 from Korea to Germany from Alaska to Puerto Rico all over the world the United States Army is on the alert to defend our country you the American people against aggression this is the big picture an official television report to the nation from the United States Army now to show you part of the big picture here is Captain Carl Zimmerman in the past we have seen and heard reports of our fighting army in action man-man weapons using firepower to defeat the enemy but there is another very important phase of warfare it has as its target not the body but the mind of the enemy its mission is to influence the thoughts of the enemy soldier and thereby weaken him and at the same time it brings to the no man's land of communism the voice of the united nations command and the voice of truth this part of the big picture is psychological warfare it is words and ideas and carries on where the weapons have left off somewhere beyond these mountains is the enemy his strength has been sapped by steady aerial strikes and heavy artillery barrages but he is still a long way from being defeated he still has his will to fight how can we weaken that will how can we defeat him by physical force yes that's the most effective way but there's another force applied in combat that we generally don't think of as a weapon of war that weapon is words yes in a situation like this words are weapons now that the enemy has had a strong dose of our military power the impact of words may provide the final persuasion words that go something like this soldiers of north korea you are surrounded your comrades are dying you will die next there is just one hope leave your positions tonight this is psychological warfare or at least its one phase as a weapon of war psychological warfare is no novelty it is as old as war itself but the use of this force as an integral part of combat has now taken on new forms and it works in many different ways the printed word and the spoken word the army's role in this kind of warfare is best described by brigadier general robert a maclure the army's chief of psychological warfare modern wars become a struggle for men's minds as well as for their bodies today we face an enemy who spends enormous sums of money and manpower all over the globe in an attempt to subvert the thinking of the people of the free world to confuse to divide and ultimately to subjugate this effort goes on day in and day out and it crackles about the heads of a world audience of untold millions it is an ideological war and in its own way it is more of a total global war than any we have ever known the enemy carries out this determined campaign of propaganda subversion and infiltration not only during the cold war but also during the present hot war eruption in korea we as well as the enemy carry this ideological struggle right into the front lines in korea the north korean government and the chinese communists tell their own people that the united nations command carries out bacteriological warfare they are told the united states as the aggressor in korea they are told that the communists are the champions of peace a constant stream of distortion of facts misinterpretation of events and outright lies pours from the propaganda machinery of the worldwide communist conspiracy it is important to note that the number one target of this campaign of hate vilification and dissension is the united states there is nothing we do or say that is not immediately twisted distorted or misinterpreted to suit the ends of communist propaganda needless to say we're not allowing the communists to foist this incredible fraud upon the world it is up to us as a nation to checkmate this violent propaganda which is cleverly calculated to destroy us within the military as in korea today this effort becomes an integral part of military operations regardless of what the communist propagandists tell their own people in north korea and the north korean and chinese communist armies we see to it that they know the truth significantly enough a truth that they would never know if they did not get it through our own efforts by new sheets leaflets radio and loud speakers the true facts of communist aggression duplicity and totalitarian methods are kept before these people their leaders are uncomfortably aware of the fact that the truth does get out and it is the truth that they fear the bear unbornish truth does significant damage to the north korean and chinese communist armies it causes dissension among their troops it causes defection desertion and surrender to us psychological warfare is another support weapon in the arsenal of the military services when it is properly used in cooperation with the other elements of military power it contributes to more economical attainment of a military objective in other words it reduces the amount of manpower and material expenditure necessary to do a given job on june 25th 1950 within 48 hours of the outbreak of fighting in korea the united nations began waging its psychological battle in support of our military objectives first operations parallel the early techniques of world war two especially equipped c-47 prepares for a psychological warfare mission into enemy-held territory the plane is aptly named for it carries an interpreter who will broadcast to the reds as the voice of the united nations a truck is backed up to the storage compartment of the c-47 and cartons containing surrender leaflets are loaded into the plane for eventual release over enemy territory at the same time this loud speaker will send the interpreter's voice reverberating through the hills to urge the reds to surrender with all the leaflets aboard the plane takes off it is one of several planes being used in korea for this purpose as the plane nears the drop zone the cartons of leaflets are unwrapped so that they'll be ready for dropping when the plane reaches its target proper and humane treatment for any of the chinese or north koreans who throw in their lot with the united nations forces is promised in these safe conduct passes a similar method was used in the early stages of the korean campaign when our propaganda was of a defensive nature and was designed to uplift the badly sagging morale of the south koreans in addition an interpreter now delivers the same invitation and assurance over a loud speaker with this dual bombardment by leaflet and voice the enemy received the full effect of our psychological warfare from the time our military effort shifted from offensive to defensive psychological warfare has stayed abreast of the united nations offensive action result desertion dissension lowered morale and surrender our propaganda was beginning to pay off meanwhile back in washington on january 15th 1951 psychological warfare was established as a special staff agency this move had far-reaching results in civilian colleges and universities long-range recruiting and educational programs were instituted laboratory experiments and research led to new and better psychological warfare reserve units were recalled and several new units activated and at fort raleigh kansas a psychological warfare training school was established here recruits with specialized backgrounds were taught the nature methods and techniques of propaganda and its dissemination at the same time plans were launched for the permanent training center now located at fort brigh meanwhile like the fighting in korea psychological warfare operations went into high gear at general headquarters in tokyo staff planning and supervision are handled by the psychological warfare section while the operating unit in tokyo is the first radio broadcasting and leaflet group this group conducts strategic propaganda and supports the tactical operation in korea the effect of our psychological warfare in combat is described by colonel earl age Chapman of reverie california communist propagandists continuously accuse us of indiscriminate bombings in north korea they conveniently ignore the warnings with psychological warfare gives to those people in and near military communist military installations that the people of north korea have come to learn the truth through warnings by radio and leaflets these people know ours ahead of bombings and no one to evacuate they have come to have a respect for that sense of decency which is found among the free thinking people of the world and which is not found under the communist regime telling the truth is the only way in which to influence people who have become so unfortunate as to come under the domination of the communist regime currently broadcasting in japan and korea are 32 radio stations for about four hours every evening the stations deliver propaganda that thrusts at the communists in north korea with facts radio presents these facts in any number of ways perhaps its most rewarding form of expression is news for news is ready made propaganda and to an enemy denied access to outside information it's as welcome as food and water radio's principal advantage is that it can reach remote areas and reach them quickly so that one program can be repeated and thereby reach a larger audience it is often recorded on discs or on tape the same show can be rebroadcast at convenient times in different areas and it may be relayed by a fixed or mobile transmitters in the field in addition to news radio employs other techniques to attract the maximum audience for example messages from prisoners of war are broadcast assuring their families that they are safe and well cared for these awaited messages induce the enemy civilian to turn his set on and to make sure he'll keep it on prisoner of war messages are spotted at different times during the week often a radio program takes the form of a drama such as we see now dramatization is close to the oriental mind forever since his earliest schooling the average far easterner has been taught by having things acted out for him carefully planned and rehearsed these dramatic offerings play heavily upon the emotions there is no strict evaluation of radio's achievement but with a constant repetition of the free world's point of view it is certain to have a cumulative effect upon the enemy nerve this mobile radio broadcasting van in Seoul is one of many similar units set up across south korea which help to carry the message of truth behind enemy lines they perform in numerous ways as relay stations for larger networks has a stop gap to fill a temporary void or to lend direct support to the tactical operation captain fred laffey of lauren's massachusetts is in charge of these broadcasts which reach millions of listeners in korea and china every day our commentaries interviews dramatic shows special features most important of all our news broadcasts being to the people behind the iron curtain our most potent cy war weapon truth even communist officers listen to these programs because they know that that's their only source of accurate factual unbiased information at the radio broadcasting and leaflet group central printing plant near tokyo are produced all strategic and many of the stock tactical leaflets every leaflet has a central idea or issue which is exploited by any number of themes leaflet stress such points as the united nations stand against aggression the historic friendship between the united states and the people of china and korea the unfulfilled promises of communist leaders and the horror of death away from home and family leaflets also stress the humane treatment of prisoners of war and finally the methods of surrender in the selection of a theme many factors must be considered does it capture the interest of the audience does it hold that interest above all does it establish confidence in what we're saying a theme has been selected the theme is needless death first an artist prepares a dramatic piece of art and the theme comes to life with a grief-stricken mother visualizing the pointless death of her soldier son two versions are prepared one for the koreans and one for the chinese by using overlays special care can be given to the varying details of the soldier's gun and uniform even a small inaccuracy they create a wave of ridicule among the enemy and destroy the effective months of previous propaganda the text that goes with the picture is first written in english with the help of an interpreter it is then translated into both korean and chinese short punchy words that make their point quickly and fan the soldier's feeling of despair he has been the thought that he will soon join the swelling victims of needless death the final draft is then reviewed in many red units offenders found reading un literature have been shot by the firing squad while their comrades were forced to look on finally the leaflet is approved for production one index of the leaflet's effectiveness is the elaborate effort the enemy spends in guarding against it as a weapon of psychological warfare the leaflet is invaluable chinese and korean soldiers are especially impressed by realistic drawings and photographs moreover the leaflet is far more permanent than the spoken word for it can be read and reread after copy and artwork are okayed they are photographed and processed plates are then mounted on the presses although they are warned by their leaders that you and leaflets are impregnated with germs and will rot their hands or make them blind many prisoners of war have been found to carry them secretly and the size of the leaflet is such that it can be easily concealed leaflets are then packed in rolls so that the maximum number can be carried in one load they are then placed into bombs normally each bomb accommodates about 22,500 leaflets of lightweight paper bombs are systematically loaded into trucks and transported to the airfield this p29 is about to range deep into enemy territory it is a fighting craft equipped to take care of itself against enemy attack we can only estimate roughly how many airmail copies of needless death will reach the individual enemy nevertheless overall we do know that leaflets will scatter the seeds of dissension unrest and possibly surrender in korea tactical propaganda is handled by the psychological warfare section of eighth army a large share of intelligence is gained by interrogating prisoners of war done by g2 teams special psychological warfare interrogation teams conduct closer examinations of the prisoners and pull them often they speak freely and offer important facts about the conditions they left behind them in their own front lines this information when evaluated and interpreted indicates how effective our past propaganda effort has been it also supplies the basis for further speaker broadcast and leaflet themes since themes are often individually tailored to meet an existing frontline situation the ellendell company must meet that situation before it changes so that our propaganda can take advantage of the psychology of the hour tactical leaflets are runoff on the company's own presses which can operate in buildings or in vans leaflets are disseminated in two ways first by air as we have seen and second by artillery shells specifically adapted these 105 millimeter shells can pinpoint selected targets and reach troops in the most localized areas leaflet shells can also strike at combat zones in which aircraft would be impractical in addition these message-filled missiles are able to penetrate densely wooded areas leaflets are printed a color in vivid contrast to the terrain they are aimed at they are best fired a twilight since it is still light enough for the enemy to see where they land yet dark enough to cover him when he gathers up the literature which is going to him air express the loudspeaker platoon of the loudspeaker and leaflet company operates directly with a frontline unit these loudspeakers are used to get across timely messages to the enemy in close proximity furthermore illiteracy is prevalent among the chinese and north koreans so the spoken message makes our meaning thoroughly clear the hazards met by the men operating these loudspeaker units is described by sergeant leon nelson of poland springs main i do remember one incident that pretty well typifies our cyborg operation on the front lines i think it was last winter that our cyborg team our loudspeaker team doesn't set up its loudspeaker and microphone and sound equipment on a ridge overlooking a company of chinese communists which were completely surrounded by the united nations demand forces well once the surrender appeal was underway the broadcast was in progress scores of artillery rounds started pouring in and mourner the chinese communists obviously were zeroing in and needless to say once the broadcast was completed our cyborg team didn't hang around for long and incidentally neither did the company of chinese communists now from what i've told you you may think that our loudspeaker men work under rather adverse conditions they do but let me say warrior will tell you these are the risks that the front line infantry soldier takes every day when more mobility is desired loudspeakers are mounted on tanks the physical force of the tank coupled with the psychological force of a loudspeaker is an ideal example of psychological warfare's most effective performance a similar combination is the airborne loudspeaker mounted in a tactical aircraft it can reach enemy territory inaccessible by ground loudspeakers and it can cover both civilian control and guerrilla areas because of their nostalgia value the voices of korean and chinese women are often used some enemy soldiers feel that if a woman can fly over their positions the communists must be losing the war in the time that lies ahead still newer methods of propaganda are growing out of research and experimentation but the job of carrying the truth to the people goes on all the time by loudspeaker in the streets and by radio in the ruins of bombed homes of bewildered people listen learn hoping for something better the voice of the united nations carries on where bullets and shell fire cease bringing hope to many for the first time for psychological warfare and its media of expression are dynamic always learning sure ways of breaking the spirit of the enemy the value of psychological warfare today is described in tokyo by colonel j woodall green psychological warfare has been well established as a modern military weapon it's usefulness in cooperation with other military weapons has been thoroughly proven in korea the target of psychological warfare is against the enemy's mind while the other weapons their target is the enemy's body facts are the ammunition used by cy war and the enemy's job is to keep unpleasant facts from their people therefore our job is to break this barrier of the communist and to get the truth and the facts to the communist people in the front line cy war works against the enemy's morale to make him suspicious of his officers and to make and to cause him to worry about the conditions back home and thus to lower his fighting efficiency and to make him think of surrendering or deserting these are the cy war soldiers they alone do not win victories in combat but they have a potent weapon which they use to the utmost to support the infantrymen and the tanker in inflicting decisive defeat upon the enemy yes and modern warfare our military leaders are finding that words and ideas are highly effective weapons next week our cameras will take us to korea for interesting stories and anecdotes that seldom reach the public eye this is captain carl zimmerman inviting you to be with us that the big picture is a weekly television report to the nation on the activities of the army at home and overseas produced by the signal core pictorial center presented by the u.s. army in cooperation with this station you can be an important part of the big picture you can proudly serve with the best equipped the best trained the best fighting team in the world today the united states army