Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-14

BERLIN. Dec. 13 (By wireless to
| Sayville.) DIR. Alfred Zimmerman,
secretary for foreign affairs, discussed
today with member of the staff of
the Overseas News Agency the i'm
preston created In Germany by the
attitude of the United States toward
Germany and Great Britain as out
lined in the Associated Press Wash
ington dispatch of November 10. Zim-
norman said:
"As to the impression created: AL
most since the beginning of the war
two currents OF opinion could be dis
cerned in Germany. Judging by the
rules of neutrality the United States
Intentionally favored Great Britain in
an almost ontspoken fashion. accord
ling to some; others took the view
that the United States was neutral in
spirit and action. This discussion was
re-opened by the dispatch in question.
The parties and newspapers that did
not believe that America was observ-
ing strict neutrality accepted the dis
patch as confirmation of their opinion
and to the others the news came as a
shock
"In order to understand this effect
one has only to recall the large num-
Der of facts which have been before
the eyes OF the German public during
1.-THE last few years. England has re-
peatedly announced that all English
ships ought to be ready to destroy
German submarines wherever they
find them. This has been publicly pro-
claimed as well by private as by Of
fetal persons In England. Quite re-
Gently Lord Cecil, in the British par
Lament, gave expression to this view
"The London Times of Nov. 21 pub
lished letter from well known
member of parliament and shipowner
(Robert P.) Houston, and promising to
every foreign-born captain prize OF
IL, 900 pounds sterling who with an Eng
, lish merchant ship destroyed a Ger
man submarine. Houston on this Occa-
sion added that English sailors ought
to return to the methods of Hawkins
and Drake. or should initiate the ex-
ample set by Nelson in the Copen-
hagen case--they ought to take the
sea law into their own hands. Hous-
ton was fully conscious that he advo-
Gated and advised actions contrary to
the law of nation.
I'VE further know that hostile sub
marines have attacked and in some
{ cases have sunk German merchantmen
without the slightest warning. Thus
were sunk the German steamers Burge
meister VOtmelle, DOritZ, the Elbe and
Iollandia. They were all attacked by
enemy submarines with artillery OF
torpedoes without the shadow of a
, warning.
Germany, on the other hand. has
| promised the United States to carry
. on submarine warfare according tt
the International rules of cruiser war
, fare"
' DR.. Zimmerman at this moment in
. terrupted his conversation, walked
through his office, stopped and, in thu
. face of the interviewer, said to his
clerk in an energetic manner:
+ This promise will have to bt
: kept
He then continued:
1.-THE orders to the commanders o
our submarines are clear and strict II
. this direction. | can affirm with abso
!, lutte certainty that no German subma
:. rne has Intentionally attacked mer
:, chant ship without warning and with
u = out giving all on board ample time ant
. opportunity for rescue.
"These are the facts of the case
We are animated by the best of feel
= ings toward everybody. But we arr
= fighting for the life and future of ou
= nation. OF course we are cut OF
from the greater part of the com
municatiOns of the outer world. espe
! cially with the United States. Gu
enemies use the cables. the mails
J, and the spoken word in order to pleat
u their case before the whole world
: But other nations ought to hear on
!. voice, our grievances. | myself, witt
these words, only mean to explain
u the reasons for the present pOpula
l. feeling in Germany, and | feel sur
', that it will be appreciated everywher
l. by all fair-minded people.
o "The situation is that Germany an
n her allies are surrounded by enemie
D. and that Germany has victoriously cal
ried the war on all fronts beyond tn
It limits of Germany. Popular feeling i
y Germany is that our enemies, unabl
in to win victory on the battlefield, wi
to try to win by creating wrong in
Of preston about Germanys intentio
and Germany's actions in the rest c
the world where Germany's voice ca
only seldom be heard
Or "They will try to persuade the worl
as that in the case of submarines and
ie other cases Germany will disregar
ne her given word while, they themselve
lp in fact, have abrogated the laws Of n
al tions and do themselves what the
n. charge against us, as in the case
b. hostile submarines attacking Germa
MS ----------- "