MJ;.NISTFY OF INFORMATIO.~ MORNING BULLETIN NO. 24 15th SEPTEMBER 1939 EMPIRE AFF.AIRS. His Majesty, through Mr. Malco:J m MacDonald, has expressed his deep appreciation of the Loyal messages received from Ceylon, Nigeria9 the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, the Tanganyiki Territory Northern Rhodesia, British Honduras and the Leeward Islands. An expression of His Majesty's gratitude has been conveyed to the Chief Rabbis of Palestine for their message of "heartfelt blessings and fervent prayers of Palestine Jewry for Britain's victory in her heroic stand for right against might and ultimate world peace" which was recently received by the Lord Chamberlain. From Lagos it is learned that the internment of enemy aliens in Nigeria is complete, but the authorities have been able to release about half the number on parole. Germans who remained in the Cameroons after the declaration of war have similarly been placed on parole, and are being employed as far as possible on plantations which have been taken over by the Public Custodian of Enemy Property. The Cameroons have until now done a large trade in bananas, which were mainly exported in German vessels. Dne of the most fervent of the loyal messages which have come from the Colonies arrived from the Bahamas to-day. The House of Assembly passed a resolution assuring the King of their devoted adherence to him and to the Briti.sh Empire 11of which we are so proud to be a member", and protesting their eagerness to serve the Empire "not only during the present crisis, but at all times. 11 .Although only one-sixth of the 60,000 people of the Bahamas are of European descent, there is every reason to say that a number of Bahamians of all races are eager to enlist for service overseas in this war. The trend of feeling in the two great southern Dominions is more and more heartening to people at home. In Australia all the newspapers, except the Labour journal 11Daily News:r are demanding bigger military preparations within the Commonwealth. The calling up of the militia (numbering 78,000) in batches of 10,000 for sixteen days' training is ridiculed, and most papers advocate immediate full­time training of a much larger force which could eventually, should circumstances permit, be sent overseas. The correspondence columns of the Press are full of letters to the same effect. Messages from New Zealand indicate that opinion of every political shade continues to be determinedly behind the British Governn2ent and the Home Country:.. There is no feeling against the German people, but the war -particularly in Labour and Trade Union quarters -is regarded as the inevitable challenge to an unsound and foul system. Sir Hugh O'Neill, Parliamentary Under S~cretary of State for India and Burma, has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Sir Vialter Smiles, C.I.E., DoS.O., M.P, to be his Parliamentary Private Secretary. Turkish Ships in Mediterranean. Paris reports that Turkish shipping movements have been resumed in the Mediterranean. :i\:LINISTRY OF I NFom :.::_TION EV~"1ING BULLDl'IN NO. 25. 15th September 1939 . CONTRABAND CONTROL. During the v-ve ek ended September 9th~ the Dritish contraband control intercepted and det ained large quantities of goods as to v-rhich t here was evidence tha,t they were contraband consigned to GermBny, including 28,500 tons of petroleum, 26,350 tons of iron ore, 3,400 tons of haematite ore, 4,600 tons of illanganese ore, 7,300 tons of wood pulp, 6,000 tons of pebble phosphate and a number of mixed cargoes. Cl:.SE OF THE WARRIOR. The publication of a notice stating th2.t a consignment of pebble phosphate from the .American steamer Warrior was to be sold by public tender, by order and for account of the :M:arshal of the L.dTiliral ty, does not mean that the goods in question have been condenmed by the Prize Court. The Warrior was c!.etained in London on Septmnber 4th, and as she Yvas boun for Hamburg the seizure of 5, 900 tons of pebble phosphate which she was c arrying was ordered by the Contraband Cornmittee on . September 5th. The Prize Court is not yet sitting, but when it does the case will come before it, and the ultimute fate of the cargo or its money value, together with all questions of costs and expenses, will depend on the order of the Court. NAVAL AFFAIRS In a broadcast from Zeesen (German)~l§_.ss._S_~t..i~~ in German to Ge.rmap. listeners yesterday evening, it was stated that.. $.J-"l Dutch vessels in future were to be more clerly marked as a safeguard against British attacks . The fact is that no Dutch, or any other neutral vessels have been attacked by British Naval forceso As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the main object of the British Navy must be 9 as in the last war, to ensure the freedom and safety of the seas. Not to be Published or Broadcast before the Morning of Saturday, ffi-h September, 1939-°_________ AIR FORC:C REWARDS The Air Ministry announces:­ His Ma jesty the King has been gra~iously pleased to approve of the under-mentioned rewards for gallant and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in Palestine 0-uring the period 1st November, 1938, to 31st Me.rch, 1939:·­ Distinguished Service Order ·-Squadron-Leader Hector Douglas McGregor. Distinguished Flying Cross ·-Flying Officer Edward Trevor Williams; Pilot Officer Anthony Ives Hostage Lynch; Pilot Officer Charles Harold Dyson. EMPIRE AFFAIRS J...Jcgislation will be introduced next week to give the New Zealand Government full financial control of the resources of the Dominion. This announcement was ~ade by the Minister off Finance in the New Zealand house of Representatives today (Friday) Mr. John Dulanty, High Commissioner for Eire, announces that children under sixteen and women desiring to return to Eire may do so up to and including Saturday, September 30th, without travel or exit permits. The value of ·wireless in time of war is illustrated by the decision of the Sarawak Government to open a local broadcasting service, which has already come into operation on September 9th. The object is to keep the population constantly informed of defence measures affecting their daily lives and the security of the State. Thus, there should be the fullest co-operation of all communities in any steps which the British Government may desire Sarawak to take. It is hoped shortly to start transmission in the Malay~ Chinese and Dayak languages as well as in English. The broadcasts reach stations in the far interior of Sarawak . There are many radio stations in .r~.ajah Brooke's territory, since wireless is used for internal communication and land lines have been scraT)ped. ---···----­ HOME AFFAIR~ Evacuation and School Problems The Roard of Education have received reports from their Inspectors in the light of which it is possible to form a general impression of the present position throughout the country in regard to the evacuation of school children and the subsequent problems of schoolingo It is clear that in general the original evacuation was carried out with great successo Supplementary evacuations are still proceeding in some areas, and there hav~ been instances in which these later evacuations have given rise to some delay in the opening of schools. In most of the reception areas, however, the schools are already either open or expect to open very shortly, with double shifts: or some other expediento In a number of rural areas it will be possible for the schools to work in single shifts; on the other hand certain places have come to notice in which there is congestion, and even allowing for double shifts in the schools there may be some difficulty in fitting all the children in.. Arrangements for the hiring of additional accommodation, houses, halls, etc-o , or for the re-opening of disused schools, are being made in most of the reception areaso Although a closer estimate is not possible, it seems likely that at least three quarters of the schools in the reception areas have opened this week. One Authority, Leicestersh:).r e, are proposing the adoption of the "Tutorial System" for incoming children" The pupil.s are enrolled in groups under their own teachers, who are specially responsible to the Head Teacher for the children's out of school activities, and for difficulties which arise in connection with billeting. They acquaint themselves with the householders and frequently visit the children in their new homes. In the main the arrangements for the reopening and carrying on of the elementary schools are working wello Sometimes evacuated schools are being merged with the schools in reception areas and are not being carried on as separate departmentso Little difficulty seems to have been experienced so far owing to t he shortage of books and school materials 9 and deficiencies are being made up in various ways. There is little evidence that the childrEm are having to walk very far to school at present 9 though perhaps difficulties may arise on this point when the petrol rationing comes into operation. In a good many areas schools are oeing opened in the evening for social and recreational activities in accordance with the recommendation made by the Board in their Ci!'cular on "Schooling in an Emergency". Several Authorj_ties have decided that for the present children under seven yeare · of age shall be excluded from the schoolse Need for attention to the clothing and boots of evacuated children has become apparent j_n most localitieso Palliative measures are being put in hand 9 and in many areas voluntary subscriptions are being raised to meet the need of the children for boots and clothing. It is c1ear that much local voluntary effort is being made in this directi on. The services of the older girls are being utilised in making and mending clothing~ In certain areas arrangements for communal meals are being made and an extension of these arrangements is urgently desirable. The evacuation of secondary and junior technical schools was in the main carried out satisfactorily, though a good deal of redistribution is necessary and is at present in progress. The Board's attitude to the opening of schools in neutral areas was defined in their official communication of ' September 7th which states that schools in neutral areas may now be reopened for instruction at the discretion of authorities; an important factor in determining whether they shall be reopened is the degree of protection available for the children while in school. Authorities are urged to complete the necessary measures of protection with the least possible delay. The question of the sufficiency of the protection provided is one on which education authorities would naturally consult the A.R.P. authority. MINlSTRY OF INFORMATION. NO. J'.. 15/9/39. ~ R. P• MESSENGER SERVICES. Withdrawal of Boys .under 16. Boys under l6, many of them Boy Scouts, are being withdrawn from local authorities' A.R.P. messenger servi.ce.s. This is being done in accordance with tllle Government's decision that boys Ulllder 16 shoul.d not b.e enrolled in any AoR.Po service. The reason for the official ban is that it is felt that boys o,f this age should not b:e expoJse.d to the strain and long hours imposed by war e.onditions. Before the declaration of war, boys under 16 were allowed to train at Ao Ro P. cemtres and depo,t.s, but umler present conditions it is thought better that they should be trained to take their _part in civil defence by the organ:iLsatio:ns to which they belong. • MINISTRI . OF WORMAT!Ol{. CANADA AND THE WAR A CRITERION FROM THE PAST Forty tho'lilBand killed in action or missing: 12,000 died of wounds: 141.,000 wounded: 425,000 eel'.'\Ted. on foreign t'iel.ds. Such, in summary, is the heroic story of Canada's contribution.: to the last waro To-day men are again flocking t0 the same Colours for tha same caus,e, whil.e already the Canadian Parliamant has sanctioned mill.ions of p,o,unds for the prosecution of the new war 'lil[)On which she had deliberatels9" and '\il.Ilhesitating1y embarkedo That she will. bring to her great task all. the vigour, resol.ution and enterprise that contrililiuted so notably to the victory of:: British Arms in 1918 is already manifestQ But it seenis that in a materaial. sense Canada wilJ_be abl.e to ~lay her part on a sti11 more impressive scale than in the industrially 1Lmmature days 0;f 1914 -although she was able, none the less, to· pay from her own polcket every cent of the cost of her partidpation. Tlile rec-ord of her accomplishments duri:m:g the Great War gives some hint of her capacity now. Onwards from 19-14 the farmers, during the War period, increased tllle a.creag,e devoted to grain from 33,000,000 to 51,000,000 and her exports of wheat. during these years, largely to this country, were as fol1ows : ­ 1914 64,000,000 bushel.s 1915 236,000,000 hushels 0 • 0 • • • • • 1916 140,000 , 000 b_ushels 1-917 11.8,000,000 bushels To-day, it may be ohse_rved the present c.rop is e,stimat.ed at nearly 450,000,000 husheJl.s -the four~h 1argest ~n record. Canada was also able to supply us with many other forms of foodstuffs, while her record in the production of war material was equally impressivee During the last six months o,f the war, 1.5 per cento of the Ministry of Munitions allocation was being spent in Canada : to-day s-ee..s her equd.pped to pro.duce from en:1.arged factories al almo:st Ullllimited supply of munitions -2­ manufactured to tne standards laid down bu Missions to and from th:e Old Country. The re.cord of her output~ however, in the last War was not by any means so small as to he dwarf.ed by anything she may immediately achieve. In the last conflict she produced every t;ype of shell, from the 9.2 to the 18 pounder, all ~f which were sent to Franceo Sevent.een months af':ter war he['.; an, the Dominion had over 400 establishments engaged solely in the production of shell.so Financial. facts are eq_ually :h.lluminating in this matter of munitions productions for the British Army. In 1914 the output was valued at £5, 633.; thereafter the totals j1.lJ1l.Ped into the m illi.01ns: 1915 £11,442,737 1916 0 0 ••• 0 0 59,,301,052 1917 77·, 642., 710 1918 52,142,360 Furthermore, over 2,900 aeroplanes were constructed, and some £14,000 ,000 v-vas spent in shlip-bu:iLld.iElg c.ontracts. A factor then, whic.h is of equal i!mportance now, was that, the Domilffii.on of Canada was panticul.arly useful. to Eng1Land in being the neare.st of the Dominions, and therefore the neare.stJ friend]y source of s'.llpply of raw material.a of all kinds, notab~ minernlS. She smppl:h.es 90 per cent. of the world's demand for nickel, and is the third large:st go:td producing coUlID.try. · The to.tal estimate of production for 1L938 was approxiimate]ly £91,000,000, out of which copper, lead, zinc and n:h.ckel. contrib.ute.d no less than £27, 700,000c Wmt.. Can.ada' s coiilltribution in the matt.er of persomn.e1L may he in the present war ts for her to det.ermine, 1ast time, from her comparatively small popuill.ation she enl.is'.ted in the Canadian Expeditionary Fo·rce. IilO fewer than 62:0-,000. On the heights of Vi.my Ridge there is· the mo.m;.ument of the twin pylolfll.S which bears ree.ord for all time to a loyalty to ii.deal.ism whic.h Canada still holds to be imperishableo THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. No.3. 15/9/39· AN ARMY IN BEING. Now that the presence of British troops in France has been made known9 the public can be asked to realise the enormous tasks involved in bringing a moder_n Army _i.nt-o being. All our people are naturally anxious that our country should pull its full weight in the struggle 9 and there is un­remitting determination among the responsible authorities that it should do so. The lie has already been given to assiduous German stories that Great Britian intends to fight this war through the agency of its allies. We did not do so in 1914-18, and we shall not do so to-day~ But modern war is not the simple matter that it was in the old days. Men no longer pick up their individual weapons from some central armoury and march to war with the expectation of fighting with any enemy with whom they may happen to collide and living on anything which they may be able to collect. Armies are no longer small professional bodies as they were in this country right up to the time of the South African War (1899-1902~ They can no longer rely upon an improvised supply of food and of equipment 9 as they had only largely to do up to the time of Ma~lborough. Mar.lborough himself was the first to realise how rriuch the mobility and the --efficiency of -his troops would be increased by an organised system of supply9 and he created one. But Marlborougl'is organisation was a pale shadow of that shown to be necessary in later wars -e. g. the Crimea; and the organisation of 1914-18 was not recognisable as its descendant. Organisation in 1939 will need to mark another big advance even on 1914-18. In the interval the Army has become even more scientific9 and re~uires weapons 9 instruments 9 and other forms of equipment far more varied and far more complicated. Even in 1918 about five persons were required to keep one soldier in the line; and probably more will be required to-day. It must also be remembered that the War Cabinet's announcement that they are framing their plans on the assumption of a three years' war refJects the truth that an Army must not only be brought into being9 but kept in being. That is the difference between German and British preparations. Once again the German preparations seem to be based on the hope of a "lightning war" Ours are not9 and cannot be. By dint of great exertions we bad9 before the outbreak of war1 built up an extremely powerful Navy -nnd Air Force1 and we had created the skel eton of an extremely powerful Army. That skeleton is now having flesh put upon it1 is now being supplied with a vast industrial cushion which will support its ever growing weight 9 and will -much f aster that in 1914-18 -make a contribution to the allied effort on land in every way conforming to the resources of our country and to the desires of our people British soldlers in t he f'ie1d. have the reas:::rnring knowledge that their gen8ra: health 9 as well as t he treatment of wounds 9 is in the competent hands of the Roya:t Army Medice.l Corps 9 which in recent years has carried out a vast amount of r crnearch in ad.di tion to the norma·::;.. routine work of curative medicine. Until recent times tho inortalj_ ty among f:Lghting soldiers had been greater through the ravag::38 of disease that from the weapons of the enemy. At the siege of Na1)len i n -152 8 1 thirty thou.sand men of the i YJ.Vacli ng army d.i~d of typhus in three mon\:hs. Even as recently as 1879 half the Russian ar-r.1y war3 r'ter:,troyed at Constantinople by the same dread disease, Before 1909 our t:..'oops in I:nd~L8. suffered seriously from typhoid. In that year voluntary inoculation agaj_nst the disease 1!Vas tried and b;sr ·1913 ninety per cent of t he t :-c'ocps ha(~_ bee!1 treated. The result of this pr eventative work has shown that in thjrty years the mortality rate has been reduc·ea. from f:i_:f'teon per 1 sOOO tc something less than one. The heuJ.th of the Army is the concern of the Army School of Hygiene, Alrlershot, ancl the Royal Army MeCJ.ical Oollege 9 Millbank, where research workers 9 doctors and scientific experts strive to keep our Army f ighting fit in a11 conch t:i.ons of active servjJ;.e. Personnel of the R,A.M.C, are specially t raine d to carry out the same kind of expert duties as the practi.ce of meclicine necessitates in civilian life. Some become specialized chemists, others laboratory asRistants; and specialiGtG trained f or the scientific branch of medicine are often respons:Lb1e for producj_ng curo.tive methods which benefit civilians as well as sold~ers. In the re8e2.2cll ls.ooratories of the R,A.IvL O. equipment i s produced for ensur-ing that HD. tur ::..s fit to drinlc, and that disease germs cannot flourish and. multiply . A r,ew mobi:e water purifier has been evolved wh:i.ch gj_ves throe thousand. gal1om; of filter-ed and steri~_ized water per hour ancl. :providec; t:..-'OOl!S on the march with water free from conto.mj_nation. The Royal Army Mect:5.. cal Corps taJ:rns care of the soldier from the moment he is e.x:amined. by a MecUca:l. Officer at ·::;he recruiting station. The Cor•ps advises on 1Jal'"'t'a-JkD 9 billets 9 c s.mrJs 9 water supply, cooking and rations, Rnd is reaponsibl9 fo~ the rati onirg and pay of the sick and wounded in :.L ts care, and for th0 evacuati on of wounded from the battle­field. M.A.P.20 MINIG'I'RY 0 p I N F 0 R M A T I 0 N. No. 5 15th Sep·tember, 1939. EXF;MPTIGN OP F/\Yl_l\IIE:RS FHOM WAH lHS'r\:~=) TNSURANCE. ---·----------·-----------­ rt has a1reo.dy been announced that certain agricultural and horticultural products whilst on agricultural land are to be excluded from the scope of the i:var Ris1-rn Instt:::'ance Act. 'l'hese products will be growing crops, plants and trees and also livestock and crops so long as they are on the agricultural land occupied by the person who owns the livestock in the course of his agricu1tu:;:-·al business,. or who has produced the crops in the course of such business.. None of these products wil1 be insurable, either compulsorily or voluntarily. Farmers who have already registered in respect of products which are now exempted vvill not be entitled to a repayment of the regist~"'a.tion fee. If, however, they have already paid premiums for which they are no longer liable under the revised arrangements, these premiums will be refunded. Of the products not covered by the exemption the chief are milk, butter, cheese and egp-s, but insurance will only be compulsory for these if their total value on the farm at any cne time exceeds £1,000. The majority of farmers will, of course, fall below this 1 imit, and in consequence need not insure. They may, however, insure voluntarily in respect of these productsif they so desire. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,Dept. K.A., 10, White~all Place, London, 3. Vi! . 1. T:t'.e fixir.g o~:· rr.e.xirm.!.m prie•su for f e.t s·l", oc.':c has gi ve:c-1 r· i£3e to E.~ 1ru.rrCc~1'") c:f ~l1J_e~·:l3s l) I;-io~ ~2:xf~r1~q~_e" tr1e c1ues-tj_or1 11as 1 -bee:1 af5_:.\~ec• , nvYl1s.t h.&1-J_pc11s \·vl:.en six r)eo~9J..s ··u1(s.. ·t1~1e .rnaxiiifl..11:-1 IJr·1co?" Th~ present ar~asrese~t lB briefly as foll ows . 1'£2..~(:j_nn.i.n r-:i.Pi_ c es f •Jr~ :Ct:~.t :~J t: ()C.l(, ac;(;•J I"C.:.5_ 1}.t_~ t:io 1~~~rQ P_d~e s r1f:';_ve b oen :f:j_ :v~t.-::d_ lJ,V C)r~cier tl.i.e :'1.i::~~tl')/" ::J ..'~-_;~00d.0 ·TJ'.t.6 f?-t.oc::.c fc~r~ D3~Lc e..r e 1 V E'..l·,18(~-in t }Je 1r~t:.l"]I.e t ·~ : :f t [· E:: :~.c~q:_:z:J.i-: Gitl _c)r~ i_ CC iJ F)_:ce D , bcu2;h t by the Government at fixed 1]riees, aceording to c l f,1,8 C-)l~2i c 5.t t o r1 c11J.c'i s e11t :_~ or:t E 1 ~::J1t_~l-'1 ter~. Q1.13.lity Kill i ng out 57 or 4 8/-live cwt"' Oi.r·cr !I tl n If 54,--i56 4:L't/­ !I ,, It 11 OrdL::J21.ry 54 OT' 40/·­ (j\T·J r h aving 11 It Othe~?s 53 and !I tf If unde:r· 3?/­ ,,• .I! ·1 .., L 8J1lDS .l Jc-2-0. e per l b est irnat ed cl1~esseC_ c :'l"' C 3-S8 Yi C i gI'1t o -··-..-·­ !! !I tt ti ti ti §11e~~~[2. l Od. it II II !I 1Z:/ -· per score u-p to 10 2core 12/Gci . per score above that weicl1t. 10 :t \;:·1.t tel1al:l.. i.)J_a~ce, 9 SQ I;/ .-l. PHESS HOT I CE -------·-··­ Mi~istry of _Inform_ation The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries a11.d the Secretary of State fo~ Scotland have made the Milk Products MaI'keting Sch8me, 1929 ( iViodification and 81 ..:.spension) Order, 1939, under ~~egulat.ion 55(2) of the Defence Regu.:.ations, 1939. The effect of the Order is that the further operation of the Mi l k Products Marketing Scheme, 1939, which was approved on 2nd AugttSt, 1939 9 is suspended, and the initial poll of produce1•s on the question as to vvhether the Scheme should remain in force will not be hald during the period that the Order is in force. The Order is being printed in the Statuto:ry Rules and Orders series9 and copies will shortly be obtainable, either directly or through any bookseller 9 from m.s MR.jes t y 's Stationery Office, York House 9 Kingsway, London, VLCo2 ; 120, George Street, Edinburgh, 2; 26, York Street, Manchester, 1; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff. M:ini stry of Agriculture and Fisheries9 Dept . KoA. 9 10, Whi t ehall Place, s0 w.1. ·· "'" -.. . N0.8. 15/9/39 FROi':i THE l: ..INISTRY OF I NFOfil,11\.TION DRIJ:.TK ],:tORE LILK C.ALP..A.IGN TO-D}.Y BOM1D 1 S REPLY TO GEill-UJT nFB,;_INEn LIE Germany, in a recent broadcast announcement, tried to delude the world into believing that London v-vas without milk. The reply of the lviilk Marketing Board. is to be found in the advertisement columns of to-day' s nev-vspapers, which urge housewives to see that every member of their families has at least a pint of milk each cls,y. Tl Ad.eciuate supplies are av2.ilci,ble, and will be 11 , runs the announcement. A pint per hee,d per d2.y is t wice the quantity of milk consumed in this country, even in peace-time. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. NO. 9 -15:9: '39. Telegranh Services in London. From a normal weekly Inland traffic of approximately 1,200,000 transactions the figures rose to approximately 2,000,000, an increase of roughly 66%. A new record day's figure of L~51, 273 (an increase of 125% over a normal day's traffic) was reached on the 25th August and last September's record tot·al of 403, 000 was also passed on the 26th August and the 1st and 2nd September. The total for the week ended 2nd September of 1,966,425 transactions is the highest ever reached. Telegraph traffic is still heavy but delay is no~ not much more than normal . --~ Ministry of Information, No. 10, 15.9.39. Government Provision for Cases of Injury and Death Resulting from Air Raids or other Warlike Operations. Temporary Cash Allowances and Pensions. The Minister of Pensions has laid before Parliament a scheme which he has made under the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939, to provide for grants in respect of physical injury to civilians as the direct result of warlike operations. In accepting this new form of liability the Government has made provisions which are generous in their scope and are applicable not only to members of recognised civil defence organj_sations on duty at the time of injury, but also to other civilians who normally are substantially dependent for their livelihood on their earnings; or to their immediate dependants if the injury causes death. Grants in respect of injury will be (1) a temporary Injury Allowance if the injury causes incapacity for work for a period of not less than seven consecutive days; and (2) at a later stage a pension (with family allowances) if the injur3r results in serious and prolonged disablement. In cases of death pension and children's allowances may be paid to the person's widow, or, if there is no widow or child, pension may in certain circumstances be paid to parents or orphan brothers and sisters who are in need and incapable of self-support, provided that they were actually dependent upon the decen-sed person imrnediately before his death. Payments of the temporary Injury Allowance will be made by the Unemployment Assistance Board as agents of the Minister of Pensions because the Board's existing; local organisation will enable these payments to be made yromptly and with the minimum of inconvenience to applicants. Arrangements have been made for special medical certificates for this purpose to be issued by the hospital or doctor treating the injured person. Cases Cases of serious and prolonged disablement will in due course be taken over by the Liinistry of Pensions for consideration of the award of pension. If the injury causes death, the widow or other immediate dependant will be considered for pension by the Ministry of Pensions. Contributory Act Pensions are not payable in respect of deaths from War Operations, but, if a widow or dependant is in immediate need, the Unemployinent Assistance Board may give assistance under the Government's scheme for the Prevention and Relief of Distress. Injury Allowances will be paid at a weekly rate without regard to means and needs. They will vary only with the size of the family, and according as the injured person is treated at home or in hospital. For example, a man with a wife and two children will receive 28/6d. a week if he is tpeated in hospital, while a single man will receive 18/-if treated at home. Health Insurance benefit will not be claimable while these allowances are in issue. The rates of pension will be broadly on the lines of those applicable to private soldiers enlisted for service in the present war, and will vary according to the actual degree of physical disablement, with a maximum of 32/6d. a week for a single man or 22/6d. for a single woman. Married men will receive additional allowances for wife and children. The pension for the widow of a man whose injury results in death will also be at the service rate fixed for the widow of a private soldier, viz., 15/6d. a week for a childless widow under 40 and 22/6d. a week for others, with an allowance of 5/-for each child up to the age of 15. From ­MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. NO"ll. 15/9/39. NOTIGE RX ROYAL ROUMANIAN LEGATION. The Royal Roumanian Legation in London$ wis;hes to inform all the Roumanian citiz,ens lliving in Great. Britain and belonging to the Royal Roumanian Reserva Army, Air Force and Navy and who are in :possession o,f military duty wht.te formuJlars ( ordine de chemare albe.) that, they should call immediately at the office of the Royal Roumanian Military Attache, 4, Cromwell Plac.e, London, S. W8 7, which is open daily between ll a.om.. and 11 Think of t'-1e HeiJ' r-, G;")"'l1s " ___..,...,_:.:....:_....,..;,,___._.......-l.. ......~~~ Think of the "Hello Girls" during an air-raid. Every telephone exchange must continue to operate when the sirens have driven ordinary citizens to cover. The Post Office is proud of its traditions and it is proud now to know that virtually all the "Hello Girls" in exchanges throughout the country have volunteered to continue at their posts during an air-raido They wi11 work in conditions of great strain and great danger, but not one of them is daunted. And not only the nHello Girls", or female operators to give them their full and official title, out the male telephone opera-tors, 'Vho ::i.t c.ert,.a.i.n ..hou1•p. take ov.er t-hE:. -du-ti.es, are to play their part too. Thereby hangs .a . tale of one exchange. The. air-raid warning was sounded at 7 aomo or. the _5-tb September. Theo qLen were on duty when the warning began and were still on duty when the girls came on at 8 a.mo Not one of the men would cede his place. Instead they commanded the girls to go to their shelters. After some protest the men prevailed, the girls departed, and the men remained on duty after their normal hours until the moment when the all-clear was sounded. PRESS NOTICE M.A.P. 23 MINISTRY OF INFOP.I~A'I'ION _,.._._.._______..._·-·-·-·---­ Farr.;rnrs ·who had been 1rmiting for an announcement on Seed Wheat prices bef ore thr eshing their corn can now go ahead" The price of seed wheat is left free, so seed wheat sellers can proceed to sell their wheat to the best advantagee An Order will shortly be issued requiring such wheRt t o be sold by growers only to authorised merchants. Wh.en seed wheat is sola_ to farmers? the merchant will be r equi red to obtain signed declarations from the farI'.'ler of t he ac:.:'eage he intends to sow and the q_uantity of Yvheat he r equires f or sowing~ Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries , Dept. , K .A . 9 10, Whitehall Place, London 9 S .'r"1 . le FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. (For Press only) NO. 14 -15:9:'39. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT. Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939. The Board of Trade have made the following appointments of Custodians of Enemy Property under the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939:­ For England. Sir Ernest Fass, K.C.M.G., C.B.~ O.B.E., Public Trustee. (Address: Office of the Public Trustee, Sardinia Street, Kingsway, W.C.2.) For Scotland. Mr. Ernest Edward Parker, M.B.E., Accountant of Court. (Address: New Register House, Edinburgh, 2. ) For Ireland. Major Frederick George Hill, O.B.E., Official Assignee in Bankruptcy. (Address: Supreme Court of Judicature, Royal Courts of Justice, Ulster, Belfast). Each of these gentlemen will perform the duties of their present offices in addition to their duties as Custodians of Enemy Property. The stre2.ID of messages ~rriving from all purts of the Empire and Colonies for the King he.ve one thing in common. :Co.ch is much more ths.n o. mere verbal expression of loyalty. .A.11 denote that the resources of the Empire ·will be completely devoted to the prosecution of the Far to a successful end -and the British Empire's resources are illimitable. The Dominions, more po..rticul2.rly _·_ustralia and Canada, c:.re great manufucturin(S countries ilS well as being great food producing areas. These Dominion industries will not only sustain &me-rne1 -eeonomi.c life, but will help considerably the economic Ii.:f& ::rf . .:tlJ.e ilJo.:l;.hex:-.Co.untry. The Dominion industries are not a l.uxur;r ·o.u.tpu.:t..,.·· but· sx.e-·'basic activities. Iron and steel monufa.cture._, .;for_inst<:i.nce, ·i-s .now well developed in thA Domi.ni..ans___an..d__Lndia . VIT.~.LLY IliIPORT. :.J~T SUl?PLITI;S The-Dominions c..nd India o..re gTe2t provicLers of food stuffs and raw materials, the receipt of w·hi ch by Great Britz..in is, of course, essential to her continuad existence. ~ho~t, butter, meat are just some of the food items among those resources. From India come regularly, and will continue to come, a..rnple supplies of tea, jute, oil-seeds and many other important requirements. South Lfrica's ::;old supplies are vitally important. -.,:.rhat the countries of the Empire mean by devoting their strength to carryinr~ on the ·,'.'ar was vrnll shovrn by the Finister of Finance in the New ZeCll and Ho~~;-·of 1Tepr~-s-entatrre-rr-~o~J:d:;Y.-· -ue--sa::ta::-· 1·The deterE1ination of :new Zeal and, 2.nd therefore the objective of the Government, is to make its major contribution, whatever sacrifice that may ent0-il, to the prosecution of the -. ·2,r . ·· '"The Governmei1t has alreo,dy announced its lJOlicy for the defence of the Dominion throus-h its contribution to the ca.use of Demo eratic Countries, but as csreo:c a contriiJution muy be made in the Dominion by orc;ani zing our resources in such a -rray that our kinsmen and other friends over-seas may be provided 1qi th the necessary foocl u.ncl clothing ., for themselves and their families during this period of trial. The Government has determined to use all the Nation's resources to this end -personal, material and financial" Minerals and Rubber The same determination to give all their immense material aid towards the prosecutio· of war has been emphasized by the Colonies and Dependencies. It is particularly significant that the determination has been expressed not only by the Governors and Governments of these areas, but by non-official members in their Legislatures and by groups of private citizens. The two most valuable products of the Colonial Empire are minerals and rubber. Amon:::; ·ninerals there is tin, copper, gold and petroleum and oil seeds. Vegetable oils, sugar, tea and cocoa are other commodities which arc going to help Britain and her Allies towards victory. Wl.i:VJ -Z EAI,AND ' 8 PART New-Zealand 5 which info~med. the British Government today that she has placed at their disposa1 the whole of her surplus production, is repeating her action in th'3 last war, when she was one of England's chief sup~liers of meat, dairy produce, wool and certain other commodities lesser in amount, lJut not in importance. Since the days of the last wo.r, the export capacity of the Dominion has strikingly increased, meat by 60 per cent; butter by 500 per cent; chesse by 90 per cent, and wool by 28 per cent New Zealand today is Britain1 s largest supplier of these commodities except wool, for which she ranks seccmd. The Personal rP~...£h~ There is great enthusiasam for the British cause among Indian troops and the families from which the troops are recruitedo This is evident in the great amount of correspondence pouring into the office of the Editor of the Fauji Akhbar (the Army Newspaper). This newspaper is quite out of the ordinary. It is edited from the Army headquarters and devoted to matters of interest to Indian soldiers, their wi~es and families and ex-soldiers from the Indian Army who have gone back to their villages. A letter recently received in London from the Editor of the Fauji Akhbar remarks: The Faujis (soldiers) here a!'e in great form. Every day letters pour into my office from all over the areas inhabited by the fighting classes expressing their absolute love and loyalty for their beloved King-Emperor and stating in most unambigious terms that they will sacrifice their lives and all that is theirs for him and in defence of the Empire. Conditions in Pa~~stine. The outbreak of war has already had a mar~ed effect on Palestine, in rallying the diverse elements to an appreciation of their common danger. Thus the general situation in the country has undoubtedly t'improved~ though there continue to be encounters with small roving Arab bands. The attempt in German broadcasts to convince the world that the loyalty of the Arab Press and of the Arabs in Palestine has been purchased by British bribes is refuted by the fact that a number of Arab notables have spontaneously manifested their readiness to help the British authorities. It may confidently be hoped that the general improvement in Palestine~ enhanced by the internal support given to the cause of the Allies and by the support of Egypt, Irak and Trans-Jordan, will ultimately secure more than the nominal co-operation of Jews and Arabs in helping the Palestine Government to meet an over­riding threat to their liberties. The German radio has been proclaiming that the ban on lTewish imrni.cro. t j_on i.nto Pales ti ne has been li fted, but the ')Olicy ,, i/ 1'1 ' ,I of the Government's recent VVhi te Paper remains unaffected_b;>1 ,-the-war And Still They Come. Another loyal message has been received from the Inidan Oc.ean this time from the Seyahelles. A rousing resolution was moved and seconded by unofficial memb.ers . of the Seychelles Legislative Council and passed unanimously. "On this fourteenth day of September the first occasion of their meeting after the outbreak of war with Germany the members of the Legislative Council desire once more to place on record the expression of their devotion and profound loyalty to His Majesty the King. The Seychelles, they are aware, is among the smaller and less important of His Majesty's Colonies but it yields to none in its allegiance or· in the strength of the ties which bind it to the Throneu "It is moreover united in the firm determination of its people that as far as lies within their power they will individually and collectively ~o their utmost in the great cause for which their King and his great Ally France have now taken up arms." An expression of His Majestyws deep appreciation for messages of loyalty received has been notified to the Legislative Council of Dominica and M::mtserrat9 • and of Trinidad. A similar expression of deep appreciation has been conveyed through the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of the Leeward Isl.:-.nds in respect of a message from the Virgin' . Islands; also in respect of a special message of loyalty sent by the Worke~s ~ League of the Leeward Islands. His Majesty has also caused an expression of his appreciation to be despatched to the Gover·nor of Barbados in respect of the message of loyalty sent in the name. of the Government and peop:e of the island., His Majesty has commanded that an expression of his appreciation should 'be conveyed to the Chiefs of the Bechuanaland Protectorat e f or their loyal messageo MINISTRY OF I1'TFOR.tvLL\.TION, NO. 16, 15.9.39. Compensation for death or di~plement in S~£Vice. The Minister of Pensions has .now, W'lder the authority of Parliament, taken over from the Admiralty, war Office and Air Ministry, responsibility for the award of allowances and pensions for the disablement or death of officers and men in consequence of service in the present war. He has also been made responsible for the award of correspondinc grants in simila1" cases to officers and men (and their relatives) of the Uercantile ~'Tarine. The Ninistry has made arrangement$ for dealing with all cases directly on receipt of claims, and already pensions or temporary allowances have be en avrnrded in cases of death or injury among members of the cr ews of merchant ships, such as the Bosnia and Athenia. From the Ministry of Information No.17. 15.9.39. TRAN"SMISSION BY POST The War Office announce that by an Order in Council dated 6th September under Defence Regulation 11 (1) & (2) the transmission by the Public by post of all goods and commodities (including printed and pictorial matter) to the following countries i~ prohibited except under permit. Italy. Norway. Slovakia. u.s.s.R. Ruthenia. The Baltic States. Holland. Spain. Belgium. Bulgaria. Luxemburg. Thailand (Siam) Denmark. Danzig. Switzerland Vatican City. Hungary. Poland. YugoslaYi a. Rumania. Sweden Turkey. Japan (while neutral) ·Greece. China Portugal. And all dependencies thereof. Except in special circumstances, permits will only be granted to firms and traders normally exporting particular goods, including leading booksellers and newsagents exporting printed matter. Any private individual wishing to send literature and printed matter (including typescript or manuscript publications), pictorial matter or photog1'aphs to the above mentioned countries should place their orders with leading newsagents, booksellers, photographers, &c., who will shortly be issued with permits for this purpose. Goods may be sent to the above mentioned countries through the agency of leading stores holding permits in the same way. Goods or printed matter &c., posted direct by private individuals, will be held up or returned by the Censorship authorities. For further details, application should be made to:­ Postal Censorship, AINTREE, LIVERPOOL,9. Copies of Defence Regulation 11 (1) & (2) may be obtained from H.M. Stationery Office. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFQRMATIQ~ No.18 -15/9/39 Letters to Regimental Paymaster. The War Office announce that it is most important that wives and dependants of soldiers should always include in their letters the Army nu.:nbcr and Regiment or Corps of the soldier concerned when writing to the Regimental Paymaster in connection with family allowance or allotments from pay, or notifying changes of addresso A large number o~ letters received daily by Regimental Paymasters contain only the surname and initials of the solider. Unless particulars of Army number, Regiment or Corps are given in letters of enquiry there will be consequent delay which the War Office is anxious to avoid. FR_QM THE _M INI,,SA_I_D'. o~-INFQID/IA~ION IT.Q.2 1 9 -1 5/9/:3,9 . ~ BO~\RD j)F_Tl(f\.DE ~NOUNCEMENT Y(Af?';.... RIS~lL.. b~§.!JR.ANCE AO:T o 1 2:29~AFT II) INSURANCE _Q_F__QQM~QPIJ.I_,ES IN__THE UNITED KINGDOM. Certain apprehensions in regard to the operation of the above Act have been expressed. by traderso In ttll:ne first place, there have been complaints that the rate of premium is too high., 1rhe rate had to be fixed. in the absence of any acturial data on the basis of certain assumptionso It will be reconsidered in the light of experience and, if circumstances • so permit, it, can be reduced at the end of the three-monthly-period or the period of insurance may be extended without the payment ·' of any additional premjumc It has come to the not1ce of the Board of Trade that registrations were effected be:Eo:L"e the outbreak of war for amounts greater than those for which insurancevas eventually required. It has, therefore, b:een arranged that tPaders will be permitted to pay the premium approprjate to the value of the stocks actually held by them on the outbreak of waro l!h view, moreover, of the fact that the stocks of traders may fluctuate over the three-monthly period during which a policy of insurance is current, arrangements are being made for the premiums to be adjusted so that traders will not be required. to pay a premium on amounts greater than the value of the stocks actually held from time to time during the period of r'insuranceo Full instructions will, as soo:n. as possj_ble 9 be sent to the agents of the Board of Trade for• their guid.ance in dealing with applicationse A number of applications which ha~Je been mia.-fila by responsible bodies requesting the exemption from it.'IJ.e s0ope of the commodity insurance scheme of certain goods on the ~ground of indestruc·tibility or unsal:eability are receivj.ng urgent consideration9 and decisions will be announced at an earJ.y date" N0.20. 15L9/'J9 R~~GISTRATIOH OF FOOD TRADERS . -·--·----­ The Ministry of Food. are informed that certain importers and. ·wholesalers of foodstuffs are advi sing traders vvhom they supply to register with them now for various co:mmodities, in anticipation of the introduction of control. The Ivlinistry state for the inforrnation of traders that the procedure for r egistration under control schemes has in many cases not yet been published. Registration at the prc.::ient time is premature 0,nd may lead to unnecessary confusion when the official scheme is issued. The J.Cinistry therE ~;:)re urge traders not to rec;i ster for any corn.modi ty until official instructions are issued. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORivU~TION No. 21 -15/9/39 CONTROL OF PIG PRICES. 1 • Orders have been made under the Defence Regulations prescribing the prices to be paid for all pigs for slaughter. Briefly, these Orders prescribe that all pigs for slaughter (with certain exceptions such as sows and boars.) whether for pork or for bacon, shall be sold at a standard price of 13/-]er score d.ead weic;ht, provided they are not over 1 O score lbs. In .the case of pigs having a dead vveight of more than 10 score lbs. a sum of 6d. per score shall be deducted from the standard price. The price of sows is fixed at 10/5do per score and that of boars at 4/-per score. 2. It is an offence under the Hegulations for either buyer or seller to pay any Drice other than the prescribed prices for pi gs. Pigs sent to livestock markets should be sold only on the basis of a price calculated to be 13/-per score dead weight. The Orders have the effect of making inoperative contracts under the Bacon Industry Act. Where pigs are sold to registered curers they will not be graded , but the curer will supply to the producer tickets showing the dead weight as certified by the Pigs Marketing Board graders, and they will be entitled to deduct 1/6d. per pig for levies under the Bacon Industry Act. The prescribed ~rices ar e payable for pigs collected at the producer's premises or put on rail by the producer. Where the producer pays any railway charges arising after the pigs are put on rail, such amount is repayable by the curer. Where the producer .delivers the pigs by road to the curer's premises, the price will be increased by 1/-per pig~ The Orders are framed to carry out the Ministry's genePal policy of staoilising food ririces so f ar as }Jracticable -2 ­ before full control of distribution is introduced. The voluntary co-operation of the provision trade and the bacon industry has been secured for the purpose of holding b~con prices around previously existing levels and in order to maintain this co-operation it is clearly essential also to prevent any rise in the ;:-)rice of pigs, There has been some comment on the ground that the Orders fix the price of all pigs, both for pork and for bacon, at the same level 9 and that this may discourage the production of light-weight yigs fer pork. In view of the possibility of a reduction in supplies of imported bacon, it is regarded as desirable to encourage producers to keep on their pigs to bacon weights. From the Ministry of Information (also for broadcast) No.22. 15.9.39.. Requisitioning of Imported Bacon and Hams. An Order has been made by the Minister of Food requisitioning all imports of bacon and hams arriving in Great Britain after midnight of September 16/l7th (including canned bacon and hams) with the exception of shipments from Northern Ireland and Eire. The bacon and hams so r equisitioned, with the exception of such supplies as are needed for storage and for Service requirements, will be disposed of on behalf of the Ministry of Food by a collective organisation of traders which has recently been formed for this purpose. The object of the Order is to ensure that imported bacon and hams, which are to a large extent being diverted from their normal ports of landing to other ports, are equitably distributed throughout the country. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. (Also for Broadcast) NO. 2~. 15:9 : '3~. POTATO PRICES. In order to facilitate the distribution of adequate supplies of potatoes, it has been found necessary to amend the schedule to the Potatoes (Provisional Prices) Order of 9th September. The revised Schedule divides the country into six districts instead of five and contains revisions of the wholsesale ana. retail prices. In most districts an increase of one farthing per pound is made in the maximum retail price or Grade A potatoes. The price per po-und of Grade B potatoes is unaltered. FROM THE MINISTRY OF Ii~·FOHMATION No.24 -15/9/39 TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS IN EVACUA.TION !:..REAS The Board of Education intend to communicate at once with the appropriate authorities authorizing them subject to certain conditions to open technical institutions, boys and girls-clubs and the like in evacuation areas. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No. 25 -15/9/39 PRCVL?TTION OF ACCIDENTS (Also for Broadcast) An announcement from the Home Office says that there has been an increase in the number of fatal accidents caused by people falling through the glass roofs of factories. It is believed that this increase is due to camouflaging and to the obscuring of lights, and the liome Office suggests that duck or crawling boards should always be provided where work has to be done on fragile roofs. FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No. 26 -15/9/39 TRAVEL TO IRELAl'ID In the interests of the large numbers of women and children who still wish to return from Great Britain to Eire or Northern Ireland, it has bQen decided to extend until October 14th the exemption of such persons from obtaining an Exit Permit from the Passport and Permit Office. l­ . , From the Ministry of Information No.27. 15: 9: 39 ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SECTETARY FOR MINES. The Secretary for Mines has to··,lay reviewed the question of the inunediate application of the Motor Fuel Rationing Scheme in the light of the fact that many motorists have not yet obtained their books of coupons. In order to avoid hardship to sections of the motoring public he has decided to postpone the introduction of the rationing scheme for one week. Until the 23rd September therefore owners of all classes of motor vehicles incJuding goods and public servine ... ~ ~ .~ .... :--, . . .. •. ~· . ~­ -. vehic·les should not use couporu;. They will be able to obtain motor spirit as at present 9 but the Government ask that motor vehicles should only be used for essential purposes. 15. 9.39•. 15th September~ 1939. 10.35 p.m. F LA S H. The Ministry of Informa tion announces: Withdrawal of Bus Services. Lonclon TransrJort announce that, as the rationing of Petrol has been a.eferred. for one weelc, the~r will do their very best even at this very late hour to maintr:'cin the present Bus services. .PRESS NOTICE. BINOCULi:,.RS. It is of:ficially announcea that the ldinistry of Supply is prepared to purchase new or second-hand binoculars with the following characteristics ­ Prismatic Binoculars of 6 and 8 magnification; Non-prismatic binoculars of 4 magnif1cation. Owners desirous of selling such binoculars, which must have a case, should forward them, together with a covering letter, to:­The Inspector, Armament Inspection Department, Garland P..oad, Plumstead, S.E.18. A tie-on lable must be attached to the binoculars showing the name and address of the owner, whilst the letter should state any indentification number of other particulars engravea_ on the binoculars. No price need be stated. A reply will be made within 10 days of receipt if the binoculars offered are suitable. Binoculars should be sent carefully packea. and carriage paid. If beyond repair or otherwise unsuitable, they will be returned carriage pai4. No responsibility can be accepted for e:tJ.Y binocular-s.u.b.mi._t._ted. Ministry of Supply, 10/39 15th Septeniber, 1939. Prom the Ministry of Information:­ . FLASH NEWS The following corrimunique is issued by the Admiralty: His Majesty's destrcyers, patrol vessles and aircrafit have been carrying out constant patrols over wide areas in search of enemy U-boats. Many attacks have been made and cr number of U-boats have been destroyed. Survivors have been r escued and captured when possibleo 4.10.p.mo 15/ 9/3"9a 15/9 /39 UNOFFICI-11L .AND FOR INFORLATION J\ND FOR USE IF DESIRED , VERBATik REPORT OF INTERVIEWS WITH BRITISH /1_IPJvJJTI>r CAPTURED DY GEPJ-.'.[1\NS . Broadcast to-day from ZE:U;SEiN IN GEfil./iJ'J_"f and ZNGLISH Interrogat~r : Well, Pilot Officer Edwards, I understand that you c s:.-~1e from Ne-vv Zealand a few months ago and that you have never been in Europe before? Pilot Officer Edwards: That is right. Interrogator: You are sitting here apparently quite vvell: How· did you come ~o be here? p. o. EDWARDS . •' I was shot down and was seen svvimming in the water. I was picked up end brought to the shore. Interrogator: And novv we should like to knovv how you are feeling. It must mean a great deal to you to be reduced to inactivity so early in the war . ~hat are you going to do with your time? P.O. EDVvf.RDS: Hell, I am going to try to learn the language and get some books from England. Interrogator : One last question we should like to know because it is the question that vvill interest listeners abroad most and way back at home, because I hope it will be transmitted to New Zealand. How are you being treated? P.O . Eff7ARDS : I have been treated very well indeed. Just as a German Officer except that I am naturally under observation. Interrogator ~ Yi/e hope the,t you will feel well and that you will find the time not too tedious and that you will have something to do end not feel that you are wasting the months and years which you would have spent in civilian flying which I understand you intended to do. Interrogator: I understand that you have broken your foot rather badly? BOOTH: .Yes but I hope to be playing football again soon. Interrogator : -\7hat was your rank in the plane? BOOTH: Sergeant observer, Interrogator : Did you notice how your machine was brought down? BOOTH: No, I was looking forward, I just saw the water and heard the crash. Interrogator : You were flying r ather low? BOOTH : Yes, we hit something and I had not time to run round to the pilot or to see if he was hurt. Interrogator : imd what are your ideas about whiling away the time • . A:re you satisfied with the treatment? BOOTH: So far it is all right. I do not think I am dying from starvation. The food is of course different. Interrogator : \\There do you hail from? BOOTH : Yorkshire. Interrogator : You miss the Yorkshire puddings, I expect? BOOTH : Yes, very much so. Interrogator: That 1 s all, thank you very much, I hope that you will not have to stay here too long -that I expect is your own hope. Interrogator : M:r. Slattery, is it right that you are Irish? SL.ATTERY: Yes. Interrogator: ·Jhat is your rank? SLATTERY: Aircraftsman. Interrogator : How did you get out of your plane? I understand th2,t you were brought down? SLLTTERY : I aw afraid it is difficult to say how I got out. I was very lucky. Interrogator : Was that bec ause of the way your machine came down, or due to your position in the plene? SLATTERY: My position in the plcine. I was in the rear gun towers, and it is difficult to get out from there. Interrogator : And did the other members of the crew get out too? SLATTERY : Yes but I did not know that until I got on the pilot boat, Interrogator : And your pilot, I think, died a few days ago? SLATTERY: Yes, so I have been informed. Interrogator : I see that you are hit in the f ace -your jaw seems to ho.ve been broken. SLATTERY: Yes 9 when my plane hit the water I was thrown against the machine gun, Interrogator: But you can speak all right? SLATTERY: Yes 9 but it is not yet fixed, Interrogator~ The doctors are making a good job of you? SLATTERY: Yes. Interrogator: How are you getting on? I notice that you have some English books and papers beside your bed. SLATTERY: I have nothihg to say of the Germans but kindness. They have given me every attention. Interrogator: And what is your idea of whiling away the time during your inforced visit to Germany? SLATTERY: I have been reading some English books. And I am trying to learn German. Interrogator: I hope that you wi~l make progress soon. From which county do you come in Ireland, SL.A.TTLRY: From Tipperary FLASH 15th September, 1939 8.30 p.m. The Ministry of Information announces that:­ Pilot Officer L.H. Edwards, Sergeant Observer Booth, and Aircraftman L.J. Slattery who took part in the raid by the Royal Air Force on Kiel on 4th September have been officially reported missing. (Note for guidance to the Press) T 3 •. PRE.S S NOTICE C01RROI: OF GROWI:t-U TREES (lliO. _2j_,ORD]fil! 1. In pursuance .o:f powers grant.ed under the Emergency Powe.rs (Defence} Act l