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This newspaper page contains 27 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
May 11, 1940
Page
4
In Canberra A C T the Girls Grammar School announces achievements from kindergarten to leaving Carilfica honours. The article highlights ongoing schooling at the boarding and day school for girls in the Australian Capital Territory.
Canberra is forecast to be cloudy with showers and a cool to cold night. Moderate to fresh north west winds rise to squally gusts, with a misty chill overnight.
The Rev Hector Harrison was inducted as pastor of the Church of St Andrew Canberra in a service led by the Goulburn Presbytery. Sermon by Rev Russell Scott, remarks by Rev Dr Cumming Thom, and readings by Rev R Woodger and Rev R H W Bagot. The ceremony included multiple clergy from the Presbytery and a message urging steadfast faith through difficult times.
The debate reveals two main lessons for wartime strategy. A need for complete Empire co operation under Churchill to coordinate striking power and ensure air parity with Germany. It stresses air power, Western Front defense, and the difficulty of holding Germany in check while demanding superior air forces.
The article notes Germany’s use of soya bean flour to bolster food and military rations amid Allied blockades. It cites 2,000,000 long tons stored, 65,000 railway waggons diverted, and Bralla docks awaiting barges. It also reports Churchill asserting Allied shipping losses under 900,000 tons with most replaced by captures and new ships.
The Canberra Times advertises subscription prices and printing details. It lists rates for six shillings per year, forty shillings per year in advance, and mentions delivery within the Commonwealth. The text notes ownership by The Federal Capital Press of Australia and printing on British newsprint.
The Canberra Times specifies advertising rules including no responsibility for non-discretionary changes, rights to alter or omit ads, and publication subject to guidelines. Ads must reach the office by 5 pm the day before publication, be ink written, and endorsed by responsible parties. Federal Capital Press of Australia Ltd Canberra.
Sterling steadies at 3 dollars 35 cents while Australian bonds rise. Swedish steamer Haga sunk with four dead. Poles aged 26 to 34 in German-occupied areas ordered to register for forced labour. War pensions bill moves through Parliament. Canadian spring wheat crop expected to rise six percent to 24,246,000 acres. Technicians in air training scheme exempt from compulsory service if volunteering. Bradford reports weak orders for tupas and yarns despite higher supply promises.
The Canberra weather notes a 9 am barometer of 20.98 inches and 3 pm of 29.93 inches. Temperatures reach 49 at 9 am and 54 at 3 pm with a 60.1 degree max for the 4 hours to 9 am and 55.1 degrees to 3 pm. The minimum recorded is 36.6 degrees, with a 32.9 degree reading at 9 am and 8 pm. The 24 hour wind peak at Petra aerodrome is 12 mph.
Wartime speech calls out German aggression across Holland Belgium and Luxembourg and links invasion to a broader threat to Western civilization. It warns Britain and France face a direct challenge while Australia braces for extended total war and potential shifts in moral choices.
London reports say RAF Fighter Command shot down a Dornier off the north east coast of Scotland and another German plane off the English coast. A second Dornier was forced to crash in France after a prolonged engagement, with one airman seen in the sea near land and later found dead.
Minister Nock said Anastra-Indian Petroleum spent between £400 000 and £500 000 on surveys in Papua. Machinery imports reached about £200 000. A 42 mile road and many bridges are needed for boring. Planes can be flown only 18 minutes daily because of clouds. A second company is also oil hunting with Commonwealth loaned plant.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Hogan travels to Canberra for a conference of the Australian Agricultural Council on marginal wheat areas. In Parliament, MP McCall questions his change of mind after a telegram notes potatoes will be discussed, humorously implying Hogan is drawn to potatoes.
The Commonwealth Government plans possible import restrictions on goods from sterling countries as part of its response to potential deterioration. Treasurer Spender indicated London funds may not cover all overseas commitments and a policy to prevent capital flight to non sterling nations could force action. He cautioned further restrictions would be cautious with limited direct impact on employment.
The Admiralty records multiple submarine attacks hitting enemy convoys. Six torpedoes struck in a 10 ship convoy with three hits. two hits in a second convoy. one unescorted ship torpedoed and sunk. another driven ashore and destroyed by gunfire and torpedo.
The Admiralty reported in April the Royal Navy convoyed 4 431 ships with only two losses, a marked rise from February figures. Since February 21 convoyed ships more than doubled, while sinkings in convoy dropped to about one per two thousand.
Commonwealth Government seeks confiscation of the Danish flagged motor vessel Atonia in Admiralty prize court. Government cites war between Britain and Denmark. ship master denies jurisdiction. Justice Halse Rogers says a state of war must be shown. Adjourned to Tuesday for potential appraisal agreement.
Admiral Cunningham commends Australian destroyers in Malta for intercepting a ship and aiding another. In a Parliament reading, he lauds their seamanlike conduct and readiness to seize any situation, noting the enemy will strike where they are weakest. The letter drew applause across the House.
The Dutch Foreign Minister left for London to meet Allied chiefs. German forces crossed borders at several points but were slowed. Dutch troops destroyed bridges on the Mann and Ysel rivers while Germans advanced east of Arnheim. Parachute incursions occurred, with Germans in British and Dutch uniforms captured or repelled. Rotterdam airport and Waalhaven were bombed as 100 German planes attacked at 4 a.m. Barricades formed as bridges opened to slow crossings.
General Gamelin, commander in chief, announces that Germany has launched a war to the death against the Allies. He fronts the conflict with the motto Courage, Energy and Confidence as the rallying password.
Budapest United Press correspondent reports Yugoslavia mobilizes about 100000 troops as regional tension rises. King Carol summons the cabinet while Hungary Greece and Bulgaria rush reinforcements to frontiers. Dutch authorities seize all German ships and crowds in Dutch East Indian ports.
Rome officials at the Press Ministry say they were not aware of the invasion at 8.20 am. Signor Mussolini is believed to have been informed earlier in the morning.
Madrid broadcasts claim Britain and France reinforced Gibraltar while Italy massed troops on the French frontier.
Swiss government reports multiple bomb bursts near the frontier with German aircraft. Berne telegraph correspondent notes four bombs dropped but repelled by anti aircraft batteries. A bomber hovered over Zurich area. Switzerland announces general mobilisation in response.
The consolidated revenue fund rose by £4.605 million in April leaving a monthly surplus of £6.75 million versus a £71,000 deficit a year earlier. Ten months to April show expenditure of £81.782 million and revenue of £4.532 million with income tax at £3.275 million and war costs lower than prior periods. Loan spending on defence and war services topped £6 million in April, lifting total loan fund outlays to £96.551 million for 10 months, while unfunded debt and cash balances noted £2.97 million in Treasury bills and £1.0 million in debentures in London and bank balances of £263,000 in London and £16.542 million in Australia.
The Governor of the Dutch East Indies announced in a broadcast that a state of war exists and that all Germans over 16 will be interned. Batavia correspondent notes many Germans were rapidly apprehended and seized from offices as war began.
The United States was advised by Belgium's ambassador of projected attacks on Belgium Holland and Luxembourg just before they occurred. Heavy air force concentrations were reported along three borders as Roosevelt ordered measures. Dutch and Luxembourg officials received word of the invasion, with cautions about treachery and danger.
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