No. 1. -2/11/39. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE -----------000-----------­ NIGHT GENERALLY QUIET. FROM FOREIGN AFFAIRS M I N I S T R Y 0 F A G R I C U L T U R E A N N O U N C E M E N T. _._.._____ - -··--....__..___.________ ..,. ,.....__..._........,_ .___.,.__.. ..----···---.--... Fortunately there are very few Br itish birds whose activities can be said to be mainly harmful~ The majority of species are good friends of the farmer and the gai·dc:::ier. NI any of them are, in fact, essential to the land, and r-i.re rightly 9rote cted by l F:rN and by all reas:mabl e people• Eu t there are a f ew species whi ch do gn~o.t damage to crops of ve..ri ous kinds in season and. whose nurr;bcr s mu bt ·be k ept in che ck, especially in times l ike these when cer cs.ls, vet_~ets.l:"Jle s and fruit are especial ly valuabl e. The food grower' s feat '.'lered enemy Noo1 i s undoubt edly the wood-pigeon, but at certain sGasons the house-sparr·o-, -1 is a close second. It is true that during-the b1"eeding season it feeds its young mainJy on insects, but it is idle to pr etend that the zooj it does in this way compensates for t he harm done during t he r est o~ the yea • The house-spa.rrow atto.clrn all kind.s of agricultural and hart icul tural crops. Every areble farmer knows what inroads it makes on cereals. Just before harvest time, thousands o~ snar r ows desert towns , vil l ages and farm homesteacls for the fields, and-live almost entirely upon the ripening grain. rt is no uncommon si2ht to see large areas of wheat, ripe for cutting, vi sited by hordes of house-sparrows, and when the wheat has been cut, they turn their attention to the stac~~s. Hundreds of examinations of' the contents of cr ops of house-s~srrows have been made i n thi s country and abroad, and it haG been shown that a large nroportion of the food of adul t birds throughout t he whole year: consists of "cultivated grain of' some kind. In gardens and on allotments, the house-snarrow does great damage to young peas, lettuC'es and other card.en c.rops, e.specially when these are just showing through the soil. rt strips gooseberry and. current bushes of' their buds, tears to pieces brig!1tly coloured flowers, and maK.es itself' a nuisance in many other ·ways. Nobody likes to kill wild bi rds of' any ki nd, and most people try ~reventive measures before resorting to more drastic remedies. Eut there can be no disputing the necessi ty for keeping house-sparrows in check. It may be ar gued thst during the wi nter months their opportunities for harm are compar atively f ew and t het they may not become a real mena.ce until the spring, but farmers and gardeners will be well advised to begin to tackle the pr cblem now. In t lle spring, systematic destru ction of nests and eggs will pr obasly gi ve the be st results, but meanwhile the numbers of' the sparrows can oe substantially reduced. At this time of year they can more easily be located and identified. The birds can be shot with a small-bore gun, or netted and painlessly killed. A word of' warning is necessary. Most country people know a house-sparrow when they see it, but neverthel ess it is possible to be mist aken. Great care should tl'lerefore be talrnn to ensure that only house-sparrows are des troyed. The misnamed hedge-sparrow, otherwi se known as the hedge-accentor or dunnock, is not a sparrow at all and is no rel ation to the spar'rows, but is one of the most useful small -birds that we have. It should never be molested, but should be pr otected and encouraged in every possible vray. Advisory Leaflet No.169 entitl ed the House-Sparrow which may be obtained free on application to the Minist ry's Office at 10, Whitehall Place, London, s.w.1., contains, among othe:r information, aids to recogn ition of' the hedge-sparrow. rssup;n THROUGH 'rHE PRSSS BUREAU . t' "' 2/11/39 No. 3. FOR PRESS Alm BROADCAST Instructions permitting the use of flares in streets and of additional lighting on motor vehicles during thick fog, whether in black-out hours or otherwise, have been issued by the Ministry of Home Security and circulated to police authorities throughout England, Wales~and Scotland. VI/hen a Chief Officer of Police is of opinion that conditions are sufficiently bad to render the provision of flares absolutely essential for the guidance of traffic9 he may authoritise their use by a local authority or other responsible organisation which normally provides fog flares on the highway. Arrangements must be made for a man to be in attendance to extinguish the flares immediately on receipt of an air raid warning. As regards motor vehicles under fog conditions, an ~nscreened fog lamp may be used on a motor vehicle provided that ­ (a) the lamp is additional to the ordinary headlamp, is operated by a separate switch, and fitted below the level of the headlamps; (b) that the beam of light i s directed dO'Nmvards and towards the near-side; (e) its use is restricted solely to occasions when the fo g is so thick that progress is impracticable vii thout it, and (d) that, as is cor.1pulsory for ordinary headlamps, the fog lamp is extinguished immediately on an air raid warning. /'1. constable will b 3 entitled to direct that a fog lamp shall be extinguished at any time when it appears to him that conditions do not make its use imper ative. ;; . ' '' ' .... ' · The 1hstructions stress th~ ~it~l necessity of both flares and fog .iamps being extinguished with the utmost rapidity on receipt of 3n air r~id warning, and drivers of vehicles sh~uld pa,rticuiari~ note f. . ' that fog la~ps must on no nccount be used under any c?nditions except those specified. '~: I' 1'•. ' ­ Press Officer, :· 1 '''.. • Ministry of Home SecurityA 2nd November9 1939· / . ··---~-~-· ,/ ~ . • ._ 1 ~ 2/11/39 No.4. P.N. 1590. PRESS NOTICE. The Postmaster General announces that the air mail service to Malta, which has hitherto operated once a week, now operates twice a weeke The latest times of posting at the Head Post Office, London, E.c.1., are 12 noon on Thursdays and Saturdays. Correspondence for Malta intended for transmission by air mail should be prepaid at the rate of ls. 3d. per half ounce (postcards 7d.) and a blue air mail label should be affixed. GENERAL POST OFFICE. 2nd November, 1939. 2.11.39 -No. 5. EMPIRE SECTION WEAPONS OF GOLD CANADA'S MINERAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR. The half yearly returns of Canada's mineral output emphasise how valuable a source of supply the Dominion will be for the Allies' mineral requirements. The record standard of gold production attained in 1938 is likely to be surpassed. Several new mines have since begun production, and a number of companies have made plans for the enlargement of existing plant~ If the present rate of output is maintained for the remainder of 1939, Canada's gold production should pass the five million ounce mark for the year. Mineral output generally is 4·.3 per cent higher than over the same period in 1938, and metals as a group are valued at 5 per cent higher. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU• 2. 11. 39 -No. 6. EMPIRE SECTION ULSTER'S TROOPS The Duke of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland, is taking a very active interest in the welfare and training of troops in Northern Ireland and regularly pays visits to the various units. This week he inspeoted officers and men of one of the volunteer anti-aircraft Regiments and warmly congratulat ed them on the rapid training progress they have made. The age limit for recruits to the Northern Irishlifo:re:e,Ulster 's new Light Tank Regiment, enlistment for which opens on November 10, has now been revised. Recruits must be between 20 and 35 years, not between 20 and 38. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU ,....,.,. 2/11/39 -N8• 7. EMPIRE SECTION. CAN.ADA WILL FEED US. A CONFERENCE WITH A PURPOSE. Britain will have an abundance of most of the food products she may require during the war. This is the assurance which emerged from a recent ·conference held in Ottawa between Canadian Ministers, officials from the Provincial Departments of Agriculture, and members of the newly formed Agricultural Conrrni t tee. To quote an official despatch, the conference pledged the fullest co-operation of the provinces in the production of essential food products to meet the needs of Britain and her Allies. In presiding at the opening session, the Dominion Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J.G. Gardiner, stressed that the aim of the Conference was not only to organise agricultu~e · for war, but to safeguard the industry_against diff'ic.ulties which might afterwards ensue. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU. EMPIRE SECTION. NOTES ON THE DOMINION MINISTERS IN LONDON. MRo T. A. CRERJ1.R, CANADA. The leader of the Canadian delegation taking part in the discussions in London between the British Governrnent and statesmen from the Empire 9 is, though he bears the portfolio of Mines nnd Natural Resources, no whirlwind industrialist snapping out orders or barking advice. For Mr. T. A. Crerar hets known the peace of the open spaces of Canada: his way is the quiet way. N0thing can shake him. His roots are in the land; and he is a philosopher. Born in Perth County, Ontario 9 in 1876, Mr. Crerar went to Manitoba when five years of age~ and until he was 19 was on his f ather's farm. His thoroughness is typified by the fact that he t aught st school while putting himself through college. Having ob··;ained the best education within his power, he f armed for several years 9 2.nd the lessons ho learned in early life have never been forgotten. He showed all the Scottish genius (Mr. Crerar is descended from Scots) in organisation, and soon became actively associated with the lar gest grain-growing concerns in the Dominion. His drive earned for him the nosition, held continously from 1907 to 1929, of President of the United Grain Growers, Ltd., HeQd Office, Winnipeg. But not until the last war did politics se:;~iously attract him0 His abilities were so well recogni sed, however, that, having once entered public li:ee, he was 9 in October 1917, appointed Minister of A~ricultu.re. Other high post s he occupied until, in 1922, he resigned politics for business ag:·tin. Yet Canada could not long do without so gifted a man in her State li:fc 9 and by 1929 he was once more holding Cabinet rank, this time as ?~j:2~t:;ite~C' of Rn.ilwa<~ s and Canals. Four years ago he was appointed as Minist er of t he Interior9 Minister of Mines, Minister. of Imrfiit,ration nnd ColonizQtion9 and Superintendent Ge:ocral of Indian .Affairs (these four Departments were l at e I' amo.l gEt:nated ,to form the Departr:t2nt of Mines nnd Re sources. ) Those posts are sucJl that not every ;nan couJt.d sup-port them singly, yet the burden is er9.Sily carriad on th~ broad shoulders of Mr. Crerar . London i s gl ad to ·welcome a statesmo.n 9 quiet, unassumi!;>:lg, . but possessed of irrunense reserves of power, and] when the octiCas1on dema~ds, of ~ratory als o. One of the most popular leader~ o~ th~ fr.:-rm1ng community Cansda has ever had~ Mr. Crcrar will be instantj_y liked by those who encounter his sterling qualities in London. ISSUED THROUGft THE PRESS BQREAlG_ 2o llo 39 -No. 9. EMPIRE SECTION MR. R. G. CASEY, AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR SUPPLY AND DEVELOPMENT The choice of Mr. .rt. G. Case;y to represcn t the Dominion of Australia Clt the t8.lks in Lona.on betpeen the British Gove:rnment o.na. sto.tesmcm of the Empire rms particulc.rly ho.ppy, for there o.re few Australians who understand better the mentality of the United Kingdom than this young Minister for Supply and Development. Though Ur. Cnsey remf'.ins essentially o.n Australian, he has known intimately Englo.nd of the pre-1914 do.ys, I:nelo.nd during the struggle 1914-1918, and England of the years of peace before the present conflict. Many n man possessed of Mr. Cc..se~r 's independent menns would have chosen the easy path, indulging private hobbies and eschewing public duties. But after a business training in mining and engineering, he accepted the post of Political Liaison Officer between the British Government and the Commonwealth Government in London, and during his six years' tenure of this office he did exceptionally well. In 1931 he entered the House of Representatives in Australia, and o.t once immersed himself in financial problems. By few young stntesmen has such industry beei1 shovm. His assiduity was rewar ded, for he became in turn Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and, in 1939, Minister for Su}Jply nnd Development. To-day, though still a young man --he is only 49 --he stands as o. recognised leader of 1\.ustralian thought, ns , in 1914-1918, he typified the Australian in action. The Au.stralio.n Minister f or Supply and Development may have been fortunnte in his opportunities, but he has certainly made the most abundant use of them. One driving purpose consumes him -­devotion to the welfare of the Dominion. His wealth and personality account for some of his popularity, but these things, without his single-hearted service to the co.use of Austrnlia o.nd of Empire, would count for much l ess. London is happy to see him again as he is to visit once more the Metropolis. ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BU.2EAU. ?L'.ll/39 No. lOo EMPIRE SECTION. Colonel Deneys Reitz , South African Minister of Native Affairs, the first of the Dominion arrivals whom Mro Anthony Eden has been welcoming in London during the past ferv-days, is one of two men in General Smutsvs Cabinet who are sons of former Presidents of the Orange Free State Republic? The other is Dro Colin Fraser Steyn, who is now lviini2t0r of Justiceo At the closA of his Pi-•esi d...:mtial term in the Orange Free State, Colonel Reitz's father became State Secretary to President Kruger in the South African (Transvaal) Republic, and it was he who signed the ultimatum which signalled the clash of arms between Boer and Briton in the war of 1899-19020 Deneys Reitz was a lad of seventeen when he joi ned the Republican forces. He was a member of General Smuts's commando which daringly invaded the Cape, sorely harassed the British columns, and penetrated as far as the 'vVest coast, Yvhere, as a supreme gesture of d.efiance 9 some of the Burghers stalked a British man-o'war behind the sand dunes and fired their rifles at it! Reitz kept a di14.ry during those eventful days and his story of the Boer War --the last of the "gentlemen1 s wa::.... s", it has been said, --is brilliantly told in his book, "Commando". After the war Reitz preferred exile in Madagascar to taking the oath of allegiance to Great Britain --and thereby hangs a stor¥ which many years later made South Africa chuckle. Persuaded by General Smuts that his former enemi 3s were prepared to be generous friends., he returned to South Africa to play his part in the building of the South African nation of Dutch-and. English-speaking peopleso He ent ered Parliament in 1920 and sat as member and Minister of the Crown until the law advisers woke t o the fact, in 1934, that he ~as not, in the l egal sense~ a British subject! "It is a comic oper a position", said Colonel Reitz at the time. "I am probably the only Union national who is not strictly 2 a British subject. .And it is due to the fact that I refused to surrender after the treaty of Vereeniging; for many years, therefore, sat in the House of Assembly illegally". A special Bill, which the Parliamentary wags dubbed the Reitz Relief Bill, had to be passed to legalise the position. Colonel Reitz's history is vivid. After fight~ng in the German West and East African ca~paign in the Four Years' War, he came to England to enlist as a private, but soon found himself in command of a battalion of the Royal acots Fusiliers. He engaged in some of the hottest fighting on the Western Front, was twice wounded, the second time seriously, and led his battalion into the Rhineland in 1918. The early days of peace found him in the editorial chair of an Afrikaans newspaper in Bloemfontein. But politics speedily claimed him. At General Louis Botha's request he contested a Bloemfontein seat and entered the Union Parliament where he has been ever since. "Politics in South Africa", he remarked once, "is a habit-forming drug. Once you have a good taste of it you cannot leave it alone". Mrs. Reitz is no less politically minded, and an equally enthusiastic supporter of General Smuts. She was the first YifOman to be r eturned to the Union Parliament, where she represents an important Johannesburg constituency, Park~own North, and occasionally delights the House by severely "rvigging" her husband in his Ministerial capacity. Colonel Reitz is an ardent protagonist of the ideal of the common nationhood of Dutch-and English-speaking South Africans. He has held a number of important portfolios in the Cabinet, including ·-.... that of Agriculture, and, both as a soldier and an administrator, he is singularly well equipped for the mission on which he is now engaged. -3 ­ Lawyer, soldier, politician and author of high repute, South Africa's representative is also a practical farmer. He is one of the founders of the great game reserve known as the Kruger National Park, and has done monumental work for the preservation of wild life in South Africa. He gave the people of Great Britain this message in a broadcast shortly after his arrival: "Let me assure you, on behalf of General Smuts our great leader, and on behalf of the Union Government, that South Africans will do Nhat South Africans have ever done in the past -they will fight for liberty side by side with all those who wish to be free." ~o. 11. Issued through Press and Censorship Burenu. Mr. Mitchell's question:-To ask the Minister of Supply what were the circumstances in whieh he issued the Control of Shirts Order. CONTROL OF SHIRTS ORDER. In reply to c written question by Mr, Mitehell, Conservative Member for Brentford and Chiswick, in the House to-day,.. the following nnswer was circulated by Mr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Supply. The War Office asked at short notice for the provision of a very large requirement of Woollen Vests, of which 2501 000 were wanted imrnedintely, Efforts were made to purchase this t million from manufacturers' stocks, but only 60,000 could be obtained in this way. I was not satisfied that this quantityrepresented all the vests in the hands of manufacturerss and I therefore mnde the Order in question. The Order enabled the Ministry to take possession of all vests of a specified description at the Works of Manufacturers or in Warehouses, and as it happens that these vests are known in the trade as Woollen Shirts the term "Woollen Shirts" was used in the Order. The Staff of the Ministry deputed to carry out the requisitioning were instructed to be ready at all centres where the goods were manufactured or warehoused in order to go through the premises with the minimum delay. They were to present the order and after selecting the Vests required to hand the firm concerned an order releasing them from the further operation of the order. In no cnse was the ordinary business of the firm held up for more than 2 hours. OVQr 120 firms were visited in the course of 4 days. The eontrol then ended and the order had produced over 200,000 vests which had not previously been offered to the Government. Ministry of Supply, Press Office, November, 2nd 1939. 2/11/39 -No. 12. J30ARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT • EXPORT LICENCES . The Board of trade have made four Amending Orders amending the Schedul e of goods prohibited to b~ exported without a licence. Tho Orders come into force on Friday , 3rd Novorn-bcr , with the following effect:­ ( i) Export licences wil l be required for the export to any destination of silk noil tissue , plati num sheet and mercury compounds. ( ii) Export licencc;;s will n o longer bo required, except i n the case oi' exports to the European and Medi tern::moan area (excluding Prance, Egypt and Palestine), for tho following exports: copal, rosin (col ophony), boric acid barium nitrate, tar oil, creosote oil, anthracono oil , and other heavy coal tar oils, cobal t compounds, thorium compounds , and rubber inner tubes of al l kinds. (iii) No export licences will be required for export to any destination of ruJ.imal hair; waste , thread and straw of artificial silk; food preparation nnd sterilising machinery; refrigerating me.chinery; nitri c 2ci d; certain amnonium compounds; disi nfectants; antiseptics; certain nitrates; certain potassium compounds; motor-cars other than vans, lorries and ambulances; and motor car parts other than chassis and engines for motor vehicles of a 'l'reasury rating of 21 h.p. or over. (iv) No ex.port l icences will be:; required other than those issued by the Home Of:fi ce Drugs Branch :for coca, morphine, cocaine or OJ?ium (whether raw, si mply prepared. or manufactured) , or for t hei r sal t s or preparati ons. Board of Trade , 2nd November , 1939~ NOTES FOR AMPLIFICATION OF .'IRE REPLY OF THE SIDRBTJOO: OF STATE FOR WAR TO MR. LEES--S1'4l.~'S,. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGJUIDING .A GENERAL ~HEM& OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR THE TROOPS. The announcement made in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for War this aftornoon in reply to Mr. Lees-Smit}'{~ question on the subject of the new Social Welfare Scheme for the Troops comes at a timely moment and should give wide-spread satisfaction. The scheme has obviously been thought out on a spacious and b.isiness-.like basis and the arrangements arc already far advanced. Lieutenant-General Sir John Brown,. D.A.G.T. War Office, has been appointed under the .Adjutant-General as Viar Office Adviser on the subject. . No more experienced or capable authority could be found. In nonnal times the physical and moral welfare of the British ooldier is by the immemo:rial tra.dition of the -Britieh Arc.y·~tlile. oare of his officers. One of the first lessons a S~baltern learns upon joining his regiment is to look after his men, both on and off parade. He must organise games for than and participate in these himself. He must know dch mah personally and be prepared to ad.vise him in his own peculiar social and domestic difficulties. If a soldier gets into trouble he looks to his platoon commander to put in a word for him. If he falls sick he knowe that that same officer will visit him in hospital. And so o~. In other words. in~army in peace time each subaltern was his own welfare officer. But today, times are far from nonnal. We are at war and. conditions applicable to a small peace-time army no longer obtain. The army today has swelled to the mil.lion ma.i:-k• Officers and men are comparative strangers to one another and in any case officers are too over-whelmed With their own duties to concern themselves with matters of individual personal welfare. l~ wide and liberal scheme of social welfare is thercfore urgently needed throughout the country, espocially a~ this static and somewhat stagnant period when the first enthusiasm has worn off, and the monotony of uneventful routine is beginning to make itself felt. Monotony is bad· for morale, and monrtcny todey is inevitable for all and acute for some. For weeks past isolnted an\:\:,·a~raft and searchlight units have been watching and sweeping the skies for enemy borribers which have not yet arrived. Thousands of soldiers are billeted in rural districts, sometimes several miles from town or camp. Obviously tbese must be made the subject of special provision. These provisions are already well in hand. It has been wisely decided to organise a scheme upon the basis supplied by the machinery of existing military formations, C0mmands and County Territorial Associations. For military purposes Great Britain is divided into six commands, Aldershot, Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Scottish, each under its own General Officer Comrila.nding-in-Chief with permanent headquarters and staff. The County Territorial J~ssociations which deal with the organisation and administration of the Territorial .Anny are also permanent bodies, each with a Charnnan and Secretariat• . Here ,then is the obvious $rolUldwork. For a start, a Social Welfare Officer is to be appointed by the War Office to the staff of c ach Command~ He will be called the Command Vlelfare Officer. He will be a man of experience in such work, well-lalown in the district and it is hoped that many members of Parl.iament will submit themselves for this post, which they should fill to perfection. This officer may be a civilian :or a retired officer and will be asked to give his services voluntarily. He will be provided with a room in the Office of the County Association or other Territ o rial Army premises within the Comrnar:rl , and the County Association will be responsible for providing him with any clerical assistance he may require. He will thus be in perpetual contact with Command Headquarters. -3 ­ Under him will b e a number of County Social Welfare Officers appointed by each County :1.ssociationo The number of course will vary according to the size of the County and the number of trooPS stationed there. In one case a separate officer may be appointed for each training camp or garrison~ In another he will be responsible for all the troops in a partic ular ,areao He too may be a civilian or retired officer giving his services '. voluntarily, but r eceiving any necessary clerical assistance. His duty ~ill:. be to keep in touch with the commanding officers of the units in his district and of cc-ordinating all social welfare inter ests. These County Social' lfolfare Officers will further form a Social \lelfare Committee for the County under the chair!1J8.nship of the Command Social \lelfare Officer, The Secretary of the local County iissociation will. also b e the Secre t ary of the County Social Welfare Committee. It will be seen from this that the underlying principle is voluntary s ervice, which is onlY. right and proper in an organisation of this kind. ..Although no--public-mon.ey_.will be placed at the disposal of these comrni ttees ther e will b e no. ob j ection to County Associations, if they have private funds ava ilafle making small grants to their social welfare officers, either for gen eral ·purposes o~ for some specific object, or for that matter raising funds by direct appeals within the County. In special circumstances Command Headquarters can appeal for money to the War Off iceo rt hi not expected that the expend iture involved will be great., Although the Ter r itorial l•rmy is for the moment merged in the British .Army as a whole its framework still exists and County Territorial Associations have in most cas es r et ained some of their staff who will be able to carry out the nec esf:::try clerical work with little or no augrnentatien. · Soeial welfare officers will, however, be entitled to travelling expenses the under /rules and rates laid down for a Major. There will e.lso be apecial arrangements r egarding cars and petrol. -4 ­ In this way it is hoped to cover the whole field of social necessity, f'irstly by co-ordinating all existing activities and secondly by filling up gaps where no such activities exist•. The War Office~ London, S. W. 1. 2nd November, 1939. TIJ_~_GRANT OF REGULAR COMivIISSIONS. The War Office makes the following announceroen~:­ 1. No further permanent -Regular commissions are being given during the war with the following exceptions:­ (a) Cadets who were already in training at the Cadet Colleges at the outbreak c:f war and any other candidates from the universities, officers of the Supplementary Reserve anr1_ Territorial Army , and Army Cadets whc had already qualified for permanent commissic·ns or been accepted for admission to the Cadet Colleges. (b) Selected \Varrant Officers who will be promoted to fill peace establishment vacancies for Lieutenant and ,'1!.uartermaster and similar categc·ries. 2. All other comrnissicns granted during the war will be "emergency commi s sions in the Land :81 orces fer the duraticn of the vva r''. 3. It is hcped at the end of the war to o.ffer permanent Regular comrnissicns to selected officers who are serving on other 1'orrns of commission and whc wish to make the /l.rmy their career and that such officers will be given ante-dates for all purposes to correspond with their length of servicA during the war. 4. There are two main reasons . f o'r the suspensiC'n of the grant of Regular comrnissi0ns during the war. (a) To ensure that there is no repetition C'f the "war block" of the last war which was largely due to the fact that many candi_dates, having initially no intention to make the Army their career, elected to go to the Cadet Colleges and after short courses thereat were appointed to permanent commissi0ns and subsequently decided to remain in the A.rrny after the war: this, in furn, was primarily resprnsible for the slowness of promoti0n before the introduction of' the time system in August 1938. (b) To ensure a selecti0n of the most suitable officers for retenticn in the Army after the war. J The ~·1ar Office, LcndC'n, S. "/. l . 2nd November,1939. P.Rl;iY Cii·i~I>l,Ji.I~,X:J . ----·--­ ~-··-..·---·­ The '.Var Office mrncunces that the age limit f0r emer gency ccmmissiC'ns f0r the duraticn 0t' the war in the R0yal 1-i.rmy Chaplains Department has been raised tr 50 years. Accordingly 9 a limite d number 1.~f applicaticns for crmmiss i0ns can be ente rtained frC'm r rdai:1sd clergymen C'r 1ministers who are over 40 years 0f age (the &ge limit hitherto) but whc I have net reached the age cf 50. ,\pplicants must be fit for G·eneral Se,rvice and preference 'Hill be given to these who have had previrus service in the Ar my. ThJy shculd apply only thrc·ugh the appI'O)riate authori t,;r of the Church t(' which they b1.::long viz the Bi shcp ccneerned in the ca.se of Church of England and the ...{oman Ca tho lie Church; the 8.Vi)rt priat e Commi t tee in the case of ether Churches . /~pplicaticns shou ld net be addressed to the ·;Jar Office . NOTES FOR AMPLIFICATION OF THE REPJ,iY OF THE SECR.JTJ:.RY OF STATE FOR WAR To· MR. LEES--811J:~·s. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING J.. GENERAL roHEME OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR THE TROOPS. The announcement made in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for War this afternoon in reply to Mr. Lees-Smit~~ question on the subject of the new Social Welfare Scheme for the Troops comes at a timely moment and should give wide-spread satisfaction. The scheme has obviously been thought out on a spacious and hlsiness-.like basis and the arrangements arc already far advanced. Lieutenant-General Sir John Brown, D.A.G..T. War Office, has been appointed under the Adjutant-General as War Office Adviser on the subject. No more experienced or capable authority could be f ound. In normal times the physical and moral welfare of the British Soldier is by the inunemorial tradition of the -British Arcy~tbe otl.re of his officers. One of the first l e ssons a Subaltern learns upon joining his regiment is to look after his men, both on and off parade. He must organise games for th~ and participate in these himself. He must know tIBch man personally and be prepared t o advise him in his own peculiar social and domestic difficulties. If a soldier gets into trouble he looks to his platoon commander to put in a word for him. If he falls sick he knows that that same officer will visit him in hospital. And so on. In other words in the.·ID:iBUJ:lar:o ~in peace time each subaltern was his own welfare officer. But today, times are far f rom nonnal. We are at war and conditions applicable to a small peace-time army no longer obtain. The army today has swelled t o the million mark. Officers and men are comparative strangers to one another and in any case· officers a.re too over-whelmed wi t h their own duties t o concern themselves with matters of individual personal welfare. -2 ­ A vvide and liberal scheme of social welfo.rc is therefore urgently needed throughout the country; esp~cia1ly at this static and somewhat stagne:.nt period when the first enthusiasm has worn off, and the monotony of uneventful routine is beginning to make . itself felt. Monotony is bad• for morale, and moL'"'·~cny today is inevitable for all and acute for someo · For v;eeks past isoln:led au~:L-a~raft and searchlight units have been watching and sweeping the skies for enemy bombers which have not yet arrived. Thousands of soldiers are billeted in rural districts, sometimes several miles from tovm or camp. Obviously i:J1ese must be made the subject of special provision. These provisions are already well in hand. It has been wisely dcci_ded to organise a scheme upon the basis supplied by the machinery of existing military f ormations, C0mmands and County Territorial Associations. For military purposes Great Britain is divided into six commands, 1'.ldershot, Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Scottish, each urnler its own General Officer Commanding-in-Chief with pennanent headquarters ani staffo The County Territorial Associations which deal with the organisation and administration of the Territorial Army are also permanent bodies, each with a Cha±rman and Secretariat • . Here then is the obvious ,grou_ndwork. For a start.9 a Social Welfare Officer is to be appointed by the War Office to the staff of c ach Commands He will be called the Command l'ielfare Officero He will be a man of experience in such work, well-known in the district and it is hoped that many members of J'ar}_iament will submit themselves f or this post, which they should fill to perfection. This officer may be 2 civilian :or a retired officer and will be asked to give his services voluntarilyc He will be provided with a room in the Office of the County J).:3sociation or other Territ orial Army premises within the Command , and the County Association will be responsible for providing him with any clerica:._ assistance he may require. He will thus be in perpetual contact with Command Hc-9.c'l.gi.;arters. Under him wi l l 1.Je a munoer of County Social Welfare Officers appointed by each County Jissoci ct-Lj_ono. The numbt:r of course will ya;ry according to the size of the dounty and the number of t:toaps statione9, there. In one case a sep a.ra.te officer may be appointed for each training camp or garrisonw In another he Yv.ill be responsible for all the troops in a parti < ular .areao He too may be a civilian or retired officer giving hi:; r: ,· 'vices'. voJ.unt 2 ..rily, but receiving any necessary clerical assistance, Hi~:; duty will:. be to keep in touch with the commanding offioers of t he units in his district and of cc~ordinating all social we1fa::.~e interest s. Thes e County Social' 1Jelfare Officers will further form a Social \lelfare Cornrni ttee for the County under the chairmanship of the Command Social 111 elfare Off icer, The Secretary of the local County ii.ssociation wi l l aJ :::o ue tbe $ecretar y of the County Social Welfare Cammittee. It will "be s een f r Cjf1 thi s that the underlying principle is voluntary s ervice2 which i s c·nl y, right and proper in an organisation of this kind, ~Uthough no-public-.mon~y... will be placed at the disposal of these committees there will be no object ion to County·Associations, if they have p:;.~ivate funds avai1apl e making small grants to their social ' welfare officers) ei t;'."~e:r fer gen eral --purposes -or__.for some specific object, or for t hat matter ~ai sing funds by direct appeals within the County. In special circumstances Comms.nd Headquarters can appeal for money to the Yiar Officeo I~; i ' not expected that the expenditure involved will be great~ Although the Terr itorial .l•nny is for the moment merged in the British krrny as a whole i t s framework still exists and County Territorial Associations have in mos·(; cases r eta.ined some of their staff who will be able to carry ou+, .Lrv" .,..,pceR'-'"1r." clerical work with little or no augmentation• Social welfare officers will, however, be entitled to travelling expenses the under/rules and rates laid down for a Major. There will also be special arrangements r egar a.ing cars anrl _i:;etrol. -4 ­ In this way it is hoped to cover the whole field of social necessity, firstly by co-ordinating all existing activities and secondly by filling up gaps where no such activities exist. EMPIRE SECTION hll.39 -No 17 Not to be published or bI'oo.C!_cflst i n this country or in any other country before Friday, 3rd November. CHIEF JUSTICE OF ZANZIBAR It is announced from the Colonial Office that His Majesty the King ho.s been pler,sed to a;xorove the appointment of Mr. John Verity, Puisne Judge, British Guiana , to be Chief Justice Zanzibar, in succession to Sir Charl es Ewan Lo.w, who was r ecently appointed Chief Justice 9 Northern Rhodesia. I SSUED THROUGH THE PRESS BUREAU 2/11/39 -NOo 18e UNOFFICIAL S_T.A;r:crvIENT FOR 'rHE USE OF THE PRESS .A_S THEY WISH. (CONFIDENTIAL: This is by the authority of the India Office !vho must not be guoted.) THE INDif-J~ STATES FORCES ;__lIOVI THEY HAVE HELPED THE EMPIRE. The generous offer of troops by Indian princes is in accordance with the previous spontaneous offers to Britain in times of crisis. Ever since the Laswari Campaign of 1803 they have been h~lping the Empire both in India and abroad. From time immemorial all the bigger Indian States have had armies, often commanded by French and British free-lances of adventurous disposition, whilst the smaller ones have been content with feudal retainers for the personal protection of the ruler. The East India Company adopted a policy of contracting treaties of mutual military assistance with the Indian princes~ and the first of such treaties was that made in 1766 with the Nizam of Hyderabado A contingent from one or more Indian States has served alongside British troops in almost every campaign in the last century, and the despatches of the Gurkha, Afghan and Sikh wars, the Mutiny and of several frontier e~peditions, testify to the good services done by these troops. In 1885 when the course of affairs on the Afghan Frontier had brought about a near prospect of war between England and Russia, the Indian States came forward with enthusiasm and unanimity and placed their resources at the Government's disposal. The danger was happily averted, but in the Indian States and elsewhere the idea began to gain ground that some scheme for utilising the military resources of the Chiefs ought to be worked out. The question was taken up by the Government and a beginning was made with the armies of the Punjab States, because from their position near the North-West -2 ­ Frontier and the martial spirit of the population9 they seemed speci?lly suitable for the experiment. The Chiefs who had specially good fighting material in their armies 9 were asked to raise a portion of these to such a pitch of general efficiency as would make them fit to go into action side by side with Her Majesty's forces. British officers 9 who were appointed as advisers and instructors 9 visited several States in turn. Capable drill instructors were lent to the States from the Indian regiments 9 and the selected troops were armed by the British Government. The names, Hunza Nagar 9 Chitralj Tirah and China blazon the colours of the 11 Imperial Service Troopsi' 9 as these regiments w.qre called, whilst despatches recorded the good service of the cavalry9 infantry9 sappers or transport employed. Material aid was afforded. in 1899 by the Indian States in sending some 1 9 200 horses to South Africa f or mounted infantry. In 1914 the troops of the various States had reached an approximate total of about 23 9000 of all arms comprising sappers and minors, cavalr,c 9 mountain artillery9 infantry camel corps ancJ. transport. In the Great War tho princes offered the whole of their resources to the King Emporor 9 Qnd out of the total of 22 i,000 Indian State troops employed outsirte State limits 9 about 1 8 9 000 served overseas in France 9 Gall1poli 9 l~ast Africa 9 Mesopotamia 9 Egypt. Pa lestine 9 and 9 in 1919 9 on the North-West Frontier of India. In ad.dition9 nearly L~ 9 000 servecl. on garrison duty in India. It is impossible to mention the exploits of all the units employed 9 but o. notable one vvns the brilliant attack carried out by the Jodhpur Lancers on the town of Haifa. This attack, assisted by a flank attack made by the Mysore Lancers 9 ended in the capture of the town -one of the few occasions on which a fortified town has been taken by cavalry at the gallop. Throughout the war the States paid the ordinary pay and the pensions of their troops 9 while replacenv:mts of eg_u:tpment, 3 clothing, animals, etc., in the field were sup"!_)licd by Government which also supplied free rntions. Many of the units were absent from Indin for ibout four ye~rs. The wnr brought out the need f or stnndnrdisction of StRtes forces with those of the Indian Rrmy. The pr>inces, renlising this, reRdily undertook ~ostwar re-organisation which r esulted in the establishment of the IndiRn St nt es Forces RS they arc known today. The tot8l strength of Indian States forces i~ now 47,000. The great majority of St at es hnve now fnllen into line with the Indian army conditions of service including pay, pensions, barracks and clothing. Some units are held reedy for immediate employment with His Majesty1s Forces on active serviae, others on lines of communication or f or purposes of internal security. The Gt 2t e officers corres~ond t o the King's Commissioned Officers of the Indian army and they, t ogether with Indian o~f1cers corresponding t o Viceroy's Commissioned Officers and other r nnks, nre now sent t n the r egulP.r army schools of instruction. Inter-Stnt o manoeuvres es well ns manoeuvres jointly with Indian army units nre car~ied out. The states me_intaining f orces nro grouped, geogra'!)hico.lly, into circles, each with a ru lit ary Advisor and his assistant, whose task is t o assist with advice in tho training and administration of the forces. There nre 17 British officers of the Indian Army on the Militflry Advisory Stnff, comr,irising the Military Adviser-in-Chief nnd his staff officer, and 15 others, included nmong whom arc t echnical ~dvisers of the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, and Royal Corns of Signals. The many duties of those off icers include frequent tours to the States o.nd the holding of locf'.l squndron leaders' o.nd comDn.ny comm['..ndcr s' courses. A senior tncticnl course is or ganised annually by the Milito.ry Adviser-in-Chief for senior Stnte .-)fficePs. The rulers have once again generously offered all their resources to the King-Emperor for the :present war and there is no doubt that the Indian Stat es Forces' units will maintain their past traditions and if called upon to do so, cover themselves with glory in the fiel do These offers have been accepted with gr atitude and already the 2nd Hyderabad Infantry, the Mal erkotla Sapper Company, the Faridkot Sapper Company and the 1st Kashmir Battery have moved to British India . 2nd November, 1939c FROM FOREIGN. OFFICE NEWS DEP;..RTrJENT 2/11/39 -No. 19. The nnnouncement r egarding Mc D.v. Kelly's appointment ns , His Majesty's L1inistor nt Berne, which was prcmaturely issued yesterday, can now be released for tomorrow morning's newspapers. The announcement should now read as follows:­FOR PUBLIC ..t'.TION IN THE J'.iQRNING PI.PERS OF FRIDJ.Y2 HOVEMBER 3RD 1939 IN THE EXJ.CT TERMS IN \IVHICH IT I S GIVEN. The King has been graciously pleased to approve the appointment of Mr. David Victor Kelly, C. M.G. 9 MoC., a Counsellor in the Foreign Office, to be His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and i·iinister Plenipotentiary at Berne in succession to Sir G. Warner, K.c.v.o., c.M.G., who is retiring at the end of the year. 10,000 T.S. 677 20,000 T.S. 61'1 MINISTRY OF LABOUR. 20/ 2.11.39. Press Notice SCHEDULE OF RESERVED OCCUPATIONS. The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces:­ The Schedule of Reserved Occupations i s the instrument for securing a proper apportionment of the country1 s man power bet vrnen the Fighting nna Civil Defence Services and industry, according to the needs of each. The Schedule consists of a list of occupations against each o:f which an age is printed. This is the age of reservation. Men who are of or above the age of reservation ap:pro:priate to their occupation will not be called up under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, nor v'lill they be accepted as volunteers for whole time service in the Armed Forces or the Civil Defence Services. Men in occupations which are not mentioned in t he Schedule and men belo-rr the ages of reservation for occupations included in the Schedule may, in general, be acce~ted for g~neral service in the Forces. There is the important exception that ..;i1i..'ehe case of a large number of important occupations from which men for servic~ in the Forces as tradesmen must be dravm, men below the ages of reservation may ~titer one of the Defence Services only for service in thei r trade capacity ru1d not for general service. In the case of a number of these occupations (including many of the occupations reserved in the Schedule at ages 21, 23 and 25) it will probably not be necessary to call up all the men below the ages of reservation; in any case, men will only be called up gradually as tradesmen1 s vacancies arise. Until such men are requirea in v~eir Service trades, they will remain in industry. The Schedule is used solely for the control of enlistment or enrolment in the Services. Men already enlisted or enrolled will not be discharged merely because they are of or above the age of reservation appropriate to their civil occup~tions, or have reached that age while serving in the Forces. The Schedule is provisional and is constantly under review so that it may be quickly revised as necessary to meet the changing requirements of industry and of the Services. The following changes in the Schedule have been made: ­ (i) In the case of the follmving occupations, the ages of reservation have been reduced as shewn below:­ Occupation. Former a~e of Reservation. .Amended age of Reservation. Bricklayer. ­ Foreman, charge hand 25 23 Bricklayer (building) general hand Bricklayer (fire brick) Civil Engineer Pupil Civil Engineer Bargee, bargeman, canal boatman, mate, Borer, boring machinist (universal) Borer (horizontal) Borer (vertical) Cement gun operator Pile driver steerer 25 25 25 25 25 21 21 21 30 30 23 18 23 23 18 18 18 18 25 25 Pavior, Asphalter. Road Surface Layer. Foreman, charge hand Charge hand tar sprayer 30 30 25 25 Signal lineman (including signal and telegraph lineman), assistant signal lineman 25 18 1. Occupation. Forme:r: age of Amended age c::f Reservation. Re§~~'2E· Surgical and dental instrument maker (non-electric)"--23· -18 Surveyor (building, quantity, estimating, measuring) 30 23 Student of recognised wireless telegraphy school who has completed three months' training 30 18 Fine balance maker 25 23 Probation ofi•icer ( whole-tirne) 35 30 (ii) The following new entries have been made in the Schedule:­ Occupation. !::1!.i.e of Reservation. Staff of Electricity Commission (minor and manipulative grades) (in ocoupations not otherwise specifically reserved) 35 Staff of Electricity Co:rmnission (other than minor and manipulative grades) (in occupations not othervvise specifically reserved) 25 Whole time clerk to Justices 25 Whole time executive and clerical staff of whole time clerk to Justices 25 Stationary ganger, travelling ganger 25 Public Works Contracting. Agent, sub-agent (civil engineering) 25 Traveller, assistant traveller (civil engineering) 25 Caterpillar-tractor driver (including grader, scraper, dumper, bulldozer driver) 21 Weight adjuster, tester (fine balance) 23 Marker (hot rolling) (tinplate and sheet mill) 18 The following other changes in connection with the Schedule are also announced: ­ Men with a certain amount of previous flying experience may now be accepted for service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve or the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy irrespective of their position under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. The men concerned are, (i) holders of Air Ministry "B" licences; (ii) men who have at any time served as pilots with the Royal Air Force, its Reserves, or in the Auxiliary Air Force; (iii) holders of Air Ministry "A" licences with a minimum of 250 hours solo flying experience. In regard to school teachers the existing entry has been rur~nded to make it clear that it covers full time instructors in technical or commerical schools or other establishments undertaking vocational training. Also women teachers employed at private schools are no longer reserved and may now undertake any kind of National Service work. The revised definition reads:­ Schoolmaster, teacher (man) (including full time instructor (unless otherwise reserved at a lower age by reason of trade or professional qualifications) in a technical or conunercial school or other establishment undertaking vocational training) ­ reserved at the age of 25. Schoolmistress, teacher (women) (other than schoolmistress or teacher in a private school) -reserved at all ages. Issued through Press and Censorship Bure~i. 2nd November, 1939. 2. H. Q. 91-430 K. I. g/11/39 . -Nq. 21, IHNISTRY OF HE.ALTH. Parliamentary S~cr~~~l1L_~ Visit to \7e~!(lOUth. l1iss Florence Horsbrugh 9 Parliamentary Secretary to the r.I inistry of Health 9 is visiting .V!eymouth on Saturday9 the 4th November 9 at the invitation of the 1'1ayor 9 to open a social club which has been establish~ed for evacuated persons accommodated in the Borough. Miss Horsbrugh will perforrn the opening ceremony in the afternoon after doing a short tour of other rece1)tion areas in Dorset. MINISTRY OF HEALTH. 2nd November, 1939. 2/11/39 -No. 22. FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST. MINES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT. London Divisional Petroleum Office. The public are advised that as from Monday next, 6th of November, the address of the London Divisional Petroleum Officer will be:- Brornyard Avenue, Acton, London, w.3. All communications should be directed a:rter that date to the above address. ---------000---------­ 2.11.39 No 23 PRESS NOTICE The Duchess of Kent paid a visit to Glasgow to-day, lasting five hours. .Amongst other things she visited the headquarters of the Scottish Red Cross, St Andrew's Ambulance Association, Women's Voluntary Service, 1";..R. P. Control Centres, and other A. R. P centres where she met the v)crdens of the various districts, Red C2oss Sup)ly Depots, various Pirst Aid Posts and Auxiliary Fire Stations, the Y.W.C.A building , The Duchess of Kent lunched with the Lo:cci Provost o.t the City Chambersr, ISSUED THROUGH THE PRESS AND CENSORSHIP BUREAU EMPIRE SECTION 2/11/39 -No 24. NOTE TO EDITORS: This is issued in the hope that it may help the Press, but must not be used as an official communique or statement frc:m the Dominions Office. It may be used in any other form thought fit. EMPIRE CONSULTATIONS The consultations between visiting Dominion Ministers and the United I:ingdom Ministers continued to-day and progress was made in the task of unifying and strengthening the war effort exerted by the Brltisl1 Commonwealth of Nations. In the morning individual conversations took place; and particular questions concerning civil aviation and shipping were discussed. By this means special problems affecting one or two only of the Dominions can (it has been found) be most expeditiously handled. In the afternoon the strategic needs and problems of the Empire ns a whole were under review. These conversations were interrupted by a visit of the Dominion guests t o the Mansion House for luncheon with the Lord Mayor. Mr. Eden, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, was also a guest of the Lord Mayor. The war has . not been allowed to stand in the way of the hospitality which the City of London is always anxious to extend to distinguished visitors from our partner-nat.ions overseas. The pronouncements which the representatives of the Dominions made to the Press on their arrival gave evidence of the eager desire of these great Dominions to be ranged actively with Great Britain in this time of crisis; and it may at once be said they have carried that spirit of loyal and frienc.ly co-·operation t o the Conference Table. ISSUED TitRQ_QGH _THE PRESS BUREAU A, M, Bulletin No .116"·­ ,. ~ NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MORNING NEWSPAPERS OF SATURDAY, 4TH NOVEMBER, 1939. AIR MINISTRY CASUALTY COMMUNIQUE N0.8. ROY.AL AIR FORCE. The Air Ministry regrets to announce the following casualties on various dates. Killed in Action. BLADES 550711 Aircraftman 1st Class, B.N. LOCKLEY 41436 Pilot Officer, W.E. Killed on Active Service. ANDERSON BARKER CLARK GAUT JB'NEs 41647 40199_ 567489 562936 533682 Pilot Officer, J,R. Pilot Officer, R.A. Aircraftman 1st Class, J.B. Sergeant, H.J. Aircraftman 1st Class, H. KEOGH LAMBLOCKER LUCKMAN 569519 741579 34241 39744 Aircraftman 1st Class, R.A.W. Sergeant, D,C. Flight Lieutenant W.A.L. Pilot Officer, R.A.M. MELVIN MYCROFT PATERSON ROBERT'S SHRAPNELL-SMITH. VINCENT WHITEHEAD 804282 519466 620054 804276 37562 560443 41764 Aircraftman 2nd Class, H.S. Sergeant, T. · Aircraftman 2nd Class, c. Leading Aircraftman, A. Acting Flight Lieutenant, T.E. Temporary Sergeant, A. Acting Pilot Officer, A.G. Missing. HEMSLEY HILLIER LUMSDEN 740112 580543 621435 Sergeant, P.G.V. A/Sergeant, E.B. Aircraftman 2nd Class A. SHEARER 625176 Aircraftman 2nd Class J. Missing Believed Killed. HAYWARD 621542 Aircraftman 2nd Class J.H. Died on Active Service. BROWN 365778 Sergeant H.E. PAGE 119522 Leading Aircrartman T.J. Previously reported Wounded in Action now reported Died from wounds received in action. VICKERS 516606 Sergeant J.H. Pre\riously reported "Missing Believed Killed" now reported 11 Killed in Action11 • DAY 549741 Aircraftman 2nd Class K.G. PRINCE 580195 Sergeant A.s. Previously reported "Missing" now reported "Ki:l:,led in Action". RICKETTS 519859 Corporal J.L. ROSS 39340 Flying Officer J.F. Press & PU.blicity Branch, Air Ministry, 2nd November, 1939,. Ktnr-Charles Street, Whitehall, S.W.l. :&r~IvI ,,,_J:1~J1etin No. 11'7. OT···~·_;· .-si:-1;unr;1t!1{' 0··-ii3--BEi;OREl L '.:·BE TlfiORNn;:._;. O? 3RD NOVT~LI~SEE.. .1939 o -----·------------·--·--·----_)· ROY.AL AIR FUR.CTI: ~VAR D~CCRA'l'IONS , ---·-~·-·.-....:.·--;v.-....--.,.....-,~~·'--~~_..._~-~---u -..,.....,,_.,..__..,,..,....... ..,.....,, His Maj esty The ~ihg has been g~aciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned awar61:3 ·i~o Roye;.1 A1-r Force personnel in recognition of galJ.ant.ry d.~_ .:~:play~:?-d in fly~.ng o:perations against the enemy, and to L1vest ~:he :11 .~0ora1, ions in :perso::.1. during His Majesty1s visit to ·the B;..-:>;yc.J.. Aij'.' :B'o::cce on ac:::ive eervice at home in the air defence of Great Bri tain~ ';q J. .cr'-.·r .,. · ' e·· u ·':.c.·nan+·) THURSTQ"f.T 1. Flying Of'fi.ce:c I ..• ~:)'-.J.. J .LI.L \,. \...... v J.'f MEIGGS WE1rIITGRALL SMITH. 1 a ..,,.. , r ,.~ 2. Flying Off::l.s er \ c ··~· \>.l. . .l~;, Plj e;h"~ I,ieutenant ) JOHN BARRETT. Acti:ng FU ght I;·u:,u·:e~:.ant Smith and Acting Flight Lieutenant Barrett wer'e :::.:n Gc-~r·· (:mitrnr·' 1939 respectively in command of the first ar~d necond of ";::ln •ee flying boats of the Coastal Command, Ro~ral .A.:Lr Fe ;·•ce , ·wb.j_eh were engaged on patrol duty over the AtJ ant:'.'Lc when ·~(:.-)y i_::.1·'.:ercepter3. messages from a . torpedoed merchant sh~t:p ~· ~:ens~1.ngtG:l Court., They proceeded to the scene (some '70 rnil es r"':rom ;~·he mninland) -~o undertake rescue work. A lifeboat wa::i 20eri ir1 th:; yicinit y containing 34 men and the first e.ircra:U; alighted and t;:>ok on board 20 of the crew. A thorough search fer· ene!"ny submarines was made by the second aircraft which aft erwards al:i.ghted a11d; i!l spite of the heavy swell, took 0:11 board ·:.1:1.e :-emai:n.de:r.· of the crew from the lifeboat~ Sergeant Wi .iJ _:. t s was -c~1c s ei::o:nd pj_Jo·::. '8.nd navigator of an aircraft of the CoaBtal .:..~o-;;\mand engag.ad i:o comb2't with an enemy flying boat :i;1 Sept.erriber ~ 19;39.o Dnr5.ng the engagement, the pilot was shot t111~01...1gh ~ ;.1.c hend and coJ.larJsed. over the Control r-ol·11 ""n "o· irl-: '-'r--·,.,,:;·..,,a·-r:·· ~;vi -! I ·1·~ <' -:n; rc c·:";AdFJd j n obtaining '-" 1....U.U 1 J. ~· ),.; ......L ::,-; '-J. J • •A-·· ··~ . "'-· ~ . -~ -...-• ­control of the aj_rc.raf'C de: s:;.!i t·=~ t,hu l;t l ot 1 ~~ :iner,'Gness and the extremely 1.ow aJ.·si·~·u1e" After ·t;he boct;~;--of :~1fj pL;.c 0 nad been moved clear of the controls, Sergean:t \i'l:Ll 1i +, [:~ pi1oted n~1d :aavigated the aircraft back to the base~ a dis~a~ce c~ ~~cut 140 milesn The ai:·rnan: s ;::;ki'L} a nd ::;ir c.ssnce of mind undoubtedly saved the Jives of the ~)theri mernber s of ·che ~re1N and also the aircraft. /Notes Acting It11ight Lieutenant §~J~~h is 23 years of age. He was born at AMER8HAM and educa~ed a t Haileybury College. He was given a short serv:ce c:orrm:l.ssion as Acting Pilot Officer in May, 1937, gradeC. as Pilot Officer in March9 1938, and promoted Flying Officer in Sep tembers ~-9380 He has been Acting Flight Lieutenant since May. 19390 H~ has served at home and in the Mediterranean on l'eecY~uaJ.ssance dutj_es) Ac ·ti::-.g Fl:::_ght I,:i.el1.+,e::'.1an.t Barrett is 25., He was born at Ilfor-d e.nd illfas e.d.1Ga ·:-,d d at Southend Hlgh School and Sir John Cass Nau::Lca1 SchooJ.,, He '\11i8.~ given a shr;rt 3er-..,,-~ce commi s sion in the Royal Air For ce in Oct~ber) 1935 as Acting Pilot Officero He was confirmed in ra:r~k end. g.raG.ed. as PiJ..ot Officer in October, 1936, and promot ed F1.yinc; Off:l.cer in May> 19380 He has been Acting ~light I.ie.u-~enant ;;;tr.ce Marer:~· 1939 0 He has mainly served Hl general reconna:i. ss&,n;::e ·.1..:-:~J. t-So Sergean·t .1t\;.._~:).)_~§.~ whtJ .ti3 &.geo. 25? :!.s a na-~ive of Middlesbrough_, Ee jci:·:e6. the RoAc:B'" at Uxbridge in January, 1936, as a:i ai rcraf:man sec.;ond. ,·~!.ass " He was promoted corporal three years late:~'~ ai1d .r e ached i1is p~'.'esen~ rank in May this Year ' When -·t1P bF-. ........'"' ... 8"T1L .• •• ~• .: a iYo'>l··, _., ., f; 0 ' d ,.i;(l-;· .J. • ...:, _ IO"'"'-'0 · ...J '-::1..~C•.• • · '"·'­ He l"ms scr re.d o·\:Erseas, and before beginning his training as a pilot he was a clerk en~loyed on accountancy dutieso Press and Publj_c:l "'::;y B:canch,. Air Minist:".'y" ~n~ Ch~rles 0~~Q0~ .,. K.L .:S H. ...., .._ 1..)t.,....._ '.JV '>' 'fuit2hall~ S.W,l c 2nd November 9 J.q39 " 2/11/39 No.27. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. Rationing. The Ministry of Food stat es that thousands of removals have been notified since National Registration Day and that it has not been possible f or l ocal Food Offices t o make the necessnry re-direction of r ation books in all cases. Where a book is delivered to a house from which the person named on the book hns removed, the present occupier of that house should re-direct the book t o the new address if he knows it. If he does not know the new address he should simply drop the book in the nearest letter-box. There is no need t o use an envel ope or t o affix a stamp. The Ministry of Food also wish t o remind consumers that they should register in r espect of sugar. To effect this, the retailer's name should be enter ed in the appropriat e space on the inside of the front cover of the book, and the consumer's name, address and the date should be entered on the counterf oil of the page of sugar coupons. The book should then be t aken t o the retailer who will cut off the counterfoil and send it to the local Food Office. 2.11. 39 No.28. Not t o be releas ed before 9.30 p.m~ on Thursday, Nov.2nd., 1939. B.B.C. J~nTOUNCEMENT. The B.B.C. announces that Major-General Sir Ernest Swinton, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. broadcast a "War Commentary" in the Home Service programme this (Thursday) evening, Nov. 2nd. In the course of this he sai d:­ May I begin my talk this evening by saying a word to the many among my listeners who h0.ve wrj ,ten letters t o me. The word is simply this: that I am nfraid they are t oo many for me t o be able t o r eply personally t o them all, but I shall try and 9ay attention to the points which they raise. I said l ast week that I would give you some description of the Si egfried Position. I want to explain and emphazise my reason for saying that we should thank God that the Allied troops ··ivere not being throvm in haste against the maze of concret e, steel and guns in front of them. What is this maze that faces the Allies like? In what do both the Maginot and Siegfried Positions differ from the positions on the Western Front of 1914-18, which both sides so often f ailed t o break through? Well, the posttion of the last war were really 'field defences' which were improvised nnd construct ed, often in haste, during active operations, after fighting had begun. It is true that the Germans, who intended to hang on to the ground gained in France and Belgium as l ong as they could, built stronger defences than we did, and made a far greater use of concrete ·and steel. But even the celebrat ed Hindenburg "Line" constructed during the war behind the front was no more than a glorified field position. Now in contrast t o t he last war both the Maginot and Siegfried Positions are "permP.nent f ortifications", and represent the l ast word in the construction of l and def ence against a great offensive. Each of them is the product of the teohnical skill and resources of a whole nation applied in peace-time regardless of cost. -2 ­ The Maginot position was built first. The French had already experienced two invasions of their country within tho memory of men now living, and they did not wish to suffer a thira.• They started in 1929 to build the position which is I called after its originator -the late Andra Maginot, Minister of War. It was a.esigned and built carefully, at leisure, with all the advantages thereby conferred~ The first sector from the Swiss to the Belgian frontier cost about seventy million pounds. Later the defences were prolonged behind Belgium to the coast. Germany, on the other hand, had for some years after the war, no reason to fear invasion, and it was not until the early summer of 1938 tho. t she started on her Western Frontier -defences_. There was then a prospect of her armies marching into Czechc-Slovakia, and she wished to protect herself in the rear from invasion by the French. The result was that these defences, called the Siegfried Position, were designed and built in a great hurry, against time. They are therefore in many partic­ulars inferior to the French Position, though in essentials the two are similar. If you get out your maps you can see for yourselves the si~uation of both. The distance between them varies and also the depth of each from front to rear. From BASLE northwards to C:ARLSRUHE the. Rhine forms the No Man's Land between the two fronts and is itself a formidable obstacle. The Siegfried Position or, as the Germans call it, 11 The West Wal~', consists of one or more fortified zones each up to a mile in depth one behind the other. Each is protected in front by wide belts of barbed Wire, and no one who wns not in the last war can realise what the German barbed wire is like. It is also protected by anti-tank obstacles of different types, such as hidden deep ditches with concrete sides 9 u dragons' teeth11 ­concrete pillars with steel cores placed close together, and what the French call 11 asparagus beds11 of strong steel posts set in concrete. -3 ­ Behind the obstacles ar e concrete and steel defence works of all types. In front they consist of pill-boxes armed with anti-tank guns, or machine-guns. Farther back there are forts of varying size constructed of masses of concrete and earth. They are armed with guns of different calibres empJtacad in armoured cupol..as, whose turtle-backed steel tops are almost invisible Deep dovm belovv, right beyond reach of the heaviest o shells, is the living accommodat ion for the garrisons, an~. electric railways for inte:;:•communication~ Everything is thought out .and provided to enable men to live below ground and go on fighting for days. Deep underground, also, are the store.El and magazines. The whole pattern of the obstacles, pill-boxes and defence works in a zone is arranged on a definite scheme so as to bring the maximum amount of fire from shelter on to every portion of the ground in front of, and in the zone. No infantry advance could be made cgainst such a zone until these works in front of the zone had been either pulverized by~ bombardment heevier than any that was ever carried out during the last war or else blown up by mines. And even then, supposing the attacking infantry penetrated far·ther, they would not be "through11 They would only find themselves in the 0 defender 1 s 11 Tom Tiddler 1 s Ground", where they wouJl.d be "tapedn and at his mercy~ If tJ:i_ey got on still f arther they would, when tired, shaken and pr obably dispersed, be liable. to sudden count~r-attack by fresh forces waiting for them. And beyond, ahead of them, would b e a second, and possibly a third, practically unbuttered zone. It would be no case of sma8hing throughr~line or thin crust. The Siegfried Position is a t ough proposition ~111 through. From vrhat I 1 ve said y•JU can see for yourselves that an attack on defences of th~_s nature, whether it be the Siegfried, or tho Maginot, ~osition, would inevitably be ru terribly costly operation and is not likely to be undertaken by either side unlo ss they arc forced to it. And, as I /remarked -4­remarked last week; Time is on out' side.o The situation is very different for the Germans. Time is not on their side 2.nd sooner or later they will be forced t o do s·omething in addition t o the air o.nd under-water attack which they a.re carrying out on our sea cor;ununico. tions and commerce, and for which you must rememb8r they had made co.r eful preparation before the wuro Ln st, week I go.ve it you as .!!liy opinion that the Germans would not attempt a lightning strokeo But since then things have happenedo It is reported that another General of the old army, the Commander-in-Chief, General von Brauchitsch, has been S'@ ersedea., and his place taken by Hitler himself. The old Regular Army gener al s , von Bl ombergand von Fritsch, who was killed on the Polish front, are reputed to have tried all along to exercise a steady influence over the Ftihrcr's sch.em.ea. And if von Brauchitsch 1 s influence has been in the same direction and is now removed and Hitler assumes supreme control there is no saying, in his present. mood, what mo.y happeno One of the problems that faces every commander in war is to guess what his opponent will doo He hQs to base his answer on the nature of the situation and_ the record, character and I mentality of his opponent -so f ar as he knows it, and usually assumes that his enemy will a.ct according to reasono But in the case of Hitler pa ssion is just as likely to govern his action as reason. He is generally r ep:i.12t ed to be an emtional man of moods. I happened to meet him at the National Socio.list Rally in Munich in 1936, and the impression I formed of the Ftihrer bears out this estimateo There has been a good deo.l of t o.lk, especially amongst the younger genero.tion, of what Herr Hitler has done for the working classes of Germanyo It i s t rue that since he came to power six years ago Hitler has rescued his e..dopted country I from 5. from the edge of the abyss, giving it back its pride in itself, and pulled it together materially and ph~sically and economically. But there is another side of his regime which is sometimes qverlooked and that is the disregard of individual rights and the brutal treatment of political opponents which is an essen­tial feature of the Nm::Ji. system. This side is very clearly brought out in the Government White Paper published this week. It is . called TR.rl:ATMENT OF GERHAN NATION/'.J,S IN GERMiJfY, 1938-39. It is horrible reading, but it cannot be disregarded by any one who wishes to know what we are rea]Jy;fighting against, and from what we are trying to save our country. It cannot be discounted as mere propaganda. The reports it contains &re official and come from persons of undoubted integrity and experience. But to come back now to the question of what may be expected as the next German move. The cessation of telephonic communication between Germany and Holland and Belgium last week, the reported massing of German troops and the conferences in Berlin all point to srnnething being in the wind. But the fantastic threats of an invasion of this country, which are causing anxiety to some people, can I think well be ignored. These threats are a measure of the annoyance and disappointment of the Nazi leaders, Hitler, von Ribbentropsi Goering, and t~1e other members of the gang, and of their special spite against this country. This disappointment. will not be abated. by th6 fact that in his speech at the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union two days---ago Molotoff made no promise of material support to the N9.Zi Government. Much in the same way as we ought to rejoice in the a.earth of exciting news on land, we should rest content with the lack of great naval events. But the reason for the lack of events at sea is quite different. It is that at sea we have a strangle-hold over the enemy-........•......•.•..:................ . Whilst 6 Whilst all his vessels, with the exception of some submnrines and a reputed pocket ba ttle ship, have been swept off the oceans, our merchant ships are coming and going upon their lawful occasions with almost as much reguln.rity as they did !p. peace. It is not easy for us on land to realise this situation and what sea-power means. Even in the short j ourney across to France it is a revelation t o see the freedom with which traffic is carried on up and down Channel. Not a German flag is to be seen and none will be until peace is declar ed. The Secretary of State f or War made a statement in the House of Commons this afternoon, which shows how ideas f or the maintenance and welfare of our national army have advanced in proportion t o its growth in size. The comp~ehensive scope of the scheme now put forward and its detailed nature, are a measure of the importance now attached -and quite rightly attached ~ to Rll sideS" of the wellbeing of the troops. In the days of our small regular army all this work was done almost entirely by the officers of a unit, who knew their men personally. With an army numbering over a million, and consisting almost entirely of officers and men who are strange to each other, this system has become impossible, and the work is now to be done by a special social welfare officer in each Command. This officer will be associated with the County Associations, and have under him the necessary staff f or the work. The organisation promises t o be a great step forward in the moral and material comfort of those who are giving their services t o the country. And this is good war news because I can tell you that there is nothing more important in any army than the wellbeing nnd contentment of its members. 2/11/39 -No 29. FRENCH OFFICAL COMMUNIQUE (EVENING) Our patrols have been active during the day between the Blies and the Rhineo