2/2/40 -No. 1. FRENCH OFPICIAL COITIIUNIQUE (Morning) Paris, Friday , February 2, 1940 The following offici al communique was issued from French G.H.~. this morning: NOTHING TO REPORT 2/2/L:.O -No. 2. COMBATING NAZISM IN SOUTH AFRICA. The South African Truth Legion, formed recently to combat Nazism in the Union, already counts 12,000 active workers and is aiming at a membership of 50,000.. The Legion is distributing 100,000 paL~hlets a week. One set of pamphlets reveals the ramifications of the Nazi organisation in South Africa. Another contains a collection of anti-Christian speeches by foremost Nazis, and a third set deals with the subject: "Hitler wants world domination". A number of research workersg using only German sources, have compiled remarkable evidence in support of this statement. Organisers of the Legion are telling of a magnificent response to the campaign. Typical of the mischief which the Legion has to combat is the propaganda still conducted among the natives. From certain parts of Natal reliable reports have been received of Zulus being told that if Hitler wins the war every man among them will be given a farm. EMPIRE AFFAIRS.. WL4o No. 3 RADIO SETS FOR C.ANADIPJ-T TRQ.QE§, Yesterday was truly a red letter day for Canadian troops. .Another heavy shipment of mail arrived from home, the boys had just received their pay, week-end leave was re-instated after temporar~r suspension due to the severity of the worst storms in a decade, while music ancl. laughter rang throughout the camp in volume and variety unequalled since the Contingent arrived in Englando The musical diversion came through the generosity of Garfield Heston, a Canadian manufacturer who recently became a member of the British House of Commons. The former Torontonian made a SJ)ecial visit to the Canadian Division Headquarters officially to present his gift of five hundred radios to officers, N.C.Osq and men. In presenting the first set to Major General McNaughton, r:eston expressed the hope that the gift would serve to bring a measure of cheer to "this splendid body of men". He also announced additional sets would be forth­coming with the arrival of ~urther Canadian forces on this side9 11 I sincerely trust they will be able to listen in to Canadian prograini:iles occasionally, but I also hope it won't malce them homesick". The General thanked him on behalf of the Division for his generous gift, and a few minutes later the sets were distributed. among the Units. Last night music issued from abnost every billet. Someho~ nearby towns and villages had not the same attraction as usual. },~en lolled on their beds reading letters from loved ones, joining in the popular refrain from time to time, and thoroughly enjoying themselves until "lights out" brought a halt. ----000---­EMPIRE AFFAIRS. NOT TO BL PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MORHING NEWSPAPERS OF SA'rURDAY, THE 3RD FEBRUARY, 19Ll-O, OR BROADCAST BEFORE 7 A.M. G.M.T. ON 1rHE 3RD FEBRUARY, 1940. ~~----~..-......---------------~·--------------..------------­ (Not to be c;_uoted as all Air ---~ 1istry o.J_li1ouncernent.) I'W':':D :-Photogr _p_-1.s of the Siegfried Line taken by aircraft of the Royal Air Force are being iss ed by the Air ML1istry through the IJi:;_1istr•y of Informntion simultaneously rith this bulletin. Th pu1Jlicatio:1 of photographs to.ken by the Royal Air Poree dux'li g lights over Germany bri11gs homeJ more for-cibly than aay more description cnn, our intimate kno'.vledge of the situation behind the ei1en1y lines and the organisatj_oj_1 and skill that we:ilt to the procurinG of it. Germany rrot:_ld fincl it very difficult : ecretly to prepa:c"'e any milit a.ry ..urprises. Every sort of poto1tial milita-_y objective is oeing L1spectoc1 m1d photogr2phod from the air, o.i1d the survey is kept constal1tly up to date. To lmou the st...,te of tho enemy's defe"1cos at the outbreak of rrar is not Emough; 011ly pe~"iodical rocolu1.aissm1ce Hill keep the Al lied High Comma~1d il1formed of the ,_ rogress of iievr vro1"lcs. We lmorr from week to ueek rrha t changes arc made in Germo.i1 naval harbours and aerodromes, vrhat vessels a1"e buildi:1.g, vrho.t o.dditiono.l fortifications are beL1g carried out, and vrhat is tho s·cate of tr•affic on roads and canals. Our aircraft have flown along the whole lm1gth of the Siegfried Lii1el1 sometimes not mor e than a few hundred feet above ite -The photographs taken identify not only the fortificatim1s as a whole, bn t also the principal details of these o"bjectives, such as barracks, r , ilway stations, arsenal;: and factories. When the time comes to meet an importa.i.1·~ encnw offensive this informatioil will be of immense practical value: the offensive cLt:il be dealt with at the sources. Thex'e will be no waste of bomas. /To 2. To obtain this infor>mation both courage and sltill are rcquirea_~ 1rho cameras may do their 11ork at heights as gr__ at a.s 20,000 fcot 9 but ovon there tho a.il"'man is hc..rdly snfo from i n tm·r·uptio;.-1 by hostile aircraft and f iro frm-;-i anti-aircr8.ft batto:c•ios. As some of the photogrophs make plain, our aircr.3.ft come do1'111 as lorr as 2,000 foot whCJ.1 pr ecise details arc required. Tho a i r rno.;,1 must be able to endure for many hours temperaturcs so l ow that i ce forms inside tho aircraft and even on the a.ir­scrorTS.. Ho must show cun11ing in overcoming severe natura.J_. obst acl es m1d ii'l ovudi:ag enemy fire. A great deal depends 0 :1 the skill of the I:i.1tclligonce Office:i." vrho oxamii1os tho crerrs o:a their return and roads t >:e photogro.phs they bring. Tho interpretation of aerial photographs is a science that began in the last war llild wns developed duri:1g 20 years of pcac,, . l1 peacetime tho aerial camera fulfilled a variety of purposes. It was used for surveys; it made such incide~J.tal discoveries as tho remains of ancient m1campmo~1ts beneath our fields; it helped i.i1 the exploration of groat tracts of Canada; it brought to light new raincral deposits; and its bird' s-cyc view of country was of assist2ncc in pllli1ning irrigation and railways. From such assorted experience as this the lf.ilit2r~r I:..1tclligcncc Officer learned much. Tho shapes of objects seen from the air vmrc not novr enth•oly unfamiliar. The tricks of light and shade~ which sometimes cause an apparent reversal in. colour, v:rcrc begii1:..1ing to be understood, and these could be allowed for. Wi-Gh the usual mosaic picture, which is pieced together from a numom" of separate vertical 11 shots11 1 it is possible to extract all important information from tho scene, even without tho occasional help of the oblique view, which covers more coru1try in a single exposure, but is mainly useful because it gives some slight effoct of elevation to tho objects shovm. /Yet Yot ovory photograph to bo road ho.s its ovm problems. Thero is not o.lrmys such a plain object as a haystack or a pond or a railwcw siding or a jetty; and though after a time certain classes of' objects arc immediately recognizable by tho trn.inod observer, there arc aluays frosh ones to bo picked out and identified. Guesswork is not allovrod, and hypothesis has to co reinforced by reason "before it is talccn as prooaolo. Pross &: Publicity Branch, Air Ninistry, King Charles Street, Whitehall, s.w.1. AIR j ;nnsTRY BULLETIN. ?./2/4,0 -No .• _~. NO AIR R.Arb' WARNINGS IN ~:I-:;;?;_p RIDING. The Air Ministry and Hinistr~r of Home Security annoru1ce :­ With reference to re:i)orts of <:'.ir raid warnings in the West Riding of Yorkshire this afternoon, no such warnings were ordered or given. AIR AFFAIRS. The War Of'fice, London, S. W.1. ,2nd February, 1940. The War Office announces that Colonel M.B.Burrows, D.S.O., M.C., Military Attache to H.M. hnbassador at Rome, and Q•lonel A.C.Arnold, O.B.E., M.C., Military Attache to H.M. Ambassador at Ankara, have been promoted to the local rank of Brigadier while so employed. 2/2/l±.Q_ _-No.8. OUR PRISONERS OF WAR SHl\_TIE HAMPERS WITH TR'S FREtWa . A aGIGANTIC SPREAD l1 FOR CHRISTMA.S. ·,;You will be pleased to know t hat the Christmas hampers donated by the Over-Seas l·eP-gue arrived in time for us to have a gi gantic spread. for Christ~as 11 , writes the Senior British Air Force prisoner in Germany~ in a letter that has just been received through the War 8rganisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St.John of Jerusalffa, 1'The Fl"'ench prisoners of war participated, as their Christ.mas p2rcels had not arrived. The Plum puddings were especially gooa.11 • · Over 2,600 hampers have already been despatched through the Overseas League since November to the B.E.F., the Home Defence Units> Hn d to PJ'.'i so:n.ers of V!ar in Germany. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 2/2/40 -No. 9. HOW GERMANS TREATED THEIR PRISONERS. SOUTH AFRICA'S REPLY. A striking cormnentary on the criticisms now being levelled against the internment camps in South Africa ia provided in a letter~ published by a Port Elizabeth newspaper this week, from a Mr. H. Theron of Rietbron, Cape, describing the treatment accorded to interned Union Nationals and prisoners of war in South West Africa during the last war. All the people interned by the Germans, said Mr. Theron, were lodged in the Vindhoek jail. They were fed on ordinary jail rations and had to share a common bathroom with native criminal prisoners. Later they were moved to Tsuneb where "we were crowded into the Otavi Mine's Native Labour Compound. The place was filthy beyond description and vermin-infested. There we experienced the vaunted German "Kultur" in all its glory. There was one water-tap in the yard, and the sanitary conditions were ghastly. The food consisted of raw meat and insect-infested mealie meal". Mr. Theron concludes by saying that his only regret is that age prevents him from "having another go at them". EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 2. 2. 40/No.10. P.N. 1614. PRESS NOTICE. British Prisoners of War in Germany. Despatch of'. parcels by relatives of prisoners• . On and from the 5th of February facilities will be available whereby one relative of a British prisoner of war or civilian interned in Germany m~ despatch ~ postal parcel, not exceeding 11 lb. in weight, to the prisoner once every three months. Such parcels must not contain articles ot food, except bar chocolate. They will be exempt from all postal charges and must bear a special label which will be supplied on application made by the next-of-kin to the Secretary of the British Red Cross Society and Ord.er of st. John of Jerusalem, Prisoners of War, Wounded and Missing Department, The Lord Chamberlain's Office, St. James' s Palace (Friary Court), London, s.w. 1, who will be prepared to suggest articles suitable for inclusion. The parcels will be repacked by the British Red Cross and Ord.er of St. John, under the supervision of the Censorship, before despatch abroad and after arry prohibited articles have been withdrawn for return to the senders. Particulars of the arrangement can be obtained at Post Offices. The new arrangements will not affect the existing organisation under which the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John despatch parcels of food, etc. at regular intervals to British Prisoners of War and civilian internees in Germany. GENERAL POST OFFICE. 2nd February, 1940. 2/2/)i.O. :10. 1i. MINISTRY OF HEALTH. Staff Appoil}.tment. The Minister of Health, the Right Hon. \Valter Elliot M. c., M.P., has a~pointed Mr. K. UcGregoP to be an Assistant Secretary (Acting) of the Ministry of Health. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, Whitehall, s. w. 1. -------000------­ 2/2/40 -N_q_. :;I.2-:_ Press Not~ Sir John Reith the Minister of Information has appointed Mr. Ronald Tree, M,P., to be his Parli~~entary Private Secretary. FRill:1 .THE_.}UNISTRY OF INF:_ORMATION 2/2/40 ;.. No. 13. P R E S ..§_______JL9. f.'~ _j:__ Q_jp__. l'Jiuch unfounded apprehension has been caused by a completely e1"roneous statement Yvhi.ch ap:1;:>eared in a neYrspaper on 1st February Y:rith regard to holiday resorts. This statement was that it was revealed during a discussion by the National Joint Advisory Council of Employers and Trade Unions at the Uinistry of Labour• that certain holiday resorts in Britain are to be placed 'out of bounds' for the ordinary holiday makers during the year because they are occupied by soldiers in training~ and evacuated civil servants and child.ren. There is no truth in this statement. The true facts are that the Ministry of Labour and National Service called the attention of the Joint Advisory Council to the difficulties that persons wishing to take their annual holie.ays away from home may experience this year in obtaining transport and accommodat~on9 and invited the Council to put forward at a future meeting suggestions for removing or mitigating these difficulties. No embargo on the use of particular holiday resorts was either mentioned or contem1)lated. Owing to the widespread disquiet that has been caused9 the Ministry wishes this contradiction to have the fullest publicity. MINISTRY OF .JiJ;J?OUR. ----=~---­ 2/2/40,. -No. 1~ MINI.Sl_~_FY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEBENT. PRICES O:B1 OILS AND FATSe The Ministry of Food announce the following prices for oils and fats allocated to primary wholesalers and large trade consumers for the period 5th February to 2nd March, 1940e Coconut Oil Palm Kernel Oil Cottonseed Oil Groundnut Oil Sesame Oil Kapoc Oil Soya Bean Oil Linseed Oil Rapeseed Oil Shea Nut Oil Castor Oil Whale Oil Palm Oil Crude £280 2., 6. Refined Deodorized 31 o 7o 60 Refined Hardened Deo­ dorized~ 35017,, 6. Crude 27,,10. Oo Refined Deodorized 30".> 150 O,, Refined Hardened Deo­ dorized.. 350 5o 0,. Crude 31 o 2o 60 Washed 340 5o Oo Refined Edible 350120 6.. Refined Deodorized 36,, 1Oo Oo Crude 350 1Oo Oo Refin~d Deodorized 40o Oo Oe Refined Hardened Deo­ dorized 440 O. Oo Crude 35.,10" Oc Refined Deodorized 40., Oo 0., Crude 340 5o Oo Crude 33,, Oo O. Refined Deodorized 370 Oo Oo Crude 460 5o o.) Crude 440 5o Oo Crude 400 1Oo Oo Refined Deodorized 49. 17... 6.. First 57,, Oo O. Seconds 55a Oo Oo Crude Hardened 42° 30.:-10. o.. Crude Hardened 460and over 31 o O" Oo Refined Hardened Deo­dorized 42° 330 Oo O. Refined Hardened Deo­dorized 460 and i 33n10o Oo over Softs 180 150 o. Semis Hards 180 5o o" Largos Red Sherbro 17 o 5o Oo 1 per ton naked ex Works. II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II " II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II " II II II II " II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II ii II ti II II ti II II ii II II II It It It II II II II II II II It II It II II It II II II II II II II II II II II II ti II II II II C.. I.F. in Casks to be returned. II 11 Loan Drums.. 11 11 Bulk.. S,, Oo G"Po Ao , Contract No,. 21., Allowances. -2 ­ Palm Oil Refined Deodorized £33. o. o. per ton naked ex. Ylo.rks Refined Hardenea. • e • • tr II II II Deodorizea_ 37. o. o. • • • • " ti If If Maize Oil Crua_e .... 35•.10. o. " " II II Refined Deodorized 40. o. o. " " " .. ,__.._.._.­ ACID orr.s__ ti II II ti Coconut .... 22.10. o. " ti II If Palm Kernel 22.10. o. ii " II II I! Cotton Black Grease ... 12. o. 'o• " " II II II Cotton ex rrashea_ .... 23. OJ. o. " " II II Groundnut 24. o. o. " " " II II Soya .... 22. o. o. 11 " " ti 11 II Whale .... 18. o• o. " " ti II II If Palm ..." 15. o. o. " ti II II Hardened .... 20. o. o. " " II Shea Nut .... 18. o. o. " " " " II II It II Maize .... 22. o. o. " II II II Mixed Soft .... 23. o. o. " " NO~l]]_L':. The prices of all oils, except rapeseed oil, have been i ncreased owing to rises i n the cost of the various oilseeds. .. ____...__,___ _ r:Iinistry of Food, Great Westminster House, Horseferry Road, s. Vl . 1. 2/2/40 -No.15. PRESS NOTICE. RESTRICTION OF CONSTRUCTION OF .SHIPS ORDER. 1940. BY COMiviJU'ID OF THE LORDS COMi.HSSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY. In pursuance of Regulation 55 of the Defence Regulations, 1939 (a), the Conunissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral hereby order as follows:­ 1. No person shall construct or cause or permit to be constructed in the United Kingdom any ship otherwise than to the order of any Department of H.M. Government in the United Kingdom except under the authority of a licence granted by the .::.d.miralty. 2. Any licence which, at the date of coming into force of this Order, has been granted by the Board of Trade or by the Ministry of Shipping under the Restriction of Construction of Ships Order, 1939 (b), and is then in force, shall be deemed to be a licence granted by the Admiralty and reference in that licence to the Board of Trade or the ~inister of Shipping shall be construed accordingly. 3. Every person whose business or part of whose business is to construct ships or to produce any articles or material required for, or in connection with the construction of ships in the United Kingdom shall, upon being requested so to do by the Admiralty and within such time as the Admiralty may direct, furnish ,to the Admiralty such returns and other information relating to the business of that person as the Admiralty may require. 4. In this Order the expression "ship" has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (c). 5. This Order shall come into force on the 1st day of February, 1940, and may be cited as the Restriction of Construction of Ships Order, 1940. BY COMMAND OF THEIR LOHDSHIPS, R. H.A. C.ARTER. Admiralty, S.W.1, 2nd February, 1940. PRESS NOTICE 2/2/40. -No. 16 , RESTRICTIQN OF REPAIRq,_Q.f_ SHIE.§_Q~WER2 1940 BY COMMAND OF THE LORDS COI1J11.'IISSIONERS OF TH:S ADMIRALTY. In pursuance of Regulation 55 of the Defence Regulations 9 1939 (a) 9 the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral hereby order as follows:­ 1. No person whose business or part of whose business is the repair alteration or drydocking of ships shall carry out or cause or permit to be carried out in the United Kingdom fepairs or alterations to or the drydocldng of ships otherwise than to the order of an3r Department of His l\'Iaj esty' s Government in the United Kingdom except under the authoI•i ty of a licence granted by the Admiralty. 2. Any licence which, at the date of coming into force of this Order9 has been granted by the Board of Trade or by the Ministry of Shipping under the Restr•iction of Repairs of Ships Order , 1939 (b), and is then in force, shall be deemed to be a licence granted by the Admiralty and reference in that licence to the Board of Trade or the I'.inisteP of Shipping shal:J_ be construed accordingly. 3. In this Order the expression 1'ship11 has the same meaning as in the MePchant Shipping Act 9 1894 (c). 4. This Order shall come into force on the 1st day of February9 19409 and may be cited as the nestriction of Repairs of Ships Or der9 19400 BY COMMAND Oli' THEL1 LORDSHIPS. TI .H.A. CAHTER Admiralty9 S. F.1. 2nd Pebrual'.'y, 191.-1-0, y_y40 -No.17. WAGE INCREASES IN ULSTER. Increased wages are to be paid to building trade operatives and brush and broom workers in Northern Ireland. The building trade operatives are to receive an advance of a halfpenny per hour in accordance with the increase in the cost of living. In Belfast approximately 5,000 operatives will benefit by the increase. In the brush and broom trade the immediate increases represent from ~d. to a penny per hour to adult male workers and td. per hour to adult female workers, with proportionate increases to juvenile workers. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 2/2/40 -NO: 18 ULSTiJ;R PARL1Al.f8NT LOCAL ELECTIOFS TO B~ POSTPON~D. 1 For the duration of the .7ar, locc;.1 Governraent; Elections in Ulster are to be postponed. This is the pu1"port of a Bill uhich is to be presented to the Ulster Parliament rrhen it resurnes next Tuesday. The House of Commons rrill meet only once a week f'or the present, and next week the Prime Minister, Lord Craigavon, will rnake a statement to Members on the war situation, espeeially as it affects Ulster, and upon the plans being made by the Government to inc1'\6ase the area under flax by 50,000 acres this year. A measure proposing to postpone the ~aising of the school leaving age is to be introduced. EMPIRE AFFAIRS. ~/2/40. -No. 19. NEWFOUNDLAND PISHEHf.'.CEN .i;\fu~ ENJOYING LONDON FROI.1 ICE HOCKEY TO TI-rn HOUSE. 9F COMMONS Twenty-one young Newfound.land fishermen9 ser>ving now in the Navy9 arrived in London this (2nd) evening on their first leave, and are guests of the Over-Seas League for the weekend. They will mingle with Canadian and Australian troops at a sherry party and dance on Saturday afternoon; and are to be 11guests of honour11 at an Ice-hockey match at the White City9 at the Tower of London, where they will be Peceived by the Chief Warden, and at the House of Commons by invitation of Sir Jocelyn Lucas 9 M.P. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 2/2/40 -No.20. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. SUPPLIES OF BACON. Housewives who cannot obtain the particular cuts of bacon to which they were accustomed in pre-war days, should not blame their grocers, It has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Food that some housewives even apply to change their registration on this ground, There are adequate supplies of bacon for every shop, and every endeavour is being made to allocate them in accordance with the particular requirements of each district. But since grocers have now no control over the kinds of bacon issued to them, they are unable to stock a big variety of cuts to please every customer. A choice, however, does exist, and this appears to satisfy the reasonable needs of housewives throughout the country. ' ,2/2/40. -No. 21 . P R E S S N 0 T I C E. The Revd. G. W. Tibbs, M.A., Chaplain .R.N., (Retd). has been awarded a Greenwich Hospital Pension of £50 a year in the vacancy created by the death of the Revd. J.L. Robinson, M.A., Chaplain and Naval Instructor, R.N. (Retd). on the 7th December, 1939. Admiralty, S.W.1. 2nd February, 1940. 2/2/l+O -No. 22. HEDUCTION _OF B/\CON AND HAU PRICES. The Ministry of Food announces that by an order inade today, the wholesale and retail prices of most varieties of bacon and ha1.1 will be reduced on L'Ionday next 5th February. For a period of some weeks before Christma~, bacon was in short supply. Since then imports have come forward with remarkable regularity and it is now possible for the Ministry to supply bacon at considerably reduced prices. Some examples of the new maximum retail prices are:­ Streaky 1s .Od. to 1s.5d. per lb. Prime Colle.r 1s.6d. per lb. Back 1s.11d. to 2s.Od. per lb. Gammon Hocks and Fore Hocks 1s.Od. The average reduction in price will be about 2d. per lb. It should not be assumed that the present large supplies and the correspondingly lower prices can be maintained for more than a short time, MINISTRY OF FOOD. 2/2/40.. No, 23. THE FOLLOWING IB ISSUED TO THE PRESS FOR SUCH USE AS THEY WISH TO MAKE OF IT. A Danish ship, the s.s. FEDDY, was proceeding in ballast to an English port for the purpose of loading coal and coke for Denmark. Two large Danish flags were shown in a conspicuous position. At 4.15 p.m. on January 9th she was attacked without warning by German bombers. The crew were given no opportunity to take to the boats before the bombing and machine-gunning took place. Three attacks al t ogether wer e made and t wo German machines took part. NAVAL AFFAIRS. ------oOo-----­ 2/2/40. -No. 24. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIL2UE. (EVENING) Paris 2. Friday, Feb:r.uary 22 ·1940, The following official comnniniq~ was issued this evening from French G.H·.Q·:­ NOTHI NG TO REPORT. 2/2/40. -No. 25. THE REWARD OP. SACRIFICE (Not to be quoted as an.Air Ministry announcement). Fighter pilots of Great ~ritain's Auxiliary Air Force ­men who in peace unselfishly sacrificed a 11 their leisure hours to training -have now arrived in France. Their ambit ion has been achieved. The story of' one of these Sg_uadrons is typical. Ever since war was declared and its members took up their stations in Fighter Command they longed for a 11 crack" at the enemy. The chance came the day after the Firth of Forth raid. A Nazi flying boat was searching the North Sea for the machines of their comrades who had failed to return to Germany. Pilots from this Squadron went up and gave chase, shooting the flying boat down a few miles from the English coast. A British destroyer picked up the crew of four 9 who are now prisoners of war. Most of the Auxiliary pilots in the squadron come from homes on the North-ease coast. Their leader, a young giantwith thick brown hair nnd keen brown eyes 9 treats his men more like a benevolent father than a superior officer. All his pilots would rather die than let him dovm. In civil life he \'vas an electrical engineer. Under him are two mechanical engineers 9 two lawyers 9 an accountant, two motor-car salesmen am. an inspector of railways. The Inspector spent his life travelling on trains to report poor meals served in l'.'estaurant cars, overcrowding, and the innumerable other discomforts to which the traveller is subject.Now he hates to remember the miles he travelled by train, but it is a joy to him to think of the miles he has flown since joining the Auxiliary Air Force nearly six years ago. 'rl1ough the homes of most of these men are in the same town they had not met until they joined the A.A.F. A wonderful camaraderie was born. Each man had the same keen desire to fly, to reach the highest pitch of efficiencyand, if emergency arose, to defend his country. Soon these men were going everywhere together -dances~ cinemas and theatres. They formed football teams for Rugby and soccer. Several are county players. Other Squadrons were challenged and they played local teams. But their chief delight each year was a fortnight's camp at some ~~.A.F. station. For t wo wee1rn they were regulars 9 enjoying every minute of the work and play. At last they were rewarded for' the zeal they had shown during the days of peace. One morning they took: off from their home station to fly to Prance. And so a peace-time hobby has become a full-time job. Press & Publicity Branch, Air Ministry9King Charles Street9 Whitehall, S.v·r.1 • FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No. O•••O•uooo•• •ooHooooOUHOoouo•o ••OoOo•ooooooo uoooo•ooooooo••oooo ' 17. 2nd February, SWITZERLAND: FUEHRER' S SPEECH FOR HOME CONSUMP-ff ON. The general view vf the Si"dss Press, commenting on Hen-Hitler's speech, was that it was mainly intended for home consumption and the NATIONAL ZEITUNG used the striking expression "Hitler's Warlike, Passionate outburst was Solely Designed to Encourage the Spirits of his own ~eople" . DER BUND stated yesterday: "The fact that Hitler did not even mention the neutrals is sufficient proof that the speech was intended for a German audience for internal political purposes." The view of the TRIBUNE DE GENEVE was given in the 'vords: "The result of ·the oratorical duel between Churchill and Hitler is that eadh intends to maintain his position, claiming with equal ardour the soundness of his cause. The moral difference is that Churchill seeks victory for right and Hitler seeks only victory for German right. There-in lies the essence of the quarrel." The German Fuehrer's arguments are unlikely to impress British and French statesmer+ stated_ to the NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG. NORWAY: HITLER_!'AILS TO SPLIT ALLIES. Herr· Bitler has abandoned his attempts to split France and England according to the Nor;mgian newspaper 11IORGENPOSTEN. Commenting on the Fuehrer's speech, this paper stated yesterday: ttHerr Hitler does not feel himfelf proof against repetitions ~f the Burgerbrauekeller attempt. Whatever conclusions one draws from that, it is clear that the Fuehrer takes measures which the leaders in Britain and France find unnecessary when they appear before pnpular gatherings." A further condemnation of the Nazi sea methods was made by the NORGES HANDEL'S OG SJOFARTSTIDENDE. On its front page this paper stated that a series of neutral ships had again been torpedoed without warning and asked: "How long is this to go on wj,thout the neutrals r~3.cting to the extent of considering a eommon demarche? Will not the time become ripe soon to think of breaking •ff connections with those who wage such barbarous warfare against non-combatants?" The MORGENBLP.DET condemned the Russian ruthless bombing of the Finnish civil po.yulation. F ORE IGN PRESS R EVIEW Page 2/2/40. The BERGENS TIDENDE in a leading article on Tuesday entitled "Bestial War Methods" wrote of the losses of Norwegian shipping and added: "In any case the great number of disasters are due to one of the belligerents having disregarded all the rules of warfare l'lhich had been agreed upon by all countries after the experiences of the last war." DENMARK: "STOP THIS WAR" PLEA Comme~ting on the speeches of J:ir. Chamberlain and Herr Hitler, the Radical newspaper POLITIKEN askeCJ.: 1111'\'hy cannot this war, which nobody wants, be terminated? This European war is a great attempt to get people to do what they do not want to do and what they hate doihg. 11 Hitler is right in one thing -and it has been knovm for thousands of years and has been affirmed by history -namely_ whom the gods wish to dest3'0y they first make blind." The German Fuehrer1s speech ;vas described by the ll!AGYAR NEMZET, the Christian Conservative newspaper, as nrather occasional than political. " UJ M.JiGYARSAG p.Jinted out that the speech was ironical ·as regards past events and ttptimistic regarding the future. ~his paper added that the Fuehrer had abandoned his tone of conciliation towards France. Conflicting reports regarding German air activity appeared in yesterday's Hungarian press. The PESTI HIRLAP, the Liberal newspaper, used the caption: "German Bombers Destroy Nine Enemy Ships" and UJ MAGYARSAG stated: "German planes, after severe fighting, sank seven armed British ships." The PESTER LLOYD used the c~ption "Aerial attack on British convoys -Information Ministry reports only two ships sunk." The FUGGET LENSEG stated: "Seven ships destl.~oyed by German flyers in the North Sea. -great successes of the German flyers com~els Britain to accelerate her ship-building." BUWARIA: PROMINENCE GIVEN ·:ro HITLER 1S SP&CH. --· -·-·---·--····· ..,.. Herr Hitler's speech was prominently reported in the Bulgarian Press and several newspapersused headlines stressing the Fuehrer1s anti-British statements, FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW Page 2/2/40. The popular newspaper DNEVNIK reported the speech fully and gave Gennan ~nd Italian Press corrunents stating that these confinned the continuance of the existence of the Rome-Berlin axis, The SLOVO,quoting a London newspaper; referred to the Bulgarian declaration of peace and neutrality and stated that Bulgaria would not take advantage of her neighbours' difficulties. "This is not a sign of vveak.1ess but of wisdom and the desire for peace," it was added. 1'The Bulgarian public continues to believe in the faith that others will eventually display sentiments of compromise and justice. May their trust r.ot be misplaced this time owing to the obstinacy of some and the unwillingness of others." Herr Hitler's speech was reported in the Madrid papers in banner headlines and the Fuehrer 's statements regarding Germany's strength were quoted• .Andres Revesz, the Diplomatic Correspondent of the A.B.C.~-believea that the present activity was a prologue to totalitarian war, ITALY: "_!NCQ~~SJON OF SITUATION, " Referring to Herr Hitler's speech, the POPOLO DI RObIA, in a Berlin message spoke of the "incomprehension of the situation in Germany which incredibly reigns, even today, in the Governments of the Western Democracies." The Bo:i.t1g.r1a ne>vspaper RESTO DEL CAEZLINO reported from London that the British Press "rejects the whole speech with the comfortable argument that it contains nothing new." · Mr. Chamberlain!s speech was prominently reported in last night's Italian Press, and the general opinion was that it was deliberately restrained in contrast to the speech by Herr Hitler. Referring to the question of self-sufficiency, the TRIBUNA in a message from London stated: nn1e English have a singular method of reasoning, but the world i s net deceived. The world knows that Britain offers a magnificent ex::u11ple o:C' the fine st kind of autarchy consisting of an Empire which puts at L0nd0n's disposal whatever Downing Street requires for the purpose of the poUcy of hegemony. "To ask countries not possessing raw materials to renounce their autarchical organisation1 means asking them to make their policy dependent on that of the rich States. 11 .An editorial article in this paper affinned: "It is evident that these aJ.a:rms against autarchy not only reveal the real aims of the democratic war -· masked, in vain, by vacuous humanitarian formblae -but admirably prove the sanetity cf the cause of all the countries determined to safeguard their prestige and independence." The CORRIERE DELLA SERA in a London dispatch, also referring to the policy of self-sufficiency asked: "How can Mr. Chamberlain fail to remember the origin of these protective measures?" FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW Page 2/2/4.0. U.S. A: HITLER 1 S SP:c;i:CH SEEH iill AID TO ALLIES. --· ·-------·-· ·------· The view that Herr Hitler's speech is more likely to play into the hands of the Allies rather than to help Germany is expressed in the American Press. The BOSTON POST states: "Hitler's attempt to brand Britain as the aggressor must mean that there is a growing suspicion in the mind of his people that they have been misled. Thousands of Germ.ans must realise that the greacest enemies Germany has are the men who led her into war. Hitler said nothing new. Rather than appearing as the first soldier 0f the Reich., he still appears as the first pr)litician." A similar belief is expressed in the BOSTON HERALD, which states:. "The only significant pvrtion of the speech was the emphasis Hitler laid on the Allies' alleged broken promioes after 1910. This would indicate that a considerable number of Germans have been thinking about the possibility of a negotiated peace with the British and French, and perhaps t oying with the idea of custing the Hitler regime just as they overthrew the Hoehenzollen Empire in 1918 as a prelude to peace." The PROVIDENCE JOURNAL states that the speech was the "vain boasting of a man caught in a trap of his own making." Irving Pflaum writing in the CHICAGO TIMES says: 11 If G'.·,ebbels lets the handsome Adolf· . make a few more speeches like that, he is going t c have Germany talked into an early c~llapse. Maybe Joseph and Adolf know more about their listeners than we do, but they certainly do not know anything at all about American feeling in this country; which is df'wn-right sick of Hitler's sour references to the Versailles Treaty." . "Surely word must have c.;irculated in Germany by this time that Italy's close friendship with Germany is such that Mussolini has exerted all his efforts to avoid entanglement in Hitler1s war," states the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. "Surely word must also have got round that the p0pular feeling in the Balkans tends to help Italy lean towards the Allies rather than towards Germany< Big talk is still Hitler1s stock-in-trade. He o'lmmitted a superlative blunder when, by invading P:Jland, he hurled .a people, who had worfl.hipped him as a peaceful conquerer, into a war of heart-breaking privation. " Prominence is still given to the Polish atrocities. In this connection · the WASHINGTON ST.AR states: "Never has there been such a coldly calculated effort to de-pvpulate a territory and strip it of its native human life. It is patent that the war against the Catholic Chur0h in Poland is only a phase of a war against all religiono" The DETROIT NEWS states: "Germany1 s experience must ha·re gone far to confirm the fact accepted in t his country f or 200 ye::i_rs i.:l-h1" ~:-;:l::'.lgi:;z:,_ is safe only where there is demo;:}ra'.:y. 11 FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW Page NORWAY; NEUTRALS :: 11PERILOUS POSITION. II ---n--·-····--·------·-----···­ "By compelling neutrals to join the British ranks, Britain will bring them into a perilous situation." This comment was ma.de by the Berlin correspondent of the Conservati'Te newspaper Jili'l'ENPOSTEN yesterday. This ~a.per had printed on another page the BERLINER BO~RSENZEITln~G's warning that "the B:d tish Government: s a.ppr0priation of passenger ships spelt danger ". The .AFI'ENPOSTEN's Berlin correspondent added: arn Gennan eyes the neutrals would share in the responsibility f~r the British blockade. It would be wise if the neutrals, from the '.J",)zy first, oppcsed such British attempts,as they know what counter-measures it will provoke from the German sideo " Condernn:l::\g Ru.ssian b;_ mbing atrocities, the Liberal newspaper DAGBLADET stated: urt was one of Germany's greatest mistakes in the last war that she c :1runitted acts cf cruelty which outraged the neutrals and turned them into enerr.i.es. The Russians are making ::-. similar mistake with their airmen1s cruelties in Finland, 11 The view that from an eco!lomic stand-point, c'J:nplete chaos reigns in East Poland has been expressed 1n the Finnish Presso The HUFVUDSTADSBL.ADE~! stated yesterday: ~'In addition toihe complete chaos which exists in Eastern Poland, autu_mn work in the fields is only half dcne. There is a la.ck of the most important goods, free trade is sup:pressai and prices are unbeli evabJ..;;· high. One metre of cottcn material costs 18,C:OO Finnish N'larks. Farmers and industrialists are shot and expelled, Socialists are O?p.::-essed, d('Ctors and nurses are transported to the Russian in-ceriur and p::·is:.mers get food only on alternate days. Poland1 s ha.rd • -_·2 ···cl:Ls arc a blocdy spur to us to cb our utmost to avoid such a fate. n The SCSI.ALI0~DEMOKRAA...'1'TI thought that the repc·rted Russian purchase of Canadian wheat was i.'1.tended for Germany and added that Germany needed raw materials, quch as c0pper, lead;-r..ic.kcl and w~lfram, but these could nc:--t be provided by Russiao Ph~spha.tes and ma.ngamun m..i.ght be exp~rted if supplies to c-ther countries were st0pped. To fill Germany's naphtha requirements, Russia would have to exp.~..;.~t more than her whole production. Germa.'1..Y: the: ;.>aper added, waf! not interested in the supplying of machinc;ry, so badly needed by Russia, in such c.::mditions• • FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW Page 2nd February 1940. lV'x. Chamberlain 1 s spee·;:'.1. has produced a good impression in Sweden and the STOCKHOLMS TIDNINGEN~ the organ uf the Peoples Party, was pa±-ticular]y pleased vr.i th the Prime t!inister' s references to the neutrals. "Mr. Chamberlain emphasised that the British Government does nbt intend to exert pressure on the neutrals, 11 stated this paper yesterdey. "AdmittedlyP he ticlared that the neutrals should spirituaL'jr support the Allies since they are interested in an Allied victory; but he did not demand direct support, 11 The paper added later : "vie in Scandinavia know our duty. vve must attempt to keep the two wars separate and prevent them merging into a huge conflagration, For this our neutrality regarding the Western war is absolutely essential. It is also equally esserttial. that we should give help to Finland without 6 however, abandoning Our neutralityo "Although there is no r eason to suppose that any belligerent wishes to draw us into t he fight, we must not close our eyes to the danger. The Russian threat to Scandinav'ia is a direct danger to ~he . great Powers' vital interestswhich they might be compelled to pr6teet.ll Writing of a Communist resolution taken by the Gothenburg Workers Club, the SVENSKA DAGBIJ..DET stated; "From the point of view of the country-Ls. security, it is a grave matter-when a Party with treasonable aims is so strongly represented in our principal harbour4 The State must intervene with legislation before it is too late." Commenting on the German Ft:c•'1rer 1 s speech, the STOCKHOLMS TIDNINCEN in a message from Berlin stated: "Hitler's speech is a finP.l decision to concentrate on victorso His promises that the fight will now begin in earnest are not mere rhetoric¢ Special significance is attached to Germany1 s tremendous submarine constructiona The Fuehrer made no reference to the neutrals and per haps this is a bad sign," Reviewing the war at sea, SVENSKA DAGBLADET denlared: "It is reported that Russian attacks on German vessels are far more numerous than announced, and that the Russians answered German protests by saying that it was difficult to distinguish German vessels from others." Ref-orr•i:ng t .:-,,· He;:-r Hi:bTor '. s Speech, GOTEBORGS HANDELS-OCH SJOFARTSTIDNING stated: '''.!.'he Germans need a 'pick-me-up' in their disaster. ,. They chiefly see the present g;r.::...ve need. If the Allies needed a. war e.lixir F'.itler provided it. The Allies decision tc fight to the b~tter end has bee~ strengthened., The German people are silent and obedient thereby seab.ng their fate." F OR EIGN PRESS REVIEW · .Page SWITZERLAND : MR. CHAl;:BERLAIN1S SPEECH FAVOURABLY RECEIVED. ; Mr~ Chanl.berlain1s speech has been favourably received by the , S~viss' Press, and his refe~ences to the neutrals have been particula.tJV welcomed;, The GAZETTE DE LAUSANNE states to-aay: ''The speech is the mbre interesting because it cannot be denied that it officially binds Britain. On the principle that she is fighting also for the smaller rlations, Britain does not conceal the necessity that c~mpels her to demand sacrifices in ~nchange for a result whioh,in her view, is more important than temporary economio inconveniences. It also proclaims definitely that Britain comprehends the neutral&' eMbarrassment. The speech confirms that Britain has shoW.n great friendship towards Switzerland while guarding her own interests. " The BERNER TAGWACHT states that the first seven years of Nazi power have been "fat years" for the Nazi leaders, but adds that the German people not only remained poor but have become much poorer. This paper concludes by saying that unless the signs are deceptive, the lean years for the Nazis are now beginning. The TRIBUNE DE GENEvE states : "The neutrals have the g'reatest interest in the earliest possible termination by an Allied victory ot a war in which certain neutral countries have suffered severe~. These sufferings are not so much theh>lding up of vessels, ncr the surveillance of mail. More severe are the unwarranted torpedeinga and sink:ings and losses of men and material. None of these praotioes oan be imputed to the British Fleet." FRANCE : NAZI ATTACKS ON LERCHANT S"".tiIPPING, The view that Nazi attacks-on unarmed Merchant, vessels will n~t under~i~e the morale of the Allies has been expressed in the EEE NOtNEtLE$ . : i ·. ~ . ii~:f Hitle~'s sailoti:I and ainnen thought to impress the , .. . British and French peoples then they have once again made a se:H.6ti~ psychological mistake," declared this paper. "Not' one of our seamen has forsaken his tab:k. These cruel and useless deaths have ·onl,y strengthened that desire for battle and for victory which upholds the two peoples in the face of the enexcy." The JOURNAL DES DEBATS welcomed the brilliant victory won in the South African Parliament by General Smuts over General.Herzog whose latest speech, it said, showed once more his hostility towards the British Empire. M. J ouhaux in the POPULAIRE, on returning from the meeting of the Anglo-French Trade Union Committee in London referred to the co-operation between the workmen's organisations, the employers' organisations and the Sfa.te in England., FOREI GN P RES S REVIE"\'V Page 8. 2/2/40 BELGIUM: BELGIUM Is lifBUTRALITY RE-AFFIRMED. The question of neutrality has continued to oacupy the attentio~ of the Belgian Press. The NAXION BELGE stated yesterday: "England intends to respeet the liberty of the neutrals," and the INDEPENDENCE BELGE affirmed: "The neutrals are their own masters and they will decide wheth.er or not they will join in the war. " · SPAIN: REACTION TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN 1S SPE~CH. Corrunenting on Mr. Ch.amberlainfs speech, Andres Revesz, the diplomatic correspondent of the A.B.C. wrote yesterday: ''Mr. Chamberlain was appealing to the neutrals and endeavoured to dispel the impression that the Alliesrwar aim is the destruction of German unity. The statistics quoted by the Premier are exceedingly impressive ind one wonders whether with such strength the Allies will remain on the defensive, leaving the i!litiative to the Germans." The London correspondent of this newspaper wrote in praise of Mr. ChaJnberlain and stated that of all the Prj.me Ministers that have been known in Britain, it is Mr. Chamberlain who is most respected and who commands most confidence. The diplomatic correspondent of YA, referring to Herr Hitler's speech said that it did not settle any concrete questions. YUGOSLAVIA: GERMANY 1S ROLE IN THE BALKANS. The possibility of improved relat·ions between Germany and Turkey was referred to yesterday by the Berlin correspondent of the POLITIKA. Af'firming that the basis of this friendship would rest on a new eommercial agreement, this correspondent adde'd that it is believed that Turkey, in the capacity of a meniber of the Balkan Entente, "would never shut the door on the Reich". He went oh to say that it is thought in Belgrade that Turkey would not adept an attitude calculated to alienate the confidence of the Reich.