GERMAN LIES EXPOSED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21366, 10 March 1941, Page 4

GERMAN LIES EXPOSED

Because German propaganda has proved itself to be a deadly weapon in many countries it is important that the Allies should counter it wherever possible. Notably by declaring fabulous losses of Briti’sh ships the Nazis have sought to cause enthusiasm among their own people and despondency in Allied countries. Their purpose may also go deeper in an attempt to extract by denials from Britain the true condition and disposition of the Navy. As far as British countries are concerned. German propaganda has now almost outlived its usefulness; it is entirely discredited or accepted With the utmost reserve. . The British Admiralty has now made an effective reply which, without giving away information useful to the enemy, has shown that the German claims are utterly impossible. Compilation of the losses claimed to have been inflicted on Britain shows that the Germans have sunk the whole 1939 British fleet more than twice in the 18 months of the war. The losses claimed, with the actual class strengths of the British Navy at the outbreak of the war are: Battleships 34 (15), aircraft carriers 13 (7), cruisers 102 (62), destroyers 144 (185), submarines 72 (58): Here is complete proof that Germany is lying on a scale fully equal to that claimed as efficacious by Hitler in “ Mein Kampf "—the bigger the lie the more likely is it to be believed. If in this particular instance Germany is deliberately spreading an out« rageous lie, people with ordinary common sense will conclude that Dr. Goebbels’ Ministry of Propaganda lies not from ignorance but from sheer viciousness and evil intent. and will treat his communications accordingly. Unfortunately, while it is possible in free countries to expose the Nazi perfidy, Germans at home, or most of them, will go on living under the shadow of the lie accepting it for truth. It was to ensure that this should be so that the Nazis, even before the war began, per—fected the system of suppression in all its forms. Press, radio and every other avenue of public information were throttled because Hitler knew the time would come when he would be unable to face the truth and survive. The whole function of the Press and radio as they were originally constituted has been completely reversed. Under Nazi control they simply suppress truthful information and instead deliberately construct and maintain a lie. This is the foundation of Hitler’s dictatorship—a wicked delusion that cannot and must not be allowed to gain a permanent place in the affairs of men. __