Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-26
By CARL w.
Copyright. 1917. Tho Tribune

Association.
(Registered in accordance with the
Copyright Act. Canada, 1917. The
Tribune Asociation).
The German merchant submarine
Deutschland, the 7O0-ton u boat which,
as it sailed into Bremen looked hke a
duck with two poles in it's back swim
ming up the Weser river, was built by
the Krupp interests to, bring war sup
plies from the United States. German
munition plants last year had to stop
making, temporarily, 2-centimetre
guns and other cannon which require
nickel steel, because several OF the val
liable minerals and pres needed could
not be obtained in Europe. Either
,krupp had to stop manufacturing
nickel steel war munitions-cannon,
armor plate and armored automobiles
or the materials had to be u
from America
Nearly two years ago a craftsman
in the Kiel offices of Krupp designed
a merchant submarine and submitted
the plans to the directors. They were
pigeonholed at the time because these
materials were not desperately needed
and because the government would not
aid Krupp in constructing unarmed U
boats. But last year Krupp needed
nickel, rare ores n minerals Wnlch
could De bought only in the United
States or South America. So the
Deutschland was designed, built,
financed. launched and directed by the
Krupp interests to solve the distress.
ing military problem of a shortage OF
special ores n rubber.
Crew Selected by Navy.
About this time the German navy
was having difficulty in obtaining re-
ports from the German agents in the
United States. Before Captain Boy Ed
was sent back spy reports arrived IN
| Berlin regularly. Sometimes informa-
ton about events here reached the
German navy before they We're known
at the American embassy. But the
blockade of spies was becoming
stricter.
The German navy, which a been
stirring up nti-American feeling
wherever it could, selected the crew fol
the Deutschland and placed temporary
discharged naval intelligence OFFICERS
aboard to collect and bring back IN
formation from the United States re
garding preparedness, public opinion
and to make soundings and inVestlga-
ton in American waters wherever the
submarines went.
The best evidence that Germany has
reached the maximum manufacturing
point Of heavy artillery is the Deutsch-
lands cargoes They show that Ser
many has reached the heights or hel
military efficiency, that certain raw
materials are lacking which are needee
in gun construction. But his does no
mean that Germany is ready tt
crumble within a few weeks or months
Germany has plenty Of iron and cop
per and sufficient coal to run her am
munition and war material factorle:
for years. But to make the big 3S.!
centimeter ship guns, arnor plate an
the new type German tank" tn
finest quality of nickel steel il
needed.
The Krupp process OF making nicke
steel is a secret one, but during a vlsl
to Krupps last e / saw these sh1l
cannon moulded. One of the Officer
in charge explained that some 40 ma
terials were used. After the naval bat
tie off the coast of Jutland the nav.
department needed more 38s and NOR
armor plate. Orders were sent t
Krupp, but the naval officers who ar
in charge Of this work at Essen re
ported that nickel and other ores wer'
lacking, and hat unless they were pro
cured outside Of Europe constructor
could not begin.
Finest Guns Demanded.
EARLY last year the army intelligence
department reported that the Engfisl
were making preparations for an often
sive on the Somme and Ancre rivers
The German staff drew up plans TO
the defense. Demands were made TO
more nickel steel annon which coul,
hold out during long bombardments
Only the finest krupp guns wer
known to be capable of shooting 200
big shells. The general staff knew tina
to fight. agbattlea OF several months du
ration in trench warfare cannon wer
needed which could be depended upol
for continuous action.
Krupp was appealed to to furnish
such defenses. But krupp replied tina
nickel and other materials were needet
and that these could not be obtaine'
in Europe. So the army and navy sup
ported the krupp directors who starte'
construction at the kiel wharves wher
other government submarines were be
ing built.
Meanwhile agents were sent to tn
United States via Copenhagen to motif
the North German Lloyd representa-
tives here to purchase supplies an
make arrangements for the arrival q
the Deutschland at Baltimore. TIL
same gents who came here reported t
the German secret service. And, Will
the Deutschland was being built an
tried in he Baltic sea. where all sub
marines were first sailed, GerInai
agents here bought supplies for Krup
and collected information for the Ger
man navy.
Just before the Deutschland returne
from its first trip to the United Staae
i visited the krupp works at ESSer
Here I was given the first accurate in
formation about the merchant sub
marines.
Depended on Deutschland.
One day while l was going throug'
the factory where the 3S.5 centimete
ship guns were being assembled, Il
company with other correspondent
from neutral countries, I was told b.
a krupp director that the future con
struction Of these guns depended upol
the safe return OF the Deutschland. AL
though the Deutschland made two trip
1t did not bring sufficient valuable ore
n materials to Keep the Krupp work
supplied for more than a few month
at h most. When these supplies ar
exhausted Germany will not be able t
manufacture new nickel steel guns
That a that Germany has sreaehe
the limit OF her ability to construct sue
weapons. But 1t does not mean tina
all h had On hand are in the scra
heap.
Ever since tho beginning OF the wa
Germany has been c~ontending that tn
United States was not neutral in per