gLU40 FHBNCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE The following official communique was issued from French G.H.Q. this morning:­"A few patrols on both sides at various points of the front". 2/1/40__-NO. 2, PRESS NOTICE. Following on the withdrawal of five Gunboats of the Yangtse ·patrol in October• and. of a further three last month, His Ms jesty's Government have nO'\v decicled to lay lllP t,wo of the three Gunboats on the Upper Yangtse. ADMIRALTY, ~~ ) The Secret ary to the Ministry of Transport makes t he following announcement :­ 11he number of rn.ecl1anicall y-propelled road vehicles registered for tlle f i rst time in Great Britain during the month of November 1939 was 109 070 compared with 33 9 833 in November 193811 'rhe figures for the several classes were :­ ----------------------·---·---·-----·--+--------­ Miscellaneous 2 ··----·---------if---------­ Total 23,588 39549 ------------+---------· Cycles 19196 29560 -----13·~9------4-9-0___ Hackneys Tractors:.... Agricultural 24 10 Showmen 's Other 19 13 ·-----------+-------­ Total 43 23 ··-----------!--------­ Agricultural Engines 367 (5/-class ) +--------+--------·­ Exempt ~­Government owned 398 Other 166 Totnl 564 Goods~­ 4.7 68 Showmen ' s Spec ial Vehicles Agri cultural Vans and Lorries 1 Local Authorities 8 17 (1.!atering and Cleansing) Other Vehicles 3,279 49944 >------------------­ Total 39334 59030 Grand Total November 1939 Cars t axed on horse-power Exec Not exc. 29477 -10 10 15 890 15 20 91 20 25 33 25 30 33 30 -25 - November 19380 149560 69486 19357 593 452 138 Ministry of Transport 'etropole Buildings, Northumberland A.venue, London9 WoCo2o 2nd Januaru 1940, (240 ) 2/1/40 SILVER BULLETS. CANADIAN CITIZENS GIFTS TOWARDS THE WAR. The Canadian Minister of Finance9 ·the Hon. J. L. Ralston, expressed his certainty in a recent broadcast in Canada that "when the time comes, the money needed to wage war along the economic front will be forthcoming" and that those who remain at home would be as ready to help with cash as Canada's young men are ready to do their duty in the front line. The Minister's confidence has been justified by the volun_t13,ry contributions which have been reaching him. -These gifts, small though some of them are, well show the spirit which animates Canada. A retired judge is sendin~ to the Treasury a hundred dollars a month out of a relatively small superannuation income. A Japanese living ip British Columbia has sent a hundred dollars with the following message: "Being a resident of Canada for thirty-two years 9 I always have been bearing in my heart to express on behalf of my family and myself our sincere gratitude for the peace, freedom amd benefits of Canada which she has rendered me during all these years\;. A gentleman of moderate means has offered to lend the Goverrunent ~10,000 free of interest for the duration of the war. Several persons are giving to the national Treasury their coupons on Dominion of Canada bonds which they hold. A lady in New York has sent ,$2,000 "as a small effort in backing democracies against totalitarians". A wealthy non-resident with a substantial investment in Canada has voluntarily agreed to turn over to the Dominion Govern­ment all interest and dividends received by him from Canadian sources during the course of the war. A school teacher in a small tow11 in a neighbouring country has sent a hundred dollar bill with an earnest expression of her belief in the justice of the cause and her desire to help• .~~(fIRE f.bFP AIRS, 2nd JANUARY, 1940. No. 5 MINISTRY OF AGRICUI1TURE WEEKLY NEWS SERVICE, NOo 17 FARMERS AND 1940,. AN OLD STORY IS REPEATED We are now launched upon a new year and perhaps it will be the most vital in our history sin~e Philip of Spain and his Armada threatened the freedom of Britain in his lust for world conq~est. Then, as now, there was a plough-up campaign. Queen Elizabeth, seeing her country degenerating into a sheep walk, ordered the acres lost to the plough to be restored to it again, with a considerably grimmer form of encouragement to the baokward than a grant of £2 per acreo To-day the need to make Britain grow more food is even more urgent. We are faced by a resolute enemy no less bent upon our destruction, we have a vastly greatET population to feed and we are far more dependent than Elizabethan England upon supplies from overseas. Every extra ton of food we can produce at home not only adds lv our security, but releases an equivalent amount of. shipping space and exchange to import the munitions and equipment of war. Cash and Confidenceo In Queen Elizabeth's day the farmer had a reasonable assurance as to the price he would obtain for his produce. Before this war farmers would sometimes recall this with envy. To-day they need feel envious no longer~ Prices are guaranteed for wheat, oats and sugar beeto They are about to be guaranteed for livestock, potatoes and rye0 They are assure.d for milk until next March and on top of this the undertaking has been given that prices already r ixed will be reviewed and brought into line with any appreciable change in production costs. "It is the Governmentts job to see that conditions 1., ;roduc0rs to deliver the ccodc:• 11 said b ~w 1 t:ie I-.~0 1..:se of' Co:c..;.nons on l,~th December. "The Govern .ent recogni~e, t !10rGfore , th2.t if t~~o desired increase i n hone production is to be secured a hi~~or level of prices will be In the lic_;;.i.'1.t oC' thc::::.e facts and this assurance farn1.ers can f <:i ce the r.:.err year vri th bettor gro'J.nds .for confidsnce than for many I ',. lP .... . ,. & 1"'"ong u.a.y ana -c.'.10 rnore se_::.. -supper ..,ing in feacnng stuffs they :ns.ke tl10i:~ far1;1, the b0tter can their confidence be JUetif ied, Aj:JLI.ALS ~:I-L'-'11 NE!Q) NO R/..':PIO :-~ C/.R!J .. Of &11 our f <'...r1n. e:;.nim.::~1s t~l.o sheep alor1_e could face a long war without a r a tion card. In open field or on ilountain side she s2.tisfies pr clctically all her needs from the green earth and fortu1:-:: tely vre hove the densest sheep populs.t ion in the norld vri th t h e sinr; J_e excootion of New Zealand. ·-· .J,; But evon so we h~ve room for many ~ore. Wo have 23 million a. ci-"es in :::;rass and ..lbout 13 mill:Lon sheep, of ~·rhich 8~ ~illi~n are ewes . It is generally considered safe to keep 1 ewe to 2 acres on ;':lost ::inds o:f farP1s carrying cattle a;-ld sh eep. In anc.i. t:1at before Sir Gcorgo Stapleclon had shown us hov1 to clothe the Welsh hilltops with ~:;rass G.Ld i;.·Jprove so r,nJ.ch the carrying capacity of our pa sture .. T~-icre 0.1'e thous 8.:i.J.ds of cJ.cres nhere only cattle r;raze but sheen coal d t o o.dded v:ithout ~-r~v nGed to decrease ~ ~ ~ -the cattle. Sheep prefer the shorter grasses that the cattle ignore and the ca.ttlo keep the pasture healthier .for tho sheep. Im1J'."ovi~g__Eill Pasture . Jf1 as we so well r,ii13ht do , we increase our sheep, i t is important to visualise the problem as a whole. The mountain sheep breeds are essential for the maintenance of ·. lowland flocks, but they are also especially valuable because they utilise vast tracts of hill country that would otherwise play little or no part i~ .p~ovid~g us with food. Hill and valley are -comJ;>lementary in this respect. The lower ground gLves shelter and winter food, the high ground abundant summer grazing. . But the lan.d ori. both hill and valley has _ deteriorated for various reasons, so that-the herbage has lost muc~ of its t.eeding value. Pasture is ,almost the only requirement Of : hill sheep throughout the' year, ·but it rrn:tst be reasonably good pasture. · !t is essential, therefore, in any forward sheep policy, to 1mpr6ve these marginal grazing lands . -.. -. especially ·since hill sheep? :that already out-number all the other kinds put .together, ar,e b~c,oming more and more the . source from which most lowland flocks are recrui.ted each autumn. At Lambing .Time ) The ewes of these "flying f'locks11 , v.hose nursery is the hills, are wintered almost entirsly on grass that would otherwise be unstocked or at least carry a handful of store cattle. About one month before lambing it has been customary with flocks preeding in February to give a little concentrated food, e.g. i to 1 lb. pe~ head per day of some such mixtune as 2 parts oats, 2 parts bran and 1 part ·oil cak~o But many . I ,rlocks lamb down successfully even in February on good hay, rock salt and free range. In such circumstances some ar.t-if'.ic1al feeding is necessary after lambing,, _but the ration can be made up of home-grown or other products unwanted by man, such as oats, bran, linseed cake or linsee. x v :;.~T WEEK succ11;s.s ,,. . _..._ ,...,,..--~·""·.,;•,-.. •••rY• r, .. .._ .,,.,. .. ,, _ , ..., ' A MOn·rH f s WAR PROPOSEil...1.N....MA}:tQE. Although the reports received fl'om local authorities on National Rat Week are far from complete, this annual November event seems to have been carried through with special zeal on the last occasion. Certainly the Pres.s played. their part nobly in giving publicity to Rat Week, a nd one enthutJiasti c scribe even went' so far as to say, beneath a banner head.line, that the ratst Siegfried Line in his locality had been brOk~n aµd tbe last of the enem;Y ·dispatched, by the ai d. of 6. ferret; i l1. his d.ug-out • . The. .Ministry of Agriculture rs rc:i.t , 'liter'ature was .again in great request and .the demand for the Advisory Le? flet was in the nei ghb01;lrhobd Of• 361 000 C Opi es, toge-ther With abo:ut 121 000 I copies of' the -abridged ver:s:i_on of Bulletin No,. 30" Eleven. local authorities .borr~wed the rea.li~stic rat .film, "Your Enemy The Rat1', which -grimly illustrates the dangers of failure to destroy rats. Heports from -60 l-oce.1 authoritie.a show that 46 of ·them took ;special action du1,;ing .R·a.-c Week, v1hile 12 others did not do so for the very 'good reas_o.n ~tbat rats recei-Ve, their full attent~on through.out the ·year. One City Counei l and one Town council report no. actiun -Of any kind take.n. West Suffolk were so impressed by the success of, the campaign that they . have sugges~ed another mont1 1 's rat war· in March~ . * * * * ' 5HOOT 1 THE PIGEONS A.ND SAVE-THE CROPS --~ . .... ._..,,,,,.___,,,,.~---·-----­.ZERO HOUR ON TH:E .FEATHERED FRON!J.' The .next pest on which a n intensiVe-attack wil], be ' launched is th wood pigeon, who must not be .allowed to be one of the leading benefi.ciaries fro:n ·the inc::eased acreage we shall have under.the plough this··year, Vihen it is r·ealised tbai; one pigeon·' s crop hC}Er been foi.rncl t o contd.in no fewer th'e.n l, 296 corn seeds, .and anothef 1 71±35 sci.eds of buck _w~eat, the rieed to discourage these unw.elco,1:e ·.:;1:.est~... ':lspecia,J..ly. in war time, is only -too evidento, , Zero hour will be 12.45 ;p.m. on .Saturday, 6th January 1940. Then the campaign will open with a wireless talk between lVIa.jor II. G·. Eley, Captain Fel.son 7iambc3. and Mr. C. S. Swann. Major Eley an.cl Captain ~ambra are both experienced pigeon shots . Mr . Ewann is the son of a gamekeeper and a mi ner, bu·t he has also made:; a special study ol: wood~;igeons C:Lid has the reputation of being one of the most successful destroyer of these ~ests in the COUEtry. ~hece experts will talk abo~t the art of pizeon shooting: and it i3 ::.i.n srt altlrnu.gb :not dLCficult to acc:.aire . One of the chief causes cf failure in the p~Jt to aeal with this national menance is the gene~al belief that pigeons can be kept down if a few people in a district hang about under ~o~e tre~s or skulk behind a hedge and shoot the pigeonG ~hen, or if, they come along. '.Pbo;:ie wt10 Hant some wri.tte;:i advice on the subject should send a postcard. to the :Ministry oi .Agricalture, 10, '.';bi tei1-3.ll J?lacc, Land.on, S .. : • 1. a.nd ask for a :Cree leaflet whi cb will G~1 ortly be available. S:he 1viinj_stry has been in toucr1 with the National Farmers ' Union Branches and the response from them has been mos t encouraging. The British Field Sports Society the Central Landovmers' Association, and the Forestry Co::;1mi s;:;i on lrnve also promised their full co-operation in .support o:f the camyaii;n, that looks lik~ being t~e most intensive ever waged on the vvoodpigeon. Sportsmen wishing to take part in it should get into touch with the nearest J\Tational }:'armers ' Union Er&nch . If there is a.ny ciiffj_culty, tl18 Id ni s t.cy of Agriculture 1Nill help. Every Saturrlo.;z. But action must be concerted. The id.Gal arrangement would be i:f every district tr1roughout the cOuEt:ry would. ear-mark the same day once a week for war on the pigeon. Si r Reginald .Jor mar:-Smitb has suggested. every SaturdayJ beginning on 13th January and corrtinuing for the rest of the season. 6. We have alloyed t he woodpigeon to outwit us for too long. They are increasing rapidly. Every year the numbers that livJ here are swollen by mi grants t hat S1'ttle down, raise f amili~s and make a permanent home in a country that receives t hem too kindl y. A successful campai e;n will help our food supplios in two ways. It will reduce t he l oss due to pi geons -a loss that cannot be estimated but must be enor mous. It will also add un-rationcd meat to our wartime l ar ders. x x x x EXPORTS ~I.10 EIB~ LIC~~~CE FOR SEEDS REQ_UIRED. As from 28th December, licences will be required for the export to Eire of Agricultural and horticultural seeds, excP.pting seed in paper envelopes bearing the name of the seed. But licenc~s will no longer be required for the @xport of any kinds of fish, or for condensed and dried milk. ~his alteration has been made by the Board of Trade, who have issued a new open general licence, No. G.L. 217, in substitution for the former open gener &l licence. x x x x KEEPING THE BUI,B CROP HEALTHY NEW BULLE'rIN FOH J:l,LUWEg__GROV/ERS t. The rapid expansion of the bulb industry i n · En~land has led to an increasing demand for information about disease in th~ crops. The Ministry of Agriculture's Plant Pathological Laboratory has given particular attention to this subject s i nce 1926 and, among other work, has consulted the world literature dealing with it. This has meant the study of neaFlY on~ thousand original papers. The fruits of this research have now been brought together and published in Bulletin No. 117 of the Ministry, "Diseases of Bulbs", H.M. Stationery Office, 4/-net. It is a comprehensive work , adequately illustrated and dealing in separate se ctions with hyacinths, tulips, lillies, narcissi, snowdrops 9 gladioli, iris and crocus. The diseases ar·e amply described and methods of control indicated. Both professional and amateur growers of bulbs Gannot fail to profit by a wor ::;: t hat brings together more compr·ehensi\rely than eve1' before in t he Ene;lish l anguage t he existing knowledge on this -subject. a. _2_ol_._l_..:;;9.....:4-'-0...___;N~.o •.6. CANADA "DIGS FOR VICTORY" RECORD MINER_A_I;.___PRO:QUCTION IN 1939. The High Commissioner for Canada in London is informed by cablegram from Ottawa that mineral production in Canada during the year 1939 is estimated to have reached a total value of $470,179,000, an all-time high record. This represents an increase of 6 per cent over the preceding year, and of 3 per cent over 1937, when the :previous highest total was reached. New output records are reported for antimony, gold, copper, zinc, nickel, cadmium, crude petroleum, natural gas, gypsum, sulphur and limeo Several new gold mines reached the production stage, and the gold productive field was widened. Iron ore was :produced_ on a commercial scale for the first time in sixteen years at Michipicoten, and this vims perhaps the most significant development of the year in the mining industry. A considerable amount of prospecting and development work was carried out in those metals and ores which have not as yet been produced to any great extent in Canada, but which are important for war purposeso These metals include molybdenum, manganese, mercury and tungsten. Several new oil-wells were brought into production in Alberta. In the output of refined copper, nickel, lead and zinc, Canada is now in a better position to assist in the successful prosecution of the war than at the outbx•eak of hostilities in 1914. Since that time, refineries have been established in the Dominion for the production of the above metals. -------000 ------­ EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 2. 1 • 40. No. 7. The attached is issued to the Press for such use as they may desire to make of it. It must not be quoted as an Admiralty statement. -------oOo------­ THE Nf\VIF.S OF THE EMPIRE AT WAR. The snontaneous and overwl:.elming offers of support which came from our Dominions and colonies at the outbreak of war have caused some concern to the enemy ---an enemy whose propaganda has consistently called us a decadent race, and who has re­peatedly foretold an early disintegration of the British Empire. Men, money, munitions and supplies of all kinds are reaching these islands in an ever swelling spate, but the first and among the greatest of the Empire's war contributions was the re­inforcement of the British Fleet by the navies of Australia, Canada, New /.:ealand and India immediately war broke out.• The ships of these dominion navies at once took up their war stations some guarding their own waters, and others joining our main fleets or raider hunting squadrons. South Africa had already taken over the defence of her harbours, and when war came she undertook the protection of her 1,800 miles of coast line as well. THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY. The greatest of these reinforcements came from Australia with her six cruisers, a flotilla leader, four destroyers and two escort vessels. Of the cruisers, the 11 Australia" and "Canberra11 , built in 1927, are of our own 8-inch gun County class. The 6,900 ton "Perth", "Sydney" and "Hobart", built in 1934, are armed with eight 6-inch guns , eight 4-inch guns and eight torpedo tubes. The "Adelaide'', of 5, 100 tons, though laid down in 1918, was refitted and modernised in 1938. The flotilla leader "Stuart" and her four 11 Vlf and 11 wir class destroyers were purchased from the Royal Navy; t hough built in 1917/18 they are still capable of· good service. In addition, Australia is now bu iJdinr.; three of t he 1850 ton Tribal class, armed. ••••••.. , -2­ armed with eight 4.7-inch guns. The 1060 tons escort vessels "Yarra" and "Swan" eaCJh mount three 4-inch guns, and the 11 Parramata11 a.nd "Warrego", armed with 4-inch guns in the latest dual purpose twin mountings, are nearing completion. A number of ships have been requisitioned for minesweeping and patrol work, seven minesweeping and anti-submarine vessels are being laid down, and a flotilla of fast motor torpedo boats has be~n ordered. In 1912 the Commonwealth assumed control of the former Australian Station, and her sea forces were granted the title of Royal Australian Navyo Australia. trains her own officers and ratings, the former at the Naval College, and the latter at the Naval depot, at Flinders. In June 1937 the first R.A.N. officer was promoted to Captain and now, with the exception of a ~ew senior officers and Warrant Officers, the personnel are entirely Australian. The Navy is controlled by a naval board under the direction of Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin as Chief of Naval Staff, and Sir Frederick Stewart ~s Minister for the Navy. A first class dockyard with armament, store and victuall~ng depots, and an anti-submarine school, are maintained at Sydney. The personnel provided for in the 1939/40 estimates was 555 officers and 5,752 ratingso Reserve forces totalling some 500 officers and 5 1 000 men were called up on the outbreak of war to complete the seagoing fleet to war complement, and to man auxiliary craft for local defenceQ THE_~QXM~g~p_A:PJ}..N NAVY The Royal Canadian Navy was established in 1910 and is now under the direction of Rear-Admiral P.W. Nelles as Chief of Naval Sta.ff and member of the Defence Coucil.. At the outbreak of war the personnel consisted of some 500 officers and 1,800 men./ . -3 ­ men, ·who v-:ere immediately r einforced by the calling up of a further 1 ,800 naval reservists. Many others have joined up and are now under training at the two naval bases, at Halifax and Esquimalt. \!'Vhen the war began, Canada 1 s fleet consisted of six modern destroyers and five minesvveeping trawlers. In October last the 1390 ton 36 knot flotilla l eader Kempenfelt was taken over from the Royal Navy and re-named "Assiniboine". By November some 40 vessels had been requisitioned for minesweeping and patrol work, and a number of naval minesweepers and fast patrol vessels are already on the stocks. The flotilla leader and her six destroyers all mount four 4.7-inch guns and ei ght torpedo tubes. The "Saguenay" and"Skeena" of 1337 tons and 35 knots speed were built for Canada in 1931; similar to the "Acheron" class of the Royal Navy their hulls vvere however, specially strengtbena'l to withstand the ice floes of the North Atlantic. The "Frasern, "St~ Laurent", "Ottawa" and "Re~tigoudJ.e", of 1375 tons and 36 knots speed, originally belonged to the "C" clas:;; of the Royal Navy ~nd were t aken over in 1937/38. Not only is Canada 1 s navy :__ iD--co~opera:ti-on. with her air force --re.sp.onsjj)-le. ~o-r-her Pacific and Atl antic coasts, but she has ·tm.dertaken the safety of shipping in the approaches to her great Atlantic seaports from which come so many of Britain's vital supplies. In this connection it may be recalled that bet ween October 1916 and Ncvember 1918 no less than 2.6 merchant ships wer e sunk by U boat or raider within 300 miles ~f her Atlantic coast, and 78 Canadian merchant ships were sunk by the enemy during the four years of the l ate war. THE NEW ZEAL}.\IITD DIVISION. In 1921 , the old cruiser "Philomel11 was presented to New Z.ealand•••••• -4 ­ Zealand as a training ship 9 and the first batch of New Zealand men were recruited for naval service. In 1922 the Volunteer Reserve was established, with headquarters at Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. Though New Zealand has no seagoing fleet of her own, since 1925 she has been lent two cruisers of the Royal Navy which she maintains at her own expense. These ships form the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and at the outbreak of war were the 7,000 ton 6-inch gun cruisers "Achilles" and "Leander", built in 1933/34. The "Achilles" was dispatched first to the Eastern Pacific and then t·o the South Atlantic to assist in the search for German raiders. Her name is now famous the world over as one of the two small 6-inch gun cruisers which crippled the "Admiral Graf Spee" and drove her to an ignominious end in the River Plate. Two thirds of the men who then manned her were New Zealanders. At the beginning of the war there were some 700 serving New Zealand naval ratings who were immediately reinforced by the calling up of 700 reservists. With this force the Dominion has already provided an armed merchant cruiser and a number of mine-sweeping trawlers. Three special naval vessels are now being built for training t·he growing number of volunteers for mine­sweeping and anti-submarine work. Finally, it should not be forgotten that New Zealand . contributed £1 ,000,000 towards the construction of Singapore naval base.. THE ROY.AL INDI!J'J N/.,_VY. In 1934, the old Royal Indian Marine --a force emplo-yed mainly on trooping and police duties --was re-organised. Its title.••.••• -5 ­ title was changed to Royal Indian Navy 9 its personnel placed under naval discipline 9 and its ships authorised to fly the White Ens_ign.. Under this re-organisation, the Royal Indian Navy had to provide warships with fully trained officers and men9 and in 1938 the Government of India undertook to maintain at least six mo~ern escort vessels for co-operation with the Royal Navy in the defence of India. The Royal Indian Navy at present consists of the escort vessels "Indus", ''Hindustan" 9 "Clive" 9 11 Cornwallis 11 and 11 Lawrence", the patrol vessels "Pathan11 , a surveying ship9 and a training and depot ship and various auxiliary craft based on the naval docl{yard at Bombay. Of these the 1 9190 ton "Indus" and 11 Hindustan11 are fine modern ships armed with 4. 7-inch and 4-inch guns respectively. Four more modern escort vessels are about to be built in accordance with the undertaking of 1938. India's navy is responsible for the local defence of her coasts and seaports. For this purpose a large number of small craft have been requisitioned and equipped. With a nucleus • 9 of R.I.N. personnel 9 they are manned by the Royal Indian Naval Reserve and Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve 9 which vvere established early in 1939. Apart from Reserves 9 the seagoing strength of the R.I.N. is approximately 170 officers 9 and 1500 men ---recruited mainly from the Pubjab and the Konkan. The officers enter as cadets and are trained in the United Kingdom with the Public School entry of the Hoyal Navy, and Lower Deck ratings receive their initial training in India. Subsequent specialized training for both officers and men is carried out in the R.N. technical establishments in England. On the declaration of war 9 the five escort vessels and the -6 ­ "Pathan11 were placea_ under the orders of the Comrnander..-in-Chief, East Indies, together with their officers and men, These six vessels are co-operating with the Royal Navy in guarding our vital Indian trade routes. Though little is heard of them, they are constantly on patrol in all weathers ­ in the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the monsoon swept waters of the Indian Ocean. SOUTH AFRICA '~_JifAVAL CONTHIBUTION. Though South Africa possesses no navy of her own she has undertaken the defence of the Union's harbours and of her 1,800 miles of coast line. For some years past, moreover, between 80 and 100 South African youths have joined the Royal Navy as seamen, stokers or marines. Eighteen months before war broke out, South Africa under­took the strengthening of her harbour defences. Shortly after the war began, a special "Seawarc1 Defence Force 11 was organised under Rear-Admiral G.W. Hallifax. This force already includes a large number of trawlers and other vessels well equipped for minesweeping and patrol work, and an air arm whose reconnaiss­ance squadrons patrol far out to sea protecting the trade routes. The South African Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, which in peace time numbers 65 officers and approxi­mately 1,000 men, is rapidly expanding. It provides the crews for the patrol and minesweeping craft of the Seaward Defence Force, and includes those Union citizens who elect to carry out their training at sea, and many ~rachtsmen who know every mile of the Union's coasts. Alone among the Dominions, South Africa is in the war zone. The "Admiral Graf Spee 11 was 1)reying on the vital trade routes off both her Eastern and Western coasts before she was finally run to earth in the River Plate. And the arrest, earlier in December, of the German liner "Watussi" south of Cape Point by one of the air pa~rols of her.Seaw~rd Defence Force, is evidence of the efficient manner in which she is playing her parto 2/1/40 ..... .. . .. .... No. 8 • . •. ·. ... ''\-':, LOYALTY OF NATIVE PLOPLLS OF SOUTH AFRiqA. The an~iety of the native peoples to participate in the defence of South Africa vvas expressed at the recent mee"t!ing in Pretoria of the Natives' Representative Council, the most important organ of native opinion in the Union. One delegate summed up the :position as follows: 11 The feeling of the African i;eople throughout the country, so far as I am able to judge it, is that in a th1e of emer·gency th~y should be allowed as part and parcel of the population to take arms in defence of th<:: co1.mtry. "If there is a danger, 'NG as full-blooded rnen, do not wish to sit around like women and children with our arms folded while others defend our country. Since war broke out every African organisation that has held a meeting has expressed its unswerving devotion to the King and to his Government in the Union. An account has recently appeared in the press of hovv the native ·. employes of a big concern in the Transvaal have started a fund to buy a warship for Britain and this, I am convinced is typical of what the Native people throughout the Union are feeling.,, EMPIRE AFFAIRS~ MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE Press Notice 9/2.1.40. PARTIAL Ifti;LAXJl.TION OF THE SCHEDULE OF RESERVED OCCUPATIONS ------·----~ ...-·-·--...---------·­ FOR VOLUNTEJ"'.!Ii.S FHOM CER.'I'All'J OOCUPATIONS. The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces that the operation of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations has been relaxed in order to permit men of or above the age of reservation in the occupations listed below t o volunteer f or ser vi ce in H.M. Forces, including the Home Defence Battalions and the Pioneer Cor ps, or in the Civil Defence Services. Men in the occupations included in List I may volunteer f or any branch of the Defence Services, but men in occupations in List II can be accepted for service only in their trade capacity. In addition a further relaxation of the Schedule is being made in order to permit the recruitment irrespective of the ages of raservation of a l arge number of building and roadmaking operatives which, as recently announced by the War Office, are required by the British Expeditionary Force for work in France. The relaxation of the Schedule extends also to the enrolment of certain classes of building operatives for full-time duties in the A.R.P. Rescue Service. Full particulars may be obtained from any Recruiting Centre in regard to service in H.M. Forces or from any l ocal office of the Minis try of Labour and National Service. Press Office. Ministry of Labour and National Service. Telephone Whitehall 6200. 2nd J anu.ary , 1940. 1. (H4~14211) Wt. 88887-5886 20,0-00 12/89 T.I. 677 LIST I. Basket Maker , Willov1, Cane, Rush Worker. Horse Trainer. Bedding, Soft 1'\irnishings, etc. , Maker. House Painter and Decorator. Bedstead Maker (Iron, Brass). Ink Manufacture. Blacking, Polish and Black Lead Jeweller. Manufacture. Laundry Service Worker. Brewing,1v1a.J.t:in.g and Spirit Manufacture. Linoleum Manufacture. Brush and Broom Manufacture. Meat Po~ter or Pitcher. Candle Manufactw:e. Mineral Hater and Cider Manufacture. Cemetries 1 Sto.ff'. Staff' employed in Paint, Colour, Varnish and Cellulose connection with Funeral Services. Lacquer Manufacture. Clerical and Office Staff. Printers 1 Composition Roller Maker, Office Ma."ilager, Department Manager. Composition Maker. Buying Manager, Buyer. Printing, Publishing and Book--binding Chief Clerk. vvorker 1 except lithographer, copper Chief Cashier. and steel plate vrorker, photogravure Clog Making and Repairing. worker and process engraver. Clothing Manufacture except bespoke Roofing Felt :Manufacture. tailor and baister. Roofing Felt Fixer or Layer. Coach, etc., Painter. Rubber Stamp Maker. Cork and Bark Worker. Foreman, charge hand, Compositor. Dyer and Cleaner (Garments, etc.) Stamp moulder, mould malcer. Editorial Staffs of newspapers, Salesman (wholesale). periodicals and news agencies. Salt Manufacture. Electro Plater (except Galvaniser Scrap Metal Worker. and Tinner). Company Secretary. French Polisher. Slipper Maker. Gold, Silver1 White Metal, Plated Soap Manufacture. Ware Worker. Tobacco, Cigarette, Cigar Manufacture. Grease, Glycerine Manufacture. Tool etc. handle or shaft maker (wood). Upholsterer. LIST II. Concreter, concrete leveller or screeder, ferro-concreter General nc.vvy. Mason (General hand). Fixer, Fixer mason. Walling mason, waller. B~ot repairer (other than hand-sewn) Senior clerk (general) Cook Dock and Harbour workers. Dock...worker, docker, dock labourer stevedore )) Stower, shipman, dock porter ) Coal tipper ) Coal trimmer ) Coal porter, coal heaver, coallie ) Corn porter , grain porter ) Deal carrier, timber and pit prop porter ) Fish lumper, bobber ) Lithographer, copper and steel plate worker, photogravure worker and process engraver. H.Q.29-550 A.J. PRESS NOTICE COMFORTS FOR THE FLEET The Royal Naval 1_~1ar Comforts Cornmittee, who are responsible for the distribution of comforts to the men of the Fleet, would be grateful if those persons who are kind enough to provide knitted garments and other gifts, such as games, musical instruments~ books and magazines for general distribution, would send these to one of the following orgmJ.isatiGns, vrllich will arrange for onward dispatch after consultation with this c~Tlffiittee as _to destination. 11 11 Th~.J?_~£O_i__.:for__J_(n~-~-t ec?:..G_?~.rm~_I]-_t s__for__~11-~__B,oy_~l Navy, lla, West Halkin Street 9 S. Vl.l. Knitted garments only. They will collect sort and repack these in suitable numbers for certain ships as directed ·by this Committee " 11 Tl].<:;__Ip c_O}:']lg_i:~~-~-cJ.:...~'$£~.£.~~-:r..§...._anL~ailor~Ji~_lE. Society'' , 122, Brampton Road~ So \!o3o Gifts other than knitted garments. A list of this Society's branches where gifts will be received will be sent on application to their headq__uarters. ~Th.§ N~y:;y_ __1_e1?:_g_ue1: 9 Grand Buildings 9 Trafalgar Sq_uare, VI oC. 2o have opened al1 their branches for the receipt of all gifts, includ~'_,i:)_g Woollen comfortso Information regarding the branch to which gifts should be sent will be given on application to above address. 11Tll,~_,..£.r:_i:'.~J-~h. L~~926, Eccleston Square, s.. WQ 1. will receive any gifts at 70 York Way, Kings Cross, N.1, or at any of their branches or Women's sections. It is fully appreciated that donors may prefer to send their gifts to a particular ship, but the 11 adoption11 of ships by local organisaticms, s o.b.ools and individuals is discouraged by the Royal Naval War Comforts Committee 9 vvho have by experience found that duplication of supply of comforts has resulted or, alternatively, that the full requirements of a ship cannot alvvays be met by this meansD When considering the comforts appropriate to a particular ship, the Cornrnittee, is guided by the vmrk on which she is employed, the station on which she is serving and her future movements. The knitted garments most in demand are:-Pullovers, Seaboot Stockings, Scarves ~ Balaclava Helmets, Gloves, r~ittens, Wristlets. Leaflets giving sizes of the above can be obtained from:­The Royal Naval :ar Comforts Cammittee, Adrnj_r alty, Whitehall, LONDON, So V!,,l. but no gifts should 'b e addressed to the Adr11iralt;y-,, AJ)IVIIRALTY , s.w.1. ??lo40. No.llo SOUTH AFRICA'S NEW CITIZEN ARMY. Great Entpusiasm of Volunteers. An official survey of military preparations in South Africa states that the Uni on 1 s new citizen army is making remarkable progress . Reports from town and country in all quarters of South Africa reflect the enthusiasm with which volunteers are coming forvrardo Notable enthusiasm is being displayed in the country districts. For instance the Botha Regiment, composed of volunteers from the Northern and Eastern Transvaal, has risen from a peace-time strength of 400 to a war-time strength of over 900, and the formation of another battalion of this regiment is in progresso New units are also being formed in such typically rural areas as Messina, Barberton and Vereenigingo Most of the volunteers are Afrikaans-speaking South Africans, and their regiments conduct their training and official correspondence in Af'rikaanso "The establishment of these new units and the stream of volunteers," continues the statement 1 "has placed a strain upon the training facili tj.es of the Defence Department but demands are being rapidl y and efficiently meto At Voortrek­kerhoogte, which is the heaQquarters of South Africa's army of defence, there is tremendous activity. Expansion is proceeding apace and the efforts of the Department of Defence to keep abreast of cui."rent requj_rements are meeting with success. "Officers and men are displaying the keenest desire to become efficient soldiers in the shortest possible time. The spirit of cordial co-operation dominates all activities. .Any sectional differences have been set asides and the paramount feeling is that all ranks are fellow South Africans whose primary vvish and duty is to make the defence forces of South Africa an efficient and formidable military machine, With this feeling there has developed a spirit of close camaraderie and a determination to resist all influences from outside tending to create friction. What all members of the Union's defence forces endeavour to emphasise in their daily life is that they are all South Africans, united in the cause of preparing themselves to meet the common enemy." The statement adds that certain outside influences, including the Nazi radio, had endeavoured to create friction in the army, it being sug~ested, among other things, that there was discri~ination ago.inst Afrikaans~speaking members of the Defence Force. j;No such discrimination has ever been made or suggestea.. By far the larger number of se:;.:ior officers nermanently serving in South Africa 1s army are men vrho bear Afrikac:~ns names o.nd they, like the officers who bear Bncrlish names, are bilingual" There is complete sympathy and understanding amongst all sections of the Defence Proces. 11 ---~ooo---·--­ 2/1/40 -No.12. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. BUTTER PH.ICES. Under the Butter (Maximum Prices) Order, 1940 made by the Minister of Food, which comes into force on the 8th January, the maximum retail price of butter remains unchanged at 1/7d. per lb. In calculating the retail price for a small quantity any fraction of a farthing will be regarded as one farthing. On a sale by wholesale delivered to buyers' premises the maximum price will be at the rate of 150s. per cwt., and on a first hand sale "ex store at the rate of 143s. per cwt. Where, on a first hand sale or on a sale by wholesaler to a retailer, the butter is delivered in rolls, bricks or packets weighing not more than 1 lb. each, an additional charge at a rate not exceeding 6/-per cwt. may be made. It has been deci~ed that the butter shall be known as "National Butter"; and the Order provides that on and after the 1st February 1940 butter sold by retail shall be clearly and conspicuously marked with the words "National Butter". The Order also provides tha~ except under the terms of a .licence granted by or under the authority of the Minister of Food, no wrapper containing National Butter shall on and after 30th March 1940 bear any words descriptive of such butter other than the words "National Bu:tter." MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. Rationing begins on Monday next (2) THE SHOPKEEPER The retail shopkeeper is an essential link in the chain of distribution of food from the producer or importer to the consumer. On his effective co-operation depends the proper functioning of the rationing scheme . Already the shoplrnepers throughout the country have dealt with over one hundred and thiPty million countePfoils which customers have deposited with them for bacon and ham9 butter and sugar. During the present week they are coping with a further forty-five million counter foils for meat. Members of the public can lighten this task by registering at once. Deferring your registration until Friday or Saturday , when the shops are at their busiest 9 will only make matters more difficult for all concerned. When rationing begins on January 8th a little forethought will make the shopkeepers' job easier. When you go shopping do not forget to take with you your own ration book and those of the other members of your family for whom you cater. If you have forgott en to bring your books 9 do not try to persuade the shopkeeper to serve you with rationed food. You would be asking him to break the law. If you can manage it 9 shop early in the day and earl:1r in the week. The collecting of coupons necessarily makes shopping more complicated, and means extra work for the shop assistant. You can help to make the machiner~r woPlc smoothly by avoiding the busy shopping periods whenever possible. 2nd January9 191-1-0 The War Of'f'ice, I,onclon, s.w. 1. 2nd January, 1940. The War Office announces that His Majesty The King l:''' s be. 'l graciously pleased to a-pprove of the appointment of His Royal Hi;~~;_ness Ma jor -Gsneral The Duke of' Gloucester, Ea rl of Uls ter, K.G., K.T., K. P., G.C.M.G., G.c.v.o., Colonel, Scot s Guards, Colonel-in-Chief, 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of' VVa les's Own) , The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, The Gloucestershire Rcgirn:;r::-:;, '2he Gordon Highlanders, and Personal A.D. C., to be Horn:,rsi~y Colonel ot' the ;nster Anti-Aircraft E.cgl i::cnts , Royal Artillery) ~>uppl":.rnk;ntary l\'.eserve and Ter r i torial .i\.rrr.y. 2/1/40 -No.15. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY ANNOUNCEMENT NEW DIRECTOR O:f~j\.Ii,EA ORGANISATION In succession to Major-Gene1"al C. W. Macleod, who has returned to military duties, Mr. Bertram Austin, has been appointed Director of Area Organisation, Ministry of Supply. Mr. Austin is well-known as the author of "The Secret of High Wages" and "Capital for Labour." "The Secret of High Wages" aroused considerable interest on account of its advocacy of the removal of artificial restrictions upon production and wages. Basing his argument upon many years of experience of industry and the relations between employers and employees in various countries, Mr. Austin urged that there should be no limit to wages, provided the utmost output was obtained from both men and machines. Mr. Austin, who is 43 years of age, is a London man. He studied economics at Cambridge and for some years was with Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co. Ltd. engaged in adminis­trative work connected with armament production. Later he studied industrial conditions in the United States and other countries and became well-knovm as a consultant in private practice. He has acted as adviser on in&ustrial problems in this country and abroad. ------000----­ MINISTRY OF SUPPLY THE ADELPHI, w.c.2.. STATEMEl'T'~FOR PUBLICATION. 2. 1 • 40 No . 16. H.R.H. Prince Axel of Denmark and M. Mohr, leaders of the Danish delegation returned to London to-day to resume the Anglo-Danish trade negotiations which were adjourned over the Christmas holidays. The rest of the Danish delegation is expected to arrive in London at the end of the weeko PRESS SECTION MINISTRY OF ECONOMI~ WARFARE . -------000------­ _2~/_l~/~4_0~~~~~N--.o. 17. BETTER RELATIONS IN PALESTINE. The latest authoritative advices in London show that security conditions in Palestine have continued to improve during the month of December. There has been a steady increase during the past month in recovery of arms both by surrender ana. by seizure, particularly in areas where collection had formerly been difficult. Despite the fact that there remains some propaganda on pro-Mufti lines, relations between the people and the Government are still more cordial. The tendency for better relations between Arabs and Jews is apparent, especially in the Tel-Aviv area. Recruiting for the Auxiliary Pioneer Corps is making good progress. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. ~Lj.O. -No. 18. THE SECRETARY OF THE ADi\iIRALTY ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING RESULTS OF THE PASSING-OUT EXAI1IINATION OF CADETS FROM THE ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE , DARTMOUTH. ALPHA CLASS. Bateman, P.P.C. Carter, J. M.B. Lewis, J.E. Stephens 9 D.A.P. Moore , D.V. de M. Berthon, S.F. Wilmot, R. M. Hammick 9 S .A. Young, A.H. Kay, D.G. DIVISION II. Norris, R. c. Anthony, C. K. Sinclair, A.D. Hamilton, A.G. Lewis, R.T. Campbell, N.D. Peck, P.B. Kennedy, N.H. Mc.L. Holgate, T.O. Burdon, G.B. Fleming, H.P. Tower, B. Howard, A.G. Blackburn, J. Mitchell, P.G.R. Farquhar, P.F. CHRISTI\'lAS 1939. RESULTS. CLASS I I I I I Science I I I I I I I I II II II II II II II II II II II II II PRIZE. (King's Medal (Robert Roxburgh (Engineering (Open) English (Alpha) (German (Scripture (Alpha) Seamanship (Open) History (Alpha) Mathematics (Alpha) English (Div. II) History (Div. II) Navigation (Open) French (bracketed with Cadet Peck) (Mathematics (Div.II)(Sience (Div.II) ! French (bracketed with Cadet Anthony) -2 ­ CLASS. PRIZE. Williarnson..:Napier, Rowe, BoL.D. Hickie, M.T. Ranken, Mo Bo F. Napper, DoW. Bell, HoPcG. Raban-\!V illiarns, R. T.J.C. 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 Somerville, J.H. M. 111 Boddi@, RoG. 111 de la Pasture, G.R. M. 111 tfan'IJvaring , JoH. 111 Fitzgerald, GoDo 111 Hashim, JoR. 111 Walker, RoTo 111 Twi gge 9 No 111 ----000---­ ADI.HR.ALTY, s.t1.1. 2/1/L1D -No.19. !'RES§,, NOTICE. Engineer Lieutenant F. R. Norris, R.N. (Retd.) has been awarded a Greenwich Hospital Pension of £30 a year in the vacancy caused by the death of Engineer Lieutenant D. M. McLennan, R. H. (Retd.) on the 30th October, 1939. ADMIRALTY, s.w.1. 2/1/40 -No. 20. FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST. AH.MY NEEDS OIL LPJ,;PS. Twenty-four thousand oil lamps, at present unobtainable from makers and d~alers, are urgently needed for lighting Army huts. The Ministry of Supply invites householders and others who are willing to present hanging or oil lamps to the Army to send them carriage paid to the Chief Ordnance Officer, Central Ord:nance Depot, Didcot, Berks. , or to hand them in to the nearest military station. Thousands of lamps have been bought by the Ministry from makers, wholesale and retail shops throughout the country, and stocks are exhausted. The oil lamps for which the appeal is made are required for immediate use in the period which must elapse before manufacturers are able to fill additional orders which have been placed. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY, THE ADELPHI. w.c.2. 2. 1 .·40 No..-21 / OFFICIAL ADMIRAtTY ANNOUNCEMENT . Admiral Sir Henry John Studholme BPownrigg K.B·.E. ~ C.B., D. S. O., has been appointed Director of Greenwich Hospital to date 1st January 1940. ------000 -----­ 2/1/L!.O -No. 22. NOT from War Office. In his New Yeat Orders of the Day, to the German Air Force, Field Marshal Goering says :­ "The honest endeavours of Germany to achieve a peaceful constructive world, serving all nations in the same way, f ailed because of England's brutal determination to destroy". Germany hoped to do her. 'cons tructive' work undisturbed by war, and she proposed to i;>erve all nations "in the same way": she began with Austria, Czechoslovakia followed, and then Poland. It is clear from Field Marshal Goering's message that other nations -all nations -were destined to take their turn "in the s ame way" and the 'peaceful construction' of the Greater Reich was to be effected by the means already used towards Poland and the rest. Now we know precisely where we stand. 2/1IL~0. -N0 • 23 . FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNH?,UE (Evening..2. The followiJ7.g communique was issued this evening from the French G.H.Q. :­ Normal activity of the contact units... Some renewal of the activity of the aviations. ...-·--------··--.. --~ .......... --... _... -----· 2/1/40 -No. 24. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. AIR BATTLE OVER NORTH SEA. The Air Ministry announces: There has been extensive air activity over the North Sea today and in the neighbourhood of the German coast during the afternoon a formation of three R.A.F. bombers encountered a squadron of 12 Messerschmitts long-range fighters well out at sea. The formation, although heavily outnumbered, gave ·battle to the enemy. One Hesserschrnitt was shot cl.own in flames and two others were driven down and are likely to have been lost. One of the three bombers has returned safely, a second was shot down during the encounter and the third is missing.