FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION No. 15th April 77 ,1940 YUGOSLAVIA* GEK.iI INVASIONS COND I'NKD. Condemnation of the German action in invading Norway and Denmark was which expressed in the POLITIKA together with other Yugoslav-newspapers is deeply impressed with the British Navy’s in Norwegian waters. successes "The degree to which legal -princiiales have degenerated in the -world is shown by the fact that this time there v/as not even the slightest attempt to cover the infringements of neutrality by shadow of legality", declared the this newspaper. Commenting on German denials that a large sea battle took place, this writer asked.: ’’How are British losses possible if there was no battle?” The daring action of the British Navy at Narvik in which seven Ger. an destroyers were lost was given front page prominence in the Belgrade news­ papers and weekly journals commented, favourably on the Allied successes. FRANCE: BRITISH NAVY SUCCESSES. British Navy successes off Norway have been given great prominence in the French Press and one view was that the German Navy had. been dealt such a blow that it was unlikely to recover. M. Blum stated: "It is no to say that the whole of Prance is with the sailors, the airmen and perhaps, the soldiers who, in the storm and. fog of the North Sea and. the snow storms, are attacking in their turn the barbarian invader* When I speak of sailors, airmen and soldiers, I make no distinction between Anglish and French, between those who fight under the Union Jack and those who fight under the tricolour. The French people is well aware that in this struggle, in which, for the first time, the issue of our common v/ar is at stance, England is taking the greater part and. running the greater risks, writing in the Left King POPULTIRE, vain metaphor "If the public is impatient, excited and strained, it remains, none the less, confident and firm* It is true that v/e wish that Norway had been already freed, that the whole German fleet had been destroyed and that the German Expeditionary Force had been made prisoner or taken to *'. sea, but it can be clearly understood that now, at the end. of the first week, results of great importance have been The German already definitely achieved. Navy, which Hitler has built u during the last has been dealt a blow from which it seven years, is unlikely to recover, The German supplies of iron-ore are, for the most part, threatened or stopped and Hitler has just proved, beyond doubt, that the Allies have attacked him at a very vulnerable point. Germany is cut off from Norway and. this makes it necessary for Hitler either to leave his troops, his invading army, without help or else to seek other and hazardous ways of bringing them reinforcements. "Public opinion now recognises that the urgent problem which facer; us, is to bring to as the Norwegian troops, quickly as possible, the help which Hitler is to the German powerless to bring troops. It is probable that this problem is now being solved. I have never tried to persuade the readers of the POPUIAIRE that an adventure like that in N can be entered on without risks. In the terrible game of war, all the luck is never on one side, and chance plays its part, but when I write that public opinion is firm and confident, I am profoundly convinc d. that public opinion is right." orway FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATIONCOMPILED FROM 77 15th April, 1940 No. U. S. A: ADMIRAL SCRLER TORPEDOING FEATURED. The of the torpedoing German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer is given great prominence in to-day’s New York Press supported by reports of Norwegian resistance to the Nazis. Mr. Roosevelt’s condemnation of the German invasions is warmly supported by the NEw YORK TIMES. In an editorial article this paper writes: ’’American neutrality does not imply a cowardly silence in the face of brutal invasions of small countries. The President expressed the feeling of the overwhelming majority of our people. For sheer brutality and for hideous wrong nothing in Nazi records can compare vdth the invasion of Norway. It is a desecration of all that is finest in human spirit. It is like seeing a beautiful painting spattered with mud slime. To Americans who watch it from 3,000 miles away it is as obscene as seeing a little child, attacked and murdered. In another editorial article on Scandinavian Merchant Marine this declares: to the paper ’’Hitler has generously handed back Allies a great pro­portion of their merchant shipping. large part of the Norwegian and Danish A merchant fleets now fall into Allied hands. The British and French have not received, a more handsome present from their eneiry in this or any war. It will be more difficult than ever for Germany to starve the British by her sea warfare or to prevent the Allies from building up a crushing preponder enc o in v/ar materials. a to this Anne McCormick writing on Paris In Paris despatch paper as a capital fox the refugees of Europe states: "What is happening in France among the refugees is a companion piece to what is happening in Norway. It illustrates Hitler’s genius for turning friends into enemies and encircling Germary v/ith an iron ring of hate and fear. ” The persistency of the Italian nev/spapers in presenting news favourable to the German viev/point is' condemned, by the NEW YORK HERALD-TRIBUNE* s Rome oqrrespcrident.After stating that the Italian people were dissatisfied with the pro-German presentation of '* Scandinavian nev/s this correspondent adds: ’’The co-ordination of the Italian Press with tire German has been so obvious that complaints are being heard on all sides. To-day a banker stated ’I am ashamed of our papers. They are humiliating to Italians. ’ The Italian Press usually prints extracts from the worldfe Press. There are practically none now. Particularly, there are none whatsoever from the American Press.” The Philadelphia EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER, condemning Nazism in a recent issue, declared: ”It is hard, to realise it but the Norwegian battles are the first to be struck in anger at Hitler by any Power of the size of Hitler’s Germany. For the first time the vaunted armed, forces of Hitlerism have been compelled to fight a foe other than the weak easy victims of iron-heeled, ruthless­ness and After each or third degree chicanery. bloodless, nearly bloodless, victory Hitler’s Germans felt pretty flush. They v/ere confident enough to despise the democracies. Hitler’s Scandinavian excursions have run him into more trouble than he has beenuaccustomed'to encounter when bent upon the subjuga­tion of Y>reak nations. Reduced, to the lowest terms, this Hitlerian thrust to­ wards the North must be counted, as a set-back to his strategy and policy. He has dared to challenge in a minor way a sea power he cannot match. He has further consolidated, opinion everywhere in favour of using any means available to crush German The aggression. The Hitler myth has been badly shattered. v/orld has been convinced for a long time that Hitler v/ould. sooner or later make a miscalcu­lation and out of get his depth. " FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR INFORMATIONFROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OFCOMPILED 77 15th April BELGIUM: BRITISH MINE-LAYING FEAT PRAISED, XT/> 1940 The whole Belgian Fress, with the exception of the STANDAARD and other Flemish Catholic newspapers, today features the Br tish Naval successes in Norwegian waters and a, deep impression is created by the laying of mines by British vessels along the German-Baltic coast. PAYS REEL, the Right Wing organ, in an article entitled "All Honour to the British", writes: "Still more brilliant than the Naval successes, though more discreet, is the mine-laying in Germany’s ’internal lake’ from Copen­ hagen to Memel. The mines may be swept, but the fact that the British Navy slipped through the network of German coast defences is stupendous. This action is one of the highest heroisn." The Socialist newspaper LE PEUPLE declares: "Germany is henceforth cut offj not only from the North Sea, but she cannot navigate in her own lake. The Peal blockade is now beginning." A the number of Belgian newspapers raise question as to whether the Fuehrer’s "strategical blunder" will affect his prestige in Germany, and in this connection, VOORUIT, the Socialist Party organ, printed in Flemish, declares: "A Dictator cannot make mistakes he must always be right. Woe to - him and his Regime when his blinded collaborators and hypnotised followers realise that their idol is a human being with human failings." The Liberal newspaper GAZETTE DE CHARLEROI states: "The Allies have spontaneously, rapidly and effectively helped Norway, despite the great intervening distance. They will help us if we are attacked in our turn, even more quickly because our country is nearer and they have guaranteed its integrity." ITALY: PRO-GERMAN ATTITUDE MAINTAINED. The Italian Press continued during the weekend to maintain its pro-German attitude, although the London correspondent of the 'POPOLO DI ROMA went so far as to state: "If the Allies succeed in smashing the German Fleet, as they hope to do, this will largely decide land operations in Scandinavia." GIORNALE Sigpoff Virginio Gayda’s comment in the D* ITALIA, was typical of the Italian Press. This writer stated: "The first phase of the operations is a splendid revelation of Germany’s bold spirit and manoeuvred arms. After several days of hard, heroic struggle, the British Navalforces had to retire for strategic reasons. Morally and militarily as well as economically, the , results have been to Germany and unfavourable to the exceptionally favourable Imperial Democracies." the Even more anti-British was the GAZZETTA DEL POPOLO, Turin newspaper, which stated: "It is impossible to restore lost ideals. The world now knows wnat England is. Whatever the cost, this crisis has brought the of benefit awakening an anti-British conscience in the world." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATIONCOMPILED FROM N37 15thApril 1940 , GERMANY: DANISH SHIPS' TRANSFERS AIJNOY NAZIS. Nazi annoyance owing to the fact that a number of Danish ships are now was vented in the BERLINER BOERSEN in a on Britain. legally to fall into British hands, ZEITUNG, customarily violent attack Under the headline "Raid on Danish Fleet -London Demands Danish Ships' Entry into British Ports", this paper printed a message with a Copenhagen date line. It declared: "The FAEDRELANDET states that the Danish Government has issued an order to Danish ships in the Mediterranean to enter neutral ports, principally Italian and Spanish. This order has put the English Government into an absolute rage, and they have now issued a broadcast appeal to all Danish Captains not to obey the order of their Government but to enter British ports." The message continued by alleging that if the demand were not the fulfilled, Danish ships would be torpedoed without warning. The statement continued: "At the same time the crews of the Danish ships are called on to mutiny if their officers do not obey the English order." was This message reproduced in all German newspapers with typical headlines, such as -and "England calls for Mutiny Threat to Torpedo without Warning" "Latest British Plan of Robbery -Danish Merchant Fleet called on to Mutiny"# In an attempt to convince German newspaper readers that the Cologne Spring Fair was a German over-reached themselves. success, many papers Marshal Goering's organ, the NATIONAL ZEITUNG of Essen, stated: "On the first day almost all the stands hotly besieged there were frequently were and absolutely alarming crowds in the rather smaller halls of the new Exhibition Buildings. Household articles were everywhere in demand so that the demands could not be covered." The BERLINER BOERSEN ZEITUNG declared: "On the first day there was a demand by buyers such as has not been seen in previous fairs. In the textile branches, the Cologne Fair is not only an instrument for the direct supply of goods, but serves at the same time the equally important purpose of acquainting dealers and retailers with progress in textile manufacture and the of home materials." use NORWEGIAN SWITZERLAND: SWISS FAITH IN RESISTANCE. Eaith in the Norwegian army, backed by the Allies, is expressed in today's Swiss Press. The military correspondent of the JOURNAL DE GENEVE, the Conservative news­paper writes: "One feels certain that the Norwegian people will oppose the aggressor until Norway's entire independence is restored, Germany, in extending her front, has laid herself to serious difficulties. Her position in Norway may well open soon become precarious." The GAZETTE DE LAUSANNE, the Liberal newspaper, declares: "The rashness which has incited Germany to attack Norway, may give good reason for hope to all Germany’s admits it not, almost all the enemies, who constitute, whether one or free peoples of Europe, It is certain that Hitler has rendered a signal service to his enemies. does but defends herself. This is wuat Switzerland would do "Norway not yield, in & like case." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW survey of world comment on the war DAILY MINISTRY OF INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS COMPILED 15th April, No*' 1940 SWEDEN: ADVICE ON BRITISH TRQO? LANDINGS. a with the military position in Norway, and one view put forward was that the landing of British troops should be concentrated at Trondheim or Bergen. The Swedish Press has occupied itself to large extent, speculation on Writing in the AFTONBLADET yesterday, Observator considered that the battle of Elverum was a decisive turning point in Norwegian self-defence. This writer it a German added: "Although appears hopeless fight for the Norwegians, successes will depend on gaining control of communications before Allied troops ar.ive. Allied troops are unable to arrive before a certain period? the length of which on is dependent Allied preparation. "The Allied operations aiming to expel the Germans must be concentrated at Trondheim or Bergen in the heart of Norway. The most important factor is whether Germany can reinforce her army in Norway. The sea route is practioally blocked-and only small numbers of troops can be moved. The air presents bigger possibilities and large numbers of troops can be transported from Jylland -possibly 9,000 a day, or at least 5,000. Thus, in one week, 55,000 can sent, but supplies difficult problem, although transport is be form a obtainable in Norway. "However, difficulties increase as the forces increase. The more time that the for the and is taken, the greater will be danger Germans, vital points must be taken before the Allies arrive. The Norwegians must attempt to prevent the Germans from capturing vital points, but the suddenness of the German invasion makes Norwegian mobilisation difficult. If the Norwegian mobilisation is successful, the German force will be surrounded, but the German forces are increasing daily and Norwegian tactics must at resisting the Germans until aim the Allies arrive. Norway’s fate is dependent on Allied help." The Conservative newspaper SVENSKA DAGBLADET, described the German air chase of King Haakon and added: "How is it Germans do not understand possible that the that the persecution of Norway’s King only makes him dearer to the Norwegian people and strengthens their resistance#” Pointing out that the threat to the King’s life adversely affects the German offer to negotiate, this paper continued: "It is clear that American public opinion will also respond." Commenting on the bombing of Liverum SVLNSKA DAGBLADET• added: "We are hardened by events in Finland but we still regard the Russians and Germans as different people and furthermore the Germans have proclaimed that they do not intend to bomb open towns. Liverum is not even a fortified town, yet it was the subject of a bombing attack which laid everything in ruins and caused fifty deaths. These events do not correspond with the mild concil­iating tone adopted towards Norway in Berlin. Berlin circles do not acknow­ledge Quisling emphasise the occupation of Denmark Norway aims and that and at the ’extension of the European peace area’". DAGENS NYHETER, the Liberal organ, reviewing the war at sea stated: "In the vital area between the Danish islands and the Oslo Fiord the Germans dominate the air but it is a question of whether this domination will continue in face of the Allied control of the which is imminent in this area." sea, FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION BY * No.77 15th April, 1940 V-IiEZUALA. NEUTRALS ADVISED TO CO-OPERATE, Advice to the neutrals to co-operate was contained in a leading article in AHORA. r.. "Once more the German Forces move against defenceless countries, subjuga­ting them on any pretext," it was stated in a leading article in this journal. "All the world condemns such aggression. All the small neutrals are in a state of fear as their entry into the war depends only on Nazi In designs. Berlin if any crime is believed as advantageous it is carried out unscrupulous­ly. The neutrals have no alternative but to plan collective defence or succumb one after the other." In another leading article in AHOEA it declared "Hitler's expansion was cycle continues. If the Allies do not use the same tactics they will find themselves in a position of a pugilist fighting according to the rules against another who is repeatedly fouling. The world is the referee which, unable to stop the fouler, must allow the other one to foul also. Britain and France insist on fighting according to the rules not realising that the fight is not against gentlemen but against scum." BRAZIL: RELIEF AT BEITISH SUCCESSES. "We do not conceal our joy at the direction taken by events which are hostile to Nazism." comment This was contained in yesterday's CORREIO dAmANHA, which added; "We consider an Allied victory as the liberation of Germany herself and the end of groups scattered throughout the World of whom some like the Danish and Nor** of what wegian Nazis have already shown others may be capable." 0 JOENAL declared: "Germany is being taught the severest lesson of the war. Her imminent defeat will have great repercussions in Europe and Germany, The Allies are reaffirming the role of champions of liberty and Justice and are acting quickly, methodically and energetically. Germany has again offended the conscience of the World." Emphasising the losses already sustained by Germany in the Scandinavian the JORNAL DO COMiiEuCIO asked: "Where is the Russian Alliance? The remaining war, neutrals must now realise to which they should lean." 0 JORNAL refused to believe that Signor Mussolini would risk the prestige of Fascism in a conflict with the Allies or place Italian youth at the service of Nazi-Communist Atheism. In another article commenting on the invasion of Denmark and Norway, the JOENAL DO CCMMERCIO stated: "The Governments of the Powers which are fighting for an ideal that is, of absolute respect between nations face the situation - - with firmness. Adhering to the reason for which they entered into war, the and British and French Governments are still the safeguard of neutrals small nations. England and France by defending themselves are defending also the small European nations, which are now in greater danger than they themselves esren though they are engaged in a vital struggle with G-ermany." 15/4/40 -No. 1. COMPORTS FOR TROOPS FROM EMPIRE’S LONELIEST ISLE* They take Six Months to Get Here. A parcel of comforts for the troops sent from Tristan da Cunha, loneliest island in the British Empire, has arrived at the Army Comforts Depot, Reading, after a journey which took six months. The parcel, labelled ,fG. P. 0* London, from Tristan da Cunha, November 13th, 1939" contained fifty articles, chiefly socks, pullovers, and scarves made by the island women in fine quality wool from their own flock of 600 sheep. Many of the 150 inhabitants of this island, an extinct volcano situated in the South Atlantic, are descendants of the famous Captain Bligh. Their only contact with the outside world is provided by a ship which calls once a year and occasional visits from a Government inspection boat on the African station* On these visits the islanders depend for their supplies of flour, sugar, jam and other commodities* The islanders’ staple diet is potatoes and fish, which are plentiful. For some years, however, the potato crops have been aand a endangered by plague of rats the islanders wage permanent campaign against these pests* Several attempts.ihave been made in recent years to induce the Tristan da Cunhans to abandon the island, but they have always refused. Their attachment to this rocky fastness is very deep* Supreme ruler, schoolmaster, doctor, judge and priest is the Reverend Harold Wilde, who Ytent out to Tristan as a missionary some years ago and decided to stay among the people who had come to rely upon him for advice and help. Mr* Wilde came to London two and took "back years ago with him 15 tons of presents for the islanders from English well-wishers,. The gifts included pigs, a hand loom, wireless sets, a complete electricity plant, a new "boat and a number of dogs and cats. DOMINION & COLONIAL AFFAIRS, 15/4/40 -No. 2. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (MORNING) Paris, Monday, April 15* The following official communique was issued this morning 3-eneral Headquarters;­ from French Yesterday evening and during the night activity of our reconnaissances, artillery and action at various points of the Front. - AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. 15/4/40. No.3. R.A.F. AGAIN ATTACK STAVANGER. The Air Ministry announces Further harassing attacks were carried out at Stavanger Aerodrome last night by reconnaissance aircraft of the Coastal Command of the R.A.F* In spite of darkness and heavy rain, incendiary and heavy high explosive bombs were dropped on the aerodrome, and the ground defences were attacked with machine- fire. anti-aircraft fire was encountered, but our gun Heavy aircraft sustained no damage. - 15/4/40. No. 4. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. (NOT TO BE QUOTED AS AN AIR MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT ADD R.A.F. AGAIN ATTACK STAVANGER. The crew of one of the British aircraft reported seeing a sudden red glow, apparently caused by a big explosion. "iVe never seen a Brocks’ benefit night” said one the Germans of the young pilots, "But in Stavanger might have been having one last night ’‘The air was simply alive with blue and orange searchlights rockets, and shells which burst into 9 groups of four bluish white stars. "We sailed through it all and dropped our bombs right on the target. "My rear gunner sprayed "bullets down the "beam of one blue pencil searchlight which picked us up. The light went out at once, and remained out." AIR AFFAIRS. 15.4. 40/N0.5 P.N. 1635 PRESS NOTICE. The Postmaster General, the Rt, Hon. W. S. Morrison, M.C. , K.C. , M*P., has appointed Mr. I.L. Orr-Ewing, M.P., to be his Parliamentary Private Secretary. GENERAL POST OFFICE. 15th April, 1940. 15/4/40-NO:6. THE PALACE GUARD/ Trench Canadians Gome to London Tomorrow, London will see stalwart detachments of the Ist Canadian Division march through the streets tomorrow and on Saturday when the Royal 22nd, the French Canadian Regiment, and the Toronto Scottish arrive to take over guard duties at the Royal Palaces,... A band of the Brigade of Guards will meet both detachments and play them through the streets to barracks,* Each unit is sending about eighty men and every man chosen for duty at Buckingham Palace is six feet tall. The few under that height are being detailed for duty at 31. James’s Palace, The bands of the Grenadier Guards and Welsh Guards will band attend the mounting of the guard ceremonies, and the pipe of the Toronto Scottish will be augmented by that of the Scots Guards,’ The Canadians, apart from their guard duties, it is announced today, will furnish a sergeant from each unit to serve as orderlies to the King, and two others from each regiment will be detailed as cyclists to the King* The French Canadians will be on guard from April 17th to April 20th, and the Toronto Scottish take over for four days starting on April 21st, The who will be in Officers of the Royal 22nd, messing St, James’s Palace, will give the royal toast in French, Not since Norman times, it is believed, has the King of England been toasted as s,Le roi", If the Toronto Scottish abide by the Highland tradition when they drink the health of the King they will do so with one foot on the table, and after drinking, break the glass over their shoulders. DOMINION AND COLONIAL AFFAIRS 15/4/40 -No. 7. JOINT ADMIRALTY AND WAR .OFFICE.. COMMUNIQUE British forces have now landed at several points in Norway* 15th April, 1940. No. 8. Mi A. FT 1^37 JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT BY THS AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS MD MINISTRY OF FOOD. SEED WHEAT AND OATS Sales to County War Agricultural Committees Approved buyers are now permitted to sell seed v/heat or seed oats to County War Agricultural Executive Committees in England and Wales. The object is to enable the Committees to supply such seed to farmers under the Agricultural Requisites Assistance Scheme. The arrangement is authorised under new General Licences, made by the Minister of Pood, modifying the Home-Grown Wheat (Control) Order, 1939, and the Home-Grown Oats (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1940, under which sales could only be made to other approved buyers, or direct to growers buying seed for their own sowing. Since in Scotland arrangements for credits to farmers have been made with the Scottish Banks no similar authority to Agricultural Executive in that Country is necessary. Committees 15TH APRIL, 1940. No. 9. ministry of agriculture NLWS SIiRVIGN PON ALLOT?,IENT HOLDERS . No. 22. SAVE THE FRUIT BLOSSOM Soon the plums, early pears, gooseberries and currants will be in full blossom and with the blossom will come the usual anxiety lest some sudden night frost should visit us and wreck our fruit hopes for the summer. Fortunately there is a simple safeguard against frost when we have only a few fruit trees. A covering of old lace curtains or other flimsy material, or even a double thickness of thin string netting, over the bushes provides sufficient laid protection. If the trees are not too large on these as well string netting can be put straight away but it would not be safe the to have other materials in fact, curtaining in position yet; or similar fabric must only be in position at night and removed in the morning, for otherwise it might prevent bees and insects from visiting the flowers and doing their essential pollination work. A BETTER WAY TO GROW MARROWS The old fashioned way of marrows was to sow or growing plant them on the rubbish heap that was always to be found tucked away in some odd corner of the garden. Where the conditions were unfavourable only a few fruits were obtained; for mildew attacked and the plants stopped the growth. The method nowadays adopted by gardeners who value a heavy crop and have the space available is to give their marrows and just as good a position as they give their potatoes carrots - and peas one right out in the open, in the body of the plot, where do the kindly sun and health-giving air can their helpful work. A special “station'’ - as - it is called is prepared for each plant. A hole is o dug 2ft deep, the good top soil being put on one side, the poor sub-soil on the other* Into 1. the hole is tipped a Ift, depth of rotted manure, rotted lawn f mowings or rotted garden rubbish of some kind or another. Over this goes a 10 inch layer of top soil, 3ft, is allowed between station and station* In the centre of each station two mar:.ow seeds are sown. When the seedlings appear the weaker is withdrawn. A bush type of marrow is better for this kind of culture than the trailing type for "it keeps itself to itself", occupying only the of ground allowed it, whereas amount to the rambler sends its trails wandering far and wide. Under the "station" plan, two bush plants marrow will produce all the marrows needed by the average family, for grow; all that form will there will be none of the mildewing-off that happens with rubbish heap culture. WELWYN VEGETABLE CITY, Welwyn Garden City formed a ’'Home Food Guild" on the outbreak of war more food from private gardens to produce and allotments in the neighbourhood. "Make it Welwyn Vegetable Garden City" is their slogan, but several hundreds of pullets have already been distributed among their members as well. The two members whose pullets laid the first eggs were personally congratulated by the chairman of the Guild - and received their prize a bag of corn. A pig club is also in contemplation and the Guild Committee are in touch rith the local Council on the cuestion of the collection of food waste for this But purpose. nothing definite will be done about the pig club until the is a position regarding feeding stuffs supplies little clearer. The for free advice to he guild has arranged given to its members and they enjoy the advantage of co-operative purchase. 2a SPEED THE SPUD. When The in doubt, plant potatoes. Ministry of Agriculture still regards it as the best plan to crop the allotment in such a way that it yields a continuous supply of vegetables over the year* But among the many newcomers to the ranks of allotment holders there may be some who feel that this sounds rather ambitious for their first yerar as gardeners and will therefore wish to restrict the varieties of vegetables they grow. But potatoes are always a safe crop, especially on newly broken land* Moreover recent research has shown that the nourishing value of the potato is far greater than was once supposed* fp o • - 15/4/40 No.l0 OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE Further reports from our submarines indicate that another two German transports have “been sunk, and that besides this a convoy of enemy transports was attacked in the Skagerrak when four torpedoes found their mark* Another attack on transports and aircraft in Bergen was carried out by 15 aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm yesterday when several hits were obtained* One transport was set on fire, a small store-ship sunk and one large flying-boat was machine-gunned and burst ODD of into flames* our aircraft failed to return. For the information Press• of _the LEAVE PERMITS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the House of Commons, on the 12th March, that it was proposed to provide for the relaxation of the to motor statutory provisions relating licence duties so as to enable a member of His Majesty’s Forces on short leave from service afloat or overseas to drive a motor­car or motor-cycle of which he has allowed the licence to in his Arrangements have been made for the issue to those eligible of special permits which will authorise the use of a car expire but which is registered name. or cycle without a licence,, to commence on the 19th April* The conditions of eligibility and full directions as to the procedure to be followed, the regulations observed, and to be in connection with these permits, are set out in Orders which are being issued ao to Naval, Army and R A,F. personnel In Great Britain permits will be issued from the Recruiting Centres and R*A.F. Stations which already issue leave allowances of petrol* It is understood that in Northern Ireland similar permits will be issued from Local Taxation Offices® The special allowance of petrol coupons sufficient for about 300 miles of travel which is already issued in respect of licensed cars and cycles to members of His Majesty’s Forces on leave from certain services will be granted to holders of these permits, subject to the maintenance of the existing rule that the special allowance of petrol cannot be issued to the same applicant more than tv/ice in any period of twelve months. The general rules under which the permit scheme will be at its commencement are attached for information., It is operated should not condition of the scheme that the holder of a permit himself always drive or be present in the vehicle. a Ministry of Transport, Metropole Buildings, Northumberland Avenue, Y/ Co2» a 15th April 1940, (3240)0 Leave Permits for Motar Gars and ZV. 5/5/5. Motor Cycles. Rules for operation of scheme in advance of statutory authority* 1* The price of the Permit will be 10/-for a motor car and 2/~ for a motor cycle*. 2* The the Permit will be from the date of issue validitjr of until the day after the expiry of the holder’s leave* inclusive, and in no case for longer than 22 days. 3. The vehicle for which a Permit is issued must have been registered in the applicant's name when the last licence expired, and still be so registered* 4* Permits will be issued to Naval, Military and Air Force applicants Recruiting Centres (in the case of R.A.F. at and personnel only) at R.,A F. Stations. a 5. The permit must be on leave for not more apnlicant for a than 21 days. 6. Men applicants must be Naval, Army, or R,A*F. nersonnel on leave as under:­ (a) leave from service at a place which is outside the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands; or (b) leave from service in the Orkneys, the Shetlands or the Hebrides; or leave leave on the (c) from service afloat (including granted occasion of the loss of a ship or the paying-off of a ship’s crew); or (d) leave granted to a member of an aircraft operational crew of the R.A.F* or to flying personnel of a Ist line squadron of the Fleet Air Arm. 7. Women applicants must Toe on leave as above, and members of the following organisations:­ Queen Alexandra 1 s Royal Naval Nursing Service,, Women*s Royal Naval Service, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service* Territorial Army Nursing Service, Auxiliary Territorial Service, Princess Mary* s Royal Air Force Nursing Service,. Women's Auxiliary Air Force* 8, Application must te made in rerson, 9 * The aprlicant must produee:­ (a) his Leave Warrant (or in the case of Naval personnel a certificate from the Commanding Officer the the Officer in charge of the Base of ship, or or from "hich the holder proceeded on leave, Depot evidence that the falls into providing applicant one categories mentioned above); of the and (To) the Registration Book for the vehicle; third (c) a current Certificate of Insurance against party risks, 10* The Permit must he exhibited on the vehicle during its validity in the same way as a motor vehicle licence* Ministry oi Transport,. 15/4/40-No.13. sue-it FOR DOMESTIC P-RBSafiVTMG OF HO..j>a.iu li P.JUIIT. Householders who grow soft or stone fruit in their own gardens or allotments are reminded that applications for supplies of sugar for preserving these classes v of fruit must be submitted to Local Food Offices on the proper form of application later than Saturday next, not the 20th April. Details of the Sugar allowance that can be made for this and purpose of the procedure for obtaining the sugar will be notified in May as soon as the applications have been summarised and examined. MINISTRY OF FOOD. - 15/4/40. No.14. The recruiting campaign for the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps was launched at the Mansion House to-day hy the Lord Mayor and General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, and was so overwhelmingly successful that the special medical examination staff provided hy the Ministry of Labour was sufficiently not large to deal with the rush. Accordingly, some hundreds of would-be recruits had to he asked to wait until to-morrow, when further arrangements will he made. The keenness shown in the City of London to join the A,M.P. C*, was most encouraging* WAR OFFICE, Whitehall, S.W. 1. 15/4/40 -No 15 DEPUTATION FROM NATIONAL POULTRY COUNCIL Lord Woolton, Minister of Pood, received a deputation from the National Poultry Council on Friday 12th April. deputation following: The consisted of the Captain Guy Clifford, Mr, S. Street-Porter, Mr. W. Hamnett, and Major lan Macdougall (Secretary), The deputation raised a number of questions principally concerning the supplies and prices of feedingstuffs for and poultry, emphasized the importance of the release of whea.t for chicks and rearing stock during the next few months. Lord Woolton announced that steps were being taken to release to the feeding stuffs trade 5,000 tons of cut wheat per month for the rearing of poultry during the four months April to July. He also announced that an Advisory Committee was being appointed forthwith to advise him on matters relating to the trade in home produced eggs and that the Council had been invited to nominate a representative for appointment to the Committee. Lord Woolton undertook to examine carefully the other questions raised Ly the deputation.. MINISTRY OP FOOD 15/4/40. -No. 16. MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT. The Rt. Hon. Lord Woolton, Minister cf Food, has appointed Mr* R.J.P. Harvey and Miss K.N* Coates to he his Principal Private Secretary and Private Secretary, respectively. MINISTRY OF FOOD. A. M* Bulletin N0®533 IT IS REQUESTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE PUBLISHED UNTIL THE MORNING OP WEDNESDAY 9 I7TH APRIL, 1940. ROYAL AIR FORCE AWARDS NO. 19„ The King has been graciously pleased go approve of the following awards. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS,, Wing Commander Charles Howard CAHILL, A.F.C. Plying Officer Andrew Hood McLAREN. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL, Plight Sergeant Bernard Maurice BANNISTER, Sergeant Arthur Terence MAUDSLEY* Sergeant Anthony Paul REEN. The above awards are for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations. One of the recipients is described as a very good and able pilot, extremely energetic, and with very sound judgment, /mother carried out a reconnaissance flight to the Norwegian coast which entailed returning to a strange aerodrome in darkness. He flew blind from Norway. On another occasion when his aircraft crashed his action saved many Jives from the prompt danger of bursting bombs. NOTES ON CAREERS, Wing Commander Cahill is 43 years of age. He was born at Bristol. He was educated in Paris and at the Technical School, Belfast. He served as a private in the R.A.M.O. between 1914 and 1916 and then as in the R.F.A. and cadet in the R.P.C gunner in 1917, and at the end of the war was a Lieutenant in the R.A.F, He continued in the R.A.F. after the war and was promoted Wing Commander in 1938. He has served in Iraq and the Mediterranean. He was awarded the A.F.C. as a new year honour in 1933^ 40 Flying Officer McLaren was born in 1918 at Montreal. He was educated at Daniel SteY/arts College, Edinburgh, and studied engineering at Dundee Technical College. He was granted a commission in the R.A.F. in 1936 and has been engaged principally on flying duties. Flight Sergeant Bannister, who is aged 28, joined the R.A.F. as an aircraft apprentice fitter in 1928. He reached his present rank in January last year. His home is at Torquay and he was born at Gloucester. Sergeant Maudsley, who was born at Morecambe in 1914, was a gardener before joining the R.A.F. in 1931. His home is now at Caton, Lancashire, and he reached his present tank in 1938 Sergeant Recn, who is aged 24, was born at Harlesden, Middlesex, and was employed in a garage before enlisting in the Royal Air Force in 1935• He reached his present rank in 1939, His home is at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Press and Publicity Branch, Air Ministry, King Charles Street, Whitehall, S*W,l* 17.4.40. - 15.4.40 No. 18. PRESS NOTICE. The Danish community in Bangkok hr s enquired of the Danish Club in London whether Danish or Scandinavian Volunteeer Corps are being formed in Britain and what are the conditions on joining concerning outfit, maintenance and age. It is also of interest to note that the Danish Minister in Washington has proclaimed himself the representative of free Denmark. FROM FOREIGN OFFICE NLWS DEPARTMENT. (SOURCE NOT TO BE QUOTED). - 15/4/40 No. 19 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (EVENING) Paris, Monday, April 15, 1940. The following official communique was issued, this evening from French General Headquarters:­ SHARP LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS, ONE TO THE EAST OP THE MOSELLE, THE OTHER AT THE FRONTIER OP THE PALATINATE, BETWEEN ENEMY DETACHMENTS AND TWO OP OUR RECONNAISSANCE PARTIES. - No. 20. 15/4/40. NOT QUOTED AS AN OFFICIAL. COiMUNICATlON TO, BS The German wireless claims that .the British losses since April Bth, the present phase operations when of in the North Sea began, consist of, at least: 4 battleships 8 cruisers 11 destroyers In point of fact our losses are as announced: no battle-ships, no cruisers, and four destroyers. If the German claims are correct it seems extraordinary that the Allied Navies still control the North Sea and the whole of the world’s sea communications and have been able to inflict the huge losses upon the German Navy, their transports ships, which have already been and store announced and which the German Government know to be true. So far as the aerial is one of weapon concerned, the four British destroyers, as already announced in the House of Commons was sunk by bombing attack. The s!Rodney'l: , as announced, proved the excellence of British material and workmanship by withstanding a hit from a heavy bomb and still remaining at sea with one hundred per cent fighting efficiency. NAVAL AFFAIRS - 15/4/40. No. 21 R.A.P. HARASSES INVADERS. The Air Ministry announces?­Reconnaissance of the Norwegian coast has continued throughout the day. In spite of unfavourable weather conditions, Stavanger Aerodrome has again been bombed. Several sections of R. A. F, aircraft were all of which returned safely. AIR MINISTRY 15/4/40-No.22. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN (Not to "be quoted as an Air Ministry Announcement). R.A.JBV SINKS SBRMAff SEAHiAITES At least two German seaplanes were sunk at Stavanger today when the aerodrome and seaplane Base were again raided "by Blenheims. The seaplanes were at their moorings when they were machine-gunned "by the British aircraft. Shortly after, our pilots saw them founder. The Blenheims also dropped heavy "bombs on Stavanger aerodrome.,-adding to the damage which has "been done in the previous raids. The attack was made in a snowstorm* The British aircraft had also to fly through cloud and rainstorms for a large part of the North Sea crossing. AIR AFFAIRS. - 15/4/40 No. 23. PRESS NOTICE. The following message to the Norwegian people was - issued by the Norwegian Government this evening: The help for Noway which the Norwegian Government has asked the British and French Governments to provide is being is given and assuming great proportions. The first signs of it are the re-capture of Narvik and the country around it. A number of Norwegian pilots have already taken up their duties with the Navy. Norwegian officers which are attached to the Expeditionary Force have arrived in England today and have established contact with the military authorities. Until further orders, Norwegian subjects are instructed to of and accept as legal currency in payment goods services givent English and French coins and notes as the Allied troops have not had time to obtain sufficient Norwegian money. An official rate of exchange will he announced after agreement has "been reached between the Norwegian State Bank and the Bank of England. The Norwegian Government has arranged with the British Government that until further orders Norwegian prices and shall be for goods the billeting fees which obtain in England recognised. The details will be announced later from the B. B. C. and the Broadcasting Station of the Norwegian Government as soon asitis set up. civil authorities are ordered All Norwegian military and to enter into the closest contact with our British and French Allies and to give them all the assistance they can. Every Norwegian subject has the duty to support the authorities in to communicate with them all information about the every way; activities and movements of the enemy and about treason and espionage in Norway. \ In the hard times which lie 'before us, the Norwegian people must establish its rights to victorious national life and national independence. Let the words of our National Anthem ring in every Norwegian heart: u We all are ready to fight when it is required of us for our peace* 11 PRESS AND CENSORSHIP DIVISION,