LONDON’S SUPPLY SERVICES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23132, 23 September 1940, Page 8

LONDON’S SUPPLY SERVICES

ESSENTIAL FOODS

ASSURED

NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

CONTINUES

(BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS,) (Received September 22, 8 p.m.) RUGBY, September 21. Rising after a night disturbed by thj almost continuous roar of the antiaircraft barrage, punctuated by the occasional crump of enemy bombs, the average Londoner finds reassurance in the regular appearance of milk at his door and the newspaper in his letterbox. These signs of normality, proving as they do the efficient functioning of communication and distribution over a wide area, involving a great variety of activities, have deeply impressed foreign observers in London. This is obvious from the frequency with which the theme rccuis in their dispatches. The most recent example is given by the London correspondent of the Madrid newspaper “A.8.C.”, 'whose report in Friday’s issue of the newspaper insists on the normal manner in which the distribution of bread and milk is carried out. He said that food supplies were not made worse by the raids. He also reported on the adequacy of food supplies and the failure of the raids to disturb the railway services seri usly. The Government is determined that, come what may, an adequate supply of essential foodstuffs shall be available at prices which the poorer classes can afford. “We are already subsidising bread, meat, and bacon to the tune of more than £1,000,000 a week,’’ said Mr Robert Boothby, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Food, in a speech at Manchester. Replying to the demand for sterner bombing of Berlin in reprisal for the attacks on London, Mr Boothby declared: “The Nazis don’t care a damn for the civilian population of Germany. Hitler, Goering, and company stuck at nothing in their rise to power, not even at the murder of their friends, so why should they stick at the mass murder of their enemies'.' There is only one answer—to hit them back where it hurts most. This the Royal Air Force is doing.” The slogan, “Business as usual," appears on most business premises in all the parts of London which have been damaged by enemy bombing. In particular those shops which were partially wrecked in the early part of the week are carrying on, having been temporarily refurnished and restored. Windows blown in by blast arc replaced by wooden shutters and other makeshift material, and workmen arc busily replenishing fittings that were destroyed. A minimum of interference with business has occurred in premises not entirely destroyed by blast or fire. Even in Oxford street, where some big stores suffered severely from bombing, most of the shops will open again on Monday, and in some of them fresh window displays on newly-erected shelves and standi were already attracting customers to-day. The wreckage has been almost entirely cleared from the streets in the most popular thoroughfares. Arrangements have been made with the sanction of the Board of Trade, whereby wholesalers may distribute stocks at present concentrated in warehouses, by placing them for storage with retailers. This plan has been adopted at the instance of certain trade organisations in order to minimise the risk of damage in air raids. It is generally anticipated that compensation for essential clothing and furniture lost by raid victims will now be paid in full, the previous limits of £3O for clothing and £SO for furniture being removed.

• STOCK OFFERED

FOR SALE

RESULT OF DRY WEATHER

IN BRITAIN

(BRITISH OyriCTAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, September 21. The widespread drought and consequent shortage of grass has caused many farmers to offer large numbers of stock for sale earlier in the season than is usual. The numbers entered at the Food Ministry’s collecting centres are more than can be dealt with, and if accepted by the Ministry excess animals would have to be held in paddocks attached to slaughter houses. Such a course y/ould involve a considerable wastage of good meat. In these circumstances the Minister for (Food (Lord Woolton) imposed a temporary limitation on the numbers of beasts accepted for slaughtering. It is possible that the limitation may continue for some weeks but it will be removed at the earliest possible moment.

TRANSJORDAN AND SAUDI-ARABIA

ENEMY PROPAGANDA RIDICULED

(BRITISH OmCIAL WIRELESS.)

RUGBY, September 20,

On many occasions recently broadcasts from Zeesen and Rome have spread sensational and alarming reports about movements of Saudi-Arabian troops on the Transjordan frontier, and of imminent hostilities there.

An official dispatch from Transjordan which throws light upon the origin of such reports, has been made public by the Ministry of Information. It describes an incident said to be typical of the relations which prevail between the two Arab countries. ,

“On September 12 troops of the Transjordan frontier force met a party of Saudi-Arabians advancing in an armoured lorry on the Transjordanian side of the frontier. The presence of the Saudi force constituted an- undoubted violation of Transjordan territory. “Did there then follow one of those bloody encounters in which the Rome radio delights? Not at all. The two parties sat down and discussed the matter over cups of tea. “The Saudi leader explained that he was looking for some of his camels which had strayed. The Transjordan officer signalled for instructions vhich were to let the armoured lorry go back in peace across the frontier. The two parties separated with every expression of goodwill.” The efforts of enemy propaganda to disturb the relations between Transjordan and Saudi-Arabia are dismissed by the Ministry of Information as so much wasted labour.