Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-05-13
RIDICULOUS STORIES CIRCULATED BY
ALLIES As TO CONDITIONS IN GERMANY
Count de Beaufort Gives Impressions Gained During Trip Through
the Kasers Domnions-Not the Least Sign of Approach
ing Famne-PeopIe United in Sentiment Regarding the
War-Beieve Country Was Forced Into Conflict

clam, then ask such questions OF make
such suggestions! In the first place,
We are not going to lose this war, but
if We did it would go i'll with the Ger
man labOrer, because he would be
taxed much heavier than he is now to
pay for the war indemnity; and, sec
ondly, our jealous enemies would
place such restrictions on our trade
that it would be impossible for US to
compete"
l asked Sassenbach point blank,
why, in that case, his party had been
opposing the increase of ornaments.
His answer was typical. 1--WE all real
lie now" he said, that we were mis-
taken. The workingmen do not as yet
rule the world-this war is proving
that We still stand in friendly rela-
tionship to the workingmen of Great
Britain and France. Only a few days
ago I received a communication from
Mr.. --, and we frequently hear from
the French headquarters Ali the
same, what would have become of US
if we had not had our army, if we
had not been prepared as we are?"
thought that in such case Ger
many would perhaps have shown a
different and more conciliatory atti-
tude towards various proposals made
by other countries, and consequently
that the war might have been avoid
ed. But he would have none of it.
NO, no." he emphatically denied.
"Germany's spirit was conciliatory to
the end. Read the last telegram GUS
kaiser sent to the car We were
forced to fight. England has been
wanting to get at US for a long time
If Russia had not been sure of FRANCE
and England, do you think she could
have found one idiot in St. Petersburg
who would have started this war with
US?
Russia knew our strength and her
own as well No; this war has been
a willful attack on a peace-loving, in
dustriOus nation. l know the spirit
and feelings of my men. l am one of
them, and that is why we have risen
to man, and We will stand together,
low by high and high by low, and see
this through"
Sassenbach was, not so many years
ago, a humble workingman, while to-
day he occupies a very responsible po-
sition. He speaks French and English
which he has taught himself-fuent-
ly, and, as Professor Francke and the
mayor of Berlin told me, he enjoys the
confidence of many important men,
though they be of entirely opposite po-
litical faith. So, when a man of his
type feels and speaks in that manner,
prompted, I am sure, by deep-rooted,
honest convictions, you may imagine
how strong the feelings must be
among the lesser elements.
Foreigners Closely Watched.
There is no doubt many neutraIs in
Germany have become almost hypno-
tized by the effect produced by the
elaborate efficiency of the German
system. Even foreign consuls have
caught the infection. This, for exam
pie, is what a certain consuI-general
said to me:
Germany cannot be destroyed, be
cause 1t IS the most perfectly man.
aged country in the world"
Early in my Reorganization my in
vestigation of German conditions was
bringing results quite different from
those I expected. Every foreigner
has to go through a certain period of
probation, and till he has passed that
he lives under a cloud of suspicion.
The valet of your floor knows, of
course, every scrap of paper. book,
map, note, you have in your posses
sion So do the various secret agents,
detectives, or whatever they may be
called, who rummage through your
luggage and open your letters, both
coming and going.
Police seTgeants who want to "in-
spect your passports" are always very
early birds. Their visits are unan-
nounced and unexpected, and if you
have the careless habit of sleeping