The Washington times., 1915-07-06
KAISER WARNEDNOT
TO BREAK WITH US.
BY HIS OWN OFFICER
Admiral Oscar Won Truppel
Calls on Sovereign to Weigh
Situation Carefully.

BERLIN, July 6.-The Kaiser Is
asked to weigh seriously the value Of
Germanys submarine warfare on
Great Britain as against the possible
alienation of the United States in an
article in Der Tag. signed by Admiral
Oscar Won Truppel.
Admiral Won Truppel was at one time
the governor OF Kiaochow. the German
concession in the Chinese province or
Shantung, which was wrested from the
Kaiser soon after Japan's entry in the
present war.
The present advice-giver is a studi-
Gus and conservative naval officer. VINO
goes fully into the question OF what
Germany may lose through a continu-
alton of its methods OF submarine war
fare.
Admiral Won Truppel advises Germa ms
not to underestimate the seriousness Of
a breach with the United States. argu-
ing that even a breach of diplomatic
relations between Germany and the
United States may seriously hinder the
German cause.
Effects Not Considered.
The writer expresses the belief that
the effects of such an estrangement are
regarded too lightly in his country.
The article Is considered remarkable
for it's frankness. 1t Is in part as fol-
lows:
"A German-American war or even
a rupture of diplomatic relations. the
effect of which would virtually be as
great. would injure German prospects
more seriously than many believe AL
though America at first would be able
to contribute little to the military
strength of the entente allies except by
an acceleration of the munitions supply.
II could in time cooperate with con-
siderable land and sea forces and with
first class submarines and aeroplanes in
the complete isolation of Germany. 1t
also could exercise such pressure upon
the few remaining neutral countries
that these would probably be arrayed
actively or passively In the ranks Of our
enemies"
Truppel discounts the stories Of earlier
existing American agreements with
Great Britain against Germany. ex-
planning that this is most improbable
owing to American diplomatic tradi-
tions.
But it is undenia ble," he says, I'm
spite of President Wilson's unquestion-
able desire to reach a peaceful solu-
ton of the problems. that the sympa-
thies of a majority Of Americans are on
the side of England, and that only a
spark might be necessary under certain
conditions to kindle this feeling into a
hostile outbreak"
What Can Germany Hope?
The kernel of the problem from a
German standpoint. says Truppel, in
conclusion, Is contained in this question
Can we hope. SO far as we are able
to foresee, to force England to it's knees
through submarine warfare against her
commerce?
IF the answer is in the negative our
submarines can find better employment
against hostile warships. particularly in
the hunting grounds of the Mediterra-
mean, the Dardanelles, and the Suez
canal. Submarine warfare against mer-
chantmen in that case could be modi-
fied or abandoned to obtain a more IA
vorable neutrality from and the friend
ship of America, which would be OF
great value to Germany after the war.
IF the answer is in the affirmative.
then the la wof self-preservation would
Justify us In the situation. which Eng
land has forced upon us. in using to
the fullest extent our superiority in
subma rines, and we can calmly accept
all the consequences of It."