GERMANS MUSE BE CAREFUL

Evening Star, Issue 16225, 21 September 1916, Page 8

GERM ANS MUSE BE CAREFUL

'iT y ’ Once more it has been brought to tho ■v; : cording to the German Press, as published ■y . ift ' tho . ‘Daily Chronicle’) that' Germans in their conversation, Omrespon- ■; .■' deuce, etc., reveal facts or express views ■ which are not calculated to further Ger- ■ man interests, and which, if heard by ■ . enemies, may cause danger to the welfare pf the country. This garrulity or communicativeness need not be necessarily illintentioned or unpatriotic, and is, as a . rule, the .result of thoughtlessness. The military authorities, therefore, re- ■ , uew their warning, and earnestly appeal to r,all, Germans, especially to those abroad, to bo most careful in their intercourse with everyone they meet. Enemies may lurk behind the friendliest faces. The enemy’s intelligence departments are ramified to an almost incredible extent, and their agents often disguise the deepest intentions behind the most innocent questions. Such •' questions, e.g., as whether Herr M. has, been called to the front, or the age of ■ ’. .Herr N., or the regiment to which he belongs and where it is stationed may, if answered, convey valuable Information. • Great reserve also must be exercised in discussing with strangers the economic and food conditions of Germany, The advice is given not to speak at all, “to exercise rigid silence.” An unconsidered word, for example, about food difficulties “may serve to 'fortify the enemy in his erroneous opinion that wo are being economically throttled.”