New-York tribune., 1918-02-03

fac -similie Of local newspaper, so
adroitly done as to defy detection, was
circulated by chosen ones Of the agents
Germany maintains behind the Italian
front.
The news columns Of this fake sheet
told Of serious Ally reverses on the
West front, of a peace concluded with
Russia and exchange of prisoners, Of
U.boat successes against England and
Of the difficulties of shipbuilding which
would make it impossible for America
to get her army over to France and to
the support of the Allies until 1919.
But the devilish and distracting
features of the trick were the re-
ports in dispatches pretending to have
come from the section, and even the
home towns, whence. this particular
Italian sector was largely drawn, of
the passing of small and poorly out
fitted Ally reinforcements and of the
wholesale abuse of Italian women by
the British officers and soldiers.
What the Propaganda
Cost the Italians
Ably seconded by the fraternizing of
Socialists from the opposing Austrian
ranks with Socialists among the 1tal-
ians, this lying propaganda served to
seducc the Italians to an extent that,
although the general morale of this
particular group was answerable for
the beginning in the break, and the
first cause of the reverse and the re-
treat that cost Italy 250,00O men killed,
wounded and prisoners. 2,70O guns of
all kinds and enormous quantities of
accumulated stores-including 100000
pairs of shoes, uniforms and II 900 900
bushels of grain.
Similar German propaganda, too,
abetted, by the reasonable help of the
despicable CaillauX-gone at last to the
dungeon which has yawned for him
these two years--is, to an immeasur-
able degree, responsible for much of
Italian popular feeling, which not only
is made lukewarm by the scarcity of
food, but confused by the cross cur
rents of papal, financial and political
opinion. 49,. .t.
Indeed, conservative observers COM
ing direct from Italy told me in France
in December that SO great was the need
of corn and wheat and so high the
cost of fuel--coal at $140 the toni
that unless relief comes a very seri-
0S%o CO %,Vot ~ NJ l..
Italy by spring.
At the same time Italy is enjoying
great industrial activity. One company,
getting its iron from England and
America, the F. l. A. T., has 10000 men
working on munitions, automobiles and
aeroplanes. And it is suggestive of the
coal situation to say that even this big
organization is obliged to shut down
one day in the week for want of it.
SO much for the results of the Ger
man propaganda in Italy.
Against the presence of Anne ericans in
France the German propaganda is pur-
against the British-viz., through ped
lers circulating among the peasants, to
pour the poison of mistrust into their
war-gddy heads, and with spies among
the soldiers themselves.
The German idea is to undermine and
eventually to destroy by pacifist props-
ganda unsconable lying The morale of
the French and the English armies as
they have that of Russia and, this
Done, to concentrate all their military
energy upon America.
Such is the propaganda that is now
actually going forward in France as
write; medley of specious argument
insidious suggestion and straight living.
assembled with the view to create su5.
picion, to stir resentment and a LONGING
for peace among people who have paid
dearly and are naturally war-weary.
America Effort
Through Boche Glasses
And these are the lines which it
follows:
That Americas s interference nro1nnns