The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-14
Propaganda at Work All Over World FOstered by Germany to Bring
 This About
ALLIES MUST SEEK TO USE INFLUENCE
 AMONG RUSSIANS
Repudiation of Russian Loans Would Affect Whole World and Re- quire Many Years to
 Overcome

New York, January 13.-tSpeciaD Lewis Nixon, the famous shipbuilder and authority on international topics, has prepared statement for The Age Herald on the present war situation.
 MT Nixon thinks the great danger just now is an armistice with Germany. and he points out that active propa- ganda to bring this about is being ex- ercised throughout the world. His state ment is as follows:
 "Some months ago the situation in Italy was referred to. Under the jm- pression the allies would provide the helr, so strongly appealed for, thought drive across Italy could be prevented and that instead counter drive by Italv would eat into the vitals of the central powers.
 Instead. help so much needed was withheld, and the central powers, profit ing from the fact that they were faced by an overtaxed adversary, struck such owerful blows that the gains of months were abandoned. much Italian territory invaded and much war material and Inany prisoners taken.
 That the possibility of such a victory was foreseen and prepared for we see in the influence of a German propaganda organized months In advance.
 severe weather has in q measure checked the advance, and the fighting may TOW be looked for in it's greatest intensity near the sea. But winters cold must not be depended upon too much, as tie worst weather is usually in Teb- suary and March.
 we must begin to appreciate the fact that we must only think of winning tho war. h case Germany succeeds. as now seems likely. in occupying soma of tho northeastern plans of Italy, they will bo fu;iy cultivated to provide food for the future.
 '.Nve hear much of great drive in the west Of course. owing to the col- lapse of Russia, there are many soldiers of Germany that can be utilized on her western front
 sBut since rumors of such drive seem to come from German sources, it may be that the manifest offensive is not the one decided on.
 The belated attempt of the allies to aid Italy drew enough men from France to prevent Haig giving decisive help to Byng at Cambria
 '.ln case Germany decides upon opera tions in the west they will be with view to using superior forces before our army can reinforce the allies.
 Naturally she would like to weaken the allied lines in France as much as possible.
 '.Wrile no longer the case. there were several instances in the earlier conduct of tbe war of scoring for points rather than knockouts, such points to be for use in after the-war settlements. So allied forces at Salonica and in Asia Minor can be attacked now just as Rou- mania was attacked and to strongly re- inforce such weaker positions means further drain upon transport. munition and food resources already under ten sion.
 Tt must not be assumed that time at present is on the allies side. With we'll worn transportation systems, Germany needs time now to move her troops and equipment and to prepare for further drives or the defensive on the west. not to lose sight of drives in Asia Minor and Italy and on Salonica
 The Russian situation indicates am
 tContinued on Page Thrce)