The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-05
Germany Can Whip the World,
- Is Sentiment at Home.
READY TO SHAKE UNIVERSE
More Troops to Front; More
Sacrifice by Civilians.
No Vessels on Which Ameri-
cans Can Leave Germany.
BY CARL w. ACKERMAN.

Berlin, Feb. 4-CDelayed)- Every
American in Berlin is preparing for
var between the United States and
Germany.
News of the break in diplomatic
relations was first printed in an extra
issued at noon today by the Berliner
Zeitung Ammitag.
The report spread like wIldflre thru
Berlin. Americans telephoned the
grave news to each other and called
up the American embassy for further
information.
Up to this afternoon Ambassador
Gerard had not received official noti-
fication of the break. At that time,
however. he went for an hours con-
ference with German Foreign Secre-
tary Zimmerman. When he returned
his manner was grave.
TO observers here any drawing back
by Germany from her announcement
of unlimited submarinings would be
the greatest surprise of the war.
Germany has modified every ounce
of her energy for the eXpected-and
neutrality-suspicious..
Public SteeIed for Sacrifice.
With new troops constantly going
to the front, with Zeppelins flying
over the city. with daily reports of
submarine successes and the news of
successful throwing off of entente at
tacks on all fronts, the public is steel
ed to further sacrifices.
The feeling here is that Germany
is a gigantic powder magazine, pre-
pairing for an explosion in military
sense-and that this explosion will
shake the universe.
The American embassy was pic
ture of gloom. Secretary Joseph c..
Grew, Commander Gherardi, naval at
tache, and other secretaries and en-
ployes paced the corridors nervously.
Official word was anxiously await
ed The brief word issue in news
paper extras was read and re-read.
Outside. on the streets and in the
subways, newspaper extras sold furl-
ously Announcement officially of the
break was calmly awaited by the
American colony however.
The question everybody in Berlin
asked was how American officials,
correspondents, Red Cross doctors and
citizens will reach America-with all
European liners stopped
Hundreds of Americans Stranded.
y The present indication is that hun
'lreds of Americans will be strandeI
Neutral ship lines are refusing to book
any passages. A great number of
Americans who had arranged to sail
during February and March were no.
tifed that their sailings had been can
eelled.
But the exodus of these Americans
from Germany had already begun. 1t
started in the middle of last week.
With all Scandinavian and Dutch
liners stopped, Spain appears to be the
only omen route. on Saturday the
ambassador received a telegram from
the American embassy in Madrid no
tifying him what liners were scheduled
from there.
One suggestion that was circulated
in Berlin was that Washington ar
range for a Norwegian ship to bring
Americans from Bergen, Norway, to
New York, and returning to bear
back from America, Ambassador
Bernstorff, his staff and German con-
suls.
Newspapers have been pointing out
daily since announcement of Ger
many's new policy that the small
European neutrals- Hol-
land and Scandinavia-are not eX-
pected to oppose the summarizing,
because of fear.
No comment from American news
papers had yet been printed.
Germany Swept by Blizzard.
Discussing the general situation
created by the submarine order, the
Lokal Anzeiger declared editorially:
1.-THE public should be satisfied with
one warm room and not expect the
whole apartment. The public is warn
ed that it must not only sacrifice more
but must expect even more discomfort
by the prolongation of the war, if the
public wants to help win"
The reference to the warm room
was particularly apt today. since
BerIn Is now IN the grip OF the most
severe blizzard in years. There has
been great suffering. However, no
deaths have yet been reported.
Predict No Actual War.
Rome, Feb. 5.-The Osservatore
Romano does not believe that the
rupture of diplomatic relations be-
tween the United States and Germany
is likely to lead to actual war partly
because of the policy followed by
America in the past and partly be-
cause of the difficulty of armed con-
filct between the two countries on ac-
count of their physical situations.
Probably the neutral nations y
says the paper, after protesting will
suspend the departure of their steam
ers to avoid further complications
hoping thus to hasten the end of the
conflict. Consequently the German
threat would remain without effect
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