ott'-17 


NEWS FLASH 
From Foreign Affairs 11th October , 1939· No .. I. 
FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. 
During the night strong enemy patrols have again been repulsed south of Saarl)rtlcken and in the region south of Pirmasens. 
' 1 

11.10.39 -No.2. EMPIRE ANNOUNCEMENT. 
ULSTER'S EMERGENCY BUDGET . 
£2,000,000 CONTRIBUTION TO UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT. 
Northern Ireland's Emergency Budget, which was presented in 
the House of Commons to-day, ~9rovides for a contribition of 
£2,000,000 to the United Kinedom Exchequer during the first year 
of the war -an increase of £1,300,000 over the amount allowed 
in the ordinary Budget !lnnounced l ast May. 

In his Budget Speech~ Mr. J. M. Andrews, (Minister of Finance) stated that, as in Great Britain, from to-day the percentage rate of the Estate Duty on estates between £10.000 and £50.000 would be r aised by 10 per cent, and there would be substituted an increase of 20 percent for the increase of 10 per cent in the rate of duty on estates above £50.000. This increase was expected to provide £15.000 to £20.000 a year. It was also proposed to introduce legislation dealing with the evasion of Estate Duty which had already been embodied in legislation at Westminster. 
The increases in Income Taxf Surtax and Excess. Profits Tax 
introduced by the United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer, 

(which apply also to Northern Ireland) were estimated to give Northern Ireland an additional revenue of £820,000 this year, and the increases in Customs and Excise Duties a further £420,000 s thus increasing the Reserved Revenue by £1.240.000 over the ordinary budget Estimate. 
Northern Ireland's transferred revenue such as Estate Duty,Stamp Duty, etc, which is levied and collected by the Northern Ireland Government, would be adverselY. affected by the war, said Mr. Andrews. It was estimated that at existing rates, Estate Duty would produce £60.000 less than the estimate, Stamp Duty £20.000 less, Entertainments Duty £5,000 less and Motor Vehicles Duty £310.000 less. In all, it was estimated that the transferred taxes would yield £375,000 less than budgeted for, owing to changes brought about by the war. 1.rr. Andrews continued : 11 Due to the gr adual i mprovement in t he employment situation which, I am happy to say, took place during the year before the war brake out, and to the further opportunities of useful work of many kinds which are now open to our workers as a consequence of the war, the relative employment position in Northern Ireland compared with Great Britain will be better than was anticipated at the beginning of the year. ConsequentlY,-the sum which our Exchequer will receive during the year from Great Britain in respect of unemployment under the Reinsurance Agreement is anticipated to be £600,000 less than I expected. Other items of revenue are in general unchanged since my last Budget. In all, the total revenue is expected to reach a sum of £17098,000 11 • 
Mr. Andrews said that new war-time services which were whollyImperial in char acter would require to be carried out by Ulster Departments either under agency arrangements or under delegation of authority from Imperial Departments. There are, for example,food control, petrol rationing, and the intensive cultivation of land. 
The expenditure on staff and allied charges in the case of such services would be separately costed and recovered from the ImperialMinistries concerned, and the monies they disbursed would be similarly obtained. 
Lihr::.rv Univer:;ity of Texa .. 
~ustin, Te~ 
-2­
With regard to the expansion for war purposes of Northern Ireland's normal services, any substantial excess expenditure would not f all on the Northern Ireland Exchequer. To calculate the amount to be re-imbursed to the Northern Ireland Exchequer on that ao. ·.'.Junt it had been agreed to assume a standard datum line of peace-time expenditure of £12,300,000. Approvedexpenditure over that figure would be recouped to Northern Ireland on the understanding that, in general 5 similar economies to those in the peace-time services in Great Britain would be carried out in Northern Ireland. 
11Provided", continued Mr. Andrews~ "we go in step in economies with Great Britain -and I have given this undertaking ­the British Treasury will put us in funds to meet all excess expenditure due to the war. 
11Arising out of the special war-time adjustments I have out-linedy the British Government have agreed that instead of the receipt of £300,000 which I provided for in my first Budgetin recoupment of 80 per cent of our Exchequer expenditure on Civil Defence9 they will cover our Civil Defence expenditure as part of the broad settlement governing excess expenditure, and this arrangement makes it unnecessary to operate upon the £750,000 grant in aid of which the £300,000 was to have been a first instalment. The effect of this change will undoubtedly be that from now on our Exchequer Civil Defence costs will be met in full by the British Exchequer. This arrangement is, of course) on the understanding that Local Authorities and private individuals continue to bear their due proportion of this expenditure. 11 

11/10L39.,____.;;..;..N..:;....;o.""""'4.._. EMPIRE A.T\JNOU!WEMENT A WAR OF METALS HOW SOUTH .AFRICA CAN AID THE ALLIES 
It has been said that this will be a war of minerals and metals, and South Africa calculates that she can produce enough of both not only for her own requirements, but to give a substantial export surplus to Great Britain and the Allies. 
Just as the war in 1914 greatly stimulated her secondary industries textiles, leather and the production of foodstuffs this conflict is expected to foster the South Africa's mineral resources. 
The country contains practically all the metals and ores required by modern industry, but only the more accessible deposits are now being worked. Mining products are exported . in the raw or semi-processed state, while local industry relies to a large extent on imports of finished or semi­finished metals and minerals. 
Among the important base mine:ral cargoes from South Africa are asbestos, chrome and manganese. There are large reserves or iron, copper, manganese, tin, vanadium and chrome. 
The engineering industry and technical skill in the Union has since 1918 advanced very considerably and to-day can cope with most problems of plant and equipment. 
Two years ago Dr. Hans Pirow, then Government Minirig Engineer, estimated the Union's weal th of bs.se minerals still unwon at fully £30,000,000,000. 
11.10.39. No. 5. 
NOTICE FOR DRESS AI'TD BROADCAST. 
North Atlantic Air Mail Service. 
The Postmaster General announces that, with the completion of the scheduled programmes of flights by the :a~itish and the Unit ed States air services from the United Kingdom to North America on the northern route via Newfoundland, air mail correspondence for the United States of America, Canada and Newfoundland prepaid at the rate of 1s.3d. for each half ounce (postcards 7d.), and bearing the superscriDtion "North Atlantic Air Service" and a blue air mail l abel, is now being forv.·arded by the United States air service which is being operated twice a week from Lisbon to New York via the Azores. 
The air postage rates for countries served via North America may be ascertained at any post office. 
Definite posting times and times of transmission cannot be quoted, and persons desiring to use the service are recommended to post correspondence as soon as it is ready. 
GENERAL POST OFFIC~. 

EMPIRE f'.JYNOlJHCEM:CNT 
COLONIAL _$:CRVICJ~ OFFICERS 
COITDITIOJ.-:TS FOR ~HLITARY SERVICE 
Though so f ar no statements have been published in the Colonies on the conditions of release for service with His Ma jesty's Forces of colonial officers, it may be taken that in general officers of the Colonial Service who are permitted to join up will have their ~nosts kept open and receive an allowance equal to the difference, if there is any, between their ri1ilitary and civil r;ay. 
Har Service vvill count in full for pensions. 
11/10/39 No. 7. 
F ROr.'I THE HOrIE OFFICE 
With reference to lighting in railway trains and other railway establishments it is pointed out by the Home Office that r estrictions in regard to railways are necessary as part of air raid lJr ecautions generally. 
The Home Office are in constant consultation with the railway companies with a view to ensuring that the maximum lighting consistent r1i t h the necessities of air raid prec;:autions is made ava.ilable for raili;ray travellers. Railway companies ar e giving full co-operation in this respect. 
Librar, University of Te:s.:iw ' ~ustin, Texas 
Notice 	for Press and Broadcast. 11/10/39 -No.8.) 
TELEGRAMS FOR PLACES ABROAD. 
The Postmaster General announces thnt telegrams for certain places abroad may now be sent in Spanish. The countries to which this service is available include Spain, the Canary Islands and Central and South PJnerica. Since the institution of censorship the only l anguages admissible have been English and French and the relaxation of this rule will no..doubt be appreciated by senders of telegr ams to Spanish-speaking countries. 
GENERAL POST OFFICE. 
The '.Var Off ice, s .·.7.1. 11th Octcber, 1939. CLAH'!S FOR FAl.ULY & DEPEN:JAN'l'S 
A.LLO~Vfu"l\fCES . 
The War Office announces that during the next week or two a large number of men who have already received their calling up notices will be joining the cclours for military service. 
Some of these who were medically examined ia July last have already put in claims at the time of their medical examinatic·11, for family or dependants' allowances under the procedure applicable to the i'.Iilitia. These claims will be dealt with 0n the basis of those applicaticns and no further acticn is necessary en the part cf' the men concerned. 'rhe remainder of the men have only recently been med.ical ly examined and have not had an C'pportunity of making claims. They will be given f a cilities for doing sc immediately on joining their unite, and in order that such claims may be dealt with at cnr:e, married men should bring with them their marriage certificates and birth certificates of any children in respect of whom they wish to claim an allowance, if such ce rtificates are in their possession. 

[D 

...wtes of a Stut ernent to be inade by the Secreta1"Y of State for .ar 2 the Rt. Hon. Leslie Hore-Belisha M~P~ in the House of C01,m10ns o:r, ·.ednes6ay October 11th, 
1939 9 at 4 p.rno (Eot to be published until Pelensed from the Press Gallery~ House of G01runons). 
I a.in able to i11for:11 tile !louse that we have fulfilled-and more than fulfilled -our undertaking recently given to France to des patch to that countPy in the event of war a British Expeditionary Force of a specified dirne11sion within a specified time. 
Hor are the co11tingents at px·esent across the Cha1mel the last t hat ~ill arrive• .ithin six weeks of the outbreak of war in 1914 ~e had transported to France 148,000 men~ i t.i1in five weeks of the outbreak of this war we had transported to Frauce 158 2000 men. 
~uring tnis period we have also created our base and lines of communication organisation, so as to assure the ref'.:ular flO'iV of supplies and rnunitions of every kind 
and  to  receive fuPther contingents  as  and when  we  may  
decide  to  send  them.  
The major  operation i s  thus  over  and  it  is  
poss ible  to  spealc  to  t:1e  House  Y.f i th f'ran1.::ness.  I  wish it  
had  bean  prudent  to  do  so  previously•  

.;.dght by night a t the ·, ar Off'ice vve have waited for tidings of the arrival of the convoys. These have averaged three per ni:.:,ht. It would have been encoura~ing to have shared a t every stage the aews as ·,, e received it with the no. tion9 so uncertain of 'Jhal 1·as transpiring and so naturally ec.;;er for reports about its ~-~rrny. 
The/ 
The Press willingly observed a reticence which in itself •.;as a safe.:yo.rd for our contingents. 
There is no need for ~urther sileuce and a body of war correspon6ents 11.as just aPrived iri France '.1ith the object of kee~_ing us all informed of day to day impressions and happeninJ s. 
It was a s r.1all body of specially s elected officers in the 'far Office who '.ii th seven confidential clerks and typists secretly worked out every detail of this plan for movin:_; the ..'-.rrny and the ~~oyal _... ir Poree to France o They foresaw and provided for every need: the selection of ports and docks, of roads and rail\!ays 9 of accoriliuodatio:n of all types, of rest carnps and depots, of hos pi tc:,ls and repair shops, at every sta~e on both sides of the Channel. T~1eir ingenuity, their pj:ec i s j_on o.nd their patience Hould have baffled ~radshaw~ 
Those who belong to the military profession, having in their aI'rangernents to a~just themselves always to the unexpected and the unforeseen, have to show in the preparation and execution of complicated projects a resource and efficiency which can rarely be exacted from those engaged in civilian enterprises. 
The Zxpedi tionary it,orce has been transported to France intact without a casualty to any of its personnel.. 
May I describe to the House some aspects in vvhich the task on this occasion has differed f rom that of 1914, although, as one watches the process, continuing with the smoothness of a liiachine, one finds it hard to believe that there has been a brealc of ~~5 years in t .irn passage of these t wo .n.rrnies. 
Then t J_1e ;;·1e11 rna.rc~ied on to the si1ips 9 the horses weI'e led and a li.s,ht derrick could lift '.1hat the soldier could/ 
could not .carry. 
I .. those days theI'e ·deJ'.'e or~ly JOO mechanised vehicles in all and it v1as a ra re load that exceeded a couple of tons. 
e have already on this occasion transported to France rnore than 25 , 000 vehicles, including tanks, some of them of enormous O. i111e:.:1s ions and weighing 15 tons a piece or 

more. 
Normal shore cranes could not raise thern, special ships were required to carry them and highly trained stevedores to manipulate them. Consequently, as contrasted with 1914, where ordinary vessels took men and their material together from the usual ports, in this case the inen travelled separately and the heavier mechanisms had to be transpo1"ted f r om inore distant ports 9 where special. facilities were available. '11 he arrangements for the re-union of the t r oops with their material on the other side made an additional complication~ · 
Sirnilarly9 and for other r easons also, more remote landing places had to be selected in Prance, t ·.us . rnaking the voyages r1mc:i.1 longer. 
hI " uevious interi-ial routes ·,1ere taken than in 
1914 as a precaut
1 VeJ_ucles and rn eH 
were di spersed L1 

whe11 halted by 
day a11d rnov1ng onwa r•us as fs,r ' s possible by night. 
As w.--t l1 t ranspor t 9 so 
problem has bec0rne ::_;reuter thaH 
Every horse eats 
like man, to move t~10uJh J.1un;;r y . 

Vehicles/ 

Agah1 interJ.1ally y 0.1,.d as a prec o.utio11 against 
a:i.r attac1':~ more cievious iiJ.ternal I'Outes \.-er e te.keil than iil 1914. Vehicles ai~ meil µere dispersed in small groups, halted i n concealed areas by uay an~ 1aoved orniards by night. 
As with tran.sport , so r i th iilaintenai.tc e, the problem has become grerter ·t.hs.D it was a generation Hgo. :Svery horse ea ts the same foo,:. 01ni:',(_ can continue 9 1ike i;ian, to i·11ove t i1.0ueh hungry. 
Vehicles come to a stanc still \;hei·1 their ta;.Jk s a r e e111pty. There are in r·rai1ce 50 types of vehicle ai1d. ;11ost of thel11 require a dii'ferei1t grade of fuel and. lu.bricaats. Great reserves have ha.d to be conveyed auci. stored. 
There is a ready way of dealint rith a lame horse. The veteriimry surceon's outfit is nm; replaced by a series of cor.1pletely equipped vor\:shops. 
None of these problr:'ms existed 9 e;~cept in ei·11br~ o, in 1914. It 1uas a lisht arl.'1;y-that travelled tlle11. Nearl y iJO~:; of the fiGhtii1g t J•oops in 1914 were in:Lai1try-u:en~ relyiJ.Lg Oil their ri:c·1es a:i:1d bayonets an, . tvJO machL.1e guns per ba ttalion. Non only 20;, of the I'i[:htL1c, troops are infailtry-men ~ith 50 Bren cuns, 16 Anti-ta~~ rifles an~ other weapons as well per ba ttalion. 
It will be seen by this one exrn·1.ple ho\i much more ef fectively armed with :fi re pm~ er is the j_)r esei1t :Sxpeditim1a:r'y Force. 
'l'here is , however 7 one respe:'ct i n which our Afi11Y has ;.10t altered; its rel a tiorewith our Allies~ who have welcomed the men so generously -are as t:ooc. hu1·11oured. The catchuords of the soldiers are as a .. :usir1g. 
I was fortunate to see some of them myself on my recent visit to G.H.Q. I would like theii parents and wives to k ow that they are in fine spirit. The only serious short-comin~s at the moment appear to be an inadequacy of cigarettes and a slowness in the delivery of' letters. 
rhe Commander-in-Chief ar.d his Corps Commanders report of ther,1 in terms of the highest pride. As this moment they are busily engaged in fortifying, their positions in the line. Civilian skill and machinery are augmenting mi ~itary resources. We a1e.dete1mined to perfect existin~ defences and to sup~lement them speedily by every means. 
To all those who have co-operated in this mi l itary movement, to the various Government departments, both in this country and in France, the gratitude of this nation is due. Especially, hC"•wever, should the achievement 
CV)~~­
be recorded that the maritime might of Britain is unimpaired.
"" 
The Navy has not lo.st its secret and the .~ir Force has heid 
its pr0tecting wings over another element of danger. 
It 'is not only to France that British soldiers have been transported. The Mi~ule Last has been stronblY reinf6rced and also our garrisons elsewhere, both in materiel and in men. 
One part nf our Army, however, remains stationary in this country waiting and watching, in little groups. In isolated stations the Anti-Aircraft Units have been on guard since before this war began, and that their vigilance is not forgotten, under-estimated or unrecognised by this Country and by this House must be their Lreat encouragement. 
We have a numerous Army. In that respect we are at the outset of hostilities better situuted than we were in 1914.. 
Ne had in peace-time taken a precaution, for which 
i;r· · 
' 
we must now be thankful, of instituting a system of universal military training and thus the even flow of recruits became as well assured to us as to the C~ntinental countries. After the declaration of~0:rn had the foundation l.· ~ 
on we could build an even more comprehensive system and we passed the National Service Act, placing under an obligation to serve all male British citizens resident in Great Britain between the ages of 18 and 41. 
In peace time also we had doubled the Territorial Field Army. Altogether we had at the dispcsal of the Army in this country alone, including the Reservists and the Militia, the best part of a million men on whom iv e could call. 
Ne;er had the tc,tal of our t-'rned forc es in the United Kingdom approached anywhere near such a total in time of peace. 
The gro~th had been rapid and had placed a great bur,.en of organisation upon the Regular Army. 
'.'Jhen I first introduced Army ,.:stimates t ('_, the House in March 1938 we were preparing out of our strategic reserve five Divisions -none of them u~on a Continental scale. 
By the time of the next Army Estj_mates in March this year, the Government had decided, in yiew of menacing developments, t0 prepare nineteen Divisions -all up~n a Continental scale. 
Subsequently the European tension increased ano in April the plan for nineteen divisions became a plan f c; r thirty-two. 
1rhis will not be the limit of our efforto 
It/ 

It is plain that great calls will be macie upon ~ur man-poPer. How uo ·;;'e intend. to proceed'? 
In the first place we have the method· of calling up classes. H1s Majesty has alread.y proclaimed the classes between 20 nnd 22. 
'1'hose within the classes proclaimed are being called up in batches and \11/i th each batch i,ve are taking a quota 'lf volunteers. Any man desirous of being a volunteer in the Army, and being above the age of the class called up, may register his name at either a Recruiting Station or a Ministry of Labour office and he rill be treated in exactly the same way as the classes proclaimed. 
The upper age limit for volunteers · varies .according to the purpose required. T~adesmen may be taken generally up to 45, non-tradesmen up to 38 and a limitet number for certain employments up to the age of 55. 
'"Je acce9t as volunteers, subject to the schedule of reserved occupations, any British subjects in the Unite( Kingdom and non-Bri tieh subjects resident here, if a~proved by the Home Office. 
Once registered, volunteers receive a notice, as do 
the T'. i_lj t.qamen. bidding them to attend a. medi.cal examination. I may aey that sinct' the beginning of the W8..f.', we .have taken into or are in proc~t~ of taking into, the Army 
nearly 50,000  volunteers.  In  .. h·e  month  .,f Sept ember  it  
.  
so  happened  that  we  took in twice  as  many  volunteers  as '·",,  

\Tlili ti amen. The volunteers huve been of all military ages and this should dispose of the ~~that we are confining entry into the Army to young men of the first age groups. 
'fhe Government fully unC:e I'S tand the enthusiasm which so fervently inspires the people of this country to serve in or wi t h the fighting services, and they unv.erstan6-equally the determined motive which lies "behina this zeal. 
All/ 
All may register and few who are fit and 
\!ho are outside the scope of t~e reserved occupations will be disappointed as time goes on and the expansion continues. 
There is even qreater inducement now than 
' 
in previous wars to join the Army in the way described. 
Apart from specialist appointments, virtually all commissions will be t:;iven from the ranks. 
It must be remembered that the nation 
is in arms anc there is no dearth of ability in the ranks. One of the best men vho has reached the t~p for the leader's course on the way to a commission is a labourer's son. 
The look-out for talent is continuous, and all Commandinb Officers are instructed to search for it. In this Army the star is within every private sol diers reach. 
No-one, however humble or exalted his birth, need be afraid that his military virtues will remain unrecognised. 
L'fore important, no-one who ::.rishe s to ser·ve in the ArmY need consider his status minimised by starting on the bottom rung of the ladder. 
From this source then -from the ranks -we shall mainly derive our junior of ficers. For officers in the micldle piece and for specialistil we have other sources open to us. ,_/e have the Regular Army 
Reserve/ 
.­
Reserve. "le have the 1r erritorial Rcsei~ve of C;fficers, and 
we also have the Army Officers J:.~mergency Reserve, which is a register on h'hich a:nyone uith military or specialised experience can put his name. \le have in the last sj_x v-rneks taken 2 ,000 officers from this register. 
It i:lill be unnecessary to remind the House th.at it is of the essence of Reserves that they are not all used up at once, and upon the assurnption that this will be a three years' war, many of those with suitable qualifications, who feel a natural impatie11ce, will in due course have their opportunity. 
The sple11did women of the A.T.S., already20,000 strong, are about to augment their members and extend their invaluable service in replacement of their brothers in arms. 
Further openings for the older men will be given in two new directions which I shall outline. 
\le propose to form Home Defence Battalions. Each one of these will be a Battalion of its County Regiment and will be composed of officers and other ranks, now serving in Natiohal Defence Companies; officers and othe_r ranks found permanently or temporarily unfit for service overseas; officers and other ranks awaiting drafting a11d young soldiers not available by age for service in a theatre of. operations. 
It will be possible for some of t he older ex-officers and some older men to be absorbed into these battalions. 
\ie are also in process of forming an Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps to be organized in battalions ~hich will take over military pioneer work, both overseas and hereo 
It Hill not be composed of' the tnen of early military age a:.1d all will be volunteers. Eere the:n is another outlet for military s e.'·vice uhich it is so generally des ired to give. 
Pari-/ 
Pari passu with this pressure upon us to take men 
into the Army is a pressure in the reverse direct ion. ·11\:e have 
tried to deal 1i berally \rvi th industry, 1Hhose needs we fully 
recognise, just as industry will recognise that an Army is a 
skilled profession and must also for the safety of the 
country have men of specialised knowledge. 
He have temporarily released about 10,000 Regular reservists and will lmve shortly in addition have released 12,000 Territorials either temporarily or permanently. 
In so far as these releases are helping to accelerate and enlarge the output of our war industries, the loss will have been repaid to uso 
Any words of mine that caa stimulate ~nd electrify these industri·es of the country which are engaged on the \:utp-qt of munitions to put their last ounce into the task of mee-ting the needs of those in the li'ield and. of hastening the day when others can join them, will, I am sure, be endorsed by my Rt.Hon. Friend, the Minister of Supply. 
It is the output of factories making equipment and munitions for the :B'ield which will be the ultimate measure of our effort. 
I will tell the House vvha t is .bei~1g d··,ne. £or, t~-.e .'\.rmy 
to train as many men as poseibl~ to b~comu technician~ ~nd thereby to spare industry the full drain which vvould otherwise be made upon it. The . Army i s tr<:iining su ~ men it:self. l!IY Rt.Hon.Friend, the Uinister of Labour,: has plan3 in mind for enabling some of his training establishments t r:i assist in the provision of army requirements of skilled tradesmen. With the help·of' my Noble Friend~ "the Minister ~. f.' Education, we hl')pe to use t he Polytechnics, ..Lrechriical schools and Universities for the same purp"se. Industry/ 
I11dustry will doubtless in its own v-mys be making provision to augment its resources of slcilled personnel. 
\le can look with confideuce to these developments. 
In 1914 ap~eals were made for recruits who had neither clothing 9 nor equipment, nor instructors, nor accommodation, and men were taken, regardless of their civilian occupations. The feat of the first months of the last war we had already achieved in the months of peace preceding this war, and experience had ta1J.ght us to avoid many of the errors of the last occasion. 
Thus at the beginning of September we had in being an Army which was daily acquiring new strength, better cohesion ru1d greater effici~ncy. 
It has been a privilege to spealc of it to-day and to reveal that while the world was reading of the German advances into Poland, BPitish soldiers, resolved to rectify this wrong, were passing silently and in an unceasing sequence across the Channel into France. 
There.we may think of them in their positions along a countryside, whose toi;ms, whose villages and whose rivers are as familiar to them by memory or by tradition as their own. 
How strange it is that twice in a generation men should take this jou!'ney and that sons should be treading again upon ai:.:,..soil made sacred by their fathers. 
They are grumbling about the same things, mis-pronow1cing the same names~ making similar jokes and singing songs which seem an echo over the intervening years• .And we may rest assured that they will acquit themselves with the same tenacit;y, heroism and endurance. However long the 
' 
struggle and however great the ordeal,, they will, s.s they did before, take our arms ail.d our cause of freedom to vietory. 
11th October, 1939. No. 11. 
PASSED BY R. A.F. CENSOR. 
NOT for Broadcast before 7 a.m. 

POOR VISIBILITY RESTRICTS AIR ACTIVITY. 
BUT R. A.F. HEN ARE NOT IDLE. 
HUNGRY FOR NEvVS FROM HOME 
by 'EYE-WITNESS' 
With the R.A.F. in France. 
Rainy autumn weather with very poor visibility continues to restrict air operations on the Western Front. 
The R.A.F. took advantage of the fine sunny September to carry out the main part of its reconnaissance prograrrnne as planned and it is now busy with its normal daily routine. 
While the planes stand ready waiting on the bleak rainsweptairfields, officers and men are taking the opportunity to improvetheir comforts in the villages where they are billeted. 
One squadron stationed near here is converting the tiny village theatre into a ianteen. 
A dart board already hangs below a coloured plaster statue of Joan of Arc. The stage is being prepared for concerts. 
Counters and tables are being constructed and all the familiar· equipment of a N.A.A.F.I. canteen is being moved in. Just outside, the Transport Officer has a genuine Paris omnibus as e.n office. 
The bus, it seems, was transporting French troops when it broke dovm in this village and could get no further. Apart from the fact that it will not go, it is in perfect condition, with lights, bell for the conductor to ring, end Paris advertisements. 
It has been camouflaged, and 'naturalised' British by 
having L.P.T.B. chalked on its side, together with the usual 
uncomplimen.tary remarks about Hitler. 

All British units over here display the same hunger for news and a visitor who arrives with a nevrnpaper always reeeives a doubly warin welcome. 
News from home, of course, comes first jn importance and the arrival of the post is often the most .exciting event of the day, but political news from abroad is also eagerly sougpt after, for every?ne wants to know what is happening in this strang...e 
wa~ in which they are taking part. 
In.the R.A.F. th~re is a lively exchange of _personal news and gossip among the different squadrons. Sometimes the news is tragic -a friend has gone over Germany and never returned perhaps -but often it is of some new feat of skill or daring 
perfo~med over the German lines. 
++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

11.10.32 -No 12 
EMPT.RI~: ANNOUNCEMENT AUSTH/-1.LIANS Al\fD THE BRITISH ARMY 
As Australia House has already announced, the Commonwealth "-overnment has decided thnt per sonnel for the special force known as the 6th Division, which is now being recruited in Australia for service in the Commonv1enl th or overseo.s, cannot be enlisted outside Australia. 
If, however, any Aus tralians now in Engl and desire to volunteer for enrolment i n the Bri t i sh Army, they should apply to Australia House (Room 206 ), Strand, London W.C.2. for further informat:ion 
11/10/39. No •. 13. 
EMPIRE ANNOUNCEMENT. South Africa's Air Effort. 
Although South Africa, as Sir Kingsley Wood announced yesterday, is for various reasons unable to adopt a scheme for training Empire pilotsp as in Canada, South African circles in London were pointing out to-day that the Union has been by no means inactive. As far back as 1936, a five years' defence development plan was begun and had as one of its salien.t purposes the advanced training of pilots. 
In March last the Minister of Defence, Mr. Pirow, revealed that the pilot training scheme was well ahead of schedule. Of the total of 3 1 000 pilots required under.. -the programme by 1941, more than 2,000 had already been trained. 
Preliminary training has been carried out with the help of flying clubs all over the Union, and the Defence authorities have f'or several years past worked in close consultation with Great Britain in regard to .aircraft equipment -and the advanced training of personnel. 
11:10:1939 -No.14. 
El'IPIRE ANNOUNCEHI!NT Australian Welfare Bureau 
There has been a most gratifying response to the appeal for members for the Australian Women's Voluntary Service which has been constituted in r.ondon to organise and direct activities for the welfare of Australians in the war. 
The Enrolment Bureau was opened this morning at Australia House, and Mrs. Bruce and other members of the Cornr:1i ttee were busily engaged all day in enlisting helpers. 
The Bureau will be open daily from Monday till Fric1ay from 10 a.m, to 4 p.m. 
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11.10.39 No. 15. 
EMPIRE ANNOUNCEMENT 
FOOD CONTROL IN NORTHERN IRELAND 
FARMERS' ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE 
Conculding his tour of the County Committees of Ag:r.-iculture in Northern Ireland in the interests of increased food production, Sir Basi1 Brooke (the Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture:) said to-day -11 I am most gratified by the determination expressed on all sides and by every shade of opinion to do their utmost to increase food production and to make Ulster's contribution to victory one upon which it can look back with prideo 11 
The Minister discussed with each of the Committees the operations of the tillage campaign and the organisation which is being set up in each county to assist farmers in their work. In each county a War Agricultura:JL Executive Officer is beingestablished, and in each Rural District there will be an Area Officer whose duty it will be to ensure that farmers' requirements for feeding stuffs, fertilizers$ tractors, seeds, 
etc. are ascertained, and that the supplies are adequatelyand speedily distribut:e.d., 
The Minister assured farmers that prices would be such as to encourage the increased production from the land and that the nacessary J;lachinery ·would be forthcoming, not only for ploughing the increased acreage of 250,000 but also for harvesting the increased crops., 
He also emphasised that when full control of meat crone into operation, fat cattle would be purch~sed at the Certification. Centres at fixe.d prices; that the prices paidwould include the subsidy, and that fat ca•ttle would be purchase.d f'rom farmers~ The prices, which would be such as to giveconfidence to farmers, vmuld be made public in due course., and farmers would know before bringing their cattle to market what prices· would be. 
Sir Basil said that the interests of pig produc~rs would not only be carefully safeguarded, but that if farmers threw themselves whole-heartedly into the campaign for increa.sed tillage, pig producers could also look forward with everyconfidenc.e. to maintaining and increasing their output of pigs. 
The various County Committees of Agriculture enthusias­tically agree.d to co-operate with the Ministrye 
As a result of his tour, the Minister gained the definite impression that the farmers of Northern Ireland would not be content merely to put an additional one-tenth of their arable land (at present under grass) under the plough, but would sea to it that that maxi mum figure is exceB.d.ed. 

Some mi sunderstnnding seems to have arisen as a result of a reference to the demands that will be made upon man power in agriculture as a result of the recent procl amation calling up men between the ages of 20 and 22. 
Although the proclamation related generally to all men within this age group , its effect will in practice be limited by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. All men within the age group will be required to register but since the Schedule reserves farmers and most classes of farm workers at the age of 21 years, the result will be thE•.t t he only men in these reserved occupations who will actually be called to the CoJ_ours 1rvi11 be those who were between the ages of 20 and 21 at the date of the proclamation. 
M.A.F. 58 
11/10/39. No. 17. 
NEWS FLASH. 
MINISTRY OF SUPPLY ANNOUNCEMENT. 
An accident took place at a proof range connected with one of the national munition factories to-day. An Army gunner was killed and six others were injured. 'rhe injuries sustained vmre not serious. One man had his arm broken1 whilst the other five suffered from scrstches and bruises. 
lltc October, 1939. No. 18. 
WAR OFFICE 1-\..NNOUNCEMENT. 
It has been decided that in the national interests it is not possible to extend the use of abbreviated telegr aphic addresses beyond those contained in the official list for the use of Government departments. 
There is no objection to the use of short addresses when these are clear to the censors. For instance, "Reuters London" would be passed, but "Hallo Southampton" would not. 
It will greatly facilitate the work of the telegraphic censors and consequently reduce the delay on cable messages if the senders, when handing in messages, would add a short explanation of their purport. For example "attached cable refers to the wool trade11 , "merinos is a trade term", "refers to stocktakings"5 or "refers to a ~icy number". 
Many telegrams are now accompanied by such explanatory note. If this practice were extended much delay would be obviated. 
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\0\ 	NOT FOR PUBLICATION ;:,HETHER BY BROADCAST~ CLUB TAPES, OR IN .ANY OTHER FORM, RSFORE THE MORNING P.APERS OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12th. 
ARJ."VIISTICE DAY. 
The King has decideM that, in view of the outbreak of war, the usual service at the Cenotaph shall not be held this year; and the GoverTu~ent feel that in present circumstances it would be preferable that other Jarge services which it has been the custom to hold throughout the countI"'J on Armistice Day should not be held. In view of the risk of confusion with the air-raid warning signals, it vnll not be possible to signal a Two-Minutes' Silence as in previous years. 
November 11th will, however, be observed as Poppy Day, as hitherto~ and the British Legion are making the usual arrangements for the sale of poppies in aid of Earl Haig's Fund. 
In past years it has been the general practice to hold special Services in places of worship on the Sunday before .Armistice Day. This year, it is proposed that Sunday November 12th shall be obser7ed as a Day of Remembrance and Dedication; and an announcement regarding the observance of that day is being issued by the Archbishop of canterbury after consultation vdth the authorities of the principal Christian Communions in this country, 
HOME OFFICE, 
11th October, 1939, 

NOT RlR PUBLICATION WHE'lliER BY BROADCAST, CLUB TAPES,
. . OR IN .ANY OTHER FORM BR.HORE THE MORli2:NG PAPERS OF 
THURSDAY,OC'.IOBER 12tho 

The following announcement has been issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury: 
Hie Majesty the King and his Government have decided. that in present conditions .Armistice Day, November lHh, cannot be observed in the customary manner~ There is of course no reason why Church Services or in country places small gatherings of people at the local War Memorials should not be held as heretofore. But for obvious reasons large crowds cannot assemble i.'l'.t the open air and any signalling of the Two Minutes Silence is impossible. 
Yet even although the nation is once again entering the terrible ordeal of wa;r it cannot be right that it should seem in any way to be forgetful of the men who died f"or it in the last war. One practical way of remembedx.g -them will be to support the British Legion in thei~ sale of Poppies on Armistice Day itself. But it will be widely felt that we owe to these men a fuller and deeper :remembrance --one whi-')h may link the memories of the past with the call of tte present and both retain and give a new expression to the associations of .Armisticetideo 
It is therefore proposed with the full approval of the King and the Government and after consultation with the authorities of the principal Christian Communions in this country that Sunday November 12th, the Sunday which this yea:r immediately follows Armistice Day, should be observed as a Day of Remembrance and Dedication. Its object could not be better described than by the fair.ous words of' Abraham Lincol.:.'l -"~ "rt is for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to the cause for whi~h they gave · the last full measure of devotion.. n 
It is hoped that this two-fold thought of remembrance and dedication will guide the· words spoken and the prayers offered on this Sunday-:1n all pl.ace~-of-worship throughout the country. 

From Foreign Office News Department. 
The Polish Foreign Minister, M. August Zaleski reached London by air from Paris this morning. Among those who met him at the aerodrome were the Polish Ambassador, Count Raczynski and M~. Oliver Harvey, representing Lord Halifax. 
In the afternoon H. Zaleski visited the Foreign Office and had a long conversation with Lord Halifax. Later he ppoceeded to No.10 Dovming Street where he saw the Prime Minister. 
In the evening Count Raczynski gave a dinner for M, Zaleski at the Polish Embassy when arnong those present were Lord Halifax, Sir John Simbn, Lord L1acmillan 9 Major Attlee, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Sir Howard Kennard 9 General Carton de Hiart, Viscount Cecil, Lord Camrose and Lord Melchett. 
Tomorrow morning M. Zaleski will have an audience of the King at Buckingham Palace, Later he will be the guest of His Majesty's Government at a luncheon over which Lord Halifax w~ll preside. 
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11/10/39. No, 22. FLASH. ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE. In yesterday' a conrrnunique details were given of the 

in the North Sea on Monday. 
An attack, delivered, the same day, on a cruiser squadron was reported, but apart from the fact, now confirmed, that no ship was hit and no casualties were --S.UB-tai.ned,.-~ls 
~·-· -. -·--·--~­
w~re then lacking. 
A .:e~~~t f.rom_t.b.e.-..c:J:>U.i.s.e.P-flquadron has now 
he.en-received. 

It reports that the enemy's attack was-as 'prolonged as it was unsuccessful. It continued for over five hours-and me~e than a hundred bombs were dropped~ Of-these, one a.a.l.vo_, fell near enough to throw a few splinters on to a Bri.tish · 
._.-cru.isat'"·;----t:he.-o~£e-1_J..-wi..da-,. .. 6Q!U-9-t.i.me-s __a-~_ wi-de, 
Admiralty, 
Whitehall, 



s.w.1. 
11/10/3.2 No. 23. 

F L A S H 
MINISTRY OF SUPPLY ANNOUNCEMENT. 
An agreement for the exchange of Russian timber for certain quantities of rubber and tin was today concluded between the Soviet Trade Delegation in London and the Ministry of Supply. 
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From Foreign Affairs. 

11/10/39 No. 24. 
NEWS FL ASH 
OFFICIAL FRENCH COMMUNIQUE -EVENING. 
11 Activity of enemy patrols continues and grows stronger between Moselle and Saar. Artillery action on both sides in same region". 
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. :·"· 
FROU THE ViI NI STRY 11/10/39 -No. 25. OF ECON01'aC VJ/ RP.ARE. 
Monsieur Georges Pernot, the r.rench Minister of Blockade, has been in London on a two-day visit. He was accompanied by Monsieur Charles Rist, Chairman of the Consultative Committee to the Ministry of Blockade, and Monsieur de la Baume, Head of Department in the Ministry. 
Fron the very beginning of the war the Ministry of Economic Varfare has worked in the fullest co-operation with the corresponding French authorities, and a French liaison mission of twenty officials, headed by Monsieur Paul Morand, is })erme.nently established in the Ministry of' :economic V/arfare. More recently the French Gover·nment cereated a special Ministry of Blockc-de in Paris, and Mons ieur Pernot's visit to London to confer with i'!Ir. Ronald Cross, 11Iinister of Econmnic r:arfa.re, has enabled the two Ministers to review the progress so f e.r achieved and to concert still closer measures o~ policy for the future. 
Monsieur Pernot a.nd his advisers l eft for Paris this after•noon. 
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