FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISlrRY OF INFORMATION No. 47 8th March ....................................................................., 1940 GERM.ANY: LINER'S VOYAGE DISPARAGED. The sa.fe arrival of the liner Queen Elizabeth has aroused the German Press to a series of attacks ;~n the "English ruling class", several ef which make amusing reading. The LOKAL .ANZEIGER ·wrote last night: "The big ships which England is boarding out in the East Coast American harbours are not the only wares whieh the English ruling class have brought into safety. The London gold gentry have long ago sent their other treasures over the ocean. "The snobbish ladies have sent their valuable pedigree dogs t~ board with Americans. The Bank of England has placed its gold in the safes of .Ameirl.oan. banks. The British national relic of the 0rigine.l English oons.t.ituti.en ­the Magna Carta -has gone the same way. "Valuable things are thus being brought into safety in good time. It is clear from these measures how the English plutoeracy judges the future". The article in the Dutch newspaper ALGEMEEN HANDELSBLAD, referring to German attacks on Dutch ships, has produced a storm of indignation in the German Press. The KOELNISCHE ZEITUNG, under the heading "Is that neutrality?" wrNIA: ViAR MOVING A~IAY FROM BALKi1NS? The vicnv that of possible war fronts the Balkans are less menaced than other districts is expressed in a section of the Rumanian Press today. An article in SEMI'l"ALUL stat es: "This rrar is not like the previous one::s and consequently today's state of neutrality is not like the neutralitythat used tc exist. "Previous vrars were between belligerents and t he neutrals were just asked no~ to interfere. Today, the belligerents i nstead of fighting between themselves are struggling with the neutrals and do not hesitate to menace them. The explanation of this .change in the normal ·course of events is the existence of .the fortified lines on the "Testern Front. \'fith no belligerent daring to attack openly the Maginot or the Siegfried Line, it has been thought to seek elsewhere a field on which the Yrar could be engaged. "Of all the possible war fronts the less menaced is ~dthout doubt the Balkan Front, from which the storm moves f arther a··ray every day by taldng mainly a Northerh direction. . "The Siegfried line has changed this war into Line has f~rced Germany to concentrate its efforts a s:l,ege and the Maginot in a naval warfare. In fact, we see the struggle of an island and a city. Between the two gerlgraphy has placed the unhappy neutrals. " The article concludes: "The pr,>blem of neutre:~lity will be solved only v1hen the decisive battle, which will shm1 the fate of the Maginnt and Siegfried lines starts on the shores of the Rhine. Then and only then will the belligerents be tco busy t"' bother about the neutrals as they do now vrith such perseverance.'' U.S.A. TRIBUTE TO BRITISH CENSORBHIP. The arrival of the liner Queen Elizabeth in New York is treated by the American Press as one of the biggest stories of the war so far and a New York newspaper pays a tribute to the British Censorship in keeping the v~age secret. The NEWYORK TIMES writes t oday: 11Those lucky New Yorkers who went td the ·waterfront yesterday will have a thrilling memory k pass on to their children and grandchildren. Can old timers remember anything to compare with the unheralded arrival ~f the biggest and fastest liner in the world after the most daring cf all maiden crossings. The interest of New Yorkers is echoed by the admiration of Americans everywhere for those who built her, sailerlher and sent her on her way. "The threat of mines and submarines was not sufficient to keep the liner fr,,m her first voyage and now she lies safely y-here German bombers cannot reach her. The British ;rnre right in not l eaving such a shiy to the mercy of air attack. Their luxury liners will have a job to do Yrhen the war is over. This dramatic voyage proves that the British are lol'Jlcing ahead to the days of peace." The NEWYORK HERALD TRIBUNE declares: "The hazardous trip apparently escaped even the eagle eye of the German airforce and the periscopes of the German submarines, though the sailing had been knm-m prior to its ;'lccurrence, it is reported, to thousands in Scotland and London. "The stringency of the British Censorship and the staunchness of British self-control is illustrated in this classic example." A different attitude i s however adopted by the NE': YORK DiULY N'~i.'3 . This paper disparages the achievement and thinks that the liner was sent to New York, "either because the British felt incapable of guarding her even in a home port or because they plan to trade her f or war materie.ls. The Germans will take it as a confession of British wealmess even though it may not be. " 8.3.40. 3 Condemnation of the Nazi attack on the British ~.:.in liner Domala was contained in the MI.AMI NEWS which referred to "men cf the brutal stamp of the German pilot who, unsatisfied vtlth bombing passengers nn a liner, bombed and machine gunned the lifeboeis. "In countriys where human values are considered paramouhnt, beasts in human clothing are packed off to the gaol. In countries where military values are paramount they are invited t~ become policemen and •oncentration camp guards. They are put at the head of troops, behind machine guns and aeroplanes." Referring to the sale of the wrecked Graf Spee as junk the COLUMBUS OHIO DESPATCH stated: "The auctfon of the Graf Spee callously and with almost indeeent haste, very probably without letting the German public know anything is in str1'ng contrast to the way in which nations in tho past have served the memory of capital ships. It is another of those significant episodes which reveal th&·l:limtfd: process of the men who are running modern Germany." The CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR in reviewing German Ecenomie Policy in South Eastern Europe from the point ~f view of the Munro Doctrine pointed out that the Allies realised the economic ease for German asdendancy.there. "It is not the ordinary economic advances of Germany and Danubia that the Allied sta.teagsn o:ppose., "declared this paper. "What arouses antagonism is the element of exclusiveness in German economic policy. Germany has sOUBtit to impose its primacy by diplomatic activity, political orge.nisations within other States and by veiled or overt threats of foree." A similar line was taken by the DAYTON HERALD whiQh stated: "When there­ fore Hitler demands German hegmony in Central Eyrope he . should realise that he alone makes it :impossible. Germany must curb her lust for power and learn to rule and not to oppress..It is Hitlerism alone which stands between the Dictator and his -..var." FRANCE: LINER'S VOYAGE IBATURED. The Queen Elizabeth's voyage from the Clyde to Nerr York has aroused great interest in the French Press. LE JOURNAL wrote: "New Yorkers eonsider the English very 'sp•rting' nt3t to have hesitated to risk the most recent, the largest and tho most luxurious of ~heir corrunercial ships on the ocaan. That they say, is the way to prove that the English are still the masters of the seas. "The preparation of the cro·ssing, its achievement and the silence vd.th which everything was surrounded is a tour de force." ntormesson, writing under the heading "A Letter to Mr. Swnner 'ifolles", welcomed the .American Envoy to the "world of free men. "You see, lilr. Sumner Welles, Frenchmen can hold differing opim.ons en this and that question and on this and that theory. We can even have the mo$t vi,lent arguments, but there are some points ~n which we arc all agreed, from the cxtreffif# Right to the extreme Left -on present events, f6t example. "Wh.eh, today or' tomorrow, you meet the Head of our Government, when he speaks to you in the name of France, you may believe him. You can be sure that each o~ us would speak to you in the same way. M.Daladier is not a 'Fuehrer'. We do not follow him blindly. We still keep our right •f eriticism, our free will. If we are all behind him, if we give him our confidence in these very ~ave cireumstances, it is precisely because we feel that he is the best interpreter of our national feelings, that he expresses perfectly what we are all thinking and what we are all feeling and that his sirr~licity -one might sayhi..s peasant simplicity -his common sense, his moderation and his finnness, represent for us 1the will of the entire nation." 4 ITilLY: BRITISH :r:TISUNDERSTA!"\fDil"\fG ALLEGED. The Anglo-Italian coal question continues to occupy the attention of the Italian Press to a greater measur e than other war news and London correspondents, while generally prepared to accept the British view that the measures taken by Britain are a necessity of war, to vrhich everything must be subordinated, protested that the method of procedure lacks tact and psychological understanding. The POPOLO DI ROivIA, in a London message declared yesterday that such measures hit non-belligerents more severely than the belligerents against whom they were directed, but "the English do not understand this, either because they 'do not wish, or pretend not to wish, to do so. In the meantime, while proclaiming their support of justice, they go ahead along the road of injustice. But this British righteousness is not a product for export." The MESSAGGERO contrasted the "British words of reassurance with their deeds of intransigeance." Signor .Ansaldo, writing in the TELEGRAFO, attributed the British action to "nervousness owing to unpredicted difficulties in the prosecution of the war. ' "Britons have counted upon German air raids, invasions of neutral countries and other false steps rousing neutral opinion and the fact that these have failed to occur, creates an embarrassing situation, disturbing to the traditi~nal British calm," he added While admiring Britain's effort and in some cases hoping she will win, the neutrals prefer to remain apart from the struggle. "For the first time in 200 years the world doubts whether the cause of British Imperialism is the cause of humanity. Hence the British embarrassment. The English must be nervous indeed if they cor.runit the error of reasoning, vdth Bethmann-Hollweg, that necessity has no l a1rr." The majority of messages stressed the delay caused by the freezing of the Rhine and the Italian right, in consequence, to hope for lenient treatment in regard to the ships already loaded. The fear was expressed that in dealing severely with such a point of formality, Britain involved far wider issues." NOffiVAY: VARYING VIEWS ON COAL DI SPUTE. Varying viewsof the Anglo-Italian coal dispute have, been expr-essed in the Norwegian Press. The TIDENS TEGN expr essed the belief that Britain would not push her demandB tee f ar and declared that she had already made "small concessions." The financial editor of thi s paper gave it as his view that a breach in Angle­Italian trade negotiat ions would develop into an affair of gr eat political dimensions. MORGENPOSTEN declared: "The British now argue that 1navicerts' are not ferced upon the neutrals, Who on the contrary, have themselves chosen to use them. That reminds one of the man who had to choose between being boiled or roast. If he chose one of the t .vo, the choice could hardly be called a free one ." The navicert system was also discussed in the BERGENS TIDENDE' in an article entitled "The Navicert System and Germany -an Absurd Threat". The article declared: "If one reflect s more cl'Jselyupon the navice:rt eystem, one comes to the conclusion that it does not concern Germany at all. It only concerBs consignments between neutral countries and the manner in which parties to a corruncrcial transaction desire to arrange matters. To protect and accelerate tr~nsport across the sea ought to be quite outside the sphere of a third party, Germany, by shooting dovm neutral vessels, carrying wholly neutral. trade on the grotmds that they have consented to Briti sh control, is so absurd t hat we cannot conceive such German behaviour." 8. 3. 4{). 5 BELGIUM: SDAPJ1.THY FOR BRITISH COAL DECISION, A sympathetic attitude to th.e Br.iti.sh action in detaining Italian coal ships has been shorm in a seetion of the Be!l:gian Press, LU3RE BELGIQUE, the Right-vv.i.ng neYvspaper, pointed out yesterday that juridical arguments "constitute summary complaints which the neutrals undeniably have the right to raise against Allied blockade methods...... However, these arguments present only one side of the picture and do not mention the greo.ter shortcomings of which Germany is guilty. "Naturally, the unilateral character of these complaints removes much of their weight nor can one forget that Italy, during the last war and the Turko-Italian war of 1911, never felt such a respect for maritime interno.tional l av1. 11 LE PEUPLE, the Socialist newspaper, stated: "If Italy thinks she can use her non-belligerent position to put pressure on the Allies, compromise the ·Anglo-French blockade or r ender the Gorman war-ma.chine clandestine service, she shows profound ignorance of the true equilibrium of the forces ·in hurope." SVVITZBRL!.JID: COAL -BRITISH ACTION CRITICISED. The British action in detaining Italian coal ships has generally met with an unfavourable r eception in the Swiss Press and one paper took the view that a "vvorld-vv.i.de painful effect" hn.d been created. The BASLER NACHRICHTBN, the Liberal Democratic newspaper, stated yesterday: "In f ace of the serious conflict between England and Italy one faot emerges clearly. England r eckons on a long wa.r for if she saw any possibility of an early military victory, she would not have quarrelled >vi th Italy. Ac1mittedly it is not unimportant for England. to decrease German foreign exchange receipts and take over coal d.eliveries to Italy herself while securing heavy industry products in r eturn but such factors will not vv.i.n the vvar. "England. would have tolerated the coal annoyance if she had not believed in the necessity of extending the system of a gapless blockade over a period of years. NoJ English prestige is also concerned. A painful effect has been created in the whole world because England, in exercising blockade rights, has sharply differentiated bet,,-reen the weak and. strong States. This partly explains the need for adopting the same measures for all. "England has acted v-vrongly and ItaJy 1 s legal position, based on the Paris declaration of 1856, is incontestable•••••.•• England doubtless counts on a comfortable settlement but Italy is not disposed to allow restriction of her flourishi11g industry through a lack of coal." After sta.ting that Italy could force the issue by convoying the coal ships with Yiarships, the paper continued: "Neutral countries rega.rd the eonflict, like all potential war-vv.i.dening conflicts, with anxiety but they f eel annoyanee that London too now uses a German argument, Such argum0nts certainly i.-v.i..11 not win neutral sympathy." DER BUND, the Radical Democratic organ, stated: "From the neutral vie-' 8,3.40 D:CLGIU.i.~ : AN'GLO-IT1'.LI!J'T R:°::Lf'{i'IONS. Ito.lo-British relations 2re c.~iscussed a·(; ::.ome lenc·ch in todo..y 1s Dcl cian Press and a number of Catholic neuspapers api:oor-·to regard Italy as bcine ready Jco join Germany. The LIBRE reLGIQUE refern to a false report said to have been spread from Rome and inunedia'cely denied in London after publica'cion in one British pi:-.pcr ­the report '.:as to the effect that Itelian ships Y1ere, after all, beine allo·:red throu~h the British Control. The LIBRE B:GLGICJJE then asks: "By stimulating f alse confidence in the public, d.id the ItDJ.ian Government seek to exploit the disappointment and irritation Yrhich Jche British demenJd uould inevitably produoc?" Some articles express the hope that Italy 1rill ac'c as the champion of the neutrcls and LEATA'lS Nmurrs says: "Yfe can noJcc ,-rith pleasure the e;d:;ension of our cultural and economic r cl o.tions ui th I t aly. Mutually apprecia'bed, thefJe relations consolidaJce our position and increase our chances of avoiding '-'rar. 11 The GAZ1JTTh DE CI-IAR.16ROI sta·ces hoYrever that Italy i s cruelly embarrassed and there is a distinct decrease in Italian Press poJ.elilios since :Britain adopted a firm line. S',:"ITZLRLAIID: "INDIGNATION AT BRITISH ACTION". The Svriss Press today generally pays less .s.Jc,cention 'co the Anglo-Hc.lian coal dispute but, in a R01lle!t Dispatch, NEUE ZURCHCR ZEITUNG states: "I-G is calculated here that 18 states have remonstrated w-j.th E:n.gland 80ainst the prevention of trading ·:'Tith Gerrnrozy. Despite their reserved attitude to the quarrel strong indignation is felt over the British ac·cion. 11 .A Rome Dispatch to the W..'J.'ION.L'..L ZEI'l'UNG states: "At first sir;ht the sit--uation mi[)lt appear serious and :indeed Rome is conLiderably distur1Jed. Honevcr, neither coal nor the Arms Export problem forms the greatest obstD.cle to good Anglo-Italian relations. It is G:meraJ. rreyr;and's tour of inspeotion and Mr. Eden's visit to Suez which makes I-calianz a.n:;dous." NOR\'!A.Y; IN'l'ERVENTION IN FINNISH WAR? A ~ood deal of space is devoted in the Norrregian Press 'i;oday to speculation as to the possibility of intervention in ·t;he Finnish "iTar. The .ARBEJ])ERBL.ADET deolm-es: "Norcray and Srreden cannot provide sufficient aid to the Finns by volunteers alone. Intervention from the Scaw:'linavian side ...-Jill mean \"Tar not only ~.-:·iJch the Soviet but also -. .rith Germ::uiy. The last ':.rey out will be for the Finns to turn ,co the ·,-restern Porrcrs. Nor.r£>.y anc1 Srreden Ytlll then be placed in an extraordinary a.Eficul,G situation but thi::iy cannot reproach tho FiIU1s. The f act that Allied intervention -.:ill transform Scandinavia into a battlefield must be squarely faced. 11 DAGBLADET states: "It i s quite another question 1-rhether Finland uould have a r eal ac1vo11tage from t he '.Iestern Po,.-rers' 1.iiliJca.ry help. Lar~e tToop transports over the North Sea are rislcy and the difficulties nnd da:l1,'.."·;ers ·rrill be even gr 0ater on single Jere.ck raihre,ys over Nori-ray to Srreden. But the Finns1 uorst risk i s t hat Germany Yrill probo.bly intervene i:;rith gr :;at energy in military oper ations in Finland before -Che 'Jestern Pmrer s ctm get ·[;here. "That is a consideration i;rhich certoinly ueighs ...-d.th the \Iestern Po...-rcrs1 leacli.nr; rnen '.rhen they es,cimate the prospects for and ~a.inst in-cervention. 0 8.3 .40~ 8 Tho i:ORGENBLiiD:CT forsecs a period of snoutorms and tha...-r Trhen important o:pcr;:;:'cions in Pirili!nd vill be hindered o.nd regards ,i;he present time as ;)r esenting on opportunity favourable for peace settlement. This 1Xl~1er adds: fl The serious menace ·,-;hich ,che Turko-French army in Syrio. ['.nd the .An[:;lo-Bgyp-Cian Australian force form for the Soviet, ru1d. the corronpondin,s threat of armed intervention in Finland from the ·,iestern Po.:ers1 side, increLse the hope of settlement in ,che East all the more." COAL DISPUTE COMi.iENT. Referring to the .Al"lGlo-Italian cooi dispute the GOTEBORGSPOS~N stated ~,·0sterday: "Submission to the British demand means Italy's descent from a privileged position to a small neutral state and a serious disturbance of Ito.lian-Gcrrnan relation, Enr.;land Yrants to kill t-rro birds 11ith one stone ­to stop German coal and to stop Italian uar material for Germany, "S~Iussolini is preoccupied '.-.rith the Balkans e.nd has no time for Mediterranean problems. The ::Jnglish are testing the Duoe 1 s enduranoe Hith cold steel. Neither uants to break it." In a strong denunciation of Nazism the GOT:CBORGS Hi~IDELS-LoSl\I SJOFJ\RTSTffilf.mG stated: "Nazism, which is succeeding by persecutine other races, shall so to the: destruction and catastrophe uhich its stupid Government pas engendered. ~7hen the curse of Nazism is visible the prisons 17ill open, individual rights 1d.ll be rcdemo.nded and Nazi ·mass psychology ...-rill be relegated to the darknesses of f'orc;otten barbarism." HOLLAND: "BRITAIN'S CH.l\NGED ATTITUDE." The Dutch Press today again shows coneern at Finlaii.a.1 s positien and UTRECHTSCH DAGBL.AD notes vrhat is described as "Britain's changed and challenging attitude to Russia, 11 The NLJJWE ROTTE..."lill.A:MSCHE COURANT in a London Dispatch, after quoting r eports of Svredish offers of mediation, suggests that an article in a leading British newspaper means that Britain -rrishes to strengthen the Finnish Home Front "as it is important for her that Russia should not have her hu.nd.s free in tho North. 11 DE T.CLEGR.AAF suggests that there is doubt in L0 ndon as to whether Finland can now be saved. even if she continues to fight. DE MAASBODE, after studying the Anglo-Russian situation concludes: "The British Empire and Russia's regime are at stake -'both vlill take risks only after a careful weighing of the ehances." 8/3tJ~o -No 1 PRESS. NOTIC:C 'rhe Ministry of Shipping announces: ­ His Majesty's Consul General, Bntavia, report~ that the Government of the Netherl~nds Enst Indies have imposed quaPant ine rest~idtions against pl ague on ships arriving from Bangkok.· +++++ +++ 8/3/40 -No. 2. MINISTRY OF HEALTH. The Mechanical Man which was a popular feature ot ~he Ministry of Health's Fitter Britain exhibit at the Empire Exhibition, Glasgow, in 1938, is shortly to be shipped to New York for exhibition at the reopened World's Fair. It is being lent to the American Museum of Health for inclusion in the Medical and Public Health building. The Mechanical Man, which is eleven feet high, is a working model showing the operation of the brain, the organs of sight and hearing, the processes of respiration and digestion and the circulation of the blood. Since the .close of the Empire Exhibition it has been on view at the Health Exhibition in Copenhagen. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WHITEHALL, s.w~ ~· 8/3/L~O -No 3. French Officinl (Morning) Pnris 2 Friday, M2rch 8 The following official communiq_ue was issued from Freneh headquarters this morning:­ An enemy raid failed in the region of the Nied. +++++++++ 8/3/40 -No .4•. R.A.F. OVER POLAND. The Air Ministry nnnounces : During the night the Royal Air Force maintained their patrols and reconnaissA.nces over wide areas ,of enemy teJ?ritory. In the course of these operations our aircraft r econnoitered Western Poland and flew over the City of Posen. AIR APFAIRS. Mnn wc:-;:-_'{ CI' AC:::I CULTT1?, fJ_f!TOU:nc mrr:;r>:;ir . -------~•a--...-----..-----• ·-~·---------­ _.,._,~___._..._,.._..-~­ The Lord Privy Se al, t i1_e Rt. Hon. Sir Sar:;uel Hoare , will br>oacic ast a me>:--rnage to farme r s at 9o 15 on UonCLay evening. He-will also t <1lk to the town sman about_the im_porta:nce of' allotment s and f ood. grown i n [;::3.l"denso NOTES FOR A SPEECH BY THE RTo HON. LESLIE BURGIN, Mo Pe' MINISTER OF SUPPLY, AT MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COiviMERCE LUNCHEON, MIDLAND HOTEL, WJANCHES'rER, FRIDAY MARCH 8th., NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 2o30 Pomo ON MARCH 8th. (NOTE: The following are only rough notes and represent only part of what the Minister will probabl¥ say. ) I came to Manchester primarily for the purpose of inaugurating the Manchester Area Organisation and in order that I might have the pleasure and privilege of meeting the members of the Area Advisort Committee at an inaugural meeting~ The Area Organisation Will work through an Area Board which is an organisation of officials whose duties are:­ (a) to secure the rapid, effectual and continuous co-ordination of the efforts of all Gover:hment officials in the area in connection with the production of war stores. (b) to provide for the speedy exchange of information between Ministries and Service Departments and the Area Advisory Committees (c) to settle by ag~eement, in so far as is possible, all local difficulties likely to delay output (d) to transmit to headquarters proposals for the expansion of additiona~ capacity in tho area (e) to advise headquarters on the adjustment of difficulties of priority of contractso The Boards in each area will be advised by one or more Area Advisory CQ'l1Illittees and each Conrrnittee will consist of representatives of employers nominated by employers' federations and representatives of employees· nominated by the Trades Union Congress General Council; each Committee will be served by a Secretary provided by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, The terms of reference to the Comrnittee wi~l be 1. to advise the Area Board regarding the existing outputof anything required by the Ministry of Supply and by defence Departments and to assist the Board in overcoming local difficulties. 2. To survey the area in which the Committee is workingwith a view to increasing existing production in the area. 3. To consider and make recommendations to the Area Board on any matter arising out of the terms 1 and 2 of this reference except matters which are properly the concern of the Ministry of Labour and National Service or more properly handled by the organisations of employers and Trade Unions in connection with wages and conditions of employmento The Manchester organisation is one of the earliest to be set up but it will quickly be followed by similar organisations in/ 1 0 G. 128. in other important centres. A great deal of preparatory '·'..'Ork has been done and I am very anxious for the work to go forward with the least possible delay so that at least the first 11 of these important organisations will be in operation before the end of this month. The organisation of 12 further Committees will follow immediately afterwards and one point which I should like very strongly to emphasise in connection with the starting up of these Area Organisations is that it is open to any manufacturer? group of manufacturers and any joint body9 federation or chamber of a strictly non-profit type to approach the Secretary of the Area Board with any proposition regarding production. I might add that the Federation of British Industries and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce have been asked to arrange for­their local officers to assist the Ministry by rendering such practical help as they can give in an advisory capacity to the S~cretaries of Area Boardso Now let us consider the place nf Lancashire and Manchester in the matter of munitions production; Lancashire is at the present time. engaged in producing a large variety of war supplies from gun carriages and tank parts down to small things like fuzes, instruments and gauges in addition to large quantities of cotton goods~ In the production of these and other stores many of the famous firms of Manchester are engaged and it is the Government's desire to bring into the field of munition production some Gf the smaller industrial establishments in the districto At the present time Lancashire is putting forward a greater effort than probably sh~ has ever made before to carry the fullest possible share of the national burden in the production of munitions required for the British and Allied Forces. During the last war, the Manchester Munitions Committee organised a great contribution to the national need but this time Lancashire is making an even greater contribution from its workshops and factories and the existing engineering capacity is being very greatly extended at the present time. Owing to the unfortunat8 history of the cotton trade in recent years there was abundant labour available in Lancashire for the manning of new factories and a number of new Government factories needed for the manufacture of munitions and shells and the filling of shells have been planned in Lancashire. The new Government factories alone will require when in full operation a total of many thousands of operatives. Some of the factories have already come into operation since the outbreak of war; others will be in operation by the end of the summer and their united contribution to the national need before the first yearof war has passed will be probably the most notable of any district in the countryo Turning to the textile induptry of Lancashire, I would like to mention the fact that during the last 9 months, contracts for some 110,000,000 yards of cotton material have been placed with Lancashire mill&~ Other items ordered in Lancashire include 1,300,000 sheets, 1,750,000 towels, 4,500,000 ground sheets and 500,000 handkerchiefso Contracts for the making up of uniforms have been placed, notably for 125,000 greatcoats, 300,000 battle dress suits and 450,000 denim suitso And I would like to add this: the production of these textiles is not a disturbing factor in our minds; production is coming forward satisfactorily. The/ 2.. G. 128. The production of something like 100,000,000 yards of heavy material is required to meet the service requirements such as canvas material for tentage, water proof covers, ground she0ts, denim, drills, towels, sheets, etc. and Lancashire is co-operating with us most fully in meeting all our needs in this connection. No less than 18,000,000 yards of cotton cloth have been put in production since the 1st January in lieu of linen and the skill and knowledge of the Lancashire cotton industry has been of the utmost value to us in replacing linen fabrics by cotton fabrics and thereby allowing us to save no less than 9,000 tons of flax -a commodity of which the supply is definitely limited. We, for our part, are doing our share in making available by every means in our power the full quantities of yarn required by the Lancashire spinners through the operation of the Cotton Controller in order to ensure that there shall be no. shortage of material during the period of contracts placed with the Lancashire mills. I hope also through the co-ordination of requirements not only of fighting Forces but of the civil Departments, we shall be able to ensure a continuity in the flow of orders to Lancashire which will ensure steady work for some months to come. You will understand that at the outset of this great struggle9 we had to look to the larger concerns who were in full production of the goods of which we had a need to provide our requirements in the quickest possible way in order adequately to equip our fighting forces; as the country is getting into its war stride it becomes possible and desirable for the smaller industrial firms to lend their knowledge and experience to the great producing machine which is being built up and it is for that purpose that these area organisations are being established. I am meeting to-day the Area Advisory Committee at its inaugural meeting and I look to that Committee to .give the greatest assistance to the Ministry of Supply and to the fighting Forces in building up a fully efficient productive machine to provide the needs of the nation at war. It is a matter of great satisfaction to me that representatives of employers and workpeople have agreed to co-operate together in this way for the service of the nation and I look upon it as the greatest evidence of our one desire to put forward our united efforts in the task which has been set before us. I am here to wish the Area Advisory committee the greatest possible success in their work and I ain certain that they will have from Manchester and the Manchester Chamber of Commerce the strongest and most patriotic support that any organisation could look for. Ministry of Supply, Press Office, Adelphi, w. c. 2. G, 128. MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE Press Notice :B'U'B.NITURE 11iANUli1AC'l'URING TRADE. The Secr':,tary of the :Ministry of' Labour and National Service makes the following announcement:­ The :Minister of Labour and National Service has made a Special Order ­the Trade Boards (Furniture Manufacturing) Order, 1940 -elated fifth }!larch applyi.ng the Trade Boards Acts, 1909 and 1918, to the Furniture Manufa0turing trade as set out in the Ora.er. Copi0s of the Order will be obtainable shortly from H.~li. Stationery Office, York House, King:.;way, London, W.C. 2, or through any bookseller. . He has also made Regulations setting up tho Furniture Manufacturing Trade Board, which will be constituted as follovv-s: ­ Chairman Deputy Chairman Appointed :Member Sir David Ross, K.B .E., Oriel College, Oxford. C.W. Guillebaud, Esq. , Driftway House, WiTberforc1:l ·Road, Canibridge. Miss I.E. Sloan, O.B.E., Averard Hotel, Lancastcr Gate, London, W.2. Mr. F. Austin, 17, Raleigh Close, Hendon, London, N.W .4. Mr. A.E. Barw~s, The Hig...'1 Wycorribe & District Furniture Manufacturers 1 13, Easton Str•.Jet, High Wycombe , Bucks. 1v'fr. S .D. Bianco, "Oastle Hill Lodge," St. Marks Road, Maidenhead, Berks. Mr. E.J. Board, J.P., Somerset Wicker Co., Ltd., 33, Friarn Street, Bridgw-ater, Somerset. Mr. W.T. Cardinal, 1, Balloon Street, lVIanches tdr. Fed0ration, Mr. F.A. Greaves, 40, Villiers Avenue, Surbiton, Surrey. Mr. G.A. Hcnsher, Lower Wythall, Coughton, Ross-on-Wye. iV!r . H. Holmes, Holmes Bros. (1,ondon) Ltd., Bill0t Road, Wal thamstow·, London, E .17. 1vir. W. Johnstone, Victoria Villa, Beith, Ayrshire. Mr. J.F. Lusty, "Upney", 83, Snakes Lane, Woodford, Essex. 1. (5367-1429) Wt. 47177-7024 20,000 2/40 T.S. 677 Mr. A. Driver, 2, Gipton1s Yard, Crom"rell Street, Leeds, 9. Mr. V.N. Radford, West View House, Papplcvtlck,, Notting.ham. 1vir. G. Rogers, 93, Beresford Road, Oxton, Bil'kenhoad, Cheshire. Mr. R. Sadow, 13, Aylmer Road, Highgate, London, N.2. Mr. L.S. Seccombe, The Grange, Tanworth in Arden, Birmingham. One Vacancy. :Mr. N. Macneill, Achadchosan, 0 ld L<~a. Hoad, Beith, Ayrshire. Mr. II. Shavr, 40] C~iambord S trt:Jet, Virginia Roacl, London, E. 2. Mr. J.H.B . Tidmarsh, 1, I,aycoek Street, I,ondon, N.1. Mr. C.,J. Varnals.• 1, Gal~~worth Avenue, Chnd·we:J 1 Heath, Pomfora, Essex:. R~esontativ·3S of workers. Mr. G.H. Beckett, 51, Sherringham Avenue, Tottenham, London, N.17. i:Vir. S. Fineman, 2, Plough Yard, Shoreditch, London, E.c.2. Mr. L.C. Hansen, 1037, Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E.17. Mr. G. Hirst, 11Glengariff", Kendalls Close, High Wycombe, Bucks. Mr. M. Jacobs, 8, Bl ackfriars Roaa., London, S.E.1. Mr. J .D. Mackay, 5, Lynedoch Place, Glasgow, C.3. Mr. J .H. :McConville, 3, King's Close, Gorton, Manchester, 18. Miss E.H. Mcintyre, 18, Church Street, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire. Mr. W. Neasham, 9, Watson Street, Glasgow, C.1. Mr. T.T. Newell, 8, Guildford Street, London, W.c.1. M.c . R. Pi:nlott, 5, Rour;hey Gardens, Bcnc:t:ill, "INytti~ Officer, P.F.N. Ai -~"c:2.".lf·sma::-. 2nd Class, W. Fl ying Officer, Bo A• 1 s::~rger1~-rt ;,; r; F~ isht Sergeant, w.c . Fly_• 113 Officer 1 C. P. s. Serncar~t , I,.G. J • Leading Ai~craftman, A.R. Jly~ ng Officer, J.N. Sere;cnvt , P., F.Ho Pilct Officer, HeA. ~ 86r[~ Ct:ll3t; L;. ,_) :B'a Sar~ge:ar1·;~ ~ Eo Co Le2di n.g /.irc::'.'aftman, F.A. SEH.YIQJ~ Serge1rnt 1 A. Ao G. Aircraft~an 2nd Class, J. Aircrnftman 2nd Class, c. Corpor ::tl? E.A. Corpor~.:tl 9 R. l'L Leading /,ircraftman, A. W. Cor9·Jr a1 GoE,,J o Airc!.'aftman 2nd Class, s.s. Ajrcraft man 2nd Class, J.R. Aircrartman 1st Class, A.J. Corp:)raJ, S. O. Leadi ng ~ircraftman, A. Leadi ng Aircraftman, J. Aircra:f'tman 2nd Class, J.E. Le FJ.ding ;,irc1·aftman, T.M. Aircraf cman 2nd Class, F.T. Sergea~t 1,,, A ., Aircraftmun 1st Class, D. A1rcro.ftman 1st Class, C.V.M. Airc1'0.1'tman 2nd Class, G.W. Press and Publicity Branchy Air Ministry, King Charles Street, Whitehall, S.W.l. 9th March, 1940. l I A.M.BULLETIN NO .L;-)..2_·~ NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MORNING NEWSPAPERS OF SATURDAY, MARGH 9TH, 1 4o OR BROADCAST BEFORE A.M. B.S.T. ON SATUR AY, WlARCH TH, 1 O. ROYAL AIR Ii'ORCE AWARDS. The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the f'ollowing awards for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations:­AWARDED THE DISTIITGUISHED FLYING CROSS. Squadron Leader Kenneth William NIBLETT, Acting Flight Lieutenant Robert Voase JEFF, Acting Flight Lieutenant Richard Hugh Antony LEE, Acting Flight Lieutenant Maurice Victor LOITC-BOTTOM, Acting Flight Lieutenant Robert Henry NIVEN, Acting Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Middleton WYATT, Flying Officer Alastair.Dyson PANTON. The highest qualities of leadership and devotion to duty have been displayed by one of the above officers as flight comrnander of a squadron employed on long distp.nce day and night strategical reconnaissances. Another officer is described as an outstanding flight commander and a reliable and brilliant pilot. On one occasion he pursued fill enemy aircraft for 20 minutes, finally forcing it to land and fall into Allied hands. A. third has set a magnificent example of keenness and efficiency as a flight commander., He intercepted an enemy air­craft over the English Channel and shot it down in flames. Two of the officers have 1)een pioneers in a new method of aer~al photography. They have taken overlapping Dhotographs of many enemy defences. Another officer is described as "an inspiration to his squadron". /AWARDED -2 ­ AWARDED THE DISTil~GUISHED FL1_! NG MED.AL. Sergeant William Joseph CRONIF; Sergeant Frank MILLER) Sergeant Alexander Cameron THOMAS) Sergeant David PENNINGrroH, Leading Aircraftman Sidney CULVER) Leading Aircraftman George P.i.AVlETFS; Aircraftman 1st Class Henry Arthur George FERRE) Aircraftman lst Class Frederick j-ohn ALLAM. Several of the above are described as skilful observers and navigators. One is decorated for good work in a raid on Wilhelrnshaven when his aircraft scored a direct hit on a German battleship, and for his conduct in the 25 minute engagement over the North Sea on January 10th between nine Blenheims and f'ive Messerschmitt llO's. Among the air gunners, one receives the D.F.M. for cool and effective handling of his gun during the engagement of January 10th in which his aircraft occupied a dangerous position. Another has set a splendid example of valour and fortitude. He has shown zeal, ability and devotion to duty. A wireless operator among the recipients was the first member of his squadron to carry out a second reconnaissance over enemy territory, flying in intense cold to nearly maximum endurance of the aircraft and over strongly defended zones. His ability had a very good effect on the aircraft crews when the squadron had suffered heavy losses. NOTES ON CAREERS. Squadron Leader Niblett was born at Cardiff in 1909 and was educated at the Strand School. He was a cadet at th8 R. A. F. College, Cranwell from 1927 to 1929 when he won the sword of Honour at the passing /out -3 ­ out inspection. He was corrmissioned as Pilot Officer1 promoted Flying Officer in 1931, Flight Lieutenant in 1935 and SQuadron Leader in 1938 with corrmand of a SQUadron. Flight Lieutenant Jeff was born in 1913 at Kuala Lumpur~ Federated Malay States. He was educated at Cheltenham College. He became a pupil pilot in the R.A.F. in 1936 and was commissioned as Pilot Officer the same year. He was promoted Flying Officer in April, 1939 and Acting Flight Lieutenant the following month. He has been engaged on flying duties at home stations. Flight Lieutenant Lee was born in London in 1917. He was educated at Charterhouse and entered the R.. A.F. College~ Cranwell, in 1935. He received a commission as Pilot Officer in :l-937 and was promoted Flying Officer and Acting Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant Longbottom was born at Liverpool in 1915. He was educated at Merchant Taylors School~ Orosbyi Wigan Mining and Technical College and Liverpool University. He became an operator 1st class in the Royal Naval Wireless Auxiliary Re.serve in 1934 and the next year became a sergeant pilot in the R.A.F. Reserve. He vasgiven a oo1YJmiss.:i.on in 1936 and was promoted Flying Officer in 1938 and Acting Flight Lieutenant in 1939. He has been engaged on flying duties at home stations. Flight Lieutenant Niven, who is aged 26, is a Canadian, having been born in Calgary, Alberta. He was educated at Haultain School and Western O&nada College 1 Calgary. and at the Provincia'.l. Institute of Technology and Art. /He 4 ­ He was given a short service conn-nissi on in the n.A.P. in 1935, was promoted Flyinz Officer in 1938 and reached his present rank in 1939. He ho.s bee;n mJ.gaged in f l yinc; duties with home squadrons and also had a period of duty at t he Ai r Ministry. Flight Lieutenant Wyatt was born at Grove Park, Kent, in 1915 and educated at Brentwood School. He received a short service commission in 1935, was promoted Flying Officer in 1938 and Acting Flight Lieutenant in 1939 , and served with a home s q_uadron. Flying Officer ?anton was born in Calcutta and is aged 24. He was educated at Bedford School, entered the R. A.F. Qollege, Cranwell, as a cadet~ and was given a permanent conllllission in the R.A.F. in 1937, being promoted Flying Officer two years later. Sergeant w. J, Cronin cor11es from Gi llinghmn, Kent. ( Is 32 years of age and has been in the R.A.~, for over 13 years. Is sir1gle Served in India for over 5 years. Sergeant Frank Mille~ joined the R.A. F. in 1926 at the age of 18. Was married in 1934. Comes from Morecambe, Lancashire. Served in India for 4 years. Sergeant A.C. Thomas comes from Abergele, Denbighshire. He joined the TI.A F. in 1929 at the age Of 18. Married ten years later. Sergeant D. Pennington was a machinist in civil life. He comes from Christchurch, Preston 9 Lanes. He joined the R.A.F. in 1929 at the age of 22. He was married in 1936., /Leading -5 ­ Leading Aircraftinan s. Culver is 24 and single. He come~ from ~roml~yj Kent~ and wa~ a pastrycook in civil life. Leading Aircraftman G •. Hawkins was a farm hffild and comes from Brackley, Northamptonshire. He joined the R•.A. F. exactly eleven years ago and is now 30., He was married in 1934. Aircraftman 1st Class H.A.G. Ferre, was a fitter in civil life, He comes from Farnborough, Hants, and joined the R.A.Fk at the age of 18, a little more than 2 years ago,. Aircraftman 1st Class F. J. Allam was a.. London, invoice clerk when he joined the R.A.F. less than three years ago. He was then 17. He is single. Press & Publicity Branch~ Air Ministry, King Charles Streetp Whitehall, s.w.1~ 9th March, 1940. 8/3/40 .. -.No, 12 FISH FRIEHS AND POTATO PRICES. To remove any misconception regarding the prices which may be charged for potatoes sold to fish friers, the Ministry of Food announce that for the purposes of the Potatoes (1939 Crop) (Control) Order, 1940, fish friers are to be regarded as "reteilers". The maximum prices which apply to sales to fish friere are those set out in column 3 of the Fm1rth Schedule to that Order. Sales of "fried potatoes"; however, are not subject to the retail prices set out in that Schedule. ----000---­ MINISTRY OF FOOD. AIR MINI'->TRY BULLETIN. ... No.15. HEINKEL $HOT DOWN OFF NORTH OF SCOTLAND . The Air Miriistry announces: Aircraft of the Royal Air Force this afternoon intercep ted a Heinkel off the North Coast of Scotland and shot it down into the sea. AIR Af.'FAIRS. ------oOo------­ ?{ev Jje~~S!.uar-Wel's ....f..'2..:r..:...B• A. F. Comfort!L,_Q..O.]!il:lttee. The R.A.F. Comforts Committee move to their new Headquarters at No.20 Berkeley Square, London, W.l. tomorrow, 6&t\U"day 9th ~arch 1940. All cGiftto•ts or donations for comforts ror men of the R.;.. Pe shO\tlC be sent in future to that address. 8 • 3•l.i-0 No 17__ (Not to be quu t G-d. as an air Ministr~r Announcer11ent) The Heinkel 111 which irms shot c1.orm in the sea east of Aberdeen yester cl.ay was first observed. fl.;ying east9 at a hei~ht of o.pproxim~tely 27,000 feet. Spitfires climbec1 to attack the raider 9 while anti a ircraft g uns on land opehed fire. Almost as soon as the fighter s· attacj~od_ 9 • one of' the Hcinkel: s cnzj_ncs went out of action. Sr,1oke poured from it. The Germo.n pilot turned ~.nc"! glidec1. tovmrO.s the west 9 but failin[s' to rc'.1.ch lancl., ali~,htcc1 on the sea. Before the He inkel so.nk, the Spi tfirc r,ilots saw a rubber boat l aunchedo One member o~.· t:nc UcH'man crow Wi1. S picke cl_ up from the rubber boat by a sur~ace cr~fto 8th March, 1940. No. 18 ff. A :-'.F-.-169 Applicati ons f o;.' the -postponement of' the calling­ u:p of men in agric11ltu11 al occu-fJ&tioi1'3, vvho have to register en 9th IVIn1•ch aLd who ar'e no~ coverecl 1)y the Gchedule of B£2 ~EY~d__oC:.S:~~!}Pn~·;-rr£L1st-:se·-3erif To-Coudc3r-iiiar-·-·---·--Agri cult'lE~ a1 Executive Committees as soon as the men havs been registered. The m~n required to register are these not already :r•egisterecl who vere born ·betv1een 1st ,January, 1915 and 9th IiaPch, 1920, that is, men who had reach1~J the age of 24 (but not ;~3 ) on 31st Decernoer , 1939, er/1. men who reE'tCh the age of 20 between 1st Ja::iu ~ry and 9th ~"a::."ch, 1940. Most agricultu1•al worke:i>s i.n this g:i:•oup wi11 be cove:r•ed b;'l the Scl:edule of Reserved Occu1)ati ons; b'c:t applics.ticris n.2.y be rr:ade in :cespect of rri.cn w:10 reach the nge cf 20 "be tween 1st January eEd 9th ::V'.a11 ch, 1940, both dat'3s incl11si ve Y aEliantes)Rules 1940, supplementing the Merchant Ship~ing {Li:t'e-sav1ng k_p:pliances) Rules, 1938. The new rules come into efi'eot forth'71th. In addition to the lifeboats already required to be carried, the new rules require the provision on all sea­going shi:ps (while employed or going on any voyage o~ passage to, i'rom or between the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Eire and the Continent of Euro?e) of emergency rafts, or similar appliances sufficient to support all persons on boRrd. Each raft or similar appliance is to carry a self­igniting buoyant light and other spe~ified equipment, In the ap~lication of the new rules to passenger ships, buoyant apparatus already carried on such ships is to be taken into aCCOU11.t., The new rules include power to grant exemption from any requirement if the Minister is satisfied tha.t such I'eq_ui roment is either impracticable or unrea.sonable. Oopics of the Rules 'will shortly be obtainable th~ough H-.M. Stntionery Office o.nd from book-sellers in the usual way. +++++++++++++++++++ MINISARY OF SHIPPING. P R E S S N 0 T I C E . ._;;__;_~~-~~-~~~­ Provincial investors 9 small and large, appreciate the valuable fact that the Government is issuing the new 3 per cent War Loan 1955-59 in a way which gives all applications equal chances. The interval of a full week between the announcement of the £300 9 000 9 000 loan and. the opening of the subscriptioE lists enables everybody to make arrangements for. subscribing. It gives time for the delivery of applications from every part of the country by the opening of the lists at the Bank of England on Tuesday next 9 Ma rch 12th. In the past private provincial investors, who have made personal application by post, have sometimes found the lists of a loan closed from quick over subscription by City houses before their letters e~en reached London. In the case of an attractive loan such as the 3 per cent every applicant wants to get his stock at the issue price and not have the risk of having to pay a premium when the Stock Exchange begins Hdealings" . Consequently9 in the present case 9 the provincia1 investor feels that the arrangements ensure complete equality for all intending applicants. This is only one of the features which emphasise the national character of the 3 per cent War Loan9 which is attractive not only to sections of the investing community9 such as the Insurance Companies 9 but to ever:y other institutional and private investor. Please do not quote this as an official Lin:Lstry of Infm:-ma t ion Announcement, W.Ll±Q ··-· ·-. ~ ::-___ No. 22•.·· (Not to be q_uoted as a.n .Air Linistry Announcement) The German bomber destroyed by the Royal Air Force this afternoon was shot down in single combat.' The duel was fought off the North East coast of Scotland and the bomber, a Heinkel 111, crashed into the sea. When the Heinkel was first s1ghted by a patrol of Hurricanes of Fighter Command, it dived 2,000 feet to sea level. One of the Hurricane pilots attacked. and the effect of his fire was enough. The Heinkel flew, turning from side to side, just above the water, trying to dodge the Hurricane's fire. After a few seconds of running fight, the Heinkel collapsed. ++++++++ Air Ministry Bullet,!n 8/3/fui-O -No.. 23 R. Aa F. BOl'IB ~HY PATROJ:i, ,VESSE#S The Air ministry announces: -­ In the course of reconnaissance and pat~ol operations carried out yesterday by aircraft of Bomber and Coastal Comraand of the R©yal Air Force, three enemy patrol vessels near Borkura were attacked with bombs~ A bombing attack was also make last night on a Naval Auxiliary vessel near Sylt. Two enemy Heinkel aircraft encount~red over the North Sea during the day were engaged and seen to be hit~ As already reported, patrols from Fighter Command brought down a Heinlcel east of Aberdeen and another to-day off the North Coast of Scotland. --.--000-~­ _A_I.._R_AF_F_A...,I...,R,...S_ §L3/40. -No.24. NOT TO BE QUOTED AS AN AIR MINISTRY STATEMBNT. NORTH SEA AIR FIGHTS. In the course of routine patrols far over the ~orth Sea yesterday, (Thursday) reconnaissance aircraft of the R.A.F. Coastal Command had several engagements with enemy air and surface craft. One aircraft sighted a Heinkel 115 o.bout a mile ahead. This type of Heinkel is a long range twin-float saa plane. The British aircraft pursued, overtook it and attacked from dead astern. Steady fire was maintained during the approach. At 150 yards it was apparent that bursts were entering the enemy's fuselage. At 50 yards range the attack was pressed home. There was evidence now that the German rear gunner had either been disabled or killed. Until then he had fought back vigorouslyo One of the British crew then signalled that his gun had jammed, and the aircraft was flown into a cloud to allow the fault to be remedied. With all his guns again serviceable the pilot emerged and saw his opponent below himo He dived to renew the combat at c+ose range and the damaged Heinkel was driven to find refuge in cloud. The British aircraft, which was unscathed inthe action, searched for its adversary unavailingly, and then proceeded on its patrol. Soon afterwards, the pilot saw three German patrol vessels which he immediately attacked with bombs,,, VV:L th a storm of anti-aircraft fire around him, he could only observe one of the bomb-bursts -hardly the distance of a cricket pitch as he described it -from one of the ships. Having practically no machine gun ammunition left, and having expended all his bombs, the pilot was obliged to "call it a day". Thereafter .he went on with his reconnaissance. Another pilot of the same squadron on a different patrol saw a Heinkel float-plane almost at sea levelQ He dived from 2,000 feet and attacked it on the starboard quarter with his machine guns. He then climbed back to his original height and dived again with his front gun in action. The German rear gun, which had fired steadily without result during both attacks, was silenced. The enemy aircraft thereupon made for dense clouds through which it was chased for 20 minuteso During the chase it was seen on four occasions in the clouds and each time bursts of fire were sent into it~ NOTE:-The above Bulletin refers to the action against two enemy Heinkels encountered over the North Sea as mentioned in Bulletin 445. AIR APFAIRS. -------000------­ §.QL4_,_o_· __N_o_.~ NOT FOR PUBLIOii.TION BEFORE THE SUNDAY PRESS OF 10th Mii.RCH, 1940. NllTION.AL INTEREST IN THE NEW LOJ\.N, Since Sir John Simon made the announcement of the new 3 per cent War Loan 1955-59 in the House of Commons on Tuesday last thsro has been abundant evidence of the wide national interest in the issue~ Terrm.s of the issue of the £300,000,000 of this new trustee security have been spoken of in the City as "just right" which implies that the price of issue, that is par, the 3 per cont rate of interest and the period for which the loan runs, 15~ to l9tr years, apTleal to the investment specialists as being attractive to investors everywhere. · Oom:ment on the new Loan in every quarter of the oountry has been entirely favourable. Universally there has been a ~ealisation of tho three main points behind the Government's appeal for subscri~tion to this first War Loan (1) That it is a mnjor part of the plans for financing the expenditure necessary to the vigorousand successful prosecution of the war (2) its success will gontribute materially to the maintenance of a sound economis position (3) the terms of the Loan are not only reasonable from the point of view of their cost to the Stato but attractive to the investor. Investors are vitally concerned. as citizens under ea.ch of these headings -victory, a sound economic structure, and control of the ox:_ocnse of State finance. T1'lGy are fortunate in o. time when these are matters of concentrated national effort and struggle to secure so satisfactory an investment, enabling them to employ their surplus money f'or the benefit of the State while at the same time receiving nn attractive return. '.l'he list of /.;i.pplications opens at the Bank of England on Tuesday next and will be closed on Wednesday. There is therefore still time for investors who have not already made thei~ arrangenients for applying for the new security to send in their applications, either through their bankers or brokers o~ direct to the Bank of England, Loans Office, E.C.2. Prompt action is advisable since the warmth of the reception given to the announce­ment of the attractive terms of the lonn indicate that the wisest polioy the investor can follow is to make sure that his mYolication is in no danger of being too la~e. In other words, ha will do well to post his application in time to get to its destination tomorrow, Monday. ISSUfil?...»J" TEE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. PLEASE DO_ NOT QUOTE l>S Jill OFP.ICIJ1L MINISTRY STATEMEfil. J?.R~.TISll GUIJ..NA' S GRATITUDE The i'ollowing l'osolution ho.s beon un~min10usly po.ssed by tho Legislative Council of British Guinna. on the r.10tion o? tho member for Berbice River:~ 11 That this Council on its own bcho.lf o.nd on boh,:i.lf of the inhnbitnnts of this Colony extend to the Royal Oo~1:i.: :1is.sion our cordial :-i.nd grateful thanks for their thorough !nvcstiga.tion o'f1 o..nd their liberal report nnd recorm:!10nc1ations on1 the various problems relating to the progress nnd development of the Colony, and respectfully ex-presses its gr::.ltitude for the avowal of the British Governrnent of 1ts deep concern in our well bei~g; and thnt a copy of this r3salution bG forvmrded to the Right Honourable the Secrete.ry of State for tha Colonies o.nd to those concerned"• +++++++++++++++++ __. ________ E.t:IPIRE AFFAIRS WL49_ --. --__N_~.J_ RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION AFTER 9., 35 Po IVL, . TI{:(i?_~[F){ffil~VENING. MEM. TO SUB-EDITORS: ---AsTh.Ts"scrlpt is being issued in advance, it is necessary to check it against the actual broadcast at 9.20 this (Friday ) evening 9 on 391 or 449 metres. II ONCE _UVE~~" T~J<:-~ROA,.P._CA.~9.'.t_.J2]" 1 ONLOOKER 1 The B.B.C. announces that 'Onlooker' broadcast the following talk in the Home Service programme at 9o20 this (Friday, March 8~ evening:­ Tonight I want us to come back to the fireside for a general talk together. No special theme; no particular pu~pose; but just a time for reflection and for turning things over in the mind~ For we have just passed the six months mark of war; and that's a very good moment to look back and to reflect and perhaps to resolve8 We are all like that -a birthday, a New Year, an anniversary -some lana.mark in time, whatever it is, and straighta.r~ay it1s a moment for thinking, for reflecting, and sometimes for resolving., The habit's almost universal. The Germans have just been doing it; and, of course, with them it was done i,vith a purpose 9 and on an organised scale. The German High Conu;1and' s prepared a special repo1.... t on the first six months of war, and the German newspapers gave it a wildly enthusiastic reception. Then the German ·wireless took it up and grew q_ui te lyrical about it., 11 It is a ~._)roud report and a joy to the German people, and bad news for the enemy, 11 they said. "The German people can look into the future with quiet confidence in vietory. 11 And so ono Now in this war, as we well know 9 we can listen to the voice of the enemy; and we can follow every word which is broadcast to the German people; and it is astonishing that people who can look into the future with such confidence in victory 1'should need such violent stimu­lation as their wireless gives them at almost every moment of the day., Every day, at almost every hour, the German people are regaled with news which is distorted and t wisted. and in r,mny instances utterly false. I don't suppose you have any idea of the colussal scale upon vvhich this is done, for it touches everything, small or greato For example, last week there occurred a sad tragedy when a Member of the House of Commons Yvas found shot at his homeo That i tern of news was sent out over the wireless to German people a s a murder in colc1 blood by the British Secret Service because the Meniber of Parliament had urged the Prime Minister to make peace! A lie, of course, but a lie-vd t h a purpose. If it were not so tragic in its consequences, it would be laughableo Whilst we know that German re:'._)Orts, like this High Command report and German statements, are utterly m1trustworthy, we do ·well to remember that millions of the enemy are not merely being kept in ignorance, they are ~eliberately and designedly deceived. But that's the enemy. What about ou1.... selves at the end of six montl1s? Of course, it1 c. been a time of great strain and anxiety and fearful upheaval and dislocation, -but itrs the first obvious refJ.ection t hat it's been vastly a.ifferent f rom our expectationso In the early cl.n.ys of last September we lived and worked in the hourly expectation of a bomb from the skies; ana_, all we asked for was courage to go through the orc.eal wello -2 ­ We11, take this for comfort. Many of the things in life we fear most never happen to us at all; and up to the moment these expectations have !)een falsified. But Vi e have had to meet new and strange and unexpected things ~ · the business has had to be closed down; the home has had to be given up; the family's been sepaJ'.'ated. In every life there's been something quite different from the expected. If the expected had come, and Newcastle, Edinburgh and Birmingham had been like Vipurii or Warsaw 9 with all the attendant hOJ'.'rors, -there would have gone up from Britain such a wave of iron resolution that even this country had never seen. In calamity the unquenchable spirit vvould reveal itself. But because for the time being we have been spared these horrors 7 strength of purpose is all the more needful. For in these six months familiar words have become trite and almost meaningless.. "Fighting for our lives" sounds unreal when life seems unchanged; "fighting for freedom1' sounds like a mer•e rhetorical ph:rase; but to look at Poland is to see J•eality and to know the fate of those who came under the Nazi hatred and Nazi domination and to recall us to the true nature of our task. The second equally obvious reflection is that the first six months has allowed us to see with clear eyes that this is ~aJ);.Y. a total war, and that for good or ill, ·we ar e all in it. Everybody's in this war, whether they li"ke it or not, and everybody's got a special contribution to make. In particular, the past six months have shown us the impoj'.'tance of economic questions, and. how we are all concerned with these in the most intimate and vital way. Now , I don't know whether you know much about economic questions or whether you want ·to; for whilst it's a difficult subject, it's irrmensely impOi:>tant at all times and especially so in war time. Indeed the economic aspect of war is all important. One of my deaj:>est f r iends is an economist, a really expert economist. He's a kind husband and fond father, and a ll that ; but happiest, I think, when talking of statistics and t r ends and pej'.'centages and price-levels, and dealing with such things as "disposable margins" and 11inflation. 11 Well, you and. I will never all be economists like that; but it helps us to pull ouI' weight if we understand one or two of the things in which we've got to play our part and to play it well. The essential nature of total war is that we're all in it, -all the money we 've got in the bank, all the work we do, all the time we've ~ot. This war is now costing 6 to 8 millions a day, and somebody's got to provide the cash. For whilst money, of itself, can't win the war, it's of vital importance both during the war and afterwards. Now one of the great problems of a total war is how to cut down the consumption of goods and services to a minimum for or dinary life, so that the war ef fort may be brought to its highest pitch. It's got to be done fa irly and justly; some have no margin and cannot cut down at all; others can cut d,own more; and many much more still. 3ut it's got to be done. There are many ways of doing this; some good, some oaa.. All the exper ts seem to agree that inflation i s a bad way, unjust and unfair as between rich and poor, and tota 11y undes iJ:>ab le 9 for it works by increasing prices; you spend as much as you did before, but you get less for it. /Then -3 ­ Then there's rati0ning, of course; and there's the painful but salutary way of taxation which takes the money out of your poc!;:et before you can spend ito That's a good way to reduce consumption• .And then there's s oving and lending to the C-overnment. That's a most excellent way. In War Saving Certificates and Bonds the country has responded nobly -100 million in 100 days; and the new 3~; Loan is certain to be a complete success if we see plainly the vital necessity of making it so9 To lend your savings to the Government is certainly a high patriotic duty; but it also is an act of enlightened self­interest. one further reflection of some importance on what this r ather strange six months has brought about: the unexpected situation has led many people t o agitate for peace novv, as they say, before the real violence of war sets in; and the horrors reach the gigantic scale. This is very human and natural; the mind shrin~s from the conteraplat1on of the sacrifice of so many lives and the pouring out of so much treasure. As a people we are a peaceful pe9ple~ But we must face realities. There are great horrors in the world now; and if they are not confronted, these horrors will go on and increase, and life will lose all its savour and value as a t hing to be cherished by everybody. In plain truth, there could be no peace made with the Nazi regime, either now or at any time; for no peace wort.h the name could possibly be brought about unless Great Britain and Germany are on friendly terms. Such friendly relations are utterly impossible with Hitler there, or with any of his immedi ate circle. If you want to condemn a man in ordinarJr life you s ay v .J: him, "You cannot be trusted." And the world has rarelJr seen such cJrnical faithlessness and treachery as that displayed by Hit ler in international affairs. And apart from that, how could any peace be made with Hitler while ·we cherish a free Parliament and a free Press, for these free institutions have been to him the greatest cause of offence. For Hitler has himself said that in this country a Prime Minister desiring peace with the Nazis might be displaced by another vvi th different views, and with such a system the securing of lasting peace is made difficult. In recent years Hitler has freq_uently complained of the criticism of Germany in the British Press and said that it malrns good relations between the t -vvo countries impossible; and Germany is threatening the Neutrals at all times when she is criticisea_ in the Neutral Pess, even when they m.erely complain of the murder of their seamen and the sinking of their ships. A free Parliament and a Free Press are t wo of our most yrecious possessions, bought with a great price, and it will take more than a Hitler to make us abandon them. And if this six months has done nothing else, it has shovm us beyond all doubt or misgiving that· there can never be peace in the world again or any :peace which endures, or indeed any life of real value, until Hitler and his satellites are gone. And one final reflecti~n needs expression. Hitler is n0u declaring as his chief war aim t he removal of British terror from the world. He i s believed to have stated this to Mr. Sumner Welles in Berlin. Certainly the Nazi cornrtlentators have been saying it to the world, and sorne of them are alreuc1y dividin~ the spoils. Gibraltar must go -it is really Spanish; Malta must go -it is really Italian; Cyprus and Singapore must be given up. But Poland must remain; and. Czechoslovaki a and Austria, where they are now1 And there is no GeFman terror there8 And, as so many of your letters have reminded me, we have a perfect exan1ple of German terms ~f peace made about 22 years ago in the Treaty of Brest-Litovak. Then when German arms appeared to be com­pletely victori -ms on the Eastern Front, there was nothing for the enemy, Russia, but profound humiliation and the most abject surrender. /On ; 4 On Mareh the 3rd 1918 the Treaty was signed. Russia lost one-third of her population and agricultural lc..nd; one half of her industrinl undertekings 2nd neo.rly all'her 00st ·sugar beet l o.nd and coal mines. And heavy rep~r~tions w011e exacted. European Russia was dismembered; she wo..s cut of:f from the Black Sea and very neo.rly from the Baltic o.lso. The.t is the kind of ;;:ieace to expect f'rom Germany. A former British .Ambassador to Germany spoke at Ho.nchester l ast •ruesday -and spoke out of great knowledge. He said that if we were defeated the f ate of Pol and would be envia~le, inc1oed, compared with ours. There would be no recovery for us, or for our children, or our children's children. Well, there's the issue. Yes, this is a total war. Make no mist ake about that, ~nd we are all in it. Good-night to you all. +++++++++++++ +++++++ ++++++++++ ~liI._~~§f!_.JIB.OADCASTING CORPORATION. 8/3/40 No. 28. - ·-----------­ COLOURFUL DURBARS IN THE GOLD COAST. Governor at Cap~ Coast and Axim& Sir Arnold Hodson, Goyernor of the Gold Coast, in the course of a recent tour of areas in the central and western provinces of the Colony, held durbars at Cape Coast ·and Axim. At both places there was a large crowd of people present, including all the Chiefs of the surrounding districts in full state, all the local schoo.1 chi.ldren, and large numbers of the comrnunity -African and Europeano The concourses assembled presented a lively and colour­ful spectacleo In accordance with custom, His Excellency was first introduced to all the chiefs, who in turn presented their greetings to the Governor, who then delivered simple and lucid war addresses. These, on both occasions, were listened to with rapt attention~ The addresses referred to the origin of the Great War of 1914-1918, and how, on that occasion, war had been forced upon us by German aggression in Belgiurn~ At the end of that war, eschewing harsh measures, we had, in the Treaty of Versailles, made such conditions as we hoped v1ould ensure lasting peace. Germany had, at the time, accepted these terms, but Hitler since his rise had broken pledge after pledge and had set himself ruth­lessly to dominate all Europe by fear and aggression. It was to put an end to this that we had gone to war to honour a pledge to Poland as in 1914 we had honoured a pledge to BelgiUl11o Sir Arnold Hodson, refer-red to the Nazi mode of life, its ruthless suppression of religion and private thought, and in particular to its attitude to Africans as inferior in every respect nnc1 born only to be slaves in the execution of German aims~ He pointed out that the Gold Coast had, as yet, scarcely felt .the effects of the war, but he urged his hearers to be ready to play their part in the bitter struggle before us, not to be down-hearted by losses, nor too elated by success; but to keep rejoicings for the final and assured victory,, In reply, the Chiefs everywhere reiterated their unswerving loyalty to the British Empire, affirming that "no matter when they were summoned, either by day or by night, they vvould be ready". ++++++++++ QL3}1--J.0. -No. 29._ NI;W TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR GOLD COAST. Interesting details have ,just reached London concerning the new Government Technical School at TakoJ'.'adi, the recent opening of which introduces a f'urthel'.' development of this type of education in the Gold Coast. IncPeased demand for technical insti'.'uction necessitated the removal of the School from Accra, whe1:-e the accommodation proved to be inadequate. Moreover9 the new site is more favourably placed in relation to the industrialized areas of the Gold Coast. The new School occupies a prominent site overlooking a bay and Takoradi Harbour, and the mo1'.'e important buildings include a long single storey workshop with blacksmith's shop at the rear, a 3 storey demonstration block containing class rooms, laboratories, drawing offices, assembly hall, and dining room, and a d.oJ•mitoryblock capable of housing 100 students. The workshop is in t wo sections, one for practical work in Viechanical Engineering, the other for practical wood working. Both sections are fitted with modern electrical1y dr•iven machinery such as lathes, power drills, shapers, et.c., in addition to the usual benches for manual worka Other buildings include the European House f~ster's bungalow, two blocks of quarters for eight African Masters, a block of 6 labourers' quarters, a large drying store 9 petrol store 9 ar:d garage. The buildings are grouped around a five acre sports ground. In addition, there are facilities for safe sea bathing and boating. Other features of interest include 2L!. electric clocks worlced from one master clock, the wiring of most class rooms and the assembly hall for the reception of wireless re-diffusion from the Sekondi broadcasting station, and complete water-borne sanitation. Candidates for admission must be in possession of a standand VII Certificate or its equivalent. Present students include boys from Nigeria, Dahomey, and all parts of the Gold Coast. Amongst entries for next yeal'.' are thi'.'ee boys from S:Lerra Leone. The total cost of the scheme has been approximately£37,500, which includes making of approach roads, laying out of grounds, and so on. The area covered by the school and grounds is some 30 acres. EMPIHE AFFAIHS. '8/3/40 -PN~o. 30 FRENCH OFFlCIAL cmt11n:n'H(.),UE (EVENING) 'I1he following official comrnunique was issued this evening from F'rench G.H.Q,:­ on the VJestern side of the vosges an encounter took place this morning between a French and German party which ended to our advantage,. ------000---...­ §L1(.40. -No. 31. NOT TO BE QUOTED i\S f;.N J.IR MINISTRY .1,NNOUNCENEl?£ ...~ HOW WOUNDED GERMLN PILOT WJ.S RCSClJTjD --"--~:..;.;.:..~_:.-"'-'-__c_-------------·~ Eighteen hours were spent at sea by a Royal i\ir I:1orce 1 Sao.plane .render in the rescue of the only survivor fro::H the HcinkGl which was shot down off the J.berdeenshire Coo.st yesterday (Thursday). 11he GerE1an, who hed been the JT, c. O. pilot of the bomber, was wounded and is now in the sick quarters o:r a Royal Air Force Station in Scotland. So hurriedly hnd the ~otor bo2t set out to savo him that there was no time to lay in extra provisions. The boat carried a bottle of rum. But while a tot was being pou~ed out to revive the prisoner, nll the rwn was spilled and the bottle broken by the pitching of the launch in the swell. In good English, the German told his rescuers not to wol"l"Y, and suggested thet they should get out his ernorgcmcy ratio:n.s. He P.ointed to the rubber dinghy from which he had just been taken and told them whore to find a bottle o:r whisky* I. bottle of soda water and a supply of chocolates, biscuits and sweets. The rescue boat left Scotland nt 3 p.m, on Thursday, but as the we2ther deteriorated rnpidly, and thoro was dangc~ of l"Lll~11ng on to a sandbank, it had to lay off at sea tho whole ni~ht. It could not return to its base until 9 a.m. today. The night was one of ra in and extreme cold. The outward journey to the spot where the Heinlrnl had been shot down took four hours. Thero the motor boat captain, a flying officer, founq: .'.'.\ coo.stal comrno.nd Rircrnft C'..WRi ting him overhead. The pilot of the nircrnft signalled to the boat to follow. In the dusk, the boo.t sped along guided by coloured li,'.:'Shts fired by our a ircrci.ft. · Of the Heinkel's crew of four, one had been killed, two wore s o severely wounded that they were drowned trying to board their dinghy. When the survivor wns found, 60 m:!:les from the coast, he was lying with his head on the dinghy's side. ii. c~nsh ladder was lowered from the motor boat and the rescue effected. The German had bullet wounds in the shoulder ru1c1 legs, but he said that his injuries we; re not worrying him•. He wa.s fittoc1 out with dry clothing, his wounds were drosseel, · o.nd throo minutes a:rter his whisky r-md provisions ho.cl bee:n sCLlvaged, he w~s f nst asleep. AIR /.FFAIRS +++++++++