The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-12

had started because Of the lack Of the
necessary submarines.
This was the first big victory OF the
foreign office The democratic forces
IN Germany. which had been fight
Ing Won Tirpits for more than q year
we're jubilant. Every one in Germany
who realized that not until the hold
% the military party upon the kaiser
ana the government was disiodged
" outd the government be able TO ma i5e
peace now breathed signs OF relief.
a.ud hegsn TO make plans for the adj
justment of all differences with the
II tied States and for a peace without
annexation. Won Tirpitz had had the
support OF sill the forces in Germany
which looked forward to the annexa-
ton Of Belgium and the richest por-
tons of northern France.
Won Tirpitz was supported by the
men who wanted the eastern border
Of Germany extended far into POLAND
and Lithuania.
Even Americans were delighted.
WASHINGTON for the first time began
10 sce that eleven months of patience
was bearing fruit. Hut this period OF
esaltatIon WAS not destined to last
very long. While the chancellor had
iEftteE- III ING nNNF attNffFr
'nc7tt nc Eeriin he hnd overlooked
kici. There were admIrais and Of
escers i'm charge there who were maxi
ing prepa rations for the navy. They
were the men who talked to the sub
~ airline commanders before they start
cd ont on the lawfess voyages
On March % the whole world was
shocked by another v-hoat crime.
The SuSse% French channel steam
or. plying between Folk estone ana
UrErTc, vas forpedoed Without warn
ing and Americans were among the
passen gers t'lled and wounded. When
the news reached Berlin, not only the
chancellor and the foreign office were
shocked and horrifled, but the Amer
lean embassy began to doubt whether
the chancellor really meant what he
said when he informed Gerard conf
dentially that now that Won Tirpita
was gone. there would be no new dan
ger from the submarines. Even the
new admiralty administration was
loath TO believe that 81 German sub
marine was responsible.
liy April II was apparent 10 every
ono in Berlin that there would be
another submarine crisis with the
United States and that the reactionary
forces ~ Germany would attempt
again "a overthrow tire chancellor,
Or. won Bethraann Ho1iweg. who had
been doing everything possible to get
some one TO propose peace, decided to
address tie reichstag again on Ger
inany's peace aims II WAS announc~
"a IN the newspapers only n few
days beforehand The demand for
tickets OF admission was 50 great
that Early in the morning on the day
scheduled for Me address such dense
crowds surrounded the reichstag
building that the police had TO make
passages 80 the military autom uhiles
could reach the building TO bring the
officials there.
The chamber itself was crowded to
the rofters. On the floor Of the house
virtually every member was In his
seat On the rostrum were several
hundred army and naval officers, all
mem bers of the cabinet. prominent
business men and fnanciers. Every
one awaited the entrance of the chan
cellor with great expectations. The
national liberals who had been clam
oring for the anneSa ton OF Belgium;
the Conservatives. who wanted
stronger war policy against England;
the Socialists, who wanted real guar
aatees for the German peopl. for the
future and a peace without annexa-