The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-24

tho navy Che was Secretary OF the
Navy). by the force Of his personality.
by the political position which he had
created for himself and by tho backing
of his friends In the Navy League. he
really dominated the other two depart
ments Of the navy. the marine staff and
the marine cabinet
Like most Germans Of the ruling
class. ambition Is his only passion.
These Spartans do not care either for
money or for the luxury which It
brings. Their lives are on very simplc
lines. both in the army and navy. In or
der that the officers shall not vic with
one another in expenditure and in order
that the poorer officers and their wives
shall not be subject 70 the humiliation
which would be caused If they had TO
i've in constant contact with brother
officers living on g more luxurious
footing.
Won TirpitZs ambition undoubtedly
led him to consider himself as prom
Using candidate for Bethmann-Holiwcgs
shoes. The whole submarine issue.
therefore, became not only question OF
military cxpedicncy and L question for
the Foreign Office to decide IN connec-
ton with the relations ut America TO
Germany. but also Z question of IN
ternal politics. 4 means Of forcing the
Chancellor out of office.
The advocates for the ruthless war
were drawn from tho navy and from tho
army and from among those who be-
lleved In the use Of any means OF oftsnse
against their enemies. and particularly
in the use of any means that would
stop the shipment Of munitions Of war
to the Allies The army and the navy
were Joined by tho Conservatives and
by all those who hoped for the fall CT
the Chancellor. The Conservative news
papers. and even the Roman Cath"ti1
newspapers. were violent in their call
for ruthless submarine war. as well as
violent in their demonstrations or the
United States Of America.
American passengers on merchant
ships of the enemy were called
"schutzcngel" guardian angels; cart
catures we're published. such as one
which showed the mate reporting to tho
captain Of an English boat that every
hing was In readiness for sailing and
the captains inquiry. Are you sure that
the American schutzengel Is on hoard?"
The numerous notes sent by America
tn Germany also formed a frequent sub
ject Of caricature. and I remember par
ticrllarly ono quite clever one IN tho
PAPER called Drummer. representing the
celebrations in German port on tho
arrival OF the one-hundredth note from
America. when the Mayor Of tho town
and the military. flower girls and sing
Ing societies and "turnvcrcin' were
drawn up in welcoming array.
The Liberal papers were inclined to
support the Chancellor in his apparent
intention TO avoid an open break with
America. But even the Liberal papers
were not very strong in their stand.
The military. Of course. absolutely
desoised America and said that America
could do no more harm by declaring
war than It was already doing to Ger
many. and that. possibly. the war prep
arntious of America might cut down
the, amount Of the. munitions available
for EXPORT to the enemies of the empire.
Az to anything that America could do
in a military way. the navy and the
army were unanimous in saying that az
a military or naval factor the United
states might be considered as less than
pathine This was the situation when
the last Sussex note Of America brought
matters to a crisis. and even the crisis
itself was considered a farce. as 1t had
been simmering for so long n period.
With this arrival OF tho last American
Sussex note felt that the situation WIS
almost hopeless; that this question
which had dragged along for so long
must now inevitably lead TO a break OF
relations and possibly TO war. Won
Jcrow had the same idea. said that it
was fate" and that there was nothing
more TO be done.