The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-11

the German feet at Scapa Flow l called on Admiral Tirp!tz at his resi- dence in Berlin. In response to my knock at the door in the third story of a large building who should ap- pear but the Admiral in person. doubted my eyes. Could the elderly gentleman in a white working garb before me be the father of the Ger man navy and the author Of the ruthless submarine warfare? could not bring myself to think that the Admiral responded to my call himself with the idea of startling young Japanese journalist.
 was shown into a drawing room with modern drawings. We were joined by a young man, whom the Admiral introduced to me as his son. We sat around a table with Japanese tray on it.
 The conversation naturally turned on the war I confess that the war was a subject of which I was already wearied But the Admin al waNed en- thusiastic, and dwelt on how Ger many was forced to take up arms, and how English propaganda suc- ceeded in persuading the world to re- gard the war as one forced by Ger many upon an unprepared world.
 Alter citing S6N era lt4So SoNeiAASSF9 SN the English propaganda, the Admiral nointing to a heap of manuscripts in a corner, said: "Details about this will go into my book. I hope my book will be read widely in your country. It deals principally with the growth of the German navy and the war"
 What About Japan?
 Then the Admiral returned to the subject of the war, and suddenly asked: Should Germany have been able to conclude a separate peace with Russia, do you tn nk that Ger many would have succeeded in com ing to terms equally with Japan?
 Needless to say, by Russia the Ad- miraI meant imperial Russia,
 I replied that Japan would not have made peace in any case, and gave as the reason the fact that Japan entered the war because she felt bound to do so by reason Of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. And l added: '"The Japanese are not a peo- pie who could break a pledged word because of ulterior considerations"
 The Admiral then asked: why did Japan side with England seeing that German victory would have been advantageous to herr"
 was surprised to hear a man like the Admiral putting such a question in earnest. But concealing my sur prise, I replied:
 l- '"The Japanese have felt no friend Illness towards the Germans since the intervention of the three Powers. But considering the fact that although France and Russia did participate in the intervention Japan has got on good terms with both, Germany might have been able to become equally friendly with us. But the policy which the German government has followed since that event has been such as to antagonize the feeI- ing of the Japanese"
 Old Grievances.
 The Admiral put in: tBut as my knowledge goes, Germany has not taken any steps which might be con- strued into a slight on Japan"
 No" I said, you are mistaken, It was Germany which was reluctant to consent to the abolition of extra territoriaIity in Japan In the war with Russia-a war upon which Japan's destiny depended-Germany secretly helped Russia That your government enabled Russia to with draw her troops stationed on heI German frontiers and make then fight in Manchuria IS a fact of com mon knowledge And soon after the war the Kaiser invented the Yellow Peril I might cite many other in stances In which Germany acted against us-
 I refrained from mentioning the fact that it was Germany who snatch ed kiaochow from China. and con verted 1t into a base from which te menace Japan. I remembered tha Admiral Tirpitz was among thost who strongly advocated the cOnver' sion of T3sing-tao into a naval port
 The Admiral said: Tt is very unfortunate that we gave Japan cause for resen ntmenI- But it is a fact tha at the time of discussion on the Three Powers intervention many in fuential Germans were against tn, step 1 dare say that there is not thu slightest ground for the belief tha in the Russo-Japanese war German. secretly assisted Russia I conced the point that commercial consi dera tions compelled Germany to prefe Russia to Japan, but that German, offered to help Russia in the war untrue for Germany had not tn least mind to do so. Just take thi
 
 the Kaiser to have the latter's officer board the Russian noot, the Raise hatly refused the request. The Tsa renewed the request by pointing ou that Japan was assisted by England but the Kaiser was determined 1 his refusal am not saying what untrue, for it was who conveye the Tsar's request to the Kaiser, an participated in the discussion whlc followed"
 Why the Navy Did Not Fight.
 Turning the subject, I asked tn Admiral why the German navy di not fight a decisive battle with tn English fleet; to which young Til pitz, who had hitherto remained s lent replied: "The German navy fro1 the first stood for decision" The Admiral, taking the cue, said 'I do not put trust in the English re ports relative to the loss of the Gel man navy in this battle of Jutlant According to what appears to me a unimpeachable report, the loss su fered by the English navy was thre times greater than the German los This shows the reasonableness of tf report of the German navy's wish '