AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 10

AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR

The Law On Subversion

ATTORNEY-GENERAL MAY BROADCAST (By Obsebveb.) I hear that the Attorney-General, Mr. Mason, is considering- a broadcast, address early next week—Tuesday possibly—on the subject "Subversive Propaganda.” His exposition of wartime law involved in this question should be worth listening to. The .Minister, by nature a wit. can make even the law interesting to the layman, iu the light of embarrassments caused by the activities of certain individuals and organizations calling upon the Government to explain this and that about its war policy the subject is more than ordinarily piquant just now. Mr. Mason is certain not to resort to verbal fireworks in bis treatment of the subject, nor is it probable that he will single out tiny section of tlie community in saying what is proper and wbat is not. Heresy hunting, whether the heretic be fancied or real, is the forte and. seemingly, the private preserve of the pbrasemaking and Inveighing Minister of Public Works.

Naval War Cameo. British destroyer on patrol. Captain signals engines to stop. First Lieutenant appears ou the bridge. Lieutenant: Why have we stopped, sir , Captain: There is an enemy submarine immediately below us. Lieutenant: Shall we get busy with the depth charges, sir? Captain: No, I'm sending down a diver with leaflets. The Raid on Kiel. — Some weeks ago the cables announced that Alexander Korda, the film producer, had made a picture incorporating the R.A.F. raid on Wilhelmshaven in the first days of the war. This picture was privately screened in Wellington yesterday and will shortly be released. Apart from a graphic reconstruction of the bombing of the German naval bases, it is British propaganda done with finesse. For those who want the history of what led up to the present conflagration in a nutshell Hitler's demoniacal oratory is recorded, with translation, but even in tlie original German it is impossible to escape the madness in his action and tone. It is oft-repeated in the film that "one man willed this” (tlie war) ; the close-ups of Hitler in bis role of mob rousing, orator tie-up perfectly with this assertion. Any doubts as to Britain’s thorough preparedness are destroyed by the scenes of the war machine at work. Perhaps the greatest contrast of German aud British conditions is seen in the sets of shots which show first. Hitler speaking with the protection of hundreds of guards while in England the King and Queen move freely among their people. Correspondence— C.G.Y., Wellington : Thank you for your letter aud the accompanying verses. Their sentiments are appealing, but I think cold type might chill their natural warmth.