Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-02-01

Won Hindenburg and Gen. Won Luden-
dorff, the four men in whose hands Ger
manys destiny lies has been mentioned
frequently in dispatches passing the GEN.
sor.
Campaign of Preparation
Information received only today
however, shows that a very careful
campaign for the full use of sea forces
has been underway recently. 1t has
been urged as essential to Germany's
existence and it was represented that
lit would be impossible now for Presi-
dent Wilson to get the Amrican peo-
pie behind him in a declaration of war.
Congress was represented as opposed
to war.
Germany, according to information
received here. realizes that her action
may result in break of relations, but
Berlin officials are prepared for the
rupture. Tonight they were represent
ed as feeling that the only other steps
open to the United States are the call
| ing of a conference of neutral nations
| to end the blockade. or the taking of
some step which speedily would result
| in peace. Information received from
the same source is that Admiral Won
| Tiripitz or his followers had absolute
| ly nothing to do with the new policy.
| On the contrary it was said tonight
| that Won Tiripitz was not, as has here
+, tofore been supposed, removed from
power because he advocated ruthless
submarine warfare. The fact according
| to this information was that he was
deposed because he did not effectively
carry out the campaign he inaugu-
rated
! From German quarters tonight came
the information that Germany now has
from 200 TO 500 submarines ready for
the campaign.
The German Wow is that the new
policy will improve general prospects
of an early peace. Germany is reported
ias still being ready to discuss peace
at any time However. 1t is declared
that German officials both in this coun-
try and in Berlin feel that the dec
laration Of changed policy should make
it clear that Germany and her allies
are in the war to the last drop of
blood
Unrestricted submarine warfare, it
was declared. was determined upon as
soon as the nature of the Entente re-
nlv to President Wilson's note became
known and before the Presidents ad-
dress to the Senate. The Presidents
address. it was said authoritatively,
came i'm the midst of the situation and
because of its nature it appeared for
a time as if the new campaign might
be postponed. However, it was explain
ed much preparation was necessary
for the oppning Of such campaign
and nothing was to be gained by wait
ing.
II is believed here that the policy
was decided on at a recent conference
al tbe headuuarters of the German
general staff and that Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg played a most I'M
portant part in its formulation.
Ii is expected that Austria Hungary
will take action similar to that OF Ger
many with regard to the operations Oh
it's submarines in the Mediterranean.
Every public intimation from Ger
many in the last few months has been
THAT an unrestricted submarine war
fare. almost certain to o-sbfing in the
,I-nited States would be adopted only
as a last act of desperation; German
papers have said Germany would not
dare oppose neutral opinion unless she
were willing to have the rest of the
neutral world added to her enemies.
Two opposing views OF American hos
tilty have passed tho German censor.
The first was that the harm the United
States could do Germany as an active
enemy was no greater than as ncu-
tral supplying munitions and loans to
the Allies and that the .crippling of al
lied shipping would be the turning point
of the war. This apparently is the view
now adopted. The other view. known to
have been held BY some high officials
here. was that Germany might in des-
peration seek to involve the United
States as an actual enemy on the
ground that her Influence al the peace
conference would he generous one.
Washington Surprised
Officials mere. stunned at the sudden
ness of the German action do not con-
ceal their disquietude over the mental
rnpreparcdness of the American public
for what may be coming. The recent
German offer increased by the preSi-
dents note and again by the Entente
reply. arc thought to have turned pub
lie opinion in this country entirely
away from the possibility of war and
to have tocussed attention on the terms
| Of a near peace.
A revolution is expected to take place
! in the Entente countries with the re-
! suit that the world war will enter a
period of frightfulness unimagined here
| tofore With the massing for huge Of
| fensives by land the announcement of
ruthlessness by sea officials look for
ward to at least a spring and summer
of unprecedented slaughter. The Ger
man note sweeps away all the issues
that have previously loomed so large,
such as what armament merchant
| ship may carry. where il must be To-
Gated, how it may be used, whether the
ship is chartered, requisitIoned or stu
t private and replaces them with one
clear issue.
! In this situation President Wilson S
previous policies offer the only intima-
| tion of the future.