THE "V" ARMY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 52, 13 May 1942, Page 5

THE "V" ARMY

How the Poles help one another 'to hear the news broadcast from London on the. BBC's European Service is illustrated by the story of Joseph Cobanski a,nd ten of his fellow countrymen who were recently brought before a special court at Posnan.

Joseph Sobanski owns a, motor repair shop in Posnan. A car fitted with a radio was brought to him to repair. He told the employees of several firms in the same building and they spent the nights in turn listening to broadcasts in English, Russian and Swiss with headphones. The night watchman woke each of them up in turn to take his share of the duty. Joseph Sobanski was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment and his companions to seven years. The formation of listening groups has become general throughout the occupied territories of Europe. These groups are playing a useful part on the underground front. The Germans systematically jam the news from London; they confiscate w-ire-less sets and they impose severe penalties upon those who listen. These measures make it necessary for people in occupied countries who want to< know what is happening in the world outside to help one another by every possible means. All over Europe they are doing so with determination and success.