Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-02-01
STEPS ARE TAKEN
TO ENBAKs:!l ALL
SPANISH SUA'LIES
Spaniards Have Beel ,Au-
enCed by German Money
and Agents
ALL HER PEOPLE
ARE OUT FOR THE COIN
Embargo On Raw Materials
and Fuel VIII Be Allied
Punishment
By Robert j. Bender

Omitted Press staff correspondent
Washington, Feb. 1.-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
America grim war determination in
answer to her interference with ship
ment of needed supplies to General
Pershing' s army in France. Eight of
her big merchant ships are idle in New
York, refused bunker coal licenses
pending the outcome of negotiations,
5he nature of which cannot yet be re-
Hcalcd.
Meantime, however, the United
Press is able to present an authorita-
tive insight into Spanish conditions,
based on information sent here, the re-
liability of which cannot be question
ed.
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 ever other country, the officers of
the army are greatly impressed by the
fetish of German military efficiency.
iMany of them have been trained in
Germany and are thoroughly German
ophile.
1t is claimed that Spain has modern
rifles for two million men. It is assert
ed that there are 10000 German resery-
lists in the country and that when the
Spanish army takes the field the bur
den of command will fall upon 10000
trained German Officers "already in
the country, and their campaign well
planned and every man in his place. I"
In view of these conditions, this
government today is directly forced
with the task, not only of holding
Spain to our conceptions of neutrality
but Of keeping her from joining with
Germany.
That she has been of great service
eitehr actively or passively-to Ger
many has been known for some time.
German submarines have been get
ting wiIeless Information along the
Spanish coasts for many months. Sub
marine crews have been changed in
Spanish harbcrs. American agents kept
track of the men on one German boat
in a Spanish harbor and there was a
regular weekly change in personnel
brought about by "spelling" U-boat
crews
All over the coasts of Spain it is re-
ported there are German wireless sta
lions in constant touch with Germany
and submarines,
But, despite her apparent leaning to-
ward the German cause-now accentu-
ated by her interference with supplies
to the American fighting forces
Spain, it is believed, would side with
the allies if she saw in them win
ner. If, however, Germany delivered
the first crushing blow, American cit
liens in Spain say AlphoRso XIII viii
be forced to 60 in on the side of the
Teuton.
Hence, this government is determin-
ell to obtain a definite understanding
with Spain on several points, the ma
ture of which cannot be disclosed now,
and Spanish ships are temporarily held
an American ports pending the adjust
ment.
Cutting off the Spanish manufactur-
er from his raw products shipped from
this country would serve, it is report
ed, as distinctly SOLDERING influence
on any pro-German enthusiasm among
the Spaniards. Along this line, letter
from an American citizen who has
studied the spanish SlluabloH tditA u
Nv can be printed today, in part, as
follows:
''The pelota (ball) is on the wall
and all Spain is watching where it
will fall-on which side, entente or
Teutonic allies. victory is likely to
rest. The Spaniard has been too long
on the losing side He longs to side
with victory and plume himself as a
eonquering warrior. So if the game
goes strongly in favor of Germany IN
ITALY or Flanders, watch out for Spainl
Spain s young and ambitious Off
GERS are eager to see action and the
problem today is not how we can pur-
suade Spain to side with the allies or
what we can DO to keep Spain neutral
but how on earth we can prevent
Spain from joining with Germany at
some critical time in the future when
the kaiser looks to be the odds on-win-
ner-
"There are two answers, propagan-
ia and embargo. As to the first. the
German propaganda has been working
fcr three years, has penetrated ev-
PrT-whprs. has won over not only the