Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-02-14

i 1OAlCCL--l ldSulCH ~ LuG OUltGu
States by the same British agen-
cles. IT they had succeeded,
these British agents would have
saddled Germany with the re-
sponsibiity and fault in the
eyes OF every candid, but misled,
observer However, during two
years and half we have been
practically cut off from reliable
and speedy communication with
the United States. During that
time we have learned to appre-
ciate British reports ait their
true value We therefore sus-
pended judgment and awaited
the real reports, which now, af-
ter all have arrived"
All that DR.. Zimmerman says is
So And had it not been for the
wireless ss-inadequate and unsatis-
factory as that single service is--
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN WAR
| BETWEEN US AND GERMANY AT
THIS VERY MOMENT. Now, we
CERTAINLY KNOW that the British
censorship and official press bureaus
have STEADILY garbled, forged and
falsified the European news sent to
America and the American news sent
to Europe, EVER SINCE THE WAR
BEGAN, for the sole purpose Of ex-
citing hatred and detestation of Ger
many in America and anger against
America in Germany, and so leading
the two nations steadily toward war,
for llngland'5 benefit. Every kind OF
news has thus been falsifed-mili-
tary, political and civilian news.
Hired writer's have devoted them
selves to inventing tales Of atrocities,
to picturing German soldiers as
brutes and German officers as un-
speakable beasts. No lie has been
too gross to palm Off on Americans,
and apparently no lie has been too
palpably false to be believed by a
certain class Of Americans The mill
itary news has been distorted, falsi-
fed, garbled and forged, until it is
an actual fact that a majority OF
Americans really believe the allies
have a discouraged and beaten Ger
many almost upon it's knees, when
the truth is, as you will all yet dis
cover, that the allies are beaten and
that their Governments know 1t. But
worst Of all has been the steady
stream Of falsiGed, garbled and
forged news by which American
public opinion has been persuaded
that Germany aims TO conquer and
onslave the world while heroic Eng
land Is unselhshly battling to main
tain human freedom and pure dom-
ocracy. BY steadily repeating that
ridiculous statement, and by cutting
of Germany from free opportunity
to present her own statements, the
British censorship has actually per-
suaded thousands Of Americans to
believe this Drcposterous stuff and,
of course, to feel that America ought
to Join England in her holy war. or
course there are plenty OF Americans
who see through the tricks Of the
British censorship. For example,
Representative J Hampton Moore,
on Friday last, told the House OF
Representatives some unwholesome
truths in this connection Speaking
Of the reports coming from London
about German submarine activities,
he said:
II cannot forget, coming from
the Liberty Bell and Independ-
oncc Hall district OF the United
States, that we had trouble with
London in 1776 and in 1912. I
am not quite ready to believe
every lying report that comes
out Of London now as ain induce
ment for me to declare my coun-
try in state Of war"
Discussing the Gerard matter tho
Congressman said:
"How easy it is for you to
rush into war upon the say-so
OF somebody who is interested
in having war. Somebody
wanted 10 infame tho American
people by declaring Ambassador
Gerard had been held in cap
tivity Whether by design or
not do do not know, but it
would seem most OF these re-
ports came from London, as IL
there was an intense interest
there to find some American had
been killed or sono American
ship had boon shot up"
AS we have told you, recent devel-
opmonts show that this statement
vas exactly true.
Representative Moore concluded
by saying
II hope to see the President
sustained in all proper efforts
to maintain the honor and dig
nifty Of this country. We are
considering now one of the great
war bills, and most Of us will
vote for it, even to the limit Of
those things asked for to sustain
the President While doing that
and considering other war bills
1t seems TO me we might say to
ourselves whether ii is carried
over the telegraph lines to the
people of the country or not
that there are many disturbing
rumors concerning war condi-
tions which are asserted to-day y
and denied tomorrow ! am
satisfied that most of the people
Of the country want peace
peace with honor, Of course
But they do not want to 60 into
q dishonorable war, and they
ought not to bo forced into a
war by the munitions makers Of
this or any other land"
Which, in our opinion, Is good
sense and true patriotism.
And now another thing. During
all this food Of falsehood and for