New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
Organizations Librarian
Unearths More Propa-
ganda Here
N. Y. Man Is Author;
Suppression Sought
Belgian Lads, in Story, Are
Made to Justify
Atrocities

Frank IN X. Mathews. chief Boy
Scout Librarian. who has been fighting
the attempt to feed American boys pro
German propaganda through so-called
Boy Scout books. unearthed additional
evidence yesterday where he least ex-
pcctcd to find it.
II was in book which had two Bel
-lsn boy scouts as its heroes. Its title
is The Bclgians to the Front" When
Mr.. Mathews started reading the book
he supposed it would be written from
tho viewpoint of Belgian boys.
Instead he found tho volume filled
with thoughts which he feels sure no
belgian boy would have entertained
Many pages Of the book we're devoted
TO an attempt to justify the Prussian
rastiluo Of lining up q group OF Bel
clan citizens before q stone wall and
shooting them, on the excuse that Bel
gian citizens had fired upon German
soldiers.
New York Man tho Author
Tho book was published by the Saal-
field Publishing Company. with pub
lishing plant at Akron, Ohio. A. G..
Saalfcld, a member of the firm, who
yesterday was at the company's New
York Office at 1913 Fourth Avenue, ad-
mittcd that the "Bclgian book" was
written by The same author. a New
Yorker named Wolf. who wrote "On
Board the Mine Laying Cruiser" so
pro-Gcrman that the company tried to
suppress it Immediately after this
country declared war.
Listen to The conversation Of two
belgian" Boy Scouts. as on Page 156
Of tho "Bclgian' book they discuss
the question Of Belgian citizens not in
army uniform defending their homes
against the German invaders.
"Of course, if you we're in your home
and YOU saw German soldiers coming,
wouldn't you shoot as many as you
ooulde1 one boy asked.
And Belgian" Boy Scout replied:
"Pcrhaps; bu. I'd expect them (the
Gcrmans) to take nc out and shoot me
when they caught me and burn my
house. | wouldn't call them brutes
and barbarians for doing it
"put isn't it war to attack the en-
cmyn" the other boy asked
"Ycs." replied the other Boy Scout,
If soldiers do it. Soldiers ought to
arcn't in uniform fight, they must cx-
pocs TO be attacked themselves. Listen,
Arthur. If our (thc Bclgian) soldiers
were in Germany they'd have TO do
lust what tho Germans are doing to
protect Themselves
Tries to Justify Shooting
ON Page 1S2 German officer, speak
inr to one of tho Boy Scouts, said:
"Wc (thc Gcrmans) have great work
o do. and whoever stands in our way
must suffer We must make
an example of those who fire at us
,rcacherously. II we arc severe (mcan-
lnr lining UP lcadlts citizens before
tho firing squad with q few, it is so
that the others Will nay more attention.
Il is better TO destroy a few villages
Than the beautiful city of Brussels
"'Iho lives OF our soldiers must be
guarded against tho skulking murder
ers 1mcanine the Beigians). Our
men take their lives IN their hands
when they go 20 war. and, II they die
ou tho field of battle. they die willingly
because they know 1t IS for the Father
and. SO We must preserve them iol
that glorious death.
On PAGE l12 the author apparently
aeeks 20 make American boys believe
through the words OF Belgian" Boy
Scout that the brutal German soldier
- q rarity, an exception TO the general
rulc.
Commenting en- the behavior of {
Prussian lieutenant who was espcciall
brutal in demanding tha. a small tow
produce an almost impossible amour
OF provisions for tho German army
cuc of the "Bclyian" boys says: "Tha
officer IS = bully. Arthur, ] suppos,
there are officers like that in ever,
army. But all Germans are not lik
him"
Mr.. Mathews asked the saaltiel,
sompany 10 suppress the "Bclgian
hosk as we'll as the book which Wa
frankly German
The presumably Belgian book ap
pcals TO me SIS merely made-in Ger
many goods disguised as Bclgja,
product. said Mr.. Mathews yesterday
1T IS more dangerous than the boo
which was frankly German.
In the book about German Bo
scouts the author wrote openly an,
above board frankly presenting Ger
iaanys defence Of her crime agains
humanity. But in the Belgian boo
the author uses more inSidious tactics
some unsophi isticated American
hoNs reading the Belgian boob. NIGH
ne convinced that the wholesale mas
sarrc ot Re giau citizens Vas justified
lt seems strange that thc book
Hf!e rurportne 20 present Belgium
dc a. the case. says nothing * al
shout tNc Notation of thousands OF kel
gan girls Vr the cn~iaf in. at hundred.
ai Thousand. o. krIefaas- for war vorl
ncf'nd tHe oern1ta 'fucs
Nola Versatile Writer
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