Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-05-04
GERMAN PLOT TO START WORLD WAR
AT HAITI FAILED BY HAIRBREADTH
Scneme to Precpate Conflict Through Attack on United States
Frustrated by AustranSerban Declaration ntrigues Re-
veaIed involving Mexico Throw Light on Wilson's Atti-
tude on Other International Issues


the authorities In Washington learned
that several German ships laden with
arms and ammunition, bought by
Huerta, were on their way to Mexican
ports. It was this news that caused
President Wilson to order tie seizure
of Vera Cruz, which was effected April
Fl. The Ypiranga, the first of the
German arms laden ships to arrive in
Mexican waters, turned back and put
into a Cuban port until more than
month later, when she landed her car
go of 100000 pounds of ammunition
and 25O field guns at Puerto Mexico.
Two other ships also landed munitions.
But by this time affairs had so shaped
themselves that the United States de-
cided not to interfere with the landing
Of the munitions from Germany (more
diplomatic reasons). Then the South
American A b @ powers began media
ton, not on their initiative, but on the
suggestion of diplomatists of otherpow-
ers. Britain was really the prime NOV
er in this. SO the A b G mediation
prevented war when it seemed certain.
"Huerta quit Mexico shortly after
this-without salutlng the American
fiag-and the" American feet gradually
withdrew. The chance of the United
States going to war with Mexico had
passed. Germany's schemes had been
baked, for the time being, at least
Remember that the Austrian crown
prince had not been assassinated In
Serbia and Germany did not have that
excuse for starting n world war, for
which she had so long been preparing.
Above all things she wanted to get a
firm footing In the West Indies, In Cen
trail America and In South America,
and she was willing and ready to fight
the United States to achieve those pur-
poses. Her schemes were perfected
and It was decided to start the con-
flagration by Selling Haiti.
A Hair Trigger Situation.
ION July %, 1914, several United
States warshlps were at Port au
Prince, Haiti, under command of Capt.
John J. Knapp, who was on board the
battleship Connecticut. The German
cruisers Karlsruhe and Strassburg
were also at Port au Prince. The Ger
man ships were there to enforce Ger
man claims against Haiti, and reports
had spread that German seamen and
marines were going to land and seize
the customhouse. Captain Knapp had
orders from Washington to oppose the
seizure.
ut was~common talk In Port au
Prince that President Oreste Zamol
had been promised $5,0O0,0O0 If he
- would break off negotiations with the
American minister, Arthur Bailly
with the United States, and he hat
done so.
'When Sir Lionel saw President VIII
son little was said about It, for diplo
matte reasons. Exactly what he tolt
the president Is, of course, secret
but that he did tell him of certain Ger
man activities In Mexico Is now gen
orally known In official Washington.
meantime, on February II, the frs
wireless telegraph system between
Germany and the United States hat
been put In operation from Nauen, z;
miles northwest of Berlin, to Sayville
L. l., the distance being 1000 miles
This plant was owned by the Atlantic
Communication company. Subsequen
events are the best answer to the ques
ton whether this wireless system wal
purely commercial enterprise.
"A few days later the United States
sent several of the largest warships u
Mexican waters to replace smaller YES
sells, and report came to Washington
that the situation was growing worse
In Mexico City and that the British
warship off Vera Cruz had sent de
tachment of marines with quanut.
of arms and ammunition to the capita
as part of the legation guard.
Military Organization.
at was about this time that Cap
tain Won Papen, military attache
the German embassy in Washington
and of the German legation in Mexic
as well, found it necessary to go TO IN
latter capital for quite long stay
Outside of diplomatic circles nothing
was known of his coming or going, Du
every move he made was watched AM
known not only In Washington but u
London. Captain Won Papen remaine
in Mexico about three months, but
was not until after his recall, NOR
than year later, at the request OF IN
United States, and the publication O
some of his papers, seized by the Bri,
ish authorities while he was ON HI
way back to Germany, that the sit
nIficance of his visit to Mexico becam
generally known.
"Among the papers was copy oil
letter which the German naval con
mander in Mexican waters had wri
ten to the imperial chancellor In BEL
lin, giving high praise to Captain vo
Papen for the extraordinary SERVE
he had rendered to his country !
forming the German residents OF Me'
leo into wel-equipped ana wei
drilled army for defensive purposes
SO enthusiastic was the German naV'
commander over the achievement
of Contnin Won Pappn that he urge