Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-02-22
GERMANS EXPECT
WAR With U. S.
Are Eager to Avert HostiIitieS,
but See Little Chance of
Doing So.
REAL SITUATION DISCLOSED
Newspaper Correspondents Reaching
Neutral Grounds Tell Story Of Days
Following Break In
Relations.

Following Break In
Relations.
Copenhagen, Feb. 13.-While the au-
thorities and the greater part Of the
people of Germany are now anxious to
avoid open hostilities with the United
States, there is little hope in Berlin
hat there can be any other ultimate
result from the present situation, than
war between the two countries
These facts the Associated Press
correspondent who left Berlin with
Ambassador Gerard is able to state
upon reaching neutral territory.
1t can also be stated that the Ger
man threat to hold American news
paper men as hostages and the anx-
| iety of the German government to in
duce Ambassador Gerard to sign a
protocol reaffirming the old-time
treaties with the United States re-
garding mutual protection of nationals
In case of hostilities were undoubtedly
influenced by alarmist dispatches from
the United States regarding the treat
ment Of German citizens and property
there.
| In their efforts to prevent an open
break with the United States, the Ger
man authorities, 1t is said, gave in
structions to submarine commanders
before they started on their February
mission to take the safe side when
neutral vessels, particularly American,
we're In question, whenever possible.
Advised to Warn NeutraIs.
Enemy merchantmen, when recog-
Rized as such, were ordered to be sunk
at sight, but neutral merchantmen
were to be warned when such action,
In their judgment, was consistent
with the object of the campaign and
the safety of their own ships.
1t was realized, however, after the
prompt and resolute stand taken by
President Wilson, that these orders
could only be palliative and only de-
fer, not avoid, an ultimate break; also
that If President Wilson stood by his
announcement that the destruction Of
American lives or ships would be re-
garded as an act of hostility, a casus
belli must come sooner or later-Irob-
ably sooner on account of the number
Of Americans on enemy ships.
Not Liable to Punishment.
Moreover, there was the descretion-
airy nature of the instructions to sub
marine commanders, who were in
formed that, while the careful course
toward ueutrals was recommended and
desired, they would no longer be sub.
} jected to punishment for departing
from their former procedure Of warn
; ing If they found this advisable.
1t is considered that the only pos
sibility Of the avoidance of hOstllitieS
would result from a modification OF
Its standpoint by one or the other
side, and so far as could be judged
: from the positive declarations of AL
fred Zimmerman, the German min
: lister of foreign affairs, and other of
ficinls before the Associated Press
correspondents departure from Der
lin, there was no probability that Ger
many would give way this time Of
abandon the ruthless campaign nov
, started.
optimists Give Up Hope.
= German-American relations agail
and again have passed through crlse
apparently almost hopeless, but thi
time the crisis is more difficult thai
the former ones, and even the Opt
t mist can scarcely see any peaceful
egress out OF the impasse.
0 From q neutral cable Office it nov
( Is possible to tell the story of the dc
velopment of the present crisis, Of
which the most rigid censorship ha
been applied in Germany.
I To the observer in Berlin the ar
: prOach of the crisis had been plalnl
: and definitely evident since the re
t lection of Germany's peace overture'
= Information as to Germany's defnit
e decision to start a sharpened submG
r rine war and even the form 1t wOul
take, namely, blockade of specific
regions Though the idea Of ''prC
hibited zone" was later substituted fO
e that Of BLOCKADE" at the request c
: the naval authorities, who anticipate
" possible formal objections), was n
ceived by the Associated Press almoS
on the morrow of Ambassador Ge
ards speech on German-America
e good relations, delivered at the bal
f. Quet of the American Association {
k Commerce and Trade early In JAM
T. airy.
d A week later 1t was stated that
IS iull decision on the situation had nj
1t aeen reached and that the campaie
would not be launched until after flu
lher consultations with Germany's a
lies and the receipt of certain info
e, no~~~~~~N~o~~~~
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