8/4/43 - No. 4 MORE CANADIANS ARRIVE More reinforcements for the Canadian Army have arrived safely at a British port. They included infantry, armoured artillery, and all other corps, branches and services of the Canadian Army. CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTER 8/4/43 - No, 6. NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TAPES BEFORE 0830 D*B*S„T the fixed centre Paymaster. As soon as a soldier joins a unit, the fact is notified in the Part 11 orders of the of which is forwarded to the Paymaster, This is unit, a copy the Paymaster’s authority for crediting the soldier with pay. Similarly, all promotions or entitlements to allowances, are notified in Part II orders, and the Paymaster credits the soldier’s account accordingly# For example, when a soldier poos on leave and thus becomes entitled to an allowance in lieu of the fact is notified and rations, the| Paymaster duly books the credit. If soldier leaves his is discharged appropriate a unit, or from the appropriate entries made in orders and the Paymaster thus Army, are informed. Thus amount to which soldier becomes entitled*js marked to every a duly his credit in the books of the Paymaster, The next is Regimental question how does he draw on this account? Every soldier carries called Amy Took 61 which is not a "pay-book”, (~ unsimilar to a Post Office Savings P mk, though it contains far more information than ihe payments and does not show the balance of credit otherwise. mere made, or The book records the soldier’s rank, name, regiment, promotions, daily rate of pay and allotment which he has chosen to make bo his relatives, any A glance at this book shows (l) now much per day the soldier is normally entitled to draw, (2) how much ho has drawn in tne preceding 'weeks. In the ordinary the soldier week his commander way :is paid once, a by company or equivalent officer, but a soldier -detached from his unit may be paid by any officer who holds an Imprest account (which in practice- means at any military depot or headquarters). If ,ve suppose that a .soldier is entitled to say 4/~ per day, then a payment of anything up to 26/- weekly is permissible, plus an r allowances to which he us concurrentlv entitled. Let it be supposed that a soldier is entitled to draw £2. This sum is entered in A*B# : 64 against the date, and signed‘by the officer making the to in ordinary withdrawal" from Post Office payment, similarly Savings " very a account. The soldier roll" which signs receipt on an "acquittance on appear his name, and the date. The roll off'to number. Regiment acquittance goes the Paymaster, who duly notes the debit in the soldier’s account, slid the transaction is complete. How does the officer get the money? He account" which has an "imprest entitles him to draw public money either from a bank in England or on service abroad from the field cash offices which established Command, Base, or are -2- under the of the cere Royal Army Pay Corps. . The totals of siyned acquittance rols arc entered in the imprest holder’s and vouchers for Thus monthly account, serve as expenditure,- the circle is affects the serving officer end soldier. complete, as it Wherever a soldier nay he - in the desert, on hoard ship, in between battles, in camp, on leave, convalescing - he is thus enabled to use his boo&iks of the cash to which he is entitled. The ■ pay *a. means drawing book serves the combined purpose of a letter of credit and a Savings Account and it book, is, doubtful; if a simpl-r and more efficacious world-wide system could exist, - : -- A. D, 64 is good for cash (in the currency required) in Iceland, Madagascar, at in Mudlark the Marsh# Gibraltar, Africa, sea, or on If the soldier has, his this fact be deduced from underspent income, nay a'perusal of the entries, and a limp sun withdraws! authorised accordingly ■when the soldier so desires. >• i. m.< - r ; • ; -(: ; . : . . combined .. Smpiicity is thus with comprehensiveness in a system so patently straightfoimTard as to. admit of -no objection on the part of any serving soldier* WAR OFFICE '■ 8.4.43. - No.15 LIFE IN AMERICA Books for British Libraries With the object of promoting a better understanding between the American and British peoples, scheme has been by the a organised National Cen tral Library, on behalf of the Ministry of Information, to supply American books to British public Libraries. The type of book selected is that which will give a picture of America and the American selection of suitable fiction people as they arc today, a and children’s books is well modern works included, as as on every phase of American life. The authors are mainly Americans, The list of books was prepared in this way, A group of representa- tive librarians collaborated in a preliminary selection which was then revised and submitted to some twenty of the leading literary critics and professors. Informal comments were welcomed from European refugees now in the united States, Comments and additions were incorporated and the list then received final revision. Librarians obtain of leaflet entitled ’’American Books may copies a in British public Libraries” from National Mr, L* Newcombe, Library, Mulet place, London, W,C.1. giving full details of the scheme. The list of suitable books is also obtainable from the same source. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 8. 4. 43 No. 17 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TAPES BEFORE 0030 D.B.S.T, (i.e. FOR MORNING PAPERS) ON Friday 9th APRIL .1943. THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING ANY MESSAGES FILED WITH THE EMBARGO HE SAVED A TANKER At the height of an air raid in Malta, an Engineroom Artificer of the Royal Navy with another engineroom rating, helped to save a valuable oil tanker which had been bombed, and set on fire. In the John of Allan so doing, Engineroom Artificer, Stewart, Motherwell, deed which him the British Empire Street, performed a won Medal. Today his story can be told. When the tanker was hit she listed away from the quay,broke her mooring wires and there was grave danger of her turning on her side and sinking. While the raid at its Engineroom Artificer Stewart was height, and another engineroom rating from a nearby ship got a small boat and pulled over to the tanker. "She was canted over so far that we could step from the boat on to her deck," said Stewart. "We climbed on board and found the fire only in the superstructure. We it out with fire was put a extinguisher and buckets of water. Then went below to what had been we see damage done, ” They found the tanker had been holed on both sides by splintery. On side the holes had been raised above the water the one by list, so they started plugging them, the small with wooden plugs and the ones larger with bedding, bits of wood and they could find. ones anything For two hours they were working at this job, Some of the holes were in the boiler room. They turned off the steam and began work, crawling about knee deep in oil and water. "We had a job to get down,because the ladders were sloping away from us, And all the time there was a danger of the ship toppling' "Stewart over, said. Because of the weight of water rushing the holes below through larger the waterline, .they were unable to plug them, but by this time more help had arrived, and eventually certain parts of the tanker were flooded and she was got back on to an even keel. After that, Stewart spent six months in. Malta before returning to this country. Now he is senior Engineroom Artificer in one of the new Frigates, "She’s the finest ship I’ve ever been on," he added. NAVAL AFFAIRS 8/4/43 - No. 18 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TAPES BEFORE 0030 D.B.S.T. (i,e. FOR MORNING PAPERS) ON FRIDAY, 9th APRIL, 1943 THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING ANY MESSAGES FILED WITH THE EMBARGO LITTLE SHIPS IN TEN ACTIONS During the past month, light coastal forces of the Royal and of the Allied. Navy Navies have fought ten successful actions ranging from the Straits of Dover to the Norwegian Fiords and from the Dutch coast to the Dogger Bunk, These engagements, averaging one every three days, arc the measure of the vital played "little in the of the part “by our ships" grand strategy war. Although the main of coastal forces is offence, they have purpose our light the additional coastwise responsibility of protecting some of our own shipping* This double role has been pursued vigorously over the past month during which the little ships have carried out high Speed, hard-hitting raids on enemy supply lines and spirited with E-boats to engagements attempting intercept our convoys as they near Britain, How successful these actions have been is indicated by the month’s score sheet. This shows OUR LOSSES. ENEMY LOSSES Sunk Sunk One light coastal craft 3 E-boats 3 large supply ships (A few of our ships 2 medium supply ships sustained superficial 1 patrol craft 1 armed trawler damage), Severely Damaged 3 patrol craft 1 large tanker 1 small supply ship 1 escort vessel Several E-boats "While the large tanker is listed as only damaged it is believed that she sank later as a result of the action. NAVAL AFFAIRS 8.4.43 - No. 26 The President of the Board of Trade Receives Representatives of the Cotton Industry. The President of the Board of Trade today received Mr. Frank The Chairman of the Cotton Industry Conference, and Longworth, J.P. other members of the Conference to discuss the report of the Conference the and future and direction of on present organisation the cotton industry* The President thanked hr. Lon gworth and his colleagues for their very valuable work. He noted in particular the unanimous feeling, shared by all the organisations represented on the Conference, that a single co-ordinating body, established by statute, to speak for the industry should be retained after the war. He also noted that the Conference Cotton Board constituted rather proposed a differently from the present Board, to be set up after the end of the war, or at an earlier date if the Board of Trade so determines after consultation with the trade interests. After discussion, the President said that the constitution of the Cotton Board was laid down by Act of Parliament and any alteration of its constitution would require The legislation. Government would need to consider in their entirety proposals for legislation affecting post-war cotton industry and many problems to affect the had still to be dealt with. The likely Industry report of the Conference would receive serious consideration when decisions had to be taken the future direction of the affecting Cotton Industry. Those taking part in the deputation from the Conference were; Mr. Frank Longworth, J.P. (Chairman of Conference) Mr. John M. Cook, Representing raw cotton. Mr* W.M. Wiggins, J.P. representing spinners. Mr. Thomas manufacturers. Ashurst, representing Mr. Sidney Walton, representing finishers. Mr. E.A. representing merchants. Carpenter, Mr. James Ainsley, Secretary to the Conference. NOTE The of the Conference follows the visit of the President report of the Board of Trade to MANCHESTER in 1942 when he asked September, leaders of the cotton to him their industry give views on the post war problems of the industry. The Conference includes representatives of trade cotton organisations representing raw merchants, spinners, weaved, finishers and merchants. BOARD OF TRADE 8/4/43 - No,30 Air Ministry No.9900 AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUE Aircraft of Fighter Command made a number of sweeps over Northern France today. During one of these a wireless station near Ushant ms attacked and damaged. This evening fighter-bombers, escorted by Typhoons and Spitfires, ■bombed the enemy airfield at Triqueville, near Le Havre. Two of our fighters are missing.