Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-14

U-boat warfare began--and is addressed
/ to "B--35s40-1." Ii is marked strictly
secret"
| Admiral von Holtzendory, chief OF
| the German Admiralty. was its author.
This document named February | as
| the date for turning the U-boats loose
under orders to spare nohidN
1t declared England would be starved
| In five months--or by July !.
1t declared the Allies would be forced
| to surrender by August /.
These exact dates were given. The
| first date is the only one which stood
| the test of events.
Expected America to Fight
The probable entrance of the United
| States as belligerent was foreseen,
and Won Holtzendorfr thus expressed
himself as To the influence she would
be likely to exercise upon the trend
of the war:
"As regards tonnage this influence
would be negligible. IL is not to be ex-
| pected that more than a small fraction
of the tonnage OF the Central Powers
lying in America and many other neu-
trial harbors could be enlisted for
the traffic to England.
For the far greatest part of this
shipping can be damaged in such way
that ii cannot sail in the decisive time
of the first few months. There would
also be no crews TO be found for them"
Let me interrupt Admiral Won Holt
zendorff a moment to call attention to
the fact that everything the Germans
could do to make the admiral's predic-
tion come true WIS done in advance of
February l. Before making his call
Lansing the last
day of January, Bernstorff h&d given
instructions that the engines of all Ger
man ships lying in American harbors
must be destroyed and these instruc-
tions had been carried out.
AS a matter of fact, as far back as
May, 1916. at the time of the excite
ment occasioned by the sinking of the
Sussex, Bernstorff had notified the OFF,
GERS in charge of Germany's interned
ships that they must be ready to de-
stroy the engines whenever the order
was given. (Some other things hap
pened at this time, of which / will tell
you later on. They will show you that
the German Ambassador did not mo-
nopolize all the foresight in making his
plans in advance.)
Disabled All Ships.
uary 81. Bernstorff says: 1T was dan
gerous to allow any delay. for on the
evening of January 81 our ships were
seized by the American police. AS ]
know, however. all of them. without ex-
ception, were made unfit for use before
this occurred"
II was this effective work upon which
Holtzendorf counted to cripple the
United States If she decided to enter
the war. Once in, he believed, what
ever shipping she was able to command
could be disposed Of by the U-boats.
How Holtzendorffs calculations were
upset is part Of this story which will
take lot of satisfaction in telling.
Naturally. since the German Admiral
believed it would be impossible for the
United States 10 find tonnage or to keep
it afloat. he had very little fear of an
American army. He wrote in the secret
document: Just as little decisive effect
can be ascribed TO any extent TO Ameri-
can troops. which. in the first place. can
not be brought over through lack of
tonnage"
Warning for All Times.
BY such stupid underestimates Of
American resourcefuIness were the Ger
mans persuaded by their own leaders to
their own undoing. 1t Is to be hoped for
mutual welfare and the peace of the
world that no nation viii ever again un-
derestimate the power and reseurceful-
ness Of America in war.
Finally Hotzendorf emphasized the
Importance Of launching the U-boat ter
ror without warning. The beginning |
and the declaration OF the unrestricted |
C-boat war must follow so quickly one |
upon another that there is no time for !
negotiating. especially between England |
and the neutrals. The wholesome terror |
will exercise in this case upon enemy |
and neutral alike"
That last sentene re is. significant as |
showing Germany's attitude toward the |
neutrals. Of whom the United States, at |
this time. was one. Enemy and neu- !
trail aIike"-on such terms to have re |
mained a neutral would have been folly. |
To this conclusion members Of the Cabf- |
net We're being strongly impelled.
Navy Acts at Once.
OF course ! was notified at once of |
the serious nature of the communica- |
tion made by the German Ambassador |
10 Secretary Lansing. Its momentous |
character was Immediately apparent. |
Apprehension had been felt that Ger~d
many might do some intolerable thing. /
but this utter defiance Of civilization. |
this complete Reputation of pledges. |
without warning or chance for argu |
ment, exceeded apprehensions.
The navy acted at once. without wait /
ing for the Cabinet meeting. which was
called for Friday. February 2. On Thurs
day. as the German U-boats were
spurring themselves TO the pursuit of
their prey. all ships and stations were |
being notified to be in readiness for a
possible mobilization order. The inr
which l sent to the whole
feet read as follows:
THE order TO mobilize for war Will
be an 'Alnay' message in secret code.
Upon receipt of the message to mobilize
every effort should be made TO assemble
ships at the designated rendezvous at
the earliest possible date. ready in all
respects for war service"
Be Ready for Service.
The rendezvous for the various forces
scouts, destroyers. sub
mine force, Atlantic and Pa
cffa Coast divisions and naval district |