Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-13
Same Methods That Brought
on Collapse in Russia
Adopted by The Propa-
gandists in America.

NOTE: William G. Shepherd, staff
correspondent of the United Press,
who. since 1914. has visited all the bel
ligerent nations and has served on
rl,re war fronts than any other Amer
lean correspondent. returned from
Russia on leave, a month ago. Since
that time he has been travelling and
lecturing in the middle west. The
following article is from q trained OBJ
server who has been stirred by a Sc
orally sensed
BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.
Chicago, Dec. 13.-Bolshevikism is
trying to poison and weaken the mill
tary strength of the United States,
just as 1t did Russia. To an American
conversant with the situation in Rus
STA and familiar with the methods and
tactics Of the Bolsheviki and their
German conspirators, the situation de-
veloping in the middle west, under the
very noses Of the most patriotic ele-
ment among our citizenry. Is an ap-
palling one.
As nation we sre as much q factor
in the war as any one Of the allies
which have already paid their heavy
toll in dead. AS people Americans at
home have not gotten the war spirit.
The issues are little discussed and less
understood. The situation is ideal for
the spread of Bolsheviki propaganda.
ASK "WHEN," NOT How"
Everywhere the question Of the hour
is when will the war end?" Seldom
is 1t how will the war endT For
months the stock question Of the Ger
man propagandists In Russia has been
| when will the war end?" 1t Is the
question, constant reiteration of which
finally undermined the Russian morale
and brought about the collapse.
America is not angry. Germany
knows this, counts on it. 1t Is her
game to avoid arousing this nation
Bernstorff played it well. The propa-
gandists he left behind are playing il
we'll.
| Germany well knows that to sink an
American transport would fill the front
pages of American newspapers and
carry sorrow and anger to every corner
OF the United States. The American
navy's brilliant convoy system is no,
to go under estimated. but the fact re-
mains that no transport filled with
troops has been sunk. The fact has
the same lulling effect that German
inaction had on the Russians
German propaganda cannot be
preached to an angry American pub
| lie. The German game Is to keep tn:
America people trs rquil while the
poison CT German propaganda Is
poured into them by the Gerulans In
the United States. This was the Ger
man n.aneuver in Russia. 1t is ii
German advantage not to provide
ncavy american casualty lists. jus, 81
long as German peace propaganda car
be carried on in American cities. Wher
the propaganda campaign fails, Amer
lea will learn the meaning of fright
fulness."
To one who has been in Europe ir
war time. who has seen the life ant
death struggle there and the despera'
ton of the citizens In their willingness
to sacrifice everything to stamp GU
Germany's military menace, tn
apathy and the unthinking selfishnes'
of unaroused, unangered Americans II
something of shock. In that 1t cal
mean nothing other than an indefin
ite dragging out Of the conflict. Amer
lean action, spurred by anger AM
alarm, can alone bring O satisfactor.
answer to the question on when an
HOW will the war end?"