The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-24
HUN PROPAGANDA
IN SCANDINAVIA
MORE EFFECTIVE
Efforts Of Germans No Longer
INSTRUCTED and lneffi-
cient, Says Report

Stockholm, April 24.-( Correspond
ence or the Associated Press Ger
man propaganda in Sweden and other
scandinavian nations no longer is i'll
lil ectel or inefficient, in the opinion
Of the statesmen of the countries in
which it operates. On the contrary,
is challenges even unwilling admira-
tiCn in Sweden for its completeness
and effectiveness.
In the early days Of the war the en-
;ente powers and America extracted
considerable amusement from German
methods Of propaganda for the rea>
son that they seemed to be based on
an almost absolute failure to under
stand the psychology OF the nOn1Ger-
manic peoples
t'nuetcrrcd by earlier failures the
Germans have kept at. work here and
have organized u system OF propa-
ganda which is regarded as tirelcss,
! intelligent and, without doubt, Ell
1ectiVC
The organization cehters around
three undertakings, all organized by
Germans but, in accordance with
Swedish law, directed by Swedes.
These are the magazine JordenRundt,
(The World ArOund), The "Picture
Central" and the Polar Star E.o'
graph"
All three undertakings are housed
in the same quarters. The exploits
of the German army arc graphically H.
Illustrated by word, by picture and Gin
ema films. Gigantic maps. with events
with events kept up almost to the
hour, show the progress OF the Ger
man armies The newest bulletins are
displayed. Visitors are loaded with
pamphlets ard books. some # chem
Of such character that they form per
manent additions to a reference H.
brary. Whenever German soldier
odes some individual act Of kindness
cinema operator is there to record
it and the Swedish patrons OF the
Polar Star have opportunity to ad
mire it.
Two large printing firms turn OUT
vast quantities of pamphlets, with
which the Swedes are inundated.
The German legation has trained
Journalists on it's staff, and Baron LII
Gus, the minister, is himself a keen
wideawake individual, fully alive tC
the value of printers ink and alert tC
seize. every opportunity to make prop
aga1fda or to explain anything that
needs explanation. AS an instance
of this may be cited the fact that some
weeks ago, when the morning papers
published Trotzky's expose OF Ger
many's attitude toward the Alamo
Islands, the noon papers of the same
day contained a column-long article by
Taron Lucius, full Of clever ssasuistry
and forming, for the uncritical read
err. a complete answer to Trotzky.
This is but one Of scores OF sim
liar instances. Lucius' relations Il
the press-and not merely to the pro
German press-are most friendly, ant
he is always sure OF a sympathetic
hearing whether the other party i:
in agreement with him or not.
TO dam this flood Of propagand;
the allied powers offer comparatively
little. Since America entered the wa
all effort has been made from Wash
ingtOn to secure adequate publica
ton in Sweden of important speeches
by President Wilson and other lead
ers, and reports of important decis
ions of different bodies, programs o.
recruiting. etc. These efforts, ant
particularly as regards speeches, are
foredoomed to failure by the fact tina
the speeches are cabled too late.
| President Wilson's speeches shave
reached Sweden from two to four day:
after summaries of them had been re
Ereiyed here. No Swedish editor, at
ter having used a 800 word summary
will. half a week later, devote mucl
space to the text of the same speech