SECRET PRESS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3298, 9 August 1943, Page 7

SECRET PRESS

OPERATING IN HOLLAND WRITING WITH OWN BLOOD FORBIDDEN NEWSPAPERS

(By

“Rotterdammer”)

“Rotterdammer” is the name of a Dutchman in London who broadcasts nightly to his compatriots in Holland from the Netherlands Government Broadcasting Station, “Oranje.” He has just cabled the following story dealing with the underground press in the Netherlands. . Three months after the occupation, the first sign of national revival iu Holland made its appearance. It took the form of an underground newspaper bearing the name Vrij Nederland, or Free Netherlands. At that time thpre was an urgent need to warn the population against Germany’s plans. Vrij Nederland broke the silence, warned the people, and became the outlet for the sorrows and indigation of an oppressed people. It is still being published after more than three years and, despite German efforts to unearth it, it has managed to maintain itself,’ appearing at irregular intervals but never less than once a month. In the meantime, other newspapers have made their appearance, among them being Parole, Netherlands Awake, Loyalty, etc. The Customary Fashion Some had but a short life, as brief as that of their editors and printers who, unfortunately, were unearthed, arrested and dealt with in the customary fa'shion. Others have amalgamated and some change their name as they change their publishing and printing centres and for the same rea-son-safety. Their difficulties are increasing. Nevertheless, the secret press of Holland grows steadily stronger and more influential, obtaining wider distribution with the passing of the months.

From their contents it is clear that there still exists contact between the principal political groups of the country. But in none of them is there a trace of the party spirit or of separatism. All are agreed that “the Boche, must' be chased out of the country; that Holland will revive and our democratic institutions will be repaired, if necessary, with some modifications.” Keyal Family Loved Throughout the secret press a burning love for the House of Orange is apparent, and a hungry yearning for the return of the Queen and the Royal Family. These feelings, which are more than understandable in the circumstances, are, strange as it may sound, shared to no small extent by the secret Communist press. It is also clear that the authors are inspired by definite convictions so that it is possible to indicate which schools of thought the different papers represent.

The Free Netherlands is a liberal religious journal, but it also carries articles by anti-revolutionary Protestants and by Roman

Almost all of the papers contain re* views of events of global warfare, although it is obvious that the editors take it for granted that their readers listen-in to foreign It. is possible that the confiscation’ of radio sets will later change all this. Resistance Necessary Much space is given to German measures, but even more is devoted to the necessity of resisting these measures. In addition, they .also contain warnings and advice for the most effective means of organising resistance. Inevitably, one asks oneself: How do these secret, underground papers come into being? After studying many, it becomes clear that they are mainly written by scholars, clergymen and journalists. But it would seem that laymen also participate, men whose poor style and expressions are elevated by a glowing patriotism which no inexperience can subdue.

The names of the men who print these journals will, of necessity, remain secret until after the war. But they are performing miracles. Distribution is obtained by devious means, the one passing them on to others and by the thousand-fold copying of copies.

The editor of the Orange Courant was executed when his activities were discovered. Four Communists editing The Truth were shot Three others were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. Last Christmas, 17 editors of Free Netherlands were sentenced to death, and the last sentence passed on these editors of the Netherlands under-

ground was on seven Communist editors of The Truth. When the Germans issued a decree making the possession of these secret newspapers a capital crime, two printers in Enschede were found in possession of some copies and were shot.