The Washington herald., 1918-02-02

Probably never in all history has a
government controlled the press of
its land and Influenced that of ada
cent neutral lands. as does the Ger
man government.
The newspapers of Germany deal
almost altogether with war news and
war policy. They are so much alike
in policy that one might imagine all
to be edited by the same individual.
In effect they are. The inspiration
all comes from the same fount- Will
helmstrasse edits the newspapers of
Germany.
Now and then a newspaper, such as
Vorwaerts, jumps over the traces,
saying something that has not had
the approval of Wilhelmstrasse. 1t is
first given a chance to print a denial
If 1t refuses, the paper is suspended
by the order Of the government a
day, a week, or even permanently.
1t is curious how all sing the same
song on the same day.
For instance, when Italy was hold
ing its own in the south and Keren-
sky gave promise of keeping up the
fight in the east, all the German
newspapers talked about peace with
out indemnities or annexations. in
the east or west. This was to get the
people ready for a possible peace
without any conquest, except to the
south.
However. after the armistice was
declared in the east, and after the
italian army was routed in the south,
all the newspapers began singing a
song of indemnities and annexations.
This was to let the outside world
know that the morale had stiffened,
and that a victor's terms must rule
any peace conference
1t was the newspapers that got the
people ready for ruthless submarine
warfare; it was the newspapers that
made the people believe that the Lu-
sitania's sinking was not the most
wanton act IN history, but really a
triumph for German arms.
Define Policies.
1t is Hindenburg and Ludendorff
who make the policy for the news
papers, just as they make the policy
for the army and the policy for civil
life.
We make a considerable to-do in
this country over a change in the
foreign office or in the chancellorship
In Germany. Really, it does not mat
ter who holds these offices. Both are
manipulated by Hindenburg and Lu-
dendorff
The proof of this can be seen in the
regular reading of any German. news
paper. You will see in today's paper,
for instance, that Ludendorff and
Hlndenburg has been summoned to a
conference with the kaiser.
Praa1Rr1o
be discussed. but about the time Hin
denburg and Ludendorff leave Berlin,
you will notice that a new civil pol
Icy has been adopted. This man has
been deposed. That man has been ele-
waited. Food restrictions have become
more severe, cor have been relaxed.
Peace overtures are to be made. Safe
conduct is given a Russian exile
through Germany back to his own
country. Any one of a number of
things.
1t all goes to indicate that the Kali
ser no longer makes an important
move, civil or military, without first
consulting Hindenburg and Luden-
dorff. The Kaiser knows history. He
knows that more than one military
idol of the people has developed a
greater strength than his sovereign.
He knows that when adulation comes
to an ambitious man the temptation
is strong to use it for his personal
ends.
Military idols sometimes forget the
divine rights of their rulers, and,
worse still, they are able to induce
large numbers of the populace also
to forget.
So the Kaiser is careful not to cross
Hindenburg.
CMores Monday -
Copyright, igs)