Evening journal., 1914-11-17
today 5 MOVES
IN THE WAR ZONE.
. WHAT THEY MEAN
BY ]. w. 7. MASON
Former European Manager Of The United
Press.

Former European Manager Of The Unite,
Press
NEW YORK, Nov lT.--Further prais
Of the valor and bravery Of the Germu
troops has become regular fea
ture of the German govern
ment's officials reports Of tn,
fighting in France and Belgium. Whil,
their papers are vainly pleading for per-
mission to send correspondents to the
front to report the unchronicled heroism
Of the British soldiers, the Kitchener
government is issuing statement after
statement idealizirg the courage and
discipline Such conspicuous and in
sistent praise Of the enemy is very un-
usual in warfare. 1t is curiously sup
plemented by a censorship policy which
is still Keeping from the British nation
the disaster to the Audacious. Praise Of
German skill on the seas IS not appar-
emily, acceptable TO the British Govern
ment, while praise OF the German army
is much desired. Undoubtedly this is
due to carefully planned military rea-
sons. There is no need to encourage re-
cruiting for the navy, nor to prevent
suTenders by warships, nor to inspire
volunteer seamen with desperate cour-
age. Apparently, however, Lord kitch-
ener, who now is practically the dicta-
tor of Great Britain, thinks the allies
land forces need TO be taught lessons
An additional reason for praising the
Germans may be a desire to offset the
bitterly anti-German tone of part Of the
British press Lord Kitchener may think
that the irrecoucilable attitude Of cer-
tain influential English newspapers is
driving Germany 10 a condition Of des-
peration and despair that can only re-
suit in useless prolongation Of the war.
Still another reason may be the old de-
vice Of explaining an inability. TO make
progress BY referring to the fanatical
disregard for life Of the enemy.
Primarily, however, there can be
little doubt but that Lord Kitchener
wants the Germans extolled in order
TO spur the new recruits among the
allies to deeds of emulation and to
fire young Englishmen with the vol
unteering spirit 1t is a fact freely
admitted by the English papers, that
there has been a disappointing re-
sponse to Lord Kitchener's call for
volunteers while the necessity for
is now being discussed.
The principal reason for Kitchener's
failure as a recruiting officer. Is at
tributed in England to the Kitchener
censorship which allows nothing to
pass likely to fire the martial ardor
OF EngIishmen.
seems to have admitted that aids TO
recruiting. from the front, are neces-
sary; only instead of agreeing that
these aids should be descriptions Of
British heroism, he has reached the
opposite conclusion that stories Of
German valor can best serve his pur-
pose. AT the same time. it is prob
able Lord Kitchener hopes references
to the splendid discipline and cour-
age Of the Germans will have an ef-
feet of reducing the apparent dispar-
ity in the numbers Of prisoners taken
by the Germans and by the allies.
This effort Of Lord Kitchener to
make practical nse of the enemys
bravery is unique in modern war
annals, though it is a device not un-
known to ancient militarists.
Never, however, has it been used
on so pretentious a scale. How far
Lord Kitchener's psychological in
stinct win prove correct is a prob
lem that must have an important eff
feet on future military operations
The highest strategy of warfare has
always been psychological, but usu-
ally this has consisted of outguess-
ing the opposing generals, not setting
up the enemy as an ideal for your
own men.