The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-06-03
WNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington, d. c.

WNU Service, Union Trust buiiuihB,
Washington, D. c.
AS this is written. America is pre-
pairing for the greatest assault on
the German home front since the
war began. The new offensive is
made possible by two things: the
fall of Tunisia which weakened the
barricade of German morale, and
the capture of the City of Tunis,
where Africa's most effective radio
station for reaching Europe is To-
Gated. Because of the Water-lump,
the transmission from Tunis is espe-
cially favorable.
The members of the staff OF the
Office of War Information who man
the front in the battle OF verbal war
fare say that their fire power has
increased tremendously with the Al
rican military victory. They explain
ii this way. propaganda is strange
thing. Alone, it is not very power
full Weapon--it has to be backed
up by events. Germany's barrage
of words that had SO much TO do
with preparing the way for her SOL
diers did not really become effective
until Hitler had begun to act, until
he could report his successful ag-.
gression, his blitz against Poland
helped against Scandinavia, his VIC
tory in the low countries bolstered
his Victory in the West"-the film
OF that name was widely used as
defeatist propaganda.
Because OF this principle, Amer
lean propaganda was handicapped.
Until November fifth of last year,
the only concrete thing which Amer
lea had to talk about was production.
But on and after that date, the at
tack from the radio stations in AT
RIGA jumped from the sniper to the
machine-gun class because the en-
emy knew that not far from the
radio station were American sol
diers. America was actually in the
war, physically participating against
the troops OF the Axis.
Truth Pays DiUidends
Two things. tho experts point out,
strengthen the American attack.
First, from the beginning. the Amer
leans told the truth; they didn't
overshoot the mark. Second, the
Germans played down the Tunisian
campaign, failed to prepare the peo-
pie for the humiliating catastrophe
ahead OF them. And so Herr Goeb.
bells, supposed to be past master OF
the art of psychological warfare,
ignored one of it's main thesis
namely, that it is weapon thai
turns in your hands If it is forged
Of lies.
AS Elmer Davis, director OF the
Office of War Information, recently
put it in an article in the spring is
sue OF the Public Opinion quarterly
Thanks to +. the endeavor Of
the totalitarian governments to sup
press all news and all opinion ex
cept what they choose to give out
Tie VI It'll Ids UEGOiflG q HUN HlWEi'
ful weapon than ever beforeI
The American campaign now un
der way takes advantage of this fact
plus the fact that the American:
now have new and important truth,
to report.
There are two separate fronts: thu
people in the occupied countries; thu
enemy countries. To the former vii
90 much Of the same material as i!
directed at the enemy plus the warn
ings against premature uprising:
and encouragement to the under
ground organizations to which thu
British have long been directing
their broadcasts. They will be eau
toned not to risk their lives unit
the final word is given.
Revolt in Holland
Recently, it was reported that
revolt had broken out in HOLLAND
after the prime minister of the Meth
erlands had ordered the Dutch ex
servicemen to resist the German or
der to report for internment. Thi
was not an attempt at revolution
| Those in the know understood tn
prime minister's message which wa
| in no way different from the instruc
tions to tire Frencfrnen to resist tiT
CONSUMPTION for labor in Germany
The French did resist and the who'll
plan was sabotaged.
What the Netherlanders will d
can be imagined. AS the German
themselves put it, 1.-THE widespread
stubbornness of the Dutch sticks ur
til this day to the saying: The Ger
mans have invaded our country
| have not conquered 1T.
For the second front at which tn
Allied propaganda is aimed, TIL
A