Precis of English News broadcast 19 June 1940

This document was produced on board the SS Alma Dawson and distributed to the troops. It consists of a closely typed single side of A4 with Stationary Office watermark.  It is a summary of the news from 19 June 1940 and has, in my view, a rather optimistic report on the early RAF Bomber Command raids on Germany.

PRECIS OF ENGLISH NEWS BROADCAST 2300 HRS 19/06/40.

The French Government met this morning.  it was decided to negotiate for cessation of hostilities.  Three well known leaders have been sent to a point in German occupied territory, to meet German Representatives.  No decision has yet been made by the French in reply to German's demands.  It was stated in France that France is determined not to accept anything which tends to destroy the structure of France.

Land fighting:  The enemy is continuing his operations in the West and is preparing to take Western ports.  French troops are holding the enemy on the Loire.  Army of the Alps has not yet had to defend itself at all either from Germans or Italian attacks.

Some 2000 Polish soldiers were taking up positions along the Swiss frontier when an advance was made by German tanks.  The Poles heroically smothered the German tanks in petrol, and set fire to them.  This temporarily stemmed the advance, but it is regretted that most of the Poles were wiped out.

R.A.F. RAIDS:  R.A.F. Bombers yesterday attacked columns of German motorised transport.  Enemy were thrown into disorder and many vehicles were destroyed.  Reconnaissances carried out over France, Holland and Belgium.  All aircraft engaged in these operations returned safely.  R.A.F. made raids on motor transport at CHERBOURG.  One German bomber was brought down by our fighters over CHERBOURG.  Two of our fighters failed to return from these operations, but it is known one pilot landed by parachute.

R.A.F. Bombers raided many places in Germany on Tuesday night. Bombs were dropped on oil storage tanks, rail communications, etc.  At HAMBURG bombs were dropped and several fires were seen to broken out.  In one place flames were seen shooting up by aircraft as they crossed the German coast 80 miles away.  Intense opposition was encountered at many points, and the fuselages of many of our machines were found to have been splintered.  At DUSSELDORF an attack was launched on a railway junction, many fires being started.  Large concentrations of troops in a marshalling yard were bombed, and fires started.  Two goods trains were both hit by bombs, and the yard itself left enveloped in a pall of black smoke.

A lightening raid was carried out at dawn yesterday by the Kings African Rifles on a n Italian outpost in Italian Somaliland, supported by R.A.F. planes.  The Italians were taken by surprise, and many prisoners were taken.  We withdrew, our losses were two native soldiers only.

An assurance was given in the House of Commons to-day that stocks of food in Great Britain were adequate.  Of the most essential foodstuff supplies were sufficient for many weeks, even assuming that no further supplies reached our shores.  Iron rations had been secretly stored near all big towns during the past few weeks, in case of necessity.  On the other hand, it is predicted by experts that famine will prevail in territories occupied by Germany.  Already the Danish pig industry is almost liquidated.  Germany has so far benefitted by long preparation, but economically time is on our side.  It was further stated that United States supplies, which would have gone to German occupied territories are now at our disposal.

Plans for a conference have been started between the pan American States, to consider points which have arisen from the European war.  Invitations have been sent out to 20 states, and so far 13 have accepted.