The daily progressive-miner., 1918-03-12


 which Germany has won in that field of conflict back of the front where she is far more skilled antagonist than she has ever been in the sphere of military operations. We refer. of course, to that worldwide war-secret, subtle, deadly and enormously effect rye which she is ceaselessly waging among the civilian populations back of the military fighting lines of the Al lies. Here she has won victories more complete, of greater significance, and with infinitely more disastrous con- sequence to her enemies, than any which she has won in the field. Wit ness the complete collapse of Russia and t..e partial collapse, in the fall of last year, of the hitherto indomitable Italian Armies.
 Germany's hope of victory lies in the war behind the front-a war which in its secrecy and cunning is as deadly and difficult to deal with as the sub sea piracy of the German Uboats It was after Germany realized that she could never win on the sea and in the open, that she struck below the sea and in the dark. So, realizing that she can never conquer with the sword, she seeks to win out against the non- ccmbatant's population by means of the subtle suggestion of failure, the secret whisperings of classification, the little spark of rumor which runs thru mems minds like fire through dry stabble, to say nothing-of the deliber ate lie, craftily conceived, cunningly camouflaged, and whispered by thou sand trusted spies into ten thousand listening ears.
 In carrying on this war there is no weapon, however small, that Is so in significant as to be overlooked by the German propagandists; there is no in- fluence which can have the slightest effect upon the morale of the people that is considered too small for the patient, tireless effort of these sold iers of secrecy in our midst, whose ef- hciency increases in the ratio of their modesty and apparent insignifcance. Many are the current phases which have originated in the secret text books of the German Secret Service: Peace without Annexation or Indem- mites" Ca peace which involves no ac- acknowledgement of moral guilt by the vanquished). "The War Is a Stale mate" (which suggests that Germany is so strong that she can never be beaten). Look at the Map" (sug- gesting that Germany has won, and ignoring the fact that her man power has decreased in the proportion in which her boundaries have extended.) Peace without Victory" (the most in- sidious phrase of all; for peace with out confession of military defeat, would be acclaimed by Germany as peace won by German force of arms.)
 t is fact that the majority of peo- pie Il this world never grow up, and that only a small minority develop that mental growth, that sense of pro portion which enables them to take a broad view of such far-reaching ques- tions as are involved in this world war. Most people are inteliigently concerned only with the things which are close at hand and readily obvious. They look, as it were, through knot hole instead of using the sixty-degree angle of vision which every intelli- gent man ought to have: and conse- quently such people, and 1t Is the great majority, are peculiarly sensitive to the suggestions of propaganda,