/ V 4(4/42 No. 1. QUARTERLY BIRTH RLTJ.G HIGH10T FOR FIVE YEARS . The Quarterly Return of th o Registrar-Genera]. for tho three months ended 31st Deconbcr (issued tocby by H.Ho S-t;o.ticmcry Office, York House, · KingS\:ay , . ·1_.r . C. 2. 1')rice 6d. post free 7d.) shoYrn that the nunb er of births in England and 1h1les durinG the qwirter was 145,106. This is the highest total for o.ny Decer.1ber quarter since 1931. The birth rate per 1 1 .000 of the 1 population \laS 13,9, Yrhich is the highest.in the fourth qua~ter since 1936. The rate in the corresponding three months of 1940 -v::as 13,1, anc1 .the avero.ge rate for the December quarters in the five years prior to ·1940 was· 13.8, Over the whole of 1941, hpwever, the number of births uas the lor.rest since 1933. The total was 586,778, which is 20,251 feuer than in ·1940, and the rate of 14. 2. compares \d th 14. 6 in 1940 and 11+-• 9 in 1939. FE'.'".TER 1/IJ\RHIA GES The number . of rm.rriag'es in England. and Y{ales last year ·was · fei-:rer than those of either 1940 or 1939 but 1.ias still Yvell in excess of the pre- Yvar level.. The tofal of 387,510 marriages, or a rate of 18. 7 persons · married per 1 1 000 population, compares with 468,267 in 1940, ,.,-hen the rate of 22.6 was the highest on record. In the December quarter the numb er of 11lflITio.ges Y:as 97,258. This is 14,829 fe-rrer than in the corresponc1ing }_)eriod of 1940, and 1,188 below the average for the five years prior to 1940. The number of deaths ·was lll+., 768 - the lovrest in any December quarter since 1934, . The death rate of 11.0 per 1,000 compares with 13,9 in the '-, fourth quarter of 1940, and an average of 11. 9 for the five years prior to 1940. The death rate among children under one year of age Tvas 56 per 1,000 live births - 3 belm-r the average of the ten preceding fourth quarters. For the whole of 1941, cleaths in England and ~fales totalled 534,643, a fall of 46,894 compared vd th 1940 •. · 1HNISTRY OF HEALTH ( General Rc_g_ister Office) ._., MAIL . SERVICE FOR PRISONERS OF ,VAR IN JAPAWESE HANDS The Postma.star General wishes to make knovm that proposals have been made to the Japancsc _Goyonimcnt for the establishment of a ffi:lil service to Prisoners of War and into·r ncd civilians in ·Japanese hands. Relatives will realise that vd thout the agreement of tho Japanese Government letters cannot be forwarded to Japan and Japanese occupied territories, but : everything possible. is being done to obtain tho a·greemcnt of the Japanese Government, and a public announcement will be made as soon as a ma.il service bas been established. · Mcamvhilc there is- no advantage to bo , gained by writing lot tors to ad.drossoos in thoso couni;;rios, nor is there any advantage in addressing letters to · tho International Red Cross Canmi ttee or to the British Red Cross Soofoty, . nci thor of vvhich is in o. position to , forward oorrespondonoo at tho present time. wt tors addressed to civilians in tcrrito..,~es nov,r in Japanese occupation are being returned to the senders and those addressed to service personnel arc b_o ing retained for disposal when the necossa :ty infor:mntion is ava ilable • .. .·... . ,•: GENERAL · POST OFFICE \ AIR. M!NI.SrTRY i'JID _l:lINISTFn; OF HOME SECURITY .!COMMUNJ; 0UE An enemy n:brcrnft lnst -night dropped bombs in th~. south west of England en.using' slight da.rnnge.. No cnsun.ltics hn.ve been · reported., .......... ---oOo--- 4,4,42 - No. 5 B1JRM.A COlvIMUNI,C:UE The withdra-vnu of ou:c covering force from FROlvm proceeded satisfactorily yesterday. The enemy f olloweq. u;p hard, but were successfully dealt vfi th, · During the v1ithara'\'ial cur troops were subjected. to severe air attacks causing some casualties. MANDALAY ·1i-;as borr.bed heavily yesterday morning. No military damage -was caused, though a hospital caugh~ fire and the _ patients had to be moved to safety. Two other tovms in Central Burma VvRre bombed --yestera.ay. The . ,lamage was slight, · .......... VI.Ali. OFFICE Air Ministry Bulletin No.6621 ~ • • .L- ·--•---~--•~•~ . -.,--... Air Mini"?_t_ry Ne·~- s Service 1 HEINKEL DESTROYED . AT ITS BASE A fighter-bomber of Fighter Comr::innd destroyed a Heinkel 111 as it landed on an eneny airfield in Northern France during the night. other- fi ghter-b~~bcrs of the Conmand dropped bombs on aerodrrn-1es and a marshalling yard. The Heinkel 1ms c1estroyecl by a close stick of bo,1bs dropped immediately in front of its nose as it can e to a stop on the rummy. The pilot and cre'."7 of the Havoc had follov,ed the enemy bomber dorm but '\7ere not able t o close -.:i thin firing range before it touched do :m. 1 They flew over it at 800 feet and after the bombs had dropped sa'.: , the silhouette of t he Hein.lcel enveloped in vivid orange spark s fo'll.o'.-ring the huge fl a sh of an explosion, Yrhich i.78.S felt and _. heard inside our aircraft. .- I .,___,. MIDDLE EAST UAR COivlMUNI0UE Cairo, Saturd.a.y, 4. 4. L.,2 Patrol activity was on o. restricted. ·scale in LIBYA yesterday" • ..................- 4/4/42 No. 12 EXTRLCT FROM THE INTERNl1TIONliL co:NVENTION RELl1TIVE TO THE TRE.i:TMENT OF PRISOITT-2S OF vrnR Genevn, July 27 1 1929 Trenty Series No.37 (1931) These extracts fron i7hi tc x<1pers No. 36 nncl No. 37 nre relevnnt to thG Rcpntri~tions of British nnd Itnlinns sick nnd wounded Frisoners of Y-iCir: - Section 1 - Direct Repntrintion nnd .t\cccm1:10dation in n Neutrol Country,, Jrticle 68. Belligerents sh~ll be required to send bnck to their mm countr"J, without reen.rd to rnnk or nw-i1bers, ofter rendering then in n fit condition for trnnsport, prisoners of no.r ·.-,rho nre seriously ill or seriously Hounded. ligr.ecments between the belligerents shnll therefore determine., ns soon os poss\ble, the fon:1s of disnblen-:mt or sickcnss requiring direct repntrintion nnd cnscs· which may neccssi tbtc ncconnodation in n neutral country. Pendi:r:g the conclusion of such o.g;reemcnts, tho bellit3crcnts t1ny refer to the 1:1odel drnft ngreenent nnnexcd. to the present Convention. On the opening of hostilities, belligerents sho.11 come to an understnnding as to the ·nppoinh1ent of r;.1ixcd nedico.l coni 1issions. These ooi11Fdssions shall consist of three r.1embers, two of 'irhoL1 sho.11 'belong to o. neutral cquntry anc1 one appointed . by the detaining Povrcr; one of the ncc1icc1l officers of the neutral country shall preside. These mixed L1cdicc.l crn:1nissions shnll proceed to the exo.rainntion of sick or -rvaundcd prisone~s nnd shnll mnke o.11 npproprinte decisions with regard to them. The decisions of these commissions ·shall be decided by mo.jori ty ond sho.ll be cnrried into effect ns soon os possible. In nddition to those prisoners of ~.:ror selected by the ratl.dicc:\l officer of the cm1p, the folluvving shetll be insp0ctcd by the rnixecl m0dicn.l Coii1D1ission mentioned in Article 69, with n vievJ to their direct rcpntrintion or nccor:1r:10dntion in o. noutrnl country; (o.) prisoners who nnke o. cliroct request to thnt ~ffcct to the medical officer of the cm;1p; (b) prisoners presented by the prisoners' rcpr,esentntives mentioned in .t'irticle 43, the lntter acting on their ovm ini tio.tive or on the request of the prisoners themselves; ( c) prisoners nor.iinnted by the Po-rrer in, ·whose o.rned forces they served or by '--' o. relief society duly recognised nnd nuthoriscd by that Power, 1\rticle 71. Prisoners of vrar who ncct ·with nccic1cnts nt ·work, unless the injury is self- iri..flictcd, sho.11 hnve the benefit of the sm:1e provisions us rego.rds repntrintion or nccomnodntion in n. ne.utr::.11 country. l1rticlc 72. During the continunncc of hostilities, o.nd for htm1Dni tarian reasons, belligerent; moy conclude ogreencnts vri th .'.:l view to the direct rcpDtrintion or aocomr:1odn.tion in o. ncutro.l country of prisoners of w2r in good hcnl th who h,wc been in cnptivi ty for n lonG th.1c. i)rticle 73. ~ ~ expenses of rcnntrin tion or trr.nsnort to n l)C\,ltral country ,"Jf prisoners of wo.r s 11 be borRe-1--- os rrorn the frontier of the detaining Power, by -r;he Power in whose ornect orces suc1. 1:-'risoncrs -::,-rcrvect. lirticle 74. - No rcpntrintccl person sho.11 be cnploycd on active mil-itEtry service~ FO~IGN OFFIC~ :\mvrs DEPlillTM8NT .._____, NOT FOB :i'UBLICJ~TION' BRO.i'J:C1--.ST ' o: l USE or; CLUB 11JJ?ES BEli10RE 00,30 D.B. S. T. ( i. c. F'QI;_ 81.Jrill.il.Y ?i~:ERS) ON iw:,3IL 5; 1942 . THIS EMBARGO SHOULD :BE Kf!:Sl?:BC~~·w OV:G::1SEAS BY PREF.L~CING ANY h'fESSAC~ES FILED WITH 1tl:3 E~/Cb}J1C'£l Ah E.:ister messo.ge from British Christi~1s to the occupied lando over tho signo..tures of the leaa.ers of the British Ohurob.os is being broo.a.cast to...;night and. through Easter Dn.y. 'Our heo.rts are ·with you in your· suffering, Rcrnembo:c -tho..t . after Good Frie.lay came }~aster Mornir.g, Christ is Rfoenl r 1 .Chc message i:-3 signed by Dr. 'Vlilliarn Temple (Archibishop De 9ignate of Canterbury); Dr. HuJcchison C ockbun1. (Moderator of the Church of GcotLmd), Oard.incl Hinsley (11.rchbishop of Westminster' and. Dr ... Sicl.ney Derry (Modero.tor off the J~ree Church l?odcroJ. Council) . · ------------ MDJU;TB.Y OP INFO:E~ ,iATION 4.4. 42 - No. 15 I PRESS NGrICE The /,.drn.iral ty anno~ces thri_t _.::i_pplicc_ tions to attend the June exarainc:. tion for Naval Cadetships at the Royc~l Nnval Colle.r3c, D2-rtmouth, must be ,received by the Secretary of the ,\dmiral ty, -C.'J. Branch ( C. J. 505), Rex House, Lower Recent ~treet, Lpndori~ s::r.1., i).ot later th::m th0 10th 11:ay _next . ".,·· ·• •.,, Appl'ico.t_ioris ·co..:n- only pe considered fron candidates- born on· or between the 1st December, 1928 o.nd tpe 31st J1c:.rch, 1929. 11 he· educational test to be unde:cto.ken by candidD. tes is· . the Common Exa.nina tion for Entrance to Public Schools. • In addition to the Ordi:nary Entry ten sch,olo.rships 2.re offered for competition 2.t each examination to boys fron grar:.t-o.idecl SecondD.ry Schools and up to ten to boys frot1 other_ schools. Generous fin:::mcial assistance tow-ards the fees o.nd expenses c.t Dartmouth College is given to the parents of boys appointed to Scholo.rship_s if their income is below a certain limit . In cases of smu.11 incories the o.s~istance includes the rer.1ission of o.11 fees and expenses. The full regulations for Entry :-_ncl 'i'raininc at the College anc.l afloat r.1ay be obtained on application to the Secretary of the L.dr:iiro.l ty r..t the address quoted •. ++++++++++++++++ ADMIHiiLTY 4/4/42 - Ho . 17 FURTHER CUTS IN REST1\ UR.L.iNT C.:'1R FllCILITIES The Minister of \!nr Trnnsport hns decided tho.t it ho.s now . becooc necessory to onkc further substnntinl reductions in the nunber of rcstnurnnt co.rs on tro.ins . Durin.3 the Enster period c.11 resto.uro.nt co.rs ho.vc been with- dro-vm fron steo.n trnins [tnd in r.mny co.ses these oDrs will not be reinstQted . Under existin0 conditions it is not pos3ible to provide extrn food 2nd refreshnents [1,t rnilwoy st3.tions nnd pnssengers mo.king long journeys nre strongly odvisea to toke their food with them . +++++++++++++++ MINISTRY OF WAR TR11NSPOR'.11 The follO'\:ving communique has been issued by the Chinese Arrey in Burma: - There were minor patrol engagements along the T:HAI border yesterday. Nothing of consequence was rep orted hovrnver and ther e vrns no report 'from the TOlTI'JGOO FRONT. ................ ---........... . - W.AR _OFFICE Lir Ministry: Nq. 6622 MIDDLE - FAST S)OMEUNIQUE The landing ground o.t Dorna, as TTell QS the hn.rbour and shipping at Benghazi, vrero ro.icLed by our bomber afrcraf·t during Thursday night ( April 2/3) • :Enemy ground. f ot-c es in the forward areas of Cyrenaica were attacked.-. During yesterday (April 3) ~he landing ground at Derna was again bombed. . , In the course of. this oporntion one Me. 109 vro.s shot dmm, and ot_hl.)r enemy fighters ~1er.0 spverely damaged. Enemy raids on l.1'.a.l ta were continuct1 on Thursday and yesterday, On Thursday, our fighters shot do,;,n one Ju. 87 and the anti-aircraft gun barraf}3 destroyed. two Gorman dive bonbcrs. Yesterday one Ju.88 ,-ras shot d.oYm by nnti-aircraft gun-fire, None of .our aircraft is .missing. , 4-.4.42 _ No• . 20 • idr Ministry _!ioYIB Service .~~J.r lvfinistr;: ~µJ,:iQt.:1.-n. _._N., ._ 66.2-3 THREE ENEMY .1\IRCR.i\FT DOV{N IN WESTERN DESERT Intercepting a lnrge f ormntio.n of bor.ibers with their escort of Mes. ~nd JvI:-icchis, British Emc1 South l1frican fighter s qu[\dr-v ns in the 'Je stcrn-- Dos.crt · _shot dO"w.n one Ju,88 nnd tvv0 of the escortinG _!is_h t.crs . on 1.\ pril 2. One Pilot, flying 8 T:)no.hD'rrl~, shot dovm two fi 6h_tors D:nd _dnmoged n thirc1. "I _"-,V as trnvcllinc:s vory f c,st 11 , he snid., 11 nnd sud.clonly I so.v-r tho blue belly of lfri o.ircrnft ·in r:i.y stghtt:r. I opened· fire and he roll'ecl on to his bocl:$: r,np. Yvc_nt dmm out of cdntrol, into the sen. "..'is I dived down c1ftcr hir.1 I spotted two more .fighter~ rac~ng · ncros-s the coo st for home. I c.nu2:ht up Yri th the r onr one,·:· got ·: beneath he his tr.il, 3:.wo hit1 o · burst r-. ncl -:rent strdght clown [;nd hit the -gound." 11 Flight Scr;~co.nt fr-or:.1 Lnnc[\shire bngged the_ bom bcr that wns ·· destroyed. . He sc:w about t-rrenty b01~1bcrs - ovc'r · the· sc:,. , ..nnd went strai 0 ht il1; nt then t~kinG r. quick burst Dt the first. "I govc the next one nll I h ;_- ,_ d, " . he so.id. ' "White· sraoke cnne pourin ·~ out of hitte .nnc1 he ':.-rent into the s0e1 ." · T'rto Kittyh£rwks divcc.'l in turn .on o Mncchi 0202, 00ch closing. richt in to hin , firing, ond then turning steeply _o:wny . to - 8Vd'id 8 coll is on. They ·l eft :the Italfon -with bi ts flying · fro l·1 ·his vine nnc.1 fusel3so, vvi th oil pourinc · fron his ·engine. · +++++++++++++++++++++ NO'.r FOR HIBLiqATION' BRO.,'JJCAST' on mE ON CLU13 T. .':.PES BJ~FORE 00.30 DEB.r .. (i.e. FOR smm.1-l.y PAPERS; ON APRIL 5 19li-,2 THIS U:.i3ARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSLA.S BY PREFACING Al\TY MESSAGES l11 ILED WITH Till~ EEBARGO. CHANGES ----· IN POINT =-------··~ ~--~ ... ~ RATIONING s..c.--..- ---- ~ ~ Condensed miDc and cereal breakfast foods will be included in the Points Rationing Scheme for the new rationing period which begins on Honday, April 6. The pcints value of these foods wi.11 be as follows:- Co3:1~~-~-~=u~ Special full cream: sweetern:,d 1~·>Jt o-:1,a. 8 points ,,:-Z !! " 11 II o2 a. 4 II 1 Full cream s•,7eete'.'1.ed U 4 d. 8 II I! ti ti 6d. 4 ii :B'ull cream unsueetened 9-}d, 8 II II II 9a. 8 II II " 4--ta. 4 II American &2d• s· II Skim:,1 ed 6a. 10 l! II ·sa. 8 II !I 4a. 6 II Cereal Brea.kf2.st Foods . Containers of S r,zs. 2nd under 2 11("\ints 11 11 12 c:·.zs .. and nver 8 ozs. 3 fl n 11 O1.rer ]2 OZS,. 4 II Retailers ·vi/ill ba notified of the points value of eaoh brand. The value of the coupon..s in the pink r2.tion book (R.B, 10) ;_:i/ill also be changed, so as to increasJ the nu:nber of points for each consumer from 20 to 24 per 4-·week period. The values will be: - "A" Coupons 1 point . ''Bn ft 2 points "C" If 3 i)Oints Gou.pons r.narkeo. .X/N.1::\A, in leave or duty, ration ca:cd R .. E. R ... 6 points There will be i10 changes in the point values of any of the foods already included in the scheirie i Retailers are requested to continuB their practic0 of rnald.ng S.UlJljJ i .r-i~. of' :fiJ.7_1 cream sweeteneo. condensed milk avu..ilable for fru11ilies -r1ith babies. In certain areas in tho North of Sootl:-u1.d, 1ihei-Fl 00.r1.0 A11sed rni]Jc is still bein3: supplied in place of liqnid milk, the c0nr1nr118r Ytill not be required to surrender ·ooints oou~i.:: ons l'or condensed mi11;: until Ho.y 4. These aren.S are: - the Outer !fobrir3r:m, the IsJ.::3.,nrls of Skye, Ei 0 g and Rao.say; the Crn.mties of Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Cn.i.·thnAss. Catering esk·. blishrnents 'Jill cont:LnuB ~o recci ve, ,,-i thout the need to surrender points vouchers:: the qo.anti ties of lllls-.-reetened condensed milk ·which they at pres0nt receive 1-1-nder tr..e riermits aiready issued to them in respect of "th.._, rn1mher of maii.1 ~11cals SPJ."Vf➔ r!. ---------- AIR F ilUSTRY __ - - ..., .....______, C61:•·JJNI0UE _________ _______ ~ A sweep by squadrons of fighters and a small force ·of bombers was made over Northern France today. Railways near St, Omer ·were attacked by the bombers. Our fi ;_,hters had many combats with enemy fi hters, five of -r1hich are known to have been destroyed' and. many more were damaged., Eleven of our fighters are missing, ++++++++~++++++++++++ Spitfires of Pighter Comm.and aooompani_ed by bon1bers, to-day (Saturday) ·c arried out a large s9ale offensive sweep over Notthern France" '11hey were engaged in fieroe dog fights · ana five of the enemy were destr-oyed ... Despite enemy opposition the bomber~ reached thei~ objectives unharmed.,. dropped _their ,bombs Dnd all ·were escorted back across the Channel agai~. · One wing of fighters encountered 40 enemy aircraft vvhioh were endeavouring to attack the bombers from above and below. In the e11.S'lrl!ng combats many of the enemy were hit and damaged, but it was impossible to obs,erve the full results .. Another wing of ·s pitfires me'b fo,r mations of enemy fighters, most of which broke off the encounter and disa.ppea.red. inland, One which stayed; a Pw., 190, was destroyed, The·- victor, was so busily engaged aftetwards A that ._he did not see the · pilot bale ou·b but other R ..A.F. pilots. did., ~Iany of the fights took place at 20,000 feet, Four of the five ene~ aircraft d.estroyed, fell to a third Yr.Lng. l'he wing GH)m,mander who led the vring claimed one,. He Sa3/V eight Fvr.190s and turned to attack thmn. He probably got one with his first burst and then destroyed another with his second burst'.• Three of the eight were definitely destroyed~ A ·f lying offioer sent one d.o tin frorn short range after it had attacked a Spitfire. Then a flight sergeant destroyed another ,;ihioh ~.-ra.s 011.e of two tryin~ to attack a bomber. He savr his victim crash to the ground. He on.a the flying ·offioer then joined forces and esoorted. the bomber· home. f 4th ,.:...1Jril, 1942 . Yi. •.:i. • J:;1. 7 Of . ___::..;_ T_ F_·~- Y_.__"_,.J_ F_· _ _1._:_ _ r__ I_ l_T_T l\--ff ____ , __c ;_ R_::::_ __1J_ I_;__I_··_T_J_ P_._E_,__. . _._l'-_J _1'_J_o u N c E ME N T DESTRUCTICN OF RJ.TS D':J:2.ING TES THRt~SHING OF Rrc:;s The threshing of ricks affo rds an excellent opnortunity for the mass destruction of rats, MoreovGr , the killing of rats e.t threshing time is e. legfr.l obligation . Fc~rmcrs, o-wners of ricks and threshing • ~:mtrc~ctors are ago.in rsmj_nded of their res"r";Onsi bi1i tics under thf..-.. Ra ts Orders 191:l-l and 1942 . The:::,e Orders req1-.1ire th2.t b.. i\.1r8 the t h.re shing of any rick of corn, rye, te['~ns, pE..as , linseed or clover, the ric1,,: shf'_ll be surrounded by -2.. fence of m3terial irnr,tmctr2.blE; by rats, (:..nd the.t cf.c'ec tive steps shc.11 be k,ken to kill ra.tf:~ inside the fGnce . Procct:::.ci..;_ngs for failurE-; to ere ct the necessary fcnc ·, ng c an be t r-.ken E,.g2..inst the: occupier of th1:; lr-.nd, the 0°.mer of the rick, or t}:.e threshing contractor, or ?.gr.inst a.11 three c ollec ti v0ly . The onus for the dest ruction of thf.::: re.ts rests upon the occupier of the 1,~nd :-nd the owner of thf.:- rick . F2 ilure to c omply with the provi sions of these Orde r s renders the off5nc.1er , upon convic t ion , lie.ble to a t.._-r:m of imp ri sonrne:.mt or .s. hee.vy fi ne, · or both . Saturday A~ri]..~ 4, 1942 MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NEWS BULLETIN'••· i t.•l ._._, No.578 ~ ,1 DENMARK TO THE A.T.S. Just before the war, _,a 19 year old Danish girl completed her course in Physical ~aining in Denmark. , 'Ifoday she is a Corporal in the A,'J;',q, _... only Dtnish J).T. instructr~_s s in the Service. She is stationed at a large Training Centre in South Eastern . Command, Her father ·ovrned o. large business in Denmark, . o.nd for about .o. year she worked . with ·him. , Two vveeks before war bro'ce out, . Fredo. (shall vm call her?) crune to England to stay. with a Danish . friend, and in England she remained ever . since. , • "I couldn't leave at · the beginning,'_' she said, "it seemed too exciting n.n adventure to be missed, . 0 After I'd been over about four -months and ho..d learned a little English, I decided that it was about time to find a job - my funds were running . low, So I went as a muse-parlourmaid. ] - was very lucky, _. because al though I had ahmys dis- liked housework, - I managed to get into o.n_English household .in Virginia. Water, · Surrey, - where I soon became · one of the family - today I spend all' my leaves · there_. "Of course I miss my home and all the open air life - I used to be a keen member of a Svdimn:ing Club and for -three years swrun in · the North Sea ,vinter n.nd summer~ "But r love my life in the A.T.s. o.nd although the t ;ype of P.T. we give is different from what I studied in my ovn country, _ it- is certainly most· effective and popular when dealing vdth ·women of all varieties . and ages that vrc get . at the Training ©:ent:re. It is mainly recreation~l, _ o.nd we try to introduce certain exercises ·which will help them in the particular - occupations they may be called on to foil ow when they have completed their basic training." - WD..r Offi:ce, Miao.I. - 1 ----~ DON'T WAST AIR.GRAPH FORMS Post Office _1yP-Peal Every week members of the public ask at post offices for 360,_000 forms on which to ,vrite airgro.ph letters to the Forces,_ but only 280,000 letters are handed in for despatch .. Although the number of unused forms is half what it was in the early days of the airgraph service, th~ Post Office asks for still greater care in their use in vievr of the acute paper· shortage. Requests should be made only for sufficient forms to meet immediate requirements. Gen~ral Post Office M.o.I. 2 CEYLON STILL SENDING During the last seven days of March contributions to the Times of Ceylon ttSend a Plane" Fund amounted to £15,000 making B. total to d.D.te of £157,000~ The grand total of the four wro:- funds sponsored by the paper now exceeds £250,000 • ..; Ministry of Information M.o.I, 3 TRACKLESS TRAINS? T.bkio Radio put out this statement: "Railway wagons destroyed in the war in Malaya are estimnted at 50 per eent, Tb make up this deficiency many goods · wagons have been brought from Japan".. The flo.w in the story is that the gauge of the Japanese ro.ilrrays is 3ft 6ins and that of the Malo.y railwo.ys on~y one metre ., . The gauge of the Thailand and Irido- Chino. railways is also one metre, so that if the Jnps arc _replB:,cing Malay's "scorched" wagons they can only be doing so by robbing their "friends O Thailand and Indo-C'hino.. Mip.i _s try of Informntion · M.o.I. 4 l""'-,--000...,-.,-