The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-02-07
GERMANY RBlsEs SUBMARINE.
IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR SAYS
THAT GERMANY Is PLAYING
BEST CARD no WIN.
Bethman-aloalwee Declares That Sc
i4oasness OF Undc<sea Warfare is
Fully Understood by Central Pow
crs. But Is Only Step 20 Save Them
From Destruction at Hands Of Their
Euemtos.

A.(-SueuCoiiOr Won botnm0n nOilWc8
and other ministers attended an i'm
portant meeting Of the ways and
means committee Of the reichstag to.
day at which the entire sltdatioh was
eons over and new steps planned by
the central powers were considered.
The chancellor opened the sitting
with q speech Of which the keynote
words were: "" i'
I'VE have been challenged to fsht
70 the end. We accept the challenge.
vs stake everything and we shall be
victorious"
The secretary OF State for the ad-
miralty spoke Of the situation from
the technical. military and naval
viewpoint. Detailed statistical data
In regard to the economic position Of
the world was supplied by the secro-
tary Of tho interior and Foreign Sec
rotary Zimmerman replied to several
special questions.
The committee then went into Sc
crst ssssfon at which speeches were
made by representatives, Of tho Gen.
trss. National. LIBERAL and Progress
sivs parties.
In his address Chancellor Won Beth
ruann-Holiwee explained why In
March and May of last year he had
opptssd Unrestricted submarine war
fare. and why again In September.
"according to the unanimous judg-
mart Of the political and military au-
thSAtiss. the question was considered
I - for decision"
The chancellor repeated his previ-
eua Stterance that az soon a. he. in
aessmsnt with the supreme army
command. reached the conviction that
ruthless submarine war would bring
Germany nearer q victory the u-boat
war would be started.
by this development Of the situa-
tion the decision concerning SUBJ
! marine warfare has been forced INTO
ths l9Se rcst4. stAgs," said the chan
cslloSs. I. te4v question Of u-boat wa.
- n1Ahets of the. rsiehstas viii re-
oenter. has occupied " three
r. M ccgnlnjt1oe sna1p psly II
\ Nv NJ ~ ~ a. ia
5u6R$ b ss&ls ssSa iSd Han : = 'ssxhaus- Is
t,vs efatsmsnt / sxpoundsd the points
to- and againstS this question. I
enphasised on each occasion that 1
was dpsaking protempore and not as
: supoprter In principle or opponent
In principle Of the unrestricted en-
ploymsnt OF u-boats. but In considera-
tion Qf the military. political and eco-
nomic situation N whole.
II have always proceeded from the
standpoint whether u-boat war would
bring Do nearer victorious peace or
not Every means. I Aaid In March.
that was calculated to shorten tho
war constituted the most humane
pesicy 70 foiow. When the most ruth
49, methods are considered best CAL
culated 70 lead us to victory ana
swifs victory. 7 said tnsn they murt
b employed.
This moment has now arrived.
Last autumn the time was not yet
ripe. but today the moment has como
when. with tho greatest prospects OF
success. We can undertake the enter
prise. We must. therefore. not wait
any ionSss. ~. t.- >t+~
Where has there been any changes
In the situation?" the chancellor ask
Cd. .in the first place the most i'm
portant fact Of all In that the number
Of our submarines has been very con-
sidsrably increased as compared with
last spring. and thereby a firm basis
for soccess has been established.
The second conclusive reason is the
bad cereal harvest Of tho world. This
fact already confronts England,
France and Italy with serious difiicul-
ues which by means OF unrestricted
u-boat warfare will be brought to q
point Of unbearabieness. Tho coal
question. too. is q vital question Ia
war. Already IL Is critical. as you
know. In Italy and France. Our sub
marines will make II still more criti-
cal.
ITO this must be added especially
ore for the production OF munitions,
N regards England the supply Of
In the widest sense. and Of timber
for coal mines. The enemy's difficult
ties are rendered still more acute by
tho increasing lack of enemy cargo
space. In this respect time and
u-boat and cruiser warfare have pre-
pared the ground for the decisive
blow.