Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1941. SILENCE THAT WILL SAVE LIVES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1941. SILENCE THAT WILL SAVE LIVES.

~f\OYAL New Zealanders will make no uncertain response to the “Don’t Talk” campaign inaugurated by the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) hist evening. The campaign is an appeal to the people of the Dominion to say nothing to anyone about, the movement of ships lest in this way information be passed on to the enemy. A moment’s thought will show that careless talk about the movements of a ship or ships conceivably may endanger the lives of members of crews, or of the armed forces, or those of civilian passengers. Since it cannot be doubted that there are some enemy agents in New Zealand, as in other countries at war, an incautious word dropped by any citizen is liable to have deadly effect. The only rule that will meet the case, and the only course consistent, with a loyal regard for the safety of our sailors, soldiers and others who travel by sea, is to treat the location and movement of ships as subjects about which no single word is to be said, anywhere or at any time. A reference to these questions even in the heart of a loyal family may later be passed on, without thought of harm, but possibly with very great harm indeed. Universal silence regarding the location and movement of ships would raise the greatest possible obstacles to the activities of whatever enemy agents there may be in the Dominion, and at the same time would make these agents much more liable to detection than they otherwise would be. The facts of the position are obvious and the principal danger to be guarded against of course is that of the heedless word, spoken without thought.