The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-11
The American Attitude Toward
Germany.

In a letter from an intelligent CORE
spondent Of German birth or extrac-
ton we find the subjoined complaint
about the news of the war as printed
by the American press in general and
THE Sun in particular. and likewise
about the attitude of American Journals
toward Germany:
rs 1t not bad enough that the yellow
press feeds on sensational stories that it
kno,os to be untrue? And is 1t not de-
plorable that newspapers which had the
reputation Of being more reliable are to-
day in no way more truthful than the yell
low press?
THE way in which so far the American
press has reported on the European crisis
Is nothing short OF a disgrace TO decent
journalism.
This remark does not apply only to the
absolute incOrrectnsss Of most Of the re-
posts published. nut also to the amazing
unfairnc.s and one sidedness in which the
Iuropean situation has been commented
ON have never been subscriber OF THE
years am so angry at the Willingness
Of paper OF the reputation OF THE SUN
TO pub ish lot of untrue and BIASED
stories that ! shall not buy another paper
40 not think that this is a matter for
publication. nor am a crank who wants to
commit a mean act But II is my hrm
conviction that the present policy OF the
American press is unfair. ungentlemaniy.
and not worthy OF highly educated Jour
nAllsts"
With equal candor we reply 20 our
friend that neither Of his implied accu-
sations against THE SUN Is true nor. to
the best OF our knowledge and belief
Is the same thing true OF any reputable
American paper on the hither side Of
the line of yellow.
Let this gentleman rea son a moment
With his own subliminal fair mindedness.
II years Of daily intercourse with THE
Sun gave him confidence In It's honest
desire to print accurate and impartial
reports of whatever was going on in the
world. and led him to believe that THE
Sun would not knowingly print false
report merely because 1t was Of sensa-
tional interest though fiction. what can
be his idea OF the cause that produced a
sudden change in Its principles and
practice when Germany went to war
with France, Russia and England3
What Is his notion Of the motive and
process from which and by which The
Sun all at once entered into conspiracy
which he ella sses as reputable to mis-
represent these mighty contemporaries
Gus events as much as possible to the
disadvantage OF Germany?
THE SUNS main purpose during this
war, as at other times. Is TO be truth
ful and impartial in it's presentation Of
the news. The difficulties Of vertical
ton. owing 10 the nature of the con-
test and the character OF the censor
ship, are uucXampled in journalistic
experience, Neither THE Sun nor any
other newspaper striving to be an hon
cs, reporter is now in n position to
check against accounts coming through
English. French and Belgian channels
the contradictory and perhaps corrective
accounts from German sources. For
this lack The complete embargo on IN
tc,ligenCe established ana maintained
by the German erunjent Is alone
responsible Al! :@at We can do is to
remind our renders, as plainly and as
frequently ms seams necessary, that the
war news is one sided in a certain
sense and that the German side Of many
questions is Yet to be heard; at the
same time reminding the German Gov
Srnment, II our voice is fortunate
encrgn TO reach SO far. TINT never
was It more important for the lasting
interests Of that great nation that the
German side should promptly and fully
BE- heard by such part OF the civilized
world as 10 not now at war.
Our correspondents complaint abou,