WAS EDWARDS' RADIO BROADCAST A FAKE?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 9

WAS EDWARDS' RADIO BROADCAST A FAKE?

PRESS REPORT.

Grave Nature Of Possible Offence. ANTI-BRITISH PROPAGANDA. United Preas Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDOX, September I<s. The "Evening News" states that L. H. Edwards, previously reported missing and later a prisoner of war in Germany, was an equipment officer in the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve and his home is at Patea, Taranaki.

It adds that the broadcast was obvi ously a typical German fake.

Actually it was a recorded conversation, probably recorded without the airmen's knowledge, while they thought they were answering a few general inquiries from the airmen who brought them down.

Sir John Anderson, Minister of Civil Defence, stated that British subjects employed as for anti-British radio propaganda may have to meet charges of the most grave character after the war.

A New York cable says that PilotOfficer Edwards, who was captured on September 4 when his machine was shot down in the Royal Air Force raid on Wilhelmshavcn, has three worries. I" irstly, when he will get his pay so he can buy cigarettes; secondly, whether he can engage in sports or aviation while a prisoner, antl, thirdly, how long it will take him to learn German. This was revealed by a National Broadcasting Company commentator broadcasting to the United States from Berlin.

The commentator said he had talked with Pilot-Officer Edwards and his fellow prisoners, Sergeant George Booth and Aircraftsman F. Slattery. Airman Dated, "Edwards still seemed dazed and afraid to speak for fear of giving awav something the British Air Ministry did not want known," he added.

All the prisoners said they were well treated and were getting the best medical carc for the injuries they received when their machine crashed into the sea. The three seemed surprised at their friendly treatment, while the Germans expressed surprise that they expected any other treatment.

The Columbia Broadcasting System has reported picking up an actual'interview with Pilot-Officer Edwards and his companions from a German station, the interviewer being the pilot of the Uerma« machine which shot down the bomber. The German interview revealed that Aircraftsman Slattery had dislocated a jaw and Sergeant Booth suffered a broken foot.

An Independent Cable Service message from London says that Pilot-Officer Edwards was the first official British casualty of the war. He was promoted to the rank of pilot-officer on April 12. He was officially posted as missing, and his next of kin in New Zealand notified.