South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-10

sible, if not probable ultimate results. You
take your choice. K is a choice between the
weak-nlinded dupe that falls the prey to the insid
ious wlleS and pTejudicial appeals of the cunning
TeutOns-paradng IN the disguise of wise friends
and the deliberate Scoundrel who knows better,
but sel6shly employs the dictates of those nsid-
ious w1les and preJudical appeals for personal or
clique advantages
The story of how Teutonic propaganda worm
eat its way into the Italian ministry, into the
army of CadOrna, and into the minds of the ltai-
ian people, opening the way for that autmnal
drive that never stopped until it had filled the
River Pave with Italian blood, is still fresh IN the
American memory.
Failing confidence IN the Italian general dis
satisfaction with the Italian management, and
panicy Italian people, all the product of leu
tonic poisoning, had the little kingdom Of Victor
Emmanuel quite on the verge of asking separate
peace-when France and England to the rescue,
saved that little kingdom from itself.
Cadorna, among the greatest of the generals
of the world war, obliged to retire from an
over-con6dence in his men which they returned
in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In Germany'-and
so cleverly appealing to every popular suspicion,
and individual prejudice, that the whole allied
world trembled as the charge proceeded, and re-
treat after retreat preceded, headlong IN the dTec
ton of Rome.
And how about Russia? What the allied world
faces in the apparent loss of Russia Is credable,
unquestionably to the sources of mischief
that temporarily upset Italy.
From the moment that Nicholas was deposed
and Premier KerenslIy was "imposed"-as the
Teutonic propagandists impressed it,-Russians
were never permitted moment to pass without
an apparently friendly analysis of the 'imposi-
ton" being kept before them.
How the Teutonic fishermen with such brand Of
poisoned bait did fish for Maxirnalist and bolshe-
wiki; veing with them lovers of liberty, and fill
ing them full of all sorts of distrust of the
rangement which they were told was to rival the
Romanoffs In awful tyrannies, if left to rule.
Trotzky and Lenine probably are not knaves;
only fools They may have been perfectly honest
In the midst of their being deceived In which case
it would seem that by this time they must have
come pretty well to their senses.
Out of it all, however, has come the exempli-
fed assurance to the rest of the world whether it
has been absorbed in Russia as yet or not that
Germany IS in wise to be trusted; and IN her
diplomacy more than in her propaganda.
T RANCE and England, and especially the latter,
/ scarcely less than Italy and Russia have also
been on the verge of internal revolution because
of the inroads made by Teutonic propaganda, into
the minds of the people.
France has suffered less than England only be-
cause she was actually being invaded, and fighting
on the part of the French early became more
matter of reprisal than it ever has been with the
English.
Yet the gospel of separate peace has found its
adherents in France; there have been several up
trust from German propagation; Joffre was re-
called from the front because German propaganda
spread the story that he grooming himself
not for Napoleon ii, but a second Napoleon.
Military experts quite of one mind that the
might be over but for German politics at
work in the French administration and infiu-
encing the calling off Of what would no doubt
have been decisive battle for the allies
1t was away back In 1915. The story is old.
There was to be general advance of French and
British fronts, and hope in the armies based upon
knowledge of the ground that their leaders pos
sesSed high for early and conclusive VIC
tory.
Then came the insidous, the pessimistic the
hydrocarbons apostle of UnPrepsredneSs
fool or fiendsh emissary of enemy propaganda
and the French ministry made to believe
that Germany would meet the advance with such
overwhelming numbers, and superior equipment,
that the assault would be merely suicide.
Haig and Petain were obliged to lie down
withhold their bands,-and victory snatched
from them. Ii has since been learned that Ger
many was less equipped, before nor since
that time, to meet such engagement
And witrsess the shakeups that have taken place
in the British war ministry. England has been a
much fruitful field in results emanating
from Teutonic cussedness, than has France, and
IN some respects, even than Italy.
Until Lloyd George assembled to the premier
ship the war in England consisted mainly of just
ministry after another-falling the VIC
time of a popular unrest dissatisfaction bad con-
6dence, and hypercriticism, the product OF such
fools or fiends-malefsctors to British patriotism
as the Lords Northcliffe and Lansdowne.
Enghshmen in their slow, self-centered, self
satisfied and self-assured frames of mind of
course could not understand why they should be
disturbed from their Slumbers but since they had
been disturbed why continue the wakefulness?
Shouldn't the war have been won IN the first fort
night? Why drag il along-but don't ask for