28L1-.Q/J9____.-.;.N._o_1;;;,.:... FOR RELEASE AT 10..lL· M. f?J:\..JURDAY }.~0£(1'LING, OCTOBprn .28TH. £>RESS NOTICJ~L_JL_Q_R .1§.§.."QE___±O NEWSPAPE~ NEvVS AGENCIES AND PHOTOGRAPHIC AGENCIES. . Over 300 :punrps and 4 fire 1)oats will be brought into action in the J_,ondon area to-morr•ow (Sunday), and about 1,500 officers and firer11en, mainly of the Auxiliary FiPe Service, will be engaged .in two large-scale exercises~ ThesG arc ] art of the series of such exercises which are being held to 2ractise the arrangements for mobilising fire-fighting forces in the l1ondon Region to deal with serious outbreaks of fire which might occur as the result of air-raids. The first will be at Willesden. Three serious fires will be assumed, two at l ar ge factories and one at a power station. Shortly afterwards another raid will be assumed at Barking~ and three "conflagrations" will be reported, one at a petroleum depot., another at a timber yard, and the third at a power station. Confidential Note The Y\lillesden exercise will begin at 7 o 1 clock, (a.m.) and the pumps will be concentrated on Messrso Heinz's factory, Messrs McVitie & Price's biscuit factory~ and the North Metropolitan Electrical Power Station. The Barking exercise will begin at ~1.30 a~Jn. The "fires" will be_at Barking power station, and at a petr>-0leum de.pot and a timber yard at Barking Creek. It is requested that newspapers will not print in advance the times of the exercises or the addresses of the factories, etc, as it is desired as far as possible to avoid the gathering of spectators. The Barking exercises will be directed by the Chief' Officer of the Barking Fire Brigade , Mr. E.G.Uobbs, who will be available to Press representatives to furnish any explanations desired at the Central Fire Station, Alf'red1 s Way, Barking, at 11..o.a.m. on Sunday Press Officer, Ministry of Home Security, 28th October,1939. 28/10/39 -NO. 2. FRENCH O:.G'FICIAL COMUUNIQUE (MORNING) The following communique wo.s issued from French G.H.Q, this morning:­ 11A quiet night on the entire front." -----... 000-----..­ ?8/10/39 -No. 3, EMPIRE SECTION. fliil'.ER ~.I.'HAT LAST.§__J~O YEARS. INDIAN INDUSTRY REVIVEDo The hand-mn.de pnper industry is being revived in India and information on methods of manufacture has been collected from various parts of India by the Botanical Survey of India. A sample of hand-made pnper obtained from Ne1)0.l is adjudged to last for 1,000 years or morer. Hand-made papers are prepo.red in J.tlanipur Stnte and being durable are still used for writing sacred or valuable documents. The Kashmir paper industry has remained unchanged ever since its introduction in the reign of Zain..-ul-Abdel (1420-1470) 9 who imported paper-makers from Srunarkand. Its methods 9 appliances and products have been p:::eserved unn1tered because of the excellence o.nd ingenuity of the original invention on which it was founded, ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. ~8 110/39 -No.L~~ N0'.12__FOR PUJ3LICATIQJT_B.P_FORP ...J.~_)~9_Q_N _§_ATJI.@AX..QCT9B:t;P,g__~~-~h..J..3.J.2 BOARD OF EDUCATION AID..JOUlTCEFlENT Speaking to a l a r ge assembly of teachers at Toddin8;ton, Gloucester, today, Lord De _La Harr Presia.ent of the Board of Education said. that about ~ million children had been evacuated. and about the same number had been left behind. 9 Evacuated children were now settling dovm and in many cases were seeing a totally new life. They were mixinc; with ne'N people getting fr$1h ~ood, fresh air and fresh experiences. For those left behind there were no such com·pensations. For them the streets and the cinema. Such a state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue indefin:!:tely, said Lord De La \'farr. "We cannot afford as a nation to let -;.} millions grow up as little barbarians and the Government have not the slightest fntention of doing so~"' There are already some minor activities ~oing on in the schools in the towns -admittedly inadeg_ua te on any long term basis, l)ut never­theless something -the question of if and when we can go further is under almost daily review ancl I hope to malrn a statement on future policy in regard to this question in the very near future. 11 The Germans tell us that t~~a vvar is now going ·~o start and it is a great responsibility to bring large numbers of child~en together in one school in danger areas, and a greater responsibility to do anything that may bring children back from com1)arative safety to such a reas. 11 The President pointed out that the lessons of the past few weeks had made it clear to him that an education that does not start till five and ended at fou:r>teen is not enough and the quality as well as the g_uanti ty also needed careful ex:amina tion. Character, sense of responsibility and the art of living had not al ways shown up during the past few weeks as well as it should be. Referring to the work in reception areas the President said that there had been many difficulties. To change '#: million evacuated day scholars into boardin.c; school children could not be done without causing somebody a lot of extra trouble and ·work. Teachers had had to bear the burden of this extra work and the President expressed his deep apJ._)reciation of the manner and the spirit in which it had been undertaken. 28.10.39. -No. 5. EMPIRE SECTION INDIANIZATION COMMITTEE The Government of India have amplified the terms of reference of the Committee considering the Indianization of the officer ranks of the Indian Army, to include investigation into the methods of recruitment and conditions of service of Indian Officers of the Royal Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. 2'8/10/39 -No 6. FROM FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DEPARTMENT .FOR rHNISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE . In connexion with the statement of the German Official Wireless on October 27th that 156 Swedish ships had been detained by the British Contraband Control since war began. the Ministry of Economic Warfare states that the actual figures up to October 25th are as follows: - Number of Swedish ships examined s 0 • • • 65 Number released without seizure of cargo • • . 43 Cargoes or part of cargoes detained•. o•••••••• 8 Still under consideration . • • . • o • • ~ • 14 ++++++++++++ 28.10.39 -No.7. EMJ?J..@__SE_Q.r:i;1._J;.Qli ~jg_@_BUQ_B_¥~_:UIT.nJ~~'l.1JONAL C. V. J?_QJ_L_~ ..:Z.Q)l'l.~~r_r-g;_ "_Q_Q_~O.V..RS Among the f ar11otis Irish sportsmen who have volunteered for service with the Forces is c.V. Boyle, the Lansdovme and Ireland Rugby three-quarter, who has joined a Searchlight Regiment in Belfast. He was a member of the British fifteen which toured Seuth Africa last year. The fact that compulsory military service was not made applicable to Ulster has not prevented the Province fr~m sending thousands of young men to the Colours. A young man this week walked from Downpatriek to Belfast, a distance of about 25 miles, to enlist, and was placed in the new anti-aircraft Regiment which is being recruited in Bells.st and which i5 now nearly at establishment. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. _ _ ,r _ _,.,...•. •. _ 28/10/39 -NO• 8, PRESS NOTICE. In response to represent2tions nnd in order to meet the needs of students rmd others who may wish to qualify themselves for possible future service in r ndio branches of the Defence Forces, the Royal Institution hns arranged a series of twelve lectures on Modern Wireless Communications by Professor C.L. Fortescue 9 Dr. R.L. Smith Rose 9 and Dr. E.V. Ap:pleton,F."R. ·S. The lectures will be given on consecutive Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5.15. p.m~ beginning on Tuesday, Ociober 3lst9 nnd they will derll with the important nspects both of the installations and of the transmission of signals. Tickets of admission may be obtained free of charge from the General Secretary, Royal Institution. ................. . ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. AIR MINISTRY BULLETINo Raider Forced Down In Scotland. A German aircraft which was attempting to carry out reconnaissance was forced down by our fighters this morning east of Dalkeitho A further bulletin wi 11 be issuea later. 28/10/39 -No.10. EMPIRE SECTION ULSTER PLOUGHING CAMPAIGN. A remarkably fine response has been made by the farmers of Ulster to the appeal for increased acreage under the plough, The aim of the Province is to increase its tillage by 250,000 acres, and to-day, only a week or two after the appeal, well over one-fifth of the additional area is being ploughed up for the production of all kinds of cereals. The Ulster Ministry of Agriculture states that nearly 8,000 applications have been received in respect of over 50,000 acres to be ploughed up and for which a State Grant of £2 per acre is payable, Fresh applications continue to pour into the Ministry daily. The Ministry also announce that farmers who purchase sulphate of ammonia between now and the end of the year will have no difficulty in securing all the supplies they require, but farmers are advised to purchase and take delivery of this fertiliser before 31st December. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BURE~ 28.10.39 -No.11. EEPIRE SECTION ~--...--.xz. ,. '• -~-""_.,,... ---~­ Recruits for all services continue to roll up in large numbers in Northern Ireland, and there is very little, if any, respite, at the recruiting centres. The North Irish Horse 9 Ulstert s new Light Tank Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps, will begin recruiting on the 10th November in the counties of Armagh, Fermanagh and T;srrone, and, judging by the number of young men who have already registered for enlistment, the Recruiting Officers are going to have no difficulty in securing the required establishment. An exceptionally high standard is being demanded. Fifty men, who form the nucleus of the new Unit have alread.y vndergone a training course 9 and a further thirty to forty will start a similar course next week so that instructors will be available for next month's volunteeras. Among the Officers are Sir Ronald Ross, Bt. M.P. (Ulster Unionist Party Whip at 1\festminster) who is in cornmru1d, Captain Lord O'Neill, and Captain C.N.L.Strange, M.P. The Earl of Erne is second in corm11ru1d. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. The War Office, Lendon, 3 . "V.1 . 28th October, 1939. The \Var Office ann':'unces that His Majesty '.!.'he King h&s been pleased to apprrve of the following appointments:- Golonel G.G. Jolly, C. I.B., M.B. 9 V.H.8., Indian Medical Service, to be Honorary Physician to The King, with effect from the 17th August 9 1939, in succession to Brevet Colonel tl. N. Chopra, C .I. ~., M.D. , Indian Medical Service, who has retired. Colonel J. Taylor, C.I.E., D.s.o., M.D., V.H.s., Indian Medical Service, to be H0norary Surgeon tr The r;:ing, with effect from the 30th August, 1939, in succession to Colonel Sir Alexander J.H. Russell, Knt., C.B.E., IvI.D., Indian Wedical Service, who has retired. \ ') The \Var Office, London, S.W.1. 28th October, 1939. A MILLION CIGARET'l'ES PROM LORu NU-11,PIELD The Over-Seas League Tobacco Pund has received a gift of £1,000 from Lord Nuffield, who in an accompanying letter says, "I gather fr0m your enclosure that this sum will be s.uf..fi.ci.e.nt~ to provide one millic n cigarettes for the troops". The heady_uarters cf the b,und is at Over-Geas House, St. James's, 8. V.l. The correspcndence being r eceived at the heady_uarters contains many tc"uching letY,e rs: ­A woman writes.;' , "I am sending yr-u my late husband's weddi11g ring to Duy cigarettes for our men". A father writes, "i'lease find enclosed 1/-from my little son for cigarettes." Anoth~r gift came frcm "an old woman who does net smoke". An evacuated schoolboy frcm London, aged 10, writes:­ "I enclose 1/-frc) cigerets. I thought I'de like to do rr~ bit in helping althGugh I'me only ten years old. I've been evacuated frcm L0ndcn. I am very lucey. I've got tviro shilliµg$ pocket mrney, i am sending 1/-out c·f it. Your's cincerly. 28.10.39 -No. 14. EMPIRE SECTION UNEMPLOYMENT IN INDIA Glli'iNTS FOR EDUCATED YOUTHS. The Government of the United Provinces have set apart a sum of Rs.140,000 to be given ~e grnnts to educated Indians under 30 years of nge to enRble those who have been trained in particular industry to set up in that industry or in business or trnde connected therewith, and .to help those who nre nlrendy in business or trnde to dev@lcp nnd expand their activities. Preference is give~ to groups of individunl s or co~operntive orgnnisntfons and to applications in conn~ction with handicrafts nnd cottage industries. Forty applications recently submitted to the Board resulted in grants of Rs. 12,800 to unemployed educnted young men to enable them to stnrt such small industries as enrunelling, wood-working, t nnning, dyeing, and printing, bee-keeping, l en.ther working, soaps and hair-oils. I SSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. 28.10.39 -No. 15. MINES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT The following messages of sympathy have been sent in conn·ection with the tragic disaster which has taken place at Valleyfield Colliery, Fifeshire. Telegrams sent to the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, Lord Lieutenant of Fifeshire: . "'rhe (\:·.: a(=m and I are deeply grieved to hear of the disaster at Valleyfield Colliery. Will you please convey our heart­felt sympathy to those who have been so sadly bereaved, and to keep us informed of the condition of the inju~ed and of the progressof the rescue work", Signed GEORGE R. I. Message from the Prime Minister to the Fife Coal Company Limited: "I have just heard this morning of the heavy loss of life in the explosion at Valleyfield Colliery, and I wish to express my profound sympathy with all those so suddenly and tragically bereaved". Signed. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN. Telegram sent by Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd, M,P., Secretaryfor Mines, to H.M. Divisional Inspector, Edinburgh: "I am distressed to hear of the disastrous explosion at Valleyfield Colliery t~is morning. Please convey a message of my deep sympathy to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives",. Signed GEOFFREY LLOYD. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. r 28.10039 No.16. MINISTRY OF HFALT'.H. Treatment of Sick Childreno The Minister of Health, Mr. Walter Elliot, who was accompanied by the Chief Medical Officer to the Ministry, has received a deputation from the British Paediatric Association, a body consisting of physicians specialising in the study of sick children and their treatment. The deputation was introduced by Professor McNeil, Professor of Child Life at Edinburgh University and physician to the Royal Sick Children's _Hospital, Edinburgh, who said that the members of the deputation had come to offer help by way of either practical assistance or advice, on the treatment of sick childrBn generally, and on the special problems of the treatment of evacuated children falling sick in the reseption areas in particular. They. sue: ;·estcd ­ (a) that the Government should apnoint a paediatrician to act as consultant or adviser to the Minister, just as consultants had been appointed for special work like facial surgery und&t" the Emergency Medical Scheme; (b) the appoint ment of specialists in children's illnesses who would in co-operation with general practitioners and pub~ic health authorities be responsible for the children in the receiving areas; (c) the allocation of special blocks of beds, and the concentration on those beds of specially trained children's doctors and nurses, for sj_ck children in the receiving areas. In reply t o the deputation, the Minister said that the ap~ointment of a consultant in children's illnesses was not analogo~s to the appointment of consultants on such things as facial surgery in the Emergency Medical Service, since the latter would deal with casualties caused by air raids, whereas the former would be ·dealing with ordinary illnesses and not inj11l1ies arising from raidso But whilst he would gladly consider their suggestions and particular•ly their offer to set up panel.s of specialists. in the different emergency regions so that general practitioners in the reception areas might have the advantage of consulto.nts' services in dealing with the illncs8es of chil~~n evacui:\te,d. under the Government scheme.9 he doubted whether could evacua.tion/properly be made the occasion for the institution of a new service~ not o.vo.ilnble in peace timeo He pointed out that the evacuat0,d chj.ldren represented only o. smo.11 proportion of the total child population of the country5 o.nd if a specialist children1 s servic.e we1,e to be made available as p~rt of the public health services!' it v-1ould need to cover children. generally and not mere1y those who ho.d been evacuo.ted·,, The Min:i..ster exploinod the special steps which had already been t o.ken to expand the medical services normally availa"ble 5.n the reception o:reo.s to meet the needs of their increased. child populations0 He entirely agreed that it was of the first tmporto.nce to preserve child life1 o.nd he would certainly go into the Association's proposals with his expert advisors, and in the light of similar proposals. which, he understood, they had mo.de to the Department of Health for Scotlando MINISTRY OF HEALTH. --~-'l:J:_.,,.......,......_.. ,,._....._._>_ 28th October, 19390 28/10/39 No 17 AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN TWO OF AIR RAIDER' S CREW DEAD The Jdr Ministry announces:­ The German aircraft forced dovm by Royal Air Force fighters, east of Dalkeith this morning, was found to be carrying a crew of four. Two were dead and one was wounded. The pilot was uninjured. The prisoners are being taken to Edinburgho ++++++++++ 28/10/39, -NO. 1!8, MORE ROYAL AIR FORCE FLIGHTS OVER GERNiANY. The Air Ministry announces: ­ During last night Royal Air Force aircraft carried out reconnaissances over cer'tain areas in Southern Germany. All our aircraft returned. . ........ MINISTRY OF SUPPLY PRESS NOTICE. WOOL CONTROL. Under the Defonce Regulations, 1939, the Minister ot Supply has made two further Orders in regard to the control of supplies and prices of wool. The first of these Orders (the Control of Wool (No.6) Order,1939) has effect from 29th October, 1939, and brings into force as from that date new maximum prices for British wools. The second Order (the Control of VJool (No. 7) order, 1939) relates to the requisitioning of wool produced in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or Eire, and tops, broken tops, noils or combing laps produced from such wool, and directs that with certain exceptions all materials of the above descriptions which arc situate in the United Kingdom on the 29th October, 1939, shall not be sold except to the Minister of Supply. The exceptions are wool in the ownership of farmers, wool produced in the Orkneys, Shetlands and Outer Hebrides, and materials which on the 29th October are in tho possession of a manufacturer in the United Kingdom, or of anyone in tho United Kingdom on his behalf, for conversion by him in tho United Kingdom, or by anyone in the United Kingdom on his behalf, into yarn or fabric. The Order also provides that a return shall at once be madG to the Controller, the Wool Control, Bradford, of the description, qtlantitios, qualities and condition of the wools subject to the Order which are in -the United Kingdom on 30th October. Owners of wool subject to the Order are required to comply with any directions issued as to the removal, transport, keeping, storage, disposal, or deliveryof such woo1. Copies of these Orders will shortly be on sale and may be purchased from H.M.Stationery Office or through anybookseller• .·~ All enquiries should be addressed to the Wool Control, Bradford. Issued through The Press and Censorship Bureau, 28th October, 1939. Ministry of Supply Adelphi, w.c.2. B. 726. 28/10/39 No. 20. FRENCH OFFICAL COMMUNIQUE Encounters the front. At Sea German officers and of Scouting Parties at different points of our patrol boats have picked up the bodies of sailors belonging to a sunken submarine. -------~-----~-~~-~-----~ 28.10.39 No.21. EMPIRE ·sECTION. CANADIAN DELEGATION ARRIVES. The Canadian delegation due here for an interchange of views and information on questions of supply and economic defence has arrived. The members of the delegation are the Hon.T.A. Crerar, Minister of Mines and Resources, Brigadier­General H.D.G. Crerar D.S.O., Air Commodore L.S. Breadner, R.C.A.F., D.S.C. Mr. R.D. Wilgress, Director, Commercial Intelligence Trade and Commerce, Mr. A. M. Shaw, Dq,artment of Agriculture, Mr.. G.IT. Mcivor, Canadian Wheat Board. Mr.C.W.Jackson is acting as private secretary to the Minister of Mines and _ Resources.. The Honourable T.A. Crerar, is the Ex-president of a n~mber of important Canadian Compm,ies. He worked on his father's farm in Manitoba and taught at school while he was putting himself through College. He was not active in politics until he accepted a Portfolio in the Borden Cabinet on the formation of the Uni.on Government in 1917. After being Minister of Agriculture and being the Minister for the o~eration of the Food Control Board and the "Greater Production Campaign" he retired from the Union Government in June 1919. In the December 1921 General Election he was returned as leader of the Progressive Party. At the end of 1929 he was the Minister of Railways and Canals. After the 1935 General Election he was Minister of the Interior, Minister of Mines, Minister of Immigration and Colonisation, and Superint.endent-General of Indian Affairs, In December 1936 these four deuartments were amalgamated to form the department of Mines and Resources of which Mr. Crerar is Minister. Brigadier H.D.G. Crerar D. S.O. saw service in France in the lRst war, and is a graduate of the Staff College Camberley. Air Commodore L.S. Breadner also saw service in France and is a graduate of the R.A.F. Staff College. Mr. Wilgress has held many posts in the Trade Department seeing service in Siberia, South China, and South-East Europe. He paid two visits of investigation to Soviet Russia, was adviser to the Canadian Delegation at the Imperial Economic Conference · Ottawa 1932, and accompanied the Canadian Delegation to the World Economic Conference 1933. Mr. Shaw was for several years Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, and was appointed Director of Marketing, Dominion Department of Agriculture early in 1937. This n&w appointment had as its objective the more effective promotion of mar1ceting of Agricultural products under a national policy. Mr. Mcivor has had a long connection with wheat trnde organisations, and was appointed chairman of the Canadian Wheat Board in July 193(. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRE'JS BUREATJ.