Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-04-01

young general lost his position be- /
cause Of his positiveness he lived to
see the government approve what he \
said.
Last April Falkenhayn said: Pay
no heed to neutrals. Win the war! II
we win we will have their support. II
we lose we lose all. Our task is to win.
But we cannot unless we use every
weapon we possess"
Hindenburg handled the submarine
situation more cleverly than Falken-
hayn would have done. Tirpitz and
F'alkenhayn advocated reckless sub
marine warfare a year ago. They were
willing then to have America as an
enemy. But the chancellor and linden
burg believed that IL the United States
entered the war then their chances
OF military victory this summer
would be nil. Their policy was to en-
courage the United States to believe
Germany would not renew her subma-
rine policy. Germany desired time to
prepare for America. German ship
ping interests were not ready to scut-
tie their ships. Germans with rela-
tives in the United States were not
prepared to disregard them. The press
bureau needed time to create hatred
and suspicion. The navy department
needed time to build more submarines.
Crews had to be trained. Preparations
had to be made for the decisive bat
tie in 1917" So Hindenburg delayed.
The censorship prevented the corre-
spondents from sending any news to
the United States about the growing
wrath and bitterness toward President
Wilson. When many of the American
correspondents realized that Germany
Intended to break the promises she
made in the Sussex note their tele
grams were stopped. They were criti-
cised and suspected for trying to send
such news.
THE OMNIBUS CHANGE.
Last October 1 saw the first signs
of a cnange in Germany's policy. At
that time l spent 10 days travelling in
the Rhine valley. 1 met the Industrial
leaders. / visited Krupps and other
munition, steel and coal centers. In
Dusseldorf, the great steel city, the
Pittsburg of Germany. I heard the
demands of the financiers and indus
trial magnates for war with Amer
lea"
What can the United States DOR
these men asked. you have no army
Your country Is divided. The German
Americans are too powerful for Will
son. The moment you attack us Mex
leo will revolt. Before you can train
an army and transport it to Europe
we can end the war. President Wilson
bluffs and our government is afraid;
but some day-America will see!"
telegraphed as much of this COM
ment from Cologne and Dusseldorf as
the censors would pass. When !
reached Berlin the foreign office was
excited because the Rhine valley CEN
sors had passed this information. The
foreign Office wanted no such news to
reach America.
The chancellor still had one card to
play. He thought he could frighten
President Wilson into making peace
by threatening a submarine warfare.
Then internal conditions became so
bad he had to do something toward
peace to quiet the Socialists and to
obtain the support of the wavering
reichstag factions. On Dec. IL Re
proposed peace. The army AMI navy
were frantic. They didn't want peace.
They wanted submarine war. linden
burg and the chancellor knew the al
lies would not accept, so they explain
ed to the submarine advocates that If
the allies refused Germany's offer they
would begin Falkenhayn's policy of
Damn the neutrals! Win the war!''
SOUNDING" AMERICANS.
The foreign office was instructed the
latter part of December to sound" all
Americans in Germany on the posi-
BILE attitude of President Wilson and
congress in case a ruthless numbering
and sinking of people and ships was
begun on the high seas. 1 was called
to the foreign office. as were all other
Americans, including James w. Ger
ard, the American ambassador. The
first question was asked was:
DO you think the United States will
support President Wilson IL he breaks
diplomatic relations?' Then these
questions followed: What attitude
will the German Americans take?"
VIII the United States send troops to
Europe?' Can Wilson count upon
the support of congress?"
To the man who questioned me re-
piled:
You will find that II Germany be-
gins a ruthless submarine warfare
the president will be backed by the en-
tire nation in anything he does"
Not all Americans in Germany made
such replies. DR.. William Bayard
Hale wrote a booklet, which was cir
culated through Germany by the for
eign office, showing why congress
would not support Wilson. Other
Americans assured the foreign office
that even Am ba ssa dor Gerard was mis-
informed and that congress would not
support Wilson. The constantly re-
peated opinion was: THE German
Americans are too strong. The middle
west is for peace at any price,"
THE GREAT MYTH.
One day Ambassador Gerard was
walking. A friend stopped him and
said:
Certain high officials have told me
200 0O0 Cerrna N A marirana will reyoltp