The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-03-13

Axis Information
Better Than That
of Allied Nations
BY Charlie. p. Stewart

BY Charles p. Stewart
Axis governments undoubtedly
are entitled to certain sort OF
recognition for keeping their news
more tightly bottled up than the
democracies.
IL isn't creditable to the former,
OF course. They couldn't do 1t If
they weren't despousms. Never.
theless, there manifestly are GO
ings-on in their various midsts
that II would be to our advantage
to get the low down on, instead Of
having to guess at them, as We
are compelled to do.
lllustratiyely, it must be very
stimulating to the Axis tyrants to
peruse Northumberland ac-
counts OF back-and-forth cussings
between our multiplicity OF bu-
reaucracies. Manifestly reliable
accounts OF pretty bitter differ
ences Of American opinion CON
corning the desirability OF a
Rooseveltian fourth term must
interest them intensely, TO say the
least. There have been mutter-
ings of jealousy between our.
selves and British relative to post
war heritage of civil air power.
There is published speculation as
TO the possibilities of terms be-
tween ourselves and the Russians
in peace days to come.
The Axis folk can read this
stuff in plain print if they take
and read our dailies.
They interpret it their way, ma
turally, but it must have its eff
feet on their morale. What We
get from overseas is purely un-
confirmed rumor or utterly unre-
liable enemy propaganda.
To be sure. We know that
France, in the main. is anti-Axis.
We also know that Italy is Axis
ly very frigid.
But we don't know how close
the Italians are to dumping Duce
Mussolini. We don't even know
how Benito feels about it. Maybe
he wishes ne had never hooked up
with Fuehrer Hitler. The other
day the fuehrer sent his foreign
minister, Joachim Won Ribbentrop.
to Rome TO confer with BenitO.
Some versions are that Herr Won
Ribbentrop's mission was TO as
sure Bonnie of Adolf's support in
the event of an Italian insurrec-
ton against him. Others repre-
sent that Benito will do we'll to
stand pat, or Germany will grab
Italy, eliminating Bonnie, or pos
sibly killing him if he weakens
pro-Axisly.
Spain's newspapers are Axisly
weakening. They were too Hitler
istic at first, at Dictator Frances
order, but they have been climb
ing onto the fence recently.
Nevertheless they remain eau
tious.
And then
There continue to be sugges-
tions that Germany's own militar-
lists are fed up with Adolf and
propose TO dispose of him for
their own management. 1t goes
pretty much without saying that
the fuehrer doesn't permit any
such speculation to be broadcast
not while he is running things
IN Berlin.
The little countries he has over
run are tightly corked up, natu-
rally.
Consequently, the Axis crowd
get no information to us. from
them, and they get all OF ours
that they are interested in.
Far be it from me to advocate
q censorship.
Yet the thing may have its pub
hcity as well as its military value.
From our Occidental standpoint
you always get back to Japan.
There's a country In which
have worked as a newspaperman.
II hasn't much Of censorship.
II isn't educated up to a modern
censorship.
hN ih'N Is lhdl lhlilts Nnldub
Kai-shek has converted the ORR
ent. The laps believe her as
much as the Orient does. Her
publicity scores about as effective
ly in Tokyo as in Chungking.
Nevertheless, some advertis-
ing is required to register II.
The Oriental isn't as copious as
the Occidental press to do so.
What we need Is a lot OF ORR
entail newspapers. printed in hen
tracks. to speak for us.
East is East and West Is West
and never the twain shall meet"
asserted Rndyard Kipling.
Nine. Chang has negatived this
latter assertion. according to cur.
rent dope
II will involve some transla.
tons, however.