FIFTH COLUMN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24327, 18 June 1940, Page 8

FIFTH COLUMN

FIVE BATTALIONS FROM SPIES TO GRUMBLERS MENACE OF DEFEATISTS LONDON, June 5. The Government is being urged to deal even more strenuously with Fifth Column activities. A statement issued by the Ministry of Information describes the Fifth Column as having five battalions. The first battalion comprises paid agents of the German Government spies, and saboteurs The second comprises people of enemy origin or associations who are ready to turn on their hosts when an opportunity comes. It is difficult to sift these from their innocent fellows. There are large proportions of refugees who. frankly say that they would gladly return to Germany if conditions there were made tolerable. The third comprises members of anti-Democratic, or pro-Fascist organisations of the extreme Left or the extreme Right, who. by agitation try to weaken the national war effort These people would deliver their fellowcountrymen into tyranny , for the sake of gaining a little cower. The fourth battalion is composed of misguided pacifists, chronic grumblers, careless spillers of secrets, defeatists, and people who ignore Government plans for their protection and then have panic when danger comes The fifth battalion is not yet here. It is composed of parachutists and others whom the enemy may be able to place behind the lines, when the moment arrives for a big effort for destruction from within. The fourth battalion is the largest and most dangerous It includes the man who grumbles against our Allies, wails that the war cannot be won. and passes on rumours about the enemy's “ secret weapons.” CONCERN OF PUBLIC, EX-SOLDIERS ON THE ALERT GALUPOLi INCIDENT RECALLED The assurance of the Attorneygeneral (Mr H. G. R. Mason), that because of action and precautions taken by the Government “the enemies within the gates are impotent to harm,” has not allayed public concren. Everywhere (states the New Zealand Herald) people are talking of dangers of one kind or another to which the country may be exposed through the activities of the Fifth' Column and of disloyal elements. Much of the talk is’ based on mere rumour: some of it is only the expression of vague anxiety. But part of it is based upon close observation and a clear appreciation of the risks. An Anzac Memory When the methods of the Fifth Column were exposed in Norway and later in Holland memory took back some soldiers to that May night at Anzac when the Turks, then largely under German direction, attempted to “ push the Australians and New Zealanders into the sea." Walker’s Ridge, facing The Nek, was held by the Auckland Mounted Rifles, then serving as infantry. The Turks attacked across the very narrow strip of no man’s land in great force, but they were met with a withering fire and they would not drive home their charge against the waiting steel. Many who got close to the trench and saps lay down at the moment when they should have made their supreme effort “ Cease Fire " Amid the din an order. “ Cease fire. Australians advancing on your right,” was shouted from man to man from the outer end of one sap that ran out into the “blue.” Quickly the troop leadei yelled, “ Stop that order. Send back ’ Where did it come from? ’ ” He knew that it was impossible for Australians to be advancing on the right. Investigations next day convinced the regiment -that the “ order ” . came from the lips of a German officer with the attackers, one of several who had been trying to rally the Turks to driye home their charge. Thus so early in their active service did these Aucklanders learn something of what are now called Fifth Column methods. Not Satisfied Recently returned soldiers, numbers of whom have been meeting at regi-, mental reunions, have been discussing possible dangers here. Some indignantly. some sadly, have spoken 1 of what they consider to be a far too complacent handling of the situation. They believe that Ministers who have always had a civilian outlook may under-estimate the effrontery and daring of trained spies and Fifth Column soldiers. ' ... These ex-soldiers who are not readily disturbed nor inclined to submit to mass emotion, have been talking of land buying by refugees in certain areas, of the presence of foreigners at meetings of a Communistic .character of the danger of the local Jewish community having been hoodwinked by trained spies sent out in the eviction to establish an organisation behind the lines.” and they will not be satisfied until there is a thorough clean-up so that no doubts can remain about the bona fides of those who, after investigation will be. restored to free-star-gazers and sleep-walkers., At this time of fearful menace are we going io remain so? ”