Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-05
Germany Caught
Trying to Purchase
Naval Base Nearby

Washington, June 5-Secret attempts
| by Germany to acquire a naval base on
| this side Of the Atlantic. evidently for
the purpose of attacking the United
States, have been discovered and Will be
frustrated.
| The state department, 1t was dis
closed, has information that negotia-
tons have been under way, carried on
| by German citizens acting for the Ger
man government. for the purchase OF
Margarita island, off the north coast
| Of Venezuela.
| The attention Of the Venezuelan gov
eminent has been called to the fact
that the transfer of this island would
| be a violation of the Monroe doctrine,
| This is as far as the government OF the
| United States has found it necessary
| to go up to the present time.
! It can be said, however, that were
! Venezuela to ignore the mild protest
made by the United States, drastic &C
| ton would promptly be taken if need
! ed
| Germany will not be permitted T.
! establish any kind of a base on this
| side of the Atlantic, with the knowledge
| of the United States.
| Had it been possible to have con-
| tinued the negotiations for Margarita
island in secret. they might have been
successful Their discovery necessarily
means their failure.
To Bring War Homo to U. S.
| In this attempt by Germany is re-
vealed the German determination to
bring the war to this side of the At
lantic if possible, and the absolute need
of complete and rapid preparations by
the United States to meet the posi-
| bility of a German attack. 1t is pre-
sumed that Germany wanted Margarita
island as a submarine base, and the in
cidcnt indicates that Germany is plan
ming submarine campaign against the
United States.
That the German government or any
German subject would not be permit
ted by the United States at any hazard
to obtain control Of the island or to
establish naval base there is unoffi-
cially declared to be certain.
| It is understood that the state depart
ment does not believe that the govern
ment of President Gomez in Venezuela
fails to realize the Importance OF such
an event as the passage of Margarita
to the control Of an enemy of the Unit
! ed States.
Island Covers Panama Canal Route.
Neither does this government believe
President Gomez is unmindful of the
fact that such transfer Of control
would be a violation of the Monroe d.
trine once invoke by the United States
on Venezuela's behalf.
All precautions taken by the United
States since it came into possession OF
this information are unknown. but II
IS known that the government has
caused the information in its possession
20 be laid before President Gomez The
government has known for som time
that German agents have been active
in Venezuela and have become influen-
tial there.
The island Of Margarita is on the
northern coast Of Venezuela. With its
adjacent waters. including the Gulf Of
Cariaco. it is admirably adapted for use
as naval base 1t is located near the
southeastern corner of the Caribbean
sea, nearly on the direct route to the
Panama canal. 1t has ample anchorage
| for large fleet. It Is about 500 miles
from Culebra and 1000 miles from Co.
Ion D..