24/11/39 No. 11, OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY C Olii iUNI QUE» The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce the loss off the East Coast of H*M* minesweeping trawler MASTIFF, hy the explosion of a German mine, The next of kin of casualties have "been informed and a casualty list will he issued shortly<> •A.M. Bulletin No, 156. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MORNING NEWSPAPERS OP SATURDAY, 25TH NOVEMBER, 1939. AIR MINISTRY CASUALTY COR, UNIQUE KO. 11. ROYAL AIR FORCE. The Air Ministry regrets to announce the following casualties on various dates,. KILLED IN ACTION. BEGG 29158 Squadron Leader, J.A.B, LAYBOURNE 525796 Aircraftman Ist Class, H. MISSING, BELIEVED KILLED IN ACTION. GARNETT 90302 Plight Lieutenant, G.W. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED "MISSING" NOW REPORTED "KILLED IN ACTION". EMDEN 36138 Flying Officer, H.L. EVANS 537187 Aircraftman Ist Class, R« PATEMAN 548974 Aircraftman 2nd Class, E, SHEFFIELD 552231 Aircraftman Ist Claes, G< THOMPSON 40445 Pilot Officer, K.G.S. WILLIAMS 366471 Flight Sergeant, S.- PREVIOUSLY REPORTED "MISSING BELIEVED KILLED” NOW REPORTED »KILLED IN ACTION"* JARVIS 565602 Sergeant, D.E. KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE.. AYLMER 33045 Squadron Leader* M.A. BEERE 40334 Pilot Officer, I. St. J. BRETT 564334 Flight Sergeant* G. A, BRYANT 590534 Sergeant, C.A. BURGE 612813 Aircraftman 1st Class, CHAPMAN 620138 Aircraftman 2nd Class, W.C. COLBRIDGE 570418 Aircraftman 1st Class, S.C. CONNER 615297 Aircraftman 2nd Class, B. COX 41670 Pilot Officer, R.E.- DUGDALE 41835 Pilot Officer, M.V.- DYE 622509 Aircraftman 2nd. Class, W.H.- EYRES 34234 Flight Lieutenant, K.N.M.- GEORGE 525139 Leading Aircraftman, D*'> MOORE 364144 Flight Sergeant, • F.J.B. COVERALL 39331 Flying Officer, H.E.H* PIKE 580454 Acting Sergeant, R. C.L. RYAN 41324 Pilot Officer, A.H.J. SMITH 41749 Pilot Officer, M.E.R. • THORPE 566539 Corporal, C.M. Library University of Texas Austin, Texas MISSING BELIEVED KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE. SHAW. 40571 Pilot Officer, W. MISSING. BURROWS 539683 Aircraftman 1st Class, J,S. DOODEY 562505 Sergeant, F.W. GARRICK 567306 Aircraftman 1st Class, J.A. KANE 543862 Temporary Corporal, D.D, LEWIS 519767 Aircraftman 1st Class, J.C, MARTYR 40733 Pilot Officer, B.A. MacDONALD 551388 Aircraftman 1st Class, A,B. MITCHELL 580376 Sergeant, S.R. MORTON 39890 Pilot Officer, A.D. DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE. FISHER 531489 Acting Corporal, C.F.W. GEE 620845 Aircraftman 1st Class, T. HUTT 646068 Aircraftman 2nd Class, W.W. KENDALL 591451 Apprentice Clerk, E.A, LACEY 348684 Sergeant, H. LINAKER 537514 Aircraftman 1st Class, F.D. LOVEGROVE 527690 Leading Aircraftman, G.G. J. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED "MISSING" NOW REPORTED "PRISONER OF WAR". LIGGETT 518168 Aircraftman 1st Class, H. Press and Publicity Branoh, Air Ministry, King Charles Street, Whitehall, S.W.l* 24th November, 1939* 24/11/39 - No. 2, MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. STOCKS OF CANNED FISH. An order has been made by the Ministry of Food requiring any person holding, other than in a retail shop, not less than 2 tons gross or 100 cases of canned herrings, pilchards, sardines, brisling or sild, to make a return of his stocks on 25th November and fortnightly thereafter. The necessary forms can "be obtained from the Ministry of Food, Canned Fish Supplies, 1, Temple Court, Liverpool 2. 24/11/39 - No. 3 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (MORNING) The following official communique was issued by French G. H. Q, this morning: Nothing of importance to report during the night. On November 23 eight. German reconnaissance planes were brought down on French territory, four of which by the R. A. F, and four by the French Air Force, One of our fighters has not returned to its base,. 24.11.39/No. 4. P.N. 1595 PRESS NOTICE The Postmaster General announces that, in the exercise of powers conferred on him by the Defence Regulations 1939, he has issued Orders prohibiting, except under the authority of a Post Office permit, (a) the acquisition or supply of wireless transmitters and certain other electrical apparatus which may be used as parts of such transmitters; (b) the possession of wireless transmitters; and (c) the use of wireless transmitters. These Orders, which have "been published to-day in the London Gazette, will enable the Postmaster General to exercise, in the national interest, more effective control than has hitherto been possible over wireless transmissions in and from this country. Orders (a) and (c) will come into force immediately, and Order (b) relating to possession will become operative on the 15th December. Arrangements have been made for dealing expeditiously with all applications for permits which may be required under these Orders in connection with legitimate activities. Orders (b) and (c) do not apply to any apparatus in respect of which there is a licence still in force under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts authorising the use of the apparatus for transmission. Applications for permits in respect of Order (a) should be made to the Engineer-in-Chief, Radio Branch, General Post Office, Harrogate, Yorkshire, on forms provided for the purpose, which may be obtained at any Head Post Office or from the Engineer-in-Chief. These forms contain an extract from that Order specifying the articles to which it applies. In the case of the other two Orders, applications for permits should be made by letter to Ra"io General the Engineer-in-Chief, Branch, Post Office, Harrogate, Yorkshire. GENERAL POST OFFICE. 24th November, 1939. EMERGENCY POWERS (DEFENCE) ACT 1939. POST OFFICE CONTROL OP WIRELESS TRANSMITTERS AND CERTAIN OTHER ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. The Postmaster General in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Regulation 55 of the Defence Regulations 1939 hereby orders that on and after the 25th day of November 1939 no person shall, except under the authority of a permit granted by the Postmaster General for the purpose, sell, purchase, let, hire, supply, dispose of, acquire or distribute any of the undermentioned articles: (a) Wireless transmitters which are designed to be used or are capable of being used for communicating by wireless telegraphy, wireless telephony or wireless television; or as navigational beacons, or landing beacons, or otherwise for the purpose of indicating position or direction; or for the purpose of the remote control of machinery. (b) The following articles intended for use as parts of wireless transmitters, namely: high frequency inductors, spark coils, quenched and rotary spark gaps. (c) Any wireless receiving apparatus which is designed to be used also as a wireless transmitter or which can be adapted for the purpose of being used as a wireless transmitter by the operation of a switch or by the changing of screwed or plug connections, (d) Line carrier telegraph equipment or line carrier telephone equipment. (e) High frequency equipment (being equipment which generates or uses high frequency current at frequencies greater than 10,000 cycles per second and having a maximum output exceeding 10 watts) including such equipment intended for use in connection with furnaces and medical apparatus• (f) Electronic valves capable of an anode dissipation exceeding 10 watts. (g) Piezo electric quartz plates or piezo electric tourmaline plates cut to oscillate at any specified frequency. Applications for permits should be made to the Engineer-in-Chief of the Post Office, on forms obtainable at any Head Post Office or from the Engineer-in-Chief, stating full particulars of the article concerned, the purpose for which it is required and the name, address and occupation of the person or company who wishes to obtain it and of the person or company from whom it would be obtained. DATED this 24th day of November 1939. (Signed) G.C. Tryon EMERGENCY POWERS (DEFENCE) ACT 1939. POST OFFICE POSSESSION OF WIRELESS TRANSMITTERS, THE Postmaster General in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Regulation 8 of the Defence Regulations 1939 hereby orders that on and after the 15th day of December 1939 no person shall, except under the authority of a written permit granted by the Postmaster General for the purpose, have in his possession or under his control (l) any wireless transmitter which is designed to be used for communicating by wireless telegraphy, wireless telephony or wireless television; or as a navigational beacon or landing beacon or otherwise for the purpose of indicating position or direction; or for the purpose of the remote control of machinery, or (2) wireless apparatus components capable of being assembled to form such a wireless transmitter, or (3) any wireless receiving apparatus which is designed to be used also as a wireless transmitter or which can be adapted for the purpose of being used as a wireless transmitter by the operation of a switch or by the changing of screwed or plug connections. This order shall not apply in relation to any apparatus in respect of which there is in force a licence under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1904 to 1926 authorising the use of the apparatus for transmission. Applications for permits should be made to the Engineer“in-Chief of the Post Office, stating full particulars of the apparatus or article concerned, the purpose for which it is required, and the name, address and occupation of the person or company in vfaose possession or under whose control the apparatus or article is to be retained. DATED this 24th day of November 1939* (Signed) G.C. Tryon. Library University of Texas Austin, Texas EMERGENCY POWERS (DEFENCE) ACT 1939* POST OFFICE REGULATION OF USE OF WIRELESS TRANSMITTERS The Postmaster General in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Regulation 8 of the Defence Regulations 1939 hereby orders that on and after the 25th day of November 1939 no person shall except under a licence or permit granted by the Postmaster General use a wireless transmitter for communicating by wireless telegraphy, wireless telephony or Wireless television; or as a navigational beacon or landing beacon or otherwise for the purpose of indicating position or direction; or for the purpose of the remote control of machinery. This order shall not apply in relation to any apparatus used in accordance with the terms of a licence in force under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1904- to 1926 authorising the use of the apparatus for transmission. Applications for licences or permits should be made to the Engineer-in-Chief of the Post Office, stating full particulars of the apparatus concerned, the purpose for which it is to be used and the name, address and occupation of the person or company who wishes to use it. DATED this 24-th day of November 1939. (Signed) G.C. Try on. BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT 24/11/39 ~ NO.5 THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE IN WAR TIME; "Dental defects are found in such a large proportion of school children that they outnumber all other defects combined", state the Board of Education in a circular issued to Local Authorities today. in areas the school dental service was curtailed on many and the to for its full evacuation, Authorities are urged arrange re- sumption as soon as possible, "otherwise much of the work done in past years will be wasted". No additional expense for the dental treatment of evacuated children will fall on receiving authorities, but it is their responsi- bility to see that treatment is provided and they are advised to see that evacuated children are not deprived of the facilities available to other children in their areas. Many receiving Education Authorities will have to increase their dental staffs. The Dental War Committee, set up by the Government to co-ordinate the supply of dentists to the various services, will assist Authorities by putting them in touch with experienced dentists. PARENTS' CONSENT FOR TREATMENT. It will often be impossible to obtain the consent of the parents for the treatment of evacuated children, and if it appears from in- formation supplied by the teacher or by examination of the child's mouth that the parent has consistently refused in the past to allow the child to receive dental treatment, only treatment should emergency be given. If there is evidence that the child has received dental treatment in the past, it may be assumed that the parent would agree to treatment, A general anaesthetic should not be given without the consent of the parent. General anaesthetics are only administered by the operator in cases of special urgency, but the Board feel /that that a relaxation of this rule may be unavoidable if, owing to a shortage of staff, a separate anaesthetist is not readily available. The only general anaesthetic that may be administered in any circumstances by an operator is nitrous oxide gas, with or without oxygen.. EMERGENCY TREATMENT When facilities for the treatment of emergency cases by the Authorities’ own Dental Officers are not available, it is suggested that Authorities should make arrangements with local practitioners to provide treatment for children developing toothache between the visits of the school dentist e Such treatment will not usually call for the extraction of more than one tooth. JOURNEYS TO CLINICS. In normal times children attending a dental clinic are frequently accompanied by a parent 0 It may not always he possible for billeting householders to accompany the children, but in view of traffic dangers- the Board suggest that the children, at younger any rate, should not attend unaccompanied,, The help of voluntary workers, such as boy-scouts and girl-guides, might be enlisted. TREATMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS. Some Local Education Authorities do not provide dental treatment for secondary school pupils, and they are asked to review the position if pupils have heen evacuated to their areas* u, lt would "be regrettable”, stafe the Board, ”if pupils who have b.een receiving treatment were now to he deprived of it”. CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE. Local Education Authorities are asked to co-operate with Maternity and Child Welfare and to do all they to Authorities, can assist them in dental treatment for mothers and for providing children under five years. Circular to Local Education Authorities Circular 1485 (24th November, 1939) All communications should be addressed to The Secretary BOARD OF EDUCATION, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE IN WAR-TIME 1. Introductory Present uncertainty as to the number of doctors and nurses who are available for the School Medical Service prevents the immediate issue of a comprehensive Circular to Local Education Authorities on the arrange- ments for the conduct of that service during the war. There is however less uncertainty about the availability of dentists. There will doubt- less be a steady demand for dentists to meet the growing requirements of the Fighting Services, but there is not likely to be a sudden demand for dental personnel such as might be experienced in the case of doctors and nurses. The fact that dental defects are found in such a large proportion of school children that they outnumber all other defects combined is an additional reason for giving without further delay advice on the conduct of the School Dental Service. The following paragraphs deal mainly with questions that concern the receiving Local Education Authorities but some (for example paragraphs 3,8, 9, 10 and part of 12) apply to all areas. 2• Responsibility of Local Authorities In Circular 1469, issued by the Board on 19th May, 1939, it was laid down that the responsibility for providing a School Medical Service for evacuated children would rest with the receiving Education Authority* Lest there should be any misapprehension on the point, it may be emphasised that the School Dental Service is an integral part of the School Medical Service. While, however, the responsibility for such provision rests with the receiving Education Authority, additional expenditure in no respect of evacuated children will ultimately be borne by that Authority. 3. Resumption of Conservative Treatment It was recognised by the Board that it would be necessary in many areas to suspend conservative dentistry for a period following evacuation. If this period is greatly prolonged, much of the work done in past years will be wasted. It is hoped, therefore, that Education Authorities will as soon as possible arrange for a resumption of conservative work if this has not already been done. 4. Scope of Service for Evacuated Children It is most desirable that there should he no differentiation in the facilities available as between the evacuated children and those normally resident in the area. The Board have been informed that there has been differentiation in some areas and they therefore desire to urge that, whatever the scope of the service which is available, the evacuated any facilities -which children should not be of at the deprived are disposal of the other children in the area. 5* Appointment of Additional Dental Officers Owing to the substantial increase in the school population of receiving Education Authorities, it will be necessary for the majority 42521-1 of them to consider the question of augmenting their dental staffs. The responsibility for doing this rests soley with them, though they will naturally take steps to ascertain the wishes of the evacuating Authorities which have sent children to their areas. Some direct transfers of dental staff from evacuating Authorities to receiving Authorities have already taken place, but as a Dental War Committee has been set up by the Government for the purpose of co-ordinating the supply of dentists to the various services, Authorities who are prepared to release dental officers for service with other Authorities, and Authorities who propose with the Board's concurrence to increase their staffs should communicate with the Secretary, Dental War Committee, 13, Hill Street, Berkeley Square, London, W.l. This Committee maintains a register of dentists volunteering for emergency service similar to that compiled by the Central Medical Emergency Committee for the medical profession. According to present information, the Dental War Committee would have no difficulty in putting Authorities in touch with experienced public dental officers employed by evacuating Authorities or with other dentists who are willing to undertake school dental work. When communicating with the Dental War Committee a receiving Authority should include information as to which evacuating Authorities have sent children to their area. The Committee will then be able to ascertain if there are on their register any dental officers who are available for transfer from those areas. 6. Remuneration and Status of Transferred Officers Some difficulty may be experienced in connection with the remunera- tion of additional officers since there is no uniformity in the salaries paid by different Education Authorities. It would appear reasonable that officers who transfer for the emergency period from an should continue to receive evacuating Authority to a receiving Authority the scale of salary which was paid to them by the evacuating Authority. This is the principle applied in the case of teachers, though in their case the salaries continue to be paid directly to them by the evacuating Authorities. Such a method of direct payment will not always be practic- able in the case of dental officers as it does not necessarily follow that they would transfer to an area containing children from the area in been In the transferred which they had previously employed. any case, dentist, with his wide field of operation, will to a far greater extent with children belonging to than than the teacher be dealing more one Authority. 7. Provision ofEmergency Treatment evacuated children the The Board have received reports of attending the relief the surgeries of private practitioners for of pain during period prior to the re-opening of the schools. In towns where a permanent clinic exists the school dental staff should be able to provide adequate treatment of There may nevertheless facilities for the emergency cases. additional staff could be obtained to meet be some towns where, although accommodation and/or equipment is not immediately available, any demand, and in such cases it may be necessary to enter into arrangements with outlined below. private practitioners as school dental In smaller towns and in areas of rural type visits by a intervals, and it is therefore desirable officer can be made only at that the Local Education Authority should institute arrangements with dental who would undertake to provide emergency. local practitioners toothache between the vists treatment for evacuated children developing be on dental officer. Payment for this service should of the school fixed for dental benefit treatment under the National Health the scale Insurance Scheme. Under this scale a fee of 2/6d is payable for the will extraction of each tooth up to three teeth. Emergency treatment 42521-1 not usually call for the extraction of more than one tooth. If a general anaesthetic (see paragraph 12) is employed an additional administration fee of 5/- is payable when not more than four teeth are extracted. If Authorities desire to make payments retrospectively in respect of work done by private practitioners after Ist September, 1939, the Board would regard such payments on the above scale as legitimate expenditure. It will not be necessary for Local Education Authorities to notify the Board on Form 9b M of the names of these private practitioners with whom arrangements are made to carry out emergency treatment. 8. Nurses as Dental Attendants In war-time one of the nation’s greatest needs is for trained nurses. For- a. considerable number of years the Board have urged Local Authorities to appoint as dental attendants women who do not possess general nursing qualifications, and this advice has been accepted by many Authorities. The Board trust that those Authorities who have not acted on this advice will realise their responsibility for seeing that .the nursing resources of their areas are utilised to the best advantage 9® Economy of Officers' Time In order to conserve the time of the dental staff, clerical work should be reduced much Records must be kept which will as as possible. enable the Board r s statistical return to be completed and which will furnish evacuating Authorities with the information they require, but more elaborate recording should be discouraged and detailed charting should not be carried out during school inspections. The 3oard recommend that conservative treatment of the temporary dentition should confined the treatment by silver be for most part to nitrate and that, in general, fillings in temporary molars should be restricted to simple occlusal cavities. 10• Dental Clinics as First Aid Posts It is reported that in some areas school clinics, providing accommodation for school dental treatment, have been appropriated as First Aid Posts and that dental treatment in those premises has been discontinued. As was indicated in the Board's Circular 1475, it is desirable that First Aid Posts should be available for school medical work, provided that such work does not interfere with the war purposes of these Posts. The Board trust that every effort will be made to ensure that the accommodation in these clinics is made available for a that alternative accommodation is provided resumption of dental work or without delay. 11. Consents for Treatment It will often be impossible to obtain consents for treatment from the parents of evacuated children and it is, therefore, suggested that the following procedure might adopted. be If it appears from information supplied by the teacher or other person, or from evidence obtained from an examination of the child’s mouth that the parent has consistently refused in the past to allow the child to receive dental treatment, emergency treatment only should be given. If there is evidence that the child has received dental treatment in the past, it may be assumed that the parent would agree to treatment, and action might be taken as if the parent’s consent had been obtained. 42521-1 12. General Anaesthetics It is most important to avoid, if at all possible, the administra- tion of a general anaesthetic without the consent of the parent having been obtained. This limitation may render it desirable mo produce local anaesthesia by the regional method in a larger proportion of cases than formerly, since infiltration anaesthesia is to be deprecated in the presence of sepsis. Dental officers who received their professional education prior to the development of regional anaesthesia may wish to obtain some instruction in this technique. If so, their Local Authorities would do well to communicate with the nearest Dental Hospital or similar institution, e.g. the Eastman Dental Clinic, with a view bo ascertaining if arrangements could be made for these officers to attend there for a few days' instruction in this subject. Reasonable expenditure so incurred would be approved by the Board. In many areas nitrous oxide as a general anaesthetic is administered by members of the dental staff but there are some school dental schemes in which this anaesthetic is administered only by medical practitioners. In view of the need for setting free medical officers for other duties it is suggested that consideration be given by these Local Authorities to the possibility of arranging for their dental officers to act as dental anaesthetists as is d one elsewhere. The "Conditions of a satisfactory school dental schemeprescribed that general anaesthetics shall not be administered by the operator except in cases of special urgency. Shortage of staff may result in an increase in the number of cases for whom the services of a separate anaesthetist consequently relaxation are not readily available, and some of the general rule may be unavoidable. In no circumstances, however, may any general anaesthetic other than nitrous oxide, with or without oxygen, be adminstered by the operator. 13. Journeys to Clinics In normal times children are frequently accompanied by a parent on their visits to the dental clinic. In many cases billeting householders will not be able to accompany the children, and in view of traffic dangers and the unfamiliarity of evacuated children with the whereabouts of the clinics, steps should be taken to see that the younger ones at any rate are not unaccompanied. Assistance will doubtless be given by the teachers the of but it may be necessary to supplement this by obtaining help voluntary workers, e.g. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. 14. Transfer of Records There does not appear to he any need for a general transfer of existing dental record cards from evacuating Authorities to receiving Authorities. If, however, an evacuating Authority has readily available the names of children known or believed to be ''bleeders' 5 , these names, together with information which may be helpful, should be forwarded any to the receiving Authority or Authorities. Similar action might well Officers be taken in respect of children wearing orthodontic appliances. of the school medical or dental staff of receiving Authorities should their vists to the schools whether there are in attendance enquire on for the correction of irregularities of any children wearing apparatus the teeth, since harm may be done if a lengthy interval elapses without these appliances. readjustment of The "Health of the School Child”, 1933, p. 165. 42521-1 The dental officers of receiving Authorities will naturally make a record of any treatment carried out for evacuated children, and these Authorities should endeavour to accede to any request made by the evacuating Authorities for periodical summaries of the work so performed. It is desirable that the records should be kept in such to a way as enable receiving Authorities to show separately in their statistical returns at the end of the year particulars of work carried out for evacuated children, whether by salaried officers or by private practitioners remunerated by the Authority. 15. Fees for Treatment In many cases it will not be possible for receiving Authorities to obtain from the parents of evacuated children fees in respect of their treatment. Some of the parents may, in any case, have paid a fee to the evacuating Authority to cover treatment for a given period (usually twelve months) and this fact would not as a rule be known to the receiving Authority. It is recommended, therefore, that; receiving Authorities be relieved of responsibility for collecting payments in respect of the dental treatment of evacuated children, but that on the receipt of the periodical summaries of work referred to in paragraph 14, evacuating Authorities should consider the possibility of recovering fees for treatment in cases where payment for a given period has not already been made. 16. Treatment of Secondary School Pupils Authorities for Higher Education have power to provide dental treatment for Secondary School pupils under Section 80(2) of the Education Act, 1921. Some of these Authorities have not hitherto exercised their powers under this section, and it is recommended that been evacuated to their they should review the position if pupils have areas. It would be regrettable if pupils who have been consistently treatment to be deprived of it. receiving conservative dental were now 17. Co-operation with Maternity and Child Welfare Authorities It has always been the Board's policy to encourage co-ordination of the School Medical Service with Maternity and Child Welfare arrange- ments, and accordingly a substantial part of the dental treatment carried out under Maternity and Child Welfare schemes has been performed by school dental officers working, as a rule, in school clinics. In Circular 1882 recently issued by the Ministry of Health, Maternity and Child Welfare Authorities were urged to extend the "facilities already provided for their own population to mothers and children under 5 years (not being educated in schools recognised by the Board of Education) who are sent into their areas under the Government Scheme"® Specific mention was made of arrangements for dental treatment, and the Board feel confident that Local Education Authorities will, as far as lies within their power, assist Maternity and Child Welfare Authorities to their responsibilities this fulfil increased in sphere. —JT D 42521-1 4,500 D/d 115 11/39 HP 5 24th November, 1939 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT. Wartime Cropping. Growing Two Corn Crops In Succession. It is a very proper belief that to take two corn crops in succession is bad farming. Certainly we must avoid farming the heart out of the land with series of wheat done a crops, as was all too often from 1914 to about 1920. But we must now produce the- greatest possible amount of foodstuffs from our soil, and there are conditions under which two successive corn crops can be taken by some simple modification of cropping routine without detriment to soil fertility. Discretion and judgment are needed in this and the Ministry of agriculture’s new wartime leaflet, "Growmore" No. 6, "Growing Two Corn Crops in Succession", is designed to give some hints on this subject. In addition to the question of rotation, it deals with the condition of the land if two successive corn crops are to be attempted, manuring and the varieties of corn suitable to various circumstances. Single copies of the leaflet may be obtained free on application to the Ministry of agriculture and Fisheries, 10, Whitehall Place, London, S.W.1. EMPIRE AFFAIRS* 24/11/39 - • No* 7* DETERMINED TO BUY BATTLESHIP JOHANNESBURG "MINE BOYS” COLLECT EVERY MONTH 300,000 Mine-boys on the Johannesburg Reef, have clubbed together of their own accord, to contribute 1/- monthly to "buy a "battleship' to help the Allied Cause. They held a special "indaba” to obtain all opinions. At first they were discouraged by the thought that the cost of a battleship would mean £2 or £3 apiece, and it was suggested that their money should go to the South African Mayors’ National Food Fund instead. But this was soon out-voted, for all were anxious to help sink the U-Boats, and thus keep the "big aggressor” away from South Africa and their kraals. As the war is ”expected to last a long time”, they say, perhaps their battleship will arrive when the Empire needs it most. 24/11/39 - No. 8. NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCASTING BEFORE 5 p.m, NOV. 24. SPEECH BY MR. GEOFFREY SHAKESPEARE PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY NORWICH - 24»11,39° I have often seated in Norwich that as long as the National Government remained in under the leadership of power Mr. Neville Chamberlain, so long would war be avoided if that were humanly possible. I was justified in making this claim. For years the world has witnessed time and again examples of Britain*s strenuous efforts for peace. The Prime Minister has indeed been censured in some quarters because he always acted on the principle and in the conviction that there was no dispute or grievance which could not be resolved by peaceful means. That principle has not been accepted by our enemies and we have, at last, been forced into war c We have accepted the challenge with all its hardships and suffering. No other course was in honour open to us. The leaders of all political parties in this country and throughout the Empire, with almost unanimous voice have endorsed our action. Let me state the issues as plainly as I can. The immediate cause of war was a pledge to stand by Poland if she should become the victim of aggression*, That in fact happened. Our pledge was not lightly given and once given could not be dishonoured* that because the Why was pledge given? It was not integrity of Polish territory, as such, was of overwhelming interest to Britain; to Hitler and our pledge was a warning the Nazi Government that we could no longer be disinterested spectators, standing bv while the civilisation of Europe became became a prey to those unbridled forces of lawlessness and aggression, by which the Nazi Government'had hitherto extended its evil dominion* True, the attack on Poland was the ostensible cause of war and the occasion which called on us to honour our bond, but the issues lie deeper than that. We are fighting to preserve those values which have inspired the forward march of mankind - honesty of purpose, oust dealing and good faith, with an abhorence of injustice, persecution and tyranny* Embarked upon a struggle of this magnitude we are fighting too for the safety of our land and the preservation of that heritage of freedom and culture which our fathers have handed down to us* These ideals have enriched not only the people of the British race but have made a generous contribution to the welfare of all mankindo We shall not relax our efforts until Europe is freed from this menace, until men and women can pursue again their normal lives and cultivate the arts of peace undisturbed by the constant threat of aggression* I want to bring home in the simplest terms to the humblest person the reason why we are fighting* A constituent recently said to me ''what does this war mean to meh "I hate", she continued, "all these restrictions, this interference with my liberty; I hate the black-out, the prospect of rationing,, the breaking up of my home; and in fact the dislocation of my ordinary lifeo" My reply was, "You have really stated far better than ever I could have done the vital issues of this struggle. You are really saying that what you value most, is the fulness and freedom of the life to which you are accustomed in peace time., You value most yourhome, family relationships,*.,, your 0 Your unfettered choice in the ordinary ruling of your life, and the standard of living assured tp you in our democratic State. In this country you are free to do anything or say \ anything; to worship as and where you will; to express your views without fear* However humble you may be and whatever your race or religion, you can find itasy redress in the Courts of Justice for any wrong you may have suffered,, It is for the preservation of all these things that each if is one us fighting. Compare this fulness and freedom of life with the servitude of those who have a bare existence under Nazi rule. No sacrifice would be too great to Norwich from the fate of Warsaw and its save Prague or citizens from a Buchenfeld or a Dachau* After Hitler had crushed Poland with all the ruthless savagery of German technique,, he offered the world peace s Germany presumably was still to hold Czocho-Slovakia in subjection and to keep her share of Poland so wantonly attacked and over-run. This offer was rightly rejected by ourselves,, the Dominions and Prance. No Government could accept such and offer without dishonour o A burglar in possession of the house he has entered might as well in expect the police to leave him/possession and to accept his assurances of good behaviour for the future o There is no Government in the world that puts the slightest trust in any assurances given by Hitler which for many years have been but the prelude to fresh aggression* Where there can be no trust there can be no security, and relations 9 between Nations as between individuals must depend on the faithful observance of the plighted word. That is one reason why Trade Union leaders with their fine record of Industrial agreements scrupulously kept- have condemned With oeoooopoo with the almost united voice of the labour movement everything for which Nazism stands. They have pledged their support to the Government until this evil thing has finally been overthrown. There is a very small minority of persons who on grounds of conscience are opposed to war. They argue that war is so barbaric that it is better to acquiesce in any villainy or dishonour rather than defend themselves even against aggression. The use of force they argue can never be justified. I cannot accept this doctrine though I frankly admit the sincerity of those who hold it. The madman who breaks loose and savages anyone within reach can only be overcome by force. It is true that human experience has taught us that the use of force alone can never by itself exorcise the evil spirit. It is not, however, until force has been subdued by force that the things of the spirit find full scopev When the clash of arms has ceased and sanity once more has been established, it will then be the task of statesmanship to lay the foundations of a new order so that Nations can settle their disputes without recourse to the primitive arbitrament of war. We must not expect that final victory can he achieved without immense sacrifices on our part. War is a grim business and full of bitter surprises. In this war it is not only the men of our fighting forces, but men and women at struggle I f ; home who are called upon to and endure. we are convinced of the rightness of our cause and are firm in our determination, no hardship will deter and no danger daunt us. As surely as good in human affairs must triumph over evil, so surely are we convinced that, in this struggle, our cause, a just one, will ultimately prevail. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 24/11/39 - No. 9. NORTHERN RHODESIA GETS DOWN TO IT. Northern Rhodesia is settling into her war stride. Not only is the military training of new units of troops and lorry drivers now in full swing, but civilian effort is well to standard, Men in railways up mines, and other essential industries, who are loyally remaining at their posts, will soon be supplied with badges showing that they are engaged on Empire Service*, Farmers are doing their utmost to make Northern Rhodesia independent of all food imports, so as to release shipping for other purposes, and tobacco planters are maintaining production. The miners of the copperbelt have sacrificed their desire for active service only when persuaded that the output of copper was an Imperial necessity and that they were giving their best service to the Empire by staying in the mines. Women's Institutes and Girl Guides are regularly supplying the Northern Rhodesian Regiment with sandbags, socks, holdalls, and other necessities. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 24/11/39 - No. 10 SOUTH AFRICA'S KEENNESS IN THE FIGHT' A statement issued by the South African Department of Defence yesterday says that the enthusiasm of the people of the Union to assist in defence measures has been gratifying and in many cases almost overwhelming. The ideal of national service has taken hold of the people and many thousands of men and women are anxious to do what they can for the country and the cause of the Allies. Bulawayo, for example, had a regular "bout of re- cruiting fever when the war began. Almost the entire population of the district volunteered and the mines and farms were practically denuded of men of all ages* The old soldiers of the last war were particularly keen. The authorities have had difficulty in persuading men in the middle-sixties who maintain that they can ride, walk and shoot as well as any youngster of twenty that war is peculiarly an undertaking in which youth must be served. The young men who are in camp are training vigorously, and like their predecessors in 1914, their one anxiety appears to be lest Germany should be beaten before they can see some- thing of the fighting. Women in all parts of Africa are taking their war duties no less keenly, In the Cape, numbers of women are learning to take down motor-cars and to make themselves com- petent mechanics, arid many are standing "by to take over the duties of men who may be called away from jobs on the railways or in public service departments like the Post Office. MINISTRY OF SHIPPING ANNOUNCEMENT. 24/11/39 - No, 11 The Minister of Shipping has appointed the following gentlemen to "be his representatives in the countries named:- Sir Ashley Sparks, K.B.E., United States of America* Sir Henry Barker, —— Egypt* Sir George Campbell —— India and Burma* Sir Robert Burton-Chadwick, Bart* Argentina , and Uraguay. Sir Alexander M* Campbell, —- Union of South Africa. 24/11/39- - No 12. FROM FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DEPARTMENT. For the occasion of the inauguration of the new President of the Republic of Peru which will take place on December 8th, the King has appointed the British Minister at Lima, Mr. V.C.W. Forbes, to be His Special Ambassador. Mr. Forbes will convey a message of congratulation from the King to the new President. FROM FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DEPARTMENT. 24.11.39 - No. 13* Under a recent French decree law young men born in France of a British father who have the right to and who desire to repudiate their French citizenship must do so within a period of three months from their 18th birthday or if they are already 18 and not yet 22 within three months from the promulgation of the decree, i.e., before January 27 next. All such young men who wish to repudiate French citizenship should if abroad apply to the nearest British Consular Office without delay. Those in the United Kingdom should communicate with the Foreign Office, Downing Street, S.W.1, Those who are not yet 18 should do so some months before their 18th birthday,, EMPIRE AFFAIRS 24/11/39 - No. l4. SOUTH AFRICANS IN LONDON South African men and women resident in the United Kingdom who wish to participate in war work are asked to communicate with the South African Voluntary Services Committee at South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London, where work parties are being organised by Mrs, S. F. Waterson, wife of the High Commissioner. The Committee also wish to establish contact with South Africans serving with His Majesty’s Forces, (4181—1429) Wt. 49875—5258 4/39 T.S. 677 10,000 (4615—1429) Wt. 19354—5724 20,000 7/39 T.S. 677 15/24/11/39. MINISTRY OF LABOUR Press Notice INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION. SECOND REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN STATES, HAVANA. The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces that Mr. F.A. Norman of the Ministry of Labour and National Service who is attending the Second Regional Conference of American States at Havana as an Observer on behalf of His Majesty’s Government yesterday delivered the following message to the Conference on behalf of the Government* "It is a matter of great satisfaction to His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom that in the difficult circumstances in which the world is at present situated, this Conference of American States is taking place in Havana as part of the normal functioning of the International Labour Organisation. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, closely associated with its foundation, has always given the warmest support to the Organisation and it does not propose to diminish this support owing to the misfortune that it is now involved in war. The vital labour problems which are the concern of the Organisation are in no way diminished in the present circumstances and indeed in some respects they sue intensified. The Organisation doubtless has at present many special difficulties to face, but given goodwill and of the - existence of this not only among Governments, but also among Employers’ and Workers' Organisations there is abundant evidence throughout the world - equally doubtless they will be overcome. To those who desire this end, nothing could give greater satisfaction than the signal proof of the strength of the ties which the Organisation has forged with the free nations in the Americas now afforded by the holding of this important Conference* The first Regional Conference held at Santiago in Chile in 1936 was a great success. It is the hope of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom that this second Conference in Havana will repeat that success and they are confident that the hope will be fulfilled. " Press Office, Ministry of Labour and National Service. Telephone: Whitehall 6200. H.Q.633-470 K.I. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN ANY 24th November, 1939 WAY BHFORE SATURDAY 25TH NOVEMBER, 1939. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT WHEAT ACTS. 1932 AND 1939 Advance Payment of £613,000 to Registered Growers The Wheat Commission will dispatch cheques to 20,356 registered growers on the 25th November in payment of an advance on account of deficiency payments payable under the Wheat Acts for the cereal year ending 31st July, 1940. In 1,200 other cases where it has not be practicable to make payment on the 25th November, cheques will be dispatched as soon as possible. The payment will be at the rate of 3/- per cwt. (13/6d. per quarter) in respect of 4,087,000 cwts. (908,200 qrs.) of wheat sold on or before 20th October, 1939 and vouched for by 27,000 wheat certificates delivered to the Commission between 1st October and 3rd November, 1939. The aggregate amount of* the present advance is approximately £613,000 and with the previous payment made in October brings the total sum advanced on account of deficiency payments for the current cereal year to approximately £976,000. This sum covers 38,000 wheat certificates vouching for a total quantity of 6,506,500 cwts. (1,446,000 qrs.) of wheat. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 24.11 .39 - No 17 SOUTH AFRICA 'S IRISH BRIGADE AFRIKAANS VOLUNTEERS From all parts of South Africa, men of Irish blood are volunteering for the newly formed 1st South African Irish Brigade; throughout the country there is a good sprinkling both of Irishmen and of South Africans of Irish descent, English and Afrikaans-speaking The formation of an Irish Brigade was mooted in Gape Town soon after war began, and hailed as an excellent idea. Its members will be trained in special camps and will enjoy the same rates of pay and allowances as other units of the Union Defence Forces. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. 24/11/39 - No. l8. MARKETING OF HOME-GROWN WHEAT The Ministry of Food have made an Order, which takes effect from the 1st December, for controlling the marketing of the home-grown crop. It enables the Ministry to decide what proportions after threshing are to be allocated for milling on the one hand and for feeding-stuffs on the other, in accordance with the general situation including the programme of imported supplies, A General Licence issued simultaneously prescribes one-third as the maximum proportion which can be sold for purposes other than flour milling at the- outset. The method of control will impose the minimum interference with the normal methods of marketing the home crop. The Ministry do not purchase the crop, but require all registered growers to sell wheat to approved buyers, who are either the flour millers or the merchants authorised to give certificates under the Wheat Act, The proportion which may he sold by the merchants as seed wheat and for feeding-stuffs is as prescribed by licence. 24.11.39 - No. 19. NOT FOR -PUBLICATION OR BROADCASTING BEFORE A.M. - SATURDAY. 25TH NOVEMBER PRESS NOTICE. The Secretary of the Admiralty announces that volunteers are urgently required from fishermen and men with similar experience for service in the Royal Navy during the war. Vacancies exist for service Able as Secondhands, Seamen, Enginemen, Stokers, and cooks, entry being made as Able Seamen Stokers, and the being rated the or man up on following day to appropriate higher rating if he has the necessary qualifications and experience. This appeal is addressed primarily to men who have had not less than one year's experience in a deep sea fishing vessel, but others may be accepted if the Registrar, R.N.R., is satisfied that their general experience is satisfactory, A limited number of men may be accepted as ordinary seamen. The age limits for entry are 18 to 45* Men entered under this scheme will receive the same rates of pay and allowances as men in corresponding ratings in the Royal Naval Reserve Patrol Service, and will be employed principally in Minesweeping and Anti-Submarine craft* Application should be made to the Registrars, R.N.R., at the ports, They will be found at any Mercantile Marine Office or Customs House, ADMIRALTY, WHITEHALL, S.W.1. 24th November, 1939. No. 20 M.A.F.103. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT. PIGS AS WAR WINNERS Little Men Who Will Save Our Bacon. The Small Pig Keepers’ Council was formed today Friday to assist the allotment holder, cottager and other householders to keep a pig or two and to advise those who want to form Pig Clubs. It was formed at a representative meeting that covered farmers and farm workers, young farmers, pig breeders, allotment holders and the Women’s Institutes, Mr. Cedric Drewe, M,P, was appointed Chairman * Mr. John Green Vice Chairman and Mr, Alec Hobson, whose work as Secretary to the National Pig Breeders’ Association has already done so much to raise the standards of British pig-keeping, was appointed Secretary and Chief Organiser, The Minister of Agriculture presided. But although the Ministry will be anxious to give any help and advice possible, the Council will be an independent body charged with the task of assisting the householder to keep pigs, both in villages and urban districts. The pig is a great converter of waste into human food. He can change waste from garden and allotment, from food shop and dwelling house, into pig meat with a smaller consumption of cereals under these conditions than on the specialist farm. Since the Minister of Agriculture announced this week that pig and poultry producers must expect a cut of at least one-third in the at the bottom of the their peace-time imported rations, pig kept garden will have a special part to play in this war. We want more of them. Four hundred fresh pig clubs were started, in the last war, and in the end they were providing us with nearly 5,000,000 lb. of extra pig meat annually. The Council start with the belief that village movements do best when they spring up from spontaneous enthusiasm. They will aim at encouraging the small men to keep nigs and making it as easy as possible for him to do so. But the guiding principle in getting two pigs to flourish where there were none before will be growth from below with guidance from above. Bodies represented at the Meeting were:- National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs; National Allotments Society Ltd; Allotment and Gardens for the Unemployed Central Committee; National Farmers’ Union; National Union of Agricultural Workers’; Agricultural Section Transport and General Workers’ Union; British Pig Producers’ Council; National Pig Breeders’ Association; National Federation of Women’s Institutes; National Council of Social Service. The address of the Council is Victoria House, Southampton Row, London, W.C. 1. 24/11/39 No. 21. PRESS NOTICE Mr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Supply, to-* day received a deputation from the London Metal Exchange regarding war time conditions and how they affected non- ferrous metals and the operation of the metal market. The deputation were asked to submit definite proposals which the Minister promised to consider carefully. PRESS OFFICE, MINISTRY OF SUPPLY. NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCASTING- BEFORE A.M. 25th NOV. The following must not be quoted as an official Admiralty statement. 24/11/39 - No. 22. BRITISH CONTRABAND CONTROL The object of Contraband Control is to maintain to the full our belligerent rights and to meet, as far as we possibly can, the legitimate grievances of neutrals. Belligerent public vessels have always been entitled to stop neutral merchant ships on the high seas in order to ascertain their character and the nature of the business in which they are engaged. This right of visit and search, as it is termed, dates over a long period of sea warfare and has never been denied as a perfectly legitimate belligerent right by the stoutest defenders of neutral privileges. Visit and search can alone determine what the ship is and what her cargo and destination are. In the Napoleonic Wars merchant ships were sailing vessels of small tonnage, and the operation of visit and search could he completed at sea in a short space of time. With the advent of large merchant ships propelled by steam, the increase of the variety of goods carried by sea and the complexities of modern business, together with the introduction of submarine warfare, it has become impracticable for a visiting warship to ascertain on the high seas whether the cargo consists, in whole or in part, of contraband; it would be dangerous for the ships to stop for several hours in waters where they are liable to submarine attack; and accordingly there has been produced a system whereby the ship, the neutral merchant ship, instead of being visited as in Nelson’s time upon the high seas, is taken into .a port and her cargo is there examined. This practice all the was widely adopted by belligerents in the Great War 1914-18, and eventually neutral vessels found it a convenient alternative to make voluntary calls at British ports for the of to examination. purpose submitting This This examination is to-day carried out by a very experienced staff and with reference to a contraband list v/hich is nearly identical with that issued by the United States of America when they entered the Great War in 1917= It covers all goods which could be turned to use in modern warfare. The list is in two parts: there is absolute contraband which consists of articles which may be confiscated if on its way to enemy territory, and conditional contraband consisting of articles which may only be confiscated if destined for the naval or military purposes of the enemy. In these days of totalitarian states, the distinction between absolute and conditional contraband has tended to disappear. Moreover, a large proportion of the raw materials of articles for the use of the civil population are also the rav; materials of munitions of war. It has been the custom in past wars for belligerents to draw up lists of absolute and conditional contraband at the commencement of hostilities* to act as a guide to neutrals; but the decision as to whether an article is or is not contraband rests with the Prize Court* which administers the great principles of International Lav; which have grown up through centuries of usage and experience. It may he of interest to follow briefly a neutral merchant vessel through the intricacies of modern contraband control o The vessel is stopped and boarded at sea* and the Master is reguested to proceed to a contraband control base where an examination of the ship and her cargo can be expeditiously carried out. The armed guard which is then placed on board in no way interfere with the control of the ship by the Master* except to see that no wireless signals are passed and that the ship proceeds to the port to which she has been ordered® Arrived at the contraband control base a Boarding Officer goes on board, visits the Captain, explains what he has come for, examines the ship’s ascertains the papers, nature of the ship, and then with his boarding party commences his examination® The mails are examined for contraband; in order to save time they are taken ashore, and sent on either in the ship by which they came, or by another route, 'whichever is the quickest.. The passengers, when necessary, are allowed to go forward to their destination® If the weather is favourable the examination is completed within a couple of days® The ship’s papers and particulars are then taken ashore to an office at the base, and full details are sent to the Ministry of Economic Warfare where a report is prepared for the Contraband Committee* It than becomes the duty cf the Contraband Committee to decide whether there is a case for seizure* If it is decided that there is no case for seizure the cargo is allowed to go on* In some cases where doubt has existed, guarantees as to destination have been asked for and on their satisfactory production the ship has been allowed to proceed* If the Committee decide there is a prima facie case for seizure, the cargo is placed in the Prize Court and there persons claiming the cargo are allowed to appear* Condemnation can only take place as a result of the Court’s judicial decision* Certain methods were adopted in the Great War to facilitate the of neutral shipping through the meshes of the contraband passage control system® Similar measures have been introduced during the present hostilities;, and have proved of the greatest advantage to neutrals connected with........... with the carriage of goods by sea* Much time is saved if shipping firms give advance information to the Ministry of Economic Warfare of the cargoes zwhich their ships are carrying* If the necessary inquiries can be made and guarantees of neutral destination can be given, before the ship arrives, the vessel need not be detained for a longer period than is necessary to ensure that her cargo is in accordance with the information which has been given in advance* Unhappily, Britain is again a "belligerent, "but on past occasions these hardships have fallen her nationals upon who have "been obliged as neutrals to submit to belligerent rights at sea. Sometimes the question is asked, why do neutrals submit to contraband control ?. The decisive answer is that whether great or small a neutral must submit to the established belligerent right of visit and search and the resultant consequences e Nevertheless, the Contraband Control Committee have constantly in view the difficulties of neutrals in wartime, particularly at the commencement of hostilities, and make every endeavour to reconcile two outstanding principles of r International Law, the belligerent s right of visit and search and the neutral’s right to conduct his own legitimate trade* 24.11.39 No. 23. INDIA. OFFICE COMMUNIQUE. The Government of India have decided to give financial assistance to men who are prepared to train as pilots and engineers and to give an undertaking to serve in the Air Forces if and when called upon to do so. So far as pilots are concerned, the aim is two-fold; firstly to give advanced training and improve the standard of a batch of pilots, who are already qualified; secondly to increase the number of pilots available by giving ab initio training to a limited number of unqualified applicants. The training of mechanics will be on a limited scale and the method of selection and training will depend to a large extent on the results of recruitment for the Air Force. Air Force headquarters are now engaged in recruiting the personnel for the recently announced Air Force Reserve. The present scheme of assisted training which will be financed from the Civil Aviation Petrol Tax Fund and will be carried out through the medium of Flying Clubs in British India, will be supplementary to the Air Force plan. A grant of Rs. 51,400 has been made available for the current year. 24.11.39 - No. 24. FREIGHT PAYMENT TO ENEMIES. The Board of Trade to-day issued an order, S.R. and O,, 1939, 1695, authorising the London Chamber of Commerce to make on behalf of the owner of any cargo in a ship lying at a port in any country, not being enemy territory, payments of freight and other necessary charges to or for the benefit of an enemy for the purpose of obtaining possession of that cargo. The London Chamber of Commerce is negotiating with enemy ship owners on behalf of British cargo owners generally. This order is in substitution for the order S.R» and O., 1939? 1390, made on 9th October. BOARD OF TRADE. 24/11/39. No. 25. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. 120,000,000 COUNTERFOILS. In the course of Registration shopkeepers have carried out the heavy task of collecting more than 120 million counterfoils from their customers. The sorting of this enormous number of returns is now going on. Every shopkeeper will, as soon as the distributive arrangements have been made, get his supplies of Bacon, Butter, and Sugar according to the number of his registered customers. Registration does not mean that your shopkeepers can guarantee you any particular quantities immediately. It does mean that the distribution of supplies will steadily be improved between now and the day when Rationing begins. If you have not, for any reason, registered with a shopkeeper for Bacon and Ham, Butter and Sugar, do so at once. N )T FOR PUBLICATION OR NOT TO BN NOVEMBER 25TH l939* The War Office, kXA.t&cvt MS 4 " London,B cW.lo 24th November, 1939. The War Office announces thar there is immediate need, for service overseas within a very short time, of 8,000 voluntary recruits for the Royal Army Service Corps. These men are wanted for all the varied trades practised by that Corps. The principal need is for drivers of every kind of non-fighting motor-vehicles - staff cars, ambulances; heavy lorries and light lorries; pontoon-bridge, office, store, work- shop and break down lorries. Cooks and bakers are also wanted - and the army is now accustomed to good cocking and baking. Clerks, including shorthand typists, accountants and warehousemen familiar with the wholesale and distributive grocery trades are also needed. These are wanted for every kind of formation. In addition there is need for technical mechanical transport clerks and storemen, to deal with the storage, receipt, issue and accounting of vehicles, spare parts and accessories in the various depots. Pay in many cases will he at tradesmen's rates.(See Appendix A.) The age limits are 22 to 35, and the prospects of promotion are excellent. These men will proceed overseas after about a month's training, a fact which will appeal to all those who are anxious to he actively and usefully employed in the shortest possible time Applicants may present themselves for enlistment at the nearest recruiting office. Those offering themselves as drivers must produce a current driving licence, or evidence that they have previously held a licence, "Learners" licences will not suffice. Enlistment/ Enlistment will he "deferred", that is to say, men accepted will he enlisted and sent home to await orders to report. The date of reporting is to he December 1939. expected 15th, APPENDIX A. In certain technical arms of the service, including the R.A.S.C., special rates of pay are paid to men with technical skill who are classed as "tradesmen". Clerks, technical clerks, and hakers are classed as "tradesmen". Drivers and issuers are "non-tradesmen". Drivers of special skill and ability may, however, he transferred to the tradesmen class as Driver Mechanics. Issuers who show aptitude may.he transferred to the clerks grade and he paid as such. Cooks are classed as "non-tradesmen" until they have completed a course at the Army School of Cookery. Rates of pay are:- r*l 07~ ■* a •§ 0 0 • 0 0 ‘H 0 c H t* M d 0 Ctf 0 0 O > & p > C 0 O (13 •H O 0 •H o H 0 H 0 0 Jh 080 Q S H Q Sergeant. " After 3 years I/a 8/3 8/3 1/ 1/ t/Sergeant. 4/9 6/9 5/6 4/9 4/9 Corporal. 4/- 5/9 5/- 4/- 4/~ After 3 years. 4/3 5/9 5/3 4/3 4/3 L/Corporal. 3/3 5/- 4/3 3/3 3/3 After 3 years. 3/6 5/- 4/6 3/6 3/6 [Private, Class I. 3/9 After 3 years. 4/9 Class 11. 3/3 3/- After 1 year. 3/6 3/3 After 2 years. 3/9 3/6 After 3 years. 4/6 4/3 Class 111. 2/9 2/6 After 1 year. 3/- 2/9 After 2 years. 3/3 3/- After 3 years. 4/- 3/9 Privates or Drivers. 2/- 2/ 2/- r After 1 year 2/3 2/3 2/3 After 2 years. 2/6 2/6 2/6 After 3 years. 3/- 3/- 3/- i NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCASTING BEFORE A.M.25 NOV. 24/11/39 - No. 27. CASUALTY LIST FROM H.M.S. GIPSY. The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce the following casualties in H.M,S. GIPSY which struck a mine on November 22nd. Next of kin have been informed. Fortunately the number of casualties, both injured and missing is smaller than was feared when the original announcement was made. OFFICERS. Seriously injured: Lieutenant Commander N.J. Crossley, R. N. Slightly injured: Probationary Lieutenant J.B.Rigg, R. N. V. R. Midshipman M.A.J. Landon R. N. R. RATING S. Died of injuries: Everett, HoC. A. B« D/J.89612 Missing, believed Carter, PL Ord.Seaman D/55X.24886 dead: Callan, G-. C. ii. B. R.P.R. 12117 B. Convin, L. Go A. B. D/JX.134325 Cook, James. Stoker R.P.R. 13307 B. Dalton, D. A. B. D/J.87462 Davison C-F. A. B. D/55X.14047 Douce, S. Act. Sto.P.o. D/KX.80031 Edwards, A.W. Stoker D/KX.93308 Grech, C. Ord. Seaman. E/LX.22795 Green, F* C.E.R. A. C/M.27289 Haskell, J.Eo E.R.A. 2nd Cl. D/MX.46018 Holden, W. Stoker. R.F.R<12982 B. Horn, D.Eo A. B, D/55X.17337 Jones,Richard W. Ao B. D/JX.136785 Lavis, S. A 0 Be D/J.109945 May, Wo C. Stoker D/K.61400 Mure, S.M. Sto. P.O. D/K.62408 Nichol, LcLo A. B. D/55X.17238 Offiler, Wo Jo Ord. Seama n. D/J.74065 Renshaw, Do Stoker R.F.R. 12907 B. Shackell, 11. J. P.O. D/JX.126090 Smart, GoL. Ord.Seaman D/55X.28242 Smith, A. H. P.O. D/J.108559 Smith, T.H, Stoker D/KX 92923 Townson, J Stoker Leading D/KX 79980 Tutten, A.H. Chief Stoker. D/K.57099 Uren, W.H. Sto. P.O, D/KX. 77861 Vassallo, J. Leading Stoker. E/LX.20820 Wood, D. Ord. Seaman. D/55X.25033 Seriously injured: Harper, C. Signalman. D/JX 136547 Slightly injured: Clayton, R. Stoker R.F.R. 12999 B. Fletcher, H.M. Ldg.Signalman. D/JX. 135053 Hall, G. E, R. A. D/MX.59294 Isgrove, N.C. C.E.R.A. D/M.14532 Leonard, W.H. Stoker. R.P.R. 10903.8. Mitchell, E.A. Telegraphist. D/JX. 133691 . Stephens, V. Ord. Seaman. D/SSX. 28240 Ward, E. A. B. D/SX. 21946 Wingate, T. A. B. D/J.45207 The War Office, MOT FOR PUBLICATION OR London,S.W.l. BROADCASTING BEFORE November 24th,1939. A.M. At 4V mmmmmhmuiimim tw mwiw mi w m »W The War Office announce the following scheme for welfare of the Array at Home, for release in the morning newspapers on Saturday November 25th, 1939. A NEW SCHEME FOR ARMY SOCIAL WELFARE. The .Army has today made itself responsible for the care and supervision of thousands of men, all of them living away from home, most of them for the first time. Some are in barracks, some in billets, others are scattered in isolated Anti-Aircraft and Searchlight groups in remote areas. To clothe, equip, and feed these men is only a part of the task. There other of less are obligations a tangible kind but the less the to do none binding. The Army has duty 'whatever is possible to furnish these men with sufficient opportunities for healthy distraction; to set them in touch v/ith some readily available and sympathetic organization - or better still, individual - to whom they can bring their private problems and difficulties, whether professional, domestic, or moral. It is for thae reason that there is now being set in motion a Social Welfare Organization which shall cover the country on a widely decentralized basis. In this task the co-operation of the public is essential and that co-operaticn will be given local channels through which it can work. At Command Headquarters there will he Command Welfare Officers. The following have been selected for these posts and have very kindly agreed to take upon themselves this voluntary and a rdu ou s work:- ALDERSHOT COMMAND - Major 0. Newington, M.V.O. Captain F. Medlicott, M.P. eastern command & LONDON DISTRICT - Colonel H.L. Nathan, M.P., D.L. NORTHERN COMMAND - Colonel F.F. Deakin, D.S.O. SCOTTISH COMMAND - Colonel J.R.S. Leslie, T.D., D.L. SOUTHERN COMMAND - Sir Reginald Kennedy-Cox. WESTERN COMMAND - Colonel The Earl of Derby, K.G., P.C., G.C.8., G.C.V.0., T.D. In addition, in each County there will he one County Welfare Officer, acting in a voluntary capacity, appointed hy the local Territorial Army Association. He will he aided in his work hy such assistants as may he required hy the circumstance of geography or distribution of troops. It is hoped that all those who have the interests of the trocps at heart and would like to offer help will get into touch with these County or Area Welfare Officers. They are asked not to write direct to the Command "/elfare Officer in the first instance, hut rather tc communicate with the local Territorial Army Association whose address can he found in any local Telephone Directory. 24/11/39 - No. 29. BRITISH TROOPS IN FRANCE. The German Broadcast in English at 1715 hours G.M.T. of 23.11.39 represented the Secretary of State for War in his statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday as "Confirming a fact which we have been announcing for some time, that reinforcements of the 158,000 men who constitute the British share of man power in the British war on French soil will not arrive until the Spring of 1940*'. The implication is that the present number of British troops in Prance is 158,000, and that it will undergo no increase until next Spring. This is a characteristic distortion of the Secretary of State’s words, which were that ’’When I last spoke to the House, we had 158,000 men in France. Since then some thousands each week have followed them. By the Spring of next year they will have Been reinforced again By no amount* 5 inconsiderable The German Broadcast carefully omitted to quote of State’s announcement that nearly million the Secretary a men were at this moment under intensive training in Great Britain. WAR OFFICE. 24/11/39 NO. 30. GERMAN BREACHES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN POLAND. Germany has added yet another to the mounting list of her 'breaches of international law in Poland by incorporating large numbers of Polish prisoners of war in her own Army. This is a direct violation of the Hague Convention of 1907, signed by Germany, which forbids a belligerent to compel the subjects of a hostile party to take part in military operations against their own country. . Other Nazi violations of the Hague Convention in Poland include the invasion of the country without notice, the bombing of non-military objectives in undefended towns, and the eviction of Poles from their property without compensation* This record' affords sufficient commentary on the claim of the German radio that "we brought our swords back clean from Poland"* . WAR OFFICE, S. W. 1. 24.11.39 No. 31 OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE. H.M.S. Belfast was damaged by a torpedo or mine in the Firth of Forth, in the vicinity of May Island, on the 21st November. The casualties amounted to 20 wounded and the next-of-kin have been informed. The ship has been taken in hand for repairs.- 24/11/39. - No. 32. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (Evening) The following official communique was issued this evening from French G.H.Q. An enemy raid to the East of the Moselle failed* We made a few prisoners. Local artillery actions,- Reduced -activity in the air during the day. NOT TO BE QUOTED AS AN 24/11/59 - NO. 33. AIR MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT. HEAVY GERMAN AIRCRAFT CASUALTIES. The past week has been one of increased air activity and German aircraft casualties have been heavy. During a 48-hour period the allied air forces brought down 19 enemy aircraft. On Tuesday afternoon R.A.F. fighters shot down a Dornier "bomber in the sea off Deal. The French air force accounted for three enemy aircraft over France. The following day six German aircraft were shot down by allied fighters on the Western Front. They included several Messerschmitt fighters which fell to the French air force. Thursday was a field day for the R.A.F. As already announced, our fighters in France shot down seven enemy air- craft. Five were Dornier DO.17 bombers and two were Heinkel 111 bombers. The French air force accounted for two more enemy aircraft thus bringing the total of enemy aircraft brought down to 19 for the 48 hours. FROM AIR AFFAIRS.