THE RADIO WEAPON

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 12

THE RADIO WEAPON

GERMANY'S “ BEAM " ATTACK •• LYING LIKE A FLATFISH " A ‘ Dominion ’ writer comments on Germany’s use of propaganda, its effect on neutrals and credulous citizens of the Allies:— First, and most active, is the radio section. Here Germany has a considerable advantage. Her main short wave station, at Zcesen, is the most powerful in the world. Before the war its programmes (and propaganda played a large part in tlffim), -were “ beamed ” out systematically to the whole world. Now the beam system is being employed incessantly for war purposes. Zeesen can be picked up with ease by any efficient short wave set in this country—and well the Germans know it. Before the war there was regular correspondence between New Zealand listeners and the station ; indeed, Zeesen used to announce “ replies to New Zealand correspondents.” Already there have been several examples of special attempts to make use of this contact with New Zealand. The most glaring was the radio “ interview ” with a captured pilot .officer. Another rbcent early morning one was a long discourse on the German view of British colonial policy, which monopolised the air with Zeesen’s full power. In addition to these “ beamed ” efforts, Germany is filling the air with “ official ” reports of the fighting in Poland, with coloured stories of British naval activity, with accounts of British action against neutral Powers—with, in fact, every conceivable item of information relating to the war that is likely to impress neutral listeners, discourage British listeners, and damage the Allied cause generally. IN PRESS NEWS ALSO. So numerous and sq voluminous are these reports and commentaries that they are seeping their way into Press news, particularly in the United States. In consequence, much of this tainted stuff-is reaching this part of the world in American Press cables. England herself is not immune from it. Any listener to the 8.8. C. commentaries cannot fail to be struck by the large proportion of German “ communiques ” given out. So far, the Germans actually have been assisted in their campaign by the conservatism of the British authorities and the slowness of the Ministry of Information to play the enemy at its own game. The 8.8. C. is endeavouring to be impartial—to let German propaganda speak for itself. And so it does to the intelligent and discriminating listener. Yet it should not he forgotten that there is an'unpleasant worm of fact in Hitler’s notorious remark that a lie—if it is a big lie and loudly spoken—will he believed. The British authorities are sticking to the truth, but the truth is sometimes apt to bo colourless by comparison with shrewd Iving. Germany is sticking at nothing. She is lying, as a shoolboy would say, like a flatfish: solemnly, stolidly, constantly. It is this steady lying repeated so often that it may f 'omn to seem truthful, which has most to be guarded against.