davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

limits within which q given opinion tends
10 remain localized IN time OF peace
"Non-rational opinion under normal
conditions is. as rule, limited in its
extent By z very strict kind Of segreea-
ton; the successful rumors OF the early
periods of the war invaded all classes and
showed a capacity to overcome prejudice,
education or skepticism. The observer,
clearly conscious as he might be OF the
mechanisms at work, found himself ire
sistibly drawn to the acceptance Of the
more popular beliefs; and, even the most
convinced believer in the normal preva-
lence of non-rational belief could scarcely
have exaggerated the actual state OF al
fairs. Closely allied with this accessible
ity 70 rumor was the readiness with which
suspicious Of treachery and active hostil-
i.y grew and fourished about any one of
even foreign appearance or origin"
America, entering so much later than
the other great powers engaged, has
been experiencing, during the past
months, many Of the sensations and re-
actions encountered by the other par
Elephants back in 1914. The article on
this page illustrates the operation Of
what Mr.. Trotter has called "the vi
tality of rumor." Naturally rumor
serves the constructive purpose of keep
ing people alert, however much 1t may
lead them into gross exaggerations and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

- Asst Sunday The Review printed a
list Of alleged pro-German activi-
ties since the beginning of the war,
.orether with an article on the most re-
cent developments Of that kind. The
average newspaper reader has no concep-
zion Of The vast mass Of newspaper clip
,ipgs gone through in the process of writ
Ing that article.
From all parts Of the country the press
Is daily reporting what are supposed to
he cases where spies and plotters are at
work. They are destroying or trying to
destroy property both private and public.
They foment opposition TO the war, en-
courage the meetings and Vaccinations Of
the pacifsts, spread rumors to prevent
Young men from enlisting, malevolently
circulate reports designed 20 Illustrate
mans for food conservation, disturb the
harmonious relations between clergymen
and their congregations, afflict animals
with fatal diseases, scatter poisoned med
;eines broadcast throughout the country
sell pins that some woman suspects to
have poisoned points-and the list could
he prolonged indefinitely with similar il
lustratlons.
Now, it is not to be doubted for one
moment that there is basis of fact for
MANY of the stories referred to. Enough
evidence has been brought before the
courts during the past two years to prove
beyond all cavil that German agents have
been at work in doing the most dastardly
deeds. and that fact alone warrants the
conjecture that they are still active, even
where the evidence may not be Of char
acter to convince q conscientious jury
Numerous recent fires, as was pointed out
il last weeks articles, seemed 10 justify
the strongest suspicious that they were of
incendiary origin. If such cases occurred
frequently enough to warrant the conclu-
sion-as they apparently dO-that syste-
matte sabotage is going on, then the
further conclusion that German agents are
operating here seems unavoidable. That
much can be asserted as 2 natural and
justiiable inference from the known facts.
In some Of the cases considered for this
article. too, it is evident on the surface
that criminals were at work, whatever
doubts NAV arise as to their connection
with a German propaganda. The dis
patch from Cheyenne, Wyo., reporting
the discovery in the express Office there
Of seventeen sticks Of dynamite, with pre-
pared fuse, certainly points to a pro
jected crime, and the inference that it
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Is NowSpanned
by Rail
T-NE world has been notably contract
ed by the completion of the great

MIL WOTlO mas DeeH hOCdOIy SoIII @N'-
ed by the completion of the great
u Transcontinental Railway of Aus
tralia, across the thousand miles of which,
from Kalgoorlie 10 Port Augusta, the first
passenger train was recently launched.
"The Manchester Guardian muses. on the
advantages this affords:
"The traveller from Europe touches Aus
trrlia first al Fremantle, on the Atlantic
Coast II his destination is Adelaide, Mel
bourne, Sydney or Brisbane he has had till
now to face further monotonous sea voyage
of week or more through the often stormy
water, of the Great Australian Blight. The
new line links the 3.000-mile western rail-
way system with the 15,000mile eastern
system, which starts at Port Augusta, in the
southeast of the continent, and continues
through the populous regions Of the PACING
Coast Il enables the traveller to the east
err shores of Australia TO complete his jour
new il two days of comfortable railway
travel.
"The line has the longest perfectly
straight stretch OF any in the word-33O
miles across the dead level, treeless plain
that lies inland from the Blight. The region
through which it runs offered no surface
water for the laborers engaged, and except
for the encampments OF nomadic blacks, no
human settlements from which supplies Of
any sort could be drawn.
'Yet the army of workmen was constantly
revictualled with fresh food from the base,
and pushed its way steadily across the
plain. taking its recreation huts, read
inc rooms and churches with it, and pre-
coded by a gigantic track layer. which
disgorged sleepers and rails with unfailing
precision at a speed limited only by the
transport facilities in its rear.
The line has been built directly by the Com
monwealth government with Australian LABOR
and Australian funds.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Who Will Rule in Palestine?'

ment Of the rudimonts OF astronomy, the posi-
tive genius Of the race for mathematics and
its achievements in art and literature-these
things mark the Arab as a superior type,
although he has not had the privilege Of
giving his greatest service to the world.
an the belief not only of European leaders.
but Of Jews in many lands and Of the ablest
men among the Arabs, the time is at hand
when all these conditions are TO be changed
It is becoming more and more apparent that
one Of the things on which British statesmen
will insist, when peace comes to be drafted
will be British suzera!nty over this new Jew
:sh-Arabic area.
There is no equ,vocation in the pro-
nouncements Of English publicists on this
point They have been rather startlingly
outspoken in some details. It is absolutely
necessary, they insist, for the future security
of the empire that a state should be estsb-
lished in this great region on which Great
Britain may rely for cooperation and friend
ship in protecting Suez and the route TO the
Far East. There must be guarantee against
the extension Of German military power
along the route from Berlin to Bagdad.
egypt. since the war began, has been
formally taken over as British dominion.
India, Alden. Suez, Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar,
all point, as Englishmen see II, to the neces-
sity that this corner Of Asia shall be held
firmly under British control.
while British imperial purposes and the
general desire OF the Jewish people coincide
in this programme, there is no thought OF
attempting to herd all the worlds Hebrews
hack into Palestine That would be an utter
impossibility, for many reasons which are
too clear to need explanation; but there are
ALREADY about 100000 Jews there, and the
basis Of Jewish community Is well estab-
lished
at is not designed to make special efforts
20 induce American and English Jews TO
move back to Palestine; but 1t is proposed
as thoroughly practicable TO redirect the
streams OF Jewish migration from Russia and
Poland"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
The ZiOnists Are Rejoicing

der necessary supervision and restrictions.
The general point Of view is expressed by
the Dutch Minister Of Finance, Mr. Treus
who is quoted as saying:
az an International solution Of the Jewish
question proves possible, and the formation
Of Jewish state is one Of the consequences
Of the universal war, personally should be
pleased. One Of the first requirements
would naturally be that the sacred places OF
Christianity should come under the controi Of
Christian authorities or be internationalized.
But / do not think difficulties will rise on
that head. Every friend Of humanity must
desire the rebuilding Of the Jewish nation
in q Zionist sense. Every endeavor will
therefore have 70 be made in the direction
Of manipulating the Jewish people TO it's
old place OF residence in order TO solve a
question that is so painful for the Jews and
for the world" ia
The prospect Of new Jewish nation is
naturally displeasing TO the German pow,
ers. Aside from its military Importance
British success in Palestine and Mesopo-
tania Of course destroys the Berlin TO
Bagdad plan Of n-Germany-the Vienna
"Reichspost' warned the Jews that their
possession Of the "holest place in Chris /.
tianity" would "revive Christian resent
ment against them In the event Of COM
plete Allied victory this view is negligible.
There remains as the great obstacle the
fact that the Jew prefers, very generally,
to stay where he is. v.,~
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

TIME success Of the British army in
\ Palestine has been hailed with ex-
uberant JOY by "Zionists' among
the Jews throughout the world who see in
it the realization at last of their long
dream of a restored Jewish nation, an
exiled people returned to their own land.
over which they are to rule in safety and
independence, according to their own rites
and laws. The developing recovery Of the
Holy Land also appealed, hardly less vivid
", to the imagination of the Christian ma
tions as the end, after a thousand years
strife, of the Crusaders attained at last.
The Pope is reported to have celebrated a
special thanksgiving. The press Of Allied
Europe and America is aglow with rhetoric
Of congratulation. To the Christian peo-
pies it is a matter chiefly of sentiment, but
TO the 2ionists it takes concrete form.
Mr.. Samuel Captain outlined the point Of
view Of the Zonists in an eloquent article
published by 1.-The Brooklyn Eagle re-
viewing the Zionist movement of the last
hundred years-its definite naturalization
in the United States, France, Germany,
England and Russia, eliminating in the
success of DR.. Theodore Herds Jewish
colonization movement some twenty years
ago, as a result of which considerable
bodies of Jews were returned to Palestine
and had made some progress there up TO
the beginning of the war. Even after the
outbreak of actual hostilities, owing to the
efforts Of Mr.. Justice Brandeis, actual dis
aster was held off and the work kept alive
Now, Mr. Captain, relying upon the an
nouncement that the British government
would favor the establishment in BALES
tine of a national home for the Jewish
people," sees the Zionist goal fully attained.
The Jewish people," said he, have been
fully prepared for the moment when they
should be permitted to return to their ma
tlonal life in Palestine. Very little, in
fact no opposition exists now toward the
Zionist movement. This latest manifesto
ton of friendship on the part of the Allies
toward the Jewish national hopes will
surely bring all the Jews within the folds
of the Zionist movement"
That seems practically to be the attitude
of Zionists everywhere, though the more
among them doubtless realize
very clearly the remaining difficulties.
These are two: First, it is undoubtedly
true that the vast majority of Jews
in countries where they are not
persecuted-have not the least desire TO
return to Palestine. They are quite COM
Portable where they are. Moreover, tie
more eminent and successful Jews have
generally favored the assimilation of their
people with those Of the nation where they
live. Such was the position of the late
Lord Rothschid, who is alleged TO have
said that if Zion were ever restored he
would insist upon permanent appoint
ment as ambassador to the Court of st.
James's. Nor has the pushcart pedler
of New York's East Side any greater wish
10 return to Palestine than the London
banker had, Further, as Mr.. F. Cunliffe-
Owen pointed out in "The New York Sum-"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

constant menace TO the Sue Canal and to
the route between Europe and India.
There is no hope that under Turkish rule
the great region between the Persian Gulf
pose their faith upon their immediate neigh.
bors.
Then. again, the Arabs, always more or
less rebellous against Turkish rule, have
now. in a great part Of their territory
broken away from it entirely; and their
future is certain to be profoundly affected
BIZ the solution of the Palestine problem
The Jews and the Arabs are the children Of
Abraham; they are kindred branches Of the
Semitic race. Their languages are as much
alike as any two Romance languages. An
autonomous government in Palestine, AMI
mated by Occidental ideals and at the same
time inspired by the Jewish capacity for
understanding and dealing with the Arabs,
might be the beginning Of modernized
Arabic state which would make this fine old
race an asset TO the world.
"Arabia's contributions to the worlds cult
ure. represented by the invention Of the
Arabic system Of notation and Enumeration
the development of the alphabet the develop
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

it is generally feared by the European
governments that "the class Of Jews whs
could be induced to take up their residence
in Palestine would not be those who would
contribute TO the establishment and devel-
opment of any self-supporting, self-ruling
commonwealth"
The second obstacle to the full realiza-
ton of the dream Of the Zionists is that
the British promise does not at all imply
the creation Of an Independent nation.
The Allied powers see in that suggestion
me source of further trouble and perhaps
more wars. As Mr. Cunliffe-Owen ex-
planned: palestine is likely TO remain
under British control and TO be held by
England, in connection with Mesopotamia
and the protectorate Of the new kingdom
of Arabia" Mr.. Balfour's announcement
warned that it must be clearly under
stood that nothing will be done to prejudice
the civil or religious rights Of existing
non-J ewish communities"
This, as Mr. Cunliffe- Owen said, means
that "the Jews, instead Of being permit
ted to rule in the Holy Land or to exer-
else sovereign sway there. will only be
accorded the same rights and privileges
as other non-Jewish races and communi-
ties"
1t is clear, however, that most nations
would sanction the return of the Jews, I'M
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
A German View of English
Sea Freedom

supremacy, and also, when engaged in LIES
and-death struggle, il would never be able =.
renounce their employment 10 obtain VIC
tory Because all this is obyious-although
German brains are often incapable Of sppre-
hendng it--therefore, there can be no ar
rangemeDt with England on this question. UNI
less Germany renounces the true freedom OF
he sgas, or England the supremacy Of the
seas For the true freedom Of the seas is the
freedom which England must also recognize
in war time; not the freedom which England
promises in time OF peace, or peace treaties, to
recognize also in time OF war.
THE vital necessities Of existence Of great
nations ruthlessly ignore treaties. The true
freedom Of the sea in war is that freedom
which is 50 strongly protected by might that
the English navy may not dare 10 infringe
upon it. II Germany renOunees her right u
this freedom, then the more populous the
German Empire and Austria-Hungsry be-
come. the promise of success for England's
encircling policy after the war will be-
come greater than before it. For then she.
could assure, with good right, all our old an !
tagorists that blockade which had nearly
succeeded in starving out nation Of $1,000.
600 would find little difficulty in starving out
a land with 100000 or more inhsbitants'"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

that have nothing sinister behind them.
Thus there came q fortnight ago a dis
patch reporting the wholesale summoning
of citizens of Barbour County, w. Va,
before a Federal grand jury because the
county had made an unusually poor show
ing with the Liberty Loan, because the
Belington Bank had not been able TO sell
its quota of bonds, and because the Bel
ington newspaper had reproduced a
certain speech of ex-Attorney General
Wickersham. 1t is not clear to the cut
slider why these things belong before the
Federal grand jury, but sort Of explana-
ton seems suggested in the further re-
mark that secret service men are work
ing in connection with these matters"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

out" through so tiny a hole as that made
by needle removed by this verdict OF
the officers.
At any rate, one can be thankful that
at least in two instances the falsehood OF
industriously and persistently circulated
rumors has been established and pro-
claimed by competent authority. Inasmuch
as this has been done so conclusiveiy in
two cases, where the rumors could be To-
Called about such fixed and organized
centres as military camps, it follows that
a very large proportion of the vague re-
ports floating loosely about the country,
often without a local habitation or a
name" are also the pure product of fancy.
But # is not in all cases that the au-
thorities do their part toward frowning
down these baseless stories. Some Of the
matter emanating from official quarters at
Washington. il must be admitted, tends
directly toward the breeding Of new rumors
about the sinister activities of enemy
agents. Thus there was a rumor, per-
sistently circulated, about some disaster
20 American troops abroad, and according
to one Washington dispatch the officials
there attributed it to propaganda cal
culated to dampen the war spirit and
spread distress and dissatisfaction among
those at home"
Take another case. Last week man
named Muir, at Baltimore, received from
some unknown person telephone mes
sage that his son had been lost at sea on
the freighter Kansas City, and the Bu-
reau Of Public Information at Washing
ton forthwith attributed the message to
German propaganda which was seek
ing TO spread news which will terrorize the
families of American soldiers and sailors"
Now it is not impossible that these Of
fetal guesses may be true, but the fact
remains that they are only guesses. and
merely to put them forth in this way,
with the stamp of official authority, must
necessarily tend toward breeding a new
generation of rumOrs.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
The Insidious Work of German
Il Agents in This Connection

Writers and speakers do their part to
assist in the process of myth-making. In
a public speech at indianapolis the other
day Charles Edward Russell said he often
sees the influence of the German press
agent in American newspapers in the
shape Of the vicious, subtle insinuation
that peace is near, that Germany has col
lapsed" Several weeks ago G. r. Brown
had an article in The Washington Post,
apparently reproducing views that prevail
in official quarters there, in which ne said
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
TERR BACMEISTER, well-known
National Liberal member of the
- Cnrrnnn Pnichctan hos inst heen

NatlonaI LlDeral MEMBER Oh the
German Reichstag, has just been
discussing the freedom Of the seas and
England's sea policy during the present
war in terms that are in striking con-
trast to most German utterances on those
matters. He writes as follows:
IF it were really possible for Germany to
renounce Belgium, that would involve the
remuneration of the coast Of Flanders and
Herewith the true freedom OF the seas. This
freedom cannot be built upon a foundation
Of treaties, but only on might, which England
would be compelled TO fear Indeed, what did
Seton Watson say: Military supremacy can
be shared between several states the SUI
premacy of the sea is an indivisIble unity
That is 10 say. there is only one freedom OF
the seas; that form based upon English naval
supremacy, which is very old English prin-
ciple. In Germany We have been astounded
at. and deplored, how England in the present
war has acted contrary 70 all maritime law.
AZ II she could have done otherwise! As ii
she had not declared long ago that in any
life-and-death struggle with first class
power she would create her'own system OF
naval law-the naval law Of British sea
power, As if great people could be asked
TO lose war, TO sacrifice its existence for
the benefit Of international law The British
Empire, with its larger portions separated by
oceans. and with its world network Of COM
merce entirely dependent upon the seas, will
never voluntarily renounce its supremacy of
the seas-for the simple reason that such a
course would be suicide.
Furthermore, il would never renounce
such naval forces as would guarantee naval
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

IN HIS valuable book on Instincts
of the Herd in Peace and War
w. Trotter comments, in a way
peculiarly inviting quotation here, upon
the strange potency Of rumor in war
time. When this war first broke upon
the world, Mr.. Trotter notes, the feel
ing of the ordinary citizen was a feel
ing Of fear-"an immense, vague, ach
ing anxiety" which, in course Of ad-
iustment to new conditions would 90
calize itself in channels customary to
the individual and leading to fears for
his future, his food supply, his family,
his trade, and so forth" Then came an
increasing intolerance of isolation. Men
drew together. Herd instincts operated
more powerfully. Rumors began their
sway.
Mr.. Trotter writes:
Perhaps the most striking Of all these
early phenomena was the strength and Vi
tality OF rumor, probably because it az
forded by far the most startling evidence
that some other and stronger force than
reason was at work in the formation OF
opinion. It was, of course, in no sense
an unusual fact that non-rational opinion
should be so widespread; the new feature
was that such opinion should be able 10
spread so rapidly and become established
so firmly, altogether regardless Of the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
n 7 ow for the Cases Which Reflect
L y Merely Hysteria

But what is to be thought of a case like
this? Recently a dispatch from Portland,
Ore, reported that "a supposed German
pedler" was selling what are believed to
be poisoned pointed safety pins" And the
evidence? The pins nave a dark-colored
substance near the points," and they were
brought to the authorities for examination
by woman who said that she had bought
them from a "pedler with a German ac-
cent"
Or take the case reported November l
from Wilmington, Del, where the au-
thorities were looking for the German
agents who spread the rumOr that the
government was going TO seize all bed
sheets for making bandages, and the ques-
ton arises, Does the fact reported justify
the assumption that there was here any
consciously planned activity at all? That
question also seems warranted in connec-
ton with a case reported from indianapolis.
There the State Council Of Defence was
worrying itself with discussion of san
apparently systematic campaign Of Ger
man agents to hinder the food conserva-
ton by the circulation of harmful re-
ports" The material before it included
report that the government was about
to fix the price of hogs at ten cents a
pound. "The German agents" it is added,
apparently hoped to brighten the farmers
into selling their brood sows, and make it
impossible to raise more hogs for the food
supply"
And what is to be said about the sailor
who got into fight one night at Phila-
delphia and three of his fingers were
whacked off-"by German spy" as the
sailor himself gives assurance?
The suspicion is in some cases aroused
as to whether the activity of certain
agents Of the Department of Justice does
not result in giving an exaggerated and
wrong coloring to events and developments