Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-22
GERMANS ARE SURE
U-b0ATS WILL WIN
Vice Admiral Won Capelle Says
Expectations Have Been
Surpassed.
WHITE BOOK TO BE ISSUED

~ tEs Associated Press.
LONDON. February o2-Reuter's Am
sterdam correspondent sends the fol-
lowing account of the reichstag meet
:ng in Berlin:
"The main committee of the reich
stag met Wednesday morning. Dr..
Earl HeIferioh, vice chancellor and
secretary of the interior; Vice Admiral
Won Capel1e. minister of the navy;
Count Won Roedern, secretary of the
treasury, and Dr. Alfred Zimmerman.
secretary for foreign affairs, were
present. The proceedings at first were
secret. Dr.. Zimmerman made 4 de-
rallied confidential statement on the
development of the political situation
since January 81, and dealt with the
attitude of various neutrals.
"a white book, he said, probably
would be issued. containing the diplo-
matte communications which had been
exchanged. He discussed lengthily the
situation regarding the United states
following the rupture of relations. and
expressed firm confidence that Ger
many would attain by. submarine war
fare the end at which She aimed.
Expectation Surpassed.
Vice Admiral Won Capelle. in Il long
speech, which was loudly applauded,
affirmed that the expectation the navy
had placed in unrestricted submarine
1ar had been not only realized, but
surpassed
"Tn view OF the systematic conceal
inert in which the British press has
been INDUCING at the instigation of its
government with regard to the NUMBER
of ships sunk, 1t is naturally dlfficult
xlr,,, N
the tonnage sunk recently published in
The Berlin newspapers are IN noWlse
correct. as shown by the proof We al
ready have. 1t would be well to dis
continue such summary compilations
until official data are available. as they
are only used by our enemies to carry
on an agitation against US and dispar-
age the great successes of the C-boat
warfare.
No U-Boats Are Lost.
Although a number Of submarines,
because Of their large radius of action
and their instructions. have not yet re-
turned to their bases. can already as
sure the committee that the results
!. achieved have surpassed the expecta-
tons entertained by the navy. 1t is
very satisfactory that there is no rea
son to reckon with the loss of even one
C-boat since the beginning of the Unre-
stricted submarine war. The defensive
measures. about which such 4 fuss has
been made by the British press and
parliament, have remained within nor
NAL limits. according to the reports of
the U-boats which have returned.
There is practically no shipping in
the North sea: neutral shipping is
clearly as good as stopped. Altogether.
we can look forward with greater con-
fdence to the further development of
the submarine war. The expectations
attached thereto by the German people
have been fully justified by the re-
suits thus far
Falling OFF in Supplies.
The minister OF the interior. DR..
Helfferich, referred to the great fall
ing off of Great Britain's supply of in
iispensable requisites, such as food
stufs and pit props. and also OF the
supply of coal from England to her
allies and neutrals. The decrease in
December, 1916, as compared with De-
cember. 1915. was considerably greater
Than the average. The decrease for
rhe entire year of 1916, as compared
with 1915, showed that the provision
ing of Great Britain had closely APP
preached the danger point.
From an economic standpoint, said
Or. Helfferich. we can with all GER
1ainty reckon on the complete fulfill
ment of all our expectations based on
The submarine war.