Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-16
GERMANY READY
FOR ALL COMERS
Fully Determined to Garry Out
Ruthless Subsea Campaign,
Says Mr.. Gerard.
ABANDON TALK OF PEACE

Washington, March l5.-Forme
Ambassador Gerard, fresh from Der
lin, reported to the State department
today that when he left there wa!
every evidence that Germany fully
intended carrying out its ruthles.
submarine campaign, regardless O
the prospects OF war with the United
States, and that talk of peace hao
been abandoned.
The former ambassador did not SEE
President Wilson because the presi
dent still is confined to his room
but he conferred at length with bott
Secretary Lansing and Counsellor
Polk, and went over with them in de,
tail events leading to the break ir
diplomatic relations between Ger
many and the United States.
Food Condition Serious.
Mr.. Gerard reported that German
officials apparently considered the
consequences of submarine ruthless
ness before proclaiming it and as fal
as he could learn were confident Of
success. When he left Berlin, how.
ever, the campaign was only in its
second week and the Germans were
still predicting the destruction of g
million tons of shipping a month, the
amount admitted by Teutonic experts
to be essential for an effective starva-
ton blockade of England. Since then
however, the average destruction has
been below half that.
Food conditions in Germany when
Mr.. Gerard's party left, were report
ed as serious, but not necessarily crit.
ical. This question is looked upon by
the American government as very i'm
portant because of its bearing upon
the possibility of further peace moves
by Germany in the near future.
Goes to New York.
The former ambassador arrived
here from Key West, Fla, shortly
after noon and was met at the sta
ton by a group of officials. A for
NAL statement was given out by Mr..
Gerard, saying he would make his re-
port to the government and would
not talk for publication. He will go
to New York tomorrow for a formal
reception to be rendered, him there
Friday.
The report made by the former am
bassador to the State department was
understood to deal particularly with
the treatment accorded himself and
other Americans following the break
in diplomatic relations, the efforts of
the German government to get him
to reafflrm the old treaty of 1928 with
extensive changes, the general atti-
tude of the German government and
public towards submarine warfare,
peace and relations with the United
States and conditions in Germany.
Activity in Department.
The department presented scene
OF unusual activity with the many re-
turned diplomats who accompanied
ors. Some OF them will be kent At
the department and others will be
given new posts.
While officers are extremely anxi-
GUS to learn the personal opinions of
men fresh from Germany, there is
not the slightest disposition to feel
that the international situation can be
affected in any way at this time.
Germany is believed to have shown
itself in the series of sinking such as
the Laconia, the California and many
others, including the American steam
ship Algonquin, reported TODAY sunk
without warning, to be utterly un-
mindful of the country's rights or it's
possible participation in the war
Twsrtu M;,l;or s,s.,;.m
~ s'
Regarding 1000 conditions, one OF