Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-07-07
RIDICULOUS STORIES CIRCULATED BY.
ALLIES As TO CONDITIONS MGERMANY
Count de Beaufort Gives Impressions Gained During a Trip through
the Kaser's Dominions-Not the Least Sign OF an Approach
ing F%amne-PeopIe United in Sentiment Regarding the
War-Beieve Country Was Forced Into Conflict.

clam, then ask such questions OF make,
such suggestlons!' In the first place,
we are not going to lose this war, but
If we did 1t 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 u 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. I'VE all real
ize now" he said, that we were mis-
taken. The workingmen do not as yet,
rule the world-this wal is proving
that. We still stand in friendly rela1
tionship to the w%orkingmen of Great
Britain and France. Only a few days
ago l received a communication from
Mr.. -, and we frequently hear from
the French headquarters. All the
same, what would have become Of u.s.
II 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 attii
tude towards various proposals made
by other countries, and consequently,
that the war might have been avoids
ed" But he would have none Of it..
mo, no." he emphatically denied!
"Germany's spirit was conciliatory toj
the end. Read the last telegram our
kaiser sent to the czar 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 we'll. No; this war has been
a willful attack on a peace.loving, I'M
dustrious nation. l know the spiris
and feelings of my men. am n Of
them, and that is why We have risen
to a man, and we will stand together,
low by high and high by low, and see
this through" ,...
S~assenbach was, not SO many years
ago, a humble w%orkingman, while to-
day he occupies a very responsible pos
sition. He speaks French and English,
which he has taught himself fluent1
~, 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 POI
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 ncutrals I'M
Germany have become almost hypnoI
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 consul-generalI
| said to me: !
Germany cannot be destroyed, be-
cause it 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 possess
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 %sergeants who want to "iny
spect your passports" are always very
early birds. Their visits are unani
nounced and unexpected, and If you
have the careless habit of sleeping
with your door unlocked land have no.
dog you may see them sometimes
suddenly at the foot end of your bedI
when you wake up. l am speaking
from personal experience.
They catch many that way" the
manager Of the hotel told me, when Il
complained about this almost noctur1
nal visit. as unwelcome as It was uni
expected.