A sort of manifestation of 'Chinese' whispers (from the supposed confused messages created when a message was passed verbally from tower to tower along the Great Wall of China) or downright conspiratorial malevolence in support of a belligerent agenda? Clearly in war truth is the first casualty & WW1 was no exception. The Lie Factories swung into hyper-mode to spew out the all-important & elite-pleasing narrative!