New Britain herald., 1917-04-09
GERMAN VIEW OF
 AMERICA AT WAR
Submarines Necessary Despite the
 Loss Say Teutons

Amsterdam, via London, April B. The question in regard to America $ entrance into the war has been put the Rheinische Westfalische Gazette oH Essen an important industrial or ganization. The paper asks first, whether unrestricted submarine war the price of war with America; sec ond. what will be the economic con- sequences and third, is it possible to make Germany economically indc- pendent of America. Counsellor pr, Beukenberg of Dermund answers th. first question in the negative. Dr. Eeukenberg says:
 Our early reluctance to use our submarines was due to the most far reaching deference to America, with whom We were on friendly terms and, above all, enjoyed important com- mercial relations. America never at tempted to help us in our distress, caused by England's starvation block ade. Our yielding to Americas de- nnands was not caused by fear of her military resources but with view to avoid difficulties in rebuilding our foreign trade after the war.
 Trade Must Wait.
 President Wilson's biased judg- nent of the German peace proposals showed that America does not want German victory and prefers to aid British ambitions in the dismember- ment of Germany and Austria-Hun- gary. We were thus compelled to re- sume unrestricted submarine warfare in order to- force victorious con- clusiOn to the war. Considerations of the future of the development of our trade must wait while danger exists of our losing the fruits of victory"
 The speaker concludes:
 Now that America is an open enemy, we no longer have our hands tied and there is no longer the feat that we might have to make an un- dignified peace through exhaustion. The slogan is now victory or death with honor.
 U-Boat Warfare Necessary.
 Dr. Hasslacher of the Rheinische Steel works of Duisberg, answering the questions, laid stress on the dec- laration that nothing must interfere with ruthless submarine warfare. He says:
 This is the only way to impose on Americans respect for Germany's po- litical and economic existence. Peace will insure our economic revival and enable to find our way in the world in spite of America
 Privy Councillor Kirdoff of the Gelsenkirchen Mining company says:
 Unrestricted submarine warfare could not be bought too dear at any price. The German government ought to have realized that in time and so avoided the useless loss of many German lives. America as an open enemy will be more useless than before."
 Economic COnsequences.
 An unnamed Rheinish industrial leader says in answer to the second question:
 ''The economic consequences of German-American war are extremely serious. We cannot do without cer- tain raw material and foodstuffs from America which, as all other enemy countries will systematically bar out products"
 In answer to the third question he says:
 We have only few means of re- prlSalS but 1t Is most d1f1cult to make ourselves completely independent" He advises the strictest economy and thinks that American oil may be re- placed by a more extended use of German coal.
 He says that great hopes had been built on America for the reconstruc- ton period and that German manu- lecturers had bought and paid for large quantities of raw materials in America for. post bellum delivery.
 Will Be Self Dependent.
 Herr Stellers says that the fact that Germany is now compelled to be self dependent and form a closed com mercial state will be rather favorable to her development.
 Herr Stellar suggests a nation wide introduction of various substitutes to replace American imports and opening up of neglected channels for those things for which substitutes cannot be found. He predicts a glorious future for Germany through the speeding up of her technical produc- tion. "