1940-12-05 — Page 18

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THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 5, 1940

Britain's Gastronomic Life

Little Affected Meaning Of The New Restrictions

(By Reuter's Chief Diplomatic Correspondent)

By Rations

THE BRITISH FOOD MINISTER'S DECISION TO LIMIT THE QUANTITIES OF CERTAIN RATIONED FOODS AND TO BAN ENTIRELY THE IMPORTATION OF FRUITS C OTHER THAN ORANGES, IS THE SUBJECT FOR GLOATING ON THE PART OF THE ITALIAN PROPAGANDA SERVICE..

They interpret these measures in the light

of their own situation and experience, and ITALIAN

prophesy that Britain will soon be brought to her knees by the attempted blockade victori- ously exercised by Germany.

They do not realise how very little effect

SPITFIRE

the British system of rationing has really had DONATION

upon the gastronomic life of Britain.

Except for butter, sugar, bacon' of rice or gluten is allowed per THE LATEST GIFT FOR and eggs, which are admittedly, head per month, and even 60 is "SPITFIRES” 18 AN UNUSUAL scarcer than before the war, the part of a general dietary of caLONE - IT COMES FROM THE ordinary person has hardly noticed tions.

ITALIANS THEMSELVES! the effect of the food restriction policy.

Anybody can get a full meal In any restaurant without ration cards or coupons. Bread Is abundant and excellent. Meat, except pork, is limited on the basis of price when bought from the butcher, but in restaur- ants meat as well as all other foods are only limited by, the big appetite of the consumer.

Poultry Not Rationed Game and poultry are not ra- tioned at all. There is no lack of potatoes and green vegetables, though onions are scarce.

On the other hand there le no limit to groceries and tinned foods that are accessible to all purchasers

.In Italy, where four meatless days per week have already been legally ordered, it has now Deen found necessary to curtail the staple foods of the country, name- ly macaroni and rice,

In future Italians are restrict. ed to two kilogrammes of either. flour gluten (macaroni) or rice per month.

Seeing that a normal Italian would think nothing of facing a plate of half a pound of spaghetti or macaroni (a quarter of a kilo), it is obvious that this small ra- tion will mean real privation.

Cold Comfort

Even the Italian newspapers realise the severity of the sacrifice but and comfort in pointing out that in Germany only half a kilo

The facts about Britain's food position are patent to every foreigner living in England.

Italian propaganda of wilful misrepresentation may help the Italian to bear his troubles more lightly but is not going to make the people any better pleased with the regime that is responsible for their privations.-Reuter.

DIED FOR

A KISS

f

In recent raids on enemy posi- tions in Africa, soldiers of the Gold Coast Brigade found some ira which the Italians had left behind.

This money has now been sent to a "Spitfire" fund.

Other gifts include the purchase price of three "Spitfires" from a Newfoundland fund.

The British community in the Argentine has sent £25,000 for the purchase of aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm.

In Trinidad, ar excess pro- fits tax is to be imposed, on companies so that more mone tary aid can be sent to Britain. This tax, says the Governor of Trinidad, will be used to increase

a close.

Back in port, in peaceful surroundings once more, sailors chat over their adventures as ano.her day draws to (Copyright, Fox),;

HOW THE GERMANS BOMBED RAMSGATE

THIS IS THE STORY of how the Nazis destroy- When his father crossed the contributions to the British Goved nearly 1,000 shops and houses in Ramsgate, cited road to catch a bus, three-year-ernment's special naval and mili-

to by Mr. Churchill when he contrasted German air- old Bernard Shaffery, of Mal-tary services from £209,000 mesbury Close, Bristol, ran after £260,000 a year, and to make a men's "wanton cruelty" with the R.A.F.'s policy of him for-a-good-bye kiss.--

further special gift of £52,000 to Britain.

boarded the bus, The father then saw the child in the path of a lorry.

The Mysore War. Fund has sent €1,500 to the Lord Mayor of He leapt off and raced to London's air-raid distress fund.--- save him. But he was just too Reyter. late. The boy was knocked down. He died In hospital

yesterday.

Mrs. Shaffery told a reporter for the children. It was my bir-

his

"Bernard adored

father, and was always saying, 'Daddy, kiss me.'

Her Birthday

"My two little girls, Bernard! and I, went to the bus stop, with my husband when he left for business, as I thought I would buy a birthday cake as a treat

1.day.

"My husband left us to cross the road to the bus and he did!

next not kics Bernard. The moment I missed my baby. He must have clipped after his Daddy to give him a good-bye kles.

"A few moments later I saw him dying in my husband's aims on the other side of the s.reet."

dy" for aution"in a destroyer escorting a con-

bombing only war targets.

Naming Bombed

Cities

Both the Minister of the Information and Under-Secretary for Air answered questions in the Commons yesterday regarding the Govern- ment policy to publish or withhold news of British places bombed by the Germans,

The Under-Secretary for Air said: "The general policy is. to publish names of places bombed if in any particular base: this can be done without conveying · in-. formation of value to the enemy. In accordance with this policy the name of Coventry was Icased while the names of other localities were not.

I am fully aware of the desir- dibility of giving early information to the public as to the results of air raids on this country and Fcounteracting the grossly exagger- ated claims made in enemy com muniques...

ately

These are often deliberately framed tor fempt us):by contra "-distory.commenti to. Inform, the enemy of the success or failure of his operations,

No Undertaking.

On Saturday, August 24, ̈* cloud of German bombers flew swiatly across the English Chan- ner to Ramsgate.

They stayed three minutes. It was long enough to drop 500 bembs and blow to pieces nearly 1,000 humble homes and shops,

This is the full story, told for the first time. of the raid on Brita'r's most battered town.. cited by Mr. Churchill last night as an example of the Nazi air- men's "wanton cruelty,"

One House In

Nine Hit

One house in every nine bore the marks of that raid..

Yat Ramigate, once happy holiday town, with Its popula- tion reduced from 87,000 to 14,000, is not downhearted, Those 14,000 intend to carry on "for the duration." They are

amazed at the low number of casualties. In their three-minute raid they lost a few dead and injured. Several are still miss- ing.

The town's miles of A.R.P. tunnels is sheltering 00 per cent. of the population.

Shopkeepers still offer thçir;: goods for sale. Three cinemas. remain open.

No Rent Or Rates Practically all the old people, children and mothers have left the town. Rent and rates are forgotten

There is no one:

to collbat them:

three raids a day last week. When Ramsgate had an average of their homes are. shattered the. besieged people, or they” rogard. themselves just salvage the be- Tongings and move into one of the many deserted mansions.

tain:

I cannot therefore give any 'com- The Minister of Information plete undertaking that immediate said no Indication was given to and deaded pubile disclosure will the press regarding the importance be made in any case where it is of the Coventry, attack. “They considered that this would cone are quite capable of forming any vey information of valtie to the estimate of the importance, of an enemy which he is anxious to ob- event. -British Wireless,