The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-04-20
Why tdGDGutsChIand was Built
BY CARL W. AcksRMAN


ttCopyriElt 1915 The Tribune AS
sdciaflon. Registered Ia accordance
with the copyright act, Canada. 1917
The Tribune AssociauouJ
The German merchant submarine
Deutschland, the 700.ton ueboat which
as Il sailed Into Bremen, looked Ike a
duck with two poles IN IT'S back swim
ming up the Wester River. was built ~
the Krupp interests to bring war sup
plies from tho United States. German
munition plants last year had 10 stop
making, temporarily, 42-centlmetre
guns and other cannon which require
nickel steel because several % the val
liable minerals and ores needed could
not be obtained IN Europe. Either
I Krupp had 70 stop mnnuG curing nick.
81 steel war munitions cannon, armor
/ plate and armored automobies--or the
/ materials had to be brought from
! America
I About this time the German navy was
having difficulty IN obtaining reports
from the German agents in the United
States. Before Captain Boy-Ed was
sent back spy reports arrived In Der
lin regularly, Sometimes information
about events here reached the German
navy before they were known at the
American Embassy. But the blockade
OF spies was becoming strieter
The best evidence that Germany has
reached The maximum manusacturinl
point OF heavy artillery IS the neutsch
lands cargocs They show that Gar
many has reached the height II her
military efficiency. TINT certain raw mn
terials are lacking which are needed a.
gun construction. But this does not
mean TINT Germany is ready 10 crum
hlc within n few weeks nr months Cor
many has plenty n iron and copper ana |
sufficient coal 10 run her ammunition |
and war material factories for years |
But TO make the big 2S.5 ceutimetrc |
shin guns. armor plate ana the new
type German tank the finest auahty
OF nickel steel IL needed.
The Krupp process-of making nickel |
steel Is n secret one, but during a visit
to Knlpps last year | saw these ship |
cannon moulded one OF the officers In
charge explained that some forty ma
terlaIs were used After the naval bat
tie off the coast OF Jutland, the Navy
Department needed more thirty eights
and more armor plate Orders We're
sent to Krunp. but naval officers who
are in charge OF this work at Essen re-
ported that nickel and other ores We're
lackiug. and that unless they were pro-
cured outside OF Europe construction
could not begin.
Finest Guns Demanded.
Early last year the army intelligence
department reported that the English
were making preparations for an often
sive on the Somfne and Ancre rivers
The General Staff drew up plans for
the defence. Demands were made for
more nickel steel cannon which could
hold out during long bombardments.
Only the finest Krupp guns were knownl
to be capable of shooting 1000 big
shells. The General Staff knew that to
fight a battle OF several months dura-
ton in trench warfare cannon were
needed which could be depended upon
for continuous action.
Meanwhile agents were sent to the
United States via Copenhagen to no.
tify the North German Lloyd represen-
tatives here to purchase supplies and
make arrangements for the arrival Of
the Deutschland at Baltimer
Just before the Deutschland returned
from its first trip to the United States
[ visited the Krupp works at Essen.
Here was given the first accurate in
about the merchant subma-
rines.
Depended On Deutschland.
One day while / was going through
he factory where the 1855 centimetre
ship guns were being assembled, ln
with other correspondents
rom neutral countries. l was told by
4 Knapp director that the future con-
of these guns depended upon
The safe return of the Deutschland. AL
.hough the Deutschland made two trips
I did not bring sufficient valuable ores
md materials to keep the Krupp works
supplied for more than few months
It the most. When these supplies are
Exhausted Germany will not be able TO
new nickel steel guns.
That means that Germany has reached
he limit OF her ability to CONSTRUCT
uch weapons. But II does not mean
hat all she had on hand are in the
cran heap.
German press bureaus sent inspired
rticles TO the press which said that
PRESIDENT Wilson was practically per-
hitting the United States government |
0 aid tho Allies. The German people
elleved that the United States was
by helping the Allies get
he supplies The imperial government
this view because II did not
'nnt tho people TO think about the loss
Gcrmnny'g sea power. But when II .