GERMAN TREACHERY

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 22, 25 July 1918, Page 11

GERMAN TREACHERY

AN AMAZING DOCUMENT

TEENCH PROPAGANDA IN ITALY.

Mr Henry Wood, special correspondent of the United Press of America with the French armies, in a message to the Exchange Telegraph Company, says : "One of the most astounding German army orders yet captured, dealing with fraternisation with enemy troops for the purpose of undermining the morale of the opposing army, has just been found on a German prisoner captured by French troops on the Italian front. Although the document was captured by French soldiers, it was intended for furthering German propaganda in the Italian army. The order is another one of the long list of German documents on which all comment is superfluous, the document itself being its own best commentary of the methods of Prussian militarism and the twists of German psychology. The order is as follows :

"281 st Division, First Section, No. 226.—Confidential.

"Not to be communicated to troops in tho first line.

"Ist. Following the telephone order, Geroch No. 2089, you are asked to intensify with efficacy the propaganda with the enemy army. "2nd._ The object of this propaganda is to disorganise the enemy« army and to obtain information regarding it. The propaganda must' be carried out In the following manner : (a) By throwing into the enemy's trenches newspapers and proclamations destined for the more intelligent elements; (b) by persuading the troops by oral propaganda. For that it will be necessary to utilise officers, under-offlcers, and soldiers who appear to be most adapted. The po3ts for making contacts with the enemy must be placed under the direction of the company commander, who must be in the first line positions. These officers must ascertain the points where it will be the easiesi to throw into the enemy trenches newspapers, proclamations, etc. At these points you must seek to gain contact with the enemy by means of our interpreters, and if the enemy consents, then fix an hour for future conversations. You^ must then advise immediately by telephone . the chief of. the Information Bureau of the division of every contact with the enemy. ' "Only the ohief of the Information Bureau will have the right to direct the conversations according to the instructions he has received. It is rigorously prohibited for any of our soldiers to enter into relation with the' enemy, except those who have received the mission to do so, for fear that the enemy may seek to profit by their ingenuousness. All letters ana! printed matter which the enemy may have on his person must ba taken from him, and transmitted to the chief of the Information Bureau. Company commanders, above all, must seek to establish the points where the enemy's soldiers have received, newspapers,- the points where the newspapers were taken openly, and without precaution. There are posts of observation for the artillery, and it may happen that French officers or foreign army instructors are in these posts.. "In these enterprises for obtaining contact -with the enemy, success depends on the ability with which you operate. Good results can be obtained by calling in a friendly tone, and indicating sentiments of comradeship, or by reiterated promises not to fire and"" offers of tobacco. The tobacco for this purpose will be furnished by the company commanders. ""Every evening, at 8 o'clock, the company commander must transmit directly to the information officer a report of the propaganda accomplished during the day. This report must contain the following indications:—(a) Has the enemy picked up our newspapers and proclamations; (b) have you endeavoured to enter into relations with the enemy; (c) with whom have you had contact—officers, under officers, soldiers; (d) where and when were out newspapers and proclamations thrown into the enemy's trenches; (c) all other infoi-matioii of the enemy's conduct. At tho same time, our interpreters will send to tho chief of the Information Bureau a» detailed report on all conversations they have had with the enemy. The enemy's positions where propaganda is under way must not be shelled by our artillery; they must indicate to the batteries the positions of these points to be spared. The" enemy is perfidious and without honour, and it is necessary as a consequence to be careful that they neither take our propagandists prisoners nor lull them. Those of our soldiers who leave pur lines for the purpose of, carrying newspapers and pamphlets to the enemy must be advised. To protect them it will be necessary to constitute with care special detachments, who will mount guard in the trenches, and who will fire only on the order of the company commander who is directing relations with the enemy.— Signed, on behalf of the temporary commander of the division, the Major-Gen-eral Commanding the 62nd Brigade."