BERLIN GUNFIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 17 October 1939, Page 8

BERLIN GUNFIRE

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

GERMAN PILOT LOSES WAY EXPLOSIONS NOT EXPLAINED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Oct. 3 0 Gunfire and bomb-like explosions north-west of tho city broko out at 9.30 last night, says a message from Berlin. Thcso lasted 10 minutes, and further explosions at 10.45 lasted 35 minutes. Searchlights raked tho sky, tho radio went off tho air, but the air raid siren was silent. It was announced officially at 1.25 a.m. that an unknown aeroplano flow over so high that it was detected only by tho noise of its engines. Machine Shot Down An official German news agency report seems to clear up tho mystery of aerial activity over Berlin. It states that a German pilot lost his way and entered a forbidden zone. Clouds prevented tho establishment of his identity, and, therefore, tho anti-aircraft guns opened firo and brought down the aeroplane. The pilot escaped by using his parachute. It was authoritatively reported in London that iihe Royal Air Forco- was not involved in any raids on Berlin, although the Berlin correspondents of Danish newspapers declare that a number of British aeroplanes wore over tho capital for two hours in tho o\ cning, flying at a great height from the direction of the military camp at Dobritz, on the north-eastern outskirts of Berlin. Spandau Munitions Works Tho Air Ministry announces: "Reports originating from that British aircraft flew over tho city on Saturday night are without foundation. There were no British aircraft in tho neighbourhood of Berlin that night. A Daventry broadcast says there was no reference in tho German explanation to tho heavy explosions which have been mentioned in the press of neutral countries. An American correspondent states that thcso heavy reports came from tho direction of tho Spandau munitions works north-west of Berlin. Berlin has issued tho fifth of a scries of contradictory explanations about tho incident. It is now stated that the aeroplane could not bo identified for certain owing to clouds.

BERLIN RADIO TALKER

"OFFICER IN TOWER" BELIEF VOICED IN LONDON LONDON, Oct. 13 It is believed, savs tho Daily Telecraph, that one of tho announcers broadcasting in English from the German radio station is Norman BaillieStewart, formerly known as the officer in the Tower." Lieutenant Baillie-Stewart was sentenced in 1933 to five years; penal servitude on a charge of having miparted military information to Germany. It is stated, the newspaper says, that persons who knew him as a lieutenant in tho Seaforth Highlanders recognised his voice in tho early morning broadcasts. j People listening to tho German station the other night noticed a different voice on the 9 o'clock broadcast from that of the "super-cultured' announcer who .had been on tho air since the outbreak of war. The Evening News states that BaillieStewart is reported to have loft England in August, 1937, for the purpose of making his future home abroad. In a letter to a friend, ho wrote: "As you know, my sympathies have always been elsewhere llian in England. I am now going to use them constructively." Baillie - Stewart later published articles referring to his long-standing German sympathies, and described "espionage under a. Berlin agent."

NEWS DISTRIBUTION CRITICISM IN BRITAIN PERSONNEL OF MINISTRY LONDON, Oct. 13 Surprise was caused by the tabling in the House of Commons of a long list of members of the headquarters staff of the Ministry of Information, dubbed "Mumbling Minnie," together with their salaries. Many, persons unknown to journalism were shown as receiving £SOO to £IOOO a year and more'. For example, there were the following:—A retired major of marines, an Oxford tutor and a Fellow of. Cambridge, an Egyptian civil servant, a schoolmaster, a director of the Student Movement Press, a professor of theology, a councillor of the Historical Association. All receive £6OO a year, and several "writers and publicists" £9OO or £IOOO. In the £9OO a year bracket is Mr. Thomas Wood, M.A., D.Mus., examiner for the Royal Society of Music and author of "Cobbers," "True Thomas" and other hooks. In receipt of £1650 a year is Lieutenant-Colonel E. T. Crutchley, C.8., C.M.G., C.8.E., 0.8. E., who was British Government representative for migration in Australia from 1931 to 1935, and since then has been an UnderSecretary at the Dominions Office. A cablegram received subsequently stated that the staff of the Ministry had been substantially reduced.