Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-18
Hun Propaganda In
S,pe3en Complete
and Very Effective

! Correspondence Associated Press
Stockholm, March 29.--German
propaganda in Sweden and other
Scandinavian nations no longer Is
! ill-directed or inefficient, in the opln-
ion of the statesmen of the countries
in which it operates. On the con-
trary. it challenges even unwilling
admiration in Sweden for its com
pleteness and effectiveness.
In the early days of the war the
entente powers and America extract
ed considerable amusement from
German methods of propaganda for
the reason that they seemed to be
based on an almost absolute failure
to understand the psychology OF the
non-Germanic peoples.
Undeterred by earlier failures the
Germans have kept at work here and
have organized a system OF propa-
ganda which is regarded as tireless,
intelligent and, without doubt, eff
fectivc.
The organization centers around
three undertakings, all organized by
Germans, but, in accordance with
Swedish law directed by Swedes.
These are the magazine Jorden
Rundt THE World Around), The
Picture Central" and the Polar
Star Biograph."
All three undertakings are housed
in the same quarters. The exploits of
the German army are graphically i'll
ustrated by word, by picture and
cinema films. Gigantic maps, with
events kept up almost to the hour.
show the progress of the German
armies The newest bulletins are
displayed. Visitors are loaded with
pamphlets and books, some of them
of such character that they form per-
manent additions to reference Ii
brary. Whenever German soldier
does some individual act of kindness
cinema operator is there to record
it and the Swedish patrons Of the
Polar Star have opportunity to ad-
mire it,
Two large printing firms turn out
vast quantities of pamphlets, with
which the Swedes are inundated.
The German legation has trained
journalists on its staff, and Baron
Lucius, the minister, is himself
keen, wide-awake individual, fully
alive to the value of printers ink and
alert to seize every opportunity to
make propaganda or to explain any
thing that needs explanation. AS an
instance of this may be cited the fact
that, some weeks ago, when the
morning papers published Trotzky's
expose of Germany's attitude toward
the Aland Islands, the noon papers of
the same day contained column
| long article by Baron Lucius, full Of
clever casuistry and forming, for the
uncritical reader, a complete answer
to Trotzky.
This is but one of scores of SIM
liar instances. Lucius relations to
the press-and not merely to the pro-
German press-arei most friendly,
and he is always sure of sympathet-
ic hearing. whether the other party
is in agreement with him or not.
To dam this flood of propaganda
the allied powers offer comparatively
little. Since America entered the war
an effort has been made from Wash
ington to secure adequate publication
in Sweden of important speeches by
President Wilson and other leaders,
and reports Of important decisions of
different bodies, progress or recruit
ing, etc. These efforts, and particu-
larry as regards speeches, are fore
doomed to failure by the fact that the
speeches are cabled too late.
President Wilson's speeches have
reached Sweden from two to four
days after summaries of them had
been received here. No Swedish edit
or. after having used 5OO-word
summary will, half a week later, de-
vote much space to the text of the
same speech.