Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-14
E ss
A man who writes military matter

man who writes military matter
and knows what he is writing about,
took the pains to compile a table of
Austro-German losses, as announced
by the French, English and Russian
press. When his totals had reached
enc and three-quarter millions he de-
cided that the task was not worth
while. That was two weeks ago. The
odd part of it was that he only used
those figures which appeared in official
dispatches and in reprint in the Dutch
papers.
In common with all others the Dutch
press suffers at the hands of the censors.
Due to the commercial relations Holland
maintains in normal times with England
and Germany its newspapers keep large
stats of correspondents in those coun-
tries. To their credit be it said that they
have made every effort to present to the
Dutch public something resembling the
real state of affairs, excluding subjects
in Belgium. But such efforts invariably
come to grief on the shoals of the CEN
sorship which carry neither bouy nor
beacon and which refrain studiously from
letting the correspondent know what can
and what cannot go through.
that statements. true or false. in favor
of the country which the censor serves
will be admitted Directly a Dutch cor
respondent so much as word for the
enemy. and be il no more than potent
fact. into the wastebasket goes his copy.
That the man is telling the truth, and as
far as he knows, nothing but the truth;
truth moreover, which has no military
import, makes no difference. The very
suspicion that the man intends to be hon
est with the public renders him persona
non grata \ Dutch paper which has
/ committed no other sin than merely TAX
/ ing a rational, impartial view of the Off
eia1 dispatches received, had to discover
that it would be just as we'll to recall its
correspondents. But there is a great deal
of backbone in the Dutch press. Thus
one reads: I'VE learn from sources or
I'VE are informed from the English
side" and when the matter printed is
still not sufficiently disinfected by this
introduction, the editor attaches his COM
ment and asks the public Ito accept the
above with caution
Thus the war continues in the Dutch
press But there has been so much pre-
{ lildl even liiS SiOHuS lioiil
of the newspaper bulletin boards express
doubt at what they read. Let us wait
until the other side is heard FROM is the
comment no matter which official press
bureau has spoken.
Meanwhile the bystander has learned
the relative values of official" communi-
cations. The long Russian communiques
which reach this city almost invariably
cause smiles. English reports, which are
equally long, but a little more conserva-
tive are given more attention. The
French are not believed at ALL and when
ever Belgian communication is exhibit
ed everybody remembers instantly the
claim of the Belgian people that they
have been the dupes of their govern
ment's official dispatches. There are
always disgruntled Belgians in the crowd
who make it a point to doubt whatever
comes from Belgium-all the more since
during the last week Brussels has been
evacuated by the Germans twice without
the Belgian government or army taking
possession. Even the official proclama-
ton of General Won der Goltz, dealing
with the German evacuation and calling
upon the people to behave in his absence
has been published here. Today the
German consul general here published
one of his little posters setting forth In
the most beautiful Dutch that Burssels