The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-26

authority, as beng In the nature
of a threat intended to accelerate
and force upon us a movement
toward peace. Ambassador Ger
ard had his attention drawn to
this tust before he left Berlin.
but he declined to accept the In
depreciation.
On page Ss Mr.. Swope writes:
Our embassy In Berlin expected
Just such a demonstration as was
given by the U-53 In October,
when she sank six vessels of Nam
tucket, as lesson of what Ger
many could do in our waters II
war came,
On pare II he says further:
Throughout Germany the OBJ
lection for the resumption OF
ruthless U-boat warfare OF the
Lusitania type grows stronger day
bv day The chancellor Is hold
ing out against it, but how long
he can retain it no one can say.
| left Germany convinced that
only peace could prevent its re-
sumption. And the same opinion
lis held by-every German with
whom I spoke, and 1t is held also
bv Ambassador Gerard, The pos
sihilitu was SO menacing that the
principal cause of the ambassa-
DOR return ia oClopeI was s'aoN
he might report to Washington.
The point was set out in press
dispatches at that time.
/ wrote a preface to Mr.. swopes
book for the express purpose OF IN
this way informing the American pub
lie that I believed that Germany IN
tended at an early date to resume
the ruthless U-boat warfare.
Our trip home on the Frederick
WIZ was without incident. except Tor
the fact that on the 9Th day OF DC
tober Swope came to the door OF my
stateroom about ~ o'clock at night
and informed me that the captain nad
asked that he tell me the wireless
had brought the news that German
submarines We're operating directly
ahead of us and had just sunk SIX
ships In the neighborhood of Nan
tucket ! imagine that the captain
slightly changed the course of our
ship. but next day the odor OF ounh-
inr oil was quite noticeable for hours
These Danish ships In making the
trim from Copenhagen to- New 1ofk
were compelled to put in at the port
of KirkwalI In the Orkney islands.
north of Scotland, where the ship was
searched by the British authorities
On the occasion of our visit to kirk
wall. during this trip, Swede. VINO
had been so foolish as to make
sketch OF the harbor and defenses OF
Kirkwall from the top deck OF the
Frederick VIII. was taken of the BOAT
by the British. The British had very
cIeverly spotted him doing this from
the shore or from neishporihg podt'
through a telescope.
Ships can only enter kirkwaH by
daylight. at 6 O'Clock every evening
trawlers draw a net across the en-
trance to the harbor as protection
against submarines. a passage
through this net is not opened until
daylight the following morning
Captain Thomson. of the FREDERICK
VIII, which ship carried us to Ameri-
ca and back to Copenhagen, by his
evident mastery of his profession, gave
to all of his passengers feeling OF
confidence on the somewhat periloos
VOYAGE In those dangerous waters.
MR. GERARD CONFERS
WITH PRESIDENT WILSON
When / reached America, on oc-
tober 10. | was given most natter-
ing reception and the freedom of the
city of New York. Within a few days
after my arrival the president sent
for me TO visit him at Shadow Lawn,
Long Branch, and was with him for
over four hours and a quarter in our
first conference, | saw him, of course,
after the election. before returning to
Germany. and, in fact, sailed on the
4th OF December at his special re-
quest
Before I left was impressed with
the idea that he desired above all
things both to keep and to make
peace OF course. this question OF
making peace is very delicate one
A direct offer on our part might have
subjected us to the same treatment
which we gave Great Britain during
our Civil war when Great Britain
made overtures looking toward the
establishment of peace and the North
answered, virtually telling the British
government that Il could attend 20 lts
ference and would regard further
oyertures as unfriendly acts
The Germans started this war with
ont anv consultation with the United
States and then seemed to think that
they had a right to demand OF the
United States that the United States
make peace for them on such terms
and at such time as they chose; that
the failure TO do so gave them vest
ed right to break all the laws OF war
fare against their enemies. and TO
murder the citizens of the United
states on the high seas in violation OF
the declared principles of interna-
tional law.
Nevertheless. I think that the In
clination of. the president was to GO
very far toward forcing OF peace.
Our trip from New York to Copen-
hagen. was uneventful cold and dark.
We were captured by British cruis~
err west OF the Orkneys and taken into
the port of Kirkwall for the usual
search. whore we remained two days.
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