New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-02-03

the war and retards possible peace.
That Americans have only gone to
France to lsarn better how to exploit
the people and their country, and that
the existing industries and commerce
of France will fall into their hands,
That all these young Americans will
take the women Of the poilu.
That America is already treating
with Germany in order to bring about
peace by which Germany and America
together will rule the commerce and
the industry of the world.
That it is France that always has
to bear the brunt> of all the offensives;
her sacrifices alone that enable Eng
land, Italy and America to find time
for preparation which never comes in
season to really help France.
That America is blutfing and has no
intention of making heavy blood sac
rltces in order to help France.
Amazing as this rigmarole of illogical
premises and bald falsehood must APP
pear to any mind other than that of en-
lmpassloned German, nevertheless It
tlnds receptive ears among the ignorant,
to whose boche- distorted vision the
nlon-appearance of American troops on
the firing line after SIX months and the
increased cost of their foodstuffs ap-
pear as corroborative testimony.
Country folk really do regard high
prices as the direct result of the Amer
lean army buying great quantities Of
supplies in France, and in measure
they are correct. On the other hand,
the army buys much perishablc food
stuffs, which helps out the growers.
However absurd we think this promo
ganda, we cannot ignore it, To me il
France-and no less in New York-it
seemed that q counter propaganda by
America should be organized and off,
cially set in motion quickly, not only in
France for the French country folk, cut
tor our own soldiers, among whom.
strange as it may sound, and to a sur
prlsingly large. percentage, a sense OF
what they are in France for is neither
comprehensive nor acute.
Such propaganda as proposed
should recognize frankly and without
reservation that even though false and
ridiculous, the assertions of the German
stuff are harmful, if not dangerous, and
must be combated with vigor-and
with the patience Of teacher in he
kindergarten.
feel that America is absolutely disin-
tIe!ested IN the war, except so far as it's
being fight for the rights of the free
peoples; that she is seeking no per-
sonai alms-having quite enough to
loek after at homeland is sparlng 10
eno!t TO come in effectively at the
earliest possible moment.
we must tell and show these poor,
trled souls how deeply their plight st;rs
u.s. how much our heart is in the SUI.
cess OF the cause to which we arc all
committed; what self-denial we ara
practising In food restrictions that we
may be able to send them wheat ard
sugar and fats. and the price we ara
paying for such help in the increased
cost of our own living.
We Must Meet the
Situation in France
Finally, the feeling in France that
America is somewhat responsible for
the Length of the war by not having
come in sooner should be met bv tho
argument that if America was slow 70
awaken to her duty she was also slow
to her own hest interest. and is now IN
full realization of her failure MAXIM
up for lost time
VI the Importance of propaqanaa
tnere can be no question, not onlv to
establish an American reply to tho
German attack on us in France. but also
TO get the right kind of army news cn,l
general news of our soldiers out Of
France into America
There is urgent demand for \ COM
plete reorganization of method and nj.
ICY OF the present censorship. which
appears to have no thought to hrl,.
Keep the people of America in touch
with their sons, but also condemns
mem TO ignorance of things they have
IKE he me or quite new. such a
hh e ,,ndsr organization should in France
class, experienced and level. headssd
journalist of the Will Irwin type. Tbs
same propagandist plan should be set ~
motion IN Russia, where Germany seeks
TO work her way and her will.
we must save Russia from becoming
q pOlltical and rs