The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
SENTIMENT IS CHANGING
GERMAN PRESS RECOVERING FROM
IT'S OUTBREAK OF REvILINGs.
Tone of Newspapers Now Favorable
to the United States-GonsuI Bow
ems Experience at barcelona.


unnoticed. The newspapers print entire
pages of war news, from all parts, mostly
unreliable, and much of it is unfavorable
tosthe United States. Extras are repeatedly
issued, alleging great naval disasters TO the
Americans. One of the worst offenders an
ounce on Wednesday evening last that
four American war ships had been blown
up Cgiving among the victims a fictitious
ironclad) off Buenos Ayres. AS a whole,
however. the German press has ceased it's
hostile tone towards the United States. For
this change the government is entirely re-
sponsible, as all the ewspapers which are
in the habit of obtaining from
the Foreign Office, which includes all news
papers Of Importance in the empire, were
this week given a hint to stop their abuse
Of the United States as being directly OPP
posed to the governments attitude, besides
being unpatriotic and politically unwise.
The hint took effect and not a line directly
hostile to America has since been printed
in any paper. The correspondent of the AS
ISOLATED Press notes that several newspa-
pers, notably the Frankfort Zeitung, nave
adopted a distinctly friendly tone respecting
the war.
The fact that Paris, Rome and Portuguese
newspapers, which are even more unfriendly
to the United States than the German news
papers, have all been pointing out that the
war is a conflict of the Latins against the
Anglo-Saxons also has had some effect in
bringing about the quick change in Ger
many, and some of the formerly most hos
tile German newspapers are now emphasize
ing the view that the interests of Germany
are entirely on the side of America. For
instance, the Berlin Post, which enjoys close
relations with Prince Hohenlohe, the i'm
perial chancellor, and which hitherto has
roundly abused the United States as 'rapa-
clouS' and "pharisaical," now quotes ut
terances of French newspapers and deduces
therefrom that it must be clearly to Ger
man interests to side with the enemies of
France.
Among a mass of articles dealing with the
war, the Kreuz Zeitung, a favorite army
paper, publishes an article contributed by
MAJOR Scheibert, who, judging from per-
sonal experiences during the civil war in
the United States, says: '"The Americans.
~oouptless, will incur serious reverses at the
commencement of hostilities, and unless
tnelr navy is strong enough to force a great
Dattle and demolish the naval resources of
SPAN, which | think very doubtful, the
war will drag along for years and cost
much more blood and treasure than her
people believe possible
Herr Liebknecht, the Centrist leader,
writes as follows: 1.-THE war means q new
grouping OF the powers. Heaceforth Eu-
rope Will nave to reckon the United States
as a decisive factor in the worlds politics.
If the German government is not blind, l
must open its eyes to this fact and shape
its political course accordingly" In con-
Guiding Herr Liebknecht says: The United
States, as we'll as Great Britain, has been
preparing to form during the year past the
newest Dreibund-America, Great Britain
ana Japan. If 1T is effected it means the end
of the European paramount power in the
worlds policy"
In the Reichstag also this week during
the debate upon the Kiao-Chou affair Herr
Liebknecht told the government that while
they had not informed the Reichstag of it
ne knew that during the Chino-Japan war
the United States had informed European
Cabinets that it held vaster material inter
ests to guard in the far East than all the
European powers, Great Britain excepted,
ana Whatever was done in the far East the
United States must be consulted. This
statement was contradicted in the house
by the government.
German interests. The increase in the price
of cereals since April L is greater even than
has risen from 1913 marks to 221, the high
est in recent years, the effects of which are
much felt by the poor. The price of meat
have decided that henceforth they must in
sure against war losses. Premiums now
range from Is to u per cent. Exporters of
Berlin. ChermnitZ, Klingenthal. Barmen,
Sobingen, Remscheld, Gera, Greiz, Markirch
and Mulhausen have received countermands
lOT DlOSI OF their american OfQerS.
German merchants at the Azores and
Philippine islands have asked the Foreign
Office for protection.
The United States embassy does not re-
gard the fact of Germany's not issuing a
declaration of neutrality as indicative of
unfriendliness, but rather the reverse; while
it reiterateS that the minister for foreign
affairs, Baron Won Buelow. has given re-
peated assurances, some of which have
been quite recent, that Germany will OBJ
serve the strictest neutrality, not only now.
but throughout the war, coupling with these
assurances expressions of the most friendly
feelings on the part OF the German govern
ment for the government and people of the
United States. In conversation on the SUBJ
ject the United States ambassador. Mr..
Andrew D. White, said: There is absolute
" no reason to expect anything but fair
and impartial neutrality from Germany,
which is all the United States wanted or
expected"
As a matter of fact. Germany's decision
not to formally declare neutrality means
nothing more or less than, while it leaves
the governments hands free, it is expected
to enable German merchants to reap a har-
vest by selling freely to both combatants.
At the same time. it may be gathered from
the fact Spain strenuously sought to in
duce Germany to proclaim neutrality, that
she regards neutrality as conducive to her
interests.
During the visit of the United States am
bassador TO Dresden several interesting in
cidents occurred. When en- route for the
audience with King Albert to present Pres
ident McKinley's congratulations on the
twenty-ffth anniversary of his accession TO
A"& - go @At1N Nt( L0%@@1
ambassador to Germany, Senior Mendez de
Vigo, upon the stairs of the palace. There
was a moment of embarrassment; then
both stretched out their hands and eX-
changed greetings. Mr.. White, in present
ing President McKinley's letter, made a
neat speech, assuring his Majesty that he
was held in high esteem and affection in
America, at which the King was much
gratifed. Mr.. White was also presented TO
emperor Francis Joseph, of Austria, who
warmly welcomed him. 1t was generally
remarked that the Austrian Emperor had
aged terribly lately. His hair and beard
which. a year ago, were only Streaked with
gray, are now snow white, and the express
sion of his face has become most sad.
Mr.. White. while at Dresden, had frequent
conversations with the Papal nuncio, Mgr.
Lorinzelii. who told him that the Vatican
had been ill-advised in its recent attempts
at mediation. Continuing, Mgr. Lorinzelli
said: 'What the Pope ought to have done
was to induce Spain to give the Pope Cuba,
he giving it to the Cubans."
Despite denials it is a fact that many
German officers whose aristo-
cratic names, if published, would create a
sensation in Germany, applied at the United
States embassy for permission TO join. the
American forces. A large percentage of the
American students are en- route home 10
offer their services TO the government.
The German-American Club, of Berlin, at
a special meeting this week, adopted reso-
lutions expressing sympathy and encourage
ment I'm the righteous war against tyran-
Meal SPAIN"