The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-24
|sANER ELEMENT N
SADDLE IN GERMANY
Interpolation OF Chancellor BY Won
Tirpitx Factionists Falls Through
in ReicIsstag.
TO WAGE WAR UNDER RULES
Great Body OF German People Desire
to Maintain Peace With America
and Realize Ruthless Submarine
Acts Would Mean War.
ny AUGUSTUS r. BEACH.

Berlin, March 22 (via The Hague,
March 23).---The Interpolation OF
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Holiweg by
the Won Tirpitz faction, which prom
Used great sensation. has failed to
materialize. as predicted In . pre-
vious dispatch would happen.
The feverish popular support OF the
Won Tirpitz plan of ruthless subma-
rine warfare has passed. and Germans
are supporting the saner statesman
ship of the chancellor.
The Reichstag was crowded to the
limit today by a great throng eager
to witness the attack on the govern
ment. There was long delay in
opening the meeting TIL rumors began
to spread that an agreement had been
reached at the eleventh hour. This
rumor was justified when, in con-
vening the Reichstag, the president,
DIR. Kaempf, announced that the in
terpolation concerning U-boat war
fare. had been postponed until next
week.
This statement was accepted spon-
taneously as victory for the chan
cellor. President Kaempf went on TO
explain that at a special meeting. the
leaders of the various factions had
agreed that all the submarine ques-
tions should be adjourned till further
notice, and that In the meantime an
other meeting of the leaders would
take place.
The only hostile voice raised was
that of DIR. Iiebknecht (who, as many
Americans suppose, Is not the leader
of the Social Democrats), who wept as
he declared he felt 1t his duty to OPP
pose such a plan.
Laughter Greets His Tears.
Laughter greeted DR.. Liebknecht's
an hafn
all the submarine controversy was
shelved.
This controversy, of which little,
apparently has been known outside
of Germany, has been of the utmost
Importance to America ana other neu-
trail countries, as 1t has been ques-
ton whether the government policy
with respect to a cautious subma-
rine warfare should be continued or
abandoned In favor of the campaign
of warfare, which would be certain
to involve the neutral nations, and,
perhaps, in the end. draw some or
them into the war.
The majority of Germans are show
ing Enthusiastically that they don't wish
to proceed beyond international law.
and, as have often stated, don't wish
for war with the United States.
The manner in which this internal
political conflict Is taking the form
of q show of confidence in the chan
cellor's policy and the lack OF desire
to disregard American and other neu-
trail interests. 1t Is expected here, will
have considerable influence on those
Americans who believe that Germany
wants war with the United States.
VIII Obey the Law.
or course, the submarine warfare
will go on with the greatest energy,
but 1t Is not the intention to close
| law libraries while 1t proceeds.
| The Germans are still firm In their
purpose to treat armed merchantmen
| as auxiliary cruisers, but there is not
man in Germany who believes in
| the English contention that merchant
men are not armed for offense.
! AS indicating how well-informed
Germans regard the situation. Ferdi-
nand Avenarius, the well-known pub
| Usher of the magazine German WILL
writing in his publication, cautions
| the Won Tirpftz factionists seriously
to consider these factors:
| First. the number. quality and capa-
city of the old and new German sub
| marines.
Second. the means which England
has taken To oppose them.
Third, what would a declaration of
war by America mean, and what
would be It's consequences.
Under the latter heading he says:
First, 1t would mean the seizure
Of the great ships of the German mer-
chant marine in American ports; sec
| ond, an increased manufacture Of
weapons and ammunition for all the
entente allies by American factories;
third, the support of the entente by
the American feet; fourth, the sup
port of the entente by an American
volunteer army: fifth. the support of
the entente by great American A.
nance; sixth, it woule effect neutral
nations which are now wavering be-
tween the Teutonic alliance and the
entente
| Concluding. DIR. Avenarius points
out that Won Tirpitz people claim they
could starve out England In two
months, and he adds:
'If they are correct in this, they
would gain one advantage by making
| the attempt, and would lose six. With
| this they would be content"
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