_Not to be communicated to troops in the first line._
First--Following the telephone order, Geroch No. 2,080, you are
asked to intensify with efficacy the propaganda with the enemy
army.
Second--The object of this propaganda is to disorganize the enemy
army and to obtain information regarding it. The propaganda must
be carried out in the following manner: (a) By throwing into the
enemy's trenches newspapers and proclamations destined for the
more intelligent elements; (b) by persuading the troops by oral
propaganda. For that it will be necessary to utilize officers,
under-officers, and soldiers who appear to be most adapted. The
posts for making contacts with the enemy must be placed under the
direction of the company commander, who must be in the first-line
positions. These officers must ascertain the points where it
will be the easiest to throw into the enemy trenches newspapers,
proclamations, &c. At these points you must seek to gain contact
with the enemy by means of our interpreters, and if the enemy
consents then fix an hour for future conversations. You must then
advise immediately by telephone the chief of the Information
Bureau of the division of every contact with the enemy.
Only the chief of the Information Bureau will have the right to
direct the conversations according to the instructions he has
received. It is rigorously prohibited for any of our soldiers
to enter into relation with the enemy except those who have
received the mission to do so, for fear that the enemy may seek
to profit by their ingenuousness. All letters and printed matter
which the enemy may have on his person must be taken from him,
and transmitted to the chief of the Information Bureau. Company
commanders, above all, must seek to establish the points where
the enemy's soldiers have received newspapers, the points where
the newspapers were taken openly, and without precaution. There
are posts of observation for the artillery, as it may happen that
French officers or foreign army instructors are in these posts.
In these enterprises for obtaining contact with the enemy, success
depends on the ability with which you operate. Good results can be
obtained by calling in a friendly tone and indicating sentiments
of comradeship or by reiterated promises not to fire and offers
of tobacco. The tobacco for this purpose will be furnished by the
company commanders.
Every evening, at 8 o'clock, the company commander must transmit
directly to the information officer a report of the propaganda
accomplished during the day. This report must contain the
following indications: (a) Has the enemy picked up our newspapers
and proclamations? (b) Have you endeavored to enter into relations
with the enemy? (c) With whom have you had contact--officers,
under-officers, soldiers? (d) Where and when were our newspapers
and proclamations thrown into the enemy's trenches? (e) All
other information of the enemy's conduct. At the same time, our
interpreters will send to the chief of the Information Bureau a
detailed report on all conversations they have had with the enemy.
The enemy's positions where propaganda is under way must not be
shelled by our artillery; they must indicate to the batteries the
positions of these points to be spared. The enemy is perfidious
and without honor, and it is necessary as a consequence to be
careful that they neither take our propagandists prisoners nor
kill them. Those of our soldiers who leave our lines for the
purpose of carrying newspapers and pamphlets to the enemy must be
advised. To protect them it will be necessary to constitute with
care special detachments, who will mount guard in the trenches,
and who will fire only on the order of the company commander who
is directing relations with the enemy.--Signed, on behalf of the
temporary commander of the division, the Major General commanding
the 62d Brigade.