GERMAN PROPAGANDA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 257, 31 October 1939, Page 7

GERMAN PROPAGANDA

FALSEHOODS EXPOSED CONTRADICTORY STORIES OF ATHENIA SINKING [ British Official Wireless ] RUGBY, Oct. 29. Nazi radio propaganda during the second month of the war was cteait with in a broadcast review. Attention was drawn to the basis of these ; broadcasts, which was to be found in I Herr Hitler's book, "Mein Kampf, ’ •that if a he was b.g enough it was I more likely to be believed. 1 In tne past month the outstanding ; invention nad been the five contradicl'tory stories regarding the sinking of i Lie Atlantic liner Atnenia, and imagi inary stories of the sinking of other i British ships. i It was pe.kectly true that the battleship Royal Oak (29,150) tons) haa been sunk at Scapa Flow. The news of this had first come from the British Admiralty, but the German station had gone further and had stated that the aircraft-cruiser Ark Royal (22,000 tons), the battle-cruisers Hood (42,100 tons), and Repulse (32,000 tons), and j many others for which names could not be found, had either been sunk or seriously damaged. Germany’s Aim. Germany's aim was to create the impression that the German navy had command of the North Sea. Tne Nazis had spread this to the world, and in particular to their own people. Outside Germany, however, everyone knew* how far inis was from the tiuth. Geiman losses in raids on British ships in the North Sea showed how tar Germany commanded the North Sea. If neutral evidence was required, an Italian naval commentator recently referred to the weakness of the German naval position, and, through her central position, her vulnerability to attack on her trade routes. Referring to German submarines, he said that at the start of the war Germany had 60, of which 20 were under repair and 20 were at sea. He added that probably .14 had been sunk by the British. These losses did not take into account submarines sunk by the French. Best Imaginary Story. The month’s best example of an imaginary story, however, was the circulation by me Nazis of the assertion that British manufactured poison gas had beer, used by the Poles. Tne British -and Polish Governments haa denied this more than cnee. The Nazis had based their story on the report of a medical professor in Basle, who, however, has flatly denied having seen any eviuence that the Poles had actually used poison gas. If the Poles did noL use poison gas and they did not, it was still true tnat nine German soldiers, examined by the professor, had suite:ed from it. It was now up to the Nazis to explain that away. "Lukewarm Dominions.” Another line adopted by the Nazis was to prevend that the British Commonwealth of Nations was Likewarm in supporting the Home Government, New Zealand, asid the Nazi, was limiting the number of pilots to go abroau to 200. In fact there were 400 already in England, and New Zealand had undertaken to send 130 G annually. Australia was stated to be restricting her contingent to 2000 volunteers. Actually Australia had an air force of 3000 men, in addition to which she was.training JOO,OOO men, and was spending £I,OUU,OOO a week as her war effort, in addition there was Canada’s military effort. Even greater than this was the supply of foodstuffs from the Dominions. Of South Africa, the Nazi station had told a story of "a state of anxiety” which had led to clashes. Here again this was an entire distortion of the truth. Lastly, and this a special item for German listeners, the Nazis station had broadcast that Great .Britain had forbidden the publishing of crossword puzzles in the Press to prevent information getting out of the country. The homily was, of course, that Britain could not be lighting for freedom if she took such precautionary measures. A glance at Ihe Times or any of the newspapers would how that.crusswvrd puzzle: were bcmg published as usual.