Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-02-02
nEsPoNsIBLIrY or THE PRESS.
by Frank Rooster, Consulting En-
gineer, in Tho Fatherland.
The influence Of the Headline Artist

This is accomplished by means or
headlines of q sensational and mis-
leading character, by the use o.
different sizes Of type, and in tho
relative prominence and location on
the pages of the paper of the var
ioua items.
The manipulation Of these de-
vices. though uncomfortable enough
before the war, has become SO flag
rant since that even the editors
themselves appear to sicken of it,
| The public nevertheless, having its
avenues to the truth largely closed
cherished its views founded on false
hood and lives in its little news
paperly created FOOLS paradise OF
misinformation.
A few examples Of the news"
and lack Of news that is being given
to tho public of this country through
tho press which regards its own
freedom with such. awe, will serve
to demonstrate how little respect the
press has for truth and how ready IL
is to deceive it's own readers. The
publishing Of misinfOrmation does
not stop at news alone, but also in
cludes publication Of fake photo
| graphs as will be noted.
Iurid Misrepresentation Of sem
sational character makes particular
~ welcome matter to certain news
Dapors. An example OF this was seen
in "The Kissing of the Sword"
Under this headline it was stated
that high-voiced women Of title
were chattering over their tea cups
in the smartest hotel in Munich
when into their midst staggered
the Crown Prince Rupprecht OF
Bavaria, with his sabre newly
sharpened and his abdomen girt for
war; His wife is represented as
running to him, kissing his sabre
and shouting, Bring it back to me
covered with blood-that / may kiss
Il again" And other high-voiced
women flocked TO kiss the sword.
This dime novelism only needs to
be mentioned to have it's absurdity
made evident. The idea Of crown
princess Of Bavaria meeting her bus
band in o hotel is ridiculous to be-
gin with For her to kiss his sword
In public is Q performance impos-
sible outside Of moving picture
and the news" columns Of the
press, and by its obvious improbable
ity the story confounds itself.
Yet tho public in its haste does
not stop to criticise such matter.
Doubtless millions OF Americans
still allow themselves to believe THAI
this luridly described affair really
took place
An Example Of American Journalism
It's absolute falsity is domonstra-
ted when the fact is recalled that
the wife Of Crown Prince RuD-
precht died in October, 1912. Vance
| Thompson was the "noted writer"
from whose fertile brain this afro
city OF news" ominated. How
much credence is TO be placed in
his work after such a performance?
No doubt, however, he will continue
to favor the public with surdry sem
sational fabrications as long as the
present editorial policy of the papers
publishing his material continues.
This writer, in order to show that
Germany hau been preparing for
the war for q long time, asserted
that tho Alsatian conscripts had
been retained when their term of
service expired in May. The truth
Is that no German soldier is ever
| discharged until late in the fall
after camp service and maneuvers
have given his military education
tho final polish.
Lies OF this kind, whether deliber-
ate or based upon complete ignor-
ance OF conditions, prepare the mind
| Of the public for the more sinister
suggestions of another class Of
| writer's who deliberately attempt to
create bad feeling and to provoke
hostile activities between friendly
nations. For example, the following
appeared in an evening paper not
long since:
"The American relations of Count
yon Bernstorff arc watched with
the closest attention. 1t is be-
lieved that the Germans viii seek
an excuse for friction on the
slightest provocation.
A largo headline said: Declare
Germany is ready to quarrel with
tho United States"
Upon what authority did the editor
act ~ circulating such on obviously
trouble breeding assertion? OBJ
viously none, when the circum-
stances are considered. Yet the
reader does not stop to question the
truth or falsity of the statement. 1t
is assimilated without scrutiny and
helps further to form public
opinion"
How Real News Is Suppressed.
Perhaps tho most glaring sup
preston of information ever prac-
ticed by American newspapers was
in the case Of the battle between the
Germans and Russians near Tan
nonberg-Ortelsburg - Gilgenberg.
Only an inl1ling of the extend of this
conflict reached the public. Through
German sources finally the news
percolatod that $4,000 prisoners had
been taken. Finally, it became
known that tho dead alone totaled
100000 At lenght one New York
newspaper prinetd an account Of an
eye witness Of the battle:
The Russian position was prac-
tically this. On the outside the
land sloped up toward the surround