“IN THE KNOW”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3159, 19 August 1942, Page 5

“IN THE KNOW”

ARMY WARNS GOSSIPERS IDLE TALK DANGEROUS CEASE SPREADING RUMOURS The Dakar expedition failed because someone “in the know” talked aboult it at a private gathering, an Australian army officer said in Sydney. He gave this example of the effect of idle gossip at the opening of a new campaign to teach the public and the fighting services that stopping talk is as important to the security of Australia as making guns and training armies. If the Dakar expedition had succeeded, the whole course of the war might have been changed, but careless talk sabotaged it, he said. “Most of the sinkings by German raiders in the Pacific last year were caused by careless talk and lettei writing, most of it here in Australia, he said. “In England recently the authorities had definite proof that a valuable ship and vital cargo were lost, and all but two of her brave crew were drowned, because some fool knew something and could not keep quiet about it.” Gossip Continues Officers responsible for the security of the country say that they are appalled by the refusal of civilians to take seriously the appeals to stop idle gossip and to cease spreading rumours. Despite all the poster campaigns and warnings of the past two years and the. punishment of offenders in glaring cases, people still talk regardless of the fact that their gossip may help to kill brave men and wreck plans for saving their country. The services give this warning, to every citizen: — “Enemy bombs and shells are falling on Australian territory. Our men are being killed in action here. There is a new and terrible danger in every chance remark about what is being done to save this country. The warning ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ has a grimmer meaning now. Careless talk to-day may cost your life and the life of your kith and kin to-morrow. For your country’s sake, don’t talk.” The army’s security campaign is not confined to warnings to - the public. A series of posters has been prepared, and these are being distributed in camps and military establishments, and other places where soldiers congregate. The posters, reproduced by offset in three colours, were prepared by and printed by an Army field unit the 2nd. Survey Regiment, Royal Australian Engineers.