Evening star., 1918-05-17
DUTCH THINK HUNS
PLAN AN INVASION
Expect Territory to Be vio-
lated Whenever a military
Necessity" Arises.
HOLD CONCESSION VAIN
BY w. j. L. KIEHLE.

BY w. j. L. KIEHLE.
CableGram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
THE HAGUE. Holland, May IT,
Apropos of the reported massing of
German troops on the Dutch frontier.
the majority of Intelligent people in
this country are convinced that no
concessions which the nation could
make to the Teuton demands would
be able to save Il from invasion II
military necessity made 1t expediant
for Germany to misuse Holland IL
she misused Belgium. esAt the conven-
lent moment any Of the several ex-
listing questions between the two
countries can be raised and made
acute in order to form an excuse for
infringing upon Dutch neutrality.
For some time German newspapers
have been crtticising Holland for al
legged lack Of neutrality with respect
to the allied shipping. for the vexa-
tious way in which the Dutch revenue
officers treat Germans returning to
their own country by searching them
thoroughly and holding up the trains
to Germany SO long that the trf velers
miss the corresponding trains at Osna-
bruck and for putting difficulties in
the way Of the Rhine shipping.
Gravel Question Revived.
With regard to the gravel question,
Germany at first waived her claim
temporarily, but now she appears to
insist that sand and gravel shall pass
through Holland. according to agree
ment.
Perhaps a still more important fact
is that Germany insists on compliance
with the treaty of November 13, 1874,
by which the Teuton empire acquired
the right to 'unhindered commercial
traffic" on the railroad which runs
right through Holland by way Of
Deadbach, Dalheim. Roeromond, Vert
and Hamont to Antwerp. From mill
tary sources I learn that the railway
from Gladbach is by far the best and
shortest route for moving supplies
and troops to Flanders. Holland is
willing to keep the actual terms Of
the treaty. but the trouble is that un-
der the stress of war conditions other
than peaceful traffic might be de-
manded by Germany and there are in
dications that such would be the case.
German newspapers point to Hol-
lands alleged breach of neutrality
IN In0 Indtter OIL pTOVlQlHS Sn1pp1u&
for the allies, and urge that Ger
many should demand counterbal-
ancing advantages.
Germany also insists upon the re-
sumption of Dutch exports Of butter.
potatoes and other foodstuffs, though
Holland has not enough of these
articles to provide for her own pop
ulation.
Still another German grievance is
the red tape at The Hague. by which
negotiations are unduly prolonged.
The general attitude of the German
press toward Holland is hostile Then
Germany says 1t does not believe
that countries like Holland and
Switzerland can remain neutral long
and that sooner or later they will
be drawn into tho vortex of tho war.
The Dutch language Is to be taught
in all the schools Of Germany. It Is
an obligatory study in seminaries
for teachers.
Bread is now being smuggled into
Holland from Germany. A year ago
the Germans came to their Dutch rela-
tives to get bread. SO now the Eol-
landers go to their German relatives
Bread is also being passed into Hol-
land over the wire fence at the Bel
Riar border. The bread ration in Bel
R1um Is now 600 grammes (twenty-one
ounces), while in Holland 1t Is 200
CRANES (seven ounces). Any one
found smuggling bread is fined 200
francs ($40). Postal rates in Holland
will probably be raised SO per cent.