The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-01
Uncle Sam Evidently Testing
Spain's Neutrality.
Spain Refused To Sell Supplies
to General Pershing.
RETALIATE AGAINST SHIPS!
U. S. Declines To Furnish
Spain's Ships With Coal.
So Eight Big Merchantmen Lie
Idle in n. Y. TarbOr.
BY ROBERT ]. BENDER.

Washington, Feb. Spain today is
one of the most important and COM
plex problems facing the United States
and the allies.
Already she is feeling the teeth of
Americas grim war determination in
answer to her embargo on shipment
of needed supplies to General PERISH
ing's army in France. Eight of her
big merchant ships arc idle in New
York, refused bunker coal licenses
pending the outcome of negotiations,
the nature of which cannot yet be
revealed.
Meantime, however, the United
Press is able to present an authorita-
tive insight into Spanish conditions,
based on information sent her. the
reliability of which cannot be ques-
toned.
The Spaniards. it is said, are watch
ing the critical progress of the war
with keen eyes. If she enters, she
wants to be on the winning side Her
army Is regarded as pro-German- AS
in every other country, the officers OF
the army are greatly impressed by
the fetish of German military eff
cheney Many of them have been
trained in Germany and are thoroly
Germanophile.
Estimate Spain's War Strength
1t is claimed that Spain has modern
rifles for two million men. 1t is as
serted that there arc seventy thousand
German reservists in the country ana
that when the Spanish army takes the
field the burden of command Will 1all
upon twenty thousand trained German
/ officers "already in the country and
their campaign well planned ana
every man in his place
In view of these conditions. TINS
government today is directly raced
| with the task, snot only OF hoiding
Spain to our conceptions of neutral
| ity but of keeping her from Joining
with Germany.
either actively or passively-to Ger
many has been known for some time.
Germany submarines have been pro-
ivisioning and getting wireless informa-
ton along the Spanish coasts for
! many months Submarine crews
have been changed in Spanish har-
bors American agents kept track of
/ the men on one German boat in a
| Spanish harbor and there was a reSu-
! lar weekly, change in personnel
| brought about by spelling" U-boat
crews
| Spain Sends Aid to Germany.
All over the coast of Spain, it is
reported, there are German wireless
stations in constant touch with Ger
many and submarines.
| But despite her apparent leaning
toward the German cause-now ac-
centuated by her embargo on supplies
to the American fighting forces
i Spain, it is believed, would side with
! the allies if she saw ir them a winner.
! IT, however, Germany delivered the
| first crushing blow. American citi-
zens in Spain say Alphonso XIII will
be, forced to go in on the side of the
Teuton-
Hence this government is deter
4 mined to obtain definite understand
| ing with Spain on several points, the
nature of which cannot be disclosed
now, and Spanish ships are temporar-
! lily held in American ports pending the
/ adjustment.
Cut Off From Raw Material.
Cutting off the Spanish manufac-
! turer from his raw products shipped
| from this country would serve, it is
reported, as distinctly SOLDERING in
fluence on any pro-German enthu-
siasm among the Spaniards. Along
citizen who has studied the Spanish
| situation carefully, can be printed to-
day, in part as follows:
THE pelota (balI is on the wall and
| all Spain is watching where it will
! fall-on which side, entente or Teu.
| The Spaniard has been too long on the
| losing side. He longs to side with vic
tory and plume himself as conquer
| ing warrior. So if the game goes
strongly in favor of Germany in Italy
or Flanders, watch out for Spain.
Spanish Officers Eager for Fray.
"Spain's young and ambitious Off
| GERS are eager to see action and the
problem today is not how we can per
suade Spain to side with the allies ol
! what we can do to keep Spain neutra
! but how on earth can we prevent
Spain from joining with Germany a
some critical time in the future wher
the kaiser looks to be an odds-on win
| ner.
There are two answers, propagan.
da and embargo. AS to the first, tbs
German propaganda has been work
ing for three years, has penetrated ev
erywhere, has won over not only the
army. not only the press, but miracle
of miracles, the propaganda of Prot
estant Germany has won over the Ro
man Catholic church of Spain. OF tn,
hundreds of newspapers in Spain tn,
allies can be sure of only a few-per
haps only four of any influence. tive
in Barcelona and two in Madrid. Som.
have been bought outright by th'
Germans, others are obviously sub
sidized-some are venomous in thei
tanti-allies articles. others work will
ridicule and sarcasm, all with tn,
most flagrant MISREPRESENTATION.
Out for the Money in Spain.
To-day the owner of a proininen
paper offered to support the alliet
600 worth of paper from the Unite,
States per month Yesterday the hea,
waiter of one of the leading hotel
called to say he was after the coli
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