The Washington times., 1917-03-05
Don Marquis
Column

Some Notes on German Efficiency.
German diplomacy was to induce
Belgium to give the Teutonic forces
an undisputrd passage into France.
Belgium resisted, holding to her OBJ
legation, and the plan failed.
German craftsmanship was to IN
duce England to remain neutral.
Another failure.
German military efficiency was to
carry the Kaiser's armies across
northern France in one dash and the
fall OF Paris was scheduled for the
autumn OF 1914. Another failure,
despite Germany's years of prepara-
| ton and the fact that she pounced
upon her intended victims with a
surprise attack.
Germany was to bring Italy into
the war as an ally of the Central
| Powers, although by the terms or the
triple alliance Italy WAS bound to
| assist Austria and Germany only in
the event that the central powers
were attacked. The plan failed and
Italy joined the entente powers.
German armies were scheduled to
be in Calais on a certain date, as
revealed by German diaries picked
UP on the battIehelds, and Calais
was to be used as a base for the sub
jugation of England. German mill
tary efficiency failed again
German military efficiency was to
crush France in one swift campaign
and then the Kaiser's forces were to
turn and put the Russians out of
business before the French could re-
cover from the first staggering blow.
Another failure for the Pan-Ef-
ficients.
A feet Of Zeppelins was to make
England cry for mercy before sne
was we'll prepared to so into the war
on a grand scale. The Zeppelins has
tened English recruiting ana mad
much to do with making England
realize the character OF the struggle.
A failure for the superefficients In
a military way and in the realm OF
psychology.
German intrigue at the Russian
court was to have hsmpered Russian
military operations, finally resulting
in a separate peace. A failure for
the apostles OF efficiency-ueber-alles.
The pro-German propaganda IN
America was to have Influenced the |
American people to depart from the
letter and spirit of neutrality to such
an extent as to refuse to sell war
munitions to the entente powers,
since Germany herself could get no
materials from this country owing to J
her comparative naval weakness. The
propaganda failed to do this.
The policy of frightfulness was TO
intimidate enemies and neutrals alike.
Is only made the enemies night the
harder and alienated the neutrals.
Another failure in efficiency for the
Pan-Frightfuls.
German commercial submarines, In
spite of Britain's actual blockade,
were to establish regular trade sched-
ules and take into Germany much
needed supplies. such as rubber cop
per, etc. Another failure.
German efficiency advertised in the
neutral press pretty, extensively that
II was going through Verdun like
hot knife through a pound of lard.
The crown prince Is wintering in the
vicinity of Verdun again this year.
German submarines were to inter-
rupt the flow of men and supplies
from Dover to Calais and cut of Eng
land from her continental ally. Ef-
ficiency stepped on itself again.
German agents were TO invite Egypt
to revolt against British rule. The
Nile is not yet on fre.
German efficiency decreed that II
was to be a short war. Military chiefs
and economists agreed that, with the
food supplies already in storage and
the material TO be drawn from con-
Quered territory and from neutral
sources, no German need suffer want
until a victorious peace was made.
But before the war was eighteen
months old we heard that German
women and children were being
starved by British blockade. The
present submarine campaign against
belligerents and neutrals alike is Of
ficially represented as a measure of
reprisal called forth by England's pol
icy of starving Germany. The mill
taTy Cnlelb anu lHt tCOnOIHlStS seem
to have failed in efficiency once more.
Ireland was TO have been invited to
revolt. India was to have been in
vited to revolt. All Islam was to have
Joined against Great Britain. More
failures for the efficients.
America was to have been alter
nately threatened and cajoled into be-
coming a German tool. This did not
quite succeed. At least, diplomatic
relations with Germany were-tardily
enouGh-severed.
Mexico and Japan were to be united
and brought into a war against
America But the efficient intriguers
failed again.
Now England Is to be starved by
the new submarine campain of ruth
lessness. Various periods have been
set for the contamination of this nb-
tect. 1t is our own opinion that Eng
land will not be starved.
The outstanding feature with re-
gard to the boasted German efficiency
seems to us to be this: That after
planning a war for many years, and
descending to the very depths of
deviltry in its prosecution. the Ger