Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-12
GERARD TO REACH
CONTINUED from page one

impression he has formed as 10 Ger
many's purposes, her present situation
and her future aims, he will remain
silent.
The only public expression which the
former ambassador permitted himself
to make on his arrival here was that
he had no knowledge of Foreign Secre
tary Zimmerman's plot to align Ger
many with Mexico and Japan until
word of that conspiracy reached the
Infanta Isabel by wireless as she was en-
route from Corunna, Spain to Havana.
Gave Warning Of Intrigues.
From others of the ambassadorial
party, however, it was learned that the
ambassador months ago advised the
United States government of Germany =
intrigues in Mexico
1t rests with President Wilson wheth-
er the full story of Gerard S life in
Berlin and his impressions of Germany
shall be given to the American public
The envoy is known TO have ready for
submission TO his chief a narrative Of
amazing details. 1t is possible these de-
tails may be the basis of further revela-
tions of Gemany's Vaccinations
against America - If the government
sees fit
But because of the unbearable, cease
less activity of spies in Germany, not a
paper of the American embassy's arch
ives in Berlin now remains The am
bassador himself burned every bit of
paper in the building.
Germany s food situation is serious,
in the belief of all the returning Amer
leans. The Teutons greatly lack pota
toes, fats sugar and other basic food
staples. But everyone who had lived
in Berlin agreed that Germany would
probably be able to exc out an existence
through this summer on her present sup
plies of food. Then she will have to
depend on this year s crops. And those
crops have now only fair promise of
sufficiency.
Germany Short of Metals.
Shortage of METALS and nitrates is
now interfering with Germany's manu-
facture of munitions, according to mem
bers of the Gerard party. Germany is
being raked with a fine tooth comb for
metals and more metals. The latest re
QUESTIONING determined upon by the
government was as to lead Every ounce
is being taken. The pewter tops from
beer stems have gone. So have the lead.
en- pipes of church organs.
| 1t is in the big German cities that the
food shortage is most serious. In the
smaller cities the lack is not quite so
apparent For instance, DR.. w. A.
! Haldy, u Cleveland, Ohio, physician.
who was stationed with Red Cross
unit in hospital located in town
of 10000, insisted he had no trouble
in getting plenty to cat.
The annoyances to which Gerard was
forced to submit before he obtained
permission of German officialdom to
leave Berlin were not only anticipated.
in part, by Gerard himself, but by
Washington
Passports Were Withheld.
1t was learned that the ambassador
was specially instructed by the state
department to exercise great care and
not to let petty personal insults compli-
cate the already delicate situation
aroused by the diplomatic break. Full
confirmation of how passports were
withheld from Americans pending the
exercise of pressure on Gerard to sign
new treaty guaranteeing safety of
German ships in American harbors, was
given by the returning Americans.
They re-told with admiration Gerard's
firm stand and his refusal thus to ac-
qmesce IN Germany's scheme
Those were trying days and when at
last the German government suddenly
changed front and issued passports, per.
mittlng departure of Gerard and his