The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-06
GERMANY PLANS
A FULL PLEDGED
SUBMARINE WAR
Campaign in Favor Of Big Raid
on Commerce.
Entire Country Bristling With
New Naval Policy.
ANXIOUS To MEET BRITISH
Germans Believe Their Fleet
Has a Good Chance.
Nothing Desired That Will
Prolong the War.
Entire Country Bristling Wit
New Naval Policy.
ANXIOUS TO MEET BRITISH
Germans Believe Their Fleet
Has a Good Chance.

Berlin, July o.-InS Campaign III
favor of the resumption of full
fledged submarine war on commerce
goes theoretically forward. 1t was
expected that with the adjournment
of the Reichstag and the dispersal of
politicians to their home for the sum-
mer this agitation by the navy league,
Populists, Conservatives and the Ma
tional Liberals would pass the climax
and gradually lose its intensity.
On the contrary, reports from all
sections of the country indicate that
the agitation is continuing with I'M
diminished vigor both above and be-
low the surface. Scarcely day passes
without articles in various newspapers
to remind the people, that, according
to the German note, the modification
of German submarine methods mere
ly was temporary and contingent up
on a modificat ton of the British
blockade.
Advocates of the unrestricted tor
pedo appear at every political gather
ing regarded as suitable soil for their
! seed. Various newspapers in SYM
pathy with the movement have almost
daily a rubric for what they call
British postal robberies'' and atten-
ton is called continually to the fact
that the blockade has not undergone
the slightest modification since the
dispatch of the latest German note.
| The purpose of the agitation IL, Of
| course, two fold.
One branch of it is directed toward
/ the resumption of the submarine cam
/ paign, which is felt to be the only
| effective naval weapon against Great
/ Britain.
The other now has developed openly
; and a1Dwedly into a movement against
| the chancellor, DR.. Won Bethmann-
Hollweg. largely on the ground of in
/ ternal politics. Some judges of the
| situation, b;ting their opinion on the
I extent and vigor of the agitation, are
| inclined to believe the movement will
lead not later than September to a re-
( vival of the submarine campaign on
! the old lines.
Recent inquiries by the Associated
Press in authoritative quarters inai-
cate, however. that the governm{lnt
/ for the present has no intention of
resuming the freedom of action
mentioned in the last note and of pro-
voking conflict with the United States.
One reason for this decision which
! tends to become stronger the longer
the war is continued Is the desire to
avoid new measures tending to pro-
long the war. Another is based on
the conviction that the faith of the
| present administration now is so close
| ly bound up with the submarine issue
that a reversal of policy would entail
!
/ groups of political leaders and DOW
erful personages in the administra-
| ton.
Situation Has Changed.
The situation in this respect has
changed sharply since winter. 1t then
seemed as if the chancellor's policy
of moderation had scarcely a friend in
Germany outside of the Socialists and
part of the Progressive party, but
since then the issue has been sharply
| drawn and a full realization has come
| that one purpose of the agitation was
to down the chancellor.
Catholics Are Together.
The influential Catholic Center par
| ty has enrolled itself almost solidly in
his support, the south German states
have lined up firmly behind him and
! those sections of public opinion which
have reason to fear conservative DOM
ination have made their choice be-
tween submarines and junkers and
have joined the chancellor's party
The navy, having had its taste of
real fighting, is anxious for another
battle with the British fleet and is
devoting all it's energies and attention
to prepare for it 80 that the old impa-
thence of navy officers for action has
become less prominent factor in the
movement.
All in all, the clouds over German
| American relations now are less low
ertng than for a long time