12th October, 1939• No.l. HEWS FLASH. French Official C01m:11unique, No• .. 77!.­ Between the Moselle and the Rhine the activities of first-line units spread during the night over many parts of the front. From Forei gn Affnirs. . --"""" .:!1L.1.QD9 -No.2 PRESS NOTICE THE FOLLOWING ARE THE IMPRESSIONS OF A FRENCH OBSERVER WHO WAS ALLOWED TO PAY A SEMI-OFFICIAL VISIT TO BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE THROUGH FRENCH EYES We in France have already read a great deal about the British troops, its good humour and efficiency, but it is only recently that one has had a first-hand opportunity of learning why the British soldiers have been welcomed with such enthusiasm~ After three days spent at the British G.H.!1., there is no doubt of our Allies' great qualities: their sense of discipline, their faith in the cause they are serving, their quiet resolution and, above all, the perfection of their moral. But. it was the purely personal contacts I made during my three days that impressed me most. To begin with, the appearance of the British officers at once shows the difference between our two armi~s. Bare sleeves, no goldbraid on the caps, no stars or oak leaves -small details perhaps, but things which give the British troops a colour and character of their own. There is none of the brilliance and frills, feathers and show toat we on the Continent associate with 'the military'. Instead, the British uniforms have the air of being tailored "pour le sport". So much so, indeed, that the absence of decoration and conspicuous badges of rank makes it very difficult for sentries and private soldiers, who have to spend their lives peering at officers' shoulders for th~ 'pips' in order to know whom to salute! But as people, British and French officers are much the same 1n authority and discipline, both are tempered with elegance and good humour. Of the 'Tommies' I can say that they have one great gift -a remarkable ability to make themselves at home at once. Between admiring the meohantcal perfection of their anti-aircraft guns and mortars, I found them very much like our own soliders. They sit around smoking, writing letters home, sleeping and playing cards. You will find the hurnourist and the dreamer -they are like ordinar~· soldiers in any country. The farmer, in 1;vhose house several 1)ri'Irates of one unit were billetted, could think of only one thing to say of them: "Ils sont gentils, tres gentils". In their quarters, wash-places were improvised everywhere. One met that clean scent of soap that we French people associated with the British soldier twenty years ago. The Colonel took me round to see one 'bathroom'. It was in a disused barn. .As we entered there was a spluttering from a cattle-trough in the corner, and a torso came into view. The bather apologised for being in such an undignified situation in the presence of a superior officer, but the colonel waved formality aside: "Go on with your bath, and don't mind us". And the kitchens! As a 1''renchman I must raise my ti.at. The -2 ­ British soldter's open air kitchen with its ovens and fires is so much better than the mobile field-kitchen of the French. And if if rains? VJell, there is a special tin of petrol handy to revive the flames. The English think of everything. The cook, who was making the soup for our lunch, was asked how he liked the food in France. He replied; "The food's fine, but the beer's terrible". I found a hospital installed in a Louis XIII Chateau, Armorial bearings, priceless t apestries and golden sconces looked down on the long lines of dazzlingly white beds. When I arrived, the Colonel in charge looked at his wrist watch, saw it-was five o'clock, and asked the inevitable question "Will you have a cup of tea". Nurses in grey and Army 'sisters' with red collars moved through the wards, bringing back recollections of the uniform made immortal by Nurse Gavell. Here again I saw the wonderful English talent for organisation at work. The Colonel told me how the hospital had been installed. Within two days of receiving permission from the owners of the Chateau, all the furniture had been taken out and stored. One week later beds, operating tables, laboratories, and medical stores were in place, down to the last towel. Hundreds of thousands of tons of materials had been transported from England, despite danger from air and submarine, without the loss of a single blanket. Once more I realised the naval might of England. In this period Chate au, set in a magnificent park, the British solider will find a corner of England; will find his favourite distractions; meet his own priest or minister; read his own newspapers and smoke his own tobacco. Outside, in village streets where the population has been doubled and re-doubled overnight, there is a heavy overtone -the constant rumbling of heavy lorries, armoured cars, artillery,mounted machine guns -rolling past. Directing the traffic are t wo men in uniform: the village policeman, with big moustaches and many medals, faced by a 'Tommy' wearing the while sleeves of the London traffic cops. The Bnglishman stamps his feet in the morning frost, and says "Pretty cold morning". The village policeman doesn't understand a word, but grins happily and responds by a ser~es of gymnastic steps. Both laugh in friendly f ashion, while the endless stream of war machines grind their way past the cross-roads. The English are used to far-flung expeditions, and know how to cater for the Army' s requirements. Along the routes, and concentra­ted at supply points, are the thousand and one things needed to keep an army in being. Nothing has been forgotten -not a marmalade spoon, not a reel of cotton thread. Everything is in its place and there is a place for everything. In no spirit of bravado, with no flourish of trumpets, has this great British Army come to our shores. His Majesty's soldiers, like his French comrades, wear an air of cold resolution -they are men who have come to accomplish a necessary task. -3 ­ No army has ever been better equipped; no army has ever taken the field with such supplies of guns and ammunition. . My general impression, after spending three days with the British Army is that our Allies' moral is ready for anything. It is the mqral of an united nation, which has put all its forces at the service of a war in the cause of justice, freedom and the peace of humanity. WAR. OFFICE WHILEHALL s.w.1. ,. FOR l.lORNING PAP.CJS CT!LY, NOT TO BE Pm=rr:.,ISH8D ON 'I'HE CLUB T.AP:CS OR BY BRO.UJCAJ'I' OR m _4HY OTIIBR 1:Ay' BRLi'OR,1!; THL iD?.:rrr:TG OP I:'RIDAY 13TH OC'rOBER, 1939. I ssuGd through NeviS Division 12/10/39 l';o. 3. -----------~---------------­ Posters arc nrnv exhibited at Hinistry of Labour and National Service Looal Off ices, Municipal Offices, Po:Jt Offices and Police Stations stating that Saturday, .?:l-~~tobe£..:.__~Q._3~, is the date which has been fi:;ccd for the rcgistration of i:ion who vwrc rnade liable for rnilitary service under the National Service (.\r E1ed Forces) Act "'uy virtue of the Proclanntion signed by His Majesty the King on the 1st October, 1039. 1. Hegistration. All male British subjects Yri th:Ln Groat Britain who are not already registered under t 1:1e Mili tary Training Act ~C.. paragt'aph 2 below·) and nho on 1st October, 1939 had attained the age of 20 but had not attained the age of 22 (1.-rith certain exceptions, l3E.~. paragraph 10 below·) o.ro required to attend for registration under tho Act at a Local Office of the Ministry of Labou:...~ and National Service on Saturday 21st October. l:Ien liable to be called up for service under the Act who arc outside G~rcat Dritnin on tho 21st October arc required to appl,Y i'or registration at a Local Office of tho l!Iinistry of' Labour and ~·lational Service within seven aays of -Ghc d.D. te of their return to Great Britn.in. Hen living six miles or more from a Hinistry of Labour and National Service Office or men suffering from some pcrir.ancnt incapacity may fill up a registration form and post it on the 21st October to a Ministry of Labour n.nd Nationn.l Service Offic0. Forms for this purposG may be obtained n.t any Ministry of Labour and National Service Offioe or at the local Post Office. Men v1ho for good cause, e. G•, illness,, fail to apply for registration on the 21st October must do so as soon as :?OSsible thereafter. />JJ.y nnn who fails \:r.i thout good cause to register himself on the 2lst October renders himself liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding .:S5. At the time of registration men '\'Vill be required (a) to produce their National Re gistration Identity Cnrds; o.nd (b) to produce their Unemployment Book or givc the nu1:;bcr of the book if they hn.ve one; and (c) to furnish certain necessary information including particulo.rs of t heir occupation. All men \7ho r egister should muko sure that they receive n. r egistration certificate. This certificate should be co..refully preserved and rrust be produced for inspection at t ho rc~~ost of a. police constable in unifor~. fu1y change of address must be notified ir:imediately by raturc.ing tho certificate f or n.menc1ment. In the interests of good organization and to avoid unnecessary Yrniting and delay men arc asked to attend as far as possible n.t the following times: M:en uhose surnames (A to B should a ttcnd beti.-rccn 12 noon and 1 p.m. commence \7ith the (c to P should attend bctrrcen 1 p. m. and 2 p.m. letters - (G to J should a t t cnd botrrocn 2 J?•m. .LISTG. The War Office states that the response t0 the appeal for language specialists for special duties with the Corps of Military Police has had phen0menal and gratifying results. All applications are being dealt with systematically and will be acknowledged as soon as possible. There may be a certain amount of delay, as each application requires special consideration. A number of applicants are already under training. The work of classifying applicatirns and interviewing applicants is SC'mewhat impeded by candidates whose pr0fessed fluency in foreign languages solidifies on interview into a few phrases of love and abuse. Immediate requirementsft\r special duties have new been filled and nC> further applicati0ns can be eonsidered. Should further applicants be required notificaticn will be made in the press. It will take some time to absorb can.did.ates whc have beell. selected but training is being pushed forward t0 the limit of opportunity. 12/10/39 -No. 6.j NEWS FLASH. A report has been circulated from Berlin that Polish troops have employed yellow cross gas mines obtained from Britain. This is based on the allegation that, at Jazlo on September 8th, 14 casualties occurred, of which 4 were fatal; these were attributed to the use of yellow cross gas by the Poles. Professor Rudold Staehelin, of Easels according to this reportj examined the 10 casualties 9 and said that 9 showed effects of yellow cross gas. It is authoratitively stated that no gas in any form whatsoever has been supplied at any time to Poland by Great Britain. Britain and Poland are, like Germany, signatories of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. No justification has hitherto occurred for any breach of this treaty. +++++++++++++++++++ Unofficial comment on German allegation that Poles used gas mines obtained from Britain: In the past, German breaches of international conventions have frequently been immediately preceded by false allegations that their opponents have committed such breaches. WAR OFFICE ; WHITEHALL, s.w.1. 12/10/39. No. 10. For tomorrow' ::3 pa1Jers2 not for broadcast. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CONTROLLER OF THE ANGLO­ITALIAN CL~ARING OFFICE. Anglo-Italian Clearing Agreement. The Controller of the Anglo-Italian Clearing Office announces that up to the close of business on the 30th September, 1939, £18,467,030 had been credited to the Sterling General Account. This sum has been allocated and payment made as under:- Allocatea. Paid -y- Current Trade Debts :­ Sterling New Account (a) Sterling Coal Sub-Account Sterling Sub-Account "D11 11 A11 Sterling Arr>ears Account :­ Trade Debt .Arrears (b) 2,947,110 2,928,117 Institute Nazionale per i Cambi con l'Estero 440,000 440,000 11 C11 aterling Arrears Account :­ Financial remittances 1,110,555 1,092,501 Unallocated 62 £18,214,777 (a) Under the Clearing A~reement dated 6th November~ 1936. (b) Includes amounts dealt with through the Sterling Arrears Account 11 B" of the Clearing Agreement dated 6th November, 1936. At the close of business on the 30th September, 1939, paymentshad been made to United Kingdom creditors in respect of lire deposits made on the following dates :­ 11 A Sterling Arrears Account 11 12th September, 1939. 11 Coal Sub-Account . . . • . . 11th August 5 1939. 11 11 D11 Sub-Account (Goods)••.• 27th April, 1939. ISSUED BY THE CLEARING OFFICES 9 CROMWELL ROAD~ S.. KENSINGTON, s. w. 7. FOR TO-HOR.L{OW'S PAPERS. NOT FOR BROADCAST. 12/10/39 -No.11. ANNOU1'TCEMENT BY THE CONTROLLER OF THE ANGLO-.ROUM.ANIAN CLEARING OFFICE . .ANGLO-ROUMANIAN PAYMENTS AGREEMENTS. 2nd Seutember, 1938 and 12th July2 1932· The Controller of the .Anglo-Roumanian Clearing Office announces that the amount received into the Clearing Accounts in respect of debts due for Roumanian goods from 12th September, 1938, up to the close of business on 30th September, 1939) including balances totalling £177,414 derived£rom the previous Agreements, was £4,707,264~ after allowing for Oil Companies' transactions under Article 3(1L the sum of £4,153,111 was available ~ of which £75,370 was made available during September, 1939. In addition, the sum of £20,404 was advanced by the National Bank of ~oumania under Article 14 (4) for Clearing purposes. This advice and. the sum of &645,032 representing outstanding advances from the previousAgreement, are repayable in accordance with the previsions of Article 14(4). ALLOCATION AND DISPOSAL. Paid and Allocated in course of payrnent £ £ Roumanian Public debt etc. Short Term Banking Credits 5Trade Debts etc. 7911707 80,339 556,373 79,725. (1) Outstanding Debts Due before 1st August, 1935 Due after 31st July, 1935 for Imports of United Kingdom Goods before 12th September, 1938. 198,868 135,406 193,944 135,406 (2) Current Exports (United Kingdom Goods Account) (3) Roumanian Government Purchases (United Ki ngdomGooa_s). 210,570 209,990 (4) Compensation Trade:­ (i) United Kingdom Goods 529,738 482,427 (ii) Goods from any Country 451,450 . 394,424 Miscellaneous Remittances (General United Kingdom Account) 568,411 (a) 563,245 Shipping and Insurance Remittances (Miscellaneous Account) 13,228National Bank of Roumania 3L~2, 179 ~42,17~ £L~ , 173, 515 £3 ,L~2, 70 (a) This sterling is held by the Clearing Office in Sub-Accounts in the names of Roumanian authorised banks. To settle their debts due to United Kingdom Creditors, Roumanian Debtors must :purchase this sterling from these authorised banks, at whose request the Clearing Office makes payment. The Clearing Office is not aware of the extent to which the unpaid utJ,l ances may have been sold forward. ISSUED BY THE CLEARING OFFICESY CROIVIV'/ELL ROAD, s. KENSINGTON j s.w.7. FOR TOMORROW'S PAPERS. NOT FOR BH.OADC_1\ST 12/10/39 -No.12 ANHOUNCEMENT BY THE CONTROLLER OF THE .ANGLO-TURKISH CLEARING OFFICE ANGLO-TURKISH TRADE AND CLEARING AGREEMENT. The Controller of the Anglo-Turkish Clearing Office announces that up to the close of business on the 30th September, 1939, the amounts received into the Clearing Account and the various Sub-Accounts, and the amounts paid from the latter under advices received from the Central Bank of Turkey, were as follows:­ Account Receipts Pa~ents £ £ Sub-Account Sub-Account :i Outstanding and current trade debts. 1,272,356 1,216,228 Sub Account B Central Bank of Turkey. 819,605 819,605 Sub-Account c Compensation Trade. 853'166 805,498 Sub Account D Special exports for liquidationof outstandingdebts 2,914 2,914 2'948 ,041 2,844,245 The amount of deposits awaiting transfer on 30th September, 1939, was approximately £2,018,000. At the close of business on 30th Septemper, 1939, payments had been made to the United Kingdomcreditors from Sub-Account A in respect of deposits made in the SpecialAccount of the Central Bank of Turkey on 25th November, 1936. ISSUED BY THE CLEARING OFFICERS, CROMVVELL RO.AD 9 S. KENSINGTON, s.w.7. JTssued through the Ne11vs Divison Senat e Houseo 12.10.39 No. 13 OVERSEAS TOBACCO FUND OVER A MILLION_QJGARET'.l'ES Within the first week, over a million cigarettes have been contributed through the Over seas League, St James's for our men at the front, sufficient to cover 45 miles of "the Wcsitern line. soon contributions will be pouring in from British people in all countries Of the world for the Tobacco Fund, and for the Field Forces' Fund for hamperso Among recent subscriptions received are; "A small subscription from the worlm1en of Croft 1 s Fruit Farm This will be a vveekly gifto 11 • From 11 Two old Army pensioners11 o "A first instalment from the crew of the Auxiliary Yacht Trada Winds, South Devon11 ; and 10/-frorn a small boy of 8 in Penarth; 11it represents his pocket money11 o ----~----~ --~ ~ -­ 12/10/~9. No. 14. NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE THE MORNING OF OCT.13th. INDIA OFFICE ANNOUNCEMEN"T. The Governor General of India has decided to appoint Sir Abdul Qadir to fill the temporary vacancy on his Executive Council created by the deputation of Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan to represent the Government of India in connection with the forthcoming discussions between His Majesty's Government and the Dominion Ministers in London. Sir Abdul Qadir was until r ecently one of the advisors to the Secretary of State for I~dia. 12/10_D_9-=. .. No o 15. De·putation from Manchest~.1> Sir Maurice Holmes, Permanent Secretary to the Board of Education today received a deJmtation from the Emerc;ency Committee of the Manchester Corporation under the Chairmanship of Alderman Sir ·Noton Barclay. Other member~ of the deputation were: ­Alderman Woollam, Alderman WriGht Robinson, The Town Clerk and the Director of Education, Mr. w.o. Lester Smith. The deputation urged that the Boards decision to allow Manchester Grammar School to re-open was likely to bring back children who had been evacuated, and was likely to have repercussions not only on other secondary schools but also on elementary schools generally. In reply, ~he Secretary to the Board stated that the Board's decision to allow the Manchester Grammar School to re-open was in pursuance of a decision taken by the Government on September 22nd that secondary schools in evacuation areas might be allowed to re­open at the discretion of the President of the Board, or the Secretary of State for Sc0tland, as the case might be, provided that (1) the school was situated close to the fringes, or in a relatively sparsely populated portion of the area; (2) that re­opening should not take place until such protection as the A.R.P. authority thouGht necessary had been provided; (3) that it was made clear to parents that the attena.ance of the pupils was entirely at their discretion. In so far, therefore, as the Deputation's case rested on the unwisdom of reo:penincs any secondary schools in evacuation areas, it was answered by the Government 1 s decision, to which he had referred. It only remained, therefore, for him to justify the exercise of the Board's discretion in allmving the Manchester Grammar School to open. As to this, he regarded their action as fully justified in view of the proximity of the school to the evacuation boundary, the exce1;itionally high age ran0e of the pupj_ls and other special considerations. The Deputation had referred to the repercussions of the Board's decision not only on other secondary schools but on elementaryschools generally. On this the Secretary pointed out that the Government's decision did not extend beyond the very limited number of secondary schools v-:rhich complied with the conditions, and. that even in the case of those schools the Board intended to exercise their discretion only in really exceptional cases. The Government 1 s policy, which the Ministr~r of Health and the Board of Education were doing all they could to implement, was definitely that there should be no relaxation of the principles on which evacuation was based, and they ho1)ed that any raeflux of children to evacuation areas would ~e checked by all the forces at the Authorities' command. 12/10/39 -No.17. PRESS NOTICE FROM THE HOME OFFICE. The Government have introduced a Bill into Parliament on the lines of similar legislation during the last war for the suspension of local ·elections in Great Britain, including the borough Council elections which would in the ordinary course, be held on 1st November, and the Scottish town council elections, which wou.'.d be held on the 7th November next. The Bili proposes that the term of office of the existing aldermen and councillors shall be extended, and that provision shall be made for the filling of casual vacancies. The latest date for publishing the new register of electors will be postponed from the 15th October to the 15th November. It is propo·se.d that the measure should be of a temporary character and should not continue in force beyond the 31st December 1940 unless Parliament should later otherwise decide. 12/10139 No 18 FOREIGN AFFAIRS NOT TO BE RELEASED UNTIL 9.30 P.M. OCTOBER 12TH Monsieur Zaleski 9 the Polish Foreign Mlnister, broadcasting in English from London this evening ~after recalling his p~evious visits as a student and as -t:1. worker for F'olish independence during the GreRt War) emphasized the fact that after twenty-five years England and France were again fighting against the same disturber of the peace. "I am deeply impressed, 11 he said, "by the determination of our great allies to carry on the struggle no mat t er what sacrifices it might entail, no matter how long it 'may l ast." To capitols in north and south-east Europe wondering whether the cause of liberty is lost in Europe 9 he would say "Be of good cheer -I have seen at work the war-machines of Great Britain an~ France . Poland is also carrying on the fight". The oppression of the invaders was the price Poland was paying for the allied victory. Issued through the News Division Senate House 12.10.39 -No.19. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE. The Rt~ Hon. Richard Gardiner Casey, D.S.O., M.C. Minister for Supply and Development, who is reported to be coming to London for the consultations which have been announced between Empire statesmen, was born in Brisbane (Queensland) 29th August, 1890. Son of the late Richard Gardiner Casey and Mrs. R.G. Casey. Educated at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and subsequently at Melbourne University and Cambridge University (Trinity College). Second Class Honours Mechanical Science Tripos. B.A. 1913. M.A. 1918. Served European War with the Australian Imperial Forces 1914-1918 in Gallipoli and France. Bri~ade Major 8th Australian Infantry Brigade 1916-1917. G.S.O. (2) (Training) Australian Corps, February-April, 1918. G.S.O. (2) (Operations) May-November~ 1918. (Mentioned in despatches three times ­D.S.O., M.C.J. In business in Melbourne in connection with mining and engineering enterprises 1919-1924. Married in 1926, Ethel Marion Sumner Ryan, only daughter of the late Surgeon-General Sir Charles Ryan. One son, one daughter. Joined the Commonwealth External Affairs Department October 1924 and was posted as Political Liaison Officer between the British and the Commonwealth Governments in London with office in the Cabinet Secretariat Building at 2 Whitehall Gardens. With the exception of six months interval in 1927, during which he returned to Australia and moved the External Affairs Department from Melbourne to Canberra, was in London in this appointment from November 1924 until February 1931. Contested and won the ~ederal Electorate of Corio in the interests of the United Aust~alia Party at the General Election in December 1931. Became Assistant Treasurer and Member of the Cabinet in September 1933, Treasurer in October 1935 and Minister ~~r Sunply and Development in 1939. Mr . Casey was one of the Australian representatives at the Coronation of King George V1, and a delegate to the Imperial Conference in London in 1937. Mr. Casey was created a member of the Privy Council in March, 1939. l.2/10/390 -Noo 20~ FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE MORNING PAPERS OF FRIDAY, 13TH OCTOBER 1939. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave a l.uncheon party at the Carlton Hotel yesterday in honour of Monsieur August Zale;ski, Polish Minister for Foreign i.Aff'airs. The; following accepte,d invitations to be present:­ His Exc~ll.ency the Polish Ambassadoro Genera'l Mie.czysJLaw Norwid Neugebauer. Monsieur Jan Ciechanowski. Monsieur Antoni Jai.zdzewgki., The Prime Mfnist_er. The Rto Hono Sir Kingsley Woodo The, Rt. Hone W.S. Morrisono The Most Hon. the Marquess of Crewee The Rt. Hon. the Lord Snell.e Major The RTo Hono Sir Archibald Sinclair. General Sir Edmund Ironside-., The Hon. Sir Alexander Cadogan. Sir Howard Kennard • General Adri.rui Carton de Wiart. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Francis Humphry5. Sir Orme Sargent. Mr Oliver Harvey. Mr. I.A. Kirkpatricke Major Sir Eric Crankshawo Jr.ssued through the News Division Senate House. NEW·~EALAND APPROVES AIR EXPANSION SCHEME First com'Tlents received from New Zealand, regarding Sir King­sley Wood's Air Expansion scheme, show that it is being welcomed by the New Zealand Press. "The Dominion", one of Wellington's leading papers, says;­"Although there is heartening evidence that the Royal Air Force has established its superiority and won the initiative....... it is reassuring that the Imperial authorities are making provision to ensure that Britain's supremacy in the Air will not be threatened by an inadequacy of highly trained and efficient personnel". This article also observed that an important advantage of the scheme, apart from comparative freedom from risk of enemy air attack, is that it will equip New Zealand and other Dominions for the training of aviation staff for the great expansion o:f commercj_al aviation. which is certain to develop after the War. The "Wew Zealand Evening Post" describes the scheme as "Another outstanding example of the f arsighted and efficient planning which has characterised the conduct of this war by Britain from the very outset••.••.. to the initial advantage of the Royal Air Force so notably described by the Secretary of State for Air in his broadcast of the 11th October the new scheme should give a permanent and increasing lead•.•...••.• It is the men who count the most. No.22. BOARD OF TR./\.DE ANNOUNCEMENT. The Board of Trade have made an Order under Regulation 55 of the Defence Regulations,1939, prohibiting the sale or supnly of imported dyestuffs and intermediates except under authority of a licence, and they have appointed Sir Robert Waddington to be Controller of Dyestuffs, with power to issue licences under the Order. Enquiries and anplications for licences should be addressed to the Controller of Dyestuffs at the Board of Trade Offices, 42, King Street, West , Manchester, 3. Board of Trade , 12th October, 19390 \ \ \ \ ,, 12/10/39 No. 23. MINES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMEN1f. PETROL ALLOWANCES FOR COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS. Officials of the Petroleum Division of the Mines Department to-day discussed the petrol rationing scheme as it effects commercial travellers with representatives of the UNITED COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS ASSOCIATION, the National Union of Commercial Travellers 9 and the Manufacturers Agents Association. The meating was also attended by representatives of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce the London Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries, and certain large business concerns employing several thousand travel]ers. It was pointed out that commercial travellers felt strongly the need of obiaining a larger allowance of petro~ but the difficulty of increasing the present allowance in the light of war time conditions was appreciated. Methods by which available supplies might be distrubuted to better advantage were discussed and are to be considered by the: Secretary for Mines. 12.10.39 -No.24. FLASH NEWS. French Official Communique. Oct. 12th. Evening. "There were ambushes 8.nd patrols on both sides. "Our advanced units were active, particul arly in the "region south of Saarbrucken". FROM FOREIGN AFFAIRS.