.~•· I SSUED THROUGH NEWS DIVI SI ON. 9/10/39 -No. 1. FI.ASH. Frora its cgrefully camoufl2ged airfj_elds in this secret area of Frnnce the Royal Air Force is carrying out a programme of unceasing nctivj_ty on the ·v"Jestern Front 9 nlthough the present stage of the war is one in uhich there is very little concrete news to r eporc in proportion to the work actually done. With epic feats of skill and daring, the Siegfried Line is being charted dovm to the most minute detailo Dangerous reconnaissance in vital sectors of the German Hinterlands adds daily to Brj. tain' s knowledge of the enemy defence systems• . Co-operation wj_th thG French is close and unceasing and the two Air Comnnnds are in constant consultationo Often in the lobby of the Headquarters here~ a row Df dark caps covered ·with gold stars ancl. oak2.eaves x•evenls that high French officers are over for a conferencen The Ro Ao F~ ba ses are hio.. ien array in the countryside with marvellous skillo The first tj:me I visited one I realised that I haG. p2ssed right through it tvvo clays before ·;1i thout noticinc that it vras thereo 'J'he other :.ty 9 they told me, a pilot coming from London had been totall;Jr unable to discoveP the landing ground he rvas aiming a to For considerable distances alon~ the fringe of the woods camouflaged 'planes have been pushed back into the trees and concealed with a few· quickly-removable loose branches. It has been done with such skill that they are almost invisible. But they can be got .. out and into action at a minute's notice,, Runways of wooden J.ogs 9 or better still of special iron grids 9 have been l aic1 down to mc,ke their movement easy. The men have used their• leisure moments to construct little thatched }1uts or wigwams neara thei r machines, some of them quite luxuriously equipped insideo A tele1)hone call from headq_uarters may set everything sudden1y in motiono The Aircraftsrnen ar e sur11E1oned from their game of football to get the n o.chine s in readinesso The observers are told that such and such a sect:lon of the Siegfried Line must be photogr ahpedo And in a short time the fliGht sets off on its duties knowing that at any moment a si,-,rarm of black sinister-looking messerschmi d.ts may mvoop up and attack it. ~·· 2 ­ So far the plans of the High GnrMnand have provided for more photography and leaflet-e_ropping than bombingo Dithin the service ave~ here the dangerous work at present being c r.:rriec!. out is lrn:pt on an im:.;:iersonal basis of anonymity nnd it is only by cho.nce t~1at the ci..etails of the heroic exploits ever leak auto In the eve~1ing 17hen their day's v-vork is over, the pilots 9 often foregather in the leading hoteJ. of the nearby tovm. Here you may meet a man vvho a fe-N ho1Jrs l)efore has been photographing the Siegfried Line from a J.1ej_gl1t of only a hundred feet., \"latching the upturned faces of the grey-green clad German soldiers gazing at him in stupefactiono Another may have returned fron shooting down enemy planes in a S:!:)ectacular air bo:ttleo But there is usually very little talk about it -they regard it as all l)ar t of the dayr s work. :Gqual~ :T r11oc1est ar•e the humbler rankso As they sit at their meal on clear~ wooden tables outoide the vj.llage dance hall rrhere they sleep, their talk is more of the chances of a cigarette issue, or what thej.r families m,e dotng at home, than of the fights they have just taken ~art ino ISSUED THROUGH NEWS DIVJ;_SION . NO. 2 -9/10/39• AIR MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT. Royal Air Force reconnaissance aircraft shoot dovm German Flying Boat. Further details of the Royal Air Force encounter with enemy flying boats over the North Sea are issued by the Air Ministry. The pilot of a Bri t ish reconnai ssance aircraft observed an enemy flying boat? The dived towards the flying boat and the two joined action with bursts of machine e;-.:at fire. A second enemy flying boat appeared and took part in the engagement; shortly aftervrnrds two more British reconnaissance aircraft came on the sceneo The British aircraft quickly gai ned the upper hand. The first enemy flying boat s:1ipped out of the fight and fell into the seao Its companion made off. Two of the British aircraft were struck by bullets but neither was damagedo i'hcre were no casualties among the British crewso Issued through News Division. 9/10/39 -No.3. Towards nightfall and during the night of October 8th there were patrol activities on either side of the valley of the lower Nied and to the South of Saarbrucken. FROM FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECTION. ISSUED THROUGH NEWS DIVISION. NO. 4 9/10/39 EMPIRE ANNOUNCEMENT "NO ::_-ough News. Di vL~ion 9/ 10/39. No,5. MINISTRY OF AGRICUl°..JTURE ~Q_U;fCEMENT. SEA FISHING INDUS'J1.EX. AC'+~9...; ...J.9...J.1._t?-]19. 192.§... The following Order datecl t he Li.th October, 1939, has been made U!rlder the Sea-Fishin6 Industry Acts, 1933 and 1938. The Sea Fish Industry (Imr:iature Sea-FishJ Reyocatidn O:rq~£J_J.,2.3~ This Order revokes the Order of 1938, which prohibited the landin; or sale of umdersized sea fish of the kinds specified therein, viz : h.:i.ke 9 haddock , whi t inc; dabs , lemon soles, megrims , plaice , soles and witches. This action has been taken--bec.ause a certain number of undersized fish are unavoidably taken in the course of fishing operations notwithstanding that a minimum size has been yrescribed for the mesh of nets. In the present emergency it is desirable that any fish so talcen should be available for food. Cop1es of the Order (S.R. & O. 1939 No. 1323) may be obtained from H. M. Stationery Of'fice or throu ·:h any bookseller, price ld. net. IB'SUed through News Dirts1on. 9/10/39. No. 6. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT. NATIONAL RAT WEEK, 6TH TO 11TH NOVEMBER, 1939. In view of the serious depredations on food stocks b;y-rats, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries considers that the annual Rat Week should be held this year notwithstanding the War. The Week will begin on Monday 9 6th November, and the Minister asks everyone to make a special effort during the week to destroy any rats on their own lands and premises and to take all possible steps towards securing concerted action against these vermin. The Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, places an obligation upon every occupier of "land" , which term includes buildings on or under land~ to take steps to destroy rats and mice on the property which he occupies and to prevent such property from becoming infested. County Councils, County Borough Councils and many other local authorities in England and Wales are empowered to enforce the Act in their respective districts and these authorities have, as in previous years, been invited to co-operate in this year's campaign. The Ministry's Advisory Leaflet No.49 -11 The Destruction of Rats and Mice" contains information and advice on methods for dealing with rats. A copy may be obtained free of charge from the Offices of the Ministry, 10, Whitehall Place, London, S. W,l. Further information on the subject of rats is contained in Bulletin No.30 " Rats and How to Ex-S erminate Them", copies of which are obtainable through any bookseller, or direct from H.M. Station­ery Office, York House, Kingsway 9 London, W.C.2. price 6d. (7d. post free). .. Issued through News Division 9/10/39 No. 7. NEWS FLASH OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY STATEMENT The Admiralty announce that statements appearing in the Press to the effect that His Majesty the King recently decorated personnel of the Fleet Air Arm are entirely without foundation. Issued through News Division; 9/10/39 No ••••• 8. BOARD OF EDUCATIOF ANNOUNCEMENT. MUSEUMS AND SCHOOLS. The Museums Assocation has issued a circular to all its members drawing attention to the various ways they can help in the education of children in war time. The circular stresses the importance of providing additional educational facilities as well as the need for continuing existing services. It is suggested that where the double-shift system is in operation the children who are not at school may be taken to the museums and art galleries where facili t ies will be given for lectures s study of museum specimens andj whereever possible~ for the reception of school broadcasts. The Association is in close contact with the Board of Education on these subjects. Issued through News Division 9/10/39 No.9. THE ARMY 'S BOOTS. No Shortage. The British Army is not short of boot leather. In fact, it was stated at the Ministry of Supply to•day, sufficient stocks of sole leather to keep the British Army well shod until well int o 1940 were ear-marked before the outbreak of war9 Ample supplies to meet all requirements after then are being arranged. There is no difficulty at all about upper leather. Prices of both imported hides and tanned kiP3 were fixed by the Ministry of Su~uly at the outbreak of war at the pre-war level to prevent speculation. At the outset there is always a danger of speculators rushing in. From the start, however, the initial arrangements for fixing prices made by the Ministry in consultation with representatives of the trade, wer e designed and regarded simply as a temporary expedient, as the commencement of a long term policy. There is no question now of the Minister of Supply being forced by protests from merchants to sign any Order altering prices. The Order, in f act, was signed as part of normal and deliberate policy. Proposals for freeing imported hides, issuing a new price schedule for imported tanned kips, and several other modifications were all lirkcd together in the new Order. ·--·--· ___, ·-· -­ ~--­ Issued through News Division 9/10/39 No. 10. E H P I R E ANNOUNCE IT ENT South Africa Prepares. One Army under a Single Command. The expansion of the Special Service Battalion into two Special Service Brigades of about 3,000 men each and the creation of additional battalions in the Active Citizen Force to meet the wishes of many citizens to volunteer for training, are announced by the South African defence authorities. The Union Defence Force has undergone far-reaching re-organisation and expansion in recent weeks and all weak spots in the country's armour are being strengthened. The organisation9 training and administration of the rural commandos, which have for some time been segregated from the Active Citizen Force section of the Defence Force, will again be included in the normal defence organisation and in future the Union will have only one army under a single command. The following are some of the other measures taken by the Defence Department:­ Applications are invited from citizens who wish to be trained as observers, air-gunners and bomb-aimers in the South African Air Force. Refresher courses arranged for Active Citizen Force officers on the reserve of officers or on the general list and for N.C.O's in the Class A. reserve. The formation of a civic guard at Johannesburg, and the development of an anti-aircraft unit at the Cape. Active Citizen Force units have practically reached their full war strength and there is a big overflow of volunteers, both Afrikaans-and English-speaking, from which the new battalions will be formed. An official announcement states that the Minister of Defence, (General Smuts), has received many offers of assistance from ~ublic bodies, associations and private individuals anxious to strengthen the hands of the defence authorities, and that offers of substantial financial help have also been forthcoming. The Special Service Battalion, now expanded into two Special Service Brigades, was established in 1933 to give an occupation to boys who, on leaving school, had no employment, and to help find them suitable occupations. After military and vocational training from 12 to 18 months, most of these lads secured jobs and passed into civil life, but remained on the Military Reserve. About 12,000 have so far been through the Special Service Battalion and have thus been well grounded in military duties. The Active Citizen Force corresponds to Britain's former Territorial Army. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Issued through Ne~s Division. 9/10/39. No. 11. EMPIRE ANNOUNCEMENT. Australia Says "No Armistice11 • The Australian Press unanimously supports the views on Hitler's speech expressed in the official statements issued in the United Kingdom, and there is nowhere any suggestion that an Armistice could or ought to be arranged. The 11Daily News11 reports that New South :-Ja les Labour Council rejected a motion urging the Conunonwealth Goj\Ternment to make representations to the Allied Governments that the first opportunity should be seized to negotiate peace. The decision to summon Dominion Ministers to meet in London was unanimously approved. Issued through News Division. 9/10/39. No ••••12. PASSED BY R.A.F. CENSOR. NOT FOR BROADCAST ON RADIO OR CLUB TAPES BEFORE 8 a.m, -· R.A.F. PLANES SURVEY WHOLE GERMAN FRONTIER. DAYLIGHT FLIGHT FROM FRANCE TO NORTH SEA. INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF TROOP MOVEMENTS. BY EYEWITNESS WITH THE R.A.F. IN FRANCE. For the first time, four British 'planes have carried out daylight reconnaissance flights the whole way along the German Frontier from France to the North Sea. The 'planes went to investigate the latest reports received by headquarters from across the border. Recent rumours have concerned the evacuation of important cities. Big troop movements near Aix la Chapelle~ significant concentrations of aircraft, intensive building of fortifications near the Luxemburg frontier, and manyother interesting developments. The results of these British reconnaissance flights are now being studied by the experts, and it is understood that a series of photographs taken by two of the 'planes are expected to be of the utmost value. The machines went in pairs from one of the Secret British ~erodromes "somewhere behind the Maginot Line". The first two ran into bad weather and flew for much of the time at about 6,000 feet. Passing the southernmost top of Luxemburg~ where French Artillery were pounding the fringes of the Siegfried Line below them, they continued to make their observations, dodging from one gap in the clouds to the next. At Coblence, German anti-aircraft gunners heard them and openedfire, presumably judging the range and direction by the sound. The shells screamed up through the clouds and burst all around them, but the 'planes were not hit, and held straight on along their course. · Hurriedly the German gunners telephoned ahead to other batteries, and when the British 'planes reached Sieburg there was another barrage of anti-aircraft fire awaiting them.!~is too, however 5 theypassed through unscathed and held on along the Belgian border over Aix la Chapelle. Soon they saw the R~ine turn west and disappear into HollandJ and then the weather made it impossible to see any more. They flew on to the North Sea coast of Germany. Then carefullyavoiding Holland, went safely home to the landing field in England where they were expected. The other pair of 'planes took off before dawn and were already well over Germany when the sun rose above the hills to the east of the Rhine. They were favoured by better weather, and were able to take the photographs they were sent out to get. Issued Throu3h News Division. 9/10/39. No. 13. Here is some official advice about national health insurance and widows', orphans' and old age pensions in war-time. If you are insured and need medical attention ~ou should apply to your insurance doctor. He may 9 of course, have been called up for national service but, if so, arPangements will have been °made for the treatment of his patients so long as he is away. You can find out Yvhat these arrangements are by aiJ~!lying at the do~tor' s surgery or by writing to ;your Insurance Cor;1x::1i ttee, whose address is on your medical card" If you have left home, you will be able to get medical attention from an insurance Q.1octor in your nerv a1•ea. Send home for your medical card if you have gone away without it. If for any reason you cannot get hold of your r:1edical card, tell the doctor that you are an inm1rec1 :person and, if :possible, show him your contri'bution OI' record card. Ap~Jroved Soc'ieties are c2.r•ryin~ on "l'v'i th the work of paying cash hea l th insurance bene:Li ts, ·but t ake care, if you change your address, to let your A~1proved Society have your new address as q_uickl;sr a s possible. If you need sickness, disablement or maternity l:ienefit, Yvri te to yo11r Approved Society, or go to their local agent. PENSIONS. Steps have been taken to see that there is no interruption in the regular weekly payment at Post Offices of i)ensions and allowances paid by means of order books. If you have not moved a111ay from your home tmvn or village, go to your usual Post Office: but if you do move away, be sure you take your order boolc vvi th you, for otherwise you must not expect to be able to obtain :further payment.except after considerable 6.elay. With your book in your possession you will be able to cash the orders in it on the proper dates at the nearest Post Office in your neYv area. If you are over the age of 70 and get your old age pension order boolc from a local Pension Office_-, your pension orders can be cashed at a Post Office in a new area YJi thin Great Brito.in. When you first cash an order after removal you should fill up the post card provided at the Post Office to notify your former Pension Officer of your change of address. A further card should be sent after any subsequent change of address~ In case of difficulty you should get into touch with the local Pension O:Lficer in the new area, whose address can be got from the Post Office. . . . .. .. ~... -~ Issued through News Division. 9/10/39 No. 14. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT. PROHIBITION OF EXPORTS. The Board of Trade have issued two Open General Licences under the Export of Goods (Prohibition) (No.2) Order~ 1939. The feffect of the first is that motor-cycles· ans tricars, motor-cars other than commercial vehicles and ambulances, and chass,is and engines for such motor-cars may be exported to any destination aa from Monday, 9th October, without an export licence. The effect of the second is that (1) no export licence is required as from Wednesday, 11th October, for the export to any destination of domestic refrigerators, and certain kinds of paper, and (2) no export licence is required as from Wednesday, 11th October, for the export of plumbago crucibleS' and rubber tyres of a diameter less than sdx inches, and tubes therefor, to France and French Colonies and PI'oteotorates: or to any-destination outside other foreign countries in Europe or on the Med:i terranean or Black Sea. · Issued through News Division. 9/10/39. No. 15. E M P I R E A N N 0 U N C E M E N T. HITLER: MORE DOMINION COMMENT. The Canadian Press continues to ridicule Hitler's peace speech. Newspapers of all politics are at one in pointing out the futility of sitting round a conference table with Nazi statesmen. Among the most effective rejoinders to the "Peace Offensive" is that made by the "Toronto Globe and Mail". Wi;trhout a word of comment, that newspaper lists the previous occasions on which Hitler has summoned the Reichstag to hear his pronouncements, and:readers are left to make their own estimate of the value of the Fuehrer's latest proposals. The New Zealand Press is no more friendly. The 11Dominion11 , the chief Wellington newspaper, insists that the world must be free of the constant threats and terrorism which the Nazis have inflicted on civilization, and declares: "For this lasting and I righteous peace, this Dominion, in common with the rest of the Empire and her Allies, will fight on to the end". The "New Zealand Herald", of Auckland, says that the ranting rhetoric of Hitler "has no longer any power to persuade or to alarm,II and the "Press" of Christchurch, while asserting that there is no basis for negotiations, urges that the Allied Governments to state why they reject the terms of Hitler, who must not be allowed to pose as a peacemaker. +++++++++++++++++++++ Issued through News Division 9/10/39 No. 16 FOREIGN AFFAIRS ANNOUNCEMENT Information has been received through the United States Embassy in London that orders have been given by the German authorities for the release from prison and the transfer to their hotels of the British Consular employees detained at Hamburg. The persons in question are Mro L.G. Bayliss, British Vice­Consul at Hamburg, Miss Mary Joss, an employee of the British Consulate-General at Hamburg, and Mr , Croxen, a mern·oer of the staff of the British Consulate at Munich" These three officials are being detained in Germany pending the completion of arrangements for the reciprocal exchange of Consular Officers. Issued through News Division. 9/10/39. No.17. MINISTRY OF SUPI='LY ANNOUNCEMENT. NO PRICE INCREASE AUTH9Ig§~1?_. The Ministry of Supply has not given sanction to any body to increase charg~s for boot repairs. The notice issued by the Boot Trades Federation was issued under a misapprehension which is being corrected by the Federation. Issued through the News Division. 9/10/39. No. 18. (additional matter) MR. AUGUST ZALESKI. The Foreign Minister of Poland. Mr. August Zaleski is arriving in London from Paris on iilfednesday. He will visit Lord Halifax at the. Foreign Office in the afternoon and will also be received by the Prime Minister. The Polish Ambassador is giving a Dinner in the evening 9 at which Lord Halifax and other members of ~is Majesty's Government and the leaders of the Opposition will be present. On Thursday morning Mr. August Zaleski will continue his talks at the Foreign Office and then will attend an official luncheon given in his honour by His Majesty's Government~ with Lord Halifax as the host. In the afternoon Mr, Zaleski will be entertained at tea at the House of Commons by a group of M.P's. from all three parties. Mr. Zaleski will be leaving on Friday morning. Issuod through News Division . .9/10/39, No •..... 18. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. The following particulars concerning M.August Zaleski, the new Polish Foreign Minister~ are issued for information:­ August Zaleski, Foreign Minister in the cabinet of General Sikorski, was born in Warsaw in 1883, is son of a Polish squire. He wns educated in Poland and then at the London School of Economics. During the world war Mr. Zaleski was active for the Polish cause in France and England. He was editor of the "Polish Review11 in London between the years of 1917 and 1918, and wrote the "Landmarks of Polish History11 , published in London in 1917. In 1918, when Poland obtained her independence Mr, Zaleski was appointed Polish Minister to Switzerland and then to Greece. In 1921 he was Director of the Political Department at the Warsaw Foreign Office, and from 1921 to 1926 Minister in Rome. In 1926 he became Foreign Minister and held that post until 1932, when he was sueceeded by Col. Beck. He was then appointed senator and was chairman of the largest private bank "The Commercial Bank1' in Poland until 1939, when he took up again his duties as. Foreign Minister. A graduate of London University, Mr. Zaleski knows England well and has many English friends. He was President of the Anglo­Polish Society in Warsaw in recent years, after his temporary withdrawal from active political lifes and always supported a policy of the closest collaboration with the western powers. Issued through News Division. 9/10/39. No. 19. FLASK • Admiralty Announcement . Yesterday 9 Sunday 9 afternoon a German Naval Squadron was reported by British Patrol craft to the South Westward of Norvmy. Our forces endeavoured to engage it; but darkness enabled the enemy to escape. During today repeated actions have taken place in the North Eastern areas of the North Sea between German bombing aircraft and British cruisers and destroyers. No British ship has been damaged. Casualties to the enemy are not knovm. Read out 8.24. p.m. Issued through Nev-.rSDivision. 9/10/39. No. 20. FRENCH OFFICIJ1L COMJIUHI<',UE( ?V:CNING )­ There has been very great activity by enemy patrols between the Moselle and the Saar. The artillery @f both sides has been active between the Moselle and the Rhine. On the sea one of our patrol vessels has successfully attacked an enemy submarine. N 0 T F 0 R PU B L I CA T I 0 N. ~~~~~~~~-~~~~~ THE FOLLO\?ING NOTICE IS CIRCULATED FOR INFORMA.TION: ­ NEVIS DIVISION ARRAHGEivIZ:NTS. As from Monday1 9th October, the existing staff of the News Division will continue to provide the centralised machinery for issuing all news and cormr!-uniques furnishea. to them by the representatives of Service and other Government Departments acconmodated in Senate House. There will be a 24-hour service as hitherto. All ne'llYS and comrnuniques will be issued immediately to the Press, B.B.C., B.O oW., etco as received. The issue of morning a~d evening bulletins at specified times will be discontinued. The formula 11 Issued through the Ministry of Information" will cease to be usedo Each announcement issued to the Press will for the time being bear in the top right hand corner the words "Issued through News Division" (with date and serial number). Examples:­ Issued through News Division 10/10/39 Noc 43,, "The Aa.miral ty (or department concerned) announces ................ or ADMIRALTY ANNOUNCEMENT or FROM THE ADMIRALTY Press Liaison Officers w~ll CJDntinue to assist Press inqui:iries generally, and to arrange, when requested, for visiting newspaper men to be put in touch with representatives of the Government De~artments housed hereo (Signed) TOM CLARKE (Deputy Director, News Division)•