The Washington times., 1917-09-19
LNSUL TED u S. OFFICERS
SENT TO THE FRONT AS OBSER VERS

ficials returned to their offices in
Berlin. In the meantime, however,
much confusion had been caused by
this rather ridiculous effort to follow
the customs of the war OF 1870.
When Won Jagow.. minister of for
eign affairs, was absent at the great
general headquarters the diplomats
remaining behind conducted their ne
gotiations with Zimmerman, who in
turn had TO transmit everything to
the great general headquarters.
In August there were apparently
rumors sfloat in countries outside Of
Germany that prominent Socialists
at the outbreak OF the war had been
shot. The State Department cabled
me to find out whether there was
any truth in these rumors. with par
ticular reference to Liebknecht and
Rosa Luxembourg.
Liebknecht is q lawyer practicing
in Berlin, and so l telephoned him.
asking him to come and see me
He did so. and. OF course, by his
presence verified the fact that he
had not been executed. He told me
that the rumors as TO the treatment
of the Socialists were entirely un-
founded and said that he had no
objection to my cabling a statement
that the Socialists were opposed to
czarism and that he personally had
confidence in the German army and
the cause OF the Germann people:
Confused With His Father.
Many persons. confuse Liebknecht
with his father. now dead. Lieb-
knecht, the son, is a man OF perhaps
forty-three years, with dark. bushy
hair and mustache and wears glasses;
a man OF medium height and not at
all OF strong build. In the numerous
Interruptions made by him during the
debates In the Reichstag during the
first year OF the war his voice sound
ed high and shrilL. or course, any
one who dehes the heavy hand OF
autocracy must suffer from nervous.
ness. We all knew that sooner or later
autocracy would get" Liebknecht,
and its opportunity came when he
appeared in citizens clothes at an at
tempted mass meeting at the Pots.
dsmerplatz.
For the offense OF appearing out OF
uniform after being called and mobIl-
ized, and for alleged Indictment of
the people he was condemned for q
long term OF imprisonment.
One cannot but admire his courage.
] believe that he earns his living
by the practice OF law before one
OF the minor courts. 1t is hard to
say just what role he will play in
the future. II is probable, when the
Socialists settle down after the war
and think things over. that they will
consider the leadership of Scheide-
mann has been too conservative, that
he submitted too readily to the pow
ers OF autocraCy and too easily
abandoned the program OF the Social
lists. In that case. Liebknecht, per
haps, will be made leader OF the
Socialists. and it is within the bounds
OF probability that Scheidemann- and
certain OF his party may become
Liberals rather than Socialists.
The rush OF getting the Americans
out of Germany was over in the su-
tumn of 1914. The care OF the Brit
ish civilians was on a business basis,
and there were comparatively few
camps OF prisoners OF war. Absolute
Iy tired by working every day until
II o'clock at night, went to Munich
for a two weeks rest.
Germany announced on February =,
1916. that on the coming February is
the blockade OF England through sub
marines would commence.
Mysterious Negotiations.
Some very peculiar and mysterious
negotiations thereafter ensued. An
American, who was very intimate
with the members OF the general staff.
came to me about February s, with
a statement that Germany desired
peace and was ready to open nego-
tiatlOns TO that end. II was, however,
to be made a condition OF these peace
negotiations that this particular
American should 80 10 Paris and Pet
rograd and inform the governments
there Of the overwhelming strength OF
the German armies and OF their posi-
tions. which knowledge, il was said. |
he obtained by personally visiting
both the fronts. II was further inti-
mated that Won Tirpitz himself was
anxious that peace should be conclud !
ed, possibly because of his fear that |
the proposed blockade would not be
successful.
OF course. ! Informed the State De- !
paTtment OF these mysterious maneu-
vers.
] was taken by hack stairways TO |
a meeting with Won TirpitE at night |
in the rooms in the Navy Department. |
When | was alone with Won Tirpitz. |
however, he had nothing definite 10 |
say or TO offer: IL there was any op-
at that time to make peace, |
came OF II. II looked some |
what to me as il the whole idea had |
been TO get this American to go to
Paris and Petrograd. certify from his
personal observation to the strength
OF the German armies and position,
and thereby TO assist in enticInE one
or both OF these countries to desert