Newspaper Article from Syracuse Post Standard, "The Rumor Clinic: Rumor and Military Fact"

#4 15/11/42 (Reprint from The Syracuse, N. Y., Post-Standard) The Rumor Clinic Rumor and Military Fact R UMORS concerning troop movements, disposition of air forces, ship- ment of war materials, sailing of ships, and war plans often are reported to the Clinic. Some of these may be accurate; many are in- correct. Every bit of information thus circulated sooner or later reaches an Axis agent. Spies busily piece together these bits of information, and in consequence American lives are lost, war plans are upset, or valuable materials are lost. THE RUMOR YOU REPEAT MAY COST A LIFE-OR MANY LIVES. THE RUMOR YOU KEEP TO YOURSELF IS CERTAIN NOT TO REACH AN AXIS AGENT THRU YOU. Don't be afraid to challenge the person who tells you a rumor. If you were a soldier or sailor and the rumor were likely to endanger your life, what would you say to the person who spread it? Say it anyway: "If that is true, you have no business telling it. If it is false, it does harm. If you tell others what you tell me, you are a traitor!" Squelch the rumor-monger! Do 'not repeat anything whatever regarding numbers or movements of troops, planes, ships, or war materials. Rumors of this character must me stopped. Your best friend may not be a Nazi or a Jap, but an enemy agent may hear him tell it. Ears open, lips sealed! Listen, don't talk. Report what you hear to a responsible officer. or plant superintendent, or to the Rumor Clinic. If you know something wrong in our war effort, tell it only to a respon- sible person who can correct the condition, or to the FBI. Don't tell peo- ple who can't help matters If you send such rumors to the Rumor Clinic, they will not be pub- lished. They will be sent where it will do the most good. Ears open, lips sealed! This Week's Rumors Rumor: "That some of the plants being built locally for war work will never be used." Answer: Experts consulted by the Clinic unanimously agree that there is no foundation in fact for this rumor. On the contrary, there is every reason to believe that these plants, if not already in produc- tion will go into production immediately upon completion. Source: Opinions of local authorities on war production. Rumor: "Gas rationing is just another political football. Take a promi- nent judge, for instance. He is getting gasoline to drive 3,000 miles per month-36,000 miles per year." Answer: This judge used less than one-fourth of the amount of gasoline suggested in this rumor. He voluntarily reduced the amount asked for in his application for the second period. The action was taken despite the fact that the judge holds court in several cities in Central New York, some lying as much as 60 miles from Syracuse. Source: Oscar Soule, Onondaga County Rationing Board. Rumor: "The tanks, originally used at Pine Camp; were so designed that heat from the motors blew up the gas tanks and burned up the men inside." Answer: This rumor is false. No explosion of this kind has ever taken | place and no men have ever been burned up inside a tank at Pine Camp. One tank was damaged by a fire originating on the outside, but nobody was injured as a result of the fire. Source: Camp Commander, Pine Camp, U. S. A. Rumor: "A soldier returning from one of the army camps stated that he saw officials at the camp burning a large number of automobile tires. Answer: At each camp, post and station there is a salvage officer who is responsible for the conservation, collection and disposition of all salvage and waste material. All items of vital materials that become Preservation Copy worn or otherwise damaged are inspected, and all articles which can