POISON GAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23947, 24 October 1939, Page 7

POISON GAS

NAZI PROPAGANDA STORY GAS MINE FOUND IN POUND ALLEGATION AGAINST BRITAIN (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegrahp—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct. 22. Reports from abroad suggest that the Nazis are putting a very big propagandist effort behind the story —for which there is not a shred of justification—that a gas mine was found in Poland which had been supplied from Britain. The persistance of this allegation—German evidence for which was traversed in detail by the British War Office in a statement issued on Thursday—in the face of authoritative denials from London, is arousing speculation concerning the purpose of this Nazi campaign. The War Office statement referred to the possibility that it was the prelude to the use of gas by the Germans themselves, and, writing in the Observer to-day. Mr J. L. Garvin says: "The whole world recognises in a moment the inwardness of the lie that the British supplied Poland with any poison gas. It is a familiar Freudian revelation as we call it now. though Dostoieffski's novels were full of it. These people show what they are thinking about, and intend what they impute." It is interesting to note that the Belgian newspaper Gazette, in connection with the distribution in Belgium by. the Nazis of the same accusation, says: "All who remember the first use of gas by the Germans in 1915 will know what to think of this propaganda." ENEMY RAIDS PLANES OVER SCOTLAND CHURCH SERVICES INTERRUPTED LONDON, Oct. 22. The Air Ministry announced that British fighters intercepted two enemy planes over the south-east coast of Scotland early this afternoon and shot one down. An air raid warning was sounded this morning in a section on the north-east coast. The all clear was given within half an hour. Gunfire and planes were net heard during the period, but planes were heard sfter all clear. The warning interrupted church services, but ministers advised their congregations to remain, saying special prayers during the period of alarm. The Air Ministry states that none of the aircraft dropped bombs or crossed the coast. PROTESTS LODGED PLEBISCITES IN POLAND LONDON, Oct. 23. (Received Oct. 24, at 0.30 a.m.) The Exchange Telegraph Agency's Paris correspondent says that all Polish diplomatic representatives abroad have protested to the Governments to- which they are accredited against plebiscites in the conquered Polish territory on the question of reattachment ,to Russia, declaring that any such procedure is contrary to international law. The Riga correspondent of The Times says that German organisers of captive Poles have formed labour gangs from the 24,000 prisoners of war for agricultural work, in Germany, bringing the total to 134,000. Rapid progress is claimed in the Gerrnanisation of the captured territory between Germany and East Prussia. The expulsion of Poles from Gydnia continues. THE FALKLANDS BRITISH DEFENCE FORCE NEW YORK. Oct. 23. (Received Oct. 24, at 0.45 a.m.) The Buenos Aires representative of the New York Times, in a despatch, says the sending of British volunteers to the Falklands is regarded as a violation of Argentine neutrality and led to the formation of an influential " committee for the recovery of Malvinos," which ,is the Argentine name for the Falklands. The organisation signalises a change in popular opinion. At the beginning of hostilities champions of the movement for reclaiming the Falklands favoured dropping the agitation until the. end of the war on the ground of opposition from Britain, who would brand them as pro-German, which is not desired. The Falklands defence force is evidently designed to prevent a German attempt at occupation similar to that of Admiral von Spec.