New-York tribune., 1918-04-22
The Enemy Tongue
(by Loyal American of German Ma
til,itN

tlvity)
IN HE method and not the purpose, the
tone and not the policy of the en-
envy language press in this coun-
try have changed since the enactment of
restraining legislation. These enemy lam
guage papers are thought now to be safe
only because the American public, even
that part of it which knows German, does
not understand how to read between the
lines Germans do
In America we have free press, and
our papers say what they mean. 1t is very
different in the Kaser's realm, where open
criticism of the government, of it's policy
and of public officials, matter how low
their station, is dangerous, even if the
editor can prove his case in court. There
a few exceptions, among them Maxi
milan Harden, who is always the mouth
piece of one of the powerful cliques striv-
ing to get the upper hand of the imperial
court, and, thereby. within the govern
mont. He enjoys the powerful backing of
his employers.
AS a rule the German editor of an op-
position paper dares not state his opinion
in plain words; he must do it in round
about way. So his readers are trained to
read between the lines, to interpret his
articles, which, to all outward appearance,
do not or only very mildly oppose the
governments policy. Severe criticism is
sandwiched between praise or put in the
form of historical "reminiscences The
reader understands how to find out the
meaning.
Readers of the German-language press
in this country have been warned that the
editors are not allowed to utter their senti-
mcnts, and that they are, therefore, ex-
pccted to read for disguised meanings
low the trick is done may be seen from
of the New York evening papers,
which, like its German neighbors, protests,
with suspicious emphasis, it's loyalty to
the United States and urges the public to
invest in Liberty Loan bonds.
One of the publications contributors is
Hans Heinz Ewers, VINO was adversely
criticised even by Berlin newspapers for
his fanatical pro German propaganda in
South America
In an article under the caption of "The
Heroic Song Of the People of Ghcnt," the
song is printed. 1t reads in part:
Enemies, how much you mistaken !! Flee!
Don't you know that the lion is awake? 1t
and tears to pieces its will be your
tomb. And the Roman meaning the Frcnchl
meat is for the Flemish raven! . God
and Wotan lone of the gods of the ancient Ger
mans] the side Of the Flemish y
Ewers adds:
''Ihus it manifests swiftly as lightning to
what degree the soul of the Flemish people al
ways remained conscious of its close relation to
the families Of German nations, as opposed to
the Romans"
BY this comment, which sticks to the
memory of the readers of the evening
edition of the "Staats- -Zeitung," Hans
Heinz E'uorc hv inc uot; 1ofo In Lo
German plan Of robbing Belgium of her
Flemish provinces; if not, the whole king
dom will be annexed by the Kaiser
There appeared recently in the "Staats-
Zeitung" "Letters TO a Mother From Over
There,'' meaning from France. The let
ters, which pretend to be written by a
soldier with the American forces in France
to his mother generally patriotic. But
there arc some passages which are de-
vourcd by the German readers of the Rid
der organ, for Instance:
Sometimes 1 think it's cruel to send our boys
away in that manner on journey from which
of them. at least will return, but
then, again, it may be the better way to spare
both sides. those that go and those that stay
behind the agony of the last farewell this slow
drifting out of sight. that grips the heart more
than anything else
when the much-talkcd about spring Often
sive comes the earth will again drink the blood of
tens and hundreds Of thousands. Why? What
for? We slay each other. whom have never
and whom VIC don't hate. We kill men be-
want to kill idea. system and we
Kill them 'n the and with the help of
God whom both sides invoke. If in the i'm
mcnsty of the universe this tiny world of ours
was tho centre of all His thoughts
That's the stuff that appeals to the
hearts Of the German readers. The rest
they understand is camounagc