30•10.39 -No1 1. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMiyfUNIQUE The following communique was issued by French G.H.Q. this morning:­"All quiet during night. We repelled several enemy raiding parties". -------000----------­ 30/10/39 -No.2. CENTRAL MIDWIVES BOARD. The report of the Central Midwives Board for the year ended 31st March, i939, which is publi8'lred tomorrow (Tuesday) shows that 16,761 women were practising as midwives in England and Wales in 1938, compared with 17,494 in 1937. On the 31st March, 1939 the Midwives Roll contained the names of 62,905 women:., a net, decrease of 4,184 on the total at the end of March, 1938. During the year covered by the report, the new training and examination rules of the Boa.rd came into operation -in the case of State-Registered Nurses as from 2nd September, 1938, and in the case of others as from 2nd May, 1938. On the 31st March the number of institutions approved for the training of pupil­midwives was 89 in respect of the first period of training and 63 in respect of the second period. The nuraber of candidates entering for examination during the year was the largest on record -4,806 as against 4,420 in the previaus year and 2,683 in the year ended 31st March, 1927. A report on the examinations held during the year is included, together with notes of various decisions by the Board on midwives' training, etiquette and practice. Reference is also made to the post-certificate courses 0f training for midwives which were made obligatory as from the 1st January, 1939. The report also refers to preparatory arrangements made by the Board for an efficient midwifery service during a national emergency. The publication is entitled "Report on the Work of the Central Midwives Board for the year ended 31st March, 1939" and ~qn be obtained (price 4d net) direct from H.M. Stationery Office or through any bookseller. MINISTRY OF .HEALTH. 30/10/39 -No.3. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. AIR RAID vVARNING IN LONDON. The Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security announce: An Air Raid Warning was given in the East Kent area shortly after 9 o'clock t his morning, and the All Clear was given after ten minutes. Half an hour later a warning siren was sounded in error in the London district, but the All Clear was sounded a ~ew minutes later. The matter is being investigated. 30/10/39 -No~4. EMPIRE SECTION CANADIANS AS "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH" In his broadcast on Friday, Mr. McKenzie King, Canadian Prime Minister, put the cause for which the British Commonwealth is fighting on the loftiest of all planes -nothing less than the cause of Christianity. He sees the struggle as the call of mankind's highest duty -"young men enlisting in the Forces are Defenders of the Faith", and again 11 the time has come when it is necessary for Canadians to lay down their lives for the preservation of Christian civilization." It is this conviction that has overcome as Mr. McKenzie King made clear, his scruples against leading Canada into the calamity of war. That finally became the inescapable course in dealing with a nation in which the pagan idea had been reborn and "only by the destruction of Nazism" he pointed out, "and resistance to ruthless aggression can the nations of the British Comnonwealth hope to enjoy the liberties which are theirs under the British Crown." ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU . , FOR . ?RESS AND DRO).DCAST. SALE OF GOVERNMEHT STEEL SHELTERS. A number of Government steel "cn.rden" shelters being now available for sale t o the public, the Ministry of n.~,me Security has i ssued to local authorities instructions for receivin.z applications and f or ca rryinc out the necessary transo.ctions, in which the l ocal authorities will act :-_s the a::r,ents of the Government. Householders who wish t o buy shelters must apply to their local nuthority. Purchasers will h1we the option of paying the full price before delivery, or of pa;yins by instalments, that is, a credit sale. Four sizes of shelter will be n.vailt'..ble, to 2.ccomode.te either four, six, eicht or ten pe:-sons respectively. The prices at which shelters will be supplied are approxim1·.tely as f ,)llows: ­ Shelter for Shelter for Shelter for Shelter for f our six ei ght ten (a) Single Payment £6.i·1S~od: £s.os.Od. f_~.12s.Od. £10.18s.Odo (b) ~eFosit e ore elivery £1. 5s.Od. £1.10s. oa.. .£1.16s.Od. £2• 1s.oa.. Ten further monthl~ paymen s. 12s. 6d. 15s,Od. 18s.Od. 1. Os. 6d, Tot al £7.10s.Od. :£9s o~.Od. £10. '16s.Od. £12.6s.Od. These prices include r.<.'lst of delivery at the househol ders premises..._ The number availc.ble for purchase will be limited because of the existing r equirements f or free distribution. Sales will at first be confined to the f ollowing areas. All .Metropolitan Bo:r;:;:-w~hs. Barking, East Ham, . West Ham, Ilfc t"d, Leyton, Tottenham, ~:·altharnstow, B irminghD..In, Ccventry, Edinburr;h1 Gateshead, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester , Glas13ow, Hotti1113ham, Portsmouth,, Plymouth, Salford, Sheffield, Southampt on, Sunderland~ Newcas.tle. The list will be extended as supplies become o.vailable. The local authorities c~ncerned have been asked by the Ministry t0' register applications f or shelters in their r espective areas, t o c r)mplete the arrangements f or sa le to those re~istered h0us ehol ders whose applicn.tions have been n.ccepted by the De;iartment, anc1.. t o transmit payments to the Ministry. Orders will be filled in strict rotation. -2 ­ Local authorities h;;.ve been instructed t o ent ertain no claim f or priority of supply on special cr -iunds, such for ex:unple ns that nn applicants income is just above the qualifyinc limit f or a free shelter, or that he is willins t o pay i n full, and nc·t in .instalments. Sup;_:ilies are to be allctted to the respective local authorities' arei:ts in the order in v1hich the sumr112.ries of applications are received by:.the Depn.rtment. Under the pr ovisions of the Civil Defence ,._ct, it is the duty of l ocal authorities to advise purchasers who ask for sui dance about the siting of the shelters; but it is not the duty of' the local authority to undertake the erection of purchased shelters. The authority, if it erects the shelter, 1nust recover the ccst from the purchaser. It is pointed jut thnt the shelters, once installed, will probably become l andlor ds' fixtures, and in that case cannot be removed at the expiration of the tenancy except v;·ith the l andlord 's consent. Occupiers whose tenancies are likely shortly t o expire :r:on.y -the.:re.f.c)re v_:rish :to make , _ - J­ . an arrangement with their l andlord. Press Officer, Ministry of Home Security. 30th October, 1939. 'J.'he British ,\rmy has a full cornp lcm·3i.1t cf Uh8.plains 'iii th a vvirle experierwe C'f both i(egular and 'l'erri tc.Pi3.l .Army life. In all TNdning !Jta ticns and Cmaps, v1henev er numbers permit, Junior Chapl a ins work under the gui dance of experienced Genior Ghaplains,while::, local Officiating ChapJaLJ.s are employed in ea ch Command to deal with small numbers of men. These Officiating Chaplains come undero the direct supervisicn of the Assistant Chaplain-General in the particular Command who is a ver•y e-:;cperi enced ~-{e gular Chaplain and is r esponsible for the interests of all re ligirus denominations, with exdeption of the Roman Cath0lic. He is assisted by a 8enior Chaplain rf the 'l'erritori al Army. 'J.'he Chaplain's \\Crk begins as sNn as a re cruit joins the .·~rrny. J.ecruit s are parad0c1 at the first opportunity f r·r a gRneral t all-\: by the Chc..pl a i:ri ::ind , thereaft er, a friendly rel ationship is fostered by perscnal interviews C'·f a v0luntary nature . Sometimes t he scl~ier makes the first apprcach, but, mere frequently, it is tl1e uhaplain who visits the men at the Barrack rccms, playing r i el ds and the various institutes and clubs a friendly atmosphere is Lluickly created . A. similar close and friendly r e lationship exists between the Chaplain and Officers :~rrant Officers and N.C.O's. L1any f a cilities exist for the trocps at heme and over seas to satisf'y their deV('tic nal needs. First, there are the l)arade Services 9 which last for abc•ut three quarters of an hcur and include a shcrt address, then ther·e are vciluntary services, including Hc,ly Ccmmunicn and an Evening Service each Sunday. G~ecial arrangements are ma de, if the need arises, f0r those who want to attend Holy Communicn. Bible/ 2. Bible classes and debates are held during the week, and the Chaplain arrai1ges for rnarri&ges and baptisms. iteligious instructirn f'or recruit~; is also given ca.c'eful attenticn, c0nfirrna ticd classes and l ectures being held. Valuable assistance in the general work of the Chaplain is affr rcled by the 1'.rmy Scripture rt.eac1ers and Church ..:-1.rmy Cfficers. ·.Jhile this embraces the more fcrmal duties of the Chaplain, he makes it his business to take a deep interest in the physical, moral and spiritual welfare of the men and tr enter into their daily work and training as soldiers. The vvork dc.ae by the Chaplain at home is maintained overseas as far as is possible. A complete crmplement cf Chaplains of all denominaticns is vri th the trr< ps wherever they go. '.Lhe number of Chaplains is complete according t r the establishment of all denominatic ns. 'i'he work is also ccntinued with the :B'iold Force , the trc-c ps being miJ.listered to in the .i.i'rcnt Line, suppr·rt and rest areas, in the hq:;pi ta ls, at the bases, and ('n the lines of communicaticn. Ne aspect rf the soldiers life is overlcrked and there is a large proportir n of experienced Regular Chaplains to guide the younger Chaplains. ,,1 I l I I l' I ·~ 30.10.39 -No. 7. FRANCO-BRITISH COMMITTEE FOR THE FRENCH Rl:D CROSS AND OTHER WAR CHARITIES IN FRANCE. Her Majesty Queen Mary has been gn:ciously pleased to honour with her generosity the Franco-British Committee for the French Red Cross, wh:!.ch, with the apporval of His Excellency the French Ambassador, has been set up to continue the work done by it during the last war. Under the Presidency, then as now, of the Vicomtesse de la Panouse, the Committee served as an organisation for the provision to French hospitals of medical stores; ambulances; clothing, linen and personnel; and to enable parcels containing comforts to be sent personally to relatives and fri8nds serving in the French Forces. Its aims were and are not merely to offer material assistance to French hospitals and medical services, but to provide a channel for direct contact between supporters of the Committee in Great Britain and French soldiers. The French hospitals notify the Committee of their needs, which are met by the despatch direct to the hospitals of supplies purchased in Great Britain out of funds subscribed by supp.orters, or given by voluntary working parties and manufacturing firms. The Committee's address is 25, Belgrave Square, London, S.W.l. WAR OFFICE . 30.10.39. 30/10/39 -No 8 AIR RAID WARNING IN KENT The Air Ministry announces: The Air Raid Warning which was given in the East Kent area this morning was due to the presence of unidentified aircraft off the Essex coast, proceeding south. British fighter aircraft went up to investigate. As announced the all clear signal was sounded ten minutes later. ++++++++++++ 30/10/39 No•. 9. ENEMY AIRCRAFT OVER NORTH EAST COAST. The Air Ministry announces:­An enemy aircraft \!Vas observed off the North East coast of England th~s morningo . British fighter aircraft went up to investigate, whereupon the enemy aircraft made off in an easte~ly direction before contact could be madeo --------000-------­ 30/10/39 -No.10. FOR PRESS .AND BROADCAST. Recommendations regarding the action to be taken in licensed premises on the sounding of air raid warnings are contained in a memorandum which has been circulated to representatives of the wholesale and retail sections of the licensed trade by the Ministry of Home Security. On the sounding of a warning, the memorandum states, ­ (a) no more customers should be admitted; (b) customers living or working within easy distance should be advised to leave at once for their homes or places of business; (c) for the remaining customers, full use should be .imade of any suitable cellar accommodation as a shelter. With regard to the use of cellars, it is considered undesirable that the general public should seek shelter, whether in permitted hours or at other times, in the cellars of licensed premises, unless there should be basement or other suitable accorrnnodation not required for the storage of intoxicating liquor. If there is no suitable cellar or basement on the premises for the accommodation of customers licensees are advised to consult the local authority as to the availability of public shelters in the vicinity. In any case notices should be posted informing customers as to air raid arrangements. MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY. / No. 11. M..:.A • F. 79. ~-9th ..9_ctober 2 1939. MI1~JSTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNUUHCTGivLCNT. --------------~--­ Price o:f Home-Grown Wheat., -------·-------­ . . . !h~ Whe ~.t ~ !JI~x~mum Pri c~) Order issued to-day by the Ministry OJ. J:oat certified by authorised merchants, who include most flour millers, in order to secure deficiency payments. rssu:rrn THROUGH 'l'HE PREt38 BUREAU . 30/10/39. ~ NO. 12. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST BEFORE TUESDAY, 31st OCTOBER, 1939. PRESS .NOTICE. The Home Secretary has, after consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland, appointed the following to be an advisory committee to examine the cases of persons who have been interned in Scotland with a view to preventing them acting in a manno~-prejudicial to the public safety or the defence of the realm:­ Tho Right Honourable Tho Lord Alness (Chairman) Sir Louis Stewart Gumley. Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, Bt., K.T., T~D. The Secretary of the Committee is Mr. J. Anderson of the Scottish Home Department~ ,The appointment of the Advisory Committee for England and Wales has already been announced. HOME OFFICE, 30th October, 1939. 30.10.39 PRBSS AND BROADCAST NOTICE. Under Section 7 of the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939, power was given to the Board of Trade to ap~oint Custodians of Enemy Property with a view to preventing the payment of moneys to enemies and of preserving enemy "l_)roperty in contemplation of arrangements to be made at the conclusion of peace, and by the same Section the Board were empowered to require payment to the Custodian of moneys owing to or held for enemies and to vest in him such enemy property as might be prescribed, giving him such rights, powers, duties and liabilities in respect of vested property as they might think proper and to require returns to be m~de to the Custodian giving such information as he thought necessary for the discharge of his functions~ An Order under this Section was made on the 16th of September requiring payments to the Custodian of moneys payable to an enemy and requiring anybody holding or managing property on behalf of an enemy to give notice ther eof to the Custodian. Under this Order, debts due to enemies and moneys payable to them by persons in this country are being collected by the Custodian and pai4 by him into a separ ate account in his name at the Bank of England, to await, in the words of the Section "arrangements to be made at the conclusion of peace". The Board of Trade have made no general Order vesting in the Custodian all property held in this country for enemies, and their policy generally is to refrain from making Vesting Orders except in two classes of cases ­ ( 1 ) enemy shares in British companies (a) controlled by enemies where vesting is necessary in order to preserve the uroperty, or (b) in cases where such action is necessary to enable the company concerned to fulfil the requirements of the Companies Act in regard to the carrying on of its business which would otherwise be imnossible owing t o the fact that the company and the enemy shareholders cannot maintain contact. • (2) other property where its preservation pending "arrangements t o be made at the conclusion of peace 11 cannot be effectively secured unless it is vested in the Custodian. BOARD OF TRADE. BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT. TRADJNG WITH THE ENEMY ACT, 1939. Transfer of Se_cri.!'jj:i_es to Enemy Sub,jects . The Board of Trade announce that they have made an Order sanctioning the a~lotment or transfer to, or for the benefit of, enemy subjects resident in the United Kingdom or France of securities issued by a company within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1929, or any corresponding enactment in force in Northern Ireland. Board of Trade. 30th October, 1939. 30/10/39 -No.15. EMPIRE SECTION. CANADA'S FULL CO-OPERATION THE HON.T.A.CRERAR ON "BRITAIN'S COLOSSAL EFFORT" The following statement has been issued by the Hon.T.A.C~erar, who is heading the Canadian Delegation to the Comrnonwealth talks in London. "The Canadian· people realize clearly the tremendous importance of the issues involved in the present struggle. They cherish freedom and their spirit revolts against the conception of a world where international relations are dominated by brute force. 11we have come to London with only one objective in view ­to ensure as far as we can that Canada's full co-operation with Britain and France and the other Dominions shall be forthcoming to bring the war to a successful conclusion in the shortest possible time. "The magnitude of the war operations naturally brings a host of problems to the Allies engaged 1n it. The Canadian delegation has in its personnel those who are competent to assist in discussing these problems, so far as they touch 9 or are affec:ted by~ Canada's participation. "It is impossible, of course, to anticipate these discussions in either their form or their result: but this may be said ­that they will be in the main a continuation of the fruitful eollaboration that has taken place during the past few months. In addition they have added value, in that they are conducted through the medium of personal contact. "The representatives from the Dominions also will have an opportunity of learning at first-hand the really colossal effort the Mother Country is making in every phase of her war activity and her invincible determination to maintain freedom and international decency." ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU FROM FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECTION. 30.10.39 No.17. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR BROADC_''-ST BEFORE THE MORNING PAPERS OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST. The Sinking of the 8.8.ATHENIA. On the instructions of His Majesty's Government, His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington has conveyed to the Government of the United States the following assurances in regard to the skinking of the S.S. ATHENIA. 1. The S.S. ATHENIA carried no bullion or securities, and no guns, munitions of war or explosives , either as cargo or stores. 2. She was not sunk either by contact with a British mine, by a British submarine, by gun fire by British destroyers, or by an internal explosion, but in accordance with the evidence in the possession of His Majesty's Government, by a submarine. 3~ She was neither armed nor stiffened t o receive armament of any kind. 4. It was ~ot intended to use the vessel as an armed raider, armed merchant cruiser or in any other offensive capacity at the end of the voyage on which she was sunk. 5. The Chief Of:t;'icer (B.M. Copland) of the S.S. ATHENIA has sworn in an affidavit that he never discussed with Mr. Gustav Anderson the question of whether or not there were guns on board the ship, and that there were in point of f act no guns or other munitions carried as cargo in the ship on that voyage. EMPIRE SECTION. 30/10/39 -No. 19. AIDING THE COLONIES COLONIAL OFFICE ADVISER TO VISIT vVEST AFRICA Following his recent investigation of the West Indies, it has been arranged that Major Go st. Jo Orde-Brovme, Labour Adviser to the Secretary for the Colonies, should now visit the British Dependencies in West Africao Major Orde-Browne is leaving very shortly, and it is expected that he will remain in West Africa for two or three months. It is proposed that he should then visit in turn the Gold Coast, Sierrn Leone and the Gambia, and come back to England in the Spring. Thus the vmr, as Mr. Malcc~.m MacDonald promised, ia not being all.owed to hamper Britain·~, careful stevmrdship of her Colonial Empire. Majo-r• Orde-Browne 1 s vrnrk, as has alrea.dy been seen in East Africa and the West Indies, -is largely concerned with guiding the native peoples in developing Trade Unionism on the right lines. While he is in the Gambia, he ·will doubtless investigate housing conditions which are closely all:'Le.d to vmge and labour problems everyv1There. In his Report on the '\IVest Indies, Major Orde-Browne, it may be remembered, had f'rank corrunents to make on the nee~ for bett:er housing there. Labour in the Colonies is not yet as articulate as at home, but the Governement and the Colonial Office are incessantly reviewing the ~onditions under which the native peoples live and work. This self-imposed task by a good trustee will not be interrupted even in war time; and perhaps the best comment on Germar.i7's claim to control the seas is t hat the British Government can, without let or hindrance, send its officers to carry on :for the benefit of the Colonies the work for which these experienced men were appointe;d in peace timeo ISSUED· THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU 30.10.39 No.20. THE CONVOY SYSTEM. It is obvious that details of the present Convoy System and of the methods employed for the protection of trade cannot be given. . In principle, however, they differ little from those of 1917/18, with the exception that measures have now to be taken to counter air attack in home waters. The coasts of these islands and of our overseas possessions are divided into sectors, with a Senior Naval Officer or Commander­in-Chief in charge of each. He has to provide escorts for each convoy in his area from the destroyers, escort vessels and other naval craft allocated to his command. At selected commercial ports at home and abroad is a Port Convoy Officer, who is responsible to his Senior Naval Officer for collecting merchant ships as they complete their cargoes, and organizing them into convoys. Similarly, on the arrival of a convoy at his port, he is responsible for the rapid berthing of each ship where she can discharge her cargo and take in a new one as quickly as possible. The Port Convoy Officer must therefore collaborate closely with the port authorities and shipping agents concerned. At the head of the organization is the Convoy Section of the Admiralty which, keeping in close touch with the Board of Trade and Ministry of Shipuing, co~ordinates and controls the system as a whole. For convoy to be successful, not only must protection against all probable forms of attack be adequate; but ships must berth, unload, take in fresh cargoes, and sail again as rapidly as possible. In peace, each ship sails as soon as she is loaded. In war she must wait until sufficient shiDs to make up a convoy are ready for sailing. In peace, too, each ship steams at her normal full speed. The speed of a .convoy, however, is limited __ -. .--·to that of the slowest ship. Convoy••••••••.•• -2 ­ Convoy thus inevitably entails delay in the arrival of our supplies, though this is minimized by close co-operation between the Port Convoy Officer and port authorities, and by efficient organization of convoyso Eight or ten-knot freighters are not, for example, included in the sarne convoy as ships with a speed of, say, 15 knots or more~ while whenever possible really fast vessels are provided with a special escort. The number of naval craft available for escort is limited, and it is thus essential that each convoy should present as small a target as possib:le. Ships in convoy _are therefore organized in several columns which stream abreast of one anotheru A convoy of fifteen ships 9 for exarnple, might be organized in three columns of 5 ships 9 for which an escort of perhaps only. four naval vessels wouid suffice ··~ one on each bow and beam of the convoyo Further to shorten the target, each ship must keep as close as possible to the one next ahead of hero Such station-keeping --with ships little more than their o~m length apart --is nonn ~l practice in the Royal Navy 9 b~1t for Merchant Navy officers it is a different matter. They have neither exper:i.ence in station-keeping, nor are their ships fitted with the revolution telegraphs by which fine adjustments of speed are signalled to the engine-roomo That the Merchant Navy soon picks up this art speaks well for the seamanlike qualities of its officers. To attack a convoy successfully, a submarine must approach from well ahead on either bowo She must then close on the convoy, without being sighted by the escort, raising her periscope intermittently to ensure steering the correct relative courseo In order to frustrate ai."1.y such attack~ the convoy steers a zigzag course with alteration every few minuteso This is no easy manoeuvre --all ships must alter course together-at the sa."Ue moment and through the same number of degrees, 011 o Go". o • ••••••••••••••••••• I) ••••••••••••• collision -3-. ­ ~ollis1.on will occur. Before sailing, the Convoy Commodore -usually a retired Naval Officer -embarks in a selected ship with a staff of Naval signalmen. By means of flag signals he gives his order~ to the convoy, including those for alteration of course. While conforming generally to the course of the convoy, the escorting warships zigzag at high speed ahead and on either f'lank of the convoy, in order continuously to search as large an area as possible. On sighting a submarine, those nearest attack her at once -by ramming if possible 1 or with depth charges, and gunfire if she breaks surfaceo One escort vessel, usually detailed beforehand, stands by any ship torpedoed or mined. It is essential that the remainder of the convoy and escort should steam on as fast as possible, as submarines often hunt in pairso Throughout the voyage, the Convoy Commodore and Escort Commander are in constant wireless touch with the Admiralty, and each Senior Naval Officer through whose area they are passing. The presence of any reported enemy submarine, surface raider, aircraft or minefield, is thus wirelessed immediately to them so that. the necessary avoiding action may be taken. FROM MINISTRY OF INFOR.IvIATION. MINISTRY OF SHIIPING ADVISORY COUNCILo ,_._._.....__ . ---­ The follmving gentleme,n have accepted the invitation of Sir John Gilmour~ the Minister of Shipping, to s-erve as members of the Ministry of Shipping Advisory Council:­ Sir Percy Ee Bates EcBoEa ( Cm1ard White Star et c,,) Mro SoCo Bradley (Amo.lgo.mo..ted Engineering Union) Mro D ~ Bramo.h CoB<>Eo (Mo.rinc Engineers Association) Captain WoHo Coombs (Officers (Merchant No.vy) Federation) Sir William Co Currie (Po & 0,) 9 etco) Lord Esse,ndon (Furness VH thy & Co"~ Royal Mail Lines, etc,,) Sir Philip Ho.ldin (Cou:-et Lines Lamport & Holt) Mro HoSo Holden ( .Ellerman Group. Steamship Cos) Mro So James (National Union of Seamen) The Hono JoPc. Maclay, MoPo(Maclay & Mcintyre) Mro Do VI.,, Milford (Transport & Genero..l Workers Union) M:::>o HoJ.Pcrkins (Radio Officers Union) Sir Alfred Read (Coast Lines~ etc)o Mro Geoo Re.e:cfil (National Unj_on of Seamon) Mro W.Ro Spence CoBoEo -(National Union of Seamen) Sir Arthur' Mo Sutherland Bt .. ii IL.Bo Ee -(Bo J., Sutherland & Coo etc) Mro Ao Wilson (MePcantile Marine Service Assno) 30/10/39. -NO. 22. AJi"POINTMENT OF SIR AMOS Lo AYRE AS DIRECTOR OF SHIPBUILDING AND REPAIRS IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING. The Minister of Shipping, Sir John Gilmour, has appointed Sir Amoa L. Ayre, Chairman of the Shipbuilding Conference, to be Director of Ship­building and Repairs in the Ministry of Shipping, his services having been plo.ced at the Minister's disposal by the Shipbuilding Conference. 0-----------------0 EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 30.10.. 39 No.23. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA REPRESENTATIVE ARRIVES. Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan who has been invited here by His Majesty's Government as the representative of the Government of India in connection with the forthcoming discussions with Dominion Ministers in London arrived in London this evening. He was welcomed by Sir Hugh O'Neill Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Stat e f or India. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. 30/10/39----.N o.24 MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY .ANNOUNCEMENT. The following statement is issued from the Ministry of Home Security:­ "An official enquiry has been made into the sounding of an air raid warning siren in Central London at 9o57 this morning~ It appears that at one police barracks a message was wrongly interpreted and the siren accordingly sounded. Unfortunately three cars equipped with sirens for the purpose of supplementing . where necessary the vvarnings given by fixed sirens also sounded · the wat'llin~r.ai.der-s. pass.ed~gn.al w~'th.i.!L,.a few minutes. • • • • • • • • • • • • a • .... . --·-~ .2.QL10/39. -NO. 25, PRESS NOTICE . . The Duke of Kent this morning visited the Valleyfield pit of the Fife Colliery Co. and spoke to tho officials and members of the rescue parties and some of the miners who had been in the pit at the time of the explosion on Saturday. 0-----------0 ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. 30.10.39 No.26. ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE. This morning, South of the Dagger Bank, one of our dest~oyer flotillas came into action with two German bombers. There were no casualties in or damage to the destroyers, and it is not known whether the enemy suffered damage •. No.27. (lht to be quoted ns an Air:' Ministry l'illnouncement). These Men Ploodlight the Clouds. To those of us who have to hide every chink from our windows, every :flash from our torches, every blink from our headlights, the men who work the searchlights are men of power and authority. '~nile we fumbl e and grope, they, at a t ouch, can paint the sky with light. A corporal in charge of a searchlight section several miles from the nearest village is one of the most responsible N,C.O. 's in England. He controls thousands of pounds worth of light-giving pl ant. He commands this war's most isolated post. HiR section comnmnder 1 a subaltern, may have t o mske a round of fort y miles to visit himo There are un:'.maginatj_ve people who thj_nk that l ooking after n searchlight is 2 soft and sedentary jobo A visit to a search­light company hea6.qunrters and to a s earchlight post, if they were allowed near one, wouJd disillusion them. 'rhc major j_n charge of company headquarters is an officer whose command covers hundre~,s of squn.re miles~ Jmd he is a man with a trnditiona Senrchiights are not just a 1914 war noveltyo One c::'appcr compnny began to trundl e its plar:t (acetylene then) on horse drawn w2gons i n 1897, Later, it went t o South Africa, where _,eo.rch:1-ights we::' c used during the Boer Wnr to detect enemy patrols in the bush .s.t ..:Lght., ~Che Sapper company ure proud of: thems21ves., Not l ong ago, like other territoria1 searchl~_ght companies, they took over a country house i :1 the middle of England" The owner was glRd to hn.ve someone oc;cupying the houseo He had given it up as a bad job. The windows were broken, decay had beguno Now, thanks to the Sappers~ its va lue has mounted. The ol d hayloft is a neat repair shop, with a new set of wooden stnirs built up to it. A new gr8vel path has been 1:--,ido '.::'he company's br ci.ss brmd in'.::truments are stacked on the best bedr oom flooro The orderly room work i s done (while the sergeant-majoy grins and bears it) under the nursery frieze of farmyard animals. The old kitchen was not quite big enough for the comp9.ny cookso They built an oven in the yRrd outside, just a brick funnel hRving a rounded clay roof with holes big enough.to take three dixiesc In them the autumn plums and apples boiL 11 Whenever any neighbours have a windfall" says the major, "they tell us t o come and collect them." Provisioning for the rest of his company is not so simple. The c.)okhouse lorry travels hund.reds ~f miles every Cay. It bumps its wny al ong derelict drives and over cart ruts to scfirchlight post s on remot e fields. At co~npr.:G1y heacl.q_uar tcrs ~ :-md 8t some c::mntry posts, officers nnd men carrying p:E1f:3 mask havcr•s!tcl.r.s lcoking like go.me begs, do some rough shooting for the pot. Farmers ar e glad to have the rabbits kept dow11. Landlords nre not able t o do their normal amount of autumn ~"3hoot1ng, Huts 2re being built, but most searchlight sections ar e still under canv2s. Cooking is done in the open. As elsewhere in our defence system m"m of o.11 cl11ss0s and types are to be f ound in the; ranks, all nre e~lally keen on t~e jobe For the duty watch in their tents close by the lights, manning is a matter of second after the alarm is giveno Each man is trying to cut down the section recordo The duty hours are growing longer as winter approaches; but from dusk to dawn, in hundreds of high, bare fields, men are ready to floodlight the clouds and dim th~/stars at a moment's noticeo PRESS AND PUBLICITY BRANCH. AIR MINI~aiIT" , WHITEHALL, S. Wo lo J..91-1..Q(.39. -NO. 28. (Not to be quoted as an Air Ministry Announcement). A.A, GUNNERS WANT A TARGEr:r_. Royal Air Force pilots are popular with our anti-aircraft gunners. They are almost as popular as the enemy would be if he allowed the gunners to have a little practice. Above everything else, a gunner wants something to shoot at. Nothing will convince him that a cold, g_uiet gun is preferable to a hot, noisy oneo At anti-aircraft gun sites up and down this island, the gunners gaze wistfully at the sky. They are like darts players without a dart board~ They cannot fire their guns, but they can aim. Whenever they have something to aim at, they are as happy as the absence of the enemy will allow them to beo That is where the R.A.F~ comes in. Every R.A.Fe bomber and fighter, and every civil air­craft on official business, that has flown over this country since the war began? has been ( ·~heoretically) shot down.. The gunners say, "Why drag in theory?" 0 They claim that every British aircraft seen flying has been brought down. Our Air Force has been shattered, What if no shells have been fired and no aircraft have been seen to crumple up? The point is, say the gunners, that if the shells had been fired, the air­craft would have crumpled up. They have gone through every motion except the actual firing 9 and that is all there is to be said about i +, . What is more, every aircraft seen in the sky has not only been shot dovm; it has been shot down several times. As it passed into the range of battery after battery on its flight, each battery has dealt with it. There are pilots who, although they do not know it, have had many more than the cat's nine lives. Anyone who happened to see, in the distance, gun crews jumpj_ng to their positions, gun mu2z.lcs swinging, might stop his ears for fear of the bang, and take his fingers away again a litt le later~ surpriseQ to find that no bang came. The exorcise, car>ried out day after day by hundreds of batteries, is so accurate that no one standing a little distance away would suspect a pantomimeo Sorruetimes 9 the R.A.F. deliberately malrn t o.I'gets of them­selves to please tho gunners~ The ;~riendly~ power~·driving bomber is the delight of certain tree,-scre.J;ned batteries 11 some17here in England" o His first far ·. away drone. and the grmving whine of h}. s dive mingle with the snapped commands. of No CoO" 'So His dive is the day1 s big moment for men who, a few Y!ceks ago~ were working in .officeso He gives an absor.bing.11 high speed: mind t est to a Camoridge mathematics don turned gunner~ and a great cl.ea~-of q_uick~ trained body movement to the don 1 s battery companion,. a distj_nguj_shed Rugby thre.e-g_uartero The bomber j_s also a source of great local pride to one clerk who, 1 called up foiservice with his '.I'erritor-ial battery-' said goodbye to his wife and went to v10.r ~, or11y t,o fj_nc1 himself stationed within walking distance of his homeo Between bouts of pre.tending to destroy the Brj_tish Air Force, life.?" for the antj.-air·c1--art gu.nner 9 is divided-. into three periods, manning~ du.ty9 resting'> L:'Lke the se.a:!'.'chlight,s and the observer posts 9 £,.'1.JJlS are manned night and dayo Manning, for the mathematician and the Rugby foocbal:l.er and the cle~1ks-may mean the day, with its posE:J,ble targets.9 oP the night;, v.rj.th its hot cups of cocoa brought 1 from the mmq_uee canteen at the edge. of the field0 1 Fub -~he bo.tt,ery-commanc1er:; the vvar meo.ns telephone ringing~ typewrit,o\iI'S x1attling~ orc1ePli_e s opening ar:.d shutting doors, forms piling up~ in a suburban :louse ;Just clovm the roo.d where the. town stopped growing whe;1 the wo.r li::;ganc The c:1...erk 1 s v1Lee thinks J~hat f30 fo.r vmr might be worseo It may not b o good fo:r· the cetI'pets;i ·but it ::_s cheerful when her husband br•ings so mo.n:y frienc1s o.bou.t t he place o The only flo.w is tho.t ·L.hay will to.lk about moving. Hardly a. day passes but o:ne of them so.;srs,, 11Have you heo:r·d?. They're shipping us off. to North Bo:cnco11 """' or Little; Slui;hington, or Auchter·muchtyo Vvrw ~· shct3.dr:..k3 :i can~ t t hey s tny v7hcre they are, now that the;}' have made their guns so comforto.ble? o PRESS AND PUBLICITY BRANCH 9 .ATR MINISTRY9 ffiIITEHAL:Li S. Wc le NOo 29 -30/10/39 French Official Corrnnunique The following communique was issued this evening by French G.HoQ• , Activity of the contact units on the \'.'hole of the fronto Local artillery activity. Our chasers and r econnoitering aircraft have been intensely activeo In the course of the two first months of war, 6 French merchantmen of a total tonnage of 41,000 tons have been lost. During the same period we have captured 4 ships, one of which, the German cargo "Halle" was sunk by her crewo The three others, of a total of 19,000 tons are .being made use of by uso Since hostilities began our merchant fleet have therefore been reduced by 22,000 tons, or about one per cent of the total French sea­going tonnageo 30/10/39 No 3Q ROYAL AIR FORCE OVER NOR.THERN GERMANY The Air Ministry announce:­The Royal Air Force made extensive reconnaissances on ac:i'"'