1940-05-16 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 16, 1940.

THEY TRIED TO BEARD A "SPY"

An American war correspondent was shaving with an electric razor In an hotel just behind the front line when two detectives walked in and ́demanded to see his secret wireless

transmitter.

After a thorough but vain search they informed him that he had been denounced by his landlord who had declared that a buzzing sound, resem- bling that coming from a wireless transmitter, came from his room.

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"Will this be the sound?" " the American asked as he switched on his razor and resumed his shave..

That was the "suspicious" sound and the detectives left the hotel satis- fled that the American was no wire- less spy.

The American changed his hotel as soon as he had finished shaving.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH BRITISH PROPAGANDA?

(Continued from Page 10) were called in. The Germans have, to a certain degree, copied their me- thods, with this one big difference (and it's a difficulty our propagan- dists have to meet)—that the Ger- mans think lying is effective pro- paganda, and that, biggest lies are best. That's not our idea.

But if we don't lie-and I'll take my oath from my own experience behind the scenes that we don't how are we going to meet the avalanche of Hitlerian untruths? Only by telling our own people and the world, quickly, and in language the people can understand, the news of the war, good, bad or indifferent. News is, and always will be, the best propaganda: We should get the news truth out at once, not wait on Hitler for his lie.

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Do you think we have been telling the news as quickly and as intelli- gently as we might, either at home or abroad? How could it be so with uni- formed brasshats and unimaginative pundits of the Civil Service in charge of the news avenues, trying to do a.. job they neither like nor understand, and crabbing the efforts of civilian publicity experts who know their job and their public? ̧

These brasshats and Civil Servants are estimable people on their own cabbage patch, but they are ele- phants when they get lost among the

news.

.

They hate, too, the essential touch of showmanship. It's vulgar, they say. Well, as I told many of them, "This is a vulgar war, and it won't be won by polite private and con- Adential minutes."

When it was established, the ori- ginal Ministry of Information was sound in its conception, its purpose and, to a greater extent than was believed, in its working staff. Where it was proved wrong was at the top. Bureaucracy got a grand innings, and we others were never allowed to do the work the Government had 'called us in for.

You can't run news or propaganda in war time with niggling, frighten- ed bureaucracy at every door. Yes every door. Yet that's how it was, and maybe is yet for anything I know.

Once I came across a red-tape smag which barred my doing something I thought necessary in the interests of war winning. I went to the big-pot who was holding me up.

"But what I want to do is plain- common-sense,” I said. ·.

"That may be," he smiled, "but it's" against the rules."

“Well, damn it, let's get the rules altered.?? I said.

"Good lord, you can't do that,” he said

Now how is our war propaganda to succeed it. We coming against stupidity

U.S. CORNERING SHIPPING TRADE

Europe, after the war, will bej startled to learn that America Has seized a great share of the world's shipping business, warns the Ger.. man Transport News of Hamburg.

While Britain and Germany are doing their utmost to destroy. each other's ships, America is building ships at an increased rate, states the newspaper.

will

"Europe, after the war, have to calculate with North and Bouth America as entirely new factors in the shipping business," it adds.Associated Press.

H.E.

LEAVING

ON SUNDAY

An official notification states:- Acting under medical advice His Ex- cellency the Governor is taking short

leave of absence from the Colony.

Sir Geoffry and Lady Northcote attended by Captain S. H. Batty- Smith, intend to proceed in the first instance to a hill-station in Ceylon, their subsequent movements being guided by circumstances.

His Excellency's departure will be unofficial: he and Lady Northcote will arrive at Queen's Pler in order to take leave of their friends at 9.45 a.m. on Sunday next, May 19.

POLICE RAID

TRIADS

A secret meeting of an unlawful or- ganisation was dispersed by a Police party, under Inspector A. E. Carey, yes- terday when a raid was carried out on No. 48, Nan Chong Street, Shamshui- po.

Thirty-five persons were arrested and a quantity of documents relating to activities of triad societies, were confiscated by the Police.

Ten of the arrested persons have been. banished, while the remainder were discharged later.

it is understood one man will be charged at the Kowloon Magistracy to-morrow morning.

GIRL IN HARBOUR SEQUEL

Two Chinese women, Wong Sap-yi, 34, and Wong Sap-sam, 28, were be- fore Mr. H. G. Sheldon, K.C., this morning, charged with failing to notify the S.C.A. when bringing a ward Mak Kau-wah, 15, girl, into the Colony, and with possession of the ward.

Mr. H. W. Fraser, of the S.C.A., said that the Inspector-on-Duty at No. 2, Police Station, sent the girl to the S.C.A. on May 6, after she had at- tempted to commit suicide by jump- ing into the harbour

This was the second time the girl had attempted to commit suicide, but she refused to give her reason.

Defendants were remanded till to-

morrow,

SCISSORS ATTACK

Charged with assault, Ho Hon- kwan, 46, was sentenced to a month's hard labour and ordered to be ex- pelled from the Colony by Mr. E. Himsworth this morning.

Det.-Sgt. J. Johnston said that at 5 a.m. Tuesday, Lai Cham-mui, 31, went to accused's, divan and smoked | 20 cents of opium, Later, he wanted another ten cents worth but was told by accused that he must take at least 20 cents.

An argument ensued and Lal was stabbed on the head with a pair scissors by accused.

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