FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 38 27th February• 1940 .......... ...... ....... . ... ................ . . .... ...........u ••••• •• , No. NORWAY: :'.LTMARK -OFFICIAL STATEMENTS llliVIBWED. The Norwegian papers have published the official statement on the Altmark affair from the Norc.:egio.n Foreign Department, and th<:~ statement made by the German Legation denying that neutral ships would ·be torpedoed yrj_ thout warning. Commenting on the statements the MORGENBLADl~T wrote yesterday: "The official Norwegian stD.tement makes it cleLU' how groundless were the British beliefs. For the Norwegio.n public it contains the interesting information that the Altmark captain, when stopped a second time by a Nori,vegian patrol ship• untruthfully denied that there were prisoners on board belonging to another belliger ent power. " Referring to the German stat..:;ment the paper declared: "We can never believe that declarations collected by the Norwegian Foreign Department can be called 'p"lilre f abrication'. 11 Recalling the fate of the vessels Songa, Steinstad and Nidarholm, the paper added: "Prom the Norwegian stand-point these cases cannot be reconciled vrith German assurances." The DAGBL'J)ET affirmed: "Tlh:e Germans have l earned the Rus.sian tricks of denying actual facts by saying the whole is a 1Reuter cock-and-bull story'. The Germans a.re told that Reuter spread such stories as that Norwer;ian seamen are shot at in boats. This is a propaganda method vrhich defeats its own end. Any suggestion that it is a question of sworn declarations is suppressed. Reuter is not damaged by this. On the contrary when people in Norvroy see that events, the truth of v;hich can be controihled here, are called 'Reuter cables1 it strengthens their faith in Reuter instead of weakening it." "The farht that Norwegian seamen are murdered so that the very thought sends a cold shiver dovm our backs is consequently less important than a 'technical' breach of neutrality aimed at the other belligerent,11 dee!'l!'ed the ARBEIDERBLADET, which, enumerating possible new neutrality laws, suggested decrees "against ships sailing under false flags, sailing with camouflaged arms or with prisoners on board." "In view of the special circumstances in this Ym.r it can prove more advantageous to us in the long run to g~t such decrees enforced. rather than to preserve an absolutely passive attitude to these problems," concluded this paper. 27.2.40. 2. U. S. A: ANGLO-FRENCH UNITY' A tribute to the strength of the .Anglo-French Entente is paid in the New York Press today. In an editorial article entitled "The Entente grows stronger" the NEW YO!U{ T:tMES v.rrites: "There has been no more striking symbol of Anglo-French unity than the recent meeting of the j~int committee of the House of Commons and the Chrunber of Deputies. If the two greatest democratic assemblies in Europe can at the same t~me resolve to make a just intelligent peace, their meeting will be a thrilling gesture. "France and Britain have shown already that they.can disoard the follies of Nationalism in the face of the common enemy. Tboim r.Ut. the opportunity to set an even finer example to the world when peace comes.'1 ;Referring to the fact that the Pan-American clipper is not to make a call at Bermuda, the NEV/ YORK HERALD TRIBUNE states: "The solution is at the cost of putting the United States in a position of furnishing Hitler vrith a free pipe line for the importation of money and securities that may be very valuable to him while it does no.t in any way clarify our attitude to blockade rr.oblems. "The United States has resigned all neutral rights which the Germans might wish to infringe, but she is in the position of maintaining those which might embarrass the Allies who will do nothing serious in reply. There is something wrong with this picture. If the United States in effect authorises Germany to wage economic war with rnine and torpedo it seems we ought similarly to authorise the Allies to wage counter econoraic war with the blockade censorship, the diversion of ships and so on. "If this theory vrere admitted, then our controversies with the Allies would become in theory: as they seem to become in fact. . ' really a matter of getting them to exercise their control with a minimum of delay and unnecessary loss. Unless this principle is admitted it is never clear to anyone whother1·the,!Onitcd,'.Statcs is objecting to dcl.:~ys or to the fc..ct of controls. Our :_JOlicy is not on a sound basis. 1~ :,roat donl of dcvuir;ins; confusion can easily be its fruit". Declaring that encircle;ne'nt, so often referred to by the Ger:mans, was becoming an actuality, the BOSTON J8R.i\.LD stated in a recent issue: "The Italian Axis is broken. The easy access to Norway is interrupted. Roumania and Turkey are friendly to the Allies, the Maginot Line is impenetrable and the sea lanes are controlled by England and France. "Supplementing the economic encomriassment of Gennany there is a spiritual encirclement which is just as impressive. Outside Russia and perhaps Japan there is nowhere in the world a nation which sympathises vd.th her. The neutrals are only technically neutral. They wish to have Germany defeated somehow. They are likely to make their wishes felt." Referring to the German birthrate, the 8'.11 LOUIS STAR TI.1."U.:S • wrote: "Nazi officials call it an exalted task to become a mother even outside wedlock. Germany offers various inducements to encourage the production of cannon-fodder. Even if marriage is inconvenient this reriulsive business, which is rebuked by the German clergy, may debase Germany. In another particular the Nazis are ha::ttening the day of world wide chaos. '.L'hey have joined the ranks of forgers in Southern I:urope where they have showered down counter-feit currency." 3. 27. 2. 4D. Germany 1 s chief war aim cc nsists of "rebellion against the world rulers" .according to the FRANKFURT.i~R ~Il'UNG. Writing on the "self-sufflciency front" this paper's editor explained that the front consisted of Gcr~any, Italy and Japan '7ho had enaeavoured by the formation of "unity cf int( r c;sts" to shake off their dependcnoe on pot€.ntial enemies. '\Ta.pan1 s dependence on suprlies of ·raw materials from 1.merica is to-day so great that her policy and st:·a. ~egy must proceed..w1th -caution", declared the writer. "If we Germans are to..~~t.i.ng alone the fight with aero­planes, submarines and cann.otLJ.VE;... . ..are in truth not alone in the world. The front of the autarchists and r cvJlutionarists is reality. "The will to shake off t -1e ;;_nglo-Saxon yoke unites all rebelling peoples even in the Far East. The recellion against the world rulers has become ever more clearly the real aim ot our ·war. " This paper, announcing the successful conclusion of Germany's trade 1:iegotiations with Norway, said that the negotiations provided for the "continuance . of German-Norwegian trade under the special conditions created by the YV2.r." In a foot-note the FR-~1CT:'lff-tlliR ZEITiJ1'iG stated that this, and other resuJ.ts of Germany's active trade policy, proved that even during the war Gerrmmy-ha.s no lack of trade partners, and that -Germany remains capable-. .of'-·-im:parting and exporting to a very large extent. The VOLKISCHER B~OBACHT~R, in a r ecent issue, had on its front page a cartoon shovvi.ng a British sailor throttling "neutrality'.' in the form of a fragile female -much to the admiration of certain small figures who were apparently intended to represent neutral journalists. The cartoon was headed "Gazettede ·Lausanne, Telegraaf etc." and had a caption "Oh1 how splendid.. He has trodden the rights of our nations into the mud.." On the same page there were three paragraphs from the Hague, Oslo and Stockholm announcing that the Dutch, Norwegians and Swedes had lost respectively 64P350, 168,000 and 63,000 t ons of shipping since the war b egan. HOW..JID: SPEBCHBS LINY3D VHTH MR. i:EJ.JUS' VISIT. Neither of the speeches made by 11".r. Chamberlain or Herr Hitler is taken by the Dutch Press as a good augury f or :rvrr. Sumner Welles 1 visit to Europe. BET Viill'GRL..:UID vrltes ta~t. "Judging by the speeches, the dove of peace vrill find no perch. Mr. Welles 1 arrival does not produce optimism." The NIElfr/E RO'.rT.ii:RD.AJif,SC~ COlJlL~.FT declares: "Lr. Chamberlain's speech makes a much better impression than Hitler's, but it does not give any new view-point. \{elles will find the distance between the belligerents the same as at the outbreak of war." 27. 2. 40. SWITZERLAND: "H.A.PPY G~RlvIANS: !1 Both :Mr. Chamberlain's and. Herr Hitler's speeches have been given prominence in the Swiss Press. Commenting on the Fuehrer's ad.dress the NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG, the Radical Democrat.ic organ; declared yesterday: "Hitler attempted to persuade the Germans to hold out becuase victory is certain. He clearly regard.ed a compromise as impossible. The Fuehrer's emphasis on Russian collaboration encourages the widest speculation as to the possible development of the war situation." The GAZETTE n~ LAUSANNE , the Libe~ al newspaperp affirmed: "Mr. Chamberlain appeals to the Germans to help in the restoration of confidence after which they will be given aid. to surmount economic difficulties. Happy Germans1 They are on velvet. If their attempt at domination becomes too difficult they only need to change their regime, vrhich they can ensily do, being a sovereign people. When the change is effected they will be the first to profit. Theywill enjoy universal sympathy and support. What more could they hope for~" Discussing the war at rea the TRIBUN!!: de GENbYD stated: "Germany not only demands that the Scandinavians should cease all trade with Britain but it is announced that the German Fl~et and Air Poree will sink vnthout warning all ships submitting to the British control. Yet the Scandinavians, making desperate efforts to avoid being dravvn into wa:r~ have rrade new trade agreements with Germany while all the time the Nazis are sinking and burning Scand.inav;:Lan vessels..-" B~LGIUM: STilliNGTH OF BJ!:LGiaf ARJ'.:'Y. ~ The strength of",Belgium' s military position was refeljred to by the military correspondent of the XXme SIECLE, the Catholic newspaper, yesterday. Discussing the German war against neutrals this correspondent wrote: "A State which tacitly admits the murder of its nationals at sea fails in a sovereign state's first duty. Our co .ntry has a goorl strategical position and a strong ar:rrrr. It is not to be compared with a defenceless lamb, which, bleating in the meadovv awaits the fatal hour of the butcher's arrival. In tri.e present conflict it is strength and not weakness which will allow Belgium to remain at peace." After quoting the passage from Mein Kampf' foretelling the ruin of a state which makes concessions to violence , the writer concluded: "It is the summit of the crest ·wher e one must rE>sist. Once one has started t o slide it is too late." Comparing Wir. Chamberlain 1 s speech vtlth that of Herr Hitler this paper declared: "The quality of the British spe0ch was rernarkabJy superior to the German 1 s. It is not the first time we have paid tribute to the moderation. wisdom and constructiU-e sense of ~.Ir. Chamberl ain's statement.::. It is difficult to escape the force of Hitler's imprecations but by virtue of the conviction in the :j:'emier!3 speech a more durable effect is secured." VENEZUBLA: ESTR.Al'TGErIBNT OF REIOHSVIEHR .Af..TD NAZIS. A long wa:r would _help to estrange further the·-Reichswehr-and.the Nazis, according to LA ESl?ERl'i. An article in this :paper stated: "From hioscow, Russia sees Germaey thwar~d on land, on the sea and in the air. GerIT.a.ny in without resources and a long war will also increase the breach between the professional soldiers and diplomats and the Nazis. lt is also forseen that the old governing classes will neg~tiate peace and overthrmv· Nazism. t1 A leading article in LA Eill'.Bfil stated: "German propaganda is trying to convince the world that convoys are useless and Germany is playing havoc w:i. th Allied shipping. The contrary is the truth. British statistics prove that millions of tons of shipping are going into .British ports and the Germans are sinking only insignificant fillips and fishing craft." .l\nother article in this paper stated: ''H~rman Rauschning, the New York v-r.riter, heard Hitler stat.; in 1933 that he would create a New Germany in Brazil which was governed by corrupt half-castes and ripe for revolution. The Fuehrer said he would eventually include the U.S.A. in the Great German Empire." EGYPl': FATE 01!" MOSLEMS UNDER NAZI RULE. A comparison between Moslerns under British rule and what their fate would be. · under-the Germans-o:c--Ru.ssians has been crai;m in an article in AL AHR~).4.--· --· ..-­ The article was written by Ahmed Mokhtar and he rela.ted....llow '®ring a vislt to India he ~vas happy to observe how the Ni.0SJ.ems-enjoyed every religious and cultural liberty. · The writer went on to describe the massacre and persecution of 1foslems under the Bolsheviks and added: "Such is life under brutal Bolshevism. t1 Referring to Germ.any he declared: "The human ITJind cannot imagine what the Moslems might suffer if th_ey fell under the Nazi regime. We have plenty of ... ,,; examples of the atrocities they commit against the conquered, without any regard for sacred human rights. We do not doubt that all Moslem leaders will appreciate the peril of the present moment and will find no YPW of escaping the threats of Bolshevism and Nazism except by co-oper ating with Britain and France until victory is obtainea. "Our interest is the interest of world peace which lies in the victo:r:y of' Britain. This is the only w0.y to save liberty and democracy." AL NJASRI v'lrote: "The understanding between :C::gypt and Britain is complete., for their interests are cornrr1on", a.rid AL B_iLA.GH declared that the Allies viewed with equanimity the ~hreat of Hazi aggression in the Near East. 6. ITALY: cm:u.IENT ON COPEHHAGEN CON.FSREl\fCE. The Copenhagen Conference of neutral Foreigi:i liinisters has been f eatured in the Italian Press and the l1IESSAGG:i!;RO used the headline "Policy of strict neutrality re-affirmed by Sweden, Norway and Denmark in official communique -energetic protest against sea warfare contrary to international law". The POPOLO DI ROiiA used the expressions "Northern States' protest against methods of sea vrar", "Reciprocal promise of support against belligerent countries by energetic defence of neutrality" and 11Hopes for Finnish independence and. e. just and honourable peace". A Copenhagen dispatch to this paper stated that Norway shared Britain's opinion that the Altmark was a war-ship and therefore it was considered that she had a right to use neutral waters without being stopped. The l:!ESSAGGERO, in a Bucharest dispatch,asserted that Roumania4s present difficulties were due to the enormous rise in the price of her oil owing to Britain's entry into competition against Germany and ItalY, v1ho were formerly her chief customers. After quoting figures to support this theory the paper added: "Transitory factors do not co·nstitute economic law, though there is 11 no doubt 'that i;he-po.liti~l £.a.ot.ar · ~. FINLAIID : G.:.;;Rtvr!tNY lhlPROACibD. Germany has been reproached in,the Finnish Press for her change of attitude t owar ds Finland. ffiTSI SUOMI 1.rote : "Nov1here haa Germany had sincerer friends than in Finland. The basis of the friendship vvas the Ger man share in the war of liberty, and the Third Reich's merciless attitude against Bolshevism. We expected at least German support and. sincere sympathy in the event of Russia threat ening our liberty , and. we ·were i nclined to t hink that the German-Russian non-aggression pact was an n.clditional guarantee of peace on our boundaries.· "We still know that large numbers of German people sincere]y hope that we vrill r epulse the Bolshevik attack. Quite contrary, however, is the attitude in t he Ger man Press." The paper then went on to quote the BERLI1'.TER BOERSEN-ZEITUNG and continued: "The BOERSEN-ZEITUNG'S pacifism would pr obably say that assistance to Finland is 'peace sabotage'. It is useless trying to explain the falsity of this cynical theory to persons with a nor mal sense of justic0. But it is read with a feeling of aversion, especially by those vmo for reasons of justice and honour def ended Germany when she suffer ed injustice. 11 This pa1Jer reported fr om Ta 1 linn that the Ogpu were making numerous e.:,'rests in l:urmansk ovring t o "ir;iagina.ry o.nd count er-revolut ionary" r umours regarding the British Fleet' s movements in the Arctic. It was al leged that the population fear ed Briti sh bombing rai ds. 27. 2. 40. The HELSINGIN S!..NOM!~T, in reference to Herr Hitler 1 s speechcot\Side~d 1 that the passages regarding Russia emphasised the Fuehrer1s intention to continue along his chosen path to the end. It was added that the passages were prob<:'.bly intended "to extinguish some of the -\·•-estern Power's hopes t~t the obscure German attitude to Russia will induce the latter to abandon the German alliance." l!'RANCE: SPEECHES CONTRASTED. The arrival of Mr. Sumner Welles in Europe has been con• sidered to coincide opportunely with the speeches of Mr. Chamberlain and Hitler, and the contrast between the two has been commented upon throughout the French Press. Calm confidence and reasonableness were the qualities most praised in the speech of the Prime Minister, who vms regarded as having given finn expression to the determination of the Allies not to conclude peace until their war-aims had been attained. The Fuehrer•s speech on the other hand was taken to shovv that no compromise is possible, though underlying its hysterical menaces a new note of uneasiness was detected. Commenting on Herr Hitler's speech, Bure, in the ORDRE, expressed the hope that Signor Mussolini will soon realise that the interests of his country, Europe and the human race, are ~ the side of the Allies. He also noted with regret that there was a time -11and the speaker of the Munich Beer Cellar has reoalled this in the form of a challenge -when it .would have been enough for England and France to pronounce a single word enough· for the danger of Hitlerism to disappear. This word would still have its effect today if the leaders of the neutral nations, grouped round the most powerful, were to pronounce the word in chorus~ What evil chance prevents them from doing so?" TURKEY: NAZI CONCEPrION OF NEUTRALITY. German ideas of neutrality v:ere commented upon ironically in a recent issue of the Ankara newspaper ULUS. This paper wrote: "The classical meaning of neutrality has been modified by Gennany, who deems that neutrality has been violated if any states decline to sell her goods at her prices •r accept restrictions of the contraband control or combine to preserve their independence -in short, not to serve the aims of her Foreign P0licy. The meaning of aggression has suffered strange changes -the Germans vmre not aggressive in Poland. The Allies were the aggressors for trying to thwart that attack • Further, when she destroyed Czechoslovakia Germany was ·only defending herself against her victim. The partition of Poland was merely an act of self...defence nnd. the Poles by resisting were the aggressors. Such nev; definitions have at lenst the merit of throwing light on Gennan policy." 27.2.40. 8. The Turkish Press has generally approved ivlr. Chamberlain•s sneech and condemned the address of Herr Hitler. _ The YENI S~Jill declared: "The Premier was sincere as always. He vras mod~r~te ~n tone but this vras not due to fear as Britain is.• ~tronger mili~arily and politically than at the outbreak of war. l.1r. Ch81:11berlain does not claim German territory or reparations _ ~e requires only proof, good faith and respect for the rights and independence of the smaller nations including Czechoslovakia and Poland." .. ULUS ~ate: "Hitler declares his aims of destroying the British Empire. This i~ not the first time that such a project has been conceived, but ifapoleon ended at. St. Helena and the Kai·ser Doorn." at SWEDEN: CO:MLIENTS ON WEEK-LND SPEECHES. Commenting on the speeches by r:Ir. Chamberlain.anq Herr Hitler, the STOCKHOLMS TIDNINGEN otntcd yesterday that they represented u.two points of view between--whicli..~~il:i..8..±ion-appean ..as hopeless as ever." The paper added: "Mr. Chamberlain's speech was without question of great interest in that it provided a clearer picture than previcu$ declarations from London on what are usually called the Britisb War aims, "Hitherto British statesmen have maintained that Austria must be allowed to choose whether or not she vlishes to remain part of Germany. This time Chamberlain repeated his demand for the independence of the Czeohs and the Poles but said no word of Austria. On this point he modified his war aims. By contrast ne sharpened his tone against the German Government, that is to say the present Government, with which he considered an agreement to be impossible. He and his colleagues had cautiously varied their statements in this regard, sometimes saying that Nazism must be destroyed, sometimes that a new Government, without mentioning the party, must be formed, but most recently of all that the Government with which peace could be concluded must shovv a different attitude from the one at present manifest." DAGENS NYIJETER expressed the ho:ne that the new method of volunteer recruiting for Finland would be successful and discussed foreign powers' eagerness to help Finland as being merely an attempt to expand their own front. "It 'Nill not be easy for the Scandinavian Goverrunents in co-opera*.J,6n to arrange for Finland to obtain the necessary assistance without these countries losing their peaceful neutral status and becoming the European battle field", added this journal. "One would thus think there are so many good reasons for this Scandinavian policy that it ought to be explicable to the belligerents. In any case one must find such a solution that if the real vrill to help really exists, this help can come to the Finnish people quickly and effectively." • AIR MI1'TI';TRY BULLETIN. 27.2.40 No. 1. (Not to be Quoted e.s n.n'. Air Hinistry Announcement) • .BOMBERS T},KE OFF. At cm R • .A. F. sto.tion, tr s omewhere in Engl2nd11 , bombers arc t f'.ldng off on n ni:i:ht r cconnf'.issance. Yf'.rly in the day tho Squndr on W"'S warned -":1tnnd by for night opcr r'.tion", and 1 in the 11fternoon nnd eF.'..rly evening, flying crews were given the opnortunity of getting some sleep. In tho mess the officers who hn.ve been picked to go on the fliRht hnvo gnthercd at one end of the l ong ante-room. Two r>,re 1Jl.'.'.ving shove ha' penny, while others look on. Another group stands chntting before the fire. A young pilot officer is writing l etters. No one discusses the flight. A similoe: r riic ture could be drawn. of the scene in the Sergeant's Mess or in the nirmen's institute. One of the senior officers is cnlled t o the t eleDhone. At the other end of the line the Squndron Adjuto.nt is s11ying "Will you come over 2nd brinr; the others with you\;. The "show" is on. The word is passed round. In less than two minutes the offic,'rs h~ve collected their cnps and overconts nnd nre crossing to the hnngn.rs. Outside, the night is noticcGbly brighter. Tho wo~ther reports nre f P,vour2ble. Those who had to decide about the flight hRd been W8iting for the 111test forecast. The men come hurrying from their que.rters to join the officers. In the Squadron Cornm2.nding Offi ccr' s room, built into the side of one of the hn.ng2rs, the capt~ins of aircraft hold a nhort l~st-minute conference before chn.nging into flying kit. Other members of the cr1:;w nre alreRdy dressi.ng. The plQn of the operntion, lRid down beforehand, is cle2r cut. En.ch man who is going knows exactly :wh:lt is expected / of -2 ­ of him. Swiftly and silently the ground crews go about their business. The aircraft are already 11bombed uJi' anc. thei1... gun ammuni tion loaded. The silence of the ni~ht i s shattered by the roar of the first bomber starting up. Fl ames fl ash fr om the exhaust pipes. Five other aircraft have their engines 11 revved.11 up. The noise is deafening. Figures flit past in the semi-darkness. A military sentry, with fixed bayonet, is on :,~1.1ard; members of the crews are coming out to the aircraft. The Station Commanc'ler is making a t our of inspection; t he gr ound crews are goi ng about their work rounc. the bombers. Short ladders have been run up underneath the front of each of the bombe rs. ·ai th some difficulty the airmen, hampered bJ; their heavy clothing ana. their para chutes, climb in through the floor hatch. They pull the curtains across the windows running along the fusel age. Only the navigation lights are left showing. The flare path li::;ht s have been put on now, stI'etching across the aerodr ome to guide the pilots in taking off. The leader of the first section of three aircraf t t axi s t o his position at the very ccl.ge of the aerodrome. With a heavy load of bombs, he wants all the run he can get. He poi'nts the nose of his aircraft along the flare path, sets his engine racing and starts. Those watching on the groun[\ can follow him b~r his navigation lights as he roars across the aeroc1-rorne. It is always a moment of suspense. Then the aircraft rises slowly, and, for the moment, disappears. Its lights reo.ppco.r o.s the pilot circles the aeroc~ome. Soon t wo other ~ircraft join him. The other three bombers f orming the second section follow immedi o. tely, and. soon al1 six ::lre heriJing for the Heligolano. Bigf,t. In a village nearby the church· clock st rikes the hour. ++ !-+++++ -• .. ---• ·-~·-·· -1""..---­ AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. 27/2/40. -No. 2. R.A.F. bVER BERLIN• . The Air Ministry announces: During the last 24 hours a number of successful flights over enemy territory have been carried out by aircraft of the R.A.F. These have included reconnaissances over Hel~.goland and the German North Sea coast, as well as large areas of the interior of Western Germany. In the course of the night, in addition to the St(!!lding Patrol of the Frisian Islands, our aircraft reconnoitred important seaports in Northen Germany and the Baltic, while others operating over Central Germany penetrated as far as Berlin,. All our aircraft have returned, -----000----­ PRESS HOTIC~::!. Losses due to Enemy Action for week enc1.inc.s l>iia.night Sunc1ay/Monc1.a~r, 25/26th, February, 1940.. ------.. ---· -------··--...·---··~----..-·------------­ British 4 ) Alliec1 Nil Total 7 = l Neutral 3 ) List of British Ships:­ Date. .§hip. Ton:.11.a r:: e • ~-:...:i.;;. 21/2 LOCH tiADDY L!. ,996. 22/2 BRITISH DHDI:AVOUR !_i.,580. (Tanker) 2L~/2 ROYAL ARCHER. 2,266. 24/2 CLAN HORHISON. 5,936. -17,778. List of Neutral __§J:lj.-12.§ ~ ­21/2 TARA Dutch L!. , 760 24/2 SANTOS Swedish J,840 ? PETTEN Dutch 250 = 8,850. (Trawler) 26,628 Last week's burst of U-'boat activi t~r appears to have s;/ ent itself'. Of the total of 26 ,628 gross tons lost this w:_;e~:·, 18,176 tons were sunk by submarine action, as conroarecl. r;:i.th. 74,524 tons last week. Since the morning of 22nc1 Febrt'.O.I'Y there has been only one sin!~in-; •2ue to enemy submarine o.ction. The total losses (British, Allie~ and Neutral) f r om all causes t~1is rvcek were 7 vesse1s of 26 ,628 tons, Yihich is i.!eJ.1 below the avera~e weekly loss for the 25 weeks since t he outbreak of hosttlities , viz .Ll sbips of ~.1i.rl.OO tons, ano. only ai)out one ninth of the averac;e weekl~;-loss i f compared ·;ifi tl"1 the pea\: period in April 1917 o • GERM.AN SHIPS CAPTURED: The "WAHEHE" 4,709 was captured. by a British Warship and brought into a British port. CONVOYS: Up to Wednesday, February 21st, 21 ships have been lost in convoy, out of a total of 10,076 British, Allied and Neutral vessels safely escorted to their destinations. Some 225 Neutral ships were escorted without loss during the week. In addition the following neutral vessels are notified, which vvere sunk in the previous vveek and not included owing to late receipt of notification: 15/2 STEINSTA.D. Norwegian 2,477 15/2 DEN HAAG Dutch 8 '971 (Tanker). 17/2 ? AASE Danish 11206 = 12,654 ADMIRALTY s. w. 1. • 2]L2/40 -No.J-1.• FRENCH Qf:TI.QJAL _901:'!.l"!IJNJ_': ~uE. (MOJ:>ning) Par:i:_E!.?. _Tuesda y 27th Feb:1:-uary 9. 1940. 'I;hc following official comrruni0_ue was issued this morning by the French G.R.t'~· ­ A (,~UIET NIGHT ON THE ·;moLE FHONT. ----·-·---­ The Sedret ar y to t he Ministry of Transport makes the follb~ing announceHeiTG ­gpAD VJfilU.Q._LE_·~-;_],_TEl._'_!_R...,E_•G....I._.S_."r=RA~T..I.._0.-N-.S. The nuubcr of uechanicall;y--propellcd road vehicles registered for the f i rst tii11e in Great Britain c1ur>in,s t,he L1onth of January~ 1940, vms 119 746 cornpnred ui t~1. -10 9 001 in January, 1939. The f i sures f or the sever>al cl asses were~ - -~-~-~~~~~.;:;._­Description -.-:..--------~--.-.::'----­ ---:;,,_.,~~~~~~~.....,..,,..,._,...--~1940 1939 Cars taxed on horse-__);?g~ter Exco Not exc. 10 FoPc 10 15 It 15 20 II 20 25 II 25 30 II 30 II Mi scellaneous Total Cycles Hackneys Not Exe. exc. 8 seats 40 ti 8 40 Total Tractors Agricultural Showmen's Other Total Agricultural Ens..~ (5/-clo.ss) · ExemptGovernment oYmed Other Total Goods Agricultural Vans and Lorries Showmen's Special Vehicles Local Autho:cities (Y!atering o.nd Cleansing ) Other Goods \Fcl~icles Wei e;ht Unl adeno Exco No t CXC o 12 cwtso 12 cwts o 2~ tons 5 II 2~ tons 5 II Grand Total I 4,156 i1,710I 1~259 6,872 139 1,354 I. 48 619 I 37 538 l_ ______ __ :s 23~ I 5,657 27,326 I ------·-----§95·-·-------·-~·-----3~-23·2·-·-· . . --·-------------------···----·--· ~ 60 175 69 145 145 187 ' ·-··· -------274--·----so7-··­.... -·-------·-- --- -------­ 31 13 I -----------!~- ;~ !-·------196--3-~------·---594 105 1,683 142 90 24-7~~~~--~-1-,-7-73 -____ ___ __ ___________......__---·-. 48 124 I ~~~~-~-=:_____..::_____ ---·---------- ! 2 I . ----·--.._.. _________ --­j 524 1,126 2,076 4,775 285 423 55 81 --~-·----------''----·--------A------------· . 2,940 6 ,405 ____.. ,__.,_______·---·--­11,746 40,001 Ministry of Transport, Metropole Buildings, Nortllurn.berlcrn.d Avenue, London, Yi oC. 2o 27/2/40 No. 6. Not to be publisheC. or broadcast before delivery -5. 30 }'.)• D. February 27th, 1940. SPEECH BY LORD HALIFAX AT OXFORD UNIVJ~RS~TY Feb~];lary 27th. 1940. In addressing you, members of Oxford University, I suppose that I assume in your eyes a dual personality -that of Chancellor of the University and o:f Foreign Secretary. This evening I propose to perform the feat, if indeed it is a feat, of welding this dual personality into one and speaking to you in all Sincerity with single heart and mind. One of !;iy :predecessors, Lord Grey of F2lloden, in whose steps I should be proud to walli.::, combined, though not like Lord Curzon simultaneously, the two offices with which I am today entrusted. It was only after Lord Grey had retired from a public life, which did honour to his country and to himself, that his University welcomed him bacli.:: as Chancellor. I can imagine no better representative of our University, and I would that he vvere here now to speak to you in my place. Lord Grey hated war. He did his utmost, in and before 1914, to avoid ·war with Germany, just ns we, his successors, did our utmost to avoid war with Germany in 1939. When in spite of his ef:forts ·war came in the summer of 1914, Lord Grey, standing at the window of his room in the Foreign Office: used words which you will remember, but which you will allow me once again to quote , since they Ylere so remarkable a forecast of what has happened since. "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime. 11 The similiarity between 1914 and 1939 or 1940 is striking. We too hate war. We also o·bserve, wi t'h deepening anxiety, the growing darlcness in Europe. Our attitude towards those instruments of force to which we are compelled to have resort in defence of the highest things for \7hich and by which we live; our view? about war; both these are unchange.d. Nevertheless, I should be misleading i~yself and you if I were to suggest that there is no difference between the :position in 1914 and the position as you see it today. r The emotional experience of one generation must of ne«iess:tt.y differ from that of the generation which preceded it•. -2 ­ In 1939 I and others of my age could without much difficulty re­capture that earlie1" e:;::perience of 1914, but I know that I should be pr ofoundly mistaken, if I were to imagine that the youth of today were entering upon this second Luropean war in the s ame mood as that in which we entered upon the first. I will attempt to explain to you where, as it appears to me, lies the difference. It is not only that now we know better what war means, and that the temper in which we face it is rather one of set determination than any feeling of approach to a great and unknown adventure. We in 1914 had been born and grown up in an atmosphere of peace. Those who came up to Oxford with me lived in a world that we the.n thought was stable and secure. That security was rudely shaken in 1914, but not sufficiently shaken for us to have any serious doubt that it would soon be put right or to think that when the war was over the old life would not return. You, in the light of what has happened since, may think that we were foolish and short-sighted. Perhaps we were. ·But every generation must, ~ub specie aeternitatiE, be foolish and short-sighted, and you no doubt hold your own views about your elders. What exactly these views are I do not pretend to know, but I suspectthat you see us as people who, though · no doubt well-meaning, have made havoc of the world in which you now have to live. You probably regard us as having lived through, and perhaps as still living in, the years of illusion, while you have lived through the years of disillusion. I fancy that to us patriotism presented itself in simpler and more strai ghtforward form than it does to you, and that for this reason the s ame appeals which moved us no longer have the same power with you. The ~oetry of l.tupert Brooke which rightly inspired us has been re­placed on your shelves by that of other poets of your own times, who bring you a harsher message.We were sure, as I say, in 1914 that once we had dealt with the matter in hand the world would return to old ways, which, in the main, we thought to be good ways. You are not so sure. I admit and sympathise with the difference, but having made the admission let me add this. No generation has the right to lay the cause of all its ills upon the shoulders of its predecessor, for no one age-group of men has the monopoly of vision. We are all men and women of our particular time and particular environment. We are all subject to the limitations of human weakness and fallib~ Just as you may criticise us, those who come after will no less certainly criticise you. I have quoted to you some words of Lord Grey which have provedindeed prophetic. Len me quote also Rome words which were written by a French Jansenist , in the seventeenth c~ntur.y and which are very similar:­ "Il me sernble que je suis n~ dans une Eglise eclairee de diverses l ampes 7t de divers flambeaux, et que Dieu permet que je les vois eteindre les uns apres les autres, sans qu 1il paraisse qu'on yen substitue de nouveaux. Ainsi il me semble que 1 1air s'obscurcit de plus en plus, parce que nous ne meritons pas que Dieu repare les Vides qu'il f ait lui-meme dans son Eglise. 0 -3 ­ You mo.y pc.rhaps find in these Fr0nch ~rords c. dec:por o.no..lysis of the nr esent ills of EuroJ~G. You may think-thet Wt;stern culture is falling into dGrkness because it deserves no better ~nte. You may think indeed thnt these tim8s enrn the title of one of the most remnrko.ble poems of our day and. conclude that E'urope is ina_eed "the vmstc l nnd". · I would go some l ong '"TD.)/ i:1i th ~rou in agr eemE;nt with this judgmE::nt. I think that the existence of vro.r in Europe todny is a sign of f o.ilure, or of something more than fo.ilure, in our western civilisation. When I consider that we -who hc_te wnr -are driven to the use of force; thn t you 3.r e nslwd to be the instruments of this forceJ in mnintnining a.go.inst bitter nnd evil nttnck the first :principles upon which European life has hitherto been based, the darkness thnt hangs over Europe seems to me something which Milton might hnve described o.s darkness visi ble . Moreover, I mn n:i;ipo.Iled -there is no easier 1;1ord for it -by one f act above o.11. l o.nd11 This 11vmst e in which we live, this Euro:pE::an civilisation in vrhich the l amps are burning dim, has not been brought to its present pass merely by the mistak0s, the pride and the selfishness of an older generation, Who. t hns 1 for example, been the c).r'iving force behind the Nazi movement in Germany? It has been German youth. Deliberat el y deprived as they have been of the el ement s of true judgment, it i s they who made the movement and who still sustain it. Their point of view stands in stark opposition to yours, Thoy do not under st o.nd your way of thinking. Your 1ccedent to precedent", r eturning to life todo.y. HG would be 9.StoundGd no doubt by the mat eri2l conveniences with which we hnd ndded to the ense of life, but he would be still more nstoundcd by the morql r etrogression of Europe nnd this devastating perversion of youth in Germany. Do not let me overstGte the c~se . I n.m f f'.r from thinking thr:t the wounds inflicted on our civilisation need be mortctl. But I do th:i.nk thr:t we nre fighting for its life; and :i.nr:i.smuch as tho.t life f innlly deY)cnds upon the ido~ls th~t inspire it, I think we have no choice but t o r esist ~nd def ent by force the attack to which those ide~ls -yours as well ~s mine -are now exposed. I know thnt it is said by men of high principle thnt force in itself, if not o.n evil thing, has G vnlue only nega tive. I think this is an cxnggcration. Most tr ue it is thnt force cnnnot of itself exorcise the evil spirits thc.t en ter o.nd deprave the hearts of men. But when these evil spirits invoke force for the nrosecution of their purnosc, 8nd the ~truggle is thus joined in the physical nrena, it is only by for ce on the bfl. t tle ground thus chosen tlict'!l. the evil can be resisted. Nor cnn I doubt t h:-:i.t if under what I must hold to be a one-sided n.nd mi st aken intcr~rctntion of Our Lord's teaching we refrain on nrincinlc from ro~lying in kind to the use of force, we may be surr endering to extinction the most sacred cnuscs for which we stRnd to posterity as guardinns 2nd trustees. Thus force, by resisting the destructive power of evil end gu..0rding the field in which good cnn work, cr.m render nositive service which C".n b<::: given in no other wo..y. · 5 As I see this ~;roblem which is todny so trc.Gico.lly forced u:::-ioTl our thou.:-:;ht, it is the s::iiritu.:ll motive,. alike in no.tional ['.sin inc1i viduo.l net ion, Oi1. which judgment hns to be :passed. Al wo.ys it is the s:)irit behind the 8.~'Jplication or force which E1akes OI' nKU"s its vo.lue. And we mny o..ssuredly hope th2.t the s ame spirit, which gives the ~?hysioc~l .J.nd mort=.1.l courage to def'end the mena ced values or life today, will ava.il us when we come th1.,ough the valley of' dnrk decis ion to the work of' reconstruction. ·rnere I co:'.·110 back o.gnin to the ic1ec:-~ of' · the '\ivastc 1Rnd11 , I do not bGlieve, o.s I have sa id, that civilisation has yet foundered, but I nrn cert.:dn that there is an active :force of evil whioh, unleso we fight it, will ·ro.~'Jidly reduce our civiliso.tio:J. to a desGrt of the soul~ T'.rrn.t evil force is at work in a. perioc1 of hunmn history in vrhioh change h.;o.s been so sudden as to bring grave confusion of thought to give more f'avournble CO.i.1.c1.i t ions fo i., the Devil 1 s work. It is, of' course, true ths.t the world never stands still, but there a re ti!Hes when the flywheel raees mJ.d you o.nd I live ia such a t ir,rn toc1o.y. You have never lived in nny other. Your woPld lF .s been influenced, whether you acknowledge it or not·,. by vh1nt I must take leave to term the inhwnan conception of the so-co.lled economic man, There hr,s bo~::n a tendency for gref•.t t;hinkers, who have analysed the sooio.l and mornl values on which the human cornmunity has 'been built, to stress the need for finding the perfect system. There hc .. s lJsen a tendency to ex9lain all history and hwnanity in ecOJ.1.0!!1io instead of in humv.n terms. Ch ristianity, on the other hc.nd, hns rather E1ade its end the perfection of the individual, in the conviction that here too l ay t he secret of life for nll society. And this c1.;1,·-:;h .:::..sis up Oi.1. the i a ..ec.1 system, insteo.d of the ideal individuG.1, has not helped the develo~Jment of the human chnr o.ctsr. ­Yet fund8.1101it: .~lly men today remain much the s ame men i::l:s theY' were yesterdny. . They may be bet ter informed, but they are not necessarily wiser. They wish to emo..ncipate themselves from artifical conventions~ but they ara not more free fr•om the dangers and pi tfA.lls ·which caused those conventions to be accepted. We none of us~ young or old, like to be called conventional. Such a doso~iption seems in some way to impugn our intellectual fibre Gnc1 L:1c1ependence. And so, desiring to assert our independence, we are tempted to revolt 2CTO.inst canons which reason has not yet mo.de our ovrn, rega.rc1less of the fa()t tho.t some or them at least may h o.ve pe1"i"118.l1G:nt signif'icc:.nce. One conse(~usnce is that in many quarters todo.y there is f a ilura to distinguish between the necessary r evision of conventions, which n1ust inevitably recur in any intelligent communit~, and the rooognition of the necessity for some rules, which if you like you may cnll conventions, for the guidance and protection of society. ' , Here is iadeed one of life's uroblems which eaoh has to settle :for ~irnself, finding his own-adjustment between ·the necessity for change which is the l aw of life and the restr·aint without which society cannot live. T.H. Green once said "that man is free v1ho is consc:ious of himself' as .. th? c:1uthor of the law which he obeys". . Conventions are e.f'ter all but the warning signo.ls of society which has f'1"0:,;1 the beginning of history felt the need of proteotinghumo..n fr2ilty. -6­ The substance of any conventional code, however, must derive from the appreciation by society of the i:irinci:ples of its own survival. These in turn emerge from moral j)rincii1les which man has gradually come to a?prehend, and which themselves are rooted in religious instinct. The danger that in revising traditional and outward forms Vfe impair tJ.1e substance is familial" enough. If this happens 9 man is adrift without bearings and without anchor; and, as we see today, in the vile savageries to r:hich in this 20th century he can revert, the descent from man to animal is easy. And so it is that if \Ve are to Leep our bearings as a nation we must base ourselves firmly on social, r:ioral and religious standards. No country will be at peace qi th itself or with others on any other basis, for the world's &isorder today is the reflexion of turmoil and conflict in the minds of men. If, therefore, we are to recapture the secret of order for inter­national society -and here I speak of all coWltries -·we must as ino.ividuals strive to erect or maintain standarl1S that will 'bring tru.e freedom throuih the way of discipline. Your standards will not perha::;)s ~.)e the same in form as those to which the loyalty of those older than yourselves are pledged. But in substance I fancy they will not greatly differ,, That, hov.rever, is something which you must Yvorlc out for yourselves, ansvrnring directly your own needs. And Oxford, much as she may have changed, still retains her essential quality as the grent clearing-house of ideals and ideas, where values may be tested and ap-:~;raised in the free play of thought. Oxford will still mould you as you are assuredly moulding her; and in this double process I c1.o not doubt that she will remain the inspiration of a vital part of English lifeo Many of you, ::;-ierhaps most of you, are prepar•ing to take your place before long in the ranl-cs of the fighting forces, and you have every right to put the question, ;'What is it that Yre are to fight for, and what ::1rospect is there that we shall in the end secure the better world for which the fight is waged"? I have done my best here and elsewhere -as have others -to weigh what is involved in the present conflicto Its issue, us I believe, will affect profoundly the whole future of mankind, for vvhat is here at stake is whether the nations that desire peace must perpetually be i'acea. with war, if they are not prepared to accept any settlement that force may seek to impose upon them. And so, excep t for those -a tiny fraction of our people -who would for whatever reason feel that we had been vvrong to embark upon this war at all, I cannot conceive of doubt arising as to the duty of bracing ou1" resolution until, so far as ~-t may be humanly possible to cl.o so, we have secured the world against a repetition of this ordeal. As to the future, it is not possible for ne or for any other·. rJan to answer with complete assurance. If once the doctrine of force could effectively be put to shame, the way vould be open to concentrate the effort now mobilised for war upon the cause of improving the common lot of man. Some months ago before the war I said that "British policy rested upon t win foundations of pU!'pose. On·e was determination to resist force. · The other was our recognition of the worlo.' s desire to get on vvi th the constl1 uctive ·work of building peace". The implica tion of those words holds good today. To none of us is vouchsafed certain:ty as to what it may be in our power to do, and were I to attempt to maloses for which we strive nre right, wo co.n surely feel thnt uc have donG everything wo enn to mnke our endenvour worthy of the cost. I constantly remember the story of the traveller who nsked the pensnnt working in the fields how fnr it wes to Cnrenssonne• "How fnr it is to CGrcnssonne) Sirs thnt I do not kno\iv. But that this is the roo.d to Co.rcnssonne, of tho.t I nm sure; for those who return say nlwo.ys that nt the e:nd lies Cnrco.ssonne 11 • Our Cnrcnssonne is the vrorld of our desire. I do not knmv whether it will 11c nn oo.siE;r v-rorld, but whnt matters is thnt WG should desire not o.n ensiur but n bGtter world, and equip ourselves in body, mind ::'.nd spirit to crente it. Por it depends mo.inly on ourselve::s whether we nre to be mnsters of our fn.te. . There is no rcnson therefore to be disillusioned a.bout the future, howev0r much you mny feel disillusioned nbout the :9nst. Hope is the oldest nnd wisest counsellor of mankind, for without hope it is impossible for men to r:'.pprehend the :power of the other greo.t Christinn virtu0s of fa.ith cmd cho.rity, n.nd these nlori.e cf',n be the bond of pco.ce for n.11 members of the humnn fGmily. I hGve sr.id. the. t the re~l conflict of ide8.s is between youth nna. youth~ nnd thnt tho IJuliefs of GC;rmnn youth, nurtured in Nazi doctrines, o.re in stnrk o:p:position to your own. We should gr o.vely err if we wero to r 1"..lte lightly the strength and reGlity of their baliefs. The rneinl doctrine, n.s inter>pretod in the No.zi creed, mn.y be, 8.nd in my view is, sheer :primitive nonsense; nnd we nre no more prc7y1.rccl. to ::',dmi t Germnn supcriority of r nce thnn '"e nro concernc;d to o.ssert our own. If thnt were all, it would not grcntly matter, but ·when this i doctrine is invok0d in justificntion of tho oppression of other rnees, 1t !Jeoomos n ci:Jime ngninst humo.ni ty. Not only does it deny the cor~1orn.t0 claim to liberty of men r'.nd women orgo.nised in nntiono.l societi&s, but it refuses the much morE:: funcl.nmcmtnl clrdm of men nnc1-women to the free cxprc::ssio:n of humnn porsonnlity, ·which rests upon the eternal vnlue of every humnn soul. True pride of race mny be testoc1 "':Jy the behtl.viour of its nossessors townrds their own fo1low citizt:;;ns r.nd tow~rds others. It ·will forbid conduct to inc_ividurLls of which they should be nshnmed in their nrivnte lives. It is thus evidently something-fo..p removed from the ia.EJnl of' a ro.ce which by the Gcrmnn philosophy of todio.y is cnlled to str1mp out the civiliso.tion of r.i.nother; Between these two conceptions there is f'.. grcnt gulf fixc;a.. The/ -8 ­ The Germnn r ,'.:'.ce i under its present rulers, is be traying both i tsclf c.nd the gr enter whole of which it is p2.rt, o.nd to whose progress it might, c,nd ought to, be mo.king its own distin ctive contribution• And the rc2l tr2gedy of that betrQyal, Gs it nffects the German youth, is the enlistment of the honourable instincts of sclf-sncrifice and devotion in the service of n. crudE::ly m[;.tcri;'.list philoso:9hy. Until these f ~lsc creeds nr a nbjured, ~nd rcpl2ccd by o. widGr tolera­tion, they must continue to excite r esistnnce. The future of humn_ni ty must not be left in the h'."'.nds of those who would irn~9rison rind cnslo.ve it, We may rc~dily ~dmit tha t we, like other m~n, hnvc often fallen short of our professions. Our history ho.s not been free from f r-:-.nlts, it hns t rikcn time to esta­ blish in univers2.l prf.l.ctice "l_)rinc:i.-ples which have nowvon general nccept0.nce. And there r.re t hings todny within our body nolitic which we need to fight not l ess intensely, if with othcr -wcnryons, th~n we fight the enemy vii ·chout. But the broo.c'.1. record of the Bri tis'h r'.1.cc st!'.nds to be judged on f .'.1.cts thGt er e incontcst~ble. It is the f ::::c t thn.t durj_ng the 19th ccntur·y , when the power of this country w2. s unch8.llenged, there wets no no. tion in Europe thnt folt for tho.t raason insecure, or th~t did not recognise our powe~ to be an instrument of ~once. The Pnx Bri trmnico. has been no empty or self-righteous boo.st of purpose. It is the fnct too that in every corner of the world where men of British r 8.ce have established :i.nfluencc, there by irnmutnble lo.w of na ture you f ind established the seed and pl~nt of liberty. I t is the trnil by which is m~rkcd their progress, intcr,rcted t o all by the st~:'.ndnrds of good f ".i t~1 , respect f or l mv, ~nc1 equal justice. Most truly, t heref or e , of our peoT)le was it st:tid: 11 Their country's cause is the high cause of-Fr~edom ~nd Honour. Th~t f~irest e~.rthly f nds ,~_rhi· ch ere inscri bed the words: a column, on ., "In Thought, Faith, In Word, Wisdom In Deed, Courage, In Life , Service, . So may Indiost is a wonderful tilth­mal:er and it does not go right down to make the ground sodden as continuous rain will do. Already the land is drying quickly. Provided we do not have a we t S})ring, t l1ere should be little fault to find with the seed-bedo IJ.'o get it prepared, we sha11 have to take full advantage of the tractor's ca-pacity of never growing tired. rt will have to work a 20-hour day, with rela,ys of drivers and headlights. Most tractors in England arc under-worked and there are still many who have not fully realised its potentiality for catching up on the calendar. In the last ·0.rar there were numbers of cro1) failures in the ploughing campaign, and although wireworms and leatl1er jackets may have been partly to blame, f aulty cultivation was more freq_uently the real causeo The essential thing with ploughed up grassland is to get it down solid and tighto If the corn rcots in ~oing down encounter hollow s:paces in the t ilth, or vrads of lcose grass, they will die off at the first sic::n of drour::hto They will never be vigorous and healthy, and thi s consolidation of the ground is one of the best defences afainst attack b,y ·eireworm,. A roller is hel·oful for this :pur~;cscj i f it follows i:mrnediately nfter the ploueh.? but late rolline; may do more harm than good by compressine: the top two· inches and leaving the bottom hollow•.. A furrow press will give better r e sults, a nd if one cam1ot be obtained it yvould be worth while to try the old device of followf~ the .:Jlough 17ith a :fcrt-~1:. c~:.r't,. using the offside ·wheel as a press. The ord inary fixed harrow folloi:-ring, preferably, a disc harrow bears down on the lower soil and ~ 1elps to pack it, as well as breaking the tcp soil a:i.1d_ coverinc· the seeo.• It is a job that can be done quic1.:ly c:md clrnaply so it vrnuld be a mistake to cut El.own the lw.r.~·owine; o.nd save a little time only to lose some of the crop. 4,500 >: ow in Jobs: AD-oreciation of' Services .... ___.. ... -· -. -·--.... -·.... -----._ ·'*'-------·-_,__. -r--. ----..... _..._. __ ,,, I-Iistor-y seems to be re~)eating itself with the women's J,and Army. ''e are rcachi11g the s \,age now where many apprecia tive lette:t'S from farmers are beginning to appear in the Press, at the same ·tirne ths.t the demand for the services of' land girls is increasinGo There are now 4,5GC in :permanent jobs. This is just 1.7hc.t happened in the last war. One example of these letters was published in the Mr. H.G.E. Merrin, of Clotherholme Farm, Ri pon, recounts how he engaged a young woman of 19 (incidentally an artist by profession). "I have yet to f'ind'', he says, "a youth of similar age, although trained in farm . work since leavint; school, who could ec:i_ual her, with the e:::ception of ploughing, in which she has not yet been tried." "In one o:r the WC'rst winters in living memory this girl 11as had entire cha.rge of 120 pigs with assistance in feeding only. She has foldod sheep and hand-chop:ped turniJ.)S for them, as well as for fattening cattlea She does all t lle cleaning out and has a daily wall\: of t l::.,:'ee-quarters of a mile to fold and count a flocl\: of ewes in lambo In adCition1 she can take a horse and cart and lead it with manure and spread it on the land. Further,,_ she has brains and uses themo I have 110t to be always :prompting her and she has now got q_uite the pro:i;:ier idea of feeding the ccr:r'ect quantities for diff'erent sections of fat stock". I • ' ­ ___..____.... '_i.1l1in;.~ Of F1:.;,r·,110r ~ ~ Jvluch has been said. and Viritten of farmers ' opinions of land girls e But what of land girls' opinions of farmer~ Some of them e:;cpressecl their vievrn at a recent social gathering organise& fOI' them in Sussex after the day·' s work . All were entlmsi2.~;tic about their jol)S a:1d. there were no complaintt3 about the new life ·being irlrnome or du:.LL Even those given jobs singly on farms did not a])pear to find the work lonelyo But the thing to which they do a·b ject is the suggestion of their \)eing glamorous beauties who have turned t o a spot of rural life in wartime because it has a romantic be..cl~ground. "Most of us . had other occupat:~ons before the wara , one of them said. "We have gone on the land because we thought we were needed there . I arn sorr~r some farmers are not more appreciative . 'l'hey are rather conservo.ti \'e. about employing girls, but I d.on't t.hinl: we are entirely useless". This particular girl works from 7 aomo to 5 p.m. , with half an hour for breakfast and an hour for luncho She 0 dr1·ves a ~~~ctor'-A and , wi~~ ~rJ;.. ide tla~J..Ll u she now start i t on a cold morning as quj_ckly as a man . ~ .... u c.Ry•s U_J. .. can Rats In The Rick. Rats require food and undistur·bed shelter for breeding and lying-up o They prefer those two essentials close t ogether and will always move t o a situatjon Vlhich gives t hem. In the country, vii th the approach of vv-inter, rats leave their suJn.nrnr housing in hedgerows and ·bar:Ll.\.s and invade c orn-stacl\:s anc!. farm buildings -chiefly the corn-staclrn . At t hreshing t~me, there i s a large rat population congregat ed 3. in easily locateable spots. Therefore, threshing gives the opportunity for a mass attack. If this opportunity is not taken, the rats escape to the farm buildings, there to winter; in the spring they move again to their summer quarters. It is essential, therefore, that action be taken to deal with the rats in all stacks unthreshed at this time. To gain the most benefit from such action, the following simple method should be adopted:­ Surround each stack with a fence of t-11 wire netting or hessian, 21 to 2'6" high held up by posts sli.ghtly overhung inwards and .pegged to the ground. This netting or hessian should hang without folds. Carry the fence between the threshing machine and stack and on the three sides of the stack away from the machine, allow a runway with a minimum width of 2 yards. The rats normally leave the stack on the sides away from the machine. Keep this runway clear of thatch and at the end of threshing operations, remove with care all the foundation8 of the stack and fork over any rat-holes in the ground. Dogs, boys with sticks or 4 prong forks will account for practically every rat in the stack. The protection of home-grown food is an urgent problem, therefore immediate and conerted action is necessary. Liquid Manure. The Farmers' Savings Bank. German farmers, to judge by the broadcasts, are facing many problems similar to our own. First among them is the need to make their farms more self-supporting and waste as little as· possible of all it produces. An excellent Hamburg broadcast was recently given on liquid manure, which even in Germany is being allowed to run to waste tcooften. It was pointed out that merely to divert it to the midden may be as wasteful as running it down the drain. 4. ::t must be co1le·cted. in up-t.o-date. pi ts y where tl1.e i"ain cannot dilute or harm it. Recent research in Germany, tne speaker said, has shown that liquid manure is not only valuable for the nitrogen and potasn it contains. It has an organic content found in no other manure or fertiliser in the same f orm. It i s of very special value to the bacteria in the soil that transform manure into suitable substances for nourishing plantso It contains also carbon compounc:Ls and ammonium nitrates "that have priceless qualiti es". A further result is that commercial :fertilisers spread on the soil .a.re more thoroughly ·u.tilised when liquid manure is also used. The quantity is not so important as the fact ti1at the liquid manure is present . 1~arge qus.nt i ti es are not needed. FARMING iro PEED THE cow Out of the 7,000 1000 to 8,000,000 tons of feeding stuffs we were importing before the war , dairy cows were consumi ng por3sibly one quarter. Imports can no longer be maintained at these levels. Yet the mill{ supply must be maintained and, if possible , increased. Is this an insolu.ble problem? Not if we mal{e a great effort to supply more of the f eecling stuffs from the farm. There are t wo angles from which t o s:p:;)roach it. (1) Improvement of grassland, the cheapest and most suitable f oodstuff. for producing mill( , and ( 2) Increased production of crops of all l{inds on the farm f or the cows' rations. For many farmers this will mean a drastic change in exi sting methods . · The tiraes will no longer justify t he use of concentrates to supplement summer grass; they must be reserved for use in winter. Even in winter, home-grown prolucts such as cereals, beans, peas, linseed, dried beet pulp and ·brewers'· grains should be substitut ed for a proportion at least of the imported maizet oilcakes and other products f rom overseas . 5. 5u~h t*1au~e~ ~annot h~ bi'o4ght about at short noti~~. 1 ! They will need care~ul planning to enable the dairy farm to grow its own concentrates for winter feeding., Early Grass ;and Bet~er Grazin~ Nitrogenous manures will speed up the "early bite". Select one or more fields, with a good proportion of early grasses, dry, sheltered and preferably rested since early autumn. In ea~ly spring apply 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda per acre, if possible after harrowing. On fields poor in lime or lacking clover, 1 to 1t cwt. nitro­chalk is preferable. Much of our existing pasture could be considerably graded up by the application of lime and basic slag. Under the Land Fertility Scheme the farmer can obtain lime at half the cost of buying and transporting, slag at three-quarters of these costs. Where re-seeding of the worn out pasture would be the best course in the interests of the farm economy, the County War Committees may approve it as qualifying for the £2 per acre ploughing grant. Better Hay CrO£S. "Seeds" leys and meadows should 1:)e dressed with 1 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda or nitro-chalk in March. Where two cuts were taken la st year or hard grazing done, this should be supplemented by 2 cwt. superpposphate and t to 1 cwt. potash salts per acre, unless dung has been put on. An ideal arrangement would be to cut one day, let the hay lie on the next day and turn and cock on the third day~ When this is practicable there need b~ no loss of leaf or of green colour, provided the cocks are made to "turn" the rain and are not stacked until thoroughly "won". Under this system no more should be lying ready than can be cocked up in a long afternoon. It may look slow, but in catchy weather it is not only the quickest method; it is the only rational method. Mixtures for, Soiling CrQ,£~ Mixtures of pulse and cereal will enable concentrates ll1 6. summer t~ be dlspensed with en :inferior ~r ;insufficient grass. The following alternative mixtures are suggested. They are all comparatively safe on ploughed-up grassland and the only essential implements are a plough, a set of harrows and a roller. The quantities given are for sovring per acre:­ (1) Oats •2-3 bush. (2) Oats • 2-3 bush. • • • ff • • Vetches 1 Peas (Dun • or Maple) • 1-1! II (3) Oats aJ!~ ti (4) Oats 2-3 • • • ·~· • • • " !I tJ Peas Vetches l • • • ti • • Vetches I Italian • • ~ fl Beans • • • 2 Ryegrass 16 lb. • These mixtures can be sown on arable or newly ploughed land up to early May. The oats should be strong strawed varieties; the Dun variety of pea is preferable on light land. Mixtures 1, 2 and 4 can also be made into silage or hay. Mixture 3 is ~uitable for silage if' chaffed but not for hay. Mixture 4 is suitable where autumn grazing is required after the main crop has been cut. . Lazybeds. Potato Planting Without Tears. It is not recorded that King Solomon was directing a ploughing up campaign when he exhorted his hearers to "go to the antn. He may easily have mlataken genius for lack of industry, and , genius may surely be an asset if directed to the simplif ication of a cre·ative process. These t hings are fully understood by the Irish, who are a highly intelligent race of realists, and they have bequeathed to us a method of potato planting that may be very usefUl to small growers faced with the problem of planting potatoes and insufficient time to do it. In Ireland it is adopted for moorland, boggy or hill land where the physical condition of the ground or the small size of the farm are against cult~vation by animals. It is lmown as the "Lazybed11 method. It is only to be recommend.ad as an expedient, when otherwise the potatoes would not be planted at all; it does not lend itself to rotational cultivation and is not comparable with cultivation carried out with . . the aid of hol':'ses or tractors. 7. How it ic Done.. - Land is ma~k:ed ou~ into parallel beds 5 feet wide with a space of 1t to 2 feet between them. The wide beds become the growing area, while the intervals be tween them are .dug up to provide earth fo!' covering. Potatoes are laid in rows on the bed'.s, the sets being put on the surface, or just inserted with a spade or trowel, usually at intervals of one foot in each direction. When the potatoes are in place, the space between the beds is dug up and the turves (if it is grassland) lifted. The turves should be some 2 or 3 inches thick and are laid f~ce down on the tubers. Farmyard or artificial manure is then liberally appliec. after which more earth is dug until the bed is covered to a ~ general depth of about 4 inches. Thus the potatoes are planted in a kind of compost heap. When the young sprouts appear above the ground, a little more earth may be dug and placed on the bed. No further attention is given other than light surface hoeing until the spread of the haulms make this impossible. The bed may very well be planted up with greem after the potatoes are lifted. A reasonably deep soil is of course necessary to provide sufficient covering for the bed. a. No.9 -···-~ ···· .. ---A i;1 .A. F.159 M I N I S T R Y Q F A G R I C U L T U R E A N N 0 U N C E M E N T. _ __.._ . __. . .. . ,.,,. ___ _ _ __ .., ....... . -_. ........-· ··~-... ·-·-·· · --... . -.... ... . ... ,,.. • .-.,.... .,. ··-,,..... . -0-.... ,,,,.. -····· · ---··· -.. -••. ' -AGRICU.........LTURAL .---·---·-·WORK.c'!:RS---- ·........ "'" _,.1 .... MINit-............. .,..... '-"'"· .... .... ............OF ,,................ .,........~_,_.. -·... ...;·.-..-mM RATES WAGES. ,,_ -· -. ........... ..... "".........,,. .....,,... A Meeting of th~ Agricultural Wages Board was held at King's Buildings, Smith Square, I,ondon, S.W.l., on February 26th, 1940, the Right Hon. the Viscount Ullswater, G.C.E., pr esiding. The Board considered notifico.tions from Agricultural Wages Comrnittees of decisions fjxing minimmn and overtime rates of wae:es and directions in regard to holidays a11d holiday remuneration, and proceeded to make the foJ.lowing Orders: - Dorset. -.AJ.1 Order vs.rying the minimum and overtime r1,;i.tes of wages and the'"d.irections in regard to holidays with :pay and holida,y remuneration at present in force and :fixing rn:Lnirnum rates ano_ making directions in substi tution ther•efor, such rates and directions as varied to con1e into force on the 3rd March, 1940, and to continue in operation until further notice. The minimum rates are: In the case of male wort:ers of' 21 years of' age and over, 37/6d (instead of' 36/-) per week of 39-1-hours in the week in which Christmas Day falls, 48 hours in any other week in winter, 42 hours in the week in which Goocl Friday :Calls, and 51 hours in any other week in summer: In the case of female vrn:ekers of 21 years of age and over, (other than part time and casual workers ) 28/-( instt=: ad of 27/-) per weel-c of 39i-hours in the weeks in which Christmas Day and Good Fridc.y fall and 48 hours in any other week. Provisim.1 is also made for reducing the hours referred to above in the weelrn in which Boxing Day, Easter Monday, Whit Monday and Augus t Bank Holiday fall, or in which the worker is granted holida;}rs in lieu of such days: In the case of part time or casual female workers of 18 years of age and over, the rate remains unchanged at 6d. per hour. The overtime rates are 9·}d. per hour (instead of 9d.) fo1"' male workers of 21 years of age or over, except i~or employment on the hay and corn harvests when the rate is lld. per hour (instead of lOd.), and 7id. per hour' (instead of 7d.) in the case of female work ers (other than part t fune and casual workers) of 20 years o:f age and over. The overtime rate for part time and casual female vrnrkers aged 18 years and over remains unchaneed at 7d. per hour. The directions in regard to holidays and holiday remuneration for the period 6th April, 1939 to 27th May, 1940, remain unchanged and provide that upon the completion of 1J:., 8 or 12 months of employment with the same employer by any date in that period., a whole-time worJ:er shall be allowed holidays of' 1, 2 or 3 c1.ays respectively. The holidays are to be allowed at such times within the said period as may be agrcod between the employer and worker and provision is made as to when they are to be allowed in default of agreement. Fur·ther provision is made whereby upon the completion of 4, 8 or 12 months of employment with the same emplo~rer b~l any date in. the period 28th May in any year ( comrnenc ing with 28th May , 1940) to 27th May in the succeeding year (hereinafter referred to as the "holiday year") a whole time worker shall be allowed holidays of 1, 2 or 3 days respectively. The holidays are to be allowed at such times 'Nithin the holiday year as may be agreed between the employ.er and worker and provision is made as to when they are to be allowed in default of agreement. .Any holidays to which a worker has become entitled by the 30th September in any holiday year shall, however, be allo·vved in the period 1st April to 30th September in that holiday year, if the worker so elects. Holiday remuneration is fixed at the daily rate of one-sixth of' the minimum weekly rate o:f wages ordinarily applicable to the particular worker. Hamushire and Isle of Wight. -An Order fixing minimum and overtfme··-ra:Cesof'"wi:i~fesfur'-fii.ale workers and minimum rates of ':rnges for female workers and rno..'.::ing 1. directions in regard to holidays with :pay and holiday remuneration for bo~h mal e and fem?-le vrorirnrs t o come into force on 3rd March, 1940 ( i. e • the day f'oJ.lo~Nir.g th::it on wh~_eh the exj_sting rates are due to expire) arn..l to continue i n OI><:;rs tj.on until further notice. The minimum r ate in the cnse of male workerB of' 21 and over, is 37/­( instead of 3t5/-) per week oi' 1.rn~-1~.ours i n t he weeks in which Good Friday, Easter Monday, V'!hj_t Monday, &ncl August Bank Holiday fall~ 51 hours in any other week in sum:ner; 32 hours in the week in which Christmas Dny and Boxing Da~l fall, and 48 hours in a:ny other week in winter. Provision is howeve1~ made for an adjustment of the hours in respect of vrhich the mj_nimum weekly rates are payable, to meet cases where one or two days' holiday on full pay are given in particular weeks in summer i n lieu of Ee.ster Monday and August Bank Holiday. The rate for' overtime employment o;f male workers aged 21 and over is unchanged at 9d. :per hour. The minimum rate for female workers of 18 years and over is 7d.. per hour (instead of 5d) for all time worked. Provi sion is made whereby whole-time male and female workers employed or engaged to be employed t hroughout the period from the first Monday in March in any year (commencing with 4th March, 1940) to the first Monday in March in the succeeding year, shall be allowed holidays of' three days. Where the employment does not extend through­out the period the worker shall be allowed holidays at the rate of one day f or each com7:1le ted four months of employment within the period. The holiday or holidays are to lJe allowed at such time or times within the holiday period as may lJe agreed between the employer and the worker, and provision is made as t o when the~r are to be allowed in default of agreement. Holiday remunero.tion is fixed at the following daily rates: male workers of 21 and over~ 6/2d. (instead of 5/lOd.) and female workers of 18 e.nd over, 4/2d. \instead of 3/-). T,incolnshire (Kesteven and Lindsey). -An Order cancellingthe exist.lng rITmintim ·ctndovertTme-P.. :Cos o:C\-Jc.n·es Gnd the directions in r es;2r d.. to holid£-1;ys r:it h i)o:y for mo.le &nd femal e worl.rnrs and fixing fresh Pates nnd mo.k.in~ dirsct1onc in sulJstitution therefor, such rates and dircctionc to come into ouer:tion on the 3rd Mnrch, 1940 o.nd t o continue in force until 27th.~ J anu;:.ry 1941. The minumum ro.tes in the cc.13e of male ·::or•lrnrr:: c~[~8d 21 yea.rs and over o.1"e : 1yc,ggoncrs 46/­( inot cad of 41/6 ) per v-rec:.c of 52t hours in the vwelrn in ..._-.-11ich Good Friday o.nd Christmo.,c Day. f2ll; 50 .houPs in the wee.ks in ~-rhicb. Whit Man­da::; and ...August Bank Halido.y fall; 58 hours .in any other weelc in the period from 14th May to 14,th OctolJer, and 61 hours in any other week during the r emainder of the year; Shepherds 44/-(instead of 42/6) per week of 45-i hours in the weeks in which Good Friday, Whit Monday and August Bank Holiday f'all; 55 hours in any other week in summer; 47~ hours in t he week in which Christmas Day falls, and 56 hours, in any other week in winter, with additional payments for the lambing season; Stockmen 45/-(instead of 43/6) per week of 4643 hours in the weeks in which Good Friday , ':'Vhi t Monday and August Bank Holiday fall; 56 hours in any other week in summer; 49t hours i n the week in which Christmas Day falls, and 58 hours in any other week in winter; and other male worlrnrs 39/-(instead of 37/6) per week of 41 hours in the weeks in which Good Friday, Whit Monday and August Bank Holiday fall; 50 hours in an:l other weelc in summer, 39t hours in the week in which Christmas Day falls, and 48 hours in any other week in winter; with overtime unchanged in the case of all classes of male workers aged 21 years and over at lld. per hour on weekdays and l/li d. per hour on Sundays. Provision is to be made for an adjustment of the hours in respect of which the minimum wage is pay­alJle in the weeks in which Easter Monday and Boxing Day fall9 to meet cases where a holiday (other than a holiday under t he Holidays with Pay Act , 1938) is given in those weeks instead of in the weeks in which Good Friday and Christmas Day fall, and also for an adjust­ment of' the hours in the we el{ in wh.ich a holiday (other than a holi­day u~der the Holidays with Pay Act, 1938) is given in summer in lieu of August Bank Holiday. The minirrrum rates for female workers aged 17 years and over ar e 7d. per hour (instead of 6id. per hour) with over­time unchsngojat 9~d. per hour for all employmfnt on Sundays and at 8d. per hour for all employment in excess of 52 hours on Saturdays and in excess of 8 hours on any other weekday. 2. The dire~tions in regard to holidays with pay remain ~-~hanged and provide that a whole-time male or female worker who is employed o,r engaged to be employed by the same employer for 12 or more consecutive months in the period 1st October, 1939 to 27th J anuary, 1941, shall be allowed holidays of four days. A worker who is not employed or engaged to be employed by the s&Tie employer for 12 consecutive months in the said period but is employed or engaged to be employed by the same employer for 3, 6 or 9 consecutive months i n that perio(L shal~ be allowed holidays of 1, 2 or 3 days, r espectively. The holidays are to be allowed within the said period at such times as may be agreed between the employer and the worker and provision is mack as to when they are to be allowed in default of such agreement. Holiday remuneration is fixed at the following daily rates; in the case of male workers one sixth of the minimuin weekly r ate of wages ordinarily applicable to the particular worlrnr and in t he case of female workers eight times t he minimum hourly ra.te of wage applicable to the particular worker. Monmouthshire. -An Order fixing minimum and overtime rates of wages for male workers and minimum rates of wages, for female workers to come into force on 16th March, 1940, (i.e. t he day following that on which the existing r ates .are due to expire) and to continue in operation until 15th September, 1940. The minimum rate in t he case of male workers of 21 years of age and over is 37/6 (instead of 35/-) per week of 52 hours with overtime at 10d. per hour on vrnekdays and 1/-per hour on Sundays, Good Friday9 Easter Monday, Whit Monday and August Bank Holiday (instead of 9td. and 11td. respectively). The minimum rate in the case of female workers of 17 years of age and over is 7d. per hour for all time worked (instead of 6td. per hour). §.uffolk. -An Order varying the minimum and overtime rates of wages and the directions in regard to holidays with pay and holiday remuneration at present in force for male and female workers, such rates and directions as varied to come into force on the 3r•d March, 1940 and to continue i n oueration until further notice. 'l'he minimum rates in the case of male ~orkers of 21 years of age and over are unchanged at 36/-per week of the following number of hours; i n the weeks in which Good Frj_day and Whit Monday fall, 41t; in any other week in summer, 50; in the week in which Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall together, 31; in the weeks in which Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall, when those days fall in separate weeks, 39i;in any other week in winter, 48; with, however, in addition in the case of workers employed wholly or mainly as horserr.en, cowmen and shepherds a sum of 6/6d. per week (instead of 6/-) to cover employment up to 10 hours pEJr week in connection with the immediate care of animals. The overtime rate in the case of all male workers of 21 years of age and over is unchanged at 10d. per hour. 'I1he minimmn rate in the case of female workers of 21 years of a~_.e and over is unchanged at 7d. per hour for all time worked. The directions in regard to holidays with pay and holiday remuneration remain unchanged and provide that where by the 1st March, 1939 or at any date between the 1st March in any year and t he last day of February in the succeeding year a whole-time vrnrker has completed a period of not less t han four consee:utive months' employment with the same employer, t he fallowing holidays shall be allmved: (a) On completion of twelve consecutive months of employment, 4 days in the case of horsemen, cowmen and shepherds, and 3 days in the case of other male and female workers; (b) v;.rhere the employment does not extend for 12 eonsecutive months', at the rate of one day for each four consecutive months' of employment, in the case of all workers. The holidays are to -oe allowed at such times within the above period as may be agreed between the employer and the worker, and provision is made as to when they are to oe allowed in default of agreement. Holiday remuneration i s fixed at the following daily rates, in the case of male workers one sixth of the minimum weelch9 1~1t1.0 , ( ioe o ,.:;he day f ollowinp· that on which the ext st inf_; rates and o:i_ rcc-~iorn: are due to expire) and to continue in operation until 1st M:arch, 1941. The mi ni rrcum rates a:r:-e , in the case o~ mal e y·orlrnrs of 21 yea.rs o:f age and over employed wholly or mai nly as stockmen, cat t l emen, 4. cowmen, hor semen, -shepherds or baLi.:.L:ffs, 43/---( j_nstead of 40/ ·-) per week of 60 h ours, with all overtime at llrl per hour (instead of' l Od per hour) , and in the case of other nale HOr i-:ers of 21 yee.rs of age and over 39/ -· ( J.nsteaci of 36/--) per week of 52 hours in summer and. 48 hours i n winter with overtime at lOd. per hour on weekdays (instead. of 9d. per hour) and 110.. per hour on Sundays ( :iustP.ad. vf l OcL per hour) . The mi n i mum rates in the case of ±.'em::l1e workers of :::..8 ya,a-,:s o:' age: and. over are ?d. per hour ( inst8ad of 6d.) v1ith over· ~ir.le at 8d. por 1":1.our on we ekdays (instead of 7d.) and Std. per hour on Sunday8 !instead of 7~d.) P1· ovision is IIJ.ade t;r.a.t bo-Lh e1aJ.e anl :Ce!I.l2le wl102.e-t1rne workers ( instead of male wnrke:r·s ,·mly as h1thert0} 0n_; o hsve com1Jle~"serl; by any date in the period. 2nd Maren, l9L1/) to 1st Jvl:arc.i:1, 19,±1, fnuI', e i e,·ht or· twelve conser::utj_ve ·mor:U1s cf ::regular er11plc\YTrl2r:t ''vith the Se.me employer , shall be all oved ~ol1days of two, four or Jix days res~ectively. The holidays are to be allowed at such tiilles Nithi L the s~id period as may be agreed between the em~loyer and the w0rker and provisi0n i8 made as to when they aTe to be all owed in de:fa.ul+; o:f agre e111ent. Hol iday remunerati on is f'1xed at the fol lowing mj_n.imU.'E da.iJ.31 :rates: j_n t he cas,$ of all ma l e worker-s onB sixth ci the weekly minj_mu.rn ::-a-~e of wages (t o the neareEit pen:ny) and in the case 0f fe:nale wor~rnrs 8:I t i mes th8 minimum h ourl y rate of wa.g8s applicabl~ 'Go tirn particular worirnr. ~'!_er ~;_Q_g~~~.h..-~IJ1.._1f1~>.P.:'tL.91D.?LY.. · -AJ.1 Crcler varying t he exi s ting minimum and overtime rates of wageB and t'1.e directions i n regar d.. to holidays with :pay, such rates and (iirec'cions as var i ed to come i n t o operation on the 3rd M:ar ch ) J.940 and t c con+, in Fe in f"or ce unt il furtl1er notice. The minimum ra.tas of wages in th.s case of male worlrnrs age d. 2J. and over are 38/-(instead. of 36/-,.), :r.er week of 58 hours in ~he case of special class wor~rnrs ( enr_ploysri wholly or mainl7 as StocY-.1r1e11 1 Teara·­sters . Carters or Shepl"'_e:;_~ds) , 34 / ... ( i nstsci:l of 321/ ... ) l:a:r Yveek oi ' 50 , ~ I .._ hours i n SUJllmer and :~,8 1:':1. ·Nintcr j_n the ca.s,~ of' othe:i.· adult mal e wor ker:a and 34/-( i nstead of 32/-) per week of 58 hours in the case of worker s aged under 21. Ove~tillie is unchsnged a~ 9d . psr hour for works~s 21 and over and 8~-d. :)'~:C hour for ':ve>rlrnrs ur:der 21. 11'he m~_n:'..mu.::11 rat es of wages in the case ·:if female vro~k:;rs aged 18 e.nC. O\·er a"'a 28/.-:µ::Jr vveek of 48 h ours, wjth overtime at ?d. per hour i n rcs)ect of alJ_ employment on Sundays ; all t-;mp.i oyment in ex(;e C'. S of 5t hOl'X s •.!D a Sa. t.u:.·J.e.y or on any other da y (not being Sunday~ in ever y wssk as may ba agreed bet ween the employer and woi-k-er; and. all e'.r..plo:yment in exGess nf 8~-hours on an;~/ other weekday (instead of 5d. per hc·ur for all t. :i_m,:; worl<"er e.s hitherto) . The direc.ti cns wit.h reµ,:~rd. to holi days rer1ia:i.n uncl1an ged as follows; (l) A vvho1e -ti1ne male ::..::· f.-;:ne.le i'Vl'rlcer v,rho is ':lmployed or engaged to be empl0yed by tl1e sar13 <:'mployer :t'or a })e:rj od of n ot Jes~ : than 12 consecFt 1ve rn.onth:i:s shs.11: in respect of ead1 :perL·d ·o:f 12 consecutive months o:" ernplc·yrnent '\il:i t:1 thee sam8 r'3mrloyer COit1menc inp; afte.( 12th May, 1939~ be all0wed holid~ys of (a) 7 days in the case of speciaJ class work ers a11d male workers 1indt"?r 21 years of age, and ( b) 6 days in the case of any otLer worker. Such h0liday& shall be alJowed (i) i n the case oi' a workP.r e:npl oyed vrtd.er a yearly c ontre,ct Clf s13rv ice ~ i r, the peri od o:f err.tnlov~!men·c 11n.-.J.~r sucl·; r'on-'-:caet-J ~ (i1'1 -a-.L1'• V..,1-1-. ""1~ ­ , .,1 \J · -•n . case J ...._ I ,_; v!J.G (a) where t h e worker is entitled. to .tnlida31s o:f sJ.x days :.n resrect of a year of emplcyms~t, three days in each slx mont~s of that vear of employment and ( 'J) \Nl:1ere tlrn wnr_\\:t;r is :-ntitled to holidays ~f seven days in re spect, of a year of employment, three du.;ys in the ~-:irst six months and four da.vs in tl1e s1::-:eond. six months o::· that year of empl ·J;ymerrc (2) .A whol'-3-ttrne me..le 11:c i'3·nc;,Je ;1crke1· wl:i. o is not em-pl::;.;yed. or engaged to be empl Gyed. by th8 :;cum emp10;::,rer I'o:t a prj_oc. 0f 12 cn:o.E;ecut.i ve months shal l, j_n resp;.;r-t of 2ud. d-;,;r1ng ea'Jh per~.nr:l oi 6 cc,nsecu.t ive months of emp:!.t'.\yinen.·0 v!i t h th~ sat110 ctr.pl oyer ::)01nmenclng 1:1ft1~r J2·ch May, 1939, be al lcwed /icliC.a.;y-s of ~".> d.8.yo . Hi:..11 j_clo.y r>:').nL'.ric~re..+,ion i s f'i:Y_ed at the foll ow i ng cia:i.lJ rates: Specia~L clas3 wo:-·kP-rs _:,/:so. .. p-:;T day l i1rntead of 5/2d . ) , other male ·No,. lcsr :s 2J. yt!ar s of age a!~d over 5/8d. . p2r da~r (instead of 5 / 4c.,) and. female worker:::; 18 .;rea.r s of age G.nc. ov2r -±/Sd, per day (instead of 3/~d.). 'i'he .t:.e:..zt meeting of tr1e b •)2Yd. rn.11 oe he:d ori :.he 20tD ::Viarch, 1940. Major G.. Lloyd George, l.i.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, has appointed Mr. P.T. Eckersley, Ll. P. to be his Parliamentary Private Secretary ( unpnid). Board of ;l'rade, 27th Februar~r, 1940. 27/2/40 No.11. BC~A?..D C·F 'J:r'.Alli AHHOUNC3MENT .. Fotlowing t~e recent understanding reached between the Uni tec1 Kingdom Gcvernrnent and the };1,rench Gcvernment, the Board of Trade have arranged for a substantial relaxaticn in the restrictic·ns on im:;_x1rts from F'ra~1ce. Details are set out in Notice to Impc•rters No.L:-3 copies of which can be obtained from the Import Licensing Department, 25, Southampton Buildings, I.ionci.on~ ;. c .2. As has been previc·usly inc.1icated, tllese measures· arise from and form an integral part of the s~ecial economic and financial arrangements nhich are in force between the United Kingdom Government and the French Government. Board of-Trade. 27th February, 194uo IMPORT LICENSING DEPARTMENT NOTICE TO H IPORTERS NO .43 IMPORTS FROM FRANCE. As a result of the understanding reached between the Un.ited Kingdom Government and the Prench Gvvernment, the Import Licensing Department of the Board of Trade announce the following revised arrangements regarding imports from France. They will come into operation on the 1st r.1arch. 1. A revised Open General Licence has been issued by the Board of Trade under which the following goods may be imported with(•Ut further licensing if consigned to the United Kingdom from, France, Algeria or Tunis. Dates 'i'urkeys, fresh, chilled or frozen, other than tinned turkeys. Fruit, crystallised, glace, metz or drained; angelica; and crystallised flowers. Asparagus Walnuts Mustard 1 I'able waters . Artificial flowers, artificial foliage, artificial fruit and parts thereof and articles incorporating them. Beads and bead trimmings and articles manufactured mainly of beads. Perfumed spirits Parts of umbrellas and sunshades and fittings therefor except covers. Books and other printed matter in the French language. This concession is intended to apply to goods of French origin but, for the present, certificates of origin will not be requiredo 2. For certain goods set out in the Appendix to this Notice, applications for licences to import from France, Algeria 0r Tunis will be entertained only from applicants who imported from t~·JCB::! caunt!1es in the year ended 31st August, 19390 In the case of many of these goods, it will be possible to grant larger quotas than hitherto. 3. As regards the following goods, the Department will be prepared to consider applications for licences to import from France, Al geria or 'runis, from importers with a past trade in these goods frrn:n any foreign country. Fruit, fresh or raw, the fvllow1ng:­Apric0ts, plur11s (including greengages and damsc..ins) and strawberries o 1 • Vegetables, fresh or raw, the following:­Caulif'lov..-er and broccoli, lettuce and endive. I1lanufactures of silk and of rayon and mixtures thereof, other than apparel, embroidery and silk yarn. Rayon hose Lace Furskins, dressed Cother than ri1ole and antelope to which paragraph 4 applies), and manufactures of fur. 4. In the case of all other goods subject to the import licensing regulations, except linen manufactures and the goods licensed on the advice of the Ministries of Supply and Food (see paragraph 5 below) tho Departr.1ent v-1ill be prepared to entertain appl:i.c?itions for licences from importers whether or not app.Licants have had a past trade in these goods. 5. Applications for import licences should be made to the Import Licehsing Departi«1ent of the Board of Trade, 25, Southampton Buildings, London, \'!.C.2, except in the case of those raw materials and essential foodstuffs for Which, in accordance with the existing procedurej applications for licences are to be addressed to the Ministry of Supply (or the respective Controls) or to the Ministry of Food as the case may be. Import Licensing Department, Board of Trade, 25, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2. 27th February, 1940. 2. AP:P:CFDIX LIST OF G_Q_QD3 FQR ·..'RICH il.PPLICI-~TI01'~3 F07~ LIC~~NC~S TO LIPORT FRO~-.i FR.i-J'~C::...; 2 .c~LG:~H.11~ Ort TUNIS ·,;"ILL B:C ,_;J\TT..~RT;.. n:r;-~D OlfLY FRO,; P.PPLIC.J>iTS ·,;Ho II>iPORT:t;D FROM FRAI~CD IN TH.u Y.GAR z:NDED 31 ST, AUGUST, 1939. Biscuits Cider £,nd perry Fruit, fresh or raw, except l al bananas and citrus fruits (free of restriction) b dates (see paragraph 1); c apricots, plums ancl. strar;berries (see paragraph 3); (d) peaches and nectarines (see paragraph 4). Veg~tables, fresh or rar~·, except (a) potatoes, tor.1atoes, onions, red cabbage, gherkins, . garlic and horseradish (free of restriction); (b) asparagus (see paragraph 1); and (c) cauliflor1er c..ncl. broccoli, lettuce ancl. endive (see paragraph 3). Vegetables, preserved in airtight containers, except dried vegetables, tomatoes s.nd beans (other than beans in pod) which are free of restriction. Hops, hop oil and extracts or other siitiilar preparations made from hops. Poultry an-md pa rts, including tyres and tubes, 27/2/40. -No.12. SECOND RAIDER SHOT DOWN. The Air Ministry announces: Early this afternoon fighter aircraft of the R. A.F. shot down a second Heinkel off the coast bf Northumberland. Three members ~f the crew of the enemy aircraft were seen to take to their rubber boat. AIR AFFAIRS. -----000----­ I) The War Office, London, ·S. ·1. t •. . 27th February, 1940. , MILITARY APPOINTMENT. --··----­The War Office announces that His Majesty The King has been pleased to aJ:Jprove of the appointment of Colonel A.G. Munro, M.D., V.H.S., Indian Medical Service, as Honorary Physician to The King, with effect :from the 22nd October, 1939, in succession·,; to Colonel D.C.V. FitzGerald, M.C., Indian Medical Service, who has retired. 57/2/40 -No", 14. PRESS NOTICE. Sir Eric Phipps, late Ambassador in Paris, presided at a meeting at Derby House today (Tuesday) of the Solidarity Committee of the United Associations of Great Britain and France. Lord Derby, the President of the Committee, was present•. The Hon. Secretary (Mr. H.B. Brenan) stated that over 10,000 blankets had already been distributed by the Comite I:Iosellan, the Comite Alsacien, and the Comite d'Bntr'Aide du X.Veme Corps d'Armee. Further consignments of 20,000 blankets, warm clothing and knitting wool had also been sent for distribution through the "Comite de Solidarite Franco-Britannique", of which the Ivlarquis de VogUeI is President. Mrs. Crawshay, (daughter of Lord Tyrrell), gave details of the way gifts were being personally distrib\lted in Franc~ by English ladies to women and children who had been evacuated from Eastern France, and stated how greatly these gifts were apprecia~ed. The following were also present at the meeting:­Lady. Crewe, Lady Melchett, Lady Peel, Captain Malcolm Bullock, M.P, the Marquis de Castellane, Captain McEwen, M.P•. , Mr, .B.S. Townroe. ++++++++++++++ SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED ASSOCIATIONS OF GT. BRITAIN AND FRANCE. Air Ministry Bulletin, 27/g/L!.O 7 Nq.15, (Not to be quoted a~ an Air Ministry announ~ement); TviO NAZI EAIDERS SHOT DOWN. Two enemy aircraft were shot down in the North Sea this afternoon by aircrEf t of the Royal Air Force Fighter Command. Both were .Heinkels which had been attacking shipping. The first Heinkel was attacked off the mouth of the Firth of Forth shortly before one o'clock. The Squadron which despatched it had not previously brought down a raider. Less than an hour later 9 the pilots from the Nizam of Hyderabad's Squadron claimed their second Heinkel of the war, off the Northumberland coast. When the Heinkel was sighted it dived down and flattened out low over the water. Diving after it, the Spitfires attacked when it was only t wenty feet above the sea.• After several bursts of machine-gun fire from the British aircraft, the fighter pilot saw the He i nkel's starboard engine stop. The aircraft turned slowly round and settled down on the surface of the sea, spreading a trail of oil. Just before it touched the water a large piece of the aircraft was shot away. The crew launched a rubber boat and three men climbed into it. In three minutes the w:veck of th'e raider had disappeared. AIR AFFAIRS. PRESS NOTICE NOT TO BE QUOTED AS A MINISTRY OF SUPPLY .ANNOllli.QPMEN'.1;1_. By an agreement reached on the 27th February 1940, on the Engineering Trades Joint Council for Government industrial establishments, an increase of 5/-a week in the bonus payable to all adult skilled, semi-skilled 9 and unskilled employees of the War Office, Air Ministry and Ministry of Supply 9 whose wages are regulated by that Council, will take effect frorn the beginning of the pay week commencing in the week in which the 19th F~bruary, fell. +++++++++ 27L2/4D -No.17. Air Ministry Bulletin. R.A.F. over Heligoland Bight. The Air :Ministry announces: Aircraft of the Royal Air Force today aarried out a successful reconnaissance over the Heligoland Bight. One of our aircraft has failed to return. AIR AFFAIRS. 27/2/40 No• . 18 PRESS NOTICE ·-··-.-­ The .American Cammittee in London for British Medical Civilians' Aid has received its fi rst consignment of Stores from .America.. These will be on view to the Press at 11.30 a.m. Wednesday 28th at Dudley House, 100 Park Lane, W.1. where Lady Warid vdll make a statement on future plans of the American Committee at 11. 30 a~m() PRESS BUREAU. ++++++++++++++++ FKCDING STUFFS (PHOVISION/'.L CONTROL) O:RD:CR, 1940. TRADERS IN HAY•. The Ministry of Food desires to draw the attention of hay traders to the fact that they,. in common with other dealers in animal feeding stuffs, will require a licence if they wish to trade after 29th February. If their sales in the year ended 30th June, 1939, were leas than 500 tons of all feeding stuffs, they are covered by a general licence and need take no further action. If~ however, their sales in the above mentioned yearexceeded 500 tons, they must obtain an individual licence. Application forms can be obtained from:­ The Animal Feeding Stuffs Division, Ministry of Food Gt. Westminster House, Horseferry House, S.W.1. or Glasgow or Leith Port .~..rea Feeding Stuffs Committees, or' Bristol, Hull, Liverpool, or London Port Area Feeding Stuffs Committees, or from the Chairman of any County Feeding Stuffs Committee. MINISTRY OF FOOD, 27/2/Lj.O____.::__ No. 20. THE FOLLOftING IS ISSUED TO TIIZ PI[_,ss BY NAV!lli AFFAIRS FOR SUCH USL AS TI-ImY 1 :AY WISH TO ::.IAKC OF IT. THE SPIRIT OF THJJ!.JtEJ}CHJu\fT NAVY. The gallantry and devotion to duty of the British Merchant Navy was once again demonstrated when the S.S. SULTAN STAR was torpedoed by a U-boat on February 14th. It was a fine, clear afternoon and Captain Bevan was on the bridge when the torpedo struck the ship.. There was no warning whatever of the attack. The first intimation of the preseno3 of the enemy was the explosion of the torpedo. Captain Bevan went to the wing of his bridge and looked aft along his vessel. She was shivering from the shock of the explosion. Almost immediately he saw that she was beginning to settle in the water. He went to the engine roorn telegraphs and put them to "Finished with Engines", which Yvas the pre-arranged signal for those below in engine room and stokehold to go to their boat stations. They came up on deck with perfect discipline -all except one man who had been killed by the explosion. At the same time Wireless Operator P. Winsor was tapping out the S. o. s. The crew we~t rapidly but calmly to their boat stations. There the Chief Officer mustered the men~ and then reported them ready to the Captain. The -.:rhole oi)eration was carried out as calmly and deliberately as if it had been one of the routine exercises. Captain Bevan saw that his ship was sinking rapidly by the stern and at once gave the order• to abandon ship, instructing all the boats to get 1Nell clear except one, which was to stand by to pick up the wireless operator and himself. The boats quickly got away from the ship, on board which the wireless operator continued to broadcast the s. o. S. and the Captain stood by him. The ship was sinking faster and faster. Her stern Yvas under and the water was over the after end of the boat deck when the Captain, seeing that it was essential that he and the wireless operator should leave the ship at once if they were to escape with their lives, tried to drag the wireless operator away from his instruments. Wireless Operator Winsor, who is a big and heavy man, literally fought his Captain off, shouting that he was not certain that the signal was through and he was going to stay until he was certain. There was nothing more Captain Bevan could do. The ship was going and it seemed certain suicide to stay another instant. He dived over the side and struck out for the boat which Yvas standing by for him. And/ -2 ­ As he was hauled into the boat he looked back for his wiI"eless operator. The ship was al1'1'1ost standing on heI' stern. Her J)OWS were in the air and-the water was actually going down the funnel when he saw Winsor leave the wireless office and dash for the ship's side. The wireless ope rator was in the act of sliding down a j'.'Ope when the ship sank. I{e did not leave the ship -the ship left him. The next time he was seen -very soon afterwards ­he was clinging to some wreckage. The SULTAN STAR cm'.'ried a cleck cargo of some 200 tons in barrels. These had, of course 9 broken loose and were crashing about. To have taken a boat into that maelstrom would have insured its destru ction and the death of all in it. MoPeover9 there was the danger of a boiler explosion releasing more wreckage which would shoot to the surface. Captain Bevan could not, therefore~ at once take his boat to the rescue of the wireless operator. ./.l..ll he could do 1rvns wait on the edge of the maelstrom for the disturbance caused by the ship sinking to die down9 so that the barrels would cease crashing about. It was agonising 9 that waiting within a fe;w yardz of a man in deadly peril 9 but it had to be. So close to Winsor was the boat that Captain Bevan heard him groan as he was caught and pounded and crushed between two baj'.'rels. It seemed that all was over -but Winsor did not loose his hold on the floating m'.'eckage to which he was clinging. About twenty minutes after the ship had gone down it was possible for the boat to :1.... each V!insor. He was dragged on board the boat 9 unconscious and more dead than alive. Captain Devan never thour.rht that he wouJd live. The first thing done was to force brandy down his throat. The s. o.s. which VJinsor had made certain of getting out through his bJ'.'ave:.~,r and cl evotion to duty was g_uick in securing help. Three clestro~.reI'G came rushing up -not only to i'.'escue the sm'.'vivoris of the SULTAN STAR , but also to hunt the . submarine which had sunlc that ship. They picked up the men from the SULTAN STAR 1 s boats and mercilessl~r counter attacked the U-boat with depth cha~:>ges. They sank the U-boat. Winsor was therefore got on board a destroyer and under the care of a doctoP very quickly. Captain J..~evan is certain that he would not have lived if this had not been so'. and he is insistent that the ca]'e of the destpoyer' s doc tor ­saved the wireless operator's life. As it was, Winsor was alj... ight next morning. Thu.s the gallantry and devotion to duty of Wireless Operator Winsor not only got help to the survivors c;i_uickly and enabled ,just retribution to be so swiftly meted out to the U-boat ; but incidentally saved his own life -the one thing for wh:i,'ch he had shown no regard. • .----_____ __...-· 27/2/40 · No. 21 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE EVENING Paris, ~uesday, February 27th 1940 The following official communique was issued tbis evening from French G.H.Q.:­ LOCAL ACTIVITY OF THE CONTACT UNITS .AND OF THE ARTILLERY. ONE OF OUR DESTROYERS ATTACKED, RAMMED AND SANK AN ENEMY SUBMARINE. +++++++++++ AIR MINISTRY t?>ULJ.J:'.'TIN . 27.2.40 !1Jo. 22. (Not to be quoted as an .' ir f.':inistry announcement) . R.A.F. FLIGHT ov;.:R BYRLIF. Berlin was visited by an aircraft of the R.A.P. Bomber Command in the early hours of this mornino;. :r.eaflets were scattered over the city and its. suburbs for the third time since the outbreak of war. The German capital was effectively blacked-out, but the British crew found no difficulty in locating their objective and ~eleasing their leaflets over a wide area. A :r·emarlrn.ble feature of this raid, which involved flying over rno•'."'e than 600 miles of enemy t·crritory, was the total absence of searchlight activity or anti-aircraft fire. The onl y hint of opposition was a single enemy aircraft seen flyin?-; with its navigat~on lights to the west of Berlin. Though only some three thousand feet below, the German aircraft made no attempt to attack. 'rhe Britj_sh crew completed their task without interruption. During the night, other aircraft of the Bomber Command carried out successful lone distance reconnaissance flj_r;hts over Hamburg, Kiel and other sea ports and estuaries in north and north-west Germany. fl. 23-ycar-old Australian Squs.dron-1.eader was the captain o:f one of the aircraft which visited the Kiel Canal aroa. It was his first flight over Germany. On his return to England this morning he described the iournoy as "a nerfcct flip11 • "The entire trip there nnd back", he saj_d, "took six hours. During most of the time very little hanrJcm.cd.. Even when we were over enemy territory, the only real O!J!)OSi tion came from senrchli~{ht s which were switchcd on to annoy us. We decided we would give them a run for their money, and by dodginf'. first to the right and then to the l eft, then up and then do1.m, we were able to l{ecp the German searchlight crews puzzled o.s to our real objective and route. Anti-aircr~ft fire did not bother us, although we saw a few flashes on the ground belov-1. "'rhe rn.ost exciting incident was on the return iourncy when we were in the vicinity of Heligoland. We then saw o. mass of searchli3hts sweeping a particular area of tho sky. A few moments later, we saw scores of red tracer shells whizzing uu and bursting near the same place. "We soon realised that the guns were being fired at one of our aircraft and were :·:i ving it an exceedingly hot timfi) , I thought it the best firework display that I had ever seen, but doubt if the cr~w in the attacked aircraft thought the same. When we landed, we were very glad to learn that the crew had reached home safely". Other aircraft on these reconnaissances also encountered · anti-aircraft fire but no hits were obtained. All our aircraft returned safely to their ba~es, having carried JUt their mission. AIR MIJ\TI STRY BULLETINo 27o 2o 4,_o______N_o .. 23 ._ (Not to be q_uot cd as an Air Mj_nistry cmnounccment). END OF A HI'iINKEL. A young R.~ .F. Volunteer Reserve officer on his first Fi~hter Command patrol, fired the final burst of bullets at t he Heinkel which was brought down today off the Firth of Forth. Success was due to the skilful co-oper ation of three pilots. The Heinkel was first seen above some merchant vessels. A section of Sl)itfires made for it0 The German pilot spotted them when they were still nearly two miles away nnd at once made for the safety of R thick bank of cloud~ The leader of the fighter section climbed steeply to get above the Heinkel but lost it in the cloudo The second Spitfire,however, kept close and the pilot fired two short bursts when they reached an opening in the clouds. It wo.s then' the turn of the third Spitfire p: lot, who fired a long burst before breaking off~ Once again the second SDitfire took up the fight, while the Heinkel swept in a wide semi-circle to t he wes t. · Already the German bomber was in difficultj_cs and black smoke came puffing from ito The th ird Spitfire, piloted by the young Volunteer Reserve officer, then closed for the kill. After he had fired, both the Heinkel's engines were ~een to b e ablaze and metal was droDDin!J'·'-from one of them. The '· (.,) aircrnft glided helnlessly for the shore, but fniled by some miles and dropped into the scaQ The aircraft r emained aflo2t and shortly af tcrwards two members of the crew wer e picked up by a merch2nt shipo 1 AIR .t\Ii'T" IRS.