9/1/40 No.1. Advance copy of Speech to be delivered b~ SIR JOHN Al"'IDERSON, THE HOME SECRETARY, at the City Corporation Lunch, City Chrunbers, Edinb~ at 2 p.m. on Tuesd_§X, 9th January, 1940. General War Situation. Four months have passed since that Sunday morning in September when we heard the Prime Minister's voice over the wireless telling us that once again we were at war. For many ot us there was a dramatic moment when, a few minutes after the Prime Minister had finished speaking, we heard the air-raid sirens sounding for the first time, as we thought, in earnest. We had thought that war with Germany might begin that way -a massed attack from the air on our great cities and centres of population. We did not know at the time that this was a false alarm: for a few moments at any rate we believed that we were to be called upon there and then on the very first morning of war, to face perhaps in its worst and most intense form the new type of "total war" which we had spent months -many of you years -in preparing ourselves to meet. Nothing could have been finer than the spirit in which the country, at the beginning of the war, braced itself to withstand the shock of such an attack. And here in Scotland, though there has been no attack on centres of civilian population, you have had rurther experience of the nervous strain of air-raid warnings, forays by hostile reconnaissance aircraft, and attacks on military objectives near at hand. VJhen enemy planes skimmed oveI' the housetops in Edinburgh we in the south were proud to read of the calmness, indeed nonchalance in some cases, of our fellow citizens. But the months have passed, and there still has been no air attack of the kind for which we had prepared, no raids on the great cities and densely populated areas of this country. In the South it is being said in some quarters that, because there have been no such raids in this opening phase of the war, the attacks against which we prepared will not now materialise. In the North some may be thinking that the air raid menace has been exaggerated and that what we shall have to contend with will be nothing much more serious than raiding on the scale which has already been experienced. This kind of talk is dangerous. In the old days we could look upon the amateur strategist with amusement. We can see him in the pages of "Punch" laying down the law in the safety of his armchair ~t the club or in his home -a bore perhaps; but quite a harmless bore. His grumbles and his theories could not affect the fighting men by whom the war was being carried on. But in a total war the amateur strategist may be more than a harmless nuisance, since his views may influence people who may to-morrow be in the front line of our defences on the home front. In modern conditions of war, the spirit and resolution of the people at home will count for far more than ever before; and we must guard against any mood of false confidence or optimism based merely on the fact that the attack which we expected has not yet been delivered. The enemy's vast air force is still intact; and although he has not yet directed it against us in any concentrated attack, nothing has occurred to warrant our assuming that it will not be used for the purpose of intensive attack on this country whenever it suits the enemy's strategy to do so. I have no doubt that all of you read the other day the report of a speech by Field-Marshal Goering/ -2 ­ Goering , in the course of which he said:­ "The German Air Force will strilce at Britain with such an onslaught as has never before been known in the history of the world. German war­planes still content themselves with surveyingwith sharp eyes Great Britain's war measures. All that is needed is the Fuehrer's command for them to carry over loads of destructive bombs instead of a load of cameras". We need not take too literally everything that is said by Germany's leaders. We know what their promises are worth, and we need not set any more value on their threats. But from our own knowledge, and not merely from what Field-Marshal Goering says, we can be sure that it would be criminal folly to allow the people of this country to slip into thinking that, because the blow has not fallen in the first four months of war, the danger of heavy air attack on this country is any less than it was at the outset. That danger is every bit as great to-day as it was on that Sunday morning in September: and the vigilance and the resolution which our people showed at t hat time are just as necessary to-day. We must still stand ready and prepared to meet, and to counter, the blow whenever it falls. Impressions of Morning's Tour. What I have seen this morning shows that, so far as physical preparations are concerned, Edinburgh has made great strides in fitting herself to meet that testing time whenever it comes to this City. (The Home Secretary will no doubt make further reference to what he has seen in the morning'stour.) Training. Civil Defence has now reached a transition stage. The earlier stages of enrolling personnel, and establishing posts, centres and depots, are now giving place to the stage of combined training and mutual support exercises in which the scattered units of Civil Defence will be drawn together and made ready to work as one flex­ible organisation, capable of applying the maximum resources where­ever they are most needed. Much attention has recently been given to training schemes. New manuals of training are about to be produced by my Department, and these will help to increase materially the effectiveness and utility of the A.R.P. services. The aim of these new training schemes is to make each member of the various services feel that he is a unit in a force which has set itself definite standards of skill and discipline and will come to have an esprit-de-corps comparable with that of the fighting services with their long traditions. There is an indirect as well as a direct utility in A.R.P. training. I heard with much interest of the ajdrendered to casualties in the recent Valleyfield colliery disaster. The great national effort which has built up these vast volunteer 'services has given evidence of a sense of civic responsibility which is in accordance with our great national traditions; and, even though our Civil Defence services have not yet been called upon to deal with air r aids, they have given an opportunity of service to amny thousands who are anxious to help the national cause/ -3 ­ cause, and are now training to fit themselves for the part which they will play when the hour of trial comes. Recruitment. There are still many opportunities for others to undertake this form of national service. 130,000 volunteers have been enrolled in Scotland -a great achievement of the voluntary system. But there is still need for part-time volunteers in several branches of the Civil Defence services, and there is always the need for a constant flow of new recruits to make good the wastage which for various reasons must inevitably occur. We are all anxious to secure that these services shall be organised in such a way that the employment of full-time paid personnel is kept to a minimum ­and there is ample scope for the volunteer who is able to give part-time unpaid service. There is one underlying principle by which all A.R.P. problems must be measured -this is essentially a citizen's service, by which the citizens of each town and county assume responsibility for the defence of their own local community. In the more vulnerable areas it is necessary to enlist the services of men and women throughout the twentyfour hours in order to ensure that urgent action can be taken immediately the need for it arises. These full-time workers form a framework which will be filled in by the main body of part-time volunteers when a situation arises which calls for the employment of the full force. Such a framework is of the first importance -it is in fact a necessary first line service. But the enrolment of full-time personnel should be limited to that service, and nothing in the experience of the past year leads one to doubt that the unselfish patriotism of the people will supply the voluntary part-time service necessary to bring our Civil Defence forces up to full strength. I feel confident that, in spite of the difficulties, local authorities will continue to be able to organise this part-time service in such a way that it can be deployed in full so as to form an efficient systej of defence when the situation calls for the employment of our full resourceso Scottish Problems. (a) Evacuation. I should like to say a word about the Government's policy as regards evacuation. This is a matter on which I feel doubly qualified to speak, for, before I had any Ministerial responsibility in respect of Civil Defence, I was closely connected with the formulation of the evacuation policy as Chairman of the Committee of Members of the House of Commons which considered this difficult problem as far back as 19380 I was convinced then -and nothing which has since occurred has in any way shaken me in that conviction -that the evacuation of school­child:ren and the other priority classes from the cities likely to be exposed to air attack is a wise measure of precaution which should form part of anytlioroughscheme of Civil Defence. I should never have been prepared to contemplate -and the Government have no intention of applying -any measure of compulsion in a matter of this kind involving, as it does, the disruption of intimate domestic ties and relationships. I must, however, confess that when I contemplate the probable future course of the war I should feel far more re-assured if .far larger numbers of people had taken advantage of the facilities which the Government offered them in September to remove their children from our crowded cities into the greater safety of the reception areas. It is a cause of great anxiety to me that the response to the Government's evacuation scheme was so small -particularly in Scotland -and I am still more disturbed to think that, out of the relatively small total which/ -4 ­ which took advantage of the Government's offer, so large a number of children have already been brought back to the towns. I would appeal most earnestly to parents who are now thinking of bringing their children back from the country to think ahead before they take any precipitate step and to realise the dangers to which children in our crowded cities will be exposed when air attack begins. (b) Tenement Wardens. May I ·say a word of praise for the initiative which both Glasgow and Edinburgh have shown in starting schemes of "tenement wardens". These wardens carry out simple training with the tenants on each staircase in the tenement, help to clear attics of lumber, and made themselves responsible for instilling a corporate spirit among all the tenants. This development is in close keeping with the spirit of the original schemes for Civil Defence which contemplated that the warden would be a "leader and adviser of his neighbours". I am glad to hear that in some cases landlords have shown their public spirit by providing simple equipment -e.g. stirrup pumps -for use in these tenement buildings. (c) I am sorry to hear that in Edinburgh there has been some reluctance on the part of owners of vehicles which would be suitable for emergency use as ambulances to allow these vehicles to be enrolled as available for service "on call" after an air raid, or to leave them when not in use at the disposal of the casualty services. We are all anxious to avoid the excessive expenditure which would be incurred if all the vehicles required in an acute emergency had to be purchased or hi~ed and kept standing idle until such an emergency arose; and a system by which a number of vehicles are earmarked as "on call" has very great advantage in cutting out unnecessary expense. I should like to make a special appeal to owners of such vehicles to co-operate by giving a promise that their vehicles will be made available when urgent need arises. (d) In the initial stages the A.R.P. services naturally developed on an individual basis -each local authority being con­cerned solely with its own area. To-day co-operation comes more to the fore-front. Co-operation between individual services, and also co-operation between localities for mutual aid. Here in Edinburgh it is -particularly interesting to see the detailed schemes of co-operation which have been worked out between the City authorities and the authorities of the Port of Leith. (e) Pacificism. The absence of stirring events on the Home Front is perhaps responsible for a feeling here and there that the war is not worth while. There is no widespread feeling of this kind, but I should like to utter a warning against pacifist pro­paganda. It can be very subtle, and its origin is at least suspect. This country has shown in a hundred ways that is is resolutely behind the Government in its determination to put an end to the rule of jungle law in international affairs. Peace now might very well suit our enemy. But oan anyone believe that it would be anything else but war postponed? There is a great issue at stake. Are we to live under the rule of law or the rule of brute force? That question cannot be left unanswered -there can be only one answer, and it must be given now. Morale. I have spoken already about the danger of indifference to air­raid perils on the part of the public. It is perhaps even more important that this feeling should not gain ground among the personnel of our Civil Defence services. There are a number of A.R~P. Controllers with us to-day, and I should like to take the opportunity therefore to urge them to use every possible endeavour to keep their volunteers in good heart. Although there is in fact/ • -5 ­ faet a great deal for these services to do in training and practical exercises, a certain amount of uninformed criticism has been levelled against them as though they were sitting about doing nothing; and there is a real danger of personnel becomingdiscouraged if they are allowed to think that they are doing less than their duty in standing by and preparing to acquit themselves efficiently when the time comes for more active service. It is their job to be on guard, to keep watch and be ready for the call when it comes. They must be there in readiness, even if there are as yet no air attacks. Up to now there has been little activity on the Western Fr-Mt1., but no one would suggest that because of this we shoudd recall a proportion of our Forces from France. Nor are we proposing to demobilise our anti-aircraft guns and our balloon barrage because there have been no air raids here. It is a dreary business, I know, waiting for things to happen, but there is a good deal of that in war; and it is the duty of all Controllers and others in authority to do what they can to mitigate this feeling of boredom or impatience among the men and women under theiroontrol. Patience and endurance must be our watchword until the day when action is demanded of us, and when that day comes I know full well that the Civil Defence services will give a good a~count of themselves. AIR MINISTRY BULLbTIN, ...... N..... 2. 9/_l..._/_._40..__......o.. ;BOMBER PILOTS OF TOMORROW .lliot to be quoted as an Air l\1inistry annou:tfcement). A steady flow o:f young men is arriving every ueek at the stations of the Bomber Command Training Group of. the Royal Air Force. They are the bomber pl.lots of tomorrow. With them come observers, air gunners and wireless operatorso The Training Group takes these men :from the Flying Training Schools, and, after ~eeks of intensive training, passes them on to operational or reserve squadronso There, after further experience, they take their ~laces among the bomber crews which fly over Germany, the North Sea and the German seaplane bases at Borkurn, Sylt and Nordeneyo By the time these young men arrive at the training stations they have won their wings. Now they come to"the real thing"., The highest standards are required of them before they are passed on to the operational squadrons. The pilot must be capable of flying his aircraft by day or night and in all weather,. He must be able to fly in formation and to perform operational duties.. Before he leaves the station, he wiil have learned, too, to carry out all types of bombimg attauks, and will have studied fighting tactics and the problems of evasion of enemy defences. The days are full of worko These young men -their ages ranging, in the main, from 19 to 23 -are too keen to wjsh it otherwise. Apart from the actual flying, there are scores of lectures to be attended on airmanship, navigation, armament, · signals, reconnaissance, photography, operations, tactic.s and meteorology. The syllabus omits nothingo Log-keeping, map-reading, astronomical navigation come into it. There are also technical lectures dealing in detail with the airuraft itself. The lectures on bombs embrace half a doz.en main subjects ·-;.;Choice and effect of bombs on targets"; "Method of attack", and so one /Reconnaissance -2 ­ Reconnaissance will be an important part of the young bombers' work. There is a great deal to learn in this field ­ the sort of information Headquarters want; the recognition of types of targets ; the noting of vulnerable points; how to pilot the aircraft so as to get the best results on a photographic reconnaissance; the geography of Germany; signals procedure; the variations of wind with height; ice accretion, cloud, fog and thunderstorms. But flying instruction ahvays takes precedence over the work on the ground. The lectures are fitted in when the~e is no flying. Ground work and flying mean six full days' work a week. In addition~ there is night flying when conditions are suitable. In the ordinary way, Sunday is a free day unless there has been a lag in the flying schedule. "The crew S:9irit" is built u~ at the training stations. Pilots, observers, air gunners and wireless operators are taught their responsibilities to each other. When their Station Commander sees them on their arrival, he stresses that point. "'l'he pilot's life may depend upon you", he says to the air gunner. "In the same way, your life may depend upon the pilot. " The safety of a force of bombers rests largely in its formation being maintained. This calls for discip~ine from the pilot in face of an attack. There are times when the gunner must hold his fire, though his natural inclination might be to blaz-e away. This again demands discipline. The wireless operator, working often under conditions of extreme difficulty, must still give all his attention to his job. Physical fitness is an essential. No one who was not fit could stand up to the conditions on some of the flights which our bombers under take. Reports sent in from the training stations to Group Headquarters show the progress each pilot is making. When the time comeshe goes out to a squadron to start the real wcrrk. Press & Publicity Branch, Air Ministry, Whitehall, s.w.1. FRRNCH or;iFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (Morning) The following communique w11 s issued this morning from the French G.H.Q. :­ During the night enemy patrols were repulsed at vn.rious points. ------oOo-----­ Visits to Reception Areas at Re9-uced F·ar:es-.--------­ Arrangements have now been made for further trains on .which cheap fares may be obtained to be run to the London reception areas on 21st and 28th January, In addition to most of those places served before Christmas, cheap fares will be available to a number of towns not previously served and to London reception areas in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and East Hampshire. In the London County Council area, the voucher issuing centres will be open on Thursdays and Fr idays -between 1 p. m. and 3.30 p.m. The arrangements for the issue of vouchers in the Boroughs and Urban Districts on the ou.tsldrts of ~London will be announced locally. ,Anyone who is j_n any doubt where to obtain a voucher should ask at hi s local school. No vouchers for the trains t o be run on the 21st January will be issued sfter the 12th Jannarys and no vouchers for the trains to be run on the 28th J anuary after the 19th January. Everyone is advised to appJ.y for his voucher as early as possible. The trains to be run on the 21st January will be as follows:­ (1) From Paddington Frome Bruton Maiden Newton Bridport Dorchester Weymouth (2) From To Paddington Radl e;y Minety and Ashton Keynes Kembl e Cirencester Chalford Gloucester (3) From (4) From ( 5) l_, r·o·rn (6) From ( 7) From (8) From '.r o Li i!8l'.)0G~L Strset Hr:: c :cney Do1lns 'l'ottenham 'l'o J,i verpool i::l tree t Ifac>::ney J.J,ms ·rott;enhR.m Liver pool Street Str.,,t:!:'o:.:d Ilfcrd. Ch.80.well Eeeti1 Hom.ford '.::' o '.L'o Liverpool btreet Stratford Ilford Chadwell Hee.th Romford 'i'o 'rhe~le 8 nvc rn:::iJce ·;)ev izes 'l'rcv.'bridge \iestb"ti.ry Wa.rmi11ster \1 i tLa111 Shcpton Mallet We l:i.s Banbu;.>y En.nciborough Sl1ip·ton Kingham Moreton-in-Marsh Campden Histon Long Stanton St. Ives Chfd;teris l ·f.ar-c :.1 newn~21~ket Kennett Bury St. ~dmunds ::io-;mham ::un~;s Lynn huns t a.nton Witham Kelvedon Harks 'fey MFmningtree Bently Ipswich Derby Road Orwell Frimley Felixstowe Town S tovvmarke t Haughley Hellis Diss 'i'i ve tshall l~orv,ich 'i1horpe Wroxhom Hort:~1 l/alsham Cromer -3 ­ (9) From To Liverpool Street Stratford Halstead Wivenhoe Ilford Chadwell Heath Thorpe le Soken Romford ( 10) From To Liverpool Street Soham Hackney Downs Tottenham ( 11) From To King ' s Cross Spalding Finsbury Park Whittlesea Wood Green Wisbech New Barnet (12) From To St. Pancras Irchester Kentish Town Burton Latimer (for Isham) Walthamstow Kettering Bla~: khorse Road Geddington West Hampstead Gretton Cricklewood Oal(ham (13) From To Euston Northampton Willesden Broad Street Da2. ston Highbury Camden Town Kentish Town (West) Gospel Oak Hampstead Heath Finchley Road West hnd Lane Brondesbury Brondesbury Park Kensal Rise 1~ueens Park Kensal Green (14} From Victoria Hollingbourne Denmark Hill Charing Catford Ashford Bromley South Appledore West Dulwich Rye Hastings Sandling Junction Hythe Brookland Lydd Town Lydd-on-Sea Greatstone New Romney -4 ­ (15) From (16) From ( 17) From ( 18) From 1'JeT:1 Cross st. Johns 1-Ii t;.1e 1--a Gr eeil Gro11e Parle I...cndon Bridge 1~c·::~1 () r•o s s C}r~te IlO:C!.Ol· ()31:: 1-'8.I"~( Fo.,'c:::d; _;=i}l [-Jy,;[enhnin lforwooc.i ;runction Enst Croydon Victoria Battersea Psrlr.: Balham Streatham Common 1iast Croydon London Bridge Q,ueen' s Ho ad ·Peclzhmn Rye Esst Dulwich North Duli:; i d.h Stre B.tham 'I'ooti ng IIn~/d.OilS R.oad Viin11J1e don Waterloo To 'i' o 'l'o HeFl.dcorn Ashfor•d ~>nnlling tTunction f3horncliffe l1'olkestone Rye IfaywArds Heath Hassoclrn Brighton :Polegate Eac-ClJour'ne Newhaven 'i'own Billingshurst Pulborough Arundel Barnham Chichester Salisbury bemley Gillingham 'I'e•nule com be Hilborne ·Port 8hcrborne Yeovil Axrninster Honiton Lxeter Central ·.i' opsham Lxmouth Stalbridge Sturminster Newton -5 ­ (20) From Victoria Uckfield London Bridge Heathfield Lewisham Ladywell Catford Bridge Lower Sydenham East Croydon South Croydon Selsdon Ministry of Transport, Metropole Buildings, Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C.2. 9th Janua!X..t, 1940. (540) R~)'~ 'T4 S Il~f i-,.p:r~ r~.t '~~ T01"~• ..,,_......_ , _ .........--. -""'·--....···-....~~· ..........-.-­ .A:n J.nvidi.ous Cli atinct:i.on is o:ftcm dru.vm be tv:een i'oc1dstui'fs gr-own f 'or h11man. and for anima.t needs. The ulti~::Ttate ob Jec t fo1~ the g:ecw:i.ng of any product i s humc.n use, and it is necessary to keep this pts.:··~tive in con.sid.ering ad.di tional cereals grown for· b:mnan corn=n.t.m;ition a:1d adclitional fecdL1g stuf':fs In many w~1.ys we a:ee now 11.&ving to i"'evi::rt to the farming prac ~ices o.f a :prevL:rus generatj_on , to the clays when roots were a f'2r· more Ln1.;01"t~ant cro:o than some now consider them. Even allowi ng for a clear gain of 330,000 acres of sugar beet, our root acreage in 1938 was only 955,900 ccm:p3.red with 1,44? ~000 in 1914 9 alt~1ongh in tb.e san~e pc 1:·:Lod our cow and heife r :po:puls.tion had grcw!l :Crom 2 ,42>4 ,~;20 to 3 ,0?4 ,319. In the old dr1;;rs, l s.rge c1uantities of roots and straw,. with a small a.mount of' oilco.ke, were su:l':f'ici ent to e.r1able cattJ e to fatten slowly ond coYvS to milk tolero.'bl~/ well. There seems little doubt the:~ t dairy Sh)ck fed on these lines lb.red l onger ant reproduced with greater rcgul3rity than t hey do now. If the winter cows in milk lost some concii tioa, t hey recovered guic~dy when the spring grass came,. In the comi:ng year we shall be producing a much larger q_uantity of straw, and on many f'arnm it will be utilised for feeding. A diet consisting largely of straw needs the corrective of a l a rge root sup:::,Jly Euld if' the pr·esent head of livestock is to be maintained, increased cereal acreages , ~specially on stock f arms , must be balanced by an increased acreage 01, root crops such as mangolds or swedes. There is no other crop like mc.nsold.s that will :produce from 17 t o 80 tons per acre. 1. Here ~gain our forefathers showed their skill in balancing their farming o:perationsp Por not only were the rnangolcla a veJ.uable cleansing crop; they were also a form of insurance against a bad year for· hay, for> the kinc;l of season unfavourable to n·ie hc:1.P'l8Sti.ng of a good hay crop is the season in which man;solds would give a bumper yielcl. War time c.onditlons are likely to re-smphasise the usefulness of such a balc:mce and give special value to a c rcp grown on the farm. It should be noted that the County War Committees m.ay, at their d1scretion, a_ppPove a root crop for· land ploughed up and otherwise eligible for the £2 per acre grant. x . x x x x x x IIQl~V.:f1:i1'.I~G.. I:Q.ldJ~TFDL~LQ§_fil§ • Ho~y__to__Q,e'1l-1Litll__Qoc~i'?._sis . The present shortage of f'eecHng stuf'fs makes it particularly important that no waste shoul d occur through loss of stock by preventible disease. Coccidiosis is one of' the mor::1t serious causes of such loss and it atta.clrn chicirnn, turl;:eys e.nd to a lesser extent geese and ducks. The acute form affects poultry cl·1:iclrn mainly between the second and tenth weeks of life , but it may occur as early as five or six days after hatching. A more chronic form o:f thia disease, causing eq_ually serious losses, may occur to birds :L'rom three to six months old. If effective measures to stamp out the disease are to be taken, correct diagnosis at the earliest possible stage is essential. When losses occur 9 specimens should be sent to a veterinary laboratory for a diagn.osis to be made. The name and address of the nearest laboratory where poultry diseases are investigated can be obtained on application to the coui~ty Agricultural Organiser at the County Offices. 2. Only in exceptional cases IB i t sound policy to treat poultry affected with any contagious disease. Every step should be taken to eradicate it i mmediately it makes its appearance in the flock. Coccidiosis infection is borne through the contamination of land by adult carrier birds, or by chicks that are survivors of a previously infected hatcho Prevention is better than cure and much cheaper, so it is sound practice to set aside one piece of ground to be used solely for chick rearing, no adult birds being allowed on it.. Care should also be taken to prevent attendants carrying infection on their boots ; i!Tlplements etc ~ from stock that may be infected to young stock on clean ground. Dirty conditions encourage the disease, but so does a moist, warm atmosphere resulting from insufficient ventilation. This is a fruitful cause of outbreaks, in an acute form, in brooder houses~ x x x x . r Tractors and Frost • Reports of burst re.diators and. cracked cylinder jackets .­ in the r~cent cold spell prompt a repetition of advice already given to tractor owners in this weekly news service. If tractors are left at night in the open fields or unheated sheds,. it is important to see that there is sufficient anti-freeze _liquid in the cooling water, or to drain off the water each night. Otherwise serious damage will be sustained. If the water is drained off, it is no less important to ' ­ hang a 0 NO WATER" card on the r adiator, so that the engine shall not be started up while the radiator ls empty. In the event of the tractor being run for some time without water, do not fill up with eold water until the engine has ,::,0111;'16-~ely cooler'l.. down, or the cylinder block is likely to crack . x x x x x APPLY ;JO'J!l FOR "KEY" MF.N' ~3 POSTPONEMENT. In practice only t he 20 year olcl group among f armers 9 and most classes of farm workers are "being cnlled to ·the colours. But i n spite of t his , t here are a nur:1ber of inst ances where a young man of 2 0 i s a "key" man on the f arm a::i.d no suitable substitute can be found. New arrangements have bee~ made postponing the calling up of persons in this category. It is most important, however, that a:pp1ic ati or.s for the :QOStponement .uf' ~my ri1en vrho have been registered but not yet c alled up should be made to County War Agricultur~..:.l Execut ive Committees by the 15th Januar y . Otherwise it 1nill be too l ate to ar~range for any postponement. Agriculture must have the necessary men to :pl ay its part in this struggle, bnt there is no industry in the country ­including even the 8J:'l11aments industries -that i s entirely exempt from making any contribution towards t he military needs for man power. Frost and the !:<'orester. To the forester, frost and snow is both a curse and a blessing. Very young plants i n the nursery may suffer severe darnage, the leaves browning off through the rupture of the cells. This may be avoided by covering t he seed 'oeds with light frames made of pl asterer' s laths, altho'l.gh those who do not already possess them will now have difficulty in buying them. A. heavy fall of snow will act in the same protective manner •. Planting out operations come to an abrupt stan.dctill, as t he frozen clods of soil are un'lmrkn1Jle ancl unsuitable to r eceive young pl ant roots. The roots, if exposed t Q t he col d air for a few moments would freeze, and the delicate root hairs be ruptured. Planting has to stop, and all trees already lifted are safe if left heeled in. Purcha::;ed plants 9 which have come a long distanc.e by rai1, are another matter.. They will h2.ve been ordered in suD.J.J.ier 4. weathe!", and have ar:.•ivei during a Sl.'.dde~i. frost. On no account should they be removed from ·i.;n eh· y;r2.p_;,1L1gs fo:r heel ing in. 'l'hey should be left in their bund ]_er-:>, heaped in sorne bu:Llding a."fld covered with loose straw. '1'he;:>e tb.ey wi 11 be quite snfe, and ready for unwrapping, heeling i n and planting out after the thaw. Modern packing methods ensure that the roots remain moist for a long period, and experie~1ce shows a remarkable percentage of success. From the point of view of the sale of' timoer, frost is a great "boon. Felling operations are in no way hindered, and extraction is made the more simple by the hard soil conditions.. When trees that grow near a hard road are sold, they are worth a high price, as the haulier c an remove them on we t days and is in no manner hindered by the weather . 1/Jhe:n farm land has to be cressed surnmer may be the only time f'or haulage, and frost reproduces for a brief period summer soil conditioI'-s. x x x x x For the Farmer. 11The .Journal1' Makes First Quarterl y Appearance. The exigencies of War have caused the Ministry of Agriculture's f arnous "Journal" to make quarterly, instead of monthly, appearances and the first quarterly number is no-.v on S£·tle . Its price is still unchanged at sixpence and the current iGsue should appeal particularl y to the practical farmer faced vrith the many nevi day-to-day problems that have arisen since the fateful events of l ast September. The Wartime difficulties of' the pig-keeper, flockmastery beef producer and dairy farmer are the subjects of special articles by such experts as W.A. Stewart, W.S. Mansfield., J.G. Stewart and W.G.R. Paters~n. Implements in wartime are discussed by H.J. Wright. 'M•le-draining ' has a special signific2.nce just now in viev;r of the need to bring potentially fertile land that needs 5. field drainage back into use again and the Government's proposal to assist in the cost of mole draining. The cost of this operation is discussed by H.H~ Nicholson, together with the question of possible economies, the best season for doing the work and the varieties of tackle available. Some interesting information is published on the Lehmann system of pig feeding that has made it possible to reduce the meal in the ncrmal pig ration very considerably up to 50 per cent or even more being replaceable by home-grown greenstuffs or potatoes. Another aspect of economising in pig rations is dealt with in an article on Swill feeding, that emphasises the care needed in preparing the swill; out it is shovm that, with experience, swill feeding becomes simple and highly successfulo x x x x LIVESTOCK MARKETING. The new system of fatstock marketing, which comes into force on 15th January, contains many novel features particularly that requiring .12 days' notice of the intention to market fatstock before the weel.{ in which they are to be sent to the collecting centre or to the bacon factory. This method of notifying forthcoming marketing of stock is of the utmost importance, and although some relaxation may be permitted for .the first week or so, thereafter the Ministry of Food will probably be forced to refuse to accept unnotified animalso It is a gigantic undertru{ing to purchase, slaughter and dispose of the whole of the Country 1 s fatstock, and farmers are asked to co-operate in every way to make the machinery work smoothly ann f2cilit:::..~ : t h"i l': 7 R7Y task of Mro Morrison and his officialso " Not for Publication Before~· 9/1/40 -No 6~ NURSERY CENTRES FOR EVACUATED. CHILDRF]f. A new scheme to meet the exceptional needs of evacuated children under the age of 5 is annc'ltnced in a Circular issued to local authorities to-day by the Board of Education and the Ministry of Healtho War-time N1i_rs·ery Centres are to be es·tablished in reception areas to provide these children with social training and occupation during the day. These centres will not only benefit the child out will also relieve the householder and allow more of the mothers to occupy their day profitablyo These children need special care. They are in new surroundings, many of them unaccompanied by their parents and their helplessness demands the attention of someone in whom they can put their trust. For evacuated children under the age of 2 years a simple day nursery or creche will be sufficient, but for those between 2-5 years something more is requiredo It is suggested that they should meet at centres in groups of 10-20 for sessions corresponding to those in ordinary Infants Schools. Each centre should be within cu.s:y· Y·'alking distance of the children's billets and the children would usually return for ;their midday meal unless communal meals a·re provided nearby. Single empty rooms would provide the necessary accommodation provided· that each child had a minimum floor space of 15sqofto The children would be under the charge of a warden, not necessarily a qualified teacher but someone specially selected on her suitability for the worko In many cases it is expected that a competent person would undertake this work as a form of national service without payment: in others a paid warden might be necess:ary. A Superintendent who should be a trained and experienced Nursery school or Infants teacher must be appointed to supervise the vrork of the wardenso The Superintendents may be in charge of some four or five centres according to the local distribution. -2­ No charge for these centres will fall on reception authori­ ties or the householder with whom the children are billeted. The centres are intended primarily for the benefit of the evacuated children but locP._l children can be ndmitted if there is room for them after the evacuated children hnve been provided for. The cost of maintenance of these children would be recov­ er2.ble from the Local Education Authority. CHILDREN LIKC '110 CLIMB F ND 'l'f;AR THir.JGS UP o An Appendix to the Circular contains detailed advice on the p:i.."emises, equipment and the conduct of the centres. It stresses the importance both of play and of introducing n:n ordered routine into the life of the childrena Every child vvants to play and it is o.s necessary to him as work and leisure o.re to the adultc Children like to climb lac1de:c"s, steps or walls o.nd to attempt things which offer physical dif'I'iculty. They also like to scribble 9 to tear and to cut. If opportu-;-dties for these kinds of amusement are provided at centres much destruction of other people's property will be prevented. Play materials and equipment which would be welcoraed as gifts or loans at nursery centres include:-dolls and their accessories: boxes of all kinds; bricks; parts of broken toys such as wheels; sencl; rµaterials for dressing up inc.Luding old lace curtains and ladies 'handbags. On the question of order in a child 1 s lifer the l~l_J~')endix points out that for everyone the most com~ortable home is one thc.t is run with some order and regula1·i t;y. The mother or hostess may feel that she can manage to pFoduce the stea_dy rouittne which provides for meals; cleo.nJ iness, warmth and a com:rortable bed. But there will be little or no means of coping with the ceaseless activity of the young chJldren during the day. 'Jl."'.ne children will be able to :feel th8.t a 1~u::s~centre is a plo_ce where they can live the kind o:f lj_ fe ~hat is interesting to them but not acceptable to grcwn-up people and where they will finc1 8_ warden who has ti1m to talk and pl8-:,Y v.ri th t1'1emo -----~---oOo··­ 9/1/40 No 7. WEEKLY STATEMENT FOR ThTFORl\IIATION OF PRESS Sinkings due to enemy action for week 31st December, 1939, to 6th January, 1940. No. Tonnage British .. . . 2 5,758 Allied • • • 0 Neutral _.2_ 5,385 ' • • e Total 11,143 2 British Sinkings:­ December 31st: BOX HILL 5,677 tons ETA 81 " Neutral Sinkings: January 1st: Norwegian LUNA 959 tons Swedish LARS MAGNUS TROZELLI 1,951 ti 3rd: Swedish SVARTON 2,475 " Total number of ships, British, Allied and Neutral, convoyed to date ••••• f:; 011 . ~' 7 Total lost by enemy action whilst in convoy to date . • • .. • • . • • • •••• 12 Percentage of losses to total number convoyed .• ~ • • . • • . • • • • .• 0.2% NAVJJ_, AFFAIRS 9. 1 • 40 No. 8. GERMAN AIR /\TTACKS ON FISHING VESSELS. The RIVFiR EARN wns an innocent fishing trawler, unarmed and devoid of any protection either for ship or crew. It was mid-December when she l eft her home port for the fishing grounds of the northern part of the North Sea. One would have thought that the weather __conditions in those 18.titudes at thAt time was enough t o contend with, but the RIVER EARN was soon brought fRce to face with the fact that I Ctermany's illegal methods of waging war at sea are imposing added risks upon those who have nothing t o do with the war. It was nearly 3 a.m. on December 18th when a flare was sighted. The-RIVER E1\.RN---altered course t o investigate -and f ound thr ee men clinging t o a r aft. They were Danes, and their ship, the Danish steamer BOGO, had been sunk by one of the mines which Germany lays in defiance of humanity, international l aw, and the rights of neutrals. That the BOGO W8-s a neutr'al ship meant nvthing to -the German mi nelayers. Nor did it matter to the Ger mans that three neutral s.eamen, all lightly clad (and one of them with nothing on but a shirt )-were cl inging t o a waterlogged raft in the early hours of one of the coldest of December mornings. No wonder those three Danes were in a dreadful state from exposure when they were picked u-,. Those in the RIVER EARN did what they could for them, while the trawler continued t o nose her 'NP..y t owards the fishing grounds. Thnt same evening a single.a ircraft was sighted. She came close, fl ying very low, and had a good look at the RI VER EARN. Those on board the trRwler could clearly see the black crosses on wi ngs and fusel nge. The aircraft at tacked the urn-trmed trawler, and drcpped a bomb. This missed, and the ai rcraft flew away towards the south-eRst. ­ -2­ Having due regard to the usual beha riour of the Germa::i. airmen, one cannot help feeling that the abando·rrnent of that atta~k must have been due to shortage of fuel or bombs 9 rrther than any change of heart on the part of the piloto It was on the following day that the RIVER EARN had her next encounter with Germa;n aircrafto I t was about 9 o' clocl\". in the morning when a single German flying ~oat appeared~ This circled the RIVER EARN, flying very low and very close. There was no doubt that the aircraft wanted to make quite certain that the trawler was nothing more than an innocent fishin6 vessel, Having done so, it dropped a bomb, which fell in the water some yards from the trawler. Then that aircraft also flew awayo The RIVER EARN, however, was not left for long to her peaceful occupation of fishing, Two German aircraft appeared, They, too, > circled the trawler, flying very close and so low that they were hardly higher than the mast-head~ Satisfied that the vessel was the type of craft which German airmen delight in attacking, the Germans started to bomb, skiw.ming over the trawler so low that they barely cleared the mast-heado The very first bomb -a comparatively small one -scored a hit right forward. The crew of the RIVER EARN at onGe set about getting their lifeboat out in order to abandon ship, whereupon the Germans began their favourite sport of spattering the upper deck of the trawler with machine gun bullets. Two bursts of machine gun bullets were fired, The bullets ripped open the engine-room casing and ricochetted off the deck, but mercifully no man was hito As the crew, and the three survivors from the Danish ship BOGO, tumbled into the lifeboat and began to row away, the bombing continued. The German aims however', had deteriorated, and for some time no further hit was registered. One of the German aircraft, apparently seeking a variation of the sport, aimed a bomb at/ -3­ at the heavily laden lifeboat. The bomb fell close alongside the boat an~ all but swamped it~ Finally the RIVER EARN was hit by a heavy bomb, and she sanko The Germans few off, leaving the J.7 foot lifeboat with thirteen men in it, a long way from land or from any 1,pf the shipping routes. That boat was actually rowed no less than sixty miles before it reached tbe shipping track; and its thirteen men were picked up by the Swedish steamer TRITONo To row an overcrowded boat sixty miles is no mean feat at the best of times. In this case the occupants had to bail as well as row? for the boat was continually shipping water. Moreover, the weather was very cold, and squall::: of hail and snow were continually sweepin~ over the For thirty six hours those thirteen men were in that open boat, and during the whole of that time the skipper of the RIVER EARN stood at the tiller~ There was no room for him to sit down~ The courage of those fishermen is in strong contrast with the cowara.ly conduct of the German airmen~ Each of the aircraft which attacked the trawler f.Js;lw round her very low0 The airmen could not therefore have mistaken the vessel for anything but what she was -an unarmed fishing trawlor, f1.ying the Rec1 Ensign. NAVAL AFFAIRS ------.-.~...c;:-:.~ -·~· MI~JJ~'}~R~t 07 :~.r:-.J ~~(jUJ..J;?lJP.T':z t'.l"E·~r;13:;c~~tE~T1_1 • __,.___·----.._~ -...__ ·-.... ----~---... ---. ·---..-... --· REGIS':'fH O;:' C': R'Pj.PIT\:D S':i.'(r(;}\J O~ FC.;.'ATOES -~,..-·---~-----··--_ ______... ..........,,.._____-.......,.. -...-­ The Iviinistry of Agrict1..lture armoinces the issue of the Register o-:' stocks of -~;ot3.toes vih:i.ch were i::1.sDected whilst grGWing during the past SeRSOil and certified as true to tyre m.d reasonably free from roc:ue s. The Register she,-rn tl1e ver:Lc r.j_ "':' _=; 3 the couuties where grown, the rn1!nes of cePtificate holders '"·::J.:;.ll e.ddresses~ the certj_fi::::ate nurribcrs$ and the acreage certif':~c::'l. Stocks that have been alJIJI' oved u:nrlo-r the ;:;pee ial schemes f'o::."' sa~~e as Ci.ass 1 (English S;iecial Stoc1c) and. Class 1 (Welsh Special Stoc~) are denoted. Copies of the Registar may be obtained from the ~inistry (Dept. X.A.) at 83, Baker Street, ~0:1don, vv.1.' at price 1/-. post free. Groviers are reminded that, 1mde::." the 'Nart Disease nf Potatoes Order of 1923, the onl~r pots.toes that may be pla..t.te-1 in :a.nd on which 'i!aI•t Dise8.f->e has ~ccurred. at any time are :vot ·:;:")-23 cf approved immune variet:i.es wh5.ch ~1e.ve been inspected. v1h:iJ.~t g::owing a.nd c0r'tified as true to ty_pe and reasonu.·01y free i':~... ::i;n r:gues, or :pot atoee. of a~'1pr>oved irrnmxne v2rieties savei f ;>om c·l':;,ps grcwn rn the land in the previous year. The Order fvrt~cr 1 prcvides that$ on the sale of any p'.:ltstoes f'or I>lanting, t·-1c n~noer of the relative eei... ti:fieate issued under the Ord.e:t" rnu::-t be 1ucted. In the ca~;e of potatoes of' approved in111une vc_riet:i.s.::, :.he certj_ficate number to be quoted is the "T.·S. H or -0 1i.. re. :). 11 certifieate ni_:_mber given in the Rcg:i ster referred to abo7e ~ 1w_t ~n the case of oti1er var:i.eties the mmiber to be emoted. is t~l.8 t; c:f the relative 11 C.1. n CertificQte issued to the -gPowers conceri;.ed,. Grovrers are o.lso remincled that no potatoes ma,y be sv~. rl .:"or planting in England op ~~ales unless they 8.re t he sub jec-'.:. o.r a ~erti:fic a.te in !Qne of' the forms r1"'esc:t•ibed by the Order. P:t~y growers· in En.gland or ;_,~·ales who propose to sell seed potato2s ;...rom their 1939 erop e,nc1 Viho have not yet obtained the neces.3''J>Y ~ertificate should accordingly ma~e early application for it ~s the Ministry. It should be I'emembererl that the seller of unce:rtified r:ote.toes is not the only perGon 111ho can be proceeded againr->t 'J.nder the Orc"ler. Any person who plants uncertified potat--;es ·. other than seed ss.ved from the erop grown on the same land L"1. the previcns year) rertd8rs himself liable to legal procece Members of the Council of Management of the Fund:­Mrs. Ameer Ali Lady Benthall Lady Bomanjee Lady Chatterjee Lady Currie Lady Donington Mrs. Dutt Miss Christine Gretton Lady Halifax The Lady Flora Hastings Mrs. Leslie . (Overseas League) • Lady MacCaw Lady Meek Mrs. James Mills Mrs. Nation Lady Pears Lady Wheeler Lady Willingdon Miss Stella Donner ) Hon. Joint Secretaries. The Hon. Mrs. John Monck ) Charles Waddington,Esq., C.I.E., M.V.O.,) Hon. Treasurer. ) Admiral Sir Reginald Tupper. G,B.E., K.C.B.,c.v.o., Captain T.T. Cameron. representing the Shipwrecked Mariners Society, with whom the Fund will co-operate. It is estimated that there are not less than 30,000 Indian lascars :iln the British Mercantile Marine, many of whom after bei'ng shipwrecked by enemy action, have been landed without possessions of any kind, It is proposed to supplement with comforts the assistance given to these men, by the. Shipping Companies, and the Shipwrecked Mariners Society. A contingent of Indian troops has arrived in France,, an· Indian Pioneer Corps is being recruited in London by the War Office and two Indian Ambulance Units have been formed. As the War proceeds it is anticipated that calls upon the Fund will greatly increase. It is proposed to provide · pullovers, socks, scarves, and other knitted goods~ as well as "comforts" such as cigarettes, Indian gramophone recordst wireless sets and games requisites, for units and for individuals. His E4cellency the Viceroy of India has shown his pratical interest in the scheme by allotting the generous sum of Rs.25,000 to the Fund. /The -2 ­ The High Corrunissioner for India has placed at the disposal of the Council a large room at India House as a depot, as well as accorrunodation for working parties. It is hoped that ladies who have ties with India will be willing to work or to send gifts in kind to the Fund, and these will be gladly welcomed. Subscriptions to the Fund may be sent to the Hon. Treasurer, Indian Comforts Funds 9 India House, Aldwych W.C.2., or to the credit of the Indian Comforts Fund at the Imperial Bank of India, 25, Old Broad Street, E.C.2. Knitted goods and other comforts should be sent to the Hon -Secretary, India House, Aldwych, W.C.2. INDIA HOUSE. NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 6.15 P~Mo 9/1/40 No. 16. JANUARY 9th, 1940. MAJOR A. I. HARRIS, CONTROLLER OF TIMBER, HINISTRY OF SUPPLY, IN A BROADCAST TALK AT 6.15 P. LI. THIS E~NING SAID: TIMBER IN WAR THIE. There can be very few people, who -in one form or another -are not interested in timber. You may be an architect, or a builder, using timber in the construction or repair of buildings -a householder requiring a few odd lengths of wood for day to day repairs -a cabinet­maker carrying on the tradition of fine craftsmanship -or perhaps you are just one of those thousands of people who seek relaxation with saw and chisel. Timber touches intimately every aspect of our daily life and, as distinct from many other raw materials, there is something about it which is warm and friendly. The very expression "touch wood" has a popular significance, it's our symbol of safety• Now in peace time vast supplies of timber worth many millions of pounds enter the ports of Britain every year -Softwoods from the great forest belts stretching across Canada and Europe; Hardwoods from India, Burma, Australia, America and the Far East, and from the steamy tropical jungles of Nigeria, the Gold Coast and the CameroonsG Then again Plywood from Finland, the Baltic States and Russia. The forest treasures of the world are normally open to us -stocks in yards and wharves throughout Great Britain are ample, and we replenish them as we want to -we can all buy and sell without let or hindrance. Then comes war -we want a few loads of wood to complete a housing scheme in which we have invested our savings -we want wood to maintain production in our business -or we want wood for some purpose connected with our homes and especially our gardens. We find -quite suddenly -that we can't get it and that some unpleasant thing called "TIMBER CONTROL" has intervened -supplies have suddenly diminished or even dried up altogether -work is stopped, men are thrown out of employment, and we feel that so much dislocation can1·t be necessary. \.'le argue that this sort of thing didn't happen in 1914, and that this is ~robably justanother example of bureaucracy. VJhat we are inclined to overlook, though, I fee.l, is that this vrnr differs substantially from the last war. Vast quantities of timber have been needed for trenches, emergency bridges and other A.R.P. activities. But "civil defence" is only one side of the problem -timber must also be found for the fighting services, for the Navy, the Army and the Air Force. Have you ever thought of the v.::~st array of stores and equipment which are either wholly or partially made of wood? -the hutments for housing troops, and for emergency hospitals -although both are in future to be larg§l~. made from substitute materials -the ordnance factories, the ammunition boxes, the millions of cases and crates used in the distribution of rations, the lorry bodies, and the tent poleso In the scale of importance a mere splinter, even the tent peg has to be provided to the tune of 24 million required a year. Concurrent with this prodigious demand for timber, imports have naturally diminished; the movement of supplies from certain countries has either been interrupted or stopped, shipping has been needed for munitions, for the transport of troops and for the carrying of essential foodstuffs. Because/ ·-2 ­ Because of all this -and. until we could. find rmt exactly uhat we had in the country and what we might expect to get from abroad ­wasn't it in the National interest to l)rohibit the use of timber except for purposes directly connected with the war? Would.n 1 t the Govermaent have been lacking in foresight if it hacl.. failed on September the 1st to set up a Timber Control? "Controln is an unhappy vwrd -it suggests something which is repugnant to British ideas and cPeates a f"alse im­pression of what the Control really is~ The Contr·o1 of timber is based on the one hand upon centralised buying, and on the other hand upon a licence system to ensure a fair and proper distribution of the supplies that are available.. Novr just 1ook for a moment at the advantages of centralised buying in Wa~ time. In the first iJlace it avoids cmn-eds of buyers were allowed to operate in a restricted market, prices would quickly soarQ Conversely it enables us to leave al~ne any source of supply if it appears that the producers are atte!llpting to exploit our present difficulties. Also the Controller need only buy those species o:f timiber which are urgently wanted for the war efforto Again, centralised buying allows the regulated expenditure of foreign currenc:,1 , because there are occasions when, for reasons of fJ.nancial policy, purchases of timber ought to be made in one country rather than anothero So much, then~ for centralised buying -what about the licensing system? Why have v1e got t o go throu,sh all this red tape, all this fuss and bother to get a little wood? V!ell, because the release of wood only against a licence ensures that the reduced stocks available are used only fer essential Wal:' p i_r11oses.; And, moreover, an applicant for a licence for some pai"ticular kine. of vvood can be reciuired to use some other kindo The machinery ;yf the lj_censing systern is operated by the ]l,rea or Regional Offices of the Tj_mlJer Co:atr•oL If you wish to buy tLnber you apply to your nearest Area Officer 9 v-rho will satisfy himself that the timber really is req1J.ired for work of national imp0rtance, and, that no more is demanded. than is necessary to do the job, of course, allowing for• wastec \iork of n ational importance involves the use of timber for men;y pnrposes besides those I have mentioned. A.;t :first sight some of them may seem to have very little connection with the War effort" For exariTple, there are the needs of food pr·•duction ­the toma~o and apple bm~es ~ the thin vvood pu.nnets for soft :fruits ·­the boxes of conveying fj_sh irila11.d frrni1 the ports -the chiclrnn h ouses, the beehives and sc on". '11hen there is timber for the coal mines, millions upo.r. millions of pitpro~Js to support the workings -timber for the railways and for· lorries s o that communications may be main­tained ~ t j_mber for f ac: tori es~ ancl timber for paclcing exports v,rhich bI•ing us valuable fore:l..;.,,,;n c;urrency. When y :)U thinlc of all these things you surely won 1 t think it unreasonable that when you have asked for a licence to buy tin!ber f or s0rne non-essential purpose you have been told, courteously b:-1t fir:ml~r $ that you can't have it? The first Order relating to the Con-'.;rol of Timber took into consideration the small user -· the little mun who wanted a few odds and ends. /Provided -3 ­ P~ov1ded his needs did not exceed £20 worth a month he could obtnin them from his ordinary merchant upon signing a sim~?le f'orm. Unfortunately this privilege has been abused, and on J 8.nuary the 1st we had to issue an amended Order reducing the monthly value to £5. I suppose there will always be a small minority who ignore the country's difficulties, and think only of themselves. However, they are receiving the attention of the authorities, and I am sure no right-thinking member of the community will regret the penalties they will receive. iUlother new Order relating to the Control of Timber has just crnne into effect, and provides that no person having in his possession more than a certain quantity of timber shall be allowed to use it without a licence, thus extending the same control over manufacturers' stocks as we have over merchants' stocks. The functions of the Timber Control are manifold -one of the nost important being to stimulate the production of home grown su::):)lies. Home grown tinber represents a valuable addition to our resources ~ a war-time reserve -and I would appeal to all land­owners to market their timber by getting into touch with local merchants. HaximUifl prices for standing timber are fixed and will :raema!in unchanged throughout the war, so that there is nothing to gain from withholding supplies, and there may be something to lose. How I want to say a word on the aesthetic side. All of us in this country are lovers of trees -we admire the sturdy oak, symbolic of our own tradition, the smooth barked beech of the chalk hills, the elm of the hedgerow, and the chestnut. It is natural that we hate the idea of their being ruthlessly felled. But don't overlook one point -trees are a crop just like any other -from seedling they grow over a period of years until they reach maturity, when they should be felled, so long as replacement has been provided. Re-affo~estation in this country is comparatively in its infancy, but it is a comfort to know that a bold progrm111ne of planting has been, and is being consistently carried out by the Forestry Conm1ission, and by some of our far sighted Estate owners. For every tree which is taken to meet our national need, others will take its place, so that the beauty of the countryside will not ultimately be impaired. Economy represents another important function of the Timber Control -the Service Departments, in collaboration with the Control have reviewed every item of stores and equipment involving the use of timber. The cost and the amount of wood used in each has been reduced to the minimum which is comnatible with a quality adequate in war-time. As a result of this, ~ very large sum of money has been saved, and what is even more important, we have been able to make a considerable quantity of wood available for other purposes. /I know -4 ­ I know many people regard the Controller as a sort of "big bad wolf" -a super smash and grab Paider who takes sadistic pleasure in inflicting hardship. But even a Controller has his troubles -he knows he has not enough raw material to go round so that he is compelled to resort to strict rationing and priority. vVhat ought to be the order of priority? -who should come first after the Service Departments have been satisfied ­the export trader or the borough surveyor concerned with civil defence -the farmer or the fishing industry? Luckily the question of priority is not one for the Timber Controller to decide. A Government Priority Committee uponwhich all interests are represented has allocated how much of the stocl<:s available shall be issued for each different demand. It is for the Controller to advise as to the stock position. A Controller is continually augmenting his stock of raw material from abroad, but he nrust make due allowance for delays to ships through the convoy system and even for occasional losses by enemy action -furthermore some new development is always liable to upset his calculations. Yn.i.atever he does is ·likely to hurt someone and in consequence he receives many brick-bats. Vlhilst these are not resented9 I hope this talk will have given you a clearer understanding of what the Timber Control is aiming at and what it .is achieving. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY • M I N I S T R Y 0 F F O 0 D A N N 0 U N C E M E N T Control of Meat and L~vesto£~ In the table of livestock prices issued on 7th January the price of pigs over 12 score should read 16/-and not 15/-per score& 9/1/40 -No.18. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. BACON AND HAI.I PRICES. The Bacon (Prices) Order, 1940 made by the Minister of Food on 6th January prescribes fixed wholesale prices and maximum retail prices for bacon and ham. The retail prices are the same as those announced on 3rd January, except that those for cooked and tinned bacon and ham are now as follows:­ per lb. s. d. COOKED (in slices or pieces) BONELESS and SKINLESS . Bacon or Ham, other than shoulder meat Shoulder Meat•.••••••••••••••••••••••• 2. 6. COOKED, BONELESS in Tins. Bacon or Ham, other than shoulder meat 1. 11. (Gross for Nett) Shoulder Meat••••••••••• , ••••••••••••• 1. 6~ (Gross for Nett) The Order includes a provision that in calculating the price of bacon on sale by retail any fraction of a farthing is to be regarded as one farthing. 9/1/40 -No.19. SOUTH AFRICAN WOOL PURCHASES. The British Wool Committee bought 25 per cent of the < combings at yesterday's wool sales in Cape Town. The marketing showed a firm and upward tendency and 80 per cent of the offerings were sold. It is authoritatively stated that since the British wool scheme came into operation the market for Mediums and Shorts has advanced by 25 per cent. Buyers from France, Italy and America are a+so operating. The British Wool Scheme 9 concluded a few weeks ago, pr~vided for purchases on behalf of the British Government on the wool auctions in South Africa at prices not below those in a schedule agreed on by the two Governments. EM~IRE AFFAIRS. 9/1/40 -no, ~o.• IU lHSTRY OF FOOD ..-JTHOUHCEMENT. .•. -­ TEA CLUBS. 'I'he rUnistry of Food wiah to make it clear that rrhile canteens and recognised staff dining rooms can be registered as c2tering establishments, this privilege does not extend to ordLrn.ry office "tea clubs. 11 Such clubs are accordingly not in a ~osition to obtain the allowance of l/7th oz. sugar for eRch hot beverage served. ------000------­ 2L:1./40 -No 21 • PRESS NOTICE. Mr~ Leslie Burgin, Minister of' Supply, has appointed Colonel Sir W. Charles Wright, Bt., KoBoEo, C& Bo, to be controller of' Iron and Steel in the place of' Sir Andrew Duncan,GoBoE., who has been recently appointed President of' the Board of Trade, Sir Charles Wright is Chairman of Guest-Keen-Baldwin Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., and Baldwins Ltd., but ceased active participation in those Companies when he became Deputy Controller of Iron and Steel on the outbreak of War. He was Controller of' Iron and Steel production in the Ministry of Munitions 1917/9, President of the Iron and Steel Institute 1931/33, and President of the British Iron and Steel Federation 1937/380 MINISTRY OF SUPPLY. 9/1/40 -l~o. 22. (NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THIS OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY BEFORE WEDNESDAY MORNING, 10th JANUPRY) NOT TO BE BROADCAST BEFORE MIDNIGHT JANUARY 9th. FIRST COLONI.AL TROOPS IN FR!~ TRANSPORT UNIT FROM CYPRUS. The first Colonial Troops have arrived in France. It is announced today in despatches from France that a Cyp~iot Transport Unit has joined the British Expeditionary Force. The news will be welcomed as further evidence of Imperial solidarity. The CYPriot Contingent was enlisted in the early days of the war, and their departure from the Colony some two months ago was accompanied by scenes of great enthusiasm. They have spent the last two months in intensive training. CYPrus will be proud to have had the privilege of providing the first Colonial Unit to join the British troops on active service in a theatre of war. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 9/1/40 -No 23. PRESS NOTICE The increase in the strength of the Army in France has necessarily involved some modification in the organisation of the Air Forces required, as well as the best means of aff'ording the necessai-y co-operation and support to the Army. In November last this mattei> was fully reviewed in the light of practical experience of the exercise of the control of the Royal Air Force in support of the Army in France. As a result of this review, the following agreed reconunendations were approved by the War Cabinet at the beginning of December. A Royal Air Force Command, to include all units of the Royaj1 Air Force in France, is to be formed. The new Conunand will be desigp.ated "British Air Forces in France", and will be under the conunand of an Air Officer Commanding in Chief. The Air Officer Commanding in Chief will also be responsible, in consultation with the Army Commanders in Chief concerned, for ensuring the most effective support by the British Air ForctB for the British Expeditionary Force and the French armies on the Western Front~ In conjuction with the General Ofricer Commanding in Chief, French Air Forces, he will also be responsible for co-ordinating the operations of the Royal Air Force in France with those of the French Air Forces. The above arrangement involves no change in the principle which governs the relationship between the Army and the Royal Air Force._ I'ir is based on the analogy of the existing relationship between the Royal Navy and the Coastal Conunand, Royal Air Force, and will ensure the closeRt ~o-·operation between the Army and the Air Forces in the field. 10, Downing Street, s.w.1. 9/1/40 -No. 24: FRENCH OFFICIAL COUMUNIQUE. (Eveninfil Paris, Tuesduy January 9, 1940~ 'l"'h.e i'ollowing official cormnunique was issued this evening from French G.H. Q:­DURING THE DAY MARKED ACTIVITY OF OUR PATROLS. ----000----­ 9/1/40 -No.25. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. BRITISH AIR FORCES I!i...EE1U~CE. Appointment of Air Officer Commanding-inwGhief. The Air Ministry announces:­ Air Marshal A.S. Barratt, C.B. ,c.M.G. ,M.c~, has been appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Air Forces in France, and will shortly assume his duties. AIR AFFAIRS. 9/1/40 -lif_o_. -~-?.. AIR MARSHAL BARRATT'S CAREER. (Norr TO BE C!,UOTED AS AN A M /i.l'TITOUNCEf1ErJ1l1) Air Marshal A.S. Barratt, CoB. C.M.G. MoCo -------------------------------------·-­ Air Marshal A. s, Barratt who was born in 1891 at Peshawar, India, and educated at Clifton, has throughout his career been closely connected with the army. He passed thTough the Royal Militnry Academy1 Woolwich in 1909-1910 and was appointed as second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in December 1910. Ho became a flying officer in the Royal Flying Corps in June 1914 and served with the Royal Flying Corps in the :field in Pr nnce during a considerable part of the war. At different periods he commanded .Nlmber 2 and N.ur.iber 3 wings and was temporarily in command of the second brigade Royal Air Force. During part of 1918 and 1919 he was attached to R.AoF. Hendciuarters at Cologne with the British Arrny of Occupo..tion. In August 1919 he resigned his regular army coFrrnission and wns given a permament corni::11iss ion as Sg_uadx•on I,eader with the Royo.1 Air Force. He became a Wing Commander in November o:f the sar.o.e year. In 1924 he took the course at the Staff College o. t Cambe·rley and on passing out became Con1mandant of the School of 1~1"lny Co-0~9erci. t ion. Subsequently he served on air staff duties on the staff of the G.o.c. Shanghai Defence Force and of Number 22 Array Co­ operation Group at home • .After a period as instructor at the R.A.F. Staff Collegehe had command of Number 1 (Indian) Group in 1931 and becrune Senior Air Staff Officer in India in 19320 He was Director of staff duties at the Air L!inj_s-'cl"Y from 1935-1936 and was Commandant of the R.A.F. Staff College from the beginning of 1936 to the outbreak of waro Shortly before this he hnd been selected to take up the post o:t' A.o.c. India~ but instead he was appointed the principa:, R. A.Fo Liaison Officer in Pxaance with the French Army and Air Forces,, He became a Group Cs.ptain in 1928, Air Cornrnodore in 1932, Air Vioe Marshal in 1936, and Air Marshal in July, 1939a --------000-------­ AIR AJ.i'FAIRS 9/1/40 -No~_?l.!___ OFFICIAL ADLHRALTY COMMUNIQUE. Attacks by enemy aircraft on small unescorted merchant vessels have been reported i'n the North Sea today. Reports received indicate that three ships have been sunk; the British s.s. "GOWRIE", of 689 tons, crew all saved by a Danish ship. The Danish shi:p "IVAN KONDRUP", of 2369 tons, from which eleven survivors have been landed by a British vessel but there are still ten men missing, and the Danish ship 11F:GDDY" of 955 tons. No news of her brew is yet o.vailable. --------000-------­