New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15
further Details of Hearst-Hale Pro German
Propaganda

note of December ~, 1917 of the Ger
William Bayard Hale to "Thc New
York American" on January 10, 1917.
German propaganda among the nc
groes, Captain Lester said, was as
thoroughly organized as the rest of the
German machinery. A part of it came
under the literary bureau in New
York, which had a division for Gamer
lean race problems" This body gath
cred NIL possible information regard
ing lynchings, attacks of negroes on
whites, alleged oppression of negroes
against them. This material was
worked into articles which were sent
to both white and negro organizations
But the serious attempt to crete race
war came from Mexico, and was di-
rectcd by Won Eichardt, the German
Minister, to whom the famous thinner
man ontc was addressed. His agents
were chiefly Mexicans and halfbreeds,
who were trained and slipped across
the border. These were under direct
control of Won ReswitZ, former Ger
man Consul General in Chicago, who
for this campaign made Headquarters
in New Orleans.
The German agents used every kind
of artifce that might be expected. They
corrupted negro leaders, when possible,
though they reached none of i'm
portance. They told the negroes that
blacks in Germany had full social
euqality and preached that doctrine
They harped on lynchings and every
real or fancied grievance. This
propaganda was going we'll when it
ran into the increased prosperity of
the negro due to rising wages, and IN
spite of the fact that the agents gave
Germany the credit for this, the propa-
ganda had practically failed by the
end of 1916.
Propaganda in Army
Far more serious was the tamperng
with negro troops after the National
Army began gathering in the canton
ments. To the previous propaganda
were added the statements that the
negro troops were made to do the
heaviest fighting, that if wounded they
we're left on the field to die and that
if Germany won she would set aside
part of conquered America where the
negroes could have a country Of their
own.
This became 80 serious that meet
ing of the leaders Of the negro race
was called in Washington on July
of this year, and a careful counter
propaganda started, the leaders taking
a very active part in this. 1t also re-
suited in the Presidents issuing his
proclamation denounscing mob violence
on July 26. After this, the captain
said, the agitation gradually died
down and has now practically dis
appeared.
Lutheran Pulpits Used
The German propaganda through the
Lutheran clergymen had beer per-
sistent and dangerous, Captain Lester
said, and had continued after war was
declared, causing serious trouble in
some environments. He pointed out
that the relations between these pas
tors and their focks were peculiarly
intimate, and that as result the
propaganda had struck home with
great effect.
There are more than 5000 Lutheran
congregations in America, he said with
some 100000 communicates. Certain
divisions Of the Church still retain the
German tongue in all church affairs,
and this added to the difficulty Of de-
tecting and checking the propaganda.
The government had been assisted by
two or three leading Lutheran pastors.
and active measures had been taken by
the loyal element in these churches tc
check the disease. One chaplain in the
army, convicted of urging disloyalty,
was sentenced to fifteen years, and
other Lutheran propagandists had been
sent to Atlanta.
Few Of these men were paid, the cap
tain explained, being only too glad to
do the work for the good of the
"Vaterland" Places were found where
the word had "goen down the line" to
preach proGerman sermons, and the
orders were followed. There was only
one way in which the German govern
ment had directly helped finance this
propaganda. This came from the send
ing to this country Of Lutheran min
listers from the Kropp Institute, theo-
logical school financed by the German
government.