- 6/4/40 No. 1. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (MORNING) The following official communique was issued this morning from French Headquarters:­ NOTHING TO REPORT, - 6/4/40 No. 2. SINKING OF THE DIAMANTIS The following is issued by Naval Affairs for such use as the Press may like to make of it. The to be German propaganda organisation seems getting very hard up for stories of the good behaviour of U-boat captains - and this at a time when Germany realises that her propaganda must do something to counteract the almost universal horror aroused by her inhuman methods of warfare o On April 4th, 1940, D N„Ba , the official German news disseminated a story of the very considerate actions of e agency, the U-boat which sank the Greek st;eamer DIAMANTIS. This story was put-out in the form of an interview with the naptafn of the ' lb-boat,, and it was made to look like a. new story. It was--re­peated by Zoosen in German to America on the same day. In actual fact however, the DIAMANTIS was sunk on * October 3rd, 1939 six months ago by a U-boat commanded "by Kapitan-Leutnant Lott, The story now put out as news by D.N,8 and the German 0. radio must have been told soon after that episode, for Kapitan-Leutnant Lott has been a prisoner of war in England since - November 27th, 1939 a fact of which the German Government was officially notified on December 11th, 1939. It is understandable that German propaganda should be instructed to try to counteract the world-wide indignation caused by the sinking by U-boats of 10 ships in the last ten days of March particularly since 9 of these ships were neutrals sailing - independently and only one was given any warning of attack. The only material available to Dr, Goebbels are the few in the cases early days of the war when U-boat commanders paid some little respect to the and humanity. dictates of law 0.3 NAVAL AFFAIRS, 6.4.40. No.3 PRESS NOTICE. CMW2 CONTROL OP CHROME, MAGNESITE AND WOLJM. The Minister of Supply has made the Control of Chrome, Magnesite and Wolfram (No.l) Order. The Order covers chromium, and chromium compounds, defined as including any chemical compound of chromium and ore or containing chromium; concentrates residues defined oxides, hydroxides or carbonates and dolomite and any mixtures of any of the foregoing, with or without water, and "wolfram", defined as including wolframite, schoelite and any other ore concentrate or residue "magnesite", as including natural or manufactured magnesium containing tungsten. and Under the Order the sale purchase of these materials, wherever situated, will be regulated by a licensing' scheme, but a direction issued at the same time under the from the Order exempts licensing provisions everything except chrome orft and concentrates, magnesite costing less than £25 per ton delivered at consumers’ works, and wolfram. Power is also takdn to rdquire anyone concerned in the handling or treatment of any of the materials referred to in the first paragraph to keep bocks to produce them for and records and and to returns and inspection upon demand, furnish estimates, other information as may be required. Mr. N. Isaacs, of the Ferro-Alloys section of the Iron and Steel Control, will act as Adviser to the new Control on wolfram. The Order comes into force on the 15th April, except as regards "wolfram", for which it comes into force on the Bth April, on which date wolfram is removed from the ambit of the Iron and Steel Orders by the Iron and Steel (No.B} Order. Enquiries in regard to wolfram should be addressed to the Iron and Steel Control, Steel House, Tothill Street, London, S.W. 1, and and for other products to the Chrome Ore, Magnesite Wolfram Control, Broadway Court, Broadway, London, S.W. 1. Copies of the Order may be obtained from H.M. Stationery Office or through any bookseller. Ministry cf Supply, The Adelphi, W.C.2. 6th April, 1940. - 6/4/40. No. 5. THE CANADIAN RED CROSS. Scope of a Great Endeavour* In the grounds of Lord Astor f s seat at Cliveden a great Canadian hospital is now in course of erection. Equipped with 600 beds and all the departments requisite for one of the most up-to-date institutions in the world, it conforms to the War Office recommendations for military hospitals Eighty-eight nurses will shortly be arriving to "take over" at the hospital, the first section of which it is ho ">ed will be open in May. Attached will be a Research Laboratory under the supervision of Sir Frederick Banting, whose name will be always associated with insulin. The provision of funds for this hospital is but one of the manifold activities of the Canadian Red Cross Society, the Overseas Headquarters of which, situated in Berkeley Square, London, have expanded remarkably. Presiding over the Advisory Council of this Overseas Headquarters is the Rt* Hon. R.B. Bennett, Dr. Routley, Canada’s Red Cross Commissioner, with Colonel Nasmith, an expert on nutrition, and Major C.A. Scott, an Assistant Commissioner, is shortly coming to London, to add new functions to the Red Cross Organisation. Already this Headquarters has organised an Information and of Research Bureau, and arrangements have been made for keeping all records regarding casualties among Canadian soldiers. The comforts department of the Canadian Red Cross is well stocked: some 800 cases of hospital supplies and knitted comforts have so far reached Great Britain from Canada. In addition, this organisation has granted £3*300 to the Polish Relief Fund for an ambulance unit to work with the Polish forces in France, and other donations include £4,800 for the Beaver Club, £20.,000 Navy Merchant Service, £20,000 to the and underwritten for the British Red Cross, and £1,300 for the Scottish branch of the Canadian Red Cross this last to cover - expenditures incurred by that organisation in caring for the comfort of the Canadian survivors of the Athenia. The Canadian Red Cross is a great endeavour which is resolved to be equal to any call that may be made upon it. DOMINION AND COLONIAL AFFAIRS 6.4.40. No.6. IS.9. NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE MONDAY, the 8th APRIL, 1940. PRESS HOTICE. IRON AND STEEL CONTROL. The Minister of Supply has made the Control of Iron and Steel (No. 8) Order, (3.L.& 0.1940, N10.496) which comes into force on the Bth April, 1940, superseding the Control of Iron and Steel (N0,6) Order, made on the 29th January, 1940. Under the -provisions hitherto in force certain classes of urchasers were exempted from the licence requirement when purchasing steel for specified purposes but in future, for the products included within the new distribution scheme, this exemption will be limited to purchases covered by a symbol and contract or reference number the use of which is authorised by the appropriate Department. Although the Order comes into force on the Bth April, 1940, the operation of the Direction in connection with this Scheme is postponed in the case of future orders for the steel products covered by the Scheme until Monday, 29th April, 1940, and, in the case of old orders for such products, until the 01st May, 1940, so as to 6ive time for the allotment through the various channels of the symbols, contract or reference numbers and delivery periods. Attention is called to the fact that under the new Direction all licences for steel -products covered by the Scheme heretofore issued to Stockholding Merchants are revoked. These should, therefore, be returned forthwith to the Iron and Steel Control. Arrangements ha,ve been made for the immediate replacement of these licences by new licences. to All other existing licences remain in operation subject the provisions of the new distribution scheme. Licences and exemption from licences for materials not covered by the scheme will continue as heretofore. Increases in maximum prices have been fixed for certain more highly finished products, notably Crown Iron, Colliery Arches and Accessories, Galvanised Sheets, Tubes and Sipes, certain types of . ire and hire products, -Steel and Castings, xmilway Coil and Laminated Springs. Copies of the Order may he obtained from H.k. Stationery Office or from any Bookseller. Ministry of Supply, Hie Adelphi, t.C.2. 6th April. 1940. 6.4.40 -No. 7. AND SERVICE. Registration under the National Service (Armed Forces) A0t,193^» MINISTRY OF LABOUR NATIONAL The Ministry of Labour and NatiomL Service announces The provisional figures of those who registered today, Saturday, April 6th, 1940 at* the Local Office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service were:­ England 267,547 Scotland, 31,416 Wales 15,467 Total 314,430 Of these, the numbers provisionally registered as conscientious objectors were:­England 1 * 3,662 Scotland 469 300 Wales. * Total. 4,431 representing I*4l per cent of the total registered. The men required to register were those who (a) reached the age of 20 between 10th March, 1940 and 6th April, 1940 (both dates inclusive) and (b) men who reached the age of 25 during 1939* The figures do not include (a) those who, because of the distance of their homes from the Local Office, will be registering by post, (b) seamen and fishermen who may have registered at Mercantile Marine Offices and (c) persons unavoidably prevented from registering owing, for example, to sickness or being at sea. 2 There has been further decrease a in the proportion registering as conscientious objectors, as has been the case on every registration day since the first registration under the Armed Forces Act. This is the lowest percentage of conscientious objectors since compulsory recruitment started. Reports from all the divisions of the Ministry of Labour and National Service show that the registration was effected without difficulty. MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL STRVICB. 6.4.40 No 8 COMMUNIQUE ON VISIT OF FRENCH MINISTER OF BLOCKADE TO LONDON M. Georges Monnet, the French Minister of Blockade and Mr. Ronald Cross, Minister of Economic Warfare, held meetings together in London yesterday and this morning. They reviewed all the more important outstanding, questions affecting the work of their two Ministries. The discussions and the showed complete agreement common determination of the two Governments to develop Allied Co-operation in all spheres of economic warfare. MINISTRY OP ECONOMIC WARFARE - 6/4/40 No. 9. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. PRICES OF IMPORTED EPOS. Fresh eggs from Eire and Near European countries will be cheaper on Monday, Bth April, as the result of an Order made by the Minister of Food* The new maximum prices will be as follows Sale by an Sale "by Sale by Importer Wholesale Bstail (per 120 eggs) (per eggs) (per eggs) 120 12 Sod0 s. d. s. &* Category II Eire Fresh Eggs - (a) Minimum Weight 15 lbo­-eggs 120 IS*0 17.0 2.0 (b) Minimum Weight 12 lb per120eggs 13-9 14-9 1. 9 - 111 Fresh Eggs Category Near European (a) Minimum Weight 15 lb. per120eggs 13 9 14. 9 1. 9 (b) Minimum Weight 12 lb. 6 120 lie6 12. 6 1* per eggs The maximum prices prescribed for Categories IV and V remain unchangedc 6.4.40 No 10. MINISTRY OF HEALTH CIVIL NURSING-mSERVE More Members Wanted Miss Florence Horsbrugh, M.P. , Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, presides over the first meeting of the Civil Nursing Reserve Advisory Council This Advisory Council was formed last month as part of a which the reorganis tion of the Civil Nursing Reserve under Headquarters organisation was incorporated in the Ministry of Health. Miss Horsbrugh, who was accompanied by her Parliamentary Mr. Private Secretary, Samuel Storejr, M.P. , emphasised the important part which the Civil Nursing Reserve must play in the civil def'enC(3 services of the country, and said that, in spite of the progress which had been achieved so far, more members were still needed, and particularly more trained nurse members who would be willing to go anywhere in the country. The Advisory Council discussed several points on which the Minister had desired advice, and appointed a Sub-Committee to go into the whole question of arranging refresher courses for members of the Reserve who had already taken their training. of The object the Civil Nursing Reserve is to provide a reserve of trained personnel which can be drawn on to meet the extra and requirements of hospitals and first-aid posts, of reception areas under the Government Evacuation Scheme. Intending members should apply to the Secretary, Ministry of Health (Civil Nursing Reserve) Romney House, Marsham Street, London, S.W.I. The members of the Advisory Council are Mrs. St. John Atkinson, representing the Order of St. John: Sir Comyns Berkeley, representing the Central Midwives Board; Miss Mary Cochrane, representing the National Council of Nurses; Miss D.S. Coode, representing the Royal College of Nursing. Helen Dey, representing Miss the Association of Hospital Matrciis; Dr. Daley, representing the London County Council; Dr. Ferguson, representing the Society of Medical Officers of Health; Mr. W.H. Harper, representing the British Mr. the Hospitals Association; E.W. Cemlyn Jones, representing County Councils Association; Dame Beryl Oliver representing the British Red Cross Society; the Dowager Marchioness of Reading, representing Women’s Voluntary Services; Miss D.M. Smith, representing the General Nursing Council; Alderman W.E. Wilford, representing the Association of Municipal Corporations: Miss Wilmshurst, representing the Queen’s Institute of District Nursing. MINISTRY OF HEALTH WHITEHALL, S.W.I. 6/4/40. No. 11. - PRESS NOTICE The Admiralty denire to draw the attention to all those who are officially recorded as next-of-kin of Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel to the importance of notifying at once any change in their address. There have heen many such changes of address in recent months owing to evacuation and other causes, and the task of notifying next-of-kin of casualties and of cases of sickness or dangerous illness has, on several occasions, heen subject to delay owing to the fact that changes of address have not been notified* Such changes should he notified as follows - R.N. and R.l-l. Officers to The Secretary of the Admiralty, (C.W.Branch). R.N* and R.M. ratings and ranks to The Commodore - of the Depot to which the rating is attached. If in doubt as to the Depot to which a rating belongs, notification should be made to the Admiralty full (Naval Branch) stating the rating f s name, official number and last known ship. Officers and men on a T. 124 agreement to The Registrar - General of Shipping and Seamen, Tower Hill, London, E.C.3. Such changes should also he notified to the Post Office Authorities concerned. ADMIRALTY* S.W.l* - 6/4/40 No. 12. ALLIED AIR MINISTERS EXCHANGE GREETINGS. One of the first acts of the newly-appointed Secretary of State for Air, Sir Samuel Hoare, when he took over his duties at the Air Ministry yesterday morning was to send the following - telegram to the French Air Minister (Monsieur Laurent-Eynac): to to wishes for the success ‘'Having returned the British Air Ministry, I hasten send Your Excellency my best of your great work and to say how glad I am once again to be associated with a former colleague in the field of aviation," The following reply has now been received from the French - Air Minister: and to have "I am very touched "by your telegram, happy been able you again recently in London. I to see send you my most cordial congratulations with my best wishes. I am glad to see in our long collabora­ tion of the past and in our friendship, a token of perfect understanding in the service of the common cause." AIR AFFAIRS. The War Office, London, S..V/.l* 6th April, 1940. The following is the latest list of German Prisoners of War;­ Hank Christian Names Surname Where from Age Feldwebel Ernst Emil Karl BREILER Goldenau 25 Maschinengefreiter Karl VOSSHAGB Gildesheim 20 Matrosengefreiter Anton ENGLISH Oppeln 20 Maschi Obergefreiter Max Kj vHN Nurnberg 20 - 6.4.40 No. 14 BIGGER ALLOWANCES FOR AIRMEN. - The Air Ministry announces A revised scale of allowances for children of airmen of the Royal Air Force came into operation yesterday. The new scale of allowances is as follows:­ 6/-a week for one child. 10/-a week for two children 12/-a week for three children 3/-a week extra for each additional child. All additional payments due under the revised scale will he made automatically. Application hy the airmen concerned or their wives is not necessary. AIR AFFAIRS. 6/4/40 -No.15 . RA. Fo PILOT TRAPPED IN COCKPIT (Not to be quoted, as an Air Ministry Announcement) water a the R. A. F. Fighter Command found that his parachute had jammed in the sliding roof of the cockpit. Trapped under in rapidly sinking Spitfire, a pilot of After three days in hospital, he has told the story of his escape. On Wednesday :he attacked a Heinkel over the North Sea, 12 miles from the Yorkshire Coast* When he had watched the Heinkel crash on the water, and had seen the crew being picked up by a trawler, the fighter pilot, a flight-lieutenant, reported by radio telephone that his own air­craft was on fire* Here is his account of what happened next:­ "When about 14 ft off the water, I reported to the patrol that I was landing. "I stalled on the water at 65 miles per hour with a loud crash. The .aircraft immediately dug its nose in and came to a vertical position, tail up, and. sank immediately* I think the touch-down and. sinking were simultaneous. "My next clear recollection is that I was below the surface and that everything appeared green* "I undid my harness and began to get clear* "The aircraft was sinking rapidly, and when I was almost clear, my I then into the o parachute got under the sliding roof got partly back cockpit and out again, and finally got clear and tried to swim to the surface. "The tail plane passed just in front of my face* the pressure was very great, and the green light had changed to black. "By the time I broke surface, my lungs had. reached just about the limit. I then undid my parachute and. trod water but had. great difficulty in keeping up. There appeared to be rollers at regular intervals, about five to six feet high. I tried, to remove my helmet, but went under each time I tried.* "I then tried to pub more air into my life jacket, but found this impossible as I was definitely winded* of in my direction. "Finally I got a glimpse a crawler coming, approximately, "I continued to tread water* and with slight help from my life-j 2ket kept up about 5 to 10 minutes* during which time I found the weight of my clothing increasing rapidly* "I released my parachute and immediately realised that it was giving me considerable buoyancy so I held it with my left hand* It did not begin to submerge for several minutes, when it gradually sank to waist level. "The trawler arrived alongside, and I was handed a boathook” AIR AFFAIRS. - 6/14/40 No.16. Not to be quoted as an Air Ministry announcement. NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR VISITS AIR FORCE UNITS. Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for Air, at the Air Ministry this morning received officers of the Dominion Air Forces who forces represent their respective in London. Subsequently the Secretary of State visited a number of Royal Air Force stations in the vicinity of in the district. London, including command headquarters At one station he had an informal talk with of which he is Commodore* AIR AFFAIRS. personnel of the Squadron Honorary Air 6/4/40 - No. 17. FRENCH OFFICIAL (evening) COMMUNIQUE. The following French G-.H.Q:­ was issued this evening from A QUIET DAY.