23/5/40 -No 1 OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY G,H.Q. The Germans have attacked the Escaut position at many places without success, except near Audenarde, where they .foreed a crossing. In the Arras sector there has been fierce fighting, and we have successfully maintained our positions on this flank of the gap between AJ:aras and Bapaume~ Through this gap the enemy have succeeded in passing armoured elements, f0Ji1owed by motorised units, which have s:ucceeded in reaching the:·neighbourhood of the coast. Steps are being taken to guard vital points against these detachments. There has been much air activity over.N•E• France, and (;7erman bomber and reconnaissance aircraft are ·boing shot down in numbers by A.A.artillery and small-arms fi~e. THE WAR OFFICE, .S,W.1 No. 3. 1J • nm TRAVELLING SERVICES FOR 1:'.'0RKMEN. The Ministry of Transport announces that in view of the appeals made by the Government for the continuous functioning of factories engaged on work of national importance the London Passenger Transport Board are making the following arrangements:: Beginning on Sunday next the 26th May additional early Sunday services will be run on road and railo On all rail and on those road services on which workmen's tickets are now issued on weekdays such tickets will be issued on Sundays within the same hours on production of an employer's certificate. Workmen's tickets will also be issued on weekdays o.nd Sundays for shift workers available on those services outside the advertised hours for workmen's tickets on nroduction of an employer's certificateo These arrangements will apply to all mechanics, artisans and labourers employed at factories engaged on work of natj_onal importance and will come into force on Sunday next~ Employers should apply immedintely to the Chief Commerc::'.u~-Managers Office, London Passenger Transport Board, 55 Broadway, London, 8.W.1. for the necessary certificate forms~ MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, Metropole Buildings, Nortr.~~berland Avenue, w.c.2. 23/5/40 No. 4­ UGANDA .AND THE DELGI.AN CONGO The following telegrams have been exchanged between Sir Philip Mitchell, Governor of Uganda, and M. Pierr.e Ryckmana, the Governor General 0f the Congo Belge:­ From the Governor of Uganda:-In this great hour when, placing their trust in God, our nations are once again fighting side by side for the faith of our fathers, f or justice and for freedom, I hasten to send Y0ur Excellency this message of admiration and respect. If there is any matter in which Uganda cen be of service to Your E:;::cellencJr we are at your disposal. From the Governor General of the Congo Belge (in reply):-I thank Your Excellency for Jrour generous message. Confident in the justice of our cause and in the strength of our allied armies we are, with God's aid, certain of victor~,r. The Congo Belge, like Uganda, i;laces the whole of its resources at the service of the common cause. ----oOo---­ MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE _._____ 5/23. 5.4-0. Press Notice NATIONAT.J SERVICE (ARMED FDRCES) ACT, 1939. BQf.,,tstratfon of_mcn on the 25+,h May, 1940. As alre9.dy officially announced, tomorrow, Saturday 25th May, is the date which has been fixed for the registration under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act of men, not already registered, born between 1st Januqry, 1912, and 25th May, 1920, both dates inclusive. Posters setting out the classes of men required to register and the times at which they should attend for registration are displayed at all Ministry of Labour and National Service Offices, Municipal Offices, Post Offices and Police Stations. The men should attend tomorrow for registration at a Local Office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service and should take w:i.th them their National R.egistration Identity Cards. Seamen and fishermen, while they may register at a Ministry of Labour and National Service Office, are asked instead to register at a Mercantile Marine Office if there is one within reasonable distance. The address of the nearest Ministry of Labour and National Service Office may be obtained on enquiry at a Post Office. Men are advised to read the posters carefUlly and to keep to the times of attendance allotted to them according to the initial letter of their surna.?Ws. The times of attendance are as follows:­ Men whose ( A to B should attend betvreen 12.30 p.m. and 1 p.m. surname ( c to E should attend between 1 pem• and 2 p.m. commence ( F to J should attend between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. vrith the ( K to 0 should attend between 3 p.m. and 4 p.ro letters -P to S should attend betvreen 4 p.m. and 5 p.m ~ T to Z should attend between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Press Office, Ministry of Labour and National Service, Monta.gu House, Whitehall, s.w.1. Telephone: Whitehall 6200. 23rd May, 194-0. · H.Q.519-520 E.J. (6i87-1'2U) Wt. '7177-7024 20,000 2/•0 T.S. 6n MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE Press Notice scm;ruLE OF R8S]ZR.VED OCCTJPATIONS. -~·--·-·-~---------·--·­ The 1'1"..inistry of Labour and National Seri.dee announces that it has been decided to rela.x tho opere.tion of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations so as to permit unemployed per sons who are normally employed in reserved occupatio:r:s, but vrho hc-.ve not been so employed for a period of not less tha."1. "b,vo calendar months and are not likely immediately to be placed in employment in their reserved occupations, to join the· Armed Forces as volunteers, or to enrol for whole-time Civil Defence work. If such a man is normally employed in an occupation for vnU.~h there is a correspondL~g Service Trade, and he is needed as a Service Tradesman, · he will be accepted for service only in the app-.copriate Service Trade. Press Office, Ministry of Labour and National Service, Whitehall, s.W.1. Telephone: Whitehall 6200. 23rd Mey, 1940. H. Q.518-520 E.J. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN N0.742. 23.. 5.40 R.A.F. CONTINUE PRESSURE. The Air Minj_ stry 2.nnmm.ce s: ­Royal Air Force bomben.. continueC: t o h&.rass _enemy columns in Northern France yesterday. Our fighters were also heavily engageL throughout the day. During the night enemy communications were heavily bombed in the Sedan area.and in Southern Belgium, whilst further attacks were made in Ger many on railways carrying military traffic towards the battlefield. 23/5/40 No.8. WAR OFFICE _i\J>JNOUNCEMENT It is officially announced that the following Officers have been appointed as Area Organisers for the Local Defence Volunteers in the Eastern Corrunand:­ General Sir Cecil Romer G.C.B., K.B.E. -Tunbridge Wells. Major-General A.M.~Iills C.B., D.S.O. -Cambridge. A&niral Sir H.J. Studholme-Brovvnrigg K.B.E., C.B., D.S.(I. -Chatham. Major-General Sir Cecil Pereira K.C.B., C.M.G-. London. WAR OFFICE, WHITEHALL, s. w. 1 •. AIR MINI STRY BULLET·m NO _7.~l BIG AIR FIGHTS ON WES'.I' l<'RONT From dawn to dusk Royal Air Poree fighter pilo·(;s yesterday (Wednesday) continued Patrol of the skies over the bat tlefields of North .!!'ranee and Bel gium,. destroying mor e Nazi bomber sp f i ghte.::··s and army eo-·ope:i-:at ioD airc'aft. At the end of the day one figi1.tcr grou-9 had shoi; dov--...n 27 enem;y. raiders • .Another 10, riddled vrith machi:::1e·-gun bti11ets 1 v;e:re proba1)Jy pu.7, OLlt of acti01...,_o During the week end the same pilots destroyed. at J_east 50 enemy aircraft. Late l ast night only six British f:~giJ.tern tsk:;:ng part :in yesterday· s air battle:ihad not returned~ 'l't1.e pilot of one of these machj_nes crasJ:-1.ed :::i1 France 1 was unhurt , and i s now sa:CGly back .-:n EnglD.:::id. There was a case of eight Ilu.rr-ic&;,1cs tackling 35 J1.'rL'k:r;r.s 8/ d·l.ve "bom':Jers r. The Hu.rnicanes were patrol ling nca:::· A:i:·::.:-as ·wher. tho;y e::-Jcounte.:-e.Ci. tr.e German bombers ~.flying at l ;i200 feet 1 ar)o~rt. ·so nakci a bonii:.i:"_ng attack_. .'\,J the Nazi raiders dived the British pil o·1;s swoopon_ down 0~1 tl;.eir tails" S:i_x of -·.:ne bombers were definitely destroyed_, ·while throe moc-e were so badJ.y damaged that they were unlikely t o reach theJ.r base. During tlrls battle one of the Br:..t:i_::;h p:1-lots lcs t to11ch w:l..th tile remainder of the squadrono vrni:i_e ::10.kj_ng hi::; vro..31 hon;e .'.llone he ·was atto.chJd by nine German Messerschmitt 109. :'1g1J.tcrs.. '.i.'wictj_ng and t·ic:J.ing, the Hurricane pilot escaped into the clov~L "yu.t as no CE.'Jne out at arcothor po.i~·it he found himself close to n. German fightc::::-., Ai; poin-i;- -b:i.ank r::u"'lg<; he fired a burst from his eight machine--g1.m3, "That oppon.;mt :iintJi'Jdiat el y di::3appe2.red f:t'::Jrn t:he fight", rcpor-tecl thd pilot on reaching home safely aft0r eluding the~ other eisht Nazi fighters~ Six Hurricanes attacked 20 Mcssc:::::·sc:1mitt 109 1 ::; 0'1er Ifa-o.eo:rouck and shot down t wo. In spite of the heavy odds agai.nsi, t!1em U1e BJ:·itis)1 p:.lots ca-ne out of t~ic b attle unhurt. Over St. Omer an::rtJ:1.e:r"·:8n ilurric,u12s at,cadwd :15 Messerschmi tt 109 1s,. destroyfung four and probably CFlOJd:i.er ·i:vro,, Eleven Hurricanes pat r ol L1.ng n0a~: Haze1rrouck came upon 2L~ Junkers 87 's bombing roads and r ai lY;ay stations< In the clog-fight, that follr.-.,,_,d the British pi l ots shot dowi'--::our "bombers and, thoy ·beli eve , another three, Another fighter patroJ_ engaged_ a numbe.c of Ger.man H·..mschel 126 army co-oper a tion aircraft. The British pilots shot dovrn six. and a sevent h ; fo.cccd t o l and, was machine-gunned on t.llc grovDc> Three German Heinkol. 111 1 s borr!bers vrere shot down ove:;_~ Norther n F':ran .~:: b;w a squadron of Blenheim lone·-r ange figh~~e?'.'s,. A fourth bomber was danaged.o· 23/5/40 No. 10 PRESS NOTICE The Belgian Embassy in London state: "The German wireless: f'ollov•ring their usual campaign of lies9 has announced that M. Pier.lot, the present Prime Minister 9 and General Denis 9 the Minister of National Defence, have been shot by the Belgians. We are able to state that they are in perfect health and greatly enjoyed the news when they heard it on the wireless." MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 23/5/40 No. 11. MEMBERS OF RESERVE FORCES AND LOCAL DEFENCE FORCE The War Office announces that members of all the Reserve Forces not already called up for service, as well as individuals who have registered for the Army Officers' Emergency Reserve, are eligible for enrolment in the Local Defence Volunteer Force. THE WAR OFFICE, LONDON 2 S. W. 1. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE HORNING NENSPAPERS OF .?;}"f:.hJlAL.... .l~!±Q...z.~QE_,BR.QL~.:cST ~Ji?QRE 7 A.I!IL .ON .THf\.T DATE __.;_...;_,.. WAR OFFICE CASUALTY LIST No. 5 The Army Council regret to announce the following casualties. The next-of kin have already been notified. OFFICERS KILLED COMt·IANDS AND STA..'rilF PERKIJJS, Col. .AE. F. Q. , M. C. 4814 THE CHESHIRE REGIM.Zt·n BARRETT, 2nd/Lt. D. 75689 ~iiOUNDED MORTON, Capt. J. .32730 ROYAI. CORPS OF' SIGNALS DAUAS, Lieut. J. 94582 ?RISOW.GR OF ·rrAR THE LEICESTERSHIHE REC­D;IENT MUSSON, 2nd/Lt. W.R. 73687 THE KilifG 1 S O\l\'.fN YORKSHIRC LIGHT Th'FANTRY FLAXHAN, 2nd/Lt. S.A. 103020 .!!!1LR41.'tLQ.FFICERS, N. C. 0 s. AND MEN KILlu~ CORPS Q,F ROYAL ENG~RS MARGERRlSON, L/Cpl. G. THE SOUTH WALES BORDE."ill.'IB BRIGGS, J. SJ1.1PKIN$, s. !!f§.)UDDI.ESEX REGIMENT (DUKE 01!1 CM:!J3RI:cGE' S m\1li) FRGST, P.S. LI. c. w. THE YORK AND lJ:..NCAS':Q.IB..J:'@lI~ CROOKS, Pte, A. 2. DIED OF WOUNDS CORPS OF ROYAL :1\JGINEERS LUKE, ?AYTON , THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGINENT L/Cpl. Spr. A. A. E. SihPSON, Pte. J. ifGUND:cl:l ROY.AL CORPS OF SIGNALS CHA.Thf/,N THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGI MENT Sigmn. D. Gh..HTNB.IGHT, RO'.:lLH!SON, STEVENSON , L/Cpl. :?. S. M. ?te. N •. L. C,J, A. E. THE SOUTH \~TALES BO"WERf~RS FORD, 'NOOUXARD , Pte. Pte. J. N. THE BLACK ~·{;~TCH ( HOY;1.L HIGHL!:J'.ID REGTIIIEJ{T) MIINE , Pte. THE KING'S ow·N YO:::IB:SHIRE LIGHT I NV. .NTRY..-HINCHCLIFFE, Pte. LINTON, Pte. 1'1ELI1~, Pte. NOAKES, Pte. REID, ?te. SKERRITT , L/Cpl. THE YOm<:·,:~.o IJ\.NCASTE..R. REGili~T R. s. R.B. A~ D. T. F. BENSON, , JOIL!SON , Pte, L/Cpl. MISSING H. C.F. THE LINCOLNSHIRB REGIMENT BARNES , BINDERMA~,L BRITTON, BURTON, H.f\NDFORD , JACKSON , EAPLETHORPE , PATRICK, ST.ANDL!.ND , THOM.AS, TOYN:S , VABJ.J:Fi , WILSON, WINNING , \iifYNN , Pte. . Cpl. Cpl. Pte. Pte. ?te. ?te. Pte. Ptc. Pte. ?te. L/Cpl. Pte. Pte. Pte. N.i-'\. . T. G. W. C.H. w. c. F. c. J, T. :If• G."{t. A. E. 'N. ·:.~{ . i\. , R.i•• Y. E. 3. lHSSING (Contd.) '.rRE LEICJ~ST::111SEIP3 n~nD.:J.lfi' il.1'3BOT'l' , ?cG. .t-I, J..)• lJlBOTT , Pte. J. /i.SHURST , Pte. J. T • B/JCER, .i?te. c. BA,'1'I'RGL, L:>tG. 2.v. -·:i. J3l•.RTRAi'.f, ?te. .• .1. • BATES, Cpl. F.H. BEA.VON, i:'tG, J. L. BILLlt\fG, Sjt. G. BLOW, Pte, c. BO\f1jS, :.?tG, H. BOYALL, Pte, F. B:OJillLEY, L/Cpl. 1;-f ". BROWN , Pte. R. BU?iFORD, ?te. C.H. BUTT, Pte. L. G. CLARKE, Cpl. S. ~~r• CLIFTON, Pte. R. COLLINS, Pte. .!.' • "' COuPJ!:R, Pte. J. R. CO?SON, ?te. r.J. CORT, ?te, H,E. CRAM? , Sjt, J. ··:­DAIBY, Pte. ~{. DJ;AKIN' Pte. A. E. DUNKlliY, A/L/Cpl. B. c. FARNS-:10J.TH, Pte. A, FR.hNCIS, Pte. G. J. FREAKLEY, Sjt. s. FROST , Pte. A.G. GA.mi.C~'{ , Pte. H.~. GRANT, Pte. G. T. GRE'# , ? te. J.H. HACK, Pte. C,B. HANDY, Pte. H. · llii.RV:3Y ' C,fi.E. R. HEALEY, :C?te, J.A. HEWITT, ?te. E.E. HUBBARD L/Opl, A.JZ. HUEPHREYS, Pte. K. ILIFFE , :Pte. A. I~. JOBBINS, Pte, T. I-I. !:!ILLER, ? te. B.C. NE1·J..ITON , Pte. w. ROE, J?te. J. ....-; I" STAl.~l"ORD, ?te. .L' ' .:..:.. , TURTON, .2te. J. -ivADE, ?te. T. THE GP~"'Ei'l" HO-.\'A;'IDS (ii.L:::;YJli\1DRJ.i., ?RINC:CSS OF W:i'iLES' S 01.r/N YOPJC3EIP..i REGD1LCNT) ; ALLPORT, ?te. 1;.. --r BLAKE, Cpl. " . COAD, Pte. A. CJOK, Sjt. S.H. FARM.KR, L/Cpl. E.H. 4. HISSING (Contd. ) THE GREEN HOWARDS (lu.EXJ..N.DRJJ.,11UNCESS or WALES'S, OUN YORKSHIRE REGIMENT}(Contd~ FORSYTH, Pte. J. GRAHAlllI, C.S.l,i. F. HACI\ETT, Pte. J.s. HERRON, Pte. I. INGLIS, I/Cpl. J. KELLERT, Sjt. T. KELLY, Pte. T. LAlvlBERT, Pte. F. LEACH, I/Cpl. c. McMANUS, Pte. w. MALLON, Pte. A. MALONEY, Pte. J.. REDSHAW, Pte. G. ROBINSON, Pte. A. WALSH, Pte. IvI. WARD, Pte. H. WARNABY, Pte. E. WYATT, I/Cpl. T. THE SHERl700D FORESTERS (NOTTINGHAlviSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE REGll:lENT). ABBOTTS, Pte. A. ADLAM, Pte. G.A. BARTHORPE, Pte. s. BELL, Pte. A. BRAILSFORD, Pte. c. BROWN, Pte. H. BRYAN, Pte. J. DARCY, Dmr. s. GILBERT, Pte. H. HALLINGTON, Pte. J.J. HOWELLS, Pte. T.E. HURLEY, Pte. A.G. JACKSON, Pte. T. RADFORD, Pte. J. SHAW, Pte. A. SLATE, Pto. G. TAYLOR, P/r/Cpl. A. TOMLINSON, Pte. H. WESTON, Pte. J. THE KING'S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY. ADAMSON, Cpl. L. ADDISON, Pte. J. BAILEY, Pte. J. BENNETT, Pte. L. BETT.ANY, Pte. A. GAVAGH.AN, Pte. T. GILL, Cpl. A. HOLMES, Pte. F. HORTON, Pte. A. JARRETT, Pte. H. NORTHFIELD, Pte. J. PACEY, Pte. c. PERRJN, Pte. G.B. PICKERSGILL, Pte. w. TIPPING, Pte. G-. TRAFFORD, Pte. H. W.ALB.ANK, Pte. M.L. WATKIN, Pte. H. WIDRINGTON, Pte. J. YESSON, L/Cpl. E. 5. , MISSING (,Cont4:. ).. THE YOPlC ii.HD LANCASTER HEGOONT. 1ill101'i'D Pte. J.W. BANH Pte. E•. ·• BEDWELL Pte. w.s. BURKE Pte. J. BUTLER Cpl. T. DE.AKIN Pte. A. DEHTON Pte, J. FOP..D L/Cpl. A. GABRIEL Pte. J. i1:1. GILSON Pte. J.A. GLOVER Pte. A. GUNNING Pte. F. Jti.GUE Pte. A. HAGUE Pte. H. HEZZELL L/Cpl. F. HIBHbRD Pte. G. HOULDEN Pte. H. W. KEEN Pte. E. KEP.SHAW Pte, L. KEY Sjt. w. 1J:cCLUSKY Pte. J•.H. IfoDONALD Pte. J.K. MACKNEY L/Opl. w. MOORHOUSE Pte. L. W. NAYLOR Pte. H. OGDEN Pte. H. PEDLEY p ·ce. J.H. PITTS Pte. J. POTTAR Pte. D. SlVJ:TH L/Cpl. J.V. SNELL Pte. F.A. STAHIFORTtl Pte, L. SYI'\ES Pte. G.W. TROUT Pte. R. TUP.NER Cpl. G.E. WAGSTAFF Sjt. A. ROYAL Ii.RlllY ORDNANCE CORPS. WEBSELL Pte. v.s. PHEVIOUSLY REroRTED WOUNDED NOW REPORTED :MISSING. TEE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT. CUTLER Pte. E.E. THE NORTH SOMERSL'T YEOHANRY. WITHEHS Tpr. D. DIED ( Cont.d. ). ROYi\L 1\RHOURE.D COP.PS, (YEO:t/iJ\i'RY). TOLLER Cpl. L.I. ROY.AL REGHiliJ.\JT OF ARTIT.I.?.RY. BENNETT Gnr. W.A. COLEi\'JU\f Gnr. J.1.f. DUiiiBLETON Bdr. A.E. R1\RRJ:SON Gnr. D. W. HOPKIN G:nr. G. HUGHES Gru~. S.T. KOPPEL Gnr. L. LAWLER SJJ:;. G. RAVVLINGS Bdr. E. SULLIVAN L/Bdr. S.H. WILSON L/Bdr. R.O. CORPS OF ROYJ\L ENGINEEHS. BROYVN L/Cpl. H.A. HARTWELL Spi~. D. HORSBURGH Spr. J.B. STEPHENS c.s.M. T.H. THIGGLE Spr. A. WORRALL Spr. H. THE ROYAL SCO'.I'S ( Tili~ HOY1\L REGD.iENT) • . BICK L/Cpl. D. THE ROYAL YU~RWICKSHIRE REGIMENT. BAILEY Pte. A. ROWLEY Sjt. H.T. THE ROY1\L FUSJLIERS (CITY OF LONDON REGIHEN:r 2. . ' BLACKMAN Fus. W.T.S. THE DEVONSHIHE REGIEENT. GIBBS Pte. P. Kl'<'EEBONE Pte. D.H. THE SUFFOLK REGHIENT. LINDSEY Cpl. L. THE EAST YORKSHJJt]LJ>~Qil;s;NT (THE DillIB OF YORK 1S OWN. ) HILL Pte. H. THE LAl'ifCASHIRE FUSILI:2RS" LESLIE F'us. w. THE CHESHIRE IGGLV.Bl\JT HODGKINSON Pte. G.T. 7. DIED (Cont~.). THE EAST SURREY RCGD.·iENi'. CORPES Pte. W.G. ROY.AL ARi:lY SERVICE OORPS. DUNN Dvr. F. FIRTH Dvr. H. ROBINSON Dvr. G. ROY.AL ARlvlY MEDIC.AL CORPS, THEOBALD Pte. G.T. ROYilL Jl..Rl:IY ORDNANCE CORPS. · :MEAD Pte. J.D. POVEY, Pte. H. AUXILIARY TERHITORI.AL SERVICE. KEITH Vol. D. LINLEY S/Ldr. w. The prescmt Ration Books will remain in use until 7th Julyo Before ~hen new Ration Books have to be issued to everyone 9 that is to more than f 1rty·-five million people. 1110 ensure that the i ssue proceeds smoothly it is essenti al that everyone should follow the instr•v.c tions carefullyo The first step i s to fill up the application card. 1 which is included in the present Ra tion Book, as follmvs :­ r:r:ur:.. ~. to the l ast page but one of your Ration Book. It is headed 11 Re fercmce Lea:fil~ In trhe bottom left-hand corner print clearl:-;1 your Natj_onal Registration num1Jer 9 which you rp.11 find on you.:-:' Iden.ti t~v Card,, In ·t.:rie top hsl f of the Refer ence J1oa:f there are spaces fo;r the s1:cr'n&rn.:::1 and. chr::.st ian name of the mvner of the Book, and his O:' her• 9.clo.ress When the Book was first issuedo You must Yvri te these po~r~{.'.rc:l·J:~L ars~~ii~cr;~-;_.;:r~::LCiy--Tn"bio-ckle=tte"rSa If you have aJ.reaO.y f'J.11ed up these spaces, do not alte1" what you have ·1vritte:n,1 In ·Ghe ~:owe1• half of the page 9 heacl.ed ;r Application for Nell Ra?ton Boe~~. 7_you 2T:ust fj.J_J i1;,your normal signature anc. Jfres~E.Ji.. "ad.?.£!2.~2. mm. Ct...'...S 1J the a_a te.; \ J_f you are moving before 24 ch ,Tt..mc 9 i.nsert yo1rr,· E~~ ad.dresso ) l\loc:v turn the card over and i nssrt the addr crns of your' present Foo:l CJff:Lceo ( :'."f you are movj_ng befor;; the 24th June, i nsert t he ad.o.ress of your new Food Offic eo ) ri'hen detach the card and post i-S vvi thout a_e ]_8.y 1n. t:r1e llearest p:t1.·1a1~-..~0.~K.o Ch'.lcl:"..'e:n. under 1::;o If you have the caPe of a chil.d under 13 you-s·11cXl'icC 0srgn---:E}1e" child7 s application card and add the date of birth in the space pro~rided.o BoarcUng Sc.hoo)..s_.; A:ppJ..j_cat ions f or childI'en at boarding schooTs ~sh.'3~~1:Gr'S'i.:t~:fS."lJ.c:l up at the school, givi ng the school add:::iess, and. should be posted to the schoo:L1 s Food Office., TI'.?.-~Y~~lJ~J.~Ff~ If you hold. a Traveller's Ration Book, insert as you.:i:·· acldrcs2. a place where you can b e certain of collecti ng your rat:i.on "book when .: ssued, Address the card to the Pood Office n2med on the cover of your Ration Book~ Vlee"r)v Sr'arn,·,n If you hold a v1reekly Seaman's Ration Book$ you s'fi:of3::f~.r-t:~ke5::tt to the nearest local Food Office f or r e:n.ewaL On Holid?tY:: ~i=f you are on holid..ay when you fill up the carCi.~yo1:t"sl1~ould j_nsert you.i"' h on18 addresr; and the address of your home Food Offi~e~ MI J\IISTRY OF FOO:J ,._._... ~,. -~~...~·~ . .,. .._..,,.,.. ..,, ,,..:._-.~ -c· ::: .......,,­ For the information of the Press. Driving Licenqe Reminders o .... Attention is drawn to the attached copy of a Question and Answer ~n the House of Commons today about the discontinuance of the arrangements under which drivers of motor vehicles are reminded by Licensing Authorities of the date of expiry of their driving licences. The Minister feels sure that motorists will readily co-operate in this matter by making a special note of the date on which their present driving licences expire, and applying for a new licence at least a week before it is required. Application for a new licence may be made and dealt with at any time within two months before the date from which the licence is to run. Application forms can be obtained at all main Post Offices. Ministry of Transport, Metropole Buildings, Northumberland Avenue, w.c.2. 23rd May, 1940. (4140) For Wednesqay, 22nd May, 1940. Answered on Thurs:day, 23rd May, 1940. 1, Mr. Lathan (Sheffield Park -La.) 9 -To ask the Minister of Transport, whether he has considered representations from certain l.ocal authorities asking, in present circumstances, to be relieved of the expenditure of labour, paper and postage involved in issuing driving-licence reminders; ~nd what action he proposes to take. ANSWERED BY SIR JOHN REITH. Yes, Sir. I recognise that the driving licence reminders have been appreciated by many, but in view of the paramount need of economy in present circumstances I see no justifiable alternative to reverting to the position wl1ich ebtained before 19379 and am instructing l9cal authorities f' accordingly. MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE Press Notice The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces:­ 1. The ages of reservation of the following occupations have been 2. The following new entries have been made in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations:- lowered as shevm below: ­ 9ccu1J~'!:_~on. Previous age. New age. CollieRoail :sy_ Worker ((Jnqerground) ina.~ and Haula_£~_mall}. (exc luding; Gobber, pack waller, packer, stower, cogger, cogman 25 18 Rope, twi~~.S net m?-2l_Ufac~ur~ . Foreman, charge hand, Ro2)e maker, i;olisher Net maker, net roper, net fitter Splicer Lir.e and tvvine maker overlonet rigger, oker 30 30 30 30 30 25 25 25 25 25 Welder, burner, cutt~<::.E. Chain welder (electric resistance) 23 18 Occupati~~· Age. Co!liery Worker (U!J.d~rg:r::_q,:una]_( excluding Roadman and Eaulag~ man). Ripper's, brusher's, stoneman's, ca.ncbman1s, kenchma.n's assistant 18 Timberman's, roof'ma.n's, re1)airer's assistar1t 18 Galvaniser, Tin.ner. Fc·reman, charge hand (sherardizing) 25 Inspector (sherarclizing) 25 fa.nchor, Chain (not Roller Link) maker. Link threader 18 Social Service Worker (whole ~-im~alar_:~:..~.9). Insvector (Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) 35 3. These amendments are not retrospective in their effect, that is they do not involve the release of men now in the Forces or of men who have already received enlisunent notices. Press 0 ff:Lce, Ministry of Labour and National Service, Montagu Hou,'='e, Whitehall, s.w.1. !_~1:~~0_?..~~-Vl~i~all 6200. 23rd lvia_y 1940. (5367-1429r·-wt.'t711'1-~-mi;mJO 2/40 'l'.S. 677 23/5/lf:O · - No.-~19 · PRESS NOTICE The Ministry of Food requests the following important correction to Issue No. 16 of to-day~s date. . . The last sentence of the third paragraph should . read: "In the bottom left hand corner print clearly your National Registration letters and ,;;umber, etc. , 11 MINISTRY OF. FOOD, 2,,3/5/40 -NO; 2 O. NEWFOUNDLANDERS FOR. THE MEECH.ANT N.A.VX• The first party of Newfoundland seamen and fishermen, who will serve as deok-hends in the Merchant Navy, will arrive in this country in the near future, These hardy seafarers have been recruited under a scheme arranged by the Ministry of Shipping with the Government of' Newfoundland. Men recruited for this service undertake to serve in British ships for the duration of the war, Afterwards theywill be repatriated at Governraent expense. on arrival at this country they will be aocommodated at a sailors• home or similar institution at the expense of the Ministry of Shipping until their first engagement, MINISTRY.OF SHIPPING, 23/5/40 -No.24. MINtSTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEIVIEN:t> Mr. R.S. Hudson, the new Minister of .Agriculture and Fisheries, has specially asked Mr. Cedric DrewejM.P., it' he would continue to act as Parliamentary Private Secretary so that his experience in connection with the rood production campaign may still be available. In view of the seriousness of the present situation Mr.. Dl:'eweha.s agreed to accept this appointment. 23/5/40 No. 25. M._Ifil_STRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT. UNIVERSITY HARVESTING SCHEME. A scheme has been prepared by the Ministry of .Agriculture and Fisheries to encourage students at Universit ies ahd Colleges to undertake agricultural work during the Summer Vacationo Recruiting bureaux have been set up at the principal Universities, where ful.l particulars of the eoheme and application forms may be obtained. Applicants may choose the county where they would like to work; farmers who need them should apply to their County War .Agricultural Executive Cormnittees; and the parties will be put in touch with one another through the medium of those Committees. Volunteers will receive at least the appropriate minimum wage rates fixed by the local Agricultural Wages Committee, Any farmer wishing to employ students under this arrangement should apply to his County Committee as promptly as possible, giving full particulars of the number of men required, the accommodation available, and other particulars likely to be of assistance to the Committee in selecting applicants likely to meet his needs. Thls particular scheme is intended for men only, but the Minister also appeals to women students who are willing to spend four weeks or more on the land to join the Women's Land Anny Auxiliary Force, particulars of which may be obtained from the local County Secretary of the Women's Land Army or from the Headquarters at Balcombe Place, Balcombe, Sussex. 23/5/40 -No, 26.; MINISTRY" OF FOOD A°t'Il~OUNCEMENT CONTROL OF CHEE.SE PRICES The Minister of Food has made an Order -The Cheese (Mru::imum Prices) Order 1940 -which comes into force on the 27th May, 1940 prescribing maximum prices for cheese. The maxirrrum retail prices of the principai varieties are as follows:­ Home Produced Farmhouse. . Cheddar and Dunlop 1/4d per lb, Cheshire and Lancashire 1/3d per lb. Home Produced Cr~amerx Cheddar, Cheshire, I Lancashire; CaerphillyWhite Wensleydale, l/2d per lb. White Stilton and Dunlop Canadian (manufactured in the year 1940l, Australian, New Zealand, South African, 1/-per lb. Irish . The Order does not apply to ~ome-produced cheese manufactured prior to 1st January, 1940 • .. ~JlO -No.2~. The Ministry ot .Trens1Jort announces that in adcti tion to the lJrovision of workmen~ trains du1"ing the weekend., the railways will o.lso make such arrangements as are necessary; to in·ovide for the convey1.:mce of such goods traffic to and from the f actories e.s essential to enable work to proceed uninterruptedly. Factory managements should notify local railway officials in advance of their requirements in this respect. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN No.743. 23/5/40 -No.,29 RAID WARNING. The Air Ministry announces: ­An air rai'd warning was sounied in East Kent early this evening. AIR .AFFAIRS.• 23/5/40 -No.30. (War Office not to be guoted). It was learned in London today that a small British force operating in the :Mosjeon area of Norway recently engo.ged greatly superior enemy forces, killed 70 Germo.ns and withdrew with the loss. of only one man killed. These operations, which took place in extremely difficult terrain, provide an outsto.nding exaraplc of successful guerilla tactics. MILITARY .AFF.AIRS. 23/5/40 No. 31. FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST Leading members of the British Union of Fascists were arrested today by direction of the Home Secretary. As announced in the H0 use of Commons this afternoon, Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations was amended last nightby the addition of a provision enabling the Home Secretary to Order the detention of members of organisations which have had associations with the enemy or are subject to foreign influence or control and which may be used for purposes prejudicial to the national security. Under the new powers conferred by the amended Regulation,the Home Secretary made orders last night for the detention of a number of the leading members of the British Union of Fascists. Among tho~e arrested during the course of the day, in pursuance of these orders, were Sir Oswald Mosley, A. Raven Thomson, N. Francis-Hawkins, F.E. Burdett, Captain U.A. Hick, C.F. Watts, H. McKechnie, G. Bruning and Mrs. Dacre-Fox. In a statement in the House of Comrnons today, Sir John Anderson made it clear that this action had been taken, not on account of any opinions held or expressed by the British Union of Fascists nor on account of their propagandist activities, but because of the danger that the organisation might be used in the execution of acts prejudicial to the security of the State. Other persons arrested today under Regulation 18B -but not connected with the arrest of members of the British Union of Fascists -included Captain A.M. Ramsay, M.P., President of the Right Club, and John Beckett, Secretary of the British People's Party.. · HOME OFFICE AIR MINISTRY BUL1)~_'.t1N Il.Q._"]1.1.4 . 23/-2l_40 -N0.32. Tanks, armoured vehicles and troop concen.tro.tions forming the v2nguard of the enemy ¥ s advance tovmrds the French channel ports were again heavily bombed yesterda2.-by strong 1'orces of Blen11eim aircra:t1t. For moI'e than six hour•s, until the gathering dusk made recognition of 0roo1) movemeYits im1x)ssible 1 relays of aircraft ke:ot up 211 almost eond.:nuous assm1=:_t vd th bombs and machine·-gm1s ~ causing dmaage a.nd confusion over a wide area. Among the fir•st targets successfully attacked in the afternoon was a coli...1rn.n of loPries and armoured fighting vehicles caught on the move . DirecJc hi.ts on the lor•rJ.es v.re:."'e secured by six Blenheims, attacking individuo.lly in quick suuees;:;i.o!l. 9 and "bombs were seen to burst on the i-•oo.d amongst the coJ.urn:1. over n distance of 600 yards. As each aircraft approached to borrib it was si...ibjected t o a barrage of well-nimed pom·-pom fire from about 30 gu::1s which formeo. a part of the colu.m:n. Hav:i.ng released t heir bombs :r the Blenheims then turned their atte:ntion to the gun crews 9 attacking them with machine-gun fire o .Another force of Blenheims~ co.rryj_ng out an offensive patrol in formation, 1Jr'oke :f'or•mation to deij_ver ind:i.v:i.duo.l attncks on a number of taI•gets " One aircJ:af't registered a direct hit on a group of army lorries, anotl1eI' m:tssj_:ng a group of vehicles 'by such a narrow marg:i.n that damage from ·ooml:J .s .(111.r.1.te~"'s was almost certainly caused, whilst three more o.j_reraft obtaii::.ec. hi ts on supply lorries on a road and on several tanks stanrlJ.ng in an adjoining fieldo Along another r·oad c~~.ose'l.y :::iacked 00Jxumi.s of lorl"ies and armourec~ cars were s ee:n ·L1•ave1'U.:r:i.g 3.t about 40 miles an hour and a successful attack was made on a co:ncentrc:ttion of 15 to 20 tanks bunched together' just off the ma in road, Later arrive.ls intmi s area found lorries and car's, hit by earlj_er l)ombing attccks, b:Lazing by the road side and came una.er heo.vy fire from machine-guns which had been set up on tripod mountings along the main roads. Other 1'lom'bers attacking rn.ain roads secured direct hits on an important road ju:c;.ct:Lon o.Ed on th~ '1C'_!'.'7;hsr·n end of 8.11 i.mportnnt bridgeo Shortly after 9 o :clock in the evening 9 u.."'1.der a darkening sk~r, a fina.l sortie was made against the hendquarters of the enemy's armoured division1 by o. :force of Ble:nheims s1Jecially detailed for the task., Close on 100 high explosive bom'bs were a.rapped. in the course of this ooncentr·ated attack and most of the bom"bs were seen to explode well wi th:i.n t h G target a~"ea . •.J3/5/4.0 -NO: 33. RAIDERS PASSE)lh_ The Air Ministry announces: The "raiders passed" signal was sounded im East Kent about three quarters of an hour a~er the air raid warning was given. AIR AFFAlRS • • INTENSE .AERIAL ACTIVITY. The Air Ministry announces: All day yesterday, Blenheim, Battle and Lysander aircraft continue to harass enemy movements in the fighting areas in the north-east of France and in Belgium. Enemy tank ~olumns and motorise~ units were attacked anp. many hits made on them, Concentrations of troops were repeatedly bombed and machine­gunned and thrown into disorder. Five of our airmen failed to return. Last night, a strong force of heavy and medium bomber aircraft went ,out to attack objectives behind the fighting front. In southern Belgium and the Meuse sector, much damage was done to road and rail junctions. ·The railway junction at Charleroi was aamaged. Bridges in the Namur region sustained direct hits. Troop concentrations were heavily bombed in the area north of Aisne. Other large formations of heavy bombers penetrated into Germany where they seriously interfered with the enemy's lines of communication. At B±nche, railway bridges and sidings were hit. At Geldern, two supply trains were bombed. They exploded and caught fire. North of Aachen, two other goods trains were hit. Returning from these raids one aircraft saved his last bomb for a direct hit on the runway of the Hague aerodrome, . .Another airoraft penetrated into Germany as rar east as Leipzig and bombed an important powe~ station near Retha. From these extensive night operations, all our aircraft returned.• Fighter aircraft were also extremely active in yesterday'soperations, carrying out continual sorties over the battle fronts. They had another successful day. In the course of many encounters, over forty enemy aircraft were destroyed or seriously damaged. Six of our fighters are missing. Onerations have been continued throughout today with undiminshed intensity. PRESS NOTICE. ~ar Risks Insurance Ac~, 1939 (rart II2. commodity Insurance Scheme. An Order-in-council amending the VJar Risks Insurance Act, 1939, was made yesterday evening by virtue of the powers conferred by the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940. The Order comes into operation to-day, and its principal effect is to make insurable under Part II af' the Act goods ·/1hich are su-pplied under contracts for work, labour and materials. On and after 3rd June next, the insurance of such goods will be compulsory and prior to that date it will be voluntary. · Goods of any description excluded from insurance under Part II of the Act by virtue of an Order made under Sect ion 11(4) of the Act remain uninsurable. Applications for insurance should be made to the Fire Insurance Con~anies or to Lloyd's who are acting as the Agents of the Board of Trade for this purpose. Board of Trade, 23rd May, 1940. NOTES FOR GUIDANCE OF PRESS. Part II of the War Risks Insurance Act at present applies only to goods which are owned by persons carrying on business as sellers of goods in the course of such business. The Board of Trade have been advised that the Act does not apply to goods which are supplied under contracts of work, labour and materials, and the effect of the new ~rovision is to bring the two clas$eS into line for purposes of war risk insurance. Certain descriptions of goods have been declared to be uninsurable uncler the provisions of Sect ion 11(4) of the Act. Such goods include certain descriptions of iron and steel, bricks and tiles, etc. The position of such goods is not affected and they will remain uninsu:eable whatever the contract under which they are sold or supplied.• PRESS NOTICE. The President of the Board of Trade has decided to establish a Register of debts and other moneys due to persons in the United Kingdom from enemies. It is emphasised that this step is being taken solely with a view to facilitate any settlement that may be found nossible after the war and must be regarded as without prejudice to the scope or method of any such settlement. The entry in the Register of any claim will not imply any recognition of its validity nor constitute any guarantee that it will eventually be met. Persons desirous of registering such debts with the Board of Trade should apply for the necessary forms to the Assistant Secretary for Finance /1 Board of Traa_e, Romney House, Mar sham Street, idestminst er, s. VJ. l. Debts which are insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department either for insolvency or for transfer risk should be registered by the British Export er even though the claim under the policy has been met by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. Such registration will be made on a special form, and insured exporters should accordingly apply for Form E.D. 2. For the purpose Of this Register, the expression 11 enemy" . means:­ (a) any State, or sovereign of a State, at war with His Majesty, (b) any individual resident in enemy territory, or ( c) any body of persons constituted or incorporated in, or under the laws of, a State at war with His Majesty, and the expression "enemy territory" includes areas in the occupation of a Power with whom His Majesty is at war, not being an area in the occupation of His Majesty or of a Power allied with His Majesty. Board of Trade, 23rd !vlay, 1940. .I.IR HINISTRY BULLETIN No.745. 23/5/40 • No.37• Air Ministry News Service. (Not to be published in D.l\Y country before 9.30 p.m.B.S.T. tonight, May 23rd, 1940). OUR OOMBER LOSSES HADE UP. Air Marshal Joubert de lo. Ferte, a member of the Air Staff at the Air Ministry, broadcasting tonight, · said the great lesson of the attack on Holland was that we should be prepared. against surprise attacks by troops parachuted ond landed in troqp-caITying ~ircraft. In Holland, the Germans used up those aircraft and. crews in n lavish way. So long as the soldiers could be landed successfully the Gennans apparently did not en.re who.t happened nfterward.s. The losses to these troop co.rriers were very heavy, not only from o.ir attack and by sea boiribardment as they lay on the Dutch beaches, but from crashes due to landing. The Dutch fought most gallantly, but they were prevented from making successful resistance by the s~vift and heayy blov1 deo.l t ci. t the heo.rt of their country, ruld 'i'Ta eouJl.d. oot go. . to hellp theti unt:U they n.skod for our o.ssistnncc. The Allied line co.st of Brussels was threatened by events in Holland. The allied Air Forces did their utmost to stop the German thrust and mo.de nest det ermined nnd go.llo.nt attacks which :r.mdc possible the orderly w:i.thdr~wal of the French anc1 Belgian forces. ':1his movcnent townrds the French frontier, which wo.s still going on, hc..d been supported in every wo.y by the Allied Air Forces. Indeed, the Br.lall Belgian Air Force hn.d shmvn prodigious courage of which he gnve one insto.nee. "A Belgio.n Mnjor vm.s to.king off fror,1 his aerodror.ie when he was o.ttacked by o. Gemo.n fighter nnd very s erious dru:i.age was inflicted on :\lis aircraft. It wns obvious thut the crash was only a question of seconds, so without a moraent' s hesitation he s'vung his aircraft straight nt the German fighter and collided with it. . "A tangled mass of iivrecko.ge fell to the ground. Out of it alone stepped the Belgian Major, limping frot1 a sprained o.nkle." The withdravml in Belgium was not forced on the Allies by the Gern1an Troops pefore them. The :F'rench light tank f orces had most successfully fought with the heavy ~erman mechnnised columns, o.ni vn1cnever encounter wo.s lnL1.de, the Ger:1m..ns got the worst of it. (more 2 Unfortunateiy the situation in the South had become 1110re threatening~. A riveP front, believed to be very strong, wa:s penetrated by the German forces. The effect on the Allied front in Belgium of this penetration had been to accelerate the rate of withdrawal and forced. us to attempt to :Per:roPm. that most difficult of evolutions -a flank march in the face of the enemy. Speaking of the effect of tha Air Force's attacks on enemy communications, Air Marshal Joubert de la Ferte said prieoner·s captured within the last two days were very exhausted and had beenth1.,e.s days without food owing to the dislocation of their supply system. That the situation was most serious none could deny. The history of the last twelve days in the air, however, was one of small, highly trained and. coti.rageous forces taking on, with the utmost enthusiasm, inunense masses of the enemy, both in the air and on the ground. Whenever the RoAoFo met the Germans in fair fight 1 that was to ~ay!I one British aeroplane to three, or four Germans, the victoPy had. been on our side. We had been rather obsessea by GePmany•s industrial power and her ability to turn out an immense number of aircraft-:­What neither she nor any other nation could do was to go on producing trained crews at the rate at which they had been lost by her in the recent fightingc Our bomber losses had. been suc;cessfully made up, and although we had lost a number of fighter aircraft, the losses in trained pilots had not been severe, and. ha 6. also been made up. Above all, the spirit of our new :pi1ot s Vvas the same as that of their :predecessors 1 -and they would. take on the Germans on the same terms as beforeo AIR AFFAIRS. 23/5/40 -No. 38. LORD CRAIGAVo.Ne Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, crossed from Belfast to London this moFning. Later he had interviews with the Home Secretary and the Minister for War. He also called upon Sir James Cooke-Collis, the Northern Ireland Government Agent in Great Britain. This evening Lord Craigavon stated: "The authorities recognise the voluntary effort which has been made in Ulster to keep the various Ulster units up to strength, and hope to be able in a short time to inaugurate a_ recruiting campaign there for all branches of the Army 1 especially those units raised in Northern Irelande The authorities have entrusted the Government of Northern I~eland with the duty of making protective arrangements in Northern Ireland corresponding to the arrangements made for the use in Great Britain of 11 local defence corps0 Lord Craigavon returned to Northern Ireland to-night. · DOMINION AND COLONIAL AFFAIRS., A categorical denial is given in authoritative circles to the malicious rumour that General ti:ord Gort aas ba?.ok.cn dovm and has returned to this country. This is clearly another example of the practice of the enemy to undermine confidence and cause confusion by the spreading of false and fantastic rumours. It is emphasised that no-one could have IJOSsibly done more magnificent work than Lord Gort, who is the last man to break down even under the tremendous strain of the last fortnight. NOT TO EE QUOTED AS A MINISTRY OF INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENT. -· Ail MINISTRY_BULLETlN. HO. 7!±§_. £3L2/J.tSL-No •41. GERMAN AMMUNITION TRAIN BLOVIN UP. r­ ' J Trains were dc.ro.:iled ru1d set on fire, tracks were demolished ~the enemy's road and rail communications over a wide area were interrupted, in the course of last night's extensive operations by aircraft of Bomber command. Objectives attaclced included railway junctions, marshalling yards, troop convoys and road and rail bridges in many parts of North Viest Germany and similar targets in the occui:ied territory of Belgium imrr6d:tiately behind. the battle area. At Geldern, a German town near the Dutch frontier, four heavy bombs from a Hampden scored direct hits on an ammunition trnin. Thi~-. immediately blew up with an explosion whj_ch rocked the aircraft high above. 11 We were abo'4t 2,000 feet up when we first saw the train standing in o. yard, 11 saic'. the navigator and bomb aimer of this aircr2.ft. 11We made a level att2.c\:, dropping four high explosive bombs cmd l~-incendiary. Almost i;~1necUately the trRin burst into flame s t=u.1r-, blev1 ll.")• ~Che wholf_ trc,iil just went sky high. Wi1ile 1 t vrn.s burning we i~mc!.e o. couple of :L2irly wi(J.e circuits 8.l"ou.nd it, and co1mtec-:_ 18 ex:_)losj_ons , all of w~1.i0:.1 '7ei"'e of rnuch mo:.-e violence tl1211 anything ouri i)or;1lJs coulr'·. 11~.~vc~ ~)l'oc°11ce6.• 11 The crew of 2not:i1er ~l~'.m·1)ci.en 9 flyi11;;· nbove ths mo.i11 r ai lwa~,-line ten ~dles e2st of ~isge, sightcC tw0 supply trnins st2n~ing still. Descri!Jing the 2ttac~: , the ' ;or1f0sr I)j_J.ot sa:Ld: ;; I c~.i c". [', st(;. ep left hc_'Yl( t1J.:.:"n to ~-:;f,t a G oC. view of t,;:1.:. trni11, 211,~ t hen clh,i!J ec1. e.nothe!. thouse..i.1(-. f <::et to (}:'O~J ny :::1c'J"c..chut e f J.a:ce . This lit u:·~i the to.r•get for Ci.!)OUt t l1.rec ;,r'.:t1utes. ~ ie, ·ch:-: 11 t1n"Yl0l). Z'oun0. 0.11<". c-;_1c: the first of six l"uns ove;:, tJ.12 Ion.zest trnin. Om."' fi:t"st ~Jomi > lr•.rn'~.er.::. on the right °1)8.11~<: of' t}1e line : t i.1e scco.)Yid wo..s a c'Li :eect hit oD. the rear truck: o:o.(J. the thii"C 1;:mc'.ecl. OE tht; left em-:J[ffi~Ci'l(:mt. "I then dee i0.e(~ to c~.:c'o_p two -::; 01i'i1j S tor:~ethc-I'. · oth o:c· -~.;1ern went crashing through t~e centre of the trnin ~n~ thc~e w2s ~ terrific :;l ast of sr:10'~e ci_n: i'l f:".Li.E . \;~:, <~:~ o~,J·_:iec'. rJ1o·cher lJ:.:J:oo.chute flo,.re-whi ch piej. cecl. the clom~. of smoke ::n~--e.ust £,j~1.:.'. shoYreC. u:L"Gc\:ace lying all over the 2.Jlace. 11 (rnoi"' e 2 .Another aircraft crew, crossing Holland on the way to their objective in Germany, made a short detour in order to visit the Hague aerodrome, and there they dropped a heavy bomb which exploded on the main runway. In the rear of the Belgium battlefield, three Wellingtonheavy bombers reported a number of direct hits in the course of bombing attacks on the Nan1ur-Gembloux main road, and on roads and railways to the north of the town. Crossroads at Gembloux and the adjoining railway track were hit; the railway line at Yvoir was straddled by a salvo of heavy bombs; and the main line tracks at Binche were seen by the line of parachute flares to be badly damaged after a number of hits had been registered on a road bridge across the line and on a siding running beside it. A strong force of Whitley Bombers was meanwhile attacking similar targets in the vicinity of Hirson. An important railway , crossing and the roadbridge at Givet was damaged, five direct hits were scored on a railway marshalling yard: searchlights there were successfully attacked by machine-gun fire. "We were over the target area at Hirson for over an hour before we attacked", said one of the Whitley pilots engaged on this raid. "By that time we were quite sure of our target and we opened up with a coupl~ of heavyweights which burst right on the railway junction and followed those up with a salvo of six more bombs which fell on the railway line itself". Far~(J.er south, another section of the large raiding force successful~y attacked enemy mechanised columns which had been reported on Nie move between Valenciennes amd Dinanto One long column of vehicles intercepted on the Bavia-Maubenge road was first brought to a halt by a Wellington which bombed the road immediately in front of it and then, descending within 500 feet of the ground, heavily attacked it with its front and rear machine­guns. ·The same aircraft successfully employed simi1ar tactics with another convoy of 30 lorries which it attacked eight minutes later. AIR AFFAIRS 23/5/40 --No. 42 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE ( EVENING) The f'ollowing Official corrnnuniq_ue was issued this evening from French general headq_uarters:­ Numerous engagements have taken place in the north.. Our advance units reached the outskirts of .Amiens. A:n enemy· attack south of Sedan, preceded by intensive artillery preparations failed•. Artiller~r duels between Longuyon and the Moselle. Intense activity of our bomber aviators throughout the day and night. In the course of I\fay 22, fighter plane= drove back four groups of enemy bombers of twenty planes each1 which were trying to earry out dive-bombing on our front lines. At least eight 0nemy planes were brought down in the course of this combat. All our machines returned to their base. ----~ ·vOo----­