ENEMY TACTICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1940, Page 5

ENEMY TACTICS

FALSEHOOD AS WEAPON SPREAD OF ALARMIST RUMOURS. AGENTS MINGLE WITH REFUGEES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 23. Considerable attention is at present being given to the use in the German strategy of the rumour as a weapon of attack. Developments in recent weeks, it is remarked, have greatly enhanced the effectiveness of this weapon in German hands. Swarms of refugees whom the Germans drive before them in their advance, interspersed with German agents, provide an excellent medium for the carrying of alarmist rumours. More important still is the occupation by Germany of great sources of European - news such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, the virtual cutting off of others such as Stockholm, and the control of wireless stations and of transcontinental telephone services which Germany’s aggressions have brought her. This has not only resulted in drying-up of sources of reliable neutral and, in particular, American news. It has enabled Ger- Z many to apply with renewed vigour her well-known technique of spreading lies and rumours under a neutral guise.

Thus the Oslo radio quotes Belgrade when recounting a fantastic tale that revolution is breaking out in France; Budapest quotes Copenhagen for a fairy story that the French are suing for a separate peace; Rome quotes Stockholm as the authority for a fable that British troops are abandoning France, and so forth. All these allegedly neutral reports in fact emanate from German sources and are, without exception, false. SOME EXAMPLES UNTRUTHS ABOUT LORD GORT & GENERAL GAMELIN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 23. Authoritative circles in London categorically deny the malicious rumour of German propagandists that Lord Gort has broken down and returned to this country. This is regarded as clearly being another example of the practice of the enemy to undermine confidence and cause confusion by spreading false and fantastic rumours. Lord Gort is with the British Expeditionary Force. A report that General Gamclin had committed suicide is also untrue.