PROPAGANDA

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 4, 6 January 1938, Page 9

PROPAGANDA

WAR-TIME METHODS

SPANISH DISCLOSURES

The Spanish conflict has throwr some light on methods of propagands in .wartime, says a writer in the "Christian Science ...Monitor." ' Propaganda has been .used from the ..begin' niiig of the civil war by both sides, It is said on good authority that Joseph Goebbels sent some experts from his; own staff to direct the rebel propaganda. Rebel leaflets, such as ' those dropped from planes on Madrid in December, 1936, were bombastic and threatening in tone. One of these declared that unless Madrid surrendered immediately no mercy would be shown to-the wounded in rebel hospitals. Yet Madrid did riot surrender. Other rebel propaganda has talked yag&ely of a great Spartish empire. It is to guess what is meant by this.';unless it is supposed to include forfner Spanish colonies in South America arid the empire of Charles V (Holy Roman Empire) in Europe, •which would include Austria and parts of ataly. Rebel propaganda includes general abuse of the Republicans, who are accused of fantastic crimes, chiefly sacrilege and immorality. Within rebel territory this does seem to have succeeded in making many persons apprehensive of the Government side, causing them to imagine that they are fighting against the Soviet. . .At Guadalajara propaganda in their own language was admitted by . the Italian prisoners to have been a factor in ■' the desertions which took place then from the rebel lines. GOVERNMENT ACTION. At the end of July and the beginning of August, 1936, individual Government began shouting messages or throwing leaflets over to the^.opposite lines telling enemy soldiers that they were being exploited and sacrificing themselves for the benefit of a minority. The sth Regiment—which contained a High proportion of Spanish intellectuals—began this work in a systematic •way, in Simosierra. Deserters beg^n to come over. Later the Government formed a special section for- this work, in which Alvarez del Vayo, Chief Commissioner of \War and formerly.- a well-known newspaperman, is a specialist. After Guadalajara, another Government success was the capitulation of the;": Civil Guards who had fortified themselves in Santa. Maria de la Cab'eza. The captain in charge was so.;much afraid of the effect of Government propaganda, which included speeches by priests, that he ordered th^.besieged to evacuate the one building: '.which was within earshot of the loud speakers. But their final surrender may be attributed to the repeated, guarantees that. their lives would be spared. On the Teruel front, this corre-" spondent has spoken with, deserters who1 said they decided to risk an attempt to pass over as a result of promises that their^lives would be spared. ; They said many,-more would have, been glad; to come: but were- afraid Of reprisals on their, families'l6ft behind; At Zuera, Mediana, . and Belchite: (Aragon front) t propaganda >also did not iack effect. Though men 1 caught; picking up Government.leaflets',were; liable to execution, many who "came' oVerj had leaflets.1 iji; their, pockets^At; Beiffhite large numbers- ;..came*f;,qv^r;j THere the" parish 'priest, '-of Quiiitb' ■broadcast a description' ' of how ,'.the; church had been taken, from him.;by for.cc. and used as a fortress- -by the. retiels. ' , .''" -' .'' 'RADIO CHIEFLY USED. Propaganda to the civilian- population: is chiefly by means; of radio. Deserters told of meetings in small groups in Saragossa to listen to Governnient news bulletins. The following extracts are from ' a ■booklet of suggestions, with .diagrams as.to the best way to employ propaganda. It sounds like a child's game and;.yet it is so in earnest .that men volunteer and risk their-livesto distrib"ute propaganda. . "Sheets dropped on the enemy, lines shquld be on paper of different colours and'j'very thin. If different sheets are printed on white paper the soldiers may- think they have already read them, and if the paper is not light it willpile up on the same spot and it will .be impossible for a soldier to pick it up without the observation of his chief. It is best to vary the method of-"printing leaflets. ;_

bombastic and

"To the nearest trenches they can be.thrown with slings.. ■ For greater distances balloons can be used which, with a favourable wind, will carry the leaflets. They can be attached with thread in such a way that when the balloon is hit by firing, they disperse and .fall like rain.

"Oh fronts where the positions have been,long unchanged they can be attacjie'd to the. tails of kites and messages can be sent requesting a reply.

"On dark nights bundles of leaflets can.';be placed with a white flag between the lines, great care being taken not\to fire when soldiers come out in the«.morning to fetch them.

''Where possible volunteers, camouflaged, can approach the opposite lines and'talk to the enemy."

The language used in Government leaflets •is simple, designed to appeal to simple men who have been drawn into the conflict without thought, -and there-is a certain pathos in the confideri'ce displayed in them that an ap-peal-to peace-loving instincts will not beih vain.

There are appeals written in Italian or by prisoners of these natidnalities, with their photographs, addressed to their fellows.. There are leaflets to Moors in their language:

"Moroccans, you have been deceived. You.have been recruited by force and paxii. with false money. We wish you well > arid regard all men as our brothers. Come over to our side or demand to be sent back to your own country."

There are leaflets addressed to peasants containing excerpts from decrees of the Ministry of Agriculture giving figures on the amount' of land and'credits distributed in the Republic, telling them that the wheat which is requisitioned from them.in rebel territory,'goes to Germany to- pay for armaments to destroy the Spanish people.