Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-12
Gerard Brings to u. S.
"Inside" on Berlin Aim

Continued from PAGE One
possible these details may be the basis Of
further revelations Of Germany's machina-
tions against America--if the Government
sees At.
But of the unbearabe. ceaseless actlv-
ity of spies in Germany, not a paper OF the
American Embassys archives in Berlin
now remains. The Ambassador himself
burned every bit of paper in the building.
Germanys food situation is serious. in
the belief of all the returning Americans.
The Teutons greatly lack potatoes fats,
sugar and other basic food staples But
every one who had lived in Berlin agreed
that Germany would probably be able to
eke out an existence through this summer
on her present supplies Of food Then she
will have to depend on this years crops.
And those crops now have only fair
promise of sufticiency.
The mortality of babies and of aged peo-
pie has increased tremendously in Germany
due to insufficient food and lack of proper
medical attention. according TO the return
ing Americans.
METALS RUN SHORT
Shortage OF metals and nitrates Is now
interfering with Germany's manufacture OF
munitions, according TO members of the
Gerard party Germany is being raked with
a ane-toothed comb for metals and more
metals
The latest requisitionng made by the
Government was on lead. Every ounce is
being taken The pewter tops from beer
stems have gone. So have the leaden pipes
TO church organs.
1t is in the big German cities that the
food shortage Is most serious. In the
smaller cities the lack is not quite so ap-
parent For instance. Dr. w. A. Haldy, a
| Cleveland, o.. physician. who was stationed
| with Red Cross unit in hospital located
| in a town of 10000, insisted he had no
| trouble In getting plenty to eat.
The annoyances to which Gerard was
forced to submit before he obtained per-
| mission OF German officialdom to leave
Berlin were not only anticipated, in part
by Gerard himself. but by washington.
- II was learned that the Ambassador was
| specifically instruc6i by the state Depart
| ment to exercise great care and not to let
petty personal insults figure in complicating
| the already delicate situation aroused by the
| diplomatic break.
| Full confirmation of how passports were
| withheld from Americans pending the exer-
| else of pressure on Gerard to sign new
| treaty guaranteeing safety of German ships
| in American harbors, was given by the re-
| turning Americans. They retold with ad'
| miration Gerard's firm stand and his re-
| fusal thus to acquiesce in Germany's
| scheme.
1t became known that Gerard had beer
| warned by a German friend before he lef'
| Berlin not to take passage for America
| nl1 submarine WOulC
| surely torpedo the boat carrying him. Tha
warning gave passengers on TIE lnfants
Isabel days and nights of something ap
preaching terror
FEAR OF U-BOATS
Two days out from Corunna, with pas
sengers and crew panicky ana nervous
there were wild rumors OF periscope'
sighted near the Infanta. There was no
a moment that was not filled with vague
dread of unwarned attack. But the peri
scopes" turned out not to be periscopes
No submarines were sighted.
Then Just two days before Havana wa
| reached panic reigned again for momen
| when a strange vessel was sighted. INT
stranger steamed rapidly to the lnfanta
| 1t circled about the vessel cautiously Ah'
| then finally TO the vast relief of ship
| company lined along the rails-the mys
| terious one changed her course ana sool
was lost on the horizon line. The vesse
apparently was British patrol boat. Bu
to nerves already drawn taut by days ant
days OF tension, 1t seemed possible sh
might be a German raider
Gerard is still tired and worn by his eS
periences. His first word on reaching Ha'
ana was a request for further information
as to the German plot revealed in Foreig
Secretary Zmmermann's letter. The wire
less had told him only the briefest outlin
J and he was eager for more. He reserve
comment Mr. Gerard said he had no plan
for the future. aside from looking out 70
his personal affairs.