New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-03-10
How the Kaiser s
Poisoned News
Weakened Russia

ISSUED By the Committee on Public
lAformatlon)
NNE OF THE most potent means
q by which the morals Of the
Russian army and people have
been undermined has been by syste-
matte work in propaganda among Rus
sim prisoners. Like most other Ger
man activities, this has been highly or
ganized, and it shows greater psy-
Geological insight than many of the
German methods This work falls IN
der several heads; it is quite as un-
scrupulous and unrelenting as the
measures by which the Germans
crushed the physical powers of their
prisoners.
There is little illustrated newspaper
in the Russian language. printed by the
Germans, "Russki Vestnik," which is
industriously circulated in all the
prison camps and barracks and was cir
culated in the Russian army. The pris-
oners read it, since they have nothing
else to read, and they fall under its
spell. The selection and arrangement
If illustrations and the tone Of the &C
companying verses and short stories
are calculated to produce feelings OF
gloom, hopeleSSness, homes lckness and
thoughts OF dear ones at home. They
picture the life OF the lowly Russian
people as it is affected by war; it lays
emphasis on the poverty everywhere
the sick, hungry children, the sobhine
mothers, the war crlDples neglected BY
all and begging at the crossroads and
IL the streets. There is never CHEEKY
lac to be found in this German made
Russian literature given to the prison
ers of war. It's tenor is always the
same; German strength and prosperity
Russian weakness in the field and weak
ness at home.
from prisoners" intended for Russian
soldiers at the front, the purpose OF
which was to widen the gap between
the soldiers and the kerensky govern
nent, to estrange the Russ ians from
the Allies, Russia being urged to free
herself from all engagements, to re-
pudiate all financial obligations, and
finally, to induce the Russian army to
shout for peace" These letters aim
to vilify the English and French. in
the endeavor to kill all desire in the
Russians to fight on their side, to call
a halt to the Russian offensive in Ga
llCld, SluCc huSSld uoeS HCl UeeU any
thing from the Central Powers the
letters evidently having been written
at the time OF that offensive-and
finally to draw the Russian and Ger
! man people together.
"Russki Vestnik" and other litera-
ture like it accomplished what the Ger
man armies alone could not accom-
plish They shattered the Russian
front, and they. or other devices like
them, helped weaken the Italians.
The articles and poetry in the Russ
XII Vestrik" are full Of high sound
ing appeals to mans highest instincts
peace, brotherhood and the equality
OF nations. Kerensky is accused OF
miltarism. The Russian people want
peace without victory" An issue OF
this newspaper which has reached gov
ernmcnt officials at Washington typi-
caliy represents the work it does
The address Of "Russki Nestnik' is
not to be found in the usual place, but
at the bottom of the last page appears
this: "Printing House Of Otto Drevitz
Perrin, S. W. 81, observation-disclosures y
which makes the origin of the sheet
reasonably clear