2.5.A1No.1. TRESSNOTICS. Followingmessageisissued,toallYUGOSLAVshipson authorityofRoyalYugoslavGovernment,Shipsignoreareto allinstructionsemanatingfromYUGOSLAVIA,’AllYUGOSLAV shipsareundertheordersoftheGOVTIRMIEWT,whichdirects thoseatseatoaBritishtrUnitedStatesport, ADMIRALTY,S.W. URGENTNEWSA.M.B*No*3729. RoyalAirForceAwardsNo*207. TheKinghasbeengraciouslypleasedtoapprovethe followingawardsinrecognitionofgallantrydisplayedinflying operationsagainsttheenemy!— DistinguishedFlyingCross,, WingCommander•ThomasGeoffreyPIKENo.219Squadron- Thisofficer,who'recentlyassumedcommandofthe hasshowngreatskillininterceptingenemyaircraftatnight* Duringhisfirstpatrol,heinterceptedand,itis believed, destroyedaraidingaircraft.Hehassincedestroyed3 enemyaircraftofwhich2weredestroyedduringonenight* Hiskeennessandexamplehavehadasplendideffectonother membersofhissquadron. FlyingOfficerBrendanFINUCANENo*65Thia officerhasshowngreatkeennessinhisefforts,toengagethe enemyandhehasdestroyedatleast5oftheiraircraft*His courageandenthusiasmhavebeenasourceofencouragementto otherpilotsofthesquadron. DistinguishedFlyingMedal. 904571SergeantWilliamGeorgeRIPLEYNo*604Squadron Thisairmanhasparticipatedinnumerousengagementsagainstthe enemy*aByhisskillandefficiencyaswirelessop'-./atcrh; hasmateriallyassistedinthedestructionof5enemyaircrafts NOTESONCAREERSo WingCommanderPIKEbornin1906atKen';,, wasLewisham, HiswifelivesatBedford.HewaseducatedatBedford.School... andinJanuary,1924,enteredtheR.A»F.College,Cranwell.,as acadet.Hewasgrantedhiscommissionin1925., December, andbecameaFlyingOfficerinJune,1937.Threeyears later,hepromotedtoFlight wasLieutenant,andbecamea SquadronLeaderinFebruary,1937.InMarch,1940*hewas promotedtotherankofWingCommander*Onoofhisspecial qualificationsisthatofflyinginstructor. Plyingwasbornin1990at Dublin.’ EducatedattheChristianBros.O’ConnellSchools,Dublin, hebecameapupilpilotintheJM.F,in.Augustl93B.Hewan. gradedasapilotOfficer(onprobation)inAugust,1930,his appointmentbeingconfirmedsixmonthslater*Hewaspromoted toFlyingOfficerin1940. September,Hisfatherlivesat Richmond,Surrey* SergeantRIPLEYwasbornatEmsworth,Hampshireingpril-. 1913,Incivillife,hewasareceptionish*Hejoined,theRY SadLMey,l94l. 2/5/U* 1940RECORDMARRIAGEYEAR. SLIGHTFALLINBIRTHRATE;FK'ERBABIESDIE. MarriagesinEnglandandMaleslastyearcreatedanewhighrecord. Atotalof468,267exceeded1939’srecordfigureby28,573- Thefiguresfor1940 arenowcompletedbytheRegistrar-General’s returnquarterendedDecember31stlast,whichisissuedtoday. forthe (H.M.StationeryOffice,Kingsway,17.0.,price6d.,bypost7<1.) Duringthelastthirteenweeksof1940,224,174personswere married.Althoughthisfigurewas49,480fewerthaninthefourth quarterof1939,itwas27,281higherthantheaverageforthefive precedingfourthquarters. Themarriagerate per1,000for1940was22.6.Thisisthehighest and onrecord,compareswith21,2in1939,andan averageof17.4during thefourprecedingyears. Theprevioushighestrateexceptfor1939was20.2inthe year 1920. Duringthelastwar,1915establishedarecordformarriageswith atotalof360,885(arateof19.4per1,000).Thisfigurewasnot exceededuntil1919when,inthefirstyearof peace,therewere369,411 weddings(rate19.8),Therecordnumberofmarriagesforanyone-quarter wasin September,1939,wheninthelasttwomonthsofpeaceandthefirst monthofwar152,930couplesweremarried. Liveduring1940numbered607,131or12,221fewerthan births during1939,givingabirthrateof14.6,against14.9.Atotalof 22,648stillbirthswasthelowest0.1record. LuringtheDecemberquarter137,009livebirthswereregistered, whichshowedaproportionof1,057boysto1,000girls.Theproportion forthetenprecedingfourthquarterswas1,052.Therewere5,197 illegitimatebirths,218fewerthaninthecorrespondingquarterof1939« Fewerbabiesdied duringthequartersThemortalityrateunderoneyear ofagewas57per1,000livebirths,whichwasthreebelowtheaverageof thetenprecedingfourthquarters. Deathsduring1940totalled572,882,or73,914morethanin1939. Two-thirdsoftheincreaseoccurredinthefirstquarteroflastyear whenweatherconditionsweresevereandtherewasaconsiderableamount ofinfluenza. MINISTRYOFHEALTH. 2.3.41-.-No..7-. FEASTOFJOANOFAFC. LONDONFREEFRENCHCELEBRATIONS. Sunday.,May11thistheFeastofSt.JeanofArcandwillbethe occasionforcelebrationbytheFreeFrenchdetachmentsofwhich Forces, willparadeat WellingtonBarracksat10-.30a»m.bykindpermissionof theBrigadeofGuards.• AdmiralMuselier,intheabsenceofGeneraldeGaulleoverseas.-, willpresentflagstodetachmentsoftheFreeFrenchArmyandNavy, At11,15as,U*- No.9> THECAMPAIGNINGREECE. At5*45a.m.onApril6ththeGermanscrossedtheBulgarian-Greek frontier.Therewasnowarningorultimatum;buttheGermanattackhadbeen awaitedforsometimeandtheMetaxaslinewhichrunsalongthisfrontier wasmannedbythreeGreekDivisions. TheGermanscameacrossthefrontieratfivepoints;downtheStruma valleytotheRupelpass,overtheNevrokopplateautowardsDrama,towards Xante,towardsKomotine,andfromSvilengraddowntheMaritsavalley.The lastlineofadvancewasnotseriouslyopposed,norwasitintendedtobe, andtheenenyreachedtheseaatDedeAgatsonApril9th« ElsewheresuccessfullywithheldtheinitialGermanattacks theGreeks andinflictedheavycasualties.AttheRupelpasstheGermansemployed parachutetroops,dropping150behindtheGreeklines,-,Ofthese100were quicklykilledandtheremainderwerecaptured. OurplanwastomakethehighgroundwestoftheVardarvalleyourmain defensiveposition,andtodelaytheGermansontheMetaxasline.We intendedtoinflictthemaximum damageontheenemyinEasternMacedoniaand GreekThrace,butifnecessary,towithdrawfromthat;partofGreecewhich lieseastofourmaindefensive line,includingthereforeSalonika.It wasexpectedthattherewouldbeopportunityforanorderlywithdrawalofthe Greekforcesinthisarea. SimultaneouslywithanattackonGreece,theGermansalsoinvaded Jugoslavia,which,thoughpartlymobilised,was’notreadyforwar.Although theTsvetkovitohgovernmentoverthrown,hadbeentheadherencetothe TripartitepactwhichheandCincarMarcovitchhadsignedhadnotbeen repudiatedbytheSimovitohandaswasthecasewithGreece,no ultimatumorotherwarningwasgiven.ThedisposalJugoslavoftheforces appearstohavebeengovernednotalonebymilitarybutalsobypolitical considerations,andinadequateforceshadbeenallottedtothesouthofthe countrywherethereal-threatlay.Thisdisposalhadbeenplannedbythe Tsvetkovitohgovernment,andGeneralSimovitchhadnotimetorevisethe plans.ConsequentlytheGermanswereabletoadvancerapidlyupthe Strumitzavalley,pastbothsidesofLakeDoirananddowntheVardarvalley. TheyreachedSalonikaontheeveningofAprilBth.ThethreeGreek Divisionsintheeastwerecutofffromthemainbodyofthealliedforces. ButtherapidityoftheGermanadvanceinJugoslaviaheldayetmore seriousthreat.SkopljeandVeleswerereachedonAprilBth,anditwas evidentthattheMonasticgapwasthreatened.Howseriousthiswasisseen whenweconsiderthedisposalofourandtheGreekforces.Byfarthe greaterpartoftheGreekArmywasinAlbania,someJO-40milesawayfrom theGreekwithitsleftflanktheanditsrightflank frontier,onsea,on theJugoslavfrontier.TwoGreekdivisionsandImperialtroops,allunder thecommandofGeneralwhoinhisturnunderthatoftheGreek Wilson,was Commander-in-Chief,GeneralPapagos,hadtakenupastrongnaturallineof defencerunningfromtheseanearKaterinithroughVeriaandEdessatothe Jugoslavfrontier.ABritisharmouredforcewasouttotheeastofthisline engage!indemolitionworkandsimilaractivitiesa TheforceunderGeneral Wilson,therefore ? wasopposingtheGermansalongafrontof60-70mileson theeast while,tothewest,themainbulkoftheGreekarmywasopposing theItaliansalongafrontofsimilarlength;betweenthetwothemountains ofSouthernJugoslaviaformedabarrierpiez’oedbytheMonastic gap.This frontierwasmannedonlybyGreekmountainguards. /By - 2- Bytheevenihg'-of“'7th^April'the-vdisastertotheJugoslavforceswasapparent- andthethreattotheMonastirhadbecomeareality.Asmallreserve,under gap aBrigadier,consistingofamachinegupbattalipni;.andsomemediumartillery,was ofFlortSa;”NextmorningGeneralMacKaywassent - formednearAmintaion,south withhisDivisionalartillery,anti-tankregiment,and headquartersoneonean Australianbrigade(lessonebattalion)toaugmentthisforce,*whichremainedinthe Amintaionneighbourhoodtoawait'lheGermane*-Meanwhilethe’forcewas orderedtoblowdemolitionsandwithdrew't.o.Edessa-behindtheAustralianDivision, under,whoseordersitwas'placed.■■-h'i*'■5 ' PreparationstomeetthethreatthroughtheMonastirgaponlyjust intime.On9thApriltheGermansappearedsouthofFlorida..andhotlyengaged General--MacKay’sforce'duringthisandthe.next-day.-.TheImperial.forcesinflicted heavycasualties:on'the enemy,,butitbecameapparentthata’standcould'notbemade indefinitely./against-thegreatlysuperiorGerman-numbers'.Ifthe.enemy-.couldnotbe heldat:Amintaionitwasclearthatthewholelineonthisfrontwouldhavetobe withdrawn;otherwiseitwouldbeoutflanked.On11thApril,therefore,theImperial andGreekforcesbegantowithdrawt0...anew..line'which'-‘rahfromthe,.south-east ; ofMountOlympusnorth-westtoServia,•thencesouth-westalongthe.Alinjcm-cn/piver,and finallynorth-west,again,alongthe.highgroundto.the-west'-'oftheplain,p-f.Kozani. Atthesametime,"GeneralMacKay’smixedBritishand-Anzadforce,whichhadsuffered considerablelosses,withdrewdowntheKozanivalleyandbehindthenew.line;and -b" thearmouredforcemoved.toGrevena.,,...r ‘■•- :...1viablea ■"Thelinefrom-theseatoServiaandalongtheAliakmonfiverwasheldby. Imperialtroopswhilethehighgroundalp,ng.thekozaniplainwasheldbythetwo Greek1divisions.ThesetwodivisionsWer'eheavilyengagedbytheenemy.MeanwhileJ enemyforcesadvancingdown'theKozani.valley.wereengagedbyourforcesatServia '- andsuffered-losses.'-'‘.1'a ■ TheGreekdivisions,havingfoughtvaliantlyunderover-whelmingconditionsand sufferedveryseverecasualtieshad,now-almostceased A existas.afightingforce.to Theflankand.-rear"ofthe1’Imperialforcewereaccordinglythreateriedand.afurther withdrawalwasnecessary.'Accordinglywithdrawaltorcoupon.Cateringestablishmentswillcontinue toreceiveanallowanceofforcookingpurposes. sugr MINISTRYOFFOOD. 2/5/41-No.27 MAY3 NOTTOBEPUBLISHEDBEFORESATURDAYAiORNINGORBROADCAST BEFORE7a.m,ONTHATDATE. CONTROLOFPRICESOFSOFTFRUIT. Thepricesofgooseberries} strawberries,raspberries,loganberries, blackcurrants,redcurrantsandwhitecurrantsgrownintheUnitedKingdomare tobecontrolledundertheSoftFruits(MaximumPrices)Order,l94l?madeby theMinisterofFood. Thefollowingaretheprescribedmaximumprices:- OnSaletoOnSaleOnany LicensedbyRetailotherSale PreserverPerlb.Perlb. PerTon Gooseberries£264jd.Jia. Strawberries£65loOd.9d. Raspberries£459h•64rd. Loganberries£5O9d.7d. Blackcurrants£6511d.&yd. Redcurrants£35. 7d.sd. Whitecurrants£357d.sd. Thedatesonwhichthepricesbecomeoperativewillbeannouncedlater* Fordetailsregardingchargesforcontainersetc.,thefulltextoftheOrder shouldbeconsulted. TheOrderprohibitsthepickingofgooseberriesbeforeadatetobe announcedlater,butgooseberriesgrowinDevonandCornwall,thevarieties "Leveller”and"EarlySulphur"andpickedforoklwhhnnfoa? anypni'ponnsonl.e, areexemptfromthisprovision. MINISTRYOFFOOD. 2./3AI.No.28. NOTTOBEPUBLISHEDBEFORE.SATURDAYMORNINGMAY3,1941 ORBROADCASTBEFORE7A.M.ONTHATDATE. MAXIUMUMPRICESFORCAITNEDVEGETABLES* TheMinistryofFoodannouncesthatanOrderknownasthe CannedVegetables(MaximumPrices)Order,1941,hasbeenmade andwillcomeintoforceonsthMay. ThisOrderprescribesmaximumpricesonfirsthandsales, salesbywholesaleandbyretailoftheprincipal sales varietiesofcannedvegetableswhichhithertohavebeensubject totheFood(CurrentPrices)Order.Thefollowingarethe retailprices:- MINISTRYOFFOOD, MAXIMUMPRICESONASALEBYRETAIL MaximumPricepercan-' E.1A.1A.1tallA/2A.21 ' censcanscanscans s.d.s.d.s.d.s.d«s.d. Fresh-Picked G-ardenPeas(Small8171101.011.41 (Medium861111. 93 (Large768911.01 FeasotherthanFresh- PickedGardenPeas 5156171.101 . DriedBeansinBrine 515617110l BreadBeans817- 1111*31 StringlessBeans(Small817- 1111*31 (Medium761- 101L2 (Sliced761- 1011.2 Carrots(YJhole' ■65171911 [Sliced Diced 6 51 j 5 5 7 61 81 71 101 91 Beetroot(Whole5 J5’271911 (Sliced681 57101 (Diced515617191 Celery(Hearts71- ’1.11<5 (Cut6-811 Spinach(Leaf817- 111.31 71--101.0 Turnips(Whole911 (Quartered---8110-g (Diced515617191 Macedoineor MixedVegetables- |- 81101 TheabovechargesmaybeincreasedbyId.percanonthemainlandof ScotlandnorthoftheCaledonianCanalorintheislandsofthePentlandFirth, andbyId.percanintheislandsoftheWestofScotlandotherthanthosein theFirthofClyde. 4* 2/5/41- N0.30. FORPUBLICATIONINTHEMORNINGPAPERSOFSATURDAY, MY3rd,1941.NOTTOBEBROADCASTBEFORE7a.m. ONTHATDATE. EXTENSIONOF EXTENSIONOFSUMMERTIME. SUMMER Thetwo-hourperiodofSummerTimecomesintoforcetomorrow(Sunday) morning. TheclockisalreadyonehourinadvanceofGreenwichmeantime,andfrom Sunday,4thMay,untilSunday,10thAugust,SummerTimeistobetwohoursin advanceofGreenwichmeantime.< Thehouratwhichthechangeofficiallytakes placetomorrowis1a.m. Greenwichmeantime- whichmeans2a.m.bytheclockunderthepresent conditionsofSummerTime.Atthathourtheclockwillbeadvancedto3a.m. SummerTime.? All clocksandwatchesshouldheputforwardonehourduringthecourse ofthe night..Railwaysandotherestablishmentswhereworkcontinuesduring thenightwill,nodoubt,makethechangeattheofficialhour,butthepublic generallyshouldaltertheirclocksbeforegoingtobedtonight(Saturday). Employersareaskedspeciallytowarntheirworkerstodothis. HOMEOFFICE. 2/S/K\-No.29 IS.T.A.E.LAYBOKT’SAPPOINTENT TheministerofPensionshasappointed.Nr.T.A.E.Layborn tobeamemberofthe'JarServiceGrantsAdvisoryCommittee. iftNISTRYOFPENSIONS 2/5/41-No.34. Pleasecheckagainstdelivery. Nottobepublishedbeforebroadcast. WHERE’SITALLGOINGTOEND? FollowingisthetextofatalkbyW.J.Brownat9.20p.m.tonight (Friday)inthe8.8.C.HemeService ThepopulationofBritainisdividedintotwoclasses- thosewhowrite tothe8.8.C.aboutmybroadcastsandthosewhodon’t.Nov;I’mverygrateful tothosewhodo.Broadcastingisastrainforpeoplelikemewhosenormal mediumistheplatformwherewefeelathome,andwherewehavetheinspiration oflivingcontactwithavisibleaudience.Wenyoubroadcastthereisnosea offacesbeforenoswiftofagreementordissentatwhatonesay; one,response Thereisinfrontofone,amicrophone- whichisuninspiring- andaglassof water- whichisdepressing.Beyondthat,thereisinfinity.Theaudience takesshape,asitwere,afewdaysafterthebroadcast,whenthe8.8.C.sends youyourmail. ButoverwhelmingmajorityofthepeopleofBritaindonotwritetothe the 8.8.C.aboutyourbroadcast,andwhatthismajorityisthinkingandfeelingis notrevealedbythepostbag.Youcanlearnthatonlybydirectcontact-in thestreet,inthepub,inthefactories,andsoon. Mylastbroadcastbroughtmemanyletterswhichtoldmehowtheletter- writingpartofBritainwasfeeling.ThevoiceofalargesectionofBritish people,whichisbynomeansinarticulatebutisnotgiventoletter-writing, cametomebywordofmouththroughtheCharwomanwho"doesfor"afriendof mine.Shesaid"IlikedyourbroadcastandIagreedwithwhatyousaid.But whatIwanttoknowis- "Where’sitallgoingtoend?Andwhatwilltherebe leftwhenitdoesend?". NowIthinkIknowwhatthiswomanmeant,andbecauseIthinkthatquite alotofpeoplethinkonthesamelines,IwanttonighttosaywhatIthinkshe meantandtoanswerthequestionswhicharise. Whatshemeant,Ithink,wassomethinglikethis- "WehateHitlerandall. hisworks.Weknowwecannevergivewaytohimandthatwemustgoonfighting untilhe’sbeaten.Buthowcanthewarend?Germany’hasoverrunpractically allEurope.Bnlandsheisenormouslystrongerthanweare.Assumingthat Hitlercan’tbombus,orstarveusintosubmission,andthatwecansmashany attemptatinvasion,howcanwefinishhim?Howcanwehopetosmashhim militarilyontheContinentofEurope?Isitpossibletoachieveanythingmore thanastalemate? Andwithallthisbombinganddestruction,whatwilltherebeleftwhen itdoesend? Nowthesecondofthesequestions- Whatwilltherebeleft?- iseasier toanswerthanthefirst,soIwilldealwiththisandgetitoutoftheway beforeIdealwiththemoredifficultquestion. Butthefactisthat,wideasthedestructionhasbeen,itrepresentsno moreinthewayofbuildingsdestroyedthannormal buildingprogrammecould our replaceinacoupleofyears.Andreplacemoreover*inmuchbetterformthan theywerebefore.Forifonecanforamomentforgetthelossoflifeinvolved and,that,Iknow,ishardtodo- thefactisthatmuchofthepropertythat Hitlerhasdestroyedispropertyweoughttohavepulleddownlongsinceand replacedbybetter. Themoreimportantquestionisthefirst-"HowcanthisWarbebroughtto asuccessfulanddecisiveend?". Nowifyoulookatthematerialfactsofthesituation,theproblemlooks differenttothepointofimpossibility.Hitlerhadanimmenseflyingstartof usonthematterofarmaments. Bytheruthlessuseoflocalsuperiorityonlandandairhasmadehimself masterofEurope.Howtoevicthimdoesthe present,ostensibly,veryheadache ofaproblem.Warisfoughtinthreeelements.Andineachelementthereare twotypesoffactor,theponderableandtheimponderable.Letuslookfirstat theponderablesandthenletuslookattheimponderables. On/ 2 Ontheseawe possessavastsuperiorityovertheenemy.Intheairwe arestillinferiortotheenemy,butthegapbetweenusandhimnarrowsdaybyday. ThepromiseofAmericanhelpmakesitcertainthattheaimofcompletesuperiority intheairwillbeattained,andthatatnodistentdate. Onthelandwearenulericallyinferiorandweareheavilyinferiorinthe matterofequipmentformechanisedwar.Butsofarasequipmentisconcerned thesameguaranteeofAmericanhelpwhichmakescertaintheattainmentofaerial superiority,alsomakesitcertainthatweshallremedythedisparityasbetween ourselvesandtheGermansinthemachineryofmechanisedwar. Eventhenumericalinferioritywhichweasapeopleofsomefortymillion possesscomparedwithGermanpeopleof100millionwillultimatelyrightitself as whenbehindafullymobilisedBritisharmystandstheequallyfullymobilisedin- dustrialmanpoweroftheUnitedStates.Sofarthenastheponderablesare concernedalongviewofthesituationgiveseverye:q?ectationthathowevermuch we maysufferinthenextfewmonths,andundoubtedlyweshall,weoughtthento beinthepositiontotakethiswarwhereitbelongs,thatistothebarbarianswho launcheditontheworld. Butitisnotonlytheponderablesthatwehavetoconsider.Throughout history,andinparticularthehistoryofthisIsland,theimponderableshave playedaprominentpart.ThreetimesinourstorythisIslandhasfaceda situationnolesscriticalthanisthesituationwefacetoday. Timeandtimeagainifourfathershadlookedonlyattheponderable factorstheymightwellhavereachedtheconclusionthattherewasnothingaheadof usbutannihilation. Letusjustcastourmindsbackintohistory.Inthe16thcenturyitwas theSpanishwhothreateneduswithextinction.They,too,overranagreatpart ofEurope.TheyestablishedavastEmpireinSouthAmericaatatimewhenthe BritishhadnoEmpireatall.TheyimmeasurablysuperiortotheBritishin were thatveryelementwhichismorevitaltoourlifetodaythananyother,i.e,,on thesea.Byalltheoflogic,navalandmilitary,sofarfrombeatingthem laws theyoughttohavemademincemeatofus.Buttheydidn’t.Theimponderables intervened.Astormasprovidentialtousthenaswasthatstrangeunearthly cclmonthestraitsof.DoverwhichenabledtheArmytobeevacuatedfromDunkirk lastyear,scatteredthevastArmada.AndtheBritishFleet,incrediblyin- feriorinnunbersofships,members,inevery- range,guns,inferior andpowerof thingsaveseamanship,andaudacitydidtherest.Andthereforethe courage, powerofSpainwasbroken.FirstherEuropeanconquestswent,andthenbydegrees thevastEmpireshehadbuiltup,untilasaGreatEuropeanpowersheezdstedno more. Inthe17thcenturyagainwewerewithinanaceofdestructionatthehands oftheDutch,InthosedaystheKing’sPrivyPursewasnotseparatedfromthe PublicExchequer,WhenParliamentvotedmoneytoenabletheKingtocarryout thisorthatwork,itdependedonthecharacteroftheICingwhethertheworkgot done,orwhetherthemoneygotdivertedtohisownprivatepurposes.TheICLng spentthemoneywhichshouldhavegoneontheNavy,onhiscourtandhismistresses. TheNavyfell,inspiteofallthatSamuelPepyscoulddo,intoasadstateof disrepair.AndthentheKinginvolvedusinwarwiththeDutch.Thingswent hardlywithusthen.TheNavyfaredillatthehandsoftheenemy.Atone stage,theDutchshipssailedrightuptheThamesasfarasDartfordanddestroyed thedefensivelinewhichwasstrungacrosstherivermouth.Itlookedasif nothingcouldsaveus.ButagainthecharacteroftheBritishasserteditself. ParliamentvotedmoremoneyfortheNavyandinsistedonseeingthatitreached theNavy.AndintheenditwasnottheBritishbuttheDutchwhowentdown. Itwasontheruinsofthatdefeat,onthesuperiorityatseawhichitgavethe British,thattheBritishEmpirewassubsequentlybuilt. Intheearly19thcenturythingslookedascriticalastoday.Napoleon hadmadehimselfmasterofEurope.Hisconquestsstretchedevenfartherthan Hitler’s.OnlyBritainremained.Ihavenodoubtthatourforefathersofthat daymanningtheHomeGuard,watchingbythebeaconsstrungallalongtheSouth /Coast * 3 CoastreadytofirethemassoonasNapoleon'sFleet,massedatBoulogne,should begintheinvasionwhicheveryoneregardedasacertainty,musthaveaskedthem- selves,asanxiouslyasmyCharwomanfriend,’’Supposewebeattheinvasion?- Howcanweendthewar?Howcanweunseatanddestroythiscolossus,Napoleon?. Ifyouturnupthe’’Times”of135yearsago,whenthebattleofAusterlitz haddecidedthefateofGermanyandAustriaasdecisively (itseemed)asthefate ofFrancewasdecidedayearago,youwillfindaleadingarticlewhichran:- ’’lncredibleasthissuddenandunexpectedterminationofthewaris, wearecompelledtogiveitreluctantcredit.FromtheBalticto thefarthestextremityofItaly,thereisnotasovereignorPrince whoatthismomentnotbesaidtoholdhissufferance maypowerby fromBonaparte.7,HatthisfrightfulStateistoleadtoisinthe womboftime. TheViatormaybemercifulontheContinent,butwewhodespisehis arenottoexpectpeacefromhismoderation.Hepledged paver, himselftohistroopsthathewouldmakepeaceinViennabefore Christmas,andinLondonbeforeEaster.Hehasredeemedhispledge inthefirstinstance:wearepersuadedthathewillendeavourto dosointhelatter,” Itwouldbedifficulttoconceiveofacloserparalleltooursituation todaythanthat.AndyetwithinafewyearsEuropehadrisenagainstthetyrant. Britisharmshaddefeatedthefinalflameofhis armyatWaterlooandthe’’Great Ogre”whoseverynamehadbeenusedtofrightenthechildrenwith,wasane:Cilein' St.Helenaeatingouthisheartinthebitternessofdefeat. ItisnotformetodiscussthemilitarystrategybywhichHitlerwill, bebroughtdown,Isharethefeelingsoftheordinarycitizenastothe difficultiesandperilsofaBritishinvasionoftheContinent.Uyownfeeling, whichcommitsnobodybutmyself,isthatthiswaristobewonmainlyonthe sea,in theair,andthroughtheether.Thesea-tokeepopensuppliesourfoodandto makeavailabletoustheresourcesofthegreatArsenalofAmerica;theair,in whichtoconcentrateanduse againstGermanythataerialpreponderancewhich Americanhelpguaranteesussoonerorlater,theEther,throughwhichtobringhope, encouragementandtruthtotheconqueredracesofEurope,andtothemassesinside Germanyitself.- ■v- Andwiththesethingswillworktheimponderables-theguiltyconscience whichso manyGermanspossess,thefearwhichtheprospectofalongwarwillgenerate inthem,therecollectionoftheolderGeneration,inGermanyaftertheKaiser, too,hadoverrunmostofEurope,heneverthelessfailedintheend;theinnerhates andstressesofaregimefoundedonfraudandenforcedbyviolenceandmurderand*o on.Andintheconqueredcountriesslowlybutsurelythedesiretobreathefree " againwillassertitself.Slowlytheresentmenttherobbery,atthesuffering,the humiliationentailedinaforeignoccupationwillrise.Alreadythesignsofthis arethere.AndatweakeningwithinGermany,therewillbe thefirstevidenceof liberatedinEuropesuchforcesofe:zplosiverevoltas,inco-operationwiththe militaryeffortoftheBritishandtheirAllies,willbringaboutthecollapseofthe regimewhichhasdarkenedeverylifeinEuropeforthisdecadepast. Theprocessmaybeshortinwhichvrearenet orlong,butthereisasense itshort.I concernedaboutthis,thougheveryoneofushopesandpraysthatmaybe meanthatthereisonlyoneruleforthegoodlifeandthatistodotherightthing andleavetheconseouencesinotherhandsthanourown.Ifevertherewasawar lastto whichwepositivelycrawledtoavoid,thisisit.Hewerecompelledatlong acceptthechallengetoallthathumanityholdsdearwhichNazi-ismrepresents.From thatacceptancethereisnogoingback.Formypart,Iamconfidentthatwhenthe Wordsworthsaidin struggleisover,somewriterofourdaywillbeabletosay,as 1816,afterthefallofNapoleon:- ’’Theeventspastyear,gloriouslydestroyingmanyfrailfears,have ofthe placed-intheranksofsereneandimmortaltruthapropositionwhich- inallageshathbeenprofoundlycherishednamelythatanumerousnation,* determinedtobefree,mayeffectits purposeindespiteofthemightiest poweraforeignerinvadermaybringagainstit. BRITISHBROADCASTING-CORPORATION 2/5/M- No.35. TheQueenthismorningreceivedtheNepaleseMinister,who brandedtoHerMajestyachequefor£ij.,560,whichhasbeen generouslygivenbyH.H.TheMaharajaofNepalontheoccasion ofhisbirthdaytoprovideanadditionalunitofthemibile canteenscalledthe"Queen’sMessengers". FOREIGNOFFICENEWSDEPT. NOTETOEDITORS(NOTPUBLICATION>INDEALING17 ITH THIr; MESSAGEITSHOULDBEMADECLEARTHATNEPALIS'AN INDEPENDENTCOUNTRY.NOTANINDIANSTATE 2/5/41.Ko,36 AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNO.3768 AirMinistryNewsService ABELOVEDR.A.F,PADREKILLED. H«q.«9R«A.F>MiddleEast* "Goodbye,Ishallbebackwithyousoon”,werethelastwordsofPadreCoxof Tobruk,ChaplaintotheRoyalAirForce,ashesteppedintotheaircraftwhichwas totakehimbackfromthefront* ShortlyafterwardstheaircraftwasattackedbyMesserschmittfightersandshot down,andPadreCox,oneofthemostadmired,andcertainlyoneofthemostgallant inthetown’sgarrison,waskilled. ” Agrandfellow,andthemostlikedmaninTobruk”,wasthetributepaidbya seniorofficeroftheR.A.F.,whohadbeen’intownwiththepadre. ”Healwayswas runningaroundlookingaftertheairforce,thearmy,andeveryoneelse.Hehad beeninthewesterndeserteversinceoperationstherebeganinearnestandIknew hedidnotwanttoleave.” Amongtheofficersandmenofalltheservices,andamongtheprisonerstaken inthewesterndesert,aswellastheenemywounded,PadreCoxleavescountless friends.Nothingoftheconventionalhinderedhiminhiswork.Thistallfair hairedyoungmanwasaconspicuousfigureashedroveaboutthetownina diminutivecar,orwenthiswayonfootinairraidsandunderfirebydayand night9bentondoingallhecouldforanyoneinneedofhelp. TosquadronsoftheR.A.F.stationed,withinwhoseepicdeedsinthe Tobruk, aerialbattlefieldoverthetownformsomeofthemostgloriousepisodesofthe successfuldefence,PadreCoxwasespeciallyendeared.Wheneveranaircraftcrashed orapilothadtobaleoutwithintheperimeterofthedefences,thePadrewasalways thefirstthespot,irrespectiveofwhetherthepilotwasR.A.F.,German amongon orItalian. Thewelfareoftheairmenandtroopswastheparticularconcernofthepadre, muchofwhose’timewasspentvisitingdispersedunits,seekingoutcomfortsfor thoseinneed,andattendingtothesmallestdetailsoffoodandaccommodation. Forthesickandwounded,thepadrealwayshadacheeringword. WhentheImperialForcestookTobrukandthirtythousandprisonersthepadrewas thefirsttovisittheOnanotheroccasion enemywoundedintheItalian hospital. whenItalianprisonerswereattackedbytheir aircraft,PadreCoxborrowedaown prayerbookfromtheRomanCatholicChurch,andconductedtheburialservice,during whichItalianaircraftreturnedtotheattack.Thepadrecompletedthetaskunmoved. ManydefendersofTobrukwillalwaysrememberhissimpleservicesintheItalian schoolandtheydescribedhimasneverlookinglikeaparsonwithhisanythingbut clericalgarmentsandbubblinghumour. PadreCoxspentseveralmonthsofthefirstdrearywinterofwarinPrance* HewasattachedforatimetotheR.A.F.component,andwasamongthelastR.A.F. personneltoleaveNorthernFrance. Atypicalremarkofhisafterafiercedaw.raid,onTobrukwas:”1dontbelieve inforcingreligiondownpeople’sthroats,butIforoneshallsaygraceat breakfast/’PadreCoxwillalsobemissedathomeinEnglandforheleftan importantparishatRcdhill,Surrey,atthebeginningofthewartojointhe chaplain’sbranch*Itwillbeaconsolationtohisparishionerstoknowhowdeeply -newaslovedandappreciatedbyallranksoftheR.A.F. AIRMINISTRYNO.3769*2/5/41- N0.37. MIDDLEEASTCOMMUNIQUE. H.Q.R*A.F.MIDDLEEAST,May2nd. CYRENAICAInCyrenaicayesterdayaircraftoftheRoyalAirForcecontinued theirattacksonenemypositionsandcommunicationsaswellasaffording protectiontoourforcesagainstattackfromtheairduringgroundoperations. Enemydivebombersandfighters,whichappearedinlargenumbersover Tobruktosupportoperationsoftheirgroundtroops,wereengagedbyour fightersandthreeMesserschmitt109’swereshotdowninflames.Duringlast nightandtheprecedingnightourbombersraidedtheharbourandothermilitary objectivesatBenghasi.Largenumbersofincendiarybombsweredroppedon shippingandonevesselwassetonAnammunitiondumpwasalsoblownup largefiresfollowedtheexplosion'.TheaerodromeatBeninawasagain b-wnbedandenemytransportnearAcroma,intheTobrukarea,wasbothbombed andmachinegunned,manydirecthitsbeingobservedonthelorriesand casualtiescausedamongthetroops. ABYSSINIA.InAbyssiniaenemypositionswereattackedatArnbaAlagiandnear andat Alcmata,anenemyfortressinthepassFalagwasheavilybombed,about fiftydirecthitsbeingobserved. FromtheaboveoperationsoneSfouraircraftismissing. 2/5/41-N0.38.38 AIRMINISTRYBULLETINNO.3770. AirMinistryNewsService. MOREDAYLIGHTATTACKSOVERHOLLAND. Yesterday’sdaylightattacksbyaircraftoftheBomberCommandmetwith strongoppositionfromtheenemy.Everywheretheanti-aircraftfirewasintense andattimesbombersatoddsofthreeand ourweretacklingenemyfightersmore toone. Duringtheattackoiltanksatfewmileswestof onstorageVlaardingen,a Rotterdam,apilothadtotakeviolentevasiveactiontogetthroughthefierce barrageandevensoashellburstthroughthenoseoftheaircraft.Thepilot madeagoodrunupandiscertainthathisbombsdamagedthestoragetanks. ImmediatelyafterhehadturnedforhomefiveMesserschmitt-!09’scameupandhotly engagedthesinglebomber.Forthewent twentyminutesfighton.Ourgunnerwas woundedandthemechanismofhisguncarriagewasputoutofaction,buthefought on,turninghisgunswiththehandcontrol.OnebyonetheMesserschmittsbroke offthefight,thefirstfourfairlysoon,thefifthafterreturningagainand againtotheattack. WhenthelastMesserschmittgaveuptheattackoilwaspouringfromthe bomber’sportengine.Inafewmomentstheenginehadstopped,andtheairscrew felloff,butthepilotbroughthisaircraftbackovertheNorthSea.Then,soon afterthebomberhadcrossedEnglishCoast,thesecondairscrew,whichhG-A. the alsobeendamagedintheencounter,droppedaway.Thepilotskilfullybroughtthe bomberdownandmadeasafelandinginafield. Aconcentratedandeffectiveattackwasmadethesubmarinebaseat onenemy DenHolderinastormofdrivingrain.Herealsothebarragewasintense,Our aircraftattackedfromalowlevel,allfromunder200feetandsomefromaslowas 50feet. Soonalmostthewholeofthebasewashiddenbycloudsofsmokeanddustfrom thedebriswhichhadbeenintotheair,butnotbeforebombshadbeenseento flung burstonseveralvitalbuildings.Thereweredirecthitsthehouseand onpow;er barracks.Acraneattheentrancetotheinnerhabourwassmashedandastickof bombsdroppedstraightacrossthelockgates.Germantroopsmarchingovera bridgeleadingfromthetowntothedocksweremachine-gunned.Theybrokeandran forcover. hitthewounded,while Oneofthepilotswhosebombspowerhousewasseverely stillDenHelder.Hisobserveralsowoundedbutnotandhe overwas $ sobadly, totakethecontrolswhiletheaircraftflyingat50feet.Hethen managedoverwas joinedtheformationmakingforhome.Whenhehadgottheaircraftalmosttoits basehesentoutarequestforanambulancetobeready.Whenitcametothe momentforlandingtheobserverproppedthepilotupinhisseat.Thepilottook overthecontrolsandguidedbytheobserverhebroughttheaircraftsafelydown. 2/5/W.No. AWARDSFORPOSTALWORKERS. ThefollowingaredetailsofawardstoPostalWorkers publishedintonight’sLondonGazette Mr.R.C.MAYNARD,a74-yearoldPostOfficetelephoneoperatorin Yorkshire,hasbeenawardedtheBritishEmpireMedalfor stayingatworkathisswitchboardduringaraidwhichlasted 9hours.Thousandsofincendiariesandhundredsofhigh explosivebombsfellintheneighbourhood,butMr.Maynardand hiswifecontinuedtooperatetheirexchangeonthetopfloor ofthePostOfficebuilding.Refusingtoseeksafetythe couplecarriedon,astheyhavecarriedonduringmanyraids, anddealtpromptlywithallcallsforfire,ambulanceand rescueservices. AnotherBritishEmpireMedalhasbeenawardedtoMr*.A.W.HENNIS,a PostOfficeSkilledWorkman.Theofficialreportstates”His chiefobjectinlifeappearstobetodefeattheenemy”. Duringoneraid bombacutamaintelephonecablecontaininga largenumberofcircuits.Asecondbombshatteredaacrwerand thewholeareawasfloodedvzithwaterandsewage. Mr.Henniswadedthefloodandgropedforthesevered through cable.While doingthisheheard fallingimmediately abomb overheadbutcouldnotescapefromhisdangerouspositionashe waswadingthroughthe ntydandwaterinWellingtonboots.He threwhimselfflatonthebankofthecraterasthebomb explodedacrossthestreet- thenresumedhisjob.Hefound thecableandrestoredcommunication. GENERAL-POSTOFFICE* 2.5.41No.40. THESITUATIONTNIRAQ. TheconcentrationofIraqitroopsroundHabbaniyah' hasunfortunatelyledtoaclashwiththeBritishforces stationedthere.Inspiteofrequestsfortheirwithdrawal theseIraqitroopswerereinforcedyesterdayandearlythis morning,openedfireonthecantonment,obligingBritish forcesto-takethenecessarycounteraction.Fighting continuedthroughoutthedayandisbelievedtobestill inprogress. ItwillberecalledthatwhenRashidAlisupported bycertainhighArmyleadersseizedpowerbyforceamonth agohedeclaredpubliclyhisintentiontohonourtheAnglo- ? IraqiTreatyofAlliance.Consequently,whenHisMajesty’s Governmentnotifiedtheirdesiretoopenthelineofcommuni- cationsthroughIraqforBritishforces,inaccordancewith arrangementsmadewiththeIraqiGovernmentayearago,he agreedtothisaction,andtroopslandedatBasrawithout incident.When,however,somedayslaterafurthercontingent wasnotified,theIraqiauthoritiesdeclaredthatthey wereunwillingtograntpermissionforfurtherBritishtroops toarriveinIraq,beforethosewhichhadalreadyarrivedhad passedthrough,BritishinsistenceontheirTreatyrights andthelandingoffurthertroopsatBasrawasfollowedby amenacingconcentrationofIraqitroopsroundHabbaniyah, andthelocalIraqiCommanderconveyedtotheBritish OfficerCommandingatHabbaniyahaprovocativemessagethat noflightsortroopmovementsatHabbaniyahwouldbe permittedunderthreatofbombardment.Representationsby theBritishAmbassadortoRashidAlitosecurethewith- drawaloftheIraqitroopsweredisregarded. Thereisreasontobelievethataconsiderablesection oftheIraqipopulationdeplorestheanti-Britishpolicy adoptedbyRashidAli,andwouldwelcometherestorationof thefriendlyrelationswhichhavehithertoexistedbetween thetwocountries. FOREIGNOFFICENEWSDEPT. AIRMINISTRYNO.37712/5/41- N0,42. AIRMINISTRYAM)MINISTRYOFHOMESECURITYCOMMUNIQUE. Thereisnothingtoreports