The Washington times., 1917-09-19

, the allied cause. All Of this took
place about ten DAYS before the eight
eenth OF February. the time named
for the announcement OF the blockade
OF England.
Medals were struck having the head
or Tirpitz on one side and on the
other the words "Gott strafe Eng
| land" and a picture OF a sort OF Nep-
tune rising from the sea to blockade
the distant English coast.
KaIEer Refuses Audienees-
/ The Ambassador is supposed TO
have the right to demand an audience
with the Kaiser at any time, and as
there were matters connected with the
treatment Of prisoners as well as this
coming submarine warfare which I
wished TO take up with him, I had
on various occasions asked for an au-
dience with him; on each occasion my
request had been refused on some ex-
cuse or other. and L was not even per-
mitted to go to the railway station
to bid him good-by on one occasion
when he left for the front
when our military attache, Major
Langh0rns, left in March, 1915, he
had a farewell audience with the
Kaiser, and / then asked him TO say
10 the Kaiser that / had not seen
him for so long . time that I had
forgotten what he looked like. Lang
horne reported to me that he had
given this message to the Kaiser
and that the Kaiser said, Il have
nothing against Mr.. Gerard person
ally. but l will not see the ambas-
sador OF q country which furnishes
, arn,s ,pd amuupiIion IN the anamiAa
OF Germany
Before the departure OF Langhorne
had succeeded in getting Germany
to agree that six American army Of
Ulcers might visit Germany as mil
itary observers. When they arrived !
presented them al the foreign office,
etc, and they were taken on trips to
the east and west fronts.
They were not allowed to see much
and their request TO be attached to
q particular unit was refused. Near
ly everywhere they were subject to
insulting remarks or treatment be-
cause OF the shipment OF munitions
Of war TO the allies from America,
and finally. after they had been sub
jected to deliberate insults at the
hands OF several German generals,
Mackensen particularly distinguish
ing himself. the United States Gov
ernment withdrew them from Ger
many.
Kuhn Was Popular.
Colonel tnow GeneraD Kuhn. how
ever, who was one OF these observers,
was appointed military attaehe in
place OF Major Langhorne. Speaking
German fiuentIy and acting with great
tact, he managed for a long time 10 |
keep sufficiently in the good graces |
OF the Germans to be allowed to see |
something OF the operations OF the |
various fronts. There came a period, |
in 1916. when he was no longer in |
vlted to go on the various excursions |
made by the foreign military attaches, |
and finally Major Nlcolai, the general |
Intelligence officer OF the great gen
eral headquarters. sent for him early |
in the autumn OF 1915 and Informed |
him that he could no longer 90 to any |
OF the fronts Colonel Kuhn an
swered that he was aware Of this al |
ready.
Major NicoIai said that he gave him |
this information by direct order OF |
General Ludendorn. that General |
Ludendorff had stated that he did not |
believe America could do more dam
age 10 Germany than she had done IL |
the TWO countries were actually al |
war, and that he considered America |
and Germany virtually were already |
engaged in hostilities. On this being |
reported TO Washington. Colonel Kuhn |
WAS naturally recalled.
l cannot praise too highly the pa
tienCe and tact shown by Colonel !
Kuhn in dealing with the Germans. /
Although accused in the German
newspapers OF being a spy. and other
wise attacked. he kept his temper.
and observed all that he could for
the benefit OF his own country.
As he had had an opportunity to OBJ
serve the Russo-Japanese war, his
experiences at that time. coupled with
his experiences in Germany. make
him perhaps our greatest American
expert in modern war.
Promoted To General.
II was with the greatest pleasure
that heard from Secretary Baker
that he had determined to promote
Colonel Kuhn TO the rank OF general
and make him head of our War Col
Iege. where his teachings will prove
of the greatest value 10 the rmies of
the United States.
Colonel House and his wife arrived
TO pay us a visit on March 10. 1915,