The San Francisco call., 1901-11-23
Won EDELSHEIM'S IDEAS.

~ caused IN Berlin by the publication OF
- pamphlet setting forth the tactics Germany
would pursue in Of war with the United States
or with Great Britain. The pamphlet was 81 no un-
known or irresponsible author 1t was written by
less person than Baron Won Edelshem, an officer
in the chief general staff of the German army 1t was
that fact which caused the hutter for such book
coming from such seemed something like
official utterance, and accordingly it made
ton that extended ever Europe and even to this
country.
SO far as we are concerned there is no occasion
for alarm. dispatch from Washington of yesterday
announced that the German War Office has issued
formal disayowal of responsibility for the pamphlet
and that the German ambassador at Washington
had forwarded it to Secretary Hay with suitable ex-
plantations In case, then the incident is closed
| We never were alarmed offended by the publica-
ton, and consequently we are just willing to
cept an explanation as an apology.
! Doubtless explanations have been made to Great
Britain well as to us, but the less the issue
remains open. The persistence OF the German agi-
tation against Chamberlain is recognized in Great
Britain evidence OF deep feeling of hostility
| among the Germans against Great Britain herself.
The London press treats the subject very grave
one, and several papers express the fear that the
camors of the people may force the German Govern
ment to take some steps against British interests
that may lead to war Such being the strained rea-
tions between the two peoples there is naturally
great deal of interest in Won Edelshem's pamphlet
The summary sent to this country of the contents
of the pamphlet is brief but sufficient to show that
Won Edelsheim has high opinion of British troops
or British generals. He declares that in case of
between the two powers Germany would take
the offensive and invade England and dictate peace
at London.
Briefly stated the argument of the writer is this:
Sooner later Germany must fight Great Britain,
because the expansion of German commerce will in
evitably bring the two into conflict AS soon as war
is declared Germany would at once send her fleet to
sea while the British getting theirs ready. By
reason of her greater promptness Germany would be
able to dominate the sea for time, and during that
time she would mobilize army and enter upon the
INVASION
After pointing the shortcomings of the British
troops as revealed in the South African war the
pamphlet goes to say: eve must also take ac-
count Of their slight fighting value compared with
we'll trained German troops. The only troops ready
in England for action three divisions of the First
Army Corps. about two divisions of the Second and
combined division Of the Third together with three
cavalry brigades The strength of an English division
on footing is only 10000 men, while similar
German division numbers about 10000 men. Ger
cavalry brigade and five infantry divisions England
in a very short time. How the operation could be
carried OFT must not, of course, be explained here.
But this can be said that it be done within little
more than thirty hours in favorable weather from
German harbors in the North Sea- Large tracts of
the English coast furnish good landing places for
troops, and the country itself has many
that invading army could live them for long
time. On the other hand the island is not large
enough to allow English troops to destroy once
victorious hostile army 1t is unlikely that such
would last very long and considerable reinforce
ments would, therefore, not be needed"
That is the pamphlet for which the German War
Office has dsclamed responsibility. 1t is not pleas
ant reading for the British public just at this time
and is the irritating because Of the revelation
it makes OF German contempt for the British army
and the British navy. Had Won Edelsheim suggested
an invasion with a million the British might
have laughed but to suggest conquest by 100000
| men is something like an insult