Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19
Won Tirpi,z's Retirement

/AkiED ana conHlctlng explanations are
given Of the retirement from the German
admiralty OF Admiral Won TirpitZ, moving
spirit in the construction of the German navy
and ardent and bitter advocate of submarine
warfare carried TO the last degree of fright
fulness'
According to the Semiofiicial version retire
ment is due to the admiral's illness. Another
theory is that the Emperor and Chancellor
have decided there shall be no break with
this country. and that Won Tirpitz is forced
out Il preliminary TO the modification of
submarine atrocities. A third solution of
the puzzle is that the Kaiser insists on send
ing the now pent-up navy to fight the British
fleet. while Won Tirpitz has held out for the
policy OF 'watchful waiting behind tho guns
and mine fields OF Wilhelmsiaven and Kiel.
The official pronouncemcnt probably may
he taken in a Pickwickian sense. but either
the second or the third explanation may be
the correct Ii is even possible that the
truth is TO be found in a combination of both,
Ii is certain the German people would
watch with profound misgivings and keen
resentment the suspension of all naval war
fare. IT, therefore. the Kaiser feels he must
yield 10 the demands OF the United States
and the mandate Of International law in the
matter of the submarine, he may also
clude that the fleet must leave its shelter
and go out to fight. In retirement it serves
no useful purpose: in action. while it would
il might yet account for large number Of
those floating defenses that now make even
the thought of Britain's invasion impossible.
There would be risk of course, but the
Kaiser is not the man to hold his hand on
that account He likes risks, for otherwise
there would have been no war
The recent forav of squadron of the Ger
man feet in the North Sea lends some addi-
tona probabiit 10 this theory. 1t was
trial Of the fleets legs perhaps-a stretching
of its limbs and test OF its muscles in prepa
ration for the supreme moment
There are evidences enough that Germany
grows weary of war. The talk of peace, the
Overtures for peace that make their recurrent
appearances, may all be traced to German
sources. New and onerous taxation mpends.
! The food riots in German cities have been
! put down with an iron hand. The British
! blockade is having its effect. the triumphs
! OF the German army, great as they have been,
! have not served to break the ring of enemies
! that encompasses the German people
The assaults Oh Nerdun. conducted with
such seeming recklessness and disregard of
| cost. Cal only be attributed 10 a purpose to
| better the morale OF the Teuton populations
and shatter the morale OF the allies Had
/ the attempt been successful. il would have
/ been followed. il is likely. by new peace
4 parleys II it shall prove finally successful
! such overtures may he expected.
/ nat might emu the probability OF a sally
( OF the feet. There would be no immediate
/ reason FOR il. Failure at Verdun however
would make another demonstrate in force
I essential. and battle in the North Sea might
/ be the outcome. Destruction of large
number OF Britains capital ships, even
though victory rested Britan's banners
might shake British confidence and render
peace desirable 10 British hearts
Ihis Is speculation certainly, hut 1t fits in
. he md ,'c
internal situation and Of Germany's policy
\ The creates, naval combat the world has ever
. seen--a combat grca or tnan, a few years ago
the world had even dreamed of--nay come in
the nexi few weeks