WAR IN THE ETHER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 181, 17 November 1941, Page 6

WAR IN THE ETHER

STATIONS PRETEND TO BE WHERE THEY ARE NOT

BOG US TRANSMITTERS

A branch of war radio propaganda of which hitherto little has been read or heard in this country was discussied by Mr W. A. Sinclair in a broadcast directed to the United States of America from London. It is the bogus radio station that pretends to be in the enemy's "country and to speak for a section of the enemy country's population.

This development seems to be an extension by the Germans of the "Haw Haw" and Freedom Radio techniques. "Haw Haw" pretended to lse an Englishman in Germany giving brotherly advice to his kinsmen in England. The Freedom Radio was supposed to> be a secret station giving clandestine broadcasts from the heart of Germany to hearten the" opponents of the Hitler Germany. The Germans have combined the two ideas, and use broadcasters in their own or occupied territories to carry on the pretence that there is an illegal broadcaster in the countries of Germany's enemies. They are able to do* this easily because there arc many more ladio stations in the countries they have occupied than they need for their own purposes. The object is to disunite the people they are fighting, and the Germans, though not a subtic race, have been using this weapon in a rather subtle manner, according to Mr Sinclair.

The Germans, lie said, had pretended that freedom stations had been set up in various parts ol' the world. There was one that broadcast to India under a name that implied that it was situated in the Himalayas, and one called the Free Voice of Egvpt. Four broadcast to England.

The speakers spent most of their :ime trying to give the impression that they were really in the country to which they were broadcasting. One broadcasting to England played "God Save the King" and

called the Germans "our enemies. Once the announcer warned his listeners not to listen to German broadcasts, saying that the Germans weie really only working for the success of Germany, whereas his station was working for the good of the British.

They tried also to give the impression that they Avere working under great difficulties, attributing breakdowns and delays to the handicap of working in secret and not knowing when the police would walk in, though the strength and quality of their wave might betray" them in that respect. The Germans invented a Mr Clifford Yates, said Mr Sinclair, an official who was supposed to be trying to track down a bogus British station with 14 directionfinding receivers in vans. Reports on his activities were repeatedly given.

The German organisation was not perfect, however. When England changed to summer time all four stations that were supposed to be in the British Isles continued broadcasting at the same time as before for several days. The four stations were aimed at different sections of the population. One was directed to the English unskilled worker. Its operators had a poor opinion of such people, for they made no attempt to he reasonable in their statements, and were foul-mouthed. Another station was for the Scots. Its intellectual level was higher, but its language was foul-mouthed. Another pretended to be supporting a Christian peace movement, and attempted to create pacifists, its broadcasts consisting mostly el prayers to God for peace.

The matter broadcast from these stations was clearly intended t<> Fit in with the currcnt propaganda of Dr Goebbels. The speaker said that captured -station* Mere being used to this: end all over Europe, and he concluded by suggesting that the Germans would next establish bogus stations lor America.

Lost and Found It has been said that truth is stranger than fiction, and the following story, which is told by a responsible citizen would certainly support this contention. He exchanged a cheque for £4 and after extracting £1 in silver, placed the balance in notes in his hip poclcet. On arrival home more than an hour later, he discovered that he had lost the notes, and immediately retraced his steps in the hope of finding the money. Just near the gateway he came cross £1, and, continuing on, he espied another £1 note about five blocks away. When almost completing his journey he came across a third £1 note. R.S.A. Membership Booms A statement that already about 200 returned men of the present war had become members of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association was made at a meeting of the branch by the president, Mr J, W. Kendall. He said that the first returned New Zealand airman joined a few days ago. The total financial membership at September 30 Avas 3587, oi 250 less than last year, but it was hoped that membership renewals Avould have brought the branch® up to its usual strength by the end of the year. Mr Kendall later stated that the present membership Avas 3771.