New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-12
German U-Boat Plan
Kept from Gerard

H.
cable Office it is now possible to tell
the story Of the development OF the
present crisis between the United
States and Germany. The most rigid
censorship has been applied in Ger
many.
To the observer in Berlin the APP
proach of the crisis had been plainly
and definitely evident since the reJec-
ton of Germany's peace overtures. IN
formation as to Germany's definite de-
cision to start a shapened submarine
war. and even the form it would take,
namely, a blockade Of specified regions
Though the idea of a prohibited
zone" was later substituted for That oil
BLOCKADE" at the request of the
naval authorities, who anticipated pos
sible formal objections under the
blockade regulations), was received by
The Associated Press almost on the
morrow Of Ambassador Gerard's speech
on German-American good relations, de-
livered at the banquet Of the American
Association of Commerce and Trade
early in January.
A week later it was stated that full
decision on the situation had not been
reached and that the campaign would
not be launched until after further con-
situations with Germany's allies and
the receipt Of certain information from
Count Won Bern storff and Count Tar
uoyyki Won Tarnow, the German and
Austro- Hungarian ambassadors TO the
United States. as 10 their concept Oh
armed merchantmen and whether or
not they might be attacked as war
ships.
Decided on Kaiser's Birthday
The final decision on an out-and-out
submarine campaign of so-called
ruthless type, apparently was taken at
tho grand Austro- German conference at
German headquarters on the German
| Emperor's birthday, though The As
/ ISOLATED Press heard the statement that
| submarines, departing several days
/ earlier for stations on the submarine
| hunting grounds, were provided with
contingent orders for this eventuality.
The censorship, however, shut down
I tightly on any definite statements or
predictions OF the approaching crisis:
| The Associated Press was informed
| from usually reliable sources that it
was desired for marine and technical
reasons to have the decision come as
a surprise. This intimation was con-
yeyed confdentially TO the German
newspapers. All dispatches going into
| the subject in detail, however, were
either suppressed entirely or refer
| ences TO coming events censored out OF
= them. The only resource was to use
again and again she word blockade"
/ in discussions of submarine possible
Ambassador Gerard, of course, was
also aware of the current gossip, and
probably was able to advise the State
/ Department of the possible turn in
/ events, even while the echoes Of his
/ banquet speech we're still resounding.
/ But he was given no intimation from
| official sources.
The ambassador and the American
| government therefore were faced with
I the announcement OF a fact accom-
/ plished when, on the afternoon Of Jan
/ nary 81. DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollweg
| told the Reichstag committee the news
/ that a relentless submarine campaign
would begin Immediately and read to
the committee the text Of the memo
randum on the prohibited zone and
the note to the United States ocu-
ments which reached the American
Embassy only several hours later.
There was therefore no opportunity
or any occasion, as in the days OF the
Sussex trouble, for negotiations TO
prevent the crisis or for any attempt
to stave off the coming break between
the two countries. There was no
chance this time for discussion with
the Chancellor or an interview with
the Emperor, such as served 20 save
the day at the time OF the Sussex note.
Nothing could be done except 20 70
port to Washington developments ~
they appeared in the press Of the wor.C
before the embassy dispatches had
started from Berlin and await the az
ticipated explosion.
Germany Amazed at PromptneSs
This came in the shape Of 2 rupture
Of relations earlier than even Ameri-
cans had expected, ard certainly with
a promptncss which astonished and
perhaps even dismaycd the German off,
cial world, prepared though 10 was Tor
energetic American action by reason Of
the definite warnings in tho Sussex cor
respondence.
The announcement OF the plan Of
ruthless summarizing WIS preceded by
extended deliberations 80 20 the name
which should be given il, the question
Of its relative efficacy and the thor
oughness Of the measures TO be taken
against sea-borne trade TO Entente
countries entering Importantly into the
problem. Whether the new campaign
should be launched az a formal block
ade or given some other name, the
number OF available submarines, the
extent OF the territory 70 be covered
and tho efficiency Of tho individual sub
marine all had their bearing upon the
selection Of the name, since blockade
n n were declared. would have 20 come
up 10 the requirements of reasonable
effectiveness to avoid inconvenient neu.
trial protests.
Probably ten or more OF the big boats
stationed in the Mediterranean will
help the Austrian fotillas in closing
that sea. The results attained by the
remainder in the operations against
French and British traffic in the first
few days of tho new campaign we're OBJ