Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-16

Fornarn representatives: Cone LOT
enzen & Woodman, Advertising Bloc,
( CHICAGO: 225 Fifth Ave-, New 1ork
9City: 500 Victor Bldg, Kansas Si'S'
Mo.
soc,AL,sM's OFFENSIVE.
ma nf the first oficial dispatches
IN issue from Rome after the oisas'
Trims retreat of the Italian armies
nn1er Cadorna was inaugurated con.
fained reference to the "cowardice OF
snme Of the units OF the same wonder.
ful fIxhting force which had battered
ito NV across the Isonzo and wen
into Austria on the way to Trieste.
within a few hours after this ratner
REMARKABLE document had been given
Ato the public through press CORE
Srnondents In Rome 1t was followed Dy
another. written to supersede the
Nrst and differing from it only by the
omission Of reference to cowaruis az
ton among the Italian troops.
This was but one incident IN ousy
axy for telegraph editors, and IN tne
excitement aroused by consideration =,
the Italian collapse itself, the unusual
action OF Rome's war ONCE was lot
gotten almost within an hour.
II is recalled, however, by the re-
view Of the retreat by General Mau.
rice. Great Britain's military expert
and spokesman for the London war
1T h clear" General Maurice said,
shat a great part of the disaster was
due to insidious propaganda which had
zone farther than Cadorna suspected
II is recalled, also, that several dis-
matches written about the time Udlne
vas Ieft behind by the fleeing Italians
,,oted the fact that Cadorna had adopt
"a the most drastic disciplinary meas
ures to punish deserters and faitniess
eoIdiers. and had granted five days OF
rroce IN one instance for the return OF
fhose who apparently had outdls.
taneed their army in their homeward
flight
FROM various sources has come the
lnfurnation that German peace propa.
ernda. carried through the lines and
into the Italian army by socialists
had sbread like a poison among the
eoldiers of Cadorna. He did not sus.
nect the truth, but the commanders OF
the Allied Teutons were thoroughly
fnformcd. They struck at the psyche
JoeicaI moment and in the most vul-
nersNle SPOT, With the result, that the
eamse Of the allies suffered one OF its
sreatsst reverses, the extent OF which
e1nnot be measured to the full even
1OW.
Commenting on this phase OF the
Italian situation, the New York Times
aaUs with proper ttmeiiness:
The German peace propaganda
a 4 military maneuver, conduct
Cd with the intention of bringing
about German victories in the
Geld. It brought about such vic
tnry in Galicia lAst summer. 1t
has brought about another in the
Jalisu Alps this fall. 1t intends
60 bring about more. A peace
prouazantist, q socialist, is doing
moro effective work-actual mill
taYy vork-for the German arms
than Crown Prince Frederick
| wflnnm, Hindenburg, and Below
put together.
Nor need We expect that our
on armies will not be attacked
In the same manner that those OF
italy md Russia have been. The
German propag1ndist will do his
hest 20 weaken their morale in
the same way in which he weak
ened those of Kornilon and Ca
dorna. 1t Is time to recognize
him, not for misguided theorist,
but for a German soldier doing
military work for. Ludendorh, and
for the same purpose for which
Below b doing ito bring about
dfasster to our arms. Through
out the war socialism has worked
on the side Of Germany, always
helping the enemy Of the democ-
rscies of England, France, Rus
STA and the United States.
Read the last sentence from, The
Tfmes again. and read it with the
thought Of socialism not only in
Europe, among the German soldiers
but in America. among the German
sympathixers. The statement is alb
solutely accurate, as true with regard
to America as Europe. 1t is fact
that loyal Americans must keep be
fore them at this time and after the
wars end The socialists must be
known for what they are-tools Of
Germany and enemies Of America