The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
Vacillating Policy of Chan
cellor Gave England
Time to Prepare.
BOOK BATTLE RAGING
Won Tirpitz Defends Ruthless
Methods but Says They
Were Too Late.
BY KARL II. Won wIEGAND.
Star Correspondent Of The srx.


Copyright. 1919: oil rights reserred.
BERLIN. April 30 (delayed) DIR.
von Bethmann.Hollweg former I'M
perial Chancellor, is made response
BILE for the war itself and for the
failure of the submarine campaign
by Admiral Won Trpitz in the book
which he Is about to publish. The
hesitation, faltering, vacillation, lack
Of decision and the frequent change
OF the views and the mind of the
late Chancellor are said to be de-
scribed by Won Tirpitz as the chief
cause of the loss of the war, accord
ing TO friends of the Admiral who
know his views on C-boat terrorism.
So far as the submarine warfare
was contributory to the loss OF the
war Admiral von Tirpitz blames all
Germany for favoring IL. But for
the failure of the destructive policy
In actual use he places greater blame
On Bethmann-Hollweg's policy.
Fighting In Type Begins.
From the day of Germany's col
lapse numerous former political and
military leaders have put typewriter
batteries into action. laying down a
furious barrage to protect themselves
against expected charges and to prove
that so far as they themselves are
concerned they had no part in the
cause and loss of the war. In the
, battle Of the books" which prom
ises to throw light, though perhaps
more or less variously colored light,
on the events preceding and during
the war, Won Tirpitz's efforts are
looked upon as perhaps the most SEN
sational.
The bitter feud between himself
and the eX-Chancellor is said TO have
caused tho organizer of Germany s
lost and disgraced navy to break
silence. Among the numerous dark
and unanswered questions in history
the duplicitous role which DIR. Won
Bethmann-H Hollweg is charged with
playing toward President Wilson and
Col. House in December, 1916, and
January, 1917, in connection with
the renewal of unrestricted subma-
rine warfare is said to be further H.
Illuminated by Won Tirpitz, together
with portrayal of the ex-Chan-
cellor's action in connection with the
original decision to wage unrestricted
submarine warfare few months
after the outbreak OF hostilities.
HoIIwes Policy Uncertain.
For the first time, It Is said, the
inside story of how U.boat warfare
came into being, decided upon at the
end Of 1914, will be told. Instead of
being opposed to the ruthless policy.
as DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg de
clared to me himself upon two occa.
sionS, Won Tirpltz asserts In his book
that the Chancellor was In favor %
1t when the original decision wae
taken. Included In the evidence.
whereby Won Tirpitz will try 10 show
he neither fnvored tho war nor hears
any part in tho responsibility for is
loss, It Is said he will produce a
letter written to the eX-Chancellor
warning him against certain policies
as likely to lead 70 conflict He
will also endeavOr to show how Dr.
Won Bethmann- Hollweg paralyzed the
prosecution of the U-boat war at
the moment when It could have been
most effective by his vacillating at
titude toward 1t.
Won Tirpitz's attitude is described
as being that the U-boat war should
have been pressed with the utmost
vigor during 1916 before Great Brit
ain had undertaken the gigantic de-
fensive measures that followed later.
He was for keeping up the U-boat
war regardless Of the United States
at the moment Bethmann- Hollweg
made concessions In the Sussex case
in the belief that Washington would
otherwise declare war.
For the first time also Won Tirpitz
tells the story of the much discussed
crown council alleged to have taken
place July 8, 1914, and gives the
Haldane conversations for naval
agreement between Great Britain and
Germany at considerable length.
Won Tirpitz has returned to Berlin,
where he is living quietly.