The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-06

Berlin, Jan. 81 (via Londan, Feb,
Won Bethmanu-Hol-
veg and other ministers attended an
important meeting Of the ways aGa
means committee CT the re:chstag 70
day at which TIE entire sit"ation was
gene over anl new STEPS planned ~
fhe central i;2wers We're considered
The clanceIlc" oaeneQ the sitting
with a spee.u o. which the keynote
words we're:
ssNe have been challenged to fight
10 the end. We accept tie challenge.
we stake everything and We shall De
victorious
The secretary OF State for the al
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 secre-
tary of the interior and Foreign Sec
retary Zimmerman replied to several
special questions.
The committee then went into Sc
eret session at which speeches were
made by representatives of the Cen
iris, National, Liberal and Progress
sive parties.
Why He Has Changed.
In his address Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hollweg explained why in
March and May Of last year he had
opposed unrestricted submarine War
fare, and why again in September,
according to the unanimous juds-
ment of the political and military au-
thorities, the question was considered
ripe for decision
The chancellor repeated his preyl-
GUS utterance that as soon as he, in
agreement with the supreme army
command, reached the conviction that
ruthless submarine war would bring
Germany nearer a victory the U-boal
war would be started.
"By this development Of the situa-
tion the decision concerning sub-
marine warfare has been forced into
the last acute STAGE said the chan
eellor. "The question Of U-boat war,
as members Of the reichstag will re-
member, has occupied us three times
in this committee-namely in March,
May and September OF last year. On
each occasion in an exhaustive state
ment l exposed the points for and
against this question. l emphasized
on each occasion that l was speak
ing protempore and not as a sup
porter in principle or opponent in
principle of the unrestricted employ
-ment of Bsboats. but in consideration
of the military political and econom-
jc situation as a whole.
Ready for Extremes.
II have always proceeded from the
standpoint whether U-boat war would
bring US nearer victorious peace Or
rot. Every means, l said in March,
that was calculated to shorten the
war constituted the most humane po-
,Sicy to follow. When the most ruth
less methods are considered best cal
sculated to lead us to victory and
swift victory, l said then they must
be employed.
"This moment has now arrived.
Last autumn the time was not yet
ripe, but today the mnl.e eui las come
when, with the greatest prospects Of
success we can undertake the enter
prise. We must, therefore, not wait.
any longer
Where has there been any changes
in tie situation?' the chancellor ASK
ed. "In the first place the most im-
yortant fact OF all is that the number
of our submarines has been very con-
siderably increased as compared with
dast spring, and thereby a firm basis
for success has been established.
The second decisive reason is the
had cereal harvest of the world. This
fact already confronts England,
and Italy with serious diffclties
which py means cf unrestricted U-boaI
warfare will be brought to point
of unbearableneSs. The coal ques-
iion, too, IS vital question in war.
already it is critical, as you know, IN
Italy and Frances. Our submarines
will make il still more critical"