The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-03
ITO seize SUEZ
CANAL GERMAN
WAR AMBITION
Next Great Drive VIII Be Into
Egypt.
Army Is Now Building Railroad
to Bagdad.
GERMAN MONEY BACKING IT
Already Forcing England to Go
Ground the Cape"
Kaiser Has Secret Alliance
With Other Nations.
Already Forcing England to Go
Ground the Cape"
Kaiser Has Secret Alliance
s. With Other Nations.
BY GUSTAV sCHWEPPENDICK.
Editor of the Deutsches journal,
just returned from Berlin, where
he acted as special correspondent.

New York, Feb. 3.-Germany's next
great drive will be into Egypt. Cap
fure of the Suez canal is her objective.
THE general staff at Berlin is concen-
Grating it's attention upon this vital
blow at Great Britain. A member of
tthe general staff said to me:
"Our plans are being rapidly per-
sfected. The English are aware of our
@intentions and will try to block u.s. but
we are certain to win our objective"
b l asked my informant how he recon-
5ciled Won Bethmann- Hollweg's state
sment that no more great field opera
stions were planned in the immediate
future with this proposed new drive.
THE chancellor said there would be
mo more great operations unless it was
"a vital blow at England" was the
Hresponse.
5 ''Do you think the capture of the
tSpez canal would force Great Britain
ito her knees?" 1 asked.
Building Railroad Now.
when she occupies Egypt and con-
stfols the canal, Germany will be in
good tactical position for peace nego
tiations. She will have something to
trade up" he replied
IAN army of Germans is working
tWenty-four hours = day completing
= the railroad from Constantinople to
'Bagdad," according to this informant
1.-THE road has been built under Ger
man supervision and is financed by
the Deutsches bank. 1t runs direct
Into the heart of Asia Minor. l met
DR.. Hall of the Union Theological
seminary in Berlin. He had just re-
turned from Asia Minor. He told me
the nation that controls Asia Minor
can raise grain and cotton enough to
supply the world. 1t will have vast
and easily mined minerals supplies at
It's command.
ut was with an eye to these posi-
nj
drive.
80 Around the Cape.
by forcing England and her allies
It's send many of their ships around
the cape instead of through the canal,
Germany has already struck a great
economic blow at the entente powers"
continued this military informant.
what would it be if Germany abso-
Jutely controlled the canal?"
Other evidences point to the careful
detail with which Germany is work
ing out plans for this campaign. Long
before Bulgaria's entrance into the
war it was perfectly well known in
Berlin that she would ultimately join
end had been arranged for several
months but the final move was held
up by the military arm.
During the interim large groups of
Bulgarian officers in civilian attire
were in daily attendance at the war
office. They were drilled and instruct
ed in the German plans
There are groups of Turkish and
Bulgarian officers at the war office
in Berlin today. Along the western
front thousands of Turkish and Bull
garian troops are being schooled in
German methods and made ready for
the Egyptian campaign.
other Nations With Germans.
1t may be interesting to state also
that there are at the war office Off
GERS of still another nation which has
not yet entered the war. They are
being instructed.
Finally my informant said this: eff
the Suez canal can be won from Eng
land, her commerce will be struck a
tremendous blow. The loss of prestige
would be equally great. Once there,
German efficiency would soon make it
unnecessary for Germany and her al
lies to seek elsewhere for her cotton
and grain supplies. With the Bagdad
railroad open they could be shipped to
Constantinople and thence distributed.
Thus made economically independent.
we could hold out indefinitely"