The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-08
Reveal Secret Instructions
for Press to Withhold
Accurate Reports.
ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE
U. S. TROOP MOVEMENT
Severe Punishment for All
Persons Communicating
Any War News.

Washington, Jan. 1.v-ENidence OF
the care of the German government Is
taking to direct public opinion and to
deceive not only its enemies but its
own people. is contained In n series
of secret instructions issued to the
German press by the censorship, which
have fallen irito the hands of the state
department. These instructions cover
Il period of less than three months of
last year. but they tell very complete
story of how the Teutonic war lords
control public opinion.
Owners of newspapers and publish
ers generally, not only are limited as
to the character of the articles print
ed. but in many cases are told what
they should publish and in what terms.
Labor disturbances, food shortage and
difficulties in securing and distributing
coal are placed under the ban. but
newspapers are urged TO give prpmi-
ncnce 10 enemy losses and TO certain
prescribed interpretations OF intorna- :
tional situations.
Vioiators Punished.
A bint of the reientlessness Of the
orders Is contained In one notice In
(which attention is called to the fact
that the police have again been noti-
fled 10 seek out and to bring to ruth
less punishment originators and com
municators of untrue military. politl-
cal, financial and economic reports"
In another notice similar warning Is
given that the police will proceed en-
ergetically against those who repeated
untrue reports.
Interesting light liz thrown upon the
Berlin view of the preparations for war
in the United States by a paragraph
Of an order dated June 6, last. II
says:
Take America Seriously.
While the news about Americas
war preparations such as the organiza
| tion and outfitting of an army ons
million strong to reinforce the French
English front. is looked upon, in tha'
| form, as bluff, the spreading of which
! may unfayorably affect the opinion O
the German people, yet the fact mus
| not be overlooked. on the other hand
that the United States with the sup
port of its capacity for material AMI
industrial management, Is arming II
self for war with great energy ant
| tenacity The war preparations II
America are. therefore. as was inti
mated in the reichstag at the time. no
at all to be made little Of, but must b.
taken seriously without on that ac
count being made a source of worry.
Another date. June 3, says:
! withhold Sarnees' Coming.
Petit Parisene informs us that fiy
American divisions, numbering 125,00
men. may be expected in France in tn
Autumn of 1917. II is urgently re
auested not to reproduce this informa
ton. without some comment. We Il
, not wish to underestimate the abilit
OF America to accomplish things. bu
must not on the other hand overesti
mate IL. In order to bring divisio
over from America, $4,000 tons mus
make the trip twice. Therefore froI
|, the mere fact of lack of space, tn
TRANSPORTATION Of such body {
troops within certain fixed time limit
, Is impossible. Moreover 1t is i'm
/ possible to train these troops properl
3 by autumn. These facts which ha,
/ recently been discussed in the Gel
man war news cannot be too strongl
emphasized in the discussion Of tn;
French news"
Printing Of anti-German speeches
!, the Austrian parliament Is forbidds
in various instances and the attitus
to be taken by the German press. bo
for its effect at home and upon An
, tria- Hungary Is indicated in the TO
lowing, dated June 6:
I Suppress Austrian News.
a few days ago the Austro- Hu
garian press was left free TO discu
the war aims. We can unreseryed
endorse the war aims given out In L
majority OF the Austro- Hnngarii
j, press. OF course the fully warrant
and not inconsiderahle war aims whl
:. are needed for the conservation a
development Of the confederated mo
, archy as well az for a world peace C
only be achieved II Austro- Hunga
lCootiuued On Page Five)