Evening star., 1942-04-29
Calls for Fuller Use
Of Propaganda Power
Writer Argues for Drive
To Counterfeit Campaign
Of Misrepresentation

Or Misrepresentation
To the Editor Of The Star:
In this present war, the first total
war in history, we are engaged in a
struggle which hitherto has been sue
cessful for our enemies because Of their
total mobilization of energy for offensive
operations. accompanied by a new and
most deadly weapon-propaganda.
This war will remain distinct from all
previous wars for various reasons among
which is the fact that this is the first
total war and also because it is the first
war in which propaganda has been ex-
plotted as major weapon of WARMTH
startling and successful results.
We gradually are realizing that every
nation which has fallen into the clutches
of the Nazi new order" was first
drugged by DR.. Goebbels and each nation
was treated in the best manner required
to destroy it after It's psychological weak
ness had been diagnosed. 1t was neces-
sary to frighten some of these nations.
Other nations were offered partnerships
and dividends when the spoils of future
victories rolled in. Others, again, re-
quired big brotherly protection" from
imaginary enemies. Some had to be
beaten into submission. But always,
where the proper form of propaganda
was administered, the effect has been
the samoan achievement of confusion,
paralysis and finally destruction of the
intended victim.
Meanwhile Japan, a nation of very
excellent imitators, found use for this
same trickery and treachery. Her i'm
mense victories have been brilliantly
executed, but the victories were those
for which propaganda had laid the
groundwork.
The fruits Of japanese propaganda
have suddenly become apparent England
has found herself being pushed out of
the Far East, the very natives of her
colonial empire assisting in her election.
England is yet to face more difficulties
brought about by the tedious efforts Of
Japanese propagandists welding a very
powerful weapon
Now, the Nazi are using their remark
able technique upon us. Some of us
realize this and many Of us do not.
DR.. Goebbels has discovered that our
weakness is one Of overconfidence: and
he believes, and perhaps correctly, that
If we are treated with doses of good
news, our war effort may be caused
to lag. He knows that we are the
CtrnnUpSt UpQ1thiect nd toIa o,,t
country on this planet. He, therefore,
prescribes the proper poison. For ex-
ample, one day we read Swedish reports
OF Norwegian uprisings which result in
many casualties to German soldiers.
But we are not told that this same
Swedish newspaper is very careful not
to offend the Nazi. Then we read news
from the German-controlled newspaper
in Switzerland, so-called neutral
source, to the effect that food riots are
daily occurring in Poland and other
Naz1-held areas and that special troops
have been dispatched to keep these
peoples in check. AS we receive news
OF all this unrest, our ally Russia re-
ports a series Of great victories and the
Germans agree that their losses have
been very heavy. Then, German gen.
erals begin dying Of all sorts Of impos-
slble ailments and others are retired
because of i'll health Finally, Hitler
speech in which the Fuehrer sheds many
crocodile tears and blames the Russians
and their climate for the failure Of his
armies. Next, broadcasts are picked up
by England from Germany and we re-
celve these reports, reports which give
very gloomy picture of Germany. All
these incidents may be true but they
are, at the same time, greatly magnified
and repeated so often that We should
begin to suspect them Does DR.. Goeb-
bells inform us that all Europe and not
merely Germany is Shaving to provide
the Axis with war material? Does DR..
Goebbels tell us that the number of those
engaged in the war industries for Ger
many exceeds the number of those en-
gagged in war production in the United
States? Does DR.. Goebbels inform us
that many hostile groups within the
boundaries Of Europe gradually and
efficiently are being wiped out? Does
ne tell us his propaganda is being dis
seminated to every individual In the
conquered areas and at least some of
them are jumping on the "bandwagon?"
Does DR.. Goebbels tell us that GERMANY
mas not lost one strategic position she
has wrested from Russia? Does DR..
Goebbels tell us that nearly every coun-
try has provided Quisings who now
must fight with Germany? Does DR..
Goebbels tell us that many of Hitler's
generals suddenly are becoming healthy
again and that some of them have come
oack from the dead? We hardly think
that he would tell us these facts since
ne desires that we should believe o,lr
enemies to be weakening.
AS Nation We are entering our own
phase Of total war and vet we are
neglecting the full use of propaganda as
an offensive weapon. On the contrary,
we are permitting our own freedom of
speech and of the press to be used
against us. We read faulty informatio
concerned with the weakness of our
enemies and at the same time we are
receiving glowing accounts of our own
rapidly growing strength. On the one
hand, we are not able to distinguish
between the truth and very cleverly con-
cealed lies and on the other hand We
are prone to believe some overly
patriotic and enthusiastic reports. When
we suddenly discover that we have been