New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-02
Ready to Invade Hol-
land and Switzerland,
London Believes
HOPES TO CRUSH
ALL WHO RESIST
British Believe u. S. Can
not Swallow Insult-Amer-
ican Prestige at Stake
BY ARTHUR S. DRAPER
IBy Cable 10 The Tribune

London, Feb. 1.-Germany's an
nounced campaign of increased
frightfulness at sea will almost GER
tainly be accompanied by an equally
increased ruthlessness on land, Lon
don believes.
Wherever neutrals oppose her
wishes they will be stamped down.
If Holland or Switzerland stand
where the German armies wish to go
they will be crushed like Belgium, if
possible.
In the United States this realiza-
tion must mean the parting of the
ways. Here America is fully cx-
pected to accept the challenge.
Either Germany or America mus;
back down or become enemies.
No matter how much the United
States may have compromised her
past, in her tortuous diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany, it is not believed,
either by the British or prominent
Americans here, that she will swal-
low the worst insult of the entire
war.
To Crush All Obstacles
With Germany the war has become
hln n "a
extent, but the Kaiser's General staff
has decided to gamble with the des-
TIMES of neutral nations. Whoever
stands in the way of Germany's mill
tsry chieftains must be overwhelmed
and MISUNDERSTANDING and Hol-
land along with Belgium and Serbia,
and the United States in so far as she
stands in the way Of Teuton domina-
ton.
These opinions arc based on many
talks to-day with leading men of all
calings, both British and American,
and represent the firm and general be-
lief in London.
Last Hope of Victory
The German General staff decided
some time ago that they could not win
under present conditions. SO nothing
remained for German statesmen to do
hut TO cast aside all pretence of following
international law, which is supposed 10
rule belligerents. and defy the whole
world. The Kaiser has decreed that
Britain's sea power must be destroyed,
while France shall be overwhelmed
nav. annihilated- land. That is his
one hope of peace.
Failing TO accomplish these ends, the
war must end speedily-in German de-
feat. The Germans are not biuflng.
They are in deadly earnest. The kai-
ser hopes TO terrorize, to sicken the
civilized world to point where the
fighting must stop in universal dis
gust.
Before deciding that it might be a
good business proposition, after all, to
defy the world. the German leaders
probably figured that they had little
TO fear from Holland, unless the Dutch
we're guaranteed British support. They
also believed that the Netherlands
would follow the lead of America.
Hope to Placate Wilson
Though there is a genuine fear Of
Americas potentislities in the Ger
man Empire, her statesmen doubtless
expected to pacate and stall off"
President Wilson until they had seri-
ously crippled Great Britain or had full
opportunity to try.
Another point. Norway's shipping
has been big help TO the Allies. The
Norsemen have continued TO sail the
seas, despite the submarine menace
and despite the growing toll upon their
tonnage. The Germans propose now TO
make that menace so great that Nor
wegian sailors will withdraw in terror
from the wide-fung mine fields and
the U-boat patrol.
The British protest that they are
not fighting for the same detectives
as the enemy or using his measures.
Bethmann- -Hollweg's note is consid-
cred a better reply TO convince the
President Of this than anything the
Allies could have done. They no long
er worry about being misunderstood"
by America. They know the United
States will decide they have good
case.
Would Aid Allies Greatly
II America became Germany open
enemy the moral support would be
greatly appreciated by the Allies. not