Wednesday May 22^nd, 1918

Stand to 4:30, work 7 – 11.  Very hot. ?? ?? ?? Hot again.

Once again, I have failed to interpret Frank’s writing. Any insights gratefully received.

Propaganda for the Bulgars

The Battalion’s diary entry today provides the translation of one of the proclamations being left for Johnny by the British patrols.  These types of document were deemed important to the new field of psychological warfare.

The crafting of the messages for the Bulgars fell to Crewe House, the headquarters of Viscount Northcliffe, Director of Propaganda in Enemy Countries.  The work of the department, created in February 1918, focused upon Austro-Hungary, Germany and to a lesser extent Bulgaria.  The Near East section of the Ministry of Information retained responsibility for Turkey.

Figuring out what to say to the Bulgarians was not particularly straight forward.  Complications were caused by the nature of Balkan affairs and politics, as well as the fact that the US had never declared war upon Bulgaria. As recalled by Sir Campbell Stuart, ‘The definition of propaganda policy against Bulgaria called for most delicate expression, lest any offence should be given to Serbia, Romania or Greece.’¹

He continued, ‘Propaganda in Bulgaria depended on the policy which the Entente Powers and the US decided to follow with regard to that country. Until such a policy was settled little could be done in a large way. It was useful, however, to make the Bulgarians acquainted with a number of facts of which they were ignorant, as for example, the failure of U-boats to reduce England to the verge of starvation, the large number of American troops already in France, and so on. Leaflets on these and other topics were being dropped regularly by aeroplanes on the Salonica front in considerable quantities.’ ¹

The message reproduced in the War Diary today takes a slightly different tack. It uses the fact that both sides had courted Bulgaria in the early months of the war, to stir up mistrust of its ally, Germany. As such it encourages Johnny to come over to the Allies.  As we have seen in recent days, this is happening, albeit in dribs and drabs.

13^th (Service) Battalion War Diary – 22^nd May 1918 – Sporan

Our artillery was only slightly active. Enemy was inactive. Patrols report the track between Selimli and Dautli to be well worn. The ground between the two villages nearer Dautli is clear of undergrowth and ravines. Nearer Selimli there are bushes and other growth. The following list of Coy employ will in no case be exceeded while a Coy intact is not in the front line – 4 orderly men, 3 cooks, 1 CQMS, 1 store man, 1 officer’s servant, 3 signallers, 2 stretcher bearers, 2 sanitary men, 1 man ? Mosquito nets, 1 orderly corporal, 2 watermen, 4 guards and AA by day.

The following resolution which was so passed at a meeting held by the Burnley and District Discharged Sailors and Soldiers Association has been forwarded to the Lieut General Commanding-in-Chief and is published for information:- ‘We the Burnley and District Discharged Sailors and Soldiers Association in meeting assembled take this opportunity of expressing its appreciation for the manner in which you have done your duty to your Country and pledge ourselves to look after your interests, along with those who are near and dear to you at home. Burnley’

The following is a translation of a message to the Bulgars placed on various posts by our patrols:- “Bulgarians! Germany is threatening you! If you do not give back to Turkey your conquests of 1912, not only will you not get the Dobrudja but furthermore Germany will arm Turkey against you. She has obtained from you what she wanted. She is giving you up. Bulgarians, where are your foes? We, with whom you could have agreed in 1915 if your government had not sold you to the Germans! Or those who, yesterday, robbed your country, who are given you up today in order to send the troops to France and who fall on you tomorrow because they are afraid of too strong a Bulgaria, and want none but slaves in the Balkans. Bulgarian soldiers come over to us!”

References & Further Reading

¹ ‘The Secrets of Crewe House, The Story of a Famous Campaign’ by Sir Campbell Stuart (1920) p134 & p195

* Viscount Northcliffe (1865-1922), newspaper magnate. Image is in the public domain.

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