The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-18
ISSUED BY the Committee on Pub
lie information

mined has been by systematic work
in propaganda among Russian pris-
oners Like most other German ac-
tiyities, this has been highly organ
lied, and it shows a greater psy-
Geological insight than many OF the
German methods. This work tails
under several heads; it is quite as
unscrupulous and unrelenting as
the measures by which the Ger
mans crushed the physical powers
OF their prisoners.
There is a little illustrated news
paper in the Russian language,
printed by the Germans, "Russki
Vestnik," which is industriously cir
culated in all the prison camps and
barracks and was circulated in the
Russian army. The prisoners read
it, since they have nothing else to
read, and they fall under its spell.
The selection and arrangement OF
illustrations and the tone OF the ac-
companying verses and short stor-
les are calculated to produce feel
ings OF gloom, hopelesSness, home
sickness, and thoughts OF dear ones
at home. They picture the life OF
the lowly Russian people as it IS
affected by war; it lays emphasis on
the poverty everywhere, the sick.
hungry children, the sobbing moth
crs, the war cripples neglected by
all and begging at the cross roads
and in the streets. There is never a
CHEEKY line to be found in this Ger
man-made Russian literature given
to the prisoners OF war. Its tenor
is always the same German
strength and prosperity, Russian
weakness in the field and weakness
at home.
There is also a system OF letters
from prisoners" intended ior Rus
sian soldiers at the front, the pur-
pose of which was to widen the gap
between the soldiers and the Keren-
sky government; to eStrange the
Russians from the allies; Russia be-
ing urged to free herself from all
engagements, to repudiate all finan-
cial obligations; and finally to in
duce the Russian army to shout
for peace" These letters aim to
yillify the English and French, in
the endeavor to kill all desire in
the Russians to fight on their side;
to call halt to the Russian often
siye in Galicia, since Russia does
not need anything from the central
powers the letters evidently hav-
ing been written at the time of that
oiiensive-and finally to draw the
Russian and German people to-
gether.
"Russki Vestnik" and other lit
erature like it accomplished what
the German armies alone could not
accomplish. They shattered the
Russian front; and they, or other
devices like them, helped weaken the
Italians.
The articles and poetry in the
"Russki Nestnik" are full OF high
sounding appeals to mans highest
instincts, peace, brotherhood, and
the equality of nations. Kerensky
is accused of militarism. The Rus
sian people want peace without
victory" An issue OF this newspaper
which has reached government Of
ficials at Washington typically rep
resents the work it does. The first
page contains two pictures: The
upper one shows a detachment Of
German soldiers preparing to lib
crate 4 lot OF small balloons; bel
low is another depicting the same
balloons descending about a de-
tachment OF Russian soldiers in the
fields who are reaching for them.
These balloons carry German prop
uganda, among which are copies Of
"Russki Vestnik." Alongside OF the
pictures run the words "To Free
Russia. Beware OF the crafty pa
tricians; to rule they push our poor
nation to ruin. No victory is needed
by the people, free space is enough
in free Russia
On the second page are two more
pictures whose sharp contrast will
carry its own lesson to the Russian
prisoners. it first shows a small
scene in Berlin. A fashionable
crowd OF men and women are sit
ting at tables eating and drinking.
Behind these tables is a picture OF
Russian trench filled with SOL
diers. There are guns, shoyelS, 4
teapot on the parapet, very un-
comfortable time i'll general. A
priest with an lkon is followed by
another sprinkling OF soldiers with
holy water. Along the margin is
sort OF poem in free verse en-
titled, "The Mist OF the Future"
1t conjures up a vision OF gloomy
nature; eagles and crows picking
human bones; a wretched village {;
sickly, hungry children, sobbing
mothers; youths begging at the
cross roads; crippled soldiers beg
ging.
On the next page are more pic
lures. First there is harvester at
work in a rich harvest field; be-
side it another picture of group OF
robust German soldiers, loading
wheat upon wagon. The contrast
for Russian consumption appears
below in more free verse;: "In
the Trenches a dying soldier Civ
ing his farewell to his comrade, his