New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-24
German Propaganda in Spain
Hon Busy agents of Kulw DO Their Best 10 Arouse Hostility
A gainst America
Bv Mildred StapIey

On the splendid Paseo de Ia Castellana IN
Madrid one sees an army of men and boys
selling Pamphlets devoted to the German
cause. There are eighty thousand or more
Germans in Spain, most Of them working
without respite at connecting the stun, ana
so the output has been enormous. The
Madrid dailies devoted to their interests
"El Debate LA Tribuna," "El Correo de
Espaha," and, under its thin disguise of
impartiality, that most widely circulated OF
all Spanish newspapers, the "a. Is. Call
these are poisonous enough, but those little
six by-cight leaflets distributed during the
fashionable afternoon promenade, or deliv-
cred by post TO those who do not frequent
the Castellana, are even worse. Here IS
sample paragraph from ia Protesta.' IL
was written shortly after the Interventionist
meeting held last May in the huge Madrid
Plaza de Toros.
my conscience" says the writer, "acquits
me of partially. was equally fond Of both
French and Germans, but now that the
French have added to their ranks the Yam
kces--that race full Of odious egotism and
eordid cruelty-I cannot look upon them with
my former sympathy. Spain will not 20 TO
war. Remember the Maine! Let US never
make ali alliance with calumniators. Ger
tainly no Spaniard ever could make pact
with one who has offended his mother. No.
Spain will never join the war on the side
with the Yankees, but, if she should so far
forget her dignity, I, rather than fight beside
them, would offer myself voluntarily to the
! Germans. May all the plaques
| l. Iv..t .I tatA
Of America"
Regulated by the Better Clas.
1t is only fair to say that such uttersnces
are repUdated by all decent Spaniardz. II
ever there lived a nation free from rancor it
! is the Spanish. 1t holds nothing against US
because Of the Cuban trouble. Intelligent
I men know that the last colonies were lost
to Spain through pig-headed raadmnistra-
ton, Just as Morocco will some day be lost
| to them. Furthermore, they admit that. for
the good Of the home country, it was even
a necessary looping off, and many pray for
the day when a similar operation Will rid
them Of mismanaged, expensive, unprodue-
tive Morocco, since pride prevents them from
getting rid Of it in any other way.
! No: the old wound was quite healed, and
Yankees (the term is not used depreciatingly
in Spain, for the Correspondents" recently
! stated that Several ladies Of the highest
Yankee society called upon President Wilson
/ for the purpose etc."), were treated not only
with provcrbial Spanish courtesy, but even
with cordiality. The Germans, however,
thought there was just chance Of recru-
/ descing the old sore, and lost no time, after
we cast our lot against them, in making the
attempt. For months their organs had been
tanning the dying fame. Here is another
specimen, this from "El TEMPO" and only
few weeks in print:
! United States the Shylock Of Nations
will the var end this year? All depends
on whether Germany wishes it to. Germany
being the victor, she may intensity her Of
! fensye action and oblige England to sue for
clemency Once England is conquered, all
the Allies whom she is leading to ruin are
conquered, and German civilization, the civ
| ilization Of perfect order, utility and JUS
tice, will have prevailed.
"Al the Allies want the year 1917 to be
the last of the madness displayed by their
| leaders, the last of their suicidal obstinacy;
an obstnacy which has driven them to in
trust their fate to hybrid nation without
! deals-to those United States which are the
embodiment of the modern Shylock-rather
/ than listen to the Christian words Of the
Kaiser, who offered peace before the year
! 1916 ended.
( "Thesc are the moments when Spain should
] \
, is true, and We ought TO be grateful that the
German government unlike the French has
declared its sympathy for us, but We must
remember that We arc but small and I'M
! important nation, and that the fsyors We
have done Germany are not so many that
she should keep US in mind when facing tn.
! tremendous problems which the hour of
peace will bring her. Therefore all we neu-
trails should emphasize moro than ever our
propaganda. We should insist that our gov.
eminent punish the slightest insult to. or
even attack on, the representatives Of that
nation which is riding the steed of Victory
and will reach the goal this year Of 1917.
Let us not forget that once peace Is
signed European problems will be graver
than ever. Yankees and Japanese will be
after booty; they will want to rob Europe
they will try to found colonies on our con-
| tinent; they are even now looking toward
Spain as the country easiest to conquer, and
the one giving them ports on the Atlantic
and bases the Mediterranean.
"And after they get here 1t will be diff
cult to send them home again. 1t will be
necessary to call upon Germany Cto whom
France and Russia will have to ally them.
selves) to throw back these intruders called
over by the English. II will be necessary
for US all to defend the integrity of the
European continent, and if the invaders
must have something, let them take the
British Isles. If We would keep them from
getting part Of Spain, let US be good COM
rades with the strongest nation in the world
tho ono which. with all her strnnc.th ha !