The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-02-14
GERMANS EXPECT
WAR WITH u. S.
Are Eager to Avert HostiIities,
but See Little Chance of
Doing So.
REAL SITUATION DISCLOSED
Newspaper Correspondents Reaching
Neutral Grounds Tell Story of Days
Following Break in
Relations.

Copenhagen, Feb. 13.-While the au-
thOrities and the greater part Of the
people of Germany are now anxious to
avoid open hostilities with the United
States, there is little hope in Berlin
that there can be any other ultimate
result from the present situation, than
war between the two countries.
These facts the Associated Press
correspondent who left Berlin with
Ambassador Gerard is able to state
upon reaching neutral territory.
1t can also be stated that the Ger
man threat to hold American news
paper men as hostages and the anx-
iety of the German government to in
duce Ambassador Gerard to sign
protocol reaffirming the old-time
treaties with the United States re-
garding mutual protection Of nationals
in case of hostilities were undoubtedly
Influenced by alarmist dispatches from
the United States regarding the treat
ment of German citizens and property
there
In their efforts to prevent an open
break with the United States, the Ger
man authorities, it is said gave in
structiOns to submarine commanders
before they started on their February
mission to take the safe side when
neutral vessels, particularly American.
were in question, whenever possible.
Advised to Warn Neutras.
Enemy merchantmen, when recog-
nized as such, were ordered to be sunk
at sight, but neutral merchantmen
were to be warned when such action,
in their judgment, was consistent
with the object of the campaign and
the safety Of their own ships.
It was realized, however, after the
prompt and resOlute stand taken by
President Wilson, that these orders
could only be palliative and only de-
fer, not avoid, an ultimate break; also
that if President Wilson stood by his
announcement that the destruction of
American lives or ships would be re-
garded as an act of hostility, a casus
belli must come sooner or later-prob-
ably sooner on account of the number
Not Liable to Punishment.
Moreover, there was the discretion
airy nature of the instructions to sub
marine commanders, who were in
formed that, while the careful course
toward neutrals was recommended and
desired, they would no longer be sub
jected to punishment for departing
from their former procedure of warn
ing If they found this advisable.
It is considered that the only pos
sibility of the avoidance of hostiIities
would result from a modification of
Its standpoint by one or the other
side, and so far as could be judged
from the positive declarations of Al
fred Zimmerman, the German min
lister of foreign affairs, and other of
ficials before the Associated Press
correspondents departure from Ber-
lin, there was no probability that Ger
many would give way this time or
abandon the ruthless campaign now
started.
optimists Give Up Hope.
and again have passed through crises
apparently almost hopeless, but this
time the crisis is more difficult than
the former ones, and even the Opti-
mist can scarcely see any peaceful
egress out of the impasse.
From a neutral cable Office it now
is possible to tell the story of the de-
velopment of the present crisis, on
which the most rigid censorship has
been applied in Germany.
To the observer in Berlin the ap-
proach of the crisis had been plainly
and definitely evident since the re-
lection of Germany's peace overtures.
Information as to Germany's definite
decision to start a sharpened subma-
rine war and even the form it would
take, namely, a blockade of specified
regions Though the idea of a fpro-
hibited zone" was later substituted for
that Of a BLOCKADE" at the request of
the naval authorities, who anticipated
possible formal objections), was re
ceived by the Associated Press almost
on the morrow of Ambassador Ger
ards speech on German-American
good relations, delivered at the ban
Quet of the American Association of
Commerce and Trade early in Janu-
airy.
A week later it was stated that a
full decision on the situation had not
been reached and that the campaign
would not be launched until after fur
Their consultations with Germany's al
lies and the receipt Of certain infor-
Government Offered Valuable Plant.