ADMIRAL’S DENIAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20009, 7 August 1939, Page 5

ADMIRAL’S DENIAL

FUNCTIONS OF ‘THE LINK” INSTRUMENT OF NAZIS PROPAGANDA IN BRITAIN FUNDS FROM GERMANY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 7, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 6. Admiral Sir Barry Domvile lias telephoned -to the News-Chronicle from Salzburg emphatically denying the allegations made in the House of Commons on Thursday by Sir Samuel Hoare that “The Link” was an instrument for German propaganda, or that one of the organisers was receiving money from Germany.

Miss Alison Outhwaite, a member of a well-known Victorian family, who is at present the assistant editor of the “World Review,” said that she recently resigned from “The .Link” owing to. its pro-Fascist character.

A message despatched from London on Thursday stated that while the Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, was making' a statement in the House of Commons to the effect that a professedly non-party organisation known as “The Link” was being used as an instrument of German propaganda, supported by German funds, the chairman of the organisation, Admiral Sir Barry Domvile, who was in Salzberg, was arranging the formation of a similar organisation in Germany.

In a statement regarding “The Link” Sir Samuel Hoare said: “The professed object of the organisation is to promote Anglo-German understanding, but it does nothing to enable Germans to understand the British viewpoint. My information shows that the organisation is used as an instrument of the German propaganda service and money is received from Germany by one of the active organisers. I have no power to intervene unless the organisation breaks the law.” Chairman's Career Admiral Sir Barry Domvile, R.N., (retired), was appointed assistant secretary of the Imperial Defence Committee in 1912. During the Great War he served in H.M.S. Miranda, Tipperary, Lightfoot, Arethusa, Caryfort and Centaur, being reappointed to the last-named on his promotion to captain in 1916. From 1918 to 1919 he was first in the Curacoa and then in the Plans Division of the Naval Staff.

He was appointed deputy-director of the division and, from 1920 to 1922. held the directorship, a post which he vacated on being selected as chief of staff in the Mediterranean with the rank of commodore, 2nd class. From September, 1925, to November, 1926, he commanded (he battleship Royal Sovereign.

In March, 1927, he was appointed to the senior officers’ technical course and in the same year, with the rani, of rear-admiral, was made Director of the Naval Intelligence Division or the Naval Staff in succession to RoarAdmiral Hotham. He retired in 1936.