TWOPOSTOFFICEITEMS.19.5.41No.2. PRIVATECHATTELSSCHEME. MembersoftheatPostOfficesforthe publicmayenquire addressofthenearestCustomsandExciseOfficeinconnexionwith the"PrivateChattels"schemeundertheWarDamageAct,1941. SHEWANTEDTOCONGRATULATE' HAILESELASSIE AmongthemanyenquiriesattheGeneralPostOfficerecently wasonebyawomanwhoaskedifshecouldsendatelegramtoHaile SelassieinAddisAbaba,again congratulatinghimuponrulingonce asEmperorofEthiopia. ThePostalOfficialregretfullyrepliedthattherewasno publictelegraphservicetoAbyssiniayet. GENERALPOSTOFFICE. 19/5/41- No.3. AirMinistryNo.3943 AIRMINISTRYAND.MINISTRYOFHOMESECURITYCOMMUNIQUE. LastnightenemyaircraftdroppedbombsattwopointsintheSouth West.Nodamagewasdoneandtherewerenocasualties. Exceptfortheseincidentsthereisnothingtoreport. ■■ •rc.{■ih•; -' - ■: .<.•hlvurlvport. . ■ Oneenemyaircraftwasdestroyedduringthenight. 19/5/41- No.6 ARRIVAL0FSECONDAIRGRAPHMAIL Thismorning85,000airgraphlettersfromtheMiddle EastwerereceivedattheGeneralPostOfficeinLondonand willbedeliveredthroughoutthecountryduringthenextfew dayse 20lbs.The These85,000-tinyphoto-lettersweighed weightofanequivalentnumberofordinaryletterswouldbe nearlyoneandahalftons, Theairgraphmailwasflownallthewayfromthe MiddleEcastandonlyninedayshaveelapsedsinceitsdespatch Thefirstbatchoflettersundertheschemewas receivedlastTuesdayandnumbered50,000micro-films.Among themwastheletterfromGeneralSirArchibaldWavell, Commander-in-Chief,MiddleEast,toGeneralSirJohnDill, ChiefoftheImperialGeneralStaffinLondon. Aregularairgraphservicehasnowbeenestablished fromtheMiddleEasttothiscountryanditspopularityis dailyincreasing.•...• Lateronit.ishopedtoinstituteasimilarservice fromthiscountrytothesailors,soldiersandairmenserving intheMiddleEast. GENERALPOSTOFFICE 19/5/41--No.11 FOODPRODUCTIONATCANADIANCAMPS CanadiantroopsinBritainarediggingforvictoryaswell astrainingforit. Atandatvarious CorpsHeadquartersmilitarycamps hundredsofofficersandmenaredevotingtheirsparetimeto thecultivationofvegetablegardenswiththesamecarethey wouldlavishontheirownplotsinthesuburbsofaCanadian city.Somehavecommunalgardensinwhichallranksshare thework,Colonelstakingturnswithbatmenatspadeandhoe. IntheCorpsSignalsUniteachofficerandmanhadhisownplot whichhelooksafterhimself. Theproductsareintendedtoraisethegenerallevel offoodproductionandwillnotbeusedtoincreasearmyrations. Ifanyofthemareconsumedinmesses,anequivalentunder-drawal ofrationswillbemade. ’’Thisprojectisthemostimportantphaseofourplans todefeatenemyattacksonshipping,”saysaCorpsOrder. ’’EverytonoffoodproducedwithinthecountryreleasesShipping fortransportofCanadianandAmericanmunitions.Thearmyphase ofthemainplanwillbeworthwhilednlyifitaddssubstantial quantitiestothefoodsupplyofthenation," MINISTRYOFINFORMATION i9/5/aNo.13. SummaryofabroadcastbyLt.-Col.C.V.,Lycett,Chairman ofTheUirelessTelegraphyBoard9inthe8.8.G.Home Newsat9p.m.19.5*41»_.tpbepublishedbefore morningpapersof20.3.4.1. Lt.-Col.Lycett,inanappealforwirelessoperators,spokeof anewschemeforthetrainingofwirelessoperatorsforthethree FightingServices.Thisopentoanyyoungmanwhoisover16J- is reachedthe yearsoldbuthadnotageof18onJanuary29,194-1. when. : Theprovidesthat/youthswhoenrolforserviceatone schemeof thewirelesstrainingschoolsreachthenecessarystandardof proficiency,theFightingServiceswillguaranteetoenlistthem providedtheyarefitandwillrefundtuitionfeesandexpensesup to£25. Beforethewar,saidLt.-Col.Lycett,thousandsofamateursall overtheworldusedtospendalargeproportionoftheirsparetime (andmostoftheirpocketmoney,too)-ingettingintotouchwitheach otherbywirelessontheamateurwavebands."Ifwirelesswasso interestingeveninpeacetimeyoucanimaginehowmuchmoreinteresting itmustbenow,whenalltheresponsibilitiesofareallivejobinwar areaddedtoit.”.. Verylargenumbersofwirelessoperatorsarewantedandithas beendecidedtoaskthecivilianwirelessschoolstoco-operatewiththe Servicesbytrainingvolunteers*Thereareanumberoftheseschools throughoutthecountrywhosechieffunctionistotrainmenforpostsas radioofficersintheMerchantNavy.Thoseeligibleunderthescheme areadvisedtogetintotouchwithoneoftheseschoolsandaskfor fulldetailsofthecourseoftrainingandoftheconditionsofpay, etc.intheServices.Orintendingstudentsshouldwritetothe InspectorofWirelesstelegraphy,TelecommunicationsDept.,General PostOffice,E.C.I.forthenamesandaddressesofthenearestschools. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION 19/5/MNo.14. Passagefromabroadcastinthe GermanServiceoftheB-.8.C. 18.5.41* Justovera■'weekhasnowpassedsinceHitler’sdeputyRudolfHess, landedbyparachuteonaScottishfarm.Foraweekhehasbeenbusy andtalkingandPrimeMinisterChurchillhasreceivedfull writinga reportofhismanystatements. AcluetotheHesslosthisconfidenceinthepossibility reasonwhy ofaGermanvictorybefoundinarecentnumberofthe"Zeitschrift may FurGeopolitik,”theofhisfriend,J&jor-GeneralProfessorDoctor organ Haushofer,whosearresthasbeenreportedanddeniedinBerlin.Haushofer, wasfrankenoughtoexpressconsiderablepessimismaboutGermany’s prospectsinviewofUnitedStatesinterventioninthewar. BRITISHBROADCASTINGCORPORATION. 19/5/4-1- N0.15. ThenewsthattheS.S.ZAMZiAMisoverdueonabetween voyage PernambucoandCapetownandmustbepresumedlost,concealsatragedy fortheBritishAmericamAmbulanceCorpsandGeneraldeGaulle’sForces t forthisvesselcarriedafullambulanceunitorganisedbyMr.William Buxton,PresidentoftheCorps. Thissplendidpieceofequipmentofover20vehicles,together withfield-kitchenandX-raytrailerwasmannedhy21+Americans,allof themeitherdoctorsormennursedrivers;theyallspokeFrench. WiththedevotiontotheCauseofFreedomwhichcharacterisesso manyAmericansatthistime,thesemenallvolunteeredforservicewith theFreeFrenchForcesintheMiddleEast. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION. 19/5/41- No.16 INSPECTIONOFIDENTITYCARDS SeveralHundredsofpedestriansandmotoristswhocouldnot producetheiridentitycardswhenchallengedbyHomeGuardsina Londonsuburbwererequiredtopresentthemselvesatthelocal policestationwithin48hours. Furthertestinspectionsofthiskindmaybeexpectedin differentpartsofthecountry,andtheHomeOfficedesiresto warmthosemembersofthepublicwhoneglecttocarrytheir IdentityCardsabout•withthemthattheyruntheriskofbeing orderedtoreportthemselvesatpolicestations.Theresponsibility foranyinconveniencethuscausedwillbetheirown. Officialwarningshaverepeatlybeengiventhatallpersons overtheageof16mustcarrytheirIdentityCardsforproduction demandtoconstablememberofthearmedforces ona policeorin uniformonduty.Failureto produceanIdentityCardeitheron demandoratapolicestationwithintwodaysisanoffence punishablebyfineof<£s02?amonth’simprisonment,orboth. HOMEOFFICE 19/5/Mrlh-.17. ;?ARDAAGECLAIMS HEEREDELAY13HOTNECESSARY TheRegionalOfficesoftheHarDamageCommissionare receivingalargenumberofrequestsforanextensionoftime inwhichtocompleteandsubmitFormC.1.,notifyingwar damagetolandandbuildings,onthegroundthatthe prescribedperiodofthirtydaysisnotsufficientto formulateanestimateofthecostofthedamage. ActuallyPorn.C.1,containsnorequestforinformation onthispoint,andanextensiononthisgroundistherefore unnecessary. TheComtissionisprepared.tograntanextension oftimeinanyothercircumstanceswhichnaybeheldto warrantit,andthisfacilitywouldapplyparticularlyto ownersofestatescomprisingalargenumberofseparate propertieswhofinddifficultyincomplying\n.ththeregulation. AARDAMAGECOMASSIGN. AirMinistryNewsService19/5/41- N0.J.8. AirMinistryBulletin AYOUNGPILOTOFFICER’SPLUCK , R.A.F,,MiddleEast. Splendidpluckandendurancewereshownbyayoungpilotofficer engagedinanattackontheaerodronsofGazala,Libya.Divingvery' lowwithatotaldisregardfortheheavygroundfire,hosprayedtwo largeenemyaircrafton.thegrounduntiltheywerecompletelydestroyed. Hethenswoopedontoaconcentrationofmechanisedtransport,bravinga hailofmachine-gunbullets. Hereceivedwoundsinhisheadandshouldersandwaslosingblood rapidlywhenheturnedhisaircrafttowardstheEgyptianfrontier,250 milesaway.Lackingsufficientstrengthtoreachhissquadron’sbase, hemadeasuccessfullandingwithintheBritishlines,wherehefainted ashewashelpedfromthecockpit. 19.5*41- No..19- SPEED.INWARFARE.- RATEOF.ADVANCETOAMBAALAGI. ThegreatspeedofcuradvancetoAmbaAlagiisillustratedbycomparison withtherateofadvancetoAddisAbabaoftheItalianForcesledbyGenerals deBonoand Badogllointhecampaignof1935-36. y WhereastheImperialForceshavecoveredadistanceof1,500milesin >4days,theItalianstooksevenmonthstomarch425miles. A Thedetailsaretabulatedasfollows:- TIMETABLEOFOURADVANCETO..AMBAALAG-I* RateofAdvance mijes/davplaceDateDistance Kismayu14Feb*- Jubacrossed20‘Fob. Brava25Feb, 23(50)+Mogadiscio25Feb.250miles ” 31G-abreDarre9.Mar*-370 ” 25Jijiga17Mar.-200 ” 5Harar26Mar.50 6Diredawa31Mar.30 " Bridgeheadestablished atAwash3Apr.140 ” " AddisAbaba110 505Apr. ” 9Dessye27Apr.200 ” 7AmbaAlagi19May150 94days1500miles +AftercrossingJuba. TIMETABLEOPTHEDEBONO-BADOGLIOADVANCETOADDISABABA1935-36. PlaceDateofOccupationDistanceCovered AdigratOct.5>■1935) 50miles MacalleNov.8 f1935) L’Amba-AradamFeb.16 , 1936) 75miles Feb.28,1936) Alagi 6.1936) QuoramApr. 15?1936I'oomiles BessieApr. AddisAbabaMay5?19362COmiles 7months425miles MINISTRYOFIWORLIATION(IOLITARY,/WAIRS). 19*5.41-N0.,21. HOTFORPUBLICATIONBEFORETIEMORNINCP/EPERbOFTUESDAY MAX20.1941,ORBROADCASTBEFORE7ajn.ONTHATDALE. t MAXIMUMPRICESFORPROCESSEDCHEESE. TheMinisterofFood,hasmadeanOrder,whichwillcome intoforceonJune 2nd,controllingthemanufactureofandfizzing maximumpricesforProcessedCheese. Themaximumpricesprescribedonasalebyretailareas follows;- PortionsofProcessed Cheese, assoldbythemanufacturer, weighingnotmorethan3ozs. netweighteach,25,5d.perlbnetweight. Anyotherportionsof ProcessedCheese•«lsBd. t HieOrderalsoprohibitsthemanufactureofProcessedCheese exceptunderlicenceoftheMinister, MINISTRYOFFOOD 19/5/41- N0.22. NOTFDRPUBLICATIONBEFORETHEMORNINGPAPERSOFTUESDAY,MAY20,1941 ORBROADCASTBEFORE7.A.I'LONTHATDATE. MAXIMUMPRICESFORCANNEDDAMSONSANDPURPLEEGGPLUMS TheMinisterofFoodhasmadeanOrderamendingtheCannedFruits (MaximumPrices)Order,1941?which producedcanneddamsons addshome andhomeproducedpurpleeggplumstothelistofprice-controlled cannedfruits.TheamendingOrdercomesintoforceimmediately. Themaximumretailpricesforcanneddamsonsareasfollows:- 1's.•••••••. 2’s..............................10/d. 2|‘5...............1/ld. Themaximumretailpricesforpurpleeggplumswillbethesame asforhomeproducedredplums„namely:- I’s. 6d. 2’sB|d. 2j«s. lid. 'ministryoffood 19.5.U1.No.23, MIDDLEEASTWARCOMMUNIQUE Thefollowingofficialcommuniquewasissuedfrom BritishG.H,Q.Cairo,to-day:- , LIBYA.NochangeinthesituationatTOBRUK. IntheareasouthofSOLIUMtwoenemycolumns, supportedbynumeroustanks,crossedthe frontier,butwithdrewafterbeingengagedby forwardelementsofourmechanisedforces. ABYSSINIA.AfterallowingtheItalianforcesatAi-IBAALAGI onefulldayinwhichtocollecttheirwounded, formalsurrenderofthewholeoftheforcesin theareaistakingplaceto-day.Itisestimated thatprisonerswillnumber7,000,togetherwith considerablequantitiesofgunsandmaterial. Ithasfurtherbeenarranged,incompliance withhisurgentrequestthatheshouldbethe lasttoleavethattheDukeofAosta,accompanied byGeneralTrezzaniandalltheDuke’spersonal staffofficers,willsurrenderattwelvenoon to-morrow(May20). UnitsoftheSudanDefenceForceassistedby patriotshavecapturedanimportantpositionin theGondarsector,inflictingseriouscasualties ontheenemy.Theoperationsareproceeding satisfactorily. InthesouthernareasourtroopscapturedDALLE, animportantroadjunction35milessouthof SCIASCIAMANNA5 onMay16. Asaresultofthissuccessfuloperationwe captured800prisoners,includingtwoColonels, anumberofstaffofficers,twogunsandtwo armouredcars.Inothersectorsourgeneral advanceiscontinuinginspiteofheavyrain. IRAQ.NochangetoreportinthesituationatBASRA andatHABBANIYA. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION(MILITARYAFFAIRS) 19.5A1.No.24 PRINCESSROYALATCANADIANARMYSPORTS RearingtheuniformofChiefControlleroftheA,T.S.,the PrincessRoyalrecentlyattendedagalasportsmeeting*ofthe RoyalCanadian’Signals,ofwhichsheisColonel-in-Chief« SignallersfrombothDivisionsoftheCorpsand:frombase unitsfour partinthedaysprogrammeofeventsand took! Canadianmilitarybandsplayedmartialairs. ThePrincessRoyalarrivedinthemiddleoftheafternoon, reviewedtheGuardofHonour,watchedafewinningsofthesoftball finals,presentedtheprizesandtookteabeforeleavingamidstthe cheersofthetroops. 11eut.-GeneralA.G„LCMcNaughton,CanadianCcrpsCommander, Major-GeneralV,Lr,Odium,GeOcC.,SecondCanadianDivisionand otherseniorofficerswerepresent. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION '1.9*5*41- No. AirMinistryNewsService.AirMinistryBulletinNo,3947> POURSPITFIRESGETFIVENESSERSCffi.HTTS. FourSpitfires,.patrollingoveraconvoyintheEnglishChannel , thisafternoon,metteni1e.1095,andinthefightwhichfollowedfive oftheMesserschmittsshotdownin wereasmanyminuteswithoutloss toourselves. TwooftheSpitfirepilotsgottwoeachandathirdgotone. OnlyoneoftheGermanshadtimetobaleout.™heotherscrashed, intotheseaintheirmachines. "Ohboy,itwasgrand,"saidoneofthepilotswhoaccounted had fortwooftheenemy#"ButIcouldnotstaylong,forassoonasI twoIaboutotheryellowcomingatIhad gotmysaw2Jnosesus.no moreammunitionleft,soIthoughtittinetogohome." Hegothomesafely,andso.didtheotherthreeSpitfires? in spiteofhavingJOorsoangryMesserschmittsafterthem. Thefightgavethemrevenge,forearlierinthedayaformation ofMe.lo9’shadtwomachinesfromthesquadronand. pounced,onsame shotthemdown.Bothpilotsbaledoutandweresaved. Thissquadronnowclaims87victories. 12*5*41.No.27. PRESSNOTICE. NOTforpublicationbeforeMorningPapers,Tuesday,sothMay,1941. NOTtobebroadcastbefore7a.m.Tuesday,20thMay. TheKinghasbeenpleasedtoapprovethefollowing appointments ViceAdmiralWilliamJ.Whitworth,C*B»jtobe , aLordCommissioneroftheAdmiraltyandChiefofNavalPersonnel insuccessiontoAdmiralSirCharlesJ.C.Little,K.C«B»,todate theIstJune,1941* RearAdmiralArthurM.Peters,D.S.C.,tobeNaval SecretarytotheFirstLord,oftheAdmiraltyinsuccessiontoRear AdmiralEdward.N.Syfrettodatethe16thJune,1941. ADMIRALTY,S.W.1. 19.5.41- No.28. Air'linistryNo.3948. BUDDLEEASTCOJfWTIOUE. MiddleEast, Monday,,19thMay. AlargeformationofaircraftoftheRoyalAirForceandtheSouthAfrican AirForcecarriedoutattackson enemytanksbetweenFortCapuzzoandHalfaya yesterday.Anumberoftankswereputoutofactionandseriousdamagewas inflicteduponmanymotortransportvehicles.Ourfighterscarriedout extensivepatrols,butnodecisiveengagementswiththe enemyresulted. DuringthenightofMayl6th/l7thaerodromes'atMonasticandSirChleta wereraided.BenghaziandDernawerealsoattackedonthefollowingnight byourbombers.Fulldetailsoftheseoperationsarenotyetavailable,- butitisknownthatconsiderabledamagewascaused. DuringoperationsoverTobrukyesterday,threeJu.B7f swereshotdown byanti-aircraftfire. InAbyssinia,ouraircraftcontinuedtoassistourtroopsin mopping-up aerations.Attacksweremainlyconfinedtoenemymotortransportretreat- ingalongtheroads. InSyria,bombingattacksweremadeonPalmyraaerodromewhereone largeGermantransportaircraftandoneHeinkel111weredestroyedbyfire. GermanaircraftonDamascusaerodromeandatRayakwerealsobombedand machine-gunned. RaidswerealsomadeontheRaschidaerodromeinIraq. AnumberoffireswerestartedatCalatoaerodrome(ontheislandof Rhodes)asaresultofaraidcarriedoutonthenightofDay17th/lBth. Duringenemyattackson.ouraerodromesinCreteoneDornierI'7and anotherunidentifiedaircraftwereshotdownbyanti-aircraftfire. From-alltheseoperationsoneofouraircraftismissing 19.5.M.No.29 TEXTOFBROADCASTBYA"STAFFOFFICER”INTHE8.8.C* ” -■mis'SERVICEAT6p»m<,'19.5.41-A You’have..just/heard,ofrthesurrenderoftheDulceof'-Aostaaridofthd forces,withwhichhem-heldthe-,fortressofAmbaAlagil.A-a -• .TO-.;■./"•/■'?.e.'/ ;nY?’?;0' < ..i’l.-. ■This.-.isindeed,a...bitterpillfor:Italytoswallow*:-Althoughitwad : impossiblefor.-the.Germans.to;senddirecthelpto‘.theirpartnersin ' AbyssiniatheItalianradio'made,no.-secretofthe.desperate'messages- sentfromRomeurging..the.Duketo.,hold;pn-.cost.s,i-.so.hs-to/pin-db\m atall theBritishForcesopposing-•him.Butall.his-effortshavefailed,olid nowwp.shallbein-apositiontore-distribute-theforceswhichhavebeen fightinginItalianEastAfrica.■■■■:,... .’1;d-' •/.A: -v..' .-~vr-w.T••///•■.-'A--Aw/AA.Al' The.Duke’s.task,musthave bq;endisheartening-one.'aJanuarySince 19th,when.we..re-took,-KAssalq,.theItaliantroopsinEast.Africa:havebeen defeated...ahd.driven.hackonallsides,losingenormous'.quantitiesofmeh andmaterial.Theobjectpf/the.-campaign,was-the..conquestofavast country,mountainous,undeveloped,subjecttoextremesofheatandtropical rainfallsapd.defended-.bya.large,and.,wellequippedItalian!■ Therehavebeentwo.dis.t-inct,phasesintheEas-t.•i\fricani-v7ar.The.' firstwasourstrategic'Withdrawalinfaceofvastlysuperiornuribcrswhichgave theItalianstempox'pfiypossessionofBritishSoml.ilandi?Thchy-after ourforceshadbeen-graduallybutsteadilyreinforced,:.camethesecond phase- aslowandsteadypressureat:t.he.long':front,co- ordinated..withlightning.converging.advances.1alqi%g-:thc.•{ thehbaft'loftheenepy'ts.cpuntry,; ..o''*1 Yetpaper,evenwhenEritreawaslost, ontheItalianposition wasquitehopeless.. notTherewasstill-anarmy-ofsomethinglike 100,,000meh/arst.imagine-;..-largestoresofmunitionsaridsupplies*/?: The.best,hopeof...prolonging:thefightforthe;Italianswashtd.w: centrateon.'theHighAbyssinianPlateau/..-hold-thepasses.against',us,.- andprayforthe.rai’ns'to,.se.trinand.bogthewhich,am.-v.• But our‘forceswereboundtomaketheirapproachmarch.theSouth Africantroopswrecked-this;planbytheirboldadvance;-to-Harar,./thencecrossing theAwashPiver,the'mainobstacleontheroadtoAddisAbaba. SotheDukeofAostaIried*Anotherplan.-----.ForcedtoevacuateAddis hetheGarrisonintothreeOneto Ababa,splitAbyssinianparts.wasgo wouth-westtotheJimmaPlateau- thesecondlargestcentreofItalianI;.: colonisation;onewa~to gosouth-east,jointheNeghelliforcesand holdthedifficultHills,whichtheAbyssiniansusedasacentre Anzssi ofresistanceinthe1935campaign,whilethethirdwastogonorth-east toDessyetowardstheretreatingsurvivorsoftheEritreanarmy,whoheld themountainouscountryatAmbaAlagiandpossiblyreinforcethebeleagvcred atGondar.InGondarandstoresandammunitionhad garrisonJimma,Dessye, beentoenablethoseforcestocontinuetheirdefence.But accumulated, thatwreckedpursuitofalltheretreating planalsowasbyourrelentless forces. ItmustnotbeforgottenthatourarmiesconsistedofBritish,South Africa,Indian Sudanese,EastWestAfricantroops,andAfricanandFrench BelgiancontingentsandAbyssinianpatriotforces.Greatcreditisdueto allofthem.Dayandnightthepatriotswereattackinganyisolated bodiesofItalianstheycouldfind,snipingthemfromeverybushandhill- side.Disheartenedandbeatenastheywere,theywereeventuallydriven thepositionsthattheyhadbeenorderedtodefend. fyornevenreaching AtDessyewhichwasstronglyfortifiedtheDukemadeastand,butafter strenuousfightinghewasdrivenoutwithheavylossesinmen,gunsand ammunition,andtookfinalrefugeatAmbaAlagi.Therehisforceswere hemmedinbycolumnsconvergingthat placefromthenorth eventuallyon andsouth,andafterthemostdespearatefightingoftheCampaign,he wasforcedtosurrenderwithhiswholegarrison*, , /Meanwhile 2 MeanwhileoperationsinSouthernandWesternAbyssinia,to the whichlittleattention,hq.sbeendra\minpublishedreports,havebeen noless'creditabletothe'troopsengaged.InSouthernAbyssinia,in theofhillsandravinesoftheNeghelliarea,theSouthAfrican tangle Forceshaveconductedamobilewarinwhichonestrongenemyposition afteranotherhasbeenoutflanked-and.eitherabandonedbytheenemyor considerable*capturesofprisonersand,material takenbyassault;war havebeenmadeandaverygreatareahasalreadybeenclearedofthe enemy.TheseoperationshavethrowntheItaliansbacktotheJimma area,whichisalsothreatenedfromtheeastbycurtroopsadvancing bothfromthewestandintotheLakeDistrictfromAddisAbaba.In WesternAbyssiniathemixedAnglo-BelgianForcesinthoGambela-area havedriventheItaliansbackfromtheSudanborders.Betweenthe BlueNileRavineandLakeTanacountryhasbeenover-runby thewhole curforcesandbytheAbyssinianpatriotsco-operatingwiththem; northoftheLake,GondarstillholdscutasafocusofItalian resistance,buttheSudanDefence.Forceand.the-Patriotshaveenclosed theminacircle-whoseareasteadilydiminishes.•. .. ThecaptureofAmbaAlagivirtuallymeanstheendoftheEast AfricanCampaignandthe’surrenderoftheDukeofAostawillbea severeblowtothemoraleoftheremainingtroops.' Vhileinotherareasresistancemayyetcontinue,thefight tendsto-takeonmoreandmorethecharacterofguerillawarfareand anenemy'whohasnotoncesucceededinmakingasuccessfulstand,who hasprogressivelylostthemajorpartofhisequipmentandnolonger possessesanairforce,mayperhapsmakehimselfanuisance,butcan hardlyconstituteadanger..><• TheItaliansboastedthattheirconquestofAbyssiniahadbeen amarvelofspeed.YetittookthemsevenmonthstoreachAddisAbaba distanceof425mileswhen a theywereopposedonlybyill-equipped nativelevies.A.sagainstthatGeneralCunningham’scolumncovered 1,150milesfromtheSouthtoAddisAbabain50days,whenopposed byItaly’sbestforcesfullytrainedandequippedwithmodernweapons. Ileaveyou.tojudgewhichwas'thegreaterieat. MINISTRYOFINFORMATION 19,5*41No.,31. M COILABORATION"NOTBINDINGONPEOPLE DECLARATIONBYGENEPALDEGAULLE ’ GeneralDeGaullesheadquartersinLond.onannounce.; - Ontheoccasionofthe"agreements"recentlyconcludedbetweentheVichy "government"andGermany,and.inanticipationoftherepercussionsthese agreementsmayhaveontheinterestsofFranceand.theattitudeadopted,with regardtoherbyotherStates,Generald.eGaulleandtheCouncilofDefenceof theFrenchEmpireconsideritnecessarytobringthefollowingremarkstothe attentionoftheBritishGovernmentand.tothechiefsoftheAlliedGovernments andforeignDiplomaticMissionsinLondon, 1.TheVichy"government",byreasonofthearmistice,hasplaced,itselfina positionwhichdeprivesitofallindependencewithregardtotheinvader; 2.This"government"hasseized samepowerandcompletelychanged.French institutionswithoutinany wayconsultingtheFrenchpeople,whose representativeshavenotbeenabletoexpresstheiropinionintheelementary conditionsoffreedomanddignity. 3.Sincethisusurpation,theVichy"government"exercisespowerwithoutany checkbytheFrenchnation,whichhasnotgotthefaintestpossibilityofbeing heard,sincetwo-thirdsofthecountryareoccupiedbytheenemyand.one-third, underissubjected,toregimeofcompletesilence. enemycontrol,a 4»Accordingtotheso-called"consitutional"textswhichhavebeenarbitrarily substitutedfortheFrenchconstitution,thesourceofauthorityoftheVichy "government"liesexclusivelyinthepersonofanold.manofeighty-five,whofor manyyearshasbeenknowntobeenfeebledbyage. 5.ItfollowsfromthesefactsthattheVichy"government”isnotinaposition toexercisetheprerogativesofFrenchsovereigntyand.hasnorisittodoso. Inparticular,themeasuresitistakingin"collaboration”withtheinvader areneitherfreenorlegalandconsequentlycannotbeconsideredasbinding theFrenchpeople. 6,V/hereverFrenchcitizenshavehadthepossibilityofmakingtheirreal feelingsknown,thevastmajorityhavemanifestedthedesireforFranceto continuethewarwiththemeansremainingatherdisposal.Thisisthecase inalltheterritoriesofthe EmpirewhichhavebeenfreedfromVichy,andin allforeigncountries,despitetheseverepunishmentsinflictedbyVichy,atthe orderoftheinvader,onthosewhocontinuethestruggle. AllinformationobtainedonFrenchterritoryprovesthattheimmense majorityofindividualFrenchmenanimated, arebythesamesentiments* 7.GeneraldeGaxlleandtheCouncilofDefenceoftheFrenchEmpire,whose authorityisfreelyrecognisedthroughoutallFrenchterritoriesalready liberatedfromenemycontrol,whorepresenttherealfeelingsoftheirfellow- citizens,andwhobyeverymeansintheirpowerensurethefulfilmentofthe treatiesandengagementssubscribed,tobyFrancepriortoJune18,194-0,declare;- (a)ThatFrancecannotandmustnotbeheldresponsiblefortheactssupposedly committed.inherbyrulerswhohaveandwho,oftheir nameusurpedpowerown accord,havesubjectedthemselvestotheenemy,thankstomilitarydefeata sufferedbyherarmieswhenfightingforthecommonsalvationoffreenations. (b)ThattheFrenchnationiscontinuingthewarbymeansofallhermilitary forcesandterritoriesoutsidethecontroloftheenemy,andshouldtherefore stillbeconsideredAllyby asabelligerentnationbyallStatesandasan thoseStateswhofightourcommonenemies. (c)ThattheFrenchnationdoesnotatpresent,andwillnotinfuture,recognize anyinfringementsofherterritorialrightscommittedhyanyStateintheworld owingto,andtakingadvantageof,thesituationinwhichshehasbeenplacedby herenemiesandtheusurpersactingundertheenemywhoclaimtoruleher. FIFISTBYOFINFORMATION —No,32, AirMinistryN.o<3.SSQ* AIRMINISTRY110MINISTRYOFHOMESECURITYCOMMUNIQUE. TherehasbeensomeenemyactivitymainlyofftheSouth-east andSouthCoaststodaybutfewhostileaircrafthaveflowinland. Earlythismorningbombsweredroppedattwoplacesonthe South-westCoast.Somedamagewasdoneandasmallnumberof casualtieswascaused,someofwhichwerefatal. FiveenemyfightersweredestroyedbyfightersoftheR.A.F. overtheChanneltoday.Fourofourfightersarem&Ssingfrom patrols;butthreeofthepilotsaresafe<> 19.5.41- No.33. GeneralMilch,ChiefoftheGermanAirStaff,madeanappealtonight toA.R.P.workersinGermany,Hesaid:- ”Wecannotlookonwhengreatdamageisdonebyfiretoour factories,importantforthewareffort,wherethewarmaterialis beingmadeforthearmedforcesorthosewhichservethevitalneeds ofthepopulation,orwherethesecommoditiesarestoredorproduced. Bythiswewouldsufferlosseswhichwewouldbeunabletoreplace. ”1begyoutocontinuetoworkfortheA.R.P.asyoudid before,topreventdamageand,above all,toremainaselectedband whichisanexampleforthemanyhundredsofthousandsandmillions ofcompatriotswhoareexposedtoenemybombingasyouandallof usare.” MINISTRYOFINFORMATION. Monday,May19,1941 MINISTRYOFINFORMATION NEWSBULLETINNO.JB5 "COMFORTING”JACK Sailorsdonotlikewristlots,butappreciatemittens. Allwoollengarmentsgethardsea-going’shipgetcaughtin usageonaasthey wirehawsers,boltsetc.Thismeansfrequentreplacement. Themenareallvoraciousreadersandareparticularlykeenonthrillersand Americanadventures. Playingcards,sportsgearandgamesofallsortsarejustas necessaryto theirwell-being. ThesetipshavebeengiventotheR.N.V.R.andR.N.D.AssociationsWar ComfortsFundbyanofficerofH.M.S,Hood,oneofthefourshipswhicharcits specialcharge. ThetwoassociationsareholdingreunionattheAssemblyHallofthe a RoyalEmpireSocietyinJuneinaidoftheTheentertainmentisbeingarranged bymembersoftheSavageClub.-NavalAffairsM.o.I.-1.• 6 FASCIST'‘SLANDERS TheGermanradiothatMrs.EmiliaCastellaniconcludedletter reportsa writteninFerrarawiththewords:"YousonofAlbion”,Theaddresseedenounced herforslander,andafascistcourtsentencedhertoafine,of500lira.,• Howluckythatformer’’slanders”havebeenforgotten: nowOtherwise MussoliniwouldtodaybeaccusedforcollectiveslanderingoftheItaliannation ashewrotein1918:"WeareproudtofightsidebysidewiththemightyGreat From"DieZeitung”theanti-NaziGerman ?ritain.”Dailypublished - nLondon ————■—-IVI.0.-i,d-.- ■ CANADIANJEWSGIVECANTEENTOBRITAIN TheMountRoyalLodgeNo.729ofD*NaiBrith,Montreal,Canada,have subscribed/>1,788,16throughtheCanadianJewishCongressWarEffortsCommittee,to buyamobilecanteenforuseinEnglandforthereliefofcivilianairraid victims.-DominionsOfficePressSection.M.0.1.3*’ £100,000■ .FROMUGANDA hasraisedtotal-offortheoffighter Ugandanowa£lOO,OOOpurchase aircraftandasquadronwillbenamedaftertheProtectorate. Thefinalof£lOO,OOOreachedwithgiftsof£5,700fromlocal figurewasa committeeand£lO,OOOfromBuganda,- ColonialOfficePressSection.M.0.1, £2,000FROMCAPEPROVINCE £2,000hasbeenreceivedfromthepeopleofElliot,asmalltowninCape Province,SouthAfrica,towardsthepurchaseofaHurricane..- DominionsOffice PressSection.'M.o.I.5.« FURTHERGIFTSFROMTANGANYIKA TanganyikaWarReliefand.WelfareFundhasgiven£5OOtotheLordByorof London’sNationalAirRaidDistressFund,£250toSt,Dunstan’sFundfortheBlind, £250toKingGeorgets.FundforSailorsand£3OO,thegiftofthepeopleofthe CentralProvince,tobuyamobilecanteenforserviceinLondon,-Colonial OfficePressSection.M,0.1.6.