Revival

An affidavit filed last week with the U. S. State Department by a U. S. survivor of the Athenia, momentarily revived World War II's first major incident as a sulfurous fount of propaganda. Encouraged by three U. S. Representatives--South Dakota's Case, Louisiana's Brooks, Oregon's Pierce--one Gustav A. Anderson, travel bureau operator of Evanston, Ill., came forward to swear that Chief Officer Copeland of the Athenia told him that the ship carried "plenty" of guns for Canada's coast defenses and for fitting herself out as a raider on her return trip. He described an air of tension aboard after the ship cleared Belfast and Liverpool on Sept. 2: repeated, ominous lifeboat drills and inspections before & after war was declared by Britain on Sept. 3. He remarked the fact that the Athenia was still floating some 14 hours after being damaged, said he had heard British destroyers finally sank her as a dangerous derelict. Mr. Anderson was at dinner when the explosion occurred. He had nothing to say about what he thought caused the blast.

Of the three Representatives interested in Mr. Anderson's story, one was an Isolationist. Ammunition for House debate in coming weeks was what they furnished. Embarrassment to the Donaldson Atlantic Line (owner of the Athenia) was what they caused. Said Donaldson in Glasgow: "Tommyrot and absolute nonsense!"

Great joy was what the Anderson story brought to the heart of Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, chief propagandist for Adolf Hitler. Hitherto personally muted since war began, Dr. Goebbels last week seized this occasion for a full-dress radio tirade against Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, British Admiralty chief. He said Mr. Anderson "proved" that Mr. Churchill had the Athenia blown up with a bomb set off aboard at a wireless signal, later had destroyers finish the job. Direct translation of his remarks in German (which were toned down, as customary, in an official English version) read: "That was how you planned it, wasn't it, Mr. Churchill? That was how it was carried out also and then!--then this God-damned American citizen Anderson came along and uncovered your whole scheme!

"The Athenia case is now the Churchill case and the Churchill case has developed into the British case. It is now a question of whether proven criminals are to continue to be tolerated in such a high official position or whether the indignation of the world is stronger than the unscrupulousness of a notorious British liar. There is no doubt, Mr. Churchill, that you will be found guilty by any court of justice--now you are standing before the judgment chair of a world tribunal. The accused, Winston Churchill, now has the floor. . . . Stand, rascal, and answer us!"

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