NO NEW THING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 11

NO NEW THING.

PAMPHLET "BOMBS."

DROPPED IN GREAT WAR.

PROPAGANDA FROM GERMANS

Evidence that the dropping of pamphlets over enemy trenches and country is not a move fresh to warfare was brought to the "Star" to-day by an Auckland ex-serviceman, who retrieved and held as a souvenir a news sheet dropped into the British lines on the Western Front during the Great War. Xow yellowed and torn, the sheet, which was sent into the British lines inside a "dud" German shell, contains information calculated to inform British troops regarding the weakness of their Russian allies. Printed in English, the sheet is headed "The Russian Disaster." It bears the date line July 20, 1917, and purports to reproduce information sent from members of the Russian Army staff to the Russian Government in Petrograd.

This information, according to the sheet, was to the effect that the German qffensive was developing into a terrible catastrophe,, which threatened to destroy the newly-won Russian revolution. Discipline among the Russian troops, the Herman propaganda alleged, was rapidly disappearing, and contingents were leaving the trenches even I>efore the Germans fired a shot. Behind the lines were crowds of Russian fugitives, all healthy, fresh-looking and without shame. Russian officers were endeavouring to stop the rout by ordering deserters to i be shot.

. An amendment for the enlightenment of the British and French troops, stated that the Russian leaders, who had mismanaged and sacrificed their forces, were endeavouring to cover up their mistaken and defeats by starting rumours in Russia of a danger to the revolution when actually they had been soundly beaten by German troops. Such propaganda, according to the exserviceman, was often dropped into the British lines by German balloons fitted with an automatic device which dropped a certain number of leaflets every few yards. There were no pilots in the balloons, which were set adrift in the wind to go right along the British trenches, dropping their burdens.

Many New Zealand 60ldiers remember these tactics.

MILK SUPPLIES.

AUCKLAND'S CO-OPERATION.

"I am instructed to inform you that the organisation of. the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council is at the disposal of the Government in the present emergency if there is any way in which the Government cares to utilise such organisation," stated a telegram sent to the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Supply, by Mr. Norman R. Chapman, secretary of the council. Yesterday a reply was received from the Minister in which he expressed appreciation of the co-operation and assistance of the council. "I will be pleased to bear this in mind and will get in touch with you should occasion arise," he added.

ALIENS MUST REGISTER.

Advice has been received from the Commissioner of Police that under the Alien Control Emergency Regulations made on September 4, every alien in the Dominion is required to make application for registration not later thaai September 18. Applications should be made personally to the nearest police station.