Evening journal., 1918-01-07
Gimp DIX Warned
Of GERMAN WILES
Italian Reverses Due to
Propaganda in Ranks. Y.
M. c. A. Man Says
RUSSIA DECEIVED
BY THEIR ENEMIES
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.

special 70 THE EVENING JOURNAL.
CAMP DIX, Wrightstown, n. j., Jan.
7.-Confrmation of news dispatches
from European capitals that the reverse
Of the second Italian army was due 10
an insidious German propaganda was
brought to Camp Dix yesterday by
James Whitman. American war council
representative Of the Y. VI. C. A., who
has just returned from Europe Mr..
Whitman addressed 2OOO Camp Dix
men yesterday afternoon on his per-
sonal Impressions at the front and
brought an amazing story Of the cause
Of the Italian collapse.
THE second Italian army was honey
cOmbed with German-Austrian propa-
gandists," he said Even the officers
fell for their diabolical perversiOns Of
the facts. A few days before the big
drive began l was talking with an Ital-
ian officer near the front. lie was a
former contractor from New York city.
fle assured me that by january the
war would be over and he would be
back in America. Representatives Of all
the Allies and the Central Powers were
even then meeting in Switzerland and
arranging peace terms he assured me,
nor could / convince him otherwise.
This story had permeated the whole
Italian army and seemed 10 be accepted
as truth.
THE very day before the big drive
began copies Of what purported TO be
Italian newspapers, cleverly faxed, even
60 advertisements and some genuine
news. were circulated by the thousands
through the italian lines. They bore
glaring headlines 10 the effect that at
home there were terrible bread riots In
Italian cities; that the wives and chill
drcn Of soldiers at the front were bat
fling for their lives, and that English,
French and Austrian troops had been
called In and were shooting the wo-
men and children. You can imagine the
result.
Il cannot explain haw the papers got
into the italian lines or how they were
permitted TO be circulated but the
fact Of their circulation stands, and so
we'll planned was the propaganda that
when the strongest German divisions
replaced the Austrians and began the
drive they We're virtually unOppOsed
until they reached the third line Of de-
tense.
Something Of this same kind hap
pened on the Russian front IL was Hun
propaganda, making the bayonet with
an olive branch, and Turing the poor
Russian 10 the most war-like peace that
Imagination can picture.
I'VE az home In America are up
against this same sort Of poison. We
should be on our guard to check It
wherever It appears. The Hun will stop
3t nothing; he win appear with his
preparedness at every turn, and we
should be ready to swat MIN at his
every appearance"
The warning came in good time. This
particular form Of German propaganda
apepars to have been busy during the
last 2i hours, spreading through
New Jersey towns a story 10 the ef-
feet that two Jersey infantrymen had
been frozen 10 death while on guard
duty The story was cleverly told as
TO every detail. except, Of course, as
10 names. The story Is absolutely with
out foundation.
At a great union communion service
held at the Red Triangle Auditorium at
tended by Major General Scott and 1000
n his officers and men, an innovation
was introduced when the communion
was served by fifteen majors and cap
lains, who were laeding cnurchmen oc-
cupying official positions at home. A
militant sermon was preached by the
Rev. Dr. Charles A. Eaton. Of the Madi-
son Avenue Baptist Church, New York.
Masses were held in the Knights Of Co
'lumbus Halls and several huts. con-
ducted by Catholic ch3plains.
One Of the best musical programs
heard at the camp was presented before
q packed auditorium at the main
knights Of Columbus building by a
chorus OF sixty women Of the san Do
llingo Choral Of Philadelphia.
Major General Scott made his first
visit to and inspection Of the base hos
pital Saturday afternoon accompanied
by his new chief Of stan, Colonel COotes.
They were met by Major W. G.. Davis.
commanding officer Of the institution
and visited every section, from the re-
ceiving ward TO the surgical laborator-
les and psychological department