The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-13

QUESTION OPENLY
German Hs1dhstag Counmitaee Has
Not Reached Deciaon On Ques-
tton a. 0uhmax1ne's Use In War.
Berlin, VIA London. Oct. 1.-THE
most notable Incident OF the opening
OF the Reichstag session was supplied
by Major Ernst Bassermann. leader
Of the national liberals. In his report
from the budget committee that, al
though II had been unable to reach
q deciaon On The submarine question.
It had voted - 70 I against a discus
sion Of the subject in open session.
Herr Baseermann faced a full house,
virtually every deputy being present,
while the galleries were jammcd. DR..
Won Bethmann- Hollweg. the imperial
Jagow. Secretary Helferich. OF the
imperial treasury, and the other min
listers filled the ministerial benches.
Herr BasoermAnn made a short re-
port Of the general international sit
uation, emphasizing the entente's
pressure on neutral powers and it,
efforts to force Greece into the war.
He then read the committees recon-
mendationA
Consider An Aspects Of Subject
The committee occupied itself with
a thorough discussion OF the question
Of submarine warfare" the report
read. the members Of all parties and
the representatives OF the government
participating. All the naval. techni-
cal. military. economic and political
aspects were thoroughly investigated
and weighed. The deliberations were
conducted under the impression Of the
high importance of the question.
strictly upon merits of the case and
with general desire to serve tho in
terests OF the FatherlAnd.
AN agreement could not be reach
ed In the committee. which therefore
RETAINED from making q decision.
The committee recommends that tho
Reichstag In its deliberations abstain
from discussion of submarine war
| fare. 1t bases It's attitude upon tho
| standpoint that a thorough discussion
| Of the naval, technical. military. eco
nomic and political details is impos-
| sible without injury to the interests
Va th0 n aShCIiAHu, OuS vi thC OthCi
hand that without such thorough dis
cussion the subject could not be COM
pletely cleared up
The recommendations had been
adopted by vote of "a to 4. the dis
senters being conservative and radi-
cal socialist committeeman.
Herr Basserman said:
The committee during its delibera-
lions was filled with admiration and
loyalty for our army and navy with
recognition Of the successes obtained
under their splendid leaderships.
The committee looks forward with
| complete confidence for the future
military developm ents IN all the the
| aters Of war.
The result Of the last war loan has
proved once more the firm confidence
Of our nation"
D1scuAses War Situation.
Major Bassermann then went on to
discuss the war situation:
'Our enemies assert that they have
imposed upon us a Jaw OF warfare
that has pushed us into the defensive.
At the same NOM we are joyful
over the German offensive Successes
against Rumania, In Transylvania,
Dobrudja and on the Danube.
| I'VE trust in the strength Of our
|
Won Hindenburg.
| I'VE proudly point out tho success
Of our navy; the victory of skaser
Rak under the glorious leadership Of
Admirals Hyper and Soheer. In
these achievements OF our navy In tho
success of our sailors we recognise
tho spirit OF that master, the German
Grand Admiral. Won T1rpitx"
Major Bassermann declared that
the will Of the German people was
Arm to bring the war to . victorious
conclusion and to subdue 'the hostile
spirit Of the English government and
nation" He further asked that the
abolition Of the censorship be con-
tinued.
FREDERICK Naumann. the radical
leader. taking up the discussion. point
cd to the Austro- German victories in
Transylvania and emphasized the
comradeship Of the German and Aus
| TRAN troopa-- He also expressed ad-
miration for the Turks and their
heroic deeds of the past seven
months" The speaker then went ON
to- pay a. tribute to- the BulgArians,
wlfo,.. liter two former wars, are sue
4 cessfully lighting on their northern
\ and southern fronts"
! Question Of Blame
AuS0>
ton Of who was 20 blame for the war,
Absolving Germany. He declared that
Rusuia's mobilization made Impossible
the continuance Of conversations be-
tween Vienna and Pet1DgrAd. Dnglish
hostility reached the climax in the
recent interview OF David Lloyd
George, he declared.
Leaves Decision to Chancellor.
II DR.. Peter SPAIN. leader Of thu
Catholic center party, followed Herr
i Bassermann. He said that no left t.
the imperial chancellor the decision
on the propriety OF making at some
future time further announcements
regarding submarine warfare. Ger.
manys attitude toward other coun.
tries. particularly America, which
were extensively discussed In commit.
tee. must be based, said DIR. SPAIN
not upon sympathies or antipathies
but upon Germany's own interests.
| Philip Scheidmann, socialist, Wig
orously denounced the elements hos
tile to the chancellor which FOL
months. he declared. had shrunk from
no methods. however base. to over.
throw the chancellor and prevent the
reforms which he had promised.