The Washington herald., 1917-03-14
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
The German Plot
New York Timssl !


Every day some new German activity,
conspiracy or espionage in the United
states, or directed against the United
States from outside its territory, comes
to light. For more than two years acts
OF war against the entente powers have
been planned on American soil. acts Of
violence and Of destruction against Amer
ican industry and commerce have been
attempted or perpetrated. The poison
Ing of American public opinion, of Con-
sress itself, in the interest OF Germany
has been essayed by an elaborate and
multifarious propaganda. Not since the
days Of Citizen Genet has the United
States been treated with such open in
science; but the open insolence has been
nothing compared to the secret, steady,
wide-reaching intrigues, unlawful de-
signs planned. and in too many cases
executed.
The Bagdad dream was the thing
on which Germany really counted when
she made her desperate plea for peace
peace to be dickered for in secret round
a council table at which the shrewd-
est bargainer would come out best Ger
manys Eastern empire made secure at
The cost of the surrender Of Belgium
and Northern France. that was the core
of ii. When the Allies insisted on nam
ing their own peace terms in the open,
the hope of Talleyranding a new Con-
gress of Vienan Slimmered away. Cen
eral Maude in Bagdad takes from Ger
many the basis for her dickering. the
thing on which she had hoped to re-
the game in the west went against her.
''kuItur and Mr.. Gerard.
New York Heraldl
1t has been said frequently since the
war began that the most remarkable de-
roIo
revelation of the peculiar twist of the
German mind.
The case Of Mr. Gerard is an ilIustra-
ton Of the truth of this statement. While
he was in Berlin and while there was an
effort being made to hoodwink America
nothing was too good for the American
Ambassador. no praise too fulsome to be-
stow on him. In fact. some of the critics
of Mr.. Gerard, particularly in England.
went so far as to suggest that he was
entirely too friendly toward Germany
In fact. was pro-German. All this because
the Prussian clique at that time believed
1t could use Mr.. Gerard in its business of
pa cifying' and bamboozling America.
Suddenly the tune changes. Through no
fault of his, because Of no change in his
manner or actions. Mr. Gerard is recalled
and the Prussian clique turns on him.
The wireless press dispatches abuse him
the public speakers treat him with con-
tempt; the press calls him British spy
and to cap the climax. as revealed by
the Herald's special cable dispatches
from Havana. his track homeward is be-
set by spies. his friends and himself are
treated like fleeing criminals and every
possible indignity Is visited upon him
whenever the opportunity presents
That Mr.. Gerard has borne all this with
patience is greatly TO his credit. The only
hope is that when the enforced silence of
diplomacy and expediency is lifted the
eloquence OF patriotism will prevail upon
this first-class American to tell the whole
tale of the humiliation heaped upon him
because he is an American-and for no
other reason.
what of Men for the Trenchesf
New York Sum-
In every days newspapers appears
gratifying evidence of the alertness of
Americans TO the menace of war and the
vigor with which they are preparing to
meet it in every respect but one
We find the railroads organizing under
capable leadership to give a systematical-
" co-ordinated service in time of emer-
gency. Men of large affairs. such as
gathered Sunday with Mr.. Cornelius y.
Bliss. are meeting to discuss the methods
by which they can best serve the State
Organized labor is today holding an i'm
portant conference at Washington to de-
fine its attitude. The great manufacturers
of the land are already organized. Com
merce, industry, agriculture. manufactur-
ing, finance. labor, all are getting together
in their own especial fields. Only one
prime factor in national defense Is for
the moment ignored.
What about the man behind the gun?