New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-30
News for Germans


Censorship must have been tightcned to
an extraordinary degree in Germany, see
ing the newspapers themselves aye pro-
testing. in so far as they dare to protest,
against the new restrictions placed upon
them. It is little hard for US TO conceive
of a press more thoroughly muzzled than
Germany's was already, but possibly the
dissatisfaction to which the editors have
lately had the temerity to give utterance
may be accounted for by the present short
age of paper That, however, is only
partial explanation, since it is shrewdly
suspected that the shortage itself was es-
tablished by official order as a convenient
means of curtailing inconvenent news and
comment.
The conclusion drawn by one outspoken
journal is that the governments benevo-
lent purpose is to create standardized
newspaper made up entirely of unadorned
dispatches and articles furnished by the
official press bureau. This would he easy
enough if all the papers were once cut
DOWN 10 n SulLdDlt SIG, LOA VI NNN''N'
there would be no difficulty in compelling
the editors to use every scrap of matter
supplied by the governments news writer's
The "Deutsche Vokszeitung" seems to
think that the ideal has been pretty nearly
attained already. "The papers are all
alike it grumbles; Eve are to believe only
what is set before us, and what those
above us do not want is not printed"
It is well known that the control of the
press has been tolerably thorough for
long time. The editors of Berlin, accord
ing to common report, have been accus-
toned to meet once a week and attend
sort Of class conducted by an officer of the
General Staff. 1t was he who told them
what they were to talk about and think
about in the next seven days, and what
policy they must adopt toward the public
and international questions current at the
time. In this way that wonderful, Ger
man unanimity which has long been the
admiration of all the world was readily
assured; and so it happened that even IL
such trifing details as the sudden transit
ton from ruthless" to Unlimited sub
marine warfare the pre- f the whole
country moved with one accord.
But the German public has not yet been
drugged to sleep. While our Vierecks and
Riders continue to indulge in rhapscdies
over the veracity of what they call "neu-
tral" news-that is, news scattered abroad
among neutrals from the German govern
ment's wireless stations-tse Germans at
home seem to be growing little tired OF
the cooked and carefully prepared intelI-
gence granted to them.
An Australian who lived long in Ger
many and was for some years lecturer
# the University of Berlin was released
lately and has been publishing his impress
sions of the capital as it is today in The
Times" of London. One of the changes
that struck him most was the loss Of pop
ular confidence in the printed word. "Es
list ia in der Zeitung," used to be usual
way Of disposing of skepticism, but the
Zeitungen no longer have their old power
over the mind of the rabble, and Isle lugen
ia alle!" is the universal verdict to-day.
1t is hardly necessary to assume, as
some lookers-on in Holland do, that the
tightening of the official screws indicates
startling developments" in Germany. The
official Interpretation of the news concern
ing the war loan in this country, the COM
plete suppression of the British Admi-
ralty's announcement of the defeat of the
raiders from Dunkirk and the official dis
tortion of much other uncomfortable news
NAV be attributed simply to the generous
desire of benevolent government TO keep
the people in a good humor. Should the
prospect be very bad complete stan'ardiza-
ton Of the press may eventually be accom-
plished. But, as it is, the government
seems to have done fairly well.