Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-11-28

8 s-f.
The suggestion TINT continuation
Of the submarine warfare would In
evitably bring America Into the war'
did not perturb the people in the
slightest.
"How cAn America do us more harm
than she Is now dOlng7" they asked.
american bullets are shooting down
our men, American food 10 sustaining
our enemies. American dollars are
working against US In every possible
way. Let America come into the war
and give us chance to pay her back
for what she has done to M. She
couldn't haem us any more II she were,
belligerent Why allow her to re-
main neutral and go unscathedT
The jubilation with which the news
Of the sinking Of the Lusltania was re-
ceived by the German people was gen.
eral. 1t was SO significant that i be-
lieve America would have declared war
Immediately had 1t been known. /
have failed to find single German
who did not exult over the dastardly
crime. and the activity Of the Yep
pelins in their raidsson open towns
evoked similar demonstrations.
That the views which the people
held regarding the conduct Of the war
were strongly Influenced by the public
press. which wns absolutely controlled
by the government. was only to be ex-
pected. The fact that In peace time the
press Of Germany was perhaps the
most reliable in the world, made of It
O particularly valuable tool In the
hands Of the government In time Of
war.
The German newspaper Is gospel to
the people. The last word in any argu-
ment was always furnished by proof
supplied by some newspaper article.
"Es steht In der zeitung." literally
translated, 1.-THE paper says &c." was
always final and conclusive. Nothing
the papers declared was too preposter.
Gus to be believed.
The press was used to excellent ad-
vantage to conceal reverses and to
make the utmost capital out of sue
cesses. Right from the start the news
papers declared that Germany was
fighting defensive war; that the M
tions Of the world had jumped on
Germany's neck because they were
jealous Of her growing power.
The importance which the kaiser
and his leaders placed in public opin-
ion among the German people is clear
ly illustrated by the announcements
they made and the measures they re-
sorted to from time to time, for home
consumption.
When in December, 1915, for in.
stance, the kaiser realized that the re-
sumption of unrestricted submarine
warfare, which he had determined
upon. might bring neutral nations, in
Guiding the United States. into the
war. he felt that 1t was necessary to
do something to uphold the spirit Of
his people. 1t took the form Of pro-
posal Of peace to the allies.
This proposal was designed to ac-
complish two distinct purposes: First,
It was to convince the German people
that their kaiser was really the pence
loving monarch he had always pro-
fessed to be; second. 1t was to demon
alize the allies by dividing them
against themselves. s-'s
This much is certain: The kaiser
never intended the allies to accept the
proposal he made. He admitted that
much to me, as did also the
Prince Won Pless, his most intimate
advisor. It was termed in such way
that the allies could not possibly &C
cept it. But 1t served one Of the pur-
poses which It was intended to achieve,
and nearly accomplished the other.