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Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
May 16, 1940
Page
4
Roberts Pharmacy in Canberra invites customers to a Perfect Eyesight event on Thursday May 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walsh's Hotel in Queanbeyan hosts a similar session on Friday May 21 from 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
The notice lists the Canberra Times printer and publisher details with the Federal Capital Press of Australia Ltd and contact info, plus subscription rates per annum and postal options within the Commonwealth.
A fragment lists individuals including Mrs McGlade and Mrs Nicholson with newsagents Gilbert's and Jackson's, plus R H Brown and Mrs Johnson. AcE ey case peut appears as stray text. The item reads like a directory snippet from a Capitol Newsager section.
London reports nine additional appointments to the new all-party Ministry. Appointees include Lord Caldecote for Dominion Affairs, Ern est Brown for Scotland, Lord Beaverbrook for Aircraft Production, Mr. Ramebstham as President of the Board of Education, Mr. J. B. Hudson for Agriculture, Sir John Reith for Transport, Mr. Ronald Crasa for Shipping, Mr. Hugh Dalton for Economic Warfare, and Lord Hankey as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
In Parliament, Prime Minister Menzies signalled willingness for a broad based National Government while Opposition Leader Curtin argued there is no political or practical need for change at this stage. Debate centered on unity, war effort, and how to unite parties without sacrificing policy. The motion lapsed as debate time ran out.
The document outlines advertising guidelines for The Canberra Times including no responsibility for non insertion, right to alter ads, deadlines by 3 p.m., requirement of plain copy receipt, endorsement by responsible persons, and strict adherence to rules before publication.
The War Office announces a Local Defence Volunteers force open to British subjects aged 17 to 65 with firearm experience. The volunteer service targets small towns and sparsely populated areas, with some defence personnel drawn from untapped sources. Eden urges rapid action to defend against parachutists. Within minutes London residents rushed to police stations offering service.
Weather report for Canberra records barometer readings 30.29 inches at 9 a.m. and 30.08 inches at 3 p.m. Temperature noted 43 degrees at 9 a.m. with 61.5 degrees over 24 hours to 9 a.m. Maximum and minimum values are partially garbled, but include a high around 82.7 degrees and wind details from Canberra aerodrome.
His Excellency the Governor General Lord Gowrie presided at a Federal Executive Council meeting in Canberra. Attending were His Excellency the Governor of Victoria and Lady Dugan with Paul Henry A D C. The Governor General hosted Belgian Consul General Mr Jansen and Dutch Consul General Kr Qink Soeuhrman for luncheon. Lady Fairfax arrived at Government House Canberra.
At first a fine mostly cloudy day with mild temperatures, a cold night bringing frost and fog. Later a weak to moderate west to northwest flow shifts unsettled from the west with winds easing to northeast.
The Dutch forces in the Northern Provinces capitulate to protect civilians while Holland and Belgium resist the German assault across Belgium and France. Allied lines hold with Belgian resolve, and Australia pledges to contribute as Britain and France face intensified fights.
The Commonwealth Government aims to centralize efficient training tests for Air Force fitters. Concentration sites include Sydney? Melbourne, Newcastle and Adelaide. The move targets economy and streamlined testing.
Second A.L.F. Melbourne reports a wave of interest with about 600 men making inquiries and 280 volunteering at the central recruiting office. About half of volunteers were examined, while RAF HQ noted applicants for the Air Force nearly doubled.
In parliament yesterday Prime Minister Menzies said the idea of reviving an Imperial War Council, as in the last war, was under consideration. Anthony urged a closer Australian representation than the High Commissioner, but Menzies declined to comment on timing or specifics.
Justice Halse Rogers questioned whether the Danish motor vessel Astoria had assumed an enemy character after the German occupation of Denmark. After a lengthy argument, he decided to requisition the Astoria and ordered a formal ruling to follow the next day on the terms of the order.
The Times correspondent reports German forces combining artillery, tanks and air power in Belgium as armoured columns flood west through the Maastricht appendix. Allied defenders retreat before heavy blows, while attempts to breach the Maginot Line and to link Belgian with British and French armies continue.
Berlin radio reports that Adolf Hitler awarded the Iron Cross to General Lieutenant Student, commander of the Parachute Division, and General Lieutenant Count Sponer, commander of the Airborne Troop Division, for meritorious service in crushing Dutch resistance.
The Leader of the Opposition Mr Curtin says not all must join the Government to push the war effort. He warns trade unionism and social aims could be sidelined if Germany wins, and proposes senior ministers act as general overseers without detailed portfolio duties. He supports the government apart from key policies.
Royal Air Force camera patrols carried out high altitude reconnaissance over northwestern Germany. In three months, planes photographed the Belgian line, key German targets, and major rail hubs while under fire as observers calculated intervals and shutter settings for 125 exposures per run.
The article describes British aerial photography crews training for 36 weeks, mastering film processing, prints, exposure schedules, mosaic maps, and camera operation. It covers equipment, fast 1/200 exposure, infra red camouflage proofing, and the workflow from flight to master negatives stored for rapid map production.
Enlarged prints from camera patrol negatives are assembled into mosaics that do not depict a precise map but create a stereoscopic view. Exposures overlap by 60 percent, capturing ground from positions hundreds of feet apart to infer heights and terrain.
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