J_6_f5L4o -~To, 1..:. THE FOLLOWING IS ISSUED TO THE PRESS BY NAVAL AFFAIRS FOR SUCH USE AS THEY MAY WISH TO MAKE OF IT. SECRET WEAPONS Te.lk of new and secPet we8.:Qons is J:>art of the stock in trade of the German Propacandn Ministry. It has been very noticeable} however, that when the Gel"'man armed forces want to try out unything, they select as victims for their experiments civilians unable to retaliate. So it was in the case of the fishing tr.awlers RUSSELL and EROICAN. The RUSSELL was fishing in the North Sea when a Germnn aircraft appeared. The· aircraft circled the trawler to make sure that she was defenceless. Then the aircraft raked the little ship with machine e;un fire and began dropping bombs. The crew of the RUSSELL got their small boat out in spite of the machine gun fire and the heavy sea which was running. The boat was damaged in the process and was half waterlogged when they got it away from the trawler. The German aircraft continued to bomb, usin8 incendiary bombs~ and also dropped showers of steel darts about 3 inches long. Having tried out the new weapons against those who could not hit l:>ack, the German aircraft flew off. Fortunately the waves put out most of the fires on board the RUSSEI.L and the crew we.re able to return to her from their waterlogged boat. On the same day the trawler EROICAN was fishing in the North Sea when she was attacked by a German aircraft. The Germans rc,ked the fishing vessel with machine gun fire. Most of the crew took cover in the galley, and the Germans at once concentrated their fire upon it. Then the German aircraft began to try out a new type of incendiary bomb. The British fishermen, however, were equal to the new weapon. Immediatelyafter they had been dropped they rushed from their cover and poured buckets of water over the burning bombs or picked them up the threw them overl)oard. They he,d rather less tho.n two minutes to do this before having again to take cover from the machine gun fire, and at one time there vlfere o.bout twentyincendiary bombs burning on the trawler's decks. Finally the aircraft flew off, and the fishermen brought the EROICAN safely into port. The Netherlands Legation in London tonight issued the following cornmuniq_ue: ­ Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands has appointed Rear Admiral van der Stad corrmmnder of all the Dutch military and naval forces in the Province of Zeeland. When announcing this appointment over the wireless to the forces concerned1 Her Majesty added: "I know that my people in the Netherlands as well as in the overseas territories are looking towards you with hope and aillniration for the way in which you are carrying out ~our duties. I know I can have confidence in you. I am constantly with you in thoughto" 16/5/40 No. 3' The War Office, s. w. 1. OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY G.H~Q. The B.E.F. after hard fighting have today successfully held serious German attackso Since the German offensive started the Air Component with the BoE.F. has destroyed at least 124 enemy planes. Our anti-aircraft artillery have shot down at least 23 in rear areas. Many others have been shot down by forward troops; at least seven by a Territorial formation. 1'6/s&o (AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO, 6.2)L BIGGEST R. A. F. AIR ATTACK. OF THE WAR The Air Ministry announces:­ The Royal Air Force last night carried out, east of the Rhine~ a big offensive against the enemy's road and rail communications which are supporting his forces in their invasion of the Low Countries and Luxembourg. The attacks lasted throughout the night and many tons of bombs were released. The road and rail communications were attacked at many points, fires broke out, and heavy explosions were caused• This was the heaviest attack yet made by the Royal Air Force during the war. ·+++++++++ 16/5/40. -No. · 5. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (MORNING) Fo11owing is the official text of the communique issued from French G.H.Q. this morning:­ From the region of Namur to that of Sedan, the battle has taken on the characteristics of open warfare with the participation of both sides of the motorised units and of the aviation~ The higher interests of the conduct of operations compel us not to give at the present moment any precise information as to the actions which are now taking place. +++++++++ 16/5/40 No. 7. PRb SS NO'J:ICE The Home Secretary has as a further measure of precaution directed the temporary internment throughout Great Britain of all male Germans and Austrians over the age of 16 and under t he age of 60 i:vhose pr esent classif ication as a result of examination by a local tribunal or Regional Advisory Conunittee, is B; that is to say, 1vho, though exempted hitherto from internment 9 have been required to comply with special r estrictions. HOUE OFF ICE 16/5/40 -No. ~· NOT · TO BE RELEASED BEFORE 2 p,. m, TODAY Text of Speech delivered by Sir Andrevv Duncan, President of the Board of Trade, tc the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, in Belfast, May 16, 1940. Our industPial areas often feel that the amount of attention paid by the Government to their difficulties decreases in p~oportion to their distance from London. You might be willing to put up, here in Ireland, as they do in Scotland, with inadequate appreciation of your merits and achievements, but in war-time yo'll can rightly claim that recognition of your difficulties is essential, I can understand that attitude. And my object in visiting you is to find out at first hand and by personal contacts what the difficulties are that confront your export trade and how we can best help ;,ou to overcome them. I emphasize the phrase "how we can best help you to overcome them; 11 for vve do not propose to displace if we can help it, the ordinary channels of industry and connnerce but rather to ease the way to enable them to work to the fullest advantage for the increase of overseas business, and, in so far as it may be necessa~ to add to them, We are very conscious that Northern Ireland's activities make as valuable a contribution to our national wo.r effort as those of almost any other region. I am not of course restricting the term "war effort" to direct production of armaments; though in that field I am glad to no~e the success with which your worldfamous firm of Harland and Wolff have added the production of aircraft to their bumlding of ships. Your engineering works and .your great rope factory are also helping greatly 1 in the service sector, These things are indeed of the utmost importance? but they a~e not all• ­ Since Northern Ireland is primarily an agricultural country, sheer weight of numbers might entitle the farmers to claim first place. Their response to the ploughing-up campaign should ensure that the~ can send even more food to Great Britain than in the past, and so reduo the strain on our resouroes of shipping and foreign exchange, They have also made a great effort to increase the output of flax? about which I shall say more in a moment, As President of the Board of Trade, however? I hope I may be forgiven for devoting nzy-remarks today to the contribution which /your -2­ your activities make to our export trade, The ~ importance of this side of our war effort cannot be stressed too often or too forcibly, Modern war requires vast quantities of raw materials, many of which must be imported, We can partially of'f-set this by cutting down our non-essential imports, and indeed we have done so. But, on the other hand, in war we have to buy increased supplies of many goods. The result is that a larger bill for imports must inevitably be met, and we can only meet it by increased exports or by drawing on our reserves of gold and foreign assets. It is right that we should use these reserves to make our war effort more effective, but they must not be dissipated unwisely or too rapidly, If we can increase our exports, that enables us to add to our war potential even more directly. We have the advantage over the enemy of being able to trade at large, whether it is raw materials or fini;ihed articles we want. Many countries, in particular the United States, can supply us with armaments in finished or in semi-finished form, instead of sending raw materials provided that we can pay the cost. When our own armaments industi»ies are vmrking to capacity this is an ec0nomical way of adding to our supplies. But our export industries must produce additional exports with which to help to pay for these munitions, as well as for our foodstuffs and essential raw materials. The carriage of the additional exports should present little difficulty, since our inward trade always requires far more 'tonnage than the outward. In brief, export industries are part and parcel of our defence industries, They have the advantage over other defence industries that their expansion will not have to be painfully undone at the end of the war. The transition back to peace conditions will be difficult enough in any case, without our adding to the problems by losing our foreign markets~ The ideal export trad.e would have to fulfill many condit1ons9Of which I can only mention a few. It should call for as little raw material as possible rn proportion to the value of the finished product, if that mater·ial has to be imported or if it is scarce on account of defence requirements. /Similarly -3 ­ Similarly it should not need labour-or plant of a type which ~onflicts too much with the defence service requirements.It should be directed to a market capable of absorbing increas·ed quantities at reasonable prices~ And it should be directed as far as possible, to countries whose money is most useful for buying the things we want. On an examination conducted on these lines and trucing upthese points in their reverse order, the exports of Northern Ireland score high marks o A very substantial proportion of your linen exports goes to the United States. Even in 1938 when the American market was suffering from a severe recession in trade, linen goods held their traditional second place amongst the United Kingdom exports to that country. As the principal centre of the linen industry Northern Ireland supplies the great bulk of our linen exports. Throughinherited skill in craftsmanship your product is pre-eminentin quality. The exports of linen to the United States are not onlylarge· but they should be capable of great expansion without breaking the market~ We have not yyt got babk to the 1937 level, and though that might well be made the first objective, it certainly should not be the final one. In 1937 we did not enjoythe advantages secured by the .Anglo~.Ainerican trade agreement, and we had to compete with over a million pounds worth of linen goods exported from enemy territory. Most of these came from Czechos­lovakia, so that the Irish linen industry can make an a~t of oppression recoil on the tyrant's head. The linen trade can also register good marks on the score of plant and labour requirements, which do not seriously conflict with those of defence industries. Its weakest point is the reliance on imported raw materials, and here I am glad to see that Northern Ireland is taking steps to improve the position. The measures adopted provide a good illustration of co-operation between the Government and private enterprise -the Ministry of Supply had laid in the necessary seed, and is guaranteeing the farmers a good price for their flax. We appreciate the farmers' efforts to increase production in the face of great difficulties, even though the objective of 50,000 acres has not quite been reached. I appeal to all concerned in Northern Ireland to re-inforce the efforts of the farmers to produce this important materiaL The possible interruption of' Belgian supplies clearly makes it all the more necessary to regard this only as u first step, and I may remind you that in the last war the area under flax was increased from 40 1 000 acres in 1914 to 1101 000 in 1918. The/ 1~ ­ The linen industry is to be congratulated on its good fortune in being presented vvith a favourable situation on which to work. Although your export group has just been formally completed, in effect the industry has been organised and co-operating with the flax controller since the very early days of the war. It soon gave an earnest of its intentions by agreeing that all flax allbcated would be used to produce either for the Government or for export. Now that sales to the home market have been definitely restricted for all producers I hope that manufacturers will export more from the l ar ge stocks which they built up before war brought its inevitable rise in costs. You have a full opportunity o:!f....r:>Jndering a very great service ~o the national need -indeed an unique opportunity. Your shipbuilding industry cannot in wartime make its normal con~ribution to the export trade for we need nearly all the ships we can produce for our navy and our mercantile marine. Clearly, however, the activities of the shipbuilders are indirectly helping it very greatly, for trade would be :irripossible without merchant ships to carry the goods and warships to preserve our mastery of the seas. Linen and Shipbuilding are the industries which one naturally associates with Belfast7 but I must emphasize that the Government does not overlook your other industries, which can also make a substantial contribution to our task. For them it is particularly necessary to organ:t2:e. into groups. If I may borrow a slogan from the National Savings Movement, "Teamwork Tells." ~hese groups are an essential part of the machinery by which vve hope to overcome the difficulties with which war confronts the exporter, The Government necessarily has to assume supreme control of many pari:Bof the e~onomic sy~ so as to reshape it in accordance with the needs of ware The problems of economic warfare , foreign policy, raw materials and shipping cannot bo overcome without the aid of the Government, for the Government must be in supreme control on all matters of national policy and stringencyo But this is very far from meaning that the Government can 9 or wants to, tackle all the problems of the export trade without the aid of industry. Guidance and support must come from the centre 9 but the actual day-to-day work must be dohe in the work-shops and the offices scattered throughout the length and breadth of the country. We wish to rely on existing manufacturing and trading . 10..:l'ganisations 5 orgo.niso.tions and o.re loath to contemplate the disturbance which would be co.used by undue interference. But existing channels must prove their mettle by the greatest possible exDnnsion of export sales. The export groups are needed to supply o. vital link between t~e Government and the individual exporter. The Governme:r:it has supplied a link at its end in the sho.pe of the Export Council, in which experienced business men co-operate with the various Government Departments concernedo But the Export Council cannot hop~ to deal with a whole mass of unorganiscd producers. If tho task is to be mo.de manageable and effective contact esto.blishe~ t~ore m1'.lst be orgo.nisations covering groups of producers, o.nd it is obviously much better that these should be esto.blished by the people ~h?m they are to represent, ond who have full knowledge of locnl condition~. The procedure is in accordance with the best traditions of our country. We are f8.ced with a tasl-c of great magnitude, about the ·importnnce of which o.11 ci.re agreed. We do not seek to impose a rigid and stereotyped pl~n from the centre for we kri.ow that local conditions o.nd temperaments vary, and what is suitable in one case will be unso.tisfo.ctory elsewhere. We are not even adhering to one formula in calling for the establishment of export groups, for these cn.n take many different forms; especially for firms in industries which nre scntterod it may be better to form a group with neighbouring firms in other industries, perhaps under tho auspices of a local chamber of commerce, ro.ther than stick to the industrial clo.ssifico.tion. But we do recognise tho.t individual genius must be harnessed if it is to be effective. Many of our groups ho.ve been o.ctively at work o.nd the trade figur~s published to-day show o. very appreciable advance in our export ~~nde, being for April almost £7 million higher than in March. If you tnke March and April together -since Easter fell in March this yenr nnd April lnst year -we have for these two months this year an average figure of £45 million against nn average figure of £38t million last year. This is o.n encouraging improvement, but the nationrtl need is so irrrperntivc that we must not do more them regard this progress ns n stimulus to greater effort. Events in recent weeks have brought a further loss of m~rkets, at least for the time being, but our Export . Groups will, I D.ri" sure, accept these events ns 1:1 challenge to the grertter development of the markets thnt still remain. I feel we can rely on Northern Ireland to play. her part in thj_s sphere of national service, for the industrinl and manufacturing life of Ulster has been built up largely on the production of goods for consumption outside hel own borders nnd the volume of her overseas export trade although now substantial, can by her efforts be still greatly increased. No. 9. PRESS NOTICE. The Prime Minister has sent the following messnge to the Fleet nnd the Merchant Navy:­ On leaving the Admiralty I desire to convey to all officers nnd men of His Majesty's Fleet an expression of my personal admirntion for the work which they hnve accomplished during these first eight months of war. The ever-increasing demands made on personnel nnd ships have been nnd I am convinced will continue to be met with unrelaxing devotion to duty. The several gallant actions which have been rought are a source or inspiration; but I understand the eeaseless toil of those m2ny to whom the chance of battle has no~ come, but who daily face danger nnd strain in carrying out their duties, The kindness and help of the Navy has been a comfort to me. I was proud after many years to come again to the Admiralty in the hour of peril nnd the sorrow which I feel on l ·eaving is tempered by feeling I shnll not be far away. I leave you in good hands both afloat and ashor.e. As Prime Minister and Minister of Defence it will be my duty ·to watch over your interests and your proceedings. To all in His Majesty's Fleet nnd Auxiliaries ~nd the Merchant Navy I wish God~speed, victory and peace. WINSTON S. CHURCHILL. NAVAL AFFAIRS. No.10 PRESS NOTICE The German vYireless has already anno1Ulced to Dutcg listeners that the panic and fear of invasion is so great both j in Britain and in France that the King of England and the French Government are preparing to leave for Canada; The public both in Britain and France will know how fantastic are both these statementso At the same time they should take mental note that stories of this kind-----tha-t.. __iB-J__in-tended _t-o._llJ1de.rmin.e. _.c.onfidence -are in the next weeks bmmd to be launched in greater volume even than hitherto by the German-propaganda machine. The Germans are putting forth their maximum ei'fqrt during these__ coming _ ····. days and the public should be prepared to withst.and..their.wo.rds as staunchly as they would withstand their fire. MINISTRY OF INFO~IATl.Qli 16/5/40 -No 11 PRESS NOTICE The Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, requests owners of rifles who are willing to lend them to the Local Defence Volunteers, to notify the Police Station nearest to their homes giving details of type and any ammunition available. W.AR OFFICE MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE Press Notice NA TI ON.A.Ti SERtgCF~..J..A:~":_~ll_-'~QRCBS) .J1CT, 1939. REGi fi ~Rt<.TJON' ON 25 'IH MAY, 1\:110. As already announced, the next registration under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act will be held on Saturday, 25th May, 1940. It will relate to men, not already registered, born betvrcen 1st Jani.iary, 1912 and 25th May, 1920, both dates inclusive. Post ers setting out the classes of men rec_._iuircd to register on 25th May and the procedure to be followed at the time of registra­tion will be displayed at all Ministry of Labour and National Service Offices, Municipal Offices, Post Offices and Police Stations on and from 18th May. Unnecessary waiting and delay have sometimes occurred at certain Local Offices owing to men not attending at their allotted times. In their ovm interests as well as in the interests of good organisation men are, therefore, particularly requested to attend at the following times according to the initial letter of their surname: ­ Men whose A to B should attend between 12.30 p.m. and 1 p.m. surname c to E should attend between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. commence F to J should attend between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. with the ( K to 0 should. attend betvm en 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. letters -P to S should at tend between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. ~ T to Z should attend between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. i 'lhe Local Offices will be closed betvreen 11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and no registrations will be taken during this period. 'Ihe Of fices will, however, be open between the hours of 9 and 11 in the morning for the purpose of registering men who are unavoidably prevented from attendi ng at their allotted time in the afternoon. It is particuJ.nrly emphasized that thfo dqes not-~ that any ~ll who finds hims~~t}1_g_]Ilo~nj:_~-Only men who will lf free j~_o_£_ste:r_ in _:t}R.J!.~_.'2.Q.• be at work during the a.fternoon or men who f'or good r ea::mns find it qµi te impossible to attend during the afternoon will be allowed to register between the hours of 9 and 11. It will be appreciated that this restriction is necessary in order to avoid congestion and delay at the Local Offices at a time when their normal work must be proceeding. The procedure for registration, medical examination and calling up will be the same as when the last registration under the Act took place on 27th April. Press Office, Ministry of Labour and National Serv:i.ce, :Montagu House, Wbitehall, S.w.1. Telephone: Whitehall 6200. H.Q.300-500 E.J. (61417-lUg) Wt. ' 7177-7024 Z0,000 2/'f! T.S. 671 16/5/40 No. 1,3. CANNED SALMON PRICES The maximum r etnil price of canned salmon of the varieties 11 Sockeye 9 Red Alaska~ Siberian and Japanese Red11 , in the sizes knovm as t' s :flats, will be reduced from 1/1d. to 1/-on the 20th May. Effect is given to this change by an Order dated 9th May amending the Canned Salmon (Provisional Maximum Prices) Order, 1939. MINISTRY OF FOOD .. _;~..ir Ministl"'Y !~.Y!§.._ Serv~Lce. Air r:Jl.ni..§.t_1-:11: Bu~lB.o. 69Jh:,. _16/5/!:0 _-_j:To, 1L:.• Afte1" bring e.ow:n thPee GermQn niI'cPctft o.no. bei:ng o. ttaclrncl. by 27 Hesserschmitts, a Ho~ral AiI' Poree J?ilot officer' hac1 21!. b.otu•s of adventure in Holland. He jumped from his blazi:nc coc.:'_;:~')i t, lane.lee. b~r po.J."ac~1ute on a Dutch islo.nc"L, swar11 200 ~rarcls, :eouea. in a small boo.t, wo.s ca1"1...ied on the back of a bicycle, vrn.s misto.l;::en for a Gerrnc.m, a11d was nearly shot with a Dutch Fascist. Now he has retur11ed to ~nsland to tell his stoPy. "The :l'.'or•ri1ation witi1 which I w2s :flyi11g11 l1e snia., 11 encounte1"'ed seven Junkers 87 south west of HotteI'd.am. I got into position o:n one of ther11 and m3r l....ear c;ni.1aex' s i1ot it down. .!.notl1e1"' Jmi1,;:e1"'S D7 wi1ich was cornin,z up bel1incl us wo.s also shot down. "Then about 27 l/iesse.rsc:uilitt 109 1 s joi!1eC. in the combat, and I hee.rd. m;y-o.ir gum1er" (who was afterwaI•ds !;:illec1) "give a c~1eer, anc.1 I thin}{ that this i.1ennt that he ho.ct got cl Messerschmitt 109 which had been tryin~ to get on my tail~ "My stnriboa:ec1 ta111.: cau.~ht fh•e aad n streari1 of bullets came f1"orn the rear o..nd shot away the D.ashlJOE"tI'd and IH:u"t of the control colurnn. I lost control for> some time, but eve11tually managed to turn the aircraft on its back to facilitate baling out (ma~ing a pnracl1ute jump). I bo.lea. out when the flrni1es were coming right up to the cocl::pit1 "I lane.ea. on an islnnd soutL1 west of Dorc1-J."ecl1t amonc; some tall reeds. I e:::ploPec1 the isl(:md, w~1ich a:;n;eared to be m1.inho.l;ited, ana. then went townrc.1s a l10use tvw 11tiles aw·a~r. I hac1 to sr!iiil two clrnnnels 1ap2_;ro::imately 100 yaro.s irvic1e. "The house was ern:::ity. I found a small boat, 2.11d. rowed for about 200 yards until I cc.me to a hi:;h dyke. I climbecl this anc":_ saw another house, from which a far;,1 l o.bou.re:L" and. l1is wife came to ii1eet me. I managed to ma~;:e tl1er11 understanc1 that I vvas :Cnglish and I was caPrying m;y tunic over my arm. 11 The f ari-il laboure1" I'owec1 the ·.;ilot office:L"' to m10tt1er island f:L"om which they we1"e able to communicate wit:1 t!1e n2a:eest Dutch rnilitary post. He then carried him on the hac~ of his bicycle until the~ met a •Jartv or Dutch soldiers with \V(l0i1 ti1e :)ilot officer was c"leli,shted to find av fellow R•.A. F. ~ciilot who haci. also t aken to his :;_1aPachute. "We were t:::.ken to a 1)12.ce callecl. Sleewyk, 11 the story goes on. 11The1"e vve were inter>rogatec1 by Dutch intelligence officers who seemed to think we were German -by t'.1is tin1e I had lost most of my u.nifor·m. "AfteI' being dete.ineC. for some time in a Poom Yii th some civilians we were maI'ched to a boa t ancJ. tci.~::en am"'oss to Goringhern , r1l1ich hac1 apyarently just been bombeO.. We were esco1"ted 1)y two c;ti..ards and interroaated at police head~uarters by a police officer who could speak good ~nglish. "We e~;::plaii1ec1 t[12t we rrere Eritish cdrrnen but v er•e not believed when we said we could not s~enk Dutch. We were taken to a military barracks and quastionea by another intelligence officer. " /This 2 ,,This Officer took us by co.r t o The Hnguc. On the wo.y we ro.n into n l o.rge motorised column of Dutch soldiers. They senrched the p~rty in the car o.nd discovered thnt the Intcll1~ence Officer, our escort, was a Fascist. At this point I thought we were all going t o be shot out of hnnd. But eventually we were tr:ken on to The Hnguc11 • There the two pilots nt l~st mnnGg cd t o persu~de n Dutch Officer that their story was true. · AIR l'..FFAIRS. -----oOo----­ . TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MORNING PAPERS OF MAY 17 ~ . . . TO BE ISSUED ON CLUB TAPES' oirBROADCAST BEFO~E --12 ( IvIIDfHGHTf- The War Office announces that His ~.~ajesty The King has been eased to approve of the following appointments: ... be Colonel Commandant, Royal Horse Arti 11ery• General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson; K.C·.B., C.;M.G., D.S.04; . )lonel Commandant, Royal Artillery, with effect from the 3rd November,: 140, in succession to Major-General G.H.A. White, c.B., C.M.G.; D.S.O•, ~tired -s;iay, who attains the age limit for the a:p:pointment on that date. J be Colonels Commandant, Royal Artillery. Lieutenant-General R.H. Carrington, C. B.; D.s.o., ( .. at pr.oscnt .· Jvcrnor of E:din!Jure:n Castle) with effect from the· 21st February 1940, n suc_c_cssion to Lieutent:nt-General Sir Cho..rlcs A. Anderson, K.C.B•., :.c.LE~, A.M.~ retired :!_)ay, decenscd. .. · · · Lieutennnt)General Sir Ronald Adam, Bt., C. B., D.S.Oo, O.B.E•; rith effect .from the 5th September, 1940·, in Succession to Major;..GeneraJ C.H.Willis, C.B., C.M.G., retired ~ay, who o..ttains the age limit for jhe appointment on that dateo · . · Major•General F.A.Wilson, C. B., C.M.G., D.S-O·., retired pay1 with · ~ffect from the 3rd November 1940; in succession to Major-General G.H. !\.,White, C-.B.• , CoivI.G~~: D.S.O., retired pay:, who attnins the age limit for the appointment on that date. : Major.:..Genero.l Sir Horace de C• . Martelli, K.B.E.; C.B., D. S.O., retired pay, ·with effect from the 25th December ·1940, in succession to Major-General H.D. DG Pree, C.B., C.M.G., n.s.o., retired ~!!o.Y, who attains the age limit for the [\9pointment on that date• WAR OFFIC~­ No.16. The f ol lowing is the text of the massages oxchnngod between Mr. Winston Churchill on his n.ssumption·of the office of Prime Minister on d th~ Premiers of the OVoPsen.s Dominions:­ From Mr. R. G_._ l'J!9_nzics, Prime Minister of !custralio.: My collengucs o.nd I congro.tulnte you on your o:ppointment as Prime Minister. We wish you fullest monsure of succeSSi I need hardly 8.ssure you thnt Austrnlin. will co-oporn.te t o the utmost in the Wf1.r effort di rected by your Government. Mr. Churchill rcr.ili.Q~-~ I On accepting His Mnjeety's invitntion t o fill the office of Prime Minister I send you ~y warmest greetings and my grateful thanks for your chcerj_ng mi~~so.ge. The responsibility which has f'o.llen to me in this solemn hour is lightened by the fnct that it is shared.by you nnd the other Prime Ministers of the Overseas Dominions. The peoples of the Brit j_ sh Commonwealth, once again united in arms agnins t a cruel barbarism, arc resolved to wage this righteous war to the end. From Mr. Mnc~~~z.~~e King, Prime Minister of Cn.nfl.da: On your nssu~~tion of · office t oday I desire to assure you of · o. continued whole-,hoo.rted co-opern.tion ::md strong su-[)port of my colleagues and myself in all thRt pcrtnins to the vigorous prosecution of the wn.r effort of the British Commonwealth. May you be given the strength and the endurance so necessnry to the duties of your high office and never more needed in the guidance of' public affairs than nt this critical hour. Mr. Churchill rcJ?J_;L~sl..:. On accepting His Majesty's invitation.to fill the office of Prime Minister I send you my warmest greetings anL1 thank you so much f or your most kind messnge. The r esponsibl j_ ty which has fallen to me in this solemn hour is lightened by ~he fnct that it is shared by you and the othor Prime Ministers of the Oversons Dominions. Our perscmal f'riendshin, built in t he course of many years, is now strengthened by associo.ting in a common t .'.1.sk. The peoples of the British Cornmonwenlth, united once more in nrms to resist the terrible scourge of barbarism, will not flinch or weary till duty is done and justice reignso To Genernl Srnut E\ 2 Prime Minister of t he T..Ini on of'_ _South Africa,Mr. Churchill s~iQ.~.--~·he-fOllnvifiif.i-·mess.np.;·e·:-. To you, my friend of so many years, c.i.nd fo.ithful comrade of the lnst war, I s end my heartfelt greetingso It is u comfort to me to f eel that we sho..11 be t ogether in this hnrd oncl long trek, f or I know that you and the Government and neonles of the Union will not weary under the heat of the dcty nnd tho.t we shnll mo.ke a strong lo.ager f o:r' n.11 beside the wnter nt the encL /Genero.l Smuts replied: ' -2­ Gener~ Smuts r eplied: I am deeply moved by yom:> messac;e fm:> which I thank you, In sending you my co1:c1ial greetings I wish to add that my best wishes accompany you in the task you have unde::-taken and to assure you of mv whole-hearted co-:-operation in our common endeavour. To the Prime Minister of New ::-: ealand Mr. Churchill sent the following : On accepting His Majesty's invitation to fill the office of Prime Minister I sena. you mv warmest Greetinrrs, A great respon­sibility has fallen to me a t this Ci:>itical hour, but its weight is lightened by the sui:e knowledge that I can rely upon your whole­hearted suppoPt and that of the other Prime Ministers of the Over­seas Dominions. The peoples of the British Commonwealth are once again united in arms against t;sn:-anny and barbarism. Together we shall suffe,: and strive -together we shall perse~·ere,and the gates shall not be shut on freedom and justice. The Prime Minister of New ;~ealand i:>eplied : I have to acknowledGe and to thank you foj: yom'.' message of 13th May and I most cordially ,:aecipPocate your message of greetings~ I have noted i,vi th great interest your message of assumption of office of Prime Ministei:a and the f ormation of a new Government on a wide political basis, and I wish at once to assure you of the fullest measuI'e of co-operation from the Gove;:>nment and people of New Zealand, Em:-iopean and Maori alike. The responsibilities that will devolve on you and your colleagues in this critical stage of the gr eat st r uggle upon which we have entej:aed togethei'.' will be most onePous, but you may rely entiJ:-ely on our sympathetic under­standin~ and ouP whole-hearted support in all measures necessary to bring this stJ'.'u,sgle to an early and successful conclusion. At this time particularly, when enenu fo r ces have at last been un­leashed, we can confidently rely on the determination of our people throughout the British Commonwealth, which is never stronger than in a crisis such as this, on the justice of our cause and on our efforts, undertaken as they ar~ by our own free will, to release om:>selves and the world for a11 time from the threat of domination by brutal fo r ce directed with unrelenting cruelty. To the Government of Eire 1 throu,C{h Mr. de ValeJ:ta • .Mt1. Churchill seJ?.i. the following~ · " '"' On accepting His Maj esty's invitation to fill tqe .office or Prime Minister' I send you my-greetings. I look forward with conf idence to continued friendship between our two countries and you may rely upon me to do my utmost t o . ensure this. ~r. de Valera r e2lied: I thank you for your message of greeting which I cordially reciprocate. 1Q.s. Downing Street, s.w.1. -----....000-----­ NQ. l7 - MINISTRY OF SUPPLY APPOINTMENT The Rt. Hon. Herbert Morrison, M.P., Miniatexr of Supply, has appointed Mr, John Jagger, M,P. to be h18Parliamentary Private Secretary, MfNISTRY OF SUPPLY 1.§/....2/40 -NO: 19, The Army Council have recently issued instructions regarding the types of headdress to be worn by all ranks on occasions other than when the steel helmet is worno The principal alterations of p·olicy announced. are: ­ (i) With certain exceptions e~g¢ in horsed units, the khaki service dress cap (with peak) at present worn by officers is replaced by a drab field service cap; this policy is adopted in order to bring both officers and men of the regiments concerned into line as other ranks already wear a cap of this type. It is not the intention that service dregs caps already in possession of officers shall be replaced forthwith. They may be retained in wear until r eplacement is necessary in the normal courseo (ii) A coloured field service cap may be worn by all ranks, when not on"' dut;y, with either undress 9 service dress or battle dress. The regulation head.dress will always be worn when on duty. The use of the coloured caps will be entirely optional; they will be of regimental patte!:''-13 and will be provided by the individual. A free issue will not be made o 2. No change is being made in the case of those regiments e.g. R.T.R., Scottish Regiments, which wear a distinctive type of headdress, whilst officers of Household troops will continue to wear their coloured forage caps when on parade in service dress. WAR OFFICE, s,w.1. -2­ Pilot Officer Robert James HILL~ 1 During April.9 1940, Pilot Officer Hill vmfl ·.-,Le e:..ip-C2tn of one of' six aircraft which had been sent to attack ew.:;!r~Y -:--rG.ns­ ports and shipping in Granvin Fjord. Whilst retui-•ning to hJ.s base, after completing his taskg he encountered two Dornier 18 flying boats which he irrun~diately attacked~ One Dorni8~ alighted on the sea and Pilot Officer Hill resumed the attack with his ~ront gun, several bursts being seen to hit the fuselage. While he was continuing this attack, the second Dornier attacked his aircraft but was beaten off and 1t eventually dived at the vmter where its bows submerged. During this last phase Pilot O:tficcr Hill was wounded in the face and hand but throughout the cngaze­ ment he displayed great courage and initiativco AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYINCJ..)Vl~J?..-6-l-'.c 631726 Aircraftman lst Class 9 .John HenrJr WJ1.'J'}{f?f.:I\.lJJ c This airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft attacked by a superior number of enemy fighters, but by cools-dclfi"crate · and accurate fire he shot down one Messerschmitt 109 in flamcP and severely damaged one Messerschmitt 110. His actions wsrc undoubtedly instrumental in securing the safe return of his air­craft to its base. Press and Publicity Branch, Air Ministry,King Charles Street; Whitehallt s.w.1. 18th May, 1940• Flight Lioutennnt Ti mmerman vms born in 1913 o.. t Kingst:..m11 (\ · :..tario~ He \ s educated at Kingston Collegiate In.ot!tute and Queen's Univc.rsity, Kingston. HG received a shorat acrvice commission in the R..A.F. in ;t.936, wns promoted Flying Otf'iccr in 193~, and Acting-Flight Licutcnnnt in February last. Plying Officer \ii/e..rncr vms born :tn l917 at Indanagar, Sylhet, India. Ho was educated at Cowley School, St•. Helens, Lanes~ nnd Dublin University. He was given a short service commission in the R.. A.F. in 1937 and promoted Flying Officer in 1939. Pilot Officer Hill~ who is aged 26, was born at Crosshavcn9 County Cork. He vras educated at Bective College, Buenos Aires ~ and Dean Close School9 Cheltenham. He was grRnted a short service commission in the RoA.. Fe in 1937. Aircraftman Viaterfall was born at Kings Lynn, Norfolkj and before joining the R.A.F11 in 1939 he assisted on his father's farm at Kings Lynn~ Ho:yal A:Lr Poree Awar:-..Q-s Foo 29o The King has been grac i1.m.sly plea.se'i cc "-':-.:.-:-o ;­the undermentioned award in recogn1-!;ion of gall s:icry dispJayed in f lying ope2ations against the enE:.my:­ A't~lARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CRQ£S: .. Flying Officer Newell ORTON. During Narch, 1940, this officer was tr.e leader of a rear section in a patrol of nine aircraft:, and in that· position was allotted the important task of guarding the rear of the formation. Whilst tv-rn enemy aircraft were being _r.ursued into Germany, he noticed other enemy airc:t•aft a t the left-rearo After warning the leader of the formation, he proce'3cled with his section to attack the enemy, which proved to be three Mess0rschmitt 109' s ~ ono of which he shot dovm in flames-. Lal~r:r, during the same patrol., tho formation again cmne in action with 12 enemy aircraft and during this cn.~agement Flying Officer Orton attacked a Mess,~rschmitt 110 and, it is believed, destroyed it. This or ficor h~3 displayed skill and deter mination i n a number of previous corn.oats~ Flying Officer Orton ws.s born at War•nick :~n 1915:i He was educated at King 1 s High School, ~-!arwick:-> Co~~oE JI;nd School~ 'dar'.vickshiro and Leamington Te;clmical C'11 l_c,ga.., Ho enlisted in the Royal Air Force Reserve in 1935; was v~~noted Sergeant, and became a Pupil Pilot in 1935.;. Hn 'r·as given a short service cominission, and was 'jJr ::.;m0tcd :;,;-·i;).~:>n..; Off icer 1n 1939. Press and Publicity Branch, Air Ministry, King Charles Stroot, Whitehall, SeV/ .1. 18th May, 1940• A.L.. BULLI;TII~ ro. 683~:~ ...__ifoi1..7fo--r;t_p...u131fsH:;n-·r.N T.ifY cour{'.f:RY--·-1 BEFORE '.l'HE MORNING NE'.''SPA.PERS OF SATURDAY? MAY 18TH; OR BROADCAST "···---·-BEFO~-L~!P.L~-·o:.{ ~l'HA);_~Tlh____ ROYAL AI::-!. FORCE AWARDS No. 30. The' King has been graciously pleased to npprove the undermentio~ed awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the ene:riy:- AWARDrD 'l'HL DIS·.::·n~1.-~U_I_SJW.P FLYING CROSS. Acting Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward CRAVEN This officer was captain and pilot of a flying-boat wh1~h proceeded on a special jol1..rney to Norway; in very bad weather in April~ 1 9L~o. On arrival 2t his destination, he handled his air­craft w_i th great skill ancl gallD.11try, and. disembarked his passengers in the face of porsistent enemy bombing attacks. The return journey was successfully accomplishec1 on tho following: day in spite of adverse weather conditions. Flight J~ieutenant Craven displayed great determination~; courage an1l perseverance in carrying out this hazardous mission. Pilot Officer Lawrence Letham JONES This officer was second pilot and navigator of a flying boat engaged on a special jou:eney to Norw2y in A::iril; 19~.o~ Du.rin;:r, the temporary absence of his c2.ptain, c.fter a landing had heen me.de, Pilot Officer Jones assumed commanc. ana_ successfully mnnoeuvred his aircraft on the water to avoid tho intense bombing o.ttacks by enemy aircraft. Subsequently it became necessaiay to take off, out he was attacked "by an enemy fighter shortly afterwards. By skilful tactics he brought his tail guns to beat> a!ld the enemy was shot This officer showed sldll and gallantry of a very high order Press & Publicity Branch, Air Ministry, King Cha1'les Street, Whitehall, s.w.1, 18th May, 1940. 2. Acting Flight Li0utennnt Craven v:ras born Cl t Yorlcj' January 10th, 1914, educated at Scarborough College High School and Mornington School of Commerce, ECJ.gewar•e, and became a pupil pilot in 1937 and a pilot officer on probation in the same year. He wns promoted acting Flight Lieutenant in April~ 1939. Pilot Officer Jones nas born 0'.1 June 21st, 1917 at Saskatoon, Canada where he was educated ut Carwell School and Bedford Road Collegiate School. He became a pupil pilot in November 1937t acting pilot officer in the following year and was ccnfirmed. in his appointment as pilot officer in February9 1939. AIR MINISTRY BULLE':'IN 682.£. ROYAL AIR FORCE AWAHDS NO. 32~ Tho King has been graciously pleased to approve; tho undermentioned 2,·JaI•c1s in rccognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations e.gainst the enemy: ­ A'..JAf--:,__D:,D ·J'HE :JI3'I'INGUISlICD FLYING CROSS .. 1 .t'.cting Squad:r•on IJC>J.dor Duncan Charles Frc0.e!..ick GOOD .. Pi lot Officer ·..1 c~l tcI) Gcol~L·c; G·..ti~:1JI1TEit . Squadr>on Lee. '.er Good and Pilot O:Cfiner Gardinc1• were r~spectively pilot and navig&tor of an aircrsft sn 'a~cd on special night reconnaissance.: early in IviayQ r/hcn i'lyinc:; low over tho objoctiv0, the aircraft was subjcc:tr;d to h\.,:J.VJ anti-aircra.ft fi ro, ono shell bursting in tho ~)i1ot '::; cockpit, wounding Squac1ron Leader Good and dar'er-;in ~:': the controls and instruments~ _A_lthou gh severely ·rnun dcc1 11 the pilot completed his rcconn~:lissancc , ;nanocuvring his aircr·c.St to avoid scaPchlights and anti....airc~0aft fi:;:'c, ~-yut then collapsed fr•om loss of blood• In the dc1I'lmc:::::::: ·Jith the airc?aft at a lov1 altitudc and sti 11 in the ditn ;er zone, rilot Officer Gardiner succccdet1 in cxtric:::.. ting the 'Noun.lei rilot from the cockpit$ He brought the cl2.magcd aircraft ':c.ck across tl'JO mil0s of sea, making 8. pcr•fcct landfetll n~cl ,ld; Ontario1 and was educated at Quebec High School and the College of Aeronautical Engineers, Chelsea. He enlisted as an Aircraftman in the R • .A.l". I a short sePvicc cornmission in 1936, Of'ficer in 1938 and waa llli;ntlon~d in. despatches in Fcbruuw tliis year. mal"i->icd, c1nu his home :i.::; at Ipswi.-.:h. He joined tho H.A.P. as an apprentice: i.n .1929 and. wu.s pttQ.rnoted ~cr•gc:rnt in 1939. Se:!'gf;ant McA1"'thuP WaB bon1 in, Br•isbane in 1912, hocarne an apprentice in t he R.A.F ~ in 1928, and was promoted serb:rea.nt in 1936. His wif'e lives at Driffiolu, Yorkshire. $e~·geard; Wyncss was born in 1912 at Cant~rbury. Bei'ore joining tho n.A41 P. in 1930 he was a serunan. He was promoted Ber-geant in 1939• Sergeant W;srnosa•s home is ;tn CI'U!nlin, Northern Ireland. Corpor·a1 Hiehar-ds vvho wan born in 1919, is a l}ativc of Bridgund, WnleD, whbre his :ratht;r still lives. He joined the P1..eviously he was a awitchbourd t>pero.tor. He was :pi··orno i:.ccl Co1•1)o r·al in 1939. 1i6/5/40 _. NO: 25, · PRESS NOTICE, Many hospitals throughout the country urgently requi~e Volunteer Stretcher Bearers, These Volunteers should be over forty years of a~e, and they need have no previous experience of First Aid, They will be required to work after air raids or ,at other times or emergencies when patients may have to be dealt with in large numbers. Volunteers should apply for registratio~ at the nearest Divisional Office of the British Red Cross Society, the St• Joru:>. .Ambulance Brigade, the St. Andrew's Ambl:ilance Aegodiation, or at the hospital at which they wish to serve; BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY. ­ No. 26. WJIR REFUGEES FROM BELGIUM fJ-TD HOLLl1.ND. A l arge number ·of r efugees is expected to arrive in the Metropolitan nrea t omorrow from our o.llies Hollnnd nnd Belgium, nnd during the end of this week nnd the beginning of next, substnntial numbers will nrive dnily via Frnnce. These refugees will be nccommodntcd in the Counties of London, Middlesex and Surrey. It is hoped tho.t nccommodntion will be f ound for them in private houses, nnd householders living in these nreas who nre inn position to offer uccommodntion arc urgently requested t o give full particulars to their local authorities without delay. Further batches of r efugees will be sent in due course to this country nnd the nrons in which accommodo.tion will be required for them o.re :­ All Bor oughs in the Counti of L0ndon, except Bermondsey, Bethnal Groen, Deptford, Finsbury, Poplar, Shoreditch, Stepney, Southwark and the City. of London. In the following parts of Essex:-Barking, Chigwell, Chingford, Dngenham, Leyton, Ilford, Waltham Holy Cross, Walthamstow, Wnnsteo.d and Woodford. In the following parts of Kent; -Beckenham, Broml cy, Chislehurst, Orpington and Ponge. In tho f ollowing p~rts of Surrey:-Banstcnd, Bnrnes, Beddington o.nd Wallingt on, Cat erhnm o.nd Warlingham, Cnrshnlton, Coulsdon and Durley, Epsom and Ewell, Esher, Kingston, Malden and Coombe, Merton and Morden. Mitcham, Richmond, Surbiton, Sutton and Cheam. Wimbledon. In the whol e of Middlesex. Househol ders in all these nlaces are asked to offer what help they can immediately. Offers should be made, if' possible in writing, t o the Town Clerk of -the District in which the householder r esides. Householders who ar c in nny doubt whether they live in a receiving ar en for Dutch and Belgion refugees or not, should make enquiries nt the '.!.'own Ho.11 or Council Offices in their own area. In addition to lodging, clot hes, bedding and household utensils will also be needed. Gifts of th}~ na ture, and pnrticulnrly of blankets, will be welcomed ~y the Local Authorities~ Such offers should bo made if possibl e in writing. Tho present influx affects the London ar on., but other parts of the country may in due course be asked to receive refugees. In that case a simil[lr a"Jpeal t o t hose ar eas will qe made. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WHITEHALL, s.w.1. 16.5.40 No 27 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT The Minister of AgriCulture and J!isheries, (the Rt.. Hbne. R.i S• Hudson, M.; PJ ) has appointed Mr. H. Meadows. to be his Principal Private Secretary9 and Mr. A. C• Sparks and Mr. R.A. Hughes to be his Assistant Private Secretaries, The Parliamentary Secr e t ary of the Ministry (Mr. T. Williams, M. P.) has appointed M:c·s . D. Y. Wormald to be his Private Secretary. ++++++-l'-+-l'-++-11--tt­ 16.5.40. -No.2.§. ' MINIS.T'.R:Y: OF AG:RI.CULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT. I GRASSLAND PLOUGHING GRANTS. The first announcement of Mr. R,S. Hudson, the new Ministe~ ot Agriculture and Fisheries, concerns the extension until 31st March 1941 of the £2 per acre grants for the ploughing up of seven year gr~ssland for the 1941 harvest. These grants started last May and the period for ploughing for the 1940 harvest ended yesterday, (15th May). The extension new announced will cover grassland broken up for summer fallowing io preparation for autumn sowing, and for direct re-seeding to grass as well as normal autumn and spring ploughings. The grants are conditional on the County War Agricultural Executive Committee beingsatisfied that the lands have been properly ploughed ~nd have been,. or will be, brought into a state of cleanliness and fertility and~ capable ef producing satisflactory arable crops for the 1941 harvest, or, vvhere the Committee approves, the land may be re-seeded to grass. It will be for the Committees to decide, in the light of their knowledge of l~cal conditions, whether particular fields sho~ld be ploughed for fallow, whether a hay crop should be taken before ploughing, or whether the rields should be grazed until the autumn and then ploughed. It should particularly be noted that the extension of the grant period does not in any way affect a farmer's liability to comply with directions given to him by his County Committee to plough up within a certain timeo The ploughing grant will not be paid where a farmer fails to comply with such directions. Applications for the grant should not be made, as heretofore, ~ to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, but to the approp~iate County War Agricultural Executive Committee. ---~---000------­ ~6/5/~.o No.29 I thou~ht it rvoulcl. ·be o. gooc1 thine; if, on taking over the duties of r'Iinister of Inforri1c. tion, I were to tell the i)ublic what I conceive those duties to be. To put it shortly, I feel that it is the job of the I:linisteI' of Inforu~tion to give to the peo9le of this country the r,1a~;:inu111 of infori:i1a tion in the minimLUn of time. Accuracy anC:. s~1eed should be our trvo objects. The one often inte:eferes with the ot:1er , ·but accuracy r11ust come first. I ar;1 sure you ·:rill agree with me that it is better to get your information a fe•:r hours l c,te anc'.l get the truth than get it a few hours early nnc1 be eitheI' unduly depressed or ~;~..1--.Y elateCl.. by news the.t S l1:osec.i_uently tu..1"'ns out to be false. There is a ver~,r .zood :saying of our Cor1L:ander-in-Chief in the last war, Lord Haig, on the subject of nevrs. In the midst of the great Ge1"'man offensive of March 1918, that last mad attempt of defeated Germany to Ylin the war, rvhen nevrn Yvas brought to the Comr.1ancl.er-in-Chief that the enemy had succeeded in breaking through the line and divic1ing t he British Army from the French, he re::.;lieo. "No nevvs is ever so good or so bad. as it sounds ·when you first hear iti'· I .~vould advise all listeners to reme~ilie: that saying as often as they can in the days that lie be:i:"'ore us, when s ensationo.l news is re-Jorted to them. I wou~d also ~ive them one other piec6 6f'advi~e~-a~d.that is do not allor/ t l1el"e to "be ac:v:.eci.. to the an~cieties ana horrors or war all the ;vealth of uischief t.t::tt can be procl.uced b~r r·i::tnou~. The poet Horaer ~ who 1:.rrote 2 or 3 thousand years B. C. , has a Yronderful •;>assage in vrhich he ·9ersonifies ruj·11ot1.r and draws a ·~1ictu..re of it striding acPoss the FOl"'lc} 'Ni t h incredible rapidity, doing harm wherever it goes. He said then it was the most swiftly moving of all evils, and that was in an age when no nevrn could travel fa ster than a sailing sh ~:r,ior a galloping horse. I n t hese days of telegra~hs, telephones and the radio, rtunour 9 like eve:_"ythin3' else, has been speeded up and is a million times rnore m-1i.ftl~r rnovi n:;s than ever before ancl still as evil as it vrns l!.,000 years ago. I would .ask you therefore not only 'to :c•efuse to !Jelieve r11mour yourselves, 1 but also to discouiase t hose who spread l"'urnour and to see in them the enemies of ·)ublic conficlence; -sJeO'}le who should be reproved anc~. even ;?Unished. /What What could be more absuI'd and fantastic, for instance., than the ruraour with which the Germans are feeding their hung!'y people to-day? They are telling that wretched enslaved nation, who are as hungry for good tidings as they are for bread and buttel' that H.rn. the King is i)acking up his trunks and is leaving for · Canada immediately. Such rumours mal;::e us laugh, but other rumours onl~l a little less absurd might make s0me faint-hearted people tremble. e are engaged nou in a great battle, perhaps one of the greatest in thehi.stor~r of the world~ It ·will be a long and fierce battle and there · are bound to be bad mr ments, there is . bound to be bad nevvsi. We at home should be as well prepared to receive bad news as those in the battle line are urenared to receive the b'ullets of the enemy. Let us realise to the"' full hr)w serious the positinn is and havinG realised it let us go about our businesis with:..ut attempting to magnify or to minimise it. There is one thing more valuable in warfare than battleshi1)s or tanks, than bombs or machine guns, and that is the character of the 1:1en in charge of those 'INeapons and of the men and v-:omen who vvai t behind. At this ver~,· m:Jment all the agcnies of war are being inflictea_ upon the soil of Flanders ana_ of Prance, -soil which is not only sacred to the inhabitants of those countries? but which is also sacred to us the people of the British Cnrn:monwe elth of Nati0ns bece_use so mru1y of our dear comrades lie within it, vrho fell there, fighting for the same cause for which vile fight today. But a1though fearful scenes are n~w being enactec1 1rvi thin a fSi;,r miles ,)f t~:1is beloved island and although some of her bravest sons are at this moment meeting their death in her defence we need n 1)t go about with long faces as thnugh i.,ve vvere at a funeral. ' · · Let each one of us throw 100% of al1 our ene1"gies into ' whatever task we have to perform in the service of our country. Let us at the same time keep 1)Ur hearts gay ru1d our s:~;iirits high, confident as we must be ir'C't1ie jU.sti"C~e of our cause and in our own ability to win through t0 victor~r, as in all our long ana_ glri>rious history we have never failed to do. INFOHMATION MDTISTRY.....-· . OF ______, ......-­ _.__.......,.,...,, 16.5.40 No 30 REDUCTION IN SUPPLIES OF SUGAR AND BUTTER TO CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS As already announced by the Ministry of Food the fo~thcoming reduction in the butter nnd sugc~r rations is to be accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the qunntities of these foods available for catering establishments such as hotels, canteens, etc. From 27th May, 1940, the sugar used by a catering establishment in any week is not to exceed an amount calculated at the rate of l/lOth oz. per person per meal served, plus a further amoun~ calculated at the rate of l/lOth oz. for each hot beverage served. From 3rd June, 1940, the butter used by a catering establishment in nny week is not to cxce.,d an amount calculated at the rate of l/6th oz. per person per meal served9 MINISTRY OF FOOD 16~5o40~N9o~.:!..~ SEED POTATOBS -1940 CROP. The Ministry of Food announce that sales of seed potatoes of the 1940 crop, where delivery is completed by 31st August, 1940; will be free from price controlo After that date trans­actions and deliveries will be subject to price control and other terms of sale to be announced later~ MINISTRY OF FOOD. -----000----­ 16.5.40 No 34 PRESS NOTICE Discussions between the Ministry of Economic W~rfare and the ~apanese Embassy on matters affecting Qontraband Control have been continued r ecently. Since the Wen:' began there has been no interruption in these discussions, whieh are concerned with the various problems as they nrise from time to time. MINISTRY OF' ECONOMI C Wi.RF.1-\RE 1,_6/5/lj.O No. 35. The '.:Jar Office announces that up to midnight last night the number of applicants for the Local Defence Volunteers totalled over a quarter of a million. ---000--­ MII,ITARY AFFAIRS. 16/5/40 . No. 36~ FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST. The King has approved the appointment of Captain the Rt. Hon. David ~uan Waila6e, M~ Cl, as Senior Regional Commissioner for the London Civil Defence Region. The other Commissioners for London, Sir :Grnest Gowers and Admiral Sir Edwa~d Evans, were a~pointed early last year. It will be recalled that when the Regional Civil Defence scheme was announcec1 early last year it was indicated that there ·would ultimately be thI'ee Gomrniesioners for the London Region~ +++++++++++ IviINISf'RY OF HOI.·11)} S:CCURITY. NO. 4, 16-5-40. No./38. The War Office states that the minimum age limit of e:nlistment into the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps has been raised from 30 ·to 35 _years f.rom tha ~14th. ,,May,,_ _JL940. 16/5/400 No. 39 PRESS NOTICE. There is now a risk that enemy parachutists may attempt to .nd in this country. Should this occur it may be expected that they may attempt ' make use of road vehicles that may be in the neighbourhood. is important that all practicable step8 should at once be taken ' prevent the use of vehicles-in such circumstances~ All owners of vehicles, therefore, should see that from dusk dawn their vehicles cannot readily be taken awayo Suitable steps­.ch as the removal of distributor covers or the removal of distribu­'r arms .or• sparkj_ng plugs 9 should be taken to prevent the use of tha hicle, and in addition9 garage and car doors should be kept locked night and ignition keys removcda It is particularly important that adequate steps· should be taken _,,,,, ~ garnge proprietors to prevent the use of vehicles under their charge nighto They should also be prepared to give advice to owners of hicles as to carrying out methods of putting them out of action. NISTRY OF HOME SEGURI'l'Yo J The Air :..1ini::try rnnouncc~ : The succe:3S of our J_~.rg1::·7sc .:: 1e bombing '-tt, c~:.:s on milit<. .ry objectives in Ger~:e.D~.7 is be.:;t :::;hown by the 2ttem1Jt in to-d.c·y•~ Ge,rmcn High Coma~.~nd Conli:t!unic.ue to ;1in:L.rtii ~.:o their im;)ort,·nce. It is, hovrever, note11 .. orthy th.;tt : trict orc1er.;; i:erc; toe>:~ brcn,dca::.,t to the Germr·.n :l)eople to ob~erve the bl::::ckout regul~tions in the interests of tb.e \7hole n2tion v;hich 11:nust be :Jln.rec1 c.:r:y tl<.rJcc;e fro;n the 2.irli. The d~·.mr.ge inf:Lict2d ;Jy i:: st rii;:sht' _ bombing operc-tion~ 1,::~ s, in f:.~ct, exten sive ~ .n6. coven,;;( !. , ic'.:,~ [:'e2 . J~s .'.i.ste.nce by ~;1oonli'.;ht ~.:i.:d c-6.etc.~ilec1 1{no1,:Tlccl.ge of the country, len,nec.~ fro:-.1 J?:any ~Jr'~vious j:·ccon::.~ : :L s.:..~nce_ ; ·' the 12,rgest force of R. L.F. Bo;:ibor. yet em)1oyr-. C1_ in . ~ inf;le oper: tion . et out from a e roc'_ro:i18S in Fr.:~nc o nnd. Brit~·in. L 2h c::.~e ':! ·r.-.-. given ;-::)ecific militc,ry objective~; ..:'.nd in;3 tructions t ·:.1:.:: t bo1~1b.::: '~rG not to be dro)ped indL.criminntely. !:. f:.':.:'.;,.· ~.ircr
o Ve,-c1~e'\..L " ... l-•-~·.ilit~-"Y... i... Lc.. "'f1 C ·..i'.....l"r.... e·1tl·... cp ... '~it-Lon-V\L"·· ~ ·0t-'--~ -< ·~. yho'~ ··)O · r'c . 'Vealed c.. ...L c... c.. c... .. -...., ._. ~ by the light of )r•.r<::.chute flc:.re.s. Jmother vVhi tl·ey scored r direct hit in the centr,:: of e, mech;~nisec~ collF1i1 t wo ~ile:::i long. R.o.il'Vl.rc-:y junctions, r:12.in roc.C:. cros:.:;ing:::: c:~nd ::n import~nt "Autobc..hn 1i were 2.mong the objective: ~:ucce~·-su~_ly 8tt. eked by c:i. 1!/ellington for1.1c: tion. Ons of th2 :: -, .:elliilgton~ comins c.fo1:.,n through 2. ::..·.yer of clour~ to bo:~1b, e:~1crged i n thr.; c :.~1tr2 of '-· B:. lloon Bc.rrc..gc. By b2.n:.::ing stoi;;;;_}ly, the ~'.ircr::::..ft ju~;t li1c;_n~·ged to e:. c·. ~-Je collisioD wit1:1. the cc.ble;;; . Severc.:l 6.irect hit.'.' Kere scorec:. on ;:mother Lmg mechcni5';e,:: colut.m by I-Li·c;pden Bombers . The:y e:.lso n.tt, c~rnc:~ roe..cl ;::11d re.il cor,i.·.unicc.tim1s . Foi.;.r :·,inute:..: c·ftor c-. c'irect hit hcd been r egisterec3. o:n c. r ;: il·..'c.Y junctioD.'I .:}1ect :-of n.:.:·1i8 bur;·t u_:; out of tl10 t ::,rget. Another direct hit re:. u1te0_ i~1 c:.r! e::,:plo:::ion of :.uch f 01,cc thr·. t th8 2.ircr<.'._ft.1 severc:l thous;:nd feet u), vr:=,;, rocl:,:e0. by the blo.st. In ~;pit s of the ~-iz.e c:.nd c~iversi t y of the o~Je:r:..tion e.nd the lci.rge force enrc>J.oyed, only one of our c:ircr.,;cft f c.iled to return. I -2 ­ . . Simult.::;~ e?usly,. -~-night O;)er.-t~on ?, .. 0 ~· :criec~ out bY. "elling ton <::n et ~ihltly circrc.f t to c. s . .:..i st i\.l .i ccl Inf en try in c0tmtcring n i.memy :;.-C t <·.ck L; the ~1oighbourhood of Tur~,hout <-.nd Din2.n t. The .';; e .:.ircrc..f't c.·.11 return<;c'. D2.fe;_y. Dr.y bombing oper[.tions v.-ere ~ l;-'o c,:.rried out yeE:terdc:y in the neighbourhood of rdon ther:ne en( DirHi' t by t T ..o sc~uadrons of' BlenheL1 e.ircrc.ft. In the: . i::: ri..id:., hee:t.VJ' dLmc.~ge ·rr<.. :·. C< u ,ed. to po.rked lorries E.nc~ t<~nlrn. TviO Blcn~ici:u:> l12.ve fe.ilec~ to return. Our Fighter Pilot.:., hao. ::.'.. goo(: (£Oy. There vr<:.s no lrck of t c:.i.rget::; c-nd c.tt~~.cks vrere pros..:..ed home fro:i:ci d«Yn to {us!;:. A form;;~ tion of six Hurrican e:. c::-, tt~ eked tv:en ty five Mcsserschmitts llOs o.nd ::;hot r::. ovm five. 1!1 r:nother c~ se, t v.o ifo.rric. nes interce'l')tec. nine :He;:.;:.:: er.s ch,·,,i tts 110;, ,~-1d shot .·~ov.1'l four. Four Othe;'•. r:-n coumter.. ) '·· r e · ult..--:,;; --.l-i·n .. •--to V l. \,.; "'--10•-·-;;_. -of t~ . ..e"'t~;-) ::i1'rcrC. ~ ­ -1-.L i O"' ' I ~ f't • '.;:, .. "--• 'C\.. . (.'1 ,. ~ 1_. +'1r, VJ. __ J !.l In 2.l"_, during the dr.y, fif't~r ene:!1Y ~".ircr2.ft v.rer e destroyed. The morc:ile of our ·:1Llot. d1ci Cl"'eY:s could not be hicher. 'The c1 ::~ily toll infJ.icte5.. or~ e:o1:;ny r.~_rcrU't. ~;_s v;o:c~;:ir:g out c.. t more thEn t~ree to one in our f~vour. No,, 41 FRENCH OFFICIAL · COMIVIUNI0,UE. (:CVT.:l'l"ING) I The follovling official cornmuniciue was issued t his evening from French General Headquarters:­ The battle as a whole continues with the srune intensity~ Very sharp encounters have taken :place at certain points., Our borabers protected b~r fighters successfully carried out vigorously led attacks on the enemy's colu1Tm of armourec1 cars Ylhich have been located by our reconnaissance aero9lanes. ----------·-­ The Fetherl;-.nc'.s l,er·o.ti'.l:1 hc.s isB1.1.eC'1. th.s fc llCJv1inp­ ' 2:n...n :)U;1c orilents : ­It is L~r.r~:ec_ :froi·.1 f'.n :>.uthcrit o.tive t he :~etJ1erl::.:ac_s is ;_10w iaith the Du.tch tr0c.1Js in Zeel::-.nc. This c.f'ter;_'lco:1 the Secreti.r'Y 'Jf Stc.te '.='.uc-:.ience \'Ji th I~er L~r.jesty Quee:~1 ·:11ll1.elr11in'.:'. ct the Netherlc--.n c"':.s c.t :'"::uck inz h ;..i:::. P~-.lc.ce.