NECESSITY FOR SILENCE

Southland Times, Issue 24420, 28 April 1941, Page 4

NECESSITY FOR SILENCE

Military Information

“The number of people in the Dominion who would deliberately retard or obstruct our national war effort is small. What we have to fear most, although it may seem a hard thing to say, is the thoughtless person who, without the slightest ill intention m the world, gives aiyay information for no other reason that he, or she, simply cannot keep quiet about it. Evidence is not wanting to show that this type of person is disturbingly common.” This statement was made in a broadcast National Service talk last evening by a military intelligence officer. who warned the general public of the danger of giving away information, which could be used by the enemy in his attempt to win the war. “Anyone who has considered the question for a moment knows quite well that one of the essentials of the Empire’s war effort is the security of the shipping services that bind the Dominions to the Homeland and to one another.” said the speaker. “If the enemy gets the slightest chance he will strike and strike hard at these lifelines. We already know the extent to which enemy raidbrs have been successful in the Pacific in the past few months—to choose an example near home—and in the report of the commission which recently considered an aspect of this question we were all told plainly that we gossip and chatter far too much about shipping movements.” It was emphasized by the speaker that if New Zealanders wished to retain the freedom and the comfort that the New Zealand way of life had given them, they would have to weigh their words before speaking—if they must speak—and to think before they wrote.

EXERCISE DISCRETION “Surely it is not too much to ask of everyone in this country that he or she should exercise some discretion when talking—or preferably before talking—about the movements of ships, the disposition of troops, the strength of forts and defence posts, or anything at all that would give away some information of whijh the enemv could make use,” continued the speaker. “I have no patience with the person who so often says ‘Everyone knows about it, so why worry.’ That is the attitude that breeds the indifference and carelessness that a clever and unscrupulous enemy would rejoice to see in this country; it is the attitude that lays a country open to the deadliest of blows, for we must assume that this country, like any other country, fighting in this cause for freedom is certainly not free from enemv influence. within our midst.”

The speaker appealed to those who. in the course of their work, had access to information about the loading or sailing of ships, to keep the information to themselves. If a soldier’s relation was sent some uncensored details about the position of a unit, from overseas, then it was that person’s duty to say nothing. The person must realize that but for somebody’s oversight, he would never have had the news and that it would have been far better it the letter had never been written. He hoped that everyone would learn the simple but enduring rule that any information regarding naval, military, air or shipping matters must not be discussed or repeated.

“This stupid and unnecessary gossip must stop immediately if we are to put forward our greatest effort, and if we are to keep our country safe from the onslaughts of the dark forces of barbarism which threaten you and your children’s children. Remember—in silence is safety,” said the speaker in conclusion.