FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE "VAR COMPILED FROM TE LEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 87. 26th April No. .............................. ......................................., 1940 s;,:SDEN: FIRH AT'I'ITlIDE I N F~\.CB OF N.AZI THREATS. Despite German Press attacks on Sweden, the Swedish newspapers continue to maintain their viewpoints and to protest against German air violations and attacks on Swedish fishing boats. NYA DAGLIGT ALLErlt.\.NDA referring to Nazi Press accusations that Suedish newspapers have been nlibelling the German arrqy's honour" pointed out that the action of German aircraft in machine-gunning Swedish boats in Swedish waters could not be overlooked. .This paper added.: "Swedish newspapers must attempt objective descriptions but this must not take the form of excluding v.rhat is unpleasant for one sid.e and pleasant for the other. 11 Referring to 8'vedish neutrality this journal stated: "There are viewpoints which must find. understanding in German quarters. Nori;ray is a sister country which has been attacked. and. which is now defending her freedom and independence with desperate courage. No-one can see the pictures of Elverum vr.ithout shuddering. This little N0 I'\vegian tow?\ which is vr.i. thout military importance, is lyin,;~ in ruins. " Concluding~NYA DAGLIGT ALLGfi.UillA expressed the view that the German Press attacks on Swed.en were part of the war of nerves which would fail in its obje<;t. SOCLl\L DEMOKRAT'.GN affirmed; "The German Press now declares that .Swedish reports of the German machine-,'.:;unning are an insult to the honour of the German army and the Swedish Press is accused of serving the 1festern Powers. Is Germany r eally inc&pa-ble of understandinr; the spontaneous and. natural reaction aroused in Svleden by the attack on our peaceful and innocent nei2.hbours? Swedish indignation over what is happening in the West need not be interpreted as foreign propaganda. " In a specific reference to the Nazi machine-gunning of Swedish fishermen this paper added: ttAfter investigation there is no room for doubt in this matter. Should the Swedish Press refrain from publishing news of something which it knows to be a fact and y,hich is a grave violation of Swedish neutrality, because it is an insult to the honour of the German arTJ\Y? -and if this news is published must we expect new accusations that we are serving other countries' 'foreign propaganda'? 11 The German Press cdmpai8n is part o? the nerves' war and Sweden must do nothinc that might be interpretr~a. as weakness. The Swedish Press must continue to interpret the Sv.redish peoples deterrnination to defend neutrality. 11 Equally emphatic wa s the Social Democratic newspaper NY TID,published at Gothenbur2:? which declared. yesterday: 11 TD.e G\vedish Press and radio are again attacked. by the German Press which says that we are playing a dangerous game in insulting the whole German nation. i~'hen one remembers the respect our Press shows in handling war news one wonders if the Germans have lost their nerve. Many corr:_plain that our radio e;ives too much German and. -too little Allied news. We do not vvish Germany harm but we reject their accusations. ·.;e insist on presenting our views and being ourselves and we will fiGi'1t if necessary vdth our lives." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIO REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 87 ..................g§!;.h:...#.P.r.;b;J,....................., 1940 No. IT.ALY: COMUENTATORS' HORE OBJECTIVE ATTITUDE. The Italian Press continues to present ne~s from a pro-German view-point, and on the Norwegian fighting whole columns are devoted to reports from Berlin and Oslo, but only quite short messages fron London and Paris are printed, Apart from the question of space, however, there is noticeable on the part of writers, a tendency to admit that the operations are not all in favour of the German forces. The MESSAGGERO ga·.re the Norv1egian communique in a Stockholm dis­patch and expressed the opinion that the German advance could be arrested at an opportune moment4 Reviewing the operations, the CORRIERE DELLA SERA yesterday stressed the importance of Trondhjem, Bergen and Stavanger, all of which had been captured by the Germans, but added: "Meanwhile, both the Allies and the Gennans continue to disembark troops, anns and material. The sign of the firm intention to win exists on both sides." Referring to the "navicert" system, the POPOLO DI ROMA connnented: "The present way show·s itself increasingly as a vast enterprise against the neutrals, First they are tormented economically, and then, when this fails, they are openly provoked to war." FRANCE: HITIER AND STALIN AT LOGGERHEADS? The belief that differences of opinion exist between Hitler and Stalin as regards .a Gennan invasion of Sweden, and that, in general, the Nazi invasion of Scandinavia is regarded unfavourably by the Soviet, has bean expressed by a section of the French Press, Writing in the EPOQUE, M. De Kerillis, stated: "Everything leads us to believe in the probability of a Gerrnnn offensive against Sweden •••.•.• •...•. 11It is astonishing that Germany has not launched her attack before the prepara­tions of her new enemy could be completed and in order to prevent, at all costs, the ultimate linking up of the Swedish forces vrith the English, French and N0 rwegian forces, The following reasons probably explo..in this delay: "1, ~nnany did not expect Norway to resist and did not expect her fleet to suffer such a disaster. She counted on lightning successes in Cnpenhagen and Oslo to overcome Svredish resistance. Her calculations were based on capitulation, aided by .internal treachery, She was not ready t o send a strong force to this new theatre, "2. It was in her interests to vrait for the thaw in the Gulf of BotlJnia, if She wanted to land in the region of the Lapland iron ore, This thaw is cl>out to set in. 11 3. Berlin diplomacy has certainly made a desperate effort to get Russia's support and to lead her to put pressure on the Svredish Government, but Russia is certainly afraid of the Germans being esta.bl;i.shed on the Peninsula. She would prefer to see the English and French, who would not remain, rather than Hitler's soldiers, who would only be got rid of with difficulty, On the other hand, if he wants to tempt Stalin by offering him, acmrcling to the usual technique, a •share', the Fuehrer is in a ver"J difficult position, for the part of Sweden which Russia wants, which would give her an outlet to the Atlantic, is precisely the mineral region of the North. There is therefore, reason to think that unless surprises are reserved for us, the Russians are backing out and even that they regard rather unfavourably the Hitlerian invnsion of Scandinavia. 11 FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPitiKJ REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No. 87. .....26.th.. .April................................. , 1940 The ~.eneral viei.--r of the Tu.rldsh Press is that the operations in Eor.-m.y arc proceeding satisfe.ctorily from the .l.\.llies'point of vievr and CDLHURI:C T, the Ishmbul nevrspaper, goes so far as to say: 1'The first phase of the operations has terminated to the advantage of the !-1.llies. It i s not too much to say that this initial success is so i mportant as already to decide the outcome of hostilities in Norway." Summing up the events in Nor1.:By i.JL\JS, the People's Party nevrspaper, published at .Ankara_. -r·tri tes: 11T11e r:;sult is that Germany is constr2.ined. to fight on t-.-;o fronts which she has always_ dreaded. Her naval losses are already enormous and more ships, bottled up in the Fjords, are doomed to destruct ion. The airforce on vrhich Hi cl er pinned such faith has failed to win the mastery or pre~ent Allied l andin2s. On t he contrary British aircraft are conducting offensive operations ~na i·c is o1JVious that the Geruan airforce is not so strong as vro.s believed. Anotl!.er serious blon to the (!.,-:;r r;1ans is t!lat they are deprived of iron-ore~ the securing of which vvas the motive for their action in Scandinavia." Conm1enting on the German Ymrning to the Bal kans to beware of aggression by the Allies, the J;stanbul ne-1-vspa.per .:>..:;:cmi.E states: n-\{e fail to comprehend. the mentality which attributes to others the evil intentions which it harbours itself,. " 'l1he C-ernan claim that the Nazis invaded. Norv.iay in reply to the British action in layi!l[, mines off the N0 r egi an coast is rejec·i;ed by the Cairo newspaper .!\L i.:OKA'I'TAI.I. In a leadi:n,g article this p8.per declares: "TI1e Noruegian ·,i1rite Book convi ncingly proves the lies of the lia.zi assertion that Germany invaded Nor'"1-i-ay a.s an ansner to the British mines.. The Book reveals a long prepared plot. German warships Tiere already o-::'f the coast of Norway before the mines ~'rere l aid." .~.L D..\.STOU'R, referring to Ali Eah o-.c Par::li.a 1 s statement that ~~gypt' s support for the Der.1ocracies in the present stru.~gle is the outcone of the belief of the )Zgyptian people in Democratic principles·, nrites: "This is an aspect of Egypt's honesty in fulfilment of the text of our treaty." Under ~che he<:\dline "Goering a lunatic -of'f'icial documents prove insanity of head. of G-erman air-force.,11 this paper r eproduces an article declaring that the Fuehrer's right hand. mun is an ex-drug addict and ex-lunatic. IiliBA.NOJJ: FIC-HT AG _I NST DICT~":..TORSHIY.::l. In the f irst issue of S..illi'.L DTI~Oiffi.';.TY.~lli , a new illustrated Beiruit w~ekzy, an editorial article states: w, ;'e shal l fight ruthlessly brutal Nazism and. aggressive Communism. '!rharilQ~io wi.thdraY.'als, r-ihich are described as reverses9 this paper adds: "Al-Chough serious, the8e will not decide the stru,sgle for Norway. Far more decisive vdll be the cutting of the German sea communications, and the nurnber of trained men, field artillery. anti-aircraft guns and aeroplanes rushed by the Allies to Noruay. 11 In an editorial article on Press censorship in Holland this paper declares: "If this me2.nG that the soldiers' blue pencils are to supplant editors' judgement and if the off icial fear of Germany is to prevent the Dutch nevrspa.pers from presenting the issues of this v;ar '.rithout fear or favour, then another light in L"urope ·will go out and. all the WOrlci vnll be the loser. II .ti'ter stating that the Germ-.qn Fuehrer had suffered his first defeat by the invasion of Nori::ay the GT. LOUIS GLOBE DEMOCRAT added: "The invasion as planned was to be completed ·within a fen hours. It was a total f ailure because the Nor-::,egians did not tame]y submit as Hitler expected. but elected to fight, and. beeause of the i r:.•mediate rush of Allied forces to the rescue. Noi.:! he finds himself ;,vith a f irst-class ·war o:: his hands and. he has laid himself open to a flank attack which until now he has sedulously 80Ji?}1t·to avOid. Alrez,dy, he finds himself sorely pres::..;ed for the means of carryin2; on a successful war i.-iith Norr:ey. "Hitler's ri.aval armament has been svrept fror.1 the intervening seas and he has been cut off from all contact with Norway by sea or l ana. He is forced. to depend entirezy upon air for the transportation of troops and supplies. Hundreds of men, and heavy supplies of arms and munitions can be carried on a single ship -and the British and French are now carryin,g these on many ships. But only a few men and a fevi arms can be carried. by aeroplane. That Hitler has bitten off more than he can chew seems quite evident." The BOSTON HERALD stated: "Hitler's Scandinavian sortie ha s, after a brilliant start, gone badJy and 1-..ill ap-_f>arently become increasingly costly for him. 11 The Nazi GOvcrIU:lent • s a ttitudi.. to private property has caused ala.rm among members of the German Embassy in New York according to a coll.Uilllist in the N:i"J YORK DAILY MIRROR. It was stated.: "Menmers of the German Embassy are apparently r.one too enthusiastic oYer Hitler•s treatment of private property. They are buying up quantities of silver-plate at u. J. jevrelle1-y stores. This investnent they can keep with less danger of Nazi confis ca.ti~n." · FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE '1VAR COMPILED FROM TE LEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MI NISTRY OF INFORMATION No. 87 ......... .... ?..?.~~....~+?E~.~.~......................, 1940 GERd.ANY: "WHY DON'T WE HATE?" "Why do We not Hate?", nas the headline ton long article in the SCHWAR.ZE3 · KORPS, the organ of the Nazi Black Guards, v1hich made the aurprising statement that Germans do not hate, but leave this to their enemies. The article began: ''When the murder ship Cossack attacked the unarmed Altmark in Joessing Fjord nnd her Commander shot down the defenceless German sailors, there was nobody in Germany with straight limbs and straight under­standing who did not swear vengeance on these criminal hirelings of infamous money-bags, and who, in the first ebullition of his outraged soldierly feelings, would not have repaid life with life." After these unfounded allegations, the article continued: "But when the news crune that the Cossack had been shot out of the 10-fold stronger British Battle Fleet by the heroic Gennan destroyer squadron, had been set on fire and forced to run ashore, nobody askedY.hether this was the revenge of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The victorious German sailors did not shoot down in blind rage the defenceless British sailors who were fighting for life in the breakers, The glorious Commodoreof the German destroyer squadron did not stain his soldierly shield. Fi~hting and victorious, he went to his heroic death, "The Germans are content to leave hatred to their opponents. Our revenge is a reparation ·. at long range. Perhaps one day, the Corrunandant nrurderer of the Cossack may consume somewhere his unearned bread of charity. It is more :i.J}tportant to render innocuous at the right time, the Chamberlains, Chttrchills and Reynuads -not for us revenge by victory, " ' • In lighter vei~ the VOELK:ISCBER -BECJBACHTER published a London message headlined "Churchill's Conf.ension of Faith in llIIlphibians." It was stated: "Churchill told the survivors of' the Hardy in London that their tr8,!l~fer from sea to lru;id had shovm 1he amphibious character of Great Britain {Uld her. }!E7vy.. :i.. _· and that they ~~re, in reality, the advance guard of. the ~es '''41~ch we and our French Allies will need this summer ~o cleanse Norway's Viking Soil from the oo~trunination of tpe.Nazi tyra.ru;iy. ' ... 1,, ., ··-I :1 "Al]lphibians are those unsympathetic creatures which live b9th..on. l~eland. May 15th is to be a day of united prayer, and ministers and leaders of Christian work in all towns and villages in the Provinces are to join in special intercession services for the success of the Allied cause, and the mi tigation of the suffePings of victims of Nazi aggression. DOMINION AND COLONIAL AFFA~RS. AIR r~INISTRY BULLETJN 603. 26.4.40 No, 9. R. A. F. orF:r.rn rv:c ./\.CTIONS OVER !JQR1f'.'\Y. Tho Air Minis try r.mnounccs: Vigorous offensive o.ction by l.".rgc numbers of R. A.F. o.ircr'"'.ft agc,inst cnem~r bo.scs in J'iorw0y nnd Dcnri12.rk continue;d throughout yesterday (Thurst~y~ npd lnst night. Among other objectives, oi.l tcmks r.t Vo.llo on the Oslo Fjord were attacked ~n~ a 12.rge f irc w~s seen. nlso o.ttnckcd i~ this Fjord. North west· of St nvnngcr 2tt2cks were m~dc on four largo shi;Js, nnd on the sc".plcmc be.so r.t Sto.vo.ngcr, where a number of fires wo.s cnuscd. Ono formntion of our o.ircr2ft encountered and destroyed nn enemy flyinz hoo.t. P2..trolling British nircrC'..ft f\lso shot down an enemy bomber over tho North Seo. and nttnckod two enemy flying boo.ts, s~riously do.mRging one of thorn. Five of our aircrnft nro missing. Six enemy o..ircre.ft ho.vc boon shot down by our r:nti -~ nircrRft guns cmd figh tor>s in Norwo.y, m1d ci~ht others do.m'."'-ecd.• Some of our fight er aircr2ft engaged in operations in Norway have been drnno.ged by bombing att::.cks. AIR MINISTRY DULLETIN NO. 604 •. No.10•. BRITISH BOMBER FIGHTS T1.~!0 FLYING BO!"TS •. (Not to be quoted :J.S O..i1 Air Mj_nistry nnnouncomont ) • . In n continuous action lasting for twenty mihutes £'. British bomber this morninf~ ong;-.csed two onomy flying bor;ts, n t to.eking thom with bombs o.nd m2chinc gun fire ~s they flcw lmv­nbovc tho son• . The bomber, a Bristol Blenheim, was on roconnnissnncc fo.r out over the Horth Son when two twin-engined Gcrmc.n flying boats wore soon flying in echelon :formc.tion 1 00 yards apnrt and only 50 feet nbovo tho water. Manoeuvring into ~osition o.storn of the f or m::'..tion, tho Blenheim singled out the right ho.nd flying boat and att o.eked it with two hc.-:::vy bombs. These were seen to overshoot ns both flying bo~ts, broakinG form~tion, took violent ovo.sivo action. Wo. i ting until tho enemy c.ircr2ft h<'d resumed formo.tion, the Br1t ish bomber renovved its o.ttnck, . this t imo closing to within short range and opening fire with tho front gun on both enemy o.ircrnft in ··urn. . Pressing home his nttnck in the fJJ.cc of heavy fire from the r eo.r gu~nors of both flying bonts, .the British pilot saw his tr<'.c or bullets rcpcntcdly enter tho nacelle housing the twin engines of the nearest flying boat•. Turning on the other, the Blenheim pilot mo.de n second bombing nttack, 2nd after seeing his bomb agnin overshoot, turned sharply o.way from the target to bring his rcnr gunner into action. A moment later, the enemy whose engines h2.d been hit earlier wn.s s een to be. i'n .difficulties· o.nd, with smoke pouring from his no.cello, broke 2wo.y and made off t.:,wo.rc1s the German con.st f ollowed closely by his conmc.nion•. Tho Blenheim, lighter now 1Jy tho weight of several bombs nnd nearly a thousand r ounds of attur~u:1i tion, resumed its reconnnissnnce • . AIR /i.FFi\.I P.S. Not to be published before the issue of The London )/ (pc, ) (_ Gazette .9ll._26th April. The ¥·Jar O:efice, London, s.'N.1. 26th April, 1940. The V!ar Office an:1ounce,s that His Majesty The King has bBen graciously pleased to a)~rove of th6 award of The Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British :empire to the undermentioned:­ Gunner Hugo O'Hear, Royal Artillery, Territorial Arr:ry. In the cours6 of December, 1939, a gunner, whilst attempting to board a ship tied to Harwich pier, so as to get into the duty boat on the further side, sli__. ~)ed a...'1d fell between the pier and the ship, striking his head and becoming w.~conscious. Gunner O'Hear jwnp0d into the sea, succeeded in getting hold of the gunner, and, su~x)orting his head above vmter until a ladder was lowered, assisted in c:ctting hira out of the water. The accident occurin;; duri ng complete darlmess, at a;_ time when the sea was rough and the wind high, Gunner O'Hear undoubtedly saved the man's life. Private George Robert Storey, The Royal Ber~shire Regiment, (Princess Charlotte of •:ales 1 s) Ter1'itorial ,:;rmy. · In the cour·se of January, 19l+O, the "Royal Crovm" damaged by enemy bo1.i1bs and machj.ne gun fire, and containing both ammunition and an enemy brnnb which had not yet exploded, was lying, on fire, on the beach at Oovehithe. After two unsuccessful B.tternpts had been made to get on board, Private Storey volunt0ered to 1nn~rn a :f'u:ether effort. Undeterred by the dD.nger, and with the intention of succouring any possible survivors, he climbed u::,> the side of the ship on two ladders / laders lashed together. Thirty-five fGet up , one of the ladders broke, but he managed to clutch a block of davit falls, and was hauled up to deck level, by means of a loose roi)e: Private :,toI'C;'/ then r an through the fire, entered the m-tsazine, Hhich was :;_n dan2;cr of being rc:;0ched by the fire at any moment, searchGd and found a rope ladder, and then, again braving the fhunes, lowered the ladder over the side. By this means the remainder of the party ITere able to get on board. Private Storey, a young soldier of 18 months service, rendered outstanding services, in spite of the imminent danger in v1hich he wes placed, with coolness and determi:notion. 2§L.lj/40, -.. No. _·13. The \7ar Of:('ice issues the following communig_ue: Allied troops in Southern Norway have been heavily engaged south of Dombaas by strong enemy forces supported by medium artillery, armoured fi3hting vehicles and low-flying aircraft. Limited withdre.wal.s have been necessary. In the area north of Steinkjaer there has been no -~ement_, but patrols have been active. Thel'-e .is, nothl.:ng__.:to---l'-epot>t from the Narvik area. WAR OFFICE, Whitehall, s.w.1. ++++++++++ I.' '••·~ -' TOURISTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND. In the interests of economy the Northern Ireland Government is reducing its grant towards tourist traffic. Mr. J.M.. Andrews, the Minister of Pino.nee~ told the Northern Ireland Tourist Traffic Assoa-iation today that "tourism" was one of Northern Ireland1 s greatest industries and that when .the war was over he hoped to increase the Government Grant to the Association. "In the meantime", he said, "we must reduce the figure so that the people in Northern Ireland will have the satisfaction of l{nowing that in financial mattefts as in other directions they are helping to bring victory to our arms". Notwithstanding this the Association expect more tourists than ever f rom Eire and an appeal has been made to hotel keepers as far as possible to serve tourists with home-made disheso ;Q.QM.INION AND C_Q.J,ONIA~JJ1FAIRS. 26.4.40 No,15. PRESS NOTICE. Th e f ollowj_n,3 mcssc.,'."~C is i s succ1 from the Royo.l Norwegio.n Government :­By Royo.l Decree of 20t h J,pril 1940 c.11 Nor vvegi cm ships of more than 500 gross register tons have b~en nl ac ed at the dispos o..l of the RoyG.l N orvv®lginn Govcrnmcn t. To put th is decree into effect, the Royo.l Norwegian Government hr.,s estc.blishcc1 a Shii)ping r->.nd Tri:.de Mission a.t :­144 Le2donhali St reet, E.C.3. under the lendership of Mr. Oivind Lorentzen, tcl egrc.ph ic addr ess 11Nortro.shit, 'H ock, London;:. Mr~ Lorentzen hc.s been gi ven full power to act for• the Royal Norwegian Government. The or gnnisnt i on cst~blished by His Exceli ency the Nor wegian Minister in I 0on c1on, toD;et hor with I1r. I. Hy sinG Olsen, is from now on incorporr.ted in tho Ro~ro.l T:1i ssion .'"'.nd the instructions issued by the l\forwcgi o..n Uinistcr and Mr. Hysing Olson are still in force. Mr. Hysing Olsen 1rvill con tinue t o r ender• his most vo.luo.ble services to the Mis sion. MINISTRY OF SHIPPING. 26/4/40 -No.16. MIJ\TISTTIY OF HEALTH. M:§.i tiona:;L duties for tlie We].sh Board of Health. The Minister of Health (Mr. Walter Elliot) recently announced in the House of Commons that it was his intention in future to exercise through the Welsh Board of Health all the principal powers and duties of the Minister of Health in relation to Wales, subject to central direction of broad policy. The Mini$ter has now informed local authorities in Wales and :Monmouthshire that c:trrangements to this end he.ve been completed and will come into force on 1st May. They will cover housing and tovm planning; local sanitary and other services, including water sup~ly, sewerage and sewage disposal; and alterations of boundaries of local Government areas. These duties are in addition to the f'Lmctions alreadyexercised through the rtelsh Board of Health, and also include a wide range of miscellaneous subjects such as fire stations, private street works, street lighting, markets, military lands, public libraries, museums and art galleries, ~laying fields and open spaces, river pollution and smoke abatement. As from 1st May, local authorities which have }.)roposals on these subjects will make direct approach to the Welsh Board of Health in Cardiff instead of to the Ministry of Health. MINISTRY OF HEALTH; VVHITEHALL 9 s.w.1. 17 BRITISH FORCES IN HORW/Y ?:iinistry of Supply Lnsvrers Nazi Radio..L A denial that equipment for a British Expeditionary Force to Norway was being prepared a month before the I"orce embar ked v1as issued by the Ministry of Supply to-day. The J.~inistry said : ­ "Statements are being mc:.de on the German wireless and by the Press i n neutral countries to the effect that r1Ir. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Suppl y , disclosed the other day that equipment for a British Expeditionary Force to be sent to Norvv;,.y we s ordered a month before the l<'orce was despatched. "The fact is that 8 greet p<-rt of the equipment provided for t he Expeclitionary Force now in }forvr~·y vrci.s G.ssembled for use in Finland and it w0.s this equipment vrhich vm.s provided within less than a month of the possible need for it being known. "Subsequently the equi pment w::.s supplemented at a few hours notice Yrith other <-rticles when it bec:::ime necessary to send a Force to Norw:=q owing to the invasi on of that countr y by Germany. There is no truth vrhatever in the statement that the Ministry of Supply pr epared to eci.uip a Force for Norvvay before the actual invasion of that country by Germany was an accomplished fact. "The Hi nistry calls attention t o the following statement ma.de by Lor d Catto in an i nterview vvith the I.Jress on April 18th when he succeeded Lor d 1.foolton as Director-General of Equipment and Stores, Ministiy of Supp':.y: " "The Ministry of Suppl y , no less than the Service Departments, must be ready for any emergency and in that connection as a layman outside the Government mechine one thing di cl intrigue me as I am sure it i ntrigued many other members of the general public. " "You have heard t hat the Expeditionary Force to Norway has gone over ful ly equipped t o f ight a campaign under climatic conditions di ffering consi derably from those experienced in other spheres of wa.r. " nr wondered hovr the necessary equipment v1as supplied in such a short time -one mi ght almost S l'l.Y A.t a moment's notice -and my first offi ci8.l question was '·IImr Yvas i t done'? " "In the fi rst place the Linistry had purchJ?sed some equipment for use i n Finland. Th~t had to be greatly supplemented and it was supplemented throu.s,h the complete co-operJ?ti on of the many different trades i n this country concerned in the supply of the goods needed and the use i n Sccindinavi"' itself of the wi ctespread buying org1misation of the Hinistry of Supply. It vras indeed an achievement to place that ori:,anisati on i nto use a.t such short notice and an instence of the great resources of Britainrt " MINISTRY OF SUPPLY, Press Office, Adelphi, W. C. 2. 26. 4. 40. H.743. ....,26~/_..4"'-/40'------N,.,£.!-18. ....... As this script is being issued in advance it isnecessary to check , it against the broadcast at 9.20 this (Friday) evening on L!-49 or 391 metres. NOT FOR PUBLICATION .BEFORE 9.35 THIS (FRIDAY) EVBNING~ "ONCE A VJEEK" The aays are lengthening; and soon at this hour of 9.20 you will want to be out of doors. Before that time comes it might be a good thing to have another fireside talk, or what Mr. Lloyd George called the other day at CaCI'narvon a "Hearthstone and not a platform talk". I wish very much that you could actually take part in it; for I know how keen your interest is and how vividly many of you can express it. But we 'an't quite manage that yet. And this weel{ it would only be natural if somebody began by talking about the Budget.Not merely about the vast sums we are spending, for to many of us these are just immense figures that the mind can hardly take in; nor about the possible limits of the National Debtt or Deferred Savings, or things of that kind. No. Our talk, I m sure,would begin by somebody saying something direct like this:"Well, the Budget was a bit stiff, wasn't it?" It certainly was; but the remarkable thing is that many responsible people are saying that it wasn't stiff enough; it doesn't represent what our war effort ought to be. Well; you've already heard many talks on the main subject, and the necessity for a stiff Budget has been made plain. And you may think that it's stiff enough at any rate to be going on with! For we are so made that when new taxes are imposed, or old ones increased, ·we take a little time to settle down to them. When you touch whiskey, and beer, and matches, and tobacco, stmnps and telegrams, as well as other things, you arc getting near home. In this, as in all things,everything depends on the way you look at it. If you take the increased price of starnps, for example, it is natural for somebody to say "It's a pity that letters should cost mol'e, .because I want to keep up writing to the children who have been away in the country so long; and I want them to keep Wll!lti.ng to me; for I look forward to their letters as to nothing else. But 2-id each letter mounts upl" And so e·very new burden could be criticised and even condemned. But whilst this is all very natural, .as I say, I'm sure that after a moment or two's talk, some voice would bring us back to reality. I can hear that voice saying: "This war calls for sacrifices from everybody; but the sacrifices are always unequal, Equality of sacrifice is merely a phrasel Tonight, some are sacrificing their homes, their prospects, their careers; some have already sacrificed their lives". The sacrifice (if the word .£.Q!!._oe used) of a few luxuries, of comforts, nay even of necessities, seems a small thing looked at like that. It is. It is• . Onthe same day that the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the increases in taxat ion, the Admiralty issued the af'ficial account of the destroyer a.ction in Narvik Fjord. Listen to two passages; the first: "The Ship's company of H.M. S. Hardy, under the ' command of Lieutenant Commander Mansell vrere endeavouring to abandon ship under fire. This was no easy matter, as the only r-.emaining boat proved unseaworthy e.nd there were many badly wounded. Captain Warburton-Lee was lashed in a stretcher and lo~ered into the water. He was towed ashore by Mr. NgcE~g~~a ~R~ §*8¥~;~ end one bating; but he was aead when ', ·I -2 ­ The secona_ : "Sure;eon Lieutenant Hainc"'c himself woundeo., a.id what he coulcl. for the wounded., the bec,1"ing of Yvhom was very courageous. Particularly wo.s this so in the CG.Se of Able-SeP..mc.m Bailey1 vrho, ht'.lf-frcizen with colc1) rmd v.rith one hand shot off, sat for one-and-a half hours Q...11fl -~eyer__O_J:l.q_~-J11-g._rp1}1:_:f'_ec1._ 11 I think a little quiet would f all upon us c.11 then, as we thought of those brave men -Caµt&in and Able-Sesman and the whole ship's company -in the e~,rly morning of that a.ay in that lonely fjord, f nr from hor!1e and the encouregement of home, mnking their supreme sRcrifice. £-?!l9:.... AblE;...-~?_ear!!fill Bi:f;.il...~y:_ n('.l.Y.§J' once murmured. Ih the moments.ry quiet I'm sure our thoughts vrould run on for a time th:ln.1dng of the Ar my in Norvlies are constantly ws.tched to avoid waste, and a keen eye is kept on costs. This time the pl ans for the control of essential raw materials had been mo.de well in advnnce, and so the control of prices has been more effective. " We mustn't be too hard, of course, in oux· judgment, for in the stress of war no doubt t here are times when money is v-vasted; but there are expert aa.visers now, like those who l ately investigated the costs of Civil Defence, constantly reviewing all cases where waste is sus:oected 2!ld sto~9ping it once c::.nd for e.11. But of one thing you may be sure ; the :)eo~ole of this couiJ.try v7ill f ace their bu1"dens, put the~r will not tolerat e vmste nor neec..less extravs.gance. /so 3 So porho.ns tho little tc.lk nrousod by the opcnina obscrvn.tion on the Budr;ct might end by sc.ying t'1'1.t it's vvoll to remember thnt whilst tho r2ising of money by severe tnxo.tion ho.s m[l.ny objects, one of thorn is certninly to snve us .from worse evils, rrom the do.ngcrs of inflation, Qnd to preserve o.s much of our ordinary way of life as is Dossible.. And if we sn.ve o.s much as we cnn, if we lend ns mu.ch to the Sto.to ns wo co.n, c.ncl if we po.y our tuxes o.s cheerfully as we co.n -we shnll carte.inly mo.kc some contribution therfl ·to the finQl victory. Now these words "fino.l victoryn would be sure to loosen more tongues. V'Ic desire it so much tho.t we fl.re o.lvmys r.sking ourselves 11 How nro wo going on?" "Is t.hore goocl. hope tho.t we sha.11 ranch it?" There is so much th,'"'.t is difficult to follow; so much thr.t is happening a.bout which we ho.ve little nows, that we find it hnrd to know how we're progressing. Woll, there nro some solid achievements which we do lmow, nnd which a.re full of hope and encourr.gcmont; o.nd it's o. good thing to keep them well before us o.nd to remind ourselves a.bout them from time to time. There's the Mcrchcmt Nnvy, for example. That's nn inspiriting thing to think about! Now, from the very first dny of tho w~r the Merchant Nnvy hns been engagcc"'t. in the most unceasing i:md tho most dondly conflict. There's never been anything like it before for intensity and enemy savngery. Perils from submc:rines, from ro.iders, fr•om flan.ting and magnetic mines, from bombs nnd rnnchjrle guns -this ho.s been the Merchant Nc.vy's daily portion. And with whet result? After nearly eight months when all considerntions of lo.w nnd humo.nity hnve been disrege.rdcd by the enemy, the German Merchrmt Navy has literally been driven off the SOQS of the world into neutrnl ports or lcnked up in the Baltic. But this hns not saved it. Certainly, one-tenth hnB been captured, sunk, or scuttled. And in thr'.t same eight months the British Merchant No.vy, despite its frightful ordeal, has by rebuilding, capture, and purchase replaced practically all its losses, so that we have now well over 99% as much tonnage under our flag ns when we started the war. That's not only the answer to the Nazi boasting that ~hey would starve us of our food and raw material; it's not only n shining oxnmple of supreme couro.ge and endurcmcc; it's an enrnost of that "final victory" which is P.ure to come. It's a thing from which we can take heart of grnce. In this war, the Merchant No.vy is already fulfilling its vital duty; but we, nt home, have our part to play. Merchant ships are needed, ns perhaps never before, for . Fleet Auxiliaries, and to convey troops and munitions and equipment. We cannot . know with exo.ctitudo, but we know what tremendous demnnds are being mad~, for example, by the North Western Exp.editionnry Force. The materials necosso.ry to be imported for our wnP manufactures require considero.ble shipping space; and neutrnl ships bring fnr less than before. Our export trade is of supreme importance; without it we shnll fnil; and it means more ships. We. ho.ve to buy in fo.r-distant countri~s, nnd to bring the goods to our ports, and it means still more ships. Insteci.d of Denmark we have to go to New zc:aland -and ngain it means more ships. · We must economise in everything brought frorf!. overser.:.s as a sheer duty, so that ships shnll carry what is essential onJy, and shipping space be made available for the essential uuruoses of war. · " -J; /But the ·~ lj. ­ But the achievements of the Merchant Navy are laying, firmly and surely, the basis of the "final victory". That's a certainty, in an ~ncertain world; and it is a heartening thing to remember it. As the time for the talk to end came near I should have liked it to close on a further word of hope and encouragement. There can be no doubt now that after eight months the opinion of all those in the world who care for decency is with the Allies. It really couldnrt be otherwise; for lying, treachery and savagery may win fleeting victories -they cannot win confidence and respect. That's important to remember now; and it may be much more important sooner than we think. Germany is not defeated yet. The armed power of Germany created over the years is not to be spoken of lightly; it will not easily be broken; and we must be prefared for hard days and it may be for long days, before it is donea No. Germany is not defeated yet; but she is certainly discredited in the eyes of the world ( vvhether expressed or not). German savagery has shoclced the world; it has terrified small peoples who have seen it at close quarters, and it has created a world opinion which will rejoice at its final overthrow. We can be quite sure of that! In Sir Nevile Henderson's book there is one revealing sentence. Speaking with direct personal knowledge he says that he never knew Hitler to do a generous action. It confirms what many have long observed. In all his raving speeches there is no word that will long endure. There is hate in plenty. Force and Brutality and bestial revenge are glori­fied; and innate cruelty is written over all. These are the evil things; and though the evil things may endure for a season, and onjy be overthrown by the pouring out of precrious blood ancl treasure, yet they l!i]1 be overthrown. All history proclaims it; 6a'Vil shall not always triumph. So, after eight months, the Home Front was never more steadfast and resolute. There is a grim determination to see the thing through now, whatever the cost. For there can be no turning back; anCI. the hardships and the sacrifi