The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-11-29
GERMANS TRYING
| TO CAPTURE LION
William Robert, Who Has Just Re
turned From kaiser's Domain,
Tells Of EnthusIasm of-People
Of His Empire.
WILL CROSS CHANNEL
Relative Of Commander Of Famous
German Submarine Says British
Are Keeping Fleet in Hiding
for Fear Of Loss.

Are Keeping Fleet IN Hioin9
for Fear Of Loss.
That Germany will make any sacri-
flee to beard the British lion in his
den, and that already plans on gig
antic scale are being planned for the
Invasion of England, is the view of the
Will Robert of Plains, Kansas, who
has been in Germany since the out
brea'- of the war. and who was in Keo-
ikuk F.iday. M t.. r ebert was in Ca r.
bad when war was declared. Fe l {
G elm many a few we $40 cmng 0
America by the way of Cop ,nhagen.
Monster ferry boats sro boir- bu:i.
by the G rmans, accord n; to NJ.
Rob ri, preparatory to transport
troops across the channel and landings
are bcing fitted out with concrete
decks. These reinforced dec'-s will be
the bases en- which the powerful 2
centimeter guns of the kaise-'s forces
will b. mounted. Bu'warks will NC
tect the 'diers on these shi)s. w. h
these guns more powerful than any the
English navy can muster, the Germans
declare they VII cross the chanr el
and land in e g,and.
Need To Have Calais.
When asked # this plf n did n t
first involve he cal rur Of CslaiS, NJ.
Robert declared that it dill. T at s
why the attack is being directed til s
way. He state that Calais would 9
niece ssarv to Germany IN commer-
Icial way, and thct there W uld be 70
sacrifice too great to secure it. And
ono, secured, he dcc-a e., will never
be given UP. That S why tie kei5or
has given orders to spare no men in
the capture Of the channel rcrt city.
The Germans feel th7t thew waft
to beard the lion in is de1, was t.
way Mr.. Robert expressed the selti-
ment of the Gcrnan recpl'. Re 81
that he thought there IVES no, chance
of bringing al oft reac., at this s.ao 9
Of the fighting, each nation felt there
was too much at stake.
Keep Navy IN F7ldtn9.
Mr.. Robert is a relative by marriage
Of Capt. Weddington OF the German
submarine No. 9, which sank the three
British vessels. Consequently It. was
pertinent to ask Mr.. Robert concern
ing the British navy of which so
much is expected. His reply is that
England will not risk her ships. She
lis keeping them in harbors. and hiding
them. The German fleet he said was
anxious to meet them, but was unable
to find them, as they are being kept
under cover. Mr.. Robert seemed to
think that with her fleet gone, Eng
lands chances would be much weak
ened.
Just as an illustration Of the pre-.
paredness of Germany. and the vast
reserve on which she has to fall, he
told the following incident.
II was talking to German officer,
and asked him if he did not fear that
their powder would give out.
| Powder Manufactured Years Ago.
THE officers reply was that they
we're using for practise the powder
which they manufactured for use in the
lFranco-Prussian war Of 20 and I'll"
This opens an entirely new vista OF
the proposition regarding supplies and
It Is evident that the kaiser with true
German forethought has laid In
supply Of powder which covers per-
iod of forty years.
And the German spirit is wonder
r~h4 nd ~ atn
he has to tell about the soldiers
illustrates that He says that the
young men and boys run away from
school and beg to be allowed to join
the army. One man he knew. said there
il was little use to forbid his son to
enter the army. he would run away
and enlist, anyway. That Germany
! fact that the garrisons have not been
withdrawn from the towns, and that
! the biggest delay in sending troops
out. is caused by the inability to sec
cure uniforms fast enough to clothe
the soldiers.
And Their, are the reservists, too,
rusing to join the co!ors, according to
Mr.. Robert. He said there was quite a
contrast between the Germans and
English IN this country, in this re-
spect The Germans were all going
back to rally to the colors.
! Can Turn Back Russia.
It is Mr. Roberts belief that Ger
many can now adequately handle
any attempted invasicns on the part
of Russia. At the start, he said, the
Russians outnumbered the Teutons.
But by capturing thousands, and kill,
ing other thousands, the Germans had
reduced the odds against them from
ten to one, to about three to one. He
considered that they could take care OF
an invasion through this reduction In
the number of enemies.
And then too, enthusiasm Is at q