Evening journal., 1919-01-23

Americans against the French Is just
like their campaign in America against
the English, only a little less open, but
with a hundred times the number OF
agents.
Some official or priest will hear some
thing against the French or under or
ders, make up something out Of whole
cloth and Will pass 1t along-and 1t goes
a long way.
Many American soldiers are billeted in
private homes and it is impossible to
prevent them from talking 10 members
Of those families. That is the way that
much propaganda Is done. In some in
stances the agent does not know that
he or she is doing prapganda, but in
most cases he knows what the main
idea is.
The trouble about the whole propo-
sition is that the Germans seem TO be
succeeding in II, as shown by letters the
soldiers write TO their home folks.
With the lifting Of the censorship the
letters Of only few are examined, but
these yield proof that some Of the
doughboys, too many of them, are get
ting TO feel too kindly toward Germany
and too harshly toward the French.
When one considers what the father or
sister In the United States thinks Of
what the soldiers writes them, the re-
suit is not pleasant
The American douhboy who goes
back home anti-Freneh will be a prob
lem, and It is TO be feared that the num-
Der will not be small.
German propaganda Is tow-sided
Germans in the territory occupied by
the French preach night and day how
the Americans are fraternizlng with the
Germans and becoming their friends
They tell the Frenchman that American
doubhbOys love Germany more than
they do France, and how Americans go
to church with them. They repeat that
Americans take dinner at their homes
and they love TO repeat the story that
American soldiers are becoming en-
gagged to marry their daughters.
False Stories Believed.
These things are all false, but the
poilu sometimes believes them, and
when a poilu has some little grievance
or rivalry his grievance forthwith ex-
pands.
An American newly landed in Europe
day. ''Why is it," he asked, that the
Americans are fraternizing so shame
fully with the Germans2 II is the talk
Of Paris.
This is but a reflection OF German
propaganda work among the French
soldiers. The Germans tell the French
that America is going to save Germany
from the French at the peace confer
ence. One story is that President Viii
son will not approve Of France getting
back Alsace-L Lorraine. To use slang,
that gets the Frenchman"s goat. Tell
that to a high French official, and it
makes no difference. Tell 1t to the
poilu and 1t does harm TO America.
It is hard to convinc the doubhboy
that he is a victim of German propa-
ganda. He asks you scornfully what
that little child who smiles at him and
takes him by the hand knows about
propaganda. / felt that way until my
eyes were opened. Americans at home
must not blame the doubhboy too
quickly. I know an American who be-
fore we entered the war, was watched
by the Secret Service because he acted
and talked pro-German, and he was the
chairman Of a Liberty Loan committee
the last time I saw his name in print.
All know how far German propa-
ganda went in America. IL was easier
to grasp il and choke it there than it is |
here.
It is hard to put the doughboy on
his guard when the German pats him
on the back and tells him he is fine
fellow. It is difficult TO keep the poilu |
from believing that the American /
is not really going to marry /
a German girl and in the next war re-
fuse to help France against Germany.
When that poilu has perhaps lost two
he sometimes does not stop to
think before he says something harsh
about Americans and tells. other poilus,
who may sympathize with him.
Doesn't Help the Allies.
Many Americans believe that the
last great war has been fought, but
the French soldier does not think that,
nor does the German. Marshal Foch
the other day spoke OF preparing
against another war.
So, when a German tells a Frenchman
that a German cousin up in the Ameri-
can area says the doubhboys swear that
never again will they help France, il
does not help the Allies. And then that
cousin tells the Americans
that America really won the war, but
the French say that France could have
won anyhow without America. That
does not help the Allies.
At time when the friends Of clvillza-
lion should be standing side by side for
he sake OF the future, one finds the sol
Hers Of two great and friendly nations
allowing themselves TO believe mean
stories about each other and getting
wrought up over nothing. II they had
he judicial temperament It would be /
iifferent, but they haven't it.
It is the old story Of crowd psychol-
,gy. And 1t IS also a problem for the
wise heads Of America and France.
If the Americans at home want to
lelp. they will discount the stories
lgainst France which are being dis
ributed by some well-intentioned but
lot always well-informed or we'll
recent visitors to Europe.
It is well to remember that French r
nd Americans are two different races :
nd do not always look at the same !
hing In the same light or speak the ;
anne thoughts. America would not ]
lave had her glorious opportunity to
urn the tide against Germany II 1t had :
lot been for France. A nation that did
What France did in the war Is not the
ation to get annoyed at too quickly.
To any American mother or father
Who has a letter from doughboy son
panning" France, take II easy, take II
asy.