Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-02-27
THEATER IS ONE
TEUTON WEAPON
Elaborate System of Using Per-
formers to Circulate Ger
man Propaganda.
PAY SALARIES OF SINGERS
Paris Sees Benefit of Gayety, Refus-
ing to Close Amusements to Save
Fuei-Germans Flood Neu-
trail Countries.

Paris.-Attention has been attracted
to the use the Germans make of the
theater as a vehicle of propaganda by
recent suggestion that the Paris the
aters be closed to save fuel. Fortu-
nateiy this short-slghted policy has
not been adopted. 1t would have add
ed to the war-worn atmosphere of the
capital without accomplishing any good
results. But the agitation has served
the purpose of revealing that the al
lies have made no organized attempt
to keep alive In neutral countries In
terest in their language, their ideals.
their literature, through their theaters
and music, while the Germans have
overlooked no opportunity.
1t is not saying too much to insist
that never has the theaters been so
necessary as now to public life. For
today, more than ever, men-soldiers
or civilians-need the relief from the
strain of war afforded by a relapse
into the realm of fantasy, visit to
the unreal world.
Used in German Propaganda.
That 1t is mistake to look upon the
theater only as a place of amusement
is amply demonstrated by the Ger
mans, who have made of it a weapon.
Their actors. their singers, their mu-
sicians have never been buster at home
and abroad as since the beginning of
the war. In neutral countries, Switz-
erland, for instance. from the day of
mobilization, the German actors ap-
pearing in Swiss theaters were re-
lieyed from the call to arms.
Since then. in the German-Swiss cam
tons there has been a positive ava
lanche of theatrical troupes and of
choral and instrumental associations
sent from Berlin. Vienna, Munich,
Leipzig, Mannheim, Meiningen, hav-
ing as conductors men like Max Rein
,hardt, the two Strausses. Weingartner.
Nikish, etc. This in addition to nu-
merous German picture shows and
dress exhibits with free refreshments,
concerts and the procession of pretty
models. For all these entertainments
free tickets are distributed by the
hundreds. The expense of renting
halls, advertising in the papers and by
posters Is borne by subsidies. The
Germans don't expect to make any
money. On the contrary, they spend
much more than the receipts. The
word goes out to ''paper the house.
In Berlin Max Reinhardt was told:
@Spend without counting the cost
when you get back Wen settle the
bill"
When the theaters are empty II
makes no difference, the tour contin
ues. All official Germans and theiI
compatriots In neutral cities ars
obliged by military order to go t.
these performances each night. Wher
the troupe plays Its farewell perform
ance the ranking German diplomat Of
consular representative in each cit,
gives a large banquet, where. so al
to make the neutral better understand
the meaning Of -kultur," champagne i
given to him.
Teutons Pay Singers Salaries.
A German consul sent for the direc
tors of the music halls of the tow
where he is stationed and told then
that whenever they engaged German
singers or 'sturns" they would hav'
to pay them only 81 day, and tn
rest Of their salary. he said, po matte
how large. would be assumed by tn
German authorities
That Is the reason why. In the mu