The Washington herald., 1922-03-14

EERLIN. March 13-At a time
when Germany, thanks to a repub-
lican free press and the abolition
of all censorship, has realized that
It was the American army that put
over the blow which decided the
war. The Washington Herald COR
respondent has obtained a series OF
documents showing how thoroughly
the German people were deceived by
their leaders during the war.
These documents are the orders to
the press relative to America.
Beginning in 1915 the German
people were told America meant
nothing. Later IL was emphasized
that the American army simply
didn't count and the navy didn't
matter. Again IL was repeated that
the army and navy would not mat
ter, but American money was inn
portant. In 1917, when Wilson's
peace plans were spread in the Ger
man army, an attempt is made to
discredit the American President.
and in October. 1918. the documents
show the propaganda chiefs and the
truth suppressors dying BY their
guns in an order that the Kaiser's
abdication must not be called for
In the press.
Call U. =. Figures .BIun.-
One humorous touch features the
series of Instructions. 1t is an order
to stop calling South American re-
publlcs negro and monkey states
Another point made by some censor,
who must have thought himself the
kingpin OF cleverness. is that a
large" question mark should be
placed after every report Of Amer
lean troop arrivals in France, and
American figures are called "bluff." :"
The documents, in their time
order. follow:
instructions concerning the
treatment of the American problem
Grom the official censorship book
given to editors sometime in March
1910:
Since the submarine war with
out restrictions has begun il Is OF
utmost Importance to observe pru-
dence under all circumstances in re-
ferring to the United States and to
avoid everything that might irri-
tate them.
Break of Little "Conseauence."
"'All articles on U-boat war must
be submitted for precensorship. All
discussions~pn the further develop
ment and Continuance of submarine
war are forbidden. The press must
keep up the peoples confidence in
the responsible authorities. must
keep up their belief that the. au-
thorities are doing everything
necessary for the general welfare
and doing this from their own
initiative. The U-boat war must no
longer be discussed as reprisaI for
the starvation blockade.
I'VE are not leading ruthless
U-boat war. but one without re-
strictions'"
On June IL. 1915. is the first spe-
cific instruction regarding America.
The confidential note to the editors,
handed out at q conference. reads:
The answer to the American
note is being prepared. In the
meantime the German press must
beware offending the. greatest neu-
trail state through sharp criticism
Although break of relations may
not be of great consequence from
military standpoint. we cannot
desire to be cut of entirely from
ali exportation9 especially as this
sunnmeris' weather is unfavorable
II would also disturb negotiations
we are now carrying on in the Bal
kans and. which up to now have de-
veloped favorably for us"
Suppress. Boy-Ed Scandal.
Suppression of all mention of the
Boyd and other scandals is or
dered in the instructions of De-
cember IS, 1915:
Reports from foreign papers
show that the German military at
tache and naval attache have made
themselves disagreeable to Wash
ington. and the American govern
ment is said to be ready to de-
mand that they be recalled. In
war time men like the naval and
military attaches naturally come
together with elements they would
not meet otherwise. The wide
spread English spy system may
have submitted material to the
American government discrediting
these gentlemen. We have sent a
query to the German Ambassador
in Washington. The German press
is not to mention this matter yet,
because mentioning would in no
case be of any use to these off,
cials."
St., nv