The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-02-20
BY Staff Correspondent of
The Christian Science Monitor

BY a Staff Correspondent of
The Christian Science Monitor
NEW YORK.-The daily press, Pc
riodicals. books, pamphlets, radio
commentators constantly refer to
fifth columnists. They have made
the term seem sinister and unreal
Its constant repetition makes some
persons shudder and others laugh
to great many ii is simply boring
However, even though the term
is overworked, reliable reports from
serious official and unofficial in
situations show that many persons
in America are consciously working
against the interests of the Ameri-
can Nation. They are revealed as
sponsoring disloyal sentiments,
spreading confusing rumors, under
mining confidence, arousing doubts,
stirring up spirit of defeat. CIV
ing vital information to foreign pow
ers, slowing defense activities, de-
struying property. The purpose of
this study is not to describe the
work of fifth columnists" but the
manner in which they are recruited
and trained.
Many of the most destructive and
determined among them are not
working for personal gains of a ma
terial sort What moves them is
fanaticism, loyalty to power out
side of America and hostile to
America. Though they live here,
their hearts are not here. They
actually consider themselves vol
unteers in the armies of Ameria's
enemies.
The reasonable sentiments, with
which they are fired, are not the re-
suit of whims or caprice Fifth col
umnists" have been trained for
their roles in schools for treason.
They have been taught that treason
able action against the country in
which they reside is praiseworthy,
right. and heroic. It brings honor
and distinction A vital part of Nazi
philosophy and Of Nazi practice is
to recruit and reward traitors. The
Nazi Party and the Nazi State give
very high recognition to their
agents, who commit acts Of treason
in lands against which Nazi lead
ers have designs.
/ Example in Europe
This writer has had occasion to
see very dramatic illustrations .ol
such Nazi treason in European lands
For example he happened to be ir
Vienna on the day the Austrian
i Chancellor was assassinated by Aus.
trian Nazis. He stood before ths
building where both the conspira
tors and their victims were beinl
held Later, he saw the trial o
the murderer. This young man wa
an Austrian of humble origin H,
did not deny nor regret shooting
the head of his own State He sale
he had done his duty He had beer
trained for that. Before the cour
he shouted, Hell Hitler For hi.
! deed, he became hero; he wa.
given a place near the zenith of tn,
Nazi armament. Streets. squares
and many Nazi societies have beer
named after him.
Another illustration of Nazi trea
son was the occupation of Austrii
by the Nazi in March, 1898. Tha
occurred on Friday evening. III
until seven o'clock Austria was
free state. Ten minutes later it wa
part of a Nazi state. Vienna polio
Immediately put on Nazi arm band
!. and began to serve as Nazi police
AT seven o'clock they were greetin
each other with Hell Austria, b,
ITO they were saying He'll Hitler.
They had been prepared for tina
change. The arm bands were ready
.. They had secretly studied in tn
Nazi school for traitors. Many Q
them were Nazi Storm trooper
and had spent hours secretly drill
. ing in the Vienna forests. or gym
, nastic halls.
!.