The Project Gutenberg eBook of Face to Face with = Kaiserism, by James W. Gerard

LATE AMBASSADOR TO THE GERMAN IMPERIAL = COURT,
AUTHOR OF=20 "MY FOUR YEARS IN GERMANY"

COPYRIGHT, 1918,
BY GEORGE H. DORAN=20 COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY THE PUBLIC LEDGER=20 COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1918, BY THE PUBLIC LEDGER = COMPANY
PRINTED IN=20 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO
COLONEL=20 EDWARD M. HOUSE
STATESMAN AND FRIEND
THE=20 AUTHOR
DEDICATES THIS BOOK

INTRODUCTORY = NOTE[vii]

In some measure this book is a continuation of MY FOUR YEARS = IN=20 GERMANY, the narrative here being carried up to the time of my = return=20 home, with some observations on the situation I have found in the United = States.

What I want especially to impress upon the people of the United = States is=20 that we are at war because Germany invaded the United States=97an = invasion=20 insidiously conceived and vigorously prosecuted for years before = hostilities=20 began;=97that this war is our war;=97that the sanctity of American = freedom and of=20 the American home depend upon what we do NOW.

CONTENTS[ix]

CHAPTER		PAGE
I	Personality of the Kaiser and Something of the = King=20 Business	13
II	Who Does the Kaiser's Thinking and Who Decided = on the=20 Break with America?	32
III	Who Sank the "Lusitania"?	42
IV	The Kaiser and "L=E8se-Majest=E9"	49
V	When the Kaiser Thought We Were Bluffing	55
VI	The Inside of German Diplomacy	73
VII	Germany's Plan to Attack America	84
VIII	Germany's Early Plots in Mexico	111
IX	The Kultur of Kaiserdom=97The German Soul	129
X	The Little Kaisers	143
XI	Royalty's Recreation	148
XII	The Eternal Feminine	157
XIII	Home Life and "Brutality" of the People	166[x]
XIV	Aims of the Autocracy	174
XV	Austria-Hungary=97the Kaiser's Vassal State	196
XVI	German Influence on the Northern Neutrals	217
XVII	Switzerland=97Another Kind of Neutral	230
XVIII	A Glimpse of France	237
XIX	My Interview with the King of Spain	251
XX	German Spies and Their Methods	263
XXI	En Route Home=97Kaiserism in America	273
XXII	That Interview with the Kaiser	300
XXIII	The Future Kaiser=97The Crown Prince and His = Brothers	312
XXIV	When Germany Will Break Down	323
XXV	The Errors of Efficient Germany	340
XXVI	President Wilson and Peace	346
XXVII	After the War, What?	368

ILLUSTRATIONS[xi]

	PAGE
The=20 Kaiser and von Treutler	Frontispiece
The=20 Iron Cross	36
The=20 United States Embassy Staff, Berlin	50
F= acsimile=20 of an Order Issued by Commander of German Prison Camp of = Doeberitz	78
Cover=20 of Pamphlet by John L. Stoddard	104
Photograph=20 Taken in Courtyard of Embassy, August, 1916	126
E= xample=20 of a Commemorative Medal Offered for Sale	152
Views=20 of a Typical Holstein Country Home	188
Main=20 Stairway in the American Embassy, Berlin	210
Ambassadors=20 Sharp and Gerard, Paris, February, 1917	240
The=20 "Infanta Isabella"	274
Photograph=20 Taken after Banquet Given Ambassador Gerard on January 6th, = 1917	304[xii]
= The=20 Crown Prince and Crown Princess	316
Reproduction=20 of Zeppelin Post Card of Patriotic Sentiment	336
Zeppelin=20 Post Card Sold in Germany	336

FACE=20 TO FACE WITH KAISERISM[13]

CHAPTER I

PERSONALITY OF THE KAISER AND SOMETHING OF THE KING BUSINESS

To=20 the American mind the Kaiser is the personification of Germany. He is = the arch=20 enemy upon whom the world places the responsibility for this most = terrible of=20 all wars. I have sat face to face with him in the palace at Berlin = where, as the=20 personal representative and envoy of the President of the United States, = I had=20 the honor of expressing the viewpoint of a great nation. I have seen him = in the=20 field as the commanding general of mighty forces, but I also have seen = him in=20 the neutral countries through which I passed on my return home and in my = own=20 beloved land=97in the evidence of intrigue and plotting which this = militaristic=20 monarch has begotten and which is to-day "the Thing," as President = Wilson calls=20 it, which has brought the American people face to face with kaiserism in = the=20 greatest conflict of all history.

What manner of man is he? What is his character? How much was he = responsible=20 for what has[14]=20 happened=97how much his General Staff? What of the Crown Prince and what = of the=20 neutral peoples and their rulers whom Germany has intimidated and would = fain=20 subjugate if it suited her purpose? These are the questions I shall = attempt to=20 answer out of my experiences in Germany and my contacts with the rulers = of other=20 countries in my journeys to and from Berlin and Washington.

To illustrate the craft of the Kaiser, I believe I can perform no = better=20 service to Americans than to reveal an incident which has not hitherto = been=20 published. It occurred at the New Year's reception of 1914 when the = Ambassadors=20 of all the foreign countries represented at the German court, were = ranged in a=20 large room at the Palace. They stood about six feet apart in the order = of their=20 residence in Berlin. The Kaiser and his aides entered the room, and the = Emperor=20 spoke a few minutes to each envoy. He tarried longest with the Turkish=20 Ambassador and myself, thereby arousing the curiosity of the other = diplomats who=20 suspected that the Kaiser did more than merely exchange the greetings of = the=20 season. He did.

What the German Emperor said to me interests every American because = it shows=20 his subtlety of purpose. The Kaiser talked at length to me about what = he=20 called Japan's designs on the United States. He warned me that Mexico = was full=20 of Japanese spies and an army of Japanese colonels. He also spoke = about=20 France, saying that he had made every effort to make up with France, = that he had=20 extended his hand to that country but that the French[15] had refused to meet his = overtures, that=20 he was through and would not try again to heal the breach between France = and=20 Germany!

All this was in 1914, six months before the outbreak of the European = War.=20 Little did I know then what the purpose was back of that conversation, = but it is=20 clear now that the Emperor wished to have the government of the United = States=20 persuaded through me that he was really trying to keep Europe at peace = and that=20 the responsibility for what was going to happen would be on France. The = German=20 is so skilful at intrigue that he seeks even in advance of an expected = offensive=20 to lay the foundation for self-justification.

But the reference to Japan and alleged hostility against us on the = part of=20 fanciful hordes of Japanese in Mexico made me wonder at the time. There = were=20 many evidences subsequent to that New Year's Day reception of an attempt = to=20 alienate us from Japan. As a climax to it all, as a clarification of = what the=20 Emperor had in mind, came the famous Zimmermann note, the instructions = to the=20 German Minister in Mexico to align both Japan and Mexico against us when = we=20 entered the war against Germany!

Plotting and intriguing for power and mastery! Such is the business = of=20 absolute rulers.

I believe that had the old Austrian Kaiser lived a little while = longer, the=20 prolongation of his life would have been most disastrous both for = Austria and=20 Hungary. I believe after the death of Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo and = after a=20 year of war the[16]=20 German Emperor and autocracy were brooding over a plan according to = which, on=20 the death of Francis Joseph, the successor should be allowed to rule = only as=20 King or Grand-Duke of Austria, the title of Emperor of Austria to = disappear and=20 German Princes to be placed upon the thrones of Hungary and of a new = kingdom of=20 Bohemia. These and the king or grand-duke of Austria were to be = subject-monarchs=20 under the German Kaiser, who was thus to revive an empire, if not = greater, at=20 least more powerful, than the empires of Charlemagne and of Charles the = Fifth.=20 Many public utterances of the German Kaiser show that trend of mind.

Emperor William deliberately wrote and published, for instance, such = a=20 statement as this: "From childhood I have been influenced by five men, = Alexander=20 the Great, Julius C=E6sar, Theodoric II, Frederick the Great and = Napoleon. Each of=20 these men dreamed a dream of world empire. They failed. I have dreamed a = dream=20 of German world empire and my mailed fist shall succeed."

Could any declaration of a life's ambition be more explicit? It seems = impossible for human ambition to stand still. Either a man loses all = stimulus of=20 self and becomes as spiritless as a fagged animal or ambition drives him = always=20 on=97he is never content with any success achieved. The millionaire to = whom the=20 first million, when he was a boy, seemed the extreme limit of human = wealth and=20 desire, presses on insatiably with the first million in his[17] pocket, = more restless,=20 more dissatisfied, than the hungry farmer's boy who first carries his = ambitions=20 to the great city.

When these zealous, scheming men gain the power of kingship, they = usually=20 bring disaster to their country. Their subjects find no compensation in = the=20 personal ambitions which hurry a nation into the miseries of war. Better = Charles=20 II, dallying with his ringletted mistresses, than an Alexander the = Great; better=20 Henry the Fourth of France, the "ever-green gallant," than Frederick the = Great,=20 bathing his people in blood. "Happy nations have no history."

William the Second, the present German Emperor, might well be called = the=20 Restless Emperor. He is never satisfied to remain more than a few days = in any=20 place or in any occupation. He commands his armies in person. He has won = distinction as a writer and a public speaker. He is an excellent shot. = He has=20 composed music, written verses, superintended the production of a = ballet,=20 painted a picture; the beautiful Byzantine chapel in the Castle of Posen = shows=20 his genius for architecture; and, clothed in a clergyman's surplice, he = has=20 preached a sermon in Jerusalem. What ruler in all history has exhibited = such=20 extraordinary versatility?

In my conversations with the Emperor I have been struck by his = knowledge of=20 other countries, lands which he had never visited. He was familiar not = only with=20 their manners, customs, industries and public men, but with their = commercial=20 problems.[18] Through=20 his conversation one can see the keen eye of the Hanseatic trader = looking with=20 eager envy on the trade of a rival merchant. The Emperor, incidentally, = while=20 instinctively commercial, has an inborn contempt, if not for the law, at = least=20 for lawyers. In October, 1915, for instance, he remarked to me, "This is = a=20 lawyers' war, Asquith and Lloyd George in England, Poincar=E9 and Briand = in=20 France."

In appearance and conversation Emperor William is very manly. His = voice is=20 strong, with a ring in it. He is a good rider. Following the German = custom, he=20 puts on his nightshirt every afternoon after lunch and sleeps for two = hours=97for=20 the German is more devoted to the siesta than the Spaniard or Mexican. = The hours=20 of the Berlin Foreign Office, for example, were from eleven to one and = from four=20 to eight. After a heavy lunch at one o'clock all the officials took a = nap for an=20 hour or two. Also, the hours of the bank where I did business were from = ten to=20 one and from four till six. This meant that after six o'clock the clerks = had to=20 sit until perhaps eight making up the books for the day.

In 1916, the Olympic games were to have taken place at Berlin, and in = September, 1913, before sailing for Germany, I attended a luncheon at = the New=20 York Athletic Club, given by President Page, with the members of the = German=20 Commission who had come to America to study athletics and to see what = could be=20 done in Germany so that the Germans could make a good showing at the = games in=20 their own city.[19]

After my arrival in Germany one of the members of this commission = told me=20 that it was impossible, he believed, to organise the Germans as athletes = until=20 German meal and business hours had been changed. He said that with us in = America=20 young men leaving business at four-thirty, five or five-thirty, had time = in=20 which to exercise before their evening meal, but that in Germany the = young men=20 ate so much at the midday meal that they required their siesta after it, = and=20 that they did not leave their offices until so late in the evening that = exercise=20 and practice were impossible.

On the Emperor's table his wine glasses or rather cups are of silver. = Possibly this is because he has been forbidden by his physician to drink = wine.=20 The Germans maintain the old-fashioned custom of drinking healths at = meals. Some=20 one far down the table will lift his glass, look at you and smile. You = are then=20 expected to lift your glass and drink with him and then both bow and = smile over=20 the glasses. As the Emperor must reciprocate with every one present, his = champagne and wine are put in silver cups in order that those drinking = wine with=20 him do not see that he consumes no appreciable quantity of alcoholic = liquor on=20 the occasion of each health drinking. Some people in America may have = often=20 wished for a similar device.

The Emperor is out of uniform only on rare occasions. Occasionally, = when in a=20 foreign country, he has appeared in civilian dress, as shown in the = accompanying=20 photograph, taken in 1910 at the small town of Odde in Norway, where he = had=20 landed[20] from his=20 yacht. He appears to much better advantage in uniform than in civilian = attire.=20 Although uniformed while at sea as an Admiral, his favourite uniform is = really=20 that of the Hussars. In this picture he is accompanied by Baron von = Treutler,=20 Prussian Minister to Bavaria and Foreign Office representative with the = Kaiser.=20 Von Treutler is a German of the world. I met him at the Great General=20 Headquarters, at the end of April, 1916, when the submarine question was = being=20 discussed. He came to dinner several times at the Chancellor's house,=20 undoubtedly reporting back what was said to the Emperor, and I believe = that his=20 voice was against the resumption of ruthless submarine warfare and in = favour of=20 peace with America. Shortly after this period he fell into disfavour and = went=20 back to occupy his post of Minister in Munich.

In conversation, the Emperor reminds one very much of Roosevelt, = talking with=20 the same energy, the same violence of gesture and of voice so = characteristic of=20 our great ex-President. When the Emperor talks all his attention is = given to you=20 and all his mental energy is concentrated on the conversation. In this = violence=20 of manner and voice he seems not at all German. The average German is = neither=20 exuberant nor soft-spoken.

His favourite among his ancestors is William of Orange. Once he = attended a=20 fancy-dress ball in costume and make-up copied from the well-known = picture of=20 that Prince. The Emperor is strongly built and is about five feet nine = inches=20 tall. He sits well on his horse and walks, too, with head erect and[21] shoulders = thrown back=97a=20 picture of military precision.

A friend of mine who was present at Kiel with his yacht, in 1910, = tells me=20 that when all the yachts and warships had been assembled along the long = narrow=20 waterway which constitutes that harbour, with the crews lined up on deck = or=20 manning the yards, with bands crashing and banners floating, the=20 Hohenzollern slowly steamed into the harbour and passed lazily = and=20 majestically through the waiting ships. Alone on the upper bridge stood = the=20 Monarch, attired in full military uniform, with white coat and tight = breeches,=20 high top boots, shining silver breastplate and silver helmet, surmounted = by an=20 eagle, the dress of the Prussian Guard Regiment so dear to those who = portray=20 romantic and kingly r=F4les upon the stage, a figure on whom all eyes = were fixed,=20 as splendid as that of Lohengrin, drawn by his fairy swan, coming to = rescue the=20 unjustly accused Princess. And, alas, the Germans like all this pomp and = splendour. It appeals to something in the German heart and seems to = create a=20 feeling of affection and humility in the German breast.

When I talked at length one day with President Wilson on my visit to = America=20 in October, 1916, he remarked, half to himself, in surprise at my tale = of war,=20 "Why does all this horror come on the world? What causes it?" "Mr. = President," I=20 answered, "it is the king business."

I did not mean nominal kings as harmless as those of Spain and = England. I was=20 thinking of the powerful[22] monarchs. A German republic would never = have=20 embarked on this war; a German Congress would have thought twice before = sending=20 their own sons to death in a deliberate effort to enslave other peoples. = In a=20 free Germany teachers, ministers and professors would not have taught = the=20 necessity of war. What German merchant in a free Germany would have = thought that=20 all the trade of the East, all the riches of Bagdad and Cairo and Mosul = could=20 compensate him for the death of his first-born or restore the blind eyes = to the=20 youngest son who now crouches, cowering, over the fire, awaiting death? = For=20 there was no trade necessity for this war. I know of no place in the = world where=20 German merchants were not free to trade. The disclosures of war have = shown how=20 German commerce had penetrated every land, to an extent unknown to the = best=20 informed. If the German merchants wanted this war in order to gain a = German=20 monopoly of the world's trade, then they are rightly suffering from the = results=20 of overweening covetousness.

Experts in insanity say that the Roman Emperors as soon as they = attained the=20 rule of the world were made mad by the possession of that stupendous = power. The=20 sceptre of Emperor William is mighty. No more autocratic influence = proceeds from=20 any other monarch or ruler. But you will say how about our President in = time of=20 war? Great power can safely be given to a president. Our presidents have = all=20 risen from the ranks. Usually they have gone through the school of hard = knocks.=20 And there are ways of keeping them abreast of the people.[23]

It is told that hidden from public view, crouched down in the chariot = in=20 which the successful Roman pro-consul or general drove triumphantly = through the=20 crowded streets of Rome, was a slave celebrated for his impertinence, = whose duty=20 it was to make the one honoured feel that, after all, he was nothing = more than=20 an ordinary mortal blessed with a certain amount of good luck. Probably = as the=20 chariot passed by the forum the slave would say, after a thunderous = burst of=20 applause from the populace: "Do not take that applause too seriously. = That is=20 the T. Quintus Cassius Association whose chief received a hundred = sesterces from=20 your brother-in-law yesterday, on account, with a promise of a hundred = more in=20 case the Association's cheers seemed loud and sincere."

So in America the press, serious and comic, takes the place of the = humble=20 slave and throws enough cold water on the head of any temporarily = successful=20 American to reduce it to normal proportions. Besides, the President = knows that=20 some day he must return to the ranks, live again with his neighbours, = seek out=20 the threads of a lost law practice or eke out a livelihood on the = Chautauqua=20 circuit in the discomfort of tiny hotels, travelling in upper berths = instead of=20 private cars and eating on lunch stools in small stations instead of in = the=20 sumptuous surroundings of presidential luxury. These are sobering = prospects.

Kings, on the other hand, come to look on their subjects as toys. A = post-card=20 popular in Austria and Germany showed the old Emperor, Francis = Joseph,[24] seated at = a table with=20 a little great-grand-nephew on his knee, teaching the child to move toy = soldiers=20 about on the boards; and it is unfortunately true that the same = youngster=97should=20 the system of the Central Empires be perpetuated=97will be able to move = his=20 subjects across the map of Europe just as he did the toy soldiers on his = great-grand-uncle's table. He will be able to tear men from their work = and their=20 homes, to seize great scientists, great chemists, great inventors=97men = who may be=20 on the eve of discoveries or remedies destined to rid the human race of = the=20 scourge of cancer or the white plague=97and send them to death in the = marshes of=20 Macedonia or the fastnesses of the Carpathians because some fellow-king = or=20 emperor has deceived or outwitted him.

In a monarchy all subjects seem the personal property of the monarch = and all=20 expressions of power become personal. This extends throughout all = countries=20 ruled by royalty.

When, for example, a member of the royal family = dies, even=20 in another country, it must be lamented by the court circle of other = lands. Here=20 is the official notice sent to all diplomats and members of the Imperial = German=20 Court on the occasion of the death of the Queen of Sweden.

"The Court goes into mourning to-day for Her Majesty the Queen-Mother = of=20 Sweden for three weeks up to and including the 19th of January, = 1914.

"Ladies wear black silk dresses, for the first fourteen days, = including=20 January 12th, with black hair ornaments,[25] black gloves, black fans and black = jewelry; the=20 last eight days with white hair ornaments, grey gloves, white fans and=20 pearls.

"Gentlemen wear the whole time a black band on the left sleeve. = Civilians=20 wear with the embroidered coat, during the first fourteen days, = including=20 January 12th, on occasions of Grand Gala, black buckles and swords with = black=20 sheathes. During the last eight days bright buckles; on occasions of = 'Half Gala'=20 gold or silver embroidered trousers of the color of the uniform and in = the one=20 as in the other case gold or silver embroidered hat with white plume; = with the=20 'small' uniform, however, black trousers (or knee-breeches, black silk=20 stockings, shoes with black bows and the 'three-cornered' hat with black = plume).=20 During the first fourteen days gentlemen wear black woolen vests and = black=20 gloves, in the last eight days black silk vests and grey gloves.

"Berlin, December 30, 1913.
"The=20 Ober-Ceremonienmeister.
"Graf A. = Eulenburg.

"By command of His Majesty the Emperor, mourning = will be=20 suspended for New Year's Day and the 17th and 18th of = January."

So, it is apparent what a close corporation all = the royal=20 families make and the peoples are simply viewed as the personal property = of the=20 ruling princes. In his telegram which the German Kaiser wrote to = President=20 Wilson on August tenth, observe that all is personal. The Kaiser says, = "I=20 telegraphed to His Majesty the King, personally, but that if, = etc., I=20 would employ my troops elsewhere.... His Majesty answered that he = thought=20 my offer...."[26] He speaks of the King of the Belgians = "having=20 refused my petition for a free passage." He refers to "my=20 Ambassador in London."

This telegram shows, on the other hand, another thing,=97the great = ability of=20 the Kaiser. Undoubtedly he knew why I was coming to see him=97to present = the offer=20 of mediation of President Wilson=97but from our conversation I do not = think that=20 he had even in his mind prepared the answer, which sets forth his = position in=20 entering the war.

He said, "Wait a moment, I shall write something for the President." = Then=20 taking the telegraph blanks lying on the table, he wrote rapidly and = fluently.=20 It was a message in a foreign language, and, whatever we may think of = its=20 content, at any rate it is clear, concise, consecutive and forceful.

The personal touch runs through that extraordinary series of = telegrams in the=20 famous "Willy-Nicky" correspondence between Kaiser Wilhelm and the last = of the=20 Romanoffs, discovered in Petrograd by Herman Bernstein. These reveal, = moreover,=20 the surpassing craft of the German Kaiser. He was the master schemer. = Touting=20 for German trade, always for his advantage, he twists the poor half-wit = of the=20 Winter Palace like a piece of straw.

Emperor William was not satisfied with a quiet life as patron of = trade. As he=20 studied the portraits of his ancestors, he felt that they gazed at him = with=20 reproachful eyes, demanded that he add, as did they, to the domains of = the=20 Hohenzollerns, that he return from war in triumph at the head of a=20 victorious[27] army=20 with the keys of fallen cities borne before him in conquering march.

One-tenth of Frederick the Great's people fell, but to the = poverty-stricken=20 peasant woman of Prussia, lamenting her husband and dead sons, did it = matter=20 that the rich province of Silesia had been added to the Prussian Crown? = What was=20 it to that broken mother whether the Silesian peasants acknowledged the = Prussian=20 King or the Austrian Empress? Despots both. And what countless serfs = fell in the=20 wars between the King and the Empress! I once asked von Jagow when this = war=20 would end. He answered, "An old history of the Seven Years' War = concludes, 'The=20 King and the Empress were tired of war, so they made peace.' That is how = this=20 war will end." Will it? Will it end in a draw, to be resumed when some = king=20 feels the war fever on him? No, this war must end despots, and with them = all=20 wars!

It is all such a matter of personal whim. For instance before = Bulgaria=20 entered the war on the side of Germany, even the best informed Germans = predicted=20 that King Ferdinand would never join Germany because of an incident = which=20 occurred in the Royal Palace of Berlin. This is how it happened:

It is the custom for one monarch to make his pals in the King = business=20 officers of his army or navy. Thus the German Emperor was General Field = Marshal=20 and Proprietor of the 34th "William the first, German Emperor and King = of=20 Prussia" Infantry, and of the 7th "William the Second, German Emperor = and King=20 of Prussia" Hussars, in the Austro-Hungarian[28] Army; Chief of the "King Frederick = William III St.=20 Petersburg Life Guards," the 85th "Viburg" Infantry and the 13th "Narva" = Hussars, and the "Grodno" Hussars of the Guard, in the Russian Army; = Field=20 Marshal in British Army; Hon. Admiral of the British Fleet and = Colonel-in-Chief=20 1st Dragoons; General in the Swedish Army and Flag Admiral of the Fleet; = Hon.=20 Admiral of the Norwegian and Danish Fleets; Admiral of the Russian = Fleet; Hon.=20 Captain-General in the Spanish Army and Hon. Colonel of the 11th = "Naumancia"=20 Spanish Dragoons; and Hon. Admiral of the Greek Fleet.

The King of Bulgaria was Chief of the 4th Thuringia Infantry Regiment = No. 72,=20 in the Prussian Army. As per custom, on a visit to Berlin he donned his = uniform=20 of the Thuringian Infantry. He had put on a little weight, and military=20 unmentionables, be it known, are notoriously tight. So as he leaned far = out of=20 the Palace window to admire the passing troops, he presented a mark so = tempting=20 that the Emperor, in jovial mood, was impelled to administer a = resounding spank=20 on the sacred seat of the Czar of all the Balkans. Instead of taking the = slap in=20 the same jovial spirit in which it was given the Czar Ferdinand, a = little=20 jealous of the self-assumed title of Czar, became furiously angry=97so = angry that=20 even the old diplomats of the Metternich school believed for a time that = he=20 never would forgive the whack and even might refuse to join Germany. But = Czar=20 Ferdinand, believing in the military power of Germany, cast his already = war-worn=20 people in the[29] war=20 against the Allies, much to the regret of many Bulgarian statesmen who, = having=20 been educated at Robert College, near Constantinople, a college founded = and=20 maintained by Americans, and having imbibed somewhat of the American = spirit=20 there, were not over-pleased to think of themselves arrayed against the = United=20 States of America.

But there is no monarch in all Europe who is more wily than Czar = Ferdinand.=20 At a great feast in Bulgaria at which Emperor William was present, Czar=20 Ferdinand toasted the Emperor in Latin and alluded to him as "Miles=20 Gloriosus"=97which all present took to mean "glorious soldier"; but = the exact=20 Latin meaning of "gloriosus" is "glorious" in its first meaning and = "boastful"=20 in its second, a meaning well known in Berlin where, at the "Little = Theatre," in=20 a series of plays of all ages, the "Miles Gloriosus" of Plautus = had just=20 been presented=97a boastful, conceited soldier, the "Miles = Gloriosus," the=20 chief character of the comedy.

Nothing illustrates more vividly the belief of the royal families of = the=20 Central Empires in their God-given right to rule the plain people than = those few=20 words of Maximilian written before his ill-fated expedition to Mexico. = Speaking=20 of the Palace at Caserta, near Naples, he wrote, "The monumental = stairway is=20 worthy of Majesty. What can be finer than to imagine the sovereign = placed at its=20 head, resplendent in the midst of these marble pillars,=97to fancy this = monarch,=20 like a God, graciously permitting the approach of human beings. The = crowd surges=20 upward. The King vouchsafes a gracious[30] glance, but from a very lofty elevation. = All=20 powerful, imperial, he makes one step towards them with a smile of = infinite=20 condescension. Could Charles V, could Maria Theresa appear thus at the = head of=20 this ascending stair, who would not bow their heads before that = majestic,=20 God-given power?"

What was the condition of the people under Maria Theresa, whom = Maximilian=20 spoke of as possessing a power that, according to him, was so God-given = no one=20 could fail to bow the head before her majestic presence? The peasants, = under her=20 rule, were practically slaves, as they could not leave the lord's lands = nor even=20 marry without his permission, nor could they bring their children up to = any=20 profession other than that of labourer. In other words, the children of = the=20 slave must remain slaves.

Poor Maximilian! He was a brother of the late Emperor Francis Joseph = and a=20 member of that Kaiserbund and royal system which, while America was busy = with=20 domestic difficulties between the North and South, sought to wrest from = Mexico=20 her liberty. I wonder if the Mexicans have forgotten the incident and = its=20 implications.

But one-man power always fails in the end. No man, king or president, = whatever he may himself think, has a brain all powerful and all knowing. = There=20 is wisdom in counsel. Too much of some favourite dish may lead to = indigestion=20 and that to bad judgment at a critical time and disaster. Napoleon III, = just=20 before 1870, was suffering from a wasting disease and so allowed himself = to be=20 ruled[31] by the=20 beautiful, narrow, fascinating, foolish Spanish Empress whom he gave to = the=20 French in a moment of passion because, as she said to him, "The way to = her room=20 lay through the church door." Colonel Stoffel, the French Military = Attach=E9 to=20 the Berlin Embassy, wrote confidentially report after report to the = Emperor=20 telling him of the immense military strength of Prussia and of her = readiness for=20 immediate war. But most of these reports were afterwards found unopened = in the=20 desk of the doting, sick and fallen Emperor.

For, after all, however divine the King, Emperor or Kaiser may = consider=20 himself, he is but a vulnerable human being=97and no accident of birth = should give=20 even a small number of people on this earth into the hands of a single=20 mortal.

CHAPTER II[32]

WHO DOES THE KAISER'S THINKING AND WHO DECIDED ON THE BREAK WITH=20 AMERICA?

Because the German Emperor possesses = talents of no=20 mean order, because of his fiery energy, because of the charm of his=20 conversation and personality, his ambitions for world conquest are most=20 dangerous to the peace of the world.

Certainly of all the ruling houses of the world, the Hohenzollerns = have shown=20 themselves the most able, and of the six sons of the Kaiser there is not = one who=20 is unable or unworthy from the autocratic standpoint to carry on the = traditions=20 of the house. They are all young men who in any field of human endeavour = are=20 more than a match for men of their age, and by reason of these = qualities, so=20 rare in kings and princes, it has been easy to arouse a great feeling of = devotion for the royal house of Prussia among all classes in Germany, = with the=20 possible exception of the Social Democrats. The other kings and princes = of=20 Germany have been overshadowed, mere puppets in the king business, by = the=20 surpassing talents of the Hohenzollerns, and so the task of those who, = in=20 Germany and out, hope for that evolution towards liberalism or even = democracy=20 which alone can make the nations of the world feel[33] safe in making peace with = Germany, is=20 beset with numerous difficulties.

Before the war the Emperor turned much of his enterprising talent = into=20 peaceful channels, into the development of commercial and industrial = Germany. No=20 one has a greater respect for wealth and commercial success than the = Emperor. He=20 would have made a wonderful success as a man of business. He ought to be = the=20 richest person in the Empire, but the militaristic system which he = fostered gave=20 that distinction to another. For the richest person in Germany before = the war=20 was Frau Krupp-Bohlen, daughter of the late manufacturer of cannon. She=20 inherited control of the factories and the greater part of the fortune = of her=20 father and was rated at about $75,000,000. It was a contest between = Prince=20 Henckel-Donnersmarck and the Emperor for second place, each being = reputed to=20 possess about sixty to sixty-five million dollars. Most of the Emperor's = wealth=20 is in landed estates, and of these he has, I believe, about sixty = scattered=20 through the Empire. The Emperor is credited with being a large = stockholder in=20 both the Krupp works and the Hamburg-American Line. What a sensation it = would=20 make in this country were the President to become a large stockholder in = Bethlehem Steel or the Winchester Arms Company!

The earnings of the Krupp's factory since the War have been immense = and=20 doubtless the fortune of the Krupp heiress since then has more than = doubled. The=20 subscriptions to war loans and war charities, thrown by Frau = Krupp-Bohlen and=20 the[34] = Krupp=20 directors as sops to public opinion, are mere nothings to the fat = earnings made=20 by that renowned factory in this war.

And what a sensation, too, would be caused in America if the = Bethlehem Steel=20 Company or the United States Steel Corporation were to purchase = newspapers or=20 take over The Associated Press in order to control public opinion! Yet = the=20 German nation stands by, apathetic, propagandised to a standstill, = stuffed and=20 fed by news handed them by the Krupps and the alliance of six great = industrial=20 iron and steel companies of western Germany.

A question which interests every inhabitant of the = world=20 to-day is, where does the ultimate power reside in Germany?

Where is the force which controls the country? The Reichstag, of = course, has=20 no real power; the twenty-five ruling princes of Germany, voting in the=20 Bundesrat through their representatives, control the Reichstag, and the=20 Chancellor is not responsible to either but only to the Emperor.

Consider, for a moment, the personality of von Bethmann-Hollweg, = Chancellor=20 of the Empire for eight or nine years. He lacked both determination and=20 decision. Lovable, good, kind, respected, the Chancellor, to a = surprising=20 degree, was minus that quality which we call "punch." He never led, but=20 followed. He sought always to find out first which side of the question = seemed=20 likely to win,=97where the majority would stand. Usually he poised = himself[35] on middle = ground. He=20 could not have been the ultimate power in the State.

I have a feeling that the Kaiser himself always felt in some vague = way that=20 his luck lay with America, and I imagine that he himself was against = anything=20 that might lead to a break with this country. What, then, was the = mysterious=20 power which changed, for instance, the policy of the German Empire = towards=20 America and ordered unrestricted submarine war at the risk of bringing = against=20 the Empire a rich and powerful nation of over a hundred million = population?

The Foreign Office did not have this decision. Its members, made up = of men=20 who had travelled in other countries, who knew the latent power of = America, did=20 not advise this step=97with the exception, however, of Zimmermann, who, = carried=20 away by his sudden elevation, and by the glamour of personal contact = with the=20 Emperor, the Princes and the military chiefs, yielded to the arguments = of=20 military expediency.

The one force in Germany which ultimately decides every great = question,=20 except the fate of its own head, is the Great General Staff.

On one side of the K=F6nigs-Platz, in Berlin, stands the great = building of the=20 Reichstag, floridly decorated, glittering with gold, surrounded by = statues and=20 filled, during the sessions of the Reichstag, with a crowd of = representatives=20 who do not represent and who, like monkeys in a cage, jibber and debate=20 questions which they have no power to decide. Across the square and = covering the=20 entire block in[36] a=20 building that resembles in external appearance a jail, built of dark red = brick=20 without ornament or display, is the home of the Great General Staff. = This=20 institution has its own spies, its own secret service, its own newspaper = censors. Here the picked officers of the German army, the inheritors of = the=20 power of von Moltke, work industriously. Apart from the people of = Germany, they=20 wield the supreme power of the State and when the Staff decides a matter = of=20 foreign policy or even an internal measure, that decision is final.

The peculiar relations of the Emperor to the Great General Staff make = it=20 possible for him to dismiss in disgrace a head of the Staff who has = failed. But=20 at all times the Kaiser is more or less controlled in his action by the = Staff as=20 a whole and at a time when the chief of the Great General Staff is = successful,=20 the latter, even on questions of foreign policy, claims the right then = to make a=20 decision which the Emperor may find it difficult to disregard. This is = because=20 in an autocratic government, as in any other, personality counts for = much. Von=20 Tirpitz controlled all departments of the navy, although only at the = head of=20 one. The Ludendorff-Hindenburg combination, especially if backed by = Mackensen,=20 can bend the will of the Emperor.

Yet while the head of the Great General Staff may fall, the system = always=20 remains. An unknown, mysterious power it is, unchanging, and relentless, = a power=20 that watches over the German army with unseen eyes. It seeks always = additions to=20 its own ranks from those young officers who have distinguished[37] = themselves by their=20 talents in the profession of arms. What does it mean to them?

It is January twenty-seventh, the birthday of the Kaiser in a German = garrison=20 town. The officers of the regiment are assembled in the mess-hall, the=20 regimental band plays the national air of Prussia, "Heil Dir im Sieger = Kranz"=20 (Hail, thou, in the conqueror's wreath). (The music is familiar to us = because we=20 sing it to the words of "America." The British sing the air to the words = of "God=20 Save the King." This music was originally written for Louis XIV.) The = health of=20 the Emperor is proposed and drunk with "Hurrahs" and again "Hurrahs," = and then=20 comes a telegram from Berlin announcing the promotions and decorations = granted=20 to some of the officers of the regiment: the most envied of all is that = younger=20 officer, perhaps the student among them, who receives the laconic = despatch=20 telling him that he is detailed to the Great General Staff!

Then commences for the young officer a life of almost monastic = devotion. No=20 amusements, no social obligations or entertainments must interfere in = the=20 slightest with his earnest work in that plain building of mystery which = so=20 calmly, and with such mock modesty, faces the garish home of the = Reichstag on=20 the K=F6nigs-Platz, in Berlin.

Who decided on the break with America? It was not the Chancellor, = notoriously=20 opposed; it was not the Foreign Office, nor the Reichstag, nor the = Princes of=20 Germany who decided to brave the consequences of a rupture with the = United=20 States on the submarine question. It was not the Emperor;[38] but a personality of great = power of=20 persuasion. It was Ludendorff, Quartermaster General, chief aid and = brains to=20 Hindenburg, Chief of the Great General Staff, who decided upon this = step.

Unquestionably a party in the navy, undoubtedly von Tirpitz himself, = backed=20 by the navy and by many naval officers and the Naval League, advocated = the=20 policy and promised all Germany peace within three months after it was = adopted;=20 unquestionably public opinion made by the Krupps and the League of Six = (the=20 great iron and steel companies), desiring annexation of the coal and = iron lands=20 of France, demanded this as a quick road to peace. But it was the = deciding vote=20 of the Great General Staff that finally embarked the German nation on = this=20 dangerous course.

I do not think the Emperor himself, unless backed by the whole public = opinion=20 of Germany, would dare to withstand the Great General Staff which he = himself=20 creates. They are so much his devotees that they would overrule him in = what they=20 consider his interest.

Whatever thinking the Emperor does nowadays is more or less on his = own=20 account. There is to-day no shining favourite who has his ear to the = exclusion=20 of others. The last known favourite was Prince Max Egon von = F=FCrstenberg, a man=20 now about fifty-four years old, tall, handsome, possessed at one time of = great=20 wealth and a commanding position in Austria as well as Germany, with the = privilege of citizenship in both countries. The Prince in his capacity = as Grand=20 Marshal accompanied the Emperor,[39] walking in his train as the latter = entered the=20 White Hall at a great ball early in the winter of 1914. The Emperor was = stopping=20 at the Prince's palace in southern Germany at Donnaueschingen when the = affair at=20 Zabern and the cutting down of the lame shoemaker there shook the = political and=20 military foundations of the German Empire. Prince Max together with = Prince=20 Hohenlohe, Duke of Ugest, embarked, however, on a career of vast = speculation in=20 an association known as the Princes' Trust. They built, for instance, = the great=20 Hotel Esplanade in Berlin, and a hotel of the same name in Hamburg, and = an=20 enormous combined beer restaurant, theatre and moving picture hall on = the=20 Nollendorff Platz in Berlin. They organised banks, and the name of the = princely=20 house of F=FCrstenberg appeared as an advertisement for light beer. They = even,=20 through their interest in a department store on the east end of the = Leipziger=20 Strasse, sold pins and stockings and ribbons to the working classes of = Berlin.=20 As this top-heavy structure of foolish business enterprise tumbled, the = favour=20 of Prince Max at the Imperial Court fell with it. For the Emperor never = brooks=20 failure.

During the present war Von Gontard, related by marriage, I believe, = to brewer=20 Busch in St. Louis; von Treutler, who represented the Foreign Office; = von=20 Falkenhayn, for a while head of the Great General Staff and Minister of = War, and=20 the Prince of Pless, and von Plessen with several minor adjutants, have=20 constituted the principal figures in the surroundings of the Emperor. = Falkenhayn=20 fell because[40] of=20 his failure in the attack of Verdun, ordered by him or for which he was = the=20 responsible commander. Von Treutler probably told the truth; he was = against the=20 breaking of the submarine pledges to America; and Prince Pless, who = remains=20 still in favour, never took a decided stand on any of these questions. = Prince=20 Pless, as Prince Max was, is rich. His fortune before the war, = represented=20 mostly by great landed estates in Silesia, mines, etc., amounted = approximately=20 to thirty million dollars. His wife is an Englishwoman, once celebrated = as one=20 of the great beauties of London, daughter of Colonel and Mrs. = Cornwallis-West,=20 and sister of the Duchess of Westminster and Cornwallis-West, formerly = married=20 to Lady Randolph Churchill, and now the husband of Mrs. Patrick = Campbell, the=20 well-known actress. And therefore the position of Princess Pless has not = been=20 enviable during this war.

Emperor William does not, like many kings and dictators, confine = himself in=20 his search for general information regarding men and conditions to the = reports=20 of a few persons. He always has been accessible, seeking even to meet = strangers,=20 not merely his own people but foreigners, thus escaping the penalty of = those=20 rulers who shut themselves up and who have all their information and = thoughts=20 coloured for them by the preferences and desires of prejudiced = counsellors.

The chiefs of the army are always in close touch with the Kaiser, but = he is=20 consulted on army commands[41] and promotions much less than on civil = and even=20 naval promotions.

Always with him is the head of the Civil Cabinet, who advises with = the=20 Emperor on all appointments and promotions on the civil side of the = Government,=20 helping even to make and unmake Ambassadors and Chancellors. Admiral von = Mueller, head of the Marine Cabinet, is constantly in the Emperor's = company. He=20 is a shrewd, capable, reasonable man; for a long time Admiral von = Mueller was=20 against taking the chance of war with America and perhaps, even to the = end,=20 persisted in this course. After the fall of von Tirpitz, von Mueller = acquired=20 more real power. But in a sense it is incorrect to speak of the forced=20 retirement of von Tirpitz as a "fall," because from his retirement he = was able=20 to carry on such a campaign in favour of "ruthless" submarine war that = the mass=20 of the people, Reichstag deputies, the General Staff, and all came over = to his=20 point of view and von Bethmann-Hollweg, who had brought about his = dismissal, was=20 forced officially to adopt the policy first sponsored by this skilful = old=20 sea-dog and politician.

CHAPTER III[42]

WHO SANK THE "LUSITANIA"?

Who=20 is responsible for the sinking of the Lusitania, for the = deliberate=20 murder which has always remained deep in the consciousness of every = American,=20 and which at the outset turned this great nation against Germany?

In the first place there was no mistake=97no question of orders = exceeded or=20 disobeyed. Count von Bernstorff frankly, boldly, defiantly, and = impudently=20 advertised to the world, with the authority of the German Government, = that the=20 attempt to sink the Lusitania would be made. The Foreign Office, = no=20 doubt, acquainted him with the new policy. Von Tirpitz, then actual head = of the=20 Navy Department and virtual head of the whole navy, openly showed his = approval=20 of the act, and threw all his influence in favor of a continuation of = ruthless=20 tactics. But a question which involved a breach of international law, a = possible=20 break with a friendly power, could not be decided by even the Foreign = Office and=20 Navy together.

The Great General Staff claims a hand in the decision of all = questions of=20 foreign policy which even remotely affect the conduct of the war. = Similarly it=20 was the duty of the Foreign Office to point out[43] the possible consequences under the rules = of=20 international law; but when the question of submarine warfare was to be=20 determined, the consultation was usually at the Great General = Headquarters. At=20 these meetings von Tirpitz or the navy presented their views and the = Great=20 General Staff sat with the Emperor in council, although it was reported = in=20 Charleville at the time of the settlement of May, 1916, that Falkenhayn, = speaking in favour of submarine war, had been rebuked by the Emperor, = and told=20 to stick to military affairs.

All the evidence points to the Emperor himself as the responsible = head who at=20 this time ordered or permitted this form of murder. The orders were = given at a=20 time when the Emperor dominated the General Staff, not in one of those = periods,=20 as outlined in a previous chapter when the General Staff, as at present, = dominated the Emperor. When I saw the Kaiser in October, 1915, he said = that he=20 would not have sunk the Lusitania, that no gentleman would have = killed so=20 many women and children. Yet he never disapproved the order. Other boats = were=20 sunk thereafter in the same manner and only by chance was the loss of = life=20 smaller when the Arabic was torpedoed. It is argued that, had the = Emperor=20 considered beforehand how many non-combatants would be killed, he would = not have=20 given the order to sink that particular boat. But what a lame excuse! A = man is=20 responsible for the natural and logical results of his own acts. It may = be too=20 that Charles IX, when he ordered, perhaps reluctantly, the massacre of = St.=20 Bartholomew, did[44]=20 not know that so many would be killed, but there can be no=20 Pilate-washing-of-the-hands,=97Emperor William was responsible. He must = bear the=20 blame before the world.

Blood-shed in honorable war is soon forgotten; but the cowardly = stroke by=20 which the Kaiser sought to terrorise America, by which he sent to a = struggling=20 death of agony in the sea, the peaceful men and women and children = passengers of=20 the Lusitania, may ever remain a cold boundary line between = Germany and=20 America unless the German people utter a condemnation of the tragedy = that rings=20 true and repentant.

We want to live at peace with the world when this war is over, to be = able to=20 grasp once more the hands of those now our enemies, but how can any = American=20 clasp in friendship the hand of Germans who approve this and the many = other=20 outrages that have turned the conscience of the world against = Germany?

To Americans in Berlin, the sinking of the Lusitania came like = a=20 lightning stroke. No Bernstorff warnings had prepared us. I believed I = would be=20 recalled immediately. In making preparations to leave, I sent a = secretary to see=20 the head of one of the largest banks in Germany, a personal friend, to = ask him,=20 in case we should leave, to take for safe-keeping into his bank our = silver,=20 pictures, etc. He said to my secretary, "Tell Judge Gerard that I will = take care=20 of his valuables for him, but tell him also, that if the = Mauretania comes=20 out to-morrow we shall sink her, too."[45]

That was the attitude of a majority of the business men of Germany. = German=20 casualties at that time had been great so that the mere loss of human = life did=20 not appal as would have been the case in a country unused to the daily = posting=20 of long lists of dead and wounded. Consequently the one feeling of = Germany was=20 of rejoicing, believing indeed that victory was near, that the "damned = Yankees"=20 would be so scared that they would not dare travel on British ships, = that the=20 submarine war would be a great success, that France and England deprived = of=20 food, steel and supplies from America soon would be compelled to sue for = peace,=20 especially since the strategically clever, if unlawful, invasion of = France by=20 way of Belgium had driven the French from the best coal and iron = districts of=20 their country.

I do recall that one Imperial Minister, a reasonable individual whose = name I=20 think it best not to mention, expressed in private his sorrow, not only = for the=20 deed itself, but for the mistaken policy which he saw, even then, would=20 completely turn in the end the sympathies of America to the Entente = Allies. And=20 there were others,=97among the intellectuals, and, especially, among the = merchants=20 of Hamburg and Frankfort who had travelled in the outer world both on = pleasure=20 and business, who realised what a profound effect the drowning of = innocent men,=20 women and children would have on our peace-loving people.

Many of these men said to me, "The sinking of the Lusitania is = the=20 greatest German defeat of all[46] the war. Its consequences will be = far-reaching; its=20 impression, deep and lasting."

The Teutonic Knights, from whom the ruling class of Prussia is = descended,=20 kept the Slavic population in subjection by a reign of physical terror. = This=20 class believes that to rule one must terrorise. The Kaiser himself = referring to=20 the widespread indignation caused by German outrages of the present war, = has=20 said: "The German sword will command respect."

Terrorism=97"Schrecklichkeit"=97has always formed a part, not only of = German=20 military inclination, but of German military policy. I often said to = Germans of=20 the Government, "Are you yourselves subject to being terrorised? If = another=20 nation murdered or outraged your women, your children, would it cause = you to=20 cringe in submission or would you fight to the last? If you would fight=20 yourselves, what is there in the history of America which makes you = think that=20 Americans will submit to mere frightfulness; in what particular do you = think=20 Americans are so different from Germans?" But they shrugged their = shoulders.

I have heard that in parts of Germany school children were given a = holiday to=20 celebrate the sinking of the Lusitania. I was busy with = preparations, too=20 anxious about the future to devote much time to the study of the = psychology of=20 the Germans in other parts of Germany at this moment, but with the = exception of=20 the one Cabinet Minister aforementioned, and expressions of regret from = certain=20 merchants and intellectuals, it cannot be denied that a[47] great wave of exultation = swept over=20 Germany. It was felt that this was a master stroke, that victory was = appreciably=20 nearer and that no power on earth could withstand the brute force of the = Empire.

Mingled with this was a deep hate of all things American inculcated = by the=20 Berlin Government. And we must understand, therefore, that no trick and = no=20 evasion, no brutality will be untried by Germany in this war. It was = against the=20 rules of war to use poison gas, but first the newspapers of Germany were = carefully filled with official statements saying the British and French = had used=20 this unfair means. Coincidentally with these reports the German army was = trying=20 by this dastardly innovation to break the British lines. It was not a = new=20 procedure. Months before the Lusitania crime, the newspapers and = people=20 had been poisoned with official statements inflaming the people against = America,=20 particularly for our commerce with the Entente in war supplies.

It was the right, guaranteed by a treaty to which Germany was a = signatory, of=20 our private individuals to sell munitions and supplies, but as Prince = von Buelow=20 once remarked on December 13th, 1900, in the Reichstag, "I feel no = embarrassment=20 in saying here, publicly, that for Germany, right can never be a = determining=20 consideration."

Indeed the tame professors were let loose and many of them rushed = into=20 government-paid print to prove that, according to law, the murders of = the=20 Lusitania were justified. A German chemist friend of mine told me = that=20 the chemists of Germany[48] were called on, after poison gas had been = met by=20 British and French, to devise some new and deadly chemical. Flame = throwers soon=20 appeared together with more insidious gases. And it is only because of = the=20 vigilance of other nations that German spies have not succeeded in = sowing the=20 microbes of pestilence in countries arrayed against lawless Germany.

Remember there is nothing that Kaiserism is not capable of trying in = the hope=20 of victory.

CHAPTER IV[49]

THE KAISER AND "L=C8SE-MAJEST=C9"

The=20 talents and ability and agreeable personality of the German Emperor must = not=20 blind us to the fact that he is the centre of the system which has = brought the=20 world to a despair and misery such as it never has known since the dawn = of=20 history. We must remember that all his utterances disclose the soul of = the=20 conqueror, of a man intensely anxious for earthly fame and a conspicuous = place=20 in the gallery of human events; envious, too, of the great names of the = past,=20 his ears so tuned for admiration and applause that they fail to hear the = great,=20 long drawn wail of agony that echoes around the world. His eyes are so = blinded=20 with the sheen of his own glory that they do not see the mutilated = corpses, the=20 crime, the pestilence, the hunger, the incalculable sorrow that sweeps = the earth=20 from the jungles of Africa to the frozen plains of the North, from = Siberia to=20 Saskatchewan, from Texas to Trieste, from Alaska to = Afghanistan=97everywhere he=20 has brought the dark angel of mourning to millions upon millions of = desolate=20 homes.

Do you remember that picture of the Conquerors, C=E6sar and = Alexander, Attila=20 and Napoleon, Charlemagne and Cambyses, astride their horses or in[50] chariots = in the centre=20 of the picture, dark, gloomy, menacing? On each side of them, lining a = vast=20 plain that fades in the distance, lie the dead=97stiff, cold, grey,=20 reproachful;=97yet all the victims of those conquerors, as well as all = their=20 battalions do not equal the countless number that have already drenched = a=20 forgiving earth with their dying blood in this war:=97victims all of the = vain-glorious ambition of a single mortal=97the German Kaiser.

But the despot who sends his subjects to die, as Frederick the Great = said,=20 "in order to be talked about" is not indigenous to any one particular = country.=20 Like conditions produce like results. The career of Louis XIV, the "Sun = King,"=20 for instance, whose wars and extravagances sowed the seeds of the French = Revolution, is epitomised in two phrases uttered by him: "I am the = State" and "I=20 almost had to wait."

After the French Revolution, another despot, the first Napoleon, not = only=20 sought the conquest of the world, but made his ex-waiter and ex-groom = marshals=20 and his washerwomen duchesses ape the manners and customs of the old = r=E9gime.=20 Despotism has been characteristic of many generations but the world had = thought=20 itself rid of the worst offenders.

Royalty still lives to torture and retard civilisation. Its methods = of=20 perpetuation are unchanged from the middle ages. What is = l=E8se-majest=E9 but a=20 survival of feudalism, a kind of slavery to inviolable tradition=97the = immunity of=20 the monarch and his family from that criticism and freedom of discussion = which=20 is the essence of democracy?[51]

To commit l=E8se-majest=E9, to speak slightingly of royalty in = Germany, is a very=20 serious offence.

I have taken the following examples of decisions in l=E8se-majest=E9 = cases not=20 from the records of the lower courts, the decisions of which may be = reversed,=20 but from the records of the Imperial Supreme Court at Leipzig, the = highest court=20 in the land.

For instance: The defendant, a speaker at a meeting consisting = chiefly of=20 sympathisers with the socialist cause, made the following statement in = reference=20 to a speech of the Kaiser:

"Under the protection of the highest power of the State the gauntlet = has been=20 flung before the (socialist) Party, the gauntlet which means a combat = for life=20 and death. Well, then, so far as the insult concerns our Party, we are = so far=20 above it, that the mudslinging=97no matter from what direction it may = come=97cannot=20 touch us."

The defence pointed out that the defendant "had considered each word=20 carefully before he had made the speech, and that in doing so, wanted to = avoid=20 any possibility of l=E8se-majest=E9."

The Supreme Court held that although the defendant carefully selected = his=20 words and tried to evade prosecution, he must be adjudged guilty, = because his=20 audience could not have misunderstood the insinuation. The sentence was=20 affirmed.

Dangerous as it is to say anything that can be construed as = derogatory of the=20 authority, of the Kaiser it is equally dangerous to attack the dead = members of=20 the Royal House.[52]

The editor of the Volkswacht had published in his paper an = article=20 entitled "The German Characteristics of the Hohenzollerns" which the = Lower Court=20 interpreted to be a reply to a statement of the Kaiser, which had = referred to a=20 group of people considered unworthy by him to be called "Germans." = Without doubt=20 the editor was alluding to the Kaiser's speech, made at Koenigsberg to = the newly=20 enlisted army recruits, in which he called the socialists = "vaterlandslose=20 Gesellen," i.e., scoundrels without any country. The writer, however, = discussed=20 "the conduct of the Elector Joachim of Brandenburg and of his brother = Albrecht,=20 Elector of Mainz, before and during the election of Emperor Charles = V."

The defence claimed that the defendant could not be held guilty of=20 l=E8se-majest=E9 against the Kaiser since the defendant "criticised the = Kaiser's=20 ancestors and not the Kaiser himself." But the Court held that it was = the intent=20 of the defendant to discredit the "House of the Hohenzollerns, and that = the=20 Kaiser by implication, being the living head of the Hohenzollern family, = was=20 thereby insulted." The Court further states that the defendant's article = could=20 not be regarded as a scientific or historical contribution since the=20 Volkswacht's subscribers, consisting chiefly of workingmen, had = neither=20 any understanding of nor interest in dynastic intrigues of the sixteenth = century.

Even those Americans who have expressed themselves freely about the = Kaiser=20 will, after the war is over, be compelled to take their "cures" in = some[53] country = other than=20 Germany, for in one case it was held that an American citizen was = rightfully=20 convicted in Baden of l=E8se-majest=E9 because of statements made by him = in=20 Switzerland.

The Court held that the judgment of the Lower Court must be = sustained, since=20 the German Imperial Laws have precedence over any treaties engaged in by = the=20 Grand Duchy of Baden and the United States and "that the fact that the = defendant=20 had become a citizen of the United States does not exempt him from = prosecution=20 in the German Imperial Courts."

In another case a newspaper editor criticised a speech delivered by = the=20 Kaiser before the Reichstag on December 6th, 1898. The defendant did not = refer=20 to the person of the emperor himself, but simply attacked and ridiculed = the=20 propositions and proposals made by His Imperial Majesty. The defence = pointed out=20 that the Kaiser's speech was not an act of the Kaiser's own personal = will, but=20 only an act of government for which the Imperial Chancellor should be=20 responsible, and that the defendant was not conscious of the fact that = the=20 criticism contained in his article could be an insult to the person of = the=20 Kaiser.

It was held, however, by the Court that a criticism of the Kaiser's = speech at=20 the opening of the Reichstag is always to be regarded as a = criticism of=20 the Kaiser's person, and that the plea that the Imperial Chancellor = should be=20 responsible for acts of government of this sort is not sustained.[54]

In other words it is, in Germany, a crime to criticise or ridicule = any=20 proposition uttered by the sacred lips of the Kaiser.

If the Kaiser announces that two and two make five, jail awaits the = subject=20 who dares to ridicule that novel arithmetical proposition.

It is because of these convictions for l=E8se-majest=E9 that the = Berliners, when=20 discussing the Emperor at their favourite table or "Stammtisch" in the = beer=20 halls and caf=E9s, always refer to him as "Lehmann."

CHAPTER V[55]

WHEN THE KAISER THOUGHT WE WERE BLUFFING

Kaiserdom is an institution with which the = American=20 people are really unacquainted=97a complex institution the parallel of = which does=20 not exist elsewhere. How it sought to play double with the United States = is in a=20 general way familiar to Americans, but I think the record of what = happened in=20 the eighteen months preceding our break with Germany will illustrate = exactly the=20 currents and cross-currents of official opinion which led the United = States to=20 be scrupulously cautious in its course before entering the war. As I = talked with=20 the Emperor or the Chancellor or the Foreign Minister, I jotted down = from time=20 to time notes of their conversation as well as brief summaries of the=20 information available to me from other sources. Naturally I cabled to = the=20 Department of State the most significant news, but much of this was not=20 published because our Government was proceeding cautiously and did not = wish to=20 be embarrassed by publicity of its negotiations. There is every reason = now,=20 however, why the facts should be known. I am reproducing here the diary = I kept=20 from June,[56] 1915,=20 to the end of January, 1917, when unrestricted submarine warfare was = resumed and=20 our break with Germany came. I did not have the idea then of ever = publishing my=20 memoranda, so my comments were written without restraint. They show, I = am sure,=20 what the general trend of sentiment was in Germany for and against = submarine=20 warfare and disclose, too, that while the Emperor was often in the = background=20 and seemingly not the most powerful factor in the situation, it was his = system=20 that dominated Germany, his spirit that bred the lust for military gain = at=20 whatever cost=97even the respect of the whole civilised world. Here are = the notes=20 as I penned them at the time:

June, 1915. Lincoln never passed through a = crisis=20 greater than that with which the President is contending. He is = fighting, first,=20 for humanity and some decency in war, and, second, determining whether a = European Emperor shall or shall not dictate the political attitude of = certain of=20 our citizens.

It is regrettable to be compelled to think that the German nation = knows no=20 treaty or law except the limit of its own desires.

We are still awaiting the second Lusitania note and I fear = that=20 Germany will never consent to abandon its present hideous method of = submarine=20 war. It is extraordinary to hear Germans of all classes extoll mere = brute force=20 as the only rule of international life. It is a warning to us to create = and=20 increase our fleet and coast defences.

The Germans not only do not fear war with us,[57] but state frankly they do = not believe we=20 dare to declare it, call us cowardly bluffers and say our notes are = worse than=20 waste paper. Breaking diplomatic relations means nothing.

Von Wiegand, the newspaper correspondent, is just back from Przemysl = and says=20 the Russians were defeated by woful lack of artillery and ammunition. = Their=20 power for offence is broken for many months. From the West I hear the = French are=20 rather discouraged.

Germany has ample food and gets all copper, etc., necessary for war = purposes=20 through Sweden in exchange for potash and other commodities.

An officer of the war ministry, who comes to see me about prisoners, = etc.,=20 told me last night that because the French have kept several hundred = Germans as=20 prisoners in Dahomey and other places in Africa, fifteen thousand French = prisoners will be sent to work in the unhealthy swamps of Holstein. I = have=20 cabled the State Department often about this Dahomey business, = transmitting the=20 request of Germany that these prisoners be sent to Europe. Germans = cannot be=20 beaten on reprisals.

Two or three German-Americans have attacked the = President,=20 Secretary Bryan and our Government, some publicly. I have ordered their=20 passports taken away and hope to be sustained. To permit them to = continue=20 poisoning the atmosphere would be taken as a sign of weakness here. No = one who=20 abuses his own country, its government or its Chief is entitled to = protection=20 from that country.[58]

We have the visiting of British prisoners in good shape now, that = prohibition=20 put on our visiting and inspecting the camps was abolished in March by = the=20 "treaty" I arranged between England and Germany. It was not until March=20 twenty-ninth that we finally got passes to visit camps under the = "treaty." The=20 prisoners say they are badly treated when they are first captured, but = we know=20 only of their treatment in the camps.

I do not believe all the atrocity stories; but one of our servants in = this=20 house came back from the East front recently and said the orders were to = kill=20 all Cossacks. Our washerwoman reports that her son was ordered to shoot = a woman=20 in Belgium and I myself have heard an officer calmly describe the = shooting of a=20 seven-year-old Belgian girl child, the excuse being that she had tried = to fire=20 at an officer.

If the Lusitania business settles down, I hope the suggestion = made to=20 me by the authorities here and cabled to the State Department, will be = carried=20 into effect. This was that each American and Spanish Ambassador, having = charge=20 of prisoners in belligerent countries, should meet in Switzerland and = discuss=20 the whole prison situation. Each Ambassador would be accompanied by=20 representatives of whatever authorities deal with prisoners (here the = War=20 Ministry) in the country to which he is accredited. To prevent unseemly=20 discussions the actual talking would be done by the Ambassadors (coached = by=20 those representatives). In addition to doing away with many = misunderstandings=20 and helping the prisoners, there are great possibilities in[59] such a = meeting. We=20 could all give each other useful "tips" on the caring for prisoners,=20 inspections, camps, package delivery, mail, etc.

There is plenty of food in Germany now and enough raw materials to = carry on=20 the war. Raw materials for peaceful industries are needed.

A suggestion=97why not start a great government chemical school or = give=20 protection for a certain number of years to dyestuffs, medicine, = chemical, and=20 cyanide material? All these industries are run here by the trustiest = trusts that=20 ever trusted, and by their methods keep American manufacturers from = starting the=20 business. A Congressman represents one of the best firms, hence his = statements=20 that it is impossible to start such manufactures in America. Our annual = tribute=20 to these trusts is enormous. One dyestuff company here employs over five = hundred=20 chemists. Only big or protected business can compete. This war has shown = that we=20 should not be dependent on other countries for so many manufactures.

I fear that Germany will not give up its present = method of=20 submarine war. Each month new and more powerful submarines are = added.

Perhaps it is worth a war to have it decided that = the United=20 States of America is not to be run from Berlin.[60]

Germans in authority feel that our "New Freedom" is against their = ideas and=20 ideals. They hate President Wilson because he embodies peace and = learning rather=20 than war.

In regard to prisoners, Mr. Harte reports = prisoners in=20 Russia and Siberia better treated than was reported.

I hear for the first time of growing = dissatisfaction among=20 the plain people, especially at the great rise in food prices. Germany = is=20 getting everything she wants, however, through Sweden, including copper, = lard,=20 etc. Von Tirpitz and his Press Bureau were too much for the Chancellor; = the=20 latter is not a good fighter. Zimmermann, if left to himself, would, of = course,=20 have stopped this submarine murder.

I hope the President never gives in on the embargo on arms; if he = ever gives=20 in on that, we might as well hoist the German Eagle on the Capitol.

July, 1915. I think that the firm tone of = the=20 President's note (of June 9, 1915) will make the Germans climb down. = There seems=20 a general disposition to be pleased with the note and an expectation = that=20 matters can be arranged. The great danger is that the Germans may again = get the=20 idea that we do not dare to declare war. In such case they will again = become=20 difficult to handle.

Zimmermann and von Jagow are both quite pleased with the tone of the=20 note.[61]

They both talk now of keeping Belgium, the excuse being that the = Belgians=20 hate the Germans so that if Belgium again became independent it would be = only an=20 English outpost. Meyer Gerhard, Bernstorff's special envoy, has arrived = and has=20 broken into print over the sentiment in America. I am afraid he makes it = too=20 peaceful, and, therefore, the Germans will be encouraged to despise = America.

While the authorities here think the idea of freedom of the seas = good, they=20 think the idea of freedom of land too vague. They want to know exactly = what it=20 means and say the seas should be free because they belong to no one, but = that=20 land is the private property of various nations. They compare the = situation to a=20 city street, where every one is interested in keeping the streets free = but would=20 resent a proposal that private houses also should be made common meeting = ground=20 if not common property. Unfortunately for Germany and the world, the = German=20 armies are winning and this will be considered a complete vindication of = the=20 military and caste system and everything which now exists. As Cleveland = said, we=20 are confronted by a condition, not a theory. Germany, unless beaten, = will=20 never directly or indirectly agree to any freedom of land or disarmament = proposal.

The Emperor probably will see me soon. He has been = rabid on=20 the export of arms from the United States to the Allies, but like all = Germans,=20 when they see we cannot be scared into a change of policy, he is making = a nice=20 recovery.[62]

Was told by a friend at the Foreign Office that = the German=20 note would contain a proposition that regular passenger ships should not = be=20 torpedoed without notice, but must carry no cargo other than passengers' = baggage. Have heard Marine Department rather opposes this, but may favor = proposition as to ships inspected and certified to carry no arms or = ammunition.=20 No note until after July fourth, they say at Foreign Office, on tip from = Washington. (Note=97German note was delivered to me July 8, 1915.)

Chancellor and von Jagow have been in Vienna, = probably over=20 Balkan question. The situation there hinges on Bulgaria. Germany wants a = direct=20 strip of territory for itself or Austria to Constantinople. Thirteen = million=20 pounds in gold sent recently by Germany to Turkey to keep the boys in = line.=20 Principal Socialist paper, the Vorwaerts, has been suppressed = because it=20 spoke of peace; reason given is that this kind of talk would encourage = enemies=20 of Germany.

The Germans are becoming more strict, even women = now=20 entering Germany must strip to the skin and take down their back hair. = The wife=20 of Hearst's correspondent here had to submit to this the other day.

At first, newspaper correspondents had to promise = they would=20 not go to enemy territory, next that they would not go to neutral = territory=20 (after one[63]=20 correspondent went to Denmark and sent out dispatches about the movement = against=20 annexing Belgium). Now the correspondents must promise not to go home. = This is=20 to keep secret the internal conditions. The women stormed a butter shop = here the=20 other day and our Consul reports, in Chemnitz, quite a serious food = riot. The=20 military were called out and the fire department turned hose on the = crowd.

In Austria, I hear men up to fifty-five are being = called to=20 the colours and even the infirm taken for the army. There are said to be = seven=20 German and five Austrian army corps invading Servia. The losses of the = invaders=20 are reported to be heavy. To date, the German dead in this war number = about=20 seven hundred thousand. People who offered private hospitals at the = beginning of=20 the war and who were told these were not needed, have been requested to = open=20 them. I was told the remaining civil population of Vouziers, France (in = German=20 hands), had been removed to make room for German wounded.

The note of July 21, 1915, in which the President = said he=20 would regard the sinking of ships without warning as "deliberately = unfriendly,"=20 is received with hostility by press and Government. Of course, the party = of=20 frightfulness has conquered those of milder views, owing largely to the=20 aggressive newspaper campaign conducted by von Tirpitz, Reventlow and = Company.=20 The Germans generally are, at[64] present, in rather a waiting attitude, = perhaps=20 anxious to see what our attitude toward England will be=97but this will = not affect=20 their submarine policy. The Foreign Office now claims, I hear, that I am = hostile=20 to Germany, but that claim was to be expected. Of course, I had no more = to do=20 with the American note than they did, but it is impossible to convince = them of=20 that, so I shall not try.

Germany has the Balkan situation well in hand. = Roumania can=20 do nothing in the face of recent Russian defeats and has just consented = to allow=20 grain to be exported to Austria and Germany, but has, I think, not yet = consented=20 to allow the passage of ammunition to Turkey. The pressure, however, is = great.=20 If not successful, perhaps German troops will invade Servia so as to get = a=20 passage through to Turkey.

A minister from one of the Balkan States told me the situation of = Roumania,=20 Greece and Bulgaria was about the same, each state can last in war only = about=20 three months, so all are trying to gauge three months before the end and = then=20 come in on the winning side.

The Bulgarian Minister of the Public Debt got in here by mistake the = other=20 day, insisting he had an appointment; he had an appointment with = the=20 Treasurer, Helfferich, whose office is nearby. This shows, perhaps, that = Bulgaria is getting money here.

Also the Germans are sending back to Russia, Russians of = revolutionary=20 tendencies, who were[65] prisoners here, with money and passports = in order=20 that they may stir up trouble at home.

The Germans are making a great effort to take Warsaw, even old = Landsturm men=20 are in the fighting line; I think they will get it, and then they hope = to turn=20 two million men and strike a great blow in France=97thus they expect to = end the=20 war by October.

I notice now a slight reaction from annexation = toward giving=20 up all or part of Belgium; but I must say I hear very little of popular=20 dissatisfaction with the war. Everything seems to be going smoothly; but = they=20 are scraping the bottom of the box on getting men for the army.

It is not pleasant to be hated by so many = millions. The=20 Germans naturally make me the object of their concentrated hate. I = received an=20 anonymous letter in which the kindly writer rejoices that so many = Americans were=20 drowned in the Chicago disaster. This shows the state of mind.

The Emperor is at the front, "Somewhere in = Galicia." They=20 keep him very much in the background, I think, with the idea of = disabusing the=20 popular mind of the idea that this is "his war." After all, accidents = may=20 happen, and even after a victorious war there may be a day of reckoning. = The=20 Chancellor went to the front yesterday, probably to see the Emperor = about the=20 American question.[66]

August, 1915. I had a conversation last = week of one=20 hour and a half with the Chancellor. He sent for me because I had = written him to=20 take no more trouble about my seeing the Emperor. He explained, of = course, first=20 that he did not know I wanted to see the Emperor, and second that it was = impossible to see the Emperor. They keep the Emperor well surrounded. = Now=20 I do not want to see him. He is hot against Americans and the matters I = wanted=20 to talk of are all settled=97one way. I cabled an interesting report on = the=20 Emperor's conversation re America.

The Chancellor is still wrong in his head; says it was necessary to = invade=20 Belgium, break all international laws, etc. I think, however, that he = was=20 personally against the fierce Dernburg propaganda in America. I judge = that von=20 Tirpitz, through his press bureau, has egged on the people so that this=20 submarine war will continue. An official confessed to me that they = had tried=20 to get England to interfere, together with them, in Mexico, and Germans = "Gott=20 strafe" the Monroe Doctrine in their daily prayers of hate.

No great news=97we are simply waiting for the = inevitable=20 submarine "accident."

Unless there is a change of sentiment in the Government I think the = submarine=20 commanders will be careful.[67]

The Chancellor talked rather freely but again said it was impossible = to leave=20 Belgium to become an outpost of the English, but possibly with Germans = in=20 possession of the forts, the railways and with commercial rights in = Antwerp it=20 might be arranged.

There is a faction here led by deputy Bassermann, Stresemann, = Fahrmann, etc.,=20 who are attacking the Chancellor. They represent great industrials who = want to=20 annex Belgium, Northern France, Poland and anything else that can be = had, for=20 their own ultimate advantage. A man named Hirsch is hired by the Krupp = firm to=20 "accelerate" this work. Krupps also pay the expenses of the "Oversea = Service"=20 which is feeding news to America.

A paper against annexation of Belgium has been signed, I am told, by=20 Dernburg, Prince Hatzfeld and others, and will be presented to the = Chancellor=20 to-day. I believe many are to sign it; but of those who have signed are=20 Hatzfeld, who is one of the three big Dukes of Prussia; Prince=20 Henckel-Donnersmarck, who is the second richest subject in Germany=97(85 = years=20 old, he was in 1870 first Governor of Lorraine)=97von Harrach, who is a = man of=20 great ability, highly respected, as is also Professor Delbr=FCck.

The Reichstag meets in a few days. The Socialists = are=20 holding daily caucuses, but have not yet decided on any party action.=20 Undoubtedly they will vote for the new ten milliard loan, with = Liebknecht[68] and a few = others=20 dissenting. Probably a split will also develop in the National Liberal = Party;=20 Bassermann and others have been attacking the Chancellor, but I think = other=20 members will dissent. It is quite probable that there will be a = discussion about=20 the object of the war, and permission will be asked for public=20 discussion, the Socialists perhaps claiming that they have consented to = a=20 defensive war only, and that now that the war is on enemy territory = peace should=20 be at least discussed. There may also be talk about the annexation of = Belgium=20 and food prices. The Socialists are greatly incensed at those who are = holding=20 food for high prices.

Personally, I think that Germany now wants peace = but does=20 not want to say so openly.

A relative of a Field Marshal told me to-day that Germany's killed to = date=20 were 600,000 and 200,000 crippled for life.

I must say that the plain people still seem perfectly tame and ready = to=20 continue the war. However, there may also be a protest in the Reichstag = about=20 the treatment by non-commissioned officers of Landsturm men who have = never=20 served but who now, in the process of scraping the box, are called to = the=20 colors.

The Germans hope by a great movement to capture a great part of the = Russian=20 army; probably they will fail. They also entertain hopes that in such = case=20 Sweden will enter Finland and two Balkan States declare for them. Balkan = Ministers here tell me the defeat of Russia makes it impossible[69] for = Roumania to enter,=20 but they fear an invasion by the Germans. All diplomatic work is now = centred in=20 the Balkans.

Successes in Russia have made the people here very = cocky.=20 Hence, probably, the torpedoing of the Arabic. Also great hope of = Bulgaria coming in with Germany; there is no more dissatisfaction heard = over the=20 war. I have as yet received nothing from Washington regarding the=20 Arabic.

I have just spent four half days at Ruhleben, = where civilian=20 Britishers are interned, so as to give every prisoner a chance to speak = to me=20 personally.

There is much talk of creating an independent = Poland. The=20 Reichstag session has developed no opposition.

A fac-simile of that infernal advertisement [A]=20 of the Cleveland Automatic Tool Company in the American Machinist = was=20 laid on the desk of every member of the Reichstag; and the papers are = full of=20 accounts of great deliveries of war munitions by America, possibly = preparing=20 people for a break. If Bulgaria comes in, Germany will undoubtedly take = a strip=20 in Servia and keep a road to Constantinople and the East. The new = Turkish=20 Ambassador has just arrived. The old one was not friendly to Enver Bey = and so=20 was bounced; he remains here, however, as he fears if he went to Turkey = he would=20 get some "special" coffee. The hate for Americans grows daily.

All rumours are that in the recent council at = Posen the=20 Chancellor, advocating concessions in submarine war, won out over von = Tirpitz.=20 But von Tirpitz will die hard, and there will be trouble yet, as the = Navy will=20 be very angry if the present methods are abandoned. Members of the = Reichstag=20 have telegraphed backing up the Chancellor; but it is hard for any = civilian idea=20 to prevail against Army or Navy.

Probably the Admiralty will say that the submarine which torpedoed = the=20 Arabic was lost, in order to avoid disgracing an officer.

If the Arabic question is not complicated with the = Lusitania a=20 solution will be easier. The common people have been aroused by von = Tirpitz's=20 press bureau and it will be simpler for the Chancellor to "back track," = taking=20 as an example a case like the Arabic when the ship was going West = and=20 carried no ammunition.

The defeat of the Russians is undoubtedly = crushing. Is=20 England waking up too late? There will be a big offensive soon against = the West=20 lines.

I have heard nothing up to to-day from the State = Department=20 re the Arabic, except one cable asking me to request a = report.

A correspondent has just been in and says that[71] the General Staff people = threaten to=20 expel him because he went to Copenhagen and sent out news about the = petition to=20 the Chancellor not to annex Belgium. The Foreign Office had no = objection; this=20 shows how the line is forming between the Chancellor and the Military. = All=20 correspondents to-day say the Germans are trying to dragoon them into = sending=20 only news which the General Staff wants sent, and the Military have = added their=20 censorship to that of the Foreign Office.

An official told me that Bernstorff, while not exactly exceeding his=20 instructions in his "Arabic Note" (of Sept. 1, 1915), had put the = matter=20 in a manner they did not approve.

Orders have now, apparently, been given to all = German=20 officials to say that the war will last a long time=97at least a year = and a=20 half.

It is expected that Persia will come in under German leadership and = attack=20 India.

Our Military Attach=E9, Colonel Kuhn, was finally = presented to=20 the Kaiser and had a pleasant chat with him. Colonel Kuhn says all = fighting on=20 the West is with artillery and hand grenades. Rifles are thrown = aside.

Germans have spies "piking off" our Embassies in Paris, London and=20 Petrograd.

Great airship attacks on London may be expected. In one of the recent = attacks=20 nine thousand eight hundred bombs (fire and explosive) were dropped. I = get this=20 from good authority.[72]

Foreign Office quite elated over their Balkan triumph. Personally, I = think it=20 was one of the most effective bits of German "diplomacy" in the history = of the=20 Empire.

CHAPTER VI[73]

THE INSIDE OF GERMAN DIPLOMACY

October, 1915. There = is a=20 tendency here to say Bernstorff went too far. But this is all for the = public,=20 von Jagow told a correspondent so to-day; but, of course, he did not = know about=20 the note of Austria to Servia either! The Marine people are positively = raging.=20 The paper which Reventlow writes for, the Tages Zeitung, was = suppressed=20 yesterday; I hear on account of an article on this Arabic = settlement, but=20 I am not yet sure.

More and more men are being called to colours. But Germany seems to = be able=20 to take care of all fronts. The Emperor is now in the West. The Foreign = Office=20 leads the rejoicing over the Entente's invasion of Greece and the = violation of=20 its neutrality and says that talk about Belgium is now shown to be=20 cant.

Weather is rotten and we shall have a melancholy winter. Feel the war = more=97deaths and prices. Six hundred and eighty thousand killed to = October first,=20 and many crippled. Food way up, but they cannot starve Germany out.[74]

Suppression of the Tages Zeitung means that the Chancellor has = at last=20 exhibited some backbone and will fight von Tirpitz. The answer of = Germany=20 depends on the outcome of this fight. It is possible that von Falkenhayn = and the=20 army party may sustain the Chancellor as against von Tirpitz. It is = quite likely=20 that a sort of safe conduct will be offered in the note for ships = especially=20 engaged in passenger trade. Much stress will be laid on English orders = to=20 merchant ships to ram submarines.

The Kaiser is at Pless, a castle of Prince of = Pless, in=20 Silesia, near Breslau, where he moved after the attempt of French fliers = to=20 bombard him at Charleville on the West Front. The Germans probably will = have=20 Lemberg in a few days. This may prevent Roumania coming in. There is = talk here=20 of an attempted revolution in Moscow. There is said to be jealousy of = Hindenburg=20 and on account of this, Mackensen was put forward to be the hero of the = Galician=20 Campaign. Captain Enochs, one of our observers in Austria, was forced = out of=20 Austria because of German pressure and our other military observers will = follow=20 soon.

Many commercial magnates have arrived in town to argue with the = government=20 against war with America; but some are in favor of the continuance of = bitter=20 submarine war, notably one who sees his Bagdad railway menaced by = possible=20 English success in the Dardanelles.

November, 1915. A man who saw Tisza tells = me the=20 Serbs inquired if they could get peace and[75] retain their territories. They were = answered,=20 "No."

It is said that Italy has also felt out for peace, but was answered = that she=20 must deal with Austria alone=97and Austria says that she will not = include Italy in=20 any general peace but will wallop her alone after general peace is = made.

I am working hard to get British prisoners = properly clothed.=20 Winter is already here. Efforts to starve Germany will not succeed. We = shall be=20 on meat and butter cards, but that is only a precaution. The people = still are=20 well in hand. Constant rumours of peace keep them hopeful. Men over = forty-five=20 not yet called. They seem to have plenty of troops. The military are = careless of=20 the public opinion of neutrals; they say they are winning and do not = need good=20 opinion. I am really afraid of war against us after this war=97if = Germany wins. We=20 had snow, ice, and cold weather at the end of October.

There have been uneasy movements among the people in Leipzig, a great = industrial centre, and the Volkzeitung, a Socialist paper there, = has been=20 put under permanent preventive censorship.

The Prussian Junkers, however, are really benefited by the war. They = get,=20 even with a high "stop price," three times as much as formerly for their = agricultural products and pay only a small sum, sixty pfennig daily, for = the=20 prisoners of war who now work their fields. They may, in addition, have = to pay=20 the keep of the prisoners, but that is very[76] small. Camp commanders are allowed = sixty-six=20 pfennig per head per diem.

There is much talk of peace. The shares of the=20 Hamburg-American Line and the shares of the Hamburg-South American Line = have=20 risen enormously in price from fifty-six to one hundred and forty in one = case.=20 This may be caused by an advantageous sale of some shares of the=20 Holland-American Line or by promise of a subsidy, or by hopes of = peace.

There is no question but that every man under = forty-five=20 that can drag a rifle has been drafted for the army, with the possible = exception=20 of men working in railways, munitions, etc.

The Greek Minister still thinks Greece will stay out of the war. His = father=20 is one of the cabinet.

The Germans are very glad to get rid of Brand = Whitlock. For=20 some time they have been looking for an excuse to expel him.

The dyestuff and other chemical manufacturers are = getting=20 quite scared about possible American competition. I hope the Democrats = will give=20 protection to these new industries and will also enact some = "anti-dumping"=20 legislation.[77]

The German cities are adding to the general weight = of debt=20 by incurring large debts for war purposes, such as relief of soldiers' = families,=20 etc.

The former Turkish Ambassador, who is against the = Young=20 Turks, is living here. He is afraid to go back and also the Germans are = keeping=20 him in stock in case the Young Turks go out of power, and possibly to = stir up=20 trouble in Egypt, as his wife is a daughter of one of the Khedives.

There are lots of suspicious looking Spaniards about, possibly = cooking up an=20 attack on Gibraltar.

Any German peace talk includes payment of a large subsidy by England, = Russia,=20 and France; Italy to be left to Austria to finish.

There is no doubt whatever that the population in the conquered = portion of=20 Poland has been for a long time in need of food.

Our Military Attach=E9, Colonel Kuhn, just back = from Servia,=20 says the Germans have, literally, stacks of ammunition and had begun = preparing=20 last spring for the present attack, even little mountain wagons and new = harness=20 being all ready. Only about six German corps are there.

The hate against Americans here is deep-seated and bitter. Hans = Winterfeldt,=20 a prominent German banker, with American citizenship, just came in to = tell me=20 that at the annual meeting to-day of the great Allegemeine = Electricit=E4ts=20 Gesellschaft a fight[78] was started against him because of his = American=20 citizenship, and he was not, therefore, re-elected a director. He thinks = of=20 resigning from all banks, etc., and returning to America.

December, 1915. Red Cross Doctor Schmidt = just in from=20 Servia says Belgrade was completely plundered.

Having lots of difficulty getting the Germans to give the English = prisoners=20 clothes.

Germans are not resentful when I fight to get things for English = prisoners;=20 they only say they hope our Ambassadors are doing the same for = Germans.

Much disappointment at Dr. Snoddy's mission not yet being permitted = to work=20 in Russia.

Last Tuesday night I ran into quite a peace = demonstration,=20 called by placards the night of the Peace Interpretation in the = Reichstag. Soon=20 disbanded by the police with many arrests. One man told me that they = were tired=20 of a silly war and days without meat. There has been nothing in the = papers about=20 these demonstrations; of course, each arrest makes an anarchist for = life.

In a new building (where the Consulate is) they are taking off the=20 copper roof.

FACSIMILE OF AN=20 ORDER ISSUED BY COMMANDER OF GERMAN PRISON CAMP OF DOEBERITZ. MANY CAMP=20 COMMANDERS, WITHOUT AUTHORITY, UNDERTOOK TO MAKE PRISONERS SUFFER FOR = ALLEGED=20 AND UNPROVED MISDEEDS OF THE BRITISH. I HAD GREAT TROUBLE IN WATCHING = FOR ORDERS=20 OF THIS CHARACTER AND SECURING THEIR ANNULMENT

ORDER.

The unheard-of and rough treatment, which, according to reliable = information,=20 has been accorded to civilian prisoners, and particularly German women = and=20 children who remain in England, has caused the withdrawal of all = privileges=20 formerly granted to English Prisoners of War. On this account, = permission for=20 all kinds of amusements and games has been cancelled.

The time for bathing has been limited to 10 minutes.

The English Prisoners of War, Mc Lachlan, was shot dead early on the = 7th.=20 August, whilst attempting to escape.

The English Prisoner of War, Orton, has been summoned to a Military = Trial=20 owing to resistance agairest to Authority.

Alberti

Oberst und = Kommandant
des=20 Gefangenenlagers D=F6beritz.

Of a sudden=97peace talk. The Chancellor is waiting to address the = Reichstag,=20 waiting to get the sentiment of the members who are all in Berlin,[79] and then = swim with it.=20 Many members, who are not Socialists, favour peace, and the Chancellor = will be=20 forced to make some sort of a declaration on why they are fighting and = for=20 what.

A Reichstag member told me the Reichstag will say and do things it = did not=20 dream of doing six months ago. There are many quiet meetings of members = going=20 on.

Hindenburg is out with an interview saying it is not yet time for = peace. This=20 is a Government measure to stamp out peace talk among the Reichstag = members.

Am having a hard fight to get the British = prisoners properly=20 clothed for the winter. Of course, the Germans have rather a difficult = time with=20 so many prisoners, but that is no excuse if men die of cold. The weather = is and=20 has been bitterly cold.

Saw von Jagow lately, but only on business and commercial questions.=20 Zimmermann lunched here to-day. Roeder, of the World, is here = making a=20 study of German industrial conditions. I introduced him to Gutmann, of = the=20 Dresdner Bank; Rathenau, head of the Allegemeine Electricit=E4ts = Gesellschaft; Dr.=20 Solf, Colonial Minister, and others. I think his report will be very = sound and=20 worth reading.

There is no question but that there is a deep-seated hatred of = America here,=20 which must be reckoned with sooner or later.

I don't expect things to be easy, but I wish to goodness all = Americans would=20 stay at home.[80]

Probably greatest need of Germany is lubricating oil for machines, = etc.=20 Germans claim to have a copper mine in Servia. I never heard of one = there.

Dr. Ohnesorg, U. S. N., and Osborne back = from=20 inspecting camps. They report bad conditions; they were not allowed = (contrary to=20 our "treaty") to talk out of hearing of camp officers to the prisoners = in=20 Lemburg Camp. These prisoners are 2,000 Irish, and the reason, of = course, for=20 the refusal of the usual permission is that the Germans, through the = notorious=20 Sir Roger Casement, have been trying to seduce the Irish, and do not = want the=20 soldier prisoners to tell us about it. I have learned, through other = sources,=20 that the Germans seduced about 30 Irish. I told von Jagow what I had = learned and=20 asked what the Germans had done with these victims=97whether they were = in the=20 German army or not. He said, "No, most of them had been sent to Ireland = to raise=20 hell there." I suppose they were landed from submarines.

I think the German press has received orders to = step softly=20 on the von Papen-Boy-ed recall. The greatest danger now lies in Austria, = and=20 over the Ancona note. There is a large body of manufacturers,=20 ship-owners, etc., here who at the last moment declare themselves = against war=20 with the U. S. A. and use their influence to that end, but in = Austria=20 no such interests exist to help toward peace. However, pressure from = Germany may=20 be brought to bear.[81]

I think Germany will not send successors to von Papen and Boy-ed even = with=20 safe conduct; whether they will ask the recall of our attach=E9s is = another=20 question not yet decided.

An official tells me confidentially that Rintelen was sent to America = to buy=20 up the product of the Dupont Powder Company, and that if he did anything = else he=20 exceeded his instructions.

I hear rumours that Germany is trying, through its Minister in China, = to come=20 to an understanding with Japan and Russia.

The banks are sending circulars to all safe-deposit box holders, = trying to=20 get them to give up their gold.

An American clergyman has just told me the German church body has = refused to=20 receive an American Church deputation and has written a very bitter = letter.

An official has told me that no new Military Attach=E9 will be sent = to America.=20 The naval people have not yet decided.

I am very glad to hear Colonel House is coming = over. There=20 are many things I want to tell the President but which I do not dare to = commit=20 to paper.

A newspaperman supposed to be of the New York =97=97 had an = interview with=20 Zimmermann the other day, and Zimmermann sent some messages by him to = the=20 President. I do not know what the[82] messages are. We all suffer much from = amateur=20 diplomats.

Anthony Czarnecki, a very intelligent Chicagoan, = an American=20 of Polish descent, is here representing Victor Lawson and the Chicago = Daily=20 News. He informs me that the Spy Nest is contemplating an attack on = the=20 Administration because of the taking away of Archibald's and others'=20 passports.

My impression is that the Austrians, owing to = pressure from=20 here, will eventually give in on the Ancona business. I think the = present=20 a good time to force the settlement of the Lusitania = question.

Note. I do not suppose that any Ambassador = ever=20 suffered as much from amateur "super Ambassadors" as I did.

The German Foreign Office, trying to be modern and up-to-date at = times, paid=20 more attention to the tales of pro-German American correspondents than = they did=20 to the utterances of President Wilson.

Of course, the Germans succeeded in taking many of those = correspondents in=20 their camp. In the Hotel =97=97 in Berlin an agent of the German = Government who=20 possessed American citizenship was always ready to arrange trips to the = front or=20 to make an advance of money to an American correspondent who would = promise to be=20 "good."

Some received cash, some were paid in interviews with prominent = officials,=20 some received both, before all was continually dangled the blue = ribbon=97the hope=20 of an interview with the Kaiser=97and some, thank God, were real = Americans and=20 refused all the offered temptations=97news or money.

An American gentleman who lived for a time at this hotel has given me = a=20 written statement which throws a light on the activities of certain of = these=20 gentry and which I may some day use. In this he states how one of these=20 gentlemen claimed that the Imperial Chancellor always sent for him to = consult=20 him on his attitude towards America and that he had advised him to make = a bold=20 front and bluff. Hence, perhaps the note of January thirty-first which = suddenly=20 announced the ruthless submarine war.

I have proof that one of this traitorous gang went about Berlin = personating=20 me. What scheme he was cooking up I do not know.

Zimmermann was particularly weak in being advised by one of these = shady=20 individuals.[83]

I think the German Government will allow Ford or any of his angels to = come=20 here, but the Peace Ark seems pretty well wrecked.

Provincial and small newspapers are much more bitter against America = than the=20 larger ones.

Von Jagow told me the other day that he thought the feeling here = against=20 America was so bitter that, eventually, war would be inevitable.

"I am enabled to-day to give your Excellency news of the utmost = importance,=20 Germany is at the end of its forces and the Imperial Government is = inclined to=20 make peace cost what may! One of the most prominent and influential = members of=20 the Reichstag has assured me, that the general conviction of the = parliament is=20 dominated by the absolute necessity, to pull back and to strive for = peace as=20 soon as possible. The financial aspect given by Dr. Helfferich is = disastrous,=20 the military situation, taken in the whole, unsatisfactory and the = confidential=20 information, given by Herr von Jagow in the committee with regard to the = Egyptian expedition, discouraging if not hopeless. The Government and=20 particularly Herr von Bethmann wish for peace, but believe themselves = restrained=20 by public opinion and by the fear of the Pan-Germanists. It's now the=20 psychological moment for intervention by the United States and there can = be no=20 doubt, that it should and will be exercised in favour of humanity, = culture and=20 freedom, in favour of the prevalence of the Anglo-Saxon race and the = future=20 development of the new world against Prussian barbarity, Imperial = despotism and=20 Teutonic slavery!

22. XII. 1915.
Old = Gentleman."

CHAPTER VII[84]

GERMANY'S PLAN TO ATTACK AMERICA

January, 1916. Many = of the=20 intelligent rich are expressing the fear that after this war the = Socialist high=20 price system, governmental seizure of food, control of raw materials, = etc., will=20 be continued and also that the owners of large landed estates will be = compelled=20 to subdivide them.

We are getting vague and conflicting reports in = the=20 newspapers here about the sinking of the Persia. There seems to = be no end=20 to this business. Perhaps it is best to have the inevitable come = now. The=20 hate of America has grown to such an extent under careful Government = stimulus=20 that I am quite sure we will be the first attacked after the war. = Therefore, if=20 it is to come, it had better come now when we would start with a certain = fleet=20 in command of the seas, making it impossible for agitators, dynamiters, = and=20 spies to be sent to Mexico and South America and into the = U. S. A.=20 through Canada and Mexico. From the highest to the lowest I get = intimations that=20 at the first chance America will be attacked.[85]

There is still a spirit of confidence in ultimate success, amply = justified,=20 it would seem, by the military situation.

A lot of dyestuffs mysteriously left Germany recently in spite of the = embargo, and got to Holland, billed to America, where it remains, = awaiting a=20 permit from the British. Perhaps the Germans are getting worried about = the=20 possible building-up of the industry at home. The profits of the German = dyestuff=20 "trust" are certainly great enough to tempt the trust to do anything to = keep the=20 monopoly. Hardly a company pays less than 24 per cent. dividends.

I am waiting the arrival of Colonel House, who, I suppose, will be = here in=20 ten days or so.

S. S. McClure of the good ship Nutty (Proprietor Ford), = Herman=20 Bernstein and Inez Milholland Boissevain, likewise of the crew, have = been here.=20 Their stories are most amusing. Apparently, now, the nuttiest have voted = to=20 remain a permanent committee at The Hague; salary (five thousand = suggested) to=20 each to be paid by Ford=97with washing and expenses.

The Reichstag, sitting in "Budget Commission," is = getting=20 quite worked up over the censorship and the Socialists are demanding the = freedom=20 of the press.

Yesterday one member said he thought it would[86] do the U. S. A. = good if they=20 knew what the Germans really thought of Americans.

The spy system here is very complete and even the President and = Cabinet at=20 home in America are surrounded. Heydebrand, leader of the Conservative = Party,=20 called the uncrowned King of Prussia, said yesterday in the Prussian = Chamber=20 that "America was among the worst enemies of Germany." I am convinced = that=20 Germany, as now advised, either will attack America or land in South = America, if=20 successful in this war. Falkenhayn, Chief of the General Staff, said, = referring=20 to America, "It is hard to stop a victorious army."

I have just returned from three days in Munich. I = visited=20 two prison camps and the American Red Cross Hospital in Munich and = conferred=20 with Archdeacon Nies (of the American Episcopal Church), who is = permitted to=20 visit Bavarian prison camps, talk to prisoners, and hold services in = English.=20 These Bavarian camps are under Bavarian, not Prussian, rule.

Munich seems lively and contented. I saw great quantities of soldiers = there=20 and at Ingolstadt.

Morgenthau was here for a day. I took him to see = von Jagow,=20 where we talked for an hour. Later, through some Germans, he met = Zimmermann, who=20 asked him if he did not think the German-Americans[87] in America would rise in = rebellion if=20 trouble came between Germany and America.

Von Jagow was very explicit in saying that Germany had made no = agreement with=20 us about submarine commanders. He said distinctly that Germany reserved = the=20 right to change these orders at any time. On the general question, he = again said=20 that the submarine was a new weapon and that the rules of international = law must=20 be changed, apparently claiming the right for Germany to change these = rules at=20 will and without the consent of any other power involved.

Morgenthau sailed Sunday, the sixth, from Copenhagen. The newspapers = to-day=20 and last night print articles to the effect that the negotiations are = taking a=20 more favourable course.

February, 1916. I dined last night at von = Jagow's. He=20 said I would get a note to-day which would accept all Bernstorff's = propositions=20 except, as he put it, one word, viz.: Germany will acknowledge liability = for the=20 loss of American lives by the sinking of the Lusitania, but will = not=20 acknowledge that the act of sinking was illegal. He said that = international law=20 had to be changed, that the submarine was a new weapon, and that, = anyway, if a=20 break came with America, that they had a lot of new submarines here and = would=20 make an effective submarine blockade of England. To-day a cipher from = the German=20 Foreign Office came in to be forwarded to the State Department for = Bernstorff,=20 so I suppose this is what he referred to. Probably the Germans are in = earnest on=20 this proposition. It[88] is now squarely up to the American people = to=20 decide.

Of course, I am very much disturbed at the turn of affairs, but I am = doing=20 nothing except repeating to Lansing what is said to me, and trying to = convince=20 the Germans that we are in earnest.

I was very glad to see Colonel House in Berlin, = for many=20 reasons, and, especially, that the President may get his view of the = situation=20 here. He had long talks with the Chancellor, von Jagow, and Zimmermann, = and also=20 met Dr. Solf, the Colonial Minister; von Gwinner, head of the Deutsche = Bank;=20 Gutmann, of the Dresdner Bank; and Dr. Rathenau, head of the Allegemeine = Electricit=E4ts Gesellschaft and many corporations, who is now engaged = with the=20 General Staff in providing raw materials for Germany.

I think the Germans are getting short of copper and nickel, = especially the=20 latter. Copper lightning rods of churches have been taken and an effort = was made=20 to take the brass reading desk in the American Church and the fittings = in the=20 Japanese Embassy.

I think from underground rumours that the Germans and the = propagandists will=20 endeavour to embroil us with Japan.

Baroness von Schroeder, a von Tirpitz spy, stated the other day that = Japan=20 would send a note to the United States of America making demands on the=20 U. S. in regard to the Japanese immigration question.

There was a well-defined report that Germany[89] would issue a manifesto stating that = enemy merchant=20 ships would be fired on without notice and this because of orders = alleged to=20 have been found on British ships ordering merchant ships to fire on = submarines=20 at sight.

The Chancellor told me he was ready for peace but that all his = emissaries had=20 met with a cold reception in the Allied countries of France, England and = Russia.

A fight against the Chancellor has been started in = the home=20 of the Junkers=97the Prussian Chamber. The powerful liberal papers are = jumping=20 hard on the disturbers and the Chancellor hit back quite hard. These = Junkers are=20 demanding unlimited submarine war and are stirred up by von Tirpitz. It = is one=20 of their last kicks as soon a real suffrage will have to be introduced = in=20 Prussia. The Chancellor foreshadowed this in opening this Prussian = Chamber;=20 hence the tears!

The visit of Colonel House here was undoubtedly, from this end, a = success;=20 and I am glad that he can give the President a fresh and impartial = view.

March first we go on a milk and butter card = regime. I have=20 put the Polish question (food) up to Zimmermann, and asked informally = whether=20 proper guarantees against the direct or indirect taking of food and = money from=20 Poland will be stopped, if relief is sent; no answer yet.

In spite of what I was told by certain exalted = personages=20 last autumn, I think that if the war[90] continues much longer the President will = be=20 welcomed as a mediator. In fact, there are a number of cartoons and = articles=20 appearing in the newspapers which, in tone, are against the President = because he=20 does not insist on peace.

I think that we may soon look for a very strong German attack on the = West=20 Front, an endeavour to break through before the time when the French and = English=20 are contemplating their offensive, which is probably some time in = March.

At or about the same time there will probably be great Zeppelin = attacks on=20 London and on other English centres. It is reported that in their next = offensive=20 the Germans will use a more deadly form of poison gas.

I had the grippe, went to Partenkirchen for a few = days, but=20 the first night in country air since July, 1914, was too much for me and = filled=20 me with such energy that I tried skiing, fell down and broke my = collar-bone,=20 came to Berlin and can sit at my desk, but am very uncomfortable.

I think Germany was about to offer to sink no merchant ships without = notice=20 and putting crews, etc., in safety, if England would disarm merchant = ships, but=20 now, since the President's letter to Stone, both the Chancellor and von = Jagow=20 say they are convinced that America has a secret understanding with = England and=20 that nothing can be arranged.

Captain Persius points out in to-day's Tageblatt that it is = not=20 submarines alone that are now, without[91] notice, going to sink armed merchant = ships, but=20 cruisers, etc., will take a hand.

It is reported that the Kaiser went to Wilhelmshafen to warn = submarine=20 commanders to be careful and that submarines will hunt in pairs, one = standing=20 ready to torpedo while the other warns. The German losses at Verdun are = small as=20 artillery fire annihilated enemy first. I think an attack will be made = now in=20 another part of the front.

Germany has forbidden the import of many articles of luxury; = this is=20 to keep exchange more normal and keep gold in the country. This probably = will=20 continue after the war.

Some newspaper men just in from Verdun report the = Germans=20 saving men=97losses small=97going at it with artillery, probably over = 1,000 guns,=20 and making a slow and almost irresistible push. Some military attach=E9s = think=20 there may be a strong attack somewhere else on the front.

I think the food question here is getting very serious, but before = they are=20 starved out they will starve six million Belgians, eleven million = Russians and=20 Poles and two million prisoners; so that, after all, this starvation = business is=20 not practical.

There was a Grand Council of War last week at = Charleville to=20 determine whether von Tirpitz's proposition, to start an unlimited = submarine=20 blockade of England, should be started or not=97i.e., sink all[92] ships, = enemy and=20 neutral, at sight. Falkenhayn was for this, the Chancellor against, and = von=20 Tirpitz lost. The decision, of course, was made by the Emperor.

Great advertising efforts are being made on the question of the = Fourth War=20 Loan. It will, of course, be announced as successful.

There are undoubtedly two submarine parties in Germany and there may = be an=20 unlimited blockade of England.

I think Germany, as at present advised, is willing, if merchant ships = are=20 disarmed, to agree to sink no boats whatever without warning and without = putting=20 passengers and crew in safety. The Admiralty approves of this.

One of the American correspondents publishes an article in the = Lokal=20 Anzeiger on America, in which he makes some statements no loyal = American=20 should make just now.

The "illness" of von Tirpitz is announced. I think = it means=20 his resignation, and have just cabled, although it is possible that his=20 resignation may never be publicly announced. For one thing, the Kaiser = and army=20 people began to think it was a bad innovation to have any officer or = official=20 appealing to cheap newspapers and the "man in the street" in a conflict = with=20 superior authority.

I heard that at Charleville conference both the Chancellor and von = Jagow said=20 they would resign if von Tirpitz's policy of unlimited submarine war on = England=20 was adopted.[93]

The food question is becoming really acute=97the = village=20 people are about starving in some sections and are not as well off as = the people=20 in the big towns; it is the policy to keep the people in the cities as = content=20 as possible in order to prevent riots, demonstrations, etc.

Some Germans have asked me if the sending of a = German=20 "Colonel House" to America would be agreeable to the President. Probably = the=20 Envoy would be Solf, and he could talk informally to the President and = prominent=20 people. If sent he would require a safe conduct from England and = France.

I hear the submarines now are mostly engaged in mine laying, at the = mouth of=20 the Thames.

Events are beginning to march. At first von = Tirpitz's=20 "illness" was announced, then came his resignation. Yesterday was his = birthday=20 and a demonstration was expected; there were many police out, but I = could see no=20 demonstrators. The row may come in the Reichstag.

There are two sources of danger; first, a failure at Verdun and the = new food=20 regulations may make people ready to accept Tirpitz's guarantee that if = he is=20 allowed his way the war can be won and ended. He has a large following = already=20 who favour this plan; second, there are some Reichstag members and = others who=20 think the Tirpitz people can never be reconciled unless there is a new=20 Chancellor.[94]

The Chancellor sent for me Friday. I think the Chancellor wants to = keep peace=20 with America and also wishes to make a general peace. He talked, or = rather I=20 talked, a little about terms. He still wants to hang on to Belgium, but = I think=20 will give most of it up; but is fixed for an indemnity from France. The = loss of=20 life here is affecting every one, the Chancellor is a very good man, and = I think=20 honestly desires an honourable peace.

Potatoes are restricted from to-day, 10 pounds per = head in=20 12 days, not much, bacon and lard practically not to be had, butter only = in=20 small quantities and meat out of reach of the poor.

I told the Chancellor I thought a great source of = danger to=20 the good relations of Germany and U. S. A. was in Mexico, that = if we=20 had trouble there, had to raise a large army and rouse the military = spirit at=20 home, the President might find it hard to hold the people. This struck = him as a=20 new view, as most Germans think that Mexican troubles are to their = advantage,=20 and I am sure Villa's attacks are "made in Germany."

I shall not come home; both the Chancellor and von Jagow have begged = me not=20 to go.

I sent a cable about the possible stirring up of = our=20 coloured people by propagandists. I notice that there are great fires in = many=20 cities of the South.

It is reported that Prussian State Railways were given the banks as=20 additional security for the last[95] loan, but I do not see how this could be, = as the=20 railways are Prussian and the Loan Imperial.

Several South American diplomats here think that in case of war = between=20 U. S. and Germany public opinion in their countries will demand the = seizure=20 of the German ships and possible war.

April, 1916. I am just off to the Reichstag = where the=20 Chancellor is to speak. I have no news here and none from America, but = it seems=20 to me five boats sunk almost at once will rather strain things at home. = Here=20 they do not want war with America. Perhaps von Tirpitz before leaving = gave these=20 submarine commanders these orders to sink at sight.

I think the Germans will eventually encircle and take Verdun, mostly = now for=20 moral effect.

Von Jagow will shortly give Conger (Associated Press) an = interview=20 disclaiming any intention on Germany's part of attacking America after = the war.=20 "A guilty conscience, etc.," and "Qui s'excuse, s'accuse."

Every night fifty million Germans cry themselves to sleep because all = Mexico=20 has not risen against us.

Part of Germany goes soon on meat ration. The food question is = becoming=20 acute, but they will last through here.

I think that the Germans would now, in spite of = previous=20 statements by a high authority, welcome the intervention of the = President=20 looking toward peace. Colonel House is so relied on here that he[96] would be = doubly welcome=20 as the bird with the olive branch.

It looks more and more as if the issue of the campaign would be peace = or war!=20 On this issue the Germans at the last moment will have to side with the=20 President.

The recent sessions of the Reichstag have been lively. Liebknecht = caused a=20 row on several occasions. Once by interrupting the Chancellor to imply = that the=20 Germans were not free, next to deny that the Germans had not = wished the=20 war, and another time by calling attention to the attempts of the = Germans to=20 induce Mohammedan and Irish prisoners of war to desert to the German = arms, the=20 Irish being attacked through Sir Roger Casement. Liebknecht finally = enraged the=20 Government by calling out that the loan subscription was a swindle.

The German-American spies and traitors are hard at work at 48 = Potsdammer=20 Strasse and also at the Oversea News Service, a concern paid for by = Krupps. Mr.=20 =97=97, in addition, gains money by getting permits for goods to go out = of Germany,=20 capitalising his "pull" as it were. Some of the money for their dirty = work is=20 given them by Roselius of Bremen, proprietor of the "Caffee Hag." = =97=97, a traitor,=20 who also writes against the President, also works with the gang.

This cry in America that German babies have not = sufficient=20 milk is all rot. One of our doctors has reported on the subject. The cry = is only=20 raised to get a hole in the British blockade.[97]

The Germans are going at Verdun carefully, and an imitation of each = French=20 position or trench they wish to take=97planned from airmen's and spies' = reports=97is=20 constructed behind the German lines and the German soldiers practise = taking it=20 until they are judged letter perfect and are put to work to capture the=20 original.

It is said the Germans have developed a submarine periscope so small = as to be=20 almost invisible, which works up and down so that only at intervals, for = a=20 second or so, does it appear above the water. Also, it is said the = wireless=20 vibrations by means of copper plates at each end are transmitted through = the=20 boat, and every member of the crew learns the wireless code, and no = matter where=20 working can catch the vibrations.

Note about the Sussex and other four ships just in. I think = Germany is=20 now determined to keep peace with America as the plain people are = convinced that=20 otherwise the war will be lengthened=97a contingency abhorrent to = all.

May, 1916. I delivered the last American = note to von=20 Jagow to-day. He said they probably would not answer, and then engaged = me in=20 gossipy conversation.

The Pope, they think, will want brokerage=97a "Makler Lohn"=97as they = call=20 it=97concessions for the church, such as the return of the Jesuits, = etc.

If they get good and sick of war here, perhaps[98] they may not feel like = revenge after=20 all=97but there is an ever-present danger we must prepare for.

The fact that I was given detailed instructions as = to=20 leaving, etc.=97which they undoubtedly learned, with their wonderful spy = system=97helped the Sussex settlement.

The Chancellor and I became great friends as a result of my stay at = the=20 Hauptquartier. The League of Truth gang attacked me lately. The = Government=20 published a certificate in the Official Gazette to the effect = that I was=20 their fair-haired boy, etc.=97very nice of them. I really think they = recognise=20 that the propaganda was an awful failure and want to inaugurate the era = of good=20 feeling.

I did not go to the front at the Hauptquartier as reported. I had = enough to=20 do in Charleville, but did witness the splendid relief work being done = by the=20 Americans who are feeding 2,200,000 of the population of Northern = France. Twenty=20 thousand of the inhabitants of Lille, Roubaix-Tourcoing, are being sent = under=20 circumstances of great barbarity to work in the fields in small = villages. I=20 spoke to the Chancellor and he promised to remedy this.

Germans say they will take Verdun. A military treaty with Sweden is = reported;=20 a large Swedish Military Commission is now here, receiving much = attention.

While at Charleville, in connection with American work, I asked, at = one=20 village, to see the German Army stores so as to convince myself that the = German=20 Army was not using the stores from America.[99] I saw that one-half the stores came from=20 Holland.

I think the psychological moment is approaching = when Colonel=20 House should appear as the President's White Emissary of Peace.

While the food question here is pressing, the harvest will be good, = if=20 present indications continue. Rye is the principal crop and this is = harvested=20 about July 12th. I think, however, Germany can last, and in very = desperation may=20 try a great offensive which may break the French lines and change the = whole=20 position. The people here, although tired of war, are well disciplined = and will=20 see this thing through without revolution.

We are rather in calm after the last crisis. The Chancellor sent for = me and=20 said he hoped we would do something to England or propose a general = peace,=20 otherwise his position here will become, he thinks, rather hard. = Delbr=FCck,=20 vice-chancellor, very hostile to America, is out=97failure as Minister = of Interior=20 to organise food supply is the real reason.

Yesterday I had a talk with the Chancellor. The = occasion was=20 the Polish Relief question which I shall now take up direct with = Helfferich,=20 who, as I predicted, is the new Minister of the Interior and = Vice-Chancellor. He=20 is a very business-like man and did much for the favourable settlement = of our=20 last crisis.

The Chancellor seemed rather downcast yesterday, without apparent = cause. He=20 says that Germany from now on will have two months of hardship[100] on the = food=20 question, but that after that things will be all right. The crops, as I = have=20 seen on my shooting place, are magnificent and the rye harvest will = probably=20 begin even before July 15th.

Mrs. Gerard has just returned from a week in Budapest with her = sister. The=20 Hungarians are once more gay and confident. The Italians, their = hereditary foes,=20 are being driven back, and on the Russian front there seems to be a sort = of=20 tacit truce=97no fighting and visiting in trenches, etc.=97terms of = great=20 friendliness.

(This was the beginning of the fraternisation which led, a year = later, to the=20 collapse of Russia.)

At the races here last Sunday there was an = absolutely record=20 crowd and more money bet than on any previous day in German racing = history. The=20 cheaper field and stands were so full of soldiers that the crowd seemed = grey,=20 which goes to show that the last man is not at the front.

State Socialism makes advances over here. A proposition is now = discussed to=20 compel the young men who are earning large wages to save a part = thereof.

On the Sussex question, I got a colleague to ask about the = punishment=20 of the Commander and to say at the Foreign Office, after he had once = been=20 refused any information, that I had heard that the people at large in = America=20 believed the Commander has received "Pour le M=E9rite." Von Jagow said = that he was=20 sure that this was not so, but that he did not know the name of the = Commander,=20 and[101] that it was=20 not "usual" to tell what punishment had been given. So that I suppose = the matter=20 will rest, unless I get orders to ask formally about the punishment.

The German military people and ruling Junker class are furious at the = settlement with America, and abuse America, the President and me=20 indiscriminately.

Anything the President says about peace is prominently placed in the=20 newspapers.

Yesterday in a debate in the Reichstag over the = censorship,=20 member Stresemann, National Liberal (the party which now holds the = balance of=20 power), violently abused President Wilson and said he was not wanted as = a=20 peace-maker. All applauded except the Socialists=97so I think the = President had=20 better say nothing more about peace for the present. What he has said = has done=20 much good and has pleased the Government here, if not the Reichstag. = Although=20 von Jagow is a Junker of Junkers, the Junkers are against him and claim = he is=20 too weak. He may be bounced.

Undoubtedly we shall have another crisis when the extremists here = demand a=20 "reckless" U-boat war because we are doing nothing to England.

I have heard reports that the Turks are tired of German rule and = almost ready=20 to flop.

I am to meet Prince Buelow, ex-Chancellor, to-morrow and may fish up=20 something interesting.[102]

The Kaiser has gone to the front, probably Russian. Next war loan = will be 12=20 milliards.

Helfferich lunched here last Sunday. He speaks English fairly well.=20 Zimmermann is laid up with the gout.

In the Reichstag debate yesterday, Stresemann, = applauded by=20 all except Socialists, said that Germany threw away Wilson as a = peace-maker.=20 However, the Government is pleased with President's peace talk, as it = keeps the=20 people from thinking of food and U-boat crises.

U-boat question will come up again, when Pan-Germanists and = Conservatives=20 demand a reckless U-boat war because we have done nothing against = England.

June, 1916. I am sorry to lose Ruddock, who = is sent=20 to Belgium, but it is a good appointment, as his knowledge of German and = relations here will help matters.

The debates in the Reichstag have been quite interesting yesterday = and the=20 day before. The Chancellor, irritated by the anonymous attacks on him in = pamphlets, etc., made a fine defence. In the course of the debate = allusions were=20 made to President Wilson and the U-boat question. The U-boat question = may break=20 loose again any day.

I do not think that either Austria or Germany wishes President Wilson = to lay=20 down any peace conditions. There may possibly be a Congress after[103] the = Peace Congress,=20 but meanwhile all parties here feel that America has nothing to do with = peace=20 conditions. America can bring the parties together, but that is all. The = speech=20 about the rights of small peoples has, I hear, made the Austrians = furious, as=20 Austria is made up of many nationalities and the Germans say that if the = rights=20 of small peoples and peoples choosing their own sovereignty is to be = discussed,=20 the Irish question, the Indian question and the Boer question, the = Egyptian=20 question and many others involving the Entente Allies must be discussed. = I think=20 that generally there is a big change in public opinion and the Germans = are=20 beginning to realise that the President is for peace with Germany.

The Germans expect that by September preparations will be finished = and that=20 the Suez Canal will be cannonaded, bombed and mined so that it will dry = up, and=20 then the Indian-Afghan troubles will begin.

June, 1916. The President's peace talks = carried over=20 the dangerous moment after the submarine submission. Von Jagow told me = that=20 because of debates in Reichstag the President must not think he is not = welcome=20 as mediator.

The break on Austro-Russian front is reported to have been caused by=20 wholesale desertions of Ruthenian troops to Russians.

The editor of the National Zeitung, responsible for the fake = interview=20 with me, has been "fired"[104] from that paper which has published a = notice to=20 that effect.

Grand Admiral von Koester made a speech implying = that=20 reckless submarine war should be taken up and England thus defeated. He = is=20 retired, but is head of the Navy League, a concern backed by the = Government,=20 possessing a million members and much political influence.

Apropos of hyphenated Americans, a friend tells me that when he was = secretary=20 here some years ago, a certain Congressman tried for six years to get = presented=20 at Court, insisting that he be presented as a "German-American." The = Kaiser=20 turned him down, saying he knew no such thing as a "German-American," = and the=20 Congressman finally consented to be presented as an American.

The U-boat question will come up again, say in = three months,=20 unless we get in serious trouble in Mexico, when it will come up = sooner.

Edwin Emerson has been sent out of the country, I think to serve in = the=20 Turkish Army in some capacity, perhaps paymaster or some such job.

The Foreign Office continues to protect these American = mud-slingers=97such as=20 the "League of Truth" which is run by a German named Marten, posing as = an=20 American and a dentist (American citizen) named Mueller=97these = circulate a=20 pamphlet entitled, "What Shall We Do With Wilson," etc., and are the = gang who=20 insulted the American flag by putting it wrapped in mourning on a wreath = on[105] the = statue of=20 Frederick the Great with a placard, "Wilson and his Press do not = represent=20 America."

COVER = OF THE=20 PAMPHLET FEROCIOUSLY ABUSIVE OF PRESIDENT WILSON. ISSUED BY THE = EX-TRAVEL=20 LECTURER, JOHN L. STODDARD

Letters, codes, etc., for Bernstorff and = individuals are=20 sent to America as follows: the letters are photographed on a reduced = scale so=20 that a letter a foot square appears as an inch and a half square. These = little=20 prints are put in the layers of a shoe heel of a travelling American or=20 elsewhere, book cover, hat band, etc., and then rephotographed and = enlarged in=20 America. Also messengers travel steerage and put things in the mattress = of a=20 fellow passenger and go back to the ship after landing in New York and = collect=20 the stuff.

A German friend, just returned from Austria, says the feeling there = against=20 America is very strong on account of the Dumba incident.

Yesterday I was told by a German that the German army had aeroplanes = which=20 develop 300 H. P., and would soon have some of 1000 H. P.

July, 1916. Every one in this Embassy is = getting to=20 the breaking point. Nerves do not last forever, and the strain of living = in a=20 hostile country is great. The Germans, too, are on edge. They are going = to take=20 away our privilege of speaking to prisoners alone; this because they = think I=20 learned of the shooting of the second Irishman at Limburg from = prisoners. As a=20 matter of fact I did not, but cannot, of course, say how I did = learn.

The Russian prisoners are being slowly starved, the French and = English get=20 packages from home.[106]

There are rumors that a Bavarian regiment which was ordered a second = time to=20 take a position, which the Prussians lost at Verdun, refused and was = ordered to=20 be decimated, and that then the Crown Prince of Bavaria threatened to = march all=20 the Bavarian troops home unless the order to decimate was rescinded. I = do not=20 believe the rumour, but its circulation and other events such as the = refusal of=20 the Bavarians lately to adopt a common postage stamp, shows there is a = little=20 irritation growing between Prussia and Bavaria. For years before the war = the=20 Bavarian Comic papers cartooned the Prussians, common and royal, but = like every=20 other movement nothing will result.

There is much underground work for the resumption = of=20 reckless submarine war going on, all part of a campaign to upset the = Chancellor.=20 Von B=FClow, Ex-Chancellor, is working hard. He, however, since his row = with the=20 Emperor over the "Telegraph" interview, which he passed as correct, will = never=20 be accepted by His Majesty. Nevertheless, he is becoming a focal point = for=20 opposition.

The Chancellor and his party are very timid about attacks. For = instance, they=20 will do nothing against Emerson, Mueller and that crew, which insults=20 indiscriminately our flag, our President, the Chancellor, Zimmermann and = me,=20 because, as Zimmermann frankly told me, they are afraid of attacks. = Mueller on=20 the 4th of July hung out the American flag in mourning and circulated = copies of=20 the Declaration of Independence charged with a[107] bloody hand and a black cross. I have = filed in=20 vain affidavits with the Foreign Office, by people who say he has = threatened to=20 shoot me at sight.

The Germans seem to fear the Russian attacks more = than the=20 English and French. They claim to have the measure of the English, and = not to=20 fear their offensive.

Dr. John R. Mott has been here. He made a great impression. I had him = at=20 lunch with the Chancellor, Zimmermann, and officials of the prisoner = department=20 and War Ministry.

I have heard rumours lately of actual dissatisfaction among soldiers = at front=20 and of many being transferred, but this unrest also will have no = definite=20 result.

Constant rain lately will damage the harvest and rot the potatoes to = some=20 extent. Nevertheless, as I have often said, the Germans will last. = Holland has=20 allowed more food in lately.

The long confinement will make many prisoners = insane. Many=20 old men at Ruhleben, living six in a horse's stall or in dim hay lofts, = simply=20 turn their faces to the wall and refuse even to complain.

The statement in the American papers that our National Guard could = not=20 mobilise for Mexico because of lack of sleeping cars caused much = ridicule here,=20 where they go to the front in cattle cars.[108]

July, 1916. A committee called the National = Committee=20 for an Honourable Peace has been formed. Prince Wedel is at the head. = Most of=20 the people are friends of the Chancellor. One is an editor of the = Frankfurter=20 Zeitung which is the Chancellor's organ. On August 1st, fifty = speakers, of=20 this Committee will begin to speak, probably the opposition will come = into their=20 meetings and try to speak or break up the meetings.

The Lokal Anzeiger, also a government organ, prints an = editorial to=20 the effect that Germany may take up ruthless submarine war again. Great = numbers=20 of U-boats are being built and in September operations will be on a big = scale,=20 though the Chancellor will try to keep them to cruiser warfare.

The prisoner question on all sides is growing acute. The Germans sent = me a=20 note to-day threatening stern reprisals if the alleged bad treatment of = their=20 prisoners in Russia does not stop.

We can no longer talk to prisoners alone. Von Jagow told me that = after the=20 visit of Madam Sasenoff, or Samsenoff, to a Russian prisoners' camp, = there was a=20 riot, but the real reason is that the Germans have much to conceal. The = prison=20 food now is a starvation ration.

The Alliance of the Six, really an organization = fostered by=20 big iron business in Westphalia, is very active for annexation. This = wants to=20 get the French iron mines and coal, and so control the iron business of = the=20 Continent and perhaps Europe.[109]

A man from Syria passed through here recently and gave me most = interesting=20 accounts of the state of affairs there. The Turks are oppressing the = Arabians=20 and the revolt of the Grand Sheriff of Mecca may have great effects in = this war.=20 This man says that the English are building two railroads from Suez into = the=20 desert and the Germo-Turks are building toward the canal from the North. = For the=20 Canal attack there are, at present, principally Austrian troops = assembled. The=20 Turks are beginning to take Greeks from the Coast cities into the = interior of=20 Asia Minor and are oppressing the Syrian Arabian cities, such as Beirut, = where=20 thousands are dying of starvation. At the Islahje-Aleppo R. R., 30 = Turkish=20 soldiers a day die from cholera. The Germans, by their precautions, = escape. He=20 passed 147 German auto trucks in the Cilician mountains bound for = Bagdad. Also=20 saw the British prisoners from Kut el Amara, who are dying of dysentery, = being=20 compelled to walk in the hot sun from Kut. He thinks the English and the = Grand=20 Sheriff will transfer the title of head of the religion from the Sultan = at=20 Constantinople to either the Sultan of Egypt or some new Sultan to be=20 established as an Arabian Sultan, perhaps at Bagdad if the Russians and = English=20 take it, or at Mecca, and he considers this movement of Arabians against = Turks=20 may assume great proportions.

There is still talk here of a resumption of = reckless=20 submarine war which question is complicated[110] and involved in the eternal efforts of = the=20 Conservatives to get the Chancellor out.

The recognition of the "merchant submarine" has made a very good = impression=20 here.

The plain people are eager for peace but those interested in carrying = on the=20 war have the upper hand.

A number of navy and (which is significant) army officers visited von = Tirpitz, lately in his Black Forest Retreat and gave him a = testimonial.

There is prospect that what is called here a "Burg Frieden" (Peace of = the=20 City) will be declared between the Chancellor and the principal = Conservative=20 newspapers.

One of the American correspondents back from Verdun says that a corps = commander said his corps took no prisoners.

I think many of the Hungarians are for peace. I get this from = Andrassy's=20 son-in-law who is also a member of the lower house. Tisza, however, is = still in=20 full control.

Prince Leopold's (he is a brother-in-law of the Kaiser) stags have = destroyed=20 vegetables of the plain people (as in the days of William Rufus) and = people dare=20 write letters, and Liberal papers dare publish them complaining of these = depredations.

CHAPTER VIII[111]

GERMANY'S EARLY PLOTS IN MEXICO

August, 1916. Count = Andrassy,=20 leader of the opposition to Tisza in Hungary, has been here for some = time. He=20 lunched with us one day and I had a talk with him in German. Andrassy is = rather=20 old and tired. Andrassy's father, the Prime Minister, was originally a = great=20 friend of Germany.

It is possible that Andrassy through German influence may be made = Minister of=20 Foreign Affairs instead of Burian. This is to be the first step in a = German coup=20 d'=E9tat to take place on the death of Francis Joseph=97the throne = successor to be=20 given Austria alone, and Prince Eitel Fritz, the Kaiser's favourite son, = to be=20 King of Hungary with possibly a Czech kingdom in Bohemia.

Andrassy had an audience with the Kaiser here. Andrassy is apparently = friendly with America and is also for peace.

Von Tirpitz is out with a statement practically demanding war with = America. I am surprised that the newspapers are allowed to publish = it. Very=20 likely it will not be permitted to go out but it ought to be known in=20 America.[112]

Germany probably will come out with a strong note about Poland, = refusing help=20 and saying harvest is sufficient. This is not true as to food for babies = who=20 cannot live on rye and wheat, but need condensed milk.

The treatment of prisoners is going from bad to worse. The Chancellor = and=20 Foreign Office can do nothing against the military party.

Hoover, Professor Kellog, and I are all very much discouraged about = Polish=20 and other relief questions. The Germans are getting more and more = disagreeable=20 about these matters, even though they are for the benefit of Germany. = Warwick=20 Greene, of the Rockefeller Foundation, being a new arrival is more = hopeful, but=20 that will soon wear off.

The Germans are getting a blacklist of their own. One Barthmann, an = American,=20 who sells American shoes in Germany, wanted to get his pass stamped to = go to=20 America, and permission to come back, and was told that would only be = done if=20 the Chamber of Commerce (Handels-Kammer) consents; you see the = connection=97no=20 American goods for Germany.

The Jews here are almost on the edge of being "pogrommed." There is a = great=20 prejudice against them, especially in naval and military circles, = because they=20 have been industrious and have made money. Officers openly talk of = repudiating=20 the War Loan which they say would only mean a loss for the Jews.[113]

The Germans say they have new and horrible inventions which will end = the war=20 soon.

I supposed that because I had some acquaintance = with German=20 watering places and German-Americans I knew a little about Germany. I = was wrong.=20 No casual traveller ever gets to know the military caste nor do the = members of=20 that caste travel except on "business."

The members of the military caste live like Spartans and are consoled = by the=20 fact that they rule the country and look down on the merchant class. = They feel=20 that they have created modern industrial Germany. The military caste (of = which=20 the naval and all government bureaus are branches) has organised the = nation for=20 war with the efficiency of the managers of a great American corporation. = The=20 government is an absolutism. No Jew can become an officer. Officers of = crack=20 regiments do not go to the homes of persons in any kind of business. A = business=20 man is called a "Kaufmann," as we speak of a house painter. Some tame = professors=20 are paid by the State to give an impression of "Kultur."

This war is now a war for conquest or money. All = people tell=20 me that we must have "pay for so much blood." "If we don't keep Belgium = there=20 will be a revolution. Who is to pay for the War?" A Socialist who = referred=20 yesterday in the Reichstag to the Kaiser's speech of the beginning of = the war=20 which stated this was not a war to get[114] territory, was well sat upon. Even the = Socialists=20 are all for war against Italy.

None of the German colonies is fit for Europeans. = Germany=20 last year proposed joint intervention in Mexico to England. If = successful=20 Germany will try to get a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe = Doctrine is like a red rag to a bull to every German.

Relations with members of the Government here are = quite=20 agreeable but there is not an effective government at present. The = Chancellor=20 will take no decisive action and leaves matters to department heads who = fight=20 with other department heads. The Emperor saw fit to follow the = traditions of=20 1870 and go to the field taking the Chancellor and heads of many = departments=20 with him, hence great governmental confusion, but this does not affect = military=20 organisation. He is bored by the Chancellor, a good man, but of no = action or=20 decision. Von Falkenhayn is the Emperor's favourite. He is the chief of = the=20 General Staff. Von Tirpitz and von Mueller (also naval) have great = weight. The=20 Kaiser is thus surrounded by military influences.

Saw summaries of the news published by the General = Staff and=20 given to the Emperor to read. He gets only German-American news from = America and=20 no bad news from anywhere. On the Lusitania case there is a = disposition=20 to think, because we were not warlike over Mexico, we will stand[115] = anything. The=20 Kaiser will not see me because of the delivery of arms by Americans to = the=20 Allies and has so stated.

There is no shortage of food supply. I was told yesterday they did = not need=20 our Polish Relief Committee for German Poland as Germany can take care = of this=20 alone. The hate of Americans is intense. But this hate can be turned off = and on=20 by the Government. The people believe everything they see in the papers. = The=20 monetary situation is not bad. All the money for war supplies has been = spent in=20 Germany, except perhaps for a few horses, etc., from Scandinavia.

The Chancellor and von Jagow have been in Vienna. = Von Jagow=20 told me only on current business, but this was a diplomatic statement. I = believe=20 they went to settle the fate of Poland. I hear Prussia wants an = independent=20 Poland and Austria wants to make it part of the Austrian Empire. In any = event I=20 think Prussia will secure the organising of the army which will soon be = raised.=20 A prominent Pole told me two days ago that the peasants were coddled by = Russia,=20 whose motto in Poland was "divide et impera," and that they will = violently=20 resent being drafted into the Prussian army.

The bitter attacks on the Chancellor continue. At = a recent=20 meeting in Bavaria resolutions were passed that the first objective of = the war=20 was to get rid of the Chancellor and the second to "clean[116] out the Anglophile = Foreign Office,"=20 which prevented Germany from resorting to "reckless" methods for the = swift=20 winning of the war.

As a son-in-law of a high official told me to-day, the break between = the=20 military and navy on one side and the Civil Government on the other has = widened=20 almost into civil war. The same man told me that the Kaiser has lately = become=20 quite apathetic and lets events take their course.

One of my attach=E9s has broken down completely, = cries when=20 spoken to; living in a fiercely hostile atmosphere is not agreeable and = I wonder=20 how long the rest of us can hold out.

The harvest is very good, but does not provide fat, and as yet, meat. = But the=20 starving out business I have always said was an "iridescent" dream.

Every one here is getting more on razor edge, prisoners are treated = more=20 roughly and get worse food. Bavaria is getting restless and = dissatisfied, this=20 will not amount to anything definite but is a sign of the times.

I went to Herringsdorff for a few days of swimming. At a concert in = the=20 evening a man recited a poem he said he had written about "having bled = enough."=20 He was vehemently applauded. Quite a contrast to the days when the best = actors=20 in Germany were not ashamed to spout the "HYMN OF HATE"!

The military people use the censorship even[117] against papers friendly to the = Chancellor and=20 Germans certainly can hate each other as thoroughly and scientifically = as they=20 do most other nations. Dr. Alonzo Taylor thinks that in peace times some = one fed=20 this nation too much meat.

Professor =97=97, a school friend of Tisza's and = Burian's who=20 was recently in Austria, saw Burian and says Burian is ready and even = anxious to=20 make an arbitration treaty with America and also send an Ambassador in = Dumba's=20 place to Washington. This is out of my jurisdiction. He says that = to-morrow or=20 next day there will be an interpellation in the Hungarian Chamber about = sending=20 an Ambassador to America.

The National Liberals probably will unite with the Conservatives and = demand a=20 strong hold on Belgium, if not actual possession of that country, as one = of the=20 objects of the war.

This Union of National Liberals and Conservatives is dangerous and = may mean a=20 resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare.

The entry of Roumania took every one by surprise. = Beldiman,=20 the Roumanian Minister here, was visiting the reigning Prince of = Hohenzollern=20 Sigmaringen, brother of the Roumanian King, and apparently knew nothing = of the=20 danger of a break.

To-day Hindenburg is named Chief of the General Staff, and his Chief = of=20 Staff, Ludendorff, is[118] made Quartermaster General, Falkenhayn, = former=20 Chief of Staff is bounced without even the excuse of a diplomatic = illness. This=20 is all a great concession to popular opinion. I do not know where = Hindenburg=20 stands with reference to America, but have heard that he is a reasonable = man. Of=20 course, here the Army has as much to say in foreign affairs as the = Foreign=20 Office, if not more. When I was at the Great General Headquarters, = Falkenhayn,=20 although I knew him, did not call on me, and dodged me. He did not even = appear=20 at the Kaiser's table when I lunched there. From all this I judge he was = against=20 America on the submarine question. I also have heard that when = Helfferich was=20 talking before the Kaiser, in favour of peace with America, Falkenhayn=20 interrupted him, but was told by the Kaiser to "stick to his last" or = words to=20 that effect.

These people here are now nervous and unstrung and actually believe = that=20 America will now enter the war against them. It is impossible to = conceive of the=20 general breakdown of nerves among this people.

Zimmermann has now gone on a vacation, his place = being=20 temporarily filled by von Treutler, Prussian Minister to Bavaria, who = since the=20 commencement of the war has been with the Kaiser. I judge this means the = Kaiser=20 is looking personally[119] into matters at the Foreign Office. Von = Treutler=20 is, I think, against the resumption of reckless submarine war. He is = lunching=20 with me to-day. He is rather the type of intelligent-man-of-the-world = and=20 sportsman, and has little of the Prussian desire to "imponieren" by = putting his=20 voice two octaves lower and glaring at one like an enraged bullfrog.

Dr. William Bayard Hale, of Mexican fame, who is in Berlin = representing the=20 Hearst papers, has become very thick with officials here. Von Jagow and=20 Zimmermann are much impressed by him.

The Germans may hate the President, but there are = in America=20 hundreds of thousands of Czechs from Bohemia, Poles from Poland, = Slovaks,=20 Ruthenians, Croatians and Slavs from Hungary, Roumanians, Italians, = Greeks,=20 Russians, Scotch, Belgians, and French who HATE the = Germans.

I believe the Germans want an excuse to resume = reckless=20 submarine war and an American correspondent has taken the job of making = bad=20 feeling to justify such a course.

September, 1916. As these people get = desperate the=20 submarine question gets deeper and deeper under their skin. I really = think that=20 it is only a question of time.

Of course, from what I learn here Greece is sure to come in and this = is=20 expected here.

As the Consul General at Hamburg has reported,[120] serious riots have = occurred there,=20 two by the poor classes, mostly women, and one by students. The crowd = shouted=20 "Down with the Kaiser," called for an end of the war, calling for = unlimited=20 submarine war against England.

Ira Nelson Morris, American Minister to Sweden, = was here. He=20 and his wife are charming people. He is very popular in Sweden. Elkus is = also=20 here on his way to Constantinople. If any one can "get away" with that = difficult=20 post he can. I took Elkus to see von Jagow and had him at lunch with von = Treutler, the man in Zimmermann's place. I talked with Elkus to von = Jagow about=20 Syrian Relief. A Syrian, whose name I cannot give away, says the Turkish = Government reported to our Embassy in Turkey that the harvest in Syria = was the=20 best in years, whereas, in truth this year's harvest, on account of = drought and=20 last year's on account of locusts, are the worst in 35 years. = Missionaries have=20 told me that Syrians are starving.

A fact for the Russian born=97Germany does not = recognise the=20 American citizenship or naturalisation of a person born in Russia.

Yesterday there was a conference of all party = leaders at the=20 Chancellor's. I understand nothing was said about America or submarine = question.=20 I doubt this. The Press here and certain other agencies[121] are trying to convince = America that=20 all is peaceful, but Baron Mumm two days ago told Elkus, in this house, = that the=20 ruthless submarine war undoubtedly would be resumed.

In general conversation with von Jagow, recently, = he said=20 that the offensive on the Somme could not continue without the great = supply of=20 shells from America. He also said that recently a German submarine = submerged in=20 the Channel had to allow 41 ships to pass, and that he was sure that = each ship=20 was full of ammunition and soldiers but probably had some protecting = American=20 angels on board, and, therefore, the submarine did not torpedo without = warning.=20 He seemed quite bitter.

The wife of an American newspaper correspondent = was recently=20 attacked in the street. Of course, the husband will not cable this to = America.=20 Two stenographers from this Embassy were recently slapped on coming out = of a=20 theatre because they were speaking English.

Reventlow's paper was recently suppressed and = Reventlow=20 forbidden to write without special permission. This is a good sign from = the=20 Chancellor.

Dr. Hale was recently given a special trip to the West front, and = allowed to=20 talk to the Crown Prince, etc.

December, 1916. The Germans are simply = delighted with=20 the President's peace note. Only a few cranks or conservative papers are = against=20 it.[122]

I saw Zimmermann the day after my arrival. He was most friendly and = said he=20 hoped he and I would be able, as usual, to settle everything in a = friendly=20 manner.

Yesterday he lunched here and gave me the German reply after lunch. = He told=20 me at the first talk that he, the Chancellor, Hindenburg and Ludendorff = were all=20 working together. Most people here say that Hindenburg and Ludendorff = are at=20 present the real rulers of Germany. Zimmermann remarked that there was = no danger=20 from "reckless" submarine war.

Zimmermann said he regretted the sending of the Belgians to Germany = but it=20 was hard now to go back on what they had done. I have some hope that a = retreat=20 may be arranged=97possibly by sending the Belgians back gradually and = saying=20 nothing about it.

The American Chamber of Commerce are to give a big = dinner=20 January sixth to welcome me back. Zimmermann and von Gwinner, head of = Deutsche=20 Bank, have agreed to speak and many prominent Germans have accepted.

The Press department of the Foreign Office has been reorganised by=20 Zimmermann, and Hammann, the former head, fired. The new head is Major=20 Deutelmoser, formerly of the General Staff, a personal friend of = mine.

The Emperor is at Potsdam and consulted with = Zimmermann,=20 General von Kessel, etc., as to the reply to the President's peace = note.[123]

Berlin is much more melancholy than when I left. General von Kessel = came to=20 our American Colony Christmas tree for poor Berlin children. It was very = pathetic. One little kid got up and prayed for peace and every one wept. = I hope=20 to get to see Ludendorff and Hindenburg soon and see how they feel = toward=20 America.

I went to Ruhleben, the British civilian camp, = yesterday to=20 tell the prisoners that all over 45 go home. It was quite a Christmas = gift as=20 700 there are over that age. (Note: don't think this agreement of = Germany and=20 England ever went into effect!)

January, 1917. Germany wants a peace = conference in=20 order to make a separate peace on good terms to them with France and = Russia,=20 then hopes to finish England by submarines, then later take the scalp of = Japan,=20 Russia and France separately. The Allies ought to remember what Ben = Franklin=20 said about hanging together or separately. I get the above scheme from = very good=20 authority.

The weather is most depressing; dark, and rain = every day.=20 All hands seem cross. Zimmermann, I think, finds it much more difficult = to be=20 the responsible first than the criticising second. It is not as easy as = it=20 looked to him.

The Kaiser stated the other day that he did not expect peace now, = that the=20 English would try a great offensive in the spring and would fail.[124]

Herbert Hoover writes me that the Germans are violating all their = pledges=20 in Belgium. He expects a year of great difficulties. I hear this = confirmed=20 on best authority and that even the German official who is supposed to = see that=20 food is not sent from Belgium to Germany in violation of Germany's = pledges sends=20 out butter to his family; that there is an absolute reign of terror in = Belgium,=20 sudden and arbitrary arrests, etc. I think the Germans want to see all = foreign=20 diplomats out of Bucharest and Brussels and the charges against Voypicka = should=20 be considered in that light.

The greatest danger from submarine war is that = unthinking=20 persons in the U. S. may start a crusade against the President's = policy,=20 encourage the Germans in the belief that we are divided and lead them to = resume=20 reckless acts in that belief. The continuance of a strong front is the = very best=20 way to keep the peace.

Both Zimmermann and the Chancellor asked me about Bernstorff, and = returning=20 good for evil, I said that he was O. K., on very good terms with = the=20 Government, well liked (sic) and that no one could do better!

A friend just returned from a week's visit in Hungary reports a great = desire=20 for peace. Persons who, a year ago, said that the President could have = nothing=20 to do with peace or negotiations, now say he is the only possible = mediator. This=20 comes from high government circles there.

The historic crown of St. Stephen was much too[125] large for the King, but = the little=20 crown prince made a great hit with the populace.

An Armenian woman came through here the other day. = Her=20 husband had been captured or killed and her tale of the treatment of the = Armenians by the Turks was heartrending.

Everything points to a coming crisis in the matter = of food,=20 how serious it will be even the officials themselves do not know, as = there is=20 much concealed food and much smuggling over the various frontiers.

In some parts of Germany, the country police or gendarmes are = searching the=20 farm houses thrice weekly.

I have secured permission to visit and inspect the enslaved Belgians, = have=20 named as inspectors all members of our staff speaking French, but as yet = have=20 not received passes.

"The hypocrisy of the German Government is really disgusting! It is a = well-known matter of fact, that by hints and approbation, nay even by = express=20 orders of the German military authorities the troops in France and = Belgium have=20 been stimulated to give no quarter at all in the case of British = adversaries,=20 and that in Russia even whole regiments and brigades have been = annihilated by=20 grapeshot, although the poor wretches delivered themselves on[126] mercy = and raised=20 their hands, to prove their submission. Both the Prussian and the = Bavarian=20 crown-prince have expressly ordered to make no prisoners, to spare = ammunition=20 and to despatch the surviving by steel and bayonet. Has the order been=20 forgotten, issued by the Kaiser in the beginning of the German = China-Expedition,=20 to deal with the Chinese like the Huns, to destroy and annihilate every = human=20 creature both men and women and even innocent children!

Quis Aulerit Gracchos de seditione quaerentes?
Unus pro multis.

P. S.

The war would be decided and peace restored as soon as the = U. S. A.=20 Government would intervene in favour of humanity, liberty and = civilisation. Down=20 with the Prussian Tyranny!"

The Germans will do nothing about Belgium. The = deportations=20 were a military measure, demanded by Ludendorff, who constantly fears a = British=20 landing on the Belgian coast.

A man who called on von Tirpitz recently was told = by von=20 Tirpitz that he, von Tirpitz, was watched like a spy and all his letters = opened.=20 Von Tirpitz said that Hindenburg was the real ruler of Germany, that = anything=20 Bethmann said was censored by Hindenburg and that Hindenburg was now = against=20 reckless submarine war but that any substantial defeats in the field = would make=20 him change his mind. Von Tirpitz said that the Kaiser was losing his = mind and=20 spent all his time praying, and learning Hebrew.

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN COURTYARD OF EMBASSY, = AUGUST,=20 1916

Left to right=97Lanier Winslow; Albert B. = Ruddock;=20 Percival Dodge; Grafton Minot; von Gwinner, head of the great Deutsche = Bank;=20 Surgeon Ohnesorg, U. S. N.; Ernest Bicknell of Red Cross; = Ambassador=20 Gerard; Mr. Wilmeth of Treas. Dept.; Assistant Secretary of War = Breckenridge;=20 Roland Harvey; Charles Russell; Hugo Ballin, head of Hamburg-American = Line;=20 Major Ryan and First Secretary Grew.]

The food situation grows worse. Potato cards must = now[127] be = presented in=20 restaurants and hotels. I doubt if potatoes can last beyond April. There = is food=20 in Roumania but much will go to the troops; Austrians and Turks: the = railways=20 are so used by troops, etc., that it is doubtful if any food from there = can=20 reach Germany for months.

All apartment houses in Berlin are closed at nine, = and=20 lights in halls extinguished. Theatres close at ten and movies also. = There is=20 want of coal due to lack of transportation.

The President's address to the Senate yesterday = (Jan. 22,=20 1917) is splendid. I don't know yet how it will be taken here. If it is=20 published it will give the German people something to consider.

Postcards showing Zeppelins in the act of = murdering the=20 sleeping babies of an enemy city are distributed here with pride.

All Germans of my acquaintance have impressed on me lately the = renewed danger=20 of submarine warfare. The American correspondents are not allowed to = send out=20 the hate of America speeches and articles. Cyril Brown of the = World says=20 that last week fifty per cent of the matter he sent was cut out by = censor=20 here.

The new U-boat campaign will go along the armed merchantman lines and = an=20 endeavour will be made to force or get us in some way to recognise that = an armed=20 merchantman is the same as a warship[128] and, therefore, may be fired on without = notice.=20 It is the old story, but more subtly presented.

Food situation more and more serious, riots lately = in two=20 markets in Berlin.

Undoubtedly Ludendorff is the real dictator of Germany to-day. What = he thinks=20 about America may be judged from the circumstances before Colonel Kuhn's = recall.

The nearer I get to the situation the more I = consider the=20 President's peace note an exceedingly wise move. It has made it very = difficult=20 for the terrorists here to start anything which will bring Germany into = conflict=20 with the U. S.

The Chancellor, Zimmermann, Stumm, have all ridiculed the idea = that=20 Germany will go back on her "Sussex" pledges; but if she does, then the = peace=20 note makes it easier for America to enter the war on the Allies' side = with a=20 clear conscience and the knowledge on the part of the people at home = that the=20 President did everything possible to keep us out of the mess.

CHAPTER IX[129]

THE KULTUR OF KAISERDOM=97THE GERMAN SOUL

The=20 older I grow the more it seems to me that all men are alike and that = they have=20 been alike at all periods of history, capable of the same development = and=20 differing only because of environment.

I do not believe, for example, that any mystery is concealed behind = the faces=20 of the peoples of the East. Once I asked Soughimoura, my colleague in = Berlin,=20 Ambassador of Japan, whether the Japanese were as much subject to nerves = as=20 western peoples. He answered in the affirmative but said they were = taught from=20 infancy to control their nerves. I asked him how, and he said the = principle of=20 the system was deep abdominal breathing with a slow release of the = breath as=20 soon as nervousness came on. Japanese wrestlers practised this, he = added, and=20 when a man took deep breaths it was almost impossible to throw him.

Of course, social life and customs change with climate. But education = is the=20 most powerful factor of all. The Aztecs of Mexico offered human = sacrifices, but=20 the letter of the Aztec mother to her daughter, giving advice and = counsel,=20 mentioned by Prescott in his history, might have been written[130] by a = New England=20 mother to-day. Somewhere in the world is a savage eating human flesh, = persuaded=20 that in so doing he is acting in accordance with the tenets of his = religion.

But the German or rather the Prussian, has been moulded into the=20 extraordinary person that he is to-day by a slow process of education = extending=20 through several generations. At Marienburg, on the Baltic shore of = Germany,=20 stands the ancient castle of the Teutonic Knights recently restored by = the=20 German Kaiser. The Knights at one time conquered and occupied much of = the=20 territory that is now modern Prussia. A military religious order, they = attracted=20 adventurers from all lands and their descendants constitute many of the = noble=20 families of Prussia. It is this tradition of conquest for gain that = still=20 animates the ruling class of Prussia and therefore all Germany.

Later through the middle ages and as the central power of the Emperor = grew=20 weaker and weaker, what is to-day Germany became a nest of dukedoms and=20 principalities. Before the French Revolution these numbered hundreds. = After the=20 Thirty Years' War which ravaged Germany from 1615 to 1645 extreme = poverty was=20 often conspicuous at these petty courts. War was an industry and the = poor German=20 peasants were frequently bartered as slaves to the war-god, as the = Hessians were=20 sold by their ruler to the British in our War of the Revolution. The = Germans=20 were then the mercenaries of Europe, savages skilled in war, = without[131] mercy = towards the=20 towns unfortunate enough to be given to their pillage. There is no more = horrible=20 event in all history than that of the sack of Rome by the German = mercenaries in=20 the year 1527. Under General George von Frundsberg, who joined forces = with the=20 recreant constable Bourbon of France and the Spaniards, these lawless = Germans=20 invaded the fertile plains of Italy and took Rome by assault.

The most awful outrages were perpetrated. Prelates were tortured = after being=20 paraded through the streets of the Eternal City, dressed in their sacred = pontificals and mounted on donkeys. Altars were defiled, sacred images = broken,=20 vestments and services and works of art taken from the plundered = churches and=20 sacred relics insulted, broken and scattered. For nine months the orgy=20 continued, the inhabitants being tortured by these German soldiers in = their=20 effort to find hidden treasure. In fact conditions in Belgium to-day had = their=20 counterpart centuries ago in the treatment of Roman Catholic Priests and = the=20 people of Rome.

The great change in the feeling of the country towards Prussia since = the=20 latter's conquest of the rest of Germany in 1866, is still exemplified = by one=20 quotation from Goethe. He said, "The Prussian was born a brute and = civilisation=20 will make him ferocious." We all have seen how prophetic was this = sentence.=20 Skilled in chemistry, in science, well educated, made rich by = manufacturing and=20 foreign commerce, the Prussians of to-day have shown themselves far more = bloody,=20 far more cruel[132]=20 than the German lansquenet of the middle ages who sold himself, his two = handed=20 sword, his military experience and his long lance to the highest = bidder.

Tacitus tells of how the ancient Germans when drawn up in battle = array used=20 to sing a sort of war song to terrify their enemies.

It was Goethe incidentally who remarked "Amerika, du hast es besser." = (America, you are better off.) The poet who died in 1832 foresaw, = indeed, the=20 coming power of the free democracy across the seas.

It was interesting to note the psychological development of the = Germans=20 during the war. For the very short time while war hung in the balance = there was=20 a period almost of rejoicing, among the singing crowds in the = streets=97a=20 universal release of tension after forty years' preparation for war.

Next came the busy period of mobilisation and then, as the German = armies=20 swept through Belgium and France, stronghold and fortress falling before = them,=20 there came a period of intense exaltation, a period when the most = reasonable=20 Germans, the light of success and conquest in their eyes, declared = German Kultur=20 would now be imposed on the whole world.

The battle of the Marne ended this period of rejoicing and, through = the=20 winter of 1914-1915, when it became apparent that Germany would not win = by a=20 sudden assault, the temper of the people began to change to an attitude = of=20 depression.

It has been at all times the policy of the German[133] autocracy to keep the = people of=20 Germany from amusing themselves. I know of no class in Germany which = really=20 enjoys life. The Counts and Junkers have their country estates. Life on = these=20 estates, which are administered solely for profit, is not like country = life in=20 England or America. The houses are plain and, for the most part, without = the=20 conveniences of bath rooms and heating to which we are accustomed in = America.=20 Very few automobiles are owned in Germany. There are practically no = small=20 country houses or bungalows, although at a few of the sea places rich = Jews have=20 villas.

The wealthy merchant takes his vacation in summer at Carlsbad or = Kissingen or=20 in some other resort where his physical constitution, disorganised by=20 over-eating and over-drinking, can be regulated somewhat. Many Germans = take=20 their families to Switzerland where the German of all ages with knapsack = and=20 Alpine stick is a familiar sight.

Earnestness is the watchword. For should the people once get a taste = of=20 pleasure they might decide that the earth offered fairer possibilities = than life=20 in the barracks or the admiring contemplation of fat and complacent = grand dukes=20 and princes.

Much of this sycophancy is due to the poverty of the educated = classes.=20 Salaries paid to officials are ridiculously small. The German workingmen = both in=20 wages and living are on a lower scale than those of other western = nations with=20 the possible exception of Russia, Italy and the Balkan States. The = professional=20 and business classes earn very[134] little. The reason for the superiority = of the=20 German in the chemical industry is because a chemist, a graduate of the=20 university, can be hired for less than the salary of an American = chauffeur.

And this earnestness of life was insisted upon even to a greater = degree by=20 the autocracy with the opening of war. The playing of dance music = brought a=20 visit from the police. The theatres at first were closed but later = opened. Only=20 plays of a serious or patriotic nature were originally permitted. = Dancing was=20 tabooed, but in the winter of 1915-16 Reinhardt was allowed to produce a = ballet=20 of a severely classical nature and at the opera performances the = ponderous=20 ballet girls were permitted to cavort as usual.

I saw no signs of any great religious revival, no greater attendance = at the=20 churches. Perhaps this was because I was in the Protestant part of = Germany where=20 the church is under the direct control of the government and where the = people=20 feel that in attending church they are only attending an extra drill, a = drill=20 where they will be told of the glories of the autocracy and the = necessity of=20 obedience. In fact, religion may be said to have failed in Germany and = many=20 state-paid preachers launched sermons of hate from their state-owned=20 pulpits.

Always fond of the drama and opera I was a constant attendant at = theatres in=20 Berlin. The best known manager in Berlin is Reinhardt, who has under his = control=20 the Deutsches Theatre with its annex, the Kammerspiel and also the = People's[135] = Theatre on the B=FClow=20 Platz. I made the acquaintance of Mr. Reinhardt and his charming wife = who takes=20 part in many of his productions. I dined with them in their picturesque = house on=20 the Kupfer Graben. In the Deutsches Theatre the great revolving stage = makes=20 change of scene easy so that Reinhardt is enabled to present = Shakespeare, a=20 great favourite in Germany, in a most picturesque manner. He manages to = lend=20 even to the most solemn tragedy little touches that add greatly to the = interest=20 and keep the attention fixed.

For instance in his production of "Macbeth," when Lady Macbeth comes = in, in=20 the sleep-walking scene, rubbing her hands and saying, "What, will these = hands=20 ne'er be clean?" the actress taking this part in Berlin gave a very = distinct and=20 loud snore between every three or four words: thus most effectively = reminding=20 the audience that she was asleep.

As the war continued the taste of the Germans turned to sombre, = tragical and=20 almost sinister plays. Only a death on the stage seemed to bring a ray = of=20 animation to the stolid bovine faces of the audience. In my last winter = in=20 Berlin the hit of the season was "Erdgeist," a play by Wedekind, whose = "Spring's=20 Awakening," given in New York in the spring of 1917, horrified and = disgusted the=20 most hardened Broadway theatregoers. The principal female r=F4le was = played by a=20 Servian actress, Maria Orska=97very much on the type of Nazimova. In = this play,=20 presented to crowded audiences, only one of the four acts was without a=20 death.

Another favourite during war-time, played at[136] Reinhardt's theatre, was = "Maria=20 Magdalena." The characters were the father, mother, son and daughter of = a German=20 family in a small town and two young men in love with the daughter. In = the first=20 act the police arrest the son for theft, giving the mother such a shock = that she=20 dies of apoplexy on the stage. In the second act, the two lovers have a = duel and=20 one is killed. In the third act, the surviving lover commits suicide, = and, in=20 the fourth act, the daughter jumps down the well. The curtain descends = leaving=20 only the old man and the cat alive and the impression is given that if = the=20 curtain were ten seconds later either the cat would get the old man or = the old=20 man would get the cat!

The mysterious play of Peer Gynt was given in two theatres during = each winter=20 of the war. All of Ibsen's dramas played to crowded houses. Reinhardt, = during=20 the last winter I was in Berlin, produced Strindberg's "Ghost Sonata," = in quite=20 a wonderful way. The play was horrible and grewsome enough, but as = produced by=20 him, it gave a strong man nightmare for days afterwards.

The German soul, indeed, seems to turn not towards light and gay and = graceful=20 things, but towards bloodshed and grewsomeness, ghosts and = mystery=97effect=20 doubtless of the long, dark, bitter nights and gray days that overshadow = these=20 northern lands.

I think the only time I lost my temper in Germany was when a = seemingly=20 reasonable and polite gentleman from the Foreign Office sitting by my = desk one=20 day, in 1916, remarked how splendid it[137] was that Germany had nearly two million = prisoners=20 of war and that these would go back to their homes imbued with an = intense=20 admiration of German Kultur.

I said that I believed that the two million prisoners of war who had = been=20 insulted and underfed and beaten and forced to work as slaves in = factories and=20 mines and on farms would go back to their homes with such a hatred of = all things=20 German that it would not be safe for Germans to travel in countries from = which=20 these prisoners came, that other nations had their own Kultur with which = they=20 were perfectly satisfied and which they did not wish to change for any=20 made-in-Germany brand!

Certain Germans have prated much of German "Kultur," have boasted of = imposing=20 this "Kultur" on the world by force of arms. What is this German = "Kultur"? A=20 certain efficiency of government obtained by keeping the majority of the = people=20 out of all voice in governmental affairs, a certain low cost of = manufactured=20 products or of carrying charges in the shipping trades made possible by=20 enslaving the workmen who toil long hours for small wages=97a certain = superiority=20 in chemical production because trained chemists, willing to work at one=20 semi-mechanical task, can be hired for less than a Fifth Avenue butler = is paid=20 in America, and a certain pre-eminence in military affairs reached by = subjecting=20 the mass of the people to the brutal, boorish, non-commissioned officers = and the=20 galling yoke of a militaristic system.

Subtract the German Jews and in the lines of real[138] culture there would be = little of the=20 real thing left in Germany. Gutmann, Bleichroeder, von Swabach,=20 Friedlander-Fuld, Rathenau, Simon, Warburg in finance; Borchardt and = others in=20 surgery, and almost the whole medical profession; the Meyers, the = Ehrlichs,=20 Bamberger, Hugo Schiff, Newburger, Bertheim, Paul Jacobson, in chemistry = and=20 research; Mendelssohn, and others, in music; Harden, Theodor Wolf, Georg = Bernhard and Professor Stein in journalism.

But why continue=97about the only men not Jews prominent in the = intellectual,=20 artistic, financial, or commercial life of Germany are the pastors of = the=20 Lutheran Churches. And the Jews have won their way to the front in = almost a=20 generation. Still refused commissions in the standing army (except for = about 114=20 since the war), still compelled to renounce their religion before being = eligible=20 for nobility or a court function, still practically excluded from = university=20 professorships, considered socially inferior, the Jews of Germany until = a few=20 years ago lived under disabilities that had survived from the Middle = Ages. They=20 were not allowed to bear Christian names. The marriages of Jews and = Christians=20 were forbidden. Jews could not own houses and lands. They were not = permitted to=20 engage in agriculture and could not become members of the guilds or = unions of=20 handicraftsmen. When a Jew travelled he was compelled to pay a tax in = each=20 province through which he passed. Jews attending the fair at Frankfort = on the=20 Oder were compelled to pay a head tax, and were admitted to Leipzig and=20 Dresden[139] on=20 condition that they might be expelled at any time. Berlin Jews were = compelled to=20 buy annually a certain quantity of porcelain, derisively called "Jew's=20 porcelain" from the Royal manufactory and to sell it abroad. When a Jew = married=20 he had to get permission and an annual impost was paid on each member of = the=20 family, while only one son could remain at home, and the others were = forced to=20 seek their fortune abroad. The Jews could worship in their own way, in = some=20 states, provided they used only two small rooms and made no noise.

The reproach that the Jew is not a producer, but is a mere middleman, = taking=20 a profit as goods pass from hand to hand, is handed down from the time = when Jews=20 were forbidden by law to become producers and, therefore, were compelled = to=20 become traders and middlemen, barred from the guilds and from engaging = in the=20 cultivation of the soil.

The German newspaper in size is much smaller than = ours. If=20 you take an ordinary American newspaper and fold it in half, the fold = appearing=20 horizontally across the middle of the page and then turn it so that the = longer=20 sides are upright, you get an idea of the size. There are no editorials = in=20 German newspapers, but articles, usually only one a day, on some = political or=20 scientific subject, one contributed by a professor or some one else = supposedly=20 not connected with the newspaper.

The editor of the German newspaper in his desire to poison and colour = the=20 news to suit his own views does not rely upon an editorial, but = inserts[140] little = paragraphs=20 and sentences in the news columns. For instance, a note of President = Wilson's=20 might be printed and after a paragraph of that, a statement something = like this=20 will be inserted in parentheses. "This statement comes well from the old = hyprocrite whose country has been supplying arms and ammunition to the = enemies=20 of Germany. The Editor." A few sentences more or a paragraph of the note = and=20 another interlineation of this kind. Small newspapers have a news = service=20 furnished free by the government, thus enabling the latter to colour the = news to=20 suit itself. It is characteristic of Germany and shows how void of = amusement the=20 life of an average citizen is and how the country is divided into = castes, that=20 there is no so-called society or personal news in the columns of the = daily=20 newspaper.

You never see in a German newspaper accounts common even to our small = town=20 newspapers, of how Mrs. Snooks gave a tea or how Mrs. Jones, of Toledo, = is=20 visiting Mrs. Judge Bascom for Thanksgiving. If a prince or duke comes = to a=20 German town a simple statement is printed that he is staying at such and = such a=20 hotel.

German newspapers, as a rule, are very pronounced in their views, = either=20 distinctly Conservative or Liberal or Socialist or Roman Catholic. The=20 Berliner Tageblatt is nearest our idea of a great independent,=20 metropolitan, daily newspaper. Other newspapers represent a class and = many of=20 them are owned by particular interests such as the[141] Krupps and other = manufacturers or=20 munition makers.

There is little that is sensational in the German newspaper. I = remember on=20 one occasion that two women murderers were beheaded in accordance with = German=20 law. Imagine how such an occurrence would have been "played up" in the = American=20 newspapers, with pictures, perhaps, of the executioner and his sword, = with=20 articles from poets and women's organisations, with appeals for pardon = and talk=20 of brainstorms and the other hysterical concomitants of murder trials in = the=20 United States. But in the German newspapers a little paragraph, not = exceeding=20 ten lines, simply related the fact that these two women, condemned for = murdering=20 such and such a person, had been executed in the strangely medieval = manner=97their=20 heads cut off on the scaffold by a public executioner.

The German newspapers in reporting police court and other judicial=20 proceedings often omit names and it is possible in Berlin for a man to = prosecute=20 a blackmailer without having his own name in print.

When a German victory was announced flags were displayed, but as the = war=20 progressed so many victories announced turned out to be nothing = wonderful or=20 decisive that little attention was paid to the vain-glorious flaunting = of German=20 triumphs. Following an old custom ten or fifteen trumpeters climbed the = tower of=20 Rathhaus or City Hall and there quite characteristically blew to the = four=20 quarters of Heaven; but again as these official and[142] brazen blowings were not = always=20 followed by the confirmation in fact, trumpetings were gradually=20 discontinued.

The Germans cleverly kept back the announcement of certain successes = in order=20 to offset reverses. For instance, on a day when it was necessary to tell = the=20 people of a German retreat the newspapers would have great headlines = across the=20 front of the first page announcing the sinking of a British cruiser = (sunk,=20 perhaps, a month before) and then hidden in a corner would be a = minimised=20 announcement of a German defeat.

To us in Germany there was at the time no battle of the Marne. So = gradually=20 was the news of the retreat of the German forces broken to the people = that=20 to-day the masses do not realise that the fate of the world was settled = at the=20 Marne!

CHAPTER X[143]

THE LITTLE KAISERS

As=20 the king idea seems inseparably connected with war there is no country = in the=20 world where kings and princes have been held in such great account as in = the=20 Central Empires.

I believe there are only two Christian kings in the world=97the kings = of Italy=20 and of Montenegro=97who are not by blood related to some German or = Austrian=20 royalty.

For remember that while we think of Germany as ruled by the Kaiser = and while=20 it is his will that is certainly imposed upon the whole of that = territory which=20 does not exist politically or even geographically but which we call = Germany,=20 there are houses of royalty in it almost as numerous as our big = corporations.=20 There are the three kings of Bavaria, W=FCrtemburg and Saxony, grand = dukes and=20 dukes, and princes, all of them taking themselves very seriously and all = of them=20 residing in their own domains; jealously keeping away from the Emperor's = court=20 and jealously guarding every remnant of rule which the constitution of = the=20 German Empire has bequeathed to them.

Once I asked one of these princelings what his older brother, the = reigning=20 prince, did with his time[144] in the small provincial town which is = the capital=20 of the principality. The brother looked at me with real surprise in his = eyes and=20 answered, "Why he reigns!"

Before the constitution of the German Empire, many of these = poverty-stricken=20 little courts were centres of kindly amusement, even of intellectual = life.

The court of the Grand Duke Charles-Augustus, of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach = at=20 Weimar where Goethe resided and where he was entrusted with responsible = state=20 duties, was renowned in Europe as a literary centre.

Many of these princelings, however ridiculous their courts may have = seemed,=20 exercised despotic power. To-day the inhabitants of the two Mecklenburg = duchies=20 are protected by neither constitution nor bill of rights. The grand = duke's power=20 is absolute and he can behead at will any one of his subjects in the=20 market-place or torture him to death in the dungeons of the castle and = is=20 responsible to God alone.

Here is an example from history. George Louis, Duke of=20 Brunswick-Luneburg-Celle, married his mistress, a Huguenot girl called = Eleanore=20 d'Olbreuze. They had one daughter, Sophia Dorothea, who married the = Elector of=20 Hanover, who was also George I of England. Sophia Dorothea was supposed = to have=20 been involved in a love affair with a Swedish Count, Philip Konigsmarck. = Konigsmarck was murdered by order of George I, and Sophia Dorothea = incarcerated=20 in Ahlden where she[145] died in 1726. Konigsmarck's sister went = to Saxony=20 to beg the aid of the Saxon King, Augustus the Strong. She failed to get = news of=20 her brother, but became one of the mistresses of Augustus the Strong and = the=20 mother of the celebrated Marshal Saxe. I say one of the "mistresses" of = Augustus=20 the Strong because he boasted that he was the father of 365 illegitimate = children!

The daughter of Sophia Dorothea was the mother of Frederick the Great = and his=20 brothers, and therefore, an ancestor of the present German Kaiser. Any = one=20 writing about her in a disparaging manner is subject to be imprisoned, = under the=20 decisions of the Imperial Supreme Court, for "l=E8se-majest=E9" or = injuring the=20 person of the present monarch in daring to slander his ancestors. And, I = suppose, any one referring to Augustus the Strong may be shut up in = Dresden for=20 insulting a predecessor of the present King.

Every year the nobles of the Central Empires hold a convention at = Frankfort,=20 where the means are discussed by which their privileges may be = preserved. No=20 newspaper prints an account of this Convention of the highest Caste.

The German peasants, as far as I have seen, are not so much under the = dominion of feudal tradition as are the peasants in Austria and = Hungary.

I was shooting once with a Hungarian Count who stationed me in one = corner of=20 a field to await the partridges, which driven by the beaters were = expected to=20 fly over my head and as I stood waiting for the beaters to take up their = positions two peasant[146] girls walked past me. One of them, to = my=20 surprise, caught hold of my hand, which she kissed with true feudal = devotion. As=20 a guest of the Count I was presumably of the noble class and therefore = entitled=20 by custom and right to this mark of subjugation. And it became quite a = task in=20 walking through the halls of the castle to dodge the servants, all of = whom=20 seemed anxious to imprint on me the kiss of homage.

Thackeray in the "Fitzboodle Confessions" gives a most amusing = account of=20 life in one of these small, sleepy, German courts and relates how he = left=20 Pumpernickel hurriedly, by night, after the court ball where he had = discovered=20 not only that his German fianc=E9e had eaten too much, but that she had = a taste=20 for bad oysters.

All of these small kings and princes are jealous of the King of = Prussia and=20 of his position of German Emperor and show their jealousy by avoiding=20 Berlin.

In October, 1913, when in London on my way to Germany, I met the = young Grand=20 Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz in the Ritz Hotel where he was dining with = an=20 English earl and his beautiful wife. As I happened to have a box for the = Gaiety=20 Theatre, we all went there together and paid a visit to George Grossmith = behind=20 the scenes and talked with Emmy Wehlen, the Austrian actress, who was = appearing=20 in the comic opera then running. But in all the time that I was in = Germany I=20 never once saw or heard of the young Grand Duke who rules[147] the subjects of his duchy = with=20 autocratic rule without even the semblance of a constitution.

Formerly our minister used to be accredited to some of these courts = and, on=20 inquiring informally through a friend, I learned that the American = Minister is=20 still accredited to Bavaria on the records of the Bavarian Foreign = Office, no=20 letters of recall ever having been presented. The fact that the American = Ambassador is accredited to none of these courts is a distinct = disadvantage=20 because without letters of credence he does not come into contact with = any of=20 the twenty-four rulers of Germany who control the Bundesrat in which = their=20 representatives sit, voting as they are told by the kings, grand dukes = and=20 princes. A number of these kings and princelings, combining in the = Bundesrat,=20 can outvote the powerful king of Prussia. But they don't dare!

CHAPTER XI[148]

ROYALTY'S RECREATION

I had a shooting estate about twenty = miles from=20 Berlin, one that I could reach by automobile in forty-five minutes from = the door=20 of the Embassy. Because of the strict German game laws I had better = shooting=20 there than within two hundred miles of large cities in America.

There seemed to be something to shoot there almost every day of the = year. On=20 the sixteenth of May the season opened for male roe=97a very small deer. = About the=20 first of August the ducks, which breed in northern Germany, can be shot. = These=20 were mallards and there were about two thousand or more on a lake on my=20 preserve. We usually shot them by digging blinds in the oat fields, = shooting=20 them after sunset as they flew from the lake to feed in the newly = harvested=20 grain. The season for Hungarian partridge opened on August 20th. These = were shot=20 over dogs in the stubble and in the potato fields. After a few weeks = partridges=20 became very wild and we then shot them with a kite. When we had put up a = covey=20 out of range and marked where they went down in a potato patch or field, = perhaps=20 of lucern or clover, a small boy would fly a kite made in the form of a=20 hawk[149] over the=20 field. This kept the partridges from flying and they would lie while the = dogs=20 pointed until we put them up.

By October 1st pheasants could be shot; English pheasants become = wild. These=20 roosted in the trees at night and so escaped the plentiful foxes. Later = on came=20 shooting at long ranges, after they had collected in bands, of the = female=20 roedeer and also the hare shooting. Rabbits were shot at all times, and = in=20 November and December and January on foggy days it was not difficult to = get a=20 wild goose.

The hares were shot in cold weather, after the snow was on the = ground, by=20 walking in line of ten or fifteen beaters with two or three guns at = intervals=20 along the line and later, when the hares were very wild and the weather = very=20 cold, by what is called by the Germans "kessel-jagd" or kettle-hunt. For = this=20 hunt the head keeper would collect a number of beaters, as many as a = hundred,=20 from the neighboring towns and villages, mostly small boys and old men. = On the=20 great, flat plain the keeper would send out his beaters to the right and = the=20 left, walking in a straight line at about twenty-yard intervals. After = each side=20 had gone perhaps half a mile they would then turn at right angles, walk = a mile,=20 and then turn at right angles until the two lines met, so that perhaps a = square=20 mile of territory would be enclosed by the beaters with the ten to = fifteen men=20 with guns at intervals in the line. When the square had been formed the = head=20 keeper blew a blast on his bugle and all turned and walked[150] slowly towards the centre = and the=20 hares were shot as they attempted to break through the line.

On one day just before I left Germany, I and members of the Embassy = shot more=20 than two hundred hares on one of these hunts. The German hare is an = enormous=20 animal with dark meat, almost impossible to distinguish from = venison.

After these hare drives, besides, of course, paying the beaters their = regular=20 wages, I used to hold a lottery, giving a number of these hares as = prizes or=20 distributing hares to the magnates of the village, such as the pastor, = the=20 school teacher, the policeman and the postmaster.

When we were shooting in the summer and autumn the peasants were = working in=20 the fields and one had to be very careful in shooting roebuck with a=20 high-powered rifle. It is customary to hunt roebuck on these flat plains = from a=20 carriage. In this way a bullet, travelling at a downward angle, if the = buck is=20 missed, strikes the ground within a short distance. If one were to shoot = lying=20 down, kneeling or standing, the danger to peasants in the fields would = be very=20 great. The pheasants were sometimes shot over dogs, but usually as the = beaters=20 drove small woods. A pheasant driven and flying high makes a difficult = mark. One=20 getting up before the dogs is almost too easy a shot.

We shot the rabbits by using ferrets, little animals like weasels = wearing=20 little muzzles and bells upon their necks. In the woods where the = rabbits had=20 their holes four or five ferrets would be put in the rabbits' holes and = it was=20 quite difficult to shoot[151] rabbits as they came out like = lightning, dodging=20 among the trees. In the early spring the "birkhahns" were shot, a = variety of=20 black and white grouse. There were some blinds or little huts of twigs = erected=20 near places where the ground was beaten hard and on these open, beaten = spots=20 early in the morning the "birkhahns" waltz, doing a peculiar backward = and=20 forward dance in some way connected with their marriage ceremonies. = There were=20 also on this estate numbers, at times, of a curious bird found only in = Spain,=20 Roumania, Asia Minor, and these plains of the Mark of Brandenburg, a = large=20 bustard called by the Germans "trappe." These birds were very shy and = hard to=20 approach. Although I had several shots at them with a rifle at four or = five=20 hundred yards I did not succeed in getting one.

In talking with the Chancellor he almost always opened the = conversation by=20 asking if I had yet killed a "trappe." As a rule the German uses for = shooting=20 deer and roebuck a German Mauser military rifle, but with the barrel cut = down=20 and a sporting stock with pistol grip added. On this there is a powerful = telescope. Many Germans carry a "ziel-stock," a long walking stick from = the=20 bottom of which a tripod can be protruded and near the top a sort of = handle=20 piece of metal about as big as a little finger. When the German = sportsman has=20 sighted a roebuck he plants his aiming stick in the ground, rests the = rifle on=20 the side projection, carefully adjusts his telescope, sets the hair = trigger on=20 his rifle and finally touches the trigger.[152]

At the commencement of the war the Duke of Ratibor collected all = these=20 sporting rifles with telescopes and sent them to the front. These were = of the=20 same calibre as the military rifles and took the military cartridge, so = they=20 proved enormously useful for sniping purposes.

Going one day to a proof establishment to try a gun I opened by = mistake a=20 door which led to a great room where thousands of German military rifles = were=20 being fitted with telescopes. These telescopes have crossed wires, like = those in=20 a surveyor's instrument, and it is only necessary in aiming to fix the = centre of=20 the crossed wires on the game and pull the trigger. A clever arrangement = enables=20 the wires to be elevated for distant shooting.

So great is the discipline of the German people that game on these = estates is=20 seldom, if ever, touched by the peasants. There is no free shooting in = Germany.=20 The shooting rights of every inch of land are in possession of some one = and the=20 tens of thousands of game keepers constantly killing the crows, hawks, = foxes and=20 other birds and animals that destroy eggs and game make the game = plentiful. The=20 keeper has the right by law to shoot any stray dog or cat found a = hundred yards=20 from a village. I paid the head keeper a certain sum per month and in = addition=20 he received a premium called "shot money" for each bird or roebuck shot. = He also=20 received a premium for each fox or crow or hawk he destroyed, bringing, = on the=20 first of the month, the beaks and claws of the hawks, etc., to prove his = claim.=20 Foxes are very plentiful in Germany[153] and in one winter on this estate, only = twenty=20 miles from Berlin, the keeper trapped or killed twelve foxes.

EXAMPLE OF THE=20 COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OFFERED FOR SALE. ON THE OBVERSE IS THE PORTRAIT OF = THE=20 CROWN PRINCE. ON THE REVERSE IS "YOUNG SIEGFRIED" ATTACKING A = CHIMERA-LIKE=20 MONSTER WITH FOUR HEADS: A BEAR FOR RUSSIA, A UNICORN FOR ENGLAND, A = LION FOR=20 BELGIUM, AND A COCK FOR FRANCE

The Emperor is very fond of fox shooting. Foxes are driven out of the = forest=20 past his shooting stand by beaters and one of the reasons why Prince = F=FCrstenberg=20 was such a favourite of the Emperor was that he provided him with = splendid fox=20 shooting, although it is whispered that he bought foxes in boxes in all = parts of=20 Germany and had them turned loose for the Emperor's benefit.

In the more thickly forested portions of Germany deer as well as = roedeer are=20 shot and in many districts wild boar. In Poland and in a few estates in = Germany=20 on the eastern border, moose, called elk (elch in German), are to be = had. These,=20 however, have very poor horns.

Talking to the keepers and beaters on this shooting estate gave me a = very=20 good idea of the hardships suffered in rural Germany, of the way in = which the=20 people in the farming districts are kept down by the lords of the manor = and by=20 the government, and it was from this village and the neighbouring town = that I=20 got some idea of the number of men called to arms in Germany.

By a custom dating from the devastating wars of the Middle Ages there = are=20 practically no farms in Germany, but inhabitants of the agricultural = districts=20 are collected in villages and the few farms have, characteristically, a = military=20 name. They are called "vorwerk" or outposts. In the village on my estate = there=20 are almost exactly six hundred[154] inhabitants, men, women and children, = and of=20 these at the time I left Germany one hundred and ten had been called to = the=20 Colours. In the neighbouring town of Mittenwalde, of almost three = thousand=20 inhabitants, over five hundred had joined the army. At the commencement = of the=20 war the population of the German Empire was about 72,000,000, or = something over,=20 and applying these same proportions it will be seen what a vast army was = created.

In the industrial districts where men are required for munition work = perhaps=20 not as great a proportion has been called. The name of the village on my = estate=20 was Gross Machnow, the road from Berlin to Dresden ran through it and = only a few=20 miles east was the shooting place of Wusterhausen where the favourite = shooting=20 box of the father of Frederick the Great was and where he was accustomed = to hold=20 his so-called tobacco parliament, when, with his cronies, over beer and = long=20 pipes, the affairs of the nation were discussed with great freedom.

The horse races in Germany are excellent. There are several tracks = about=20 Berlin. The Hoppegarten, devoted almost exclusively to flat racing; the=20 Grunewald, the large popular track nearest to Berlin where both = steeplechases=20 and other races are held; and Karlshorst, devoted exclusively to = steeplechasing=20 and hurdle racing.

The jockey club of Berlin is the Union Club, which owns the = Hoppegarten=20 track. Its officers are men of the highest honour and in no country = in[155] the = world are the=20 races run more honestly, more "on the level," than in Germany.

Nothing makes for mutual international understanding more than sport. = Even=20 during the most bitter crises between Germany and America I felt that I = could go=20 absolutely alone to the crowded race tracks and, while I know the = Germans=20 differed emphatically with the American views of the war, the gentlemen = in=20 charge of the races and the members of the Union Club treated me with = the=20 kindest consideration and the most graceful courtesy.

I am sorry that I never attended any of the Court = hunts=20 which took place in the vicinity of Potsdam. A pack of hounds is kept = there and=20 boars hunted. The etiquette is very strict and no one, not presented at = court,=20 can appear at these hunts. As I did not have an opportunity to present = my=20 letters of credence until a month or more after my arrival in Berlin in = the=20 autumn of 1913, the winter rains had set in before I was eligible for = the hunts=20 and in addition I had not taken the precaution to order the necessary=20 costumes.

The first time that a man appears at one of these = hunts he=20 must wear a tall silk hat, a double-breasted red coat, with tails like a = dress=20 coat, white breeches and top boots. After he has once made his = appearance in=20 this costume he may, thereafter, substitute for it a red frock hunting = coat,=20 white breeches and top boots and a velvet hunting cap, the same shape as = the=20 caps worn by the jockies.[156] There are no jumps on these hunts. When = the boar=20 has been brought to bay by the dogs, the right to despatch him with a = long=20 hunting knife is reserved for the most distinguished man present. If a = royalty=20 is present at one of these hunts he distributes small sprigs of oak = leaves to=20 every one at the hunt, cherished ever after as valued souvenirs.

When I first arrived at Berlin, having brought horses with me from = America, I=20 used to ride every morning in the Tiergarten. Because so many Germans = are in the=20 army, riding is a very favourite sport and in peace times the Tiergarten = is=20 crowded with Berliners. Most of the riding was done between seven and = ten in the=20 morning. The early rising is compensated for, however, by the siesta = after=20 lunch, a universal custom.

Shooting is almost more of a ceremony than a sport. The letters = exchanged=20 between Emperor William and Czar Nicholas, lately discovered in the = Winter=20 Palace, show what a large part shooting played in their correspondence. = One or=20 the other is continually wishing the other "Weidmanns-Heil," which is = the German=20 expression for "good luck" as applied to shooting. All royalties must = ride and=20 keep in practice, especially because of military service. Indeed, all = the sports=20 of the Kaiser and his people converge toward a common object=97military = efficiency=20 and war.

CHAPTER XII[157]

THE ETERNAL FEMININE

Even=20 the women, many of whom are honorary colonels to regiments, must keep in = trim=20 for the great parade days of autumn and spring. Many of these female = colonels=20 appear in uniform, riding at the head of their regiments. They sit on = side=20 saddles, however, and wear skirts corresponding somewhat in colour with = the=20 uniform coat and helmet of the regiment of which they are the honorary=20 proprietors.

German female royalties are rather inclined to set an example of = quietness in=20 dress. They seldom wear the latest fashion and never follow the = exaggerated=20 modes of Paris. Even their figures are of the old-fashioned = variety=97pinched at=20 the waist. While in the Tiergarten in the morning I saw many good = horses, but=20 only one fashionably cut riding habit. Many of the others must have been = at=20 least twenty years old, as the sleeves were of the Leg of Mutton style,=20 fashionable, I believe, about that number of years ago.

Many German noblewomen shoot and are quite as good shots as their = husbands. I=20 was quite surprised once on a shooting party to meet an elderly princess = whose=20 grey hair was in short curls and[158] who wore a coat and waistcoat like a = man's. She=20 shot with great skill and smoked long Havana cigars!

When German women get out of the country they very quickly imitate = foreign=20 fashions and extravagances of dress. The Czarina of Russia, for example, = a=20 German Princess, is very fond of fashions, and a friend of mine who had = three=20 audiences with her during the war tells me that on the occasion of his = first=20 audience she was dressed in black and received him in a room where = yellow=20 flowers were massed. On the second occasion she was in grey and the = flowers were=20 pink. At the third audience her dress was purple and the flowers were of = lilac=20 and white.

There is one good thing about the king and aristocratic system. The = position=20 of women in the social scale is fixed by the husband's rank. There is,=20 therefore, none of that striving, that vying with each other, which so = often=20 exhausts the nerves of the American woman and the purse of the husband. = The=20 German women give their time and attention to the "Four K's" that, in a = German's=20 eyes, should bound a woman's world, "Kaiser, Kinder, Kirche, Kuche" = (Emperor,=20 children, church and kitchen).

The successful business man of New York or Chicago or San Francisco = is=20 surprised to find how docile and domestic the German woman is=97no = foolish=20 extravagance, but a real devotion to husband and home, a real mother to = her many=20 children. She matches that short epitaph of the Roman matron=97"She spun = wool; she=20 kept the house."[159]

When I came to Germany I found, on studying the language, that there = was no=20 word in German corresponding to "efficient." I soon learned that this is = because=20 everything done in Germany is done efficiently, and there is no need to=20 differentiate one act from another in terms of efficiency. But the = German man=20 could not be as efficient as he undoubtedly is, without the = whole-hearted=20 devotion of the German woman.

German girls are given a good, strong, sound education. They learn = languages,=20 not smatterings of them. They are accomplished musicians. Domestic = science they=20 learn from their mothers. They are splendid swimmers, hockey players, = riders and=20 skaters.

During our first winter in Berlin we spent many afternoons at the Ice = Palace=20 in the Lutherstrasse, an indoor ice rink much larger than the one in the = Freidrichstrasse, the Admirals Palast, where the ice ballets are given = and the=20 graceful Charlotte used to appear. The skating club of the Lutherstrasse = was=20 under the patronage of the Crown Prince and was one of the very few = meeting=20 places of Berlin society. The women were taught to waltz by male = instructors and=20 the men by several young women=97blonde skaters from East Prussia. I = tried to=20 improve my skating and spent many hours making painful "Bogens" or = circles under=20 the efficient eyes of a little East Prussia instructress. Afternoon tea = was=20 served during the interval of skating and one afternoon a week was = specially=20 reserved for the Club members.[160]

One of my young secretaries used to go occasionally to Wannsee, near = Berlin,=20 to play hockey with a German friend; as the young men were nearly all in = the=20 war, girls made up the majority of each team. My secretary reported that = those=20 German girls were as strong, as enduring and as skilful as the average = young=20 man.

Girls of the working classes, instead of flirting or turkey trotting = at=20 night, make a practice of going to the Turnvereins, to exercise in the=20 gymnasiums there. If the members of the German lower classes only had = the=20 opportunity to rise in life what would they not accomplish! So many of = them are=20 very ambitious, persistent, earnest and thrifty.

Of course, female suffrage in Germany or anything approaching it is = very=20 distant. First of all, the men must win a real ballot for themselves in = Prussia,=20 a real representation in the Reichstag. In the Germany of to-day, a = woman with=20 feminist aspirations is looked on as the men of the official class look = on a=20 Social Democrat, something hardly to be endured. And this is in spite of = the=20 fact that the nations to the North, in Scandinavia, freed women even = before=20 America did.

The most beautiful woman in Berlin society is Countess = Oppersdorff=97the mother=20 of thirteen children. She is not German, but was born a Polish Princess=20 Radziwill.

The chief lady of the Imperial Court is Countess Brockdorff. She is = rather=20 stern in appearance and manner, and rumour has it that she was appointed = to keep=20 the good-natured, easy-going Empress[161] to the strict line of German court = etiquette, to=20 see that the Empress, rather democratic in inclination, did not stray = away from=20 the traditional rigidity of the Prussian royal house.

Countess Brockdorff is a most able woman. I grew to have not only a = great=20 respect, but almost an affection for her. At court functions she usually = wears a=20 mantilla as a distinguished mark and several orders and decorations. We = had=20 three women friends from America with us in Berlin whom we presented at = Court.=20 All were married, but only the husband of one of them could leave his = work and=20 visit Germany. The two other husbands, in accordance with the good = American=20 custom, were at work in America. Countess Brockdorff spoke to the lady = whose=20 husband was with her, saying to her, "I am glad to see that your husband = is with=20 you," an implied rebuke to the other ladies and an exhibition of that = failure to=20 understand other nations so characteristic of highly placed Germans. = With us, of=20 course, a good-natured American husband, wedded as much to his business = as to=20 his wife, permits his wife to travel abroad without him and neither he = nor she=20 is reproved in America because of this.

Among the other ladies attendant on the Empress are Fr=E4ulein von = Gersdorff,=20 whose cousin is a lawyer practising in New York, and Countess Keller. = There are=20 other ladies and a number of maids of honour and all of them are = overworked,=20 acting as secretaries, answering letters and attending various = charitable and=20 other functions, either[162] with the Empress or representing her. = One of the=20 charming maids of honour, Countess Bassewitz, was married during the war = to=20 Prince Oscar, the Kaiser's fifth son. This marriage was morganatic, that = is, the=20 lady does not take the name, rank and title of her husband. In this case = another=20 title was given her, that of Countess Ruppin, and her sons will be known = as=20 Counts Ruppin, but will not be Princes of Prussia.

There is much misunderstanding in America as to these morganatic = marriages.=20 By the rules of many royal and princely houses, a member of the house = cannot=20 marry a woman not of equal rank and give her his name, titles and rank. = But the=20 marriage is in all other respects perfectly legal. The ceremony is = performed in=20 accordance with Prussian law, before a civil magistrate and also in a = church,=20 and should the husband attempt to marry again he would be guilty of = bigamy.

I gave away the bride at one of these morganatic marriages, when = Prince=20 Christian of Hesse married Miss Elizabeth Reid-Rogers, a daughter of = Richard=20 Reid Rogers, a lawyer of New York. Prince Christian has an extremely = remote=20 chance of ever coming to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, but=20 nevertheless and because of the rules of the House of Hesse-Barchfeld, = he cannot=20 give his rank and title to a wife, not of equal birth. The head of the = House,=20 therefore, the Grand Duke of Hesse, conferred the title of Baroness = Barchfeld in=20 her own right on the bride, and her children will be known as Barons and = Baronesses Barchfeld.[163]

When Prince Christian and his wife go out to dinner in Berlin, he is = given=20 his rank at the table as a member of a royal house, but his wife is = treated on a=20 parity with the wives of all officers holding commissions of equal grade = with=20 her husband in the army. As her husband is a Lieutenant, she ranks = merely as a=20 Lieutenant's wife. On the same day that Miss Rogers and Prince Christian = were=20 wedded, Miss Cecilia May of Baltimore married Lieutenant Vom Rath. I = acted as=20 one of Miss May's witnesses at the Standesamt, where the civil marriage = was=20 performed, while the religious marriage took place in our Embassy. = Lieutenant=20 Vom Rath is the son of one of the proprietors of the great dye works=20 manufactories known as Lucius-Meister-Farbewerke at Hoehst, near = Frankfurt=20 a. M., where salvarsan and many other medicines used in America are = manufactured, as well as dyestuffs and chemicals.

In my earlier book I described presentations at the Royal Prussian = Court in=20 Berlin, especially the great court called the "Schleppencour," because = of the=20 long trains or Schleppe worn by the women. All the little kingdoms and=20 principalities of the German Empire have somewhat the same ceremonies. = In=20 Dresden, the capital of Saxony, a peculiar custom is followed. The King = and=20 Queen sit at a table at one end of the room playing cards and the = members of the=20 court and distinguished strangers file into the room, pass by the card = table in=20 single file and drop deep courtesies and make bows to the seated = royalties,=20 who,[164] as a rule,=20 do not even take the trouble to glance at those engaged in this servile = tribute=20 to small royalty. I suppose that the excuse for this is that it is an = old=20 custom. But so is serfdom!

There are in Germany many so-called mediatised families, so-called = because at=20 one time they possessed royal rank and rights over small bits of = territory=20 before Napoleon changed the map of Europe and wiped out so many small=20 principalities.

At the Congress of Vienna these families who lost their right of = rule, in=20 part compensation, were given the right to marry either royalties or = commoners;=20 so that the marriage of a Prince of Prussia with a daughter of one of = these=20 mediatised houses would not be morganatic. The girl would take the full = rank of=20 her husband and the children would inherit any rights, including the = rights to=20 the throne possessed by him.

Thus the beautiful young Countess Platen, shortly before we left = Berlin, was=20 married to von Stumm, the very able Under Secretary of State for Foreign = Affairs. While she became on her marriage Baroness von Stumm, = nevertheless, if=20 she had married the son of the Kaiser, she would have taken his rank and = her=20 children would have inherited all rights and titles possessed by their = father.=20 This is because the Platens, although bearing only the title of Counts, = are a=20 mediatised family.

It is noteworthy that in Berlin women of that blonde type with = regular=20 features, which we believe is the German type, are very rare. This type = is to be=20 found perfected in Scandinavia, although[165] a few specimens exist in Germany. = Looking over a=20 Berlin theatre I have often noticed the predominance of brown and black=20 hair.

There is always some one higher up to whom German women must curtsy. = All=20 women, whatever their husband's rank, must curtsy to a Royal Prince. = Unmarried=20 girls curtsy to married women and kiss their hands. Men, on meeting = women,=20 always kiss their hands.

Berlin is certainly the gossip headquarters of the world. Some years = ago the=20 whole town was invaded by a mania for anonymous letter writing, and when = the=20 smoke had cleared away few were left with unriddled reputations.

It is the fashion of the present court, however, to be very = puritanical. No=20 such little affairs are going on publicly, as have occurred in the = annals of the=20 Hohenzollern family. For even the old Emperor William, grandfather of = the=20 present Kaiser, had numerous love affairs. The tree is still pointed out = near=20 the Tiergarten where he met Princess Radziwill every day.

The Foreign Office was at one time the home of the Italian dancer, La = Barberini, the only woman who ever for a time enslaved Frederick the = Great. I=20 discussed affairs of state with von Jagow and Zimmermann in the very = room where=20 she gave her supper parties.

CHAPTER XIII[166]

HOME LIFE AND "BRUTALITY" OF THE PEOPLE

The=20 apartments of Berlin are designed for outward show for which the = Berliners have=20 a weakness. They have great reception and dining-rooms called = "representation=20 rooms," but very little comfort or space in the sleeping quarters.

It is impossible to think of dropping in suddenly on a Berliner for a = meal.=20 The dinners are always for as many people as the rooms will hold and are = served=20 by a caterer.

Only two very distinguished guests may be invited. The host and = hostess sit=20 opposite each other at the sides of the table, with the guests tapering = off in=20 rank to right and left of them, the ends of the tables being filled up = with=20 aides and secretaries. When a great man is invited his aide or secretary = must be=20 asked also. These come usually without their wives.

After dinner men and women leave the table together and smoke in the = other=20 rooms of the house, going from group to group. And, although perhaps ten = kinds=20 of wine are served during dinner, as soon as the guests leave the = dining-room,=20 servants make their appearance with trays of glasses[167] of light and dark beer = and continue=20 to offer beer during the remainder of the evening.

The Germans talk much of food and spend a greater part of their = income on=20 food than any other nation. They take much interest in table = furnishings, china,=20 etc., and invariably turn over the plates to see the marks on the under=20 side.

Whipped cream is an essential to many German dishes, and in the = season a=20 Berliner will commit any crime to obtain some plover's eggs.

The weiss bier of Berlin, served in wide goblets, is rather going out = of=20 fashion. It often is drunk mixed with raspberry juice.

The restaurants of Berlin are not gay, like those of Paris. There is, = however, a rather rough night life created for foreign consumption. I = did not=20 take in any of these night restaurants and dancing cabarets, warned by = the case=20 of an Ambassador from =97=97 who was reproved by von Jagow for visiting = the "Palais=20 de Danse."

In peace time few automobiles are to be seen on the Berlin streets. = There are=20 many millionaires in the city, but the old habits of German thrift = persist.

The modern architecture of Germany is repulsive. The man who builds a = new=20 house seems to want to get something resembling as nearly as possible a = family=20 vault. Ihne, court architect and Imperial favourite, has produced, = however, some=20 beautiful buildings, notably the new library in Berlin.

Munich pretends to be more of a centre of art and music than Berlin. = Artists=20 have their headquarters[168] there, but the disciples of the awful = "art=20 nouveau" and kindred "arts" have produced many horrors in striving for = new=20 effects.

The opera in Munich is better than in Berlin. One of the Bavarian = Princes=20 plays a fiddle in the orchestra in the Royal Opera House.

The Berlin hospitals are better than ours, except for the caste = system which=20 prevails even there, and there are first, second and third class = wards.

The underground road is built at about the same depth as the New York = subway.=20 There are two classes, second and third; there are no guards on the = trains, only=20 the motorman in the first car. The passengers open the side doors = themselves and=20 these are shut either by passengers or station guards. Accidents are = rare, all=20 showing the innate discipline of the people. The charge is by distance. = You buy=20 a ticket for five or eight stations and give up the ticket as you go out = of the=20 station. If you have travelled farther than the distance called for by = your=20 ticket you must make the additional payment. This requires that each = ticket be=20 inspected separately when taken up.

The tramways have different routes. These routes are shown by signs = and by=20 numbers displayed on the car. Women motormen in the war period caused = many=20 accidents.

For those Germans who cannot afford to ride or shoot, walking is the=20 principal recreation. There are a few golf courses in the German Empire, = mostly=20 patronised by foreigners and American dentists.[169]

Military training is always in view and the use of the knapsack on = walking=20 tours is universal, even school children carry their books to school in=20 knapsacks and so become accustomed, at an early age, to carry this part = of the=20 soldier's burden.

Occasionally, in summer, bands of girls or boys are to be seen on = walking=20 tours. In addition to the usual knapsack, they carry guitars or = mandolins. These=20 young people are known as "Wander vogel" (wandering birds), and sing as = they=20 walk. But they don't sing very loud. They might break some = regulation.

Outside of the large cities and even in the cities vacant lots are = occupied=20 by "arbour colonies" (lauben colonie)=97tiny little houses of wood = erected by city=20 workingmen and surrounded by little gardens of vegetables and flowers. = Here the=20 city workman spends Sunday and often the twilight hours and the night in = summer=20 time. Of course, these are possible only in a country where the = workingman is in=20 a distinct social class and where he is compelled to be content with the = amusements and occupations of that class alone.

There is no baseball or substitute for it=97the clerks get their = diversion in a=20 country excursion or at the free bath on the Wann or Muggel Lake.

These "free baths," so-called, are stretches of sandy lake shore = where the=20 populace resort in hot weather, undressing with the indifference of = animals on=20 the beach, men and women all mixed together, the men wearing only little = bathing=20 trunks and the women scanty one-piece bathing suits.[170] There is a bathing tent = where two=20 cents is charged for the privilege of undressing, but most prefer the = open=20 beach. Few swim or go in the water, but the majority lie about the = beach, often=20 sleeping in affectionate embrace, all without exciting any comment or=20 ridicule.

The boy scout movement was taken up enthusiastically in Germany with = the=20 cheerful support of the military caste, who look on the activity as a = welcome=20 adjunct to military training. The boys certainly are given a dose of = real drill.=20 On one occasion I saw a boy company at drill march straight into the = Havel=20 river, no command to halt having been given at the river bank!

The workingmen of Germany are more brutal than those of England, = France and=20 America, but this is because of the low wages they receive, and because = they=20 feel the weight of the caste system.

In a speech in December, 1917, I said that a revolution in Germany = would come=20 after the war and that a fellow Ambassador in Berlin had said to me that = because=20 of the great brutality of the workingmen in Germany this uprising would = make the=20 French Revolution look like a Methodist Sunday School picnic. A = newspaper=20 reported me as saying this on my own authority and added that I had said = the=20 Germans were the most "bestial" people on earth.

I only want to be responsible for what I actually say. I did not call = the=20 Germans "bestial," although unfortunately it is a fact that many = officers of the=20 army and others have been guilty of a brutality[171] which has helped turn the = face of the=20 world from the whole German people.

Not all the Germans are brutal. I received many letters revealing = evidence to=20 the contrary.

Here is the protest of a German soldier, an eye-witness of the = slaughter of=20 Russian soldiers in the Masurian lakes and swamps:

"It was frightful, heart-rending, as these masses of human beings = were driven=20 to destruction. Above the terrible thunder of the cannon could be heard = the=20 heart-rending cries of the Russians: 'Oh, Prussians! Oh, Prussians!' But = there=20 was no mercy. Our Captain had ordered: 'The whole lot must die; so rapid = fire.'

"As I have heard, five men and one officer on our side went mad from = those=20 heart-rending cries. But most of my comrades and the officers joked as = the=20 unarmed and helpless Russians shrieked for mercy when they were being = suffocated=20 in the swamps and shot down. The order was: 'Close up and at it = harder!'

"For days afterward those heart-rending yells followed me, and I dare = not=20 think of them or I shall go mad. There is no God, there is no morality = and no=20 ethics any more. There are no human beings any more, but only beasts. = Down with=20 militarism!"

This was the experience of a Prussian soldier. At = present=20 wounded; Berlin, October 22, 1914.

"If you are a truth-loving man, please receive these lines, from a = common=20 Prussian soldier."

"Russian Poland, Dec. 18, 1914.

"In the name of Christianity I send you these words. My conscience = forces me=20 as a Christian German soldier to inform you of these lines.

"Wounded Russians are killed with the bayonet according to orders, = and=20 Russians who have surrendered are often shot down in masses according to = orders=20 in spite of their heart-rending prayers.

"In the hope that you, as the representative of a Christian State, = will=20 protest against this, I sign myself, 'A German Soldier and=20 Christian.'

"I would give my name and regiment, but these words could get me=20 court-martialed for divulging military secrets."

"To the American Government, Washington, U. S. A.:

"Englishmen who have surrendered are shot down in small groups. With = the=20 French one is more considerate. I ask whether men let themselves be = taken=20 prisoner in order to be disarmed and shot down afterward? Is that = chivalry in=20 battle?

"It is no longer a secret among the people; one hears everywhere that = few=20 prisoners are taken; they are shot down in small groups. They say = na=EFvely, 'We=20 don't want any unnecessary mouths to feed. Where there is no one to = enter=20 complaint, there is no judge.' Is there, then, no power in the world = which can=20 put an end to these murders and rescue the victims? Where is = Christianity? Where=20 is right? Might is right.

"A Soldier and Man Who = Is No=20 Barbarian."

The first two letters refer to the battle of the = Masurian=20 Lakes, when the troops of Hindenburg, in[173] checking the invading Russians, = indulged in a=20 needless slaughter of prisoners.

I heard in Berlin of many cases of insanity of both German officers = and men=20 who were driven insane by the scenes of slaughter at this battle and = especially=20 by the great cry of horror and despair uttered by the poor Russians as = they were=20 shot down in cold blood or driven to a living death in the lakes and=20 marshes.

An American newspaper said this could not be true, asking why did I = not=20 publish the letters in my first book. But my first book did not contain = all I=20 have to relate, and the letters in question were sent by me to the State = Department early in the war, and were not at hand on the publication of = my other=20 series.

But speaking of anonymous letters, shortly before I left Germany I = received a=20 package containing a necklace of diamonds and pearls with a letter, = which,=20 translated, reads as follows:

"The enclosed jewelry was found in the fully destroyed house of = Monsieur=20 Guesnet of 36 Rue de Bassano, Paris. It is requested that this jewelry, = which is=20 his property, be returned to him."

The package was addressed to the Embassy of the United States. I took = it with=20 me on leaving Germany and restored it to the family of the owner in = Paris. The=20 Guesnet country house lay within the German lines and the sending of the = jewelry=20 to me shows conscience somewhere in the German army.

CHAPTER XIV[174]

AIMS OF THE AUTOCRACY

I have shown how the Kaiser is imbued = with a=20 desire of conquest, how, as he himself states, he dreamed a dream of = world=20 empire in which his mailed fist should be imposed upon all the countries = of the=20 earth.

But the Kaiser alone could not have driven Germany into war. His = system=20 could.

The head of one of the great banks of Germany told me in the first = few weeks=20 of the war that the Kaiser, when called upon at the last moment to sign = the=20 order for mobilisation by the General Staff, hesitated and did so only = after the=20 officers of the General Staff had threatened to break their swords over = their=20 knees.

If this story is true, what a pity that the Kaiser did not allow the = officers=20 to break their swords! What would have happened? Would the military have = seized=20 the power and deposed the Kaiser, putting the Crown Prince in his place? = I=20 believe it might have happened had he refused to sign the order. The = Kaiser,=20 after leaving Kiel, attended a council at Potsdam where war was decided = upon,=20 and I really doubt whether at the last moment he[175] did not shrink before the = awful=20 responsibility or hesitate to sign the mobilisation order.

The immediate cause of Germany's going to war was the feeling on the = part of=20 the autocracy that the people would not much longer bear the yoke of = militarism.=20 That this fear had justification was shown by the enormous vote of lack = of=20 confidence in the Reichstag after the Zabern affair. At all costs the = autocracy=20 must be preserved, and if in addition the world could be conquered, so = much the=20 better.

With modern improvements on the outside the heart of the government = of=20 Germany is that of the Middle Ages. The nobles as a rule are poor, the = returns=20 from their landed estates small, and, in peace times, the army general, = the=20 Prussian noble, and the Prussian official is overshadowed in display and = expenditure by the rich merchant.

Army officers, nobles and governing class felt this and believed that = war=20 would restore what they regarded as the natural equilibrium of the = country, the=20 officers, the officials and the nobles at the top and the merchant class = back in=20 its place below.

With war, retired generals living on small pensions in dingy towns = once more=20 became personages, rushing about the country in automobiles attended by=20 brilliant staffs and holding almost the power of life and death. His = lands=20 worked by prisoners at six cents a day, and their products sold at five = times=20 the original price with no new taxes on either land or incomes, the = Prussian=20 Junker is enjoying the war.[176]

And this autocracy can make no peace which is not a "German peace," = which=20 does not mean that the Emperor and the generals can ride through the=20 Brandenburger Thor to celebrate the conclusion of what may be thought a=20 victorious war.

For the plain people of Germany, while they can make no revolution = now, on=20 returning to their homes maimed and broken after four years in the = trenches,=20 will revolt at last, if a peace has been concluded which does not spell = success=20 for Germany. They will say to their government,=97to the = autocracy,=97"We had no=20 political power. We left everything in your hands. We had nothing to say = either=20 about the declaration of this war or its conduct. In return for our = submission=20 you promised efficiency and you promised us more, the conquest of the = world. You=20 have failed and we are going to overthrow you."

It is the knowledge of this that makes the Emperor and the autocracy = ready to=20 take any chance, anxious to continue the war in the hope that some lucky = stroke,=20 either of arms or of propaganda, will turn the scale in their favour, = because=20 they know that any peace that is not a German peace will mean the end of = autocracy and probably of the Hohenzollerns.

And all the while the people are told that the war is a defensive = war,=20 although the German armies fight far in enemy territory in France, in = Russia, in=20 Italy, in Serbia, and in Roumania. They always are told, too, that it is = Germany=20 who is desirous of making peace and that the Allies refuse.[177]

Last summer (1917) when an interview I had with the Chancellor in = which he=20 named the peace terms of the autocracy was published, the interview was=20 repudiated by the Chancellor, who stated that these terms were not his. = I am=20 sure that they are not his and were not his, but I am equally sure that = they are=20 the terms and were the terms of the autocracy of Prussia as stated by = him.=20 Shortly after this the newspapers confirmed part of these terms, telling = of the=20 talk in Germany of the guarantees to be exacted in case Belgium was = surrendered=20 by the Germans, which guarantees amounted to the absolute control of = that=20 unfortunate country and "rectification of the frontiers" demanded by = Germany on=20 the Eastern Front.

Outside of Germany the propagandist and the pacifist and other agents = of the=20 Central Empires have proclaimed that this war is not a war of conquest = or=20 aggression.

Kaiser and pastors, Reichstag members and generals, orators and = journalists,=20 have all at different times during the war declared themselves in favour = of=20 conquest.

And it is extraordinary as showing the masterful manner in which the = poor=20 German people are led astray that most of the men making these = declarations for=20 annexation are able at the same time to cry that Germany is fighting a = defensive=20 war and is prevented from making peace only by the wicked Allies.

The King of Bavaria, speaking early in 1915 at[178] a banquet, said, "I = rejoice because=20 we can at last have a reckoning with our enemies and because at last we = can=20 obtain a direct outlet from the Rhine to the sea. Ten months have gone = by. Much=20 blood has been poured out. But it shall not be poured in vain, for the = fruit of=20 the war shall be a strengthening of the German Empire and the = extension of=20 its boundaries, so far as this is necessary in order that we may be = assured=20 against future attacks."

Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg, who is the gentleman who slapped his = chest=20 and cried out to me on one occasion that Germany would never forget the = export=20 of arms and ammunition to her enemies by America and that some day = Germany would=20 have her revenge, declared also in 1915 that the war would give Germany = not only=20 a mighty African Colonial Empire but a sufficiency of strongholds on = earth for=20 their navy, commerce, coaling and wireless stations.

The Kaiser, himself, speaking in July, 1915, in his call to the = German people=20 issued from the Great General Headquarters, said "that Germany would = fight until=20 peace came, a peace which offered the necessary military, political and=20 commercial guarantees for the future."

Vice-President Paasche of the Reichstag, in April at Kreuznach, said, = "We are=20 not allowed to speak about conditions of peace. But the wish must be = given=20 expression that lives in the heart of every German that we will not give = up=20 enemy land conquered with so much German blood."

A sentiment also expressed in April, 1915, by the[179] National Liberal = Reichstag member,=20 Wachhorst de Wente, was to this effect: "Our fatherland must be larger. = We must=20 not allow it to be taken from us. Otherwise we will have obtained = nothing except=20 victory. We desire also to have the reward of victory. We will not give = back=20 all."

Von Heydebrand, the Conservative Leader, the uncrowned King of = Prussia, as he=20 is called, demanded as a condition of peace "a stronger and larger = Germany."

Naturally, the Conservative leaders are for conquest and annexation. = Numerous=20 articles in the Centrist Cologne Volkzeitung were published = protesting=20 against giving Belgium her independence again. In April, 1916, this = newspaper=20 approved the statement of Leader Spahn of the Centrum party that the war = must=20 not end without "tangible results," and also the statement of = Stresemann,=20 another member of the Reichstag: "We demand and expect a larger = Germany." In=20 February, 1916, Germania, the Berlin organ of the Catholic party, = demanded also a tangible prize of war as one of the conditions of = peace.

Countless examples can be given from speeches in the Reichstag and = from=20 leaders and newspapers of virtually all parties in Germany, showing this = desire=20 for conquest, showing that Germany will not be content to go back to the = situation before the war. Even Maximilian Harden, who is respected all = over the=20 world because of his fearlessness and reason, has written since the war = in=20 favour of a greater Germany, thus:[180]

"We wage the war from the rock of conviction that Germany after its = deeds has=20 a right to demand broader room on the earth and greater possibilities of = action=20 and these things we must attain."

Dr. Spahn, to-day the leader of the Centrum party, answering in = December,=20 1915, Scheidemann, who had argued against annexation, and speaking in = the name=20 of 254 members of the Reichstag representing the citizens' parties = said:

"We wait in complete union, with calm determination, and let me add, = with=20 trust in God, the hour which makes possible peace negotiations, in which = forever=20 the military, commercial, financial and political interests of Germany = must, in=20 all circumstances and by all means, be protected, including the widening = of=20 territories necessary to this end."

Ludendorff is now perhaps the man of most weight and influence, = barring no=20 one, in all Germany. When only Chief of Staff of the East Army he wrote: = "The=20 Power of Middle Europe will be strengthened, that of the Great Russians = pushed=20 back towards the East, from whence it came, at a time not very = distant."

These quotations simply show that the great majority of = Germans=97those outside=20 the social democratic party=97of the Germans, indeed, who rule the = country,=20 conduct its commerce, and officer its army and navy=97all have been = infected with=20 a dangerous microbe of Pan-Germanism and of world-conquest.

Every one who professes a knowledge of German life and character, = every one=20 who writes of[181]=20 the origin of the war, talks of Treitschke, Nietzsche and Bernhardi.

Nothing made the Germans angrier than to find in foreign newspapers = that on=20 this triumvirate was placed the burden of the responsibility for the = war. And I=20 agree with the complaining Germans. Bernhardi, who, during the war, was = given a=20 command behind the fighting front at Posen, was not considered a skilful = general=20 by the military or a great or even popular writer by the people.

How many people in our country or in France or in England are = influenced by=20 the lectures or writings of one college professor? And yet, according to = many=20 out of Germany, Treitschke, the deaf professor of Heidelberg, is the one = man who=20 transmuted the soul of Germany and incited the Empire to a cruel = war.

In America you can find any brand of professor, from a professor in a = Virginia College who recently boasted that he would not subscribe to = American=20 Liberty war bonds, but would send the money to the Socialist, pacifist = candidate=20 for Mayor of New York, to the Professor in the University of Chicago who = based=20 his claim to fame on the fact that he had never been kissed. What = professor of=20 history has had any great political influence beyond his own = college?

And it is equally absurd to think of a Prussian Junker, sitting by = the fire=20 in the evening, deeply absorbed in the philosophy of Nietzsche. All = Germans, as=20 a matter of fact, through pride of conquest in 1864, 1866 and 1870 and = great=20 industrial[182]=20 success, had come to believe themselves to be supermen delegated by = Heaven to=20 win the world. Treitschke and Nietzsche were simply affected in their = writings=20 by this universal poison of overweening vanity. They but reflected the = fashion=20 of the day in thinking; they did not lead the nation's thought. = Nietzsche=20 himself wrote in one of his letters shortly before his death which = occurred in=20 1900, "Although I am in my forty-fifth year and have written fifteen = books, I am=20 alone in Germany. There has not been a single moderately respectful = review of=20 one of my books."

I never found a German of the ruling class who had read anything = written by=20 Treitschke, Nietzsche or Bernhardi.

Tannenberg had more readers and a greater following, although he, of = course,=20 expresses only the aspirations of the Pan-Germans. But he presents = concrete=20 positions which any one can understand.

For instance, the German merchant looking at Tannenberg's book and = seeing the=20 map of South America coloured with almost universal German domination, = smiles=20 and approves, for he thinks German trade will swallow that rich = continent and=20 clever laws and regulations will exclude the imports of all other = nations.

In some aspects Tannenberg foresaw what is happening to-day when he = says,=20 "The Finns have been waiting a long time to detach themselves from the = Great=20 Russians, their hereditary enemies."

But in the main, in his sketch of the war to which he looked forward, = he=20 failed to predict accurately[183] the attitude of the world. His = predictions=20 represent many of the dead hopes of the Pan-Germans, those Germans who = believe=20 it is the right and duty of Germany to conquer all.

Prophesying war between Germany on one side and France and Russia on = the=20 other, Tannenberg believed that more confusion and resistance to war = than=20 actually occurred would come in Bohemia and Poland following the order = for=20 mobilisation in the Slav parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He = mistakenly=20 wrote also that Japan would declare war on Russia, a belief shared by = the=20 torchlight paraders of Berlin in August, 1914.

Tannenberg thought Italy would declare war on France. He was wrong in = his=20 confidence that France was decadent, wrong in believing that England and = the=20 United States would only talk but would not fight, yet right in his = belief that=20 revolution would break out in Russia. In fact, I think that for years = after the=20 Franco-Russian Alliance, Germany was preparing a Russian revolution to = break out=20 on whatever day the Russian troops were ordered to their colours. He = says that=20 France will be so thoroughly defeated that the "war ought not to leave = her more=20 than eyes to cry with."

I am afraid that while many eyes will cry in France, through the = breadth of=20 Germany there will be but few homes where eyes will not weep over the = casualties=20 of war, for which cruel, crazy dreamers of world empire, like = Tannenberg, are=20 largely responsible.

For Tannenberg's dream, the dream of the autocracy[184] and of the = Pan-Germanists, is to give=20 to Germany most of South America, a great part of Africa, of Asia, the = great=20 islands north of Australia, including those of the Dutch; with Holland = and=20 Belgium part of the German Empire as well as the Baltic provinces, and a = share=20 of the French colonies to be divided with England.

The share of the United States for standing by and agreeing to the = robbery=20 was to be, according to Tannenberg, a protectorate over Mexico and = Central=20 America.

Mexicans who were offered Texas and New Mexico by Zimmermann should = read this=20 Pan-Germanistic book in which all of Mexico is generously bestowed on = us.

And I wish that Tannenberg's book could be read by every public man = in South=20 America=97that South America in which the Argentine, Chile, Paraguay, = Uruguay, the=20 southern parts of Brazil and Bolivia are, according to Tannenberg, to = come under=20 the protectorate of Germany. Latin-American publicists should inquire = from the=20 inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina how long it is before a = "protectorate" is=20 transmuted into a conquered country. Tannenberg does speak for a great = party in=20 Germany. The children's school books show German "colonies" in Southern=20 Brazil.

As Sainte Beuve said, there is a fashion in intellect. The German = to-day is=20 essentially practical, cold, cynical, and calculating. The poetry and = the=20 Christmas trees, the sentiment and sentimentality, remain like the = architectural=20 monuments of a vanished[185] race, mere reminders of the kindlier = Germany that=20 once was, the Germany of our first impressions, the Germany that many = once=20 loved. But that Germany has long since disappeared, buried beneath the = spiked=20 helmets of Prussianism, and another intellect is in vogue.

That older, kindlier Germany was the nation tempered and softened by = the=20 suffering of the Napoleonic wars. After the battle of Jena, where = Napoleon=20 rubbed the face of Prussia in the mud of defeat, there came on Germany = that=20 period of privation which left its impress so deeply on the German as to = make=20 thrift his first characteristic. A spirit of lofty, self-sacrificing = patriotism=20 imbued the whole people. Young girls cut off their long golden hair to = be sold=20 for the Fatherland. Jewels were given by all who possessed them. "Gold = gab ich=20 f=FCr Eisen" (I gave gold for iron) became a saying based on the = readiness with=20 which the rich made sacrifices to the cause of country. And with this=20 patriotism, and with this penury, came into every home a more intimate = family=20 life, a greater earnestness, a deeper religious sentiment, a turning = towards the=20 idealistic side of life; but all was changed by the successful wars of = Prussia=20 that gave Prussia the leadership, the right to rule Germany. Then, with = the end=20 of the Franco-Prussian war, came a period of material prosperity, the = rush of=20 the population to the cities, and the building of great manufactories, = of=20 enormous shipping interests, of powerful banking institutions, of trusts = and=20 combinations which marked the Germany of 1914.[186]

The fashion in intellect had changed, and the grasping, successful = Prussian=20 of 1914 was far removed from the ruined, chastened Prussian of 1810.

Nations, like individuals, change in character with the stress of = life. From=20 1810, the period of a sorrowing Germany, to 1914 is one hundred and four = years.=20 The same number of years subtracted from the year 1796, when our new = Republic=20 was firmly established, and when George Washington made his noble = farewell=20 address, brings us to 1692, when nineteen persons were legally hanged, = charged=20 with witchcraft in Massachusetts, and when in that State Giles Cory = perished=20 under the awful torture, judicially applied, known as the "peine forte = et=20 dure."

Dernburg and Professor Hans Delbr=FCck (the latter not to be confused = with the=20 disgraced, pig-slaughtering, ex-Vice-Chancellor), in their petition = against the=20 annexation of Belgium, showed a most reasonable spirit, and signing this = petition with them were many of the great men and great minds of = Germany. But=20 their movement was a failure in Germany itself. Their campaign of reason = could=20 make no headway against the "League of Six"=97the six great iron and = steel=20 companies of the West, who, with their paid lansquenets of the press and = hired=20 accelerators of public opinion, clamour for annexation so that they may = rivet=20 the chains of their industrial monopoly on the whole continent of = Europe.[187]

The Conservatives and Junkers, on the other hand, favour annexations = to the=20 East; especially do they eye greedily the Baltic provinces where great = estates=20 are in the hands of landowners of German blood. What a reinforcement to = the=20 conservative cause would these Junkers of the Baltic be and, in the = Conservative=20 view, if there are to be annexations in the West which would increase = the number=20 of industrial subjects and, undoubtedly social democrats, there must be = a=20 balancing accession of agricultural interest on the Eastern = frontier.

The only cloud in the serene blue sky of Junker hopes is the fact = that=20 annexations in Poland would add to the number of Roman Catholics and, = therefore,=20 to the power of the Centrum or Roman Catholic party. Hence the desire to = make of=20 Poland an independent kingdom, but one controlled by the Central = Empires.

The Poles are more at ease, having been given more liberty, under = Austrian=20 than under Prussian rule, and hence the tendency is to put Poland under = Austrian=20 rule. The Prussians do not object to this because it does not matter = whether=20 Prussia controls Poland directly or through Prussia's control of = Austria, now,=20 alas, only too apparent.

But the principal aim of the nobles and the landed aristocracy of = Germany,=20 followed by their host of office-holders and dependents, is to keep the = "graft,"=20 to hold the offices, civil and military, filled so long by these old = Prussian=20 families.

The von Lachnows, to imagine a typical Junker family, hold one = thousand acres=20 of land in Brandenburg.[188] The head of the house, Baron von = Lachnow, was=20 Minister to Sweden. After having held as a young man a position of = Secretary of=20 Legation, he left the diplomatic service to fight with his old regiment, = the=20 Gleiwitz Hussars, through the Franco-Prussian War. He then returned to = the=20 diplomatic service in which he finally attained the rank of Minister to = Sweden.=20 He now lives on his estate of Lachnow, with a pension as ex-minister. On = great=20 occasions he appears at the Royal Palace, resplendent in uniform, = wearing the=20 Orders of the Red Eagle and Prussian Crown with the Cross of the = Johannis Order.=20 His total income from pensions and estate is about ten thousand dollars = a year.=20 The oldest son, Baron Karl Friederich, after serving in his father's = regiment,=20 resigned and entered the diplomatic service and is now second secretary = of the=20 legation in Buenos Aires. He married there the daughter of a rich cattle = owner.=20 The second son, Baron Johann, is now Police President of the city of = Schelsau,=20 after having been district attorney in an industrial district where he=20 distinguishes himself by his prosecution of the social democrats. He = married the=20 daughter of the rich manufacturing proprietor Schulz, who sells, = wholesale,=20 little statuettes on the Ritterstrasse in Berlin. Baron August is in the = army,=20 detailed to the General Staff and with a great future before him. Baron = Max is=20 now out of a job. While on his vacation the colony, in which he was = secretary to=20 the Governor, was captured by the British, and so at the outbreak of the = war he=20 assumed his old uniform of First Lieutenant in the[189] Gleiwitz Hussars and was = given=20 command of the prison camp at Schluttenberg, where he has won = distinction for=20 his severity with British prisoners. Baron Ernst is in the navy. This is = considered rather a come-down by the family, as the navy, unlike the = army, is=20 not aristocratic. He has great hopes of marrying the only daughter of = Von Blitz,=20 who owns a splendid estate in Silesia. One of the daughters, Hilda, is = married=20 to Count Wenharp, owner of a beautiful estate in Pomerania, and the = other to=20 Hochlst, who is judge of the law court in Holstein and who owns the = Rittergut=20 (or manor) of Klein Spassberg, near Kiel.

VIEWS = OF A=20 TYPICAL HOLSTEIN COUNTRY HOME OWNED BY A JUNKER COUNTRY NOBLEMAN

The estate of Lachnow is perfectly flat ground. The road to = Brandenburg runs=20 through the estate and village, the houses of which front directly on = the road.=20 This road in the village is paved with rough cobblestones. The house of = the von=20 Lachnows almost touches the road, from which it is separated by an old = stone=20 wall. One side is on a square, cobblestoned courtyard, formed by the = great=20 barns, stables and sheds which surround the other three sides of the = square. The=20 house and all the barns are built of rough stone. The house is built on = the plan=20 of a piece of Castile soap, walls and roof and nothing more. Inside = there are a=20 dining-room, two parlours and an office-den for the master, upstairs = bedrooms,=20 opening on a long hall; no bathrooms, no conveniences, even the water is = brought=20 in by the maids from the well in the centre of the court. The furniture = is old=20 and plain. The family does not keep an automobile, but two horses[190] draw a = dog cart to=20 the station and take the family on visits to the neighbouring = aristocracy. The=20 driver is the sexton of the village church on these occasions. On the = two sides=20 of the house away from the main road and the square of barns there is a = park of=20 about ten acres. Here are a few evergreens and gravel paths and a pond = where=20 some enormous carp excite the wonder of the village children.

Baroness Lachnow is renowned for her devotion to the four K's. No one = has a=20 better stock of household linen, all made by her, her daughters and her = maids,=20 in the whole Mark. She superintends every household detail and holds the = keys to=20 closets and wine cellar.

Of course, the family does not associate with the schoolmaster and = the=20 Lutheran minister of the village, but they speak very kindly to them and = the=20 Baron once interested himself in obtaining a long service decoration for = the=20 schoolmaster.

The von Lachnows live on their estate the year round, except for two = weeks in=20 February when they go to Berlin to a cheap hotel and attend one of the = court=20 balls. The Baroness never spends more than three hundred and fifty = dollars a=20 year on her clothes, although when in Sweden, as a Minister's wife she = spent=20 more. The Baron and Baroness sometimes condescend to dine with the = father-in-law=20 of their son, a manufactory proprietor, at his handsome apartment on the = Kurfuerstendamm in Berlin, but Schultz, in spite of his four million = marks and=20 growing business, is made to feel[191] the wide gulf that separates him from = the=20 nobility.

Baron Lachnow farms his own estate. His farm superintendent is von = Treslow,=20 once an officer in the Gleiwitz Hussars, who was compelled to resign = because of=20 a crippled arm, badly broken in a steeplechase. This taciturn, soured=20 individual, on the outbreak of war, was given a place as commander of a = village=20 way station near the West Front, where his cruelties to the French = inhabitants=20 will long be remembered.

Food is very simple. The family drink beer except on great occasions, = but the=20 Baron drinks Moselle at the midday meal and a red wine in the evening. = The=20 recreation is shooting and visits to the neighbours.

Such a visit is a great event, arranged by letter beforehand. The von = Lachnows drive to visit the von Seltows eighteen miles away. They arrive = in time=20 for lunch, when much wine is drunk. After this the women gossip over = their fancy=20 work and the men visit the stable, discuss crop prices and inspect the = host's=20 collection of horse flesh. The family photographs are inspected and = Count=20 Reventlow's latest article abusing the Americans is discussed and the = belief=20 suggested that a democratic people without King or Kaiser or nobility = cannot be=20 organised for war. The Social Democrats are condemned and the story = gleefully=20 told of how the son of von Seltow cut down a Social Democrat who was = slow in=20 getting out of his way.

I can understand the feelings of the von Lachnows, the imaginary, = typical=20 Prussian family of[192] the ruling class which I have pictured = for you.=20 If Germany should be democratised, what place would be left for them? = The=20 offices of the government thrown open to all classes in fair elections, = places=20 in the army and navy and diplomacy open to competition in great = academies like=20 West Point and Annapolis. Deprived of the aroma of power given now by = diplomatic=20 or military place and noble birth in the caste system, the sons and = daughters=20 could no longer make rich marriages with the sons and daughters of the = rich=20 business men and manufacturers. No more would the civil offices of = Prussia be=20 open only to appointments among the noble or Junker class.

I do not blame the von Lachnows because they fight tooth and nail for = the=20 retention of their old privileges=97because they endeavour to hold the = common=20 people in a serfdom almost as complete as that of the Dark Ages. The = dawn of=20 constitutional government will be their twilight, the twilight of the = Gods of=20 militarism, of privilege, and of caste. Prussian autocracy made the war = in a=20 last desperate endeavour to bribe the people into continued = submission.

The only excuse for the existence of the Prussian ruling class = to-day, as=20 much out of place as chain armour or robber barons, is its supposed = honesty and=20 efficiency; but no class which has brought this war on the German people = can be=20 described as competent; no sane governing class would have plunged into=20 disastrous war a country that by peaceful penetration, by thrift and=20 manufacture,[193]=20 and financial and commercial ability was in process of acquiring much of = the=20 wealth of the world.

The first aim of German autocracy is to keep its own political = position at home.

Second=97To obtain as much of the territory of other nations, = as great=20 an influence in unconquered lands, as possible.

Third=97To make peace now, but only if that peace is a German = peace, a=20 peace which can be called and advertised and proclaimed as a German = victory.

More particularly, Germany now looks to the East. In the so-called = Baltic=20 provinces of Russia the lands to a great extent are owned by Russian = subjects of=20 German blood. The peasants are poor, servile, without education or = property, an=20 ideal field for the advance of autocracy. It is hoped to either annex = these=20 provinces boldly or to establish protectorates, which, sooner or later, = at an=20 opportune moment, will fall into German hands=97just as Austria gained = the consent=20 of Europe to a protectorate over Bosnia and Herzegovina and then = suddenly added=20 them to the domains of the Hapsburgs.

The German propagandists have long been working on the people of that = part of=20 Russia known as the Ukraine. If the Ukraine can be made a separate = protectorate=20 or a semi-independent state, some day it will be easily absorbed. The = autocracy=20 has the same hope about Lithuania, at one time semi-independent. There, = too, the=20 propagandists have worked on Lithuania=97all these provinces, of course, = differing=20 slightly from the races surrounding[194] and all with a semi-independent = history, as, for=20 instance, Courland.

But all these races should think twice before they accept a momentary = independence, if that autonomy is to lead them under the Prussian yoke. = Whether=20 that yoke is easy to bear or not is best answered by the Danes, = Alsatians, Poles=20 and Lorrainers who have been forcibly incorporated in the Kingdom of=20 Prussia.

But greatest prize of all is the commercial control of Russia which = the=20 autocracy hopes to win for its merchant class. Time and again I was told = in=20 Germany that a separate peace with Russia was near and that the = exploitation of=20 Russia by the enterprising German merchants, in a short time, would = repay=20 Germany for all the losses of the war.

Would it not seem extraordinary if the language of business and = commerce of=20 the United States were French? But to-day in Russia and for years back = the=20 language of commercial business intercourse has been German. A great = beginning,=20 a great foundation it is for the eventual control, not only of the = business, but=20 the political structure of Russia. If the Germans at war with Russia = have been=20 able to split, revolutionise and divide it and put their representatives = in=20 control, what will they not be able to accomplish when peace shall bring = them=20 full liberty to circulate freely in that rich but ignorant country.

In the end, all classes in Russia will demand a strong government, = and if no=20 military dictator, no Russian Napoleon has taken in his hands the = reins[195] of = government, then=20 the German Kaiser will stand by ready to whisper to the torn people of = Russia,=20 as Napoleon III did to the French, "My Empire is Peace!"

But even if Germany evacuates France and restores the complete = independence=20 of Belgium, even if no territories are gained to the East, or = protectorates or=20 independent states carved from the body of Russia to be a later prey of = Germany,=20 Germany will have won=97if from Bremen to Bagdad German influence or = actual German=20 rule is predominant in Middle Europe, the Great Central State, where the = cotton=20 of Mesopotamia, and the coal and iron of Westphalia, the copper of = Servia, the=20 oil and grain of Roumania all will contribute to the manufacturer of = Germany,=20 who, in turn, will sell his goods in that vast territory. And best of = all in=20 autocratic view, the man power of the Central Empires will be so = increased that=20 at a propitious moment, in a characteristic sudden assault, the armies = of the=20 Central Empires will invade and conquer Palestine, Egypt and India, and = take=20 what they will in Africa and Asia, while British, Japanese, and American = and=20 French navies impotently rage in useless control of the high seas.

CHAPTER XV[196]

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY=97THE KAISER'S VASSAL STATE

Few=20 people in America perhaps realise how completely Austria-Hungary is = under the=20 domination of Germany and Kaiserism. There are those who think that the = hand of=20 the Vienna Government was forced by Berlin when the ultimatum to Serbia = was=20 answered so reasonably by the little country to the south, but there can = be no=20 doubt that Austria has been ever since under the yoke of the German = General=20 Staff.

And because the first break, the first glimpse of reasonable peace = will in=20 turn be forced on Germany by sorely tried Austria-Hungary, bent by war = and bowed=20 by debt, it is well to study a little the races and assess the = influences of=20 that unfortunate land.

My wife's sister married a Hungarian Count, a member of the Hungarian = House=20 of Lords, and I have met many of the political leaders and magnates of = that=20 country on my trips there.

The Germans of Austria are handsomer, more attractive but far less = efficient=20 than their bloody brethren from the cold, wind-swept plains of Prussia. = They=20 have acquired a slight touch of the Oriental and something of the = ma=F1ana=20 (to-morrow)[197] of=20 the Spaniards, a heritage, perhaps, of the days when Spain and Austria = were so=20 closely connected by Hapsburg rule.

In the presence of an Austrian one feels his charm instead of the = aggressive=20 personality which is Prussian. Undoubtedly the Prussians counted on the = good=20 nature of the southern Germans, Hungarians, Poles and Slavs in their = insidious=20 campaign to make these peoples, practically, if not in name, subject and = tributary to Prussian rule. The Prussian propagandist has brought them = face to=20 face with a new Kaiserism.

Shortly after the war a great number of Austrian professors of German = blood=20 issued a manifesto demanding closer union with Germany=97a prelude to = the plots=20 being hatched in Berlin against Hapsburg rule.

The Court of Austria is quite different from that of Berlin; no = modern ideas=20 during the reign of Francis Joseph disturbed his medieval outlook.

The beautiful Empress of Austria, who was assassinated by an = anarchist in=20 Switzerland, was probably insane. At any rate, for many years she lived = apart=20 from the Emperor, devoted to hunting and horses, going often as far as = Ireland=20 for her favourite sport and seldom appearing in Vienna. Francis Joseph, = however,=20 was consoled by an ex-actress, Frau Kathie Schratt, whom he visited = daily and=20 who occupied a position in Vienna almost as powerful as that of the = mistresses=20 of Louis XIV. Even in this very war when Frau Schratt established a = hospital,=20 she was photographed in the centre[198] of a group of women all occupied at = this hospital=20 and all holding the highest rank at the Austrian Court. The instant the = old=20 Emperor died, however, her power, influence and prestige disappeared and = I=20 imagine that her titled and high born helpers were not long in deserting = the=20 hospital wards over which she had presided.

That extraordinary Empire known as the Austrian Hungarian Dual = Monarchy is=20 less an Empire or a Kingdom or a State than the personal property of the = Hapsburgs, whose hereditary talent for the acquisition of land is = recorded on=20 the map of Europe to-day.

For centuries this royal family by treaty, by intrigue, by war, = purchase and=20 marriage has been adding to its dominions, bringing under its personal = rule=20 races who do not understand each other's language and who differ widely = in=20 customs, intellectual attainments and religion.

The last acquisition of territory by the house of Hapsburg was in the = year=20 1908, when the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office boldly declared that = Bosnia and=20 Herzegovina, placed under the protectorate of Austria-Hungary by the = Treaty of=20 Berlin in 1878, had been annexed to the Empire. The German Kaiser, = standing by=20 like a watching accomplice while the burglary was in progress, = threatened a=20 general European war if any nations protested.

At a time when Prussia was a struggling state, Austria was the = dominant power=20 in Central Europe, but the one battle of Sadowa in 1866 settled for[199] ever = the question of=20 supremacy and the German States like Bavaria, Saxony, W=FCrtemburg, = etc., which=20 stood with Austria in that war, after receiving a sound beating, ranged=20 themselves on the side of the victor and, in 1870, joined in acclaiming = the King=20 of Prussia as the First German Emperor.

That event settled the question of leadership in Central Europe and = the dream=20 of the Emperor Frederick who died about the time of the discovery of = America. It=20 was he who wrote the famous anagram on the vowels A, E, I, O, U.

In upper and lower Austria, so-called, there are about twelve million = German=20 Austrians. This territory is comparatively small and in it lies the city = of=20 Vienna. To the north and northeast lie Bohemia and Moravia, the country = of the=20 Tchechs or Szechs of Slavic blood. These people together number about = six=20 million. Prague is the capital of Bohemia, while in Moravia there is no = great=20 city. For centuries these peoples have been oppressed by the Austrians = and in=20 the Hussite rebellion the lands of Bohemia and Moravia were parcelled = out to the=20 Austrian nobles as well as to the warlike adventurers who had joined the = Austrian armies.

With extraordinary obstinacy and patriotism these peoples cling to = their old=20 language and customs.[200] They have suffered much during this war = and many=20 tales are told of the shooting of all of the officers of Tchech = regiments and=20 the execution of every tenth man among the privates.

It is a bit of poetic justice that the town of Bethlehem in = Pennsylvania,=20 where my friend Schwab is making so much war material to be used against = the=20 Central Powers, was founded by fugitives, who, rebelling against = oppression,=20 left Moravia in search of liberty.

North of the Carpathians lies Galicia, a Polish country, with Lemberg = and=20 Krakow as its capitals, and in the eastern part the Ruthenians, a race = identical=20 with the Russians. These Ruthenians number upwards of four million.

It is a peculiar fact that in the curious Dual Monarchy each race = oppresses=20 some other. The Ruthenians complain that they are oppressed by the = Poles. The=20 kingdom of Hungary lies to the east of Austria containing in its twenty = million=20 inhabitants about ten million Magyars, who are the dominant race and who = in turn=20 rule over a population of one and one-half million Ruthenians, two and = one-half=20 million Slovacks or Tchecks, three million Roumanians in the = southeastern=20 portion and about three million of the race now known as Jugo-Slavs. Of = these=20 Jugo-Slavs about two million are in that part of the Dual Monarchy under = Austrian rule. These are the principal divisions of peoples. A Slavish = race=20 differing somewhat from the others is in the mountains to the east of = Hungary=20 where much fighting has taken place in[201] the last war known as Boukovina. In the = southeastern part of Hungary there is a German speaking country, known = as=20 Siebenburgen, where live the descendants of a German colony planted = about two=20 centuries ago.

In Styria, in the mountainous districts of Austria to the west of = Hungary,=20 lives a race differing again from all the others, a mountain race = supposed to be=20 eaters of arsenic, a drug which they believe gives them a good = complexion and=20 stamina for mountain climbing. It is said that the bodies of these = arsenic=20 eaters remain undecomposed for a long time. And from this part of the = world=20 comes the curious superstition of the existence of human vampires.

Slovenes, and Jews, Carinthians and inhabitants of Carniola, Serbs = living=20 like Moslems in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italians in Trieste and the=20 Trient=97all make up the strange Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

The union between Austria and Hungary is a personal union. The = Emperor of=20 Austria is King of Hungary. Only in four particulars are the Empire and = the=20 Kingdom united, namely, a joint administration of the army and navy, of=20 diplomatic affairs and of such finances as are connected with joint = expenditures=20 for these purposes.

In 1848 Hungary sought to break away from Austria. Kossuth heroically = led the=20 Hungarians against their Austrian masters, only to be beaten in the end = because=20 of the advent of the Russians, because one autocrat came to the aid of=20 another.[202]

Since then, by superior political talents and taste for intrigue, the = Magyars=20 have not only held the Slovaks, Roumanians, etc., of their own country = in=20 political subjection, but have held much of the power in the Dual = Monarchy.=20 Their danger lies, however, in the predominance of German influence; and = some=20 day the gay, easy-going, pleasant Hungarians may awake to find the = Prussian=20 Eitel Fritz seated on their throne and to learn what Prussian efficiency = means=20 when applied to those whom Germans consider an inferior people.

The twelve million Austrian Germans differ much in character from the = Prussians. They are far more polite, far more agreeable, far more fond = of=20 amusement of all kinds. Indeed it is because of their pleasant personal=20 characteristics that so many other nations have been content to remain = under=20 their rule. In no city of the world is the mass of the population as = fond of=20 pleasure as in Vienna. The best light operas come from that city. Vienna = is the=20 original home of the waltz. The "Blue Danube" was composed on the shores = of the=20 river which flows through the Austrian capital.

The dominant religion of the German Empire is Protestant, but in the = Dual=20 Monarchy it is Roman Catholic among the ruling Germans in Austria and = Magyars in=20 Hungary.

In Austria and in Hungary most of the land is held in great estates. = The=20 peasants, as in Germany, sometimes own a few strips of land near their = miserable=20 villages. Possession of land is necessary to the standing of any noble. = In=20 Hungary, for example,[203] no noble sits in the house of Magnates = or House=20 of Lords unless he is the owner of a certain amount of land.

Once across the Hungarian border, one sees the people taking a = certain=20 delight in refusing to understand German. The names of the railway = stations are=20 in Hungarian, and the uniforms of station officials, conductors, etc., = differ=20 from those in Austria. Every effort is made by the population to = emphasise the=20 fact that Hungary is an independent kingdom, joined to Austria by = personal rule=20 alone.

There is no melting pot in this part of the world. In the Lower House = of the=20 Hungarian parliament sit forty-three Croatian delegates, Croatia being = that part=20 of southwestern Hungary near the Adriatic where the inhabitants are of = Slav=20 blood. By the Hungarian constitution those delegates have the right to = speak in=20 the Hungarian parliament in their own language and so from time to time = a=20 Croatian delegate arises in his place and delivers an ambitious harangue = in=20 Croatian, understood by no one except his fellow delegates who already = know what=20 he intends to talk about. This is only one example of how these peoples = cling=20 tenaciously to their language and national rights.

It is possible to find in Hungary an Hungarian village, a German = village, a=20 Slav village and a Roumanian village, all within a short distance of = each other.=20 Men from each of these villages after one month in the United States = throw aside=20 their national costume and buy their clothes in the same Bowery shop, = eat the=20 same food and send their children[204] to the same public school not only = without=20 protest, but with eagerness, whereas, in Hungary, not one of the = inhabitants of=20 these different villages would think of abandoning his national traits = to learn=20 the language of his German neighbours.

Because commands are given in German in the armies of the Dual = Monarchy all=20 the male population, at least during the term of their military service, = have=20 been compelled to learn some German. But this they forget as soon as = possible=20 when they return from their period of military service.

Many members of these races go to America and after working there a = short=20 time amass enough money to return to Austria-Hungary and purchase a = small piece=20 of land,=97the ambition of every one born of the soil.

One of the sons of Prince Lichtenstein told me that a friend who was = running=20 for the Hungarian Lower House in a district of Hungary largely inhabited = by=20 Slavs, spoke in Hungarian and, finding that his audience did not = understand him,=20 tried German. Finally, when matters had come to a standstill, some one = in the=20 back of the room called out to him, asking if he spoke English. The = candidate=20 answered that he did. Whereupon the crowd told him to speak English = which nearly=20 all understood, and so the Hungarian, a candidate for parliament in = Hungary, was=20 forced, in order to be understood, to address his Hungarian electors in = the=20 language which they had learned in America.

Franz Ferdinand, whose murder at Sarajevo was used by the Central = Powers as a=20 pretext for a war[205] determined on long before that time, = was the heir=20 to the throne of the late Francis Joseph. He was a romantic character. = He=20 visited frequently at the house of Archduchess Isabella, where Countess = Chotek,=20 of a Bohemian noble family, was a lady in waiting. Franz Ferdinand fell=20 violently in love with the fair Bohemian, and in his desire to marry, = enlisted=20 the aid of Koloman Szell, Premier of Hungary. Szell told friends how = Franz=20 Ferdinand loved mystery and how, when he wanted to talk to him about = marriage=20 plans, instead of meeting somewhere openly in Vienna, would arrange that = Szell's=20 train should stop in the open fields. Szell, on alighting and following=20 directions, would find Franz Ferdinand hiding behind a designated = haystack.

In a country where one royal family not only rules but owns the land, = this=20 attempt of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, then heir to the throne, and mad = with love,=20 to marry Countess Sophie Chotek, lady in waiting to Archduchess = Isabella, caused=20 a palace revolution. By the aid of Szell he at last succeeded in = carrying out=20 the marriage. But this was only after he and his wife had been required = to=20 submit to the most humiliating conditions and subscribe to a marriage = contract=20 or promise which was not only enacted thereafter as a statute in = Hungary, but=20 was formally put on record by the Austrian parliament.

In this declaration, Franz Ferdinand declared it to be "his firm and = resolute=20 resolve to marry Countess Sophie Chotek, that he had sought, in = accordance with=20 the laws of the house, to obtain[206] consent of the Imperial and Royal = Apostolic=20 Majesty, the Emperor and King, Francis Joseph I, gloriously reigning, = that the=20 most serene, supreme head of the Arch house had deigned graciously to = grant this=20 permission and that Franz Ferdinand, however (describing himself as = 'We'),=20 recognise the house laws and declare them binding on Us particularly = with regard=20 to this marriage declaration, that our Marriage with Countess Chotek is = not a=20 marriage of equal birth, but a morganatic one and is to be considered as = such=20 for all time, and that in consequence neither our wife nor our issue or=20 descendants is entitled to possess or claim those rights, titles, = armorial=20 bearings and privileges that belong to wives of equal birth and to = children of=20 archdukes or marriages of equal birth." Franz Ferdinand, further, = recognised=20 that his children from this marriage would have no right to succeed to = the=20 throne in the kingdoms and lands of Austria nor, consequently, to the = lands of=20 the Hungarian Crown and that they were excluded from the order of=20 succession.

He further agreed and promised not only for himself but for his wife = and=20 children, that none of them would ever attempt to revoke this = declaration.

The old Emperor gave the wife of Franz Ferdinand the title of = Princess=20 Hohenberg and later raised her to the rank of duchess which, in the = Central=20 Empires, is a higher rank than that of princess. She was also created a = Serene=20 Highness after the birth of her third child, Prince Ernest, in 1904. The = first=20 child, Princess Sophie, was born in 1901,[207] and the second, Prince Maximilian = Charles, in=20 1902.

In spite of the rank thus granted to her, the Duchess of Hohenberg = was=20 frequently slighted by Archdukes and Archduchesses of the House of = Hapsburg, and=20 when the present Emperor, the Archduke Charles Francis Joseph, married = Princess=20 Zita of Bourbon-Parma, in 1911, and this marriage was followed by the = birth of a=20 son, on November 20, 1912, it was plain to Franz Ferdinand and his wife = that the=20 hostility of the old Emperor and the other members of the House of = Hapsburg,=20 aided by events, had succeeded in definitely excluding his children by = Countess=20 Sophie from the throne.

These slights to his wife, so marked as to cause the publication of = articles=20 inspired by himself in a newspaper devoted to his interests, and the = birth of=20 the heir to Carl, must have had a profound influence on melancholy Franz = Ferdinand.

In all Europe there was one monarch clever enough to take advantage = of the=20 situation, to win Franz Ferdinand to him by the honours he paid to the = Duchess=20 of Hohenberg,=97the German Emperor. Kaiser Wilhelm invited the pair to = Potsdam and=20 there both were made to feel that in one court, at least, the honours = due to a=20 wife of equal birth were paid to the ex-Countess Sophie. This Potsdam = visit was=20 in 1909, and I believe that, thereafter, the German Emperor and Franz = Ferdinand=20 met on other occasions.

In the chapter on Emperor Wilhelm, I have stated the belief = prevalent, even=20 in Germany, that he intended[208] as his first step towards his openly = expressed=20 ambition for world dominion, to make himself, on the death of Francis = Joseph,=20 Emperor of a Great Continental Empire in which the German Princes, his = sons,=20 should occupy the thrones of Hungary and Bohemia, the heir of the House = of=20 Austria to rule as king or grand duke of Austria with possibly another = German=20 ruled kingdom touching the sea on the south.

There are some who believe that when the Kaiser, accompanied by von = Tirpitz,=20 visited Franz Ferdinand at Konopisht in June, 1914, before the Kiel = week, that a=20 great conspiracy was entered into, in which it was arranged that a great = Central=20 Empire should be created with one of the sons of the Duchess of = Hohenberg on the=20 throne of Bohemia and the other provided for by some newly carved out = kingdom=20 made from Bosnia, or a portion of Serbia. And it may have been part of = this plot=20 that Eitel Fritz and other sons of the Kaiser should be provided with = thrones=20 derived from Balkan territory.

It will be remembered that as Franz Ferdinand and his wife fell under = the=20 assassin's bullet at Sarajevo he called out: "Sophie, live for our = children!"=20 His devotion to his wife and to their children was extraordinary. He was = continually sparing from his income so that on his death his sons would = have a=20 large sum of money, saved from the income of estates which they could = not=20 inherit.

It is hard to believe that such a crime against the House of Hapsburg = and=20 against his own country[209] was contemplated from the inside of = royalty. But=20 one event seems a confirmation of this theory. The dead Franz Ferdinand = and his=20 wife were buried with such lack of honour, almost with such contempt, as = to lead=20 to the belief that the head of the House of Hapsburg, Emperor Francis = Joseph=20 himself, without whose directions the Chamberlain, Count Montenuovo, = would not=20 have dared to act, discovered his heir in some act against the laws or = fortunes=20 of the Imperial House.

For the funeral arrangements were such, that the Austrian and = Hungarian=20 aristocracy were moved to protest and as a result a belated order was = issued=20 directing that the troops of the Vienna Garrison should take part in the = funeral=20 ceremonies. About one hundred and fifty members of the leading families = of=20 Hungary and Austria, without invitation, entered the funeral procession = and=20 followed the bodies to the railway station. The London Times=20 correspondent called attention to this in cables to his newspaper at the = time.

Personally, I do not incline to this view, but I do believe that at = Konopisht=20 the war of 1914 was finally agreed on. Too many bits of evidence point = to this=20 and from something said to me at Kiel by a very high personage, before = the=20 assassinations at Sarajevo, I would have guessed that war was coming, = had it not=20 been impossible for me to believe that the world was to be plunged into = war=20 simply because the German people were restless under the rule of the=20 autocracy.

When the murders occurred at Sarajevo, all plans[210] had been laid for war and = the death=20 of Franz Ferdinand and the Duchess of Hohenberg merely gave another = excuse to=20 begin hostilities, after Austria, in the Council of Potsdam, had = ratified all=20 the arrangements made by the Emperor Wilhelm and Franz Ferdinand for the = European war. Undoubtedly the German Emperor used his influence with = Franz=20 Ferdinand and his wife in order to secure the former's aid in dragging = Austria=20 into the war,=97a war begun to win the dominion of the world.

How many in America have heard the name of Sophie Chotek? Yet the = ambitions=20 of this woman have done much to send to war the splendid youths who from = all the=20 ends of the earth gather in France to fight the fight of freedom.

The clever German Emperor, playing upon her ambitions, induced the = gloomy,=20 hated Franz Ferdinand to consent to the world war, and matters had gone = so far=20 that even the death of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand could not change the = situation nor turn the war party of Hungary and Austria from their = programme of=20 blood. Eighty-four years of age, the old Francis Joseph could only offer = a weak=20 defence to the martial insistence of Tisza, Premier of Hungary, and his = able=20 understrapper, Forgotsch, who represented him in the Foreign Office at = Vienna=20 and who undoubtedly is the man who drafted the forty-eight hour = ultimatum to=20 Servia.

Berliners say that although the German Emperor gave the Duchess of = Hohenberg=20 all the honours due to the wife of an Austrian Archduke, heir to[211] the = throne of the=20 Austrian Empire, he was careful not to bring her claims in direct = conflict with=20 any Prussian female Royalty and that on the first visit of Franz = Ferdinand and=20 his wife to Potsdam, when the doors of the banquet room were thrown = open, it was=20 seen that the Kaiser had skilfully placed all the guests at small = tables,=20 sitting at one with the Empress and his two guests. In this way he = prevented a=20 conflict of precedence and a possible scene with some Prussian royal=20 princess.

After one of these Potsdam visits, the Austrian government = appropriated three=20 hundred millions for new Skoda cannon and a great and unexpected = increase of the=20 navy was voted. In Austria itself it was seen that the German influence = was=20 dragging Austria-Hungary nearer and nearer to war.

Ferdinand disliked the Hungarians and in turn was hated by them. If = he had=20 attained the throne of the Empire, as his children could not inherit, he = would=20 have endeavoured first to remove that obstacle, but if he had not = succeeded he=20 intended, as I have said, either to restore the kingdom of Bohemia and = place his=20 son, child of a Bohemian mother, on the newly created throne, or create, = possibly from conquered lands, another kingdom over which his heir could = reign.

The Magyars, the real Hungarian ruling race, are most skilful = politicians.=20 Their elections often are corrupt and all the tricks of the politician = are in=20 use in Hungary.

In many families political talent seems hereditary. Tisza, the = Premier of=20 Hungary for the period[212] for some time before the war, was the = son of=20 Tisza, who was Premier of Hungary about the year 1875. Kossuth, son of = the great=20 Kossuth, has been active in politics. The father of Count Julius = Andrassy was=20 Premier about 1866 and favoured Germany, a policy which has been = inherited by=20 his son. One of the sons-in-law of Count Andrassy's wife, Marquis = Pallavicini,=20 came to America to act as best man when my wife's sister married Count=20 Sigray.

Andrassy came to Berlin during the war where I had several long talks = with=20 him. The one desire of Hungarians and Austrians alike is for peace, but=20 surrounded by the armies of their German masters, they have lost their=20 independence of action, a bitter blow to the Magyars, who are not fond = of the=20 Germans.

Count Stephen Tisza is an obstinate and able man, so many sided that = it is=20 related of him that he fought a duel, rode a steeplechase and made a = great=20 speech in Parliament, all in one day.

Duelling is still a custom in Hungary, Austria and Germany. Once when = I was=20 in Hungary I took supper with a Count who had been second in a duel that = day.=20 One young Magnate was at a restaurant with an actress who wore a wide = brimmed=20 hat. Another young Magnate of his acquaintance looked under the hat brim = to see=20 who the girl was. Result: a duel with sabres in a riding school. On this = occasion, as the insult was not deadly, the use of sharp points was = forbidden.=20 The duel was stopped after one young Magnate received a cut on the=20 forehead.[213]

Stephen Tisza, on first taking office, was permitted by the old = Emperor to=20 obtain some apparent concessions for Hungary in order to make his = premiership=20 popular. It was arranged that Hungarian flags should be carried by = Hungarian=20 regiments, and that the officers of those regiments all should be = Hungarians,=20 but German was to be used as the military language and language of = command even=20 in the Hungarian regiments.

As soon as Tisza became premier for the first time, Count Apponyi = left the=20 Liberal party and lately Count Julius Andrassy and his wife's = sons-in-law, Count=20 Karoli and Marquis Pallavicini, have been in violent opposition to = Tisza,=20 Pallavicini even fighting a duel with the Prime Minister.

In a country where the majority of the inhabitants are Roman = Catholics it is=20 rather strange that Tisza and his father, both strong Protestants, = should have=20 attained the Premiership. The father of Count Stephen Tisza was even = more=20 obstinate than his son and greatly oppressed the Slovaks and Roumanians = within=20 the borders of Hungary.

A great responsibility lies at the door of Stephen Tisza. He allowed = the=20 Germans to use him in bringing on the world war. Doubtless he believed = that=20 Russia and the Powers would not move, that Austria-Hungary could seize = or invade=20 Serbia, while Germany terrorised the world as in 1908 when Bosnia and=20 Herzegovina were added to the Imperial dominions. But his failure to = read the=20 intentions of Russia and the other Powers is no excuse for the calamity = he=20 brought on Hungary and[214] the world, no excuse for the fact that = his=20 country is now overwhelmed by Kaiserism, its armies surrounded by the = armies of=20 Germany and its very independence threatened by the subtle influence and = intrigues of the master intriguer of the world,=97the German Kaiser.

The franchise in Austria and in Hungary is like that given grudgingly = to the=20 Prussian, a mere ghost of suffrage. Autocracy rules. In Hungary, = particularly=20 the Magyars, seeking to keep the political power in their hands, oppose = a=20 broadening of the franchise. Tisza has always been against any letting = down of=20 the bars, but when the young and brilliant Count Esterhazy was made = Premier,=20 many looked for a change=97a change which has, however, not yet = come.

The new Emperor Carl at first seemed to exhibit Liberal tendencies, = but only=20 for a moment.

The events in Russia will have a grave effect in Austria-Hungary. = More than a=20 million Russians are prisoners in the Dual Monarchy, nearly a million of = whose=20 subjects are in Russia=97and of these at least fifty thousand Czechs are = fighting=20 the Austrians and Germans in the ranks of the Roumanian army. Many more = will=20 refuse to leave Russia, but the coming back of one-half, after having = witnessed=20 the winning of liberty by the Russians, will influence their countrymen = in no=20 small degree. Just as the French soldiers under Lafayette and = Rochambeau, after=20 helping us gain our independence, returned from the free fields of = America to a=20 France where the burdens of the plain people were almost[215] unendurable and brought = on the great=20 French Revolution, the soldiers and prisoners who return to Prussia and = to=20 Austria-Hungary from the strange scenes of the Russian Revolution may, = perhaps,=20 leaven the inert slave masses of the Central Empires with a spirit of = revolt for=20 liberty.

We should institute a great propaganda from the Italian front. For = instance,=20 I have been told by a man who has been on that front, a man who should = know,=20 that if a few American troops were sent there and signs erected stating = "Come=20 over and surrender to the Americans, you will be taken to America well = fed and=20 paid a dollar per day when you volunteer to work," there would be a = great rush=20 of Austro-Hungarian troops eager to be taken prisoner.

The losses of Austria and Hungary have been enormous=97men up to = fifty-five=20 have been drafted for the army, and the troops have often suffered = defeat and=20 the horrors of retreat at the hands of Russians, Serbians, and = Italians.

And all the time the iron hand of the German Kaiser grasps more and = more of=20 the power. Cheerless prospect it is for the once gay Hungarians, the = once happy=20 Austrians, if to financial ruin and the killing of the flower of their = youth is=20 to be added the iron horror of Prussian domination.

Our citizens of Austrian and especially of Hungarian descent have = been loyal=20 to their new flag. And our great President with enlightened wisdom has = eased the=20 enemy alien regulations so as to favour those born in the Dual Monarchy. = America[216] will=20 never forget the loyalty, ungrudgingly given by those of her people born = under=20 the double eagle of the Hapsburgs.

In my many visits to Hungary I grew to like and admire the = Hungarians.=20 Natural in manners, hospitable, polite, there is something in them that = wins=20 Americans. How different the open hospitality and friendliness in = Budapest from=20 the stern, cold formality of the Prussian capital!

And with all friends of Hungary I hope that that country will soon = throw off=20 the trance of Prussianism, which has led the Dual Monarchy into a Dance = of=20 Death.

CHAPTER XVI[217]

GERMAN INFLUENCE ON THE NORTHERN NEUTRALS

Just=20 as I had the opportunity to study conditions in Austria, so also I came = in=20 contact with the politics and diplomacy of the nations contiguous to = Germany on=20 the north.

My grandfather, Benjamin F. Angel, was American Minister to Sweden = and Norway=20 and on leaving received from the King the Order of St. Olaf. I have = always taken=20 a deep interest in Scandinavian affairs and it behooves the American = people to=20 regard closely what is happening nowadays in Norway, Sweden and = Denmark.

The outbreak of the European War in 1914 served to bring the three = northern=20 nations close together. Their Kings met in conference and a peace = monument was=20 erected on the boundary of Norway and Sweden as if to proclaim to the = world that=20 in spite of their recent separation, Norway and Sweden were sister=20 countries.

The people of these three countries are of the same blood and their = languages=20 are somewhat similar. Norwegian and Danish written are practically the = same. But=20 there is quite a difference in pronunciation. Swedish is more like = German and=20 the pronunciation is not as difficult to learn as that[218] of Norwegian and Danish. = In Norway,=20 there are older dialects, differing from Danish, and there has lately = been a=20 great movement in favour of a more national language. Many Norwegians = regard the=20 official Danish-Norwegian as a reminder of old subjection to Denmark and = not at=20 all fitted for the new independent Norwegian kingdom. The new national = language=20 is called "Landsmaal."

Sweden and Norway were both under one king from 1814 to 1905. In that = year=20 after a peaceful secession, Prince Charles of Denmark, the son of the = King of=20 Denmark, was made the King of Norway, with the title of Haakon VII. = Although=20 both have kings, Denmark and Norway may be termed democratic = countries.

Copenhagen is lively since the war. The population of Denmark is only = 2,500,000 and the whole country is only 14,829 square miles, which means = an area=20 about the size of Maryland. The country was once larger but in 1864 = Prussia went=20 to war with Denmark and, finally, after the war with Austria in 1866, = added to=20 the Crown of Prussia the two Danish duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. = As the=20 city and port of Kiel were included in this territory annexed, it is = easy to see=20 why the Germans engaged in this enterprise against Denmark.

Denmark possesses the Faro Islands which lie far to north of = Scotland, the=20 great island of Iceland and Greenland, relics of the times when the = Viking ships=20 brought such terror to the other countries of Europe, that the Litany = used to=20 read: "From plague, pestilence and famine, from battle[219] and murder, from sudden = death and=20 from the fury of the Northmen, good Lord deliver us."

In Christiania we saw on our trip out two graceful Viking ships dug = out of=20 the clay shores of the coast in a state of fair preservation=97one of = them a=20 Princess's ship on which it was easy to imagine some blonde princess of = the=20 North, her long braids of golden hair flying in the wind, urging on her=20 Scandinavian oarsmen.

The Danes are a sturdy race, the women more independent than those of = other=20 countries. On the Frederick VIII, when we sailed from Denmark, = September=20 28, 1916, for the United States, were two handsome girls, nineteen and=20 twenty-one years of age, the daughters of the proprietor of the largest=20 department store in Copenhagen. They were going to America to find = employment in=20 department stores in the different cities of the country, travelling = entirely=20 alone, and expected to return to Denmark after a year's experience in = America=20 with many new ideas of management and advertising for their father in=20 Copenhagen. These girls were wonderfully educated, speaking in addition = to=20 Danish, French, German and English with hardly a trace of accent. They = lived a=20 short distance out of Copenhagen and told me that every morning of the = year they=20 jumped into the sea at six-thirty in the morning, something that I = should not=20 care to do even in August in that cold northern land.

Danish farmers learned early that in order to be prosperous they must = practise intensive farming. I believe that Denmark, which even before = the=20 war[220] enjoyed a=20 high degree of prosperity, is the only country in the world where there = are pig=20 sties steam-heated and electric lighted while the farmer himself does = not have=20 these luxuries.

Our farmers have much to learn from the farmers of Denmark both in=20 agricultural methods and in co-operation for the marketing of products. = The=20 reclamation of the Danish moors in Jutland has made surprising progress: = it is=20 in Jutland that a park has been preserved in its primeval state=97the=20 Danish-American Park, bought with money subscribed by Danish emigrants = to=20 America who prospered in their adopted land.

Ever since the conquest of Denmark by Germany, there has been a deep = hatred=20 of all things German in Denmark on account of the treatment of those = Danes,=20 numbering between one hundred and two hundred thousand, who were living = in=20 Schleswig and Holstein and were unfortunate enough to be turned over as = property=20 to the King of Prussia.

I found the Danes agreeable people. Of the same race as the Germans, = living=20 like them in the dark North, this difference in behaviour is perhaps = accounted=20 for by the fact that the Danes are free, while the Germans are oppressed = by the=20 weight of an ever present autocracy.

While the Danish people hate the Germans, officially Denmark is = careful to=20 conceal this hate and even, apparently, to lean towards the German side, = through=20 fear of the German troops, which could easily overrun Denmark in thirty=20 hours.

Denmark, during the war, received oil cake from[221] America, which was fed to = cattle=20 later sold to Germany. A great tonnage of fish has also been sent from = Denmark=20 to Germany while salt and potash have been imported. There is no = question but=20 that supplies of all kinds and in great quantities have found their way = across=20 the Danish border.

And the Danes have prospered enormously since the war. Many people = have=20 become millionaires through the sale of food and other supplies to the = Germans.=20 A great deal of this food supply was sent in the form of canned meat, = popularly=20 known as goulash, and so to-day whenever an automobile passes on a = Danish road,=20 the small boys call out "goulash Baron," in the belief that the occupant = is a=20 new-made millionaire, enriched by trade with Germany.

It is hard for us to realise how far north the Scandinavian countries = lie.=20 Christiania, the capital of Norway and in its southern part, is in the = same=20 latitude as the south point of Greenland; and is it not difficult to = imagine a=20 modern city situated in Greenland?

In Christiania it is not fairly daylight in December until ten in the = morning=20 and dark early in the afternoon. The ample water power of Norway and = Sweden=20 furnishes electric light, a godsend in the short dreary winter days.

Norway, in many respects, is one of the most = advanced=20 countries in the world. Having been ruled by Denmark for four hundred = years, it=20 was united to Sweden by the Treaty of Kiel, in 1814, with the[222] = approval of all the=20 Powers, but against the inclinations of the Norwegians, who knew that = they were=20 given to Sweden to compensate that country for the loss of Finland, = annexed to=20 Russia.

The ambitious Bernadotte arranged to govern Norway as king of that = country,=20 which was theoretically to retain its independence and be united to = Sweden only=20 through the personal rule of the one monarch.

At this time, the Norwegian Constitution provided that no more = personal=20 privileges should be granted and since then the progress of Norway = towards a=20 real democracy has been rapid. It was the conflict over the right = demanded by=20 the Norwegians to establish a separate consular service that led to the=20 dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, Norway = voting for=20 separation 368,211 to 184.

There are now no nobles in Norway. Shortly after the union it was = decided=20 that those who had titles of nobility could hold them for life, but that = their=20 descendants could not inherit.

Legislation for the protection of child workers, women, for = insurance, etc.,=20 is of an advanced character. For instance, no child under fourteen is = permitted=20 to work and no woman for six weeks after her confinement=97women = receiving full=20 sick benefit pay during this period. Many of the railways are state = owned.

Norway is a land of little farms, the shipping and fishing industries = occupy=20 many men, but with the exception of the water power driven nitrate = plants,[223] on the = coast, and=20 the wood-pulp factories, there is little manufacturing.

The mass of the people are with the Allies. Last winter, when it was = proposed=20 that a German concert troupe should play and sing in Christiania, the = people=20 threatened to burn the theatre if the performance was permitted.

But, as in Sweden, the German propagandists are at work in Norway. = Here=20 again, unless we present our case, the people may be turned from the = Allies.

King Gustavus V, who occupies to-day the throne of Sweden, has a = German wife.=20 All the sympathies of the court, which copies the little courts of = Germany, of=20 the aristocracy and of the army are strongly with Germany.

In Sweden, although the king has not much more power than the kings = of=20 Denmark and Norway, there is an aristocracy which inclines to imitate = the=20 manners of the German aristocracy and to seize, if possible, the = privileges=20 enjoyed by that body. The officers in the army in Sweden are devoted to = German=20 ideals and, since the war, great bodies of them have been invited to = Germany,=20 where there has been much ado over them.

The people, however, do not sympathise with Germany, knowing what the = triumph=20 of Germany means for them and how the court and the army and the = aristocracy=20 would be thereby encouraged to put the Swedish people in what the = Germans would=20 call "their place."

The Swedes fear the domination of Germany[224] and the domination of an aristocracy = and army=20 imbued with German ideas. They know that if Germany wins, the king = business will=20 take on a new lease of life. The ground was ripe for the Allies but the = German=20 propaganda, cleverly managed, spending money without stint, is gradually = bringing the people to a point where, if the blockade is tightened, they = may=20 consent to Sweden's entering the war as an ally of the Central = empires.

In spite of the dislike of the people for the German cause, I think = that the=20 aristocracy and the court and the army would have forced Sweden into the = war but=20 for one thing. After some months of war, an arrangement was made whereby = the=20 so-called "heavily wounded" were exchanged with prisoners between Russia = and=20 Germany. The German who was a prisoner of the Russians and had lost an = arm or a=20 leg, was sent home. These wounded prisoners on their way to their home=20 countries, were compelled to travel the whole length of Sweden and it = was the=20 sight of these poor stumps of humanity, as the trains stopped at the = various=20 stations in Sweden, that kept the Swedish people out of war. Many = pictures of=20 them printed in the Swedish papers caused profound dismay in Sweden and=20 developed an inexpressible abhorrence of war.

Since hostilities commenced, on the other hand, the Government, army = and=20 aristocracy of Sweden not only have been consistently opposed to the = Allies, but=20 of the utmost service to Germany.

Swedish iron ore goes into German cannon and[225] makes the best steel for = aeroplane=20 engines, and the imports into Sweden from America of foods and fats from = America=20 increased one thousand per cent almost immediately. These imports, with = great=20 quantities of copper and other supplies, found their way to Germany to = the great=20 profit incidentally of Swedish business men. For the plain people of = Sweden the=20 cost of living increased without a corresponding increase in salaries = and wages,=20 so that the new prosperity was confined to the "goulash barons."

There is no question but that, just as in Argentina, the Swedish = diplomatic=20 pouch was in all countries at the service of Germany, and that the = orders to the=20 German spies in Russia were sent by this means. In fact, it is believed = German=20 prisoners in Russia found their way to Petrograd, there to participate = in=20 revolution and counter-revolution under orders sent through the Swedish=20 officials.

Smuggling is winked at and at Lullia on the Swedish coast near the = head of=20 the Gulf of Bothnia great quantities of rubber, block tin and oil arrive = from=20 Russian Uleaborg across the gulf.

The French wanted to send a consul to Lullia, but their request was = refused,=20 doubtless because the Swedish authorities did not care to have any = official=20 foreigners see this traffic.

Cleverest of all has been the work of the German financial agents. = Warburg,=20 the Hamburg banker, is attached to the German legation in Stockholm. So=20 skilfully has he managed his task, that Swedish firms and Swedish banks = have=20 been induced[226] to=20 take German paper money, commercial paper and securities instead of = gold, in=20 return for copper, rubber, tin, food, fats, wool and supplies and in = this way=20 the Swedish business men, by the touch of self-interest, have been made = to=20 favour Germany.

I confess that it is hard to bring about, but as each nation has the = right to=20 choose with whom its citizens shall do business, we must mercilessly = blacklist=20 those firms which assist Germany by accepting, in lieu of the gold which = would=20 thus be drained from Germany, what amounts to the promise of Germany to = pay if=20 successful in war.

The Queen of Sweden, herself a German and an admirer of the German = Emperor,=20 has great influence over her husband and the Court.

At a time when she was visiting her family in Karlsruhe (for she is a = Princess of Baden) a reprisal attack made by Allied aeroplanes narrowly = missed=20 the royal palace and, consequently, the Queen. This has added to her = prejudice=20 against the Allies. The Crown Princess of Sweden was a Princess of = Connaught,=20 the sister of "Princess Pat," but she does not dare take any stand = against the=20 anti-ally propaganda.

I am sure that President Wilson appreciates the gravity of the = situation and=20 that means are being taken to place our position not only before the = Swedish=20 people but those of Swedish birth and descent in the United States whose = influence should be brought to bear on their friends and relatives in = the old=20 country.[227]

The crew of every Swedish ship that lands here should be given our = viewpoint;=20 every Swede who returns to Sweden should go as a missionary=97we must = not permit=20 Sweden, whose people are bound to us by ties of blood and friendship, by = the=20 hospitality which we offered to every Swedish immigrant, to be ranged = among our=20 enemies by the German-admiring aristocrats of Sweden who by birth, = training and=20 education are opposed to democracy, who hope, if Germany wins, to gain = as great=20 an ascendancy in the government as the Prussian Junkers possess in = Germany.

The Finns who occupy that part of Russia nearest = to Sweden=20 have quite a sympathy for the Swedes, Finland having been at one time a = part of=20 Sweden. The races, however, are not the same. The Finns are a Mongolian = race and=20 certain similarities of language make it plain that the Finns and the = Hungarians=20 came from the same mysterious place of origin somewhere in the great = mountains=20 and highlands of Central Asia.

Three languages, three influences, fight for mastery in Finland. The = official=20 Russian, the language of the government; Finnish, now receiving a new = lease of=20 life; and Swedish, the language of those who once conquered and held = Finland,=20 and who so imposed their civilisation on the more ignorant Finns, that = to-day=20 Swedish is the language of the more prosperous classes and of most of = the=20 business men.

The women of Finland received the suffrage in[228] 1906, all voting who are = over=20 twenty-four and who have been for five years citizens of Finland. Many = women=20 thereafter were elected to the Finnish parliament.

In two Scandinavian countries the women vote. Norway was the first = sovereign=20 state of Europe to give full citizenship rights to women. In 1913, all = Norwegian=20 women of twenty-five and citizens for five years were put on a voting = equality=20 with men, and the only positions under the national government for which = women=20 are not eligible are in the army and navy, the diplomatic and consular = service=20 and the Supreme Court.

The Danish women received the full franchise in 1915, but in = aristocratic=20 Sweden only the women paying income taxes have rights in the communal=20 councils.

In 1908, in Norway, a law was passed providing that women doing the = work of=20 men shall receive equal pay.

Possibly on a "tip" from Berlin to a fellow autocrat, there occurred = in=20 February, 1914, an extraordinary political event, arranged and = "accelerated" by=20 the Government, when thirty thousand farmers, meeting in Stockholm for = the=20 purpose, marched in procession to the Royal Castle to address the King = and tell=20 him that they were ready to bear any extra taxes imposed for the purpose = of=20 providing for national defence.

Russia was the power particularly feared by[229] Sweden who thought she desired to annex = a part of=20 Northern Sweden and Norway in order to get an outlet to the sea on the = Norwegian=20 coast.

But recent events in Russia have ended this fear and the only = question for=20 the Swedes is the same, one with which the whole world is = faced=97Kaiserism or=20 Democracy.

Sven Hedin, the explorer, who was the leader in this movement for = national=20 defence, has appeared as a German propagandist so violent as to have = become=20 popular with the Germans. It is hard to understand why so intelligent a = man=20 should range himself on the side of autocracy. Now that the Russian = danger, if=20 danger there was, is past it is to be hoped that this celebrated man = will be=20 found in the ranks of those opposed to the autocracy which ordered the = murders=20 of many Swedish seamen.

Norway, although it has often met the submarine of the Kaiser, which, = defying=20 all law, has sent to death so many Norwegian sailors and fishermen, = suffers also=20 from German propaganda and a certain self interest because of the = forty-five=20 million kronen sale of fish this last year to German buyers.

Germany works, too, in Denmark with the Socialists and deliveries of = coal are=20 used to obtain food from that country.

The jolly, free, brave Scandinavians are naturally opposed to all = that=20 Pan-Germanism and German rule means. It is necessary for us, especially = our=20 citizens of Scandinavian descent, not to lose this initial = advantage.

CHAPTER XVII[230]

SWITZERLAND=97ANOTHER KIND OF NEUTRAL

Free=20 Switzerland! You cannot imagine the feeling of relief I = experienced as I=20 passed from the lands of the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs to a free = republic.

It was February 11, 1917. To go into the railroad station restaurant = and=20 order an omelette and fried potatoes without a food card and with = chocolate on=20 the side seemed in itself a return to liberty.

Our Minister, Mr. Stovall, gave us a dinner and evening reception so = that we=20 could meet all the notables and we lunched with the French Ambassador = (for=20 France maintains an Embassy in Switzerland) and dined with the British = Minister,=20 Sir Horace Rumbold, a very able gentleman who had been Chancellor of the = British=20 Embassy in Berlin before the war.

As war had not yet been declared between Germany and the United = States the=20 correspondents of German newspapers waylaid me. Some seemed to think = that in=20 spite of the insulting blow given us by Germany, we nevertheless, scared = to=20 whiteness by the U-boat ultimatum, would lend all our energies to bring = about a=20 German peace.

I received a letter from one of the editors of a[231] Swiss newspaper published = in Berne,=20 probably inspired by the German Legation there, asking me if President = Wilson,=20 in spite of the break in relations, would not continue his work for = peace.

We all know that Switzerland is a republic but even those of us who = have=20 travelled there, probably because we were on a holiday, gave little = thought to=20 the Swiss political system. Indeed before this war we cared little about = the=20 government of any country except our own.

The present constitution of Switzerland was adopted in 1848 and in = many=20 particulars is modelled after that of the United States.

There are the same three great Federal powers, the Federal Assembly,=20 representing the legislative branch, the Federal Council, representing = the=20 executive branch, and the Federal Court, representing the judicial = branch.

The lower Chamber is made up of representatives elected directly by = the=20 people, and the other Chamber of members elected, as in our Senate, two = by each=20 canton or state. The Bundesrat or Federal Council which has all the = executive=20 powers, is elected by the Federal Assembly and it is the Chairman of = this body=20 who is known as the President of Switzerland. In reality he does not = possess the=20 powers of our President, but it is the Bundesrat as a whole which = exercises the=20 powers. Each member of this Council is minister or head of some separate = department, such as Military, Justice and Police, Foreign Affairs, Posts = and=20 Railways, etc. The Swiss Cantons have much power, and there is[232] a = distinct jealousy=20 by each canton of states' rights.

It is in Switzerland that we encounter two little friends, sponsored = by=20 William Jennings Bryan=97the Initiative and Referendum=97means by which = the Swiss=20 people are given a direct voice in their government. By the Initiative a = certain=20 number of voters may propose new legislation and when the requisite = number sign=20 a petition the proposed law must then be submitted to popular vote. This = rule=20 applies both in the separate cantons and in the Republic as a whole.

The Referendum, more often used, provides that if the requisite = number of=20 signers be obtained any law passed by a cantonal legislative body or by = the=20 Federal Assembly shall be submitted to the voters. In certain cantons = the=20 Referendum is obligatory and every law is thus submitted to the people. = In=20 practice the Referendum has acted as a check to advanced = legislation.

The Swiss have reason to fear the designs of Prussia. As late as = 1856,=20 Prussia and Switzerland were on the edge of war. Prior to 1815 = Neuch=E2tel=20 acknowledged the King of Prussia as its overlord; the Congress of = Vienna,=20 however, included this territory in the Swiss Confederation as one of = the Swiss=20 Cantons. But Prussia, in spite of this formal arrangement, with its = usual=20 disregard of treaties, continued to claim Neuch=E2tel.

In 1848 the revolutionary influence resulted in more democratic rule = in=20 Neuch=E2tel but the Prussian propagandist of that day was at work and, = in 1856,=20 Count Pourtales' plot was discovered and several[233] hundred prisoners seized = by the Swiss=20 government. All but a score were released. Frederick William IV of = Prussia=20 demanded their instant pardon and release and ordered the mobilisation = of his=20 army but, finally, through the intervention of Napoleon III, the affair = was=20 settled, the prisoners released by way of France, and the Prussian King=20 renounced all rights over Neuch=E2tel.

The Kulturkampf of Bismarck, his contest against the Roman Catholics, = had its=20 echoes in Switzerland and it probably was due also to German influence = that=20 until 1866 full freedom was withheld from the Jews.

The Red Cross had its origin in Switzerland and the Geneva = Conventions have=20 done much to bring about the adoption of better rules of war. The Geneva = Cross=20 is the badge of international charity and help.

Switzerland always has opened her doors to the politically oppressed. = Over=20 ten thousand revolutionists from Baden took refuge in Switzerland in = 1848.=20 Austria, in 1853, as a reprisal for the alleged actions of Italians in=20 Switzerland in conspiring against Austria, drove thousands of Swiss = citizens=20 from that part of Italy occupied by Austria. Also in the Franco-Prussian = war the=20 French General Bourbaki and his army of nearly one hundred thousand men = sought=20 an asylum in Switzerland.

The army of Switzerland is a true citizen army=97an army of universal = service=97and it is due to the existence of this force that Switzerland = remains an=20 independent state in the midst of Europe.[234]

To stand apart in Europe is the very essence of life for Switzerland. = It is=20 regrettable therefore that German money and German propaganda and some = sympathy=20 for Germany among the officers of the army should have touched the fine = flower=20 of Swiss neutrality. A triumphant Prussia and a free Switzerland cannot = exist in=20 the same Europe.

In Switzerland, it is in the military that we find the greatest = sympathy for=20 Germany. In 1915, Swiss officers were discovered working out the ciphers = of=20 other nations for the benefit of the German armies and the punishment = given, at=20 the ensuing Court Martial, was not only incommensurate with the offence, = but was=20 a plain indication of the early sympathies of the Chiefs of the Swiss = Staff.

The food question between the United States and Switzerland requires = delicate=20 handling. We like the Swiss and do not wish them to suffer, but the = Swiss must=20 understand that our food is our own and that we do not propose it shall = go to=20 nourish Germans or that it shall take the place, in Switzerland, of = Swiss food=20 sold by the Swiss to our enemies.

The President of Switzerland related to me the difficult position in = which=20 Switzerland found herself. Iron and coal, necessary to the industries of = Switzerland, to keep the population warm and to cook the food, came, he = said,=20 from Germany, while food was shipped to the French Mediterranean port of = Cette=20 from America and the Argentine, and transported across part of France to = Switzerland, so that since the war Switzerland, as the President[235] = explained, has been=20 dancing about; first on one side, then on the other, in the attempt to = get food=20 through France and coal and iron through Germany.

Everything in the office of the President was the extreme of = republican=20 simplicity. He questioned me about the situation in Germany, especially = from the=20 food standpoint. And I learned of the difficulties of the Swiss. It must = not be=20 forgotten that in Switzerland about seventy per cent of the people speak = German,=20 twenty-three per cent, French, and seven per cent, Italian. Many of the=20 German-speaking Swiss, of course, sympathise with Germany. They are the = farmers,=20 dairymen, etc., but in French-Switzerland, in the neighbourhood of = Geneva and=20 Lausanne, the industrial population sides with the Allies. Millions of = the=20 delicate fuses used on shells have been manufactured in that part of = Switzerland=20 for the Entente. In retaliation for this the Germans boycotted Swiss=20 watches.

The usual German-paid propaganda newspapers operate in the principal = towns.=20 The army officers are the first to be influenced. It is the same in = Switzerland=20 as with the officers of many armies, solely because of the past = reputation of=20 the German military machine.

We and the civil authorities of South America must not forget that = Japan=20 copied German military methods, that the armies of Argentina and Chili = have been=20 trained, for years, by German officers sent there on temporary leave of = absence=20 from the German army.[236]

Von Below, a German officer in Berlin who had been in the Argentine, = used to=20 make merry over the Argentine soldiers and said that they objected to = drilling=20 when it rained. I do not believe this officer, but I should like to have = the=20 brave Argentine officers hear his jokes and gibes.

We left, after three or four days in Berne, on the evening train, for = the=20 French frontier. In the train corridors, outside the compartments, spies = stood=20 staring at us, spies pretending to read newspapers came into each = compartment;=20 police spies, betrayed by heavy boots; general staff spies, betrayed by = a=20 military stiffness; women spies; spies assorted and special. And these = gentry=20 had followed me all over Berne=97for in the neutral countries of Europe = as well as=20 the belligerents are we constantly reminded of the insidious methods of=20 Kaiserism.

CHAPTER XVIII[237]

A GLIMPSE OF FRANCE

At=20 Pontarlier, on the French frontier, a special train was waiting for my = party and=20 into this train a German-American inserted himself after first mixing = his=20 baggage with mine. I went through the train and this enterprising = gentleman and=20 another German-American were detained for some days at Pontarlier. One = of them,=20 later, on reaching Spain, reported immediately to the head of the German = secret=20 service there, thus justifying my suspicions. Fortunately when he = subsequently=20 arrived in Spain we had already sailed, so that if he bore any sinister = message=20 from Berlin to the German agents in Spain to hinder our voyage, he was = too=20 late.

The night trip to Paris was uneventful. At the Gare St. Lazare we = were met by=20 our Ambassador, Mr. Sharp, with several of his staff and a = representative of the=20 French Foreign Office.

Paris was indeed a changed Paris since I had last seen it in October = of 1913.=20 The pavement in the Place Vend=F4me, in front of the Hotel Ritz, where = we stopped,=20 was full of holes, but taxicabs, almost as extinct as the dodo in = Berlin, rushed=20 merrily through the crowded streets. The boulevards[238] were lively, full of = soldiers looking=20 far more cheery, far more snappy, than the heavy footed German soldiers = who so=20 painfully tramped down Unter den Linden. Many soldiers were to be seen = without=20 an arm or leg, something impossible in Germany where, especially in = Berlin, it=20 has been the policy of the Government to conceal those maimed by war = from the=20 people at home. Although constantly walking the streets of Berlin I = never saw a=20 German soldier without an arm or leg. Once motoring near Berlin I came = upon a=20 lonely country house where, through the iron rails of the surrounding = park,=20 numbers of maimed soldiers peered out, prisoners of the autocratic = government=20 which dared not show its victims to the people.

At night in Paris the taxicabs and autos rushed dangerously through = streets=20 darkened to baffle the Zeppelins. In the hotel there was little heat, = only wood=20 fires in one's room. In the homes a single electric light bulb was = permitted for=20 each room; violation of this rule meant loss of electric light from that = apartment for three weeks.

In the Ritz Restaurant there were lights on the table only. And the = gloomy=20 dining room, where a few Americans and British officers and their = families=20 conversed in whispers, resembled but little the gay resort so often = filled,=20 before the war, with American millionaires. Olivier, the head waiter, = appeared=20 only at night, absent during the day on war duties. No lights, no music, = it is=20 hard to think of Paris without these, Paris which calls itself the = "Ville=20 Lumi=E8re"=97the City of Light.[239]

On our first Sunday in Paris a grand concert was held in the = Trocadero=97a=20 great government owned auditorium on the banks of the Seine,=97under = Canadian=20 auspices. When Ambassador Sharp and I entered the centre box the vast = audience=20 rose and cheered=97a new sensation for me to be so welcomed after my = war-years in=20 Berlin, where I had been harried and growled at, the representative of a = hated=20 people, of a people at once envied for their wealth, hated because they = had=20 dared to keep their rights and treaties and sell goods to the enemies of = Germany, and despised because the Germans believed them too rich and = cowardly,=20 too fat and degenerate, to fight in the great war for the mastery of the = world.

Lord Esher called on me at the hotel and invited me on behalf of = Field=20 Marshal Haig, to visit the British line. I am sorry that I did not have = time to=20 accept this invitation, especially as in Germany I had not even heard = the=20 distant firing of cannon.

The Great General Headquarters at Charleville-M=E9zi=E8res where I = had visited=20 Emperor William at the end of April, 1916, was only about seventy = kilometres=20 from the battle front near Rheims. I was naturally anxious to inspect, = if not=20 the front trenches, at least the vicinity of the front, but the army = officers=20 attached to the German Foreign Office, who had accompanied me, informed = me that=20 the Chancellor had telephoned all the Generals in the vicinity to ask = permission=20 for me to visit the lines but that not one of them would permit me to = visit his=20 sector. This was a fairly certain indication[240] that sooner or later the hate for = America must=20 lead to war or that the U-boat settlement made at the time was only a = stop gap=20 until the increased number of submarines would enable Germany to = commence=20 ruthless U-boat war once more in defiance of law and humanity, and with = a=20 greater hope of military success.

Compared to Berlin, Paris seemed a land of abundance. In the = restaurants,=20 however, the customer was limited to two courses, but with the privilege = of a=20 second helping.

I called on Lord Bertie, the British Ambassador, to ask him to convey = my=20 acknowledgments to the Honourable Arthur James Balfour, from whom I had = received=20 a most complimentary communication. I found him in the beautiful home of = the=20 British Embassy on the Rue St. Honor=E9, a house so cold for want of = coal that I=20 was compelled to make my visit short for fear of pneumonia.

With Mrs. Gerard we lunched with our friends from Berlin, Jules = Cambon, a=20 former French Ambassador there, and his family, at the La Rue = restaurant,=20 opposite the Madelaine. Cambon seemed as game as ever, but fatigued.

Briand, who was then Premier, invited me to breakfast at the Minister = of=20 Foreign Affairs. The other guests included our Ambassador, Mr. Sharp, = Cambon and=20 the Ambassadors of Britain, Italy, Russia and Japan and several = distinguished=20 Frenchmen.

AMBASSADORS=20 WILLIAM G. SHARP AND JAMES W. GERARD FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN PARIS, = FEBRUARY,=20 1917

I did not sit next to Briand as I ranked after the Ambassadors = accredited to=20 France, but after[241] lunch I sat alone with him before the = fire in one=20 of the large and beautiful salons and there we had a long talk, as, = naturally,=20 he wanted to know about the situation in Germany. He impressed me as a = strong=20 man, with the vigour of an orator, a man of temperament, a man endowed = by nature=20 to become a leader of the French=97as the French were before the = war.

Lord Esher, at the request of General Lyautey, then at the head of = the=20 military force of France, took me to see that General. I had to wait for = him=20 some time, as he was appearing before a committee of the Chamber of the = Senate.=20 His inability to agree with the Chamber caused his resignation not long=20 afterwards.

I was struck in France by the fact that the leaders, civil, military = and=20 naval, seemed older than those in similar positions in other = countries.

The present Premier, Clemenceau, is an example of this fondness of = the French=20 for government by old men. Clemenceau is seventy-six years old, but is a = vigorous fighter.

Mrs. Gerard and I lunched with Gabriel Hanotaux and his attractive = wife at=20 their home. Cambon was there, and Ribot, since become Premier of France, = a good=20 old man; also the Secretary of the Navy and several learned French = philosophers=20 and members of the Academy and one of the heads of the Credit Lyonnais, = perhaps=20 the greatest financial institution of France.

War, war=97who could talk of anything else? Hanotaux said that in our = time we=20 had been unusually[242] fortunate, unusually free from war, = that there=20 was underneath France, underneath even the fair city of Paris, under the = smiling=20 sunlit fields, another France, a France of caves and catacombs, = excavated by the=20 poor people, the plain people who, during the One Hundred Years' War, = had sought=20 in marching armies, the far-riding plunderers and the depths of the = earth refuge=20 from the harassing, camp followers, the roving bands of "White = Companies," the=20 robber barons who, English and French, Gascon and Norman, harried the = lands of=20 France.

I said that I had heard the statement made, and there seemed no = reason to=20 doubt it, that since the birth of Christ the world has only in one year = out of=20 every thirteen enjoyed a rest from war.

Mr. Fabre-Luce, Vice-President of the Credit Lyonnais, told us of an=20 interesting book written by a Russian and published before the war which = predicted much that has happened in this war with almost the foresight = of a=20 Cassandra. I was so impressed that I secured a copy.

This book, "The Future War," by Ivan Stanislavovich Bloch, counsellor = of the=20 Russian Empire, and published in 1892, had so great an effect on the = Czar of=20 Russia that it was the reading of it which impelled him to call the = Peace=20 Conference at The Hague. In the course of his book the author explains = that it=20 is impossible for the Powers to continue[243] longer in the path of armaments and = that they=20 ought to look each other in the face and demand where these great = armaments and=20 this extension of forces are conducting them. He writes:

"How can one believe it possible to solve international questions by = means of=20 the veritable cataclysm which will constitute, with the present means of = destruction, war waged between the five great Powers, by ten millions of = soldiers?... In this war explosives so powerful will be employed that = every=20 grouping of troops on the flat country or even under the protection of=20 fortifications will become almost impossible and that, therefore, the=20 preparations of this character made in expectation of the war will = become=20 useless....

"The future war will see the use of a great quantity of new aids to = war,=20 bicycles, pigeons, telegraph, telephones, optical instruments and = photographic=20 instruments for the purpose of mapping from a great distance the = positions=20 occupied by the enemy and means to observe the movements of the enemy = such as=20 observing ladders, balloons and so on....

"In the future war every body of troops holding itself on the = defensive or=20 found taking the offensive, when it is not the question of sudden = assault, will=20 have to fortify itself in a chosen position and the war will be confined = principally to the form of a series of combats in which the possession = of=20 fortified positions will be disputed, and in which the assailant will = have to=20 meet the accessory defensives in the neighbourhood of the fortifications = such as=20 barricades, barbed wire, etc., the destruction of these objects costing = many=20 victims.... The infantry, when on the defensive, will dig itself in. The = conduct=20 of the war will depend, in a large measure, on the artillery."

According to our author, who foresaw "No Man's Land" between the two = opposing=20 forces, "there will be formed a certain zone absolutely impassable in=20 consequence of the terrible fire with which it will be inundated from a = short=20 distance from each side." Bloch adds: "This war will last a long time = and entire=20 nations will be seen in arms or rather the flower of each nation. = Germany will=20 begin the war by throwing itself on France and then, using the many = German=20 railroads, will turn against Russia. By virtue of its military force = Germany=20 will take the initiative of operations and will make the war on the two=20 fronts."

His prophetic eye saw even the submarine war of the future. "It will = happen,=20 possibly, that the future war will produce engines of war completely = unknown and=20 unexpected up to the present time; in any event one can foresee the = advent in a=20 short time of submarines destined to carry below even ironclads, = torpedoes=20 powerful enough to wreck the strongest ships."

He quotes the opinions of Jomini, who says that future armies will = not be=20 composed of troops recruited voluntarily but of entire nations called by = a law=20 to arms and who will not fight for a change of frontier but for their = existence.=20 Jomini states "that this state of affairs will bring us back to the = third and=20 the fourth centuries, calling to our minds those shocks of immense = peoples who=20 disputed among themselves the European continent," and "that if a new=20 legislation and a new international law do not come to put an end to = these=20 risings of[245]=20 whole peoples that it is impossible to foresee where the ravages of = future war=20 will stop. It will become a scourge more terrible than ever, because the = population of civilised nations will be cut down, while in the interior = of each=20 nation the normal economic life will be arrested, communications = interrupted and=20 if the war is prolonged financial crises will come with a fearful rise = in the=20 price of everything and famine with all its consequences."

Bloch, in depicting the future war, says that "in 1870, the struggle = was=20 between two Powers, while in the war of the future at least five great = nations=20 will take part without speaking of the intervention of Turkey and = England....=20 The comparing of the coming war with any war of the past is impossible = because=20 the increase in the effective fighting forces has been of a rapidity so=20 unexampled and this increase brings with it so great an augmentation of=20 expenditures and of victims that the future war will have the character = of a=20 struggle for the existence of nations.... It is true that the war of = 1870 gave=20 us something of an example of this character. That was a war without = mercy,=20 brought on by secular hate, a war of revenge on the part of the Germans = because=20 of the ancient victories of the French, a war where volunteers were shot = and=20 villages burned and where unheard of exactions were imposed on the = conquered=20 whom the conqueror sought to wrong and weaken for a long period of time. = A new=20 war in Central Europe will be a second edition of the same struggle but = by how=20 much will it not surpass the former wars by its magnitude[246] and by its length and by = the means of=20 destruction employed."

Does not Bloch give a better prediction of this war than the often = quoted=20 Bernhardi?

The table conversation at Hanotaux's was in French; few Frenchmen and = hardly=20 any public men in France speak English.

At this lunch, Ribot, since Premier, said to me, "In men, in = fighting, we can=20 hold out, but we must have help on the credit side."

How much more than credit have we sent since to help beloved, = beleaguered=20 France!

My interview with President Poincar=E9 of France was set for = five-thirty in the=20 Elys=E9e Palace. I had to wait some minutes in an ante-room, hung with = splendid=20 tapestries, where the secretary in charge introduced me to Deschanel, = the=20 Secr=E9taire perp=E9tuel of the Academie Fran=E7aise, with whom I had a = few minutes'=20 talk.

The President sat in a small, beautifully decorated room in this = historical=20 Elys=E9e Palace. A small fire burned in the grate, a bit of grateful = warmth in=20 almost coalless Paris. He, too, plied me with questions, but not as = closely as=20 others, about the land I had left behind. He spoke of a great gift of = money made=20 by James Stillman, a fund to help the families of members of the Legion = of=20 Honour.

Poincar=E9 is a man of fifty-seven, wears a small beard growing grey, = and is a=20 little under medium height (of this country) and has much the manner of = an=20 American lawyer. What a contrast those polite, agreeable Frenchmen were = to the=20 stiff, formal,[247]=20 overbearing Germans. There are "well born" Germans with charming = international=20 manners and the lower classes in Germany have kindly, natural manners, = but the=20 manners of the minor members of the merchant class and of the lesser = officials=20 is rude to boorishness.

And here I want to say a word about the democracy of my own = countrymen.=20 Before the war and during it we entertained countless Americans in the = Embassy;=20 all sorts and under a variety of conditions, Jew and Gentile, business = men and=20 students, travellers and musicians. They carried themselves with ease, = whatever=20 the occasion. I was proud of them always and of our system of education = that had=20 given them such pleasant equality.

After my arrival in Berlin a magnificent darkey, named George = Washington=20 Bronson, called in search of a job. Over six feet four and well built, I = thought=20 he would make an impressive appearance opening carriage doors or taking = hats in=20 the hall. So I engaged him. But he did not get on well with the other = servants,=20 and his discharge followed. Great consternation was caused shortly = afterwards at=20 our Lincoln day reception when Mrs. Gerard and the ladies of the Embassy = were=20 receiving the American Colony, by the report that George Washington, = dressed up=20 to the nines, accompanied by a coloured friend, presenting the = appearance of a=20 new red buggy, was on his way up stairs. I decided that on Lincoln's = birthday=20 all were welcome; so George Washington and his friend, resplendent,=20 received[248] the=20 same greeting accorded all Americans and the manners of George = Washington=20 excelled those of a Grand Duke. But although one could see his mouth = water, he=20 did not approach the table where our local Ruggles presided over the=20 refreshments. There was "that" about Ruggles' eye which told George = Washington=20 he would have to "go to the mat" before his former superior officer = would serve=20 him with champagne.

The cold in Paris was bitter, biting into the very bones, and all = classes of=20 the population suffered intensely from the lack of coal. In the = theatres, for=20 instance, there was absolutely no heat. Theatrical performances were = permitted=20 in each theatre three times a week. Evening dress was prohibited. I went = to the=20 Folies Berg=E8res, arriving so late that the crowded house had warmed = itself and=20 it was possible to stay until the end in spite of the want of = ventilation.

At one of the theatres I arrived early, but the cold was so bitter = that even=20 sitting in fur overcoat and with my hat on I was so chilled I had to = leave after=20 twenty minutes. This play was a revue, the actresses appearing in = the=20 scanty costumes peculiar to that form of entertainment, but the cold was = of such=20 intensity that they had added their street furs, presenting a curiously = comical=20 effect.

I spoke to many of the soldiers in the streets. All were animated by = a new=20 spirit in France, an obstinate calm, a determination to see this thing = through,=20 to end forever the fear of Prussian invasion which for so many years had = impended. If[249]=20 any sign of weakness was apparent it was among the financiers; not among = the=20 poor and the men of the trenches.

At the railway station I talked with a blue-clad French soldier, = calm, witty,=20 but determined. He said, "My family comes from the East of France, my = great=20 grandfather was killed by the Prussians in 1814, my grandfather was shot = in his=20 garden by the Prussians in 1870, my father died of grief, in 1916, = because my=20 two sisters in Lille fell into Prussian hands and were taken as their = slaves=20 with all that that means. I have decided that we must end this horror = once and=20 for all, so that my children can cultivate their little fields without = this=20 constant haunting fear of the invading Prussian."

We left Paris on the evening train for the Spanish border. Newspaper = men=20 taking flashlights and "poilus" in uniform crowded the station platform = as the=20 train with our still numerous party pulled out.

How France has disappointed German expectations! France to-day is not = the=20 France that calls out, "We are betrayed," and runs away after the = failure of its=20 first assault. France to-day is a calm France that seeks out its = traitors, and=20 deliberately punishes them, that organises with an efficiency we once = thought a=20 Prussian monopoly, a France that bleeds but fights on, a France that, = standing=20 with its back to its beloved, sunny fields, with many of her dearest = sons dead,=20 facing the Kaiser across No Man's Land, cries boldly, bravely to the = world, the=20 war cry of Verdun, "They shall not pass!"[250]

But even while war goes on, even while the French poilus hold fast = the long=20 battle line, the French people are beset within by agents of the Kaiser. = Face to=20 face they are with the secret agents, the spies, the informers, the = buyers of=20 newspapers and of public men, the traffickers in honour who, behind = French=20 citizenship or neutral passports, seek to divide France, to make the = soldier at=20 the front feel that he is betrayed by traitors at home, to render the = French=20 distrustful and suspicious of each other and thus to strike as mortal a = blow at=20 the French defence as was attempted at Verdun.

Bolo Pasha and all his tribe slip past trench and barbed wire and do = more=20 damage than a German army corps to the cause of Liberty.

CHAPTER XIX[251]

MY INTERVIEW WITH THE KING OF SPAIN

Yet there are some nations in Europe which will remain neutral no = matter how=20 great the hardship. How much this is due to inherent weaknesses of = government,=20 fears that the people may acquire too much of the infectious spirit of=20 liberalism that war brings and thereby overthrow royalty, is hard to = judge. But=20 I must say that Kaiserism has omitted no word or act to impress upon the = royalty=20 of those countries, which might otherwise be inclined to aid the = entente, the=20 advantages to them of keeping out of the war unless they become allies = of=20 Germany.

You will meet Kaiserism in Spain and the other neutral countries of = Europe as=20 much as you will in Austria or Bulgaria or Turkey. I do not mean that = Spain, for=20 instance, is by any means an ally of Germany, but I do mean that the = German=20 propagandist has had free rein.

I shall never forget the fact that the King of Spain, during my talk = with=20 him, remarked: "Remember that while I am King of Spain, I am also an = Austrian=20 Archduke."

And not only is the King of Spain by descent and[252] in the right of his = father an=20 Archduke of Austria but his mother was an Austrian Princess of the House = of=20 Hapsburg. Study, for the moment, the genealogy of the King and Queen of = Spain=20 and you will see how royalty is inter-related in this war.

The Queen of Spain was brought up at the court of the late Queen = Victoria of=20 England and is a Battenberg princess. In 1823, Alexander, Prince of = Hesse and=20 the Rhine, took in morganatic marriage a Countess von Hauke. He made her = Countess of Battenberg and in 1858 she was given the title by the ruler = of=20 Hesse, of Princess Battenberg, her children and their descendants to = take the=20 same title. One of these Battenbergs, descendants of Countess von Hauke, = married=20 Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria, and the daughter of the marriage = is the=20 present Queen of Spain, who just before her marriage to Alfonso was = created a=20 Royal Highness by King Edward VII. Queen Victoria Eugenia has become = quite=20 Spanish. With a mantilla on her head, she attends bull fights and is = very=20 popular.

The father of Alfonso XIII, Alfonso XII, was very intimate with the = German=20 Court. In 1883, he visited the old Emperor William I in Germany and = accepted the=20 colonelcy of a Uhlan regiment then in garrison in Strassburg, one of the = towns=20 taken from France in 1870. On his return journey he stopped in Paris and = was the=20 object of a popular demonstration so violent that the President of = France and=20 his ministers called in a body to apologise.[253]

Shortly thereafter the Crown Prince (later Emperor) Friedrich paid a = visit to=20 Spain and an intimacy was maintained between the two courts.

It is the inclination of those in the king business to keep together = and a=20 tradition of Prussia that fellow Kings must be sustained and, if = possible,=20 maintained against democracy. That's why the Kaiser finds reciprocal = sympathy in=20 Spain.

Our popular Ambassador, Mr. Willard, and his staff, with a = representative of=20 the Spanish Foreign Office, met us at the station at Madrid on my = arrival from=20 Paris.

Madrid is a handsome city, comparatively modern. From its highest = point the=20 great Royal Palace dominates the capital and from the palace the royal = park=20 stretches unbroken to the Guadarrama mountains sixty miles away.

In many respects Spain seems a land upside down. We arrived at Madrid = just at=20 the close of the Carnival season. Masked balls began at three in the = afternoon=20 and many theatres not until ten or even eleven at night. Madrid sleeps = late. The=20 rich people get up only in time for lunch. The streets are full of noise = and=20 people until four in the morning, the sellers of lottery tickets making = special=20 efforts to swell the volume of night sounds.

My visit to the King of Spain was at eleven in the morning. = Ambassador=20 Willard went with me. As we entered the palace and waited at the foot of = an=20 elevator, the car descended and one of the little Princes of Spain, = about eight=20 years old, dressed in a sailor suit, stepped out. Evidently he had = been[254] = trained in royal=20 urbanity for he immediately came up to us, shook hands and said, "Buenos = dias."

And as we strolled down a long corridor where Palace guards in high = boots and=20 cocked hats stood guard with halberds in their hands another little = Prince,=20 about eleven, also in a sailor suit, came out of a room and walked ahead = of us;=20 behind followed two nuns, walking side by side at a respectful distance. = As he=20 appeared in the corridor one of the guards stamped his halberd on the = floor,=20 calling out in Spanish, "Turn out the guard=97the Infant of Spain." And = in the=20 guardroom at the end of the corridor the guards, forming in line, = clashing their=20 arms, did honour to the baby Prince.

Ambassador Willard and I waited in the great, splendid room of the = Palace.=20 Inside, priests and officers, ladies, officials, diplomats, were waiting = to=20 present petitions or pay homage to their King. Outside in the court = yard, the=20 guard was being changed, infantry, cavalry and artillery all being = represented.=20 A tuneful band played during the ceremony of guard mount, which was = witnessed by=20 crowds of poor folk who are permitted to enter the Palace precincts as=20 spectators.

While waiting I was presented to the Archbishop of Toledo, head of = the=20 Spanish Church, resplendent in his gorgeous ecclesiastical robes. = Finally a=20 court official came and said that I was to go into the King alone; that = Mr.=20 Willard was to see him later.

I found King Alfonso in a small room about twenty by fourteen feet. = He wore a=20 brown business[255]=20 suit, a soft shirt and soft collar fastened by a gold safety pin=97quite = the style=20 of dress of an American collegian. He is tall and well built.

The King speaks perfect English=97without a trace of accent. After we = had=20 talked a few moments, I noted the difference between Teuton and Latin, = the vast=20 abyss which separates the polite and courteous Spaniard, thinking of = others,=20 anxious to be hospitable, and the rough, conceited, aggressive Junker of = Germany. How often have I found that we ourselves, although good hearted = and=20 easy going, in comparison with our friends in South and Central America, = do not=20 measure up to the standards of Castilian courtesy.

Some one knocked at the door and King Alfonso rose and answered. He = returned=20 with odd looking implements in his hands which I soon discovered to be = an=20 enormous silver cocktail shaker and two goblets. After a dexterous = shake, the=20 King poured out two large cocktails, saying, "I understand that you = American=20 gentlemen always drink in the morning."

I had not had a cocktail for years and if I had endeavoured to = assimilate the=20 drink so royally prepared for me I should have been in no condition to = continue=20 the conversation. I think King Alfonso himself was quite relieved when, = after a=20 sip, I put my cocktail behind a statue. I noticed that he camouflaged = his in a=20 similar manner.

Unfortunately, as Maximilian Harden said, the Germans think of us as = a land=20 of dollars, trusts and corruption; and other nations think of us as[256] = devotees of the=20 cocktail and of poker. Their school boys dream of fighting Indians in = Pittsburg=20 and hunting buffalo in the deserts of the Bronx.

The characteristic of Alfonso which impresses one immediately is that = of=20 extreme manliness. He has a sense of humour that will save him from many = a=20 mishap in his difficult post. He has a wide knowledge of men and affairs = and,=20 above all, as the Spaniards would put it, is muy espa=F1ol (very = Spanish),=20 not only in appearance but in his way of looking at things, a Spaniard = of the=20 best type, a Spaniard possessing industry and ambition and bravery, a = Spaniard,=20 in fact, of the days when Spain was supreme in the world. His favourite = sport is=20 polo, which he plays very well. Indeed, the game, which requires dash, = quickness=20 of thought, nerve and good riding, is particularly suited to the Spanish = character. The King showed at the time of the anarchistic outbreaks, = that he was=20 a brave man. Yet he must be careful at all times to remember that he is = a=20 constitutional king, that in a country like Spain leadership is = dangerous, that=20 he should always rather stand aside, let the representatives of the = nation=20 decide, thus taking no definite position himself. A king who abandons = the=20 council table to shoot pigeons or play polo is often acting with far = more wisdom=20 than a constitutional ruler who attempts by the use of his strong = personality=20 and lofty position to force upon his councillors a course which the = majority of=20 them do not recommend.

The Spaniards are politically an exacting people.[257] But it is to be hoped = that they will=20 not turn the heavy artillery of their criticism upon a king who serves = them so=20 gracefully and well.

The king has a natural desire to take a prominent part in the = negotiations=20 for peace, but here again is dangerous ground for him. He should be = given a=20 part, if possible, in the preliminaries of peace, but while I believe = that he=20 sympathises with one of the Entente countries, the Allies are forced to=20 recognise the fact of which he himself reminded me, that he is not only = King of=20 Spain, but Archduke of one of the Central Empires, the son of an = Austrian=20 Archduchess.

The king told me that he was most desirous that American capital = should=20 become interested in the development of Spain. He did not tell me the = reason for=20 this desire but perhaps he fears that if German capital should take a = great part=20 in the development of industrial Spain that the tentacles of the German=20 propaganda and spy system which go hand in hand with her commercial = invaders=20 would wrap themselves around the commercial, social and political life = of=20 Spain.

Perhaps King Alfonso, when he wishes capital other than German to = become=20 interested in Spain, is thinking of the occurrences of 1885, when Spain = and=20 Germany so nearly clashed. In that year the crew of a German warship = hoisted the=20 flag of the German Empire on the island of Yap, one of the Carolina = group, an=20 island long claimed by Spain. The act so stirred the people of Spain = that a=20 great meeting was held in Madrid, attended by over one[258] hundred thousand people. = Later the=20 mob attacked the German Embassy and Consulate, tore down the shield and = flag=20 staff of the Consulate and burned them in the principal square of = Madrid. In the=20 end, Spain was compelled to humbly apologise to Germany for the insult = to the=20 German Ambassador.

Some years before the war the King sent to this country a special = emissary to=20 interest American capital in Spain. Means of transportation are very = meagre.=20 Great mineral districts are as yet undeveloped and many other = opportunities for=20 foreign capital present themselves.

I asked the Spaniards why Spain was not developed by Spanish capital = and they=20 told me that the rich put all their money in government bonds and lived = as gaily=20 as possible on the interest.

Our own Government, whether Democratic or Republican, must always be = careful=20 to see that taxes are not so high as to prevent the naturally = enterprising=20 American from risking part of his capital in new ventures and such = protection=20 must be given to American citizens that they will continue to try their = luck at=20 business in foreign countries for the immediate benefit, of course, of=20 themselves, but also for the commercial supremacy of the United = States.

The American who goes to Mexico and there develops a railroad or a=20 plantation, a commercial business, a bank or a mine, is not only adding = to the=20 wealth of Mexico, but any money which he makes after paying his due = share of=20 taxes there, is brought back by him to the United States, is subject to=20 taxation,[259] and=20 by just so much not only lightens the tax burden of other Americans, but = adds to=20 the power in trade of the whole country.

A business man who is taxed too much on any profits that he makes = will, like=20 the Spaniard, invest his capital in Government bonds. He will stop = taking up new=20 enterprises because if he loses no one compensates him for his loss, = while if he=20 wins most of his profit is taken in taxes by the State.

I do not think that the Spanish harbour any spirit of revenge against = us=20 because of the events of the Spanish-American war. There was nothing in = that war=20 to arouse particular resentment. No one used poison gas, or enslaved = women or=20 cut off the hands of babies. On our side, at least, there was an intense = admiration for the splendid, chivalrous bravery of our enemies. Spain = was, in=20 reality, benefited by the loss of Cuba and the Philippines; in fact, = they were=20 practically lost to her before we entered the war. Thinking Spaniards = believe=20 the war with America benefited Spain; and the lower classes rejoice = because=20 their sons and husbands are not forced to serve in the Spanish Army in = the=20 fever-laden swamps of the tropics.

On the war Spain is hopelessly divided: Conservative, against = Conservative;=20 Liberal, against Liberal. The usual German propaganda is furiously at = work, all=20 the paraphernalia, bought newspapers=97bribes. Roman Catholic prejudice = against=20 former French Governments is a great stumbling block in the way of the = Allies in=20 Spain, for that country became the refuge of many orders and[260] = priests driven from=20 France. Many of the Spanish Catholics still resent the action of = previous French=20 Governments towards the Catholic Church.

But whatever may be the faults of the French Government in this = particular,=20 whether it or the teaching orders went too far=97the Roman Catholics of = Spain=20 sooner or later will realise that, after all, the bulk of the French and = Italian=20 and Belgian people are their co-religionists, and they will recall the = attempts=20 of Bismarck to master the Roman Catholics of Germany and to bind its = priests to=20 the will of the Imperial Government, attempts recent enough to keep the=20 Catholics of Germany still organised in the political party which they = created=20 in the dark days of Bismarck's "war for Civilisation," as he dared call = his=20 contest with the great Roman Catholic Church.

Spanish and other Catholics throughout the world will remember this = and will=20 remember, too, that from every valley of the Protestant section of the = German=20 Empire the eye can see a "Bismarck Thurm," or Bismarck Memorial Tower, = erected=20 on some commanding height by the admirers of the dead Iron = Chancellor.

I believe that after the war the Roman Catholic Church in France and = Belgium=20 will be on a healthier, sounder basis, that it will have more and more = influence=20 with the people, that it will be more popular and respected than before, = unless=20 some act on the part of the Pope should lead the French and Belgians to = believe=20 that he favours Germany. Priests are not exempt from military service = in[261] France = and these=20 Abb=E9s, fighting, dying, suffering wounds and privation, working cheek = to cheek=20 with the soldiers of France, will do much to bring about the change. I = met a=20 number of these priest-warriors in the prison camps of Germany. They are = doing a=20 great work and have earned the respect and love of their = countrymen=97their fellow=20 prisoners.

Several of these soldier Abb=E9s were prisoners in Dyrotz, near = Berlin, and I=20 remember how they were looked up to by all the soldiers. What a = consolation were=20 these noble warriors who fought a two-fold winning fight=97for their = country and=20 their faith.

Spain has suffered much from the war. In the northeast part called = Catalonia=20 are located the manufacturing industries of Spain, cloth weaving, cotton = spinning, etc. In Barcelona, the principal industrial town, are many=20 manufacturing industries. If these plants cannot obtain raw materials or = a=20 market for their finished products, then industrial depression ensues = and=20 thousands are thrown out of employment.

So in the north, where iron ore is produced, the submarine blockade = of=20 England, chief buyer of iron ore and the seller of coal, has made itself = felt in=20 every province; and in the south, the land of sun and gypsies, oranges = and=20 vines, the want of sea and land transportation, the diminished exports = of wine=20 and fruits to other countries have brought many of the inhabitants to = the verge=20 of ruin.

In the coast cities sailors and longshoremen are out of employment, = and this=20 condition=97these hundreds[262] of thousands without work through = disturbance of=20 industry,=97has ripened the field for the German propagandist and agent = who=20 threatens the King with revolution, should he incline to the Allies.

In no country of the world has the German agent been so bold and no = neutral=20 government has been more forcibly reminded in its policy and conduct of = the fact=20 that it is always face to face with Kaiserism.

CHAPTER XX[263]

GERMAN SPIES AND THEIR METHODS

German spies who looked like "movie" = detectives hung=20 about and followed us on the journey from Berlin to Switzerland, France = and=20 Spain. There were even suspicious characters among the Americans with = German=20 accent who came on our special train from Germany to Switzerland.

Berne is now the champion spy centre of the world. Switzerland, a = neutral=20 country, bordering on Germany, France, Italy and Austria, is the happy = hunting=20 ground and outfitting point for myriads of spies employed by the nations = at war.=20 The Germans, however, use more spies than all the other nations = together.

Bismarck said that there are male nations and female nations, and = that=20 Germany was a male nation=97certainly the German has less of that = heaven-sent=20 feminine quality of intuition than other peoples. The autocrat, never = mingling=20 with the plain people of all walks of life, finds the spy a = necessity.

Spy spies on spy=97autocracy produces bureaucracy where men rise and = fall not=20 by the votes of their fellow citizens but by back stairs intrigue. The = German=20 office-holder fears the spies of his rivals. I often said to Germans = holding=20 high office[264]=20 during the war, "This strain is breaking you down,=97all day in your = office. Take=20 an afternoon off and come shooting with me." The invariable answer was, = "I=20 cannot=97the others would learn it from their spies and would spread the = report=20 that I neglect business!"

While in Spain I met the then Premier, Count Romanones, a man of = great talent=20 and impressive personality. He told me of the finding of a quantity of = high=20 explosives, marked by a little buoy, in one of the secluded bays of the = coast.=20 And that day a German had been arrested who had mysteriously appeared at = a=20 Spanish port dressed as a workman. The workman took a first class = passage to=20 Madrid, went to the best hotel and bought a complete outfit of fine = clothes.=20 Undoubtedly the high explosive as well as the mysterious German had been = landed=20 from a German submarine. Whether the explosive was destined as a depot = for=20 submarines or was to help overturn the Spanish government was hard to = guess, but=20 Count Romanones was worried over the activity of the German agents in = Spain.

It has been very easy for German agents in America to communicate = with=20 Germany through this submarine post from Spain to Germany, the letters = from=20 America being sent to Cuba and thence on Spanish boats to Spain.

At all times since the war the Germans have had a submarine post = running=20 direct from Germany to Spain. Shortly after our arrival in Spain Mrs. = Gerard=20 received mysteriously a letter written by a[265] friend of hers, a German Baroness, in = Berlin.=20 This letter had undoubtedly been sent through the very efficient German = spy=20 system.

Sometime in 1915 a German soldier, in uniform, speaking perfect = English,=20 called one day at the Embassy. He said that his name was Bode and that = he had at=20 one time worked for my father-in-law, the late Marcus Daly. Of course, = we had no=20 means of verifying his statements and Mrs. Gerard did not remember any = one of=20 that name or recall Bode personally. He said that he was fighting on the = East=20 front and that he had a temporary leave of absence. I gave him some = money and=20 later we sent him packages of food and tobacco to the front, but never = received=20 any acknowledgment.

In Madrid one of my assistants, Frank Hall, while walking through the = street,=20 ran across Bode, who was fashionably attired. His calling cards stated = that he=20 was a mining engineer from Los Angeles, California. He told Hall a most=20 extraordinary fairy story, saying that he had been captured by the = Russians on=20 the East front and sent to Siberia, that from Siberia he had escaped to = China=20 and from there he had gradually worked his way back to America and = thence to=20 Spain.

Of course, without any definite information on the subject it is = impossible=20 to say exactly what he was doing in Spain. But I am sure that it is far = more=20 likely he had landed from a German submarine on the coast of Spain and = that he=20 was posing[266] as=20 an American mining engineer for a particular purpose.

I told certain people in Spain about Bode and of his intention to = visit the=20 mining districts of Spain where numbers of men are employed. Bode must = have=20 suspected that I had given information about him, for Hall and I = received=20 several postcards of a threatening character, evidently from him.

My cables to and from the State Department passed through our = legation at=20 Copenhagen, and, of course, if the Germans knew our cipher these = messages were=20 read by them. On special occasions I made use of a super-cipher the key = to which=20 I kept in a safe in my bedroom and which only one secretary could use. = The files=20 of cipher cables sent and received were kept in a large safe in the = Embassy. But=20 before leaving Germany, knowing the Germans as I did, and particularly = what they=20 had done in other countries and to other diplomats, knowing how easy it = would be=20 for them to burglarise the safe after we left, when the Spaniards and = Dutch were=20 out of the building at night, I tossed all these despatches as well as = the code=20 books into a big furnace fire. Commander Gherardi and Secretary Hugh = Wilson=20 stood by and personally saw that the last scrap was burned. Of course, = copies of=20 all the cables are in the State Department.

German spies are adepts at opening bags, steaming letters=97all the = old tricks.=20 The easiest way to baffle them is to write nothing that cannot be = published to=20 the world.

For a long time after the beginning of war I was[267] too busy to write the = weekly report=20 of official gossip usually sent home by diplomats. I suppose the Germans = searched our courier bags for such a report vainly. Anyway, its absence = finally=20 got on the nerves of Zimmermann so much that one day he blurted out, = "Don't you=20 ever write reports to your Government?"

by inserting a pencil or small round = object in the=20 envelope, steamed a little, if necessary; the envelope is opened at the = end flap=20 and the contents pulled out without disturbing the seal, the contents = are then=20 read, put in their place again, the end flap re-inserted, a little gum = used and=20 the envelope is as intact as before.[268]

Even then a clever spy can open the letter, read the contents and = seal it=20 again. This is done by cutting through the seals with a hot razor=97the = divided=20 seals are then united by pressing the hot razor against each side of the = cut and=20 then pressing the two parts of the cut seal together. This is, however, = a very=20 delicate operation and doesn't always work.

From the outbreak of war we sent and received our official mail = through=20 England, and couriers carried it between Berlin and London through = Holland via=20 Flushing and Tilbury.

On account of the great volume of correspondence between Ambassador = Page and=20 myself on the affairs of German prisoners in England and English = prisoners in=20 Germany, there were many pouches every week. These were leather mail = bags opened=20 only by duplicate keys kept in London and Berlin and, for the American = mail, in=20 Berlin and Washington. Our couriers did their best to keep the numerous = bags in=20 their sight during the long journey but on many occasions our couriers = were=20 separated,[269] I am=20 sure with malicious purpose, from their bags by the German railway = authorities=20 and on some occasions the bags not recovered for days.

Undoubtedly at this time the Germans opened and looked over the = contents of=20 the bags. Later in the war our courier while on a Dutch mail boat, = running=20 between Flushing and England, was twice captured with the boat by a = German=20 warship and taken into Zeebrugge. Undoubtedly here, too, the bags were = secretly=20 opened and our uncoded despatches and letters read.

German spies were most annoying in Havana and one of them, a large = dark man,=20 followed me about at a distance of only six feet, with his eyes glued on = the=20 small bag which I carried from a thick strap hanging around my shoulder. = I=20 brought it from Germany in that way. I never let it out of my hands or=20 sight.

What was in that bag? Among other things were the original telegrams = written=20 by the Kaiser in his own handwriting, facsimiles of which appear in my = earlier=20 book, "My Four Years in Germany," and the treaty which the Germans tried = to get=20 me to sign while they held me as a prisoner. Under the terms they = proposed the=20 German ships interned in America were to have the right in case of war, = to sail=20 for Germany under a safe conduct to be obtained from the Allies by the = United=20 States. Somewhat of a treaty! And quite a new, bright and original = thought by=20 some one in the Foreign Office or German Admiralty. There were also in = this=20 mysterious[270] bag=20 many other matters of interest that may some day see the light.

There is in Mexico, for instance, one force that never sleeps,=97the = German=20 propaganda. It is the same method as that used by the Teutons in every = country,=20 the purchase or rental of newspaper properties, bribing public men and = officers=20 of the army and the insidious use of Germans who are engaged in = commerce. This=20 propaganda is backed by enormous sums of money appropriated by the = German=20 government which directs how all its officers and agents, high and low, = shall=20 participate in the campaign.

In the long run a paid propaganda always fails. It is like paying = money to=20 blackmailers. The blackmailer who has once received money becomes so = insatiable=20 that even the Bank of England will not satisfy him in the end. Sometimes = the=20 newspapers which are not bought, but are equally corrupt, become = vehement in=20 their denunciation of the country making the propaganda in the hope of = being=20 bought and in the hope that their bribe money will be in proportion to = their=20 hostility. Corrupted public men who are not bribed often become sternly = virtuous=20 and denunciatory with a similar hope. Those who have received the wages = of=20 shame, on the other hand, become more insistent in their demands, = crying, "Give!=20 Give!" like the daughter of the horse-leech.[271]

The blows of war must be struck quickly. Delays are dangerous and the = temporary paralysis of one country by propaganda may mean the loss of = the war.=20 The United States has been at a great disadvantage because our officials = have=20 not had the authority, the means or the money to fight the German = propaganda=20 with effective educational campaigns, both offensive and defensive.

Bernstorff in this country disposed of enormous sums for the purpose = of=20 moulding American public opinion. I, in Berlin, was without one cent = with which=20 to place America's side before the German people. It is a conflict of = two=20 systems. In Berlin I did not even have money to pay private detectives = and on=20 the rare occasions when I used them as, for instance to find out who was = connected with the so-called American organisation, the League of Truth, = which=20 was engaged in a violent propaganda against America inside Germany, I = was=20 obliged to bear the expense personally.

South of the Rio Grande the Germans are working against us, doing = their best=20 to prejudice the Mexicans against the United States, playing upon old = hatreds=20 and creating new ones and, in the meantime, by their purchase of = properties and=20 of mines creating a situation that will constitute for us in the future = a most=20 difficult and dangerous problem.

The Germans cannot understand why we do not take advantage of = conditions in=20 Mexico in order to conquer and hold that unfortunate country. They could = not=20 believe that we were actuated by a spirit of idealism and that we were = patiently=20 suffering[272] much=20 in order really to help Mexico. They could not believe that we were = waiting in=20 order to convince not only Mexico but the other States of Central = America and=20 the great friendly republics of South America, that it was not our = policy to use=20 the dissensions and weakness of our neighbours to gain territory.

On one occasion before the war I and several other Ambassadors were = dining=20 with the Kaiser and after dinner the conversation turned to the strange = sights=20 to be seen in America. One of the Ambassadors, I think it was Cambon, = said that=20 he had seen in America whole houses being moved along the roads, = something of a=20 novelty to European eyes where the houses, constructed of brick and = stone,=20 cannot be transported from place to place like our wooden frame house. = The=20 Emperor jokingly remarked: "Yes, I am sure that the Americans are moving = their=20 houses. They are moving them down towards the Mexican border."

CHAPTER XXI[273]

EN ROUTE HOME=97KAISERISM IN AMERICA

Our=20 party was so numerous that we were compelled to charter a special train = to take=20 us from Madrid to La Coru=F1a, the port in the extreme northwestern = corner of=20 Spain from which the Infanta Isabela was to sail.

Just before the train started, a Spanish gentleman from the Foreign = Office,=20 who had courteously come to see us off, said to me, "Do you know you = have a Duke=20 as engineer?" "The Duke of Saragossa is going to take out your train." = So we ran=20 forward to the engine and I shook hands with the Duke who was in blue=20 overalls.

This Duke of Saragossa, Grandee of Spain, often drives the engine of = the=20 King's train. Why he engineered our train I do not know, unless it was = because=20 of the rumours that German agents would try to stop my journey home.

At any rate the Duke proved a most competent engineer, guiding us = with velvet=20 touch through the steep inclines and sharp turns of the Guadarrama = mountains. At=20 Venta de Ba=F1os his turn at the engine ended and on my invitation he = came to dine=20 with us in the dining car. He proved a most charming gentleman, speaking = English=20 well. He said that[274] his great ambition was to visit America = and see=20 the big locomotives and the pretty girls. At dinner he was, of course, = dressed=20 in his overalls and carried out the professional touch by using clean = cotton=20 waste instead of a pocket handkerchief.

Arrived at La Coru=F1a in the morning, carriages sent by the Spanish = government=20 met us and the Mayor and the other officials were most polite. The Mayor = accompanied us on board ship next day, giving to Mrs. Gerard a beautiful = basket=20 of flowers entwined with ribbons of the colours of the City of La = Coru=F1a.

We found the Infanta Isabela a clean splendid ship=97her = Captain=20 competent and kind. I cheerfully recommend her to any who wish a safe = voyage=20 across the Atlantic during the war.

My stay in Havana was brief and I was soon en route northward from = Key=20 West.

As our train came north through Florida there were crowds and bands = at the=20 stations and at St. Augustine my eyes were delighted by the sight of = Frank=20 Munsey and Ex-Senator Chauncey Depew.

At the station in Washington Secretary McAdoo met me. What a splendid = record=20 of achievement is his since the war, and now with the burden of all the = railways=20 in the country added to that of finance I suppose in no country at war = has one=20 man so successfully undertaken such gigantic tasks.

President Wilson was ill in bed but next day got up on purpose to = hear my=20 report. I was with him for over an hour.

THE = "INFANTA=20 ISABELLA," ON WHICH AMBASSADOR GERARD RETURNED FROM EUROPE. FROM A = PHOTOGRAPH=20 TAKEN IN HAVANA HARBOR, MARCH, 1917

The following day I arrived in New York, being[275] met in Jersey City by a = committee=20 headed by the celebrated lawyer, John B. Stanchfield; Clarence Mackay, = Herbert=20 Swope (whose splendid articles in the New York World were the = first=20 warnings to America and other countries respecting the ruthless = submarine=20 warfare), United States Marshal Thomas D. McCarthy, State Senator Foley, = James=20 J. Hoey,=97a faithful trio of good friends who saw me off for Denmark = only a few=20 months before. I was escorted to the City Hall where I was welcomed by = the=20 Mayor. In a speech on the steps of the City Hall I said:

"We are standing to-day very near the brink of war, but I want to = assure you=20 that if we should be drawn into the conflict it will be only after our = President=20 has exhausted every means consistent with upholding the honour and = dignity of=20 the United States to keep us from war. I left Berlin with a clear = conscience,=20 because I felt that during all my stay there I had omitted nothing to = make for=20 friendly relations and peace between the two nations.

"I am very glad to-day to see on the list of this Reception Committee = the=20 names of people of German descent. It is but natural that citizens of = German=20 descent in the beginning of the war should have had a sentimental = feeling toward=20 Germany, that they should have looked back through rose-coloured glasses = on that=20 land which, however, they left because they did not have equality of=20 opportunity. We read to-day in the newspapers for the first time that = there is a=20 prospect that after the war the Germans will be given an equal share in = their=20 own government. I believe that in our hour of trial we can rely upon the = loyalty=20 of our citizens of German descent, and[276] if they would follow me I would not be = afraid to=20 go out with a regiment of them and without any fear of being shot from=20 behind.

"The nation that stands opposite to us to-day has probably no less = than=20 12,000,000 men under arms. I have seen the Germans take more prisoners = in one=20 afternoon than there are men in the entire United States Army.

"Does it not seem to you ridiculous that the two States of New York = and New=20 Jersey should have more chauffeurs in them than there are soldiers in = our army?=20 My companions from the Twelfth Regiment that have honoured me by coming = here=20 to-day, and more men like them throughout the country, have done what = they can.=20 But they can't do it all. There must be a public sentiment if we are to = maintain=20 ourselves as a nation. If we had a million men under arms to-day we = should not=20 be near the edge of war.

"Gentlemen, I have tried in Berlin to be, as the Mayor has told you, = an=20 American Ambassador, and I thank you because you, an audience of = patriotic=20 Americans, by your presence here set your seal of approval upon my = conduct=20 during the last two and a half years."

I have never been able to understand why so many people did not = sooner=20 realise what Kaiserism meant for us. But now, at last, the nation = understands=20 that we must fight on until this menace of military autocracy has = vanished and=20 that not until then will the world enjoy a lasting peace.

Almost as soon as I was settled in New York I was drafted. Drafted by = a=20 public curiosity which[277] insisted on knowing something about = Germany and=20 the war.

And so for me began a new life=97that of a public speaker=97I spoke = first in New=20 York at a lunch at the Chamber of Commerce=97war had not then been = declared and I=20 was compelled to be careful=97for even then there seemed a fear of = Germany, a=20 foolish desire to surrender all manhood to a fat neutrality.

On April 2nd came President Wilson's message demanding war. I was in = the=20 opera house that night. Between the acts extras appeared. I telephoned = Swope of=20 the World who confirmed the news. While I was receiving this = information=20 one of the directors of the Metropolitan Opera Company came in the room. = I told=20 him what had happened and asked if he was not going to do = something=97order the=20 news read from the stage=97for example, and the "Star Spangled Banner" = played. He=20 said, "No, the opera company is neutral."

I returned to the box where I was sitting and stepping to the front = called on=20 the house to cheer President Wilson. There was, for a moment, surprise = at such=20 unconventional action, but the whole house soon broke into cheers.

The opera was DeKoven's "Canterbury Pilgrims" and a few minutes after = the=20 curtain rose on the last act Frau Ober, a German singer, who was taking = one of=20 the principal parts, keeled over in a faint,=97rage, perhaps, that the = Yankees=20 were at[278] last=20 daring to cheer, to assert themselves against the Kaiser!

As I spoke in Albany, Buffalo, Harrisburg, Trenton and Boston, in=20 Philadelphia, Providence and many times in New York and other places, I = noted=20 always an eagerness to learn about Germany, the war and foreign affairs. = We=20 Americans had travelled, but not with our eyes open=97"seeing, we saw = not."

The first great, great question we faced was that of universal = service for=20 the war=97or the selective draft=97again how farsighted our President = then proved=20 himself. What would be our situation now if we had tried to go to war = under the=20 volunteer system? This question once solved, our President led us with a = breadth=20 of vision, an efficiency, and on a scale commensurate with the size of = the=20 undertaking in which we at last had become partners.

Perhaps we are a little over indulgent, however, in the treatment of = the=20 German enemy alien within our gates. No American singer or musician = could travel=20 about Germany at will, unwatched by the police, collecting money from = Americans=20 to be used in propaganda, or things much worse, against America. = Americans in=20 Germany are compelled to report twice daily to the police and cannot = leave their=20 homes at night. November 17, 1917=97seven months after we went to war = with=20 Germany=97I met Hugo Schmidt, a director of the Deutsche Bank, riding in = Central=20 Park. He lived at the German Club, saw whom he liked and only = reported[279] to the = police when=20 he changed his residence. In January 1918, he was finally interned.

Long before our break with Germany, American consuls and officials = were=20 insulted in the street and in opera houses because they made use of = their own=20 language, not at all because they were taken for British for every one = knew that=20 all British had been interned.

The wife of our naval attach=E9 attended a reception presided over by = a German=20 admiral's wife. She was presented to this high personage by the wife of = a German=20 naval officer, who, in making the presentation, spoke in English. The = admiral's=20 wife rebuked both the wife of our attach=E9 and the officer's wife for = daring to=20 talk English. I am thankful to say that Mrs. Gherardi immediately left = the house=20 to receive later the officially ordered apologies of the admiral's = wife.

And while Americans did not dare use their own language in Berlin in = time of=20 peace between the two countries yet after the outbreak of war, = newspapers in the=20 United States, printed in German, owned by Germans and German = sympathisers,=20 dared to attack America and her President.

The autocracy always hope to divide us, to make of us a Russia, torn = by=20 Maximalists and Minimalists, by Militarists and Bolsheviki and, = consequently,=20 impotent for war.

In travelling through the United States in August and September of = 1917,=20 although I was on private business, I made speeches in many cities, such = as=20 Minneapolis, and Helena, Billings, Butte and Missoula[280] in Montana, Spokane, = Seattle and=20 Tacoma in Washington, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco and surrounding = country,=20 Los Angeles, San Diego and Pasadena and then Milwaukee, Chicago and = Cleveland.=20 In all this territory I found great enthusiasm, great patriotism and a = sincere=20 desire to learn about Germany and the war. But I found everywhere also = the trail=20 of Germany's poisonous propaganda.

The great majority of our citizens of German-American descent have = been=20 splendidly loyal to their country in this crisis of its history. But the = fact=20 must be faced that there are those who, for some unknown reason, still=20 sympathise with the German Kaiser in his war of aggression.

More unfortunately there are politicians in America who seek the = votes of=20 those disaffected, and approach treason in doing so. In all the history = of=20 sordid politics, there is nothing more nauseating than the effort of = these cheap=20 politicians thus to gratify their personal ambitions.

Their shameful identity is known to all. A generation from now their = own=20 descendants will be applying to the courts for a change of name.

If, when the test comes, it is found that the votes of these = disaffected=20 citizens count for something in our elections, we must find some means = to=20 disenfranchise them rather than have our low politicians outbidding each = other=20 within the law in order to get these votes.

Have we not had examples enough from Russia[281] of what the slimy bribe and the snaky = propaganda=20 can do?

In Chicago, where one Thompson is Mayor, there is a censorship of = moving=20 picture films. The chief censor is Major Funkhouser. When I was in Los = Angeles,=20 at the end of September, like all strangers there, I visited movie-land = to see=20 the pictures made.

At the house of my college chum, Dr. Walter J. Barlow, I met the = beautiful=20 and celebrated Mary Pickford.

In conversation she told me about Major Funkhouser, and how he had = refused an=20 exhibition permit for one of her films called "The Little American." = Curious to=20 see the film rejected by Chicago officialdom, I asked Miss Pickford if = she would=20 have it run off for my benefit. I could see nothing in the film that = could hurt=20 the susceptibilities of any except the Germans with whom we are now = engaged in=20 war!

Later the Fox Film Company informed me that their film called "The = Spy" and=20 which deals with the adventures of an American who is supposed to go to = Germany=20 to get a list of German spies and agents in America, was refused the = right of=20 exhibition in Chicago by this same Major Funkhouser. In this case the = Fox=20 Company appealed in the courts and obtained from Judge Alschuler an = injunction=20 preventing any one from interfering with the exhibition of this film. = The=20 decision of Judge Alschuler was affirmed on appeal.

And yet the mass of the people in Chicago are[282] splendidly patriotic as = the record of=20 Chicago for enlistment and Red Cross and Liberty Loan shows.

When I spoke in the great Medinah Temple under the auspices of the = Hamilton=20 Club, on October twenty-second, I was able to show to the audience two = German=20 text-books used in the Chicago public schools, stamped with the royal = arms of=20 Prussia. The books had been approved by Ella Flagg Young, Superintendent = of=20 Schools, in 1914.

These books were furnished me by my friend, Anthony Czarnecki of the=20 Chicago Daily News whom I first met in Berlin where he came to do = most=20 excellent work for his paper. In one of these books is printed the = German=20 patriotic song, The Watch on the Rhine ("Die Wacht am Rhein"). What a = howl there=20 would have been if some public school superintendent had selected for = the=20 schools under her jurisdiction a text-book of English literature with = the royal=20 arms of England stamped on the cover and "Rule Britannia" prominently = displayed=20 inside!

These text-books were cleverly compiled to impress children at a = youthful age=20 with a favourable idea of kings and emperors. In one of these was an = anecdote=20 about Frederick the Great and a miller, and in another, one about the = Emperor=20 Charlemagne and the scholar, of course, making Frederick and Charlemagne = appear=20 as good kindly people, and giving the impression that all kings and = emperors are=20 beneficent beings. But no word is there in these books quoting the = present=20 German Emperor's statement in which he puts Frederick in the same class = as[283] the = four other=20 bloody conquerors of history, Alexander, Julius C=E6sar, Theodoric and = Napoleon,=20 and says that where they failed in their dreams of world conquest, his = mailed=20 fist will succeed. Why was not Frederick the Great's statement printed = in these=20 books, his admission that he engaged upon the Seven Years' War "in order = to be=20 talked about"?

These books contained quotations from Goethe. Why did they not = contain=20 Goethe's statement, "Amerika, du hast es besser."? (America, you are = better=20 off). Or his prophecy about the Prussians, "The Prussian was born a = brute, and=20 civilisation will make him ferocious."

The only foreign language taught in the grammar schools of Chicago is = German.=20 Parents are compelled to sign a statement in which they answer the = question as=20 to whether they wish their children to be taught German or not.

See how subtle this is! Doubtless if a Teuton parent answers that he = does not=20 desire to have his children taught German the paid agents of the German=20 propaganda stir up feeling against these Germans who have dared to = refuse to=20 have their children taught the language of the fatherland.

And when a parent has once elected that his children shall be taught = German,=20 not the principal of the school, not the district superintendent, but = only the=20 head of all the Chicago school system, on the application of the parent, = can=20 excuse the child, during his or her school course, from further study of = German.

Worst of all, however, is the Chicago official[284] school speller, a book = printed under=20 the direction and compiled by the school authorities of Chicago. In this = speller=20 there is just one piece of reading matter and that a fulsome eulogy of = the=20 present German Emperor.

This is an account of an alleged incident of the Kaiser's school days = and the=20 author concludes that the facts set forth (probably untrue) show that = the Kaiser=20 as a boy had the "root of a fine character in him," possessed "that = chivalrous=20 sense of fair play which is the nearest thing to a religion" in boys of = that age=20 and hated "meanness and favouritism." The Chicago Board of Education end = the=20 eulogy by stating, "There is in him a fundamental bent toward what is = clean,=20 manly and aboveboard."

"Chivalrous sense of fair play and hates meanness!" "Fundamental bent = toward=20 what is clean, manly and aboveboard!" How about the enslavement of women = and=20 girls in France, the use of poison gas, the deportations of the = Belgians, the=20 sinking of the Lusitania and the killing of women and babies by = Zeppelins=20 and submarines.=97Sickening!

A number of the books used in the public schools of New York have so = much in=20 them favourable to kings and emperors, have so much of German patriotism = and=20 fatherland, that the hand of the propagandist must have had something to = do with=20 the adoption of these books.

Of course, it is only in the books of the advanced courses that = propaganda=20 appears. It is not possible, however clever the author, to incorporate = much=20 propaganda in simple exercises, or in such sentences[285] as "Have you seen the = sister of my=20 cousin's wife?" or "The bird is waiting in the blacksmith shop on = account of the=20 rain."

But the following extracts from books used in the public schools of = New York=20 should not be without interest to those who know that the impressions = given to=20 persons under the age of sixteen or seventeen are the impressions that = often=20 persist through life.

For instance in the "Deutscher Lehrgang, First Year," by E. Prokosch = of the=20 University of Texas, "Die Wacht am Rhein" is printed with music.

I should be very much surprised to hear that the "Star Spangled = Banner," with=20 music, had ever been printed in any school book in Germany.

On page 109, of this book, there is an article in German entitled, = "The=20 German Constitution." It begins with the sentence, "The German Empire is = a union=20 State like the United States of America." How far the German Empire is = from the=20 United States of America in political liberty can be answered by any = German=20 immigrant or Jewish merchant who has voted under the circle system or = been=20 denied access to court because of his religion!

The second paragraph commences with the sentence, "The German Kaiser = is not=20 monarch of the Empire. He only is President of the Union." I am quite = sure that=20 if the Kaiser ever saw this sentence he would very soon convince the = author that=20 he was something more than the President. The article continues:

"He is the over-commander of the army.[286] Through him is war declared and peace = made, but=20 he can declare war only with the consent of the Bundesrath."

The Bundesrath had nothing to say about the commencement of this war. = They=20 never voted on the question. The German Constitution, as a matter of = fact, gives=20 the Kaiser the right to declare war himself, providing that the war is a = defensive war. In 1914, the Kaiser first announced, without presenting = any=20 evidence, that Germany had been attacked, and then declared war on the = strength=20 of this statement, never since substantiated.

The text book writer adds: "The people are represented in the = Reichstag as=20 the American people are represented in Congress." If the American people = were=20 represented in Congress under the same unfair representation from which = the=20 German people suffer, there would soon be a revolution in this country. = The=20 districts which elect members to the Reichstag have not been changed = since 1872,=20 so that millions of Germans are not represented at all in the = Reichstag.

"Professor" Prokosch remarks: "The Bundesrath is like the Senate of = the=20 United States. It is composed of representatives of the particular = States."

Of course, the only difference is that our Senators are = elected by the=20 people and the members of the Bundesrath are appointed by the ruling = kings and=20 princes of the German states and vote exactly as they are told by these=20 rulers.

This is only to show how carelessly, if not maliciously,[287] = Professor E.=20 Prokosch of the University of Texas and his helper, C. M. Purin of = the=20 State Normal School at Milwaukee, have handled the German Constitution,=20 doubtless to give the impression to school children in America that the = German=20 empire instead of being a despotic autocracy, is ruled in very much the = same=20 manner as our own republic.

Frederick the Great, who admitted that he went to war "in order to be = talked=20 about," who boasted that he had only one cook and a hundred spies, who = was one=20 of the most tyrannical kings of all history, has a whole book dedicated = to him=20 for use in the Public Schools of New York. Frederick Betz, head of the=20 Department of Modern Languages in the East High School of Rochester, New = York,=20 is the author of a book called, "About a Great King and Others." The = author in=20 the preface states that the anecdotes which he prints do not narrate the = story=20 of the lives of these famous Germans, but, nevertheless, give glimpses = of what=20 they did and may help to show why the Germans held them in such high = esteem. The=20 book contains four anecdotes about King Frederick William I, the father = of=20 Frederick the Great, a villainous king who was prevented from executing = his own=20 son only by the protests of the other kings of Europe.

Then follow forty-nine anecdotes about Frederick the Great, all of = them, of=20 course, revealing him as a good king and a popular character; eight = anecdotes=20 about Beethoven, Mozart, Schiller, and Lessing, and the remainder of the = book is=20 made up of[288] one=20 anecdote about Queen Louise, one about Field Marshal Bl=FCcher, eighteen = anecdotes=20 about Bismarck, three about the Emperor William I, and three about the = present=20 Emperor.

The booklet entitled "German Poems for Memorizing," with music to = some of the=20 poems, edited by Oscar Burkhard, Assistant Professor of German in the = University=20 of Minnesota, contains a number of German patriotic poems and prints the = "Wacht=20 am Rhein" twice, once in the text and once with music. "Deutschland = =FCber Alles"=20 is printed twice in the same way.

I should like to be present at the trial in the secret court in = Germany of a=20 schoolmaster who dared to teach his pupils to sing the "Star Spangled = Banner" or=20 the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Prokosch and Purin seem to be popular = with=20 the Board of Education, for they are represented by another book called=20 "Conversation and Reading Book," which is full of stories and patriotic=20 anecdotes. Charlemagne, Barbarossa and Frederick the Great are all = exhibited as=20 great men to be emulated. There is a picture of the coronation of = Charlemagne=20 which represents the Pope about to place the iron crown on Charlemagne's = head=20 while the Deity, attended by seraphim and cherubim, floating on clouds = overhead,=20 lends his presence to the ceremony; only another example of how the = Prussians=20 believe that God is the tribal Deity of their nation who takes a = personal=20 interest in all their ceremonies and wars.

A long article appears in these books entitled, "The Germans in the = United=20 States." It implies[289] that William Penn had no success until = he called=20 in Dr. Daniel Pastorius of Frankfort. Among the bits of history set = forth the=20 author alleges that, in 1760, there were more than a hundred thousand = Germans in=20 Pennsylvania, and that on account of their importance in this State it = was=20 proposed to make German the official language, the proposition being = beaten by=20 only one vote! The article says further: "The only reason why the = contentious=20 Puritans succeeded in making English the language of the country and in=20 impressing their character on its politics was because the German = immigrants=20 were poor, downtrodden people."

But it is when we come to the description of the War of the = Revolution and=20 other wars that the authors really turn loose. We learn that = Washington's=20 bodyguard was composed of Germans and that Baron von Steuben apparently=20 reorganised the American army, so that Washington moved Congress to name = General=20 von Steuben, Inspector General, and to make his position almost = independent. The=20 writers say that the siege of Yorktown and surrender of the English army = was in=20 a great part the work of Steuben.

I think that other historians might have something to say on this = subject.=20 The authors fail to tell that Baron von Steuben, a soldier of fortune, = who sold=20 his services to the highest bidder, was hired to join the American army = by a=20 Frenchman, Beaumarchais, who sympathised with the United States.

Attention is also called to the fact that 190,000[290] Germans fought against = the South and=20 the authors observe in conclusion:

"If to-day the United States of America is a power of world political = importance, if its industry, agriculture and commerce betoken a powerful = danger=20 commercially over the old Europe, so have they to thank the political = power and=20 the methodical perseverance of the Anglo-Saxon immigrants from England = as well=20 as the industry, the bravery and the cheerfulness of the Germans who = have placed=20 themselves politically in the service of the Anglo Saxons."

It is noteworthy that of the four books I have set forth as examples, = three=20 apparently have been produced since the commencement of the World = War.

Does not all this show the hand of the German propaganda=97the same = hand which=20 sends from Berlin every year a large sum of money to the German = colonists in the=20 southern states of Brazil in order that the German schools may be = maintained=20 there, German ideas inculcated and the population prevented from losing = its=20 German identity?

From the time of the visit of Prince Henry to this country the German = system=20 of propaganda has been at work smoothing out traditional differences and = feuds=20 between Germans and doing its best to make Germans from Bavaria, Saxony = and=20 Hanover and W=FCrttemberg, and Hesse forget that their countries were = conquered by=20 the Prussians in 1866.

When Prince Henry was here on his trip through the country he spent = very=20 little time with Americans.[291] He was chiefly occupied with = German-Americans and=20 German-American Societies.

Prince Henry's visit to the United States in 1902 was primarily to = attend the=20 christening of the racing yacht of the Emperor which was being built in = this=20 country. One of the members of his suite was von Tirpitz, then secretary = of=20 state of the German Navy. After having been officially received by = President=20 Roosevelt he visited Annapolis, Brooklyn Navy Yard and West Point and = then=20 toured the middle west stopping at twenty cities between New York and = St. Louis.=20 During the entire trip he continually asked questions of all the = delegates sent=20 with him by the U. S. Government, such as for instance facts about = the=20 shops at Altoona, the coal mines, farms, factories and handsome = women!

At every station he was met by the Mayor of the city and the German=20 Societies, and greeted with German music. The Deutscher Kriege Verein, a = German=20 Society consisting of military veterans, always had a place of honour in = the=20 celebrations. In many cities the German-American citizens gave the = Prince albums=20 or souvenirs in which were engraved pretty pledges of devotion to the=20 Fatherland. For instance in Chicago, the German Roman Catholic Society = presented=20 the following address: "The German Roman Catholic Staats-Verband of = Illinois=20 begs your Royal Highness to permit it to express its great joy for your = visit to=20 the United States and to assure your Royal Highness of its respect and=20 regard."[292]

"We extend to your Royal Highness our heartiest greeting as the = illustrious=20 guest of this country and the envoy of the wise and noble ruler of = our=20 Fatherland, whom the world recognises and respects as prince of = peace and as=20 the representative of a great and mighty nation that by its own power = has united=20 its people and achieved its present prominent position among nations of = the=20 earth.

"May the Almighty grant that the visit of your Royal Highness bear a = rich=20 fruit, that rulers and their people may join together and thereby = promote peace,=20 harmony and good-will throughout the world! May God grant this=20 prayer!"

Everywhere the Prince went he was surrounded by=20 German-American and German influences. In St. Louis, where the Prince = spent=20 about three and a half hours, the German-Americans gave him a great = reception in=20 the Grand Hall and lunch at the St. Louis Club which was attended by = many=20 Germans. In Chicago, a reception was given after the Mayor's banquet, in = the=20 First Regiment Armory, and attended by ten thousand Germans. The = following day=20 in Chicago he went to a large luncheon at the Germania Club. In = Milwaukee the=20 officers of the Deutscher Kriegebund gave a reception at the Exposition = where=20 ten thousand German-Americans cheered the Prince, and also a luncheon at = the=20 Hotel Pfister where many German-American officials were invited.

The speeches throughout had the same tone, those of the = German-Americans=20 expressing their respect[293] for the Fatherland and those of the = Prince=20 spurring on loyalty in the hearts of the German-Americans. The Prince's = speech=20 in the Armory in Chicago is quite typical. In reply to a speech made by = a=20 German-American, the Prince said:

"You have left your Fatherland, but if you still have some love = for the=20 Fatherland then I ask you to give three cheers for the one who has sent = me here=20 as the representative of Prussia to bring this greeting=97the German = Emperor and=20 King of Prussia."

In another speech which the Prince began with "Mr. Chairman and=20 Fellow-Germans," he said: "I would like to say that the Germans in this = country=20 have done a great deal for the literature and science of this country = and I hope=20 they will continue in this good work." The whole attitude of the Prince = seemed=20 to be one of benevolence to his "Fellow-Germans" and personal interest = in them.=20 Wherever the Prince discovered a German wearing the Iron Cross in the = crowd, he=20 would ask an aide to bring the man up to him so that he could shake = hands and=20 converse with him.

Talking with Prince Henry one day before the war he told me he = regretted that=20 on his trip to America he had seen so little of the Americans. He said: = "You=20 know the Ambassador kept me always with the Germans and German = Societies." I=20 suppose the poor Prince did not himself know what was the real object of = his=20 visit. But undoubtedly his shrewd trip manager and the clever = propagandists who=20 accompanied him knew only too well.[294]

It is hard to understand why any German-Americans should take sides = with=20 German autocracy. There are many merchants of Frankfort and Hamburg and = Bremen=20 and the great industrial towns of Germany who do not approve of the = cruelties=20 practised in this war and many of these will leave Germany as soon as = peace is=20 concluded.

Any one had a right to sympathise, to side with Germany, before our = entrance=20 into the war. But now what the lawyers call "the time of repentance" has = gone=20 by, there is no middle course and every citizen must declare himself = American or=20 be thought a traitor.

It is hard to understand what the pro-Germans in our country want. = They left=20 Germany because of a lack of opportunity there, because of their dislike = for=20 military service under Prussian conditions, because of the caste system = which=20 kept them under the heel of autocracy and because here every avenue of = business,=20 and social and political advancement is thrown wide open for them and = their=20 children. And I am quite sure that if one of these prosperous Germans = were=20 deprived of the money that he has won here, given back the rags and = wooden shoes=20 in which he landed and told that he was on his way to Germany, no wild = animal in=20 all the mountains and swamps of the United States would scratch and bite = and=20 kick and squawk more vigorously than he would. These German-Americans do = not=20 want to be sent back to their Kaiser and their fatherland!

Certainly we Americans will not stop the war nor surrender our rights = nor=20 invite the invasion of[295] our shores because of their stubborn = devotion to=20 a country which they were so glad to abandon. We must appeal to their = sons and=20 their daughters=97to those who have become part and parcel of our = nation, to see=20 that these obstinate old codgers do not persist in an attitude which may = end in=20 creating a prejudice against those of German descent in America.

Those of us who are of Scotch or Irish or English descent can urge = this with=20 greater insistence because our ancestors were much nearer, in 1766, to = the=20 English fatherland, than German-Americans are to the German Empire and = these=20 ancestors did not hesitate in that year to turn against Great Britain on = a mere=20 question of commerce=97did not hesitate again, in 1812, to face Great = Britain in=20 arms on a question of sea rights; and on account of this we expect all = those of=20 German-American descent to stand unreservedly by their adopted = country,=97forced=20 into war by an autocracy that not only murdered our women and children = in=20 defiance of international law and common humanity but which threatens, = if=20 successful in this war, to invade our shores.

Do these stubborn German-Americans think that if a German force = should occupy=20 America their position would be any better than that of the other = citizens of=20 this country, that they would be put to rule over the rest of us and = allowed to=20 save their goods and houses from the indemnities that would be put upon = this=20 nation in case of our defeat?

Let me tell them one thing and that is, if by any[296] remote possibility the = Germans did=20 gain a foothold in this country through the aid of those of German = descent here,=20 before we, of other descent in this country submitted to German rule we = would=20 attend to every traitor!

We did not lure any citizens of foreign nations to our shores. They = came here=20 to escape serfdom and starvation and forced military service in an army = where=20 they could never be officers. We sent them no excursion tickets when = they came=20 here as half-starved peasants. We opened to them the doors of = hospitality and of=20 opportunity, and we do not propose that they shall pay us like the = frozen snake=20 in =C6sop's fables.

Some of our finest citizens came from Germany in 1848 after the = failure of=20 the revolution against autocracy. Where do you think that General Siegel = and=20 Carl Schurz would stand if they were alive to-day?

The daughter of General Siegel has answered in giving her son, on = whom she=20 was dependent, to the army of the United States, saying, "His = grandfather fought=20 under Lincoln for liberty and he must take his place to-day in the great = fight=20 for freedom."

We are too good-natured, too soft, too easy in this country. Our = great=20 ex-President, that splendid American and patriot, Theodore Roosevelt, = said not=20 long ago of one of our United States Senators, if that Senator were a = German and=20 acted in Germany the way he acted in America as an American he would be = put at=20 digging a trench. I do not like[297] to differ with Theodore Roosevelt, but = from my=20 knowledge of German conditions during this war, I know that if this = Senator=20 acted as a German in Germany as he has been acting as an American in = America, he=20 would not be put by the Germans at digging a trench but that with the = ten=20 bullets of a firing squad in his chest he would be filling one!

Are these Germans in America imbued with the belief that the German = Kaiser=20 has been sent by heaven to rule the German Empire and bend the world = under=20 German "Kultur"? President Wilson, in one of his notes in 1916, referred = to the=20 German government as "the mouthpiece of the people." A German = conservative=20 newspaper, I think the Tages Zeitung, commenting upon this said = that "the=20 German Emperor is not our 'mouthpiece' but our truly beloved Emperor = sent to us=20 by God."

Does the German-American ever stop to consider how the Hohenzollerns = obtained=20 possession of the Mark of Brandenburg, the basis of modern Prussia? Five = hundred=20 years ago the Hohenzollerns were Counts of Nuremberg, then as now a rich = trading=20 city. Sigismund III wanted ready money and this was advanced by the=20 Hohenzollerns, Counts of Nuremberg, on the security of the mark of = Brandenburg=20 pledged as collateral to the loan which totalled only $100,000. Later = the Counts=20 of Nuremberg foreclosed their mortgage and took possession of the Mark = of=20 Brandenburg and have held it ever since.

Does a German-American in this country who has placed a mortgage on = his house=20 think when he[298]=20 fails to pay the interest or principal of the mortgage that the man who = has sold=20 him out was sent by God?

This calls to mind one of the great failures of the war=97the failure = of=20 religion in the German Empire. I attended a great service, in the = Protestant=20 cathedral of Berlin, held to celebrate the five hundredth anniversary of = the=20 occasion when the first Hohenzollern, having foreclosed his mortgage, = entered=20 into possession of Brandenburg. The Emperor sat in an elevated gallery = and=20 across the great cathedral Dr. Dryander, the Court preacher, mounted the = pulpit=20 to deliver an eulogy on the Hohenzollern rule and the Hohenzollerns.

What an opportunity then if Dr. Dryander, lifting an accusing finger, = had=20 spoken of the rivers of innocent blood sacrificed to the Prussian Moloch = of=20 conquest, if he had demanded in the name of Christianity that the = barbarities of=20 Prussian rule should cease, that the Belgian workingmen, dragged from = their=20 homes to manufacture shells to be used against their own brothers, sons = and=20 fathers in Prussian factories, should be sent back; if he had demanded = that the=20 twenty thousand women and girls driven into worse than slavery from = Lille and=20 Tourcoing and Roubaix in the North of France should be given their = freedom once=20 more; if he had spoken of the whole nation of the Armenians, of the = Syrians, of=20 the Jews, massacred by the Turks while the German Generals in command of = the=20 Turkish armies stood by; if he had denounced the invasion of Belgium, = the=20 breaking of treaties, the starvation[299] of Poland, the horrors of poisoned gas = and the=20 cruelties exercised upon those of the opposing armies unfortunate enough = to=20 become prisoners of the Germans.

But no, Dr. Dryander droned on. No pastor in Germany has dared to = risk his=20 state-paid salary to stand up for Christianity and the right.

The Prussians cannot get away from the belief that they have a sort = of=20 personal God who takes a direct and kindly interest in their destinies,=20 especially in the ordering of their bloody battles. Countless sermons = were=20 preached through Germany during the war, but the most ridiculous was = that of a=20 Protestant pastor in Berlin early in the war. He announced the title of = his=20 sermon as, "Is God neutral?", and in his fourteenthly proved to his own=20 satisfaction, that the Deity, abandoning neutrality, had declared = Himself=20 unequivocally for the success of German arms!

CHAPTER XXII[300]

THAT INTERVIEW WITH THE KAISER

After the appearance, in August, 1917, in = the=20 Philadelphia Public Ledger and other newspapers in America and = the=20 Telegraph in England of the message of the Kaiser to President = Wilson,=20 the official North German Gazette, evidently unaware of the fact = that the=20 original message of the Kaiser in his own hand was in my possession, = published=20 the following:

"The London Daily Telegraph publishes from the memoirs of = former=20 Ambassador Gerard a telegram that His Majesty the Kaiser is alleged to = have sent=20 to President Wilson on August 10, 1914, and in which the events before = the=20 participation of England in the present war are set forth.

"We are, in these circumstances, in the position TO GIVE THE = ASSURANCE=20 THAT A TELEGRAM OF THE KAISER OF THIS NATURE DOES NOT EXIST.

"It is correct that an audience was granted to Ambassador Gerard on = August=20 10, 1914, in order to give the opportunity to spread before His Majesty = the=20 peace mediation offer of President Wilson.

"The personal message of President Wilson to the Kaiser runs as = follows: 'As=20 official head of one of the Powers which signed the Hague Convention, I = feel=20 according to Article III of this Convention it is my right[301] and my duty to declare to = you in the=20 spirit of the truest friendship that I would welcome every opportunity = to act in=20 the interest of the peace of Europe whether now or at another more = fitting=20 time....'

"This proposition came at a time when the opposing armies had already = crossed=20 the frontiers and when it seemed out of the question to halt the march = of=20 events.

"His Majesty could, therefore, only transmit to the President his = thanks for=20 the mediation offered and to add thereto that it was too early for the = mediation=20 of a neutral Power, but that later the friendly proposition of President = Wilson=20 could be taken up again.

"His Majesty, the Emperor, then talked for some time with the = American=20 Ambassador and set forth to him separately the events which led to the = outbreak=20 of the war. Particularly did the Kaiser call attention to the equivocal = and=20 unloyal position of England which had destroyed the hope of a peaceful=20 issue.

"The setting forth by Ambassador Gerard in his memoirs seems to be a=20 contradiction of this conversation.

"If the press of enemy countries sees revelations in this that only = shows=20 that they are not acquainted with the German White Book which sets forth = these=20 events.

"Possibly, during the interviews, the Emperor wrote down notes for = the=20 Ambassador, in order that the latter should not send anything incorrect = to=20 Washington. In this case we have to do only with certain notes to aid = the memory=20 of the Ambassador, not with a communication of the Emperor to President=20 Wilson."

The Tageblatt reprinted this lame and silly = explanation in its issue of August 13, 1917, and complained that, = although its=20 correspondent at the Hague sent, on August 7, 1917, this part of my[302] first = book in a=20 telegram, only on August 11, did the Government permit the delivery to = the=20 Tageblatt of this story from the correspondent. Then the = newspaper=20 despatch had to be submitted to the Censorship officials who only = released it=20 for publication at midnight. The Tageblatt says, "The form of the = explanation which has now appeared in the North German Gazette = can hardly=20 be called very happy. What does this mean=97'possibly during the = interview the=20 Kaiser wrote down notes for the Ambassador in order that the latter = should not=20 send anything incorrect to Washington'? Now, after a week the occurrence = must=20 have been fathomed and it was not necessary to make use of a 'possibly.' = Could=20 Mr. Gerard consider these 'notes' in the handwriting of the Emperor as a = draft=20 for a telegram? And do these notes read, as a telegram of the Emperor to = Wilson=97as Mr. Gerard repeats them?"

Does not the Tageblatt article give a glimpse not only of how = the=20 newspapers of Germany are hampered and censored, but of the positively = glorious=20 incompetency of the Government officials who denied the existence of an = original=20 document in the Kaiser's own hand which the most elementary inquiries in = their=20 own circle would have disclosed not only was in existence but in my=20 possession?

The redoubtable Reventlow writing in the Conservative Tages = Zeitung=20 commented as follows:

"Kaiser William had possibly for his answer written down notes and = given them=20 to Gerard, but these were[303] only helps for Gerard's memory and it = was not a=20 question of a direct communication of the German Kaiser to the = President. In=20 accordance with the Gerard reports it now seems that nevertheless the = Ambassador=20 telegraphed the Imperial notes immediately and literally to Washington. = Mr.=20 Gerard has, therefore, again in this respect lied, which is not=20 surprising."

Reventlow, of course, had not then seen the facsimile of the Kaiser's = telegram which is headed in his own hand "To the President, = personally."

Later the other German newspapers took the Foreign Office to task for = making=20 such a weak denial of an incontrovertible fact. And note the charming=20 parliamentary language of dear old Reventlow!

The article, which appeared in the Tages Zeitung of August = 14th last,=20 is interesting because Reventlow is without doubt the oracle and = mouthpiece of=20 the Prussian Conservatives. He continues to attack me in this article = but much=20 of the attack is in reality praise, and, as we say in expressive slang, = "every=20 knock is a boost." The article continues:

"It is very desirable to know if the former Chancellor was present at = the=20 audience; it is regrettably not inconceivable, but is a new proof of the = incompetence of the Chancellor, that he did not, according to his duty, = inform=20 his Imperial Lord of the political personality and character of a man = like=20 Gerard.

"In the U-boat crisis Mr. Gerard had been able to play a quite = decisive part.=20 He was like Mr. von Bethmann-Hollweg entirely of the view that the = German Empire=20 must give in to the demands of the United States and constantly showed = himself=20 wonderfully informed[304] about what step each inner circle would = for the=20 moment take.

"The influence of Mr. Gerard is all the more a shameful and heavy = reproach=20 for the official leadership of Mr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, since this = American=20 Ambassador, while an intriguer, was not a personality.

"But when Gerard said anything, wished anything or threatened = anything, that=20 imported always a fear-exciting event, and he was finally sly enough to = seize=20 and use this halo to the limit. That a man like Gerard has been able = through all=20 these years to win and keep such a position and such an influence over = German=20 affairs is without example."

But I must really put aside the halo which Reventlow so graciously = hands me.=20 While I was informed of what was going on, I certainly did my best to = persuade=20 Bethmann-Hollweg and von Jagow and Zimmermann as well as the Emperor and = numberless others from defying America. If von Bethmann-Hollweg and any = of the=20 others were against ruthless submarine war, seeing that to adopt any = other=20 policy would bring America into this war, then they took this position = because=20 it seemed to them best for their country and history will prove them = right.

"In the winter of 1916-17 one dreamed already of loans and imports = from the=20 United States during the peace negotiations. Mr. Gerard came back from = America=20 with alms for the wounded and the result of his sublime patience and of = the=20 sublime patience of Mr. von Bethmann-Hollweg[305] was pictured by the Gerard celebration = in=20 Berlin.

"Then came the decision for ruthless submarine war. The first time in = his=20 ambassadorial service was Mr. Gerard surprised and the men who = entertained him=20 were also surprised for they dreamed of and wished for quite other = things. It is=20 incorrect, if it has been stated, that at the time of the Gerard = celebration=20 ruthless submarine war had already been agreed on. That came = later."

PHOTOGRAPH=20 TAKEN AFTER THE BANQUET GIVEN AMBASSADOR GERARD IN BERLIN ON JANUARY = 6TH, 1917.=20 PROBABLY THE ORDERS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF "RECKLESS" SUBMARINE WAR HAD = BEEN=20 GIVEN WHEN THIS LOVE-FEAST TOOK PLACE.

Sitting, left to = right=97Von=20 Wermuth, Mayor of Berlin; Ambassador Gerard; Zimmermann; Von Sydow, = Minister of=20 Commerce.

Standing, left to right=97Unknown; Consul = General Lay;=20 Commander Gherardi, U. S. N.; First Secretary Grew; Unknown; = Count=20 Montgelas; Solf, Colonial Minister; General Friedrich, in charge of = prisoners of=20 war; Isaac Wolf, President of American Association of Commerce and = Trade; John=20 B. Jackson, former Minister to Cuba.

But I did know that ruthless submarine war was coming, knew of the = orders=20 given, and this is proved not only by my reports which are still secret, = but by=20 what I told not only many people in America but several editors who with = my full=20 approval published articles showing this belief.

I am obliged to Reventlow for what he says of me. I admire him as a = powerful=20 writer for whose ability I have a deep respect and perhaps if I were a = Prussian=20 Junker I would follow him as blindly and confidently as do the army and = navy=20 officers, the nobles, great and small, and the land-holding squires of = Prussia,=20 to whom his writings are as seductive as the pipings of the Pied Piper = to the=20 townsfolk of Hamlin.

Reventlow's charge of lying was made in the line of his duty as a = Prussian=20 Junker, according to the best traditions of Prussian government and = diplomacy=20 but it is so thoroughly disproved and the authenticity of the Kaiser's = telegram=20 so universally admitted in Germany, even in official circles there, that = I feel=20 only sorrow for a Prussian nobleman and Junker and editor compelled by = the=20 exigencies[306] of=20 his position to make so ridiculous a statement.

I think that the Germans just now are beginning to realise that I = always told=20 them the truth and treated them fairly, a procedure, I admit, far more=20 disconcerting and disturbing to them than the most subtle wiles and = moves of the=20 old diplomacy.

Von Bethmann denied that the peace terms as set forth in my book were = his (he=20 did not deny that they are the terms of the Junkers) and criticised me = for=20 "unethically" publishing an account of my experiences in Germany. This = is what=20 he said:

"In his published report of this particular conversation Mr. Gerard=20 attributed utterances to me which may have been made in other quarters = in=20 Germany and to which he frequently referred in the progress of our = conversation=20 but which were not my own. This applies especially to those references = to=20 Germany's alleged intentions to seize Li=E9ge and Namur, and of = Germany's plans to=20 take possession of the Belgian ports, the railways and to establish = military and=20 commercial dominion over that country.

"I never unfolded such German war aims to Mr. Gerard. In the course = of my=20 several conversations with him as also in our discussion last January I=20 invariably referred to my Reichstag speeches in which I stated that = Germany=20 would exact positive guarantees that Belgian territory and politics = would not in=20 the future be exploited as a menacing factor against us. I did not make = any=20 statement as to the nature of these guarantees.

"In the progress of our conversation Mr. Gerard suggested that the=20 realisation of far-reaching aspirations in Belgium would give King = Albert merely=20 a sham authority[307] and asked whether it would not be = better for=20 Germany to forego such plans and instead of them endeavour to acquire = Li=E9ge=20 which Mr. Gerard thought possible of achievement.

"Perhaps this suggestion was a bait intended to provoke a reply from = me. If=20 so, the attempt failed. In all my discussions with the Ambassador on = this=20 subject I referred to my public utterances in which I emphasised that I = was=20 endeavouring to procure a peace that would permit us to live in cordial = and=20 neighbourly relations with Belgium.

"Mr. Gerard's memory would seem also to have served him faultily when = he=20 wrote down what was said about Russia. He dealt but superficially with = Germany's=20 eastern war aims, observing that the United States' interest in this = direction=20 was very limited and that Germany undoubtedly would have a free hand = there. For=20 Roumania and Serbia he also revealed very slender sympathy. Mr. Gerard = did not=20 obtain out of my mouth any of the statements concerning these countries = which he=20 attributes to me.

"When diplomats undertake to exploit their official career for = journalistic=20 purposes they are very apt to be misled into putting into mouths of = foreign=20 statesmen utterances which either are the creation of an ample = imagination or=20 are based on faulty memory. Discussion of political opinions is bound to = be=20 transitory and fleeting.

"You Americans are impetuous people. You do not seem to permit even = your=20 retiring diplomats to observe the traditional silences nor have you the = patience=20 to abide the post mortem publication of their memoirs. Sir Edward = Goschen=20 (former British Ambassador to Germany and Austria) or Jules Cambon = (former=20 French Ambassador to Germany, the United States and Spain) probably = could excel=20 Mr. Gerard in revelations of entertaining[308] diplomatic history and gossip. Count = von=20 Bernstorff, former Ambassador to the United States, too, I imagine might = startle=20 us with a diary of his Washington experiences.

"In Europe, however, it was seen that publication of such matters was = best=20 postponed by common consent to a later period when judgments are both = calm and=20 more mature. Mr. Gerard, however, may hold the special license conferred = by=20 shirtsleeve diplomacy, as you call it, and I shall not dispute his = prerogatives.=20 But he must not give his imagination the free rein."

And this was my answer: published in the New = York=20 Times for September 2, 1917:

"Dr. Hollweg apparently did not have the exact copy of my articles = for if he=20 had read them he would have seen clearly that I said the peace terms = described=20 were the German peace terms and not the opinions of the Chancellor. Dr. = Hollweg=20 said he himself was subject to the rule of the military party of Germany = and=20 could not follow his own desires.

"In the second place, Dr. Hollweg admits that the German government = intended=20 to exact guarantees from Belgium and makes the admission himself after = the=20 interview in which he so sharply criticises me.

"Thirdly, I ask if those terms as cited are not the German peace = terms, then=20 what are the German peace terms?

"Dr. Hollweg gives nothing different from these and so it might be = assumed=20 they are the German terms after all. I consider it a matter of great = regret that=20 the German government put Dr. Hollweg out of office and I feel that = personally=20 he is bitterly opposed to the ruthless submarine warfare of the German=20 government and that he[309] only refrained from resigning his = office out of=20 deference to the wishes of Emperor Wilhelm.

"I presume he was put out because his ideals were too liberal for the = German=20 authorities to endure. This liberality is shown in the interview. I am = sorry to=20 take issue with Dr. Hollweg on this subject because I have a great = admiration=20 for him and I think he is a fine old fellow.

"The old-time diplomacy, which Dr. Hollweg advocated, has succeeded = in=20 plunging almost the whole world into the bloodiest war of history. When = the=20 people of a nation know what is going on in the seats of government such = wars=20 cannot happen.

"I do not believe in backstairs diplomacy any more than Dr. Hollweg. = I=20 believe the people of a nation are entitled to know what is going on. = This=20 German diplomacy may be all right in a monarchy of the most limited type = but it=20 will not go at all in a modern democracy.

"As to the ethics of publishing my memoirs now, I pass over the = obvious=20 repartee that to hear a German speak of ethics borders on the ludicrous = and=20 especially the man who openly in the Reichstag announced that necessity = knows no=20 law and that the German troops were at that moment deliberately = violating the=20 neutrality of Belgium.

"But I believe that the old style diplomacy in the dark caused this = war. Of=20 course, it is hard for a German ex-official to conceive that the people = have a=20 right to be enlightened about this awful calamity. But I hope one of the = results=20 of this war will be the end of backstairs diplomacy. When the Germans = with the=20 Chancellor's approval violated the usage of all nations and times and = kept me as=20 a hostage after I had demanded my passports, I think to talk of ethics = comes=20 with a bad grace from the German side."

Understand that Bethmann-Hollweg is not a bad man, but for one who = openly=20 announced that necessity knows no law and defended the invasion of = Belgium,=20 failed to stop the cruelties of the prison camps and gave official, if = not=20 private, consent to the murder of women and babies not only on the high = seas but=20 in undefended towns, to talk of ethics because I dared to tell the world = what=20 was happening in Germany is more than ridiculous. It verges on the = ludicrous=97but=20 why attack poor Bethmann? Opportunity knocked at his door, but the want = of a=20 backbone prevented his becoming a great figure.

History will laud him for opposing ruthless submarine war so long, = but will=20 blame him for weakly yielding in the end. As for the "ethics," I have = been=

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ustria	st	mperare	rbi	niverso
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"It is the fate of = Austria to=20 rule the world."

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Face to Face with Kaiserism, = by James=20 W. Gerard

E-text prepared by Rick Niles, Irma Spehar,and the = Project=20 Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading = Team(http://www.pgdp.net)

FACE TO FACEWITH KAISERISM