New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28
FALSE REPORTS AS STRATAGENS OF WAR.
HOW THEY HAZE WORKED IN THE PAST-SOME FA-
NOUS INSTANCES OF VICTORIES CLAIMED

invention to spread terror against a party was
too gross. and the city Of London was one Gay
alarmed that the royabsts were occupied Win a plan
OF blowing up the River Thames By an Immense
quantity Of powder warehOused at the rversds.
and that there existed an organized though invisbls
brotherhood OF many thousands with consecrated
knives. and those who hesitatcd 20 give credit 70
such ruuors were branded as maignants. who took
not the danger or the Parliament 70 heart Forged
conspiracies and reports OF great but distant VIC
tories were Inventions to keen up the spirits OF
party. but oftener prOgnOsuCated some Intended.
change IN the government When they were de-
sirOus Of augmenting the army or introducing new
garrsons using an extreme measure with the
city or the royalsts there was always a rev con-
spiTacy set afoat. when any great affair was ~
be carried in Parliament letters Of great victories
were published. 10 dishearten the opposition and
iufuse additional holiness in their own party. r.
the report lasted only a few days il obtained its
purpose. and verified the observation % Catherine
:of MedicL
This art OF 6eceiving the public f. not new how
ever. but was unquestlOuably practised among the
ancients. syphax sent scipio word that he could
not unite with the Romans. but. on the contrary.
had declared for the Cartha sinlans. The Roman
army was then anxiOusly waiting FOR his expected
succOrs; ScipO careful to show the utmost
Civlty to these ambassadors. and SYSTEMATICALLY
treated them with presents. that his soldiers ighe
believe they were only returning to hasten the army
OF Syphax 20 join the Romans. Ivy censures ths
Roman consul who. after the defeat at Canna. told
the deputies OF the allies the whole loss they had
sustained This CONSUL" says Ivy. by giving too
faithful and open an account % his defeat. mads
both himself and his army still more conternptible"
The result OF the simplicity OF the consul that
the allies. desDairing that the Romans would svez
recover their losses. deemed It prudent to nnaks
terms with Hannibal Plutarch tells amusing
story. IN his way OF the natural progress Of a rs
port which was contrary to the wishes OF the gov
eminent. The unhappy reporter suffered punish-
ment as long as the runor prevailed though ae
last IT proved true. A stranger. landing from
Sicily at a BARRIERS shop delivered al the par
uculars Of the defeat OF the Athenians. OF which.
however. the people were yet uniformed Tbs
barber leaves untrmmed the reporters beard and
files away to vent the news II the city. whsrs hs
told thu ArchOns what he had heard The whoIs
city was thrown IN a ferment- The Archons called
an assembly OF the people and produced the luck
less barber who. IN his confusion. could not gfvs
any satisfactory account OF the first reporter. Ha
was condemned as spreader OF false news ard a
oisturoer OF the public quiet for tho Athenfans
could not imagine but that they were invfncihIs.
The barber was dragged to the wheel and tort1,rad
TIL the disaster was more than confirmed. HavIa
reIerrn 70 this story observes that had the barber
reported victory. though It had proved to be faIsa
ne would not have been punished-a shrevrd Oh
servation. which occurred to him from HIS r,coIIsc
ton OF the fate OF Stratocles. This person per
suaded the Athensns to perform a public sacriacs
ana thanksgiving for a victory obtained at sea.
though be well knew at the time that thu A+heof,r
fleet had been totally defeated When tina ca1sr,s+
could no longer be concealed the people charged
MIN with being an impOstOr. but StratocIes saved
his life and modified their anger by ths pIeasans
turn ne gave TO the whole affair "Efave done Won
any INJURY SAID he Is it not owing to me that
you have spent three days in the rIeas-,~sq -
victory Commenting this incident. Disraeu
remarks; I think that this sp-eader OF good but
hcLlIoIs news should have occupied the wheel ~
'He Iuchiess barber. who had spread bad but true
news ior the barber had no Intention of as.eD-
Llon. Dqt Stratocles had and the question here IN
De tre( was not the truth the faIsitv or ne re-
ports, put whether the r-u1rt-rS i~rr-fari .l 5s
ceIve their fellow citizens