Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-03-13
EDITORS CAN STOP
ENEMY PROPAGANDA

ENEMY PROPAGANDA
written by an officer OF the Mill
tary Intelligence Service for the com
mittee on Public Information.)
The more gossip factories the enc
my can start in our country the more
gun factories he can close in his own.
One of the deadliest anti-American
weapons is the tongue. A story grows
faster than Jacks beanstalk and the
seed from which 1t starts frequently
occasionally il takes root out of moth
ing.
The American editor who refuses to
give circulation TO unverified and
harmful stories does one service. The
editor who urges his readers to the
same course does two services, Meth
er Of them small.
II has been determined definitely
that the great majority of the stories
spread through the United States
whcih have the effect of depressing
the people are of enemy origin. Ger
mans are chemists enough TO know
that a lie is the best heart depressant,
Their busy falsehoods have circulated
in every one of the allied countries
since the beginning of hostilities.
They have started falsehoods hourly
on their rounds in this country since
the April day when we entered the
war.
An American Failing
Our trouble-in war time it amounts
to a SINS that too often We do not
apply the test to the tales of woe be-
fore passing them on. Generally we
be human nature to do. Most of the
enemy's stories will not stand an in
stants analysis. Their faces refute
them. but the counterfeits are &C
cepted as genuine, they pass as sound
specie and the enemy who coined
them gets return value.
There is a multitude of specific
cases OF false reports of disasters
TO our soldiers and sailors. of scan
dals in the Red Cross. of cruelties in
our camps, of drunkenness and vice in
the ranks of our expeditionary forces
in France, and of other things certain
to disturb American patriots and tc
bring anxiety and grief to American
parents.
1t is possible to take few familiar
instances for illustration. Our frs
troops had been but a little more
than a week on their way to France
before rumor. unquestionably of enc
ports and had drowned 100 men o
one regiment. The audacity of thu
enemy who started the story went Il
the length of naming the regimen
whose men the lie had placed amonl
the lost.
kilograms and letters of appeal 70
information rained in on Washington
from parents and other relatives o
the soldiers of the organization re
ported to be lost. The enemy who haC
sent the lie on its travels was gettinl
part of the results he sought-ht
was depressing the American hear
while hoping that later with furthc
lies he could beat it down.
Don't Pass Liars Wares
When disaster comes to American
forces at seat or in the field the au
thorities give instant information cor
corning 1t. The country will get 1t
first news of trouble and get it NOR
accurately from official sources.
The liar can be put out of bushes
II Americans will refuse to pass o.
his wares.
Recently there have been scores o
stories in circulation of ground glas
said to have been found in food 70
soldiers in our camps. There has
been an investigation in every case
Every such story has been found L
be false. Not pinch of ground glass
has been discovered in any food prod
ucts.
Stories OF this kind have two orr
gins. They come either from enemic
who live with us but are not OF US
or they are the product OF hysteri
bred from malicious propaganda.
h The American editor has a duty Il
cases like these which iB so plain tina
II needs no directing signposts. IL
can tell his readers to be slow to be
lieye any story which on the face Of /
would be of benefit to the enemy I
true. Americans cannot help hearing
hurtful things. but they can help re-
peating them, Generally tho lie car
ries It's earmarks with 1t. Look fo
them.
This ia war time and casualties ar,
certain TO come. A people with il,
heart Up wins wars: n people with s.
heart down loses them. Tho Amcri
can editor can help to keep tho heart
OF tho people up stalwart patriotism
perseyores in the dark hours. The