The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-14

English were making preparations lot
an offensive on the Somme ana Ancre
rivers. The General StaN drew up
plans for the defense. Demands were
made for more nickel steel cannon
which could hold out during long bOal-
bardments. Only the finest krupp
guns were known to be capable or
shooting 1000 big shells. The Genera!
STAFF knew that to fight battle or
several months duration il trench
warfare, cannon were needed which
could be depended upon for conunu-
Gus action.
Krupp was appealed TO 20 furnish
such defences. But krupp replied
that nickel and other materials were
Eeeded and that these could not be
obtained il Europe. So the army and
navy supported the krupp directors
WAC started construction at the Mel
wharyes where other government suo-
marines were being built.
Meanwhile agents were sent 10 the
United States via Copenhagen 10
notify the North German Lloyd rep
resentatires here TO purchase sup
plies and make arrangements for the
arrival OF the Deutschland at Baiu-
more. The same agents VINO came
here reported to the German secret
service. And, while the Deutschland
WIS being built and tried in the Baltic
sea. where all submarines were first
sailed, German agents here bought
supplies for krupp and collected in
formation for the German navy.
Just before the Deutschland re-
turned from its first trip 20 the United
States | visited the krupp works At
Essen. Here | was given the first
accurate information ABOUT the meF-
cGant submarines.
Depended on Deutschland.
One day while l was going through
the factory where the 3S.5 centimetre
ship guns were being assembled. in
company with other correspondents
from neutral countries, l was told
by q Krupp director that the future
construction OF these guns. depended
upon the safe return Of the Deutsch-
land. Although the Deutschland made
two trips 1t did not bring sufficient
valuable ores and materials to keep
the Krupp works supplied for more
than few months al the most. When
these supplies arc exhausted Ger
many will not be able 10 manufacture
new nickel steel guns. That menus
that Germany has reached the limit
OF her ability to construct such weap-
ons. But it does not mean that all
she had on hand arc in tho scrap
heap.
Ever since the beginning OF tho wa.
Germany has been contendnE that
the United States was not nrutra! n
permitting the American far'nrieS 70
make supplies for the allies. The
German press bureaus sent INSPIRED
articles to the rrea; which said that
President Wilson wns practically per
hitting the United States government
70 aid the allies The German peopIa
believed that tho United States was
discriminating by helping the allies
cot the supplies. The Imperial gov
erament encouraged this view be-
cause il did not want the people 10
think about tho loss Of GermunY's sea
power. But. when Il came 70 = pinch.
when Germany needed materials from
America, desperately, then the hrupp
interests did what the allies did
they sent ships over 10 America 10
get supplies.
German People Were Never old.
But the German people were never
told that these supplies were war
supplies. The German people we're
never informed that the Deutschland
was owned and controlled by kTupp
Alfred Lohmann, who was president
of the German Oceans Navigation
company, the Krupp dummy, posed
as the originator Of the submarine
idea. AS a matter Of fact. he had
nothing to do with the designing or