FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR MINISTRY OF INFORMATION REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC 78. 16th April, 1940 No U.S.A: BRITISH LANDINGS "REASSURE HARD-PRESSED NORWEGIANS". The landing of British forces at Narvik and the capture of the town are to featured prominently in today's New York Press, which gives second place a German advance in-Southern Norway. reports of Commenting on the landing of British troops the NEW YORK TIMES states in an editorial article: "The Allies have taken up the strategic challenge hurled at them in Scandinavia. This announcement has reassured the hard-pressed Norwegians and stiffened the backbone of the Swedes. "If the first British landings mean that a sizable army is coming they will bring help and deliverance to every little country now terrified by the power of Nazi Germany." In another article the NEW YORK TIMES declares: "Eight months of war have produced, no piece of hypocrisy mare sickening than the trumped-up indignation in Berlin over the British air attack on Bergen, Does the Nazi Press think that no—one reads the news of German planes bombing open towns all over Norway? Does it believe that the outside world is so blind that it cannot draw a distinction between defensive and aggressive action? Does it think that the world has for gotten what German planes did in Poland? Berlin is the last place in the world entitled to shudder about bombing open towns, " "We are Referring to Mr, Roosevelt's latest speech this journal states: legally neutral in the European struggle, but we will not have the dirty boots of the new barbarism trampling on the western shores." The view that European neutrals’ with the sympathies are Allies is expressed in the NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE, which writes: "Hitler's nightmare has always been that he might have to face a coalition of the Great Powers in Europe. His cries of rage against Britain reflect his fear that once again, as in the case of Napoleon, Britain will organise Europe to suppress the attempt at the domination of the European Continent. a "The plain fact about Europe today is that every people in Europe, large part of the German people included, is a potential ally of the Allies. There are no important exceptions. There is no people which does not dread a Nazi victory there is none which does not need. Hitler’s eventual downfall." In a 'Washington dispatch to the NEW YORK ROST it was stated: "American military experts believe that the U.S.A. will enter the war within a year. They believe that Norway is a diversion for a flanking movement through the How Countries which will be accompanied, by efforts to immobilise the Allied forces by a move into the Balkans, perhaps in conjunction with Italy." Referring to Italy the NEW YORK wrote in a Washington dispatch : "Signor Mussolini's threat to summon up a million more troops did not inspire anyone here to believe that II Duce is going anywhere. The British and French fleet in the Mediterranean has not been weakened, in any respect for the North Sea campaign, if inner advices are to be trusted. The Italians worked urgently during the winter to fortify the mountain passes leading from France, but the Italian defences are still generally considered deficient. The passes are now opening up from the winter freeze-up. While it is impossible to forecast with any degree of certainty, all the signs are that the Duce will keep quiet." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR INFORMATIONRECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OFFROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTSCOMPILED 16th April, 1940 No. 78. PANAMA: CRITICS CRITICISED. People who expressed criticism because the Allies did not land troops in Norway before the Germans were taken to task by the Panama newspaper ESTRELLA DE PANAMA which reminded these critics that Britain and Prance are not in the habit of violating neutrality. In a leading article in a recent issue of this Liberal organ it was stated: the comments about the invasion of Denmark "Amongst and Norway by the Germans we have heard the attitude of the Allies criticised. "The Germans," some people have been saying, ’know how to strike. Prance and England appear to be fast asleep and awaken surprised at the decisive and bold steps taken by their enemies.' "But, to praise Germany’s attitude and criticise the Allies’ policy is tantamount to praising the wickedness of an unscrupulous man who breaks into another’s house thieving and stabbing in the back those inside; and, on the other hand, vituperating against those who defend the right with the only weapons used by of honour. men "To expect the Allies ever to act like Germany is to mix two schools of two distinct of principles, two collective mentalities which thought, groups their are fundamentally opposed to each other. The Allies, constrained by cannot what because act moral principles, do Germany does, that would be to precisely against those ideals for which they are fighting. They would then violate the very justice which is the primary cause and basic explanation of the struggle. They would then convert Prance and England into a species of the Totalitarian methods which wipe instantly the dividing barrier between Imperialism and Democracy. Germany, If they employed they abhor, they would out "So true is this that Germany herself would be delighted if France and England, by some mistake, should ever employ the methods to which she is - accustomed. Germany would give anything she would even happily welcome a violation by Prance and England of Belgian or Dutch territory in order to - succeed in getting her two foes to descend to the same moral level as herself, so that Allies and Germans would face the rest of the world as equal against equal, pirate against pirate. "Moral strength still exists in the world and the Germans know it. The Germans fear this moral force even enormously, though in German political teaching nothing has any value which is not just material. And the proof that Germany still believes in moral force and feels it like a thorn in the flesh is that every time she commits one of her atrocities, she immediately dashes to the radio in order to shout to the world repeated attempts at justifying their actions. "How it must hurt Germany to know that the entire world hates her! "How the Germans must he realising that, much to their sorrow, the time is approaching when, in 1917, patience neutrals is becoming worn, as the of the with the prospect that mere preparedness will he turned into decisive action! "It would have been easy for England and France to do the same or as, something similar to, what Germany has done. As we have already pointed out, however, France and England cannot for ethical reasons, act like Germany, precisely because France and England are very different from Germany and what they are fighting against to a finish is above all, German methods." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON THE WAR INFORMATION COMPILED FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF 16thApril, 1940 No. 78. ARGENTINE: HITLER'S STRATEGIC ERROR. The German invasion of Norway was a strategic error from the Nazi point of view according to the Buenos Aires newspaper VANGUARDIA. This journal wrote in a recent issue: "It is already evident that Hitler’s latest crime, the attempted domination of the Nordic nations, has turned out badly for Germany. It has resulted in an opportunity for the British Navy to score tremendous successes against the German Navy. The results of the Skaggerrak and North Sea naval battles have been shattering to the Nazis." - The paper continued: "Hitler has lost his first battle his campaigns against Austria, Czechoslavakia and Poland do not merit the name. And he is losing his prestige among those who accused the democracies of being unable to fight for their ideals." Another Buenos Aires paper, NOTICIAS GRAPICAS, wrote: "The world has watched the growth of the Nazi bubble with fear. This fear was about to become a kind of admiration because of the tolerance and inaction on the of the part victimised nations. But the exploits of the British Navy have been such as to remind one of the words of Nelson and it is hoped that once more the sailors of England will do their duty and rid the world of this nightmare." The columnist Julio Noble in ARGENTINA LIBRE, declared: "Earl Baldwin said that Britain’s frontiers were on the Rhine. Now, we must consider that the civilised world's frontiers are on the Rhine. The Rhine separates in from the concentration from racial and camp, religious persecution, and those it and that France beyond I live only for war acquisition. It is all very well and Britain, who are the most immediately threatened, have taken the initiative, but the fight should be taken up by the whole civilised world, because its fate is at stake." URUGUAY: "YET ANOTHER CRIME. " "Yet another crime" was the headline over a leading article in the Montevideo newspaper EL DIA condemning the German invasions of Norway and Denmark. This paper wrote: "The action of the Allied powers off the coasts of Norway, the object of which was merely to intensify the blockade of the Reich, has furnished Mr. Hitler and his gang with an excuse to add new, weak or defenceless victims to their list of ’glorious' conquests. "Before the Allied Governments in London and Paris decided to mine certain points of Norwegian waters they discussed the whole matter thoroughly with Norway’s leaders, and when they decided that the moment for action had arrived they gave full explanations and guarantees, justifying the step they were taking in a document which was a true model of juridical science and international good faith." The paper concluded: "Denmark and Norway have now been added to the long list of small countries raped by German Nazism -a regime which, with its barbarous crimes against humanity, is digging its own grave and making for itself a sad name in history." EL ina Another Montevideo newspaper, DIARIO, vigorous leader regretting that eminently peaceful small countries should be the first victims of totalitarian war wrote: "Russia is surely keeping an eye on the massacre with the intention of as in the case of Poland falling upon some corpse or other and being in at the sharing out of the booty." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW WORLD COMMENT ON THE WARDAILY SURVEY OF MINISTRY OF INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS COMPILED 16th April, 1940 No. 78. SWITZERLAND: COMMENT ON ALLIED SUCCESSES The Swiss Press is today openly optimistic about the chances of Allied in Scandinavia and sharply critical of German actions in Norway. success The JOURNAL DE GENEVE, the Conservative organ, writes: "It is clear that the Allies are now incontestably masters of the North Sea which means that the German occupation of Norwegian ports cannot be maintained long. It is equally clear that Germany no longer commands the Baltic." The GAZETTE DE LAUSANNE, the Liberal organ, declares: "The German adventure in Norway shows itself daily more disastrous for the German fleet and communications.” Referring to Norwegian mobilisation and the reports that Norwegian soldiers have been executed the NATIONALZEITUNG, the Basle Radical Democratic newspaper, affirms: "A reservist who takes part in mobilisation is not a franc-tireur but a soldier and it is contrary to the most elementary rules of traditional warfare to execute a soldier who is doing his duty. If this spirit continues, no quarter will be given and we may congratulate ourselves on having achieved the standards of the most savage tribes." Continuing in this bitter vein this paper adds: "The murderous attacks on King Haakon are incompatible with soldiers' chivalry. One associates them rather with activities of a different type of individual. This pursuit of sin will arouse an echo in the whole world which will resound to the discredit of the German people for years to come." The BASLSR NACHRICHTEN, the Liberal Democratic organ, declares bluntly: "If the news about the execution of Norwegian soldiers is true it is a case of murder, not execution." HOLLAND: GERMAN DIFFICULTIES IN NORWAY. German military difficulties in Norway were referred to in HET VADERLAND, the Liberal newspaper, which, after summarising the trend of events in Scandinavia, declared: "We may be sure that the Germans will not find it easy to drive away the enemy. "Once the English mine-laying is completed it will be difficult for German submarines to leave their bases. The Germans however will stake everything they have, for any other way of acting would be an acknowledgment of their strategic mistake in occupying Norway and would mean a serious defeat." HET HAIJDELSBLAD wrote of the fight in the Narvik Fiord, stating: "This is apparent a brilliant victory for the British. Unless the German Air-Arm should yet be able to drive off or annihilate the British fleet which so far it has - not done the German fleet is now - helpless. Welcoming the news of Allied successes HET VOLK, the organ of the Social Democratic Labour Warty, declared: "For the first time in years the peoples of Europe see beaten back and realise that the fight for freedom is an aggressor not going to end in defeat and disaster but in victory.” FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW COMMENT ON THE WARDAILY SURVEY OF WORLD RECEIVED BY THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FROM TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS COMPILED l6th April, 1940 No. 78. SUDDEN: GERMANY'S BIG NAVAL LOSSES. as The high proportion of losses sustained by the German Navy compared with British naval losses, which it is stated, will hardly be noticed owing to the size of Britain's navy, has been stressed in the Swedish Press. was After expressing the belief that the British mine-laying in the Baltic carried out by aeroplanes NYA DAGLIGT ALLEHANDA stated yesterday: "The German Navy has suffered, great losses and the British Navy’s losses are less serious than the high proportion of the German Navy which has been already destroyed". SOCIAL DEMOKRATEN stated: "The German action against Norway and Denmark is primarily intended, to obtain bases against Britain, but no-one entertains the illusion that the occupation is only for the duration and that is why Norway is The naval success on determined to fight. Norway's is dependent other help. battles of the last few days have greatly reduced the possibility of Germany protecting her communication lines with warships. British losses are smaller and the British Navy does not feel such losses." Referring to the bombing of the small Norwegian town of Elverum SOCIAL DEMOKRATEN wondered if the Germans intended to follow the Russian's idea of added: terrorising civilians, and. "That will only strengthen condemnation of the aggressor and spur the attacked people to further defence. But it is to be hoped that such excesses will be avoided and there will be some division between Asiatic and European warfare. " STOGKHOLMS TIDNINGEN referred to a Rome radio message of possible imminent Italian action and assumed that such action would, be pro-German, though it was not impossible that Signor Mussolini would, discuss proposals from both belligerents. "In any case, Italy's non-belligerent attitude is probably nearing its end," concluded this newspaper. HUNGARY: PRO-GERMAN PRESENTATION OF SCANDINAVIAN EVENTS. With the exception of NEMZETI UJSAG, the Catholic newspaper, and MAGYAR NEMZET, the Christian Conservative journal, the Hungarian newspapers during the week-end presented Scandinavian news from a pro-German viewpoint and even PESTI HIRLAP, the Liberal organ, devoted a disproportionately large space to German reports and articles favouring the Nazi view, Most newspapers reproduced an Italian news agency report that the British Fleet ’has withdrawn to its base’ and UJ MAGYARSAG, the Bro-Government and organ FUGGETLENSEG, which is also Pro-Government, gave almost exclusively news from German sources. FUGGETLENSEG wrote: "German troops are being conveyed unimpeded to Norway. There is complete order and quiet in Norway. The British attack has been repulsed in Trondheim Fiord." The Press stressed the unequivocal attitude of the Italian Press showing undisguised pleasure at German successes and hinting that if the Germans succeeded in maintaining their ’superiority’ North there might possibly be a change in the in the Italian attitude. Several newspapers later restored the balance to degree by printing some the British Admiralty’s version of the naval battle in Narvik Fiord. REVIEW FOREIGN PRESS THE DAILY SURVEY OF WORLD COMMENT ON WAR INFORMATION THE MINISTRY OF RECEIVED BY TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS COMPILED FROM l6th April, 1940 No. 78. FRANCE: HITLER'S DILEMMA. The Fuehrer faces a "dreadful dilemma" according to a section of the French Press, which has stressed that Allied successes in Norway have been achieved without violating international law. Writing in the EPOQUE M. Be Kerillis stated: "So the Allies are now going to be able to join the Norwegian army and to establish powerful military and air bases less than half an hour's flight from the iron-ore! And this result has been achieved without any violation of international law. On the contrary it has been achieved in the name of international law and with honour, It has been achieved with a minimum of human and. material losses. There has never been a victory at once so striking and. so honourable! "It is accompanied moreover by a tremendous defensive victory, namely the blockade of the Baltic Straits and principally the Kattegat by the laying of mines, a blockade which cuts off the German Expeditionary Force in Norway more or less completely from its bases. "Hitler faces therefore immediately a dreadful dilemma. Only the Swedish land route is available to him in order to send, reinforcements to his soldiers who are everywhere held in check by the Norwegian Army, but if he takes this route the Swedes will declare war on him, find, if the S edes declare war, the Allies, who w in a few hours will have taken up their positions in Narvik, will only be a stone's throw away from the iron-ore. It follows from this that Hitler can no longer extend his Norwegian adventure or even save his army of occupation except at the ~ cost of the loss of the iron-ore that is to say, at the cost of the defeat of his aim in entering on this decisive phase of operations, "All this is not his only disappointment. He has just been definitely defeated in the North Sea, although three months ago he threw a defiant challenge to the English fleet. " In similar vein the FIGARO declared: "Leaving numbers out of account the English and French sailors have had ample opportunity to prove that the German submarines are far-from equalling those of William 11, and this conclusion is far as surface concerned. equally valid as ships are "The Battle of the Plate had already given evidence of this. The Scharnhorst 1 s encounter with the Renown last Tuesday brings no less evidence....... "The Reich has made a great mistake in launching this war without having reconstructed a stronger navy, but the inferior quality of this navy is an even more serious matter than its numerical inferiority. " OEUVRE praised the British Ministry of Information for the way in which the Narvik victory was announced. This paper wrote; "Hurrah for the victory of Narvik.' Hurrah for the way in which it was announced to the public. "The heads of the English nation have told the facts, all the facts and the facts. have to have nothing but They added nothing them, they not allowed themselves what Clemenceau called 'amplifying commentary'. "This is the right way and we recommend it to new Ministry of Information. our We know that it was with good intentions.that the Hotel Continental announced the other day that 'Narvik and Bergen are reported to have been recaptured by the English' and that Allied troops had landed in Norway. But after a moment's joy there followed disillusionment when it became that this news was not confirmed. apparent The wisest thing would, have been to publish only information which had been carefullychecked." FOREIGN PRESS REVIEW WORLD COMMENT ON THE WARDAILY SURVEY OF MINISTRY OF INFORMATION BY THETELEGRAPHIC REPORTS RECEIVEDCOMPILED FROM 16th April 1940No. 78. BULGARIA: ALLIED SUCCESSES WELCOMED. The British successes in Norway have been prominently featured in the Bulgarian Press, and MIR reviewing events in Scandinavia wrote: "Whilst the first world with the Germans the phase impressed the speedy action of the second phase gives a clearer picture and the Germans'attempted occupation to and the may have negative results owing the impossibility of transport landing of sufficient troops.” EGYPT: JUBILATION AT ALLIED SUCCESSES. Allied successes the Baltic in Norway and British mine-laying in the have been given great prominence in the Egyptian Press. AL AHRAM described the mine-laying as "the greatest military operation ever known in history” and transport is paralysed in the declared: "German Baltic.” AL BALAGH described the position of the Germans in Norway as critical and AL MOKATTAM stated: a new front where the Allies "Germany has opened will be able to show their might. The Germans have made a disastrous error which has Increased their enemies.” - 16/4/40 No.1 PRESS NOTICE Losses due to enemy action for the 32nd week ending Midnight Sunday/Monday, 14th/15th April 1940. - British ) Allied 1 ) Total = 5. Neutral 4 ) List of Neutral Ships: 8/4 "OKEANIA" (Greek) 4,843 tons 9/4 "SVEABORG", Tanker (Swedish) 9,076 " 10/4 "INEZ", Pishing Vessel (Swedish) 310 " " 12/4 "VELOCITASVFishing Vessel (Dutch) 197 14,426 " List of Allied Ships:9/4 "TOSCA" (Norwegian) 5,128 Grand Total 19,554 tons British Mercantile losses due to enemy action show a clean sheet for the week. In addition to the foregoing, there have been considerable losses, particularly of German ships, as a result of the German Invasion of Norway. The incomplete reports which have so far been received show that the following German ships have been captured or sunk. All of the ships shown as sunk were employed as transports or naval auxiliaries. CAPTURED BY GREAT BRITAIN. 10/4 Steam Trawler "FRIESLAND" 247 tons do "NORDLAHD" 393 ' " do "BLANKENBURG" 344 " " 11/4 S. S. "ALSTER" 8,514 TOTAL BRITISH GAIN 9,490 " 2 SUNK OR SCUTTLED. e/4 s.s* "KRETA" 2,359 tons. ii. s.s.35 "RIO DE JANEIRO" 5,261 s.s. "MAIN" 7,624 H Sunk "by Norwegian Destrojrer. 9/4 S.S* "AttASIS" 7,129 tons. *h "POSIDGKAI" 5,000 (approx) h 10/4 s.s. "RAUENFBLS" 8,46c Sunk by British Destroyers. s.s. ”ANTARES” 2,593 ii Mined or torpedoed 11 11/4 s.s* "IONIA" 3,102 n s.s* "AUGUST IEONHARDT" 2,593 11 12A Trawler35 "MOONSUHD" 321 11 13/4 Tanker "SKAGERAK" 6,044 Scuttled to avoid capture. TOTAL GERMAN LOSS 50,486 tons. *Sunk by British Submarines. thus The total of 59,984 tons lost brings the grand total of German mercantile tonnage lost as a result of Allied action to 363,930 tons. At least further 18,000 tons are a estimated to have been sunk by British Submarines, specific details of which have not yet been received. Also a number of German ships are believed to have been sunk in Norwegian ports, particulars of which are yet available. It is probable therefore that the total German mercantile losses amount t> over 400,000 tons. At the outbreak of war the German Merchant Fleet had a tonnage of about 4,244,000. Therefore they have lost about 10% of their pre-war tonnage. There are at present no definite reports of any British lost in connection with the German or French ships having been invasion of Norway. CONVOYS. Up to noon Wednesday 10th April, 16,741 British, Allied and Neutral vessels had been escorted in British convoys with a loss of 29 ships being a loss ratio of one in 577. There were no losses in convoy during the week in which 711 British, 51 Allied and 228 Neutral ships were convoyed. Only 3 Neutral ships have been lost to date out 2674 convoyed, being a loss ratio of one in 891. ADMIRALTY. S.W.1. - 16/4/40 No. 2. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (MORNING) Paris, Tuesday, April l6. The following official communique was issued this morning from the French G.H.Q. to Nothing of importance report during the night. - 16/4/40 No. 3. CANADIAN OFFICER RUNS ALBERTA CONSTITUENCY FROM ENGLAND He was returned by four votes, in the recent Canadian elections, an officer now serving with the Canadian contingent running the affairs constituency by mail Returned for Grouard, Alberta Legislature is of his and cable from "somewhere in England. " He is Lt. J.H. Tremblay of the Edmonton Regiment and was returned by the slender margin of four votes, Canvassing was organised on his behalf by his wife, son and a number of friends, who arranged meetings and gave interviews. Lt. events Tremblay is regularly notified of all important in his constituency and other political matters by cable from Alberta. He does not, however, allow his political activities to interfere with his military duties, and said in an interview: "For the moment I have only one objective to help win this War. - I in am keeping close touch with affairs in my constituency, however, and will endeavour to advise the constituents to the best of my ability." DOMINION & COLONIAL AFFAIRS. 16.4.40 No 4 AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN STAVANGER BOMBED AGAIN LAST NIGHT - The Air Ministry announces: Tho operations undertaken by the Royal Air Force against the enemy air base at Stavanger were continued successfully last night. force of bomber aircraft A attacked the aerodrome and buildings with large numbers of heavy high explosive bombs. Incendiary bombs were also used with great effect, two extensive fires being seen to break out. The British aircraft returned to their base without loss. 16.4.40 No 5 AUXILIARY MILITARY PIONEER CORPS Recruiting for the A.M.P.C. continues very briskly at the Mansion House today. Sir Alan Anderson was the speaker, Would-be recruits should be warned that they must bring with them their identity cards and gas masks. WAR OFFICE S.W.1. 16.4.40/No.6. P.N. 1636 PRESS NOTICE CUNNINGHAM AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE At 1.30 p.m. on Thursday, 18th April, Cunningham Automatic Exchange, situated at Hall Road, Maida Vale, will be brought into service when 1,200 subscribers on the existing Cunningham, and 2,350 on Abercom manual exchanges will be transferred to the new exchange. At the same time the manual exchanges will be closed. The actual a changeover will only involve slight interruption of the service, as it will be completed within a few minutes. Sufficient equipment has been installed at the new exchange to meet the demands for service for some time ahead. Since Abercorn subscribers1 numbers will continue to appear in the telephone directory for some time, all calls dialled to Abercorn numbers will be connected automatically to Cunningham exchange. GENERAL POST OFFICE 16th April, 1940. NOT FOR PUBLICATION 16.4.40 -No. 7. BEFORE 9.35 P.M. As this script is issued in advance it should be checked with the actual broadcast. THE VOICE OF THE NAZI (6): SOME MORE TRICKS OF THE TRIBE. by W. A. SINCLAIR. Broadcast in the B.B.C. Home Service at 9.20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 1940. We all know that the Nazis send different sorts of propaganda to different countries. In a small way, they follow the same plan in the propaganda they send to any one country. There are different sorts of people in any one country. Some are emotional, and can be got at most effectively by working on their emotions. For them, the Nazis have special items, with a special technique. Others are offended at sentimental appeals to their emotions. For them, the Nazis produce what look like sober arguments. And in the same way, they have a of different sorts system different propaganda talks, and of at different times of pews-talks, the day, for people in different occupations, and with different interests and duties. As you would expect, those various talks are often inconsistent and self-contradictory. There isn’t of course such reckless and glaring self-contradiction as we find when we compare Nazi propaganda for different countries, but the inconsistencies stand out pretty conspicuously. For instance, the on question of Munich, Hamburg usually says that Mr, Chamberlain made the Munich agreement in order to have further time But of to prepare for war. on the 4th this month, Hamburg said that Munich represented the supreme failure of Mr, Chamberlain's attempt to bring about a war then, in 1938. The reason for the 4th was that it saying this on of April, suited the argument they happened to be using that day, which was documents. about Polish Embassy If such inconsistencies occurred in the propaganda meant they would for Germany, or for a neutral country, spoil the effect, cases are mainly trying because in those the Nazis to convince, and they must be fairly consistent in order to get themselves believed. But they are not trying to convince us, but to make us feel doubtful and uneasy, so a certain amount of inconsistency and self-contradiction in their English propaganda does not worry them. From their point of view, it is all to the good. It adds to the confusion they are trying to create. People belong to many different groups for different purposes, some large and some small. But there is one very large group to which we nearly all belong, in one way or another. I do, and I expect you do too. I mean the enormously large group which consists of people who take a really serious interest in the important questions of the day, without in necessarily being experts or specialist those subjects. /For this 2 For this group, the Nazis have a special technique, just as they have a special technique for other groups. This technique, which is obviously very carefully thought out beforehand, is the one which has the familiar effect of making us think, as we listen to the Nazi talker, that ’there’s something in what he says.' I don’t think that many people are actually deceived by the mixture of truth with falsehood, but nearly everybody is irritated and disturbed and made to feel uneasy and even bewildered, except, of course, those few who are specialists in the subject the talk is about. We feel that there’s can’t something wrong somewhere, and yet we always disentangle the truth from the falsehood. This is a serious difficulty, and I think it’s the only one in the Nazis’ English propaganda that really troubles people. A great deal of the difficulty disappears, if we know clearly the way, or ways, in which the trick is done. It is easiest to do this, I find, if we notice that there are three main kinds of Nazi propaganda statement. (Of course, any one piece of propaganda is usually a mingling of the lot, but it isn’t difficult to distinguish the three kinds*) These three kinds are, first, "unskilled lying"; second, "semi-skilled lying"; and third, "highly-skilled lying." The first, "unskilled lying", consists just in making plain, simple, statements which aren’t true at all. The second, "semi-skilled lying", consists in making complicated statements, parts of which are true, and parts of which are false. The third, "highly-skilled lying", consists in making statements which are in themselves true, quite true, but are used to convey a wrong impression. What I've called "unskilled lying" doesn’t need much comment. It is just the plain, simple lie, such as the repeated assertion that the Ark Royal had been sunk, or the assertion that the Nazis invaded Norway as a reprisal for the allied mine-laying, when it is now known and the that the whole thing had been planned long before, that invading troops were well on their way at sea before the mines had been laid. This type occurs most commonly in the Nazi News Bulletins. The other two types are usually found in the Nazi Talks. They are the that in complicated types which produce the feeling ’there’s something what he ’ says. As an example of "semi-skilled lying", which is partly true and from a partly false, here is a passage Hamburg talk on concentration camps. It has been given repeatedly at intervals from January the 8th onwards. The speaker said: "Will Britain ever tell the truth and publish a report on conditions they are? Will it be admitted that concentration as camps are British institutions, used against women and children during the Boer War? 26,000 and children died of fever and starvation women in those concentration camps," This is a good example of "semi-skilled lying", for parts are true and parts are false, There were camps called "concentration camps" set up by us towards the end of the Boer War, and many of their occupants did die. That is the true part. But, the purposes for which the two kinds of camps were set up, were quite different. The Nazi camps are places of punishment. Ours were places where women and children could be gathered together, instead of being left alone in their farms, when the Boer Arm;" containing their menfolk had moved /elsewhere -3 elsewhere. Further, the number who died was about 4,000 and not 26,000, and the reason why they died was mainly quite unforeseen epidemics of diseases which were new to South Africa. The authori ties were undoubtedly to be blamed for bad management, but not for the things for which the authorities of the Nazi camps are to be blamed. Many of their occupants are dying through deliberate ill-treatment and cruelty, and in many cases, premeditated murder. The difference between the two kinds of concentration camps is well shown by the fact that many of the Boer women remained in the camps of their own free will, for months after the war wan over. The Nazi camps and our Boer War camps are both called by the same name. But to argue, as the Nazis do, that what they are doing now is the same as what we did in the Boer War, is like saying that a slab of ice-cream is the same as a brick, because they are both called ’bricks'. This kind of trick would not deceive anybody who knows the facts. But people with other jobs to do can 1 t make themselves into walking encyclopaedias, and they are the people the Nazis are hoping to disturb. The same applies to the third sort of trick, what I called "highly-skilled lying". It deserves the name. It consists in discussing some very abstruse or difficult or learned subject, such as incidence of taxation, the bank rate and the money market, social conditions in the past, or things like that: and then making some assertion which is by itself quite true, (and hence can’t be con tradicted) but which yet is so used as to mislead entirely anybody who doesn’t happen to have a specialist knowledge of the subject in question. Here is an example which shows the way thetrick is done. This one has appeared in Hamburg Talks over and over again since December The 10th last year. speaker said: "In the last century it was regarded as right and proper that women should work in the mines, often for twelve hours a day, and sometimes fourteen. Investigators into labour conditions found hundreds of women crawling along, unclad and harnessed, dragging coal trucks along in the bowels of the earth. Is this a tradition of liberty...? If you doubt it, read your own historians, Townsend and Warner, Tawney and Trevelyan they will tell you all about - it". (You can imagine the tone in which that was said* ) The speaker is at his old game, (or rather the men who prepare his stuff for him are at their old game), of trying to disturb our confidence* He wants to make us think that we must he a pretty poor lot, and our country a pretty contemptible one, and very badly run, if things like that could ever happen in it. This example shows very clearly how the trick is worked. The assertion made about conditions in the mines, in our camps a century ago is true, or very nearly true. What is not true is the impression the Nazis are trying to create by making that assertion. are They trying to make us think that conditions in Bri tain were abnormally had; and in this way they are trying to confidence in ourselves and And doubt our country. no they might have that effect on people who, for one reason or another don’t have any special knowledge of history. But if we do know enough history (I don’t dean just political history, but the historyof everyday conditions of ordinary men) , if we do know enough his- and tory, compare the present with the past, then we see that the situation is altogether different, and much more encouraging. ■4' Those conditions were not isolated atrocities taking place in a world which was in other respects like modern civilisation. Those conditions at that at were typical time. They were typical, not of our that time, only country, or of Germany, but of all to Western Europe; or be quite exact, they were typical of the more advanced parts of Western Europe. The rest of Western Europe, and the rest of the world, were still worse. By modem standards, conditions of life were horribly bad. Unless we have made a special study, we just don't know how very harsh conditions of life used to be, compared with even the least satisfactory today. This is a very natural misunderstanding. When, for instance, we look at portraits of 17th and 18th century gentlemen, in those it is the illusion that their lives must have been extremely comfortable. It is easy to overlook the grim fact (which few but students of that because their heads dignified and impressive wigs, easy for us to fall into history know), they wore wigs were shaved. And their heads were shaved because living conditions, even among the wealthiest, were so dirty that shaving was only way then the of keeping free of lice. Those conditions which are found today only the among very few who are either wilfully dirty, or neglected, were under which everybody lived, only a comparatively the conditions short time ago. The point is not whether the barbarities such as the Nazis quote, ever occurred in our country. They did. They occurred in all countries. The point is that in our country we have outgrown most of them, and are trying to outgrow the rest. We are forward to both in ideals and moving greater humanity, in practice. the to The Nazis, on other hand, are moving backward, deliberately, the brutalities of the Middle Ages, and are glorying it it. Those references to our past which the Nazis quote, do have an effect on people who know enough history. But it's the very opposite of the effect the Nazis want. Their references serve the to emphasise heartening improvement we have been able to achieve in getting things raised even to their present level. And if we could do that, we can do still more. I have quoted these examples simply as examples to show the way the tricks are worked. Up to the present, the purpose for which they have been mostly used is the attempt to stir up trouble among us, by misleading us. I suspect that now the war has taken a more active form, Hamburg propaganda will he directed more and more to trying to frighten us, by misleading us, with terrifying threats for the future* But whatever the subject matter of the Nazis propaganda, 1 the tricks they use will be just the same. BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION. - 16/4/40. No. 8. FIRES LIGHT AN AIR PATH TO STAVANGER Not to be quoted as an Air Ministry announcement. Maintaining their harassing pressure on Germany's principal Air Base in Norway, aircraft of the Loyal Force Bomber Command again attacked Stavanger Aerodrome late last night. Long-range bombers took part in the action and for nearly an hour the Stavanger Air bases were subjected to a sustained attack during which extensive damage was caused by large numbers of high explosive and incendiary bombs. Air craft arriving on the scene after the raid had able to at "begun were identify their target from many miles out sea by the light of fires started in earlier attacks, Over Stavanger, a red glow suffused the sky and aircraft could be seen brazing fiercely at the southern end of the aerodrome, enveloped in swirling clouds of black smoke. Direct hits were obtained on the one runways, heavy bomb burst close to the aerodrome control tower and another started a fierce fire near by. In excellent visibility, given by the light of the moon, the bombers traversed the aerodrome in successive waves of attack, destroying aircraft and buildings, pitting the aerodrome surface with bomb craters and leaving the base aglow with the fires. light of many The raiders encountered opposition from the Stavanger ground defences, searchlights strove vainly to hold bombers approaching singly from different angles to launch their attack. Batteries of light anti-aircraft guns, which encircled the landing ground, set up a barrage of fire over the centre of the target. this Despite opposition from the ground defences all their bases our aircraft returned safely to early this morning. AIR AFFAIRS 16TH APRIL,No.9. 1940. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE WEEKLY NEWS SERVICE. NO. 32. GROWING MORE FOOD ROADSIDE LAND TO INCREASE PRODUCTION Every green thing that can be brought into use for stock feeding will help to lighten a ship and ease the difficulties of stock farmers. In recent years a large acreage of land has been acquired by County Councils for road widening, but in many cases only a small part of it has been actually used. In the aggregate,this land represents a considerable acreage that could be used for grazing, mowing or cultivation. There are practical difficulties in the way of using it, but in an emergency such as this it will often be possible to overcome them. Even if the land has been thrown into the public to highway the adjoining occupier might be given permission use it, provided it is still in its natural condition. There may be some instances where the situation and area of such land would enable it to be cultivated as allotments by people living in the neighbourhood. The Ministry of Agriculture has the County Councils asked to look into this matter in consultation with the County War Agricultural Executive Committees, farmers can help by bringing and likely plots to their notice. LINSEED FOB LIVESTOCK Wartime Cron More Valuable Than Oats or Beans Linseed is a home-grown concentrate of proved excellence in calf rearing and the feeding of young stock, and is especially useful in giving a finish to fat animals. But the war-time uses of this protein-rich food are far wider in scope. Compared with oats, linseed is-nearly times richer in protein material and twice as rich in respect of starch equivalent. Arrangements have now been made to provide a market for all the linseed which farmers grow this season. The Ministry of Food 1 is to farmers’ for stock feeding. The price to be paid for good sound seed will will purchase linseed which surplus requirements be the market price of imported linseed in this country next autumn. Growers will also have the option of obtaining 10 cwt. of linseed cake for each ton of linseed delivered. - Now is the time to sow a in the south in the crop north sowing can be delayed a little and continued till early May. It can stand up to a moderate frost in its early stages; drought at this period is its chief enemy. In the fattening ration linseed can replace beans on the following basis 2 1/2 lb. linseed = 2 lb. beans + 2 lb. dried beet pulp + 2 lb. good oat straw; or 2 lb, beans + 20 lb. swedes + 1 lb. good oat straw. 3 lb. linseed = 2 lb • beans + 2i lb. barley + 2 lb. good oat straw. For dairy cows, li lb. of linseed and 2 lb. of bran provide the starch equivalent and protein for the production of a gallon of milk. Soil and Manuring Most classes of clean land are suitable. Even poor chalky land has grown good crops with the aid of a complete fertilizer. High fertility is not at all necessary: phosphates and potash will do good on poor land but nitrogen is usually unnecessary. Wireworms practically ignore linseed and rabbits usually show little interest in it, and although leather a jackets occasionally attack it, poison bait dressing (Paris Green a 1 lb., moistened bran 25 lb.) scattered on the young crop gives good control. It is, therefore, a suitable crop for newly ploughed-up grassland, and, incidentally a good nurse for clover or seeds. Land ploughed late should be well pressed before preparing the seedbed for linseed. 2 Saving the Pig Meal. How to use Bulky Home-Grown Fodders. A high proportion of meal is not essential to successful found that a pork or bacon production. In fact many have greater use of fresh foods, such as roots and greens, adds to the health and fecundity of the herd. Mangolds and swedes are a useful supplement to a reduced meal allowance. They should be sliced or "fingered” and may be successfully fed raw. Pigs should be introduced to them gradually and allowed to take them in increasing amounts as they become accustomed to them. They may be mixed with the meal allowance or fed separately afterwards. Successful results have been obtained with sugar beet tops, both fresh (if fed with care) and ensiled. Pigs can probably cope with such bulky foods more successfully if they are given them in three feeds per day.In feedingtrials recently undertaken in this country at various centres up to 2b Lb of mangolds per head daily have been eaten by pigs of about 150 lb. weight, which have—received in addition 2% lb* per day of meal. Weekly gains of from sto P lb. per head have been obtained. Brussels sprouts waste. The stalks, leaves and waste sprouts of Brussels sprouts plants form another useful food which may he fed as a supplement to a limited meal allowance. These are being fed to fattening pigs in a trial running in Hertfordshire; is allowed at meal the rate of 2-g lb. per day. Gains of nearly 6 lb* per head per week have been made of about by pigs 120 lb* weight, comparing favourably with the progress made by pigs receiving a normal meal ration. The sprouts waste is preferably coarsely chopped before feeding and the amount given should be gradually increased in accordance with the pig’s appetite. 3 Potatoes. is are Boiled or steamed potatoes, as well known, a most valuable food for pigs, about 4 lb. being able to replace 1 lb. of meal. Trials have recently been made, and others at centres are now in progress in England and Scotland, in which of potatoes have been fed as supplement to a daily allowance 2 1/2 lb. of meal. The potatoes are fed to appetite, and may be given well mixed with the limited meal ration. The be increased and quantity fed may gradually pigs approaching 200 lb. will consume up to 20 lb. of potatoes per head daily, AN EXTRA SACK PER ACRE. Now is the time to dress corn crops with Nitrogen, Experiments in recent years have demonstrated that the most fruitful time for applying nitrogen fertilisers to com is during the four weeks between mid-April and crops and many practical farmers are now following this method, A late spring dressing of 1 cwt. Sulphate of Ammonia usually adds at least' a sack of grain per acre to the crop. the Applied at this time, top dressing fills the head and there is also the increased straw. Even at the 1939 price of wheat, wise dressing in late spring will mean a gain of £2 for an expenditure of 10/-to 15/-. N This is how the sum works out: £j d* So 1 extra sack of Wheat 1 ♦ 4o 6. c extra straw 15. 6* - 1 to 1-| cwt. fertiliser 10/-15/-for 2o 0. 0.return Dressings should be made at the rate of cwt per acre land and on poor 1 cwt per acre on good land -except where the land is in very good heart for high-quality malting barley. or 4 Farmers are advised to place their orders at once. Thousands of tons of these fertilisers are at present being produced daily. A stock of even 5,000 tons represents a pile of the of so the sooner the stocks size a good block of offices, can be distributed round the farms the better the factories will be able to turn out more supplies for use in later farming operations such as dressing the potato crop. SAFEGUARDING THE CATTLE INDUSTRY Bull Licences Necessary An owner keeping a bull--over ten months old without a - licence is breaking the law the Improvement of Livestock and will be - (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931 liable to prosecution. Licensing was suspended for a short time after war broke out. It was resumed in October last,, but although this fact was given wide publicity, it has been found that many bulls over ten months old have since been kept without a licence. Application for a licence for a bull must be made at least twenty-eight days before the bull reaches the age of ten months. A licence is also necessary in the case of all bulls ten months old or over imported from Eire or Northern Ireland. Forms of application for licence may be obtained by farmers in England from the Ministry of Agriculture, Department X.A. 23-25, Soho Square, London, W.l. and by farmers in Wales from , the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, 17, Eastgate, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire. A fee of five shillings is payable in respect of each application,, WHEN THE SPRING GRASS COMES. Problem of counteracting Scour in Stock. The war will restrict the supplies of undecorticated cotton cake which some stock farmers use to counteract the laxative nature of spring grass. But it is questionable whether cotton cake is really the most suitable supplement to young grass. 5 0 Spring pastures are very rich in protein, too rich really in relation to carbohydrate. To supplement this with cake containing 20 to 23 per cent, protein is only to unbalance further an already ill-balanced food. Cereals and their by-products are more suitable if supplementary feeding is necessary. The difficulty is, however, that the cereal that has the best binding effect is maize, and we are certainly not in a position to be prodigal with maize. But a bite of hay or even good clean oat or barley straw first thing in the morning will generally be eaten with relish by animals that feel themselves and have the loose, desired effect. Pasture containing some foggage suitable change from rich young grass, especially is a in wet weather. animals and will Rough grass will not scour benefit from being pulled about. Later in the season, when grass begins to deteriorate or fail, supplementary forage such as lucerne will he required, or some succulent arable green crop or silage. Greenstuff of this kind contains most of the valuable properties of young grass, but, being more mature, is less likely to cause scouring. MORE FOOD FROM THE FARM. Minister Asks Farmers To Make More Silage. The Minister of Agriculture re-emphasised the importance of silage making, particularly at the present time, in an answer given in the House of Commons on Tuesday 16th April in which he said: 6 o 11 1 am fully alive to the value of ensilage, above all in view of the feedingstuffs position, and am taking active steps through the agricultural and general Press and through the B.B.C. to encourage the wider adoption of this practice. A "Growmore” Leaflet explaining the modern technique of making silage from grass and crops has also been published and is being widely distributed among farmers. I have circularised County Agricultural Education Authorities asking them to take all practicable steps to impress on farmers the value of ensilage and to arrange, and widely advertise, suitable demonstrations. The Provincial Advisory Centres have been requested co-operate wherever to practicable. I have asked County War Agricultural also Executive Committees to co-operate with Agricultural Education Authorities in drawing the attention of farmers to the advantages of ensilage, and I anticipate that the Committee will encourage farmers who are not in a position to obtain silos through the usual channels to make full use of the facilities available the Agricultural Requisites under Assistance Scheme, in which I have specifically included silos. Finally, the necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that molasses for silage making supplies of certain and materials required for structural silos will be obtainable this season. Imported softwoods, however, will not be available for the making of silos. u It might be added, that these portable silos are quite cheap (from £lO to £3O) and are especially suitable for ensiling young grass. They are usually made in one of these three materials: (a) treated paper and steel wire mesh fencing, timber. have been made ensuring that there will be supplies of paper and steel fencing and of cement. (b) concrete, (c) Arrangements for 7 16th April, 1940. No. 10. M.A.F.194 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE PROTECTION AGAINST THE COLORADO BEETLE New Order Restricts Landings of Spanish Crops. In view of the existence of Colorado Beetle in Spain, restrictions have and been placed upon the landing in England "ales of Spanish-grown plants, potatoes, raw vegetables and cider apples. These restrictions are similar to those applied to like - products grown in Switzerland. They are imposed by an Order the Importation of Plants (Amendment) Order, 1940 made by the - Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries under the Destruction of Insects and Pests Acts. Copies of the Order (S.R. and 0. 1940, No. 544) may he obtained from H.K. Stationery Office, York Mouse, Kingsway, London, W.C.2.,or through any bookseller, price Id. net. 16th April, 1940 No. 11 M.A.F. 195 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT BARLEY SCHEME, 1939 Under Paragraph 16 of the Barley Scheme, 1939, subsidy on a sliding scale was to be paid in respect of land under barley on the 4th June, 1939, average price if the of barley during the six months beginning on the Ist August, 1939, was below 10/-d per cwt. The average price during this period, was 13/lld, and in consequence barley subsidy no is payable. 16th April, 1940. No.l3. M.A.F.196 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT ARTICHOKES FOR PIGS AND POULTRY. In times of War and famine there is always a revival of interest in the Jeruselem artichoke, that has nothing in its history to connect it with that town but is a member of the sun flower family. As a it has but in the last vegetable its champions, twenty years a considerable amount of research has added to its reputation as a food for livestock. Its feeding value closely approximates to that of the potato. In France the annual output is valued at over 320,000,000 francs. Although the Jerusalem artichoke gives its best yields on fertile soil, it will succeed on soils unsuitable for almost any other crop, and anyone keeping pigs and poultry on a small scale should plant this vegetable in odd plots and corners that Would otherwise be neglected. It will provide useful winter feed. Full particulars of planting, manuring, harvesting and general cultivation are given in a new "Growmore" Leaflet, No.29. Single copies free on application to the Ministry of Agriculture, 10, Whitehall Place, S.W.1. 16.4.40. No.14. C.6. PRESS NOTICE COTTON PRICES. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY ORDERS. Three Orders affecting the cotton industry have been made by the Minister of Supply, They will be issued and will come into operation on Wednesday, 17th April. The Order Control of the Cotton Industry (No.5) revises spinners' margins for controlled American and Egyptian type cotton yarns in order to meet the increased costs which have resulted from the recent advance in wages; it also provides for the inclusion in the spinner l s margin of the contribution of sd, per ICO lbs. which is to be collected under the Cotton Industry Act, 1910, for the purpose of maintaining research and promoting the development of export trade. In addition certain changes in regard to winding charges and conditions of doing business by merchants and agents have been made. There are also modifications of the previsions in regard to export prices for direct business by spinners. The Control of the Cotton Industry (No.6) Order prohibits for one month the of new contracts except to acceptance fry cotton spinners meet Government requirements or for export trade; provision is made for special treatment of exceptional cases. operation of the is The Order linked with the preference directions system set up under the No.4 Order. It has the same general object as the Order (dated 16th April) issued by limiting sales of piece goods, etc., the Board of Trade for home the delivery of Government and export orders. Further action may well be necessary very soon in regard to the limited range of cotton yarns which are in greatest demand for Service goods. requirements, purpose being-to facilitate further the production and The Control of the Cotton Industry (No.7) Order empowers the banister of Supply to obtain information from merchants and brokers dealing and in raw cotton, linters, cotton waste. Ministry of Supply, The Adelphi, W.C.2. 16th April, 1940. Weekly No.15. IT IS REQUESTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE MORNING NEWSPAPERS OF FRIDAY, 19th APRIL, 1940. AIR MINISTRY WEEKLY NEWS LETTER. Note: The information contained in this News Letter may he used by the Press without acknowledgement. If it is desired to refer to the Air Ministry as the source of the the expression "The Air Ministry announces: is NOT to be used. CONTENTS. "Lost” Flying Boat Back in Service. Germany's "Two-Type" Air Force. Longer Sea Patrols. Newspapermen visit in France. Canada's Trio. Observers Burst Into Verse. of the R.A.F. "Water Gipsies" Escape Drill for Sea Dive. Press and Publicity Branch, Air Ministry, King Charles Street, Whitehall, S.W.l. 19th April, 1940. 2 "LOST” FLYING BOAT BACK IN SERVICE : A remarkable salvage feat has resulted in a British flying boat returning to service a year after it was "lost” somewhere in Africa. The Short Empire type flying boat "Corsair" got off her course on March 14, 1939, when flying from Port Bell, Lake Victoria, to Juba. The pilot made a skilful landing on a narrow river in the heart of the Belgian Congo. Unhappily, in taxying to rest, the hill was fractured. After repairs , and work on clearing the river, which together lasted four months, an attempt was made to fly the aircraft home. It was frustrated by the flying boat again striking a submerged rock, and sinking. Further repairs, job of and the raising the river level, took another six months. A second attempt was successful. On January 13 this year the great 4-engine flying boat, stripped down to shout 13 1/2 tons, left the narrow tropical river, which had held her prisoner for ten months. She landed safely In England two days later. Now, reconditioned and overhauled, "Corsair” has re-entered the Empire Service on the Australia run. She commenced her new duties at the beginning of this month. The Short Empire boats are basically of the same design as the Royal Air Force Sunderland flying boats which have done such fine work with the Coastal Command. GERMANY'S "TWO TYPE” AIR FORCE. Ever since Germany launched her great military air expansion in 1932 there has been a tendency to concentrate - production of aircraft two types a "best" fighter, and a "best" bomber. The first two aircraft selected for mass production were the Me. 109 single seat fighter and the He. 111 two-motor bomber. These types are now being superseded by the Me.ll0 two-motor fighter 3 and the Ju.88 long range bomber. Like its predecessor, the Ju.88 is suitable for a variety of purposes, and as it is fitted with air brakes it can be used for dive bombing. There are a number of other types of German aircraft in service for specialised duties, but "standard” fighters and "standard" bombers form the backbone of the German air force. This concentration on two main types has certain obvious advantages. In particular, it facilitates production in mass. Germany's huge aircraft factories were built and equipped with this object. Concentration also simplifies maintenance and interchange problems. But it has one great drawback: comparatively small but vital advances in design cannot he incorporated in aircraftf which are under production, without seriously interfering with the whole production machine. One of the most notable technical advantages possessed by the British Air Force over the Germans lies in the power-operated, multi-gun turret® These turrets are fitted not only to the modern bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of the R.A.F., but also to one of the newest types of Britain's fighters to go into service the - Boulton-Paul Defiant. It is not improbable: that the Germans now know a good deal about British power turrets. But the slim lines of her new standard fighters and bombers preclude adapting them for arming with similar turrets. LONGER SEA PATROLS. One of the busiest reconnaissance Squadrons of the Loyal Air Force is breaking its own flying-time records^every week. This Squadron keeps pace with the rapidly increasing hours of daylight. From dawn until nightfall its aircraft sweep 4 the waters, hunting U-Boats, inspecting shipping, and directing rescue craft to ship-wrecked seamen. Every lengthening day gives more flying time. Every shortening night Brings greater hazards to the U-Boats, which need the cover of darkness to recharge their Batteries on the surface. In February the Squadron had more than twice as many flying hours as in January. There was another big jump in March. - The area patrolled nearly all of it over the sea ~ has some of the worst weather around the British Isles. The crews have to fight tremendous gales. In one recent storm, an aircraft took three hours against a headwind to reach the limit of its patrol. With a following wind it came Back the same distance in 55 minutes. Sometimes salt is whipped and carried from the sea-spray hundreds of feet into the air, where it becomes encrusted on the windows of the aircraft. To those inside it seems as if they are flying in thick mist, until a rainstorm ploughs lines through the deposit and partially clears the windows. In those latitudes ice-forming conditions are frequently encountered. The C.O. recently received this message from his Group Commander. "Well flown. The work of the ground staff also is not forgotten". NEWSPAPERMEN VISIT R.A.F. IN FRANCE: Many newspaper correspondents of various Allied and neutral countries have keen permitted by the British Government to visit the Advanced Air Striking Force of the Royal Air Force in France. Since the outbreak 143 individual correspondents of war, have paid visits to the zone. They included 53 British 20 correspondents, 13 Dominion, 19 French, American, six Swedish, one Greek, three Norwegian, seven Danish, one Spanish, eight Belgian, 5 one three one Egyptian, Latvian, Japanese, one Argentinian, three Dutch, two Polish, one Swiss. Several British, Dominion and American correspondents, representing newspapers, companies and broadcasting newsreel systems, are of course permanently accredited to the R.A.F. in France. CANADA'S TRIO. There are Canadian three “Larry's" in one Sunderland flying boat squadron of the Royal Air Force which operates from a west coast One station. comes from Toronto, one from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and the third from Ontario. All have black hair and pleasing trans-Atlantic drawls, and their combined height totals 18 feet, 3 inches. - - Toronto's “Larry" recently awarded the D.F.C. was born in Piccadilly, London, Ontario. He recently flew his Sunderland for 16 hours, four of them in daylight and twelve by night, with only a two hour interval for re-fuelling between. Saskatoon's “Larry“ holds the Sunderland endurance record with an Atlantic patrol. He was the pilot who found and shadowed the “City of Flint" off Norway. Ontario's “Larry” began studying aerodynamics when he was 12. He built a biplane glider when he was 15, and an engined monoplane a year later. While working as a wireless operator on a Canadian air-line he spent two years building a bigger monoplane in his spare time, only to see it destroyed by fire when half- finished. He paid a dollar and 50 cents for his first flight. - Now he flies Sunderlands and gets paid for doing it! OBSERVERS BURST INTO VERSE. lonely hours spent "by the men of the Observer The many Corps posts during seven months of watching for Goering's war to become raiders, seem to have inspired some of them poets. 60 A centre in the north of England is about to publish a magazine, and the first issue contains no less than sixteen poems. One is described as "The Observer Corps Anthem", and is to be sting to the tune of "Phil the Fluter's Ball." The last verse goes; "So now you know the reason why the Jerrys won't get through, "They have to get past all the posts and then the centre crew. "Hitler, Goering, Ribbentrop they'd all fare - very badly, "If they tried to put a fast one over Charlton, Jones and Bradley." “WATER GYPSIES" OF THE R.A.F. London's barrage balloons appear in the most unexpected places. But none, perhaps, are to be found in such odd locations as those on the river barges. Moored at various points along the river, off shore, they protect key positions in London 's dockland against possible low bombing attacks. The complete winch lorry, and its equipment, is mounted on one barge. Overhead flies the familiar silver or green balloon on its invisible but deadly cable. Alongside the operational barge another barge is tied up. On this the crew make their homes, and find their rest and recreation. When the river balloons were first introduced the accommodation for the crews was just an open barge. The men set to work and erected a sort of Noah's Ark of wood and tarpaulin. They rigged up their own lighting and heating, and made temporary bunks, tables and benches. Now they have been "issued" with properly fitted-up barges with more pretentious fittings. The method of mooring the barges is interesting. A large "corkscrew" is driven into the river bed. To this a buoy is anchored. And from the buoy the barges hang, swinging slowly about with every change of tide. 7 ESCAPE DRILL FOR SEA DIVE. The experience of the young Royal Air Force pilot whose Spitfire caught fire after he had shot down a German Heinkel raider over the North Sea recently has had at least one good result. A new technique has been devised which may well save the lives of other British pilots. Trapped about 30 feet under water in his rapidly sinking aircraft, the pilot had difficulty in freeing himself from the cockpit. He eventually did so, and swam to the surface, where he was rescued by a trawler. And here is the advice which he recommends to any fellow pilots who may find themselves in a similar predicament "Before alighting on the water, Tighten straps and inflate life-jacket, Open hood and possibly door, Close radiator flaps and pancake at 70 m.p.h. The aircraft tucks its nose into the assumes a sea, vertical position, tail up, and sinks. The pilot should release the harness and parachute, and to get out push away hard to clear tail plane.” (5562—1429) Wt. 8504—7084 5,000 4/40 T.S. 677 MINISTRY OF LABOUR & NATIONAL SERVICE Press Notice 15/16.4.40. CHANGES IN COST OF LIVING DURING MARCH. The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces that at Ist April, 1940, the official cost-of-living index figure was 78 per cent, above the level of July, 1914, as compared with 79 per cent at Ist March. For food alone the index figure at 1st April was 58 per cent, above the level of July, 1914, showing a fall of 5 points or about 2 per cent, since 1st March, when the figure was 61 per cent, above the level of July, 1914. The fall in the index figure for food was due to a decline in the prices of eggs, which had been at an abnormally high level at the beginning of March as a result of the severe weather in February. Among items other than food, the principal changes during March were in the increases, averaging about 2 -per cent, prices of clothing. Press Office, Ministry of Labour and National Service, Montagu House, S.W.1. Whitehall, Telephone: Whitehall 6200. K.Q.378-550 D.J. - 16.4.40 No.17. AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN ARRIVE IN LONDON. A party of airmen is due to arrive this evening from Australia. The men have come over to reinforce the Royal Australian Air Force which reached England at Squadron Christmas, since when it has been on active service with the Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force. This Squadron comprised the first batch of men to leave Australia on active service during the war. Some of the men were actually in England at the outbreak of hostilities to take over the Sunderland Plying Boats which were on the point of delivery to the Australian Government. With the declaration of war the Commonwealth Government decided to complete the manning of the Squadron and placed it at the disposal of the United Kingdom Government so that it could operate as an Australian Squadron with the Coastal Command of Air Force. the Royal DOMINION AND COLONIAL AFFAIRS. - 16/4/40 No.18. Not or broadcast for publication before the morning of Wednesday 17th April 1940. HONORARY CHAPLAIN TO THE KING. The Air Ministry announces the appointment of the Reverend Maurice Henry Edwards, O.B.E., B.A. Chaplain-in-Chief, Royal Air Force, as an Honorary Chaplain his to Majesty the King in succession to the Reverend James Rowland Walkey, C.B.E.,M.A. who relinquished the appointment on his retirement on 10th April, 1940. AIR AFFAIRS. - 16/4/40 No 19 IMPORTS OF EGYPTIAN ONIONS It is announced by the Ministry of Food that British and neutral liner tonnage allotted for the transport of the Egyptian onion crop for the rest of this month is slightly under 17,000 tons. In addition there will be numerous small shipments as deck cargo. Regular importers requiring licences should apply to the Licensing Department, Room 546, Ministry of Pood, Great Westminster House, London, S.W.1. MINISTRY OF FOOD - 16/4/40 NO: 20. MEETING OF TRADE UNION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to-the Ministry of Supply, was held in the Ministry of Supply, Adelphi, this afternoon, The following members of the Committee were present at the meeting, which was presided over by the Minister of Supply, Mr. Leslie Burgin:Mr. W. Holmes. Mr. E. Bevin. Mr. J. Brown. Mr. H. Bullock. Mr. A. Conley. Sir Walter Citrine. Mr. J. Hallsworth. Mr. M. Hodgson. Mr. J. Kaylor. Mr. P. Wolstencroft. and Mr. E.P. Herries. The Minister of Supply was accompanied by the Secretary, Sir Arthur Robinson, Col. J.J. Llewellin, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. O.S. Cleverly, and Mr. W. Palmer. Among the items considered were a survey of the Area machinery for the production of munitions, price fixing and priority arrangements for raw materials, and general production problems, including the possible shortage of man power. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY. 16/4/40 -No.21. R.A.F. DENIES GERMAN CLAIMS. The Air Ministry announces The German High Command communique falsely alleges that five British aircraft were lost yesterday. It is claimed that two Lockheed aircraft were shot down in attacks on Stavanger and that a Sunderland flyingboat was destroyed. No aircraft were lost in any of yesterday’s attacks on Stavanger and no flying boat is missing. Two of our aircraft which were engaged on reconnaissance over the North Sea yesterday have not returned. AIR AFFAIRS. - 16/4/40. No. 22. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (EVENING) The following official communique was issued this evening from French Headquarters: ON A PART OF THE FRONT HELD BY THE BRITISH TROOPS THE ENEMY LAUNCHED AN ATTACK PREPARED AND ACCOMPANIED BY ARTILLERY FIRE. THIS ATTACK WAS REPULSED AND THE ENEMY SUFFERED SERIOUS LOSSES. IN THE REGION OF THE SAAR OUR ARTILLERY FIRED ON ENEMY ORGANISATIONS. ACTIVITY OF OUR RECONNAISSANCE UNITS TO THE EAST OF THE VOSGES.