New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-28
THE HYPHENATED PERIL
A Russians Forecast of Revolution
in Our Midst.
To .be Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. Will. the diplomatic relations be-
,,,aen the United States and Germany are
growing more and more precsrious every
dav il seems as though tho government and
the people here pay little attention to
what might actually happen II these rela-
tions we're at once broken. Though the pub
lie and probably the scm-offieial opinion here
prevails that the break of diplomatic relations
with Germany would hardly mean actual war,
vet TINS very step will give enough material
FOR the semi-hysteric hyphenated Germans
here 10 rebel against their political enemy.
And I am pretty we'll in position to state
that this ia exactly what will happen. The
American Germans will bring about an armed
conflict with the United States government
and people for two reasons: First, because
the German element Is barrack- bred and sees
the solution Of racial differences in Blood
and Iron; and second, because disturbances
Of this kind will prevent the United States
manufacturers from delivering thcir ammuni-
tions to the Allies.
There are not less than dozen German
Schitzenvereine in New York and the sub
]
each member being we'll trained German
soldier or officer. In case Of necessity 10000
members of other Schttzenverene near New
York could be assembled here quietly, and
thus an army Of 10000 we'll trained soldiers
could be created within an hour Besides
these 10000 soldiers there could be formed
troops from the members Of various German
singing societies, such as Liederkranz. Mo-
Fart Verein, Arion and others. The German
singing societies arc all united into what is
called the "vereinigten Sanger" the mem
bership Of which runs to 10000 men, if not
more.
As far as ] know, all the members Of the
German singing societies are fanatic pa
triots and ready to fight for the Vaterland
The Germans could bring up army of So
600 men in New York within an hour. There
arc only 10000 members of the National
Guard in this city, and some few hundred
United States army troops, here and there.
True there are the police. But the majority
Of them are either Irish or German who
would take the side OF the rebels. The police,
however. could not fight with their pistols
and clubs a we'll armed army for any time.
The members of the German Sclutzenvereine
could capture within an hour the arsenals
and ammunition stores that are in this city
before the National Guard could even have
n chance to get together.
can make the statement that all the mem
bers Of the German SchutZenvereine are
armed with regular army rifles and they have
plenty of ammunition. With hundred well
trained soldiers | capture all the New
York ammunition stores that either belong
TO the National Guard or the government.
I !
in New York streets. There are several hun
dred rapid fire guns in this city and they
are known TO the German patriotic societies.
There are big German houses in this city,
dealing in ammunition. | was offered 10000
Mauser rifles and 200 rounds ammunition
to each by a German. When I actually went
to buy them ! could not get them. There ap-
peared a kind of mystery about the whole
transaction. These 10000 Mauser rifles, with
ammunition for them, are still in New York,
as far as | know.
After the war had started several high
German officers tried to solicit me TO become
member of their associations, for the sim
pie reason that they knew my troubles with
the Russian government in the past. ] re-
ceived them politely and listened TO their
proposals and invitations. But as soon as
declared that ! was a fervent patriot and
sympathzer with the Allies these German
friends vanished. IL was on that occasion
that caught a glimpse OF the inside mach-
nations Of the American Germans, and since
that time feel that there is serious trouble
breeding q
The Germans in this city will have the sup
port of all the Hungarians, many Poles. all
the Swedes and good many Russian Jews.
The Germans have been agitating here Wig
orously all the irish element. They are per-
fectly organized and believe in iron and eX
plosives Every German has a miltaristic
bug in his brains, because il was Prussia
which introduced the compulsory military
service first OF all. and it was Bismarck who
poisoned the whole race with militarism.
During the Bismarck regime the slightest
criticism even Of the details Of the system
was considered sacrilcgious. So potent are
he militaristc ideas among the Germans
that even science is compelled to bend to the
support of barrack trained minds like Treit-
schke and Bernhard.
The situation is more serious than is gen.
erally admitted. The only way to prevent
such disturbance in New York is to get
control of the situation now. Even II the
German rebels would not achieve much,
should they get hold OF New York for a few
DAYS they would do terrible damage and
upset life here Besides, il would have
bad moral effect II is easy to prevent pos
sible trouble in spiritual germs, but it is not
easy TO suppress an actual uprising.
IVAN NARODNY
New York, Sept Is, 1915.