The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-12
KAISER BLAMED
FOR U-BOAT WAR
Won Capelle Exposes Inside
Secretc Of Germany's
War Plans.
HOPED no FORCE PEACE
Admiralty Changed It's Policy
and Ordered Destruction
az British SHINING
HOPED To FORCE PEACE

DtTllns NOV. lG.--AumlrHI Won "a
pelle, formerly OF the German ad-
miralty stafY, testifying before the
war guilt commission OF the national
assembly, declared that the German
M J chttes were convinced that Eng
land could not be blockaded with sub
marines, but that the kaiser COM
PEELED them to start the ruthless
C-bont warfare.
Defending himself against the dec
larati0n that he had not ordered suffi-
cient submarines, Admiral Won Ca
pelle said he had ordered the con-
struction Of $40 submarines, but that
Gen. Ludendorff refused to expedite
their construction.
Vice. Admiral Eduard Won Capelle,
former minister OF the navy, was
hombarded with questions today as
to why more submarines were not
built so as to have made the subma-
tine campaign successful.
4.ScsSlcrs at the national assembly
s.ubcommittee's iny.~ .,.e - - into the
war, having failed to get much infor-
nation as to why the submarine cam
paign was not avoided. changed their
tactics to questioning the former
minister Of the navy on submarine
construction.
The admiral replied succinctly in an
endeavor to show why submarine
construction was retarded In 1916 and
why 1t jumped enormously In 1917
and 1918.
Count Won Bernstorff gauged the ses-
sion correctly this morning when he
asked tho correspondent: Are YOU go-
ing to attend the performance this aft
ernoon?"
A summary OF his contribution to
Li-boat construction was read by Won
Capelle at the start of the session
Eight hundred and ten submarines
were built before and during the war;
seid the former minister OF the navy.
..Of these As were constructed before
the war. 1856 were built during the adj
mi 1istration of Admiral Won Tirpitz.
and 597 were built by me In the two
and half years. was In office.
Il took Office in April. 1915, and In
the nine months remaining in that year
ordered built 90 U-boats. In 1917 l
ordered ESQ; and in the nine months l
was in office In 1918 ordered 220."
Hon,barded With Questions.
II was here his questioning began.
why was there such a discrepancy be-
years?" demanded Herr Gothein.
Won Capelie replied sharply: There
are a number Of reasons why SO small a
rumber was ordered in 1916--irst. the
reichstag took an overwhelming stand
against the submarine. and could not
start to build because I saw myself in
opposition to the government: second. !
had been out of the naval service and
was unaware Of the technical improve
ments in U-boat building and had to
give intimate study to the subject; and
third the Skagerrak battle caused Sc
rious damage to our boats. Their re-
t. LaIL kha al, tN,% .f <,th
| bosts.''
Changes Its Policy.
| Germany had decided to live up to in
| ternational law and not sink merchant
men without warning. continued Won
| Capel!c, hut he said he thought in the
| fall OF 1915 the admiralty had issued a
| second order to attack British ships be-
| cause England. poisoned against u.s.
had made the work of U-boats very
| difficult by mines which covered the
| entire North sea. There was de-
mand for mine searchers, torpedo boats
and motorhoats. which further reduced
| U-boat construction. he added
| Herr Sinsheimer attempted to elicit
| the exact purpose of the submarine
campaign against England-whether II
was the intention to crush England OF
merely to compel her to agree to
| "usable peace"
Won CapelIe replied: I'VE believed we
| could force England to 'usable peace
| within Ave months"
WAS the submarine war planned to
| make feeding of England impossible and
therefore make possible the reaching by
England of her goal?" asked Herr Da-
| vid.
"There was no hope in the navy that
food or ammunition could be kept from
| England" replied Won Capelle sarcas.
| ticaliy I'VE should have been more
| suspicious of England"
| Herr David asked where the expires.
sion force England to her knees
| originated and what II meant.
| Won Capelle made an evasive reply
saying: THE expression can be inter
preted in several ways; l interpreted !
to mean making England pliable ant
|