21/11/40 ~ No* 2* GIFTS FROM U.S.A. TO BRITAIN COMMITTEE TO REGULATE DELIVERY Gifts and offers from the U.S.A, flow to this country in ever increasing volume. At the same time the shipping space available for imports from the United States is limited and must be used to carry essential cargoes urgently needed for supplying our military and civil requirementso In these circumstances the very lavishness of the generosity of the American public in offering gifts of all kinds to alleviate distress and to minister to the needs of all classes of our population raises a problem of no little difficulty, particularly as the organisations on both sides of the Atlantic, which are so many and so diverse in the objects they have in vievz, are not co-ordinated and are not, of themselves, able to produce an orderly shipping programme. With shipping space in such urgent demand for essential cargo there is a serious risk that gifts supplied by our friends in the U.S.A, may arrive at the ports only to find that no facilities exist for carrying them to the people for whom they were intended, en- tailing disappointment and discouragement for the donors and deprivation of welcome assistance by our own people. This happen, and the Minister of Shipping, on whom falls cannot be allowed to the task providing the necessary carrying space, has had to say that he must be of supplied with a shipping programme planned ahead to utilise such shipping space as is available to that space to the best A and use possible advantage. programme is impossible unless there is one channel, and one channel only, through which offers of gifts must flow. It has accordingly been decided to set up a committee under the chairmanship of Sir Ronald Lindsay, until recently H.M.Ambassador at Washington, to advise on offers of gifts from America, to review the needs of the United Kingdom which can be relieved by such gifts and to be the sole channel for recommendations to the Minister’ of Shipping for the allocation of shipping for this purpose. space The committee will include representatives of voluntary organisations concerned in various forms of war relief. It is greatly to be hoped that the setting up of this committee will lead to a corresponding step in the United States as regards the organisations in that country through whom gifts are being sent to Britain and it is felt that this would be a most vnelpful development to all concerned* The present close co-operation between particular organisations in this country and America will continue as hitherto* It is important that all appeals from any organisation in the United Kingdom for gifts in kind from American sources should be submitted in the first instance to the above committee through the headquarters of the organisation concerned, since the Minister of Shipping will in future be unable to give facilities for shipment from the United States of any gifts other than those that receive the committee’s recom- mendation* Organisations which may already have addressed any such appeal to America that has so far not beoafully met are asked to send full particulars to the committee, indicating the nature and purpose of the request and the quarter to which it has been addressed* Communications should be addressed to the Secretary, American Gifts Committee, Ministry of Health, Whitehall, S.W.I, MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 21/11/1.0 No. 3>- AIR MINISTRY NO. 231 UR MINISTRY AND MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY COMMUNIQUE Enemy activity over this country last night was widespread but desultory, and attacks where ipade were intermittent and on a minor scale. Bombs were dropped in the London area, in the Midlands, at many widely-separated points in the southern half of England* at one point in north-west England and in south Wale Sa In several towns in the Midlands fires were started and high explosive bombs demolished some houses and damaged others# A number of people were killed and others injured in this area. Elsewhere although some damage was done at several points, attacks were generally ineffective and the number of people killed and injured was very small* 21.11.40 No. F L A S H. Last night our bombers carried out attacks on aerodromes in enemy occupied territory, a very heavy attack on a marshalling yard in Germany and an attack on the submarine base of Lorient. AIR AFFAIRS. The following is issued by Sl/11/UO ~ No. 6. Naval Affairs for such use as the Press may wish to make of it< THE STORY OF THE ”SAN DEMETRIO” ”We sailed with a cargo of 11,200 tons of gasolene and we brought in 11,000 tons.” That is how one of the officers of the SAN DEMETRIO described his voyage in the convoy attacked by the German pocket battleship. They sighted the raider about 4.30 p*m. and as he reached the bridge the JERVIS BAY was already flying her signals telling the convoy to scatter. The men of the SAN DEMETRIO described the JERVIS BAY as ’’standing up to the enemy like a hen standing up great to a tom cat while her brood of chickens made off.” They saw her turn first to port and then to starboard so as to bring her broadsides to bear on her gigantic adversary. They saw her steering straight for the raider, and holding her fire while the merchantmen slipped away under cover of smoke in the gathering dusk. The SAN DEMETRIO sheered off, but before long shells started to fall round her. She was badly hit and the order was given to abandon ship. The boats dropped astern and ten minutes later they saw her start to blaze. Another ship came up astern and the raider shifted her fire to a new target. The shells whined over the boats and they pulled away, losing touch in the dark. In one boat were 16 officers and men, among them an American seaman and a seaman from the Shetland Islands, whose knowledge of boat work in the heavy weather which lay ahead did much to save the SAN DEMETRIO herself as well as this boat’s crew. That night they saw four burning ships - one of them the JERVIS BAY - they saw a great flare in the sky which they took to be a magazine exploding. They saw star shells bursting in the sky as the raider hunted for that large convoy; at least 32 ships of which escaped although the German High Command claimed the destruction of the ’’entire convoy”. /The - 2 The weather had been fine, but by midnight a full gale was blowing. They lay to a sea anchor, keeping the boat’s head up to it with the oars. The Shetland Islander sat at the tiller - the second Officer said ”he knew all about small boats.” By dawn great seas were running. They sighted a ’’Swede” which may have been the ship that so gallantly turned back and picked up survivors of the JERVIS BAY, but they could not reach her, nor did she see the boat - at one moment buried in the trough of the sea and at the next running on its crest. At midday they sighted a tanker to leeward - and at 5 they got alongside. It was their own ship - the SAN DEMETRIOI She was still burning and gasolene lay on the water all round her so they decided not to board that night and pulled ahead of her hoping to drift with her through the night. When dawn broke she was not in sight I The weather had moderated. It was now possible to get a sail up and by one of those extraordinary chances of the sea they fell in with her again and got aboard. She was white hot amidships, her bridge and accommodation were gutted. There was a fierce fire still burning aft, and she was down by the bows. Down below the engineers sot about getting steam on the in an engine room flooded to pumps the floor plates, while on dock the remaining hands fought the fire with buckets and fire extinguishers: chipping the burning cork insulation off. There was gasolene washing over the decks, and every time she pitched more gasolene gushed up through the shell splinter holes. By 5«30 p.m. the Chief Engineer had 80 lbs. steam pressure and the hoses‘could be used instead of buckets. By daybreak next day all the fires were out and most of the rents in the decks and upper works were plugged, a job which the American particularly delighted in - being up to his nock in the sea most of the time. /They - 3 - They found a joint of beef and four cases of eggs already cooked by the flames - both quite good when the outside was chipped off. Th© Chief Engineer cooked potatoes and onions by steam and there was plenty of tinned butter. The main diffuculty when once the engines had been got going and she had been brought to an even keel, was the compass, which had been shot from the binnacle and though replaced, behaved in a peculiar manner. That night when steering North by compass, they found the Pole Star dead astern so after that they gave the compass up and sailed by a mixture of stars and weather. The American sailor cheered everyone up by saying ’’they were bound to hit something sometime between Narvik and Gibraltar.” The^e was not a man amongst that 16 who failed in courage or humour. Two days after getting back on board the Greaser, who had been at his post all the time, died of internal haemorrhage. A gallant man; he was buried at sea. Only three other men from the total crew of U 2 are missing. That this largely due to the action of the in taking the was master, difficult decision to abandon ship when he did, borneis out by the testimony of those who brought the ship safely home. The fact that only one of the two boats regained the ship was pure luck. Eight days after the raider’s the SAN DEMETRIO made attack, a landfall. She had no signalling flags. They had all been burnt. The only flag she had left was her Red Ensign and that had been flying throughout her adventurous voyage - a symbol of the Merchant Navy’s courage and determination. Th© greatest satisfaction to her Chief Engineer is that she is now discharging her cargo through her own pipes with her own and furthermore that it is tons out of that 11,200 pumps, 11,000 with which she sailed o P.S. The SAW DEMETRIO belongs to the same line as the SAN ALBERTO whose crew made a very gallant and de- termined attempt to save half their ship when she was torpedoed in bad weather and broke in half on December 9th, 1939. 21/11/40-NO: 7* CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS IN THE RECEPTION The Minister of Health (Mr* Malcolm MacDonald) has asked local authorities to do everything possible to see that evacuated children have a happy Christmas, Parties and entertainments should be organised in the reception areas. The return of children to th.; big towns and cities, Mr* MacDonald says, would be more dangerous than ever before. Moreover, parents must be warned that the g>ressure of accommodation in the reception areas is now such that if the Government’s advice is ignored and children are taken home, the billets are likely to be filled and the children will be unable to return* The Board of Education is arranging lessons or out-of-sohool activities for the children during most of the holiday period. Last year, great efforts wore made by local authorities, voluntary organisations and householders to organise Christmas entertainments. These efforts were very successful in giving the children a happy Christmas and in keeping them in the reception areas. At the present time, elaborate festivities would be out of place, but the Minister feels that something should be done to mark the occasion for the children who will be spending the second Christmas of the war away from home and often apart from their parents, Many of those living in the towns from which the children have come will again wish to contribute, as they did last year, to provide a party or some other simple entertainment. In some of the towns which have suffered most severely, and where so many calls have already been made for voluntary funds, it may no longer be possible to raise even the moderate amount required in this way. In these cases also the home town will wish to make some provision for their children, and the Minister would be prepared to give his sanction to reasonable expenditure at the cost of the rates. MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO BE CHECKED AGAINST DELIVERY. 21/11/40 - No. 8. NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL AFTER THE BROADCAST AT ABOUT 3.30 p 6n c WE SPEAK TO INDIA. tr WOMEN GENERALLY SPEAKING" by WINSTON CiniRCHELL. Following is the text of a broadcast by Mrs. Winston Churchill in the 8.8.C. Overseas Transmission at 3»30 p.m, November 21st 1940:- that This is the first time/l have ever broadcast. Perhaps it is a little rash of me to have chosen for my first audience a country of which I have no personal knowledge. I have never visited India though I have long wanted to. Yet, if tomorrow it were made possible for me to go I should be obliged to refuse! I am not thinking just now of my domestic ties, but of the absorbing interest which keeps us all at our posts in spite of danger 0 4 •> Does it seem heartless of me to say that? To find the war of absorbing interest? ? I hope not - because if I m honest I must admit England todaythat I find life in absolutely thrilling, a.nd I am glad to be alive at great moment of our history. this I don’t of course mean for a moment that life is in the least enjoyable. How could it be? When everyday we hear of numbers of people being killed and injured in air-raids - not only in great cities, in London, on the South Coast, in the Midlands, on Merseyside, but also in quiet country towns and villages all over Great Britain* Wherever you go you may see scenes of destruction; shattered buildings, and isolated homes in ruins - we are, quite literally, living under the shadow of death. But don’t let me exaggerate - there is much damage - but very little of it is irreparable; there is a long list of casualties but the number killed is far less than that in one battle of the Great War, and far less too, thank God, than was anticipated. We still say that 999 out of can every 1000 people are unharmed. All the same there is a chance that death by violence may come at any moment to any one of us; and that is what I mean when I say that life is thrilling - thrilling - hot physically enjoyable. The thrill is caused by the greatness of the events through which we are passing, and obscures lesser feelings like fear, the dread of death, and even the greatness of the tragedy. We must measure this greatness by the immensity of what is at stake. The issue is - no less than the danger of the establishment in if not in the world of Europe - - a hideous tyranny. I sometimes hear it said that it is hypocritical of the English to rail at tyranny in Europe and to refuse freedom to India. Well it is not my intention desire or to embark on a discussion of that misleading and indeed false comparison. But in any case you in India can have no conception of the tyranny that would overtake you if the British were beaten in this war. It is a commonplace nowadays to say that we are all in the front line - actually, for women, this is the vital and dominant lesson of this war. For the first time in history, we women are no longer waiting at home for our menfolk we are in the line with them. We are no longer called upon to listen for news good or of our husbands and sons who are fighting for us. We are indeed at present the chief target of the enemy - the majority of those killed in air-raids are women and children. This means that women are called upon to takd their full share of risk and responsibility, I am/ -2- I am not thinking only of the thousands of women in uniform: the women who drive ambulances and lorries in pitch darkness, who share in the work of the A.R.P. and fire fighting: who remain at their posts throughout a raid in order that vital services shall be maintained; but great also of the mass of ordinary who women carry out their daily duties in the consciousness that they may suddenly be killed. None of these hideous events nave touched you yet - but if we are beaten they will touch you - and with no light hand. I think it will interest you to hear how another distant country feels about these things. So let me quote from the New York Times of September 13 th:- "From our own shores we cannot see the shadow over ancient gardens, over hotßes hoary with age, over the graves of poets and philosophers and the tombs of the martyrs. We know only that one of the green and lovely o-ases of civilization in the wilderness of man’s time on earth is foully threatened, and that the whole world forevermore will be poorer if it. falls." This shows a real understanding of what is at stake - the more so that .... there is in it no note of pity - We a sk of India - not pity - but understanding and the sympathy which comes from understanding. We know that you have given of your wealth, that Indian soldiers are helping to fight our joint battles all over the world. Many of you must have relations who are sharing in this great adventure. We have lately been stirred by the stories of their gallantry but we want you all to share if you will, and this brings me to the point of this talk. We are going to start a series of regular broadcasts from this country to the women of India. Week by week we shall try to let you know what we are doing and thinking and We to draw speakers not only from those who doing feeling - hope are definite war work, but from those who are carrying on normally in the face of difficulty. The war is bound to affect all our activities but it need not defeat them, and we shall try to convince you that we are succeeding in carrying on with our necessary occupations in abnormal conditions. Do let me remind you that we shall not be asking for pity. The speakers you will hear are not feeling in the least like martyrs. They are feeling like soldiers in the front line, confident that they too are fighting and working in a great cause - in the conviction of the truth of the Prime Minister’s words:- "We shall not flag or fail, we shall go on to the end MINISTRY OF INFO iM'..TI N 21/11/U0 - no: GIFTS OF AIRCRAFT The Minister of Aircraft Production acknowledges with gratitude the following gifts towards the purchase of aircraft:- Some Japanese sympathisers....... £ 25*. 0. 0. Ministry of Economic Warfare ’’Whiskers” Spitfire Fundi * i, ..♦ £ 372. 3© Women’s Transport Service Regimental Club4,* £1 ,660. 0. 0. Acton Factory Fighter Fund. e m .. £2,000. 0, 1 Ghepping Wycombe Spitfire Fund( plane to be called Ghepping Wycombe) * . £5,00(\ MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION No. 10. FLASH: On enquiry at the Air Ministry it is learnt that Air Marshal Boyd is reported as missing, but no further details are yet available. AIR AFFAIRS. AIR MINISTRY No, 2321. 21/11 AO - No. 11. AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUE. \ Last night a large scale attack was carried out by R.A.F. bombers on the.inland port of Duisburg-Ruhrort. Damage was done to shipping and warehouses and many fires and explosions occurredc Other forces of aircraft attacked the ports of Lorient> Cherbourg, Dunkirk and Ostend, Several enemy aerodromes were bombed. At Aniens-Glisy a German aircraft in the act of taking off was set on fire* One of our aircraft has not reported to "base. 21/11/40 - N0.12 APPLICATIONS FOR NEW RATION BOOKS Edinburgh leads the way in applications for new ration books. Over 63% of its population have applied for the new books, and of that number less than 1% omitted to include the particulars from their identity cards. The Southern Division lags sadly behind with only applications having been received, 12% of which have been incorrectly filled in* From the South Western Division 60% ct applications have been received with 5/o wrongly filled in. Evacuees were the worstoffenders* The principal errors were the omission of the National Registration letters and numbers and of the address of the Food Office on the reverse side of the Application Cardo From North Wales 52% of applications have been received, varying from 45% in rural areas to 60% in urban districts* In this Division there has been an average of 15 % incomplete returns* Holders of ration books who have not yet made their applications for new books should do so without delay* Otherwisethey may not have the books in time for the new rationing period* Before posting the Application Card, which is the last page but one in the existing ration book, they should write their National Registration letters and numbers in the bottom left-hand corner of the card and fill in the name of the Food Office on the reverse side of the card* MINISTRY OF FOOD AIR MINISTRY NQj>2.32 21/11/UP - No.l AIR. MARSHAL 0. T. BOYD ~ C; B. The Air Ministry announces Air Marshal C.T.Boyd, C.8./ 0.8.E., M.C., A.F.C. ? recently appointed deputy to the air officer commanding in chief Middle East Command, has been reported missing while crossing the Mediterranean by air. It is now learned that, ,he is a prisoner in Italian hands. 21/11/40. No, 14 BROADCAST BY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR SOUTH AFRI The following broadcast by Mr c S F C O Waterson, High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa., is to be published until after not 9 p,ra, to-day and should be carefully checked against delivery: I represent the youngest Dominion of the Commonwealth, the Union of South Africa, Away down there it is nearly midsummer? there is no blackout: and no rationing - it sounds almost idyllic to us here b'ujj all the same it is sometimes almost as hard to be a spectator of events as to be in the thick of them and I know that my country- men and women in their comparative safety envy you privilege of being in the your front line of the conflict in which we are engaged together, Every letter I receive, and every newspaper I read from home, tells me two things which I should like you to know. First, that what is going on here in Britain is being watched in South Africa with sympathy, a an admiration and a sense of kinship so keen that it is almost painful. Ever since the outbreak of war that feeling has found expression in the steady stream of things which have been sent to me for distribution in Britain: contributuons to the Lord Mayor’s Fund and the Red Cross; gifts of ambulances and medical equipment; of thousands of comforts of all kinds for the forces; cases of clothes for tens children, They come from the big cities and the little outlying villages; they have been made or knitted by people in the towns and by native women in the territories; and stitch has carried with it thoughtof kindness and goodwill to the every a people of Britain, Wool farmers have made a voluntary levy on their bales of wool and orange of to growers have given a quota their fruit shipped Britain as a free issue to the British forces. If believe, I do, that fighting this not for material you as we are war, gain but for the preservation of the things of the spirit, then this spontaneous outpouring of personal offerings demonstrates, as perhaps nothing else does, that the strength of our Commonwealth rests not upon written pacts or political arrangements, but upon a true community of ideas which is shardd and keenly felt individually by free men, irrespective of their class, colour or creed throughout our Commonwealth and the Empire, And the second thing I can tell you is that South Africa is geared up to contri- bute all we have in men, money and material to the common effort in which we have the honour to be engaged with you and our sister Dominions and Allies, When war broke out we were ill prepared for it, but under the leadership of General Smuts we buckled to and to-day, apart frogj. many hundreds of our men who are serving in the British Forces, we have an Expeditionary Force, complete with its Air and auxiliary Army Services, in the field on the borders of Italy’s Empire in Africa, It is being steadily reinforced and before long will constitute a formidable Army ready to strike. With the so-operation of employers and employed, our industries mobilised footing and hard are on a war are working as as yours to produce everything we can, not only to supply ourselves, but to assist you too wherever possible with munitions of war. Our Air Force is growing fast and with the assistance of Royal Mr Force personnel our training schools are being expanded to train not only our own boys but large numbers of yours as well. This is only postscript and I a cannot say very much, but here is a p«p.s e r uth Africa is determined to make her full contribution to the cause in which we are engaged. In us you have a partner who is resolute that as as you are freedom and ordered liberty amongst men shall be preserved in Africa well in as as Europe; a partner who will shrink from no sacrifice to for preserve our children the precious things our fathers have won for us in the paste MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 21/11/40 - No 15, OFFICIAL CAIRO COMMUNIQUE. The following communique was issued today from British GoH.Q* Cairo.: Western Desert» Further details of the action fought hy one ,rrA '' of our advanced reconnoitring detachments on Nov 19th are now availahle o In this successful encounter, at cost to our own troops, five Italian medium tanks were destroyed while six were severely damaged* Two lorries were destroyed and two captured, in addition to BREDA guns and other equipment* Ten Italiansond one Libyan were also captured, while definite proof is available that 108 of the enemy were killed* .With, this evidence the extent of the total casualties sustained by the enemy in killed and wounded will be appreciated* Sudan In the G-all.abat area a British patrol encountered and inflicted serious loss upon a numerically superior enemy patrol 6 Other fronts - nothing to report© MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. 21/11/UO - No, -16. CHRISTMAS . GIRTS AB ROAD. The public are reminded that on the instructions of the Treasury no Christmas gifts in the form of money may be sent to any person outside the sterling area. The sterling area comprises the British Empire (except Canada,- Newfoundland and Hong Kong) with Mandated Territories, Egypt, the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and Iraq. The conditions under which as a special concession Christmas gifts may he sent abroad in the form of goods up to a limit of £5 in. value for each recipient were published in the Press on November 6. TREASURY. 21 /'I 1 /UP - No, 17 AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO . 232. Air Ministry News Service. GENMAN BOMBER SHOT DOWN. Despite difficult conditions and heavy ground fire, Coastal Command bombers last (Wednesday) night made successful raids on enemy air bases in Brittany, Normandy, and Picardy. While a Blenheim preparing to bomb a was landing ground near Amiens, it sighted, a twin-engine enemy bomber at ssooo feet which, had apparently just taken off because its navigation lights were on, and it was presumably setting course for England. The Blenheim challenged head-on. After a long burst from a front gun the tail-gunner took up the attack at close range. A stream of tracers entered the enemy which dived steeply, and was seen on fire on the ground close to the air field, which it had just left. The burning German bomber lit up the area,and made bombing easier for the Blenheim, and the aircraft which were following it. Stick "bombing was carried out across aerodromes in the region of Vannes and Arras, The oil plant at Vlaardingen, Holland., was again bombed by Coastal Command. Hudsons• 21/l 1/40 - No* 18. WAR COMMENTARY by LZEimNANT-COIMTOBR ANTHONY CT/MINS, R.N. TO BE BROADCAST AT 9*20 P.M. CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY. Up till now the War Commentaries have usually been given by some distinguished Admiral, General or Air Marshal, so perhaps seme of you are wondering why it is being given to-night by someone of such lower rank. It’s because it so happens that my particular job takes me to sea in all types of ships, and all shop. over the I run into a lot of people so -as and opposed to the considered opinion of someone in authority - I’m going to try and represent to you what the people on the spot - the people who actually fight the ships think about the war at sea. - Unfortunately, during the last few weeks, I haven’t been lucky enough to be at the right spot at the right time, so I can’t give you an actual eye witness account of any of these recent naval actions; but perhaps I shall be luckier before next time. Now what does the average sailor looking back on these last- fourteen months - think about the part he has played? Not muchl And why? Because, like every other fighting man, his one great wish has been to have a crack at the and knock the blazes out of him. And so far with a few enemy - grand exceptions - the Navy hasn’t had many chances of doing so. That certainly doesn’t imply an absence of initiative, or an overdose of caution on the part of those in command. It’s merely that the circumstances of this war haven’t allowed things to work out that way. last the situation than well in hand. Our blockade of By Spring, was more the and the losses of merchant vessel had been enemy's ports was complete, our own reduced to below the most optimistic proportions. And then - suddenly - the whole situation changed. Heaven forbid that I - to-night should hark back unnecessarily to those regrettable days - of the French capitulation, but nevertheless one has got to face up to the fact that suddenly the British Navy - already working at full pressure - had had loaded on its shoulders, probably the greatest burden the Navy has ever had to compete with. Beforehand the German U-boats - when only able to operate from the Baltic - had had a very limited radius of action, and they had had to concentrate mainly on our East coast shipping. Now - with this enormous stretch of newly acquired coast line and the innumerable ports thrown to them able to open - they are operate at comparatively short range against our West coast Atlantic shipping. Their newly acquired aerodromes have also brought their bombers within easy range. There's nothing to be gained by mincing matters) the increase in the losses of our merchant shipping brought home to us all too convincingly, the terrific problem with which the Navy was suddenly - and unexpectedly faced. As against that, we had received the reinforcement of a number of allied ships - Norwegian, Polish, Dutch and Free French. And, "believe me, they vzere a great inspiration. I have "been out on one or two shows when these allied ships have been co-operating, and I can assure you that working with them makes you realise - once and for all - what a great thing it is we're fighting for. /As against 2 « As against our new allies Mussolini provided a new enemy. Speaking personally - as sailor this most welcome event. Here large and a was a was powerful fleet. - a Presumably they would come to sea and give us at last the chance of a real good scrap. There was a spate of applications to transfer to the Mediterranean* from the sober But, more operational point of view, it was a very different matter. How to compete with this enormous addition to the enemy* s sea power was obviously very, very serious problem. a Admittedly we received later the most welcome addition of those 50 American destroyers, but at the time our ships, which had been released from the Mediterranean for convoy protection and other work had to be recalled to the new theatre of war. The burden on the Navy’s shoulders was inevitably doubled Yes, there’s no question that a few weeks ago, the situation from the naval point of view was extrememly black* And to make things more difficult a German raider - under cover of the lengthening winter nights and with the innumerable Norwegian Fiords at her service - was able to slip out. You all know how she attacked an Atlantic convoy. The gallant action of the JERVIS BAY, coupled with the amazing, level-headed seamanship of the Merchant Captains, resulted in most of the ships getting home. Captain Fegen was given the Victoria Cross a V.C. which will down to history. His job was primarily defensive to go a one - defend his merchant ships. But the moment the appeared enemy outgunned as he was - - and outclassed in everything except guts, - he said: "To blazes with the defensive” and went straight into the attack,,- And that to me is symbolical of the whole naval situation at the moment. Like Fogerty Fegen’s, the whole Navy’s job by force of circumstances has been - primarily a defensive one, Now the tide is turning, and from all quarters there has been glorious news of "going into attack". Our ships in Home Waters - with the co-operation of the R.A.F. have bombarded and hammered the newly acquired French ports while strong measures, whi<3i I obviously can’t describe, into action to deal •with the U-boat were immediately put new menace. In the Mediterranean, Admiral Cunninghan did everything in his power to persuade But with the few have heard about could the Italian Fleet to fight® - exceptions you - satisfaction, So the of he resorted to the get little night -on November 11th, In hazardous operation of attacking them in Taranto. You have heard the results. one the vzhole balance of sea power in the Mediterranean has been altered. swoop, You know when I first heard of that brilliant attack by the Fleet Air Arm I 5 to think about it all. You gneedily devoured the news, then crept quietly away see, served several vividly because I’ve as a I could picture the whole scene so years x.2'2 as fi _ tearing down through the clouds on harbours both here and in the Mediterranean and tided to arrive at a fair conclusion of how our peacetime efforts would work out under war conditions - would we ever get through the anti-ao rcraft barrage and be able to press home our attack? Remember that torpedoes dropped by aircraft the with slight modifications - - are the same as the ordinary torpedoes fired from ,a shipts torpedo tube. They run the water propelled - through Dy tjieir own engines and there’s a complicated system - of gyros and depth mechanism to keep them on their course and at the right number of feet below the surface. You can understand, then, that they can’t be hurled into the water anyhow - they've got to be aimed carefully and nursed in at a reasonably slow speed and from only just above the surface. The aircraft must be its for moments steady on course sorpe before dropping.. At 'the very time when you're under the point blank range of the enemy gunfire . /l don’t ~ Jj - I don’t know if you know Taranto at all - if you think of the southern end of Italy as a woman's high-heeled shoe, it lies just where the front edge of the heel joins the sole. There’s an inner and outer harbour.- The outer harbour has a small island half way across the bay -with booms and anti-submarine defences stretching to the mainland on either side and so completely enclosing the harbour. The island and mainland are studded with anti-aircraft batteries and, in addition, there’s a balloon barrage it’s to attack. > so no easy place Towards midnight the ships taking part approached a pre-arranged position froin which the aircraft would be within easy striking distance. Reconnaissance reports and photos taken by the R.A.F. had shown clearly the positions of the ships - enemy the battleships in the outer harbour the cruisers in the inner. ~ During the afternoon and evening our aircraft crews had been hard at work in the vast hangars between decks - fitters had been making final adjustments to the engines riggers had been swarming over their aircraft, making sure that everything was in perfect flying trim. Armourers had given the final touches to the guns - wireless experts to the radio. The Fairey Fulmars and Gloster Gladiators were being all teed up for their job of fighter escort. On some of the Fairey Swordfish, bombs were being loaded* Between the wheels of the remaining Swordfish were slung the long tin-fish - the torpedoes on which so much depended. I lookingthink the torpedoes men after the the delicate gyros and the depth mechanism had perhaps the most responsible job of all. One faulty adjustment, and the torpedo would run off its course of dive into the bottom. However carefully the pilot had aimed -whatever risks he'd taken - the result would be a washout. As aero hour approached, the pilots and their crews dressed up in their flying - kit - were standing by their machines o Suddenly there was the welcome shout of "up aircraft" and - as the massive lifts came clanging down to the hangar level - the air- craft were rushed on one by one and taken up to the flying deck. Once up top, there were wheeled into their take off positions and the wings were spread. Pilots and observers climbed into their cockpits and strapped themselves in while the Squadron Commanders reported to the Captain on the bridge for final instructions. At last the order "start up". Each member of the various aircraft crews had been leaning on his starting handles determined that his engine would be the first to give tongue. In a flash the quiet of the flying dock was transformed into an inferno of roaring engines, spitting exhaust flames and sudden slip streams. I’ve yet to see the order "start up" given without at least two or three caps sailing over the side. Then a short period while the engines warmed up and the carrier heeled over as she turned under full helm into wind, series of deafening roars each engine A as was tested at Grinning pilots holding up their thumbs to tell the full throttle. anxious mechanics that all was well and as the last engine throttled back a signal - - from the deck officer to the bridge that everything was set. By now the carrier had increased to flying off speed and the white trail of steam floating down the centre line frem the steam jet in the bows showed that she was dead into wind. The great moment had cede. A quick signal from the bridge. A friendly "Good luck" - smile from the Deck Officer, his hand drops, and the first machine is heading down the centre of the flying deck and climbing away into the night. One the others followed in quick succession until the last aircraft by one as took off, the earlier ones were already getting into formation on their leaders. /No easy - 4 - No job this at night with no navigation lights, but this occasion there easy on was a goodish moon to help and. in a few minutes the formation of fighters, bombers and. torpedo machines were climbing steadily and heading for Taranto. At last they were over the harbour. First the bombers got busy> dropped parachute flares to light up the target, then aimed and dropped their bombs, and incidentally, tried to draw the enemy fire. Then the leader of the torpedo machines gave the signal ’’Down we go’’. Now of all forms of air attack there are few quite so thrilling as the dive with torpedoes. You have an enormous feeling of superiority both from your height and your speed. The ships look tiny down below and even if they are steaming ’’full out’’, their speed in comparison to your nothing* Your own seems engine is throttled back and your nose stuffed down to the maximum diving anglej as you try to force the speedometer needle off the clocks The flying wires between your main planes are screaming as they tear through the air* Most pilots shout or sing as an accompaniment. 6,000 feet Nov; is the time to steady up for the final - approach. By 80S feet you’re right in the thick of the muck -by 200 you’re banking steeply Qnto the line of fire and as you come into it, you’re immediately checking speed to nurse your fish into the drink* Them comes the great moment. You’re at the right height, headed in the right direction and within torpedo range* Rill you drop now while the going’s good, or run the gauntlet a little closer and make dead sure of it. You hang on. Now you’re in to only a few hundred yards - all rights Let her go. There’s a sudden feeling of buoyancy as the weight of the torpedo is released. Then the steep climbing turn away and the agonised suspense as you look back over your shoulder at the spot where your torpedo plunged in. If she’s running true she’ll find her depth in a few seconds and you’ll see a streak of bubbles as she races through the water. Yes, there she goes - heading straight for the target. The pilot by now is taking frantic avoiding action from the point-blank enemy fire. The observer - being hurled from side to side of his cocl however, withdraws the concession made in the original Order by which registered poisons could supply without restriction persons specified in the Third Schedule with woven silk or linen piece goods or made-up goods. Controlled goods of linen or silk supplied after 15th November 1940. to specified in persons the Third Schedule must be regarded as supplied to unregistered persons and can only therefore be supplied within the limits of the registered person’s quota. However, the silk or linen goods so supplied at any time during the standard period now count for the purpose of computing the; respective quotas. The Board of Trade also draw the attention of registered perons to the fact that under Article 6 of the original Order they are not only required to restrict the quantities of controlled goods they supply to unregistered persoie but they are also required to place similar limitation a on any controlled goods which they may use in the manufacture of non-controlled goods. BOARD OF TRADE 21/11/AO No 25 Ist CANADIAN DIVISION’S GIFT FOR SPITFIRE. Regimental Sergeant Major Ronald Dale of the Royal Canadian Artillery and Private Paul Tremblay of the Canadian Infantry called at the Ministry of Aircraft Production today and handed Lord Beaverbrook a cheque for £5029d5011 for the naming of a Spitfire® Canadians stationed in Britain have good cause, they say, to be grateful to the fighter pilots 0 Time and again enemy aircraft have been driven from their camps by the attentions of the fighter men of the R«A.F O And so some of the men, of the Ist Canadian Division asked ’’Let’s collect for pur Spiffire 0 ” 1 Today s cheque was the result, presented ”in appreciation and admiration of the valour and heroism of the Royal Air Force which we have so often witnessed® ’’The First Canadian Division,” it was added, ’’will follow the career of this aeroplane with pride, for they feel sure it will become a scourge of the skies for Hitler’s Luftwaffe and Mussolini’s vultures®” Lord Beave brook promised that the aircraft would carry the divisional sign of the First Canadian Division - a rectangular red patch with gold maple leaf* The Minister expressed his delight at receiving such a gift from the Canadian troops in this country® MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO. 2/11/M) * - No* 26* Air Ministry News Service o CLOSING THE GATE TO THE RUHR® R,A .F f a RAID INLAND PORT, Duisburg-Ruhrort, the largest river port in the world, and vital link between the Rhine and E-Elm, was chosen for the main thrust of last night’s offensive by the R O A a F© The port is a strategic point of critical importance; the main intermediary in the Ruhr betvzeen rail, road, and waterway, and the bridge-head of the whole industrial area on the right bank of the Rhine® The coal of the Ruhr is assembled there and every day hundreds of barges unload iron, oil, and grain® So great is the traffic that the port has four railway and many first class roads lead to it 9 A serious raid port and last right’s raid on the - was certainly serious - must inevitably have disorganised essential traffic, and destroyed indispensable raw materials c Our bombers arrived soon after eleven o’clock, and for many hours, both from high and low levels, they attacked in waves and showered their high explosives and incendiary bombs on quays, docks and warehouses® Some especially heavy bombs wore used, and the destruction was made more widespread by of largo the use a number of lighter high explosive bombs which are obviously suitable for so extensive target The weather favoured the attacks® a Q The night clear, only a was very few pilots mentioned slight ground.haze > aftd all reported that visibility was excellent o How much the Germans set by this inland port may be judg3d from the great concentrations of anti-aircraft guns and searchlights which our pilots found there, but the ground defences did not prevent attacksfrom as low aS .under 2,000 feet© Weather also favoured accurate observation of results c Our medium bombers were the first to arrive, and these brought back reports cf many fires and large explosions 9 Three of the fires were particularly impressive and could be seen from far a.wuy 0 The first of heavy bombers went in the target after our over soon midnight, and at once began to add to the From then onwards machine after machine arrived with clockwork regularity and the bombing was almost continuous® In all, this second wave of bombers counted thirty-four bursts on the target * and reported fires past counting 0 One pilot said that when he arrived he at once saw a great fire at the north east end of the Long and it is thought that of the many huge warehouses basin, one must have been 'burning® Another crew described an immense explosion fully half an hour after they had made their attackc The pilot of the last aircraft to leave saw six great fires as he turned for home and another, equally large biasing among the silos and store- houses beside the port© The last wave of bombers was over Duisburg-Ruhrort round, about five o’clock in the moming a The weather was still good. and. visibility excellent* Many sticks of bombs were dropped )m was clearly seen to burst on one of the main docks, and. two sticks a little to the vest© On another dock, a stick resulted in a large explosion and two or three fires which, quickly gathered strength© As the aircraft left the crew saw a fire burning furiously and with a good hold® In the words of one of the pilots, ”1 happened to look at Baedeker before we left for Duisburg, He says that a trip round the docks is worth while « we found it so." 21/1 1/14.0 - No 2 CORRECTION TO ISSUE N0..1 In the advance copy of the speech to he broadcast tonight by the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa (21/11/40 N 0.14), paragrah 4, please read ’’Bantu women” instead of ’’native women”. MINISTRY OFINFORMATION. GQMMBHIQHE SECURED HOME. AIR MINISTRY N0.2326 HOME. SECURED GQMMBHIQHE Few enemy aircraft have approached tiis country during daylight today. Bombs were dropped at some places in East Anglia and the home counties, and in a town in Southern England. According to reports so far received, the damage caused was not extensive and the casualties, though not numerous, included a small number of persons killed. GQMMBHIQHE HOME. SECURED 21/11/Uo o N0.29 AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN Np. 23,2.7 AIR MINISTRY NEWS SERVICE’ SPITFIRE RAMS HEINKEL When a Heinkel, flying over Kent, saw threeSp'itfires in pursuit, the onomy pilot turned and made for cloud. All three R.A.F. pilots were able to get in bursts as the Heinkel raced for safety. The last to attack him was a Sergeant-Pilot. He came up, overtaking at high speed, from directly astern. His fellow pilots saw his Spitfire fly straight on into the Heinkel and both aircraft crashed in flames. The Sergeant-Pilot was killed. So were the crew of the Heinkel. Since each of the other two pilots reported receiving return fire from the Heinkel, it is possible that the Sergeant-Pilot was either killed or severely wounded just before he would normally have broken away. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO. 21/11 Ao. - NO, .30< TEN ITALIANS SHOT DOWN An aerial combat in which sixty enemy fighters and fifteen fighter aircraft of the R.A.F. were took place in eastern Libya engaged, yesterday (Wednesday). Seven Cr.U2’sb were destroyed, five of them being seen to burn out on the ground. Three other enemy fighters were shot down, but it is impossible to confirm whether they wore completely destroyed or not. No R.A.F. planes were lost, every one returning to its base safely and undamaged. Raids wore carried out on the night of November 19/20 on Bardia and Tobruk. At Bardia, bombs fell on military stores. The Tobruk attack was carried out with success but the full results were not observed owing to weather conditions* Further raids were made by R.A.F. bombing aircraft on Tirana and Durazzo (Albania) on the night of November 19/23 At Tirana* aerodrome hangars were set on fire and much damage caused, while at Durazzo direct hits were registered on wharves and harbours. Reconnaissance flights were carried out over Taranto and other Italian ports. During the nights of November 18/19 and 19/20, Assab, the Italian port in Eritrea, was continuously raided by R.A.F. bombers, causing severe damage. On the first night, when a dozen separate attacks were made, bombs fell on supply depots, on buildings at the head of the jetty, on ware- houses starting three fires, on the powerhouse which began a blaze that was visible over twenty miles, on harbour buildings, naval workshops, oil tanks and ammunition stores. The following night, the powerhouse was again attacked and set on fire. The Naval headquarters and army food stores wore bombed and other supply depots set ablaze. Fires started on these and previous raids were seen from our aircraft when they were over eighty miles away from Assab. R.n.F. fighter aircraft on patrol yesterday (Wednesday) inter- cepted and shot down an enemy aircraft in flames into the sea near Khorumera. Three of the c?ew, one of whom was wounded, baled out successfully and were taken prisoner. On the night of November 18, one enemy aircraft dropped a few bombs, including one or two incendiaries, in the Suez Canal Area without causing damage or casualties* From all operations during the period under review all our aircraft returned without loss* 21/IIAO. - ITo. 31. nN APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS OF FREE FRANCE. In an appeal issued to-day by General do Gaulle’s Headquarters to all friends of Free France, tribute is paid to the "France Quand Meme 1 ' committees which now exist in several countries. In South America, for instance, one committee has 5? 000 members, a second 720 and a third 310. The Generals appeal points to three essentials:- 1. To increase good will for the Free French Forces which are serving France, in spite of the default of her Government, to assure her ultimate freedom. 2. To itensify recruiting® Results already obtained are stated to be remarkable® Many officers and men have re-joined the Free French Forces, sometimes coming from distant countries in Asia or in South America. Since September Ist the effective strength of the Free French Forces - Army, Navy and Air Force - registered at the recruiting office in Great Britain has increased by almost 50 per cent. This increase does not comprise the many recruits whoso names have been registered in territories outside the United Kingdom.. It should be noted that Important contingents of the Free French Forces are already in Africa, J. In answer to the appeal sent out by General de Gaulle for war funds, several large sums of money have been received, some earmarked for armaments and some for the Society des Aris des Volontaires which aids destitute soldiers and helps the wounded* For this purpose more than £lO,OOO have been received during the past few months< These contributions are from various sources, ranging from a cheque for a few pounds, representing a large proportion of a modest salary, to donations up to several thousand pounds. This, however, is only a beginning. The needs arc enormous, particularly those concerning recruiting and the necessity for equipping the Free French Forces with modern armaments. An enthusiastic answer to this appeal is necessary to allow preparation during this winter of contingents which will be ready in the coming spring to take their part together with’their Allies. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION Thursday, November 21st, 19U0. M I I N S T R Y OF INFORMATION. NEWS BULLETIN No. 183. NEW ZEALAND AND COVENTRY. The High Commissioner for New Zealand (IJm W. Jordon) has forwarded to the Mayor of Coventry the sum of £lOO to he applied in the relief of distress in that city c - Dominions. Office Press Section. M.0.1. 1. NOTTINGHAM*S GIFT FOR BOMBER. The following item is not for publication before the morning papers of November 22nd 19U0. The Minister of Aircraft Production acknowledges with gratitude the following gifts towards the purchase of aircraft:- J. Walters, Assistant Chemist at a R.N O Cordite factory (he is giving all his overtime pay towards the cost of a heavy bomber). .c . .. £ll. 12* h. The children of Marschapel School, Grimsby (in memory of the children drowned in the evacuees* ship in the Atlantic).. bc .. 00 •• •• £27« 11 Offett and Horbury Spitfire Fund (making 7. 8* £5,263* 7s. Bdo in all) .. .. .. .0 .. South-west Lancashire Spitfire Fund (further contribution) .. so .. £l>soo* 0. 0. Heart of England Spitfire Fund (Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratford-on-Avon and districts) .. .. .. *• £15,U06, 114 1. City of Nottingham Spitfire Fund (bomber to be called ’’City of Nottingham”) .. • • 0 . .. £20,000. 0. 0. Ministry of Aircraft Production. M*o*l* 2 SALES OF NON-RATIONED GOODS. The Minister of Food has received a number of enquiries from retailers and their customers in regard to the right of the retailer to refuse to supply non-rationed goods to customers not registered with hinu In order to deal with such cases, the Minister has decided to amend the Food (Conditions of Sale) Order, 1939, so as to place it beyond doubt that, subject to certain safeguards, retailers will be entitled to refuse to sell non-rationed goods to customers that are not registered with them. An Order has been made for this Ministry of nurpose. - Fooa* M.0.1* 3 u- IMPORTATION OF DEHYDRATED ONIONS. The Ministry of Food announces that it is prepared to consider applications for licences to import from Egypt a limitec 5 quantity of dehydrated onions, including onion powder o Licences will be granted only to those applicants who imported dehydrated onions during the twelve months ended August 31st 1939. Importers are invited io send to the Import Licensing Section, Ministry of Food, St. Johnb College, Oxford, a certified statement showing their importations of dehydrated onions during that period from all sources. The fact importer has that an not previously imported from Egypt will not necessarily disqualify him o Importers are requested not to make actual applications for import licences until they have submitted their statements of past importations and the Ministry has invited them to make applications. Importers are strictly warned not to arrange for any shipment of goods until they have been advised that the grant of import licences to them will be recommended? - Ministry of Food. M.0.1. U News Bulletin No* 183 - Paffc 2*- RESIGNATION OF Mr* G. MALCOLM. The Minister of Supply has accepted with regret the resignation on account of ill-health of Mr. G. Malcolm, C.8.E., and has appointed Mr. H. S, Sharp, the Deputy Controller, to succeed him as Jute Controller. - Ministry of Supply. M. 0.1,. 5 MINISTRY OF SHIPPING ANNOUNCEMENT. Notice is hereby given that the Minister Shipping has made an of order under Regulation 86 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, whereby the General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen is being removed to and maintained at Cardiff (S.R. & 0. 1940 No, 1987) Communications for the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen should be addressed to Wood Street School, Cardiff, on and after November 23rd* The new telephone number is: Cardiff 8950, Ministry of Shipping, M,0,1, 6, 21/11/UO - No. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN 2330 Air Ministry News Service ADD TEN ITALIAN PLANES SHOT DOWN A flight lieutenant who took part in the fight said "I was in one of two flights* I looked up and saw at least eighteen CR.42’© flying in line abreast 5000 feet above my formation. We were flying with the sun on our right front. The CRS started to peel off on my port side towards the three gladiators which were above and behind me. They followed one another in line astern keeping quite good formation until they met our aircraft, when everything became a shambles and two large dogfights ensued. I started to climb towards the sun in order to try and get behind the enemy formation. The other two aircraft with me separated and we all split up* "Everything happened so quickly that I find it very difficult to get a clear picture of exactly what happened. I found myself alone about a couple of miles away from the of the formation and a few thousand feet below seven OR.42’s. "One 0R.42 made a starboard attack, and when he passed me I turned on his tail and pressed the trigger. He went down in a straight dive and burst into flames on hitting the ground. The main dog fight had drifted over a wide area and each of the pilots in my two flights claimed one Italian* "Later I saw two of my pilots chasing a OR. 42 down to within 200 feet of ground level* I am sure they had already finished him off but I got in a long burst from port quarter. I saw the pilot bale out and hit the tail of the plane where he remained with his parachute unopened while aircraft hit the ground and burst in to flames. When the fight started the Italians had all the advantage of sun, height and numbers. Wonderful manoeuvrability of the gladiator and skill of the pilots defeated what were overwhelming odds." NOTE: This refers to the first paragraph of Air Ministry Bulletin No. 2328, 21/11/Uoo No. 30