<P> In 1942, the survivors of the Battle of Savo Island were removed from public circulation to prevent news from leaking, and the August 9th disaster did not reach the newspapers until mid-October . </P> <P> Limiting the distribution of bad news caused difficulty with gasoline rationing, as Americans were kept unaware of numerous tanker sinkings . </P> <P> Earlier, people complained that the government was covering up the extent of the damage at Pearl Harbor, although this was partly to keep it from the Japanese . The Japanese had a good idea of the damage they inflicted, so only Americans were kept ignorant . One reporter reported, "Seven of the two ships sunk at Pearl Harbor have now rejoined the fleet ." Although complaints of news suppression continued, both the newspapers and radio took favorable news and embellished it, a process not countered by the government . </P> <P> Joseph Goebbels countered this propaganda to prevent it from influencing Germany, downplaying the defense of Corrigidor and attacking Douglas MacArthur as a coward . This was not very successful, as the German people knew it understated the American defense and that MacArthur had left under orders . </P>

The purpose of selling war bonds was to