Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-08
HOW GERMANY DECE|vEs
OWN PEOPLE AND ENEMIES
Secret Instructions Issued to Ger
man Press by Censorship
Are Found.
TELL \ COMPLETE STORY
Editors Told to Print Statement
That America Calling Million Men
TO Join Allies Is Largely a Bluff
and Nothing to Worry About.
TELL a COMPLETE STORY
IBy Asaoc!uted prcss. !

WASHINGTON. January I.-Ev,dence
OF the care the German government Is
taking TO direct public opinion and to
deceive not only its enemies. but It's
JTn people, IS contained =. d as..c5 e
secret instructions issued TO the Ger
man press by the censorship. which
have fallen into the hands of the State
Department. These Instructions cover
period Of less than three months of
last year. but they tell very COM
p!cte story OF how the Tcutonc war
lords control public opinion.
Owners OF newspapers and publishers
generally not only arc limited as,to the
character OF articles printed. but in
many cases are told what they should
Publish and in what terms Labor dis
turbances, food shortage and difficult
ties in securing and distributing coal
arc placed under the ban, but news
papers are urged TO give prominence
TO enemy losses and TO certain pre-
acr!bed interpretations of international
situations.
y hint Of the "reminiscences OF the
authorities IN furnishing infra ctions of
orders is contained in one notice. in
which attention is called TO the fac;
that the police have again been not;-
fled 10 seek out and to bring TO ruth
less punishment oriGinators and COM
municatora OF untrue military. poli,-
icdl, financial and economic reports"
In another notice similar warning is
given that the police will proceed
encrsetical!y' asains: those who re-
peated untrue reports.
Interesting light is thrown upon the
Eerlin view OF the preparations tor
war in the United States by para
graph OF an order dated June i last.
1t says:
While the news about America s
war preparations, such as the orgauiza-
ton and Quitting of an army | 900, 600
s;ron. TO rc-caforce the French Eng
!!sh front. IS looked upon. in that form.
as bluff" the spreading OF which may
unfavorabiy affect the opinion OF the
German people. yet tic fact must not
be overlooked. on the other hand. that
the United States. with the support OF
its Capacity for material and industrial!
mana cement. is arnins itself for war
with great energy and tcnacity. The
war preparations in America arc there
fore, as WAS insimatcd in the Reich
stag at the time, not al all TO be made
little OF. but must be taken seriously
without on that account being made a
source cf worry"
Another dated June .. says:
Petit Parisien informs us that i've
American divisions. numbering 1900
men, may be expected In France In
the autumn OF 1917. 1t Is urgently re-
quested not TO reproduce thia informa
ton without some comment. We do
not wish to undcrcsi innate the ability
of America TO accomplish things, but
must not, on the other hand. ovcrcsti-
mate it, In order 10 bring a division
over IL ,ni America $1,000 tons must
make the trip twice. Therefore, from
the mere fact of lack OF space the
transportation Of such body OF troops
within certain liked time limits is i'm
possible. Moreover. il is impossible TO
train these troops properly by autnrin.
These facts which have recently hccn
discussed In tho German war news can
not be too strongly emphasized in the
discussion OF tha. French news"
Printing OF anti-ticTmau speeches in
the Austrian Parliament arc forbidden
in various instances. and the attitude
to DC taken by the German press. both
for it, effect at nome and upon Aus
tria Hungary. is indicated in TIC toll
lowing, dated Jurc d:
~ few days ago tie .iustro-iIaE.
Sarian press was left free to discuss
tho var aims. We uarcscrreGiy in
dorse tho war aims eirer ont in the
majority of the o-Hunsaria3
press. or course. the fully warra ntcG
ard rot inconsiderablc war aims which
are needed for the conservation and
development OF the confederate non
archy. as we'll "a for II world peace.
can only be achieved IL Austria. Hun
gary adhercs to her understanding with
til. German empire and it's allies and
with positive reference to hc- military
economy ard political forces announces;
clearly and positively her ilrm viii
Continued on Fourth Pasc.)