Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-07
POWERFUL GERMAN PROPAGANDA-By Herbert Corey

snanish Morocco before the war is reputed to have
spent millions from his own pocket. German
manufacturer OF clocks and watches in Madrid Is
said to have bankrupted himself in the same man
ner Scores of others have injured their financial
standing through their expenditures is enterprises
calculated to aid Germany embarrass the allies
1.-The extent of the provisioning OF German SUD
marines off the coast of Spain will never be known,
said one man. Spain has a coast line 1000 miles
long largely deserted and in some sections hardly
guarded at all. The provisioning of the U-ooats
was for a time an open matter, although this has
been put an end to in large part. 1t is reported
that the expenses of these enterprises were paid
entirely by the Germans resident in Spain and that
the German government was not put to a peseta OF
cost"
There is a strong church party in Spain, too,
although the church does not enter into Spanish
politics to the extent westerners have been taught
to believe. It's influence is mostly among the wom-
en-, and the Spanish man very often holds the Gym
zeal view that the church sis a place to be mar
ried in and buried from" Nevertheless the church
influence is not to be scofed at and the clericals
stirred I'D feeling among their adherents against
France because of the disestablishment OF the
church in France some years ago.
THE kaiser is an instrument raised up by
God to punish the atheists who laid impious hands
upon the holy vessels the clericals declared for
a time.
This has very largely been put an end to. The
clergy in Spain have been notified by authority to
let secular affairs alone during the war, 1t is re-
ported At all events their activity has abated.
Close observers discount the effectiveness Of the
clericals' campaign. One man who is in a posi-
clericals' efforts said:
"I know many families In which all the women
are pro-German, and every man pro-ally. strong
sentiment has grown up in Spain of recent years
against the intrusion of the church in politics"
The net result of the German propaganda Is
not to be underestimated. Pro-ally Spain at the
beginning of the is not now nearly so pro-
ally. Spain has been rhenomenally prosperous dur
ing the war. This statement rests not only upon
the common testimony of business men but on the
explicit declarations of Count Romanones, the
former premier, and Senior Dato, who is premier
today-and through the widespread investments
made by the Germans the moneyed classes are
almost unanimously with Germany.
One consequence that Romanones fell
from power when he rebuked Germany for her
submarine attacks on Spanish boats Another was
that while it was thought possible at time
that Spain would join the allies it is not now
sidered at all probable. The allies have wanted
Spain in the conflict, not only for the sake of the
man-reserves that could be drawn upon, and for
the moral effect of the last great European ma
ton declaring against the central powers, but in
order that Spain may become a party to the trade
compact which is to hold Germany in check after
the
1t is this latter item which is of the greatest
Importance to Germany, the opinion of observ-
ers here. Germany has succeeded in peaceful
penetration" of Spain commercially during the
war to extent not realized until recently by the
allies Germans have invested not less than s400,-'
600 900 in Spain during the war and they plan a
vigorous commercial campaign in the only great
neutral market left to them after the war.
UNLESS effective action is taken" according to
business of high standing here "the end Of
the war will find Germany practically in possess
sion of OF the great undeveloped markets Of
Europe. To make of this they need only to
maintain their present position of commercial .
friendship and to Keep Spain out of the war"