across the ice to join in the shooting.

 These are the facts and they show conclusively that

the Germans began hostilities on three separate occasions and


that the British sailors never opened fire first or fired upon




unarmed merchant seamen. Further two British naval officers



jumped overboard in an attempt to save a German life.


 This British conduct is in strong contrast to the


behaviour of the German airmen who recently bombed and sank the


defenceless Norwegian steamer TEMPO and afterwards machine-



gunned the defenceless men in the lifeboats.
 £89.000 HOSPITAL FOR JAMAICA 19/2/40 - No 8


 CO-OPERATION WITH ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION.




 At Liguanea, not far from Kingston, the capital of Jamaica,

the magnificent Jubilee Memorial Tubercular Hospital, costing


£89,000, was recently opened. The money was provided jointly


by the Home the Government of and
 Government, Jamaica, public


subscription.


 The hospital, which is situated in beautiful surroundings,

and stands in grounds 45 acres in extent, has 200 free patients

and 22 paying patients.

 Its construction has been planned on the most modern lines,

with reinforced steel
 concrete, tiled floors, windows, and large,

airy wards with deep verandams on all sides. There are a kitchen


steam cooking range and a large storage refrigerator.

 Facilities exist for the most modern therapeutic practice,

and there fine operating suite, department and
 are a an X-ray

laboratory, all equipped on the most up-to-date lines.


 The specialist in charge is a doctor with wide experience,

including one
 year as a Travelling Fellow under the Rockefeller

Foundation in the chief centres of the United States.


 Extensive schemes are under way for combating tuberculosis


in Jamaica. Apart from this hospital, there are to be special


tubercular wards and a tubercular clinic in each parish. Facilities


will be carried to the remotest districts by mobile X-ray units in


motor vans.


 The Government of Jamaica are also co-operating with the


Rockefeller Foundation in the large scale provision of vaccine.


This work is an entirely new step in public health administration.




EMPIRE AFFAIRS.
 19/2/40. - No. 9.


BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT.


 The use of household shelters for children

 attending school.



 In a Memorandum issued today by the Board of Education,
Local Education Authorities are advised of the principles to be

observed in making arrangements for the dispersal to shelter of

those school children for whom shelter cannot be provided on the

school premises


 (l) Householders within five minutes of the
 school who are known, from information which
 can be derived from the Air Raid Precautions
 Committee, to have shelter or protected
 accommodation should be invited to agree to

 accept an appropriate number of children for
 shelter if a public air raid warning has been
 given. In a large number of cases it will
 be found that the members of the household
 likely to be at home during the hours of

 school attendance are less than those for whom
 the shelter was provided, and there will
 accordingly during those hours be some spare
 accommodation available.
 The arrangements must provide for
 named children to go to specified households.


 (2) Practice in dispersal must be undertaken and
 the children must know the address of the

 household to which they are going and must have

 periodical test exercises in going direct to
 such households.
 In many areas it will be possible to
 obtain the co-operation of Air Raid Wardens
 in the vicinity of the school to supervise
 these test exercises and to undertake similar
 supervision when air raid warnings are actually
 sounded.



 (3) Children attending school whose homes are

 within five minutes of the school and have
 in them either an Anderson Shelter or some

 other form of properly protected accommodation,
 should go home.




 Similar arrangements may be adopted in neutral
areas in consultation with the Regional Commissioner in the case
of schools at which, owing to their restricted sites or similar
reasons, it is not possible to provide protection in or near
the school premises for all the children for whom school
accommodation is required.
 19/2/40 -
 No.10.




 BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT.


 EXEMPTION FROM KEY INDUSTRY DUTY.




 The Treasury have made an Order under Section 10(5)
of the Finance Act, 1926, as amended by Section 2(l) of
the Import Duties (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939,
exempting dodecyl alcohol from Key Industry duty from
the 21st February, 1940, until the 30th June, 1940.


 Copies of the Treasury Order, which is entitled
"The Safeguarding of Industries (Exemption) No.4 Order,
1940”, may be obtained from H.M.Stationery Office.




Board of Trade.
 19th February, 1940.
 19/2/40 -
 No. 11.



 THE ALTMARK INCIDENT.


 Naval Affairs request the following correction in the


bulletin (not to be quoted as an Admiralty communique) which


was issued at 12.6 p.m. today (No. 7):-

 In line 7, the words ”quite untrue" should read.,


"quite true ".
 19/2/40 -
 No. 12.


 PRESS NOTICE



 The Secretary of the Admiralty announces the following

results of the Final Examination held on completion of the


Acting Sub-Lieutenants (Non Cadets Entry) Course at the Royal


Naval College, Greenwich, Christmas, 1939.



Name Part I (Science) Part II (Science) Total


J.T.R Rushforth 320 215 535


L.J. Evans 269 164 433

W.L. Irving 245 181 426

R.L. Hogarth 278 144 422


A.H. Clegg 238 183 421


C .H. Jeffery 243 175 418


W.L. Cranefield 234 177 411

H.Q. Rose 213 197 410

D.C. Wood 229 177 406

E.J. D.Huke 204 201 405


P.C. Carpenter 205 197 402

W.Duckett 217 176 393

J.W .S. Culham 226 140 366

J.R. Jamieson 221 142 363

J.C. Baldwin 188 173 361

D.L. Satterford 193 165 358


P.A. Hill 182 175 357


J. E. Douglas 222 135 357


W.B.N. Wilson 148 205 353


S.W.A. Thrippleton 160 186 346

D.L. Binnington 145 188 333

P.W. Reid 140 186 326

R.D.C. G. Simmons 147 157 304




ADMIRALTY, S.W.l.
19th February, 1940.
 19/2/40 - No.13.




 SEVEN THOUSAND MILES BY AIR -
 CAPTAIN BALFOUR'S TOUR.




 Captain Harold Balfour, N.P. under Secretary of

State for air, landed in En gland today on return from a




ten-day tour by air to R.A.F. units in the Near and Middle


East. During his tour he flew a distance of approximately

seven thousand miles. The flight to and from Cairo, via


Malta, was made in an Imperial airways aircraft with Mr.Eden.


 The tour, which began on February 9th, was continued


from Cairo in R.A.F. aircraft. Visits were made to R.A.F.

units stationed in Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq, and Egypt.

 The Egyptian section included a tour of squadrons at


the desert stations.




AIR AFFAIRS.
Not to be quoted as a Foreign 19/2/40 - No. 14.
Office statement.




 NORWEGIAN SEAMEN PROTEST AGAINST NAZI


 SEA WARFARE.




 It is pointed out in official circles that on

February 16th, the
 Norwegian Union, Norwegian Seamen’s the

Engineers’ Union, the Norwegian Merchant Officers’ Association
and the Norwegian Masters’ Union presented a resolution to the
Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs the text of which reads

as follows: -




 “The Norwegian seamen’s organisation have today at a

joint meeting discussed the present position of neutral

shipping and the treatment which is being meted out to
defenceless neutral seamen.




 "Acting on information in our possession we are

resolved to protest with the greatest indignation against
the form of sea warfare which is now being waged and which
seems to have as its prime object the terrorisation of neutral

ships.


 ”We are also to express our disappointment at the pre-
vailing. powerlessness in the face of demands that international law
should be respected,

 "Neutral shipping nations seems to know of no means of

demanding the cessation of massacre of shipping.

 ”A number of sinkings which have recently taken place
must be condemned as demonstrably conflicting with international
law and human feeling, In this connexion we will mention the
SONGA proceeding from America to a neutral port in Europe which

was sunk far out in the Atlantic and the crew driven out into

open boats in mid-winter. We will also mention the sinking of
the TEMPO as the most monstrous thing that can be imagined.
This ship was proceeding on a neutral voyage when it was attacked

by German aeroplanes which, not content with sinking the ship,
went so far as to shoot at the crew when they had got into the

boats. So much has been proved by official enquiry. From

official enquiries into the sinking of the ENID it is also

apparent that the crew were exposed to gunfire after they had

got into their boats.


 ”It may perhaps be possible to destroy the Norwegians’
shipping but it is impossible to frighten them into staying on

land. In the meantime we shall do what is in our
 power to do.
We can urge upon our members not to go in ships which carry
cargo to a belligerent power which has declared itself proud
of war and aimlessly murdering
 of defenceless seamen, The
seamen’s organisations are resolved further to demand that the
authorities give due attention to the war on our merchant ships
when trade agreements are concluded, and ensure that in future

seamen shall not be exposed to the illegal warfare which is now

in progress,”



FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DEPT.
Ministry of Food Announcement. 19/2/40 -
 No. 16.




 RETURN OF FLOUR BAGS.




 Bakers, grocers and other commercial users of flour


are urgently reminded by the Ministry of Food of the importance

of promptly returning to their owners charged flour bags as



soon as they are empty.

 The heavy demands of the fighting and civil defence



services for jute and hessian bags have caused delay in the


deliveries of new supplies for industrial use. As a result,


the production of flour at several mills is being hampered by

a shortage of bags in which to pack it. If the large supplies

of returnable bags known to be in the hands of bakers and others


are not speedily released, it may become necessary to deliver


flour generally in non-returnable bags, at additional cost to


the purchaser.
 19/2/40 -
 No. 17




 PRIVATE SECRETARY TO DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE




 The Duke of Devonshire, Parliamentary


Under-Secretary for Dominion Affairs, has appointed

Mr.H. V.L.Swanzy to be his Private Secretary.




EMPIRE AFFAIRS
 19/2/40 -
 No.l9.
MEM. TO SUB-EDITORS:

RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION AFTER
9.30 P.M. THIS (MONDAY) EVENING.
 As this script is issued in advance
it is necessary to check it against the
broadcast at 9.15 p.m. this evening on

391 or 449 metres. (this amended script
substitutes that issued on Sunday, Feb,l8 (NO.4.)


 B.B.C. TO GIVE THE FORCES THE PROGRAMMES THEY WANT.


 NOT WHAT OTHERS FANCY MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THEM.




 The B.B.C. announces that Sir Allan Powell, Chairman
of the B.B.C., broadcast in the Home Service programme this
(Monday) evening at 9.15 a talk entitled "The B.B.C. programme
for the Forces". He said:-



 "Yesterday the B.B.C. broadcast its first all-day
programme to the Forces. At this moment I can be heard by
home listeners as well, and I am sure they will forgive me if
for a few minutes I speak not so much to them as to members of
the Navy, Army and Air Forces on active service wherever they
may be.


 "When war broke out last September the B.B.C. had to
come down abruptly to single home All listeners
 a
 programme.
understand the reason for that - the fact that a broadcast
programme can in certain conditions give guidance to enemy
aircraft.



 "We at the B.B.C. regretted the change as much as

listeners did. But I am sure there is not a listener in the

country who would have wished a single life to be risked in
order that he or she might get a choice of programme.

 "We made up our minds then that if our engineers could
devise some way of putting a second programme in English on the
air? it should be a
 programme for the Forces. Only those behind
the scenes of wartime broadcasting can fully realise the great
difficulties which had to be overcome, but by their ingenuity
and hard work the engineers have won through? though as you may
have gathered last night there are occasional factors which are

beyond ordinary control? and I would like to pay the highest
tribute to the engineers and to all those whose united efforts
have made these programmes possible.


 "Fortunately there are no set frontiers in "broadcasting.
Many of us at home will be able to hear pretty well the programmes
which are meant for you? and many of you, the men and the women

who are on active service? will now be able to tune in also to
the home programme. We believe that listeners in the field
and their families and friends at home will like to feel that
they can share some of their listening together.



 /But the
 2




 But the two programmes will be different from each

other, and this programme for the Forces will in some ways
be unlike any other programme which the B.B.C. has yet
put upon the air. The reason for this is not that people
change their tastes when they put on uniform.


 We know very well that they don’t. But the careful
inquiries which have been made about the needs of this
entirely new service, including the visit which Mr. Ogilvie,
our Director-General, recently paid to France, of which he
told you last week, have taught us something more; that is
that listening conditions on active service are quite different
from listening conditions at home.


 It is the difference between listening in groups,
if not in crowds, and listening alone or with your family
at your own fireside. The B.B.C. is out to give the Forces
what they want, and not what anyone else fancies might be

good for them. That means, we believe, light entertainment
and light music -
 and the news. There will be other items
now and then -
 an outstanding talk, for example -
 a short play -




pictures of what the different Forces are doing.


 But let me say, at the beginning of this new service,
that we want to make it your service, and we need you as

partners in building up the sort of programmes that you can

really enjoy. Many of us at Broadcasting House have sons or

brothers serving with the Forces and no doubt we shall get
some home truths from them, but for the most part we rely on
you.


 So listen to this new service and write freely to us -




the 8.8.C. London - the simplest address in the world. Tell
us what you have liked and what you have disliked, and suggest
items which you think would he enjoyable.


 Unlike what happens elsewhere, you are all radio-free -




free to turn on to any station in the world that your sets can

pick up. Our aim at the B.B.C. is to make these programmes
so attractive to you that they will constantly tempt you to

turn your sets on to catch them.


 And to all sailors, soldiers and airmen the B.B.C.
send their cordial greetings and good wishes and the hope that
in these programmes will find many hours of relaxation
and enjoyment.
 19/2/40 - No. 19.




 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE -

 EVENING.




Paris. Monday. February 19th. 1940.



 The following official communique was




issued this evening from French G.H.Q.:


 TO THE WEST OF THE SAAR A GERMAN DETACHMENT
 TRIED TO APPROACH ONE OF OUR POSTS AND WAS

 DRIVEN BACK WITH LOSSES.


 RESUMED FIRING FROM THE CASEMATES ON THE BANKS

 OF THE RHINE.
AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN 19/2/40 No. 20


 (NOT to be quoted as an Air Ministry announcement)


 CAPTAIN BALFOUR’S TOUR.
 7,000 MILES AIR TOUR TO MIDDLE EAST.




 Captain Harold Balfour, M.P., Under Secretary of State for Air,
landed in England yesterday at the conclusion of a ten-day tour of

R.A.F. units in the Near East and Middle East. This involved flying
a total distance of approximately seven thousand miles. The
 pre-
arranged time-table and programme was fulfilled without trouble of any

sort and to exact time.


 Leaving England on Friday, February 9th, Captain Balfour flew
in the same Imperial Airways aircraft as the Dominions Secretary, Mr. Eden.

 With a following wind a direct flight from Marseilles to Malta
was completed in four hours on Saturday, February 10th. Still helped
by favourable winds and in bright sunshine, flying at 9,000 feet,
Alexandria reached the following morning by lunch and
 was time, Cairo
in the afternoon.


 At dawn next
 day, Monday, February 12th, Captain Balfour
 the
took off in a fast bomber
 type Royal Air Force aircraft for Iraq. As
on the outward journey from England, the prevailing westerly wind
helped to such an extent that after a call at Amman Transjordania, the
chief Royal Air Force station in Iraq was reached by noon. For this
 the height
part of flight a of 8,000 feet was held with a ground speed
of more than 300 miles per hour. Navigation here is made easy today
as compared to the time when the Royal Air Force first opened. Up the
route, for there is always the Iraq oil Pipe-line from the Persian
Gulf to its Mediterranean port to check position and direction.


 Apart from inspection of the Service side of the Iraq chief
station, calls were made on the officers’ and mens’ Social Clubs, the

golf course, tennis courts, the popular Sailing Club and bathing beach
on the nearby Lake, the Cinema and the kennels of the Royal Air Force
pack of hounds. These, together with the usual football, cricket and

hockey grounds, form some of the main amenities which go to sweeten
life in this desert post some 60 miles from Baghdad which was visited
during the evening for official calls.

 On taking off at 10 a .m, Tuesday, February 13th, what had been
 ,

a helpful wind became a head wind, and four hours were needed to reach
Lydda, Palestine. During this flight, white cumulus clouds over the

mountains of Judea were encountered up to 10,000 feet. Directly the
aircraft entered them, in spite of blue sky and warm sun above, severe

and rapid icing conditions were met with, the crystals forming in-

stantly on windscreen and wings. However, after a few moments when
the aircraft passed out of the clouds into clear air the ice melted.


 From Lydda Captain Balfour motored to a Royal Air Force Station
at which is located one of the units which played a leading part in

air operations during the Palestine rebellion. Several members of
this squadron gained awards for gallantry. In the improved conditions
now obtaining in Palestine, travel is permitted almost without re-

striction where it was previously unsafe.



 /At this
 At this station golf is me of the most popular games. It

is played on a 9-hole course laid out by the personnel. Sets

of clubs have been provided out of sports funds and can be rented
for a nominal charge and so far the men have been able to beat
the officers, but the contest is not yet over. Small game
shooting during the season is also popular with all ranks as

an off-duty sport giving great exercise in walking up and down

the foothills.


 Tuesday night was spent in Jerusalem, and on Wednesday at
7.30 a.m. a two hours' flight to Cairo commenced, the Suez Canal

being crossed after an hour and a half in cloudless blue sky
with visibility up to 100 miles. The remainder of the day was
spent on official work at Royal Air Force Headquarters.


 At dawn on Wednesday, the 19th, accompanied by Air Chief
Marshall Sir William Mitchell, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief,
Middle East, the Under Secretary of State commenced an air visit

to R.A.F units in the western deserts of Egypt. It is at these

stations' that the high degree of ingenuity and adaptability
attained by the Royal Air Force can be seen to the full.


 portable generating plants bring electric light to tents,
messes and huts. Radio telephony and wireless communication
with civilization is maintained from mobile transport vehicles.
A new pattern issue of sand-proof, paraffin-fired, hot-water
tank is proving popular and is filling a previous need. At one

unit the cook-house is equipped with a large hot-plate system
for keeping food hot made from soldering together old petrol tins.


 Artistic talent has full opportunity at these stations and

the walls of both messes and canteens are usually found embellished
by the squadron artist with scenic effects, examples of the

modern school, or in some cases with paintings, of alluring ladies
in the "Kirchner" style.

 after for conversation
 Aircraft packing cases are eagerly sought
into extra huts, shelters or offices.


 At such stations full use is made of available space in large
and small aircraft flying out from and back to Headquarters with
mails and that married with their families at one
 supplies, so men

of the bases occasional visits "home" while doing their
 can
 pay
turn of duty in the desert.



 Health in the desert stations is surprisingly good, and
 at
many ranks express a preference for service one
 of these
localities where the small community is "on its own




 Followed some miles behind by severe sandstorms, reported
 radio to be at 40 miles hour and reducing visibility
by moving an

to 100 yards, Captain Balfour's return to Cairo was made before

dusk.


 On the morning of Friday, February 16th, the return


 journey/
 3.




journey by Imperial Airways land aircraft was begun, but

this time against the winds which were so welcome on the

outward journey. After 2 1/2 hours Solium was reached, where

two young Royal Air Force pilots from one of the stations
visited the previous day were found. They had landed
after inspecting landing grounds to see how much of their

identification was left after the recent severe dust storms.
One, a flying officer, came from Africa, the other, a
 South

young sergeant from Motherwell, Scotland, where his wife is
living, hastily wrote a letter to her on leaves of a

notebook while sitting in the cockpit and this letter will
be delivered just a week-end after it was penned in the desert.



 From Sollum a long flight of hours above cloud

brought the aircraft to Malta, which was under grey skies and

steady rain and where goodbye to sunshine was said.


 On Saturday, February 17th, just a week after Malta
had been reached on the outward trip, the flight to
Marseilles via Tunis was carried out in 6 1/2 hours, and England
was reached to-day shortly after noon.



 During the tour pilots and pupils under instruction
from Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Rhodesia,
as well as from home were met scattered throughout the

Commands. News of the progress of the war, the Royal Air
Force’s achievements and progress in development of new
 types
were subjects in which the greatest interest was shown. High
morale, good spirits, cheerfulness under all conditions and
keeness technical efficiency
 on were observed, without
exception at all the places visited.




AIR MINISTRY.
 19/2/40 -
 No.21.




 The Air Ministry requests that the following


important correction be made in the Weekly News Letter


(Evening press) No.5 -




 Please delete the word "first" in line 8 on



page 8 and there insert the word "second". The sentence


will then read "for this action he became the second air



V.C."




air ministry,
WHITEHALL, S.W.I.