Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-02-23
GERMANS EXPECT
WAR With U. S.
Are Eager to Avert HostilitieS,
but See Little Chance of
-. Doing So.
REAL SITUATION DISCLOSED
Newspaper Correspondents Reaching
Neutral Grounds Tell Story of Days
Following Break in
Relations,

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 a
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 NeutraIs.
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 ant
the safety of their own ships.
1t was realized, however, after tht
prompt and resolute stand taken b.
| President Wilson, that these orders
could only be palliative and only de
fer, not avoid, an ultimate break; alst
that if President Wilson stood by hi
announcement that the destruction o
| American lives or ships would be re
garded as an act of hostility, a casu
belli must come sooner or later-prob
ably sooner on account of the numbe
of Americans on enemy ships.
Not Liable to Punishment.
Moreover, there was the discretion
ary nature of the instructions to sui
marine commanders, who were in
formed that, while the careful cours
toward neutrals was recommended an
desired, they would no longer be sui
jected to punishment for departin
from their former procedure of war;
ing if they found this advisable.
1t is considered that the only po!
sibility of the avoidance of hostilitie
would result from a modification, {
its standpoint by one or the othe
side, and so far as could be judge
from the positive declarations of A
fred Zimmerman, the German mil
lister of foreign affairs, and other o
ficials before the Associated Pre-.
correspondents departure from Be
lin, there was no probability that &c
many would give way this time (
abandon the ruthless campaign no
started.
optimists Give Up Hope.
German-American relations aga
and again have passed through cris
apparently almost hopeless, but tn
time the crisis is more difficult ths
the former ones, and even the op
mist can scarcely see any peacef
egress out Of the impasse.
From a neutral cable Office it NO
lis possible to tell the story of the d
velopment of the present crisis, I
which the most rigid censorship h
been applied In Germany.
To the observer in Berlin the q
proach of the crisis had been plain
, and definitely evident since the !
lection of Germany's peace overture
, Information as to Germany's dehni
decision to start a sharpened subn
} rine war and even the form 1t wou
D take, namely, a blockade Of specif
: regions Though the idea of a ''pl
hibited zone' was later substituted I
{ that of BLOCKADE" at the request
D the naval authorities, who anticipat
. possible formal objections), was
= ceived by the Associated Press almt
= on the morrow of Ambassador G.
b ards speech on German-Americ
+ good relations, delivered at the bs
( quet of the American Association
i Commerce and Trade early in JaI
? airy.
Q A week later it was stated that
Q full decision on the situation had I
u been reached and that the campai
l. would not be launched until after f
j ther consultations with Germany's
Los and tho racninf of cprtain inf