22.1.40 No. 1, DRES~ NOTICE. R-r;;TU1?.N FROM :RECONNAISSANCE. (NOT TO BE QUOTED f\8 AN AIR MINISTRY ./\NNOTTNCEMENT) !.. !n the evening half-light, two bombers had taken off on night reconnaissance flights over Germany. Darkness came before they left the Fnglish coast. That was five hours ago. One of them is back now, and the pilot and crew are getting out of their cumbersome flying kit. They have been over Bremen. An Intelligence Officer is with them in the crew room jotting down details of their flight into a red-covered exercise book, the same kind of book th2t a schoolboy uses. Between them they give him all the relevant points for his report to Bomber Command Headquarters. The Intelligence Officer notes the time at which they were over Bremen and the height at which they were flying. He adds information about the German black-out and se8rchlight activity. The aircraft had encountered some slight anti­ aircraft fire, but no German fight ers were s ent up to intercept them. They had carried out satisfnctorily the special job they were sent out to do. The weather had been bitterly cold throughout the flight. All this goes down in t'he exercise book., "Where were the search-lights?" asks the officer, "Where did you run into the anti-aircraft fire?" In a quarter of an hour he has got all he wants to know. He says "Good nightn, and goes back to his office to make out his report. There is no news yet of the second aircraft, piloted by the Squadron's Commanding Officer. Its wireless has been silent for several hours; any transmission might give away its uosition to the enemy. By now, however, the nircrRft should be well on its way back from Hamburg, where the "task" had taken it. The crew of the returned bomber still loiter in the crew room. They do not say so, but they wa:1t to know, before they go, that the Squadron C.O. is coming in alright. The pilot, -2­ comfort~ly settled_ in a chair, his legs stretched full out in frontof him, is puffing at an old briar pipe. He looks tired and talks very littleo Under conditions of intense cold the flight has been a great physical and nervous stra.in. In the morning when he comes dovm to breakfast in the T·.~ess, after a good night's slee.p p he will look a different man. Other off~ciers of tb.e Sg_uadron are waiting too. The senior officer among them, a Sq_uadron Leader, asks the Operation Room to phone him immediately anything is known. In a nearby hangar a boxing tournament is in progress. The Royal Air Force men are meeting boxers from the Hussars, and Len Harvey is giving a short exhibition with a sparring partner. Shouts and cheers drift ;;-across the flying field. In the officers' mess one of the stewards, awaiting the return of the aircraft 5 is keeping 11 something on the hot­plate". Dinner was over a long time agoo Nearly everyone who is off duty has gone t o tho boxing match, but a do.zen people are in the ante-room and t wo young pilot officers in the Billards Room. The stewar d awaiting the night flyers' hovers betwee~ the kitchen and the ante-roomo Out on the tarmac an ambulance and the fire tender are parked side by sideo Five or six men are grouped beside thel-;l.o Flares have been lit around the fieldo The ground is snow-covered and there is more snow to come, judging by the sky • Half an hour passes without bringing any news of the second aircraft~ Twice during that time the Sq_uadron Leader has been on the t el ephone to the Oper ations Room. Officially, he need not be there at all, but he says he al ways likes to see. his own chaps ino Twelve: minutes later "Opso '' ring up to say they have got the position of the aircrafto The Sq_uadron Leader does a q_uick mental calculation that gives him the distance the bomber has still to fly to get back and approximately the /amoun.t 3 amount of petrol there should be lefte "O.K.", he says. His brief comment does not entirely conceal his relief. In the Operations Room, they are closely following the ~ircrR~t on its homewqrd course. The Service doctor has hurried u~ now that the machine is reported. He, or one of his colleagues, is always there at the end of 8Very one of these flights. The nilot and crew of the other aircraft have disapneared now. Forty minut es before midnight the bomber circles the aerodrome and lRnds. The flight has lasted nearly seven hours. Aircraftmen run a ladder un to the door and the crew climb stiffly down. The pilot jumps down~ They all go inside to tell their great story to the Intelligence Officer ­another officer this time. They had run into terrible weRther. "Quite the worst I personally hRve expc:; rienced," says the pilot. For some time they wore flying through a snow storm. L2ter there was lightning. At 20,000 feet ice formed on the propellers. There hRd been difficulties with the pilot's oxygen supnly. His hand had got slightly frost bitten when he took off his glove t o 2djust the npparqtus. Continuously, they had had to take evasive action because of the activity of the ground defensive. In time, the entire crew had become fRtigued because of the intense cold. ~hey puff at their cigarettes as the Intelligence Officer makes his notes: their first smoke for nearly seven hours. Outside it has started t o snow. They h8Ve reached home just in time. J'i IR MINISTRY; KING CH/'.RU~S 8TRT'~ET, WHIT~HALL, s .w.1 . 22nd, JanuGry, 19L~O. 22.1.40 No. 2. FRBNC:H OI'I'I0I.A L COWHTNI QTJP, (Morninp: ). The f ollowing communique was issued this morning f rom t he French G. H. Q. ~­ Nothing to reDort. ------oOo-----­ 22/1/40 No 3. ,. SOUTH AFRICAN . FRUIT SAVES SUGAR The successful e~reriments last season with "high temperatu1•e11 shipments of fruit from South Africa to the United K~ngdom are nmv being ado:!;)ted on a comrnercial scale. Large consignments of South African plums, shipped at a low temperature which is gradually raised on the voyage, result in perfectly ripe fruit being unloaded in this country; and their condition enables the house~wife to save on her sugar ration. EMPIRE AFFAIRS " . 22nd January, 19400 MIHISTFY CF .('i._GP..ISUrn1UPE .t-\N1':ou~,TC::J3)ft'}i:N'l1 0 ··-·--~-~-···-~--­ _..._........._ .. _...... ---··-·--______,,__..._-----·-­ All wheat sovm after the mictdle of January needs particular care e.nd after that time spring wheats are usually safer than the winter varietieso The Ministry of Agricultur•e 1 s DffN Grm<.·more Leaflet Noa 17 (!l::1~~!.-~C2~iQB_l:.~-f:~-!~-~~!l~~E-.?.:QQ_§.J?!'.lQ8, single copies free on appli8ation to tne ~liinistry at 10, \vhitehall P1ace, S.\'.l.) given sc:ne helpful sug6estio11s on now to get the best results from Spring Wheat . A ltst of the most suita.'ble varieties is g iven together with advice on guarding 8>?:,Ainst ·bunt , to '.\t:ich some Spring Wheats are liaole rri1e le&fle t t el:;_s gro1,v1,:;rs 110W they C8.[l satisfy o themselves as to ths gern1i::1atiun capacity of the seed nnd gives some hints on top dressirg ~ith a nitrogenous fertiliser to increase the yield, wnich al~ays tends to be less than that of winter ~~eat o 22nd January, 1940 No.5. M, A., F .·144. Woodpigeons devour almost ev ery kind of crop that is grown s.nd seem to prefer the best'* They ar8 t he worst of ~11 feathered pest s that afflict t he f armer and they are tending to increase . An 8.ppeal has therefore been made by the Minister of Agricalture to fa_mers asking them to co-operate in a big offensive over the whole country. But it is not so much a high standard of skill with the gun t :'.1.at is required as linderstanc1i n,?; of their habits and planning to bring tbEJ bi.rds v~i t r1in easy range::. ·rn "Growmore L8s.flet Ho . 1.6" the NUntstry of . 1~e·riculture has brought togeU10r in a concise form this kind o:L' information. Sir.gle copies of the leaflet may b~ obtain9d freo on a?plica tJDn to t he Ministry at 10, Wl1itchall Place , Lo:idon , s. W.l. It shows how suit 8blc 11hiclos"and decoys can be provided, f'or this is a far more successful method than the popular "battue1t ~ er~pec:Lally in t he first t hree months of the year. Their feeding habits at different times of the year are outl ined, for i t is tmportant to know whether to lie in wait for tham near green crops or clover or in tho woods where acorns and other three-fruits grow. Thu l eaflAt also mentions such det ails as the }o;:ind of clothes to wee.r, the right shot to use, and the best times of Clay and. type of weather for getting them., The leaflet should add apy!reciably to many sports.­man 1 s bag and en able him to perform a double service by reducing t he depredations on our crops and adding to our war­tim8 larders. N1HI? TRI_.fil_:11.G1i.±9YI,fJ2!IRS_:Jm._.EJ~:21£:R rps NEW~ '0ERV ! CJ<: pirm ALLO'I'H3rT 1-iCJ,D}J1:13 NO . . 10. ------- --·---·----------------..2-----­ VT.AB TIME F1:·C:1) ~~·JOIYGC'l.1I0~'1 Il'T Al.,T_,O'I.'MENTS ~i,D •·--•-"u•-··~~~) I v-·;r,·-.,··~ '~7°"'"-C~----·-•-­ :..;';,.: .-:-..:..:S:J~..1.x fal:..±:Jl':i~..s S0IIi .Pi:.:STS. _,.,,,._ .. _u•-·--·­ .P..llotments a:;:~ri gardens can.~ot carry a fu)...l stock of vei;etables and 111aintai1:;. a:a army of pests as well. As he turns his so~J. ,, 't! e c.::2,rc~erwr \7ill notice pink, vrrithing earthworms; yellow, w:tcrggling centipedes ~ yellov.ish or cop er-coloured. wireworms; drab, legless leather-jacketrs, and svrnllen, sluggish, and half-curled caterpillars. Some of these creatures are his friends but others are most destructive, and the gardener should be able to distinguish between friend and enemy. Earthworfils and centipedes are beneficial. Earthworms help to break down ve:getable remains and assist in the production of fertility in the soil, Centipedes devour many injurious insects. Wireworms arc likely to be r;resent in great nwnbers in newly broken-up land which has been covered with grass, rough herbage '· or v e 0ds . -\hr8vrnrms are yellowish smooth-bodied grubs with. a blunt squarish hee1d and t wo dark spots on the sides just in front of the pointed tip of the body. Young wireworws are so small that they may not be noticed but older wireworms mea sure up to an inch in length. Wireworms attack almost all kinds of garden produce, including potatoes,lettuce, newly-set cabbage plants, carrots, cnions and .~rench beans. They are less likely to attack peas, broad beans, beet, parsnips, spinach and. radj.shes, but if numerous and very hungr;y they will attack almost anything and may be destructive to seedlings , They sometimes tunnel into potato sets and riddle them with holes so that they rot and the potato plants do not grow. Wireworms should always be expected on newly broken-up land and smne precautions should be taken to protect the crops during the first two years. There are several ways in which the number of wireworms can be reduced and the plants protected. In the spring when the land is cultivated for potatoes and other vegetables, a 1. dressing of lime at t he r at e of l~ lbs. to 30 square yar ds should be worked in and l ater flake naphthal ene sh ould be broadcast over the pota t·• drills at the r ate of :~ lbs . per 30 s-:1.uare yards before the pot;atoes are planted. 1l~1e flake nap.b.t Ls.l ene 1vill not injure the potato tU:.ers but will help to protect the.ru frnm attaclcs of both wireworms and other i nsects. Pl ake naphthalene is also valuable as a means of protecting young seedlings from atta ck . It should be raked into the surface soil at t he sar.:1e rat8 as for potatoes a couple of days before the seed is sown or the plants set. Where lettuc:e i s pl anted between r ows of other garden plants some may be lost through wireworm attack and the wirewormG should be sought i·or in the surface soil and destroyed. During September and October wireworms are very active near the surfac•. Th~y Cd n be trapped wit h old cabbage stal ks pushed 3-4 inches into the gro.ind st al k downwar ds and r oot upv-ards, at i nt ervals of about 2 feet apart. If necessar y the stems may be split lengthwise to make them go farther . Every fei,.v days the traps should be lifted gently with a trowel, (not pulled up), and bhe wireworms, often found h~lf-embedded in the soft stem tissue , destroyed and t he trap replaced. Carrots and potatoes are often recommended as wineworm baits but in time of war they should not be used for t his purpose. On wire-worm infested land potatoes should be lifted early in the autumn for the l anger they are left in the soil the greater the amount of woreworm da1tlage. Leatperj~cket.~ Leatherjackets are well known to most gardeners and allotment holders. '.11he;y are usually troublesome after a wet season and are most nW1ier ous in weedy gar dens, in recently broken-up land or in land reclaimed :frorn waste. They are drab, soil-coloured, legless maggots , varying in length fr om about ~ of an inch to it inches. '11hey appeci.r blunt at both ends of t he body bu.t when they are moving they elongate and thrust out a. pointed head while the tail pa rt always remains blunt. Jjeather jaclrnts are most troublesome ;.n spring and sunm1er. They usually feed just below the surface_. of ~he 2. soil but at night they may come on to the surface to feed. They bite through the plants leaving ragged wounds or they hollow out the centres of the stems or collars of" young plants. They are fond of newly set plants and seedlings and will sometimes destroy whole rows of seedlings in the course of 1a night or twoo A good method of dealing with leatherjacketa is to use a poison bait consisting of 1 ozo of paris green and t lb. of bran. This bait should be mixed up in a wooden box or tray with just enough water to moisten the bran but not enough to make it stick tightly in lumps. The poison bait should be broadcast over the land or alongside and between the rows of plants in the evening and t lb. of the mixture is sufficient for 40 square yardso Great care should be taken .in handling and mixing the bait because paris green is highly poisonous. It is often worth while to place a few turfs, grass side down, on the land in the late spring. The leatherjackets like grass and grass roots and will collect under tl).ese turfs. The turfs should be examined from time to time and any leatherjackets found should be destroyed. Cutworms. Several kinds of brownish or greyish caterpillars known as cutworms live in the surface soil and attack garden crops. When feeding they eat through plants at the soil level and they come out on the surface at night and devour stems and foliage. Cutworms are most likely to be seen in the spring when working and cultivating the land. At this time they are usually sluggish and lie in a half-curled position, and when found they should be collected and destroyed. Most severe cutworm attacks take place from mid-summer onwards particularly in dry seasons and the bran and paris green bait recommended for leatherjackets will be found to destroy a good proportion of them. Plants may also be protected by a light sprinkling of flake naphthalene raked into the· surface soil. 3. THE YOUNG IDEAo Many school-masters are members of Orban Horticulture Comn.ittees and their intc.~rest in t he soil is proving a valuabl e asset, both in encouraging more food production and directing the interest of the young into us eful channels. In fact some cases are reported of schoolchildren who themselves become the horticultural instructors of allotment-owning parents on their return home. Both masters and boys of Culford School, Bury St. Edmunds; have taken up food production with enthusiasm. They -began on old ploughland, but as their pioneering instinct was aroused, they sought grimmer battles with nature and now even derelict heathland) untouched for generations, is being cultivatedo The old kitchen garden that used to supply Culford Hall with vegetables was first taken over and the volunteers outnumberec the available implements. Spring cabbages were planted and the roots lifted, with a yield of 1 ton of carrots, 4 tons of red beet, 8 tons of parsnips. The school's requirements have been fully met with apples, toma·coes, i1 oots and greens and surplus produce sold in Stratford Market. An old plough was resu:?rected and yoked to the school tractor. The newly formed land class has developed into a discuss.ion group where rival methods of agriculture, horticulture, estate management and even forestry are keenly debated, As a result, a pine and birch plantation has been planteds the land fencfifd and the rabbits exterminated~ BIRivUNGHAM' S BIG DIGo With its 14 ,000 allotment holders and fresh applicati•ns for over 1,500 allotments? also its enormous Council Housing Estatee the task of digging for victory in the Borough of Birmingham has proved no small matter. It was complicated by the fact that separate departments of the City Council were responsible for providing horticultural lectures~ gardening advice to tenants of 4. Council houses, and the· management of the public parks, and the problem was to bring all these together in one concerted ef'forto This has now been achieved and with the ready co­operation of the local Co-operative Society, Horticultural Trades Association and Allotment Association a strong Horticulture Committee has been set up with the peace-time Horticultural Instructor as Technical Adviser~ Demonstration Allotments are being laid out in 12 public parks and lectures are being arrangedo Ministry of Agricultnre. Y n.C. FiA!'ls.:.-ies : 10, Whitehall Place, LONDON, SeWolo 22nd January, 19400 22. 1. 40__!_.::... No. 7• SOUTH JiJ?RICA PROSPERS TRADE AND REVENUE I NCRBASE DESPI'I'E THE Wiill Notwithstanding her unprecedented military pre:-i;:iar ations, South Afric~ has entered the New Year in a spi I•it of confidence and optimism. Union industrialists and business men are planning for a rapid expansion of industrial activity, and a steady increase in trade is anticipated. The prosperous conditions at present enjoyed by the country are indicated by the satisfactory returns of St ate revenue. Despite a generous rebate on income tax, revenue collected between April 1, 1939 and November 30, 1939, exceeded by more than £1,loo,ooo the revenue collected during tho corresponding period of the previous year, while revenue for the three war months , September, October 'and Novei-.1ber, exceeded by more than £250,000 the revenue during the corresponding period of 1938. Official figures relating to the prices of agrioultural products showed that the outbreak of war helped the South African farmers. The index figures for 16 agricultural products show that prices in October 1939 had risen by ten points, to a level that has only once been exceeded in the past ten years. Wool and maize farmers have t he benefits of generous agr eements made with the British Government. The gold mines of the Witwatersrand are b:c•cak1ng reco rd after record, and, with more than half the.profits of t hci.t industry accruing to the St at e, the Union is indeed in a fo:ct unate position. EHPI....RI~ APFAI RS _ ,_ No. 8. ULSTER'S £7,000 FOR RED CROSS~ The fund established by the Duke of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland, for helping the British Red Cross and other war charities now nmounts to £7,000. Of this sum, £2,500 has been sent to the Lord Mayor of London's Fund for the Red Cross and St John war orgnnisation. The Lord Mayor of London h~s been invited to extend the Penny-a-Week Fund and the tinfoil collection cam~aign to Northern Ireland. EMPIRE AFFl\IRS. ------oOo-----­ 22. l. 40 No 9 ULSTER HELPS FINLAND Besides providing large quantities of hospital supplie~ and comforts for the officers and men of the British fighting forces, the organisers of the Ulster Gift Fund are responding generously to Finland's ap~eal for aid. A consignment of hospital supplies, comprising 15,000 articles 1 an increase on the original amount proposed will shortly be sent out for the use of the Finnish Army. The Fund has already sent over 24,000 °woollies11 to men serving in Ulster regiments and in all units associated with the Province, to ships of the Royal and Merchant Navies . and to the Royal Air Force~ +++++++++ EMPIRE AFFAIRS 22.1.40 No.10. ULSTER' 8 SINEWS ()F WJ\R. "Already Ulster people have invested £231,620 in Defence Ronds, o.nd £439,144 in War Savings Certificr.ites", so.id Mr. J.M. Andrews, Minister of Finance, addressing the Bolfo.st Rotary Club today on the Empire's W::lr Effort. "The gallnntry of Ulstcrmen serving with the P.orces11 , he said, "is beyond all prnise. Our business community, in snite of gre2t difficulties, are carrying on our industries so as to provide the requisites of war. The farming community are already engaged in tilling a vastly increased acreage and in increasing the fertility of the soil so that our food supply may be increased. Our women Rre mnking all sorts of comforts for those serving in the forces of the Crown, as well as working for victory in innumero.ble other ways." EMPIRE AFFAIRS. ------------. 22/1/40 No.11. The Air Ministry requests that in their Bulletin entitled "Return from Reconnaissance" (Issue No.1•••••. 22/1/40) the following deletions should be made:­ Page 2 ••••••• Para 5. Delete last sentence:­"The ground is snow-covered and ther.e is more snow to come, judging by the sky." Page 3••••••• last Para. . Delete last two sentences:­"Outside it has started to snow. They have reached home just in time." ++++++++ AIR AFFAIRS. IiiT1'lIS'rRY OF FOOD.. ANNOUNCEMENT, g__?/l/40 No •. 12.. RETAIL r.IEAT . SUP:::'LIES. The Ministry of Food state that although meat will not be rationed until a later date, it is desirable that customers should, in their own interests, obtain their meat only from the shop at which they are registered. This will assist both the butchers, who will be able more accurately to assess their requirements, and the customers, for whom the provision of an e~uitable supply of meat will be more readily assured. ++++++++ ...:.r:•. •:.•\•. 22/1/40 No, 13. THE NEED FOR STEADFASTNESS By the Archbishop or York Home Service: Monday " 22nd January, 1940: 9.15-~.30 p,m. At the beginning of Octobe~ I had the opportunity of broadcasting an address about the spirit and aims of our country in the war, I tried to interpret the contrast which everyone over forty can appreciate between the national mood now, and the national mood in the late sununer and early autumn of 1914; I tried also to interpret the contrast between the mood apparently prevalent in Germany and that of our own country. The result was a description of our people's temper in face of the war's challenge as one of dedication. It was a lofty claim to make, but I believe that it was true; and I still think it true; but there is a difference percept!ible, and this dirference suggests the need for certain steps if the spirit of dedication is to be maintained, It would be strange if no differen~e could be traced. Two months of war must produce an effect, not less when the war takes a shape so unexpected. We had prepared ourselves for one kind of strain; we have had to face another, for '.-..rhich we were not prepared. We had expected intensive bombardment from the e.11'"', with its unknown but fearful horrors..; 'vYe had expected the clash of armies, with the long lists of casualties bringing sorrow to homes in all parts ot the country. We braced ourselves to bear this test as bravely as we could. But the test never came. To our seamen both in the Navy and in the Mercantile Marine it has come -to them and to their homes: very stern that testing is, and nobly it is being met, But into the majority of homes the horror of war has not at pres.ent come., It/ -2 ·­ It always puts a peculiar and subtle strain upon our resources when an event for which we are keyed up does not 11ap1)en. There is a sense of deflation. This is all the more inevitable if, in place of horrifying experience, there ar•ise circumstances calculated of themselves to cause depression. The combination of what did not happen and what dic1 can have an insidious effect upon stabilit~r and constancy of purpose8 The real intentinn of our people is unchanged; the emotional colour of it is a good deal altered. This is, so much evidence shows, especially true of the younger folk, more particularly the younger men. Here the adoption of conscription has a special influence. In the iast war, until its later stages, our young men had either chosen to answer the call to service, or were consciously facing its challenge. Each individual 1"ras aware of his ovm responsibility. think the system of volunt ary recruitment was in itself both wasteful and unfair. It was vrastefu1, because it tended to carry into the chief dangers the most high-spirited men, and also because it made due consideration of special aptitudes impossible. It was unfair because many a young man was left in serious and sometimes agonising doubt where his duty lay. But though the method of conscription is on balance far more advantageous, there is a real balance to be struck, and something is lost. It is impossible for the younger gAneration to-day to have quite that sense of personal individual responsibility which every young man felt to be his in 19140 To all of this another fact nr must be added, In September and October the uppermost conviction in most minds \Vas that Herr Hitler and his aggressions must be /stopped 3 stopi)ed; better even some years of ·war with all its horrors tho.n the spr rod of the Nazi tyranny over one free nation after another. That conviction has not lost its hold u~on our minds; but it is less prominent in our imagination and feelings because the course of the vrnr ho.s created an assurance that this primary object will be secured. Be it sooner or l ater, the military viutory will be won; so men feel, and because they are so sure of it turn their minds almost exclusively to what will follow victory.. Then, because anything like certainty is impossible nnd promises cannot be given, depression and even distrust begin to appear. have heard from many quarters of young men saying "We knmv r:hat vve are fighting against; we do not know what we are fighting for~ 11 And e.s they feel so sure of success in regard to the first they are exposed to 1 atto.cks of fretfulness on account of the second~ I do not think this mood is limited to the young, and it seems worth while to say something about it. Let us keep clearly before us the distinction draw11 by the Prime i!inister between War-Aims and Peace-. Aims; and let us be sure that we do not neglect our War Aim. This is simply victory. We may reasonably be confident of victory if we continue to devote ourselves to securing it; but 1f that self-devotion falters, our chief ground o.: :::o-::1fidence would be gone. We need still in full measure that spirit of dedication which has animated the nation hitherto. Then we shall win in our fights against Hitlerism; and that is our only War ~. When people say that they do not know what they are fighting fo~ there is either some confusion of thought, or else a brevity of expression which easily conceals or creates/ -4 ­creates such a confusion. For as contrasted with fighting against something, it is im:9ossible to fight for anything whatever. We can fight for the safety of our country; but that is the same as fighting against those who attack it. What this e21igram really means is that we know what we want to end by our fighting~ but we do not know how we mean to use the new op:portunity which success in fighting may create. We fight to check an eviJ.;· when we have done that, what :positive good do we hope to achieve? As I have said already, people would not be talking so much about this if they were really doubtful about checking the evil. But it remain2 true that this is the primary necessity; and we r,iust not let our attention be diverted from it" All the same, consuming interest exists about the q_uestion how the opportunity created by victory is to be used. It cannot be satisfied in detail because until victory is won, nobody can tell what the nature of the o:µportuni ty will be. The Prime I.ilinister and Lord Halifax have given full expression to the temper and spirit in which it would be thei1~ desire o.na. intention to use the op~)ortunity. Yet there is no doubt that in many 9eo:ple 's minds there is a hunger for something more. And it will make it far easier for multitudes of young folk to concentrate their energies on the immediate business of winning the war if they can have their hunger satisfied. There are two declarations which would satisfy it; but only the Governme.nt has all the knowledge required for choosing the occasion for making them. These two declarations are first, the conchtions on which we should be ready to agree to an armistice and enter into /negotiations -5 ­ negotiations; ci.nd second the WP.y in which the permanent Peace Settlement is to be reached. The first is in fact the statement of our war-aim. It must be recognised that until Germany has suffered some serious disappointment our terms could not be accepted. They must include the restoration of the Polish and Czech peoples as fully independent, ~nd this restoration must be secured in act and not only in 1!VOrd. The Poles and Czechs must . themselves as sovereign peoples t ake part in the settlement of the terms of Peace. Similarly Slovakia must have the o~portunity to determine its own future. Most of us wish the same opportunity to be given to Austria, but it is arguable that this should occur as part of the process of peace-making rather than ss a condition precedent to negotiation. When we t~l:'.I:'!:'. from r·ar Aims to Pee.ce Aims precise statement of terms of settlement is impossible. But it would not be impossible in principle to pledge ourselves to two courses of action. First, to postpone the 'lleeting of the Conference which is to settle permanent terms of Peace for a long enough period after the cessation of hostilities to allow the passions of war to cool; and if this involves a preliminary conference to settle a ·temporary truce so be it. lmd secondly, to :pledge ourselves to settle the permanent terms .:;·'.· of Peace in a general European Congress with full resort to "third party~"judgrnent" on points where agreement cannot be reached. This is so :.:.ttle beyond what the Prime Minister has said that it seems reasonable to hope for this little more; it is little in political substance, but it is much in psychological effect. The/ -6 ­ The f'act that Herr l{itler mi[;ht, ancl. probably vrou.1,~, reject our terms is no reason for not stating them; on the contrary it is a very good reason for doing so. Both oui.. statement and his rejection would act as a stimulus to the V'ar Effort of our people; and later, when disa:,;i~1ointment or anxiety alter the mood of the Germans, Her-P Hitler vvould stanc1 before them as the leader who had rejected honourable conditions of peace. One word more. I have spoken of a subtle change in our mood in these first months of the war, and of' the special need of steadfastness of purpose.. More even than other wars, this wa1.. is a spir1tual conf'lict •.. 17e ?3hall best maintain our stead­ fastness and strengthen our dete~nination to secure a truly just and not a vindictive peace if we can root our pui~pose ever more f'irmly in f'aith in the Pightequs and loving God. We have no right to be engaged in war at all e:;~cept so f'ar as we believe t hat to be His 'Nill for us at this time; but we can only fight as servants of' His righteousness if we are deter:mined to use victory, if' it comes, as ministe~s of His love. -----000-----­ British Broadcasting Corporation. " 22.1.40•••• ,,., ••• No. l~ IF SOUTH AFRICA HAD BEEN NEUTRAL GENERAL SMUTS'S ELECTION MESSAGE General Smuts in a message to the electors of Kuruman, a N. Vi . Cape constituency where a by e1ection is pending says: "To me it is as clear as daylight that neutrality would have struck the economic interests of this country a fatal blow, and above all9 it would have been the cause of such a racial conflict as would have ·rent our people completely arrl for jrears to come. 11 It is nonsense to assume that we can remain neutral while we are under the obligation to defend Simonstown(the British Naval base~. "I should like to know what would have become of our overseas trade if the British and German navies had been active off our neutral coasts. The thing is too ridiculous for words." The Kuruman vacancy is caused by the former member being elected to the Senate. The constituency, which is a "key" seat, was held by a supporter of General Hertzog; and the result may be regarded as a pointer in the political situation. EMPIRE AFFAIRS \++++++++++++++++++ 22/1/40 -No.15 • .MINISTRY OF FOOD .Af\TNOUNCEMENT. The Dried Fruits (Maxirnul'll )?~j.ces) Order, 1940. The new Maximum Prices Order for dried fruit will take effect on 29th January 1940. It fixes a new scale of maxirm..un ::_.;rices~ and pe:rmits the various o.ried fruits to be sold i n different grades anCJ_ at prices according to quality. Some qualities of sultanas and figs will be available to the public at prices below those ruling before the war. The Order provides that retailers of dried fruits must displ2y a notice stating what . the variety is and at what price it is offered for sale. The former Order, made when SUJplies of all varieties of dried fruit were short, provideo. for each variety to be sold as a single blend. Now, partly as 2 result of the recent commercial treaty with Turkey~ the IJinistry has secured ample stocks of the principal fruits including sultanas, figs and dates, and such blending is no longer necessary. M.llil.STRY OF FOOD. 22/1/40 -No.16. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT FORWARDING OF CALVES TO COLLECTING CENTRES. Farmers are informed that calves .under three weeks old (bobbies) may be presented at a Collecting Centre for sale to the Ministry of Food without previous notifica­tion of ~ntry. Farmers are requested, however, to give as much notice as possible of the presentation of this class of stock, MINISTRY OF FOOD. 22/1/40 No••l]_. TREATMENT FOR PERSONS BLINDED IN AIR RAIDS .. The Minister of' Health, Mr. \f'lalter Elliot, has arro.nged with St. Dunstan's for any cJi vilian casual ties who may become blind as a result of' war injuries to have the advantage of' the special f'acilities available at the St. Dunstan's Hospital near Brighton, payment being made by the Ministry under the emergency hospital scheme. Hitherto these f'acilities have been available only f'or Service patients. The question of' extending the accommodation at the St. Dunstan's Hospital to meet the increased demands which the new service may entail is being exploredo The new arrangements provide f'or the transf'er to St. Dunstan's, af'ter any necessary immediate treatment at the hospital to which they are f'irst arunitted, of' any civilian who has been blinded, or is thought likely to become blind, as a result of' enemy action. At Sto Dunstan's he would receive surgical treatment and such immediate rehabilitation as re~uires medical supervisiono The further rehabilitation and re-education of non- Service cases will continue, as at ~resent, to be the responsibility of the other voluntary organisations dealing with the blind and of the Local Authorities. +++++++++++++++++ Mn!..ISTRY OF HEALTH, White_hii-11, S. W.1. 22/1/40 No. 18.• GOVERNMENT'S M~SSAGE TO NEW ZEALAND. MR. EDEN'S TRIBUT0 TO HER FIGHTBRS. Lord Willingdon~ the representative of the United Ki:1gdom Government at the Centenary Celebrations in Ner:r Ze2.l c.nd, read today the following message from Hr •. Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for Dominion .A:f'fairs, on behalf of the British Governr0.1ent: ­ The celebration of this event by the Maori and Palceha alike is a token of that mutual under­standing and cooperation on which the British Commonwealth is founded; it is a striking demonstration of the possibility of peaceful progress by a free people. It throws into stronger relief the brutal acts of aggression committed by Nazi Germany. In the war to whioh these acts have lerl·~ New Zealanders have already at sea and in the air conspicuously displayed those qualities of courage and determination which marked the original pioneers of settlement. Though a severe struggle lies ahead, New Zealand can look forward with confidence to the time when the forces of evil have been overcome and the peoples of the British Commonwealth can devote their lives in freedom and security to the arts of peaceQ +++++++++++++++++++ ..............._....,..._____ EMPIRE AFFAIRS_ 22/1/40 -No·.19. LORD GALr(AY EXTENSION OF TERM AS NEri Z:SLI..f-1.ND GOVERNOR-GENERAL. His Majesty the King ho.s :)een pleased to approve the extension for six months of the term of office of Colonel the Right Eonotn"able Viscount Go.lway, G.C.M.G., D.S.O. > O.B.E., as Governor-General of New Zenlo.nd. Lord Gnlwo.y's tenure of office would normally end in April, 1940, but owing to the wo.r he hQs, at the request of the New Zenland· Government, consented to stay on in New Zealand. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 22/.J.L40 . -No. 20 Not to be published in this country or in any other country until the morning of Tuesday, 23rd January, and not to be broad­ cast before 7 aomo January 23rdo A~TOTJQ~R :iJ1~· 11PI~--~JR SCJ!]:~. J.IBODESIA_~S A TRAIN_~ G,ROUNDo The British Government have approved of the establishment of an Empire atr training scheme in Southern Rhodesiao Tne cost wi11 be borne by the United Kingdom Governments~ the Southern Rhodesia Government contributing theretoo Whilst the equipment and the majority of the in­structional personnel and pupils vvill be provided by the United K:i.ngdom Government 9 the schools to be established under the scheme will be under the control of the Southern Rhodesia Government, and the existing training organization in Southern Rhodesia will be incorporated in this new scheme. Southern Rhodesia personnel when trained will be posted to the Royal Air Force, retaining their identity; and, when sufficient numbers are available, will form the Rhodesian Sq_uadrons of the Royal Air Force recently accepted for service by the United Kingdom Governmento The Rhodesian Air Staff is now in process of ex­pansion and the necessary preparations for accommodation of personnel and the reception of aircraft and equipment are actively in hando It was cf this air training scheme that the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, the Hona G-cMoHuggins, recently spoke when he told an audience in Salisbury: 1'In the near future we rnay hear that quj.te a little war indus:try will be created in the Colonya" ---000--­ The Minister of Home Security (Sir John Anderson), the Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Colville), the Minister of Health (Mr. Walter :Clliot), and the President of the Board of Education (Earl De La Farr) this (Monday) afternoon met reyresentatives of the local authorities and of the teachers of Great Britain who had come to London at the Ministers' re~ueet to confer on the Government's scheme of evacuation. The oodies represented were:­ The County Councils Association The Association of Colu1ty Councils in Scotland The London County Council The Association of Municiyal Corporations. The Association of Councils of Counties of Cities (Scotland). The Urban District Councils Ansociation. The Convention of Royal Burghs. The Rural District Councils Association. The Association of Edueation Conunittees. The Association of Directors of Education in Scitland. The National Union of Teachers; and The Educational Institute of Scotland. The Conference reviewed the I'eaults of the G·overnment' s scheme and discussed ·suggestions for its future development. The Ministers thanked· the local authorities and the teachers for their suggestions, which they undertook to cons1de~. ------000---·-­ Ministry of Health, \"!hitehall, S.W.1. 22/1/40 -No. 22 RE_~JJ..IJL~ N0. 19. EXTENSION OF LORD GALWAY'S TERM AS GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF NE\"J ZEALAND Empire Affairs request that the announcement be introduced thus:­ The· Dominions Office makes the following announcement:­His Majesty etc. 9 The second paragraph of the bulletin should be in brackets. 22/1/40 ~ NO.~ FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (EVENING) Paris, Monday, Jan.. .22nd, 1940. The following official communique was issued this evening from French G.H.Q, :­ NO I NCIDENT DURING THE DAY. 22/1/40 •••••••••••• No. 24 ADMIRALTY s rrATEl'IENT. The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce the following casualties fro m H.M,S. GRENVILLE. OFFICERS. No Officer casualties. RATINGS. Killed F? Missing :presumed dead 73 Total 81 -1 ­ H.M.S. GRENVILLE. Austin, ~11.c. Bick, E.H. Denning, W.C.F. Goodall, RoL• Jones, J.w. Pric1dle, R. Smith, G.w. Tegg, T.C. RATINGS._ Able Seaman Leading Seaman Ordnance Artificer 1st Class Acting Leading Stoker Able Seaman Stoker Petty Officer Acting Leading Seaman Stoker Petty Officer Miss~_ Qresumed dead, Allday, H. Avery, R.V.. B astiok, E.P. Batten, E.J. Beaumont, F. Bevis, J.J.R• . Bridle, H.R.M. Broadbent, F. J. Burke, Q.T. Carter, T. Channell, L. w. Coghlan, D. Collins, W.L.E. Currie, R.C.L. Dewar, A.J. Donaldson, A.H. Acting Engine Room Artificer, 4th Class Able Seaman Able Seaman Stoker, 1st Class Cook (S) Able Seaman Stoker , 1st Class Able Seaman Chief Engine Room Artificer, 1st Class Acting Cook Ordinary Signalman Signalman Able Seaman Acting Leading Seaman Acting Leading Seaman Able Seaman P/SSX 19991 P/J 94072 P/M 7373 P/KX 82773 P/J" 93775 P/K 572:11. P/SSX 15341 P/KX 94152. P/MX 59335 P/JX 138787 P/JX 144407 P/KX 85927 P/MX 49819 P/J 73489 P/KX 92818 P/JX 127796 P/MX 55924 P/MX 59531 P/JX 153602 D/JX 136350 P/Jr 84722 P/JX j.34482 P/JX 130332 P/SSX 23216 -2 - Dorragh~ w. Draper, E.A. Dukes, A.S. Fettes, G. Hnrdiman, G. s. Hibberd, C.E. Hollier) R.C.J. Horscroft, J.W. Hyde, C. Ireland, H.R.H. Jeffery~ A.H. Jenkins~ J.W. Johnson, J.E. Johnstone, A. Jones, A.B. Liddle} L.A. Lilburn . J. Louge, P.J.W, Luke, J. Lyons~ L. c. McDougall~ J. McEnamy~ J.K. McShea, W.E. -~- Medcroft, H.D. Mengham, R.G. Metcalfe, G.R. Moore ~ R. Needham, J. Newman, J.W.J. Nicholson~ T. Palmer, A.A. Able Seo.mc.n Leading Sigi1almnn Ordinary SeCl.mnn Ordinary Signalman Stoker~ 1st Clnss Acting IreGding Seaman OrdinarJr Seaman Stoker 1st Class Able Seaman Leading Stol-cer Leading Stoker Stoker 1st Class Able Seaman Able Semaan Able Semaan Telegraphist .. Acting LeadingSignalman Stoker 1st Class Stoker 1st Class Petty Officer Writer Shipwright 2nd Class Able Seaman Engine Room Artificer 2nd 012,ss Telegraphist Stoker Petty Officer Able Seaman Steward_ Telegraphist Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Able Seaman P/SSX 14757 P/JX 131949 P/JX 24099 P/JX 154112 P/KX 92864 P/JX 158279 P/SSX 22201 R.F.R. B 20192 P/SSX 23099 P/KX 81258 P/K63460 P/KX 93119 P/JX 143937 P/J 34231 P/SSX 23096 P/JX 140017 C/JX 133153 P/SSX 95589 P/KX 78877 P/MX 47044 P/MX 47275 P/SSX 21748 P/MX45278 P/J 78770 D/K 58068 P/SSX 15293 P/LX 22483 P/JX 142259 P/IYIX 49954 P/JX 145286 P/JX 142196 Parsons, Ronald Pattison, G.A. Peckham, B.R.V •. Penny, r1.F. Peters, s. Prangnall, D.T.W. Quince, R.F. Ramsay, H.J. Rooke, J.R. Roseaman, A.E. Rowell, J.H. Ruffle, H. Scott, A.W.J. Shute, R. Smart, E.J. Smith, J .. J. Todd, R.s. Townley, w. Tutt, A.J.F. Urrey, J. Harner,H. V'!aterrnan,J •. J. Westerby, H.E. Wharton, H.D. \t'fi lldns, D.A. Wilkinson, E.A. -3 ­Ordinary Sea.man R.N.V.R. SD/Xl327 Stok~r Petty Officer . Able Seaman Leaa.ing Stoker Acting Leading Seaman Ordinary Seaman Ordinary Seaman Chief Petty Officer Telegi->aphist Acting Leading Seaman Stoker, 1st Class Able Seaman Ordinary Signalman o.c.1. Able Seaman Siok Berth Attendant Signalman Stoker 1st Class Able Seaman Chief Petty Officer Stoker Petty Officer · Stoker 1st Class Petty Officer Able Seaman Stoker 1st Class Able Seaman P/K 50326 P/JX 130670 P/K 6027 P/J 113281 P/ssx 2L~o99 C/SSX 27905 P/JX 1L~8160 C/JX 136104 f P/JX 158061 P/KX 90374 P/JX 158512 P/JX 151366 P/LX 22026 P/J 108823 P/MX 57103 D/SSX 16554 P/KX 98671 R.F.R. Bl0985 P/J 112L!.42 P/J L~9817 P/K 56597 P/KX 91984 P/JX 126292 R.F.R. B 16264 P/KX 91337 P/JX 140435. Weekly No. 53. ,. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MORNING NEVVSPAPERS OF FRIDAY. J'6TH J ANDARY 'i 1940. AIR LIII'TISTRY 1illEKLY NE,,;TS LETTER (Weeldy Newspapers). Note ThE information contained in this News Letter may be used by the Press? without acknowledgement if desired. C 0 N T E N T S. R.A.F. OFFICER'S DRAMATIC RESCUE. PROGRESS OF THE AIR WAR ARCHDEACON'S PARACHUTE JUMP R.A.F. BOXERS TO MEET THE ARMY NEUJ BALLOON BARRAGES POWER-OPERATED GUN TURRETS FRENCH PATIENTS FOR R.A.F. MEDICAL OFFICERS CANADIANS TEACH R,A.F. ICE HOCKEY 11 SLANGUAGE 11 OF THE R.A.F. DOMINIONS PREFER THE R.A,F. )r•cBC\ E>nd Publicj_ t3r Branch~ Air iviinis try1 King Charles Streetp Whitehall, s.vv.1. 2ri ~,,__... Janufr 4. They cannot speak too highly of the kindness they received from the crews of both ships. PROGRESS OF THE AIR WAR A lull in German attempts to raid Brftain followed the shooting down of a Heinkel bomoer off the Firth of Forth, on January 13th. Another appeared off Aberdeen on January 19th and was driven off in a damaged cond~tion. An examination of enemy aircraft shot down shows that the Germans have attempted to reduce the heavy losses suffered by them in earlier raids. The bombers used by the Germans at the beginning of the war had been designed on lines which had proved successful against Russian fighters in Spain. Fast, high-flying German bombers seemed to run little risk of interception. But British Spitfires and Hurricanes have shown the fallacy of that conclusion. The changed technique employed by the Germans has not been unexpected. Counter measures by Britain's air defence will ensure that enemy aircraft attempting to penetrate Britain's shores will continue to be discouraged by a high percentage of losses. Action by the Royal Air Force against units of the German fleet has again been successful. An aircraft of Coastal Command bombed a German submarine in the North Sea on January 15th. British air sweeps and offensive patrol~ /have 5~ have been continuously maintained, despite the weather. The pilots report that fewer enemy vessels are now s i ght ed at sea~ Reports of the launching of German ai r craft carriers have caused speculation about their possible use. The i nferior strength of the German navy~ reduced further by losses and damage at .the hands of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, may preclude the use of enemy aircraft carriers in full scale fleet actions. An alternativej 1rvhich is thought l i kely to appeal to the Nazis, is to employ their new aircraft carriers as destroyers of Allied and neutral commerce. Assun1ing they could run the gauntlet of the British for ces commanding the North Sea, and the long range aircraft operating from other areas, the carriers would then have to face the considerable problem of supply whilst on the high seas. The departure of Air Marshal Sir Charles Burnett for Australia," to take up his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force underlines the unity of the Empire's war effort in the air. Australia has embarked upon a five-fold increase in aircraft and personnel, involving the training of 261 000 pilots and ai r crews in the Commonwealth. In addition, Australia is taking a considerable part in the Dominions Air Training Scheme centred i n Canada~ /Bir 6. . Sir Charles 'Burnett was born at Brovl"n's Valley, Minnesota, U.S.A. 57 years ago. During the war he saw service in Egypt and Palestine. Having commanded the famous Central Flying School allf' the Royal Air For9e, and later the Royal Air Force Training Command, Air Marshal Burnett is an authority on modern methods of air training9 ~CHDEACON'S PARACHUTE JUMP. An Archdeacon who once saved his life by jumping 2,000 feet out of a disabled aircraft is the padre at an R.A.F. fighter station near the East Coast. He is the only padre who can claim membership of the Caterpillar Club, every man of whom has saved his life by parachute. Below his "dog-collar" he virears the tiny caterpillar tie-pin which tells his story. The scene was the Egyptian desert. Flying there ten years ago -he was already an R.A.F. padre -he had to 11 abandon ship", dive head first over the side of the spinning aircraft, count ten (slowly) and pull the rip-cord. "Yes, I prayed hard", he admits to polite young pilots who attempt to pull his leg. /R.A.F. 7. R.A.F. BOXERS TO MEET THE ARMY. All the Royal Air Force Sports Associations officially ceased operations on the outbreak of war. Their Challenge Cups and Trophies have been deposited in a place of safety for the duration. But the Air Force still has its sport. Air Force stations and centres carry on their sports individually, since irmrtime duties have restricted the inter­Service and inter-station fixtures 111.rhich 1vero a feature of R.A.F. life in peacetime. A big inter-Service boxing tournament has, however, been arranged to take place at Aldershot on February 2nd, when an Air Force team will meet one from the Army. The entry from the Royal Air Forcc, which now numbers in its ranks many well known boxers, is expected to give the Arrny a hot time. Six boxers from the Royal Air Force are also likely to be entered for the Amateur Boxing Association Tournament at Wembley on February 22nd~ The Tournament is in aid of the iord Mayor's Red Cross and St. John War Organisation Appeal~ NEW BALLOON BARRAGES The expansion of the National Balloon Barrage continues at high speed. Several new coastal barrages are in process of creation. /In 8. In spite of the stormy weather and biting cold there is no shortage of volunteers for marine work. This Yveek a job which required 70 men brought over 300 applications for transfer to the "Balloon Navy." The Balloon Barrage now extends over '700 miles of land and sea. POWER-OPERATED GUN TURRETS. Armament of Britainfs Fighting Bombers. Britain's development of the power-operated gun turret has given the Royal Air Force a long lead in armament over Germany's Luftwaffe., This is especially true of our bombers. While Germany has favoured the lightly armed 'evader' type of bomber, depending .on speed and cloud for protection~ the Royal Air Force is now largely equipped with the tfighting1 type of bomber, combining high speed with a formidable armamentt Such bombers can be relied on to reach their objectives, even though they may have to fight their way through opposing fighters. The great speed of modern aircraft makes it difficult to hold a gun against the wind when firing from a window or a manual turret. With the multi-gun, forward-firing fighter, the aircraft itself is aimed at the target, but the bomber designed to 'fight it out' needs mobile guns to cope /with 9. with its more manoeuvrable enemy. The pm1'er-operated gun turret is the answer. Within its protection, the British gunner can deploy his battery of guns in any direction, yfithout effort and with steady aim. Modern British bomber aircraft now have power­operated gun turrets fitted as standard equipment. Some new type fighters for the Royal Air Force are similarly equipped~ FRENCH PATIENTS FOR R.A.F. MEDICAL OFFICERS. ReAoF• Medical Officers in France obtain few leisure moments~ They are constantly on watch to ensure the mainten­ance of fitness of flying personnel, and by energetic measures they have helped to keep the incidence of sickness at a satis­factorily low level. The practice is growing for French mothers in neigh­bouring villages to seek the advice of the English doctors when any of their children are ailing. R.A.F. Medical Officers are giving willingly their spare time to act as unpaid 0 G.P's11 to the French country people, who obviously appreciate their se~vices in the absence or their own doctors. /CANADIANS lQ. QAN.ADIANS TEACH R.A.F. ICE HOCKEY. Ice Hockey is becoming popular among Royal Air Force officers and'men. The many Canadian pilots take every opportunity to play their national game. They have been able to give tuition to their English and Scottish colleagues at Northern stations during recent frosts. "SLANGUAGE" OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE. The Air Force vocabulary of slang evolved in the last war has gone into history. A new one is rapidly being invented and codified. No longer does the enterprising airman 0 win" a v-iranted article; he "organises". When supplies have been arranged, those supplies have been "laid on". ·If an airman is "fed up" he is 0browned off". When something displeases na poor view" is taken of it. Something badly done is "a black". A job properly completed is "buttoned up", and the correct method of doing anything is "the right drill". A few of the expressions from Royal Flying Corps days survive and have grovm dignified with years. "Ace" 1 "stick11 9 "hedge-hopping" 9 "stall", "zoom", "ceiling0 are no longer regarded as slang. /Some 11. Some newer ones are "fan" for airscrew, formerly Hthe prop"; "stationmaster" for the Commanding Officer; and "spun-in" for a bad mistake. To "pancake" an aircraft is now to "crack down on the deck". This calls for "tearing off a strip", other1:v·ise a reprimand. A "blonde job", surprisingly, is a young woman with fair hair. DOMINIONS PREFER THE R.A,F. Flying seems to make a particular appeal to men from countries where more time is spent out of doors than is possible in England. For in spite of the closed cabins and oxygen apparatus necessary for flying at great heights 9 the R.A.F. still represents the open air life par excellence. Young farmers from Rhodesia, woodsmen from Canada, clerks from South Africa, and athletic undergraduates from Sydney are prep~ring for their first sight of Europe. Unfortunately it will not be of wintersporting in Switzerland, or climbing in the Dolomitesj but of a Germany anxiously aware of opposition to be encountered in the air. Not all the useful work is done aloft, and men from the Dominions, who were, three months ago, concerned only with the engines of tractors and motorcars, are learning /how 12. how to overhaul aircraft or to take some special place in a ground staff. They are to be found, in fact, in all branches of the Service~ and they have a f'Urther va+uable contribution to make that has nothing to do with their work. They mix well, and to many a mess they bring fresh topics and fresh ideas. Information has been received that the following Officers and. Ratings from Ho M. S.., RAWALPIND:;: are prisoners of war in Germanyo The next of kin have been informed" Midshipman Do Dugdale, R •.NaRo Temporary Lieutenant-Commander (E} :B."Jo Dyer, R·N •R• . George Allen Hugh Barr Robert Bli.ackburn Willj_arn Brown Wo Jo B·tmt S.JoButlel" John Carlton A oJ oDavis EoAaDixon .Ja.11es l'fOWR~C'd Ko S o Hllln};:;~'l~eys G" W o H'uz z WJ GL Gt. Kent R. WaNrcBay Hector Macdonald N o:::mai1 Mcinnes Malcolm Mackenzie Ao 'Jl".,Ivr::.nshaw Do~ald Murray EaC.Olver LoG,,PoRunicles Jo Ao Speers E o VJ o Thomas Harry Whiffin RoPoWynnatt ----000---- FiPeman Fireman Greaser G·reaser Sea Rc,N o Ro Baker F'ireman Fireman Greaser Sea RoN oRo Boatswain Fireman AoBo R-0 F'oR. Sea R.N oR• Sea RoNoR'o Sea RoN. R'. Sea RoN. Ro E.. RoStores Sea RoN. R., Ao Bo D:/JX 160333j Scullion Sea R.oN. R. Firemfu"1. Storekeeper Joiner 22/1/40 -No. 27. OFFICIAL ADHIRALTY COMMUNIQUE The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce that H.M. Trawler VALDORA, temporary skipper R.N.R. ALBERT POTTERTON, is overdue and must be preswned to have been sunk. VALDORA was manned by a crew of nine ratings. The next of kin have been informed. ADMIRALTY S.W.1.