The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-06-12
BOMBING AMERICAN MORALE

and, PsychologIcolly, the enemy mokes
the most of suggestion by whistline
bombs, by threats in advance Of octuol
combat, and by horrible examples and
terrifying toles."
Lieut.. Col. W||iom c. Porter spoke
thus in urging more core to see thot
men indicted into the ormed forces Of
the United Stotes ore prepared to with
stand the assaults Of feor and suggeS
ton. The warning is no less applicable
to civiIions. For they stand in the front
line today, particularly in the bottle OF
propaganda, where terror is major
weapon.
Horrible examples and terrifying
toles" have been q recognized port Of
Nozi warfare. Just before the seizure OF
Norway the Germon Embassy in Oslo
showed to selected audience film
portroyine the conquest Of Poland. The
plain purpose was to impress Norwe-
eion officials with the might Of the
German war machine and the horrors
experienced by those who resist. 1t is
thought some men we're temporarily
mesmerized and joined the Quisines
in opening the gotes to on invasion
from which brave Norwegions ore still
striving to free themselves.
The Nozs added the Norwegian and
other conquests to this record Of their
opporent invincibiIty and showed the
film wherever doubters needed to be
imPressed-in Sofio, Belgrade, Athens
and the South American coPitols.
Titled "Siee i'm Western" it hos not
always been q prelude. to physical in
vosion, but has been q useful weapon
for the Fifth Column.
Many Americans were shocked that
q record Of the worst thot tanks and
bombing planes con do should be shown
with pride by the ottockefs Of sroiIf
and innocent nations. Which only indi-
cotes how for they have been from
sensing Nozi purposes-in this cose
the aim to show that resistance is
futile. Now this "Ione-ronge bomber Of
civilian morole" is operating in the
United Stotes where one of the great
bottles of public opinion is being
fought and the Nozis ore sporine no
effort to SOW feor and defeotism
The Boston Globe reports that the
first showing Of this official Nozi
propaganda film was given June 2, at
"Christion Front meeting at Hiber-
Man Hall, l84 Dudley ST., Roxbury."
The Globes account adds:
Women in the audience having sons in
the United States Army were urged by
Francis p. Moran, director of the Chris
tian Front, to tell their sons what they
had seen in the film and to impress upon
their sons the impossibiity of any ma
tons defeating the German Army.
What do those who ore building
morale in the American Army soy to
thot? Of course, this Terrifying toIe"
in pictures will never be shown to
American soldiers, and if it we're we
believe the effect would be quite the
opposite Of that desired by Nozi propo-
9ondists. Nor does it appear likely that
any large number Of civilians can be
terrorized 1t is more probable thot
they will be outraged by these ex-
omPles Of brutal aggression and their
moral courage to resist aroused.
Indeed, the reaction in Boston so for
dscIoses such indignation at this
brozen playing Of the Noz game that
the net result will be q further throw
ing off Of opothy. 1t will be noted thot
whereas in other countries which were
to be "softened UP" German officials
have shown the film in German lego-
tons, in Boston the Christian Front
shows it in Hibernion Hall. With the
agents Of defeotisn thus clearly identi-
fled with Dro-Nozi ottockers Of Aroeri-
can morale, the attacks should be more
reodiIy dealt with y
Moreover, the close resemblance be-
tween the brand Of defeotism urged by
openly foscist groups such as the Chris
ton Front and thot preoched by the
Nye-lindbereh school will not be
missed. The principal propaganda Of
tocks on the American people todoy
ore intended either to terrify them or to