The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-06-04
WNU Service, Union Trust Building
WASHINGTON, ID. G.

WNU Service, Union Trust Building,
Washington, d. G.
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-jump,
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 AT
rican military victory. They explain
it 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 Al
RIGA jumped from the sniper to the
machine-gun class because the en-
envy 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, the 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 its main thesis,
namely, that it is weapon that
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,
the truth has become a more power
full weapon than ever before"
The American campaign now un-
der way takes advantage Of this fact,
plus the fact that the Americans
now have new and important truths
to report.
There are two separate fronts: the
people in the occupied countries; the
enemy countries. To the former will
60 much of the same material as is
directed at the enemy plus the warm
ings against premature uprisings
and encouragement to the under
ground organizations to which the
British have long been directing
their broadcasts. They will be eau
toned not to risk their lives until
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. This
was not an attempt at revolution.
Those in the know understood the
prime minister's message which was
in no way different from the instruc-
tons to the Frenchmen to resist the
CONSUMPTION for labor in Germany.
The French did resist and the whole
plan was sabotaged.
What the Netherlanders will do
can be imagined. AS the Germans
themselves put it, "The widespread
stubbornness of the Dutch sticks I'M
til this day to the saying: The Ger
mans have invaded our country,
have not conquered it.
For the second front at which the
Allied propaganda is aimed, the