Variety (Dec 1942)

28 RADIO UBIETY Wednesday, December 9, 1942 Nazis Frequent Warnings Vs. 'Lies Proves U. S. DX Is Getting Through Washington, Dec. 8. American shortwave broadcasts to .Axis-occupied Europe and Asia are getVtVg through and are being heard by the peoples there. Robert E. Sher- wood, director of overseas opernlions of the Office of War Information, made known Monday (7). Question most frequently asltcd about this country's psychological warfare is whether there can be any certainty that the people abroad are hearing the news broadcasts. Play- wright propagandist points out that no polls of opinion can be taken in the enemy-occupied coimtries. "We get the answer from our ene- mies themselves," Sherwood stated, 'from their increasing admonitions to their own people to stop believing the lies that are told them by Ameri- can and British and Russian and Chi- nese propagandists. Our enemies wouldn't be denying these 'lies' if their peoples in ever-increasing num- bers had not heard or read them. Distribution of American news in Europe is being made possible by the greater access to the vast facilities of the British Broadcasting Co., accord- ing to Sherwood. 'Several times each day the people of Europe can hear the voice of American rebroadcast by ■ the powerful battery of BBC trans- mitters, long wave as well as short wave,' he stated. Word is being gotten into occupied coimtries by other jneans, too. Sher- wood cited the 'friendly and valuable cooperation with the Royal Air Force.' Within a month after Pearl Harbor, he said, the RAF was drop- ping millions of American leaflets which gave the text of President Roosevelt's first wartime report on the state of the nation. This means of communication also was used simultaneously with Presi- dent Roosevelt's address to the French people, which was broadcast from more than 50 transmitters on both sides of the Atlantic to herald arrival of an American Expedition- ary Force in North Africa. Power of Words 'Words can bolster the morale of our friends overseas, and thus in- crease their po^vers of resistance,' Sherwood stated. 'Words can di; rupt the morale of our enemies, and thus decrease their powers of resis ance.' Most remarkable achievement in psychological warfare, according to Sherwood, was that of the British in 1940-1941. Their confidence in meet Ing the enemy, the words they hurled into Europe, 'confounded the all- conquering Nazis and sowed in their people the flrst seeds of doubt of their invincibility.' "Delivery of such great words to the peoples who must hear them has been the job of the various psycho- logical warfare agencies of the Unit- ed Nations,' the overseas operations' director asserted. 'We have been sending the word over there by ra dio. by press services, by pamphlets leaflets, posters, movies and even b; word of mouth, which travels with- mysterious speed and effectiveness and penetrates the stoutest walls of censorship and suppression that the Nazis, the Fascists or the fanatical militarists of Tokyo can build about t- their own and coiMiuecsd peoples, Dick Harkness Joins CBS News Staff in D.C. Washington, Dec. 8. Richard L. Harkness, for .several years member of ihe Philadelphia Inquirer bureau and formerly White House legman for United Press, joins the Blue network soon as slafi commentator. Harkness had a regu- lar early morning spot on WMAL and has been featured on Sunday night war interpretation program on the web. He's chairman of the board of the National Press Club. RCA Votes Additional 20c Diyyy on Conunon Radio Corp. of America directorate last week declared an additional 20c. on its common shares. Company has already paid 20c. this year. While not payable until Jan. 27 in 1943, it is applicable only to stockhodlers on record at the close of business on next Dec. 18. RCA also declared the usual 87';je. on the flrst preferred and $1.25 on the 'B' preferred, both covering the period from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. Both of these divvys are payable on next Jan. 1 to stockholders on record Dec. 14. Election of George K. Throckmor- ton, chairman of the RCA Manufac- turing Co. executive committee, to the directorate also w-as announced by David Sarnoff, president of RCA BACK TO PRISON KIW, Phllly, io Air Intltutlen Xmaa Froirama lor tth Tear Philadelphia, Dec. 8. KYW will broadcast two programs this Christmas from local prisons- eighth year that the local NBC-Red outlet has carried these shows. The broadcasts feature inmate talent with a plea for funds for the Prison Welfare Society voiced by Judge Harry S. McDevitt. Money received goes to families of pris- oners. Charlotte, N. C—WAIR added two new announcers, Larry Patrick and Jim Lister. Jack Lowe left to assume duties with WWDC, key station of the Atlantic Coast Network, In Washington. Mutual s 910G Gross in Oct. 5% Off 1941 The Mutual Network last month grossed $910,167 from time sales. This represents a drop of 3% from the tally, $957,935, which prevailed for November, 1941. The network, however, is ahead by 39% on the first 11 months of the year. The accumulative total for 1942 is $8,775,305, as compared to $6,352,457 for the like period of '41. FORD OF MEXICO IS STILL BROADCASTING Mexico Cily, Dec. 8. Though it admits in its publicity that its business in Mexico has about gone the way it has in the U. S.. the Ford Motor Co. of Mexico is main- taining interest in its trademark by a semi-weekly half-hour presenta- tion at local station XEQ of 'The Al- bum of Melodies.' -'s rendition of songs and music by warbler Guss Moreno and his erchestra. Sales Mgr. Navy-Bound Rochester, N. Y.. Dec. 8. LcMoine C. Wheeler, sales jnan- eger of WHEC, has enlisted in the Navy as a reserve lieutenant and is awaiting call to duty. During his absence his father, station v. p. Clar- ence Wheeler, and general manager Gunnar Wiig will handle his chores. Ford Cowing, former WHEC an- nouncer now in the Army, is sta- tioned at induction centre here.