ENTRY INTO EIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 157, 3 June 1940, Page 8

ENTRY INTO EIGHT

ITALIAN AIMS. EXPECTED BY FRENCH. (United Press Association- —By Electric Telegrapn.—Copyright.) PARIS, May 31. Italian journalists are departing from Paris. The French War Office spokesman said their departure did not necessarily mean war with Italy, but it was possible that Italy. would enter the fight within ten days, when a new German offensive could be expected. A message from Budapest says the Premier (Count Teleki), predicting an early German victory, said Hungary would help her Italian and German friends to maintain peace in the Balkans.

WASHINGTON, May 31. The White House does not confirm nor deny that Signor Mussolini told President Roosevelt that Italy intended to aid Germany. President Roosevelt’s secretary (Mr Stephen Early) said: “There is almost continual correspondence between President Roosevelt and the heads of other governments.”. GERMAN PROPAGANDA. EFFORT TO DIVERT ATTENTION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 31. It has been noticed in London that for the past 48 hours all the German broadcasting stations have been flooding the air with stories of_ Allied atrocities. The space devoted in each programme to this feature indicates that it is the result of definite propaganda instructions. Abroad, the motive for these stories may well bo to try to cover up _ the eye-witness’s accounts of the atrocities committed by the German troops and airmen against civilian refugees. It is suggested that there may be another motive at home, namely, to distract attention from the mounting casualties.

It is a familiar device of Nazi propaganda to stir up hate when tne enthusiasm of the people is flagging. The German people have recently been lulled by stories of how the Allies have been brought, in the words of the German home broadcast last night, “to the edge of annihilation in the unbelievably short time of 20 days.” In order to prepare the Germans at home, and the German soldiers who have been mercilessly thrown into battle without regard for loss in order to secure a quick, spectacular result, for the disappointment of the realisation that Germany will have to fight on and fight harder than ever to obtain a decision, these stories of Allied atrocities are. being manufactured and retailed., A Press Association message says the events in Northern France have resulted in the loss of at least £40,000 worth of Red Cross stores and equipment. One depot lost 24 ambulances and several transport trucks and staff cars.