--·~ ---·-·1r:E:EEASE___ _ ____ ---------·----­ TI ME NO. SUBJECT ORIGIN ------------+---I-. ' It 4o 25 / 1 J North Sea Air Battle Air Ministry ao m, I r ---·-i:;osted --on.-·-r-------r-------------· not i ce boar 2 j French Official Communique-1· Paris phone. I Morning ---·----------­ 9. 40 a.m. 10, 3 aomo 3 U Boat II War I --------------r----------j·---.--·---·-·--·-­ 5, 30 I 4 i Control p .mo i (No a\:)) Order ______ __ _ .,_ ___)J ______J_.. _.....____ _,,..____._ ___ i I 5" 15 i 5 I Schedul e of Reserved Ministry of p .mo I l Occ~pations (Amendments) Labour I . ________ .._____ .......-··--1---.... ---t·-...... -..·---··------··..._ r----------­ 1L 5 6 I Compr --~Lc!·1ate leave for I a omo i ! RoA,Fo pe.:sonnel I Air Ministry : I -· ---1-1~~-~~~~j~~~.I~~:~~lin:··:_~~:~-~~~a_t ~_e_s_i!--M-~-~_;_~_t_r_.y_o_f 1 Board of lL 27 18 ! Ro:~a~-C~llege of ~rt -I Education avm., I ! Aamission age reo.u ced 12. 7 T-9-·-·t·--~h~-~~~:~-~--·~;a:1)e; -s -f-r--o-m---+--E-m_p_i_r_e_A__f_f_a_i_r--s-­ p. m" I I the Ni lgiri s · ------~~~----~~-1--~mp~i~~ ~~~=-Export -·­ Board of Trade p . m. I licensing of Cellophane :· ~ =~l-2~.-~~--~I1-1]-~:;~: ~~ engage one of our aircraft, but the pilot took cover in the prevailing low clouds. and, having eluded the fighter, emerged to continue hie interrupted recennaissance. After circling the islands, and in one case, our aireraft completed their task and returned safely to their bases after a successful reconnaissance of nearly 5 hours duration FRRNCH OFFICIAL GOMMUNIQUE. The following official communique was issued from French G.H.Q. this morning:­Nothing of i mportance to report. ------oOo-----­ U BO~_T-PRISQNJIBS OF WAR The following officers and men this country: RO':L1ERS 5 Hans Joachim MAY, Erich Berthold JANSSEN, Wilhelm MARX, Gerhard JACOB, Wilhelm KIENAs·r.. Siegfried WAR O:B'PICE SoWo1 o ++++++++++ are prisoners of war in Leutnant zur See Funkmaat Mechaniker (Unteroffizier) Maschinenobergefreiter Mechanikerobergefreiter Maschinengefreiter 15/12/39 -No. 4. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY. PRESS ;NOTICE. The Minister of Supply 3.nnouncos that he has made the Control of Timber (No. 6) Order 1939 which reduces from £20 to £5 tho limit of value of timber vvhich may be purchased vYithout a licence (but subject to declaration) for work of national importnncc or urgent necessity. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY, THE ADELPHI, w.c.2•. 15th Dccombor, 1939. D.204. PRESS NOTICE. Schedule of R.eserved Occupations. ----------·--------·-­ The Hinistry of J_,abour and National Service announce the following changes in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations:­ I. The following new entries have been made in the Schedule:- Occunation. · !..ge__!}f ;Reservation. Driller (minerals) 25 Signal and telegraph m.aintenance and repair man (rail transport) 23 Cleaner (qualified train, carriage, wagon, brake, etc. e::aminer) (rail transport) 25 II. In the case of the folloHing occupations, the ages of reservation have been reduced as shmm below:­ Former age of · Amended age of Reservation. Reserv £~tion-.­ Full-time member of fire salv.s'_ge cori.,?s 30 18 Glass maker, glass house worker (excluding optical glass) Gatherer, ladler, ball maker (hand blown glass) 25 18 Glass blower (hand) 25 18 Lens Maker, Prism :Maker. Cutter, slitter, slicer (optical element) 21 18 Rougher, rough grinder (lenses, prisms) (optical element) 21 18 Smoother (optical element) 21 18 Lens polisher, pr ism polisher (optical element) 21 18 Centerer, edger, edge grinder (optical element) 21 18 Rough edger, mirror edger, (optical element) 21 18 Single lens worker (optical element) 21 18 Quartz Glass Worker, Silica Glass Worker. Foreman ( charg;e hand) 21 18 Furnaceman, mixer 21 18 Blower, blow-pipe worker 21 18 Cutter, grinder 21 18 Rail Trans?ort. Permanent way (including engineering) maint enance and repair man 30 25 Porter (qualified signalman) 30 25 Porter (qualified guard) 30 25 Porter (qualified shunter) 30 25 Train, carriage, wagon, brake, etc. exarniner 30 25 III. The following other changes in the Schedule have been made:­ ' The occupation of Porte+ (qualified goods checker) (rail transport) is now included as a separate item YQ.th a ~iervatio~ age of 30. The entry "Mechanical navvy driver" has been amended to read "Mechanical navvy clriver, mechanical excavator driver, drag line operator~'. The ~of resei'Vation remains unchanged at 25. The occupations "Telegraphist ... PMt Office" and "Telegraphist -other than Post Office11 have now been included as 0,ne item "Telegraphist, cable oper~tor". The age of reiiierva.tion is still 25. Th~ procequre for ds~ling with certain classes of men under the age of 25 by Technical Committees associated with University Join~ Recruiting Boa....""ds now cover~ the following classes~­ (a) Men vd.th University degrees in Engineering (including Naval Architecture), Metallurgy, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, the Biological Sciences (including Agriculture) and Mathematics (including Statistics); (b) Men with Hj,gher Nationa~ Diplomas or Higher National Certificates in 1.iechanical or Electrical Engineering, or with the Associateship of the In~titute of Chemistry; (c) (i) Men who have completed ~o the satisfaction of the University at least one year's work of a course for specialised honours degree in Engineering ( includ~ng Naval Architecture) Metallurgy, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Geology, and the Biological Sciences (including Agriault'l.U'e); (ii) Men who have started or are a.bout to start their final year's study for the Higher National Diploma or Higher National Cert·ificate in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or for the Associateship of the Institute of Chemistry. IV. These amendments have no retrospective effect; men who were in these occupations in civil life and are now serving with His Majesty's Forces are not affected by these decisions. It should be understood that tha Schedule of Reserved Occupations is provisional and is subject to revision from time to time. Men who are of or above the age of reservation for their occupation will not, so long as the relevant entry in the Schedule stands, be called up for service with His Majesty's Forces. Press Office Ministry of Labour and National Service, Montagu House, Whitehall, S.W.1. Telephone: Whitehall 6200. 2. H.Q.375-520 L.I. 15,12.39 No. 6, AIR MINIS":'RY. Compassionate Leave for R, A.P. ~ersonnel. The Air ,Ministry announces: In the event of dangerous illness of a near relative, personnel of the Royal Air Force serving at Home or iri France may be gri~nted compassionate leave. Applications from relatives or friends for the granting of such leave should be made as follows:­ Officers: Application should be addressed to the Air Ministry (D,P.S.) Kingsway, London, w.c~2. supported by a :full statement of the case, with a ...fnedical certificate. The rank, name and unit and (if known) the officerts number should be quoted. Airmen: A1Jplication should be address·ed to the Officer in Charge Records, Royal Air Force, Ruislip, Middlesex, supported by a full statement of the case, with a medical (or police ) certificate. The airman's official number, rank, name and unit (if known) should be quoted. Every endeavour will be made to ·:;rant compassionate leave where the circumstances justify it but owing to the exigencies of the Service this will not always be possible. AIR Mr"HSTRY, WHITEHALL, s ~w•. 1, ------.oOo-----­ MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT Dealings in Seed Potatoes. The Ministry of Food wish to remind seed potato producers and merchants that:­ (1) The Seed Potatoes (Maximum Prices) Order, 1939, affects all potatoes which come within the scope .of the definitions in the Ordero Other potatoes may not be sold for seed unless a licence has first been obtained from t he Ministry of ~ood, Potato ·Section, St. John's College, Oxford. Such licences would cover, for example, the sale for replanting of p9tatoes on higher or lower riddles than those specified in the Order, varieties not in the Schedules, "twice-grown" seed, or other potatoes for which spec.ial provision has not been made. ( 2) Under the Order a "grower-dealer" vvho has purchased a crop of potatoes in the ground9 or a "grower-merchant" who has grown a crop of potatoes may not charge more for the seed than the maximum prices prescribed in the Schedules if he sells direct as a grower. (3) The Order does not affect contracts entered into before 4th December, and no alteration need be made in the terms of such c.ontracts as a result of the making of the Order. +++++++++ .., I No. 8. BOARD_OF '!"DUGAT I ON ANNOTJNr.:?iM~T-:fT. ROYJ\J.. COLLEGE OF ART. · AGE OF ADMI~SION TO BE RPDUCED. The Bo8rd of Education announce that the age of admission to the full-time Diploma courses of the Royal College of Art during the 19li0/41 session--will be reduced from 19 to 18 to allow students to complete at least one year's study before being called up for military service. No senar0te ~rospectus for 1940/41 will be issued but all information as to the dates of the College terms and instructions regarding the submission of aDplication forms for candidates for admission to the College or for Royal Scholarships and ~xhibitions may be obtained on a~plication to The Registrar, Royal College of Art, South Kensington, s~w. 7. ------000-----­ EMPIRE AFFAIRS CHRISTMAS HAMPERS FROM THE NILGIRI~­~_ FROM !NDIA BATTALION TO FRONT LINE BATTALION. A sum of over £260, collected at a total expense of less than £1, from residents in Ootacanund and the tea--pl.anting .d:Ls_tri-cts_of the Nilgiris, Sou..th . .India, has been received by the Overseas League as a first consignment to the Hamper Fund. Over 250 £1 hrunpers will be despatched to the Front as Christmas gifts to the troops, any bal ance being devoted to the Tobacco Fund. With f':Lfty hampers a s~;:iecial greeting card is being enclosed:-11Greetings and good luck from·-the .First-Battalion, India", to the batt-al.ion__o.:e. the same regiment now on.._a.c...:t..iy_e_se~­ -------oOo------­ 15/1,2/.39 -Mo.,lQ.. BOARD OF '.11RADE .ANNOUNCEHENrr. --------·---· ---,......,__ ­ . The Bon:vd of 1'rade have made an Order under which licences -,\Till no longer be 1•equired f'or the export of transparent cellulose rvrapping after 16th December. Board of Trade, 15th December, 1939 AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN 15/12/39 -No.11. THE FIRST 8,000 W.A.A.F.S. SOME CHANGES IN OCCUPATION (Not to be quoted as an Air Ministry announcement). Among the first 8,000 members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, whose training is now approaching completion, are many whose present duties are in sharp contrast to their previous occupations. And the way they are fitting in to these duties is another instance of human adaptability to changing circumstances. One was a ballet dancer, another a music hall artist~. A third was a newspaper reporter and a fourth a race horse owner. At one :2.A.F. Station a country veterinary surgeon is in the equipment section in charge of clothing; a professional pianist is an equipment assistant; an artist in modelling is working as a clerk; a composer of music is performing ­successfully -as a cook. An American dress designer is driving a car. Other occupations for which no equivalent could be found in the W.A.A.F. are represented by a crooner, a commercial traveller, and a trainer of gun dogs. Every effort is naturally made to find work suitable for the qualifications of the woman concerned. A great many are following their peacetime occupations in uniform. Among these are chartered accountants, teleprinter operators, telephonists, shorthand typists and kitchenmaids. A qualified dietician is helping to arrange diet sheets. A woman who i.s driving light loI•ries once drove a lorry for three months alone through the African jungle. She was at one time in sole charge of a leper colony in South Africa. AIR MINISTRY, Whitehall, s.w.1. EMPIRE AFFAIRS 15/12/39 No. 12. ULSTER PARLIAMENT. There will be no State ceremonial at the opening of the new session of the Ulster Parliament next Tuesdayo The Governor of Northern Ireland, the Duke of Abercorn, will read the King's Speech in the Senate, and after the debate, for which two days are allotted, Parliament will adjourn until Februaryo EMPIRE AFFAIRS. .i.!2L12/39. -No. _13-_:__ FOOD RATIONING IN ULSTER. On and after tomorrow (Saturday) retailers and caterers in Ulster will be able to purchase their butter supplies only from the wholesalers who have been nominated by them as their sources of supply and whose names appear on the buying permits issued by the Local Food Committees. Retailers must lodge their buying permits and supplementary permits with their nominated wholesalers not later than tomorrow. 15.12.39 No.14. PR~SS NO'T.'ICE. WOOL CON".'ROL. Under the Defence Regulati_ons, 1939, the !hnister of SwTply has made two further Orders which relate to wool 9roduced in the United Kingdom (other than the Orkneys, Shetlands and Outer Hebrides). The first of these (The Control of Wool (No. 9) Order, 1939) brings into force on the 15th December, 1939, new maximum prices for ungraded farmers' clius. The second Order (The Control of Wool (No.10) Order, 1939) requisitions wool still owned by farmers. Provision is also made for securing returns in regard to such wool, and the ovmers are required to comply with any directions issued as to the removal, transryort, keeping, storage, disposnl or delivery of such woolo Copies of these Orders will shortly be on sale, and may be purchased from H. T!. StRtionery Office, or through any bookseller. All enquiries should be ad.dressed to the Wool Control, Bradford. MINISTRY OF SUDPLY, THE ADF.LDHI, w.c.2. --------oOo-------­ PP..ESS NOTICE. 1,5/15.12. 39. MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE. CHANGES IN COST OF LIVIlifG DURING NOVEMBER. The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces that at 1st December, 1939, the official cost of living index figure was 73 per cent. above the level of July, 1914, as compared with 69 per cent. at 1st November, 1939. The rise of 4 points (i.e. from 169 to 173, the figure for 1914 being 100) is equivalent to nearly 2t per cent. For food alone, the index figure at 1st December was 57 per cent, above the level of July, 1914, showing a rise of 3 points, or about 2 per cent., since 1st November, when the figure was 54 per cent. above the level of July, 1914. The rise in the index figure for food was due mainly to increases in the prices of eggs, fish, bacon and cheese. .Among items other than food, the principal changes were increases in the prices of clothing, coal and gas. Press Office. Ministry of Labour and National Service. Telephone, Whiteha.11 6200. H.Q.383-490 L. I. 15/12/39 -NO•" 16. NOT TO BD BROADCAST OR PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS OR ON TH:C CLUB TAP!:::S BEFORE THE MORNING OF SATURDAY,16th DECbHBER, 1939. The Treasury announce that it is proposed that Monday 9 the 1st January next, should be observed as a close holiday in all Banks in England~ Wales and Northern Ireland and the necessary Proclamation for the purpose will be swbmitted to His Majesty at the next Council. It should be clearly u.:::iderstooct that this proposal is made solely in orQer to enable the Banks, whose staffs are depleted by the war, to attend without interruption to the y1orlc of that day nnd that the day will not be a genero..l holiday for the public. TREASURY. 15th December, 1~j9. .:L5LJ..?L2.2-=..Jm~17. MINI§T.R¥._.Q:L§.PJ>J.>LY NOTIQE. There is no danger of ul'~employment in the clothing trade in this country through a fal:.i. ng off of orders from the Mini.stry of Supply 9 Lord Woolton9 Director General of Equipment and Stores, at the Ministry of Supply, indicated today. "The War Office has told 1j_s vrhat they want for the next twelve months11 , I..ord Woolton saictc, 11CJ.othing production for the week ended 14th December reached the highest figure a tta:°Lncd since tl1e ou.-r;b::'Gak of the war~ The Ministry of Supply, with full knmvledge of Har Office r e c-i_utrements for the next tvvelve months :i.s able to say t.hat CJ..i1. increase of at least 25 percent over the present maxim•.illl production is required to provide for the needs of the army ,}uring t hat periodo 11 This position should gi-~··c some assurance to ·workers in the clothing t r ades 9 many of whom, I unclerstancl, are concerned lest the drop in civilian c.1emand.s should cause wi despread unemployment in the trade , Na t urally, more clothing will be required as the army increases in numbe:i... s , and. quite apart from that, as present clothing -.;,rears out" .. MI,!JISTRX_OF_§QPPL"'.(. ]?RES.§__OFF_ICJL EMPIRE AFFAIRS No. 18. S. ~ PRESS .ON BRflIS!i_ NAVAL VICTQRY "TRADITION MOST WORTHILY M.t\.INTAINED". The South African Press to-day pays tribute to the British cru;$ers' attack on the Nazi pocket battleship, Admiral Graf Speee The Hand Daily Mail says ~11 A tribute to the splendid fighting spirit shown by the officers and men of the British Navy in this combat would9 of course~ be superfluous. "To say that their tradition has been most worthily maintained. would probably be all that . CJ.ny of them would desire., Nevertheless, those who benefit so much by their action will not be able to withhold their warmest admiration --and of those South Africans are amongst those most directly concerned. EMPIRF AFFf..IRS. 15.12.39 No,19. MORE GERMANS IN'rBRNED IN SOUTH AFRI'JI . Eighty more Germans have been interned in South Africa, including Dr. Anton Obholzer, a :Professor at the University of Stellenbosch. -----·OOo----­ The War O:ffice, Whitehall, s9w~1. The War Office announces that the Prime Minister, The Rto Honourable Neville Chamberlain Mo P. has arrived in France to spend a few days with the British Expeditionary Force. ------000-----­ ....-.15...../_.l.._2.._/.-39...____No. ~ .Q:_Q_J! M U N I Q U E For Immediate Publication. (Simultaneous publioa.tion in India has been arranged). The King has been l)leased to approve the a:ppointment of Mr. Hatim B. Tyabji as a Judge of' the Judicial CoLirrnissioner's Court, Sind, in the vacancy that will occur in February next on the retirement of Mr. l'Iuhamrnad Ho.velival o.. -------oOo------­ ):,lfDI A OFFicm Noo22 M:x·:F:11s POTATOES. Under the Po tatoes (Sales by Grmrnrs) Order made by the Minister o:f Food certai n of the regulatory powers exercised b;:,' the Potato Marketing Board are being taken over by the Minister of Food. The ~rder takes effect on 20th Decembero Growers , when selling po tatoes, must now o1)serve the regulations made -tw the Ministry of Food regardin;?; riddles , stand8.rds o:f dressing , terms of sale , grades and the persons to whom tney may sello The mini mum r iddle ap9l yi ng t o all sal es of potatoes for hui:nan consumption remains at 1~11 • Sales by growers are permitted generally as under the previous Potato :Marketing Board Regulations, and most of wholesale merchants who held a Certifi cate of .Authority at the outb reak of war , will shortly receive a licence from the Ministry of Food, and will thereafter become l i censed merchants o Certain wholesalers and i mporters ,-,ho ha·11e not 11i therto found it necessary to l)e authorised by tlle Potato Marketing Board and also auctioneers w:10 held Letters of Authority from the Potato Marketi ng Board at the out1)rea~~ of Viar 1 ·will r eceive licenceso Sales by growers to retailers, caterers s institutions and other ~onsumers will be al lowed to continue f or the present. Every person engaged in the -ou;-{ing or selling of potatoes is required to keep records of his dealings at his place of 1msinesso Growers are r equired to satisfy themsel ves that their wholesale customers are licensed by the Ministry of Food. Pending tne issue of a printed list of licensed merchants , preliminary lists will ·be av ailable at the offices of the National FPrmers' Unions of England.. aEd Scotland and at the offices of the Area Supervisors of the Potato Section of the Mini stry of Food. The above Order necessitates the suspension of the principal provisions of the P otato lvlf~rl{.eting Scheme<> rrhe Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Secretary of State f or Scotland h e1re accordin$1Y made the Potato .Marketing Scheme, 1933 (Modi fication and Suspension) Order, 1939, which wi ll also come into fo rce on 20th December, 19390 The eff'ect of tJ:1is Order is that the regulatory functi ons of the Potato Marketing Board, including the power to make levies on registered producers , wi ll be suspended during the war. The Order al so removes all restrictions on excess plantings of potato eso There wi l l ·be no meetings of r e _,i stered producers and no new registrations of producerso Producers who were registered on 20th December~ 1939, will continue to be registered in the books of the Board, but the requirements tnat producers may not sell potatoes unless regi stered under the Scheme Viil 1 not be operative while the Order is i n forceo The Board. will not be disbanded, but the Or der provi aes for its remaining functions to ·be delegated to an Emergency Oommi ttee, whose principal duty will "be to safeguard the assets of the Board in the interests of the r egi stered producers o The ')rders are 1)eing p rinted in tne Statutory Rules a.rid Orders Seri es Oopi es will shortly ·be obtainable either direct, or throu h, any o bookseller, or from H .Mo Stationery Office, Yorl{. I-louse, Ki ngsv1ay, W .O. 2. ; 120 George Str eet, Edinburgh, 2.; 26 York Street, Mancnester, lo; 1 St o Andrew' s Crescent , Cardiff. 15/12/39 -No.23. Seaplall.~.12.§..§.~.s attacked~ The Air Ministry announces :­ Aircraft of the Royal Air Force again patrolled the bases of Borkum, Norderney and Sylt during last night and the early hours of this morning. Enemy seaplanes observed at moorings were attacked with bombs. For Press and Broadcast. 15/12/39. -No. 24. CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGERS. No restrictions have been made to prevent Carol singers or bands from taking their traditional part in the Christmas festivities t his year; but if they wish to carry lanterns , these nmst conform with the regulations concerning hand-lamps. Handbel1-ringing out of doors is prohibited under the Control of Noise Order. iHNISTRY OF HOT-.TE SECURITY. Not for Publicntion Qntil_P.:r_ter Delivery. H p y c; r_r A D v A ·'. c E c 0 0 F B R 0 A D c A ).,· by Sir JOHN .1\."f'TDERSON9 HOM:C f;ECRET.ARY, following 9 o'clock news tonight, December 15th, 1939~ I want to say a few words to you about the new form of street-lighting which I announced yesterday in.the House of Commons. I know from personal experience how trying blackout conditions are, especially in contrast with our neace-time street-lighting, which is probably the b est in the worldo But if anything like ordinary lighting were allowed it would enable raiding aircraft at night, not only to reach our big cities, but to pick out the vital targets vvhich we must protect by All means at our disposala ·what we hed to find, therefore, Y.' as o. neH form of street-lighting which would be of some help to people who have to find their way about after dark but at the same time woul d give no help at all to enemy aircrafto Let me make one T)Oint clearo The danger is not, as many I_)eople think, in light which casts its beams upw~rds. If it were, the difficulty could be met by the use of a shield which would throw the ~ight on to the ground. What makes a town visible to aircraft is the pool of light on the ground which is reflected upwards, and the problem has been to bring the light down to an intensity which would help the pedestrian without producing this effect~ After many experiments, tested by the Royal Air Force from the air, this problem has now been solved, with the assistance of the lighting engineerso The new fittings needed will be produced as rapidly as 9ossible: and, as supplies of these fittings become available, the new lighting will be installed throughout the country -though, for the moment, the -2 ­ Government must reserve their decision whether this lighting can be allowed on the East and South-East coasts. I have seen this lighting myself in the area where it was tested. I don't Jclaim that it is cheerful. But it certainly enabled me to move about with far more confidence and freedom than I could in the full blackout; and that, I think, is the real test. One word of warning . While we must keep the blackout 9 we have found that we can safely allow some necessary lighting in trains, trams and buses and in places like shipyards, railway sidings and docks; and now we have moved a further step forward by allowing a new form of street-lighting. But the amount of this new lighting is carefully controlled; and, now that we have this extra light, it is more important than ever that we should all be as careful as we can to avoid unauthorised light in houses and shops. I shou1d have been delighted if, at this Christmas time, I had been able to give you cheerful streets and really bright shop windows. But the blackout is an essential part of our air defences. This is not just my view. It is the considered judgment of the Air Staff. And I know that every one of you will agree that it would be wrong to sacrifice one of our main weapons of defence for the sake of our personal comfort and convenience. l2L.12/39 -No.26. MINES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT PETROL FOR FARMERS Farmers and others engaged in agriculture are reminded that the new system of petrol distribution by coupons begins on January 1st~ 1940. The present temporary arrangements expire on December 31st. After that date farmers will not be able to buy petrol for agricultural purposes without coupons. In view of the approach of the Christmas holidays, applications for coupons should be sent at once to Divisional Petroleum Officers. A special form is reguired which cah be obtained from local taxation offices or Post Offices at which motor licensing business is transacted, and from County Secretaries of the National Farmers' Union. The address o-r the Divisional Petroleum Officer for the District is obtainable from the same source as the form. Farmers and others, including ploughing ()()ntractors, should note that the scheme is for the supply of petrol for agricultural tractors, station·ary engines, and vans and lorries operating on an "F" licence. Farmers' -urivate . motor cars and lorries operating on Carriers' licences are not included. Although it is essential to achieve economies in petrol consumption wherever possible , supplies will not be restricted :for genuine agricultural purposes. Farmers are therefore urgently requested in ,their own interests to apply without delay. MINISTRY OF FOOD, GREAT WESTMINSTER HOUSE, HORSEFERRY ROAD, LONDON, S.W.1. P.N.1eo. PRESS NOTICE. FOOD_PRICES AT DECEMBER lst. The off~cial.Cost of Living ~ndex Figti.re shows a rise of about 2 per cent. in the retail prices of food during the third month of the war. A rise in the price of eggs was the largest factor. Fish, bacon and cheese also show some increases, but none of these items by themselves accounted for more than a fractiona.l change in the index. These increases are largely attributable to a continuance of the difficulties affecting imported supplies which are j.nevitable in war-time. Fish prices fell heavily in the previous month, but have now risen again. In addition to the inevitable fluctuations in the size of catches, the supply of fish has been influenced recently by the requisition of trawlers for war service. Since the outbreak of war the total rise in the Cost of Living hae been rather less than 12 per cent. but in interpreting this figure in terme of the individual housewife1 s budget, some allowance may be made for -war-time changes in her habitual purchasing. The Index is necessarily based on the assumption of an uncha.""lged family diet, but changes in price alone may lead the housewife to choose alternative articles, replacing an article which haa become more expensive or scarce by something else. It is a general presumption that articles which have risen in price are those in shorter supply. In the case of butter, for instance, our national consumption has fallen. The alternative is margarine, supplies of which have been increased to fill the gap. It is a much cheaper article. The change-over may mean some sacrifipe of personal taste, but it is the result of war conditions. In the case of bacon the housewife has the choice of various alternative foods. The effect on her purse will vary according to the choice she makes. She will usually seek the alternative foods which are to be had at reasonable prices. Herrings in particular have been in plentiful supply recently. 15th Dec~~.l_1939. The r'Iinister of Information announces the appointment of an Artists' Advisory Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Clark Y K. C. Bu , "to dra1rf up a list of artists qualified to record the war at home and abroad; in co-operation with the Service Departments, and other Government Departments, as may be desirable, to advise on the selection of artists from this list and on the arrangements for their employment; and to advise on such questions as copyright, disposal and exhibition of works and the publication of re:p:.•.:•ductionse" The members of the Committee in addition to the Chairman are as follows : Si::-o Walter Russell, C. V.O. 9 R.A., Sir Muirhead Bone, Ll.D., D.Litt., Mro P.HoJowett, R.W.S. The Admiralty 1 ',l ar Office, Air Ministry, Ministry of Home Security and Ministry of Information, are also represented on the Comrnitteeo All communications should be addressed to the Secretary, Artists' Advisory Committee, Ministry of Information, Senate House, London University Building, Malet St., W.C.lo ----000--­ EMPIRE AFFAIRS :J-5}1,gl..:;...._2.-,9 39~------N--o....;;.. A Bill approving the Australian-Newfoundland Trade Agreement has passed all its Parliamentary stages. Proclamations have been issued fixing yesterday as the date on which the Aust~alian-British preferential tariff will be extended to cover news-print paper , mentioned. in this Agreement, and also as the date of the beginni ng of t he Act~ +-:-++++++ The War Office, London, S. w.1. 15th December, 1939. Bri tons in the Argentine are sending home thousmo.ds of eggs for sick and wounded British soldiers, sailors and airmen. Already nearly 100,000 have been despatched. The scheme is betng org2nised by Mr . H.F. l\II . Merness of Bneonos Aires9 w'l10 in the lac;t war started a similar fund. Betvveen 1916 and the end of the war over a quarter of a million eggs were collected and sent to the United Kingdom for the benefit of wounded men. In April this year l\lr . Merness volunteered to re-open the fund in the event of wr::tr>, and his offer was promptly and gratefully accepted by His Majesty's Gover>nment . 15/12/39. -No.31. OFFI.QJAL ADMIRALTY COMlvflJ1T_1_9PE The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce that H.M. Trawler JAMES LUDFORD, (Lieutenant Cdr. H.R.J. Lewis, R.N.,)has been mined and sunk. It is feared that two officers and fifteen ratings have been lost. Next of' kin have been informed. ADMIRALTY, s.w.1. 15/12/39 No. 32. The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to announce the following casual.ties sustained in action by H~M&S~ Achilles on 13th December, 1939, next of kin have been informedo Casualties from other ships engaged will be issued as soon as n~~~~edo KILLED GRANT, I. W. Ordo Seaman NZD/SS 1734 MILBURN, N,, J. Ora.., Tel.,. D/SlSX 232-88 SHAW, A.. C~ Ho .&BG NZD/1030 STENNETT , F. TeL D/JX 148899 WOUNDED MARTINSON, Le-C,o NZD/ 31+5 SHERLEY' Eo Vo NZD/1163 TRIMBLE~ S.. J .,. Sgt..,.R., M. P0/22169 +++++++++++++ ADMIRALTY, So Wol~ AIR MUTISTRY :L5/12/39 Noi 33 {.NOT TO BI8 QUOTED . .h-fL_AN ~JR I1'1INISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT) THE_~G_.JiT~J;E_THE R. A. F. There are kilts in the Royal Air Force. The two kilted bagpipe-bands of the Ro;yal Air Force are now busily preparing for Christmas and Hogrnanay. These bands are attached to Auxiliary Squadrons in Scotland and they both wear the grey Douglas tartan, which was approved by King George V and was a gift from the Dulte of Hamilton. The first band was formed in 1929 and the second six years latero 1 .'.:'l-::.·.>·;-0 are 22 men in the older band -12 pipers, a pipe-major, 8 drumrners and 8. drum-major. It has also a team of Highland dancerso These men are dravm from all ranks -fitter~, riggers, wireless operators and transport drivers. Before the war , the pipe-major was a Post Office s·orter. Now he is a drill instructor. The drum-major was a tractor driver and green-lrneper on a golf course. Now he drives a staff car. He is the only drum-major who swings a mace specially designed for the Royal Air Force. Gilt wings surmount its silver knob~ which bears the crest of the R. A. F. and of the Squadron. It i.rvas bought out of money subscribed by the men and ceremonially presented to the drum-major by the G~Oo on Armistice Day, 1938. During the residence of the Lord High Cormnissioner at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the local military unit is usually called upon to supply pipers for at least one evening. The R. A. Fo bagpipe-·band has attended on one occasion. Sometimes the t v-m kilted bands combine., as when they performed together at Dungavil, the Duke of Hamilton ~e. seat. At Christmas and on New Year 1 s Eve, they will entertain at camp concerts and in the Officers r Messes. ·-_.,. ,.v00---_.,~. AIR MINI9TJff...s. KING CHARLES STREET 2 WHITEHALL 2 S.W-::~c ·-­ 12/12/39 -No. 34 ~__QFFI.CIAL COMMUNIQUE ( E~nin_gl The foJJowing official communique was issued from French G.H.Q. this evening:­ A few encounters between the advanced units in the region imrn.ediately to the West of the Vosges. ---oOo--­ .' 15/12/39 -No.35. ADMIRALTY .QQMMUI