20,5,41No.1. AirMinistry3951* AIRMINISTRYANDMINISTRYOFHOMESECURITY COl/MJNIQUEi Lastnighttherewaslittleactivityoverthiscountry. enemy BombsatpointintheEastMlohtheBloodPurge,theConcentrationCamp.,the’TortureHouse andthe.Executibiiersvßlock.c.,-’ ThechallengewhichwehaveissuedtoHitlerinthiswaristhatour willout-lasthis.havethelastfew unityWejustifiedthatchallengein months.Ourunity?hasstoodthetestofaerialbombardment,'thelossofour ...homes,thelossofourbusinesses,thedefeatof:ourAllies,andthe desertionofFrance,andwehave"notyettouchedthefringe.oftheresolution ofthepeople'ofthiscountry.ButGermanunity*'nBeforewehavethe intheUnited’Statesinto •superiorityarmaments,beforetheactiveentryof is .the"War,beforetheGermanshave•endured • theterriblepunishmentthat waitingforthemfromthe.ft.A.F.,HessthedeputyFuehrerwhomHitlerhasalways to presentedtoGermanyastheverysymbolofGermanunityandfaithfulness himselfhasfledtothiscountryandpaintedinlettersthatthewholeworld ” canseethe’’WritingupontheWall.■' Houseof Onthedaycountry,Hitlerdestroyedthe thatHessflewtothis Commons,theboneandtheheartoftheunityofBritain.Heunderstandsusso littlethathethinksthatbydestroyingabuildinghecandestroythespirit thatitcontains.Hehaswhatdecadent alwaysderidedisdescribed,asour Parliamentarysystem,butnowParliamentcangivehimit’sreply.TheNazi systemhaslastedforabouteightyears,andwhen,like,theBritishParliament, discusswhich ithasweatheredthestormsofabout800years',wecan-lieginto ofthetwowill,intheend,showthegreaterstayingpower. ThankGodforParliamentand.thefreediscussionforwihichitstands..It theUnited willbeamainfactorinwinningthewar.Takeoneexample* whyis Statesand.merelyaccount drawingnearernearer everydaytoourside?Noton ofcarefulcalculationofhereventualtheyhave ownsafety,butbecause* the cometoseethatoursystemofGovernmentinopenParliamentrepresents wayoflifeofall.freemen,andtheycannotcontinuetostandtoywithout liftingafingerandwatchusaloneintheworldprotectingforthemtheir libertyaswellasourown. there /And. 3 Andtherehasundoubtedlybeenanotherreason.ThespectacleoftheBritisl, peopleunderfire.Alonglineofobservers,Mr.WcndelWillkie,Mr,Harry Hopkins,andthecorrespondentstotheAmericannewspapers,havesentdescriptions oftheconductunderaerialbombardmentofordinarymenandwomenandchildren whichhasledtoagreatsurgeofopinionintheUnitedStatessayingthatwe cannotallowsuchapeopletobewipedfromtheearth,andwedemand,tostand bytheirside.youhavebeenbombedoutofyourhomeorexperiencedanyof If thetrialsandsufferingsoftheseanxiousbutheroicdays,andhavecarriedon, restassuredyouare-playingyourpartinwinningthiswar.asmuchasifyouwere onthebattlefield',\■.'-.a'■ ■/ •ThdSearethereasonsforsayingthatwe.canlookforwardtothe'futurewith soberconfidence,butononecondition,thatweholdonuntilthereinforcements fromtheUnitedStatesUntilthenwemustrelyuponourproduction fromourfactories.Productionforthenextfewmonthsisthekeytothewar. TheUnitedStateswillnotswingoverfullyfromPeaceProductiontoWar Productionforsomemonthstocome-andremember,howlongithastakenus. Betweennowandthenwehavetoholdthefortourselves.Everyounceoftoiland sweatandenergyinourfactoriesvzillbeneededtodothis,andifthereare anymenorwomen'whoatthismoment'.arecapableofemploymentandarenotemployed, ornotfullyemployedandvzhohave,without,goodreason,failedtoascertain whethertheycanbeofanyuseinanyfoirmofwork,theyarethe'bestfriends inthis 1 thatHitlernowpossessescountry,■ Thc-vzarcannowbesummedupinasentence,.Thepeopleofthiscountry arefighting.agreat,,delayingaction.ItbeganwiththefallofFranceover ayearagoandit.will continueintonextyear.Butdelaying'action-why, oursoldiershavebeenfamousforthemthroughouthistory:.-andthetraditional characteristicsoftheBritishpeopleareendurance,goodhumour,todghness, andstayingpower.Thesearethe.very.qualitiesneeded.now.I7cstill havethesequalitiestoday,..The’peoplehaVeshownthem.Shewthemfor afewmonthsmore.Holdon.'Andthe’end'issube. •■’-1■■ ... .•}//;••y-f. • . BRITISHBRO^ABTII^•.COR^WIOK. •••..e•A • 20,5.41No.'B. REGISTRATIONWITHRETAILERS. BeforethenewRationBookscomeintouse,itwillbenecessary forthepublictoregisterwiththeshop-keepers,whethertheywish tomakeachangeornot.. Thereisnoneedtoanythingyet,Fullinstructionswill beissuedwhenthetimecomes. InJanuary,whenthepresentRationBookwasissued,thepublic weretoldthattherewasnoneedtoregisterwithretailersunless theywantedachange.Sincethenagreatmanypeoplehavemovedfrom onedistrictto another,largesometimesinnumbers.Althoughthe Ministrytriestokeepintouchwitheverybodywhomovesabout,itis notandFoodand alwayseasywhenshopsOfficesaredamagedessential recordsdestroyed* Inordertopreventwasteandtodistributethefoodtothe placeswhereitiswanted,itismostimportantthatthe Ministryshould, havecompleteand.accuraterecordsshowingexactlywhereeverybodyshops forallrationedfoods* MINISTRYOFFOOD 20/5/41No.9. APPOINTMENTOFVOLUNTARYFOODORGANISERS Asapartofthepreparationsagainsttheriskof invasion,theMinistryofFoodhasalreadyappointed,in certainpartsoftheto country,VoluntaryFoodOrganisers lookafterlocalfoodsuppliesshouldthecommunitiesin whichtheylivebeisolatedbytheenemy.Undersuch conditionstheVoluntaryFoodOrganiserwouldboresponsible forconservingandfairlydistributingthefoodwithinhis areauntilcommunicationwiththepermanentMinistryofFood organisationhadbeenrestored. AheavyresponsibilitywillrestupontheseVoluntary FoodOrganisersintheeventoftheirservicesbeingrequired andgreat careisaccordinglybeingtakenintheirselection. Theguidingprinciplehasbeentofindthebestmanforthe . jobregardlessofpolitics,classoroccupation.Over500 volunteershavealreadybeenappointedandfurtherappointments arebeingmadeastheschemeisextended. TheVoluntaryFood.Organisershave"beengivendetailed, instructionsastothestepswhichtheyshouldtakein emergencyand-arenowactivelyengagedinthe necessary preparatorywork. MINISTRYOFFOOR 20.5,41No,ll, FLASH ItislearnedinLondonthatin Iraqacombined landandairattackbeganearlyyesterday;pamphlets demandingsurrenderhadbeendropped,Ourground troopsenteredFallujahat14»00hours,andnocasualties weresustainedeitherbythemorbytheR.A.F. MILITARYAFFAIRS 20.5.41.N0.13* CONTROLOFSHIPPING TheMinisterofUarTransportyesterdaymadeanorder undertheDefenceRegulationsentitledTheUseandHireof Ships(Control)Order1941whichcomesintoforceonMay22. Theprovisionscontainedintheorderareasfollows Noshall,exceptwiththeauthorityinwriting person oftheMinister,orapersonauthorisedinthatbehalfby theMinisterandsubjecttothecompliancewithconditions any imposedbytheMinisterorotherpersongivingauthority,enter intooroffertoenterintoan agreementfortheuseorhireof shiptowhichthisorderappliesorforthecarriageofgoods any insuchaship. Thisordershallapplytoeveryshipnotbeingafishing boatoragovernmentshiporalicensedshiphavingagross tonnageof1,600tonsormore. InthisOrderthefollowingexpressionshavethemeanings herebyrespectivelyassignedtothem,thatistosay:- "ship”hasthesamemeaningasintheMerchantShipping Act,1894? ’’Fishingboat”meansavesselofanydescriptionforthe timebeingemployedinfishingorintheseafishingservice. ’’Governmentship”meansashipwhich (a)belongstoHisMajestyorisheld byanyperson onbehalfoforforthebenefitoftheCrown,or (b)isatthedisposalofHisMajestywhetherbyvirtue oftheexerciseofanypowerofrequisitioningtheshiporotherwise,or (c)isunderchartertoorforHisMajesty. ’’licensedship”meansashipinrespectofwhichthereisforthe timebeinginforcealicencegrantedinpursuanceofanOrdermade underRegulation46oftheDefence(General)Regulations,4939* CopiesoftheOrderwillshortlybeobtainablethrough HOM.StationeryOfficeand.frombooksellersintheusualway. MINISTRYOFPARTRANSPORT 20.5>41No.14* RUBBERQUOTA AtameetingoftheInternationalRubberRegulationCommittee heldonthe20thMay1941,theCommitteefixedthefollovjingpercentage ofthebasicquotasfor1941asthepermissibleezcportableamountj- F.orthemonthsofJuly,AugustandSeptember1941,100per’cent. Undertheschemeofregulation,itisopentotheCommittee.to revisetheirdecisionregardsthepermissibleexportableamount, as fromtimetotine,ifforanyreasonthisshould,intheiropinion bedesirable« INTERNATIONALrubberregulationcommittee 20.5--41.N*.15. ORGANIZATIONOFTHEMINISTRYOFFOOD, TheMinistryofFoodisthelargesttradingconcernintheworld.As aresultexperiencesincetheoutbreakofwaramethodofconducting of theMinistry’soperationshasbeenevolvedwhichcombinesadministrative experiencewithexpertknowledgeofthepurchaseanddistributionof foodsupplies. TheMinisterofFoodhasrecentlydecidedtomakecertainchangesin th®organisationoftheMinistrydirectedtoplacingmoredefinite responsibilityontheHeadofCommodityDivisions. Mr.J.FaBodinnar,theCommercialSecretarytotheMinistry,has becometheHeadoftheSupplyDepartment,whichcomprisesalltheCommodity Divisions.Hewillbeassistedbyfivesenioradministrativeofficers, whowillbechieflyconcernedwithquestionsofpolicyandwithmatters affectingotherGovernmentDepartments,e,gotheTreasury. NoalterationhasbeenmadeintheexistingarrangementsintheMeat andLivestockDivision,theCerealsDivisionandtheDivisionwhichdeals withFruit,VegetablesandPotatoes,, IntheremainingCommodityDivisionsresponsibilityhasbeenplaced uponthefollowingDirectors AnimalFeedingstuffsSirBiyceBurt,DirectorofAnimal Feedingstuffs BaconandHamJeLoudon,DirectorofBaconandHam ButterandCheeseH«BoDavis,DirectorofButter&Cheese CannedFishF»Wilkinson,DirectorofCannedFish CocoaJohnCadbury,DirectorofCocoa DriedFruitsandNutsA-EoGough,DirectorofDriedFruits EggsJoAoPeacock,DirectorofEggs FishJohnAdamson,DirectorDesignateofFish OilsandFatsandMargarineHerbertDavis,DirectorofOils&Fats RiceHoLoSanderson,DirectorofRice StarchColo FoCoCoBalfour,DirectorofStarch SugarWaJoRook,DirectorofSugar TeaSirHubertCarr,DirectorofTea MINISTRYOFFOOD. 20/5/41- No.17 DUKEOFKENTCONVEYSTEAKSOFR.A.F. TheDukeofKentto-dayvisitedtheY.M.C.A.headquartersin LondoninhiscapacityasChief'WelfareOfficeroftheHomeCommandsof theR.A.F. TheDuke,whotherankofGroupCaptainintheR.A.F.,is alsoChairmanoftheR.A.F.BenevolentFund. ThevisitwasmadetoconveythethanksoftheR.A.F.forthe urgentneedsmettheY.M.(XA.atisolatedstationsinallpartsof by thecountry,particularlyduringthelastdifficulttenmonths. TheDulcewasmetbymembersoftheNationalCouncilofY.M.C.A.s Bertramtheinof andalsobyMr.Cruger,representativethiscountry theBritishWarReliefSocietyofU*S.A,TheSocietyhaspresented over100mobilecanteenstotheY.M.CLA*duringthelasttwelvemonths. AftertheceremonytheDukeattendedameetingoftheCouncilof WarWork,atwhichhethankedtherepresentativesofother Voluntary forallhaddonefortheoftheR.A.F. organisationstheymen MINISTRYOFIWORIUTION 20.SM-No.18, MIDDLEEASTWARCOMMUNIQUE. ThefollowingofficialcommuniquewasissuedfromBritishG-.H.Q., Cairo,today: LIBYATobruk.Nothingofimportancetoreport. Soliumarea/Ourpatrolling*activitiesare continuing. ABYSSINIAAtArnbaAlagiarrangementsareproceedingtocomplete thesurrenderoftheItalianForces.Inthe southernareastorrentialrainsaretemporarily interferingwiththeprogressofouroperations. IRAQAfterashortengagementwithIraqirebeltroopsthe BritishforceshaveoccupiedthetownofFallujah wheretheimportantbridgewasfoundtobeintact. AtHabbaniyaandintheBasraareasthesituation remainsquiet. CRETEEarlythismorningGermanparachutistsandair-borne madeattempttofootingthe troopsansecureaon island.Anumberhavealreadybeenaccountedfor. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION(MILITARYAFFAIRS). 20.5.41.No.21. OFFICIALADMIRALTY COIvU..UNIQUE TheBoardofAdmiraltyregretstoannouncethatH.M.S>CAMITO R °«<“** Thenextofkinrofcasualtieshave"beeninformed. ADMIRALTY 20/WNo.22 NAVALAIRCRAFTRESCUEINIRAQ CuringoperationsinIraqaNavalaircraft,whichhadbeen damagedwhiletakingpartinanattackonthebarracksat Samawa, hadtomakeaforcedlandingthreemilessouthofthetownandwas quicklysurroundedbymembersofRaschidAli’sforces,whoopened fire. OtherNavalaircraft,whichhadobservedthisincident, promptlylanded,rescuedthecrewwithoutcasualtyintheface ofarmedopposition,andoncemoretooktotheair. ADMIRALTY. 20/5/41- No.23. NottobepublishedontheClubTapesorbybroadcast orinanyotherwaybeforethemorningofWednesday, 21stMay. COSTOFLIVINGFIGURESFORIstMAY,1941. TheMinistryofLabourandNationalServiceannouncethatat IstMaytheofficialcostoflivingindexfigure100pointswas abovethelevelofJuly1914ascomparedwith98pointsatIst April. ForfoodalonetheindexfigureatIstNaywas71pointsabove thelevelofJuly,1914with70pointsatIstApril, as compared therisebeingduetoincreasesinthepricesoffish.items Among otherthanfoodtherewasafurtherincreaseinthepricesofclothing andclothingmaterials,partlyduetotheeffectsofthepurchase tax.Sincethistaxcameintooperation,on21stOctoberlast, theresultingincreasesinpriceshaveraisedthecostofliving indexfigurebynearly4/'points. Ministryoflabourandnationalservice. 20/5/41 kWr«■ -nt - ■. No.24 I • NOTTOBEPUBLISHEDBEFORE.TIEMORNING-PAPERS OFMAY21st,1941i...ORBRQASCAST.• BEFORE7a.n.ONTHATDATE SUPPLYOP.NATIONALEALF-ORK/lDRIEDMILKUNDER tieeatTon/jlmiucsaEi’ The MinistryofFoodannouncesthat,followingconsultation withtheMinistryofHealth,itwillshortlysupplyunderthe NationalHill:Schemeadriedmillswithamodifiedcreamcontentof 161-percentascomparedwiththe27percentcontentofthefull creampowderwhichhasbeenissuedsincethebeginningofthe Scheme. Themodifiedproductisintendedforthoseinfantsunder 12Lionthsold,particularlyduringthefirsttwoorthreemonths oflife,whomaybesubjecttodigestivetroublesiffed.onafull creamdriedmilk.Sincethehalf-creampowderisnotsuitablefor allinfants,mothersapplyingforissuesshouldfirstobtainthe adviceofadoctororanofficerofaWelfareCentre. Arrangementsforthesupplyofthenewproduct,which willbeJcnownas”Half~creamNationalDriedMilk,”willbesimilar tothoseexistingforthefullcreampowder,whichwillcontinue tobeissuedundertheScheme, MINISTRYOFFOOD 20.5*41.No.27. AirMinistryBulletinNo.3953* AirMinistryNewsService, AMERICANAIRCRAFTINNORTHAFRICA. Americanaircraftwereusedintheairbombardmentofenemypositions aroundFortCapuzzcontheafternoonofMay18.Thisisthefirsttime thataircraftmanufacturedin.theUnitedStateshavebeenusedasbombers intheNorthAfricancampaign. HeavybombsweredroppedonGermantanksandmechanisedvehicles, dispersedneartheoldCapuzzoaerodrome. TheSquadronhasanAmericancitizenonitsnominalroll.Heisa sergeantairgunnerwhowasawardedtheBFMforgallantry-inthe Abyssiniancampaign. 20.5.41-No.28. FORPUBLICATIONINTHSMORNINGPAPERSOFMAY FRIDAY,23rd,1941. NOTTOBEBROADCASTWORE7A.M.ONTHATDATE. THECAMPAIGNINEASTAFRICA. TheEastAfricancampaignhasbeenamodelofconcertedactionbymobile columnswhichhavecoveredvastdistancesatalmostincrediblespeeds,inface ofstrongresistanceandgreatphysicaldifficulties. CarriedthroughbyarmiesinwhichtheBritishSouthAfricans,Rhodesians, Indians,Sudanese,EastandWestAfricans,FreeFrench,BelgiansandAbyssinian Patriots,allrepresented,ithasresultedintheofthree are conquest countriesandtheoffourthinaboutfourmonths. re-conquesta Earlythisyear,Abyssinia,Eritrea,ItalianSomaliaandBritish Somaliland- representingatotallandareaseventimesaslargeasEngland, ScotlandandWalesputtogether- weredominatedanddefendedbyawell-equipped forceof100,000Italianmetropolitanand200,000nativetroops,withacon- siderableairforce,underanablecommander,theDulceofAosta. To-day,theDulceofAostaisourprisoner,hisarmiessmashedand'scattered. Ofthesearmieswehavecapturedapproximately100,000;theremaybe50,000left and25,000stragglers;theremainderhavedesertedordisappeared.Allthat remainsofthisFascistEastAfrican EmpirepocketsisafewofItalianresistance atGondar,Jimmaandelsewhere,whicharevirtuallysurrounded.Resistanceat thesepointsmaybeprolongedonabasisofmoreorlessguerilla■warfare,but, such,itwillofnuisancethan asrepresentmoreaadanger. Toappreciatethefullsignificanceofthisfeat,itshouldberemembered thattheconqueredterritoryismountainous,undeveloped,andsubjecttoextremes ofheatandrainfall.YetGeneralPlatt’scolumnadvanced450milesfromKassala toArnbaAlagiinfourmonthsinspiteofafiftydays’siegeatKeren,and GeneralCunningham’scolumns,comingnorthwards,tookonly50daystoadvance 1150milesfromKismayu(alreadyin enemyterritory)toAddisAbabaagainsta well-equippedenemy.Incontrast,ittooktheItalianMarshalBadoglio sevenmonthsmilesfromAdigrattoAddisAbabain1936;when toadvance425 opposedsolelybyprimitivelyequippedAbyssinians,andwiththehelpof mustardgas. ThisbrilliantcampaignofGeneralsCunninghamandPlatt,apartfromhigh- speedconquestovergreatdistances,hasalsoinvolvedmajormilitaryoperations. ThelongdrawnandbitterlycontestedbattleofKerenwasatriumphofassault undermostdifficultconditions.crossingoftheJubariver,thecapture The ofMardaPassandthebattleofBessiewereequallymagnificentfeatsofarms, aswastheadvanceuponAmbaAlagi. The"warinEastAfricastartedinauspiciouslyfortheBritish. /WenItaly 2 WhenItalystartedhostilitiesinJune,194Q»GeneralWavellhadunderhis commandintheSudanandinKenyaforceswhosetraining,preparationsand dispositionswereincomplete. Theopeningmonthsofthewar,therefore,sawlittlebutaseriesof strategicalwithdrawalsfromalongfrontierlinethenatureofwhichwassuchas tomakeitdifficulttohold.WewithdrewfromKASSALA:wewithdrewfrom GALLABAT:wefellbackontheBLUENILE:weupMOYALEandthenorthern gave desertfrontierstripofKENYA.Ineachcasethegarrisongaveagoodaccount ofitself,andinflicteddisproportionatelyheavylossesontheadvancingenemy. Inspiteofthesewithdrawals,however,thesituationwasalwaysinhand.Then, BritishSomalilandwasinvadedinsuperiorforceandwasabandonedbyus.For thefirsttimetheItalianscouldclaimaresoundingsuccess. Duringtheautumnof1940reinforcementsreachedGeneralWavell.British troops,SouthAfricans,Rhodesians,Indians,EastAfricanandWestAfricanunits, andlaterFreeFrenchandBelgiancontingents,combinedinaforcewithwhichGeneral Wavelltooktheoffensive,notonlyinEastAfricabutalsoinLibya. Inmid-December1940,SouthAfricanandGoldCoasttroopsraidedELWAKon theKENYA- SOMALILANDfrontierandcounteredthethreatofanItalianadvance: bythemiddleofJanuarytheenemyevacuatedBUNAandthegroundwaspreparedfor actionagainstItalianSomaliland.OntheSudanfrontier,afteraseriesof brilliantlyconceivedandconductedpatrol-actions,KASSALAwasretakenon January19th.AtthebeginningofFebruarysimilarsmall-scaleactionsonourpart compelledtheenemytoevacuateGAUABAT. OntheBLUENILEtheadvancebeganatthesametime;fromN.W.KENYAthe DUKANAareawasinvaded,andonFebruary9thAFMADU,inItalianSomaliland,was taken,andFebruary13KISMAYUoccupiedby250 onwasourtroops.MOGADISCIO, milesfurtheron,wastakenonFebruary25;byFebruary13ournorthernforces hadalreadypushedthroughffemKASSALAtotheKERENandtheREDSEA hills,on littoralamixedAnglo-FrenchforcewasadvancingsouthfromKARORA.Meanwhile, in manyareasAbyssinianpatriotsvziththeguidanceofBritishofficers commencedharassingoperationsagainsttheItalians,andon4thMarchscoreda notablesuccessbytheoccupationofBURYE.AnAnglo-BelgianforcecapturedASOSA onMarch14andclearedtheBARCsalientofforces.Thussimultaneousattacks enemy werebeingdeliveredfromallsidesagainsttheItalianforces. Obviouslynotallofthemcouldbethecouldequalprogress, onsamescale,nor measuredinmilesandhours,bemadeonallfronts.Thefunctionsoftheseveral forcesindeedverydifferent.intheBLUENILEtheobjectof wereThus,sector, therelativelysmallforcesengagedwastoencourageandgivepointtothe activitiesoftheAbyssinianpatriots.TheSouthAfricanforcesoperatingfromthe NorthKENYAborderhadtomopupthemanyenemypostsestablishedontheplateauand toprotecttheleftflankoftheItalianSomalilandcolumnbypreventingany concentrationofthe enemyinthatdifficultNEGHELLIareawhichhadservedthe AbyssiniansbaseintheOntheotherhand,thecolumn asa1935Italiancampaign. operatingfromKASSALAwasaimingatthecapitalofERITREAandatitsmainharbour, MASSAWA,andthatfromN.E.KENYA,havingsecuredthepassageoftheJUBAriver,was aimingattheheartofABYSSINIA.ThesetwocolumnsunderGeneralsPlatt striking andCunninghamrespectivelywerethereforeresponsibleforthemainoffensive. IntheoftheiradvanceGeneral speedalreadydescribed,Cunningham’stroops havebeatenalltherecordsofthisorpreviouswars. OntheJUBAriver,thethe atMARDApassandontheAWASHriver,enemyhad strongpositionsfromwhichhehadtobedislodgedbyfrontalattacks.The magnitudeofthe militaryoperationsisshownbythefactthatbetweenAFMADUand HARARover32,000prisonersweretaken,numbers togethervzithgreatofgunsand machinegunsandvastquantitiesofmilitarystores.Ourownsupplieshadtobe broughtupalongever-lengtheninglinesofcommunication.Air-bornetroops'./ere sentout200milesandmoretounder bringcontroltheN.E.areasofItalian Somaliland.TherushwhichtookourtroopsfromDIREDAWAacrosstheAWASH (itselfdeemedanimpassableobstacle)andupthepassestoARDISABABArivalled thatwhichcapturedMOGADISCIO:ittookforthe250miles. 5days /Meanwhile, 3 Meanwhile,inERITREA,thebattleforKERENwasinprogress.Forfifty daystheItaliangarrisonwasonthedefensive.Atfirstthefightingwas sporadic,whileourtroopswerebeingbroughtup,butforthelastfortnight there-wasanintensestruggle.Thepositionwasoneofthe greateststrength andtheItaliansfoughtdesperately:hill-topsand.ridgeswhichcommandedthe townchangedhandsandinattackandcounter-attack.TheBritish againagain andIndiantroopshadtoclearroadobstructionsandscaleprecipiceshundreds offeethighunderheavyfire.ItwasnotuntilMarch27ththattheItalian forcesgaveupthestruggle.CurtroopspursuingtheItalianretreatovercame roadobstructionsheldbytheenenyrearguardandonAprilIstreceivedthesub- missionofASMARA.Fromthecapitalofthecolony,partoftheItalianarmy fellbackonMASSATA.Therestretreatedsouthwards,hotlypursued;thousands surrendered;thehistoricbattlefieldofADONAfellintoourhands,andthenthe holycityofAXUM,andonApril9MASSA.AcapitulatedandinABYSSINIAtherewere leftloss onlymoreordisorganisedbodiesoftroopsgropingtheirwaytowards DESSIE,GONDARandJIMMA. TheresistanceputupbytheItaliansisnottobeunder-rated:evenif itprovedineffective.ThatwasnotbecausetheItaliansdidnotfightbut becauseThetheBritishsidetoogood theywereout-fought.generalshipon-was forthedefence,anditwasbackedbythesuperiortacticalperformanceand fightingqualitiesoftheBritishtroops.Theauxiliaryservicescompetedas successfullywiththeexceptionaldifficultiesoftheterrain.Cooperationby theRoyalNavy,andtheRoyalAirForcewassuchastoaffordeveryoperationits fullchanceofsuccess. AscontributiontofinaltheEastAfricancampaignhas aourvictory, bothmoralandmaterialhasbeenand significance.Already,onewrongrighted, theofAbyssiniahasbeenrestoredtothethrone. Emperor ThelossoftheEastAfricanColoniesisablowtoFascistprestigewhich willhaveseriousinItalyitself.TheliquidationoftheItalian repercussions thereinthearmaments armyleavesItalysomuchthepoorerintrainedman-powerand whichsheillAtthetimetheendofthecam- cansoafford.sameapproaching paignleavesfreeforserviceinotherfieldslargeBritishforcestrainedina hardschoolofwarandflushedwithvictory,, Thesuccessfulissueofthecampaignhasoneimportantbearingonthe questionofsupplies.AslongastherewereItalianwarshipsintheRedSea, basedonimpregnableharbourofMASSAWA,ourtrafficthroughthose-waterswas the andalthoughinfact threatened;Italyhadfailedalmostcompletelytointerfere withthattraffic,yetitsprotectiondemandedthepresenceofBritishnavalcraft, andthecouldnotbeconsideredsafe.Nowthatthreatisremovedand waterway theUnitedStateshavebeenenabledtodeclarethattheRedSeaisnolongera combatzone. MINISTRYOFINFORI.IATION.(MILITARYAFFAIRS) JI0.*..29 MAJOR-GENERAL *•’’-*“*--tKiw-» DOBBIEAPPOINTEDGOVERNOROP «.wr-fcj-.a.--*=aa».-.tai* ■ jiulZTi. TheColonialOfficeannouncethatHisMajestytheRinghasbeen pleased,toapprovetheappointmentofMajor-General(temporary Lieutenant-General)SirWilliamGeorgeSh.ed.denDobbie,K.C.8.,C.M.G., D.5.0.,asGovernorand.Command.er-in~ChiefofMalta, SirWilliamDobbiehasbeenadministeringtheGovernmentofMalta sinceheassumed.command.ofthetroopsinApril,1940,withthe exceptionofashortperiodinMay1940immediatelybeforeGeneralSir CharlesBonham-CarterlefttheColony. Generalwhobomin1879,educatedat Dobbie,waswas CharterhouseandWoolwich.HesawactiveserviceintheSouthAfrican 'JarandintheGreatWar,beingawardedtheD.S.O.in1916andappointed 0,11.G.in1919rAftertheGreatWarheheldvariousappointmentsinthis countryandinEgypt,wherehecommandedaBrigade(1928-1932)untilin 1935hebecameGeneralOfficerCommandinginMalaya.Hewaspromoted Lieutenant-Colonelin1925,1926andMajor-GeneralColonelin in1932. Heretiredin1939,butwasappointedtoMaltawiththetemporaryrank ofLieutenant-Generalin1940,whenGeneralSirCharlesBonham-Carter, torelinquish G.C.8.,C’.M.G.,D.5.0.,wasforced,throughill-health, hisdutiesasGovernorandCommander-in-Chief.HewasappointedK.C.B. inthepresentyear.HeisColonelCommandantoftheRoyalEngineers. COLONIALOFFICEPRESSSECTION 20,5.41*.N0.30* ADMINISTRATOROFST...VINCENT ItisbytheColonialOfficethatLientenantColonel announced A.E.Beattie, C,M,G*,_C.B.E,rM»C.,ColonialSecretary,Gibraltar, hasbeenappointedAdministratorofSt,Vincent,WindwardIslands, insuccessiontoMajorW,BainGray,0,8.E.,whoseappointment asGovernorofSt,Helenawasannouncedrecently. COLONIALOFFICEPRESSSECTION 20.5>M~ N0>.,.33» OFFICIALADMIRALTYCOMMUNIQUE. LastnightaHeinkel111wasengagedandshotdownoffthe EastCoastbyH,M.TrawlersTRANIO(LieutenantA,L.G.Gillies,R.N.R.) CASWELL(SkipperJ.W.B.•Jobson.R.N.R.),THOI.IASLEEDS(Temporary Skipper(R.A.•Cook,•R.N.R.)andSTELLALEONIS(ActingSkipper LieutenantW.Perrett,R,D.,R.N.R.).Theenemyaircrafthad previouslybeenunderfireanddamagedbyH.M.Minesweeper PRINCESSELIZABETH(TemporarylieutenantF.A.Smyth,R.N.R.). Nocasualtyordamagewassustainedbyourships. ADMIRALTY. 20.5.41- No.34. AirMinistryNo.3955* AIRMINISTRYANDMINISTRYOFHOMESECURITYCOMMUNIQUE. AlthoughtherehasbeenalittleactivityoverCoastal enemy Regionstoday,nowherehastheenemyflownfarinland. Upto8p.m,noreportshavebeenreceivedofanybombshaving beendropped. 20*5.41N0.'35 BRITISHPRISONERSINENEMY'HANDS. Nextofkin,ifabletoidentifythe menfromtheinformationpublished,are requestedtoadvisetheCasualtyBranchesof theServicesconcerned,forwardingRegimental oranyotherdetails* ThefollowingisthelatestlistofBritishprisonersofwar asreceivedfromenemysourcesandsaidtohavebeentakeninGreece HADLEY7359876LONDON LEIGHorLEE5379541LONDON SERGEANTMICKEEor MCKIE2754188GLASGOW GODDARD2656668FOLKESTONE HOWELL7376870LONDON BROFORD6847981LONDON GRIGG7366164WIMBLEDON T.SMITH7264061HASTINGS MOORE7366098BEDFORDSHIRE9 GOODE7365175BIRMINGHAM SQUIRES6010612LONDON LEEorLEIGH7361921LONDON HEWETT7361920LONDON SMITH5948935BIRMINGHAM SERGEANTWRIGHT66SEAFORD MOSS7366522LONDON BODEN7363534BIRMINGHAM CUNNINGTON7368541BIRMINGHAM MINISTRYOFINFORMATION* Tuesday,May20th,194~1. MINISTRYOFINF0RMATIO*N. NEWSBULLETINNo.386. INDIAANDRASHIDALI. StrongcondemnationoftheactionofRashidAliandhisintrigueswith GermanyforthcomingfromtheofIndia.Herefew are pressareasamples:- "Ahsan”,theLahoredaily,isto writes,"Germany’ssoleobjectseeMuslims annihilated.TurkeywouldneverbreakherpledgegiventoBritain.Whileit isgenerallybelievedthattheIraqtangleistheoutcomeofRashidAli’ssecret intrigueswithGermany,Turkeyhastakenthefirstopportunitytoexpressdis- approvaloftheactiontakenbytheGovernmentbecausesheisconvinced Iraq thatcountrieswhichhavetoactinstrumentsofhavelost agreedasGermany theirindependenceandsovereignty.” "Hamdam”,UrdudailyofLucknow,says:-"Hitler’smovesandthreatsfail toinfluenceMuslimcountrieswhichhavetheirtowards proclaimedfriendship BritainandrefusedtobecomeinvolvedinaEuropeanwar.Thepresent GovernmentinIraqhasalonestruckadiscordantnote.” "Shahbaz",anotherdailyofLahore,writes:-"EashidAli’sactivities whichhavejeopardisedtheentireIslamicworldarebeingdenouncedinevery !; Islamiccountry, "Inqilab”,ofLahore,declares,"ThedangerwhichhasappearedinIraq constitutesadirectthreattothesafetyofIndia.IftheNazissucceedin establishingtheirdominationoverIraqbyexploitingtheirsecretnegotiations withRashidAli’sregimeitwouldnotbedifficultforthemtoenterIranand Baluchistan," "Azad",thepro-MuslimLeagueofCalcutta,says:-"Itappearsthat RashidAliisonlyrushingtowardshisowndoom.Byadoptingananti-British policyheisnotonlyinjuringhimselfbutharmingIraq’scauseaswell.” MinistryofInformation.M.o,I.1. THEFOLLOWINGWASBROADCASTINTHE GERMANSERVICEOFTHE8.8.C.TODAY:- HESS:.MORENAZICONTRADICTIONS. TheLeader’sDeputyhasbeenforaweekprisonerofwarinEngland, a IncreasingproofisarrivinginBritainandAmericaofwidespreadlisteningin GermanytotheBritishwirelesswhichhasbeengivingthetruthaboutHess, Listeninghasbeenincreasedbytheincreasingtangleofliesputoutby theGermanpropagandasystem.Thiswasperfectlyexemplifiedlastnightin broadcastingtoAmerica. EarlyintheeveningtheBerlinstationDZDwasheardbroadcastingin toSouthAmericastatementthatHess’sfamilywouldbecreated Spanisha "inaccordancewithHess’sbehaviourandutterancesinEngland". inGermantotheUnited Threehourslaterthesamestation,broadcasting States,deniedthatGermanyhadmadeanysuchthreat.Itclaimedthatsuch reportswerebeingcirculatedbyBritishpropaganda. On30thJanuaryHitlerstatedintheSportspalast:(ExtractfromRecord): Ihavefromtheveryoutsettakencountinmycalculationsofeverypossible contingency”. BritishBroadcastingCorporation.2. (Cont’d) NewsBulletinNo.386- Page FORAIRCRAFT TheMinisterofAircraftProductionacknowledgeswithgratitudethe followinggiftstowardsthepurchaseofaircraft TowardsStaffordSpitfireFund...................£2l .. (FromDirectors&workmenofBritishDiamond Cutters,ltd.,refugeesnowworkinginStafford -- giftinconnlemorationofinvasionofLowCountries). StaffofJaipurStateRailway....-.........................£65. (Makingatotalof£11b). Helmsley&DistrictSpitfireFund..£696.13.10d. Calabar(Nigeria)makingatotalof£1,000...............£300.0.Od. WirraldHoylakeUrbanDistrictCouncil(objectiveof £5,000inview).£4,000.0.Od. ’ MidlandBakersSpitfireFund.................£5,117.3.3d. (MasterBakersofWarwick,Worcester,Derby, Leicester,Notts,andSouthStaffs. Spitfiretobecalled"MidlandBaker;'" MinistryofAircraftProductionM,o.I.-3 £2,000FOR."BRITAIN’SBRAVERY" ,_ AMr.Young,ofPortElisabeth,SouthAfrica,wholastyearsentapersonal giftof£l,OOO"inappreciationoftheairmenofEngland",hasnowsenta furthergiftof£2,000frombisfirm"inappreciationofthecontinuedbravery ofalltheofBritain." people Mr.Young’spreviousgiftwastransferredtotheAirMinistry.Hislatest benefactionwillbeincludedinthenextscheduleofwargiftstransferredto theTreasury.DominionsOffice.PressM,o,I,-4 NORTHERNIRELANDFACTORYCONTROL TheBoard,ofTradeannouncethatthefunctionsoftheControlofFactory andStoragePremiseswhichrecently wassetuptoco-ordinatetherequirements ofgillGovernmentDepartmentsforfactoryandstorageaccommodationwill,in ofNorthernIreland,beexercisedbytheMinistryofCommerce, respect NorthernIreland, TheMinistryofCommercehaveappointedMr,JamesStewart,oftheMinistry toactasRegionalControllerofFactoryandStoragePremisesinNorthern Ireland,BoardofTradeM.o,I.-5