Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-04-17
GIVE THE PEOPLE
THE NEWS


Once before we expressed ourselves
upon the suppression OF news. This
time we are complaining because
there is too much. There seems to be
a disposition upon the part of some
papers to color the reports from the
front. We think this is as fundamen-
tally wrong as is the keeping back of
important happenings from the PEG.
pie. For instance one of the big west
ern dailies appears this morning with
the headline 200 L. S. men whip 400
Germans" Another on our desk glares
in these words, Papers preparing to
warn people that Hindenburg's cam
paign is failure" During the first
seven days Of the big smash the head
lines proclaimed failure after failure
on the part of the Germans. But
when the reader got into the body of
the article, even though the writer
had given the news all the best of il,
there still remained n doubt whether
the failure was as complete as was
reported. A false idea of victory en-
genders a false sense of security.
Considering the phsycology of the
thing, German propaganda figurative-
ly "patting the U. S. on the back"
would be more effective In retarding
the work in America than does news
OF defeat. The American is inclined
optimistically. If he hears that his
men at the front are winning he set
ties complacently back in his seat
and loafs on the job, excusing himself
by saying "Oh, well, the things over
We've got 'em whipped. The strain is
Off" This is the very feeling that
this country should avoid Germany
has showed by her tremendous drive
on the western front that she is n
long way from being whipped. Amer
lea must appreciate that the task
ahead of her is a difficult one but
that ultimately she will triumph. The
situation must be accepted just as 1t
Is, without coloring, with the facts
squarely before the people.
We do not insist that 200 American
troops could not whip 400 Germans.
An American Is the equal of two Ger
mans any day. That Is n patriotic
feeling that inspires confidence in
our men at the front. But let us not
belittle the METAL of the enemy. An
army of men whose love for a pig
headed brute like Kaiser Wilhelm will
cause them to advance in dense
mass in the face of destructive ma
chine gun and artillery fire to the
sacrifice of thousands of lives that
the remainder of the mass by sheer
weight of numbers may press back
the foe must be somewhat formidable
themselves Backed by heavy artillery
fire of their own the force of their at.
tack must not be belittled. The proba.
bility of one American whipping two
of them is existant of course but the
paper giving such news to the public
ought to carefully consider its authen-
ITCHY before it releases thought
that Is bound to be a factor in Great
ing that false sense of security we of
America must avoid until the very
end.
Yesterdays news indicated that
Hindenburg's drive had not yet de.
Perforated to the state of failure. In
fact the days reports showed the sit.
uation to be extremely critical. If
Hindenburg Is not held in the north
Dunkirk and Calais will fall and Ger.
many will have won a signal victory.
Every clcar.headcd American who
reads the dispatches knows that this
is the situation. There are many
Americans just as clear.headcd but
who do not figure the situation out
for themselves, accepting rather the
words of the newspaper as the true
state OF affairs. What can be gained
by telling these Americans that the
"Hindenburg drive Is n gailure?" Is
IL not better that they too. should
know the real facts that they may as
enthusiastically get into government
activities as the fellow who thinks
them out for himself?
Confidence, patriotism, love of
country and love of liberty Undue us
with the feeling that the Hindenburg
smash will be n failure but is IL not
better TO wait until military experts
at the front announce that failure
before giving 1t 10 the public? Let
the people of the United States have
the news just as IT exists. American
spirit thriyes in tho face OF adversely.
The third Liberty Loan will be far
oversubscribed in the face OF n great
obstacle where II will only reach IT'S
quota II we are always winning. The
man who appreciates the situation
will give 500 where the fellow who
thinks everything is going lovely will
only give $50. America has only be,
gun to awake because she has only
begun to know the real seriousness
OF the situation.