Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-11-07
GERMAN PROPAGANDA
FAILED OF PURPOSE
The Huns Egotism Caused Him
to Overlook Intelligence of
Other Peoples.
London. (by NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and

- soAA
lack Of understanding are responsible
for the failure of Germany's huge o
paganda efforts.
After 40 years of experience in this
work, Germany can show but little
fruits for its labor.
On the other hand. America, with a
record of less han 4 years can credit
Itself with being the most successful
OF all the belligerents in spreading
propaganda.
Col. John Buchan, director of intelli-
gence Of the British Ministry Of in
formation. said the German propaganda
is ION the whole Ineffective" and de-
clared that when history comes to
decide which country was the most sue
cessful in its propaganda campaign. it
won't be ~Germany-It will be 4Ameri-
I'VE here have had occasion to
study the extraordinary merits of the
German machine which Germans had
been building for 4G ears" said Col
one Buchan. "On the whole it's pro-
duct has been rather ineffective be-
cause of it's lack of psychological
Gunner.
The Hun boasts too much and un-
derestimates the peoples against whom
his campaign is directed-as, for in
stance, America.
He makes queer slips.
"At he beginning of the war the
kaiser sent an address to the Moham-
eda chiefs of India, in which he
pointed out that he-the kaiser-was
their real friend. The address was
elaborately gotten up, engrossed on
the finest vellum. But 1T was bound
in pigskin.
Here was an instance of the Huns
tendency to overlook important de-
tails, for the pig is an animal the Mo-
hammedans regard with horror.
The propaganda scheme Of the
Germans was most elaborate. but it
has been %overdone. They have spent
at least $4,000, 900 annually sin e the
produce most absurd publications..
Also. they printed too many. The
scheme might be described as kolos-
SAL but stupid.
American propaganda has been
conducted with a rare instinct for
publicity.
Take the American Red Cross in
Italy,, Franco and Russia, as woll as
the work of the Y. M. C. A. This was
practical propaganda. In tending the
sick n wounded the American Red
Cross proved Americas sympathy to
the allies.
THE committee on public informal
ton in Washington appeals to the in
telligence of the world. The American
secret service is a fine organization
and has some splendid men in it. They
managed to get hold of most valuable
documents which were published at
exactly the right time.
America is very much alive to the
value OF news in propaganda, and the
right kind OF news. She hasn't been
observed. like the older countries in
Europe, with secrecy. The soldier
professional soldiers always inclined
to make a mystery of his work. 1t is
not always easy to get a re-
sponse from him to an intelligent
question. the answer of which MAY be
OF no value to the enemy but may be
of great value to the people.
IA war Of nations can't be an
anonymous war. The people must be
taken into the confidence Of their gov
eminent. They want to know some
thing of the organization of their ARM
les and the generals who command
them.
Take for example the Official Ca
zette Of the United States which on
July 10 told of the organization of the
American army and gave the names of
the commanding generals.
That's common sense.
America has just established prop
uganda agencies in all allied and neu-
trail countries. Their policy is the same
as in America. There is no jealousy.
They put all their interests in the
common stock"
Colonel Euchan is reluctant to boast
of his own country's efforts at propa-
Ganda. But German re-
Gently have paid it the highest compli-
ment in concentrating a campaign of
hate" against Lord Northcliffe, for
wha they term Great Britain's
aasaas- A-aaase a---