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(iii) Air Force.
29. Operations.-Thirteen Belgians have been serving in R.A.F. squadrons. Training-Eighty-one Belgians are being trained at R.A.F. Elementary and Service Flying Training Schools and at the French-Belgian Air Training School at Odiham.
G. GENERAL.
30. Welfare. This covers Allied Naval personnel, merchant seamen and fishermen.
Arrangements have been made under which the Naval Officer i/e or P.A.L.O. in each port furthers the welfare of these Allies in addition to that of R.N. personnel. For this purpose close co-operation has been established between the Naval Assistant (F) to Second Sea Lord and various Naval bases, local committees, institutions, &c.
Close co-operation also exists between the Naval Assistant (F) to Second Sea Lord and the Ministry of Shipping, Bessborough Committee, Seamen's Welfare Board, British Council, Representative Council of Seamen's Missions and Sailors' Homes, Overseas League and many other institutions and people, including the welfare organisations of individual Allied nations.
During the past few months over 20 ports have been visited (some more than once) in order to co-ordinate and assist local efforts, explain policy to the Naval Officers i/c, smooth off rough edges and generally assist. Considerable progress has been made in most of these ports.
31. Lady James was assisted in the formation and maintenance of her Allied Seamen's Club at Portsmouth. At the instigation of the Naval Assistant (F) to Second Sea Lord, the British Committee for the French Red Cross provided at their own expense-a lady worker for this club, who has proved most successful.
Attention has been paid to the co-ordination of hospitality and entertainment for Allied naval officers and ratings when on leave. A relevant Admiralty Fleet Order has been drafted, and the Dutch, Norwegian and Polish Admirals have been notified.
Christmas parcels were distributed to Allied Naval personnel at approxi- mately 30 ports.
The welfare of Allied and Danish fishermen has been furthered at 5 ports. In one port the welfare of these men had been completely neglected. In another port existing welfare arrangements were extended and efforts made to stop the activities of undesirable clubs. As far as practicable, the importance of their work to the general war effort has been explained to all concerned, and arrange- ments have been started to educate the general public up to the great value of our Allies-naval, mercantile and fishery-to the Common Cause.
The foregoing is merely a broad outline of Naval Assistant (F) to Second Sea Lord's welfare work. Many other factors are involved.
32. Comparison of Allied Navies.-The Report from Captain (S), 9th Flotilla, is of special interest, and extracts form the subject of Annex II.
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