GERMAN FABLES

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21037, 13 February 1940, Page 5

GERMAN FABLES

STORIES AGAINST BRITAIN EFFORT TO IMPRESS BALKANS "GOTT STRAFE ENGLAND" (United Press Assn. — Flee. Tel. CopyrlgHT. LONDON, Feb. 12 Germans are using the former Czech legation at Sofia, Bulgaria, from which to produce a daily news bulletin filled with fables against England. One such fable recently declared that Britain's wealth was actually non-existent. The Bank of England was so poor that it could not pay its staff, and Britain was only a few days from bankruptcy. Another issue contradicted this story by alleging that America was indignant over Britain’s refusal to pay her war debts, although she had robbed the world of its wealth and was storing it in the Bank of England, where the vaults were “crammed with gold.” All of this propaganda is designed to push Germany's case in the Balkans and undermine that of England. A Swiss journalist after a tour of the Reich says that the whole venom of Germany’s propaganda is concentrated on England. The old expletive “Gott Strafe England” is heard again, but not the Hymn of Hate, because its composer, Lissauer, was a Jew. As indicating the rapid switch in propaganda methods, he mentions that a Communist released from concentration camp after four years decided upon a gesture toward the Hitler regime as proof of his change of faith. On being released he shouted: “Down with Moscow!” and was immediately re-arrested.