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diff --git a/26377-8.txt b/26377-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ba395e --- /dev/null +++ b/26377-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14804 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, New York Times Current History; The European +War, Vol 2, No. 4, July, 1915, by Various + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 4, July, 1915 + April-September, 1915 + + +Author: Various + + + +Release Date: August 20, 2008 [eBook #26377] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY; +THE EUROPEAN WAR, VOL 2, NO. 4, JULY, 1915*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Linda Cantoni, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 26377-h.htm or 26377-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/3/7/26377/26377-h/26377-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/3/7/26377/26377-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Archaic spellings of place names have been retained as they + appear in the original. Printer errors have been corrected. + + Portrait illustrations have been moved to relevant places + in the text. + + A table of contents has been provided for the reader's + convenience. + + + + + +The New York Times + +CURRENT HISTORY + +A Monthly Magazine + +THE EUROPEAN WAR + +JULY, 1915 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE LUSITANIA CASE +MR. BRYAN'S RESIGNATION +PRESIDENT WILSON'S REPLY TO BERLIN +THE LUSITANIA'S "GUNS" +Dr. Meyer-Gerhard's Mission +Germany's Press Opinion +Press Opinion of the Allies +American Comment on Mr. Bryan's Resignation +Mr. Bryan's Defense +Bryan, Idealist and Average Man +In the Name of Peace. +A World League to Enforce Peace +The League to Enforce Peace +German-American Dissent +Chant of Loyalty. +American Munition Supplies +A League for Preparedness +Przemysl and Lemberg +BELGIUM. +Battle of the Labyrinth +The Modern Plataea +A British Call For Recruits +The British Army in France +The Dardanelles Campaign +THE EUROPEAN WAR AS SEEN BY CARTOONISTS +Italy vs. Austria-Hungary +The Armed Strength of Italy +The Alpine Frontier +"Italy's Violation of Faith" +Why Italy Went to War +Britain's Cabinet and Munitions +Lloyd George's Appeal to Labor +Balkan Neutrality--As Seen By the Balkans +Portsmouth Bells +The Wanderers of the Emden +Civilization at the Breaking Point +"Human Beings and Germans" +Garibaldi's Promise. +The Uncivilizable Nation +Retreat in the Rain. +War a Game for Love and Honor +THE BELGIAN WAR MOTHERS +How England Prevented an Understanding With Germany +Germany Free! +Chronology of the War +To the Captain of the U----. + + + + +THE LUSITANIA CASE + +President Wilson's Reply to Germany + +Account of the Resignation of William J. Bryan as American Secretary +of State + + True to the intimation in his note to President Wilson, Mr. + Bryan has made public in full his reasons for resigning + while American relations with Germany were strained. His + statements are given herewith, together with comments in + Europe and America on the causes and consequences of Mr. + Bryan's act. The German reply to President Wilson's note of + May 13 on the Lusitania case and the American rejoinder of + June 9; the sending to Berlin of Dr. Anton Meyer-Gerhard, as + arranged by Ambassador von Bernstorff in the White House on + June 4, in order to explain more fully to the German + Government the American policy and public feeling in this + country; the Stahl perjury case, relating to the German + charge that the Lusitania was armed; the question whether + the American steamer Nebraskan was torpedoed on May 26 in + the German submarine "war zone"; the controversy over + exportations to the Allies of American munitions of war: the + agitation for a stronger army and navy in the United States, + and the meeting in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on June + 17, when 109 of the foremost men in the United States took + steps toward forming a League of Peace among all the nations + of the earth--these, as recorded below, form a new chapter + in American history. + + +THE GERMAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR AT +BERLIN. + +[TELEGRAM.] + +No. 2,326.] + +BERLIN, May 28, 1915. + +The undersigned has the honor to make the following reply to the note +of his Excellency Mr. James W. Gerard, Ambassador of the United States +of America, dated the fifteenth instant, on the subject of the +impairment of many American interests by the German submarine war. + +The Imperial Government has subjected the statements of the +Government of the United States to a careful examination and has the +lively wish on its part also to contribute in a convincing and +friendly manner to clear up any misunderstandings which may have +entered into the relations of the two Governments through the events +mentioned by the American Government. + +With regard firstly to the cases of the American steamers Cushing and +Gulflight, the American Embassy has already been informed that it is +far from the German Government to have any intention of ordering +attacks by submarines or flyers on neutral vessels in the zone which +have not been guilty of any hostile act; on the contrary the most +explicit instructions have been repeatedly given the German armed +forces to avoid attacking such vessels. If neutral vessels have come +to grief through the German submarine war during the past few months +by mistake, it is a question of isolated and exceptional cases which +are traceable to the misuse of flags by the British Government in +connection with carelessness or suspicious actions on the part of the +captains of the vessels. In all cases where a neutral vessel through +no fault of its own has come to grief through the German submarines or +flyers according to the facts as ascertained by the German Government, +this Government has expressed its regret at the unfortunate occurrence +and promised indemnification where the facts justified it. The German +Government will treat the cases of the American steamers Cushing and +Gulflight according to the same principles. An investigation of these +cases is in progress. Its results will be communicated to the Embassy +shortly.[1] The investigation might, if thought desirable, be +supplemented by an International Commission of Inquiry, pursuant to +Title Three of The Hague Convention of October 18, 1907, for the +pacific settlement of international disputes. + +[Footnote 1: Germany's apology and offer of reparation for the attack +on the Gulflight, together with a request for information in the case +of the Cushing, are conveyed in the following note, which was received +by the State Department in Washington from Ambassador Gerard on June +3, and laid before the Cabinet, and published on June 4: + + Referring to the note of May 28, the undersigned has the + honor to inform his Excellency the American Ambassador of + the United States of America, Mr. James W. Gerard, that the + examination undertaken on the part of the German Government + concerning the American steamers Gulflight and Cushing has + led to the following conclusions: + + In regard to the attack on the steamer Gulflight, the + commander of a German submarine saw on the afternoon of May + 1, in the vicinity of the Scilly Islands, a large merchant + steamer coming in his direction which was accompanied by two + smaller vessels. These latter took such position in relation + to the steamer that they formed a regulation safeguard + against submarines; moreover, one of them had a wireless + apparatus, which is not usual with small vessels. From this + it evidently was a case of English convoy vessels. Since + such vessels are frequently armed, the submarine could not + approach the steamer on the surface of the water without + running the danger of destruction. It was, on the other + hand, to be assumed that the steamer was of considerable + value to the British Government, since it was so guarded. + The commander could see no neutral markings on it of any + kind--that is, distinctive marks painted on the freeboard + recognizable at a distance, such as are now usual on neutral + ships in the English zone of naval warfare. In consequence + he arrived at the conclusion from all the circumstances that + he had to deal with an English steamer, submerged, and + attacked. + + The torpedo came in the immediate neighborhood of one of the + convoy ships, which at once rapidly approached the point of + firing; that the submarine was forced to go to a great depth + to avoid being rammed. The conclusion of the commander that + an English convoy ship was concerned was in this way + confirmed. That the attacked steamer carried the American + flag was first observed at the moment of firing the shot. + The fact that the steamship was pursuing a course which led + neither to nor from America was a further reason why it did + not occur to the commander of the submarine that he was + dealing with an American steamship. + + Upon scrutiny of the time and place of the occurrence + described, the German Government has become convinced that + the attacked steamship was actually the American steamship + Gulflight. There can be no doubt, according to the attendant + circumstances, that the attack is to be attributed to an + unfortunate accident, and not to the fault of the commander. + The German Government expresses its regrets to the + Government of the United States concerning this incident, + and declares itself ready to furnish full recompense for the + damage thereby sustained by American citizens. It is left to + the discretion of the American Government to present a + statement of this damage, or, if doubt may arise over + individual points, to designate an expert who would have to + determine, together with a German expert, the amount of + damage. + + It has not yet been possible by means of an inquiry to clear + up fully the case of the American ship Cushing. Official + reports available report only one merchant ship attacked by + a German flying machine in the vicinity of Nordhind + Lightship. The German aviator was forced to consider the + vessel as hostile because it carried no flag, and, further, + because of no recognizable neutral markings. The attack of + four bombs was, of course, not aimed at any American ship. + + However, that the ship attacked was the American steamer + Cushing is possible, considering the time and place of the + occurrences. Nevertheless, the German Government accordingly + requests of the American Government that it communicate to + the German Government the material which was submitted for + judgment, in order that, with this as a basis, a further + position can be taken in the matter. + + The undersigned leaves it to the Ambassador to bring the + foregoing to the immediate attention of his Government, and + takes this opportunity to renew to him the assurance of his + most distinguished consideration. + + VON JAGOW, + Minister for Foreign Affairs.] + +In the case of the sinking of the English steamer Falaba, the +commander of the German submarine had the intention of allowing +passengers and crew ample opportunity to save themselves. + +It was not until the captain disregarded the order to lay to and took +to flight, sending up rocket signals for help, that the German +commander ordered the crew and passengers by signals and megaphone to +leave the ship within ten minutes. As a matter of fact he allowed them +twenty-three minutes and did not fire the torpedo until suspicious +steamers were hurrying to the aid of the Falaba. + +With regard to the loss of life when the British passenger steamer +Lusitania was sunk, the German Government has already expressed its +deep regret to the neutral Governments concerned that nationals of +those countries lost their lives on that occasion. The Imperial +Government must state for the rest the impression that certain +important facts most directly connected with the sinking of the +Lusitania may have escaped the attention of the Government of the +United States. It therefore considers it necessary in the interest of +the clear and full understanding aimed at by either Government +primarily to convince itself that the reports of the facts which are +before the two Governments are complete and in agreement. + +The Government of the United States proceeds on the assumption that +the Lusitania is to be considered as an ordinary unarmed merchant +vessel. The Imperial Government begs in this connection to point out +that the Lusitania was one of the largest and fastest English commerce +steamers, constructed with Government funds as auxiliary cruisers, and +is expressly included in the navy list published by British Admiralty. +It is moreover known to the Imperial Government from reliable +information furnished by its officials and neutral passengers that for +some time practically all the more valuable English merchant vessels +have been provided with guns, ammunition and other weapons, and +reinforced with a crew specially practiced in manning guns. According +to reports at hand here, the Lusitania when she left New York +undoubtedly had guns on board which were mounted under decks and +masked. + +The Imperial Government furthermore has the honor to direct the +particular attention of the American Government to the fact that the +British Admiralty by a secret instruction of February of this year +advised the British merchant marine not only to seek protection behind +neutral flags and markings, but even when so disguised to attack +German submarines by ramming them. High rewards have been offered by +the British Government as a special incentive for the destruction of +the submarines by merchant vessels, and such rewards have already been +paid out. In view of these facts, which are satisfactorily known to +it, the Imperial Government is unable to consider English merchant +vessels any longer as "undefended territory" in the zone of maritime +war designated by the Admiralty Staff of the Imperial German Navy, the +German commanders are consequently no longer in a position to observe +the rules of capture otherwise usual and with which they invariably +complied before this. Lastly, the Imperial Government must specially +point out that on her last trip the Lusitania, as on earlier +occasions, had Canadian troops and munitions on board, including no +less than 5,400 cases of ammunition destined for the destruction of +brave German soldiers who are fulfilling with self-sacrifice and +devotion their duty in the service of the Fatherland. The German +Government believes that it acts in just self-defense when it seeks to +protect the lives of its soldiers by destroying ammunition destined +for the enemy with the means of war at its command. The English +steamship company must have been aware of the dangers to which +passengers on board the Lusitania were exposed under the +circumstances. In taking them on board in spite of this the company +quite deliberately tried to use the lives of American citizens as +protection for the ammunition carried, and violated the clear +provisions of American laws which expressly prohibit, and provide +punishment for, the carrying of passengers on ships which have +explosives on board. The company thereby wantonly caused the death of +so many passengers. According to the express report of the submarine +commander concerned, which is further confirmed by all other reports, +there can be no doubt that the rapid sinking of the Lusitania was +primarily due to the explosion of the cargo of ammunition caused by +the torpedo. Otherwise, in all human probability, the passengers of +the Lusitania would have been saved. + +The Imperial Government holds the facts recited above to be of +sufficient importance to recommend them to a careful examination by +the American Government. The Imperial Government begs to reserve a +final statement of its position with regard to the demands made in +connection with the sinking of the Lusitania until a reply is received +from the American Government, and believes that it should recall here +that it took note with satisfaction of the proposals of good offices +submitted by the American Government in Berlin and London with a view +to paving the way for a modus vivendi for the conduct of maritime war +between Germany and Great Britain. The Imperial Government furnished +at that time ample evidence of its good will by its willingness to +consider these proposals. The realization of these proposals failed, +as is known, on account of their rejection by the Government of Great +Britain. + +The undersigned requests his Excellency the Ambassador to bring the +above to the knowledge of the American Government and avails himself +of the opportunity to renew, &c. + +VON JAGOW. + + + + +MR. BRYAN'S RESIGNATION + + +WASHINGTON, June 8, 1915. + +My Dear Mr. President: + +It is with sincere regret that I have reached the conclusion that I +should return to you the commission of Secretary of State, with which +you honored me at the beginning of your Administration. + +Obedient to your sense of duty and actuated by the highest motives, +you have prepared for transmission to the German Government a note in +which I cannot join without violating what I deem to be an obligation +to my country, and the issue involved is of such moment that to remain +a member of the Cabinet would be as unfair to you as it would be to +the cause which is nearest my heart; namely, the prevention of war. + +I, therefore, respectfully tender my resignation, to take effect when +the note is sent, unless you prefer an earlier hour. + +Alike desirous of reaching a peaceful solution of the problems, +arising out of the use of submarines against merchantmen, we find +ourselves differing irreconcilably as to the methods which should be +employed. + +It falls to your lot to speak officially for the nation; I consider it +to be none the less my duty to endeavor as a private citizen to +promote the end which you have in view by means which you do not feel +at liberty to use.[2] + +[Footnote 2: In Washington dispatches of June 8, 1915, Mr. Bryan was +reported to have said at his home, when told of the formal +announcement of his resignation: + + In view of the announcement of my resignation, I will say + that letters being made public therewith state my reasons, + but I will have a more complete statement that will be given + out when the American reply to the German note is sent, + which probably will be tomorrow. + + My resignation takes effect as soon as the note has been + forwarded.] + +In severing the intimate and pleasant relations which have existed +between us during the past two years, permit me to acknowledge the +profound satisfaction which it has given me to be associated with you +in the important work which has come before the State Department, and +to thank you for the courtesies extended. + +With the heartiest good wishes for your personal welfare and for the +success of your Administration, I am, my dear Mr. President, very +truly yours, + +W.J. BRYAN. + +[Illustration: THE HON. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN + +Formerly Secretary of State of the United States + +(_Photo from Bain News Agency_)] + + +THE PRESIDENT TO SECRETARY BRYAN. + +Washington, June 8, 1915. + +My Dear Mr. Bryan: + +I accept your resignation only because you insist upon its acceptance; +and I accept it with much more than deep regret, with a feeling of +personal sorrow. + +Our two years of close association have been very delightful to me. +Our judgments have accorded in practically every matter of official +duty and of public policy until now; your support of the work and +purposes of the Administration has been generous and loyal beyond +praise; your devotion to the duties of your great office and your +eagerness to take advantage of every great opportunity for service it +offered have been an example to the rest of us; you have earned our +affectionate admiration and friendship. Even now we are not separated +in the object we seek, but only in the method by which we seek it. + +It is for these reasons my feeling about your retirement from the +Secretaryship of State goes so much deeper than regret. I sincerely +deplore it. + +Our objects are the same and we ought to pursue them together. I yield +to your desire only because I must and wish to bid you Godspeed in the +parting. We shall continue to work for the same causes even when we do +not work in the same way. + +With affectionate regard, + +Sincerely yours, + +WOODROW WILSON. + +To Hon. William Jennings Bryan, + Secretary of State. + + +ROBERT LANSING, SECRETARY OF STATE AD INTERIM. + +The White House, Washington, June 9, 1915. + +The Hon. William Jennings Bryan having resigned the office of +Secretary of State, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States +of America, do hereby, in conformity with the provisions of Sections +177 and 179 of the Revised Statutes, and of the act of Congress +approved February 9, 1891, authorize and direct the Hon. Robert +Lansing, Counselor for the Department of State, to perform the duties +of the office of Secretary of State for a period not to exceed thirty +days, until a Secretary shall have been appointed and have qualified. + +WOODROW WILSON. + +[Illustration: THE HON. ROBERT J. LANSING + +Who Was Called by the President to Take Charge of the State Department +after Mr. Bryan's Resignation + +(_Photo from Paul Thompson_)] + + + + +PRESIDENT WILSON'S REPLY TO BERLIN + + +No. 1803.] + +DEPARTMENT OF STATE, +Washington, June 9, 1915. + +American Ambassador, Berlin: + +You are instructed to deliver textually the following note to the +Minister of Foreign Affairs: + +In compliance with your Excellency's request I did not fail to +transmit to my Government immediately upon their receipt your note of +May 28 in reply to my note of May 15, and your supplementary note of +June 1, setting forth the conclusions so far as reached by the +Imperial German Government concerning the attacks on the American +steamers Cushing and Gulflight. I am now instructed by my Government +to communicate the following in reply: + +The Government of the United States notes with gratification the full +recognition by the Imperial German Government, in discussing the cases +of the Cushing and the Gulflight, of the principle of the freedom of +all parts of the open sea to neutral ships and the frank willingness +of the Imperial German Government to acknowledge and meet its +liability where the fact of attack upon neutral ships "which have not +been guilty of any hostile act" by German aircraft or vessels of war +is satisfactorily established; and the Government of the United States +will in due course lay before the Imperial German Government, as it +requests, full information concerning the attack on the steamer +Cushing. + +With regard to the sinking of the steamer Falaba, by which an American +citizen lost his life, the Government of the United States is +surprised to find the Imperial German Government contending that an +effort on the part of a merchantman to escape capture and secure +assistance alters the obligation of the officer seeking to make the +capture in respect of the safety of the lives of those on board the +merchantman, although the vessel had ceased her attempt to escape when +torpedoed. These are not new circumstances. They have been in the +minds of statesmen and of international jurists throughout the +development of naval warfare, and the Government of the United States +does not understand that they have ever been held to alter the +principles of humanity upon which it has insisted. Nothing but actual +forcible resistance or continued efforts to escape by flight when +ordered to stop for the purpose of visit on the part of the +merchantman has ever been held to forfeit the lives of her passengers +or crew. The Government of the United States, however, does not +understand that the Imperial German Government is seeking in this case +to relieve itself of liability, but only intends to set forth the +circumstances which led the commander of the submarine to allow +himself to be hurried into the course which he took. + +Your Excellency's note, in discussing the loss of American lives +resulting from the sinking of the steamship Lusitania, adverts at some +length to certain information which the Imperial German Government has +received with regard to the character and outfit of that vessel, and +your Excellency expresses the fear that this information may not have +been brought to the attention of the Government of the United States. +It is stated in the note that the Lusitania was undoubtedly equipped +with masked guns, supplied with trained gunners and special +ammunition, transporting troops from Canada, carrying a cargo not +permitted under the laws of the United States to a vessel also +carrying passengers, and serving, in virtual effect, as an auxiliary +to the naval forces of Great Britain. Fortunately these are matters +concerning which the Government of the United States is in a position +to give the Imperial German Government official information. Of the +facts alleged in your Excellency's note, if true, the Government of +the United States would have been bound to take official cognizance in +performing its recognized duty as a neutral power and in enforcing its +national laws. It was its duty to see to it that the Lusitania was not +armed for offensive action, that she was not serving as a transport, +that she did not carry a cargo prohibited by the statutes of the +United States, and that, if in fact she was a naval vessel of Great +Britain, she should not receive clearance as a merchantman; and it +performed that duty and enforced its statutes with scrupulous +vigilance through its regularly constituted officials. It is able, +therefore, to assure the Imperial German Government that it has been +misinformed. If the Imperial German Government should deem itself to +be in possession of convincing evidence that the officials of the +Government of the United States did not perform these duties with +thoroughness the Government of the United States sincerely hopes that +it will submit that evidence for consideration. + +Whatever may be the contentions of the Imperial German Government +regarding the carriage of contraband of war on board the Lusitania or +regarding the explosion of that material by the torpedo, it need only +be said that in the view of this Government these contentions are +irrelevant to the question of the legality of the methods used by the +German naval authorities in sinking the vessel. + +But the sinking of passenger ships involves principles of humanity +which throw into the background any special circumstances of detail +that may be thought to affect the cases, principles which lift it, as +the Imperial German Government will no doubt be quick to recognize and +acknowledge, out of the class of ordinary subjects of diplomatic +discussion or of international controversy. Whatever be the other +facts regarding the Lusitania, the principal fact is that a great +steamer, primarily and chiefly a conveyance for passengers, and +carrying more than a thousand souls who had no part or lot in the +conduct of the war, was torpedoed and sunk without so much as a +challenge or a warning, and that men, women, and children were sent to +their death in circumstances unparalleled in modern warfare. The fact +that more than one hundred American citizens were among those who +perished made it the duty of the Government of the United States to +speak of these things and once more, with solemn emphasis, to call the +attention of the Imperial German Government to the grave +responsibility which the Government of the United States conceives +that it has incurred in this tragic occurrence, and to the +indisputable principle upon which that responsibility rests. The +Government of the United States is contending for something much +greater than mere rights of property or privileges of commerce. It is +contending for nothing less high and sacred than the rights of +humanity, which every Government honors itself in respecting and which +no Government is justified in resigning on behalf of those under its +care and authority. Only her actual resistance to capture or refusal +to stop when ordered to do so for the purpose of visit could have +afforded the commander of the submarine any justification for so much +as putting the lives of those on board the ship in jeopardy. This +principle the Government of the United States understands the explicit +instructions issued on August 3, 1914,[3] by the Imperial German +Admiralty to its commanders at sea to have recognized and embodied, as +do the naval codes of all other nations, and upon it every traveler +and seaman had a right to depend. It is upon this principle of +humanity as well as upon the law founded upon this principle that the +United States must stand. + +[Footnote 3: The reference made by President Wilson in his first note +of May 13 to the German Government regarding the sinking of the +Lusitania to the "humane and enlightened attitude hitherto assumed by +the Imperial German Government in matters of international right, and +particularly with regard to the freedom of the seas," was based, it +was learned in Washington on June 12, upon the instructions of Aug. 3, +1914, which the German Government sent to its naval commanders. These +German rules are now in the possession of the State Department. While +no mention is made in them of submarine warfare, the extent and method +of the exercise of the right of search and the stoppage of ships is +prescribed with great nicety, and provision is made for the safety of +passengers and crew. After outlining the purpose of visiting and +searching vessels, the regulations state: + + All measures are to be carried out in a form whose + observance, even against the enemy, will comport with the + dignity of the German Empire and with a regard for neutrals + conformable to the usages of international law and the + German interest. + +The method of signaling ships to be halted is prescribed, and it is +directed that "two successive blank charges are to be fired, and, if +necessary, a shotted charge over the ship" if the signals are not +obeyed. "If the ship does not then stop or makes resistance, the +Captain will compel her to stop," the instructions continue. After +specifying what ships may be captured and destroyed, the regulations +continue: + + Before destruction all persons on board, if possible with + their personal effects, are to be placed in safety and all + the ship's papers and other articles of evidence, which in + the opinion of the interested parties are of value for the + judgment of the prize court, are to be taken over by the + Captain.] + +The Government of the United States is happy to observe that your +Excellency's note closes with the intimation that the Imperial German +Government is willing, now as before, to accept the good offices of +the United States in an attempt to come to an understanding with the +Government of Great Britain by which the character and conditions of +the war upon the sea may be changed. The Government of the United +States would consider it a privilege thus to serve its friends and the +world. It stands ready at any time to convey to either Government any +intimation or suggestion the other may be willing to have it convey +and cordially invites the Imperial German Government to make use of +its services in this way at its convenience. The whole world is +concerned in anything that may bring about even a partial +accommodation of interests or in any way mitigate the terrors of the +present distressing conflict. + +In the meantime, whatever arrangement may happily be made between the +parties to the war, and whatever may in the opinion of the Imperial +German Government have been the provocation or the circumstantial +justification for the past acts of its commanders at sea, the +Government of the United States confidently looks to see the justice +and humanity of the Government of Germany vindicated in all cases +where Americans have been wronged or their rights as neutrals invaded. + +The Government of the United States therefore very earnestly and very +solemnly renews the representations of its note transmitted to the +Imperial German Government on the 15th of May, and relies in these +representations upon the principles of humanity, the universally +recognized understandings of international law, and the ancient +friendship of the German Nation. + +The Government of the United States cannot admit that the proclamation +of a war zone from which neutral ships have been warned to keep away +may be made to operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights +either of American shipmasters or of American citizens bound on lawful +errands as passengers on merchant ships of belligerent nationality. It +does not understand the Imperial German Government to question those +rights. It understands it, also, to accept as established beyond +question the principle that the lives of non combatants cannot +lawfully or rightfully be put in jeopardy by the capture or +destruction of an unresisting merchantman, and to recognize the +obligation to take sufficient precaution to ascertain whether a +suspected merchantman is in fact of belligerent nationality or is in +fact carrying contraband of war under a neutral flag. The Government +of the United States therefore deems it reasonable to expect that the +Imperial German Government will adopt the measures necessary to put +these principles into practice in respect of the safeguarding of +American lives and American ships, and asks for assurances that this +will be done. + +ROBERT LANSING, +Secretary of State ad Interim. + + + + +THE LUSITANIA'S "GUNS" + + +_In a Washington dispatch of June 2, 1915, to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES, +_the following report appeared:_ + +In his conversation with President Wilson today the German Ambassador +said that he had obtained evidence through means of affidavits that +the Lusitania was an armed vessel, as asserted by the German +Government. The affidavits to which Count von Bernstorff referred have +been placed in possession of the State Department, which has turned +them over to the Department of Justice for an investigation as to the +statements sworn to and the character of the individuals making them. + +[Illustration: HIS EXCELLENCY COUNT JOHANN VON BERNSTORFF + +German Ambassador to the United States] + +One of the affidavits is made by Gustav Stahl of 20 Leroy Street, New +York City. He says: + + On the day prior to the sailing of the Lusitania, I was + asked by my friend, A. Lietch, who was employed as first + cabin steward, to help him to bring his trunk aboard. In the + course of the evening we went on board, without being + hindered by the quartermaster on guard. After having + remained some time in the "gloria," (steward's quarters,) we + went to the stern main deck. About fifteen to eighteen feet + from the entrance to the "gloria," on port and starboard, + respectively, I saw two guns of twelve to fifteen + centimeters. They were covered with leather, but the barrel + was distinctly to be seen. To satisfy my curiosity I + unfastened the buckles to ascertain the calibre of the guns. + I could also ascertain that the guns were mounted on deck on + wooden blocks. The guns were placed about three feet from + the respective ship sides and the wall could be removed at + that particular place. + + On the foredeck there were also two guns of the same calibre + and covered in the same manner. They were placed at about + fifteen to twenty feet from the entrance of the crew's + quarters, and four feet from the ship side, where the wall + could also be removed. + +Josephine Weir, who describes herself as a New York boarding house +keeper, provided another affidavit. She swore that Lietch, who is +named in Stahl's statement, told her he was to sail on the Lusitania +as a steward, and when she spoke of the danger from German submarines, +he said: + +"Oh, I am not afraid. We have four big brightly polished copper guns." + +A man named Grieve has an affidavit that he heard Lietch make this +statement to Mrs. Weir. + +In an affidavit furnished by one Bruckner it is stated that he saw a +cannon on the Lusitania. He was standing on the dock in New York at +the time, he avers. + +The affidavits were supplied to the State Department by the German +Embassy in order to support the allegation, contained in the German +response to President Wilson's note of May 13, that the Lusitania was +an armed vessel. + + +By The Associated Press. + +WASHINGTON, June 2.--The four affidavits as presented to the State +Department by the German Embassy alleging that guns were carried by +the Lusitania are believed to constitute the evidence to which the +German Government referred in its last note. Should it develop that +the Foreign Office had been misinformed, German diplomatists said, an +acknowledgment of the mistake would not be withheld. + +These affidavits were not made public by either the embassy or the +State Department, but the character of the individuals who made them +and their testimony is being made the subject of a quiet +investigation. Those officials who had seen the statements, however, +were confident that they could not be accepted as disproving the +testimony given by Inspectors whose duty it was to search for guns. + + +THE ARREST OF STAHL. + +_The following report appeared in_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _June 11, 1915:_ + +Gustav Stahl, the former German soldier who made an affidavit that he +saw four guns mounted on the Lusitania on the night before it sailed +from this port on its last voyage and who disappeared immediately +after the affidavit was made public, was produced by Secret Service +men before the Federal Grand Jury yesterday afternoon at a proceeding +to determine whether Paul Koenig, alias Stemler, who is the head of +the detective bureau of the Hamburg-American Line, and others unnamed, +had entered into a conspiracy to defraud the United States Government. +The fraud is not stated specifically, and the charge is a technical +one that may cover a variety of acts. + +Stahl, who speaks little English, affirmed through an interpreter to +the Grand Jury that he had seen the guns on the Lusitania. He was +questioned for two hours and a half and told his story with great +detail. + +As he was leaving the Grand Jury room he was arrested by United States +Marshal Thomas B. McCarthy on a complaint made on information and +belief by Assistant District Attorney Raymond H. Sarfaty that Stahl +had committed perjury in his testimony before the Federal Grand Jury. +Stahl was held in bail of $10,000 by United States Commissioner +Houghton and locked up in the Tombs. + +Stahl was the only witness heard by the Grand Jury in the proceedings +against Koenig. It was learned that Stahl had been in conference with +Koenig before he made the affidavit, and that his affidavit had passed +through Koenig's hands before it went to Ambassador Bernstorff, who +submitted it to Secretary of State Bryan. + +The proceedings against Koenig were initiated to establish the charge +that Koenig used improper influence to induce Stahl to make the +affidavit. + +While Stahl was waiting in the Marshal's chamber in the Federal +Building, after his arrest, for the arrival of Edward Sandford, a +lawyer, of 27 William Street, who had been assigned to act as his +counsel, he was asked, through an interpreter: + +"Would you be willing to spend twenty years in jail for your +Fatherland?" + +"Make it a hundred!" he replied, in German, and then broke into a +hearty laugh. + +Stahl is about 27 years old and slightly under middle size. He has a +round, somewhat rosy countenance, dark hair getting very thin in +front, and parted in the middle, dark-brown eyes and a small, +closely-cropped dark mustache. He was calm and smiling, ready with his +answers, and very insistent and emphatic in repeating that he had seen +the guns on the Lusitania. + +He was neatly dressed in a dark mixed suit, with a new straw hat, a +green tie on which was a stickpin with a dog's head in porcelain, +brightly polished tan shoes, and lavender socks with scarlet-embroidered +flowers. + +Following is the complaint on which he was held: + + Raymond H. Sarfaty, being duly sworn, deposes and says that + he is an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern + District of New York. + + That on the 10th day of June, 1915, there was then and there + pending before the Grand Jury of the United States in and + for the Southern District of New York, a certain proceeding + against one Paul Koenig, alias Stemler, and others, upon a + charge of having conspired to defraud the United States, in + violation of Section 37, U.S.C.C.; that on the said 10th day + of June, 1915, the foreman of said Grand Jury, Frederick M. + Delano, an officer duly empowered and qualified to + administer oaths in the proceedings before said Grand Jury, + duly administered an oath to the said Gustav Stahl, that he + would testify to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but + the truth, with respect to the aforesaid matter then being + presented before the said Grand Jury; that the said Gustav + Stahl, at the time and place aforesaid, and within the + district aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this + court, after said oath was administered, knowingly and + fraudulently committed perjury, and that he testified in + part, in substance, and effect as follows: + + That on the 30th day of April, 1915, the said Gustav Stahl + went aboard the steamship Lusitania at the City of New York, + in the Southern District of New York, with one Neal J. + Leach; that while on said steamship he saw four guns on one + of the decks of said steamship, two forward and two aft; + that the said guns were mounted on wooden blocks; that the + said guns were covered with leather. + + That affiant is informed and believes, and therefore avers, + that, whereas, in truth and in fact, the said Gustav Stahl + did not, on the 30th day of April, 1915, go aboard the + steamship Lusitania at the City of New York, in the Southern + District of New York, with one Neal J. Leach, nor did he, + the said Gustav Stahl, go aboard the steamship Lusitania on + said last mentioned date; and the said Gustav Stahl did not + see four guns on the deck of the said steamship, two + forward and two aft, nor did he, the said Gustav Stahl, see + four guns on the deck of said steamship mounted on wooden + blocks; nor did he, the said Gustav Stahl, see four guns on + the deck of said steamship covered with leather. + + That the said matters testified to before the said Grand + Jury by the said Gustav Stahl, as aforesaid, were material + matters in the investigation aforesaid; against the peace of + the United States and their dignity, and contrary to the + form of the statute of the United States in such case made + and provided. + + That to disclose the source of affiant's information at this + time might defeat the ends of justice. + + Wherefore, affiant prays that said Gustav Stahl may be + arrested and imprisoned, or bailed, as the case may be. + +This complaint was read to Stahl when he was taken before Commissioner +Houghton, being interpreted for him, sentence by sentence. When the +name of Neal J. Leach was read as the alleged steward who had taken +him aboard the Lusitania, Stahl exclaimed: "Not Neal." In his +affidavit he had described the steward as "A. Leach." A steward named +Neal J. Leach went down when the Lusitania was torpedoed. + +When that part of the complaint was read which said that Stahl had not +seen guns on the Lusitania, he exclaimed in German: + +"Yes, I did see them." + +After the complaint had been read, Commissioner Houghton asked about +bail. Assistant District Attorney Roger B. Wood, who conducted the +proceedings before the Grand Jury, said: + +"Ten thousand dollars, not a cent less." + +Commissioner Houghton fixed bail at that figure. He then asked Stahl +if he had anything to say, and the prisoner replied: + +"Before I say anything I would like to see several gentlemen." + +Commissioner Houghton then asked if he had a lawyer. Stahl replied +that he had not, and that he had no means to employ one. + +"Shall I assign one for you?" asked the Commissioner. + +"No," replied Stahl; "I should like to have Mr. Sandford, who acted +for me yesterday and the day before." + +He referred to Edward Sandford of 27 William Street, who was counsel +for Carl Buenz, a Director of the Hamburg-American Line, and for other +officials of that line, who were indicted by the Federal Grand Jury on +March 1 on the charge of conspiring against the United States by +making out false clearance papers and false manifests for the +collection of customs in connection with the steamships Fram, +Somerstadt, Lorenzo, and Berwind, which were loaded with coal and +provisions intended for the German cruiser Karlsruhe and the auxiliary +cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. + +Commissioner Houghton assigned Mr. Sandford as counsel for Stahl. The +Commissioner then asked Stahl if he had any friends in the room, to +which Stahl with a smile, replied in the negative. + +"I would like to have the date of June 24 set for the hearing," said +Assistant District Attorney Wood. "The Grand Jury which is now holding +this investigation will probably continue its hearings until then." + +Commissioner Houghton fixed the date accordingly. + +After the hearing adjourned Stahl was asked where he had been since +his disappearance. He replied in German: + +"I told the Grand Jury all I have to say." + +He was asked where he would live if he got bail. + +"I don't want anybody to know," he said. "I have had so many visitors +in the past few days that I don't want any more, if I can help it." + +He was asked if he was a German reservist, and he replied that that +was his business. Other questions got the same response. He denied +that he knew Paul Koenig, the Hamburg-American detective, but he +admitted he knew Stemler, which is a name sometimes used by the +detective. When he was informed that he was to spend the night in the +Tombs he said: + +"Will Stemler be with me?" + +He seemed disappointed when he was told that he would have to go there +alone. Stahl was asked if Josephine Weir, who had signed a +corroborative affidavit, knew of his whereabouts during his hiding. He +refused to answer this question, but of Josephine Weir he said in +English: + +"Oh, that's a nice girl." + +Stahl sat smoking a cigar and laughing in the best of temper until a +flashlight powder was exploded unexpectedly. He put both hands to his +face and hid in a corner made by a wall and a filing cabinet, but when +he realized that his picture had been taken he ran to a man whom he +thought to be a Federal employe, and protested in German. A little +later Mr. Sandford arrived with another interpreter and went into +consultation with his client. + +Stahl went to Albany on June 4, the day after his affidavit was made +public. While a search was being conducted in this city and +surrounding cities by Federal agents and newspapers, Stahl was in +hiding in Albany, his expenses there being paid for him by a +confidential adviser sent with him. + +Instead of relaxing after a few days, the search for Stahl grew more +rigorous. When it was seen that there was little chance of keeping +Stahl in permanent seclusion and that the extraordinary character of +the disappearance of the German Ambassador's chief witness against the +Lusitania was arousing intense nationwide interest, Paul Koenig, the +Secret Service man of the Hamburg-American Line, decided that it would +be better if he were found at once. + +On Monday of this week Koenig and Mr. Sandford called on Inspector +Lamb of the Customs Service and told him that Stahl was at Albany and +would be available if the Federal officials wanted him. Superintendent +William M. Offley, of the special agents of the Department of Justice, +had at that time some strong clues as to Stahl's whereabouts. + +On Tuesday Stahl and his personal conductor arrived in this city from +Albany and were met by Superintendent Offley and Special Agents Adams +and Pigniullo. Stahl was taken to the office of Superintendent Offley +in the presence of Mr. Sandford, who was asked to take part in the +proceedings in the interests of fair play, although he was not then +Stahl's lawyer. + +At this examination and at a second one held on Wednesday, Stahl +repeated his charge that he had seen guns on the Lusitania. He showed +great familiarity with the details of the construction of the +Lusitania. + +At the end of the examination it was urged by representatives of the +Hamburg-American Line that Stahl should stay under the watch of the +Federal agents in order that, if he told a different story later, +there could be no charge that outsiders had tampered with him. Stahl +remained with the Government detectives on Tuesday, Wednesday and +yesterday, although he was not under arrest. When he appeared +yesterday before the Grand Jury it was under a subpoena. + +Assistant District Attorney Wood said yesterday that the charge of +perjury had been lodged against Stahl on the strength of the statement +by the Collector of the Port, Dudley Field Malone, that there were no +guns aboard the Lusitania. + +"We can bring fifty witnesses," he said, "to prove that the Lusitania +had no guns on board and that Stahl is guilty of perjury." + +Mr. Wood was asked if there was any evidence that Stahl had ever been +in the employ of the German Consul-General at this port or of Captain +Boy-Ed, Naval Attaché of the German Embassy, who is said to be the +head of the German Secret Service here. Mr. Wood refused to discuss +either question. When he was asked if the investigation promised to +involve any man of importance, he said: + +"I don't know. We are holding the Grand Jury investigation to find out +all that we can about the case." + +After consulting with Stahl, Mr. Sandford said that he would not +represent the prisoner but would seek to get a good lawyer for him at +once. When asked if he represented Koenig, he refused to say. He was +asked if he knew anything about the charge against Koenig. He said: + +"No. The charge of attempting to defraud the Government is a charge +on which the Government can get anybody at any time for anything." + + +CAPT. TURNER'S DENIAL. + +_A London cable dispatch of June 15 to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _said:_ + +At the opening of the Court of Inquiry today into the torpedoing of +the steamship Lusitania on May 7, two outstanding points were vividly +impressed. One was that the Cunarder was unarmed. The other was that +the ship was proceeding at reduced speed, eighteen knots an hour, only +nineteen of her twenty-five boilers being used, the result of her +effort to save in coal and labor. + +Sir Edward Carson, the Attorney General, in outlining the evidence in +the hands of the Crown, adverted impressively to President Wilson's +note to Germany on the sinking of the Lusitania in which the President +informed the German Government that it was wrong in assuming that the +Lusitania was equipped with masked guns and manned by trained gunners. +"We have ample evidence to disprove the German lie that the Lusitania +was armed," said the Attorney General. "Aside from the word of +witnesses we have that of President Wilson in his recent note to +Germany, based upon investigation made by officials under him. The +sinking of the Lusitania was murder." + +Sir Edward lifted a newspaper clipping of the President's note from +the table and slowly read the passage disposing of the German +allegation that the Lusitania was an armed auxiliary. + +Captain W.T. Turner, who seemed slightly grayer than before the +Lusitania was torpedoed, in that way alone showing the strain under +which he has been since his ship was sunk under him, gave evidence +that there was not one gun on the Lusitania's deck, and declared that +the German assertion that the steamer was armed was a "sheer lie." + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN WILLIAM T. TURNER, R.N.R. + +Commander of the R.M.S. _Lusitania_ + +(_Photo from Underwood & Underwood_)] + + +STAHL INDICTED FOR PERJURY. + +_In_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _of June 19 appeared the following report of +the Grand Jury's indictment of Stahl on a charge of perjury and the +announcement that the Federal investigation will be continued:_ + +Gustav Stahl, the alleged German reservist, who made an affidavit that +he had seen guns on board the Lusitania on the day before she sailed +on her last voyage, was indicted on a charge of perjury by the Federal +Grand Jury yesterday. The perjury charge is based on his testimony +before the Grand Jury, during which examination he repeated that he +had seen the guns on the Lusitania as set forth in his affidavit filed +by the German Embassy in Washington and now in the hands of the State +Department. + +The name of Paul Koenig, who, it is said, was known to Stahl as +Stemler, and who is the chief of the secret service of the +Hamburg-American Line, is mentioned by name in the indictment. The +indictment sets forth that on June 10 there was pending before the +Grand Jury an investigation concerning Koenig and others and that +Stahl was among the witnesses called in the course of that +investigation. It then goes on to say that Stahl testified in +substance and to the effect that on April 30 he went aboard the +Lusitania, then with one Leach, and that while on the vessel he saw +four guns on one of the decks of the steamship, two forward and two +aft, and all mounted on wooden blocks and covered with leather. The +indictment further charges that at the time of so swearing Stahl did +not believe it to be true that he had been on board the Lusitania and +had seen the four guns. + +The indictment, in conclusion, charges that there were no guns upon +the decks of the Lusitania on April 30. "Therefore," the Grand Jury +charges, "that Stahl, after taking an oath before a competent officer +to truly depose and testify, did willfully, knowingly and feloniously +and contrary to his said oath, depose and state material matters which +were not true and which he did not then believe to be true, and +thereby did commit willful and corrupt perjury against the peace of +the United States and their dignity and contrary to the form of the +statute of the United States in such cases made and provided." + +Stahl will be arraigned before Judge Russell in the criminal branch of +the United States District Court on Monday. He is now in the Tombs in +default of $10,000 bail. Should he be convicted of perjury he may be +sentenced to prison for five years or fined $10,000, or both. + +The indictment of Stahl does not mean that the Government's +investigation of the Lusitania affidavits, and the way in which they +were procured, is at an end. On the other hand it is proceeding +vigorously. Three witnesses, all Government officials, were before the +Grand Jury yesterday in connection with the case. Heinz Hardenberg, +who was found in Cincinnati a week ago today and brought here to be +examined by the Grand Jury, has not yet appeared before that body, +although the Government agents insist they can produce him when his +testimony is desired. + + +THE NEBRASKAN CASE. + +_An Associated Press dispatch dated at London on May 26, 1915, +reported:_ + +The American steamer Nebraskan, Captain Greene, from Liverpool May 24 +for Delaware Breakwater, was torpedoed yesterday evening by a +submarine at a point forty miles west-southwest of Fastnet, off the +south coast of Ireland. [Captain Greene's report, given below, says +the Nebraskan was "struck by either mine or torpedo."] + +The sea was calm at the time. The crew at once took to the boats and +stood by the steamer. It was soon ascertained that the Nebraskan was +not seriously damaged, but she had been struck forward, and her +foreholds were full of water. + +The crew returned on board and got the vessel under way. No lives were +lost among the crew. The Nebraskan did not carry any passengers. + +This information was received at the British Admiralty in London, and +it was at once communicated to the American Embassy. + +Immediately she was struck the Nebraskan began calling for help by +wireless. Brow Head received the wireless communication at 9 P.M. +yesterday from Crookhaven. + +A message to Lloyd's from Kinsale, Ireland, says that the Nebraskan +passed that point at 11 o'clock this morning. She was down at the +bows, but was proceeding under her own steam, and flying the signal: +"I am not under control." + +The vessel passed Queenstown in the afternoon on the way to Liverpool. +She was proceeding at eight knots. + +A message to The Star from Liverpool says that the name and +nationality of the Nebraskan were painted in large letters on her +sides. She was in water ballast. + +A message to Lloyd's says that an armed trawler went to the assistance +of the Nebraskan and stood by her all night. + +The report that the Nebraskan had been torpedoed caused surprise to +American officials here. Apparently the affair occurred before 9 +o'clock last night. + +Last evening was clear, and the period between 8 and 9 o'clock is the +twilight hour in the British islands at this season. + +The German submarine campaign is continuing actively. Dispatches from +Norway state that the people of that country have been aroused by the +sinking last week of the Norwegian steamer Minerva and the attempt to +torpedo the Iris, which went to her assistance. + +The steamer Cromer, loaded with passengers, had a narrow escape from +being torpedoed while bound for Rotterdam yesterday. A submarine fired +a torpedo without warning. It missed the ship by only fifteen yards. +According to the Captain's story, told to Rotterdam correspondents, +the periscope was seen 500 yards distant, and then the wash of the +torpedo, which was moving so rapidly that nothing could be done to +avoid it. The attack occurred at a point four miles north of North +Hinder Lightship. + +_The first news of the Nebraskan having been disabled off the +southwest coast of Ireland was received on May 26, at the office of +the American-Hawaiian Line in a message from the Captain, which read:_ + +Struck by either mine or torpedo, forty-eight miles west of Fastnet. +Am steaming under convoy to Liverpool. Water in lower hold. No one +injured. + +GREENE. + +[Illustration: Map indicating sites of attacks on American ships or +American lives in the German submarine war zone. The damage to the +Nebraskan was sustained on May 25, last.] + +_Three dispatches concerning the Nebraskan incident were received at +the State Department at Washington on May 26--one from Walter H. +Page, the American Ambassador in London, and two from Robert P. +Skinner, the United States Consul General in London. The dispatch from +the Ambassador said:_ + +Urgent. Report at midnight last night to British Admiralty from Lands +End states that American steamer Nebraskan torpedoed forty-five miles +south by west of Southcliffe, crew taking to boats. British trawler +standing by now reports Nebraskan still afloat and making for +Liverpool with four holds full of water. No lives reported lost. + +_The first dispatch from Consul General Skinner was as follows:_ + +Admiralty reports American steamer Nebraskan, Liverpool for Delaware +Breakwater, torpedoed forty miles south by west of Fastnet. Crew in +boats. Standing by. Weather fine. + +_The following cablegram came from the Consul General:_ + +Nebraskan proceeding to Liverpool under own steam about 8-1/2 knots, +crew having returned on board. Apparently no lives lost. Extent of +damage unknown. + +_In an Associated Press dispatch from Crookhaven, Ireland, on May 26, +this report appeared:_ + +It was learned today that a submarine was seen last night off the +southern coast of Ireland. She was sighted soon after 9 P.M., near +Barley Cove, which is about ten miles from Fastnet. The mishap to the +steamer Nebraskan is reported to have occurred shortly before 9 +o'clock, about forty miles from Fastnet. + +A steamer was seen outside Crookhaven, which lies just north of Barley +Cove, at about 9 o'clock last night. As she approached in the +direction of Fastnet Lighthouse two loud reports of a gun were heard. +A boat in Crookhaven Harbor went in the direction of the steamer which +put about and was lost to sight. + +Several residents of Crookhaven turned out and went along the shore, +keeping a sharp lookout. They sighted a submarine off Cove, near the +mouth of a little creek. One of the men on shore fired two shots with +a rifle at the man in the conning tower of the submarine. The +submarine dived immediately, but soon rose again further out. Three +more shots were fired at her and she again disappeared. + +_The detailed report on the Nebraskan incident by Lieutenant Towers of +the American Embassy in London, as submitted by Ambassador Gerard to +the State Department, is thus described in a Washington dispatch to +THE NEW YORK TIMES of June 16, 1915:_ + +Evidence indicating that the American steamer Nebraskan was torpedoed +by a German submarine on May 25, was obtained by the State Department +today when it received a long mail report from Ambassador Page at +London containing the results of the investigation conducted by the +American Consul General at Liverpool upon the arrival of the Nebraskan +at that port. + +Ambassador Page's mail report contained the detailed report made by +Lieutenant John H. Towers, Naval Attaché of the American Embassy at +London, who made a technical and expert examination of the Nebraskan +in drydock at Liverpool. Lieutenant Towers's report contained a number +of photographs of the shattered fore section of the hull of the +Nebraskan, but the most interesting feature of the report consisted of +exhibits in the form of what Secretary Lansing described as +"fragments of metal." + +While officials would not make known the character of these fragments +or the details of the report until they had opportunity to carefully +examine the data, it was learned tonight that the report indicated +that the Nebraskan was torpedoed, and that the fragments sent with the +report consisted of portions of the shell of a torpedo, which were +found in the hull of the Nebraskan. + +The report also contained the depositions of three of the officers of +the Nebraskan, taken by the Consul at Liverpool, including the +statement of the Captain and the Chief Engineer. The latter stated +that at 8:24 o'clock on the night of May 25, after the flag of the +Nebraskan had been hauled down, he observed a white streak in the +water perpendicular to the ship on the starboard side and a severe +shock was almost instantly felt, followed by a violent explosion +abreast of No. 1 hold. + +The report of Lieutenant Towers showed that the hatch covers of No. 1 +hold were blown off, also the cargo booms above it, and that the +bottom plating and pieces of the side of the ship were blown up +through two decks of the ship. + + +THE "FRAGMENTS OF METAL" + +_The following appeared as a special dispatch from Washington to_ THE +NEW YORK TIMES, _dated June 17:_ + +Despite the extreme secrecy of officials, indications were abundant in +Washington tonight that the case of the American steamer Nebraskan, +believed to have been torpedoed by a German submarine, was assuming +great importance in the eyes of the United States Government. One +evidence of this is found in the unusual pains that are being taken to +determine by indisputable evidence whether the Nebraskan, which was +damaged by an external explosion off Fastnet Rock, on May 25, was the +victim of a torpedo or a mine. + +Despite the reports forwarded by Ambassador Page, the Administration +is unwilling to base its conclusions in the Nebraskan case on the +verbal evidence it already possesses. It has determined upon an +independent expert, technical, and scientific examination of the +"fragments of metal" that have been sent by Ambassador Page, in +conjunction with the photographs that have been received. This +investigation is being conducted by experts of the Navy Department, +and will probably take about ten days. Robert Lansing, the Secretary +of State ad interim, refused tonight to discuss the "fragments of +metal" received from Ambassador Page in connection with the Nebraskan +case further than to say that the reports received yesterday, with the +photographs and accompanying exhibits, had been referred to the Navy +Department. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, said tonight that +the report had been referred to experts of the Navy Department for a +confidential report to be submitted to the State Department. + +Neither at the State Department nor from any official or officer of +the Navy Department was it possible to obtain any further clue as to +the character of the reports. + +It was learned that the reports accompanying the set of photographs +and "fragments of metal" were not the original reports on the +Nebraskan case, made by Lieutenants Towers and McBride, which were +received by the State Department last week, but were in the nature of +a second set of supplementary reports, based on actual examination of +the battered bow of the Nebraskan and the technical examination of the +interior of her forward compartment. This examination was made by +Lieutenants Towers and McBride, while the Nebraskan was in a drydock +at Liverpool. Photographs of the interior and exterior of the +steamer's hull were taken by the naval experts. + +The "fragments" in question will be analyzed metallurgically for the +purpose of ascertaining precisely what metal they contain. Generally +speaking, torpedoes are made of a higher grade of metal, within and +without, than that used in the construction of mines. The exterior +metal of torpedoes consists of nickel steel and copper, and the +interior mechanism includes the same kinds of metal and brass. The +exterior shell of a mine is generally made of less expensive material, +such as galvanized iron, but the interior mechanism and clock-work are +of finer metal. + +In the examination being conducted by the Navy Department the +metallurgical nature of the fragments will be ascertained after their +size, shape, contour and character have been very carefully studied by +a large number of naval experts who will endeavor to ascertain not +only the character of the naval engine of destruction these fragments +once fitted, but also the particular portion of torpedo or mine the +fragments constituted. These studies and tests are to be conducted +partly in the Navy Department, partly at the Washington Navy Yard, +partly at the naval proving grounds at Indian Head, Md., and partly at +the experimental station at the Naval Academy at Annapolis. + +All the naval experts in Washington qualified to have a hand in the +tests will be utilized. There are some naval experts outside of +Washington, within a few days' reach of the city, who will be summoned +here to participate in the examination. It is understood the +examination will continue about ten days before any report can be +formulated for submission to the State Department. + +While this unusual care is being exercised in the tests of the +fragments, it is understood that there is nothing in the conclusions +thus far drawn in the reports to indicate that the fragments were once +part of a mine, and that the reports as they stand indicate that the +Nebraskan was hit by a torpedo. This is the conclusion the +Administration is expected to draw from the evidence unless the +technical examination of the fragments nullifies this evidence. + + + + +Dr. Meyer-Gerhard's Mission + + +_In a cable dispatch from Berlin, via London, dated June 2, 1915, the +following complaint of lack of official news from Washington and of +means for obtaining it was made known by the German Government:_ + +The German Foreign Office is unable to communicate with Count von +Bernstorff, the Ambassador at Washington, except by wireless in plain +language, and even this mode of communication is uncertain during +periods when the static conditions of the atmosphere are unfavorable. + +Reports which reach the newspapers are regarded with suspicion, not +only because they come exclusively through British channels, but on +account of their contradictory character. + +One set of reports intimates that the German counter-proposals have +been found to harmonize with Mr. Bryan's plan of providing for a +period of investigation in cases of international conflict, while +other advices reproduce various American editorials, declaring that +the German note is utterly unacceptable, and demanding that steps of +varying degrees of aggressiveness be taken. + +While waiting, the time is being utilized by some of the more +aggressive German newspapers and writers of the type of Reventlow to +launch abusive articles against the United States and President +Wilson's policy, but the press and public generally seem desirous of +avoiding anything which might increase the tension between the two +Governments while the German note is under consideration. In this they +are acting in complete accord with the Foreign Office, which +apparently is sincerely anxious to preserve friendly relations with +the United States and deprecates any publication which would tend to +inflame the feelings either in Germany or America. + +There seems to be no doubt that the Foreign Office would rejoice at a +solution consistent with German interests, and it is considered here +that one of the unfortunate features of the situation is the inability +of the Foreign Office to cope with the chronic firebrands of the +press. + +_This complaint was followed by the news, published by The Chicago +Herald on June 4, that a special arrangement had been effected by +Ambassador Bernstorff in his conference with President Wilson on June +2, as follows:_ + +With the approval of the President of the United States, Count von +Bernstorff, the German Ambassador in Washington, has sent a special +agent to Berlin to discuss the American view of the Lusitania tragedy +with the German Government. + +The agent is Dr. Anton Meyer-Gerhard. He sailed today for Denmark. It +is not believed that his voyage will be interfered with. Mr. Gerhard's +connection with the great question between the United States and +Germany has been guarded with the utmost secrecy. It leaked out only +when inquiries were made regarding his departure in such a hurry. Mr. +Gerhard himself could not be seen. + +The suggestion that Mr. Gerhard go to Berlin was made by Count von +Bernstorff to the President at the White House conference on +Wednesday. The Ambassador described to the President the difficulties +he experienced in transmitting information to his Government. He +cannot use the cables, which are in the possession of the Allies. So +far as wireless is concerned, conditions make it almost impossible to +send anything but the briefest dispatches. As a result, Germany is not +well informed in regard to the reasons controlling the policy of the +Administration or the state of public sentiment. If his Government +were adequately informed the Ambassador is confident that it would +look at the demands of the United States in a different fashion. + +The President apparently appreciated the view presented by the +Ambassador. In any event, he authorized him to send an agent to +Berlin, and it is presumed that thereupon he was apprised of the +identity of the man selected. Count von Bernstorff vouched for Mr. +Gerhard as thoroughly informed on the entire diplomatic situation as +well as upon the condition of public sentiment. In addition, he is +carrying full explanatory reports from the Ambassador himself. + +[Dr. Meyer-Gerhard arrived in Berlin via Copenhagen on June 16 and +reported at the German Colonial Office. While en route The Providence +Journal and The New York Tribune published stories, varying in detail, +to the effect that the United States Government had been hoaxed into +obtaining safe conduct into Germany for a Dr. Alfred Meyer, reported +to be a German buyer of munitions of war in this country, either under +the name of Dr. Anton Meyer-Gerhard, falsely given, or under +Meyer-Gerhard's protection. On receiving assurances to the contrary +from Count von Bernstorff, Secretary Lansing announced on June 18 that +the charge was false.] + + + + +Germany's Press Opinion + + +_Editorial comment of the German newspapers on President Wilson's note +of June 9 was reported by_ THE TIMES _staff correspondent in Berlin on +June 12 as being "surprisingly restrained and optimistic." Captain L. +Persius, the naval critic of the Berliner Tageblatt, which is close to +Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, writing under the caption, "On the Way to an +Understanding," said:_ + +An agreement is possible and the Washington Government shows an honest +desire to arrive at an agreement. This is characteristic of the +American note. There is no evidence of rattling the sabre, as those +who viewed American statesmen and American conditions rightly +anticipated. The hopes of our enemies who have already rejoiced at the +thought that the Stars and Stripes soon would be floating beside the +union jack and the tricolor are proved false, and one can anticipate +that the answer of our Government will put aside that last stumbling +block to doing away with all differences. The note indicates that +America by no means takes the position that the German Admiralty must +issue an order to end the submarine warfare before any negotiations +can be entered upon. Giving up submarine warfare is only hinted at by +implication. Germany's humanity is appealed to entirely in general +terms and merely the expectation is expressed that the lives of +American citizens and their property will be spared in the future. + +A willingness is expressed to help make England give up the plan to +starve out Germany. The giving up of the attempt to starve Germany out +on the part of England is the most important point for us. The main +interest will centre in future upon it. Will England declare herself +ready to return to the basis of the London Declaration? Will she no +longer place any difficulties in the way of neutral commerce, and in +particular will she remove the declaration of the North Sea as a war +zone? We will wait and see if the English statesmen have learned that +Germany can't be starved. We can await Great Britain's decision with +quietness. + +_The evening edition of the Vossische Zeitung said:_ + +President Wilson's note creates no new situation between Germany and +America, but its honorable and carefully weighed tone will help to +clear up the existing situation. There can be no difference of opinion +about Mr. Wilson's final aim--that the lives of peaceful neutrals must +be kept out of danger. What we can do and what America must do to +achieve this will require negotiations between us and America, which +must be conducted with every effort toward being just and by +maintaining our standpoint in the friendliest spirit. + +_The Lokalanzeiger commented:_ + +The colored reports spread by our enemies are not borne out by the +text, which contains no trace of an ultimatum. The tone is friendly +and free from all brusqueness. The contents are only a rewriting of +the earlier standpoint, and it will be a matter for further +negotiations to state again the arguments advanced by Germany and to +justify them. It would be premature to comment on individual points, +particularly those of a technical nature. One can rejoice, however, +that the Wilson note is so couched as not to preclude a possibility +for further negotiations promising success. + +He gives the German Government an opportunity to send further proofs +in the Lusitania case and declares his willingness to negotiate +between Germany and England relative to mutual concessions having a +bearing on submarine warfare. This offer, to be sure, would have been +decidedly more valuable if he had expressed a willingness to take the +initiative. But be that as it may, in the further negotiations America +will see that on the German side exists an honorable desire to deal +with friendly suggestions in a friendly spirit. In any event, the +situation resulting from the American note is such that it is apparent +that in the statement trumpeted abroad that America had also entered +the ranks of our enemies the wish was father to the thought. + +_The widely read Mittag Zeitung said of the note:_ + +The alarming messages which the Reuter Bureau appended to the Bryan +resignation must be all taken back today. There is neither an +ultimatum nor any threatening language toward Germany in the note. To +be sure, the difference between America's and Germany's conception of +the submarine warfare remain. The Americans for the present simply +will not see that the best protection against endangering the lives of +American citizens is for Americans not to go aboard English ships. + +Over the question of whether the Lusitania carried ammunition or not, +which for us is not in question, the present inquiry will throw some +light. In any case, the English hope and prophecy that the new note +would mean a rupture in the German-American negotiations have not been +fulfilled. For everything else we can wait with calmness. + +_The morning edition of the Vossische Zeitung, commenting on the +summary, merely said:_ + +The contents and tone of this note make it inexplainable that the +break between Wilson and Bryan was on its account. After Bryan's +declarations we had expected a note which might conjure up danger of a +German-American war. Mr. Bryan, who heads all the American peace +associations and likes to hear himself popularly referred to as the +Prince of Peace, apparently wants to appear as the savior from this +danger for reasons of internal politics, so as to win peace friends +among the German-Americans, Irish, and Jews with a view to the +Democratic Presidential nomination. Mr. Wilson, on the other hand, +hopes as negotiator between England and Germany to play the rôle of +arbiter mundi and through a great success in foreign politics assure +his position at home. The new Secretary, Mr. Lansing, has been long +considered a coming man. He has by no means been considered an +out-and-out friend of England. + +_The Morgen Post, in a particularly sane two-column editorial, +expresses Germany's genuine satisfaction over America's hearty offer +of good offices, and says:_ + +There is no tinge of threat or high-handed tone toward Germany in the +note. On the contrary, its tone is quiet though earnest throughout, +and in several places it strikes a note of whole-hearted friendship +and seeks to leave a way open for further friendly negotiations. No +doubt the German Government will accept America's proffered good +offices with pleasure. It will be interesting to see what attitude the +English will now take. If they will revise the contraband list set up +by themselves and desist from making difficulties for neutral commerce +with Germany, and, above all, let foodstuffs and textile raw materials +through unhindered to Germany, then so far as we are concerned the +submarine warfare can cease. + +Let the English continue to violate international law whereby they +forced us to resort to the use of the submarine as a weapon against +their commerce, and we will never allow ourselves to be persuaded to +give up this weapon, the only one we have to protect us against +violation at the hands of England and with which we can punish England +for her unlawful conduct. Should America's good offices prove to be in +vain it will be not ours but England's fault, and the Americans will +then readily understand that the reproach of an inhuman mode of +warfare must be laid at the doors of England and not Germany. + +It will soon be seen whether President Wilson employs the same measure +of energy against the English as against us. We sincerely hope so +because of the friendly, hearty tone of his note. "The American +Government cannot admit that the proclamation of a war zone may be +made to abbreviate the rights of American citizens?" Really not? We +recall that at the beginning of the war England declared the whole +North Sea as a war zone and the Americans did not get excited at that +time. We had a right to protest bitterly at America's attitude then, +but we will forget about it at the present moment. America has +proffered her good offices, and we will not doubt that her intentions +are honorable and meant in good faith. + +_Paul Michaelis, in the Tageblatt, said:_ + +It is certain that the note does not simplify the serious situation, +and it is equally certain that it does not completely bar the way to +a peaceful and friendly understanding. The American Government holds +fast to the principle that submarine warfare on merchantmen is +inconsistent with the principles of justice and humanity, but the +German Government has never left the slightest doubt that it only +decided on the submarine warfare because the English method of +scorning all previous rules of naval warfare forced Germany to a +counter-war on commerce with the submarine. + +But there seems to be no reason why the German and American +Governments should not get together in a joint discussion looking +toward some other form of naval warfare. This presupposes that +England, which took the first step in the commerce war, also takes the +first step to end it. At the same time the question must be +investigated of how ammunition shipments to our enemies can be +reconciled with the eternal principles of humanity featured by the +American note. + +While there may be some practical difficulties, there can be no doubt +of Germany's willingness to help to bring about a modification of the +naval war along more humane lines. The answer to the American note +must, of course, take most carefully into account all the diplomatic, +political, and military exigencies, and it will be several weeks +before it is ready to be handed to the American Ambassador, especially +as we must wait to hear Dr. Meyer-Gerhard. + +But it must be said now that the German people, now, as formerly, lay +great value on a continuation of unclouded relations with the United +States, whose war for freedom it once greeted with rejoicing, and +within whose borders millions of Germans have found a new home. + +_Count Reventlow, Germany's "enfant terrible" who has been a +consistent thorn in the flesh of the German Foreign Office because of +his anti-American utterances, struck a surprisingly restrained and +moderate tone in the Tageszeitung:_ + +The question is not how it may be possible to do away with all +differences of opinion under all circumstances, but whether it is at +all possible to do away with them without rendering the submarine war +impotent. This standpoint contains nothing unfriendly, nothing brusque +against the United States. The practical question remains whether we +can preserve our German standpoint and still come to an understanding +with America. If Mr. Wilson holds to his non-recognition of the war +zone, with all its corollaries, then we cannot see how we can possibly +come to a real understanding. + +On the other hand, the question arises whether President Wilson would +continue to cling to that standpoint if certain modifications and +mutual guarantees could be brought about which under certain +circumstances would render American passenger traffic safe. + +_A newspaper war between advocates of a friendly settlement and the +"no compromise" representatives soon began to rage. Naval writers in +particular urged that Germany could not afford to yield an iota +regarding the principles and practice of submarine warfare, but the +very violence of their attacks upon the advocates of an understanding +indicates that the latter are not without influence._ + +_The Cologne Gazette points out editorially that the German press in +general has shown satisfaction that President Wilson's communication +offers opportunity for an understanding, and expresses the belief that +diplomacy on both sides of the Atlantic will work with zeal and +good-will to this end. It adds:_ + +It is quite certain the German Government, at least, will do this, and +will be generally supported therein by the people. It would be pure +imbecility to seek to drag in without necessity a ninth or tenth enemy +for ourselves, even though its participation in the war should be +limited to supplying the Quadruple Alliance with money and munitions. +We say without necessity; for recognition of the fact that Germany is +acting in self-defense in using the torpedoes of its submarines +against hostile merchantmen so long as England maintains its business +blockade against us should, we believe, be a condition which the +United States should recognize as preliminary to negotiations. + +_In a leading article entitled "Bad Advice" the Cologne Gazette takes +the Lokalanzeiger to task for attempting to palliate the British +"starving-out policy" and exportations from America of war supplies. +Conceding that the cutting off of supplies is an accepted method of +warfare, it states that international law provides expressly that this +weapon may be used only in the form of an effective blockade. It holds +that no effective blockade of the German coasts has been declared, +however, and that Germany therefore is deprived of the possibility of +taking action against blockading ships._ + +_Regarding the exportation of munitions from the United States, the +Gazette adopts the argument of Philip Zorn, German member of The Hague +Tribunals, that, although the convention adopted at The Hague +justifies sales by private firms, a neutral State is bound to prohibit +sales of this nature when the commerce in arms assumes such magnitude +that continuation of war is directly dependent thereon. He says:_ + +"That the German representatives [at The Hague] voted in favor of +permission to deliver arms is incontestable," the article continues, +"but there is a great difference between stamping every sale of arms +by a private firm in a neutral State as a violation of international +law--this was what the German representatives objected to--and arguing +that to supply enormous quantities to one group of belligerents alone, +and to devote practically the entire available industry of a country +thereto, is consonant with the spirit of true neutrality." + +_Captain von Kuehlwetter, the naval expert of the Tag, points out that +the American note passes over in silence the German representations +regarding the British Admiralty's instructions to merchantmen to seek +cover under neutral flags and to attack submarines under this cover. +He declares this is the kernel of the whole argument and the +justification for the German policy. He adds:_ + +If a submarine attacks such a ship there is an outcry about barbarians +who violate international law and endanger innocent neutral +passengers, but if a ship attacks a submarine then it is a brave act +of a daring shipper, to whom is given a commission, a gold watch, and +a diploma. + + + + +Press Opinion of the Allies + + +BRITISH COMMENT. + +_A.G. Gardiner, editor of The London Daily News, writing in that paper +on June 12, says the rupture between President Wilson and Mr. Bryan is +one of the great landmarks of the war. He goes on:_ + +Whatever other significance the event may have, it is conclusive +evidence of the failure of German diplomacy in America. The Kaiser has +made many miscalculations about nations and about men, but no greater +miscalculation than that which he has made in regard to President +Wilson and the United States. + +He is not alone in that. There has been a good deal of ignorance on +the same subject in this country. In the early stages of the war there +was a mischievous clamor against the United States in a section of the +press, which has never quite got rid of the idea that America is only +a rather rebellious member of our own household, to be patronized when +it does what we want and lectured like a disobedient child when it +does not. + +President Wilson has assumed in these ill-informed quarters to be a +timid academic person, so different from that magnificent tub thumper, +Roosevelt, who would have been at war with Mexico in a trice, and +would, it was believed, have plunged into the European struggle with +or without an excuse. + +If there was misunderstanding here on this subject, we cannot be +surprised that the Kaiser blundered so badly. He, too, believed in the +schoolmaster view of Woodrow Wilson. A man who had refused such a +golden opportunity of annexing Mexico must be a timid, invertebrate +person, who had only to be bullied in order to do what he was told. +Moreover, was there not a great German population to serve as a whip +for the Presidential blank and see that he did not send the polite, +the gracious, the supple Prince von Bülow to Washington? + +That courtly gentleman was dispatched to Italy to charm the Italian +Nation into quiescence. For the Americans he needed another style of +diplomacy, and he sent thither the stout and rather stupid Dernburg to +let President Wilson and the Americans know that Germany was a very +rough customer and would stand no nonsense from anybody. + +It was a fatal blunder, the blunder of a people who had been so +blinded by materialism that they do not seem to have so much as the +consciousness that there is such a thing as moral strength on earth. +No one who had followed with intelligent understanding the career of +President Wilson could have doubted that he had to deal with a man of +iron, a man with a moral passion as fervid as that of his colleague +Bryan, but with that passion informed by wide knowledge and controlled +by a masterful will, a quiet, still man, who does not live with his +ear to the ground and his eye on the weathercock, who refuses to buy +popularity by infinite hand-shaking and robustous speech, but comes +out to action from a sanctuary of his own thoughts, where principle +and not expediency is his counselor. + +It is because no man in a conspicuous position of the democratic world +today is so entirely governed by principle and by moral sanctions that +President Wilson is not merely the first citizen of the United States, +but the first citizen of the world. + +_The Daily Chronicle says:_ + +President Wilson's note gives Germany every opportunity of saving her +face if she desires to do so. Not only is it phrased in the most +friendly terms, but it invites a submission of further evidence +regarding the Lusitania's alleged guns and even the resumption of +negotiations with Great Britain through American intermediacy. Here +are the vistas of a negotiation which might keep the diplomatists of +Berlin and Washington happily employed till the war is over; only the +President insists once more that the submarine outrages must stop +while the negotiations are in progress. It is this last point, firmly +submitted at the end of the note, which gives significance to the +whole. Obviously, without it the note would be nothing but an +abdication on the part of the United States, and it is because it is +not that Mr. Bryan disapproves it. + +We do not question the sincerity of Mr. Bryan's attachment to the +cause of arbitration; but it is strange that he does not see what a +disservice he does to arbitration by accepting and preaching a +travesty of it. When there is litigation between individuals over an +alleged wrong, the first condition is that the wrong shall stop for +the interim--a result effected through an interim injunction between +nations. There is no judge to grant such an injunction. It has to be +obtained by mutual consent unless it is obtained by arbitration. It +simply means a license to the wrongdoer to continue his wrongdoing for +as long as he can make the arbitration last, which, where the time is +important, will be all that he wants. To accept such a doctrine, as +Mr. Bryan apparently does, is simply to put a premium on the +wrongdoing and a very heavy discount on arbitration. + +_The Morning Post comments as follows:_ + +Mr. Bryan resigned, according to his own explanation, because he +thought President Wilson's note to Germany would endanger the cause of +peace. It might, therefore, have been supposed that the American note +was to be a departure from the previous American policy; but now that +President Wilson's note is published we are puzzled to find the +reason for Mr. Bryan's action. The note contains nothing new; it +merely affirms in a friendly manner the position taken up by the +United States--a position founded upon the generally accepted +principles of international law. It testates the claim which America +has always made, that a belligerent has no right to sink a presumably +innocent merchantman and endanger the lives of its crew and +passengers, but must first determine the character of its cargo and +establish its contraband nature and must secure the safety of the +people on board. This is obviously a stand in the cause of humanity. +We might call it the irreducible minimum of the rights of neutrals; +for it is clear that, if a Government allows its subjects to be slain +in cold blood and its ships to be destroyed, it abandons the primary +function of a Government. + +_The Daily Mail says:_ + +The first impression made upon most readers of the new American note +to Germany will be, we suspect, that it is extremely polite and quite +harmless. They will ask in wonder what Mr. Bryan could have found in +it sufficiently menacing to call for his resignation. To many people +it will seem that Mr. Bryan altogether misjudged the effect of the +American reply. They will find it difficult to believe that any +diplomatic dispatch could in the circumstances be more courteous or +more restrained. It observes all the forms of international +politeness, with, if anything, almost exaggerated punctiliousness. + +Yet it is possible that Mr. Bryan is as nearly right as he ever is. +The vital passages in the note are those in which the United States +Government "very earnestly and very solemnly renews the +representations of its note" of May 15, and again asks for assurances +that American lives and American ships shall not be endangered on the +high seas. In other words, the United States still presses for an +official disavowal of the acts of German submarine commanders, still +demands reparation for the American lives lost in the Lusitania, and +still calls for a promise that no similar outrage will be perpetrated +in future. + +_The Daily Telegraph says:_ + +The note presented to Germany on behalf of the United States +Government is a firm and courteous document--the courtesy at least as +obvious as the firmness--stating the position of the President very +much on the lines expected, and leaving us to wonder even more than we +did before why Bryan thought it necessary to resign his Secretaryship. +The spirit of the second note is exactly that of the first. + +_Following is The London Times comment:_ + +The gist of President Wilson's note lies in the last half dozen words +and proceeds. It remains to be seen what answer will be made to this +categorical demand. The general opinion in the United States appears +to be that it will not be a refusal. Germany, it is thought, will +begin by making concessions enough to prevent the abrupt conclusion of +conversations, and will finally extend them sufficiently to preserve +friendly relations with the Republic. + +It would be rash to express a decided view, but we shall not be +surprised should this forecast prove to be correct. The feeling in +Germany is very bitter against the Government and people of the United +States; but it seems unlikely that the Government in Berlin will allow +the ill-temper of the public to influence its conduct. The +semi-official Lokalanzeiger is already deprecating an unfriendly +attitude toward the United States. There is nothing in the note to +suggest that a policy such as the American newspapers seem to expect +from Germany would be doomed to failure. The American people, we are +told, are determined to attain their ends, but they welcome every +prospect of attaining them by peaceful means. + +The note, it is observed, not only does not shut out further +conversations, but gives a distinct opening for them by its treatment +of von Jagow's renewed intimation that Germany would gladly accept +American good offices in negotiations with this country as to the +character and conditions of maritime war. The Wilhelmstrasse can +discover in this and some other passages material for procrastination +if it so desires. + + +PRAISE FROM CANADA. + +_The Daily Standard of Kingston, Ont., commenting on June 11, says:_ + +President Wilson's second message to Germany will rank with his first +one as a document that at once convinces and convicts--convinces of +the sincerity of the President that he is "contending for nothing less +high and sacred than the rights of humanity," and convicts the nation +to whom it is addressed of being responsible for the fact that the +men, women, and children on the Lusitania were sent to their death +under circumstances "unparalleled in modern warfare." + +The note is not only dignified and statesmanlike, but it breathes a +spirit of tolerance and Christianity that is as noteworthy as it is +admirable. There is in it not even a suggestion of a threat, no word +of bluster, no breath of jingoism. It is sound, sensible, firm, +resolute, self-contained, magnanimous even. It does not incite to war, +but, instead, appeals to the highest principles of justice and right. + +But though the words are conciliatory and the spirit admirable, there +is not the least abatement of the insistence upon the principles which +the President formulated in his earlier message and laid down for the +guidance of Germany and for the protection of the American people. The +way is now open to Germany either for peace or for war. The decision +is left with her. + + +FRENCH COMMENT. + +_The Temps of June 12 says:_ + +Germany must choose between having the services of America in +proposing to the Allies a moderation of their blockade, conducted with +the strictest humanity, and the cessation of torpedoing neutral ships, +the continuation of which exposes Germany to a diplomatic rupture with +the United States, if not to war. Assuredly this prospect caused +Bryan's resignation. + +_La Liberté says of the note:_ + +It is in every way worthy of a great country conscious of its dignity, +its rights, and its duties. It has not the tone of an ultimatum, since +it is couched in courteous terms, but it is energetic, and it requires +Germany finally to cease recourse to false expedients. + +_The Journal des Débats, in discussing the note, says:_ + +The United States, representing in this case the civilized world, +places the sacred rights of humanity above considerations of the +military order, to which Germany subordinates everything. They are +resolved, so far as concerns American subjects, to have those rights +respected. + +The essence of the note is, first, measures required by humanity must +be taken, and afterward, if desired, will come discussions of a new +regulation of naval warfare. If Germany insists on putting herself +outside the pale of humanity she will suffer the consequences. + + +ITALIAN COMMENT. + +_The Corriere della Sera of June 12 compares the attitude of Secretary +Bryan to that of former Premier Giolitti, leader of the party which +sought to prevent war with Austria. It says Mr. Bryan's action +probably will have the same effect in America that Signor Giolitti's +intervention had in Italy, and that it will strengthen public opinion +in favor of President Wilson._ + +It will give him greater power in this important moment, defeating men +who are ready to lower the prestige and honor of the country. + +_The Tribuna says:_ + +The United States, the greatest neutral nation, has with this document +assumed a special rôle, that is, the defense not of a particular group +or interest, but the interest of civil humanity; to guard those +principles of common right which above any particular right constitute +the sacred patrimony of humanity. She raises her voice, whose firmness +is not diminished by the courtesy of the language. + +We do not know if Germany will be able to understand the significance, +but if she does not she will commit a grave error--the gravest perhaps +in the immense series made by her in this war. Mr. Wilson seems to +persevere in the hope that Germany will listen to the American +admonition. Germany must not forget that the longer the hope the more +violent will be the reaction. + +_The Idea Nazionale says:_ + +The note is not only not a declaration of war or the prelude to a +declaration of war, but a species midway of humanitarian +sentimentalism and lawyerlike arguments which can have, at least for +the present, but one consequence, that of encouraging Germany in +intransigentism--that is, the maintenance of her point of view +regarding naval warfare. + + + + +American Comment on Mr. Bryan's Resignation + + +THE NEW YORK TIMES _of June 14, 1915, presented the following +condensed quotations condemning unsparingly Mr. Bryan's retirement +from the Secretaryship of State, gathered from newspapers throughout +the United States, and classified according to their professions of +political faith:_ + + +DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPERS. + +_From The New York World._ + +Unspeakable treachery, not only to the President, but to the nation. + +_From The Buffalo Enquirer._ + +If Mr. Bryan goes on, he will share the detestation of the most +despised character in American history. + +_From The Buffalo Courier._ + +The new note to Germany puts Emperor William and former Secretary +Bryan in the same hole. + +_From The Utica Observer._ + +He turns tail in the face of a crisis and seeks refuge by counseling +dishonor. + +_From The Louisville Courier-Journal, (Henry Watterson.)_ + +Treason to the country, treachery to his party and its official head. + +_From The Portland (Me.) Eastern Argus._ + +Bryan's announced campaign has something of the character of submarine +warfare. + +_From The Helena (Mon.) Independent._ + +As much mistaken in this instance as in years gone by. + +_From The Lexington (Ky.) Herald._ + +His propaganda is designed and intended "to defeat the measures of the +Government of the United States" in violation of Section 5, [of the +law of treason.] + +_From The Mobile Register._ + +If Germany is misled into actions still further violative of our +rights, the resultant hostility will be very largely attributable to +Mr. Bryan. + +_From The Columbia (S.C.) State._ + +The President's clear head may now be trusted the more that his +methods of thinking are relieved of opposition in the Cabinet. + +_From The Montgomery Advertiser._ + +He will go back to his first love, agitation. + +_From The Richmond Times-Dispatch._ + +Wilson, not Bryan, strikes the note to which the hearts of the +American people respond. + +_From The Savannah News._ + +The people are following the President and not Mr. Bryan. + +_From The Austin (Texas) Statesman._ + +Mr. Bryan's diplomacy has not been of the type that has inspired the +confidence of the American people. + +_From The Charleston News and Courier._ + +The bald and ugly fact will remain--he deserted his chief and his +Government in the midst of an international crisis. + +_From The Memphis Commercial-Appeal._ + +Mr. Bryan's views, turned into a national policy, would mean national +suicide. + +_From The Brooklyn Eagle._ + +An obstacle has seen fit to remove itself; it has substituted harmony +for discordance. + +_From The Boston Post._ + +Mr. Bryan has shabbily infringed that good American doctrine that +politics should end at the water's edge. + +_From The Baltimore Sun._ + +The Germans torpedo one "Nebraskan." Oh, for a "Busy Bertha" that +could effectually dispose of the other one! + +_From The Charlotte Observer._ + +The country simply was afraid of him. + +_From The Cleveland Plain Dealer._ + +He is a preacher of disloyalty. + +_From The Chattanooga Times._ + +The reason given for his resignation ... approximates disloyalty, if +nothing else; a monstrous statement. + +_From The New Orleans Times-Picayune._ + +His voluntary resignation will give satisfaction. + + +REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPERS. + +_From The New York Tribune._ + +A man with such a cheaply commercial conception of the post held by so +long a line of American statesmen was by nature disqualified for it. + +_From The New York Globe._ + +Instead of promoting a peaceful settlement, Mr. Bryan practically +throws his influence in the other balance. + +_From The Syracuse Post-Standard._ + +Billy Sunday in the wrong niche. + +_From The Rochester Post-Express._ + +Amazement and contempt for him grow. + +_From The Pittsburgh Gazette Times._ + +He has not filled the place with dignity, ability, or satisfaction, +nor yet with fidelity; a cheap imitation. + +_From The Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph._ + +The peace-piffle and grape-juice statesman. + +_From The Philadelphia Inquirer._ + +A peace-at-any-price man. + +_From The Wilkes-Barre Record._ + +An amazing, an astounding blunder. + +_From The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune._ + +The seriousness of the situation is all that prevents Mr. Bryan's +foreign policy from being laughable. + +_From The Baltimore American._ + +The country wants no more vapid theorizing; it wants no more Bryanism. + +_From The Hartford Courant._ + +Those newspapers that said Mr. Bryan was in bad taste made a slight +mistake. He is a bad taste. + +_From The Augusta (Me.) Kennebec Journal._ + +Impossible for a man of Mr. Bryan's ability and love of the limelight +to remain longer wholly obscure in this national crisis. + +_From The Portsmouth (N.H.) Chronicle._ + +Childish policies and small politics, even if the Nobel Peace Prize is +at stake, must not be considered by an American statesman. + +_From The Portland (Me.) Press._ + +There was nothing to do but get out and shut up. + +_From The Paterson Press._ + +He has dealt his country a stunning blow. + +_From The Lincoln (Neb.) State Journal._ + +It is characteristic of Mr. Bryan to shut his eyes to arguments and +facts when he reaches the ecstacy of sentimental conviction. + +_From The Omaha Bee._ + +His action may have a weakening effect on our position. + +_From The Nebraska City (Neb.) Press._ + +Knowing his disposition to watch out for the main chance ... that Mr. +Bryan will be a candidate for the Senate from Nebraska is almost a +foregone conclusion. + +_From The Topeka Capital._ + +Represents only the personal idiosyncrasies of William J. Bryan. + +_From The Milwaukee Sentinel._ + +Calculated to create prejudice and misgiving against the American note +and to mislead foreign opinion. + +_From The St. Louis Globe-Democrat._ + +Mr. Bryan could have found no better way of causing the President +embarrassment at this crisis. + +_From The Minneapolis Tribune._ + +President Wilson has had his own way in State Department affairs, to +the minimization of Secretary Bryan, almost at times to the point of +humiliation. + +_From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer._ + +A pacifist temporarily bereft of reason and lost to sense of patriotic +duty; a misplaced figurehead. + +_From The Portland Oregonian._ + +The archpriest of the peace-at-any-price party ... a poor staff to +lean upon. + +_From The Albany Knickerbocker-Press._ + +Mr. Bryan must Chautauquahoot, as the rooster must crow. + +_From The Scranton Republican._ + +Prompt acceptance of his resignation was the proper thing. + +_From The Los Angeles Times._ + +The inefficiency and ineptness of the Secretary of State have been a +reproach to the country. + +_From The Wilmington (Del.) News._ + +Far better if Mr. Bryan had retired long ago. + +_From The St. Paul Pioneer Press._ + +His retirement was merely a matter of time. + + +PROGRESSIVE NEWSPAPERS. + +_From The New York Press._ + +A sorry misfit in our Government--mortifyingly, dangerously so. + +_From The Boston Journal._ + +He appoints himself, though now a private citizen, the director of the +nation. + +_From The Washington Times._ + +The only person who has been talking war and giving out the impression +that he thought this note meant war. + + +INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS. + +_From The New York Evening Post._ + +How far he will carry his treachery by actual machinations against Mr. +Wilson remains to be seen. + +_From The New York Sun._ + +Sulked and ran away when honor and patriotism should have kept him at +his post. + +_From The New York Herald._ + +His convictions are all wrong; his retirement should be heartily +welcomed by the country. + +_From The Philadelphia Public Ledger._ + +How much longer, as Cicero asked Catiline, does he intend to abuse our +patience? + +_From The Pittsburgh Dispatch._ + +Bryan's obsession by the peace-at-any-price propaganda bordered on the +fanatical. + +_From The Baltimore News._ + +A surrender to opportunism such as calls for a nation's contempt. + +_From The Chicago Herald._ + +As a private citizen he will be less a menace to the peace of the +nation than he has been as Secretary of State. + +_From The Denver Post._ + +His services can be most satisfactorily dispensed with. + +_From The Kansas City Star._ + +Has not impressed the country as a practical man in dealing with large +affairs. + +_From The Toledo Times._ + +He should support the President. + +_From The Terre Haute Star._ + +Now free to pursue the prohibition propaganda. + +_From The Newark (N.J.) Star._ + +The statement [Bryan's] is simply an effort to corral for himself a +large voting element in the population. + +_From The Newark Evening News._ + +His narrow vision has overcome him. + +_From The Boston Traveler._ + +If war does come Mr. Bryan will be the one American held most +responsible for the trouble. + +_From The Boston Globe._ + +Mr. Wilson has been relieved of one of his many problems. + +_From The Boston Herald._ + +Is certainly not inspired by a sense of loyalty to the party or the +country. + +_From The Lowell Courier-Citizen._ + +Lagged superfluous on a stage in which he played no part beyond that +of an amanuensis, and hardly even that. + +_From The Manchester (N.H.) Union._ + +Should mark the end of Bryanism in American politics. + +_From The Providence Journal._ + +He has bowed himself into oblivion. + + +GERMAN-AMERICAN PRESS. + +_Under the caption, "He Kept His Vow," the evening edition of the +New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung, which for months had been referring to +Secretary Bryan as "Secretary Bryan Stumping," as opposed to +"Secretary Lansing Acting," said on June 9:_ + +As unreservedly as we believe that he [Mr. Bryan] is sacrificing high +office to a principle--something that seems to be incomprehensible not +alone to American politicians; readily as we pay him tribute that a +man in public life has again had the courage to act, despite the +machinations of editorial offices, pulpits, and the counting rooms of +money agents; clearly as we see again his latest act, the old Bryan, +who can sacrifice nothing to utilitarianism, everything to an idea, no +matter how fantastic it may be, nevertheless it must not be left +unmentioned that his exit out of the Wilson Cabinet was under all +circumstances only a question of time. Bryan may want to be a +candidate in 1916, a rival of Wilson; there may be a political motive +at the bottom of the dramatically staged resignation; the fact remains +that two hard heads, Wilson and Bryan, could not permanently agree. +One had to yield; one had to go. Just as Bismarck had to go when +Wilhelm II. felt himself safe in the saddle, so Bryan had to yield as +soon as Woodrow Wilson himself took the reins, all the reins, into his +hand. + +Whether the departure of Bryan will exercise great influence on the +course of events, so far as relations with Germany are concerned, is +an open question. At all events, the peace party in Congress and in +the country as a whole has found a leader who is a fighter, who today +still has a large following in Congress and out of it. And in +Congress, through the masses, the question must finally be decided. +Meanwhile, is it to be assumed without further ado that President +Wilson himself stands diametrically opposed to the peace views of +Bryan? We do not believe that. We are even today still of the opinion +that Wilson desires war with Germany as little as does Bryan, the +friend of peace, who has just let his deeds follow his words. + +_From the St. Paul Daily Volks Zeitung._ + +Bryan's stand for fair play forces his resignation. Bryan's +resignation at this critical moment is the greatest service the +Commoner has ever rendered his country, because it has aroused the +people to see the danger of the foreign policy now pursued by the +President. + +_From the Minneapolis Freie Presse Herold._ + +It is evident that Mr. Bryan, believing that Wilson and Roosevelt will +be the next Presidential nominees, now sees the opportunity to secure +the German vote for himself, but Mr. Bryan's hypocrisy will fool no +one, particularly the Germans. + +_From Alex E. Oberlander, Editor the Syracuse Union._ + +Mr. Bryan will be a greater power for peace out of the Cabinet than +in it. As a member of the Cabinet diplomacy muzzled him, but now as a +private citizen he can and will be outspoken, and his voice for peace +will carry far more weight than the manufacturers of war munitions, +Wall Street, would-be Generals, Colonels, and Captains, and the jingo +press. + +_From Paul F. Mueller, Editor Abendpost of Chicago._ + +The people will choose Mr. Bryan's side if the President persists on a +way which may lead to war and must lead to dishonor. + +_From Horace L. Brand, Publisher Illinois Staats-Zeitung._ + +Mr. Bryan will have the support of all sane Americans on any +reasonable proposition which will keep this country out of war. Mr. +Bryan, with all his faults, evidently has his principles. + +_From the Waechter und Anzeiger of Cleveland, Ohio._ + +He would not be a man had he signed the death warrant for what he +regarded as the crowning deed and success of his life's work. And, +because this was asked of him, many a person will say the Scotch in +the President's veins did not deny itself in the manner which +compelled Mr. Bryan's resignation, although keeping up the appearance +that it came of Bryan's own free will because of a disagreement over +principles. + +_From the Colorado Herald of Denver._ + +Bryan's resignation comes as the biggest surprise of the year to all +those of pro-German proclivities who were heretofore laboring under +the impression that Bryan represented the spirit in the Cabinet that +savored of anything but a square deal for Germany. + +_From the Illinois Staats-Zeitung of Chicago._ + +Mr. William Jennings Bryan, by his resignation and by his reasons of +his resignation, caused us fear that President Wilson's second note to +Germany would be full of thunder and lightning, and would lead at best +to a severance of the diplomatic relations between the two +countries, the friendship of which grew almost to be a tradition. + +Our surprise is just as great as it is pleasant. The note of the +President is in its tone sound and friendly, and excludes the +possibility of hostilities. Germany, though she had many reasons to +complain about a hostile disposition on the part of the people, the +press, and the Government of the United States, will readily admit +that our Government is in duty bound to protect American lives and +American property, even though she should have been justified in +torpedoing the Lusitania. President Wilson seems to be willing to +admit such justification and invites Germany to submit her evidence. +This means an invitation to further negotiations, to which President +Wilson was apparently opposed in his first note. + +_From Charles Neumeyer, Editor the Louisville Anzeiger._ + +It is inexplicable why Bryan could reconcile the signing of the first +note, which was of a much more assertive tone, with his sentiments and +principles, and then refuse his assent to this one, characterized by +dignified friendliness. Mr. Bryan must either have become extremely +touchy and particular over night, or somebody must have been fooling +somebody else. At any rate, the American note is a guarantee of +continued peace as to the issues now pending. + + + + +Mr. Bryan's Defense + + In a statement headed "The Real Issue" and addressed "To the + American People," issued on June 10, 1915; in a second + statement, appealing "To the German-Americans," on June 11; + in a third, issued June 12, on the "First and Second German + Notes," and in a series of utterances put forth on three + successive days, beginning June 16, Mr. Bryan justified his + resignation and offered what he styled a practical working + solution of the problem of bringing peace to Europe. These + statements were preceded by a formal utterance about his + resignation, published on June 10. Their texts are presented + below. + + +THE REASON FOR RESIGNING. + +Washington, June 9, 1915. + +My reason for resigning is clearly stated in my letter of resignation, +namely, that I may employ, as a private citizen, the means which the +President does not feel at liberty to employ. I honor him for doing +what he believes to be right, and I am sure that he desires, as I do, +to find a peaceful solution of the problem which has been created by +the action of the submarines. + +Two of the points on which we differ, each conscientious in his +conviction, are: + +First, as to the suggestion of investigation by an international +commission, and, + +Second, as to warning Americans against traveling on belligerent +vessels or with cargoes of ammunition. + +I believe that this nation should frankly state to Germany that we are +willing to apply in this case the principle which we are bound by +treaty to apply to disputes between the United States and thirty +countries with which we have made treaties, providing for +investigation of all disputes of every character and nature. + +These treaties, negotiated under this Administration, make war +practically impossible between this country and these thirty +Governments, representing nearly three-fourths of all the people of +the world. + +Among the nations with which we have these treaties are Great Britain, +France, and Russia. No matter what disputes may arise between us and +these treaty nations, we agree that there shall be no declaration and +no commencement of hostilities until the matters in dispute have been +investigated by an international commission, and a year's time is +allowed for investigation and report. This plan was offered to all the +nations without any exceptions whatever, and Germany was one of the +nations that accepted the principle, being the twelfth, I think, to +accept. + +No treaty was actually entered into with Germany, but I cannot see +that that should stand in the way when both nations indorsed the +principle. I do not know whether Germany would accept the offer, but +our country should, in my judgment, make the offer. Such an offer, if +accepted, would at once relieve the tension and silence all the +jingoes who are demanding war. + +Germany has always been a friendly nation, and a great many of our +people are of German ancestry. Why should we not deal with Germany +according to this plan to which the nation has pledged its support? + +The second point of difference is as to the course which should be +pursued in regard to Americans traveling on belligerent ships or with +cargoes of ammunition. + +Why should an American citizen be permitted to involve his country in +war by traveling upon a belligerent ship, when he knows that the ship +will pass through a danger zone? The question is not whether an +American citizen has a right, under international law, to travel on a +belligerent ship; the question is whether he ought not, out of +consideration for his country, if not for his own safety, avoid danger +when avoidance is possible. + +It is a very one-sided citizenship that compels a Government to go to +war over a citizen's rights and yet relieve the citizen of all +obligations to consider his nation's welfare. I do not know just how +far the President can legally go in actually preventing Americans from +traveling on belligerent ships, but I believe the Government should go +as far as it can, and that in case of doubt it should give the benefit +of the doubt to the Government. + +But even if the Government could not legally prevent citizens from +traveling on belligerent ships, it could, and in my judgment should, +earnestly advise American citizens not to risk themselves or the +peace of their country, and I have no doubt that these warnings would +be heeded. + +President Taft advised Americans to leave Mexico when insurrection +broke out there, and President Wilson has repeated the advice. This +advice, in my judgment, was eminently wise, and I think the same +course should be followed in regard to warning Americans to keep off +vessels subject to attack. + +I think, too, that American passenger ships should be prohibited from +carrying ammunition. The lives of passengers ought not to be +endangered by cargoes of ammunition, whether that danger comes from +possible explosions within or from possible attacks from without. +Passengers and ammunition should not travel together. The attempt to +prevent American citizens from incurring these risks is entirely +consistent with the effort which our Government is making to prevent +attacks from submarines. + +The use of one remedy does not exclude the use of the other. The most +familiar illustration is to be found in the action taken by municipal +authorities during a riot. It is the duty of the Mayor to suppress the +mob and to prevent violence, but he does not hesitate to warn citizens +to keep off the streets during the riots. He does not question their +right to use the streets, but for their own protection and in the +interest of order he warns them not to incur the risks involved in +going upon the streets when men are shooting at each other. + +The President does not feel justified in taking the action above +stated. That is, he does not feel justified, first, in suggesting the +submission of the controversy to investigation, or, second, in warning +the people not to incur the extra hazards in traveling on belligerent +ships or on ships carrying ammunition. And he may be right in the +position he has taken, but, as a private citizen, I am free to urge +both of these propositions and to call public attention to these +remedies, in the hope of securing such an expression of public +sentiment as will support the President in employing these remedies +if in the future he finds it consistent with his sense of duty to +favor them. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + +"THE REAL ISSUE." + +Washington, June 10, 1915. + +To the American people: + +You now have before you the text of the note to Germany--the note +which it would have been my official duty to sign had I remained +Secretary of State. I ask you to sit in judgment upon my decision to +resign rather than to share responsibility for it. + +I am sure you will credit me with honorable motives, but that is not +enough. Good intentions could not atone for a mistake at such a time, +on such a subject, and under such circumstances. If your verdict is +against me, I ask no mercy; I desire none if I have acted unwisely. + +A man in public life must act according to his conscience, but, +however conscientiously he acts, he must be prepared to accept without +complaint any condemnation which his own errors may bring upon him; he +must be willing to bear any deserved punishment, from ostracism to +execution. But hear me before you pass sentence. + +The President and I agree in purpose; we desire a peaceful solution of +the dispute which has arisen between the United States and Germany. We +not only desire it, but, with equal fervor, we pray for it; but we +differ irreconcilably as to the means of securing it. + +If it were merely a personal difference, it would be a matter of +little moment, for all the presumptions are on his side--the +presumptions that go with power and authority. He is your President, I +am a private citizen without office or title--but one of the one +hundred million of inhabitants. + +But the real issue is not between persons, it is between systems, and +I rely for vindication wholly upon the strength of the position taken. + +Among the influences which Governments employ in dealing with each +other there are two which are pre-eminent and antagonistic--force and +persuasion. Force speaks with firmness and acts through the ultimatum; +persuasion employs argument, courts investigation, and depends upon +negotiation. Force represents the old system--the system that must +pass away; persuasion represents the new system--the system that has +been growing, all too slowly, it is true, but growing for 1,900 years. +In the old system war is the chief cornerstone--war, which at its best +is little better than war at its worst; the new system contemplates a +universal brotherhood established through the uplifting power of +example. + +If I correctly interpret the note to Germany, it conforms to the +standards of the old system rather than to the rules of the new, and I +cheerfully admit that it is abundantly supported by precedents--precedents +written in characters of blood upon almost every page of human +history. Austria furnishes the most recent precedent; it was Austria's +firmness that dictated the ultimatum against Serbia, which set the +world at war. + +Every ruler now participating in this unparalleled conflict has +proclaimed his desire for peace and denied responsibility for the war, +and it is only charitable that we should credit all of them with good +faith. They desired peace, but they sought it according to the rules +of the old system. They believed that firmness would give the best +assurance of the maintenance of peace, and, faithfully following +precedent, they went so near the fire that they were, one after +another, sucked into the contest. + +Never before have the frightful follies of this fatal system been so +clearly revealed as now. The most civilized and enlightened--aye, the +most Christian--of the nations of Europe are grappling with each other +as if in a death struggle. They are sacrificing the best and bravest +of their sons on the battlefield; they are converting their gardens +into cemeteries and their homes into houses of mourning; they are +taxing the wealth of today and laying a burden of debt on the toil of +the future; they have filled the air with thunderbolts more deadly +than those of Jove, and they have multiplied the perils of the deep. + +Adding fresh fuel to the flame of hate, they have daily devised new +horrors, until one side is endeavoring to drown noncombatant men, +women, and children at sea, while the other side seeks to starve +noncombatant men, women, and children on land. And they are so +absorbed in alternate retaliations and in competitive cruelties that +they seem, for the time being, blind to the rights of neutrals and +deaf to the appeals of humanity. A tree is known by its fruit. The war +in Europe is the ripened fruit of the old system. + +This is what firmness, supported by force, has done in the Old World; +shall we invite it to cross the Atlantic? Already the jingoes of our +own country have caught the rabies from the dogs of war; shall the +opponents of organized slaughter be silent while the disease spreads? + +As an humble follower of the Prince of Peace, as a devoted believer in +the prophecy that "they that take the sword shall perish with the +sword," I beg to be counted among those who earnestly urge the +adoption of a course in this matter which will leave no doubt of our +Government's willingness to continue negotiations with Germany until +an amicable understanding is reached, or at least until, the stress of +war over, we can appeal from Philip drunk with carnage to Philip +sobered by the memories of a historic friendship and by a recollection +of the innumerable ties of kinship that bind the Fatherland to the +United States. + +Some nation must lead the world out of the black night of war into the +light of that day when "swords shall be beaten into plowshares." Why +not make that honor ours? Some day--why not now?--the nations will +learn that enduring peace cannot be built upon fear--that good-will +does not grow upon the stalks of violence. Some day the nations will +place their trust in love, the weapon for which there is no shield; in +love, that suffereth long and is kind; in love, that is not easily +provoked, that beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all +things, endureth all things; in love, which, though despised as +weakness by the worshippers of Mars, abideth when all else fails. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + +THE GERMAN-AMERICANS. + +Washington, June 11, 1915. + +To the German-Americans: + +Permit me to address a word to you, as one American citizen speaking +to fellow-citizens in whose patriotism he has entire confidence. It is +natural that in a contest between your Fatherland and other European +nations your sympathies should be with the country of your birth. It +is no cause for censure that this is true. It would be a reflection +upon you if it were not true. Do not the sons of Great Britain +sympathize with their mother country? Do not the sons of France +sympathize with theirs? Is not the same true of Russia and of Italy? +Why should it not be true of those who are born in Germany or Austria? +The trouble is that the extremists on both sides have mistaken a +natural attachment felt for birthplace for disloyalty to this country. + +The President has been unjustly criticised by the partisans of both +sides--the very best evidence of his neutrality. If he had so +conducted the Government as to wholly please either side it would +excite not only astonishment, but misgivings, for partisans cannot +give an unbiased judgment; they will of necessity look at the question +from their own point of view, giving praise or blame, according as the +act, regardless of its real character, helps or hurts the side with +which they have aligned themselves. + +The fact that the Administration has received more criticism from +German-Americans than from those in sympathy with the Allies is due to +the fact that, while both sides are at liberty under international law +to purchase ammunition in the United States, the Allies, because of +their control of the seas, have the advantage of being able to export +it. + +It is unfortunate that partisan supporters of Germany should have +overlooked the legal requirements of the situation and have thus +misunderstood the position of the Administration. The Administration's +position has not only been perfectly neutral, but it could not have +been otherwise without a palpable and intentional violation of the +rules governing neutrality. + +This Government is not at liberty to materially change the rules of +international law during the war, because every change suggested is +discussed, not upon its merits as an abstract proposition, but +according to the effect it will have upon the contest. Those who +wanted to lay an embargo upon the shipments of arms defended their +position on the ground that it would hasten peace, but it is strange +that they could have overlooked the fact that the only way in which +such action on our part could hasten peace would have been by helping +one side to overcome the other. + +While the attacks made upon the President by the extremists of both +sides were very unjust, it was equally unjust to suspect the +patriotism of those who took sides. I feel well enough acquainted with +the European-born Americans to believe that in a war between this +country and any European power the naturalized citizens from that +country would be as quick to enlist as native-born citizens. + +As I am now speaking to German-Americans, I am glad to repeat in +public what I have often said in private, and would have said in +public before but for the fact that it would not have been proper for +one in my official position to do so--namely, that in case of war +between the United States and Germany--if so improbable a supposition +can be considered--German-Americans would be as prompt to enlist and +as faithful to the flag as any other portion of our people. What I +have said in regard to German-Americans is an introduction to an +appeal which I feel it my duty to make to them. + +First, if any of them have ever in a moment of passion or excitement +suspected the President of lack of friendship toward the German +Government and the German people, let that thought be forgotten, never +again to be recalled. I have, since my resignation, received numerous +telegrams from German-Americans and German-American societies +commending my action. I think the senders of these telegrams +understand my position; but that no one may mistake it let me restate +it. The President is not only desirous of peace, but he hopes for it, +and he has adopted the methods which he thinks most likely to +contribute toward peace. + +My difference from him is as to method, not as to purpose, and my +utterances since resigning have been intended to crystallize public +sentiment in support of his efforts to maintain peace, or, to use a +similar phrase, "Peace with Honor." But remember that when I use the +phrase "Peace with Honor" I do not use it in the same sense that those +do who regard every opponent of war as favoring "peace at any price." +Peace at any price is an epithet, not a true statement of any one's +position or of the policy of any group. The words are employed by +jingoes as an expression of contempt, and are applied indiscriminately +to all who have faith in the nation's ability to find a peaceful way +out of every difficulty, so long as both nations want peace. + +The alarmists of the country have had control of the metropolitan +press, and they have loudly proclaimed that the prolongation of +negotiations or the suggestion of international investigation would be +a sign of weakness--and everything is weakness that does not contain a +hint of war. The jingo sees in the rainbow of promise only one +color--red. + +Second--Knowing that the President desires peace, it is our duty to +help him secure it. And how? By exerting your influence to convince +the German Government of this fact and to persuade that Government to +take no steps that would lead in the direction of war. My fear has +been that the German Government might, despairing of a friendly +settlement, break off diplomatic relations, and thus create a +condition out of which war might come without the intention of either +country. + +I do not ask you to minimize the earnestness of the President's +statement--that would be unfair, both to him and to Germany. The +sinking of the Lusitania cannot be defended upon the facts as we +understand them. The killing of innocent women and children cannot be +justified, whether the killing is by drowning or starving. + +No nation can successfully plead the inhumanity of her enemies as an +excuse for inhumanity on her own part. While it is true that cruelty +is apt to beget cruelty, it cannot be said that "like cures like." +Even in war, we are not absolved from the obligation to remedy evils +by the influence of a good example. "Let your light so shine" is a +precept that knows no times nor seasons as it knows neither latitude +nor longitude. + +Third--Do not attempt to connect the negotiations which are going on +between the United States and Germany with those between the United +States and Great Britain. The cases are different, but, even if they +were the same, it would be necessary to treat with each nation +separately. My personal preference has been to repeat our insistence +that the Allies shall not interfere with our commerce with neutral +countries, but the difference on this point was a matter of judgment +and not a matter of principle. In the note to Great Britain, dated +March 30, this Government said: + + In view of these assurances formally given to this + Government, it is confidently expected that the extensive + powers conferred by the Order in Council on the executive + officers of the Crown will be restricted by "orders issued + by the Government" directing the exercise of their + discretionary powers in such a manner as to modify in + practical application those provisions of the Order in + Council which, if strictly enforced, would violate neutral + rights and interrupt legitimate trade. Relying on the + faithful performance of these voluntary assurances by his + Majesty's Government the United States takes it for granted + that the approach of American merchantmen to neutral ports + situated upon the long line of coast affected by the Order + in Council will not be interfered with, when it is known + that they do not carry goods which are contraband of war or + goods destined to or proceeding from ports within the + belligerent territory affected. + +There is no doubt that our Government will insist upon this +position--that is an important thing, the exact date of the note is +not material. My reason for desiring to have the matter presented to +Great Britain at once was not that Germany had any right to ask it, +but because I was anxious to make it as easy as possible for Germany +to accept the demands of the United States and cease to employ +submarines against merchantmen. + +There is no reason why any German-Americans should doubt the +President's intentions in this matter. I am sure that every one upon +reflection recognizes that our duty to prevent loss of life is more +urgent than our duty to prevent interference with trade--loss of trade +can be compensated for with money, but no settlement that the United +States and Germany may reach can call back to life those who went down +with the Lusitania--and war would be the most expensive of all +settlements because it would enormously add to the number of the dead. + +Fourth--I hope that Germany will acquiesce in the demands that have +been made, and I hope that she will acquiesce in them without +conditions. She can trust the United States to deal justly with her in +the consideration of any changes that she may propose in the +international rules that govern the taking of prizes. The more +generously she acts in this matter the greater will be the glory which +she will derive from it. She has raised a question which is now +receiving serious consideration, namely, whether the introduction of +the submarine necessitates any change in the rules governing the +capture of prizes. The position seemingly taken by Germany, namely, +that she is entitled to drown noncombatants because they ride with +contraband, is an untenable position. The most that she could insist +upon is that, in view of the introduction of this new weapon of +warfare, new rules should be adopted, separating passengers from +objectionable cargo. + +If the use of the submarine justifies such a change in the law of +blockade as will permit the cordon to be withdrawn far enough from the +shore to avoid the danger of submarine attack, may it not be found +possible to secure an international agreement by which passengers +will be excluded from ships carrying contraband, or, at least, from +those carrying ammunition? + +It would require but a slight change in the shipping laws to make this +separation, and belligerent nations might be restrained from +unnecessarily increasing the contraband list if they were compelled to +carry contraband on transports as they now carry troops. + +Personally, I would like to see the use of submarines abandoned +entirely, just as I would like to see an abandonment of the use of +aeroplanes and Zeppelins for the carrying of explosives, but I am not +sanguine enough to believe that any effective instrument of warfare +will be abandoned as long as war continues. + +The very arguments which the advocates of peace advance against the +submarine, the aeroplane, and the Zeppelin are advanced for them by +those who conduct war. The more fatal a weapon is the more it is in +demand, and it is not an unusual thing to see a new instrument of +destruction denounced as inhuman by those against whom it is employed, +only to be employed later by those who only a little while before +denounced it. + +The above suggestions are respectfully submitted to those of German +birth or descent, and they are submitted in the same spirit to +naturalized citizens from other countries. To the naturalized citizen +this is the land of adoption, but in one sense it may be nearer to him +than it is to us who are native born, for those who come here are +citizens by voluntary choice, while we are here by accident of birth. +They may be said to have paid a higher compliment to the United States +than we who first saw the light under the Stars and Stripes. But, more +than that, it is the land of their children and their children's +children, no matter for what reason they crossed the ocean. They not +only share with us the shaping of our nation's destiny, but their +descendants have a part with ours in all the blessings which the +present generation can, by wise and patriotic action, bequeath to the +generations that are to follow. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + +SEES CHANGE IN TONE OF PRESS. + +_On the same day with this outgiving Mr. Bryan issued a statement +expressing his gratification over what he termed a change in the tone +of the press regarding the note. The statement follows:_ + +I am glad to note the change in the tone of the press in regard to the +note to Germany. From the time the papers began to publish forecasts +down to yesterday the jingo editors have been predicting that the +matter would be dealt with with "great firmness"; that Germany would +be told that there must be no more delay in the acceptance of this +country's demands, &c. + +Instead of waiting until the note was issued they put their own +construction upon it in advance, and colored it to suit their own +purposes. It is a relief to find the papers now emphasizing the +friendly tone of the note, and pointing out that it does not +necessarily mean war. + +Something has been gained if the warrior journalists at last realize +that the country does not want war, but that, on the contrary, it will +support the President in his efforts to find a peaceful solution of +the difficult problem raised by the use of the submarine against +merchantmen. + +_In giving out his statement Mr. Bryan supplemented it with the +following anecdote:_ + +A Congressman replying to a jingo speech recently said: + +"While I am personally against war, I am in favor of the country +having what it wants. If the country wants war, let it have war, but +let it first find out if the country does want war. If it becomes +necessary to ascertain the sentiment of the country, I suggest that a +ballot be taken; let those who want war vote for war and those opposed +to war vote against it, and let the vote be taken with the +understanding that those who vote for war will enlist for war and that +those who vote against war will not be called upon until after those +who want war have exhausted their efforts." + +_"I still believe," added Mr. Bryan, "in the right of the people to +rule, and think the Congressman's suggestion might insure deliberate +action on the part of the voters."_ + +_Mr. Bryan was reminded of the suggestion of some of his friends that +in case of war he would be one of the first to enlist. He replied:_ + +I do not want to talk about war, but on one occasion I enlisted to +defend my country on the first day war was declared. + + +GERMAN-AMERICAN OPINION. + +_Commenting on Mr. Bryan's appeal, the evening edition of the New +Yorker Herold on June 12 said:_ + +The arguments which Mr. Bryan dishes up will not be agreed to by most +citizens of German descent, but the open discussion of the various +points can only be useful. + +So far as influencing the German Government is concerned, we are +convinced that in Berlin they will not forget for an instant how +terrible a warlike conflict between the two countries would be, +particularly for the Germans in America. In view of the many bonds of +blood that link the German population of our country with the old +Fatherland, a war with the United States would be regarded practically +as fratricidal, as a calamity which, if in any way possible, must be +avoided. Mr. Bryan may rest assured of this. + +The influence of the German-Americans is required less in Germany than +here, at this point and place, in the United States. Here the jingo +press is raging and seeking to fire minds to war, not in Germany. + +_From the Detroiter Abendpost._ + +Mr. Bryan's proclamation will disappoint only those who hailed him +when he published his reasons for leaving the Cabinet; but we find in +his last document the confirmation of what we have always thought of +the man and the politician Bryan, namely, that he considers all means +right if they suit his political intentions. + +_From Charles Neumeyer, Editor Louisville Anzeiger._ + +Mr. Bryan's appeal directed chiefly to American citizens of German +birth exhibits an astonishing lack of tact as well as lack of +judgment. The former Secretary of State seems to be going on the +presumption, like many other native Americans not actuated by a +feeling of prejudice or race hatred, that German-Americans have left +their hearts behind them in the old country and are, therefore, unable +to feel as true American citizens should feel toward their country and +everything involving its destiny. + +Mr. Bryan's appeal, especially the one directed to German-Americans, +will not, can not, and should not meet with the slightest response. + +_From the Colorado Herold of Denver._ + +Bryan's appeal to the Germans, while it may be classed as patriotic, +was unnecessary, and Dr. Dernburg, Germany's special envoy, +practically voiced the same sentiments in his farewell address in New +York Friday night. Bryan's well-known prohibition tendencies, however, +preclude the idea that he was bidding for German-American votes. + +_From the Waechter und Anzeiger of Cleveland, Ohio._ + +Mr. Bryan might well have abstained from issuing his statement to the +German-Americans. To make any impression he should have explained why +he now thinks it the duty of neutrality to furnish contraband to +England, when in 1914 he stated in his Commoner that the President had +blazed a new way when he, without conference with other nations, +committed this nation to the policy that furnishing the "contraband of +money" was inconsistent with the spirit of neutrality. What are the +influences that have now changed his views? Mr. Bryan is neither frank +nor consistent, hence not impressive. + + +A "SOFTENED" NOTE. + +[The First and Second German Notes.] + +Washington, June 12, 1915. + +My attention has been called to a number of newspaper editorials and +articles which, in varying language, asks the question, "Why did Mr. +Bryan sign the first note to Germany, and then refuse to sign the +second?" The argument presented in the question is based on the +supposition that the two notes were substantially the same and that +the second note simply reiterates the demands contained in the first. +They then declare it inconsistent to sign one and refuse to sign the +other. The difference between the two cases would seem obvious enough +to make an answer unnecessary, but, lest silence on the subject be +taken as an admission of inconsistency, the following explanation is +given: + +The notes must be considered in connection with the conditions under +which they were sent. The first note presented the case of this +Government upon such evidence as we then had. It was like the +plaintiff's statement in a case, his claim being based on the facts as +he presents them. I did not agree entirely with the language of the +first note, but the difference was not so material as to justify a +refusal to sign it. Then, too, I was at that time hoping that certain +things would be done which would make it easier for Germany to +acquiesce in our demands. + +The three things which I had in mind which, in my judgment, would have +helped the situation were: First, an announcement of a willingness +upon our part to employ the principle of investigation, embodied in +our thirty peace treaties; second, action which would prevent American +citizens from traveling on belligerent ships or on American ships +carrying contraband, especially if that contraband consisted of +ammunition; and, third, further insistence upon our protest against +interference of our trade with neutrals. I thought that these three +things were within the range of possibilities, and that two, or at +least one was probable. + +Some weeks have elapsed since the first note was sent, and we have not +only failed to do any of these things hoped for, but Germany has in +the meantime answered and in her answer has not only presented a +number of alleged facts which, in her judgment, justified the +deviation which she has made from the ordinary rules applicable to +prize cases, but she has suggested arbitration. A rejection of the +arguments which she presented and of the allegations made, together +with a reiteration of the original demands, creates a very different +situation from that which existed when the first demand was made. + +As I have before stated, my fear has been that, owing to the feeling +existing in Germany, the Government might, upon receipt of such a note +under such circumstances, break off diplomatic relations and thus +create a situation out of which war might come without the intention +of either side. I am sure that the President does not want war and I +am confident that our people do not want war; I have no reason to +believe that either the German Government or the German people desire +war. + +But war, a calamity at any time, is especially to be avoided now +because our nation is relied upon by both neutrals and belligerents as +the one nation which can exert most influence toward bringing this war +to an end. If we were, by accident, to be drawn into the conflict, we +would not only surrender the opportunity to act as a mediator, but we +might become responsible for drawing other nations into this contest. +When we see how one nation after another has been dragged into this +war we cannot have confidence in the ability of any one to calculate +with certainty upon the results that might follow if we became +embroiled in the war. + +No one would be happier than I if the President's plan results in a +peaceful settlement, but no one was in position to say what effect our +note would have upon Germany, or what results would follow if she, in +anger, broke off diplomatic relations, and I was not only unwilling to +assume the responsibility for the risks incurred--risks which no one +could with any degree of accuracy measure--but I felt that, having +done all I could in the Cabinet, it was my duty to undertake, outside +the Cabinet, the work upon which I have entered. + +I have no doubt that the country will unanimously support the +President during the war, if so great a misfortune should overtake +us, but I believe that the chances of war will be lessened in +proportion as the country expresses itself in favor of peace--not +"peace at any price"--but peace in preference to a war waged for the +redress of such grievances as we have against Germany--at least +against war until we have given to Germany the opportunity which we +are pledged to give to Great Britain, France, and Russia--to have +every difference of every character submitted to an international +commission of investigation. + +I would contend as earnestly for the application of the treaty +principle to the Allies as I contend for it in the case of Germany. If +the principle is sound, it ought to be applied to every country with +which we have a difference, and if it ought to be applied at all I +think it is better to suggest it in the beginning than to accept it +later after a seeming reluctance to apply it. + +I understand that Secretary Lansing has already given out a statement, +correcting an inaccuracy which appeared in this morning's paper. I +appreciate his kindness. + +It is true that I saw the final draft of the note just before my +resignation took effect, but it contained an important change. I had +no knowledge of this change at the time my resignation was tendered +and accepted. This change, while very much softening the note, was +not, however, sufficient, in my judgment, to justify me in asking +permission to withdraw my resignation. + +As Germany had suggested arbitration, I felt that we could not do less +than reply to this offer by expressing a willingness to apply the +principle of the peace treaties to the case. These treaties, while +providing for investigation of all questions, leave the nations free +to act independently after the international commission has concluded +the investigation. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + +STATEMENTS ON THE WAR IN EUROPE. + +_Mr. Bryan on June 16 gave out the first of three statements about the +present war, and in it he predicts that a conference will be held at +the close of the conflict to revise the rules of international law. +The present rules, in Mr. Bryan's opinion, "seem to have been made for +the nations at war rather than for the nations at peace."_ + +_The statement contains a hint to President Wilson in the concluding +paragraph which says that "in all history no other peacemaker has ever +been in position to claim so rich a blessing as that which will be +pronounced on our President when the time for mediation comes--as come +it must." Its text follows:_ + +Washington, June 16, 1915. + +I shall tomorrow discuss the origin of the war and the reasons which +led the nations of Europe to march, as if blindfolded, into the bloody +conflict which now rests like a pall over the fairest parts of the Old +World; today let us consider the war as it is and the injury it is +doing to the neutral nations. + +The war is without a precedent in the populations represented, in the +number of combatants in the field, in daily expenditures, in the +effectiveness of the implements employed, in the lists of dead and +wounded, in the widespread suffering caused and in the intensity of +the hatreds aroused. + +No class or condition is exempt from the burdens which this war +imposes. The rich bear excessive taxation and the poor are sorely +oppressed; the resources of today are devoured and the products of +tomorrow are mortgaged. No age is immune. The first draft was upon the +strong and vigorous, but the Governments are already calling for those +above and below the ordinary enlistment zone. + +The war's afflictions are visited upon women as well as upon men--upon +wives who await in vain a husband's return, and upon mothers who must +surrender up the sons whose support is the natural reliance of +declining years. Even children are its victims--children innocent of +wrong and incapable of doing harm. By war's dread decree babes come +into the world fatherless at their birth, while the bodies of their +sires are burned like worthless stubble in the fields over which the +Grim Reaper has passed. + +The most extreme illustrations collected from history to prove the +loathsomeness of war are overshadowed by new indictments written +daily; the most distressing pictures drawn by the imagination are +surpassed by the realities of this indescribable contest. Surely we +behold "the pestilence that walketh in darkness and the destruction +that wasteth at noonday." + +Neutral nations cannot look on with indifference--the ties that bind +them together are too strong, the relationship too intimate. This is +especially true of the United States. We have a composite population, +every nation of Europe having contributed liberally to our +citizenship. These our countrymen, themselves born abroad or +immediately descended from foreign-born ancestors, cannot but take a +likely interest in the conduct as well as in the results of the war, +and a still larger circle shares the concern of those directly +connected. Not a soldier falls on either side but the sorrow expressed +in his home finds an echo at some fireside in the United States. + +But, aside from sentimental considerations, neutral nations suffer +serious disturbances because of the war. Duelists, when dueling was in +fashion, were careful to select a place where they could settle their +personal differences without harm to unoffending bystanders, but +warring nations cannot, no matter how earnestly they try, avoid injury +to neutrals. As the nauseous odors of a slaughterhouse, carried on the +breeze, pollute the air in every direction, so the evil influences +emanating from these wide-extended battlefields taint the atmosphere +of the whole political world. War is an international nuisance. Nearly +every neutral nation finds new domestic problems thrust upon it and +old problems made more difficult. + +No American citizen can note without deep concern the manner in which +war questions have intruded themselves into our politics--overshadowing +economic issues and stimulating agitation in favor of enlarged +appropriations for military and naval purposes. Business is deranged +and expensive readjustments made necessary, while commerce with +foreign nations is seriously interrupted. Fluctuations in price abroad +are reflected in the markets of the United States. A fall of one cent +in the price of cotton means tens of millions of dollars to our +producers and merchants. Added to this, freight rates and insurance +premiums have been increased to cover the greater risks incident to +war. + +Scarcity of ships is one of the greatest commercial embarrassments +caused by the war. We have depended largely upon foreign ships to +carry our commerce, and we could not but suffer when the merchantmen +of one side were driven from the sea and a part of the merchant fleet +of the other side was withdrawn for Government use. + +The neutral nations are put to a great expense to preserve neutrality +and are constantly in danger of being embroiled in the war without +intention or fault on their part. + +The rules of international law seem to have been made for the nations +at war rather than for the nations at peace. It is almost impossible +to alter these rules during the war, because any material change, +affecting as it would the interests of belligerents, would be a +seeming violation of neutrality. As soon as peace returns there will +be a demand for an international conference on the subject. The +presumption should then be given to peace, for peace, not war, is the +normal condition. If nations are determined to fight they should, as +far as possible, bear their burden themselves and not be permitted to +transfer it to the nations which avoid war by resorting to reason +instead of force. + +Under the stress and strain of the titanic struggle in which they are +engaged, each side has felt itself justified in encroaching upon the +rights of neutrals. The ocean highways, the common property of all, +have been to some extent appropriated for war purposes, and delicate +diplomatic questions are forced upon the neutral nations. Just at this +time, when these questions are most acute, the belligerent Governments +are least able to deal with them with the calmness and poise which +their great importance demands. + +No wonder every neutral nation is increasingly anxious for the war to +end; but of all the neutral nations ours has the most reason for the +return of peace--most reason to set its face resolutely against +participation in this war. This nation, the head of the neutral group +and the sincere friend of all the belligerents, is in duty bound to +set an example in patience and self-restraint. + +In all history no such opportunity has ever come to any other nation +as that which is destined to come to the United States. In all history +no other peacemaker has ever been in a position to claim so rich a +blessing as that which will be pronounced upon our President when the +time for mediation comes--as come it must. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + +"PREPAREDNESS" AND WAR. + +_That military preparedness provokes war is the conclusion drawn by +Mr. Bryan in the second utterance in his series of three concerning +the European conflict and war in general. It reads:_ + +Washington, June 17, 1915. + +The conflict now raging in Europe has been described as "The Causeless +War," but since no one would be bold enough to lay the blame for such +an unholy situation upon an overruling Providence, it must find its +origin in acts for which man, and man alone, is responsible. + +It is not a race war; on the contrary, the races are quite +inexplicably mixed. Latin joins with Saxon; the Frank is the ally of +the Slav; while in the opposing ranks Teuton and Turk fight side by +side. + +Neither is it a religious war. On the Bosporus the Cross and the +Crescent make common cause; Protestant Kaiser and Catholic Emperor +have linked their fortunes together and hurl their veteran legions +against an army in which are indiscriminately mingled communicants of +the Greek Church, of the Church of Rome, and of the Church of England. + +Nor yet is it a rivalry between families. The leading actors in this +unprecedented tragedy are related by blood, but kinship seems to be a +negligible factor--it explains neither friendships nor enmities. + +No. Race, religion, and family, each with many wars to answer for, can +plead not guilty in the present inquiry. So far as can be judged, +there appears upon the surface no cause that by any known standard can +be regarded as adequate for such a cataclysm as we are now witnessing. + +The notes that passed from chancellery to chancellery were couched in +most friendly language. These notes could not have been intended to +deceive. Sovereigns visited each other and were received with every +evidence of cordiality and good-will. This hospitality could not have +been insincere. + +Each ruler declared that he did not wish war; would they all say this +if an adequate cause for war had actually existed? They have all +denied responsibility for the war--would they have done so if they had +regarded the war as either necessary or desirable? + +But there is even better proof, aye, indisputable proof, that no +sufficient cause existed, viz., the conclusion to be drawn from +inaction. + +Would not these rulers have busied themselves trying to save their +subjects by the eradication of the cause had they known of the +existence of such a cause? Would they have spent their time in social +festivities and in exchanging compliments had they known that they +were on the brink of war? It is inconceivable! It would be a gross +libel on them, one and all, to charge such a wanton disregard of their +sacred duty. + +What, then, was the cause? If I have correctly analyzed the situation, +the war is the natural result of a false philosophy. Theories of life +are invisible, but they control for good or for evil. They enter our +very being, and may be as deadly to the moral man as germs of disease, +taken into the body, are deadly to the physical man. The fundamental +precept of this false philosophy is that "might makes right." It is +not proclaimed now as loudly as it once was, but it is often acted +upon in particular cases by those who would be unwilling to indorse +it as a general principle. + +The individual makes this maxim his excuse for violating three +commandments that stand in his way; this maxim also leads nations to +violate these same three commandments for the same purpose, but on a +larger scale. + +Strange that men should fail to apply to nations the moral principles +which are now so generally applied to the individual units of a +nation! + +The tendency is to condemn the violation of these commandments, not in +proportion to the injury done, but rather in inverse proportion. No +one will dispute the validity of the injunction against covetousness +as long as the object coveted is of little value or not greatly +desired, but the last and all-inclusive specifications, viz., "or +anything that is thy neighbor's," is sometimes interpreted by nations +to except a neighbor's vineyard or a neighbor's territory. +Covetousness turns to might as the principle to be invoked, and the +greater the unlawful desire the firmer the faith in the false +principle. + +Conquest is the word used to describe the means employed for securing +the thing desired, if the force is employed by a nation, and conquest +violates the commandments Thou Shalt Not Steal and Thou Shalt Not +Kill. + +By what sophistry can rulers convince themselves that, while petit +larceny is criminal, grand larceny is patriotic; that, while it is +reprehensible for one man to kill another for his money, it is +glorious for one nation to put to the sword the inhabitants of another +nation in order to extend boundaries? + +It is a mockery of moral distinctions to hang one man for taking the +life of another, either for money or in revenge, and then make a hero +of another man who wades "through slaughter to a throne, and shut the +doors of mercy on mankind." + +As in the case of the individual, the violation of the commandments +Thou Shall Not Covet, Thou Shalt Not Steal, and Thou Shalt Not Kill, +are usually traceable to the violation of the first great +commandment--Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me--that is, to the +putting of self before service of the Creator. + +The violation of these commandments by nations is not always, but +usually, due to selfishness--the putting of supposed material +advantages before obedience to the Divine Law. + +War is occasionally altruistic in purpose and the soldier always +exhibits unselfishness of high order, but, as a rule, conflicts are +waged for selfish ends. + +The individual finds that Jehovah's justice cannot be evaded; for +wrongdoing works its own punishment on the wrongdoer in the form of +perverted character when he escapes the penalties of human law. The +nation is as powerless to repeal or to ignore with impunity the laws +of God--"Though hand join in hand they shall not be unpunished." + +If I have made it clear that the doctrine that might makes right is +the most common cause of war, we may pass to the consideration of a +maxim quite sure to be applied in war, namely, that "like cures +like"--the theory upon which retaliation rests. + +The two are so closely allied that it is almost inevitable that those +who indorse the former will resort to the latter--one representing the +spirit of will, the other its most familiar manifestation. Rivalry for +rivalry in wrongdoing--a neck-and-neck race to the bottomless pit. And +yet there are many believers in the gospel of force, who have brought +themselves to think that cruelty can be cured by greater cruelty--that +the only way to win an antagonist away from inhuman acts is to surpass +him in inhumanities. Absurdity of absurdities! + +But might must find a pretext for arming itself; and what is the +pretext? There was a time when men openly advocated war as a thing to +be desired; commended it to each generation as a sort of tonic to tone +up the moral system and prevent degeneracy, but we have passed that +day. + +Now all join in the chorus for peace. And how, according to the +jingoes, shall peace be insured? "By preparedness," say these sons of +Mars. Prepare, all prepare; equip yourselves with the most modern +implements of destruction; arm, drill, get ready, and then stand with +fingers on a barrel of a musket and preserve peace--you preserve it +until some one, by accident or design, gives the signal--then all fall +upon each other with cries for blood. Preparedness is the kindling; +opportunity is the match. + +We dare not trust the peace of the world to those who spend their time +in getting ready for wars that should never come. Half the energy +employed in preparing for war would effectually prevent war if used in +propagating the principles which make for peace. + +Instead of preventing war, preparedness provokes war, because it is +impossible to coerce the people into bearing the burdens incident to +continuous and increasing preparation without cultivating hatred as if +it were a national virtue. There must be some one to fear; some other +preparing nation that must be represented as plotting for war. + +Hate sets up sham standards of honor and converts every wound into a +festering sore; hate misunderstands; hate misinterprets; hate maligns +its supposed adversary, while every contractor, battleship builder, +and manufacturer of munitions of war applauds. + +How can preparedness prevent war, if all prepared? Each step taken by +one nation toward more complete preparedness excites the other nations +to additional purchases and new levies, until all have exhausted their +productive industries and menaced their moral progress. + +The doctrine that preparedness will prevent war will not stand the +test of logic, and the conflagration in Europe shows that it fails +when tested by experience. + +If any nation is without excuse for entering into a mad rivalry with +the belligerent nations in preparation for war it is the United +States. We are protected on either side by thousands of miles of +ocean, and this protection is worth more to us than any number of +battleships. We have an additional protection in the fact--known to +every one--that we have the men with whom to form an army of defense +if we are ever attacked, and it is known also that we have the money, +too--more money than we would have if the surplus earnings of the +people had been invested in armament. We not only do not need +additional preparation, but we are fortunate in not having it, as now +it seems impossible for a nation to have what is called preparedness +on slight notification. + +The leading participants in the present war are the nations that were +best prepared, and I fear it would have been difficult for us to keep +out of this war if we had been as well prepared as they. + +Happily for our nation, we have in the White House at this time a +President who believes in setting the Old World an example instead of +following the bad example which it has set in this matter. What an +unspeakable misfortune it would have been if in such an hour as this +the nation had been under the leadership of a President inflamed by +the false philosophy which has plunged Europe into the abyss of war. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + +HOW TO END THE WAR. + +_The concluding argument of ex-Secretary Bryan for permanent peace +among the great powers was published on June 18, 1915. The statement +follows:_ + +Washington, June 18, 1915. + +Having considered the war as it is and the injury which it does +neutrals, and then the origin of the war and the causes which led up +to it, we are now ready to make inquiry as to the way out--that is, +the means by which hostilities can be brought to an end and permanent +peace restored. To state in a sentence the propositions which I shall +proceed to elaborate: Mediation is the means, provided by +international agreement, through which the belligerent nations can be +brought into conference; time for the investigation of all disputes is +the means by which future wars can be averted, and the cultivation of +international friendship is the means by which the desire for war can +be rooted out. + +What are the nations fighting about? No one seems to know, or if any +one does know, he has not taken the public into his confidence. We +have been told, in a general way, that the Allies are fighting against +"militarism" and in defense of "popular government," and that Germany +is fighting in defense of "German culture" and for the nation's right +to "a place in the sun." But these generalities are so differently +interpreted as not to convey a definite idea. When the President +offered mediation at the very beginning of the struggle the answers +which he received from the various rulers were so much alike that one +telegram might have served for all. The substance of each answer was, +"I did not want war and I am not to blame for the war that now +exists." But that was ten months ago; the question now is not whether +those in authority in the belligerent nations did or did not want war +then; we may accept their answers as given in good faith, but the +important question is still unanswered. "I did not want war" may have +been deemed sufficient at the time the answers were given, but the +real question is, "Do you want war now? If not, why not say so?" + +The months have dragged their bloody length along--each more terrible +than the month before--and yet the crimson line of battle sways to and +fro, each movement marked by dreadful loss of life. While warriors die +and widows weep, the sovereign rulers of the warring powers withhold +the word that would stop the war. No Chief of State has yet said, "I +do not want war." No one in authority has yet publicly declared his +willingness to state the terms upon which his nation is ready to +negotiate peace. Are not these dying men and these sorrowing women +entitled to know definitely for what their nation is fighting? Is it +territory? Then how much territory, and where is it located? Is it the +avenging of a wrong done? Then how much more blood must be spilled to +make atonement for the blood already shed? Some day accumulated +suffering will reach its limit; some day the pent-up anguish which +this war is causing will find a voice. Then, if not before, the rulers +in the war zone will pause to listen to the stern question, "Why do we +die?"--the question which shakes thrones and marks the furthermost +limits of arbitrary power. + +And is not the outside world entitled to know the price of peace? Must +the neutrals bear the penalties which war necessarily visits upon +them, and yet remain in ignorance as to the issues at stake? Their +trade is interrupted, their citizens are drowned, they are the victims +of stray bullets--have they no right to know what it is that, being +done, will draw down the curtain of this dark tragedy? Has any nation +a purpose for continuing this war which it does not dare to state to +the world, or even to its own people? + +Surely neither side thinks it can annihilate the other. Great nations +cannot be exterminated--population cannot be wiped out by the sword. +The combatants, even though the war may have made them heartless, will +shrink from the task of carrying this slaughter beyond the point +necessary to win a victory. And it must be remembered that war plans +often miscarry. Predictions made at the beginning of the war have not +been fulfilled. The British did not destroy the German fleet in a +month, and Germany did not take Paris in two months, and the Russian +Army did not eat Christmas dinner in Berlin. But even if extermination +were possible, it would be a crime against civilization which no +nation or group of nations could afford to commit. If it is vandalism +to destroy the finest specimens of man's workmanship, is it not +sacrilege to engage in the wholesale destruction of human beings--the +supreme example of God's handiwork? We may find cases of seeming total +depravity among individuals, but not in a nation or in a race. The +future has use for the peoples now at war; they have a necessary part +in that destiny which mankind must work out together regardless of +these ebullitions of anger. The Lord might have made all flowers of +one kind, of one color and alike in fragrance--but He did not. And +because He did not, the world is more beautiful. Variety, not +uniformity, is the law among men as well as among the flowers. The +nations which are actively participating in this war are what they are +because of struggles that have lasted for centuries. They differ in +language, in institutions, in race characteristics, and in national +history, but together they constitute a great living bouquet that is +of surpassing beauty. + +We may put aside, therefore, as wholly impracticable, if not +inconceivable, the thought that this war can continue until one side +has annihilated the other. What, then, can be the purpose? The +complete domination of Europe by one nation or group of nations? The +absurdity of such a plan is only second to the absurdity of the +thought that either side can annihilate the other. The world is not +looking for a master; the day of the despot is gone. The future will +be gloomy indeed if the smaller nations must pass under the yoke of +any power or combination of powers. The question is not who shall +dictate on land, or who shall dominate upon the sea. These questions +are not practical ones. The real question is, not how a few can lay +burdens upon the rest, but how all can work together as comrades and +brothers. + +Even if it were possible for one side to force the other side to its +knees in supplication, even if it were possible for one side to write +the terms of the treaty in blood and compel the other side to sign it, +face downward and prostrate on the ground, it could not afford to do +so; and unless the belligerents have read history to no purpose, they +will not desire to do so. Time and again some nation, boastful of its +strength, has thought itself invincible, but the ruins of these +mistaken and misguided nations line the pathway along which the masses +have marched to higher ground. Despotism has in it the seeds of death; +the spirit that leads a nation to aspire to a supremacy based on force +is the spirit that destroys its hope of immortality. Only those who +are unacquainted with the larger influences can place their sole +reliance on the weapons used in physical warfare. They see only the +things that are transient and ephemeral; they do not comprehend the +higher truth that "the things that are seen are temporal; the things +that are unseen are eternal." + +Christian nations need to read again Christ's prayer upon the Cross, +"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." All the +participants in this war have sinned enough to make them anxious to +exhibit that forgiving spirit which is the measure of the forgiveness +which can be claimed. + +When can peace be restored? Any time--now, if the participants are +really weary of this war and ready for it to end. If any nation is not +ready, let its ruler state in clear, distinct, and definite terms the +conditions upon which it is willing to agree to peace; then if an +agreement is not reached the blame for the continuance of the war will +be upon those who make unreasonable demands. + +What can be done by the advocates of peace? First, they can +crystallize the sentiment in favor of peace into a coercive force, for +public opinion at last controls the world. There is a work which the +neutrals can do; they can offer mediation, jointly or severally. It is +not an act of hostility, but an act of friendship. The Hague +Convention, to which all the Governments are parties, expressly +declares that the offer of mediation shall not be considered an +unfriendly act. The duty of offering mediation may seem to rest +primarily upon the United States, the largest of the neutral nations, +and the one most intimately bound by ties of blood to all the +belligerents. The United States did make an offer immediately after +the war began. But why not again and again and again, until our offer +or some other offer is accepted? Why not stand at the door and knock, +as we would at the door of a friend if we felt that the friend was in +need and that we could render a service? + +But our action or failure to act need not deter any other neutral +country from acting. This is not a time to stand on ceremony; if +any other country, for any reason, no matter what that reason may be, +is in a better position than we to tender its good offices, it should +not delay for a moment. It is for the belligerents to decide which +offer, if any, they will accept. I am sure they will not complain if, +following the promptings of our hearts, we beseech them to let us help +them back to the paths of peace. + +Will they object on the ground that they will not consent to any peace +until they have assurances that it will be a permanent peace? That +suggestion has been made--I think both sides have expressed a desire +that the peace, when secured, shall be permanent--but who can give a +pledge as to the future? If fear that the peace may not be permanent +is given as the reason for refusal it is not a sufficient reason. +While no one can stand surety for what may come, it is not difficult +to adopt measures which will give far greater assurance of permanent +peace than the world has ever known before. + +Second--The treaty in which they join should provide for investigation +by a permanent international commission of every dispute that may +arise, no matter what its character or nature. The United States has +already made thirty treaties embodying this principle, and these +thirty treaties link our country to nearly three-quarters of all the +inhabitants of the world. We have such a treaty in force between the +United States and four of the countries now at war--Great Britain, +France, Russia, and Italy. The principle of this treaty has been +accepted by three other belligerents--Germany, Austria, and +Belgium--although treaties with these nations have not yet been +negotiated. These seven warring nations have indorsed the principle +embodied in these treaties, namely, that there shall be no declaration +of war or commencement of hostilities until the subject in dispute has +been investigated by an international commission. Why cannot they +apply the principle as between themselves? What cause of war is of +such magnitude that nations can afford to commence shooting at each +other before the cause is investigated? A treaty such as those which +now protect the peace of the United States would give a year's time +for investigation and report, and who doubts that a year's time would +be sufficient to reach an amicable settlement of almost every +difficulty? + +Does any one suppose that the present war would have been begun if a +year's time had been taken to investigate the dispute between Austria +and Serbia? It will be remembered that Serbia had only twenty-four +hours in which to reply, and it will also be remembered that during +this brief time the rulers of the Old World endeavored to find a means +of preventing war. If they had only had some machinery which they +could have employed to avert war, how gladly would they have availed +themselves of it! The machinery provided by treaty can be resorted to +with honor--yes, with honor--no matter how high a sense of honor the +nation has. The trouble has been that, while the nations were +abundantly provided with machinery for conducting war, they possessed +no machinery for the promotion of peace. A year's time allows passion +to subside and reason to resume its sway. It allows man to act when he +is calm instead of having to act when he is angry. When a man is angry +he swaggers around and talks about what he can do, and he often +overestimates his strength; when he is calm he considers what he ought +to do. When he is angry he hears the rumbling of earthquakes and the +sweep of the hurricane; when he is calm he listens to the still small +voice of conscience. + +Third--While the period of investigation provided for in our treaties +will go far toward preventing war, still even a year's deliberation +does not give complete protection. In order to secure the +investigation of all questions without exception it was necessary to +reserve to the contracting parties liberty of action at the conclusion +of the investigation. War is thus reduced from a probability to a mere +possibility, and this is an immeasurable advance; but the assurance of +permanent peace cannot be given until the desire for war is +eradicated from the human heart. Compulsory periods of investigation +supply the machinery by which nations can maintain peace with honor if +they so desire; but the final work of the advocates of peace is +educational--it is the cultivation of the spirit of brotherhood +condensed into the commandment "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as +thyself." Is it impossible to imagine a civilization in which +greatness will be measured by service and in which the rivalry will be +a rivalry in doing good? No one doubts that the lot of each member of +society would be infinitely better under such conditions; why not +strive to bring about such conditions? Is it visionary to hope and +labor for this end? "Where there is no vision the people perish." It +is a "death grapple in the darkness 'twixt old systems and the Word." +The old system has broken down; it can let loose the furies, but it +cannot bind them; it is impotent to save. The question is not whether +the Word will triumph--that is certain--but when? And after what +sufferings? + +Thomas Carlyle, his voice rising clear and strong above the babble of +Mammon, asked, in the closing chapters of his French Revolution: + +"Hast thou considered how Thought is stronger than Artillery Parks, +and (were it fifty years after death and martyrdom, or were it two +thousand years) writes and unwrites Acts of Parliament, removes +mountains, models the World like soft clay? Also how the beginning of +all Thought worth the name is Love." + +The truth which he uttered is still truth, and no matter who uttered +it, the thought is the thought of Him who spake as never man spake; +who was described in prophecy as the Prince of Peace; whose coming was +greeted with the song of "Peace on earth; good-will to men," and whose +teachings, when applied, will usher in the enduring peace of a +universal brotherhood. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + + + +Bryan, Idealist and Average Man + +By Charles Willis Thompson + + The subjoined estimate of William J. Bryan's character and + public career, which appeared in THE NEW YORK TIMES of June + 9, 1915, is by the hand of one of its staff writers who has + specialized in American national politics. + + +The plain man of the prairie became Secretary of State when William J. +Bryan did; the prairie then entered diplomacy, international +controversy. The secret of all that has puzzled the land in his +behavior lies in that fact. His hold on the West lies in the fact that +he is in himself the average man of that country, with that man's +ideals, aspirations, defects, and drawbacks. There seems nothing +strange or funny in a Secretary of State who goes to New York and +signs temperance pledges, or holds Billy Sunday's platform in +Philadelphia, when you get a few miles away from the cities; and if it +seems a little queer to New York to find the Secretary of State +undertaking to demolish the Darwinian theory, there are plenty of +regions where the Darwinian theory is regarded as a device of the +devil to upset the Mosaic cosmogony. Chesterton says that Dickens +never wrote down to the mob, because he was himself the mob; and Bryan +never talked down to the men of the prairie for the same reason. + +He is not a man of culture, nor of reading. He has been around the +world, but when he came back the books and articles he wrote were such +as might have been published as guide books or in encyclopedias; he +could have written them without leaving home. Travel had no +broadening or polishing effect upon his mind. + +The vast influence he still has is due to the fact that the common +man, with all his mistakes and gaucheries, speaks in him, and that +when the common man hears his own thoughts spoken in Bryan's voice he +knows that the accent is sincere. Bryan may have taken up this or that +particular issue because it sounded like a vote-maker, but none of +them represented the least divergence from his course as a whole, +which has always been honestly bent in a certain plain direction. He +never hesitated to be in a minority and never dodged a fight. He is an +innocent theorist, who frequently goes wrong because of the simplicity +of his mental processes; but he acts upon his theories, right or +wrong, with an intrepidity and a whole-hearted courage in which the +ordinary man sees the qualities he himself would like to have, and +dreams he has. His mind is not broad, but it is strong; he is always +sure he is right, and always ready to fight for his beliefs, and he +keeps his hold upon his followers because he is not below them, and +not much above them, and because they know he is honest and sincere. + +In 1906, the Democratic Party, picking itself out of the wreckage of +Parker's defeat, was yearning to reunite. "Big business," assaulted +and bruised and banged about by President Roosevelt, was ready to come +into line. Roosevelt or his candidate could be defeated in 1908 only +by Democratic harmony. Bryan was abroad, traveling, and somehow his +distant figure looked less appalling than the near-by figure in the +White House. The East did not ask him to recant his radicalism, but +only not to talk about it. He arrived in New York, and business went +to hear him make a harmony speech. If he made it, business would +support him for President. He made the speech; he declared for +Government ownership of railroads. Business, roaring with pain, fell +back into the Republican arms, and Bryan was defeated for President. +No, Bryan is not an opportunist--not in things that really matter. + +William Bayard Hale once accurately described him as "essentially a +preacher, a high-class exhorter, a glorified circuit rider." There are +vast spaces of our country still populated by men and women of the +old-fashioned kind; Chesterton describes them as "full of stale +culture and ancestral simplicity." They are the descendants of the +Puritans--intellectually, at any rate--they look askance on cards, +dancing, and the stage; they are the kind of folks who peopled the +Mississippi Valley in Lincoln's day and Massachusetts in John +Hancock's. Bryan does not talk down to that type for votes; he is that +type. Colonel George Harvey, with sarcastic intent, alleged that Bryan +became a white-ribboner after hearing a little girl recite "The Lips +That Touch Liquor Shall Never Touch Mine." There are regions which +would accept that parable as Gospel truth, and much to Bryan's credit. + +Salem, Ill., is a little town which fairly shrieks at you its +pre-eminence as a picture of that type. As you pass through its +orderly little streets, with its little frame houses, all of the same +kind and all neat and unassuming, with its dirt roads and its typical +Town Hall, set correctly back behind a correct little patch of grass +in a neat square, you feel instinctively that the Darwinian theory +must be avoided in your Salem conversation. You know at once that the +same families have lived there for generations. So they have; one of +them was Bryan's, and he was born there on March 19, 1860. + +Of course, he was the valedictorian of his class--Illinois College, +1881. Of course, he became a lawyer; and, of course, in the Middle +West, that involved politics. He lived now in Lincoln, Neb., in a +Republican district, but he was a Democrat. There was a landslide in +1890. The whole country went Democratic, and many a forlorn hope +leader in some hide-bound Republican district was swept into Congress, +Bryan among them. He made a great speech on the tariff, which won him +instantly a national reputation; but Lincoln had recovered its +Republican poise, and he did not go back to Congress. He added to his +reputation in his own State, however, as editor of its chief +Democratic organ, The Omaha World-Herald, and went to Chicago as the +head of its delegation to the National Convention of 1896. + +At a moment when David B. Hill's masterly presentation of the +gold-standard case and Tillman's failure in his effort at rejoinder +had thrown a wet blanket over the silverites, Bryan came forward with +his "Cross of Gold" speech. The cheering delegations carried him +around the hall on their shoulders. None of the candidates before the +convention was dominating or really of Presidential size; the +convention was deadlocked for many ballots, and at last it turned to +Bryan and nominated him. + +His defeat by McKinley really marked the beginning of his career as a +national leader. Despite the accident which had made him the +Democracy's nominal leader, he demonstrated that he was the ablest of +the radicals into whose hands it had fallen, and his nominal +chieftainship became a real one. It was evident from the beginning +that he would be renominated in 1900. When the Spanish war broke out +he offered his services and became Colonel of the Third Nebraska +Regiment. The Republican Administration was taking no chances on his +getting any military glory, and it marooned him in Florida till after +the war. He returned good for evil by going to Washington, uniform and +all, and dragooning reluctant Democratic Senators into voting for the +treaty with Spain whereby we acquired the Philippines. This was one of +his incidental opportunisms; he believed it would give the Democrats a +winning issue, that of imperialism. The cast of Bryan's mind is such +that he always gets his winning issues on wrong end foremost; it gave +the Republicans a winning issue, that of imperialism. + +Bryan went down to defeat again in 1900, on this new issue, and as +usual epitaphs were written over his political grave. It is a favorite +parlor game; but Bryan never stays dead, because there is something +enduring in him. What is it? That same spokesmanship for the average +man of many regions, the man of the little parlor with the melodeon or +parlor organ, the plush-bound photograph album and the "History of the +San Francisco Earthquake" bought by subscription from a book agent, +and the grandfather's clock in the corner of the hall. + +But in 1904 the Democratic leaders, tired of defeat, turned +desperately to the opposite wing of the party. The radical leaders, +really opportunists, forswore or hid their convictions for the sake of +victory, tried to teach their unskillful tongues the language of +conservatism, and joined in with the conservatives in the nomination +of Parker. But Bryan did not yield; he forswore nothing, hid nothing, +and he fought a lonely fight, the bravest of his life. + +His fight was of one man against a multitude. Alone, he had to be +everywhere; he was in the Committee on Resolutions, in the Committee +on Credentials, on the floor of the convention, speaking, fighting, +working, twenty hours a day. He had no one to help him; all his +fellows were on the other side, strangling their convictions and +fighting against him. He was insulted on the platform, even by +fellow-radicals; he was elbowed aside and snarled at by men who had +been more radical than himself; attempts were made to deny him a +hearing. Nothing could daunt him or perturb him; he fought on until +Parker was nominated, went to his hotel at dawn as the convention +adjourned, and fell into his bed in utter collapse. A doctor was +summoned, who said that Bryan must instantly give up all work and +undergo treatment. + +That evening the news came that Parker had refused to run unless the +word "gold" was written into the platform; the convention was thrown +into panic; the sick man rose from his bed and entered the wild and +turbulent hall, white-faced, breathing with difficulty, sweat pouring +down his face, and there took up the work again, single-handed still. +He fought on all night, was defeated again, and went under the +doctor's hands. Those speeches in that convention were really the +greatest of his life, though they may not read as well as others; +each of them was a battle. + +Parker's defeat by Roosevelt again erased that ever-recurring epitaph +over Bryan's political grave. It was evident at once that nothing +could prevent him from being again the candidate in 1908. Again he was +defeated, and again the epitaph was jubilantly rewritten. He was +extinguished, he would never again be an influence in the party; it +was, to use the phrase of 1896, 1900, and 1904, "the end of Bryan." + +Again the epitaph had to be erased. He was so far from being +extinguished that he became the dominating force of the convention of +1912. There is no doubt in the mind of the writer, who was there, that +Bryan had given up all hope of running for President, because, as he +expressed it in a thrilling midnight speech at that convention, he +recognized at last that he had too many enemies ever to expect to win. +But he did determine to be a king-maker if he could not be a king, and +king-maker he was. + +Not even the convention of 1904 showed Bryan in better light as a +fighter than that of 1912. He was determined that the reactionaries +should not control the convention. At the beginning he was defeated, +but defeat never affected Bryan in the least in all his life, and this +time, as usual, he only went on fighting. When the convention rejected +him for Temporary Chairman and elected Parker, the embodiment of all +he opposed, he merely took a fresh hold and fought harder. + +When he swung Nebraska from Champ Clark to Wilson he had won, and +thereafter Wilson's nomination was only a question of time. He was the +centre of violent scenes, as when maddened men swept down upon him and +shook their standards in his face and seemed on the verge of +assaulting him. When he tried to get a hearing and the opposition +shouted him down, he simply climbed up on the platform beside the +Chairman and forced them to hear. Once, while the whole convention +seemed to be yelling at him, and he stood in the midst of a whirlwind +of angry noise, ex-Governor McCorkle of West Virginia, jumping up and +facing him, shrieked in a voice heard above the cyclone: "Are you a +Democrat?" + +"My Democracy has been certified to by six and a half million voters. +But," pointing his palm-leaf fan at McCorkle, with magnificent +contempt, "I will ask the secretary to record one vote in the negative +if the gentleman will give me his name." + +He won; Wilson was nominated. He brought his great following into line +for an Eastern man, and Wilson was elected. The new President, +following a precedent set by Taylor, Garfield, and Harrison, made him +Secretary of State. + +Then Bryan showed a new side of his character to the country. He +effaced himself in Wilson's interest; he became a loyal subordinate, +accepting a minor place cheerfully and laboring with might and main to +make the Administration a success. It is chiefly due to his efforts +that it was one for its first two years. The new President was unknown +to most of his party, and the legislation he recommended would have +met with internal opposition but for Bryan. The Secretary whipped his +followers into line even for legislation so repugnant to them as the +Currency bill, and the Presidential program went through. In two years +Mr. Wilson had become a definite personality to the country, and had a +following of his own; but his initial success was due to Bryan, and +but for Bryan Mr. Wilson might have had to face a party as divided as +did Cleveland, and might have seen his Administration wrecked as +Cleveland's was. + +Mr. Bryan hoped to make an enduring name for himself as Secretary of +State. In the years that had elapsed since he was Colonel of the Third +Nebraska he had become an ardent pacifist, and he dreamed of going +into history with a title greater than that of any other statesman who +ever lived--for such, surely, would have been the meed of the man who +abolished war. That mind of his, honest as the day, but far from +great; strong but not broad, sees everything as simple, not as +complex. Is there a wrong? Why, then, abolish it; it is as simple as +A B C. War is wrong; therefore let us stop it. How? Why, get everybody +to agree not to fight without taking a year to look into the thing. +And he busied himself drafting and negotiating treaties with all the +world to get it to agree to this simple but certain remedy. The +"glorified circuit rider" was at the head of the Department of State +of the United States. If anybody had suggested to him that there were +nations which no treaty could bind, he would have answered, in the +style of the prayer-meeting exhorter, "Ah! I have a higher faith in +human nature." So he worked busily, building himself his niche in the +temple of fame, and meanwhile the greatest war in history broke out. + +With such a mind as has been described, it is evident that this event +could not shake Mr. Bryan's confidence in himself or his remedies. To +him it was obvious that the war came because the nations involved had +not signed his treaty; if they had, Germany would have abided by it; +would not have dreamed of treating it as a scrap of paper; would have +waited the prescribed year, and Austria would have given Serbia the +same time to reply to her ultimatum. The mischief was done, but he set +about heroically to repair it; he sought to have the United States +intervene as a peacemaker; he sought to prevent the United States +from protecting its citizens on the high seas, since that seemed +likely to lead to war; and at last, finding his efforts of no avail, +he resigned. + +No one who had seen him in his unequal fights for his principles on +less momentous occasions could doubt that he would fight for them to +the end on this greatest one. There is no parallel to his action in +American history. So far as its political aspects are concerned, the +nearest thing to it is Blaine's resignation from Harrison's Cabinet in +1892; but that only faintly resembles it. Blaine did not resign +because of any difference in principles, but because he wanted to +fight the Administration; and the superficial resemblance lies only in +the similarity of the relations of the two Presidents to their +Secretaries of State. + +Bryan leaves the Cabinet saddened, but not disillusioned. When he had +been Secretary of State two months he said that he would not have +taken office "if I thought there was to be a war during my tenure." "I +believe," he added, "there will be no war while I am Secretary of +State, and I believe there will be no war so long as I live." It has +not come out that way; it might have so easily come out that way if +only Germany had signed that treaty of his! But he is not +disillusioned; nothing can disillusion him; his ideal is still only a +day or two ahead of him, and he resigns to fight for it, since fight +for it in the Cabinet he cannot any longer. + + + + +In the Name of Peace. + +By LAVINIA V. WHITNEY. + +(After Kipling.) + + + When the last of the soldiers has fallen, and the cannons lie twisted + aside, + When the last of all homes has been ruined, and the heart of the + youngest girl bride, + We shall wake from our terrible madness, and pause for an eon or two, + Till the Master of all the good soldiers shall call us to battle anew. + + Then those that were brave shall be braver--they shall love with a + love more fair; + They shall hear, o'er a worldwide battlefield, the Voice of their God + in the air; + They shall have the real saints for their comrades--Magdalene, Peter, + and Paul; + They shall fight unembittered, and never again shall be weary at all. + + And only the Master shall praise us, for only the Master shall lead; + And no one shall fight for his country, and none for his honor or + creed; + But each for the Master Who loves him, and Teuton and Briton and all + Shall fight, each the cause of the other, for the God of the Love of + us All! + + + + +A World League to Enforce Peace + +By William Howard Taft, ex-President of the United States. + + President Wilson on June 15 denied the statement, cabled + from Europe, that the United States was the only great + neutral Government that had not encouraged the movement + among neutral nations looking to a conference of neutrals to + end the European conflict. To this Government, said the + President, answering a direct inquiry, had been given no + more opportunity than everybody knew in furthering a neutral + movement for peace. He stated that this Government had + supported everything of the sort as far as it could + legitimately. It had done everything that was for peace and + accommodation, he added. But the great drawback has been + that none of the warring Governments has directly, that is + officially, indicated that it would respond sympathetically + to any suggestion that it become a party to a movement to + end the war. The idea of a league of neutral nations, having + for its object a concerted effort to bring about peace, is + reported to be in the back of the President's mind, and + members of the Cabinet have given some thought to the + suggestion, which might contemplate the firm maintenance of + neutral rights if peace could not be obtained, but the + situation has not developed to a point where the American + Government is ready to make a definite move. + + Meanwhile, as the outgrowth of a series of meetings held in + the Century Club, New York, terminating in a call for a + conference signed by a National Provisional Committee of 109 + members headed by ex-President Taft, an organization known + as the League to Enforce Peace, American Branch, was formed + on June 17, 1915, in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. The + purpose of the conference was explained by Mr. Taft in his + address as President, which appears in full below. + + +My fellow-seekers after peace, we thank you for your cordial greeting. +In calling this meeting my associates and I have not been unaware that +we might be likened to the tailors of Tooley Street, who mistook +themselves for the people of England. We wish first to say that we do +not represent anybody but ourselves. We are not national legislators, +nor do we control the foreign policy of this Government. A number of +us were invited to dinner at the Century Club (New York) by four +generous hosts, who were deeply interested in devising a plan for an +international agreement by which, when this present war shall cease, a +recurrence of such a war will be made less probable. + +We are not here to suggest a means of bringing this war to an end; +much as that is to be desired and much as we would be willing to do to +obtain peace, that is not within the project of the present meeting. + +We hope and pray for peace, and our hope of its coming in the near +future is sufficient to make us think that the present is a good time +to discuss and formulate a series of proposals to which the assent of +a number of the great powers could be secured. _We think a League of +Peace could be formed that would enable nations to avoid war by +furnishing a practical means of settling international quarrels, or +suspending them until the blinding heat of passion had cooled._ + +When the World Conference is held our country will have its official +representatives to speak for us. "We, Tailors of Tooley Street," will +not be there, but if, in our sartorial leisure, we shall have +discussed and framed a practical plan for a league of peace, our +official representatives will be aided and may in their discretion +accept it and present it to the conference as their own. + +There are Tooley Streets in every nation today and the minds of +earnest men are being stirred with the same thought and the same +purpose. We have heard from them through various channels. The +denizens of those Tooley Streets will have their influence upon their +respective official representatives. No man can measure the effect +upon the peoples of the belligerent countries and upon the peoples of +the neutral countries--the horrors and exhaustion that this +unprecedented war is going to have. It is certain they all will look +with much more favorable eye to leagues for the preservation of peace +than ever before. + +_In no war has the direct interest that neutrals have in preventing a +war between neighbors been so closely made known._ + +This interest of neutrals has been so forced upon them that it would +require only a slight development and growth in the law of +international relations to develop that interest into a right to be +consulted before such a war among neighbors can be begun. This step we +hope to have taken by the formation of a Peace League of the Great +Powers, whose primary and fundamental principle shall be that no war +can take place between any two members of the league until they have +resorted to the machinery that the league proposes to furnish to +settle the controversy likely to lead to war. + +If any member refuses to use this machinery and attacks another member +of the league in breach of his league obligation, all members of the +league agree to defend the members attacked by force. + +We do not think the ultimate resort to force can be safely omitted +from an effective League of Peace. We sincerely hope that it may never +become necessary, and that the deterrent effect of its inevitable use +in case of a breach of the league obligation will help materially to +give sanction to the laws of the league and to render a resort to +force avoidable. + +We are not peace-at-any-price men, because we do not think we have +reached the time when a plan based on the complete abolition of war is +impracticable. So long as nations partake of the frailties of men who +compose them, war is a possibility, and that possibility should not be +ignored in any League of Peace that is to be useful. We do not think +it necessary to call peace-at-any-price men cowards or apply other +epithets to them. We have known in history the most noble characters +who adhered to such a view and yet whose physical and moral courage is +a heritage of mankind. + +To those who differ with us in our view of the necessity for this +feature of possible force in our plan, we say we respect your +attitude. We admit your claim to sincere patriotism to be as just as +ours. We do not ascribe your desire to avoid war to be a fear of death +to yourselves or your sons; but rather to your sense of the horrors, +injustice, and ineffectiveness of settling any international issue by +such a brutal arbitrament. Nevertheless, we differ with you in +judgment that, in the world of nations as they are, war can be +completely avoided. + +_We believe it is still necessary to use a threat of overwhelming +force of a great league with a willingness to make the threat good in +order to frighten nations into a use of rational and peaceful means to +settle their issues with their associates of the league._ Nor are we +militarists or jingoes. We are trying to follow a middle path. + +Now what is the machinery, a resort to which we wish to force an +intending belligerent of the league--it consists of two tribunals, to +one of which every issue must be submitted. Issues between nations are +of two classes: + +First--Issues that can be decided on principles of international law +and equity, called justiciable. + +Second--Issues that cannot be decided on such principles of law and +equity, but which might be quite as irritating and provocative of war, +called non-justiciable. + +The questions of the Alaskan boundary, of the Bering Sea seal fishing, +and of the Alabama Claims were justiciable issues that could be +settled by a court, exactly as the Supreme Court would settle claims +between States. The questions whether the Japanese should be +naturalized, whether all American citizens should be admitted to +Russia as merchants without regard to religious faith, are capable of +causing great irritation against the nation denying the privilege, and +yet such nations, in the absence of a treaty on the subject, are +completely within their international right, and the real essence of +the trouble cannot be aided by a resort to a court. The trouble is +non-justiciable. + +_We propose that for justiciable questions we shall have an impartial +court to which all questions arising between members of the league +shall be submitted._ If the court finds the question justiciable, it +shall decide it. If it does not, it shall refer it to a Commission of +Conciliation to investigate, confer, hear argument, and recommend a +compromise. + +We do not propose to enforce compliance either with the court's +judgment or the Conciliation Commission's recommendations. We feel +that we ought not to attempt too much--we believe that the forced +submission and the truce taken to investigate the judicial decision or +the conciliatory compromise recommended will form a material +inducement to peace. It will cool the heat of passion, and will give +the men of peace in each nation time to still the jingoes. + +The League of Peace will furnish a great opportunity for more definite +formulation of the principles of international law. The arbitral court +will amplify it and enrich it in their application of its general +principles to particular cases. They will create a body of Judge-made +law of the highest value. Then the existence of the league will lead +to ever-recurring congresses of the league, which, acting in a +quasi-legislative capacity, may widen the scope of international law +in a way that a court may not feel able or competent to do. + +This is our plan. It is not so complicated--at least, in statement. In +its practical application difficulties now unforeseen may arise, but +we believe it offers a working hypothesis upon which a successful +arrangement can be made. + +We are greeted first by the objection that no treaties can prevent +war. We are not called upon to deny this in order to justify or +vindicate our proposals as useful. We realize that nations sometimes +are utterly immoral in breaking treaties and shamelessly bold in +avowing their right to do so on the ground of necessity; but this is +not always the case. We cannot give up treaties because sometimes they +are broken any more than we can give up commercial contracts because +men sometimes dishonor themselves in breaking them. We decline to +assume that all nations always are dishonorable, or that a solemn +treaty obligation will not have some deterrent effect upon a nation +that has plighted its faith to prevent its breach. _When we add to +this the sanction of an agreement by a number of powerful nations to +enforce the obligation of the recalcitrant and faithless member, we +think we have a treaty that is much more than a "scrap of paper"--and +we base our faith in this on a common-sense view of human nature._ + +It is objected that we propose only to include the more powerful +nations. We'll gladly include them all. But we don't propose to have +the constitution of our court complicated by a demand for equal +representation of the many smaller nations. We believe that when we +have a league of larger powers the smaller powers will be glad to come +in and enjoy the protection that the league will afford against the +unjust aggression of the strong against the weak. + +It is suggested that we invite a conference of neutral nations to +bring about measures for present peace and to formulate demands as to +the protection of neutral rights. This may be a good plan, but, as +Kipling says, that is another story. + + + + +The League to Enforce Peace + +Personnel and Text of the Resolutions Adopted + + +RESOLUTIONS. + +[Adopted in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, June 17, 1915.] + + Throughout 5,000 years of recorded history, peace, here and + there established, has been kept, and its area has been + widened, in one way only. Individuals have combined their + efforts to suppress violence in the local community. + Communities have co-operated to maintain the authoritative + state and to preserve peace within its borders. States have + formed leagues or confederations or have otherwise + co-operated to establish peace among themselves. Always + peace has been made and kept, when made and kept at all, by + the superior power of superior numbers acting in unity for + the common good. + + Mindful of this teaching of experience, we believe and + solemnly urge that the time has come to devise and to create + a working union of sovereign nations to establish peace + among themselves and to guarantee it by all known and + available sanctions at their command, to the end that + civilization may be conserved, and the progress of mankind + in comfort, enlightenment, and happiness may continue. + + We, therefore, believe it to be desirable for the United + States to join a league of nations binding the signatories + to the following: + + 1. All justiciable questions arising between the signatory + powers, not settled by negotiations, shall, subject to the + limitations of treaties, be submitted to a judicial tribunal + for hearing and judgment, both upon the merits and upon any + issue as to its jurisdiction of the question. + + 2. All other questions arising between the signatories and + not settled by negotiation shall be submitted to a Council + of Conciliation for hearing, consideration, and + recommendation. + + 3. The signatory powers shall jointly use forthwith both + their economic and military forces against any one of their + number that goes to war, or commits acts of hostility, + against another of the signatories before any question + arising shall be submitted as provided in the foregoing. + + 4. Conferences between the signatory powers shall be held + from time to time to formulate and codify rules of + international law, which, unless some signatory shall + signify its dissent within a stated period, shall thereafter + govern the decision of the judicial tribunal mentioned in + Article 1. + +There were half a dozen brief speeches in favor of the report. John +Wanamaker did not think the report went far enough. He had hoped the +conference would send out a message to the warring nations that would +make them pause and think. He could not help but favor the report, he +added, but felt that it, standing alone without any further action, +would be laughed at by those on the other side of the Atlantic. + +It is expected the Executive Committee will meet in the near future to +adopt plans to carry out the objects of the league. One of the things +that probably will be done, according to members of the Executive +Committee, will be to start a propaganda in this country with a view +to having the United States Senate adopt measures in line with the +object of the league. Mr. Taft said today that, judging by its action +in rejecting treaties in the past, the chief stumbling block to the +aspirations of the league would be the Senate. Steps will also be +taken to get European countries interested in the league. + + +ORGANIZATION. + +President. + +William Howard Taft. + + +Vice Presidents. + +Lyman Abbott, +Edwin A. Alderman, +A. Graham Bell, +R. Blankenburg, +Charles R. Brown, +Francis E. Clark, +John H. Finley, +W.D. Foulke, +James Cardinal Gibbons, +W. Gladden, +George Gray, +Myron T. Herrick, +John G. Hibben, +George C. Holt, +D.P. Kingsley, +S.W. McCall, +J.B. McCreary, +Victor H. Metcalf, +John Mitchell, +John B. Moore, +Alton B. Parker, +George H. Prouty, +Jacob H. Schiff, +John C. Schaffer, +Robert Sharp, +Edgar F. Smith, +C.R. Van Hise, +B.I. Wheeler, +Harry A. Wheeler, +Andrew D. White, +W.A. White, +George G. Wilson, +Luther B. Wilson, +Oliver Wilson, +Stephen S. Wise, +T.S. Woolsey, +James L. Slayden, +David H. Greer, +Bernard N. Baker, +Victor L. Berger, +Edward Bok, +Arthur J. Brown, +Edward O. Browne, +R. Fulton Cutting, +John F. Fort, +A.W. Harris, +L.L. Hobbs, +George H. Lorimer, +Edgar O. Lovett, +S.B. McCormick, +Martin B. Madden, +Charles Nagel, +George A. Plimpton, +Isaac Sharpless, +William F. Slocum, +Dan Smiley, +F.H. Strawbridge, +Joseph Swain, +Edwin Warfield, +H. St. G. Tucker. + + +Executive Committee. + +W.H. Mann, +John B. Clark, +J.M. Dickinson, +Austen G. Fox, +Henry C. Morris, +Leo S. Rowe, +Oscar S. Straus, +Thomas R. White, +Hamilton Holt, +Theodore Marburg, +W.B. Howland, +John H. Hammond, +W.H. Short, +A.L. Lowell, +John A. Stewart, +William H. Taft. + + + + +German-American Dissent + +By Hugo Muensterberg. + + The subjoined letter from Hugo Muensterberg, Professor of + Psychology at Harvard University, is addressed to Augustus + J. Cadwalader, Secretary of the National Provisional + Committee for the League to Enforce Peace. + + +Clifton, Mass., June 9, 1915. + +Dear Sir: I beg to express my thanks for the courtesy of the +invitation to attend the conference of the League of Peace in +Independence Hall under the Presidency of the Hon. W.H. Taft. I feel +myself, of course, in deepest sympathy with the spirit of justice and +peacefulness which has suggested the foundation of such a league. +Nevertheless, I beg to be excused from attendance, as I am convinced +that this time of international excitement and prejudice is unfit for +the crystallization of new forms for the common life of the nations. + +I venture, however, to add that I feel in any case grave doubts of the +value of any plans which aim to secure future peace by the traditional +type of agreements and treaties. We live in the midst of a war in +which one belligerent nation after another has felt obliged to +disregard treaties and to interpret agreements in a one sided way. +Only yesterday Italy, without any reason of vital necessity, annulled +an agreement and a treaty which had appeared the firmest in European +politics, and which yet failed in the first hour of clashing +interests. A psychologist has no right to expect that the national +temper of the future will be different. + +Moreover, the Supreme Court of the United States has sanctioned the +idea, which is shared practically by all nations, that treaties are no +longer binding when a situation has changed so that the fulfillment of +the agreement would be against the vital interests of the nation. We +have learned during the last ten months how easily such disburdening +changes can be discovered as soon as the national passions are +awakened. + +The new plan depends upon only one new feature by which the mutual +agreement is to be fortified against the demands of national +excitement. The plan of the League of Peace promises the joint use of +military forces in case that one nation is unwilling to yield. But the +world witnesses today the clear proof that even the greatest +combination of fighting forces may be unable to subdue by mere number +a nation which is ready to make any sacrifice for its convictions. One +hundred and fifty millions are attacked by eight hundred and fifty +millions, by joint forces from five continents, which moreover are +backed by the economic forces of the richest country in the world; and +yet after ten months of fighting one million prisoners, but no other +hostile soldiers, stand on German soil. After this practical example +the plan merely to join the military forces will less than ever appear +a convincing argument in an hour in which a nation feels its existence +or its honor threatened. For a long time we heard the claim that the +Socialists and the bankers would now make great wars impossible; both +prophecies have failed. The threat that the warring nation will have +to face the world in arms will be no less futile. But the failure in +this case will be disastrous, as the terms of such an agreement would +draw many nations into the whirlpool which would have no reason of +their own for entering the war. + +The interests of strong growing nations will lead in the future as in +the past to conflicts in which both sides are morally in the right and +in which one must yield. We have no right to hope that after this war +the nations will be more willing to give up their chances in such +conflicts without having appealed to force. On the contrary, the world +has now become accustomed to war and will therefore more easily return +to the trenches. The break between England and Russia and finally the +threatening cloud of world conflict between Occident and Orient can +already be seen on the horizon; the battles of today may be only the +preamble. In such tremendous hours the new-fashioned agreements would +be cobwebs which surely could not bind the arms of any energetic +nation. + +But, worst of all, they would not only be ineffective--they would +awake a treacherous confidence. The nations would deceive themselves +with a feeling of safety, while all true protection would be lacking. +The first step forward toward our common goal must be to learn the two +lessons of the war of today and to face them unflinchingly; mere +agreements do not and can not bind any nation on the globe in an hour +of vital need, and the mere joining of forces widens and protracts a +war, but does not hinder it. We must learn that success for peace +endeavors can be secured only from efforts to avert war which are +fundamentally different from the old patterns of pledges and threats. +These old means were negative; we need positive ones. + +If a psychologist can contribute anything to the progress of mankind, +he must, first of all, offer the advice not to rely on plans by which +the attention is focused on the disasters which are to be avoided. +Education by forbidding the wrong action instead of awaking the +impulses toward the right one is as unpromising for peoples as it is +for individuals. We must truly build up from within. But a time in +which the war news of every hour appeals to sympathies and antipathies +is hardly the time to begin this sacred work, which alone could bring +us the blessed age of our vision, the United States of the World. + +HUGO MUENSTERBERG. + + + + +Chant of Loyalty. + +By ELIAS LIEBERMAN. + + + Firm as the furnace heat + Rivets the bars of steel, + Thus to thy destiny, + Flag, are we plighted; + One are the hearts that beat, + One is the throb we feel, + One in our loyalty, + Stand we united. + + Many a folk have brought + Sinew and brawn to thee; + Many an ancient wrong + Well hast thou righted; + Here in the land we sought, + Stanchly, from sea to sea, + Here, where our hearts belong, + Stand we united. + + Ask us to pay the price, + All that we have to give, + Nothing shall be denied, + All be requited; + Ready for sacrifice, + Ready for thee to live, + Over the country wide, + Stand we united. + + One under palm and pine, + One in the prairie sun, + One on the rock-bound shore, + Liberty-sighted; + All that we have is thine, + Thine, who hast made us one, + True to thee evermore, + Stand we united. + + + + +American Munition Supplies + +The Alleged German Plot to Buy Control of Their Sources + + +_The following dispatch from Washington, dated June 8, 1915, appeared +in The Chicago Herald:_ + +President Wilson and his Cabinet considered today the known fact that +German interests, reported backed by the German Government, are +negotiating for the purchase of the great gun and munition of war +plants in this country. + +Secretary McAdoo of the Treasury laid the matter before the Cabinet. +He had information from Secret Service agents of the Government who +have been following these German activities for some weeks. It is +reported today, confirming The Herald dispatch of last night, that the +plants for which negotiations are on include that of Charles M. Schwab +at Bethlehem, Penn.; the Remington small arms works at Hartford, +Conn., and the Cramp works at Philadelphia, which, it is said, Schwab +is about to acquire; the Metallic Cartridge Company, the Remington +Company, and other munition and small arms works. + +Included in the Schwab plant holdings are the Fore River Shipbuilding +Company, Massachusetts, and the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, where +it is reported parts of submarines are being made for English +contract, shipment being made through Canada. + +This new move of the Germans involves the outlay of hundreds of +millions, a gigantic financial operation in the face of war needs and +conditions. It is one of the most sensational developments of the +present conflict in connection with the United States. Its +consummation inevitably would lead this country into serious +disagreement, if not conflict, with Great Britain and the Allies. + +The latter will demand the fulfillment of their contracts with these +concerns. The German move is to prevent this delivery of munitions of +war. With the consummation of the purchases, the German owners could +refuse to fill these contracts. They will not fear suits for broken +contracts. + +The whole matter is fraught with such possibilities of danger to this +country that Attorney General Gregory and the experts of the +Department of Justice have taken up the question with a view to +interposing legal obstacles. It may become necessary, it was suggested +today, to prevent such a sale on the grounds of public welfare because +of strained relations with Germany. + +Secretary McAdoo will not disclose who are the agents for the German +interests seeking to purchase the munitions plants, or who are the +financial backers. The Secret Service men are believed to know these +details, having been on the investigation for three weeks. Rich +Germans in the United States are believed to be interested. + +Charles M. Schwab, head of the Bethlehem Company, came here two weeks +ago in response to an urgent summons. He saw Secretary McAdoo, +Secretary Daniels, and other officials. At that time it was given out +that he was conferring as to details of supplies to be furnished this +Government under contracts for new warship construction about to be +awarded. It is now understood that Secretary McAdoo sought information +as to the negotiations under way at that time for the purchase of the +munitions plants in this country by the German interests. + +The report of Secretary McAdoo today stirred the Cabinet as deeply +almost as the resignation of Secretary of State Bryan. Complete +reports were asked and the Secret Service arm of the Government will +be required to furnish immediately more complete and detailed +information. + +_Of the efforts to obtain control of the munitions companies, The +Providence Journal of June 9, 1915, reported:_ + +Acting under the personal instructions of the German Ambassador, +several German bankers of New York have been working together for the +last week on preliminary negotiations for the purchase of every large +plant they can lay their hands on which is now engaged in turning out +munitions of war for the Allies. + +Count von Bernstorff, Dr. Dernburg, and two well-known German bankers +held a conference at the German Embassy in Washington on Tuesday, June +1. At that conference the Ambassador outlined in detail instructions +he had received the day before from Berlin to proceed with this +propaganda, and he declared to the three men there present that his +Government considered the success of the plan as of vital importance, +superseding every other phase of the war situation. + +The bankers at once returned to New York, and at a meeting next day +with Captain Boy-Ed and several other men at the German Club outlined +their plan of campaign. + +For months past the German Ambassador has been in possession of a list +of factories all over the country engaged in turning out munitions of +war for the Allies. Last Saturday a concerted movement was begun +toward securing a majority control of many of these plants. + +When one of the bankers at the conference in Washington asked the +Ambassador if he had any conception of the magnitude of the financial +problems involved in the scheme he replied that his Government was +fully prepared to pay everything necessary, and repeated that the fate +of the empire might rest on the success or failure of the plan. He +then added these words: + +"There is no limit, gentlemen, to the amount of money available." + +The activities of the representatives of Count von Bernstorff in this +matter have already brought them up to the point of negotiation, or +attempted negotiation, with the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, the +Remington Arms Company, the Bethlehem Steel Company, and the Union +Metallic Cartridge Company. + +Government officials, when notified of this new propaganda yesterday, +were a unit in declaring it was impossible to believe that such a +scheme could be carried through successfully. In the first place, they +pointed out that activity of this kind would be a direct violation of +the Sherman act, and, secondly, a case of conspiracy would lie against +individuals attempting such a movement for wholesale violation of +contracts, which would become necessary in order to carry the plan to +its successful conclusion. + +The moment the German agents in New York began to disclose their +purpose, several cunning individuals who have had some slight +connection with the contracts for supplying the Allies with various +materials have deliberately put themselves in the path of these agents +under the pretext that they already had contracts, or were about to be +given contracts, and have already mulcted the German Government of +many thousands of dollars. + +In two specific cases men have talked of having contracts for picric +acid--the manufacture of which necessitates the most skilled training, +with most expensive and complicated machinery, and which is only being +attempted in four places in this country, and were promptly paid off, +on their pledge that they would violate these alleged agreements. One +of these deals was made in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel last Saturday. + +Another case, which is fully authenticated, is that of a Western +dealer in horses, who delivered 1,500 horses to the port of New +Orleans for the British Government last January. As soon as he +ascertained what the German agents were doing, he produced his receipt +for delivery of his first and only order, and declared he was now +searching for 5,000 horses, in addition, for the British Government. +On his pledge to abandon this search, he was given $2,500 by German +agents. + +The keen anxiety of the German Government, acting through the embassy +in Washington, to deprive the Allies of any shipments of war materials +that they can possibly stop is based on the result of calculations +made in Berlin and forwarded to this country two weeks ago, which +profess to show that the Allies cannot possibly arm their increasing +forces or secure ammunition for their great numbers of large guns from +their own resources, and that they must have the help of this country +in order to accomplish their purpose. The German representatives also +thoroughly believe that without this assistance the Allies cannot +continue and complete an aggressive campaign, driving the Kaiser's +armies out of Belgium and France. + +_In_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _of June 9, 1915, appeared the following +statement of counter-negotiations to checkmate the German operators in +America:_ + +Negotiations for the purchase of arms and ammunition manufactories in +this country have been under way for some little time, it is asserted, +but so quietly have they been conducted that no hint of them became +public until yesterday. Yet, coincident with their disclosure, came +yesterday, also, announcement of a contract for the manufacture for +the Allies of shrapnel and high explosive shells on the greatest scale +yet undertaken by an American corporation, which revealed as could +nothing else how carefully these supposedly secret dealings had been +discovered, watched, and checkmated by the Allies. + +This contract, all but the smallest details of which are said to be +settled, is to be taken by the General Electric Company, directors of +which admitted that the total involved would be at least $100,000,000 +and might run far in excess of this figure. In fact, the order was +spoken of as limited more by the capacity of the General Electric's +plants than by any restricting order of the Allies. + +The significance of this contract does not lie wholly, or even +chiefly, in its size, for the American Locomotive Company recently +closed a $65,000,000 contract with the Allies for shells. What is +considered of especial note is that less than a week ago an official +of the General Electric stated emphatically that his company had not +taken any orders and was not negotiating for any despite the fact that +for some time a proposal to specialize in war orders had been under +consideration. Less than a week ago the company had reached a negative +decision and less than a week ago there was no reason to suppose that +it would rescind this decision. + +J.P. Morgan & Co., fiscal agents for Great Britain and France in the +matter of war supplies, then entered the field. Charles Steele, a +partner in the banking house, is a Director of the General Electric +Company and negotiations went forward rapidly. These were conducted +with a secrecy which exceeded that even of the German interests with +the other arms and ammunition companies, but there are several factors +which, it is known, were of prime importance in effecting the General +Electric's change of policy. + +In the past much valuable time has been lost in the distribution of +orders among a score or so of concerns which have had facilities for +making shells, ordnance, and so forth. Competitive bidding for parts +of contracts has held back the finished product and successful bidders +have frequently been handicapped by inability to obtain necessary +machinery. + +Now plans for accelerating manufacture in all war lines have been +launched by David Lloyd George, the new British Minister of Munitions, +and in the shadow of his influence J.P. Morgan & Co. have practically +brought to a conclusion plans to centre future war orders in a few +great companies, with the General Electric Company as the dominant +unit. + +The extent to which the banking house used its tremendous influence is +problematical, but it is history that Mr. Lloyd George has been +bringing all pressure to bear to increase England's supplies, and with +them the supplies of the remaining allies, since British purchasing +agents are, to a large extent, looking after the interests of France +and Russia, and it may be inferred that the Morgan firm has been as +active as possible in carrying out the wishes of the European nations. + +Persons in touch with the progress being made in war orders state that +the British authorities have become greatly concerned over their +supplies of ammunition at hand and in process of manufacture. While +orders aggregating many hundreds of millions of dollars have been +placed in this country and Canada, deliveries have been disappointing. +Canadian plants got to work early in the war, but the delay in +ordering supplies in the United States and other neutral countries has +seriously affected the efficiency of the allied armies in France and +Poland, it is said. + +The experience of the American Locomotive Company is typical of the +situation. After negotiations which covered several weeks, the company +procured a contract which is said to amount to approximately +$65,000,000 for shells. During the discussion of terms, and even +before, the Locomotive officials were busy buying the necessary lathes +and other machinery, but installation of equipment and the training of +men could not be done in a few days. The contract was definitely +closed six weeks ago, but the company has only begun to turn out the +shells at its Richmond plant, and it was said in authoritative +quarters that several weeks more would pass before anything like a +substantial output would be possible. + +The centring of manufacture in a single, or a few, great plants +carries the additional and chief advantage to Great Britain and the +Allies, that no efforts of Germany can now cut off their ammunition +supply. The stoppage of this supply has been one of Germany's chief +concerns since the war began, and by embargo propaganda here and by +the attempt to create sentiment she has tried to cut down the supplies +reaching the Allies from this country. + +Well-founded gossip in Wall Street has had it that early rises in the +stocks of munition-making concerns were occasioned not so much by the +acquisition of war orders as by efforts of German agents quietly to +buy up control of these companies in the open market. These devices +failing, it is said, orders for ammunition and other supplies have +been placed by Germany with no hope of receiving the goods, but merely +to clog the channels against the Allies. With the General Electric and +other co-operating companies pledged to the Allies this danger will +cease to exist. + +The concerns selected to join with the General Electric for what will +thus amount practically to a combination of resources for rapid +manufacture will be those whose equipment, with a few alterations, can +be adapted to the new work. + +The General Electric Company, according to a Director, is in a +position to begin turning out shells at a high daily rate, and, under +present plans, the company will not sublet any of the $100,000,000 +order. There are facilities available in the plants at Schenectady, +Lynn, Harrison, Pittsfield, and Fort Wayne to carry on the work +rapidly and without interfering with the ordinary electrical +manufacture now being conducted. + +Wall Street offered one of the first evidences that things of moment +were occurring in the war supply situation. Bethlehem Steel shot +forward 10 points, to 165, a new high record, although Mr. Schwab's +company was not mentioned in connection with fresh contracts. + +It is believed that when the proposed concentration of munition making +occurs the Bethlehem Steel Corporation and other companies which +already have booked sufficient contracts to keep them busy for some +time will not be included. + +Stock of the Studebaker Corporation was in large demand as the result +of reports that about $7,000,000 of additional war orders had been +taken for artillery wheels, motor trucks, and harness. Tennessee +Copper shares were strong after it became known definitely that the +concern had arranged with the du Pont Powder Company for an increased +monthly supply of sulphuric acid. Toward the close of business stocks +generally reacted, being influenced by the desire of many traders +to keep out of the market until the tenor of President Wilson's note +to Germany was known. + +But despite the many physical manifestations of unusual activity, +officers and Directors of the companies mentioned as those on which +Germany had set her eyes were uniformly non-committal when they did +not positively deny that there was truth in the story. + +William J. Bruff, who is President of the Union Metallic Cartridge +Company and a Director of the Remington Arms and Ammunition Company, +said: + +"I don't think there is any truth in it. Yes, I am certain that no +offer of any kind has been made by Germany to buy the two companies. I +would know if such offers had been made and I haven't heard of them, +except such reports as I have read in the newspapers." + +Henry Bronner, a Director of the Bethlehem Steel Company, said: + +"I have not heard that Germany or any one else has offered to buy the +Bethlehem Steel Company. If such an offer were made, Charles M. Schwab +would be the man who would know it." + +THE NEW YORK TIMES _of June 10, 1915, included this report of Charles +M. Schwab's purposes with respect to the control of the Bethlehem +Steel Company:_ + +There is not the least danger of German interests getting control of +the Bethlehem Steel Company and breaking the concern's contracts with +the British for arms and ammunition, it was made known yesterday from +an authoritative source. This same authority had no information that, +as alleged by The Chicago Herald and The Providence Journal, and +quoted in THE NEW YORK TIMES yesterday, the same interests were +seeking to obtain control of other companies. + +What blocks the attempts of the German agents, in the case of the +Bethlehem Steel Company, for one thing, is that the majority of the +stock of the concern is not in the market. Contrary to rumors that +have lately been floating about hotel corridors and into and out of +the brokers' offices adjacent to them, Charles M. Schwab still owns +the majority of stock. This much Mr. Schwab emphatically confirmed to +a TIMES reporter yesterday at the St. Regis. That he had no intention +of selling he asserted just as emphatically. + +At the same time the information is authoritative that agents +representing the German Government or German interests have approached +Mr. Schwab, not once, but several times, since the beginning of the +war, asking that negotiations be opened. It has been intimated that +interests, private or Governmental, were willing to pay any price that +Mr. Schwab would name for his controlling interest. + +Figures running into scores of millions have been named in offers, it +being the understanding that the prospective owners simply wished to +buy the big plant--the only one in the world that now compares with +that of the Krupps, with the possible exception of that of the +Schneiders at Creusot--and shut it up, in order to stop the vast sales +of munitions of war to the Allies, and the filling of contracts so big +that their delivery has hardly begun. Mr. Schwab, it is understood, +could get today $100,000,000 or more for his stock in the Bethlehem +Company. + +It was established yesterday that more or less directly the visit of +Mr. Schwab to England last Fall, on the Olympic, was due to the +activity of German agents in this country in their efforts to buy the +Bethlehem Steel Company. + +Word of the attempts of the German agents to obtain control of the +Bethlehem Company soon found its way to England, and the result was +that Mr. Schwab was invited to London for a special conference with +the War Office. He renewed his acquaintance with Lord Kitchener, and +his previously formed intention not to sell out was fortified with a +guarantee of orders large enough to keep the big plant at Bethlehem +going steadily for eighteen months or more. + +When rumors were prevalent about New York that the visit of Sir Trevor +Dawson, head of a great English steel concern, had as its object an +attempt to obtain control of the Bethlehem Company so as to insure +that it would continue turning out supplies for the Allies, the +German agents here were making a strong bid for the control of the +concern, and their efforts have since continued. + +A TIMES reporter put to Mr. Schwab yesterday the direct question as to +whether he was in actual control of the Bethlehem Steel Company. + +"Absolutely," he said. "The only way anybody else could obtain control +would be to get my interest. I would never sell my interest without +making for the men who stood by me with their support when I was +struggling to put the Bethlehem Company where it is today the same +terms that would be offered for my share. As a matter of fact, my +interest in the Bethlehem Company is not for sale. Indeed, I could not +sell. I have contracts that I cannot break." + +It was said yesterday that the Germans had been trying to conduct +their negotiations for the Bethlehem Company in much the same fashion +as they recently had employed in their diplomatic negotiations, and +that if they had been successful in getting the Bethlehem Company they +would have found themselves with contracts on their hands which they +would have had to carry out. The mere closing of the plant and the +refusal to continue the further manufacture and delivery of munitions +of war already contracted for would not save them from a situation +which would be the equivalent of jumping from the frying pan into the +fire. + +Not only the courts would be promptly invoked to see that legal +contracts were carried out, but, if necessary, the Federal Government +could step in and insist that the manufacture and delivery of supplies +contracted for be continued, in order to prevent a breach of +neutrality. Then would be presented the spectacle of German interests +turning out vast quantities of guns, shells, and shrapnel to be sent +to Europe to be used in fighting their own troops. + +According to the authority already mentioned, the Bethlehem Steel +Company is the only plant in the United States that can turn out +shrapnel shell complete. Most of the contracts that have been given +here have been taken for various parts of the ammunition by different +firms. One thing necessary for the turning out of shrapnel and shells +is a twelve-mile proving ground, and the only privately owned range of +the kind in this country is that of the Bethlehem Company. + +Mr. Schwab has insisted to his friends who have questioned him about +the rise in Bethlehem stock that the only valid reason, aside from +whatever might be the intrinsic value of the property, is the +tremendous war orders that have been obtained. On this account, as +well as on account of his knowledge that the majority of the stock was +safe in his possession, he was able to enjoy his trip to the Pacific +Coast regardless of rumors at one time prevalent that a big market +operator, who was supposed to retain an ancient grudge against him, +was trying to wrest from him the control of the company he had built +up. + +[Illustration] + + + + +A League for Preparedness + +By Theodore Roosevelt, ex-President of the United States, + +and + +George L. von Meyer, ex-Secretary of the Navy. + + It was ascertained in Washington on June 1, 1915, that the + Atlantic battleship fleet would remain in Atlantic Ocean + waters indefinitely. The plan to send the fleet through the + canal in July for participation in the Panama-Pacific + Exposition at San Francisco had been abandoned, and Admiral + Fletcher's ships would not cross the Isthmus this year. The + decision to hold the fleet in Atlantic waters is predicated + on two principle factors. These are: First, there + undoubtedly will be another great slide in Culebra Cut in + the Panama Canal some time this Summer, and it would be + considered highly undesirable to have the fleet on the + Pacific Coast with such a slide interposed between Admiral + Fletcher's vessels and the Atlantic waters. Second, the + general situation of American foreign affairs growing out of + relations with Germany is such that it is considered unwise + to send the fleet to the west coast and leave the Atlantic + Coast unguarded. This is the extent, at present, of national + preparation against war. + + The Peace and Preparation Conference, called in the name of + the National Security League to discuss the military needs + of the nation, began on the evening of June 14, 1915, with + the opening to the public of the Army and Navy Exhibit in + the Hotel Astor, where there were to be seen numerous + placards which gave in figures and words information as to + the situation of the United States so far as military + preparedness is concerned. + + General Luke E. Wright of Memphis, who was Secretary of War + the latter part of the second Roosevelt Administration, was + among the visitors to the conference, and said he was in + thorough sympathy with the aims of the National Security + League. In his opinion the American first line of defense, + to be immediately available for service, should be at least + 300,000 men. + + An audience composed of nearly as many women as men heard in + Carnegie Hall, on the evening of June 15, the arguments of + Alton B. Parker, Dr. Lyman Abbott, Henry L. Stimson, + ex-Secretary of War; Charles J. Bonaparte, ex-Attorney + General, and Jacob M. Dickinson, ex-Secretary of War, + advocating immediate increases in the army and navy as the + best safeguard against war. Ex-Judge Parker, who was + Chairman of the meeting, struck the keynote of the + conference in these words: + + "We want to arouse the people of the United States from the + Atlantic to the Pacific, to the end that they shall let + Congress know that they have made up their minds to spend a + little of that $187,000,000,000 of which we boast in order + that our wives and our children and our grandchildren shall + not be visited with the calamity which has befallen + Belgium." + + Two features of the conference were the reading of a letter + to Hudson Maxim from ex-President Theodore Roosevelt and a + speech on naval unpreparedness by George von L. Meyer, + ex-Secretary of the Navy. The speech is reproduced below in + part, and the letter from Mr. Roosevelt in full, together + with the resolution of the conference. + + +MR. ROOSEVELT'S LETTER. + +My Dear Mr. Maxim: + +I thank you heartily for your book on "Defenseless America." It is a +capital book and I believe it is safe to say that no wise and +patriotic American can fail to recognize the service that you have +rendered in writing it. I hope it will have the widest possible +circulation throughout our country. + +I was glad to see the first-class letters that have been written you +by such good Americans as Oscar Straus, Garrett P. Serviss, Rear +Admiral W.W. Kimball, C.P. Gray, Holman Day, and the others. On the +other hand, I was saddened by the extraordinary letter sent you by the +three young men who purported to speak for the senior class of the +college of which they are members. The course of conduct which these +men and those like them advocate for the nation would, of course, not +only mean a peculiar craven avoidance of national duty by our people +at this time, but would also inevitably tend permanently to encourage +the spirit of individual cowardice no less than of national cowardice. + +The professional pacifists, the professional peace-at-any-price men, +who during the last five years have been so active, who have pushed +the mischievous all-arbitration treaties at Washington, who have +condoned our criminal inactivity as regards Mexico and, above all, as +regards the questions raised by the great world war now raging, and +who have applauded our abject failure to live up to the obligations +imposed upon us as a signatory power of The Hague Convention, are, at +best, an unlovely body of men, and taken as a whole are probably the +most undesirable citizens that this country contains. + +But it is less shocking to see such sentiments developed among old men +than among young men. The college students who organize or join these +peace-at-any-price leagues are engaged, according to their feeble +abilities, in cultivating a standard of manhood which, if logically +applied, would make them desire to "arbitrate" with any tough +individual who slapped the sister or sweetheart of one of them in the +face. + +Well-meaning people, as we all know, sometimes advocate a course of +action which is infamous; and, as was proved by the great Copperhead +Party fifty years ago, there are always some brave men to be found +condoning or advocating deeds of national cowardice. But the fact +remains that the advocates of pacifism who have been most prominent in +our country during the past five years have been preaching +poltroonery. + +Such preaching, if persevered in long enough, softens the fibre of any +nation, and, above all, of those preaching it; and if it is reduced to +practice it is ruinous to national character. These men have been +doing their best to make us the China of the Occident, and the college +students, such as those of whom you speak, have already reached a +level considerably below that to which the higher type of Chinaman has +now struggled on his upward path. + +On the whole, for the nation as for the individual, the most +contemptible of all sins is the sin of cowardice; and while there are +other sins as base there are none baser. The prime duty for this +nation is to prepare itself so that it can protect itself--and this +is the duty that you are preaching in your admirable volume. It is +only when this duty has been accomplished that we shall be able to +perform the further duty of helping the cause of the world +righteousness by backing the cause of the international peace of +justice (the only kind of peace worth having) not merely by words but +by deeds. + +A peace conference such as that which some of our countrymen propose +at the moment to hold is purely noxious, until as a preliminary we put +ourselves in such shape that what we say will excite the respect and +not the derision of foreign nations; and, furthermore, until we have +by practical action shown that we are heartily ashamed of ourselves +for our craven abandonment of duty in not daring to say a word when +The Hague Conventions were ruthlessly violated before our eyes. + +Righteousness must be put before peace, and peace must be recognized +as of value only when it is the hand-maiden of justice. The doctrine +of national or individual neutrality between right and wrong is an +ignoble doctrine, unworthy the support of any brave or honorable man. +It is wicked to be neutral between right and wrong, and this statement +can be successfully refuted only by men who are prepared to hold up +Pontius Pilate, the arch-typical neutral of all time, as worthy of our +admiration. + +An ignoble peace may be the worst crime against humanity, and +righteous war may represent the greatest service a nation can at a +given moment render to itself and to mankind. + +Our people also need to come to their senses about the manufacture and +sale of arms and ammunition. Of course, the same moral law applies +here between nations as between individuals within a nation. There is +not the slightest difference between selling ammunition in time of war +and in time of peace, because when sold in time of peace it is only +sold with a view to possibility or likelihood of war. It should never +be sold to people who will make bad use of it, and it should be +freely sold at all times to those who will use it for a proper +purpose. + +It is absolutely essential that we should have stores where citizens +of a nation can buy arms and ammunition. It is a service to good +citizenship to sell a revolver to an honest householder for use +against burglars or to a policeman for use against "gunmen." It is an +outrage against humanity knowingly to sell such a revolver to a +burglar or a "gunman." The morality of the sale depends upon the +purpose and the probable use. This is true among individuals. It is no +less true among nations. + +I am speaking of the moral right. Our legal right to sell ammunition +to the Allies is, of course, perfect, just as Germany, the greatest +trader in ammunition to other nations in the past, had an entire legal +right to sell guns and ammunition to Turkey, for instance. But, in +addition to our legal right to sell ammunition to those engaged in +trying to restore Belgium to her own people, it is also our moral duty +to do so, precisely as it is a moral duty to sell arms to policemen +for use against "gunmen." + +Wishing you all possible success, I am, faithfully yours, + +THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + +Hudson Maxim, Esq., Lansing, N.J. + + +MR. MEYER'S SPEECH. + +_The National Security League brought its two-day Peace and +Preparation Conference to a close on June 15, 1915, with a luncheon in +the Hotel Astor at which more than 1,000 men and women listened to +George von L. Meyer, ex-Secretary of the Navy, as he announced that +the navy of the United States was utterly unfit for war with any +first-class nation. Mr. Meyer was interrupted many times by applause, +and the loudest outburst came when he placed the blame for what he +termed the present demoralized state of the navy squarely up to +Secretary Josephus Daniels. He said, in part:_ + +In calling attention to these defects I have not done so from a desire +to criticise the present head of the navy, although I do believe that +he is responsible for the demoralized condition of the personnel and +the decreased efficiency of the navy. + +_In advancing his argument for a greater navy Mr. Meyer contended that +such a step would be the best safeguard against war. He asserted that +we would have had no war with Spain in 1908 if we had had four more +ships like the Oregon. With such a powerful fighting force, he argued, +no nation at that time would have dared to meet us. Spain would have +yielded without a fight, and this country would have saved +$500,000,000. He continued:_ + +The only attack we need consider is an attack from some great naval +power, and for that reason we need an adequate navy because it tends +toward peace, because it discourages attack and serves the best +interests of the country, while an inadequate navy is a vast expense +to the country and does not serve as a protection. + +Of the thirty-five battleships that we have today only twenty-one are +in commission and ready for emergency. Of those twenty-one, three have +broken shafts, and the fourth is a turbine battleship which was put +out of commission because it needs to be thoroughly overhauled. In +addition to that, there are seventy fighting vessels which are not +ready to be called upon for an emergency because they are out of +commission and would require a long overhauling. We lack battle +cruisers, scout cruisers, aeroplanes, and armed airships. + +Our submarine fleet is in a critical condition. The complement of +torpedo vessels has been reduced from 15 to 25 per cent. to get men to +commission new boats. This reduction in personnel is a serious +handicap, reduces the efficiency of the destroyers, affects +contentment, and prevents the boats being kept in good condition. The +Atlantic fleet needs 5,000 men, according to the evidence of the +Commander in Chief of that fleet. The reserve fleet at Philadelphia +was largely depleted in order to get a new crew for the Alabama when +she was ordered to Hampton Roads to enforce neutrality; and the naval +force of Hampton Roads was a pitifully weak one: One small submarine, +one little torpedo destroyer diverted from Annapolis, and one reserve +battleship, of which the fleet in Philadelphia had been robbed in +order to put her in commission. + +The review in New York this year was a poor imitation of previous +reviews, in that the reserve fleet was absent. It was a mere parade, +not a mobilization. It did not indicate the true condition of the +fleet, because the people did not know the whole truth. For lack of +men, ships are laid up in navy yards, where they rapidly deteriorate, +like a vacant house. + +All small ships and all cruisers now laid up for lack of men are +needed in Mexico and elsewhere, and should be ready for an emergency +call. The complement of enlisted men at shore stations and training +stations has been kept down, with a decided loss of efficiency and +greatly to the discontent and discomfort of the men. A navy with an +insufficient and disgruntled personnel cannot be efficient, and its +morale must necessarily be disastrously affected. + +_It would take 18,000 men in order to put the vessels that are fit for +war service into commission, Mr. Meyer asserted. Congress was to blame +for not having established a national council of defense, a general +staff, and a national reserve of 50,000 efficient men. He added:_ + +It is the lack of any definite naval policy and the failure of +Congress to recognize the necessity for such a policy that has placed +us in a position of inferiority, which may lead us to war or cause us +great embarrassment as well as discredit to the country. + +_Mr. Meyer urged an investigation by Congress of our national defense, +to the end that a comprehensive plan should be adopted for the future. +He declared further:_ + +This investigation has been denied to the people by the leaders of +the party in power, and it is deplorable that there should be an +attempt to deceive the people in a matter of such vital importance. + + +OFFICIAL RESOLUTION. + +_Here is the resolution of the league, which was later ratified by the +official delegates and forwarded to the White House at Washington:_ + +Whereas, The events of the past year have demonstrated the fact that +war, no matter how greatly it may be deplored, may suddenly and +unexpectedly occur, notwithstanding the existence of treaties of peace +and amity, and have also shown that nations who were unprepared have +paid and are paying the price of their lack of foresight; + +And, Whereas, The reports of our military and naval experts have made +clear that the defensive forces of the country are inadequate for the +proper protection of our coasts and to enable our Government to +maintain its accepted policies and to fulfill its obligations to other +States, and to exert in the adjustment of international questions the +influence in which the Republic is entitled; + +Therefore, be it Resolved + +That we appeal to the President, if consistent with the public +interest, to call the early attention of Congress to the pressing need +of prompt and efficient action so that the resources of our great +country can be utilized for the proper defense of the Republic; + +And, Resolved, That the National Security League, under whose auspices +this Peace and Preparation Conference has been held, be urged to +continue the work which it has already undertaken, of bringing the +American people to a full realization of our deplorable state of +unpreparedness and of the necessity of action by Congress. + + + + +Przemysl and Lemberg + +German Reports of Mackensen's Victorious Thrust in Galicia + + Przemysl fell to the German arms on June 3, 1915, ten weeks + after the Russians had captured the fortress and its + Austrian garrison following a six months' investment. The + campaign which meant as its first result the recapture of + this great fortress of nineteen modern forts and sixteen + field fortifications, with innumerable trenches, was + continued by the renewal of the "thrust" of General von + Mackensen toward Lemberg, the capital of Galicia. + Semi-official figures published in Berlin estimated the + Russian losses from May 1 to June 18, when the victorious + German armies were approaching the gates of Lemberg, at + 400,000 dead and wounded and 300,000 prisoners, besides + 100,000 lost before Field Marshal von Hindenburg's forces in + Poland and Courland. On June 22 Berlin reported five + Austro-German armies shelling the last lines of the Russian + defenses before Lemberg, which fell on June 23. + + The admitted weakness of Russia in this campaign was the + exhaustion of her ammunition supplies. The intent of the + German thrust was to drive the Russians far back and + establish easily defended positions from which the Germans + might detach forces for operations against Italy and the + Allies in the west. Political consequences, also, were + expected from German success in Galicia in deterring + Bulgaria and Rumania from entering the war. + + On June 21 advices reaching Tokio from Vladivostok indicated + that heavy shipments of munitions of war intended for use by + Russia's armies had arrived at that seaport, in such + quantities that facilities were lacking to forward them by + rail through Siberia. + + +THE WEST GALICIAN "DRIVE." + +(Wolff Telegraphic Bureau, Berlin, May 6, 1915.) + +_From the Great Headquarters we have received the following in regard +to the "drive" in West Galicia:_ + +To the complete surprise of the enemy, large movements of troops into +West Galicia had been completed by the end of April. These troops, +subject to the orders of General von Mackensen, had been assigned the +task in conjunction with the neighboring armies of our Austrian ally +of breaking through the Russian front between the crest of the +Carpathians and the middle Dunajee. It was a new problem and no easy +undertaking. The heavens granted our troops wonderful sunshine and dry +roads. Thus fliers and artillery could come into full activity and the +difficulties of the terrain, which here has the character of the +approaches of the German Alps, or the Hörsal hills in Thuringia, could +be overcome. At several points ammunition had to be transported amid +the greatest hardships on pack animals and the marching columns and +batteries had to be moved forward over corduroy roads, (artificial +roads made of logs.) All the accumulation of information and +preparations necessary for breaking through the enemy's line had been +quietly and secretly accomplished. On the first of May in the +afternoon the artillery began its fire on the Russian positions. These +in some five months had been perfected according to all the rules of +the art of fortification. In stories they lay one over the other along +the steep heights, whose slopes had been furnished with obstacles. At +some points of special importance to the Russians they consisted of as +many as seven rows of trenches, one behind the other. The works were +very skillfully placed, and were adopted to flanking one another. The +infantry of the allied [Teutonic] troops in the nights preceding the +attack had pushed forward closer to the enemy and had assumed +positions in readiness for the forward rush. In the night from May 1 +to 2 the artillery fired in slow rhythm at the enemy's positions. +Pauses in the fire served the pioneers for cutting the wire +entanglements. On the 2d of May at 6 A.M. an overwhelming artillery +fire, including field guns and running up to the heaviest calibres, +was begun on the front many miles in extent selected for the effort to +break through. This was maintained unbroken for four hours. + +[Illustration: FIELD MARSHALL VON MACKENSEN + +Who Commanded the Victorious Teutonic Forces Against the Russians in +the Southeast] + +At 10 o'clock in the morning these hundreds of fire-spouting tubes +suddenly ceased and the same moment the swarming lines and attacking +columns of the assailants threw themselves upon the hostile positions. +The enemy had been so shaken by the heavy artillery fire that his +resistance at many points was very slight. In headlong flight he left +his defenses, when the infantry of the [Teutonic] allies appeared +before his trenches, throwing away rifles and cooking utensils and +leaving immense quantities of infantry ammunition and dead. At one +point the Russians themselves cut the wire entanglements to surrender +themselves to the Germans. Frequently the enemy made no further +resistance in his second and third positions. On the other hand, at +certain other points of the front he defended himself stubbornly, +making an embittered fight and holding the neighborhood. With the +Austrian troops, the Bavarian regiments attacked Mount Zameczyka, +lying 250 meters above their positions, a veritable fortress. A +Bavarian infantry regiment here won incomparable laurels. To the left +of the Bavarians Silesian regiments stormed the heights of Sekowa and +Sakol. Young regiments tore from the enemy the desperately defended +cemetery height of Gorlise and the persistently held railway +embankment at Kennenitza. Among the Austrian troops Galician +battalions had stormed the steep heights of the Pustki Hill, Hungarian +troops having taken in fierce fighting the Wiatrowka heights. Prussian +guard regiments threw the enemy out of his elevated positions east of +Biala and at Staszkowka stormed seven successive Russian lines which +were stubbornly held. Either kindled by the Russians or hit by a +shell, a naphtha well behind Gorlise burst into flames. Higher than +the houses the flames struck up into the sky and pillars of smoke rose +to hundreds of yards. + +On the evening of the 2d of May, when the warm Spring sun had begun +to yield to the coolness of night the first main position in its whole +depth and extent, a distance of some sixteen kilometers had been +broken through and a gain of ground of some four kilometers had been +attained. At least 20,000 prisoners, dozens of cannon and fifty +machine guns remained in the hands of the allied troops that in the +battle had competed with one another for the palm of victory. In +addition, an amount of booty to be readily estimated, in the shape of +war materials of all sorts, including great masses of rifles and +ammunition, had been secured. + + +WORK OF GERMAN ARTILLERY. + +(German Press Headquarters in Galicia, May 4, 1915.) + +Reports of prisoners are unanimous in describing the effect of the +artillery fire of the Teutonic allies as more terrible than the +imagination can picture. The men, who were with difficulty recovering +from the sufferings and exertions they had undergone, agreed that they +could not imagine conditions worse in hell than they had been for four +hours in the trenches. Corps, divisions, brigades, and regiments +melted away as though in the heat of a furnace. In no direction was +escape possible, for there was no spot of ground on which the four +hundred guns of the Teutonic allies had not exerted themselves. All +the Generals and Staff Officers of one Russian division were killed or +wounded. Moreover, insanity raged in the ranks of the Russians, and +from all sides hysterical cries could be heard rising above the roar +of our guns, too strong for human nerves. Over the remnants of the +Russians who crowded in terror into the remotest corners of their +trenches there broke the mighty rush of our masses of infantry, before +which also the Russian reserves, hurrying forward, crumbled away. + +[Illustration: The Routes to Lemberg + +At least four Austro-German armies were operating toward Lemberg, the +capital of Eastern Galicia, which Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander in +Chief of the Russian Army, evacuated on June 23 to escape being +surrounded. After the recapture of Przemysl (1) one army advanced +along the railroad to Lemberg and captured Grodek, (2,) where the +Russians were expected to make a possibly successful stand at the line +of the lakes. Another, advancing along the railroad from Jaroslau, +(3,) took Krakowice, Jaworow, Skio, Janow, and Zolkiew (4). A third, +advancing from Sieniawa, (5,) apparently was joined by forces which +took Tarnogrod (6) and on June 21 captured Rawa Ruska, (7,) thus +cutting the Russian communications and line of retreat to the north. +Finally an army, operating from Stryi, (8,) drove the Russians across +the Dniester.] + + +GERMAN TEAM WORK. + +(Wolff Telegraphic Bureau, Vienna, May 7, 1915.) + +_From a well-informed source at the Royal and Imperial Chief Command, +the War Press Bureau has received the following communication:_ + +While by those concerned in conducting the operations of the armies +individual achievements and isolated developments of distinction are +regarded as excluded from particular mention, in the public press not +infrequently certain successes are assigned to certain personalities. +This, too, has been the case frequently with reference to the recent +happenings in Galicia. The suggestions and plans made in the war are +always the result of the co-operation of a number of persons. The +Commander in Chief then assumes the responsibility for them. So far as +the present operations in Galicia are concerned, these had in March +already been similarly planned, and at that time such forces as were +available were put into position for a penetrating thrust in the +direction, by way of Gorlice, through the chain of valleys toward +Zmygrod. These forces, however, proved to be numerically too weak, in +spite of initial successes at Senkorva and Gorlice, to break through +the enemy's stubbornly defended front. Only the proposal made by +General von Falkenhayn and sanctioned by the German chief command, to +bring up further strong German forces for a forward drive, supplied +the foundation for the brilliant success of May 1 by the armies of +Mackensen, Archdukes Joseph and Frederick and Boroevic. + + +ADVANCE IN MIDDLE GALICIA. + +(Wolff Telegraphic Bureau, Berlin, May 26, 1915.) + +We learn from the Great Headquarters the following concerning the +progress of the operations of the Teutonic allies in Middle Galicia: + +In barely fourteen days the army of Mackensen has carried its +offensive forward from Gorlice to Jaroslaw. With daily fighting, for +the most part against fortified positions, it has crossed the line of +three rivers and gained in territory more than 100 kilometers in an +airline. On the evening of the fourteenth day, with the taking of the +city and bridge-head, Jaroslau, they won access to the lower San. It +was now necessary to cross this stream on a broad front. The enemy, +though, still held before Radymo and in the angle of San-Wislok with +two strongly fortified bridge-heads the west bank of this river. For +the rest he confined himself to the frontal defense of the east bank. + +While troops of the guard in close touch with Austrian regiments +gained, fighting, the crossing of the river at Jaroslau, and continued +to throw the enemy, who was daily receiving reinforcements, +continually further toward the east and northeast, Hanoverian +regiments forced the passage of the river several kilometers further +down stream. Brunswickers, by the storming of the heights of +Wiazowinca, opened the way and thereby won the obstinately defended +San crossing. Further to the north the San angle was cleared of the +enemy that had still held on there. One Colonel, fifteen officers, +7,800 prisoners, four cannon, twenty-eight machine guns, thirteen +ammunition wagons, and a field kitchen fell into our hands. The rest +found themselves obliged to make a hasty retreat to the east bank. + +These battles and successes took place on the 17th of May in the +presence of the German Emperor, who, on the same day, conferred upon +the Chief of Staff of the army here engaged, Colonel von Seeckt, the +order _pour le mérite_, the commander of the army, General von +Mackensen, having already received special honors. The Emperor had +hurried forward to his troops by automobile. On the way he was greeted +with loud hurrahs by the wounded riding back in wagons. On the heights +of Jaroslau the Emperor met Prince Eitel Friedrich, and then, from +several points of observation, for hours followed with keen attention +the progress of the battle for the crossing. + +In the days from the 18th to the 20th of May the Teutonic allies +pressed on further toward the east, northeast, and north, threw the +enemy out of Sieniawa and took up positions on the east bank of the +river upon a front of twenty or thirty kilometers. The enemy withdrew +behind the Lerbaczowa stream. All his attempts to win back the lost +ground were unsuccessful, although in the days from the 13th to the +20th of May he brought on no less than six fresh divisions to stem our +advance at and beyond Jaroslau. + +Altogether, the Russian command had since the beginning of the +operation thrown seven army corps from other areas of the war against +the front of the army of von Mackensen and against the centre and +right wing of the army of Archduke Joseph Ferdinand. These were the +Third Caucasian, the Fifteenth, and a combined army corps, six +individual infantry regiments, the Thirty-fourth, Forty-fifth, +Fifty-eighth, Sixty-second, Sixty-third, Seventy-seventh, and +Eighty-first Infantry, and the Thirteenth Siberian division, not +counting a cavalry division, which entered the field already in the +earliest days. With the combined army corps there appeared a Caucasian +infantry division, the Third, made up of Armenians and Grusinians, +which till January had fought in Persia, was transferred in April to +Kars, and later to Odessa, where it formed part of the so-called Army +of the Bosporus. Before our front now also appeared Cossacks on foot, +a special militia formation, which hitherto had fought in the +Caucasus. Finally, there came on the outermost left wing of the +Russians the Trans-Amoor border guards, a troop designed purely for +protection of the railway in North Manchuria, whose use in this part +of the area of war was probably not foreseen even in Russia. + +Yet the Russians still held along the lower San the bridge-head of +Radymo on the west bank. The problem of the next ensuing battles was +to drive him also from this point. + + +APPROACHING PRZEMYSL. + +(By The Associated Press.) + +_VIENNA, June 1, (via Amsterdam and London.)--The following official +communication was issued today:_ + +East of the San our troops were attacked Monday night along the entire +front by strong Russian forces. This was especially true on the lower +Lubaczowka, where superior forces attempted to advance. All the +attacks were repulsed with severe losses to the enemy, who at some +points retreated in disorder. + +On the lower San, below Sieniawa, Russian attacks also failed. + +On the north front of Przemysl Bavarian troops stormed three defenses +of the circle of forts, capturing 1,400 prisoners and 28 heavy guns. + +South of the Dniester the allied troops penetrated the enemy's +defensive position, defeated the Russians and conquered Stry, the +enemy retreating toward the Dniester. We captured 53 officers and over +9,000 prisoners, 8 cannon, and 15 machine guns. + +On the Pruth and in Poland the situation is unchanged. + + * * * * * + +_BERLIN, June 1, (via London.)--The German General Staff gave out the +following report today on the operations in the eastern theatre of +war:_ + +In the eastern theatre of war, near Amboten, fifty kilometers, (about +thirty miles,) east of Libau, (Courland,) German cavalry defeated the +Russian Fourth Regiment of Dragoons. Near Shavli, hostile attacks were +unsuccessful. + +Our booty in the month of May, north of the Niemen River, amounts to +24,700 prisoners, seventeen cannon, and forty-seven machine guns; +south of the Niemen and the Pilica, 6,943 prisoners, eleven machine +guns, and one aeroplane. + +In the southeastern theatre of war: In front of Przemysl Bavarian +troops yesterday stormed Forts 10-A, 11-A, and 12, west of +Dunkowiczki, capturing the remainder of a garrison of 1,400 men, with +eighteen heavy and five light cannon. The Russians attempted to escape +their fate by an attack in masses against our positions east of +Jaroslau, but failed, an enormous number of dead covering the +battlefield before our front. + +The conquerors of Zwinin (a ridge in the Carpathians)--the Prussian +Guard under command of the Bavarian General, Count Bothmer--stormed a +strongly fortified place on the Stry, and broke through Russian +positions near and northwest of Stry. Up to the present time we have +captured in this region fifty-three officers, 9,183 men, eight cannon, +and fifteen machine guns. + +According to an unofficial report from Piotrkow, Russian Poland, the +Russians have evacuated Radom, in Poland, to the south of Warsaw. + +[Illustration: Map of Przemysl and its defenses.] + + +MORE DEFENSES TAKEN. + +_VIENNA, June 2, (via Amsterdam and London.)--The official statement +issued by the Austrian War Office tonight reads as follows:_ + +The Russians have renewed their strong attacks against the allied +troops on the eastern bank of the San. Desperate attacks everywhere +have been repulsed with heavy Russian losses. + +On the northern front of Przemysl two additional fortifications have +been taken by storm, and we have maintained the conquered ground. + +South of the Dniester our attacks are making successful progress. +Hostile positions between Stry and Drohobycz were stormed yesterday. + +Strong Russian forces, which yesterday attacked our position near +Solowina, in South Galicia, suffered severe losses. They retreated +and, at some points, took to flight. + +Besides the booty mentioned in the German communication as having been +captured during the month of May from the Russians we took 189 +ammunition wagons and a quantity of other war material, such as 8,500 +rounds of artillery ammunition, 5,500,000 cartridges, and 32,000 +rifles. + + * * * * * + +_BERLIN, June 2, (via London.)--The following report on the operations +in the eastern theatre of war was issued today by the German General +Staff:_ + +Successful engagements occurred against minor Russian divisions at +Neuhausen, fifty kilometers (about thirty miles) northeast of Libau, +and at Shidiki, sixty-nine kilometers (about forty miles) southeast of +Libau. The same thing happened further south in the district of +Shavli, and on the Dubysa, southeast of Kielmy and between Ugiamy and +Ejargola. At Shavli we took 500 prisoners. + +Further Russian intrenchments situated around Dunkowiozki (near +Przemysl) were taken by storm yesterday. After the victory at Stry the +allied troops advanced yesterday in the direction of Medenice. + +In the month of May 863 officers and 268,869 men were taken prisoners +in the southeastern theatre of war, while 251 cannon and 576 machine +guns were captured. Of these numbers, the capturing of 400 officers, +including two Generals, 153,254 men, 160 cannon, including +twenty-eight heavy ones, and 403 machine guns, is to the credit of the +troops under General Mackensen. + +Including prisoners taken in the eastern theatre of war, as well as +those announced yesterday, the total number of Russians who have +fallen into the hands of the Germanic allied troops during the month +of May amounts to about 1,000 officers and more than 300,000 men. + + +PRZEMYSL RECAPTURED. + +_VIENNA, June 3, (via Amsterdam and London.)--The following official +communication on the Przemysl victory was issued in Vienna today:_ + +In the Russian war theatre the German troops last night stormed the +last positions on the north front of Przemysl and entered the town at +3:30 o'clock this morning from the north. + +Our Tenth Corps entered the town from the west and south and reached +the centre of the town soon after 6 o'clock. + +The importance of this success cannot yet be estimated. + +The attack of the allied troops in the sector north of Stry is making +successful progress. + +_Following is the Berlin official announcement of the fall of +Przemysl, dated June 3:_ + +The fortified town of Przemysl was taken by us early this morning, +after the fortifications on the northern front, which still held out, +had been stormed during the night. The amount of booty taken has not +yet been ascertained. + + +PETROGRAD ADMITS DEFEAT. + +_PETROGRAD, June 3.--Petrograd admits the loss of the fortress in the +following official bulletin:_ + +As Przemysl, in view of the state of its artillery and its works, +which were destroyed by the Austrians before their capitulation, was +recognized as incapable of defending itself, its maintenance in our +hands only served our purpose until such time as our possession of +positions surrounding the town on the northwest facilitated our +operations on the San. + +The enemy having captured Jaroslau and Radymno and begun to spread +along the right bank of the river, the maintenance of these positions +forced our troops to fight on an unequal and very difficult front, +increasing it by thirty-five versts, (about twenty-four miles,) and +subjecting the troops occupying these positions to the concentrated +fire of the enemy's numerous guns. + +Przemysl was bombarded with heavy guns up to 16-inch calibre, and the +enemy delivered his principal attack against the north front in the +region of Forts 10 and 11, which the Austrians had almost completely +demolished before the surrender of the fortress. + +When we repulsed these attacks the enemy succeeded in taking several +of our guns, which had bombarded the enemy's columns until the latter +were close to the muzzles, and the last shell was spent. According to +supplementary information we took two hundred prisoners and eight +quick-firers. + +In Galicia on Monday between the Vistula and Przemysl stubborn +fighting developed, our troops gaining somewhat important successes on +the left bank of the lower San, taking several villages, some with the +bayonet. On the right bank of the same river we were successful near +the village of Kalukouve, taking a base south of the village, +capturing 1,200 prisoners, including twenty-two officers and eight +quick-firers. + + +RUSSIAN RETREAT FROM PRZEMYSL. + +_VIENNA, (via London,) June 4.--The Austrian War Office this evening +issued the following official communication announcing the retreat of +the Russians from Przemysl, their stand at Medyka, ten miles to the +east, and their defeat at other points:_ + +During the day Przemysl was cleared of the enemy, who is retreating +in an easterly direction, offering resistance on the height southwest +of Medyka. The allied troops there are attacking. + +Meanwhile the army of the Austrian General Eduard von Boehm-Ermolli +has succeeded in breaking through the Russian defensive positions from +the south, and advanced in the direction of Mosciska, on the railroad +to Lemberg, ten miles beyond Medyka, within a short distance of which +our troops now hold positions. In these engagements we have captured +numerous prisoners. + +The army under General Alexander Linsingen also has achieved fresh +successes, and the Russians are in full retreat before him. + +On the Pruth line, in consequence of the events on the San and the +upper Dniester, further fighting has developed. Wherever the enemy +attempts an attack he is repulsed with severe losses. We have captured +900 men. + +Otherwise the situation on the lower San and in Poland is unchanged. + + * * * * * + +_AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS, (via London,) June +5._--According to information given out by the Austro-Hungarian +military authorities to representatives of the press, heavy fighting +is now in progress along virtually the entire Galician front, and the +general situation is very favorable to the Austro-Germans. A decisive +conclusion to the entire Russian campaign in Galicia is in sight. + +Przemysl's recapture by Austrian and Bavarian troops, according to +details received from the front, resulted from the taking of five +forts in the northern sector and the simultaneous threatening of the +forts on the south and west fronts. + +With the forts on the north side in the possession of the besiegers, +with a Bavarian corps pressing impetuously through the breach against +the city, and with the Austrian Tenth Army Corps within storming +distance of the southern and western forts, which artillery fire +already had reduced sufficiently for attack, the Russians decided to +evacuate the town and all the forts except those on the eastern and +southeastern sectors. This movement was executed Wednesday night. + +The Bavarians resumed their attack at dawn on Thursday, and entered +Przemysl upon the heels of the retiring Russians. + +The Austrian Tenth Army Corps simultaneously started toward the west +and south fronts, but found the forts there had been evacuated. An +attack now is in progress against the forts still held by the +Russians, those positions being defended apparently with the object of +covering the latter's retirement. + +"The Russian rear guards," the statement to the press says, "are +fighting delaying actions south of the Dniester River against the +Austro-German forces advancing from Stry to cover the passage of the +river. The Russians north of Przemysl are launching a series of the +most desperate attacks against General von Mackensen's army. Here they +are making use of new reserves, and at the same time they are exerting +heavy pressure against the troops commanded by Archduke Joseph +Ferdinand in the triangle between the River San and the River Vistula. + +"The Russian offensive in Southeastern Galicia, designed to relieve +this situation, has been a complete failure." + + * * * * * + +_BERLIN, (via London,) June 4.--The following official communication +on the Eastern fighting was issued here today:_ + +Our troops, after much fighting, reached the line east of Przemysl and +to the northeast thereof, to Bolesteasyzce, Ormis, Poodziao, and +Tarzawa. The booty taken at Przemysl has not yet been ascertained. +According to statements made by prisoners of the most varied +descriptions, the Russians during the night of June 2-3, during which +Przemysl was taken by storm, had prepared a general attack over the +whole front against the army under General von Mackensen. This +offensive broke down completely at the outset. Twenty-two kilometers +(about 13-1/2 miles) east of Przemysl German troops under General von +Marwitz are fighting on the heights on both sides of Myslatyeze. The +army of General von Linsingen is about to cross the lower crossing of +the Stry, northeast of the town of the same name. + +Our cavalry has driven Russian divisions out of the villages of Lenen +and Schrunden, sixty kilometers, (thirty-seven miles,) and seventy +kilometers, (forty-three miles,) east of Libau Courland. In the +district of Rawcliany, west of Kurschany and near Sredniki, on the +Dubysa, attacks by the enemy failed. + + +GERMAN THRUST TOWARD LEMBERG. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_VIENNA, June 3, (via London, Friday, June 4.)_--The German and +Austrian forces which broke the Russian lines at Stry are moving +northward rapidly. The Russians are apparently unable to make a stand +in the plains, and the chances of doing so north of the river are +regarded as problematical. + +Now that Przemysl has fallen, rendering it possible for General +Mackensen to continue his movement eastward, he would naturally meet a +check at the Russian fortified positions partly composed of a chain of +lakes extending north and south, about eighteen miles west of Lemberg. +It is thought, however, that these positions will prove untenable, +because General Linsingen, having crossed the Dniester to the west of +Mikolajow, will likely cut the communications with Lemberg. The +Austro-German plan of operations against Lemberg apparently is the +same as against Przemysl. The assailants are expected to throw columns +on both sides of the city and then press together some distance beyond +it. In the meantime this movement seems to threaten the Russians +fighting around Nadworna with a loss of contact with the main body. + +In view of the double success at Przemysl and Stry, it is expected in +Vienna that the Galician campaign will move at an accelerated pace the +next few days. + + +AN ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT. + +_LONDON, June 5.--Heavy fighting is still in progress in Galicia, +where the Austro-Germans are attempting an encircling movement +against Lemberg such as proved successful at Przemysl. The following +statement was given out today at the War Office in Vienna:_ + +East of Przemysl, near Medkya, the Russians have been unable to resist +a further advance of the Teutonic allies toward Mosziska. + +In the district of the Lower San the enemy's attacks were repulsed. +From the west Austro-German troops approached the district near Kalusz +and Zurawna. + +On the Pruth fighting is proceeding. The enemy obstinately attacked +here at several points but was driven back to the river. + + * * * * * + +_The following is the official report from Berlin:_ + +In connection with the Russian attacks repulsed yesterday at Rawdejany +and Sawdyniki, our troops have made further advances and have driven +off their opponents who held the bridge-head at Sawdyniki. They made +1,970 prisoners. Further north cavalry engagements took place +yesterday in the region of Fokeljanij with good results for us. + +To the east of Jaroslau the situation remains unchanged. South of +Przemysl our troops, under General Marwitz, together with +Austro-Hungarian troops, are advancing in the direction of Mosziska. +The army under General von Linsingen has driven the enemy back in the +direction of Kalusz and Zurawno on the Dniester. + + +SIXTH WEEK OF THE "THRUST." + +_BERLIN, June 7, (via London.)--Everything indicates that the Teutonic +allies are beginning the sixth week of their Galician campaign with a +promising outlook. The Russians have lost their line on the River San, +and they appear also about to lose their positions on the River +Dniester. These same advices indicate further that the Russians to the +east and northeast of Czernowitz already have begun to retreat. The +following bulletin was issued by the War Office today:_ + +During the battles at Przemysl 33,805 prisoners were taken. East of +Przemysl the troops of the Teutonic allies continued their victorious +battle. They drove back the enemy toward Wysznia, to the northeast of +Mosciska. + +Part of the army under General von Linsingen has crossed the Dniester +at Zurawna, and has taken the hill to the north of the eastern bank by +storm. Further south the pursuit reached the Nowica-Kalusz-Tomaszow +line. The number of prisoners taken has been increased to more than +13,000. + +In addition to crossing the Dniester, which was accomplished by +General von Linsingen's army through a feint attack on Zurawna, the +Austro-German forces also were victors at Klusz, forty-five miles +southeast of Drohobycz, where they took many prisoners. + + * * * * * + +_VIENNA, (via London,) June 7.--The following official statement was +issued tonight by the Austrian War Office:_ + +After the severe defeat at Przemysl the Russian Army command, during +the last few days, has made strong efforts to break our line by +attacks against our positions on the Pruth, especially against the +district of Kolomea and Delatyn, where the enemy continues to push +forward masses of fresh troops. + +While all these attacks were being put down by the tenacious bravery +of General Pflanzer's army, through which the Russians suffered +severely, allied forces under General Linsingen were approaching from +the west. Yesterday they captured Kalusz, the district north of Kalusz +and the heights on the left bank of the Dniester, north of Zurawna. +Between Nadowarna, near the Bystrica, and the Lomnica, our troops +joined in the attack. + +Battles to the east of Przemysl and Jaroslau continue. North of +Mosciska the enemy has been forced to evacuate Sieniawa. Isolated weak +counter-attacks by the Russians collapsed. + +Near Przemysl we have captured since June 1 33,805 prisoners. + + +LINSINGEN AT LUBACZOW. + +_BERLIN, June 8, (via London.)--General von Linsingen, in his advance +from Przemysl in the direction of Lemberg, has reached Lubaczow, +forty-five miles northeast of Przemysl. This information was contained +in the following official report given out at German Army Headquarters +today:_ + +Eastern Theatre of War--Our offensive movement in the Shavli district +and east of the Dubsa is taking its course. Southwest of Plodock an +enemy aeroplane was captured. + +Southeastern Theatre of War--East of Przemysl the general situation is +the same. The number of prisoners taken by the army under General von +Mackensen since June 1 amounts to more than 20,000. In the hills near +Nowoszyn, northeast of Zuralt, the troops under General Linsingen +again defeated the enemy. The pursuit reached the line of Lubaczow. + +South of the Dniester River we crossed the Lukew River and reached +Byslow, east of Kalusz, Wojnilow, Feredne, and Kolodziejow. The booty +taken this day amounts to 4,300 prisoners, four cannon, and twelve +machine guns. + + * * * * * + +_VIENNA, June 8. (via London.)--At Army Headquarters today the +following statement was given out:_ + +In the districts of the Pruth and Dniester (Galicia) the troops of the +Teutonic allies yesterday prosecuted an attack along the +Lanozyn--Nadworna--Kalusz line and pushed back the enemy toward +Stanislau and Halicz. Further progress was made on the left bank of +the Dniester, east and north of Zurawna, 6,200 Russians being +captured. Otherwise the situation is unchanged. + + +STANISLAU TAKEN. + +_BERLIN, June 9, (via London.)--Following is the bulletin concerning +the operations issued today by the War Office:_ + +To the northeast of Zurawna troops under General Linsingen brought the +Russian counter-attack to a standstill. Further to the south fighting +is in progress for possession of the hills to the east of Kalusz and +west of Jezuwol. + +Stanislau already is in our possession. We took 4,500 men prisoners +and captured thirteen machine guns. + + * * * * * + +_BERLIN, June 9, (by Wireless to Sayville.)--Included in the items +given out today by the Overseas News Agency is the following:_ + +The army under General von Linsingen has succeeded in crossing the +Dniester River, in Galicia, with the purpose of cutting communications +to the Russian armies in Bukowina and Galicia. + + * * * * * + +_VIENNA, June 9, (via London.)--The Austrian War Office issued the +following official communication tonight:_ + +South of the Dniester the Russians have again lost ground. After many +victorious engagements the [Teutonic] allies yesterday reached, to the +north of Kolomea, the Kulacz-Kowcekorzow line and occupied the heights +of Otynia. In the evening they occupied Stanislau, and made a further +advance toward Halicz. The day's captures amounted to 5,570 prisoners. + +No important events have occurred on the remainder of the front in +Poland and Galicia. + + +GERMAN SETBACK IN THE NORTH. + +_BERLIN, (via London,) June 10.--An official announcement from Army +Headquarters today states that the German forces which invaded the +Baltic provinces of Russia have retreated. Following is the text of +the statement:_ + +To the southeast of Shavli the Russians offered strong resistance +yesterday to our advance. Minor progress was made. The booty taken by +us in the last two days in this district amounts to 2,250 prisoners +and two machine guns. + +The enemy brought forward reinforcements from a northeasterly +direction in opposition to our encircling movement on the east of the +Dubysa. On account of this menace our wing was withdrawn toward the +line of Beisagola-Zoginie without being interfered with by the enemy. + +South of the Niemen River we took 3,200 Russian prisoners, while in +pursuit of the enemy since June 6. We also captured two flags, twelve +machine guns, and many field kitchens and carts. + +In the southeastern theatre the situation to the east of Przemysl +remains unchanged. + +Fresh Russian forces advanced from the region of Mikolaiow and +Rohatyn, to the south and the southeast of Lemberg, respectively. +Their attack was repulsed by parts of the army under General Linsingen +on the line of Lityma, northeast of Drohobac, and Zurawna, in the +Dniester section. + +East of Stanislau and at Kaledniz battles and pursuit continue. + + +NORTH OF SHAVLI. + +_BERLIN, June 13, (via London.)--The following report of the +operations on the Russian front was issued by the War Office today:_ + +In the eastern theatre our attack northwest of Shavli made good +progress. Kuzie was taken by storm. Enemy counter-attacks failed. +Eight officers and 3,350 men and eight machine guns were captured. + +Southeast of the Mariampol-Kovno Road battles against Russian +reinforcements arriving from the south have commenced. + +North of Przasnysz another 150 prisoners were made. + +Our invasion into the enemy lines south of Bolimow was followed in the +night by Russian counter-attacks, all of which were unsuccessful. The +gained positions are firmly in our hands. Our booty in this sector has +been increased to 1,600 prisoners, eight cannon, two of which are of +heavy calibre, and nine machine guns. + + +DRIVING NEAR MOSCISKA. + +_VIENNA, June 14, (via London.)--The following official statement was +issued today from General Headquarters:_ + +In the Russian war theatre the allied armies again attacked yesterday +in Middle Galicia. After stubborn fighting the Russian front to the +east and southeast of Jaroslau was broken and the enemy was forced to +retreat with very heavy losses. + +Since last night the Russians have also been retreating near Mosciska +and to the southeast of that place. We captured yesterday 16,000 +Russians. + +[Illustration: Scene of General von Hindenberg's operation in +Courland.] + +Battles south of the Dniester are continuing. Near Derzow, south of +Mikolaiow, our troops repulsed four strong attacks. The enemy was +routed from the battlefield. + +Northeast of Zurawna the allied troops advanced against Zydaczow +yesterday and captured it after heavy fighting. North of Tlamcz an +attack is also in progress. Many prisoners, the number of whom has not +yet been fixed, have fallen into our hands. + +North of Zale Szczyky the Russians attacked, after 11 o'clock at +night, on a front of three kilometers, (nearly two miles,) but the +attack failed under losses to the enemy. + + * * * * * + +_BERLIN, June 14, (via London.)--The following official announcement +was issued here today:_ + +Eastern Theatre of War: In the neighborhood of Kuzie, northwest of +Shavli, (Baltic provinces,) a few enemy positions were taken. Three +officers and 300 men were taken prisoners. Southeast of the road from +Mariampol to Kovno our troops took the first Russian line by storm. +Three officers and 313 men were captured. + +Southeast Theatre of War: General von Mackensen began an attack over a +line extending seventy kilometers, (forty-three miles.) Starting from +their positions at Cyerniawa, northwest of Mosciska, and at Sieniawa, +the enemy's positions have been taken along the entire length of this +front. Sixteen thousand prisoners fell into our hands yesterday. + +Attacks by the troops under General von Linsingen and General von der +Marwitz also made progress. + + +LEMBERG IN DANGER. + +_VIENNA, June 15, (via London.)--The following official communication +was issued today:_ + +There is heavy fighting along the entire Galician front. + +The army of Archduke Joseph Ferdinand, after the capture of Sieniawa, +on the east bank of the San, has advanced in a northern and +northeastern direction. The castle and farm of Piskorvice were stormed +yesterday and numerous prisoners captured. + +Fighting heavily, the army of General Mackensen is advancing on both +sides of Krakowiec (southeast of Jaroslau) and toward Oleszyce +(northeast of Jaroslau.) + +Southeast of Mosciska the troops of General Soehm-Ermolli are +attacking fresh hostile positions covering the road to Grodek (on the +railroad between Mosciska and Lemberg.) + +On the upper Dniester strong Russian forces are defending the +bridge-head at Mikolajow against the advancing allies under General +Linsingen, while further down the river the troops of General Pflanzer +and General Baltin are standing before Nizniow (south of Maryampol) +and Czernelica, maintaining the captured town of Zale Szczyky against +all Russian attacks. Portions of this army again have forced the +Russian troops making a stand in Bessarabia, between the Dniester and +the Pruth Rivers, to retreat, driving them toward Chotin and along +the Pruth. + +The number of prisoners taken in Galicia since June 12 has been +increased by several thousands. + + * * * * * + +_BERLIN, June 15.--Official announcement that the Austro-German forces +operating in Galicia had captured the town of Mosciska was made in the +following bulletin issued from Army Headquarters today:_ + +The enemy, who was defeated on the 13th and 14th of June by the army +of General von Mackensen, has been unable to regain a footing in the +positions prepared by him. To the northeast of Jaworow the enemy was +driven back from the position at which he had stopped, the booty +increasing. + +The Russian forces south of the Przemysl-Lemberg Railway have been +forced to retreat. The troops of General von der Marwitz yesterday +took Mosciska. The right wing of the army of General von Linsingen +stormed the heights east of Zekel. Our cavalry reached the district +south of Maryampol. + +_Of the operations in the Baltic Provinces and in Poland the bulletin +says:_ + +East of Shavli German troops stormed the village of Danksze and took +1,660 prisoners. The positions recently won southwest and east of the +Maryampol-Kovno Road were repeatedly attacked yesterday by a strong +force of the enemy, which had no success. Our troops advanced on the +Lipowo-Kalwarya front, pressed back the Russian line, and captured the +Russian advanced trenches. + +On the River Orzyc our attacking troops stormed and took the village +of Gednoroczec, southeast of Chorzetten, and Czerwonagora and the +bridges there, as well as the bridges east of this place. The booty +taken at this place amounts to 365 Russian prisoners. Attacks by the +enemy against the point at which we broke through north of Bolimow +failed. + + +122,408 PRISONERS. + +_The following official report of the operations was issued today by +the War Office:_ + +The defeated Russian armies in Galicia attempted on Tuesday along the +whole front between the River San, north of Sieniawa and the Dniester +marshes to bring the Teutonic allies to a standstill. In the evening +the Russians everywhere had been driven from their positions near +Cieplice, north of Sieniawa, in the Lubsyow-Zuwadowka sector, +southwest of Niemerow and west of Sadowa-Wiszenia. The enemy is being +pursued. + +General Mackensen's army has captured upward of 40,000 men and +sixty-nine machine guns since June 12. + +Between the Dniester marshes and Zurawna the Russians have gained some +ground, but the general situation there has not changed. + +_Of the operations in the north the bulletin says:_ + +Russian attacks against the German positions southeast of Mariampol, +east of Augustowa, and north of Bolimow all were repulsed. Our attacks +along the Lipowo-Kalwarya front gained further ground, several +positions being recaptured. We made 2,040 Russian prisoners and +captured three machine guns. + +On the north of the Upper Vistula our troops repulsed an attack on the +positions we took from the Russians on Monday. + + * * * * * + +_VIENNA, June 16, (via London.)--The following official communication +was issued today:_ + +In Galicia the Russians, despite their obstinate resistance, could not +withstand the general attack by the allied armies. Hotly pursued by +our victorious troops the remainder of the defeated Russian corps are +retreating across the Newkow, Lubaczow and Javorow. + +South of the Lemberg Railroad the army of General Boehm-Ermolli +Tuesday night stormed the Russian positions on the entire front, +driving the enemy across the Sadowa, Wyszna, and Rudki. + +South of the Dniester the fighting is proceeding before the bridge +head. The troops of General Pflanzer yesterday captured Nijnioff. + +From June 1 to June 15 our total war booty has been 108 officers and +122,300 men, 53 cannon, 187 machine guns, and 58 munition wagons. + + +LEMBERG'S LAST DEFENSES. + +_BERLIN, (via London,) June 18.--The following official report on the +operations was issued today by the War Office:_ + +In the Eastern Theatre--An advancing Russian division was driven back +by German cavalry across the Szymeza branch. At a point to the east of +the highroad between Cycowyany and Shavli an attack by the enemy in +strong force against the Dawina line was repulsed. + +In the Southeastern Theatre--On both sides of Tarnogrod Austro-German +troops yesterday drove the enemy back toward a branch of the Tanew +River. Later during the night these defeated Russians were driven +still further back by the army under General von Mackensen. They +retreated as far as the prepared positions at Grodek, which are on the +line running from the Narol and Wereszyca brooks to their junction +with the River Dniester. + +On the Dniester front, northeast of Stry, the situation remains +unchanged. + + * * * * * + +_VIENNA, June 18, (via London.)--The Austro-German troops in pursuit +of the retreating Russians have crossed the Galician border to the +north of Sieniawa and occupied the Russian town of Tarnogrod, +according to an official communication issued by the War Office +tonight. The communication says:_ + +North of Sieniawa our pursuing troops have penetrated Russian +territory and reached the heights north of Krezow and occupied +Tarnogrod. + +The Russian forces between the Lower San and the Vistula have retired +at several points. The heights north of Cieszanow (ten miles north of +Lubaczow) have been taken. In the mountainous region east of Niemirow +and in the rear of Jaworow, strong Russian forces have appeared. + +On the Wereszyca River the fighting continues. Our troops have gained +a footing at some points eastward of the river. + +South of the Upper Dniester the Russians, after hard fighting, were +compelled to retire from positions near Litynia toward Kolodrub. Our +pursuing troops have reached the mouth of the Wereszyca. Elsewhere the +situation along the Dniester is unchanged. + +[Illustration: The dotted line shows the approximate position of the +Austro-German battle line in the middle of February, when the drive at +Lemberg, supported with enormous reinforcements which had been +concentrated at Cracow, began. The heavy black line shows the +approximate position of the victorious armies bent on driving the +Russians out of the corner of Galicia still remaining in their +possession. The frontier is indicated by the line of dots and dashes.] + +The eastern groups of General Pflanzer's army yesterday repulsed three +Russian storming attacks. The enemy making desperate attempts to throw +our troops back in Bukowina, suffered heavy losses from our artillery +and retired quickly. Eight officers and 1,000 men and three machine +guns were captured. + + +GRODEK POSITION CAPTURED. + +_BERLIN, (via London,) June 20.--The armies under General von +Mackensen are continuing their advance upon Lemberg, the Galician +capital, after capturing Grodek, and have taken Russian trenches, one +after another, along a front of almost twenty-four miles to the +northwest of the city, where the Muscovites are making a desperate +stand, according to a statement issued today at the headquarters of +the German Army Staff. The statement says:_ + +Eastern Theatre--Russian attacks against our lines in the vicinity of +Szawle and Augustowo were beaten off. Our advance in small divisions +resulted in the capture of advanced positions of the enemy near +Budtbrzysieki and Zalesie, east of the Przasnysz-Myszyniec Road. + +Southeastern Theatre--South of the Pilica, troops under General von +Woyrich have taken several advanced enemy positions during the last +few days. + +The armies under General von Mackensen have taken the Grodek +position. Early yesterday morning German troops and the corps of +Field Marshal von Arz commenced an attack upon strongly intrenched +enemy lines. After stubborn fighting, lasting until afternoon, enemy +trenches, one behind the other, almost along the entire front, +extending over a distance of thirty-five kilometers (twenty-four +miles) north of Janow (eleven miles northwest of Lemberg,) Bisputa, +and Obedynski, and southeast of Rawa Ruska, (thirty-two miles +northwest of Lemberg,) had been stormed. In the evening the enemy was +thrown back behind the high road to Zolkiew, north of Lemberg and Rawa +Ruska. + +Under pressure of this defeat the enemy also is weakened in his +communication. Between Grodek and the Dniester marshes the enemy is +hard pressed by Austro-Hungarian troops. + +Between the Dniester marshes and the mouth of the River Stry the enemy +has evacuated the southern bank of the Dniester. + + +KAISER WILHELM AT THE FRONT. + +_BERLIN, (via London,) June 21._--Emperor William, it was announced +officially by the German War Department today, was present at the +battle of Beskid for possession of the Grodek line. These Russian +positions are to the west of Lemberg, the Galician capital. + +The rapidity of the Austro-German success excites astonishment here. +It was believed that the Russians would be able to check the allies' +advance for some days on the Grodek line; hence the bulletins issued +today recorded results far exceeding the expectations of the most +optimistic observers. + +Special dispatches from the front describe the Russian retreat from +Grodek and the Russian resistance from the Tanew River to the mouth of +the Wereszyca. Air scouts report that the Russians have fallen back +upon their last line of defenses protecting Lemberg, which is nine +miles west of the city limits. + +The situation at Lemberg is evidently precarious, as General von +Mackensen today seized the railway between Lemberg and Rawa Ruska, +which is the main line of travel northward. This, it is considered, +gives the Russians the alternative of preparing for speedy evacuation +or of trying to hold the city, with the risk of being enveloped by von +Mackensen's army sweeping around southeastward and forming a junction +with General Linsingen's forces. + +Grand Duke Nicholas, the Russian Commander in Chief, apparently has +begun to realize the threatening dangers, for he has ordered the +withdrawal of all Russian forces from the south bank of the Dniester. +Military opinion here is that he cannot extricate his huge armies +without heavy losses in men and material. + + +FALL OF LEMBERG. + +_BERLIN, June 23, (by Wireless Telegraphy to Sayville, N.Y.)_--Lemberg +has been conquered after a very severe battle, according to an +official report received here from the headquarters of the +Austro-Hungarian Army. The Galician capital fell before the advance of +the Second Army. + +The news that Lemberg has been carried by Austrian and Hungarian +troops is received today with great jubilation in Berlin. Throngs of +people crowd the public squares and the parks, flags are displayed +from windows, and bands are playing patriotic airs. Extra editions of +the newspapers are being shouted on the streets, and the church bells +are ringing. Everybody seems to feel that another great step in the +direction of final victory has been gained. + +A correspondent of the Cologne Gazette telegraphs that the Russians, +before the general retreat began, hurriedly sent back all the +artillery they could move. This was done instead of endeavoring to +cover the retreat of the artillery and saving all of it. Part of the +cannon were useless, on account of poor ammunition. Continuing, the +correspondent says: + +"It was after the artillery had been sent to the rear that the +panic-stricken troops began their flight. Wagons and supply trains +blocked the roads. Men detached the horses from these vehicles and +rode away on them, heedless of the crowd of soldiers of all arms +crowding back to the rear. Generals and Colonels were helplessly +carried away. Units were disbanded, and the army became a mere mob. It +was readily to be seen that catastrophe was unavoidable." + +A report given out today sets forth that, since June 12, 60,000 +Russian soldiers and nine Russian guns have been captured. + + +LONDON ACCEPTS THE STATEMENT. + +_LONDON, June 23, 12:10 P.M._--The statement from Austrian +headquarters that Lemberg had fallen before the advance of the forces +of Austria and Germany was received in London without surprise. It was +known that the Germanic allies were within artillery range of the +Galician capital, and capitulation was regarded as a question only of +days. Nothing has been heard yet from Petrograd, but there is no +disposition to doubt the accuracy of the Austrian claim. + + +ARCHDUKE FREDERICK HONORED. + +_VIENNA, June 23, (via London,) 5:42 P.M._--Emperor William has given +Archduke Frederick of Austria the rank of Field Marshal in the +Prussian Army in recognition of his services in the campaign which +resulted in the fall of Lemberg. + + + + +BELGIUM. + +By LEONID ANDREYEV. + +[Translated from the Russian by Leo Pasvolsky.] + + +I am Belgium! + +Oh, look at me, kind men! I am clothed in snow-white robes, for I am +innocent before the God of peace and love; it was not I that cast into +the world the torch of strife, not I that lit the horrid flame of +conflagration, not I that caused hot tears to stream from mothers', +widows' eyes. + +Oh, look at me, kind men! Look at this scarlet blot upon my bosom that +burns so vividly upon my snow-white robe--Oh, 'tis my wounded heart, +from which red blood is gushing forth! The traitor pierced me to the +heart, he plunged his sword into my bosom. Ah, what a cruel blow! + +On through this field I marched in peace, bearing these flowers, +listening to the songsters' choirs on high, and praising God, who made +the beauteous flowers. Who coveted this path of mine, that wound +'midst flowers and songs? The traitor pierced my very heart, and the +white petals lifeless hang, o'er-sprinkled with red blood. + +White rose! My gentle, dear white rose! + +Oh, look at me, kind men! 'Tis not a crown upon my head, 'tis +waterplants, the greenish grass of ocean fields, with which the sea +had clad me. What could I do? So once again I sought my dear, old sea, +I knelt before its mighty waves, I prayed: "Oh, cover me, my dear, old +sea, for nowhere else can I seek aid. The cruel stranger rules my +home; my gentle children lifeless lie. And dost thou see those horrid +flames, that rise where once my temples stood? Oh, cover me, protect +me, my dear, my dear, old sea, for nowhere else can I seek aid!" + +'Twas thus I spoke and wept in grief. And lo! the kindly sea gave me +protection. + +And out of the sea I came again, I came to tell you that I live. + +Oh, look at me, kind men! For I am Belgium, and I live. My King, my +Albert is alive; my Belgian people lives. + +No, these are not tears that glisten in my eyes. Enough of tears! A +holy wrath inflames my heart! + +No, this is not a wound upon my bosom, 'tis a red, red rose, the +quenchless flame of war, my sacred oath! + +Red rose! My terrible red rose! + +No, this wreath upon my head is not of waterplants, no, 'tis the crown +of Belgium, the crown of a free nation! + +Where is my sword? + +In the name of Justice and of Freedom, in my King's name I raise the +sword. + +To Belgium's aid, O Nations! + +God save the Czar and Russia, that gave her blood for me! + +God save the King and Britain, that shed her blood for me! + +Forward, fair France's children! Form your battalions, hasten, hasten! + +To Belgium's aid, O Nations! + +[Illustration: Map showing where the French were trying on June 20, +1915, to capture the German lateral lines of communications about +Arras and Lens in their steady forward drive in the north of France. +The "Labyrinth" appears in the lower left section.] + + + + +Battle of the Labyrinth + +France's Victory in the Chief Western Operation Since the Marne + + The Battle of the Labyrinth, technically described in French + communiqués as "operations in the section north of Arras," + really began in October, 1914, when General de Maud-Huy + stopped the Prussian Guard before Arras. Because of their + great strength the labyrinth of German trenches and + fortifications southeast of Neuville-St. Vaast formed a + dangerous salient which the French troops had to dispose of + before they could make progress eastward from north and + south of that point. The decisive part of the battle--or + series of battles extending over fifty miles of front--is + described in the brief review of the French official + observer at the front, and in the two accounts by Wythe + Williams cabled to THE NEW YORK TIMES after a trip to the + front specially arranged for him and three editors of Paris + newspapers by the French War Ministry. + +By The Associated Press. + +Account of the French Official Observer At the Front + + +_Paris, June 22.--A terrific combat from May 30 to June 19 has +resulted in the conquest by the French of the formidable system of +works and trenches called the "Labyrinth." The operations are +described today in a dispatch from an official observer at the front._ + +_The Labyrinth, lying between Neuville-St. Vaast and Ecurie, formed a +salient of the German line, and its position, a strong one, had been +greatly reinforced from time to time. The "Observer" writes:_ + +French attacks on May 9 and days thereafter failed to modify the +situation. At the end of May the French decided to finish things, and +the order was given to take the Labyrinth inch by inch. + +This meant an operation of two principal phases of different nature. +It was necessary, first, by well-prepared and vigorous assaults, to +get a footing in the enemy organization, and then to progress to the +interior of the communicating trenches, repulsing the enemy step by +step. These two operations lasted more than three weeks and resulted +in complete success. + +The debouch must have been difficult, as numerous German batteries, +composed of 77-millimeter guns, the 150, 210, 280, and even 305 +millimeter guns, concentrated their fire on us. They were stationed at +Givenchy, La Folie, Thelus, Farbus, and Beaurains, south of Arras. +Nevertheless, our men understood, and prepared to do their duty. + +It was on May 30 that the assaults began, our regiments marching out +from different points. Their ardor was admirable. + +Everywhere, except on the right, we captured the first line. Behind +this were a great number of barricades and fortlets. We took some of +these, while others stopped us. One hundred and fifty prisoners, +surprised in their holes by the furious charge of the French infantry, +fell into our hands. + +From this moment the war of the communicating trenches began. There +were the trenches of von Kluck, Eulenburg, and the Salle des Fętes, +without counting innumerable numbered works, giving a feeling of +unheard-of difficulties which our troops had to overcome. + +Without a stop, from May 30 to June 17, they fought on this ground, +full of big holes and filled with dead. The combat never ceased, +either day or night. The attacking elements, constantly renewed, +crushed the Germans with hand grenades and demolished their earth +barricades. There was not an hour of truce nor an instant of repose. +The men were under a sun so hot in the trenches that they fought +bareheaded and in their shirtsleeves. + +[Illustration: "The Labyrinth"] + +On each of these bloody days there were acts of incomparable heroism. +From three sides at a time we made way where the Germans had dug +formidable shelters, ten meters under ground. The enemy artillery +continued firing on our line without interruption. + +Our reserves suffered, for in this upturned earth, where every blow +from the pickaxe would disinter a body, one can prepare but slowly the +deep shelters which the situation demands. + +We lost many men, but the morale of the others was unshaken. The men +asked only one thing--to go forward to fight with grenades, instead of +waiting, gun in hand, the unceasing fall of shells. + +They were hard days, and it was necessary constantly to carry to the +fighting men munitions and food, and especially water. Everybody did +his best, and we continued our success. Little by little our progress, +indicated by a cloud of dust, resulting from the combat of the +grenades, brought us to an extremity north of the Labyrinth. The +fighting continued in the Eulenburg and other trenches daily, and +ultimately the Labyrinth belonged to us. + +The Germans lost an entire regiment. We took a thousand prisoners. The +rest were killed. A Bavarian regiment also was cut to pieces. + +Our losses were 2,000 men, among whom many were slightly wounded. + +The resistance was as fierce as the attack. Despite the nature of the +ground and the organized defenses, which had been in preparation for +seven months, and despite the artillery, the bomb-throwers, and the +quick-firers, we remained the victors. + + +THE FRENCH "CURTAIN OF IRON." + +By Wythe Williams. + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +_Paris, June 1._--I have just completed another trip to the front, +probably the most important one accorded any correspondent since the +war began. For several days, in the company of three Paris editors, I +was escorted by an officer of the General Staff through the entire +sector north of Arras where the French have been making brilliant +gains in the last few weeks. + +The trip was arranged suddenly by the War Ministry in order to prove +the truth of the French official communiqués and the falsity of the +German reports. I was the only neutral in the party. In fact, the day +before we started I was informed that trips to the front had +temporarily been abandoned because the fighting was too hot to take +correspondents to any place on the line. During the entire time I was +under heavy artillery fire and got more intimately acquainted with +modern war than on all my previous trips to the front. I was +especially fortunate to be picked out by the War Office over all +competitors as the single foreigner permitted to go, for it so +happened that we covered the same sector of fighting as that traversed +last February on my first officially authorized visit to the battle +zone. Thus I was able to make comprehensive comparisons of just what +had been accomplished since that time. + +On this trip I covered a large stretch of territory that until a few +weeks ago--some places only a few days ago--Germany had claimed as her +own by right of conquest. I walked through miles of trenches that only +last February I peered at from other trenches through a periscope; +cautiously, because they were then occupied by Germans; fearfully, +because any instant the periscope was likely to be struck from my eyes +and shattered by a hostile bullet. + +The result of this long walk taught me many things. First in +importance was that my confidence in the superiority of German +trenches had been sadly misplaced. Since the trench fighting began +after the battle of the Marne we have been regaled in Paris with +stories of the marvelous German trenches. Humorists went so far as to +have them installed with baths and electric lights, but we have all +believed them to be dry, cement lined, with weather-proof tops and +comfortable sleeping quarters, and as hygienically perfect as the +German organization has ever made anything. This belief for me had +been borne out in accounts of the German trench life reported for +American newspapers and magazines. + +What I can now say is that the correspondents who permitted this +legend to go over the world must have been grandly entertained by the +Germans in special sections of their trenches set aside as quarters +for the officers. I believe that these trenches, which I saw on this +trip, must compare favorably with any they hold, for they form part of +what is called "the labyrinth." Some of the most desperate fighting of +the war is still going on there, with the French literally blasting +the Germans out yard by yard, trench by trench. In fact, this trench +line was to have formed part of the new boundary line of Germany--they +dug themselves in to stay. + +I entered these trenches following a long passage leading from the +rear of the original French lines. I thought I was still in the French +trenches, when suddenly I found myself in a mud ditch, much narrower +than any I had ever traversed. The bottom, instead of being corduroy +lined, was rough and uneven, making very hard walking. I said to the +Major with me, "You must have made these trenches in a hurry; they are +not so good as your others." He replied, "We did not make them. The +Germans are responsible." + +Then we came to a wide place where a sign announced the headquarters +of the German commandant. The sides of his underground cavern were all +solid concrete, with cement inner walls separating four rooms. Paper +and artistic burlaping covered the walls and ceilings, and rugs were +on the floors. The furniture was all that could be desired. There was +a good iron bed, an excellent mattress, a dresser with a pier glass, +and solid tables and chairs. The rooms consisted of an office, dining +room, bedroom, and a kitchen, with offshoots for wine, and sleeping +quarters for the orderlies and cook. Kultur demanded that the Kaiser's +office should have the best accommodation transportable to the firing +line, but the fare of the common soldier, I should judge, averaged +quite a third below that of the French--both privates and officers, +all of whom share the common lot, with straw for bedding and either +mud or stars for the roof. + +Leaving this commandant's late magnificence, we soon found ourselves +in another wide, corduroy-lined trench, with straw dugouts. My Major, +without attempting any comparison, but merely to get my geography +right, said quite simply: "We are now in the parallel French trench to +that German one we just visited." + +All this particular bit of trenches was where the Germans cleared out +precipitately after French night attacks, and without waiting for the +fearful "rideau de fer," or iron curtain, with which the French +usually devastate everything before advancing. Littered through them +were hundreds of unused cartridges, rifles, knapsacks, bayonets, and +clothing of every description. The dead had been taken away just +before our arrival. The prisoners--hundreds of them--we met going to +the rear. + +The second great lesson I learned on this trip I already had a good +understanding of from my previous trip. It is that the "rideau de fer" +is the most terrible thing ever devised by man to devastate not only +men but every single object upon which it descends. + +This time I saw the results of the "rideau de fer" on another long +stretch of what had lately been German trenches. The "rideau de fer" +is simply the French method of converging artillery fire upon a single +point where they intend to attack or where they are being attacked. +The fact that it is possible is due to the enormous number of guns and +the unlimited supply of high explosive shells. + +Behind the entire infantry lines there seems to be an endless row of +batteries of "seventy-fives," close up to the trenches. These terrible +little destroyers can whirl in any direction at will, so when the +order comes for the "rideau de fer" at any point, literally hundreds +of guns within a few seconds are converging their fire there, dropping +a metal curtain through which no mortal enemy can advance. + +In this section the French dropped nearly a quarter of a million +shells in one day. Unlike the English shrapnel, which makes little +impression against earthworks, the French use explosive shells almost +entirely. + +As I walked over this section after the curtain had been lifted, I was +absolutely baffled for descriptive words. All the earth in that +vicinity seemed battered out of shape. The dead needed no burial +there. Down under the wreck and ruin the dead all lie covered just +where they fell. + +Among the places I either visited or at least was able to see plainly, +all of which were held by the Germans at the time of my last trip, +were Saint Eloi, Carrency, Notre Dame de Lorette, Souchez, and +Neuville Saint Vaast, where the fighting still continues from house to +house. + +I found the same efficient, imperturbable army that I discovered +previously, all absolutely sure of complete victory not very far off. +I got an illustration on this trip of the imperturbability of the +French soldier in such a way as I never before believed existed. We +were walking along a country lane to a turning where a trench boyau +began. Just at the turning the nose of a "seventy-five" poked across +the path. Although the gun was speaking at its high record of twenty +shots per minute, several soldiers lolled idly about within a few +yards, smoking cigarettes. We stood off at an angle slightly in front, +but about thirty yards away. + +It was evening. We could see the spurt of flame from the mouth of the +gun as the shell departed to the distant Germans. + +Across the road in the direction the gun pointed was a field. There, +almost in the path of the gun, which, instead of being raised at an +angle, was pointed horizontally, and only fifteen yards away, I saw a +man grubbing in the soil. He seemed so directly in the path of the +shells that I don't believe they missed blowing off his head by more +than two feet. But he just grubbed away, almost on his hands and +knees. If the gunners saw him they paid not the slightest attention, +but just calmly went on firing. + +One of our party called the situation to the attention of an officer, +who immediately began dancing up and down, calling to the man to "Come +out of that before you are killed." + +The man then raised his head and looked our way. He was a soldier. His +cap was slanted over one eye, his pipe dangled from his mouth, and his +face wore an expression of irritation. Seeing the officer, he saluted, +but did not trouble to stand up. + +"What are you doing there?" the officer called. The man raised his +dirty fist to his cap, and said, "Digging carrots." + +As we gasped our astonishment he calmly went back to his grubbing, +this time, it seemed, slightly nearer to the flash of the cannon than +before. + +Another impressive sight afforded me was the manoeuvres behind the +lines. I do not mean strategic manoeuvres bearing upon real +operations, but manoeuvres such as were held in previous years--mimic +warfare within the sound of real war and only a couple of miles away. +Approaching the front, we were continually passing through these +manoeuvres. I calculated that I saw thousands of soldiers playing at +war and snapping empty rifles who the day before stood in the trenches +firing bullets, and who will do it again tomorrow. The manoeuvres come +during "days of repose" from the trenches, when the men know they at +least have that day more to live. Every field, every road was full of +them. + +We motored along country lanes preferably to the main highways, where +our autos would be more easily discerned by the German aeroplanes +constantly hovering about. In these lanes we found lines of men +sneaking along, sometimes crawling inch by inch, to surprise an +imaginary enemy down around the bend. In the fields we saw charges and +counter-charges from trench to trench. We saw cavalry manoeuvres +across the open country and cavalry on foot facing each other in long +lines along the roadsides, fighting desperately with lance and clubbed +carbine. + +Occasionally a real shell would come popping over from somewhere to +tear a hole in the roadside to make our automobiling more difficult. +In fact, we discovered that during "Joffre's offensive" days of repose +mean drill, drill, and more drill, and when the men are not drilling +many of them are guarding prisoners. + +Along other roadsides we saw hundreds of prisoners, usually in charge +of a cavalry company marching them to the rear. At one place we +stopped and talked with them--several could speak French. There were +many well set up, fine-looking fellows, who seemed perfectly content +to do no more fighting. About a dozen under one guard were across the +road in a meadow, tossing a tennis ball about, laughing and joking. +Others were eating luncheon. It was just 1 o'clock. They had the same +fare as their captors, the only difference in service being that the +captors got theirs first. + +Our officer talked to the Captain of the guard, who explained that his +lot of about 400 had just been taken at Neuville Saint Vaast. Our +officers then talked to the prisoners. I was surprised to note the +extraordinary decency of their attitude and conversation. There was no +boasting, no arrogance, no animosity. On the contrary, I heard one +Captain telling the prisoners considerable they apparently did not +know about the progress of the fighting in that neighborhood. He +smiled as he talked, and concluded by telling the men they would be +well fed and well treated. + +I also noted the attitude of the prisoners. As a French officer +approached the German soldier, true to his years of iron discipline, +leaped to his feet and stood rigid as a poker through the talk, but +never the raising of a hand to cap, never the salute to the Frenchman. + +I strolled down the road and found another with whom I was able to +talk. He was a non-commissioned officer, young and very intelligent. I +told him I was an American, which aroused his interest. He wanted to +talk about America. He had friends there. I asked him: + +"How long do you think Germany can hold out against so many enemies?" + +He stood very straight, looked me directly in the eye, and said: +"Germany knows she is beaten, but she will fight to the last +cartridge." + +He spoke French. His final words, "La derniere cartouche," rang out. +His eyes flashed. Several others crowded about. + +Just then a company of Spahis cavalry came clattering down the road--a +more ferocious-looking lot I have never seen--and disappeared in a +cloud of dust. All of us turned to look, the prisoner remarking: "I'll +say one thing, though: we never thought we would have to fight men +like those." + +Coming from the trenches at night, we waited in a little hamlet about +a kilometer in the rear for our automobiles. About 1,000 soldiers were +there, waiting to return to the trenches in the morning. They +completely surrounded us, singling me out for observation on account +of my khaki clothes. I heard one ask our Captain about me. The +Captain replied that I was a correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES. +Many had never seen an American before. I was conscious that I was an +object of intense curiosity. + +I saw one little chap pushing through the crowd. He stood before me +and thrust out his hand. "Hello!" he said. I thought his "Hello!" +might be French quite as easily as American, so I merely returned his +handshake. He grinned, and then said in perfectly good "American": +"You forget me, huh?" I admitted my shortcoming in memory; but his +beard was very thick and stubby and his uniform was very dirty. I +complimented his linguistic ability. He waved his arms, saying: "Huh, +didn't I live eight years in little old New York?" Then he came still +nearer, saying: "You don't remember me, and I have served you many a +cocktail. I don't know your name; but I am sure." + +After something like a jar I gasped out, "Where?" + +"Five years ago, at Mouquin's," he replied, and then I did remember +him, and while the others stood about marveling at their "educated" +comrade who could actually converse with the American, we talked about +many of the old newspaper crowd in New York who frequented that +restaurant. He had sailed on Aug. 4 to rejoin his regiment. + +The automobiles arrived, and I climbed aboard. He reached up his hand. + +"Tell those folks back in America that we are all doing fine," he +said. Then his voice sank to an impressive whisper: "And take it from +me, you can say we are giving the Germans hell now." + +As our automobile jerked suddenly away into the night I could hear my +ex-waiter excitedly introducing American journalism, particularly THE +NEW YORK TIMES, to his regiment on the battlefield. + +WYTHE WILLIAMS. + + +THE LABYRINTH. + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +_Paris, June 2._--This is a story about what, in the minds of the +French military authorities, ranks as the greatest battle of the war +in the western theatre of operations, excepting the battle of the +Marne, which has already taken its place among the decisive battles of +the world's history. This battle is still raging, although its first +stages have been definitely settled in favor of the French, who are +continuing their progress with less and less opposition. + +So far the battle has received no name. The French official +communiqués laconically refer to it as "operations in the section +north of Arras." + +I cannot minutely describe the conflict; no one can do that at this +stage. I can, however, write about it and tell what I have seen these +past few days when the Ministry of War authorized me to accompany a +special mission there, to which I was the only foreigner accredited. I +purpose to call this struggle the battle of the Labyrinth, for +"labyrinth" is the name applied to the vast system of intrenchments +all through that region, and from which the Germans are being +literally blasted almost foot by foot by an extravagant use of French +melinite. + +There have been successive chapters by different writers describing +and disposing of as finished--though it is not finished--still another +battle which, from the English point of view, takes top rank, namely, +the battle of Ypres. While a British defeat at Ypres might mean the +loss of Dunkirk and possibly of Calais, a French defeat at the +Labyrinth would allow the Germans to sweep clear across Northern +France, cutting all communication with England. + +The battle of the Labyrinth really began last October, when General de +Maud-Huy stopped the Prussian Guard before Arras with his motley array +of tired Territorials, whom he gathered together in a mighty rush +northward after the battle of the Marne. The crack Guards regiments +afterward took on the job at Ypres, while the Crown Prince of Bavaria +assumed the vain task of attempting to break the more southward +passage to the sea. + +All the Winter de Maud-Huy worried him, not seeking to make a big +advance, but contenting himself with the record of never having lost a +single trench. With the return of warm weather, just after the big +French advance in Champagne, this sector was chosen by Joffre as the +place in which to take the heart out of his enemy by the delivery of a +mighty blow. + +The Germans probably thought that the French intended to concentrate +in the Vosges, as next door to Champagne; so they carted all their +poison gases there and to Ypres, where their ambition still maintains +ascendency over their good sense. But where the Germans think Joffre +is likely to strike is usually the place furthest from his thoughts. +Activities in the Arras sector were begun under the personal command +of the Commander in Chief, who was still personally directing +operations during my visit only two days ago. + +I doubt whether, until the war is over, it will be possible adequately +to describe the battle, or rather, the series of battles extending +along this particular front of about fifty miles. "Labyrinth" +certainly is the fittest word to call it. I always had a fairly +accurate sense of direction; but, standing in many places in this +giant battlefield, it was impossible for me to say where were the +Germans and where the French, so completely was I turned around on +account of the constant zigzag of the trench lines. Sometimes, when I +was positive that a furious cannonade coming from a certain position +was German, it turned out to be French. At other times, when I thought +I was safely going in the direction of the French, I was hauled back +by officers, who told me I was heading directly into the German line +of fire. I sometimes felt that the German lines were on three sides, +and often I was quite correct. On the other hand, the French lines +often almost completely surrounded the German positions. + +One could not tell from the nearness of the artillery fire whether it +was from friend or foe. Artillery makes three different noises; first, +the sharp report followed by detonations like thunder, when the shell +first leaves the gun; second, the rushing sound of the shell passing +high overhead; third, the shrill whistle, followed by the crash when +it finally explodes. In the Labyrinth the detonations which usually +indicated the French fire might be from the German batteries stationed +quite near us, but where they could not get the range on us, and +firing at a section of the French lines some miles away. I finally +determined that when a battery fired fast it was French; for the +German fire is becoming more intermittent every day. + +I shall attempt to give some idea of what this fighting looks like. +Late one afternoon, coming out of a trench into a green meadow, I +suddenly found myself planted against a mudbank made of the dirt taken +from the trenches. We were just at the crest of a hill. In khaki +clothes I was of the same color as the mudbank; so an officer told me +I was in a fairly safe position. + +Modern war becomes quite an ordinary--often even a sedate, +methodical--affair after the first impressions have been rubbed off. + +We flattened ourselves casually against our mudbank, carefully +adjusting our glasses, turned them toward the valley before us, whence +came the sound of exploding shells, and calmly watched a village +developing into nothingness in the sunset. It was only about a +thousand yards away--I didn't even bother to ask whether it was in +French or German possession. There was a loud explosion, a roll of +dense smoke, which was penetrated quickly enough by the long, +horizontal rays of the descending sun to permit the sight of tumbling +roofs and crumbling walls. After a few seconds' intermission there was +another explosion, and what looked like a public school in the main +street sagged suddenly in the centre. With no entre-acte came a +succession of explosions, and the building was prone upon the +ground--just a jagged pile of broken stones. + +We turned our glasses on the other end of the village. A column of +black smoke was rising where the church had caught fire. We watched it +awhile in silence. Ruins were getting very common. I swept the glasses +away from the hamlet altogether and pointed out over the distant +fields to the left. + +"Where are the German trenches?" I rather uninterestedly asked the +Major. + +"I'll show you--just a moment!" he answered, and at the same time +signaling to a soldier squatting in the entrance to a trench near by, +he ordered the man to convey a message to the telephone station which +connected with a "seventy-five" battery at our rear. I was on the +point of telling the officer not to bother about it. The words were on +my lips. Then I thought "Oh, never mind! I might as well know where +the trenches are, now that I have asked." + +The soldier disappeared. "Watch!" said the officer. We looked intently +across the field to the left. In less than a minute there were two +sharp explosions behind us, two puffs of smoke out on the horizon +before us, about a mile away. + +"That's where they are!" the officer said. "Both shells went right in +them." + +"Ah! Very interesting!" I replied. + +Away to the right of the village, now reduced to ruins, was another +larger village; we squared around on our mud bank to look at that. +This town was more important; it was Neuville-St. Vaast, which is +still occupied by both French and Germans, the former slowly retaking +it, house by house. We were about half a mile away. We could see +little; for, strangely, in this business of house-to-house occupation, +most of the fighting is in the cellars. But I could well imagine what +was going on, for I had already walked through the ruins of Vermelles, +another town now entirely in French possession, but taken in the same +fashion after two months' dogged inch-by-inch advances. + +So, when looking at Neuville-St. Vaast, I suddenly heard a tremendous +explosion and saw a great mass of masonry and débris of all +descriptions flying high in the air, I knew just what had happened. +The French--for it is always the French who do it--had burrowed, +sapped and dug themselves laboriously, patiently, slowly, by tortuous, +narrow underground routes from one row of houses under the +foundations, gardens, backyards, and streets to beneath the +foundations of the next row of houses. There they had planted mines. +The explosion I had just witnessed was of a mine. Much of the débris I +saw flying through space had been German soldiers a few seconds +before. + +Before the smoke died away we heard a savage yell. That was the French +cry of victory. Then we heard a rapid crackling of rifles. That was +the sign that the French had advanced across the space between the +houses to finish the work their mine had left undone. When one goes to +view the work of those mines afterward all that one sees is a great, +round, smooth hole in the ground--sometimes thirty feet deep, often +twice that in diameter. Above it might have been either a château or a +stable; unless one has an old resident for guide it is impossible to +know. + +It takes many days and nights to prepare these mines. It takes careful +mathematical precision to determine that they are correctly placed. It +takes morale, judgment, courage, and intelligence--this fighting from +house to house. And yet the French are called a frivolous people! + +A cry from a soldier warned us of a German aeroplane directly +overhead; so we stopped gazing at Neuville-St. Vaast. A French +aeroplane soon appeared, and the German made off rapidly. They usually +do, as the majority of German aeronauts carry only rifles; the French +now all have mitrailleuses. A fight between them is unequal, and the +inequality is not easily overcome, for the German machines are too +light for mitrailleuses. + +Four French machines were now circling above, and the German batteries +opened fire on them. It was a beautiful sight. There was not a cloud +in the sky, and the sun had not yet gone. We could not hear the shells +explode, but we could see little feathery white clouds suddenly appear +as if some giant invisible hand had just put them there--high up in +the sky. Another appeared, and another. There were several dozen +little white clouds vividly outlined against the blue before the +French machines, all untouched, turned back toward their own lines. + +Again our thoughts and actions were rudely disturbed by the soldier +with us, who suddenly threw himself face down on the ground. Before we +had time to wonder why a German shell tore a hole in the field before +us, less than a hundred yards away. I asked the officer if we had been +seen, and if they were firing at us. He said he did not think so, but +we had perhaps better move. As a matter of fact, they were hunting the +battery that had so accurately shown us their trenches a short time +before. + +Instead of returning to the point where we had left our motors by the +trench, we walked across an open field in quite another direction than +I thought was the correct one. All the time we heard, high overhead, +that rushing sound as of giant wings. Occasionally, when a shell +struck in the neighborhood, we heard the shrill whistling sound, and +half a dozen times in the course of the walk great holes were torn in +our field, some times quite near. But artillery does not cause fear +easily; it is rifles that accomplish that. The sharp hissing of the +bullet that resembles so much the sound of a spitting cat seems so +personal--as if it was intended just for you. + +Artillery is entirely impersonal; you know that the gunners do not see +you; that they are firing by arithmetic at a certain range; that their +shell is not intended for anyone in particular. So you walk on +striking idly with your stick at the daisies and buttercups that +border your path. You calculate, almost indifferently, the distance +between you and the bursting shell. You somehow feel that nothing will +harm you. You are not afraid; and if you are lucky, as we were, you +will find the automobiles waiting for you just over there beyond the +brow of the hill. + + + + +The Modern Plataea + +By Frederick Pollock + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + +Nearly 2,400 years ago the Boeotian city of Plataea was one among the +many lesser Greek republics. Her citizens earned immortal fame by +taking part with the leading States of Athens and Sparta in the +decisive battles, fought on their own territory, which delivered +Greece from the fear of Persian conquest and saved the light of Greek +freedom and civilization from being extinguished. To this day the name +of Plataea is held in honor throughout the world; for many years that +honor was unique. Belgium has now done and dared for the freedom of +modern Europe as much as Plataea did of old: she has, unhappily, +suffered far more. As her valor has been equal and her suffering +greater her reward will be no less immortal. Belgium will be +remembered with Plataea centuries after the military tyranny of the +Hohenzollerns has vanished like an evil dream. + + + + +A British Call For Recruits + + + * * * * * + +Is Your Conscience Clear? + +Ask your conscience why you are staying comfortably +at home instead of doing _your_ share for your +King and Country. + +1. Are you too old? + + The only man who is too old is the man who is + over 38. + +2. Are you physically fit? + + The only man who can say honestly that he is not + physically fit is the man who has been _told_ so by a + Medical Officer. + +3. Do you suggest you cannot leave your business? + + In this great crisis the only man who cannot leave his + business is the man who is himself actually doing work + for the Government. + +If your conscience is not clear on these +three points your duty is plain. + +ENLIST TO-DAY. + +God Save the King. + + * * * * * + +This advertisement, occupying full pages, was recently run in the +British press. + + + + +The British Army in France + +Richebourg, La Quinque Rue, Festubert, and Ypres + +By the Official "Eyewitness" and Sir John French + + +SAXONS SLAIN BY PRUSSIANS. + +_Under date of May 21, 1915, an Eyewitness with the British +Headquarters in France, continues and supplements his narrative of +operations:_ + +The ground our troops were holding on Monday, May 17, projected as two +salients into the enemy's territory, one south of Richebourg-L'Avoue +and the other to the north of Festubert. The purpose of the operations +undertaken on Monday was to connect up the space which lay between +them. In this we were successful. + +At about 9:30 A.M. on Monday, May 17, our forces attacked the enemy +occupying this area, from north and south, and gradually drove him +from all his intrenchments within it. The Germans here, pressed on +three sides, subjected to a cross-fire from several directions and to +continuous bombing, reached the limits of their endurance during the +morning, and over 300 surrendered. + +After this area had been made good by us fighting continued throughout +the day, and our troops, having joined hands, pressed the enemy still +further eastward, forcing them out of one post after another. As the +afternoon wore on more prisoners fell into our hands, entire groups of +men giving themselves up. + +The centres of the hostile resistance in this quarter were the +clusters of buildings which were very strongly held and surrounded by +networks of trenches dotted with numerous machine gun posts, and in +front of one of the nests of works near the Ferme Cour de L'Avoue, +between La Quinque Rue and Richebourg-L'Avoue, a horrible scene was +witnessed by our troops during the day. + +Desperate fighting was going on in front of this farm when the remains +of a battalion of Saxons, which, it appears, had been hastily brought +down from further north and thrown into the fight, having decided to +surrender en bloc, advanced toward our line. Not knowing what the +movement of this mass of men implied, our infantry poured a hail of +bullets into them, whereupon the survivors, some hundreds strong, +halted, threw down their rifles, and held up their hands, and one of +their number waved a white rag tied to a stick. + +Our guns continued to fire from the rear, and whether our infantry, +who, by this time, have had some experience of the treachery of the +enemy, would have paid any attention to these signals is uncertain, +but the matter was taken out of their hands, for as soon as the +Prussian infantry on the north of this point realized what their Saxon +comrades were trying to do, they opened rapid fire from the flank, +enfilading the mass. It appears also that the news of what was +happening must have been telephoned back to the German artillery +further east--which was also probably Prussian, since its guns +suddenly opened on the Saxon infantry, and under this combined fire +most of the latter were very soon accounted for. + +Among the many scenes of the war there has probably been no more +strange spectacle than that of the masses of gray-coated soldiers +standing out in the open, hands raised, amidst the dead and dying, +being butchered by their own comrades before the eyes of the British +infantry. The fact that the victims of this slaughter were Saxons was +a source of regret to us, since the Saxons have always proved +themselves more chivalrous and less brutal than either the Prussians +or the Bavarians--in fact, cleaner fighters in every way. + +While we were thus pressing forward gradually on the section of front +between our two original points of penetration, our troops on the +right in front of Festubert were making good progress southward along +the German trenches. Their attack began at 11:30 A.M., and the Germans +were soon cleared out of their line in this quarter up to a point a +short distance south of Festubert, where they made a strong resistance +and checked our further lateral progress. + +[Illustration: Map of the British position. The solid line represents +the territory held by the British, the dotted line to the north +showing the position of the Franco-Belgian Army, and the dotted line +to the south the position of the French Army.] + +The fighting here was made up of a series of isolated and desperate +hand-to-hand combats with bayonet and hand grenades, and, since the +Germans were, at many points, outflanked and enfiladed, their losses +were very heavy, for in the narrow trenches there was often no room +for escape, and the only alternative was death or surrender. In some +places the trenches presented a horrible sight, being heaped with +German corpses, many of whom had been blown to pieces by our +bombardment carried out previous to the original attack. By about noon +the total number of prisoners captured since the commencement of the +attack on Sunday had increased to 550. + +On the extreme right the Germans were pressed back along their +communication trenches in such large numbers that they occasionally +formed an excellent mark for the machine guns in our own line to the +north of Givenchy, which were able to do great execution at certain +points. + +By midday the total front of the "bite" taken by us out of the enemy's +position was almost exactly two miles long; but, as trenches and +isolated posts were taken and retaken several times, the exact +situation at any moment, as is usual in such cases, is somewhat +obscure. Further progress was made to the south during the afternoon +and after dark, and various posts and breastworks east of La Quinque +Rue, from which we had withdrawn the previous night, again fell into +our hands, although the enemy continued to hold some trenches in rear +of them. But they again formed an exposed salient, and were once more +temporarily evacuated by us. + +At nightfall we held a continuous line embracing the whole of the +German original front trenches from the south of Festubert to +Richebourg-L'Avoue, and, in many places, were in possession of the +whole series of hostile entrenchments, with the exception of a few +supporting points and machine-gun posts in rear of the zone. + + +EAST OF FESTUBERT. + +_The following dispatch was received on May 26, 1915, from Field +Marshal Sir John French, commanding in chief the British Army in the +field:_ + +The First Army continues to make progress east of Festubert. A +territorial division carried last night a group of German trenches, +capturing thirty-five prisoners, and this morning it captured one +officer, twenty-one men, and a machine gun. + +Since May 16 the First Army has pierced the enemy's line on a total +front of over three miles. Of this the entire hostile front line +system of trenches has been captured on a front of 3,200 yards, and of +the remaining portion the first and second lines of trenches are in +our possession. + +The total number of prisoners taken is 8 officers and 777 of other +ranks. Ten machine guns in all have fallen into our possession, as +well as a considerable quantity of material and equipment, particulars +of which are not yet available. + + +GERMAN GAS WARFARE AGAIN. + +_Under date of May 28, an Eyewitness with the British Headquarters in +France continues and supplements his narrative as follows:_ + +Monday, May 24, witnessed a fresh development in the situation in our +front. It was a most brilliant May day, the heat of the sun being +tempered by a light breeze, which had blown from the northeast during +the night, and in the course of the morning had veered round toward +the north. This breeze gave the enemy the opportunity they awaited of +repeating their gas tactics against our position in front of Ypres, +which, though reduced in prominence, was still a salient in the +general line. + +Between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning a violent bombardment with gas +shells was started against a section of our line about two and +three-quarters miles long, and divided into four approximately equal +parts by the roads from Ypres to St. Julien and Moorslede and the +railway from Ypres to Roulers. The supply of gas available must have +been great, for it continued to pour southwestward for some hours in +great volume, in some places reaching to a height of several feet. +Owing to the direction of the wind, also, it swept southward along our +line as well as penetrating behind it. + +The manner in which such an attack develops with a favoring wind +cannot better be described than by the reports of its progress brought +in on Monday morning by our aerial reconnaissances. One observer who +crossed the opposing front in this quarter shortly after dawn reported +when he came back that a thick cloud of what looked like smoke +outlined the whole of the German trenches. The next observing officer, +who arrived some time afterward, stated that to the west and southwest +of the German line he could see a broad band of yellow grass and trees +which looked as if they had been bleached. A third, who came in later, +stated that the whole area behind our line was covered by a mist so +thick as to interfere with observation. + +This attempt to asphyxiate was of course preliminary to an assault +against the salient, for which infantry had been massing on the east. +It was carried out from three directions, being pushed forward under +cover of a heavy bombardment against the northern face from the +neighborhood of St. Julien, against the northeast face from Zonnebeke +along the Roulers Railway, and against the west direct from the +Polygon Wood. On the greater part of the front assailed our troops +were able to stand their ground, and to maintain their positions in +spite of the poisonous fumes, but in certain sections they were forced +to evacuate the trenches, and the German infantry succeeded in getting +a footing in our front line near the farm to the north of Wieltje, for +some distance astride the Roulers Railway, and to the north and south +of the Menin Road on the south of the Bellewaarde Lake. + +In doing this the enemy lost considerably both from our artillery fire +and the rifle fire of the sections of the defense which were able to +maintain their position. Counter-attacks were organized during the +morning, and by about midday our infantry had succeeded in reoccupying +our former line to the north of the railway. By evening there were no +Germans west of our original position on the south of the Menin Road, +though we had not been able to reoccupy our line in that quarter, nor +near Wieltje. The advance of the enemy, however, had been stopped. In +the neighborhood of Hill 60 a party of our infantry during the night +bombed their way for some forty yards up a trench which the Germans +had taken from us, destroyed the enemy's barricade, reconstructed it, +and held the trench. + +In the centre, near Bois Grenier, a slight success was gained in the +evening, our troops seizing some ground between our front line and +that of the Germans near the Bois Grenier--Bridoux Road. This ground +had been partially intrenched during the previous night, and at 8:50 +P.M. the infantry advanced under cover of our artillery and +established themselves in the new line. + +On our right, in the neighborhood of Festubert, our troops continued +their pressure, gaining one or two points in the maze of trenches and +defended houses here and there, in spite of the heavy artillery and +machine-gun fire to which they were subjected. Before dark the German +infantry was observed to be massing opposite Festubert, as if to +counter-attack in force; but their two offensive efforts made during +the night were not serious, and were easily beaten back. + +On Tuesday matters were quieter. On our left the German infantry +attacking the Ypres salient did not, in the face of our resistance, +attempt to push on further, nor was gas employed, but the bombardment +of our positions was maintained. Except where he had retained or +regained our original line our position was established behind the +portions which the Germans had succeeded in occupying. + + +A GAIN AT GIVENCHY. + +_The following dispatch was received on June 4, 1915, from Field +Marshal Sir John French, commanding in chief the British Army in the +field:_ + +On the night of the 30th of May we seized some outbuildings in the +grounds of a ruined château at Hooge. Since then our trenches there +have been subjected to a heavy bombardment. + +Fighting on a small scale has been continuous. At one time we were +forced to evacuate the buildings, taken by us, but last night we +recaptured them. + +Northeast of Givenchy last night we expelled the enemy from his +trenches on a front of 200 yards, taking forty-eight prisoners. Our +infantry, however, was unable to remain in occupation of these +trenches after daylight, owing to the enemy fire. + +_Field Marshal Sir John French in a report, dated June 8, on the +fighting along the British line, says:_ + +The situation on our front has not changed since the last +communication of June 4. There has been less activity on the part of +the artillery. + +On the 6th, in front of the Plogsteert wood, we successfully exploded +a mine under the German trenches, destroying thirty yards of the +parapet. + +We have brought down two German aeroplanes, one opposite our right by +gunfire, and the other in the neighborhood of Ypres, as the result of +an engagement in the air with one of our aeroplanes. + + +AN ADVANCE NEAR YPRES. + +_Sir John French's report of June 16--the first since that of June +8--said:_ + +Last week there was no change in the situation. The enemy exploded +five mines on different parts of our front, but none of these caused +any damage to our trenches, and only one caused any casualties. + +Yesterday evening we captured the German front-line trenches east of +Festubert on a mile front, but failed to hold them during the night +against strong counter-attacks. + +Early this morning in the neighborhood of Ypres we successfully +attacked the enemy's positions north of Hooge, (to the east of Ypres.) +We occupied the whole of his first line of trenches on a front of +1,000 yards, and also parts of his second line. + +By noon today 157 prisoners had passed to our rear. The German +counter-attack has been repulsed with heavy losses. + + +ALLIES IN CONCERTED ATTACK. + +_Field Marshal French's report of June 18 indicates that a strong, +concerted attack was then being made by British and French troops upon +the German front from east of Ypres to south of Arras. This report +preceded the French announcement of victory in the battle of the +Labyrinth, an account of which appears elsewhere. It says:_ + +The fighting in the northern and southern portions of our front +continued throughout June 16 in co-operation with the attack of our +ally about Arras. + +East of Ypres all the German first-line trenches which we captured +remain in our hands, in spite of two counter-attacks, which were +repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. We were, however, unable to +retain those of the enemy's second-line trenches which we had occupied +in the morning. + +East of Festubert, as a result of a further attack on the afternoon of +the 16th, we made a slight advance and, judging by the number of dead +Germans in the trenches entered by us, our artillery fire was very +effective. + +[Illustration] + + + + +The Dardanelles Campaign + +Progress of the Allies in June Slow and Difficult + + In his speech at Dundee on June 5, from which the passage + concerning the Dardanelles is reproduced below, Winston + Spencer Churchill's reference to "losses of ships" + constituted the official comment on the sinking by submarine + attack on May 26 and 27 of the British battleships Triumph + in the Gulf of Saros, and Majestic off Sedd-el-Bahr. That + increased to six the sum of battleships lost to the Allies + in the Dardanelles operations. The review of the operations + from May 15 to June 17, shows a development of slow trench + warfare on land, which postpones the attainment of a few + miles to a victory confidently predicted by Mr. Churchill. + + +A FEW MILES FROM VICTORY. + +_In the course of his speech at Dundee on June 5, 1915, Winston +Spencer Churchill said:_ + +The operations which are now proceeding at the Dardanelles will give +him (Mr. Balfour) the opportunity of using that quality of cool, calm +courage and inflexibility which fifteen years ago prevented Ladysmith +from being left to its fate and surrendered to the enemy. I have two +things to say to you about the Dardanelles. + +First, you must expect losses both by land and sea. But the fleet you +are employing there is your surplus fleet, after all other needs have +been provided for. Had it not been used in this great enterprise it +would have been lying idle in your southern ports. A large number of +the old vessels, of which it is composed, have to be laid up in any +case before the end of the year, because their crews are wanted for +the enormous reinforcements of new ships which the industry of your +workships is hurrying into the water. Losses of ships, therefore, as +long as the precious lives of the officers and men are saved--which in +nearly every case they have been--losses of that kind, I say, may +easily be exaggerated in the minds both of friend and foe. Military +operations will also be costly, but those who suppose that Lord +Kitchener--(loud cheers)--has embarked upon them without narrowly and +carefully considering their requirements in relation to all other +needs and in relation to the paramount need of our army in France and +Flanders--such people are mistaken, and not only mistaken, they are +presumptuous. + +My second point is this. In looking at your losses squarely and +soberly you must not forget at the same time the prize for which you +are contending. The army of Sir Ian Hamilton, the fleet of Admiral de +Robeck are separated only by a few miles from a victory such as this +war has not yet seen. When I speak of victory I am not referring to +those victories which crowd the daily placards of any newspapers. I am +speaking of victory in the sense of a brilliant and formidable fact +shaping the destinies of nations and shortening the duration of the +war. Beyond those few miles of ridge and scrub on which our soldiers, +our French comrades, our gallant Australian and New Zealand +fellow-subjects are now battling, lie the downfall of a hostile +empire, the destruction of an enemy's fleet and army, the fall of a +world-famous capital, and probably the accession of powerful allies. +The struggle will be heavy, the risks numerous, the losses cruel, but +victory when it comes will make amend for all. There never was a great +subsidiary operation of war in which a more complete harmony of +strategic, political, and economic advantages were combined, or which +stood in truer relation to the main decision, which is in the central +theatre. Through the Narrows of the Dardanelles and across the ridges +of the Gallipoli Peninsula lie some of the shortest paths to a +triumphant peace. + +[Illustration: Scene of the Dardanelles operations. The black line +marks the approximate allied position, the dotted line the approximate +Turkish position, on June 18, 1915.] + + +TWO WEEKS' FIGHTING. + +By The Associated Press. + +_PARIS, June 14.--An official note given out today presents a summary +of the operations in the Dardanelles from May 15 to June 1 as +follows:_ + +Heavy fighting has taken place during this time. Today our progress is +somewhat slower than it was in the beginning, but every inch of ground +gained has been organized in such a manner as to permit the repelling +of counter-attacks, and each advance has been held. The physical +aspects of the country make fighting extremely difficult and +dangerous, as the battle front presents the form of a triangle. + +During the second half of May there were attacks on the Turkish line +of intrenchments in front of Kereves Dere and the redoubt called the +'Bouchet,' which we took May 8. All the Turkish counter-attacks failed +completely. + +Our position being assured here, we endeavored to capture a small +fortress situated on the extreme left of the enemy's line. On account +of the strategic position of this fortress it was impossible to take +it in the ordinary way by an artillery attack, followed by a bayonet +charge; such a method would have resulted in heavy loss of life. The +attack had to be a surprise. On the night of May 28 a mixed company +composed of thirty-four white and thirty-two negro troops, all +volunteers, under the command of a Lieutenant, received orders to slip +out of our first trench one by one and crawl on their hands and knees +to the opposing trench. Here they were to surprise the occupants and +kill them without a shot. Two other companies bringing up the rear +were to go at once to the assistance of the first company if the plan +failed. + +At 11:45 P.M. our men, having gone forward in accordance with +instructions, rushed over the embankments of the enemy trenches. The +Turks were completely surprised. They discharged their guns into the +air and immediately took to flight. Thanks to the rapidity of our +attack our only casualties were one Sergeant and two men wounded. + +The Turks attacked twice without success, and dawn saw us firmly +established in our new positions. + + +A GENERAL ASSAULT. + +_LONDON, June 6.--Official announcement was made tonight that the +British troops at the Dardanelles, as a result of their new offensive +movement last week, captured two lines of Turkish trenches along a +three-mile front. The statement follows:_ + +On the night of June 3-4 the Turks, having heavily bombarded a small +fort in front of the extreme right French position, which previously +had been captured, launched an infantry attack against it which was +repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. At the same time the Turks set +fire to scrub in front of the left centre of the position occupied by +the British division and attacked, but with no success. + +On the morning of the 4th of June Sir Ian Hamilton ordered a general +attack on the Turkish trenches in the southern area of the Gallipoli +Peninsula, preceded by a heavy bombardment by all guns, assisted by +battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. + +At a given signal the troops rushed forward with the bayonet. They +were immediately successful all along the line except in one spot, +where the heavy wire entanglement was not destroyed by the +bombardment. + +Indian troops on our extreme left made a magnificent advance. They +captured two lines of trenches, but, owing to the fact that the troops +on their right were hung up by this wire entanglement, they were +obliged to retire to their original line. The regular division made +good progress on the left centre, capturing a strong redoubt and two +lines of trenches beyond it, about 500 yards in advance of their +original line. + +The Territorial Division on our centre did brilliantly, advancing 600 +yards and capturing three lines of trenches, but though the advanced +captured trench was held all day and half of the ensuing night, they +had to be ordered back in the morning to the second captured line, as +both their flanks were exposed. + +The Naval Division on our right centre captured a redoubt and a +formidable line of trenches constructed in three tiers 300 yards to +their front, but they, too, had to be ordered back, owing to the heavy +enfilading fire. + +The French Second Division advanced with great gallantry and élan. +They retook for the fourth time that deadly redoubt they call 'Le +Haricot,' but unfortunately the Turks developed heavy counter-attacks +through prepared communication trenches, and under cover of an +accurate shell fire were able to recapture it. + +[Illustration: GENERAL GOURAUD + +Commander of the French Land Forces Operating Against the Dardanelles + +(_Photo from Medem_)] + +On the French extreme right the French captured a strong line of +trenches which, though heavily counter-attacked twice during the +night, they still occupy. + +We captured 400 prisoners, including ten officers. Among the prisoners +were five Germans, the remains of a volunteer machine gun detachment +from the Goeben (the Turkish cruiser Sultan Selim). Their officer was +killed and the machine gun was destroyed. + +During the night information was received that enemy reinforcements +were advancing from the direction of Maidos toward Kithia. Thereupon +Lieutenant General Birdwood arranged to attack the trenches in front +of Quinn's post at 10 P.M., which was successfully carried out, and +the captured trenches held throughout the night. The Turkish +casualties were heavy. + +At 6:30 A.M. the enemy heavily counter-attacked, and by means of heavy +bombs forced our men out of the most forward trench, though we still +hold communication trenches made during the night. + +The result of these operations is that we have made an advance of 500 +yards, which includes two lines of Turkish trenches along a front of +nearly three miles. We are now consolidating our new positions and +strengthening the lines. + + +MR. ASQUITH'S PREDICTION. + +_LONDON, June 15.--There have been so many rumors recently that the +Allies had forced the Dardanelles that Sir James H. Dalziel asked +Premier Asquith this afternoon in the House of Commons if there was +any truth in such reports._ + +_"None whatever," was the reply. The Premier said that it was not in +the public interest to say anything now about the Dardanelles. "The +operations are of the highest importance," he added, "and they will be +pushed to a successful conclusion."_ + +_The following announcement concerning the operations was given out +officially today:_ + +The situation on the Gallipoli Peninsula has developed into trench +warfare. After our success on the 4th instant the Turks have evinced a +great respect for our offensive, and by day and by night they have to +submit to captures of trenches. + +On the night of the 11th-12th of June two regiments of a British +regular brigade made a simultaneous attack on the advanced Turkish +trenches, and after severe fighting, which included the killing of +many snipers, succeeded in maintaining themselves, in spite of bombs, +in the captured position. + +On the morning of the 13th a counter-attack was made by the Turks, who +rushed forward with bombs, but coming under the fire of the naval +machine gun squadron were annihilated. Of the fifty who attacked, +thirty dead bodies were counted in front of that part of our trenches. + +The situation is favorable to our forces, but is necessarily slow on +account of the difficulties of the ground. The Turkish offensive has +sensibly weakened. + + +FROM THE TURKISH SIDE. + +[Staff Correspondence of The Brooklyn Eagle.] + +_CONSTANTINOPLE, June 5, (by Courier to Berlin and Wireless to +Sayville, L.I.)_--The forces of the Allies on the Gallipoli Peninsula +at Ari Burnu and Sedd-el-Bahr are in the greatest danger, as a result +of the withdrawal of the bombarding fleets--made necessary by the +activity of German submarines--and the consequent difficulty of +maintaining communications oversea from the Aegean Islands. + +The English position is at present desperate. + +The inability to land heavy artillery was at first compensated for by +the protection given by the guns of the fleet, but the withdrawal of +the ships from Ari Burnu leaves the shore forces resting almost on the +water's edge without means of meeting attacks. + +Heavy Turkish batteries are mounted on the surrounding heights. + +These statements are made after a week spent in the Turkish field +under the first personal pass issued to a newspaper correspondent by +Field Marshal Liman von Sanders, the Commander in Chief of the Turkish +Army. + +The Turks are fighting confidently, aided by a few German machine gun +squads. + +The farthest advance made by the English at Ari Burnu is 1,000 yards +from shore; at Sedd-el-Bahr, about two miles. + +Have seen Forts Chanak and Kalid Bahr, and find they are still intact. + +The net results of the English attempt to force the Dardanelles are at +present almost nil. + +The general impression at Constantinople and Berlin is that the attack +as at present conducted is a failure. + +The bombardment of March 18 was ineffectual, owing to the inadequacy +of the landing forces, and the failure of the Entente powers to +embroil Bulgaria against Turkey. + + * * * * * + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_KRITHIA, Dardanelles, June 17, (via London, June 19.)_--The allied +troops who landed at Sedd-el-Bahr, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, hold +about ten square miles of the extreme southern part of the peninsula, +the occupancy of which is maintained with the greatest difficulties. + +The ground held by the Allies consists principally of a small plateau +to the north of Sedd-el-Bahr and two adjoining ridges to the +northwest, between which the Turks are pushing advance trenches. + +The Associated Press correspondent, who spent two days in the +trenches, found the Turkish troops in excellent condition and spirits, +in spite of the fact that the Allies were using every conceivable +means to carry on the operations, including bombs thrown from +catapults and from aeroplanes. + +From the Turkish station of artillery fire control the effect of the +Turkish fire upon the allied trenches could be observed today, and the +shells were reaching the mark. The sanitary and supply services of the +Turks are being carried on efficiently. The number of wounded at the +hospital bases at the front was small, although the fighting during +the night had been fairly severe. + +During the daytime both sides are usually inactive, the Turks +preferring night bayonet attacks. Many Turkish batteries are in +position, but the nearness of the opposing trenches makes their work +difficult, and for the most part they are directing their attention to +the reserves of the Allies and to changing shifts which are exposed at +certain points. The Turks, in this, have the support of their heavy +batteries on the Asiatic side, which, since the retirement of the +allied fleet, work without fear of being molested, bombarding chiefly +the allied right wing, composed of French, home, and Colonial troops. + +Weber Pasha, the German General commanding the south group, gave the +correspondent every opportunity to visit the Sedd-el-Bahr district, +placing no restrictions whatever upon his movements. The result was a +thorough inspection of the ground. Weber Pasha made no comment on the +situation himself beyond saying that "the failure of the Allies to +consummate their plan of forcing the Dardanelles is too obvious for +discussion." + +Weber Pasha, who is a member of the German military mission which +undertook the improvement of the Ottoman Army organization, is fully +confident that the Turks will be able to meet the Gallipoli situation, +and that the Allies will never advance against the Dardanelles forts. + +It has been ascertained that only a few German officers are active in +the south group. German privates are employed in special lines. + +Krithia, once a thriving village of about 4,000 inhabitants, is +probably the most ruined place in all Europe. The Allies left no house +standing during their bombardment. + + + + +THE EUROPEAN WAR AS SEEN BY CARTOONISTS + + +[American Cartoon] + +An Old Time Aeronaut + +[Illustration: _--From The Plain Dealer, Cleveland._ + +Poor Darius Green, he tried to fly.] + + +[American Cartoon] + +A Parthian Brick + +[Illustration: _--From The World, New York._ + +"God Bless You."] + + +[American Cartoon] + +The Benevolent Assassin + +[Illustration: _--From The Sun, New York._ + +"Et tu, Brute!"] + + +[American Cartoon] + +The Black Flag + +[Illustration: _--From The Herald, New York._ + +Will He Haul It Down?] + + +[American Cartoon] + +A Statesman's Exit + +[Illustration: _--From The Evening Sun, New York._ + +The White Feather.] + + +[American Cartoon] + +"My Heart Bleeds for Karlsruhe" + +[Illustration: _--From The Sun, New York._ + +"Emperor William has telegraphed his deep indignation at the wicked +attack upon beloved Karlsruhe. The poor innocent victims among +civilians have greatly affected him."--Berlin Press Dispatch.] + + +[German-American Cartoon] + +The Sandwich Man + +[Illustration: _--From The Express, Los Angeles._ + +Peace and Prosperity.] + + +[English Cartoon] + +The Two-handed Sword + +[Illustration: _--From Punch, London._ + +(The allusion is to the New British Coalition Cabinet.)] + + +[German Cartoon] + +Wilson's Wrapping Paper + +[Illustration: _--From Simplicissimus, Munich._ + +"Here is a sample of a new shell. It is wrapped up in a little bit of +a protest--but you needn't take that very seriously."] + + +[English Cartoon] + +A Haul of U-Boats + +[Illustration: _--From The Sketch, London._ + +The British Sea Lion returns from Shrimping.] + + +[German Cartoon] + +In the Carpathians + +[Illustration: _--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._ + +Look out Sisyphus, the fall may be a terrible one!] + + +[German Cartoon] + +The Sphinx on the Bosporus + +[Illustration: _--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._ + +"Come in, little boats! But you'll never get out again!"] + + +[English Cartoon] + +Twice Bitten--Thrice Shy + +[Illustration: _--From The Bystander, London._ + +Bulgaria contemplates the outlook with some trepidation.] + +[Illustration: Map of the frontier between Italy and Austria where the +Italians were advancing on June 18, 1915, to capture Trieste. The +boxed numbers indicate altitudes in meters.] + + + + +Italy vs. Austria-Hungary + +The Italian Invasion and Italo-Germanic Differences + + +Official reviews of the first month, ending June 23, of Italy's war +with Austria-Hungary are still lacking.[4] On May 24 it was officially +reported in London that Italy had given her adhesion to the agreement, +already signed by the allied powers, not to conclude a separate peace. +Active war operations were begun by Austria on the same day; bombs +were dropped on Venice and five other Adriatic ports, shelled from air +and some from sea. The attackers were driven off. + +[Footnote 4: In an Associated Press dispatch from Rome (via Paris) on +June 23 one of the chief Generals in the Italian War Office was +reported to have summarized the first month of the campaign about as +follows: + + One month ago the Italians invaded Austrian territory, + uprooted the yellow and black poles bearing the Austrian + eagle, and occupied the enemy positions along a front of 500 + miles. An Austrian squadron bombarded the Italian coast on + the Adriatic, and Austrian aeroplanes dropped eleven bombs + on Venice. + + During this month the Italians overran the whole of Friuli. + The capture of Tolmino and Goritz, the two Austrian + strongholds, is considered imminent, which would open the + way to Trieste; while in the Alpine region in the province + of Trent they have conquered peaks and passes, from which + the picked Austro-Hungarian troops have been unable to + dislodge them. + + Austrian activity has been chiefly displayed in bombarding + the Italian Adriatic towns. + +From Vienna (via London) on June 23 the following Austro-Hungarian +official résumé of the operations of the first month of war along the +Italian frontier was issued: + + During the first month of the war the Italians have gained + no great success. Our troops in the southwest maintain their + positions as in the beginning, on or near the frontier. + + On the Isonzo front in the fortified frontier district from + Flitsch to Malborgeth, on the Carinthian ridge, and on all + the fronts of Tyrol, all enemy attempts at an advance have + collapsed with heavy losses.] + +The rapid advance of the Italian armies which invaded Austria on the +east had by May 27 carried part of the forces across the Isonzo River +to Monfalcone, sixteen miles northwest of Trieste. Another force +penetrated further to the north in the Crownland of Goritz and +Gradisca. On June 4 the censored news from Udine, Italy, reported that +encounters with the enemy thus far had been merely outpost skirmishes, +but had allowed Italy to occupy advantageous positions in Austrian +territory. The first important battle of the Italian campaign, for the +possession of Tolmino, was reported on June 7. + +A general Italian advance took place on June 7 across the Isonzo River +from Caporetto to the sea, a distance of about forty miles. On June 12 +reports from the Trentino indicated an Italian advance on Rovereto in +Tyrol, thirteen miles southwest of Trent, and upon Mori, near by. +Monfalcone was taken by the Italians on June 10--the first serious +blow against Trieste--as Monfalcone is a railway junction and its +electrical works operate the light and power of Trieste. In the +extreme north, on the threshold of the Carnic Alps, after three days' +fighting it was reported on June 10 that the Italians had swept the +Austrians from Monte Croce and possessed themselves of Freikofel. The +Austrian city of Gradisca was reported taken on June 11, as indicated +in an official statement signed by Lieut. Gen. Count Cadorna, Chief of +Staff of the Italian Army. The defenses of Goritz were shelled by the +Italian artillery on June 13, and on June 14 the Italian eastern army +had pushed forward along the Gulf of Trieste toward the town of +Nabresina, nine miles from Trieste. + +[Illustration: LIEUT. GEN. COUNT CADORNA + +Chief of the Italian General Staff + +(_Photo from Paul Thompson_)] + +The Italian advance was checked--but not until June 16, more than +three weeks after the beginning of the war--by an elaborate system of +intrenchments prepared by the Austrians along the Isonzo River. On +June 17 the Italians in the Trentino had arrived at the town of Mori, +where their forces were blocked by the fortifications between that +town and Rovereto. On June 18 a dispatch of The Associated Press from +Rome reported that the Austrians had then so strengthened their forces +that they were taking the offensive both from Mori and Rovereto +against the Italians, who were encamped at Brentanico at the foot of +Mount Altissimo, at Serravale, situated in the Lagardina Valley, and +also in the Arsa Valley. Tolmino, on Austria's battlefront to the +north of Goritz, was being heavily fortified by the Austrians with a +garrison of some 30,000 men, this place being considered indispensable +to their operations as the key to the Isonzo Valley. On June 20, the +fourth week of the war, was reported by General Cadorna as marking a +brilliant victory at Plava. But on the following day reports from Rome +indicated that the Italians were encountering strong and +better-organized resistance from the Austrians. On June 22 dispatches +from the Italian front to Berlin declared that serious reverses had +been experienced by the Italians in their attempts to storm the +Austro-Hungarian line along the Isonzo River. + +Two things have puzzled the public: First, the status of Germany in +regard to Italy declaring war against Austria-Hungary, arraying +herself on the side of the Entente powers, and pledging herself, in +turn, as each of them had done, not to make a separate peace with the +enemy, and, second, the apparent weakness of the Austrian defensive in +the Trentino and on the eastern frontier of Venetia. + +Diplomatic relations between Rome and Berlin have been severed, but +neither Chancellery has yet (June 23) found the other guilty of an +aggression sufficiently grave to warrant a declaration of war. There +is nothing astonishing in this situation. A similar situation obtained +between Paris and Vienna and London and Vienna long after a state of +war existed between Germany and Russia, France, and England. + +The Italian plan of campaign apparently consists (1) in neutralizing +the Trentino by capturing or "covering" her defenses and cutting her +two lines of communication with Austria proper--the railway which runs +south from Innsbruck and that which runs southwest from Vienna and +joins the former at Franzensfeste, and (2) in a movement in force from +the eastern frontier, with Trieste captured or "covered" on the right +flank, in the direction of the Austrian fortress of Klagenfurt and +Vienna, only 170 miles northeast from the present base of +operations--a distance equal to that from New York City to Cape Cod. + +The initial weakness of the Austrian defensive, which will doubtless +be strengthened as troops can be spared from the seat of war in +Galicia, is due to the fact that the invaded regions are normally +defended by the Fourteenth and Third Army Corps, which were, in +August, sent with two reserve corps to defend the Austrian line in +Galicia. To fill the casualties in these corps the drain on the +population has been great, so that when Italy began her invasion the +defenses of the country were chiefly in the hands of the hastily +mobilized youths below the military age of 19 and men above the +military age of 42. + +During the last six months, when Vienna gradually came to realize that +war with Italy was inevitable, the Austro-Hungarian military +authorities enrolled a new army of men who had already seen military +service, but, for various reasons, had not been availed of in the +present war. They were men of an unusually high mental and physical +standard and had received additional training under German officers. +Their ages were from 35 to 40, and they numbered from 700,000 to +800,000. On the desire of the German War Office this new army, which +should have been sent to the Italian frontiers, was diverted to +Galicia toward the last of April, and since then has been the backbone +of the Teutonic drive against Russia in that region. + +Below are given a sketch of the Alpine frontier by G.H. Perris, +appearing in The London Chronicle of May 29; Colonel Murray's article +on Italy's armed strength, and the speeches of mutual defiance uttered +by the German Imperial Chancellor in the Reichstag on May 28 and the +Italian Premier at the Capitol in Rome on June 2. + + + + +The Armed Strength of Italy + +By Colonel A.M. Murray, C.B. + + The article presented below originally appeared in The + London Daily News of May 21, 1915. + + +The organization of the military forces of Italy is based upon the law +of organization of 1887 and the recruiting law of 1888. Modifications +have been made in these laws from time to time in regard to the +strength of the annual contingent trained with the colors and the +duration of the periods of training, but the original laws have not +been altered in principle, and have now had time to completely +materialize. + +Every man in Italy is liable to military service for a period of +nineteen years from the age of 20 to 39. All young men on reaching the +age of 20, if passed medically fit for military service, are divided +into three categories--first, those who are taken by lot for color +service; second, those for whom there is no room with the colors, and, +third, those who are exempted from military service for family reasons +specified by law. Men placed in the first category serve for two +years with the colors, after which they go to the active army reserve +for six years. Men in the second category are sent at once into the +active army reserve for the period of eight years, after which both +they and the men in the first category are passed into the mobile +militia reserve for four years, and subsequently into the territorial +militia for seven years, making nineteen years altogether. The men in +the third category pass all their nineteen years' obligatory period of +military service in the territorial militia, receiving no training +whatever till they are called up to their depots when mobilization is +ordered. The following table shows the periods of service of the men +according to the categories in which they are placed by the recruiting +authorities. The figures are years: + + ACTIVE ARMY. RESERVE ARMY. + + With In + the the Mobile Territorial Tot. +Categories. Colors. Reserve. Militia. Militia. Yrs. + +First 2 6 4 7 19 +Second -- 8 4 7 19 +Third -- -- -- 19 19 + +In the above table the mobile militia corresponds to the German +Landwehr, and the territorial militia to the Landsturm. + +After deducting emigrants, men put back for the following year, those +who are medically unfit, and one-year volunteers, the average number +of recruits placed each year in the first category is approximately +150,000, in the second category 36,000, and in the third category +28,000. All men in the first category are fully trained, while those +in the second category, who correspond to the German Ersatz Reserve, +are only partially trained, being called up at the discretion of the +War Minister for one or more periods of training not exceeding twelve +months altogether during their eight years' service. + +Last year's returns, which were published in the Italian press, gave +the approximate war strength of the army as under: + +Officers 41,692 + +Active army (with colors) 289,910 + +Reserve (including men of first +and second categories) 638,979 + +Mobile militia 299,596 + +Territorial militia 1,889,659 + _________ +Total war strength 3,159,836 + +According to a calculation, which need not be given in detail here, +the above number of total men available includes upward of 1,200,000 +fully trained soldiers, who have been through the ranks, with perhaps +another 800,000 partially trained men of the second category, the +remaining million being completely untrained men, who have passed all +their nineteen years of obligatory service in the third category. + +The organization for putting the above numbers of men into the field +is as follows: The fully trained men are organized in four armies, +each army consisting of three corps, one cavalry division, and a +number of troops for the lines of communication. The twelve corps are +recruited and organized on a territorial basis, each corps having its +allotted area, as shown in the sketch, which also indicates the +locality of corps headquarters. The Italian army corps, which is +larger than that in other European armies, is composed of two active +army divisions, with thirty guns each, one mobile militia division, +brought up to strength from the territorial militia, one regiment of +Bersaglieri, or light infantry, one cavalry regiment, one field +artillery regiment of six batteries, (corps artillery,) and other +technical and administrative units. The strength of the corps amounts +to 50,000 men, with 8,400 horses and 126 guns, and this gives each of +the four armies a strength of 150,000 men, 25,200 horses, and 378 +guns, with the addition of a cavalry division of 4,200 sabres. The +first line Italian army, therefore, which can be put into the field +seven days after mobilization is ordered amounts to 600,000 men, +100,800 horses, 1,512 guns, and 16,200 sabres. But these cadres only +absorb half the fully trained men called out on mobilization; +duplicate corps will consequently be formed to take the place of the +twelve first-line corps as soon as they have been dispatched to their +concentration rendezvous. It is believed that sufficient guns have now +been provided for these twelve duplicate corps, but it is unlikely +that more than two cavalry divisions could be formed in addition to +the four divisions with the first-line armies. These duplicate corps +would be ready to take the field three or four weeks after the +concentration of the first twelve corps. The above calculations show +that within a few weeks after the declaration of war Italy can place +in the field a force of 1,200,000 men, (24 corps,) and would still +have 1,800,000 men of fighting age left at the depots after the field +armies had been dispatched to the front. + +[Illustration: Map showing the Military Districts of Italy.] + +The infantry are armed with the Mannlicher (1891) rifle, the field +artillery with the 75-millimeter quick-firing Krupp gun, (1906,) and +the mountain batteries, of which there are twenty-four, with a new +65-millimeter (2.56-inch) quick-firing gun of Italian construction. +The heavy artillery is armed with a 149-millimeter field howitzer, +also of Italian construction. + +The organization of the Italian Army and the quality of the troops +composing it were both tested in the Tripoli campaign, (1911-12,) and +all military judges agree that the results prove the army to have +reached a high standard of efficiency. The mobilization was only +partial, but it was well carried out, and between October and +December, 1911, 90,000 men, with 12,000 horses, were transported to +Tripoli and Benghasi without a single hitch. Italian officers are well +educated, and the men are brave and disciplined. Unlike the +Austro-Hungarian Army, which is composed of men split into a variety +of racial sections, the Italian Army is absolutely homogeneous, and +the troops will enter the European struggle with the moral +consciousness that they are fighting, not with aggressive intentions, +but for the principle of nationality, which is the keynote to that +marvelous progress which Italy has made since she became a nation in +1860. + +The Italian Navy has ten up-to-date battleships in commission, all +armed with twelve-inch guns, six of these being pre-dreadnoughts and +four quite recently built dreadnoughts. These four latter ships carry +a more powerful primary armament than the battleships of any other +European country, the Dante Alighieri, the first of the type built, +carrying twelve and the Conte di Cavour, Leonardo-da-Vinci, and Giulio +Cesare thirteen twelve-inch guns mounted on the triple-turret system. +Two more ships of the same class--the Caio Duilio and Andrea +Dorea--are due to be commissioned this Autumn, and their completion +will doubtless now be accelerated. Then there are four more +battleships under construction, known as the Dandolo class--the +Dandolo, Morosini, Mazzini, and Mameli--two of which are due to be +launched in 1916 and two others in 1917. When completed these ships +will be equal in gun power and speed to the ships of the Queen +Elizabeth class, for they will carry eight fifteen-inch guns paired in +four turrets--the triple-turret system having been abandoned--twenty +six-inch and twenty-two fourteen-pr. guns, their speed being 25 knots. +Besides these ten, or practically twelve, completed battleships, Italy +has ten armored cruisers in commission and three twenty-eight knot +light cruisers, but no fastgoing battle cruisers corresponding to +those in the British and German Navies. She has also twenty-seven +completed destroyers and thirteen thirty-two knot destroyers laid +down, along with fifty-one torpedo boats and sixteen submarines, with +four others building. With this fleet, which is half as strong again +as the Austrian fleet, Italy can secure complete control of the +Adriatic Sea and lock up the Austrian ships in Pola. + + + + +The Alpine Frontier + +By G.H. Perris. + +[This article appeared originally in The London Daily Chronicle of May +29, 1915.] + + +We have all learned a good deal of French, Russian, and Austrian +geography in the last ten months; and, in the same sad school, we +shall now become better acquainted with the region of mountain and +plain which, through and for 140 miles east of Lake Garda, is the +Austro-Italian borderland, and with the northeastern coast of the +Adriatic, where there will be important side issues. There is this +great difference, among others, between the Adriatic and the Alpine +military problems: On the one side, the Germanic powers can now only +assume the defensive; on the other, they can, and probably will, +attempt the invasion of provinces dear not only to Italians, for their +homes and a splendid galaxy of historic associations, but to +cultivated minds throughout the world for treasures of art abounding +even in the humblest towns and villages. + +The irregularity of this northern frontier is the product of an +unhappy history; it does not follow the line of the mountain summits +or any other natural feature, and still less is it a limit marked by +race or language. A glance at the map shows its salient +characteristic--the piece of the Austrian Tyrol, from forty to sixty +miles wide, which is thrust southward toward the great plain of +Lombardy and Venetia, and toward the four provincial capitals, +Brescia, Verona, Vicenza, and Belluno. The Trentino--as it is called, +after the very ancient city of Trent, once the chief town of Tyrol, +now a market centre dignified by many towers and poverty-stricken +palaces and castles--is thoroughly Italian; but it still gathers much +of its importance, as it has done ever since Roman times, from the +fact that the best and oldest road from Germany and West Austria over +the Alps runs through it to Verona. For nearly half a century one of +the grandest of mountain railways has followed this olden track of +conquest and pilgrimage, from Innsbruck over the Brenner Pass, through +Botzen, and down the Adige Valley. More recently a branch line has +been built which runs from Trent southeastward to Padua and Venice. + +It is not only the Italian resistance to Austrian aggression and +tyranny that has made this doorway into the lowlands about the Po a +vast battlefield. From the Middle Ages onward France and Austria +constantly fought out their quarrels here. In 1796, Napoleon, after +routing Marshal Wurmser at Lonato and Castiglione, small towns to the +south of the Lake of Garda, drove him up the Adige Valley to Trent, +and then round the side track already named, the Brenta Valley, by +Bassano back to Mantua. In 1848 the Piedmontese Army advanced upon the +famous quadrilateral of fortresses, then Austrian, covering the +entry--Mantua and Peschiera on the Mincio, Verona and Legnago on the +Adige. Charles Albert was far from being another Napoleon; and the +three days' battle of Custoza, when four weary and ill-found Italian +brigades held out against Radetzky's five army corps, did not serve to +turn the tide of the national fortunes. That year saw the first +appearance of Garibaldi as a military leader and the accession of the +present Austrian Emperor; and it is strange now to recall that in the +war of 1859, when Lombardy was liberated by the French and Sardinian +Armies, this same Francis Joseph was actually in command of the +Austrian forces. The battle of Solferino, fought on a front of five +leagues, along the hills to the south of Lake Garda, was a terrible +butchery, even by the worst of modern standards, for in twelve hours +25,000 of the 300,000 combatants were killed or wounded. In the war of +1866 Garibaldi took a body of volunteers up the Adige; but the treaty +which gave Venetia to the new Kingdom of Italy left the Trentino still +to be recovered. + +The Adige and Brenta Valley roads to Trent and Botzen are, then, +clearly marked out for Italian effort in the present juncture; and if +the Austrians have the advantage of innumerable defensive positions on +the mountain heights, they have the disadvantage of very long and +frail lines of supply and reinforcement. It may be supposed that the +Alpine regiments, which are in some ways the flower of the Italian +Army, will also attempt the lesser approaches to Tyrol from the west, +by the Val di Sole and the Valtelline, and from the east from Belluno +and Pieve. The Brenner railway, with its twenty-two tunnels and sixty +large bridges, is peculiarly vulnerable. With many cities and good +railways behind them, and a popular welcome in front, the Italian +troops, on the other hand, will face the hill roads, now generally +free from snow, with confidence. + +Very different are the natural conditions on the only other part of +the frontier where the hostile forces can well come to grips. The Alps +gradually fall and break up into separate ridges as we pass east; and +beyond Udine there is a flat gap, 50 miles wide, beyond which lies +Trieste, with its fine harbor and predominantly Italian population. +Further north, where the main line for Vienna passes the border at +Pontebba, to penetrate the double barrier of the Carinthian and +Styrian Alps, there can be little temptation to adventure on either +side. But in the lowlands of Friuli a beginning has been made, the +advance at one point, Caporetto, reaching as far as the River Isonzo, +while Terzo, Cormons, and other small places have been occupied. If +there is to be any large-scale warfare on the Alpine frontier, it must +apparently occur either in this gap or in and about the Adige Valley, +on the way to Trent. + + + + +"Italy's Violation of Faith" + +By Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, German Imperial Chancellor. + +[Speech in the Reichstag, May 28, 1915.] + + +When I spoke eight days ago there was still a glimpse of hope that +Italy's participation in the war could be avoided. That hope proved +fallacious. German feeling strove against the belief in the +possibility of such a change. Italy has now inscribed in the book of +the world's history, in letters of blood which will never fade, her +violation of faith. + +I believe Machiavelli once said that a war which is necessary is also +just. Viewed from this sober, practical, political standpoint, which +leaves out of account all moral considerations, has this war been +necessary? Is it not, indeed, directly mad? [Cheers.] Nobody +threatened Italy; neither Austria-Hungary nor Germany. Whether the +Triple Entente was content with blandishments alone history will show +later. [Cheers.] Without a drop of blood flowing, and without the life +of a single Italian being endangered, Italy could have secured the +long list of concessions which I recently read to the House--territory +in Tyrol and on the Isonzo as far as the Italian speech is heard, +satisfaction of the national aspirations in Trieste, a free hand in +Albania, and the valuable port of Valona. + +Why have they not taken it? Do they, perhaps, wish to conquer the +German Tyrol? Hands off! [Prolonged cheers.] Did Italy wish to provoke +Germany, to whom she owes so much in her upward growth of a great +power, and from whom she is not separated by any conflict of +interests? We left Rome in no doubt that an Italian attack on +Austro-Hungarian troops would also strike the German troops. [Cheers.] +Why did Rome refuse so light-heartedly the proposals of Vienna? The +Italian manifesto of war, which conceals an uneasy conscience behind +vain phrases, does not give us any explanation. They were too shy, +perhaps, to say openly what was spread abroad as a pretext by the +press and by gossip in the lobbies of the Chamber, namely, that +Austria's offer came too late and could not be trusted. + +What are the facts? Italian statesmen have no right to measure the +trustworthiness of other nations in the same proportion as they +measured their own loyalty to a treaty. [Loud cheers.] Germany, by her +word, guaranteed that the concessions would be carried through. There +was no occasion for distrust. Why too late? On May 4 the Trentino was +the same territory as it was in February, and a whole series of +concessions had been added to the Trentino of which nobody had thought +in the Winter. + +It was, perhaps, too late for this reason, that while the Triple +Alliance, the existence of which the King and the Government had +expressly acknowledged after the outbreak of war, was still alive, +Italian statesmen had long before engaged themselves so deeply with +the Triple Entente that they could not disentangle themselves. There +were indications of fluctuations in the Rome Cabinet as far back as +December. To have two irons in the fire is always useful. Before this +Italy had shown her predilection for extra dances. [Cheers and +laughter.] But this is no ballroom. This is a bloody battlefield upon +which Germany and Austria-Hungary are fighting for their lives against +a world of enemies. The statesmen of Rome have played against their +own people the same game as they played against us. + +It is true that the Italian-speaking territory on the northern +frontier has always been the dream and the desire of every Italian, +but the great majority of the Italian people, as well as the majority +in Parliament, did not want to know anything of war. According to the +observation of the best judge of the situation in Italy, in the first +days of May four-fifths of the Senate and two-thirds of the Chamber +were against war, and in that majority were the most responsible and +important statesmen. But common sense had no say. The mob alone ruled. +Under the kindly disposed toleration and with the assistance of the +leading statesmen of a Cabinet fed with the gold of the Triple +Entente, the mob, under the guidance of unscrupulous war instigators, +was roused to a frenzy of blood which threatened the King with +revolution and all moderate men with murder if they did not join in +the war delirium. + +The Italian people were intentionally kept in the dark with regard to +the course of the Austrian negotiations and the extent of the Austrian +concessions, and so it came about that after the resignation of the +Salandra Cabinet nobody could be found who had the courage to +undertake the formation of a new Cabinet, and that in the decisive +debate no member of the Constitutional Party in the Senate or Chamber +even attempted to estimate the value of the far-reaching Austrian +concessions. In the frenzy of war honest politicians grew dumb, but +when, as the result of military events, (as we hope and desire,) the +Italian people become sober again it will recognize how frivolously it +was instigated to take part in this world war. + +We did everything possible to avoid the alienation of Italy from the +Triple Alliance. The ungrateful rôle fell to us of requiring from our +loyal ally, Austria, with whose armies our troops share daily wounds, +death, and victory, the purchase of the loyalty of the third party to +the alliance by the cession of old-inherited territory. That +Austria-Hungary went to the utmost limit possible is known. Prince +Bülow, who again entered into the active service of the empire, tried +by every means, his diplomatic ability, his most thorough knowledge of +the Italian situation and of Italian personages, to come to an +understanding. Though his work has been in vain the entire people are +grateful to him. Also this storm we shall endure. From month to month +we grow more intimate with our ally. From the Pilitza to the Bukowina +we tenaciously withstood with our Austro-Hungarian comrades for months +the gigantic superiority of the enemy. Then we victoriously advanced. + +So our new enemies will perish through the spirit of loyalty and the +friendship and bravery of the central powers. In this war Turkey is +celebrating a brilliant regeneration. The whole German people follow +with enthusiasm the different phases of the obstinate, victorious +resistance with which the loyal Turkish Army and fleet repulse the +attacks of their enemies with heavy blows. Against the living wall of +our warriors in the west our enemies up till now have vainly stormed. +If in some places fighting fluctuates, if here or there a trench or a +village is lost or won, the great attempt of our adversaries to break +through, which they announced five months ago, did not succeed, and +will not succeed. They will perish through the heroic bravery of our +soldiers. + +Up till now our enemies have summoned in vain against us all the +forces of the world and a gigantic coalition of brave soldiers. We +will not despise our enemies, as our adversaries like to do. At the +moment when the mob in English towns is dancing around the stake at +which the property of defenseless Germans is burning, the English +Government dared to publish a document, with the evidence of unnamed +witnesses, on the alleged cruelties in Belgium, which are of so +monstrous a character that only mad brains could believe them. But +while the English press does not permit itself to be deprived of news, +the terror of the censorship reigns in Paris. No casualty lists +appear, and no German or Austrian communiqués may be printed. Severely +wounded invalids are kept away from their relations, and real fear of +the truth appears to be the motive of the Government. + +Thus it comes about, according to trustworthy observation, that there +is no knowledge of the heavy defeats which the Russians have +sustained, and the belief continues in the Russian "steam-roller" +advancing on Berlin, which is "perishing from starvation and misery," +and confidence exists in the great offensive in the west, which for +months has not progressed. If the Governments of hostile States +believe that by the deception of the people and by unchaining blind +hatred they can shift the blame for the crime of this war and postpone +the day of awakening, we, relying on our good conscience, a just +cause, and a victorious sword, will not allow ourselves to be forced +by a hair's breadth from the path which we have always recognized as +right. Amid this confusion of minds on the other side, the German +people goes on its own way, calm and sure. + +Not in hatred do we wage this war, but in anger--[loud cheers]--in +holy anger. [Renewed cheers from all parts of the House.] The greater +the danger we have to confront, surrounded on all sides by enemies, +the more deeply does the love of home grip our hearts, the more must +we care for our children and grandchildren, and the more must we +endure until we have conquered and have secured every possible real +guarantee and assurance that no enemy alone or combined will dare +again a trial of arms. [Loud cheers.] The more wildly the storm rages +around us the more firmly must we build our own house. For this +consciousness of united strength, unshaken courage, and boundless +devotion, which inspire the whole people, and for the loyal +co-operation which you, gentlemen, from the first day have given to +the Fatherland, I bring you, as the representatives of the entire +people, the warm thanks of the Emperor. + +In the mutual confidence that we are all united we will conquer, +despite a world of enemies. [Loud and prolonged applause.] + + + + +Why Italy Went to War + +By Signor Salandra, Italian Premier + +[Speech in the Roman Capitol on June 2, 1915.] + + +I address myself to Italy and to the civilized world in order to show +not by violent words, [cheers,] but by exact facts and documents, how +the fury of our enemies has vainly attempted to diminish the high +moral and political dignity of the cause which our arms will make +prevail. I shall speak with the calm of which the King of Italy has +given a noble example, [loud cheers, and shouts of "Long live the +King!"] when he called his land and sea forces to arms. I shall speak +with the respect due to my position and to the place in which I speak. +I can afford to ignore the insults written in Imperial, Royal, and +Archducal proclamations. Since I speak from the Capitol, and represent +in this solemn hour the people and the Government of Italy, I, a +modest citizen, feel that I am far nobler than the head of the house +of the Habsburgs. [Loud cheers.] + +The commonplace statesmen who, in rash frivolity of mind and mistaken +in all their calculations, set fire last July to the whole of Europe +and even to their own hearths and homes, have now noticed their fresh +colossal mistake, and in the Parliaments of Budapest and Berlin have +poured forth brutal invective of Italy and her Government with the +obvious design of securing the forgiveness of their fellow-citizens +and intoxicating them with cruel visions of hatred and blood. +["Bravo!"] The German Chancellor said he was imbued not with hatred, +but with anger, and he spoke the truth, because he reasoned badly, as +is usually the case in fits of rage. ["Hear, hear!" and laughter.] I +could not, even if I chose, imitate their language. An atavistic +throwback to primitive barbarism is more difficult for us who have +twenty centuries behind us more than they have. ["Hear, hear!"] + +The fundamental thesis of the statesmen of Central Europe is to be +found in the words "treason and surprise on the part of Italy toward +her faithful allies." It would be easy to ask if he has any right to +speak of alliance and respect for treaties who, representing with +infinitely less genius, but with equal moral indifference, the +tradition of Frederick the Great and Bismarck proclaimed that +necessity knows no law, and consented to his country trampling under +foot and burying at the bottom of the ocean all the documents and all +the customs of civilization and international law. [Cheers.] But that +would be too easy an argument. Let us examine, on the contrary, +positively and calmly, if our former allies are entitled to say that +they were betrayed and surprised by us. + +Our aspirations had long been known, as was also our judgment on the +act of criminal madness by which they shook the world and robbed the +alliance itself of its closest raison d'etre. The Green Book prepared +by Baron Sonnino, with whom it is the pride of my life to stand united +in entire harmony in this solemn hour after thirty years of +friendship--[prolonged cheers and shouts of "Long live Sonnino!"]--shows +the long, difficult, and useless negotiations that took place between +December and May. But it is not true, as has been asserted without a +shadow of foundation, that the Ministry reconstituted last November +made a change in the direction of our international policy. The +Italian Government, whose policy has never changed, severely +condemned, at the very moment when it learned of it, the aggression of +Austria against Serbia, and foresaw the consequences of that +aggression, consequences which had not been foreseen by those who had +premeditated the stroke with such lack of conscience. + +[Illustration: BARON SYDNEY SONNINO + +Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs + +(_Photo from Paul Thompson_)] + +_As proof of this statement, Signor Salandra read the following +telegram sent by the Marquis di San Giuliano to the Duke of Avarna +(Italian Minister in Vienna) on July 25 last:_ + +"Salandra, von Flotow, and myself have had a long conversation. +Salandra and I emphatically pointed out to von Flotow that Austria had +no right, according to the spirit of the treaty of the Triple +Alliance, to make a démarche like that made in Belgrade without coming +to an agreement beforehand with her allies." + +In effect, [continued Signor Salandra,] Austria, in consequence of the +terms in which her note was couched, and in consequence of the things +demanded, which, while of little effect against the Pan-Serbian +danger, were profoundly offensive to Serbia, and indirectly so to +Russia, had clearly shown that she wished to provoke war. Hence we +declared to von Flotow that, in consequence of this procedure on the +part of Austria and in consequence of the defensive and conservative +character of the Triple Alliance Treaty, Italy was under no obligation +to assist Austria if, as the result of this démarche, she found +herself at war with Russia, because any European war would in such an +event be the consequence of the act of provocation and aggression +committed by Austria. + +The Italian Government on July 27 and 28 emphasized in clear and +unmistakable language to Berlin and Vienna the question of the cession +of the Italian provinces subject to Austria, and we declared that if +we did not obtain adequate compensation the Triple Alliance would have +been irreparably broken. [Loud and prolonged cheers.] Impartial +history will say that Austria, having found Italy in July, 1913, and +in October, 1913, hostile to her intentions of aggression against +Serbia, attempted last Summer, in agreement with Germany, the method +of surprise and the fait accompli. + +The horrible crime of Serajevo was exploited as a pretext a month +after it happened--this was proved by the refusal of Austria to accept +the very extensive offers of Serbia--nor at the moment of the general +conflagration would Austria have been satisfied with the unconditional +acceptance of the ultimatum. Count Berchtold on July 31 declared to +the Duke of Avarna that, if there had been a possibility of mediation +being exercised, it could not have interrupted hostilities, which had +already begun with Serbia. This was the mediation for which Great +Britain and Italy were working. In any case, Count Berchtold was not +disposed to accept mediation tending to weaken the conditions +indicated in the Austrian note, which, naturally, would have been +increased at the end of the war. + +If, moreover, Serbia had decided meanwhile to accept the +aforementioned note in its entirety, declaring herself ready to agree +to the conditions imposed on her, that would not have persuaded +Austria to cease hostilities. It is not true, as Count Tisza declared, +that Austria did not undertake to make territorial acquisitions to the +detriment of Serbia, who, moreover, by accepting all the conditions +imposed upon her, would have become a subject State. The Austrian +Ambassador, Herr Merey von Kapos-Mere, on July 30, stated to the +Marquis di San Giuliano that Austria could not make a binding +declaration on this subject, because she could not foresee whether, +during the war, she might not be obliged, against her will, to keep +Serbian territory. [Sensation.] + +On July 29 Count Berchtold stated to the Duke of Avarna that he was +not inclined to enter into any engagement concerning the eventual +conduct of Austria in the case of a conflict with Serbia. + +Where is, then, the treason, the iniquity, the surprise, if, after +nine months of vain efforts to reach an honorable understanding which +recognized in equitable measure our rights and our liberties, we +resumed liberty of action? The truth is that Austria and Germany +believed until the last days that they had to deal with an Italy weak, +blustering, but not acting, capable of trying blackmail, but not +enforcing by arms her good right, with an Italy which could be +paralyzed by spending a few millions, and which by dealings which she +could not avow was placing herself between the country and the +Government. [Very loud cheers.] + +I will not deny the benefits of the alliance; benefits, however, not +one-sided, but accruing to all the contracting parties, and perhaps +not more to us than to the others. The continued suspicions and the +aggressive intentions of Austria against Italy are notorious and are +authentically proved. The Chief of the General Staff, Baron Conrad von +Hoetzendorf, always maintained that war against Italy was inevitable, +either on the question of the irredentist provinces or from jealousy, +that Italy intended to aggrandize herself as soon as she was prepared, +and meanwhile opposed everything that Austria wished to undertake in +the Balkans, and consequently it was necessary to humiliate her in +order that Austria might have her hands free, and he deplored that +Italy had not been attacked in 1907. Even the Austrian Minister of +Foreign Affairs recognized that in the military party the opinion was +prevalent that Italy must be suppressed by war because from the +Kingdom of Italy came the attractive force of the Italian provinces of +the empire, and consequently by a victory over the kingdom and its +political annihilation all hope for the irredentists would cease. + +[Illustration: GENERAL KONRAD VON HOETZENDORF + +On the Staff of the Archduke Eugene in the Campaign Against Italy] + +[Illustration: THE ARCHDUKE EUGENE + +Titular Commander in Chief of the Austrian Forces Operating Against +Italy] + +We see now on the basis of documents how our allies aided us in the +Lybian undertaking. The operations brilliantly begun by the Duke of +the Abruzzi against the Turkish torpedo boats encountered at Preveza +were stopped by Austria in a sudden and absolute manner. Count +Aehrenthal on Oct. 1 informed our Ambassador at Vienna that our +operations had made a painful impression upon him and that he could +not allow them to be continued. It was urgently necessary, he said, to +put an end to them and to give orders to prevent them from being +renewed, either in Adriatic or in Ionian waters. The following day the +German Ambassador at Vienna, in a still more threatening manner, +confidentially informed our Ambassador that Count Aehrenthal had +requested him to telegraph to his Government to give the Italian +Government to understand that if it continued its naval operations in +the Adriatic and in the Ionian Seas it would have to deal directly +with Austria-Hungary. [Murmurs.] + +And it was not only in the Adriatic and in the Ionian Seas that Austria +paralyzed our actions. On Nov. 5 Count Aehrenthal informed the Duke of +Avarna that he had learned that Italian warships had been reported off +Saloniki, where they had used electric searchlights--[laughter]--and +declared that our action on the Ottoman coasts of European Turkey, as +well as on the Aegean Islands, could not have been allowed either by +Austria-Hungary or by Germany, because it was contrary to the Triple +Alliance Treaty. + +In March, 1912, Count Berchtold, who had in the meantime succeeded +Count Aehrenthal, declared to the German Ambassador in Vienna that, in +regard to our operations against the coasts of European Turkey and the +Aegean Islands, he adhered to the point of view of Count Aehrenthal, +according to which these operations were considered by the +Austro-Hungarian Government contrary to the engagement entered into by +us by Article VII. of the Triple Alliance Treaty. As for our +operations against the Dardanelles, he considered it opposed, first, +to the promise made by us not to proceed to any act which might +endanger the status quo in the Balkans, and, secondly, to the spirit +of the same treaty, which was based on the maintenance of the status +quo. + +Afterward, when our squadron at the entrance to the Dardanelles was +bombarded by Fort Kumkalessi and replied, damaging that fort, Count +Berchtold complained of what had happened, considering it contrary to +the promises we had made, and declared that if the Italian Government +desired to resume its liberty of action, the Austro-Hungarian +Government could have done the same. [Murmurs.] He added that he could +not have allowed us to undertake in the future similar operations or +operations in any way opposed to this point of view. In the same way +our projected occupation of Chios was prevented. It is superfluous to +remark how many lives of Italian soldiers and how many millions were +sacrificed through the persistent vetoing of our actions against +Turkey, who knew that she was protected by our allies against all +attacks on her vital parts. [Cheers.] + +We were bitterly reproached for not having accepted the offers made +toward the end of May, but were these offers made in good faith? +[Laughter and cheers.] Certain documents indicate that they were not. +Francis Joseph said that Italy was regarding the patrimony of his +house with greedy eyes. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg said that the aim of +these concessions was to purchase our neutrality, and, therefore, +gentlemen, you may applaud us for not having accepted them. [Loud +cheers.] Moreover, these concessions, even in their last and belated +edition, in no way responded to the objectives of Italian policy, +which are, first, the defense of Italianism, the greatest of our +duties; secondly, a secure military frontier, replacing that which was +imposed upon us in 1866, by which all the gates of Italy are open to +our adversaries; thirdly, a strategical situation in the Adriatic less +dangerous and unfortunate than that which we have, and of which you +have seen the effects in the last few days. All these essential +advantages were substantially denied us. + +To our minimum demand for the granting of independence to Trieste the +reply was to offer Trieste administrative autonomy. Also the question +of fulfilling the promises was very important. We were told not to +doubt that they would be fulfilled, because we should have Germany's +guarantee, but if at the end of the war Germany had not been able to +keep it, what would our position have been? And in any case, after +this agreement, the Triple Alliance would have been renewed, but in +much less favorable conditions, for there would have been one +sovereign State and, two subject States. [Murmurs.] + +On the day when one of the clauses of the treaty was not fulfilled, or +on the day when the municipal autonomy of Trieste was violated by an +imperial decree or by a lieutenant's orders, to whom should we have +addressed ourselves? To our common superior--to Germany? [Laughter.] I +do not wish to speak of Germany to you without admiration and respect. +I am the Italian Prime Minister, not the German Chancellor, and I do +not lose my head. [Loud cheers.] But with all respect for the learned, +powerful, and great Germany, an admirable example of organization and +resistance, in the name of Italy I declare for no subjection and no +protectorate over any one. [Cheers.] The dream of a universal hegemony +is shattered. The world has risen. The peace and civilization of +future humanity must be founded on respect for existing national +autonomies. [Loud cheers.] Among these Germany will have to sit as an +equal, and not as a master. [Loud cheers.] + +But a more remarkable example of the unmeasured pride with which the +directors of German policy regard other nations is given in the +picture which Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg drew of the Italian political +world. + +_Signor Salandra here read the portion of the German Chancellor's +speech to which he referred, and added:_ + +I do not know if it was the intention of this man, blinded by rage, +personally to insult my colleagues and me. If that was the case, I +should not mention it. We are men whose life you know, men who have +served the State to an advanced age, men of spotless renown--[loud +cheers]--men who have given the lives of their children for their +country. [Loud cheers.] + +The information on which this judgment was based is attributed by the +German Chancellor to him whom he calls the best judge of Italian +affairs. Perhaps he alludes to Prince Bülow, with the brotherly desire +to shoulder responsibilities upon him. Now, I do not wish you to +entertain an erroneous idea of Prince Bülow's intentions. I believe +that he had sympathies for Italy, and did all he could to bring about +an agreement. But how great and how numerous were the mistakes he made +in translating his good intentions into action! He thought that Italy +could be diverted from her path by a few millions ill-spent and by the +influence of a few persons who have lost touch with the soul of the +nation--[loud cheers]--by contact, attempted, but, I hope, not +accomplished, with certain politicians. [Loud cheers.] + +The effect was the contrary. An immense outburst of indignation was +kindled throughout Italy, and not among the populace, but among the +noblest and most educated classes and among all the youth of the +country, which is ready to shed its blood for the nation. This +outburst of indignation was kindled as the result of the suspicion +that a foreign Ambassador was interfering between the Italian +Government, the Parliament, and the country. [Loud cheers.] In the +blaze thus kindled internal discussions melted away, and the whole +nation was joined in a wonderful moral union, which will prove our +greatest source of strength in the severe struggle which faces us, and +which must lead us by our own virtue, and not by benevolent +concessions from others, to the accomplishment of the highest +destinies of the country. [Loud and prolonged cheers.] + +[Illustration] + + + + +Britain's Cabinet and Munitions + +A Coalition Ministry with Lloyd George in a New Office + + The formation of a British coalition Cabinet was announced + on May 25, 1915, with the creation of a new office of + Minister of Munitions, to which Lloyd George was transferred + from the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. Below is given the + official list of the new Ministers and their offices. In the + third column are indicated the same offices as held under + the late Liberal Administration. The eight members of the + Opposition included in the new Cabinet are indicated by an + asterisk: + + Coalition Late Liberal + Cabinet. Cabinet. + +Prime Minister Mr. Asquith Mr. Asquith. +Minister without portfolio Lord Lansdowne* ---- +Lord Chancellor Sir S. Buckmaster Lord Haldane. +President of Council Lord Crewe Lord Beauchamp. +Lord Privy Seal Lord Curzon* Lord Crewe. +Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. McKenna Mr. Lloyd George. +Home Secretary Sir J. Simon Mr. McKenna. +Foreign Minister Sir E. Grey Sir E. Grey. +Colonial Secretary Mr. Bonar Law* Mr. Harcourt. +India Office Mr. Chamberlain* Lord Crewe. +War Office Lord Kitchener Lord Kitchener. +Minister of Munitions (new) Mr. Lloyd George ---- +Admiralty Mr. Balfour* Mr. Churchill. +Board of Trade Mr. Runciman Mr. Runciman. +Local Government Board Mr. Long* Mr. H. Samuel. +Duchy of Lancaster Mr. Churchill Hon. E. Montagu. +Irish Secretary Mr. Birrell Mr. Birrell. +Scottish Office Mr. McKinnon Wood Mr. McKinnon Wood. +Agriculture Lord Selborne* Lord Lucas. +Works Office Mr. Harcourt Lord Emmott. +Education Board Mr. A. Henderson Mr. J.A. Pease. +Attorney General Sir E. Carson* Sir John Simon. + +[Illustration: THE NEW BRITISH COALITION CABINET + +EARL KITCHENER +Secretary of State for War + +SIR EDWARD GREY +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs + +BARON BUCKMASTER +Lord High Chancellor + +MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE +Minister Without Portfolio + +H.H. ASQUITH +Prime Minister + +ARTHUR J. BALFOUR +First Lord of the Admiralty + +WALTER HUME LONG +President of the Local Government Board + +DAVID LLOYD GEORGE +Minister of Munitions + +ANDREW BONAR LAW +Secretary for the Colonies + +WINSTON S. CHURCHILL +Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster] + +[Illustration: THE NEW BRITISH COALITION CABINET + +AUGUSTINE BIRRELL +Chief Secretary for Ireland + +SIR EDWARD CARSON +Attorney General + +THOMAS McK. WOOD +Secretary for Scotland + +REGINALD McKENNA +Chancellor of the Exchequer + +AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN +Secretary for India + +LEWIS HARCOURT +First Commissioner of Works + +WALTER RUNCIMAN +President of the Board of Trade + +EARL OF SELBORNE +President of the Board of Agriculture + +MARQUESS OF CREWE +Lord President of the Council + +SIR JOHN SIMON +Secretary of State for Home Affairs + +ARTHUR HENDERSON +President of the Board of Education + +EARL CURZON +Lord Privy Seal] + + +_The reconstruction of the Liberal Ministry that had ruled the British +Empire for ten years was announced by Prime Minister Asquith in the +following statement in the House of Commons on May 19:_ + +I cannot say more at the moment than that steps are in contemplation +which involve a reconstruction of the Government on a broader personal +and political basis. Nothing is yet definitely arranged, but to avoid +any possible misapprehension I wish here and now--as the House is to +adjourn--to make clear to every one three things: + +First, that any change that takes place will not affect the offices of +the head of the Government or of the Foreign Secretary. [Cheers.] They +will continue to be held as they are now. [Renewed cheers.] + +The second is, there is absolutely no change of any kind in +contemplation in the policy of the country in regard to the continued +prosecution of the war with all possible energy, and by means of every +available resource. [Loud cheers.] + +The third and the last point--one of great importance, not only to my +friends behind me, but also of importance no doubt to the +Opposition--is this: Any reconstruction that may be made will be for +the purpose of the war alone, and is not to be taken in any quarter as +any reason for indicating anything in the nature of surrender or +compromise on the part of any person or body of persons of their +several political purposes and ideals. + +That is really as far as I can go at the moment. Nothing definite has +yet taken place. When and if an arrangement of this kind should +become an accomplished fact the House will have the fullest +opportunity of expressing itself, if it so desires, upon it. [Cheers.] + +_Mr. Bonar Law, leader of the Opposition, rose immediately after the +Prime Minister and said:_ + +I think it only necessary to say on behalf of my friends and myself +that at the stage which this has reached our sole consideration in +taking into account what further steps should be taken will be what is +the best method of finishing the war successfully, and we shall leave +out of our minds absolutely all considerations, political or +otherwise, beyond the war; while, of course, if such an arrangement +should take place, it is obvious our convictions on other subjects +will remain unchanged, and will be settled when this danger is over. + + +CAUSES OF THE CHANGE. + +_At least four causes which were regarded as contributing to bring +about a coalition Ministry, or War Government, are tersely outlined by +A.P. Nicholson, Parliamentary correspondent of The London Daily News, +as follows:_ + +First--The quarrel between Mr. Churchill and Lord Fisher at the +Admiralty, a conflict which began with the undertaking of the +Dardanelles expedition. Mr. Churchill carried the War Council on this, +and it was undertaken before the Cabinet were informed. The Cabinet +were committed to it by the movement of ships before they had any +formal notification. Lord Fisher, for his part, considered that the +enterprise should not have been begun unless it was supported by land +forces, but he also was committed to it. Mr. Churchill was counting on +the support of Greek forces on land, a calculation which was not +justified by the event. + +Lately the quarrel between Lord Fisher and Mr. Churchill proved to be +irreconcilable, and Lord Fisher sent in his resignation at the +week-end. It is now hoped that he will withdraw his resignation, and +the possibility of Mr. Churchill replacing Lord Crewe at the India +Office or taking another office is being discussed. + +Second--The Cabinet have not been kept informed by Lord Kitchener as +to the supplies of high explosive shells sent out to our troops at the +front. It is the fact that huge supplies of shells have been and are +being sent out, but the proportion of shrapnel is greater than the +proportion of high explosive shells, and the army command require that +the proportion of high explosive shells should be greater. The fact +that the Cabinet have been to some extent in the dark of late on this +matter accounts for some apparent discrepancies in recent Ministerial +statements. + +Third--The Opposition leaders were in possession of the facts as to +the high explosive shells, and threatened a debate in the House of +Commons, in which their statements should be proved. Such a debate +would have gravely undermined the authority of the Government, and, +coupled with the tendered resignation of Lord Fisher, and the +consequent disappearance either of the First Sea Lord or Mr. +Churchill, would in all human probability have led to the disastrous +downfall of the King's Government in the midst of the national peril +of this war, with consequences most lamentable. + +Fourth--There have been on both sides some leading statesmen in favor +of a coalition Ministry for the prosecution of the war. They are few, +but influential. They perceived that the curious circumstances that +had arisen offered a brilliant opportunity to achieve a coalition, and +they seized the opportunity. It should certainly be assumed that they +were actuated by national motives, since their action may have averted +the downfall of one of the greatest Governments of modern times in a +time of national peril. + + + + +Lloyd George's Appeal to Labor + + In a speech at Manchester on June 4, and again on June 5, + before the employers and workmen of Lancashire, the new + Minister of Munitions announced his policy of discontinuing + the methods of red tape that had hindered the mobilization + of labor for the production of arms and ammunition. His + speech at Lancashire appears below in full. + + +I have come here not for speech but for business, and I shall only +indulge in speech to the extent that speaking is the essential +preliminary to business. I placed yesterday before a meeting in +Manchester my general views of the position, and I have very little to +add to what I then said. But I have come here to appeal for the +assistance of the men of Liverpool and the surrounding districts. + +The situation is a serious one. It is as grave a situation as this +country has ever been confronted with. You need have no special +knowledge in order to ascertain that yourselves. A careful, +intelligent perusal of the published dispatches in the newspapers must +have caused you to come to the conclusion that this country is +engaging one of the most formidable enemies that it has ever waged war +against. + +The issues are great, the perils are great, and nothing can pull us +through but the united effort of every man in the British Empire. If +you look at what our brave fellows are doing at the front you can see +the perils there facing them, the trials, the privations, and they are +doing it without flinching. ["Hear, hear!"] Never in the history of +this country have our men shown greater courage and endurance than +they have during this war. They have done all you can expect of mortal +man. + +We who are comfortable at home, free from privations, free from +danger, let us, each of us, do his part as nobly as those heroes of +ours are doing it at the front. [Cheers.] It would be horrible for us +to think that those who fall fall through our neglect. It would be a +still more ghastly reflection to think that those who fell have given +their lives in vain through any slackness or selfishness on the part +of any one of us in this land. + +Yesterday we had a very important gathering of the employers and the +representatives of labor in the great engineering firms in Manchester +and other parts of this great county. The response made to our appeal +was gratifying. Every man there showed a disposition to do all in his +power to assist the country to pull through its difficulties +triumphantly, and I feel perfectly certain that the same ready +response will be given to the same appeal which I am now about to make +to the men of Liverpool and the area surrounding it. + +What makes Germany a formidable enemy is not merely its preparation +for war, it is not merely its organization, potent as that is, but it +is the spirit of every class and section of its population. You have +only got to read the papers to see that as far as they are concerned +they are all of them subordinating everything to the one great +national purpose of winning victory for their Fatherland. That is the +least we can do in this country for our land. [Cheers.] + +I never doubted where ultimate victory would lie, never for a moment. +Nor have I ever underestimated the difficulties. But although I have +never doubted where victory would rest, all the same I know that +victory will come the sooner for recognizing the difficulties there +are. + +You cannot remove difficulties without looking at them, and you cannot +look at difficulties without seeing them, and that is why the business +of a Minister is to point them out, and then to appeal to every +section of the community to assist the Government in overcoming the +obstacles in the way. + +Now we want especially the help of those who can contribute to the +increase of the munitions, the equipment, and the material of war. We +want the help of employers, we want the help of the workers. We want +employers and workmen to feel their responsibility in this matter. It +is my intention to utilize as much as I possibly can the business +brains of the community. I hope to get their assistance. Some of them +will be at my elbow in London to advise, to counsel, to guide, to +inform and instruct and to direct, but I want the help of the business +brains in the localities. + +This is no time for the usual methods of doing business with the +Government. ["Hear, hear!"] I am assuming that Governments in the past +have done their business in the most perfect way. This is not a time +for the usual roundabout methods of Government business. ["Hear, +hear!"] + +We have got to trust business men in the localities to organize for +us, to undertake the business in the particular locality on our +behalf. We want to suspend during the war not merely trade-union +regulations, but some Government regulations, too. ["Hear, hear!"] + +We want rifles, we want guns, we want shells, fuses, chemicals, and +explosives. There is one thing we want less of than usual, and that is +red tape. It takes such a long time to unwind--[laughter]--and we +can't spare the time. Therefore, the first thing I am going to ask you +to do is to organize for yourselves in this locality, and in every +other locality, the engineering resources, for the purpose of +assisting the Government. You know best what you can do. I know the +resourcefulness of the engineers of this country, I know, as the Lord +Mayor has already pointed out, their adaptability. I want you to come +together and form your own committee of management. Having done that, +organize among yourselves the engineering resources of the locality, +with a view to producing the greatest result in the way of helping our +gallant forces at the front. + +That involves a good deal more confidence and trust than usual. We +have no time to go through the same processes of examination, of +bargaining, as you get usually in the matter of Government contracts. +["Hear, hear!"] + +Whatever is done has got to be done with promptitude. That involves +our trusting to the integrity, to the loyalty, to the patriotism of +the business men to do their best for us in these localities, and do +it on fair terms. That is the first thing I have got to say to the +business men of the community. I want you to regard this as your +business as well as ours. This is not a Government entering into +negotiations with you. You are the Government, you have got an +interest in this concern, it is your concern, just as much as it is +ours, and I want you to help us. + +This is a business for all of us, and we want every business man in +the community to give his very best to help the old country through in +the great emergency and crisis. [Cheers.] That means that you will, as +soon as you possibly can, get your committee of management, and, +through that committee of management, organize your district for the +purpose of producing such material of war, or such other component +parts of any particular material of war, you can help us to produce. + +I would make the same appeal to labor. I want them also to feel that +this is their business. Should Germany win, God help labor! ["Hear, +hear!"] It will come out of it worst of all. The victory of Germany +will be the victory of the worst form of autocracy that this world has +seen for many a century. There is no section of the community has +anything like the interest in the overthrow of this military caste +which labor has--["Hear, hear!"]--and the more they realize that, +difficulties will vanish, obstacles will go, and bickerings and +slackness. We have to get to work as one man to help to win a triumph +for democratic free government against the autocratic systems of +Germany and Austria. [Cheers.] + +Now, I should like to say one or two words beyond what I said +yesterday on this particular aspect of the business. I have had the +privilege, both yesterday and today, of meeting some of the leading +representatives of labor in Manchester and Liverpool. And let me say +this: As far as the official representatives of organized labor are +concerned, we have had nothing but help. The difficulty has been when +you get beyond. + +I am not saying a word about trade-union regulations during a period +of peace. I have no doubt they were essential safeguards to the +protection of labor against what otherwise might have been a serious +interference with their rights and with their prospects. But as I have +already pointed out to you, Government regulations have to be +suspended during the period of the war because they are inapplicable +in a time of urgency. The same thing applies to many trade-union +regulations and practices. ["Hear, hear!"] + +The first I should like to call attention to are those rules which had +been set up for very good reasons to make it difficult for purely +unsullied men to claim the position and rights of men who have had a +training--that is true in every profession. + +I happen, my Lord Mayor, to belong to about the strictest trade union +in the world--[laughter]--the most jealous trade union in the world. +If any unskilled man--and by an unskilled man we mean a man who has +not paid our fees--if any man of that sort, however brainy he was, +tried to come in and interfere with our business, well, we would soon +settle him. [Laughter.] But if during the period of the war there were +any particular use for lawyers--[laughter]--if you find that upon +lawyers depended the success of the war, and it requires a good deal +of imagination; even my Celtic imagination will hardly attain to the +exalted height--[more laughter]--but if that were possible for a +moment, do you suppose that even the Incorporated Law Society, the +greatest and narrowest of all trade unions, could stand in the way of +bringing in outside help in order to enable us to get through our +work? + +Well, now, the same thing applies here. If all the skilled engineers +in this country were turned on to produce what is required, if you +brought back from the front every engineer who had been recruited, if +you worked them to the utmost limits of human endurance, you have not +got enough labor even then to produce all we are going to ask you to +produce during the next few months. Therefore, we must appeal to the +patriotism of the unions of this country to relax these particular +rules, in order to eke out, as it were, the skill, to make it go as +far as it possibly can go, in order to enable us to turn out the +necessary munitions of war to win a real and a speedy triumph for our +country in this great struggle. + +Now, the same thing applies to the work of women in the factories. +There is a good deal of work now done by men, and men only, in this +country which is done in France at the present moment in shell +factories by women. Why is that? They have not enough men to go round. +The men are working as hard as they can, for as long hours as they +possibly can support, but in spite of that they would not turn out a +sufficient number of shells and other material of war without doling +out a good part of the work to women in those factories. Well, now, if +there are any trade-union regulations to prevent the possibility of +that being done, I hope during the period of war these will be +suspended. ["Hear, hear!"] + +Now, I am coming to another thing--and I am here to talk quite +frankly--it is very much better to do so. ["Hear, hear!"] There must +be no deliberate slowing down of work. I have had two or three very +painful cases put before me. One was from an arsenal upon which we +were absolutely dependent for the material of war. There was a very +skilled workman there who worked very hard and who earned a good deal +of money. He was doing his duty by the State. He was not merely warned +that if he repeated that offense he would be driven out, I am not +quite sure that he was not actually driven out. + +The same thing happened in another factory. Now, in the period of war +this is really intolerable. ["Hear, hear!"] We cannot do with it. We +cannot afford it, I say again. There may be reasons, there might be +very good reasons, that a policy of that sort should be adopted in the +period of peace. I am expressing no opinions about that. I am simply +stating the case of this particular emergency, and I am sure that the +only thing in this emergency is that everybody should put forward all +his strength in order to help the country through. [Cheers.] + +Therefore, I do hope that whatever regulation, whatever practice, +whatever custom there may be in existence at the present moment which +interferes in the slightest degree in the increase of war material, +will be suspended during the period of war. + +We have given our undertaking as a Government, and that undertaking +has been inherited by a new Government. That is that those safeguards +which have been established by trade-union action prior to the war +will be restored exactly to the position they were when the war is +over, in so far as the action of the Government is concerned. We can +only ask for a suspension of these regulations during the period of +the war, then afterward the same process of discussion will go on +between capital and labor as has gone on, I have no doubt, during the +last fifty or one hundred years. + +Those are two or three of the things which I wanted to put. The lives +of our men at the front depend upon the amount of war material we are +able to equip them with, success depends upon it, the lives of men +depend upon it. Everybody ought to do his best. There is no room for +slackers. ["Hear, hear!"] I don't want to get rid of the slackers, I +only want to get rid of their slackness--[laughter and cheers]--and we +really must. + +In this war every country is demanding as a matter of right--not as a +matter of appeal--as a matter of right from every one of the citizens, +that he should do his best--[cheers]--and that is one of the problems +with which we have to deal in this country. It ought to be established +as a duty, as one of the essential duties of citizenship, that every +man should put his whole strength into helping the country through. +[Cheers.] And I don't believe any section of the community would +object to it, if it were made a legal right and duty expected of every +one. [Cheers.] + +I don't know that I have anything further that I want specially to say +to you, because I want to get to business as quickly as possible. Sir +Frederick Donaldson of Woolwich Arsenal and Sir Percy Girouard are +here to answer any question you may put to them on the business of the +meeting. They can inform you on the technical side in a way that I +can't pretend to. I can only ask you to help us. I know that appeal to +you won't be in vain. + +We are engaged in the greatest struggle this country has ever been +precipitated into. It is no fault of ours. ["Hear, hear!"] We sought +peace, we asked for peace, we avoided all the paths that led to war, +but we should have forever been dishonored if we had shirked the +conflict when it came. [Cheers.] + +Harried into it, we are there to champion the deepest, the highest, +the greatest interest ever committed to the charge of any nation. Let +us equip ourselves in such a way that Great Britain through the war +will be still great, and when the war is over it will be a Greater +Britain than ever. [Cheers.] + +[Illustration] + + + + +Balkan Neutrality--As Seen By the Balkans + +Inspired Press Opinions from the Capitals of Greece, Bulgaria, and +Rumania + + +THE GREEK VIEW. + +_From the Embros, an independent daily of Athens, of May 23, 1915._ + +In what degree the Triple Entente would have respected the rights of +Greece had we entered the war before Italy's intervention is +demonstrated by the conduct of the Allies toward Serbia. The whole of +the Adriatic is now an Italian sea, by virtue of a mutual agreement +between the Entente powers and Italy, and only the slightest hope of +obtaining Durazzo and Cattero is left to Serbia. + +Greece therefore must congratulate herself for holding back and +watchfully awaiting developments. It is generally admitted that the +European war will last long and that the new ally will not give a +decisive turn to its final conclusion. Those, therefore, who have +their swords sharpened will be always in time to join. In a struggle +that has such a wide field of adventures those who will intervene +later will be more welcome than those who have already joined and +offered all the strength they possessed. And, lastly, if this war will +not show in the end a single victor, then the interests of each one of +the participants will be settled by a European congress, where, again, +those who will have preserved untouched their forces will be the real +victors.... Greece is not going to be neutral for a long time; +meanwhile she must husband her resources and her strength up to the +day when events themselves will force her to enter the war, whether +she likes it or not. + + +A PLEA FOR WAR. + +_From the Patris, Mr. Venizelos's organ, of Athens, of May 14._ + +We say in one word that the dangers that threaten us as long as we are +neutral are immensely greater than those which we might incur in +joining in the war. Greece cannot accept a comparison with Bulgaria +and Rumania. Bulgaria, by remaining neutral, is sure to receive the +Enos-Midia line, and in case of co-operating with the entente powers +she may also be sure of getting Dobrudja and Serbian Macedonia. +Rumania, on the other hand, if neutral will take a slice of +Transylvania, and if she sides with the Allies in the war, may obtain +the whole of Bukowina. But Greece has no alternative. She must by +political necessity act in common with the Triple Entente. Of course, +by so doing she runs certain risks, but we defy the Government [of Mr. +Gounaris] to prove that the dangers threatening Greece are less in the +case of a protracted neutrality than in the case of her joining in the +war. + + +GREECE AFTER ITALY'S INTERVENTION. + +_From the Athenae, the Ministerial paper, of May 25._ + +Italy has entered the war on the Allies' side, because in the +territorial negotiations England and France outbid Austria and +Germany. And now does any one imagine that the Triple Entente would +hesitate to sacrifice Hellenic interests in favor of Italy even if +Greece had been the first to indorse their cause? But have we not seen +how the Serbian national aspirations have been sacrificed by the +Entente in its effort to secure the co-operation of Italy? And has not +the Entente sacrificed Greek interests when Italy was occupying +Vallona? Was that a token of sympathy with Greek interests? And did +ever the Triple Entente say to Greece that they would not allow Italy +to impose her rule on Greek countries and Greek populations? And the +twelve Islands of the Aegean, the Dodekanisos--have they not been +shown to Italy as a present and reward for her co-operation whether or +not Greece joined the Entente? + +How could Greece, in such circumstances, abandon her neutrality and +risk everything for the Allies? + +[Illustration: The shaded portion of the map shows how, if Rumania and +Bulgaria join the Allies in the field, Germany and Austria-Hungary +will be almost entirely surrounded by enemies, the only considerable +outlet then remaining being over the Dutch frontier.] + + +BULGARIAN VIEWS. + +FAVORING NEUTRALITY. + +_From Narodni Prava, the mouthpiece of the Liberal Party and the +Premier of Bulgaria, Mr. B. Radoslavoff, April 1, 1915._ + +In his statement to the Sobranjie (the Bulgarian Parliament) the Prime +Minister yesterday categorically said that those wishing to march with +either side of the belligerents are free to do so, if they are +courageous enough and if they are aware of their duties to the +interests of the country.... The Parliamentary majority and the nation +at large are satisfied with the policy of the Government, which +consists in preserving a strict neutrality and the peace of the +country and in developing meanwhile the patriotic and military spirit +of the nation, in order that we may be ready when the time comes to +act for the interests of the fatherland. + + +OPPOSING NEUTRALITY. + +_From Mir, organ of the Nationalists and of ex-Premier I. Gueshoff, +April 26, 1915._ + +Greece is hoping to profit from the present situation without any +sacrifices, or with as few as possible, and Venizelos fell because the +Greek people did not wish to give the Allies the assistance he +promised them. In order to explain and justify their stand, the Greeks +found an argument in the Bulgarian danger.... "Do you want us to prove +that we are not willing to play the game of Germany? Here are the +proofs: We are ready to shield Serbia against any possible attack from +Bulgaria and to help you, not against Turkey but against +Bulgaria"--that is what the Greeks said and wrote to the Entente +powers. And the chief newspapers of the Allies are full of articles +trying to prove that the Bulgarians, under the guidance of Germany and +Austria, are endangering the Balkan situation. According to what we +learn, Germany is straining every nerve to incite an armed conflict +between Greece and Bulgaria. In this way Germany hopes to guarantee +Turkey against any possible attack from Bulgaria, and thus promote her +own interests. To this fact we most earnestly call the attention of +the Bulgarian people. + + +OPPOSING GREECE, SERBIA, AND RUSSIA. + +_From the Nationalist Kambana of Sofia, May 4, 1915._ + +Greece and Serbia are, first of all, threatened by Bulgaria, and they +both know that they must step out of Bulgarian Macedonia. The +struggle for Macedonia does not date from yesterday or today; this is +an age-long struggle, which will end only when Bulgaria shall have +assured her frontier, when Greece shall return to her peninsula, and +when Serbia shall be entirely wiped off the map of the Balkans. Aside +from the Greeks and Serbs, Bulgaria constitutes a danger also for +Russia, inasmuch as we do not want to be the bridge for any further +Russian expansion. Russian diplomacy has done everything in its power +to alienate Bulgarian sympathy and to make us unfriendly to Rumania +and Turkey; but Russia is today severely punished for her misdeeds. +Russia, Serbia, and Greece are finding themselves in a pretty hard +position, and are looking for our help. But we must not hurry. Every +day that passes weakens our enemies, and the future of Bulgaria +becomes daily brighter. + + +THE RUMANIAN VIEW. + +A PRO-GERMAN OPINION. + +_From the Moldava of Bucharest, organ of the Conservative Party, of +April 1, 1915._ + +For a long time public opinion in Rumania has been lulled into +believing that we shall take Transylvania, but not a word has been +said about Bessarabia. We do not know why our political predecessors +wanted to create a strong barrier in the face of Russia, behind which +live, condemned to perpetual isolation, 3,000,000 Rumanians. That +territory which lies between the Rivers Pruth and Bug contains a +population of more than 5,000,000, of which 3,500,000 are Moldavians; +it comprises, also, the mouth of the Danube, fertile lands, an +extended shore, and the City of Odessa itself. The budget of that part +of Bessarabia which lies between the Rivers Pruth and Dniester amounts +to 250,000,000 lei, ($50,000,000,) or nearly as much as half of the +entire budget of Rumania. But this wealth is not used for the benefit +of the country which produces it. There are neither schools nor +highways nor hospitals in Bessarabia. Ignorance and misery are the +sole companions of that population, every national sentiment of which +is smothered under the sway of Russian absolutism. + +We in Rumania are ignorant of all these facts because our education is +such as to make us ignore such vital issues. But only because we do +not know ought we forsake Bessarabia?... Or is it that the national +ideal of Rumania is to live at the mercy of Russia, by abandoning old +Moldavia? + + +FOR A BALKAN UNION. + +_From Le Journal des Balkans of the Liberal T. Jonescu, of March 13, +1915._ + +It is of the utmost importance that the Balkan States get +together--quite apart from the present circumstances--for their own +vital benefit. No matter what the outcome of the present war will be, +the duty of the Balkan States is to act in unison, for mutual support +and for the preservation of their future. + +Under whatever form constituted, the alliance of the Balkan States is +essential to the existence of the countries of Southeastern Europe. + +To begin with, a Balkan congress must be called together, which should +deal principally with the question of organizing a common network of +communication, both on rail and water, strictly Balkan in character, +which would contribute to a specific political purpose, and at the +same time assure to the Balkan countries the monopoly of East Indian +trade. + + +IN CASE OF WAR. + +_From the Government organ, Indépendance Roumaine, of May 18, 1915._ + +It is most essential that, should neutral countries decide to enter +the European war, their first duty should be that of asking beforehand +explicit and definite guarantees from the powers that solicit their +assistance. Without such guarantees not one of the Balkan States would +be willing to enter the war, because there is not a statesman who in +like circumstances would plunge his country into an action which, on +the face of it, is only an adventurous enterprise. + + + + +Portsmouth Bells + +[From Punch.] + + + A lazy sea came washing in + Right through the Harbor mouth, + Where gray and silent, half asleep, + The lords of all the oceans keep, + West, East, and North and South. + The Summer sun spun cloth of gold + Upon the twinkling sea, + And little t.b.d.'s lay close, + Stern near to stern and nose to nose, + And slumbered peacefully. + Oh, bells of Portsmouth Town, + Oh, bells of Portsmouth Town, + You rang of peace upon the seas + Before the leaves turned brown. + + A grayish sea goes sweeping in + Beyond the boom today; + The Harbor is a cold, clear space, + For far beyond the Solent's race + The gray-flanked cruisers play. + For it's oh! the long, long night up North, + The sudden twilit day, + Where Portsmouth men cruise up and down, + And all alone in Portsmouth Town + Are women left to pray. + Oh, bells of Portsmouth Town, + Oh, bells of Portsmouth Town, + What will ye ring when once again + The green leaves turn to brown? + +[Illustration: The dotted line shows the route of the Emden's +survivors.] + + + + +The Wanderers of the Emden + +Odyssey of the German Raider's Survivors Told by Captain Muecke, Their +Leader + +By Emil Ludwig + +Special Correspondent of the Berliner Tageblatt. + + +El Ula, (via Damascus,) May 7, 11:40 P.M., (Dispatches to the Berliner +Tageblatt.)--The Emden caravan arrived here tonight. In advance, +Captain Mücke. We were sitting in high expectation when suddenly some +Arabs burst in upon us, calling out "They're here!" A small caravan +climbed down from the hills; I ran to meet it. A big, blonde fellow +had already dismounted, and laughed heartily at my welcome. Completely +rigged out in full tropical garb and with an involuntarily full beard +and the bluest of seamen's eyes, he stood beside his white camel. + +"Bath or Rhine wine?" was my first question. + +"Rhine wine," the decided answer. + +Then we sat down together in the station master's room, and without +more ado Mücke began to narrate his Robinson Crusade by water and +land. Between times he opened letters. "Have I the Cross?" he suddenly +exclaimed, as he found newspapers that brought him the news that he +had been decorated with the Iron Cross, First Class, a Bavarian and a +Saxon order. He laughed, got red in the face, and was happy as a child +over Christmas presents. "It's really too much," he said, "but I am +most pleased over the Saxon order; my father also wore it." In between +he asked questions about Captain Müller's fate, about the Carpathians +and the Dardanelles, and then threw in scraps about the Emden and the +Ayesha. Presently another caravan was reported. "I must ride out to +meet my men," he said, and we approached a big caravan. Thirty +Bedouins, with the Turkish flag at the head of the column; then, all +mixed up, sturdy German blond sailors in disguise, with fez or turban, +all on camels, among them dusky, melancholy looking Arabs. "Children!" +their Captain called out to them, "you've all got the Cross, and you, +Gyssing, have a Bavarian order to boot." "Hurrah!" resounded through +the red desert. The German flag was raised. Handshaking all around. + +"Children, here is Paradise; come, here flows champagne! And here, +these are real railroad tracks!" + +"How soon do you want to travel?" a Turkish Major asked. + +"In three hours, as quick as possible, through night and day," Captain +Mücke replied. Even before he had reported his safe arrival to his +parents at home, he files a telegraphic request for a new command +before the enemy. Never have I seen so much modesty alongside so much +glory as among these fifty Emden men. + +"Have you papers here?" one of them asks. + +"A heap." + +"How is it with Germany?" comes a voice from the crowd. + +That's what they all want to know. The men bathe, and then look +happily at the special train in the desert. + + +THE SURVIVORS. + +TABUK, (via Damascus,) May 8, noon.--They're still asleep. Last night +the joy lasted a long while. But I couldn't help admiring the +discipline, which did not break down even on that well-deserved joy +day. Earnestness, the basic characteristic of the soldier, lay under +all their merriment. As the engine was reported to be ready to start, +Mücke called out: "All abroad! Youngsters, only once in my life do I +command a railroad train." Then he and the officers sat down among the +sailors. At every station they made jokes, because they were real +stations that followed one another automatically and without the +danger of adventures! + +But all have only one wish--to get quickly back to Germany. Mücke +wants to shorten all the festivities in his honor; he longs for +nothing more than a command in the North Sea. I go down the aisle of +the cars and watch them sleeping--comrades held together by the bonds +of nine months on seas and desert, and I think how young they all are. +None of them over 30, and their commander only 33. Of the officers, +only Lieutenant von Gyssing was on the Emden. Wellman joined the party +at Padang, Dr. Lang and Lieutenant Gerdts were taken over from the +steamer Choising. This steamer of the North German Lloyd, the third +and last ship to carry the expeditionary corps of the Emden, took over +the men and provisions on Dec. 16, and on the same evening the Ayesha +was sunk. On Jan. 9 they left this ship, too, before Hodeida, in the +hope of being able to take the overland route through Arabia. After +the loss of two months, on March 17, they again had to take a small +sailboat of 75 feet length and beat about the Red Sea amid new +adventures. All are in good health and spirits; they're astonished, +however, and laugh, because they see themselves featured as heroes in +the papers. + + +CRUISE OF THE EMDEN. + +OASIS OF MAAN, 620 Kilometers South of Damascus, May 9.--As we ride +through Arabia, Mücke and Lieutenant Gyssing, the only returning Emden +officers, narrate: + +"We on the Emden had no idea where we were going, as on Aug. 11, 1914, +we separated from the cruiser squadron, escorted only by the coaler +Markomannia. Under way, the Emden picked up three officers from German +steamers. That was a piece of luck, for afterward we needed many +officers for the capturing and sinking of steamers, or manning them +when we took them with us. On Sept. 10 the first boat came in sight. +We stop her. She proves to be a Greek tramp, chartered from England. +On the next day we met the Indus, bound for Bombay, all fitted up as a +troop transport, but still without troops. That was the first one we +sunk. The crew we took aboard the Markomannia. 'What's the name of +your ship?' the officers asked us. 'Emden! Impossible. Why, the Emden +was sunk long ago in battle with the Ascold!' + +"Then we sank the Lovat, a troop transport ship, and took the Kabinga +along with us. One gets used quickly to new forms of activity. After a +few days capturing ships became a habit. Of the twenty-three which we +captured, most of them stopped after our first signal. When they +didn't, we fired a blank shot. Then they all stopped. Only one, the +Clan Mattesen, waited for a real shot across the bow before giving up +its many automobiles and locomotives to the seas. The officers were +mostly very polite and let down rope ladders for us. After a few hours +they'd be on board with us. We ourselves never set foot in their +cabins, nor took charge of them. The officers often acted on their own +initiative and signaled to us the nature of their cargo; then the +Commandant decided as to whether to sink the ship or take it with us. +Of the cargo, we always took everything we could use, particularly +provisions. Many of the English officers and sailors made good use of +the hours of transfer to drink up the supply of whisky instead of +sacrificing it to the waves. I heard that one Captain was lying in +tears at the enforced separation from his beloved ship, but on +investigation found that he was merely dead drunk. But much worse was +the open betrayal which many practiced toward their brother Captains, +whom they probably regarded as rivals. 'Haven't you met the Kilo yet? +If you keep on your course two hours longer, you must overhaul her,' +one Captain said to me of his own accord. To other tips from other +Captains we owed many of our prizes. I am prepared to give their +names," Captain Mücke added. + +"The Captain of one ship once called out cheerily: 'Thank God, I've +been captured!' He had received expense money for the trip to +Australia, and was now saved half the journey! + +"We had mostly quiet weather, so that communication with captured +ships was easy. They were mostly dynamited, or else shot close to the +water line. The sinking process took longer or shorter, according to +where they were struck and the nature of the cargo. Mostly the ships +keeled over on their sides till the water flowed down the smokestacks, +a last puff of smoke came out, and then they were gone. Many, however, +went down sharply bow first, the stern rising high in the air. + +"On the Kabinga the Captain had his wife and youngster with him. He +was inclined at first to be disagreeable. 'What are you going to do +with us? Shall we be set out in boats and left to our fate?' he asked. +Afterward he grew confidential, like all the Captains, called us 'Old +Chap,' gave the Lieutenant a nice new oilskin, and as we finally let +the Kabinga go wrote us a letter of thanks, and his wife asked for an +Emden armband and a button. They all gave us three cheers as they +steamed away. 'Come to Calcutta some time!' was the last thing the +Captain said, 'and catch the pilots so that those [unprintable +seaman's epithet] fellows will feel something of the war, too.' + +"A few days later, by Calcutta, we made one of our richest hauls, the +Diplomat, chock full of tea--we sunk $2,500,000 worth. On the same day +the Trabbotch, too, which steered right straight toward us, literally +into our arms. + +"But now we wanted to beat it out of the Bay of Bengal, because we had +learned from the papers that the Emden was being keenly searched for. +By Rangoon we encountered a Norwegian tramp, which, for a cash +consideration, took over all the rest of our prisoners of war. Later +on another neutral ship rejected a similar request and betrayed us to +the Japanese into the bargain. On Sept. 23 we reached Madras and +steered straight for the harbor. We stopped still 3,000 yards before +the city. Then we shot up the oil tanks. Three or four burned up and +illuminated the city. They answered. Several of the papers asserted +that we left with lights out. On the contrary, we showed our lights so +as to seem to indicate that we were going northward; only later did we +put them out, turn around, and steer southward. As we left we could +see the fire burning brightly in the night, and even by daylight, +ninety sea miles away, we could still see the smoke from the burning +oil tanks. Two days later we navigated around Ceylon, and could see +the lights of Colombo. On the same evening we gathered in two more +steamers, the King Lund and Tyweric. The latter was particularly good +to us, for it brought us the very latest evening papers from Colombo, +which it had only left two hours before. + +"Everything went well, the only trouble was that our prize, the +Markomannia, didn't have much coal left. We said one evening in the +mess: 'The only thing lacking now is a nice steamer with 500 tons of +nice Cardiff coal.' The next evening we got her, the Burresk, +brand-new, from England on her maiden voyage, bound for Hongkong. Then +followed in order the Riberia, Foyle, Grand Ponrabbel, Benmore, +Troiens, Exfort, Grycefale, Sankt Eckbert, Chilkana. Most of them were +sunk; the coal ships were kept. The Eckbert was let go with a load of +passengers and captured crews. We also sent the Markomannia away +because it hadn't any more coal. She was later captured by the English +together with all the prize papers about their own captured ships. All +this happened before Oct. 20; then we sailed southward, to Deogazia, +southwest of Colombo. South of Lakadiven on Deogazia some Englishmen +came on board, solitary farmers who were in touch with the world only +every three months through schooners. They knew nothing about the war, +took us for an English man-of-war, and asked us to repair their motor +boat for them. We kept still and invited them to dinner in our +officers' mess. Presently they stood still in front of the portrait of +the Kaiser, quite astounded. 'This is a German ship!' We continued to +keep still. 'Why is your ship so dirty?' they asked. We shrugged our +shoulders. 'Will you take some letters for us?' they asked. 'Sorry, +impossible; we don't know what port we'll run into.' Then they left +our ship, but about the war we told them not a single word. + +"Now we went toward Miniko, where we sank two ships more. The Captain +of one of them said to us: 'Why don't you try your luck around north +of Miniko? There's lots of ships there now?' On the next day we found +three steamers to the north, one of them with much desired Cardiff +coal. From English papers on captured ships we learned that we were +being hotly pursued. The stokers also told us a lot. Our pursuers +evidently must also have a convenient base. Penang was the tip given +us. There we had hopes of finding two French cruisers. + +"One night we started for Penang. [A graphic narrative of this raid on +Penang from the special correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES, who was +ashore there, appeared in THE NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY of March, +1915.] On Oct. 28 we raised our very practicable fourth +smokestack--Mücke's own invention. As a result, we were taken for +English or French. The harbor of Penang lies in a channel difficult of +access. There was nothing doing by night, we had to do it at daybreak. +At high speed, without smoke, with lights out, we steered into the +mouth of the channel. A torpedo boat on guard slept well. We steamed +past its small light. Inside lay a dark silhouette; that must be a +warship! But it wasn't the French cruiser we were looking for. We +recognized the silhouette--dead sure; that was the Russian cruiser +Jemtchug. There it lay, there it slept like a rat. No watch to be +seen. They made it easy for us. Because of the narrowness of the +harbor we had to keep close; we fired the first torpedo at 400 yards. +Then to be sure things livened up a bit on the sleeping warship. At +the same time we took the crew quarters under fire, five shells at a +time. There was a flash of flame on board, then a kind of burning +aureole. After the fourth shell, the flame burned high. The first +torpedo had struck the ship too deep because we were too close to it, +a second torpedo which we fired off from the other side didn't make +the same mistake. After twenty seconds there was absolutely not a +trace of the ship to be seen. The enemy had fired off only about six +shots. + +"But now another ship, which we couldn't see, was firing. That was the +French d'Ibreville, toward which we now turned at once. A few minutes +later, an incoming torpedo destroyer was reported. He mustn't find us +in that narrow harbor, otherwise we were finished! But it proved to be +a false alarm; only a small merchant steamer that looked like a +destroyer, and which at once showed the merchant flag and steered for +shore. Shortly afterward a second one was reported. This time it +proved to be the French torpedo boat Mousquet. It comes straight +toward us. That's always remained a mystery to me, for it must have +heard the shooting. An officer whom we fished up afterward explained +to me that they had only recognized we were a German warship when they +were quite close to us. The Frenchman behaved well, accepted battle +and fought on, but was polished off by us with three broadsides. The +whole fight with both ships lasted half an hour. The commander of the +torpedo boat lost both legs by the first broadside. When he saw that +part of his crew were leaping overboard, he cried out: 'Tie me fast; I +will not survive after seeing Frenchmen desert their ship!' As a +matter of fact, he went down with his ship as a brave Captain, lashed +fast to the mast. Then we fished up thirty heavily wounded; three died +at once. We sewed a Tricolor, (the French flag), wound them in it and +buried them at sea, with seamen's honors, three salvos. That was my +only sea fight. The second one I did not take part in." + +Mücke, who had been recounting his lively narrative, partly like an +officer, partly like an artist, and not trying to eliminate the flavor +of adventure, now takes on quite another tone as he comes to tell of +the end of the Emden: + +"On Nov. 9 I left the Emden in order to destroy the wireless plant on +the Cocos Island. I had fifty men, four machine guns, about thirty +rifles. Just as we were about to destroy the apparatus it reported, +'Careful; Emden near.' The work of destruction went smoothly. The +wireless operators said: 'Thank God! It's been like being under arrest +day and night lately.' Presently the Emden signaled to us, 'Hurry up.' +I pack up, but simultaneously wails the Emden's siren. I hurry up to +the bridge, see the flag 'Anna' go up. That means 'Weigh anchor.' We +ran like mad into our boat, but already the Emden's pennant goes up, +the battle flag is raised, they fire from starboard. + +"The enemy is concealed by the island and therefore not to be seen, +but I see the shells strike the water. To follow and catch the Emden +is out of the question; she's going twenty knots, I only four with my +steam pinnace. Therefore, I turn back to land, raise the flag, declare +German laws of war in force, seize all arms, set up my machine guns on +shore in order to guard against a hostile landing. Then I run again in +order to observe the fight. From the splash of the shells it looked as +if the enemy had fifteen-centimeter guns, bigger, therefore, than the +Emden's. He fired rapidly, but poorly. It was the Australian cruiser +Sydney." + +"Have you heard?" Mücke suddenly asked in between, "if anything has +happened to the Sydney? At the Dardanelles maybe?" And his hatred of +the Emden's "hangman" is visible for a second in his blue eyes. Then +he continues: + +"According to the accounts of the Englishmen who saw the first part of +the engagement from shore, the Emden was cut off rapidly. Her forward +smokestack lay across the ship. She went over to circular fighting and +to torpedo firing, but already burned fiercely aft. Behind the +mainmast several shells struck home; we saw the high flame. Whether +circular fighting or a running fight now followed, I don't know, +because I again had to look to my land defenses. Later I looked on +from the roof of a house. Now the Emden again stood out to sea about +4,000 to 5,000 yards, still burning. As she again turned toward the +enemy, the forward mast was shot away. On the enemy no outward damage +was apparent, but columns of smoke showed where shots had struck home. +Then the Emden took a northerly course, likewise the enemy, and I had +to stand there helpless gritting my teeth and thinking: 'Damn it; the +Emden is burning and you aren't on board!' An Englishman who had also +climbed up to the roof of the house, approached me, greeted me +politely, and asked: 'Captain, would you like to have a game of tennis +with us?' + +"The ships, still fighting, disappeared beyond the horizon. I thought +that an unlucky outcome for the Emden was possible, also a landing by +the enemy on Keeling Island, at least for the purpose of landing the +wounded and taking on provisions. As, according to the statements of +the Englishmen, there were other ships in the neighborhood, I saw +myself faced with the certainty of having soon to surrender because of +a lack of ammunition. But for no price did I and my men want to get +into English imprisonment. As I was thinking about all this, the masts +again appear on the horizon, the Emden steaming easterly, but very +much slower. All at once the enemy, at high speed, shoots by, +apparently quite close to the Emden. A high, white waterspout showed +among the black smoke of the enemy. That was a torpedo. I see how the +two opponents withdrew, the distance growing greater between them; how +they separate, till they disappear in the darkness. The fight had +lasted ten hours. + +"I had made up my mind to leave the island as quick as possible. The +Emden was gone; the danger for us growing. In the harbor I had noticed +a three-master, the schooner Ayesha. Mr. Ross, the owner of the ship +and of the island, had warned me that the boat was leaky, but I found +it quite a seaworthy tub. Now quickly provisions were taken on board +for eight weeks, water for four. The Englishmen very kindly showed us +the best water and gave us clothing and utensils. They declared this +was their thanks for our 'moderation' and 'generosity.' Then they +collected the autographs of our men, photographed them and gave three +cheers as our last boat put off. It was evening, nearly dark. We +sailed away. After a short address, amid three hurrahs, I raised the +German war flag on 'S.M.S. Ayesha.'" + + +NARRATIVE CONTINUED. + +DAMASCUS, May 10.--"The Ayesha proved to be a really splendid ship," +Mücke continued, and whenever he happens to speak of this sailing ship +he grows warmer. One notices the passion for sailing which this seaman +has, for he was trained on a sailing ship and had won many prizes in +the regattas at Kiel. "But we had hardly any instruments," he +narrated, "we had only one sextant and two chronometers on board, but +a chronometer journal was lacking. Luckily I found an old 'Indian +Ocean Directory' of 1882 on board; its information went back to the +year 1780. + +"At first we had to overhaul all the tackle, for I didn't trust to +peace, and we had left the English Captain back on the island. I had +said: 'We are going to East Africa.' Therefore I sailed at first +westward, then northward. There followed the monsoons, but then also +long periods of dead calm. Then we scolded! Only two neutral ports +came seriously under consideration: Batavia and Padang. At Keeling I +cautiously asked about Tsing-tao, of which I had naturally thought +first, and so quite by chance learned that it had fallen. Now I +decided for Padang, because I knew I would be more apt to meet the +Emden there, also because there was a German Consul there, because my +schooner was unknown there, and because I hoped to find German ships +there and learn some news. 'It'll take you six to eight days to reach +Batavia,' a Captain had told me at Keeling. Now we needed eighteen +days to reach Padang, the weather was so rottenly still. + +"We had an excellent cook on board; he had deserted from the French +Foreign Legion. But with water we had to go sparingly, each man +received three glasses daily. When it rained, all possible +receptacles were placed on deck and the main sail was spread over the +cabin roof to catch the rain. The whole crew went about naked, in +order to spare our wash, for the clothing from Keeling was soon in +rags. Toothbrushes were long ago out of sight. One razor made the +rounds of the crew. The entire ship had one precious comb. + +"As at length we came in the neighborhood of Padang, on Nov. 26, a +ship appeared for the first time and looked after our name. But the +name had been painted over, because it was the former English name. As +I think, 'You're rid of the fellow,' the ship comes again in the +evening, comes within a hundred yards of us. I send all men below +deck. I promenade the deck as the solitary skipper. Through Morse +signals the stranger betrayed its identity. It was the Hollandish +torpedo boat Lyn. I asked by signals, first in English, then twice in +German: 'Why do you follow me?' No answer. The next morning I find +myself in Hollandish waters, so I raise pennant and war flag. Now the +Lyn came at top speed past us. As it passes, I have my men line up on +deck, and give a greeting. The greeting is answered. Then, before the +harbor at Padang, I went aboard the Lyn in my well and carefully +preserved uniform and declared my intentions. The commandant opined +that I could run into the harbor, but whether I might come out again +was doubtful." + +"On the South Coast," interjected Lieutenant Wellman, who at that time +lay with a German ship before Padang and only later joined the landing +corps of the Emden, "we suddenly saw a three-master arrive. Great +excitement aboard our German ship, for the schooner carried the German +war flag. We thought she came from New Guinea and at once made all +boats clear, on the Kleist, Rheinland, and Choising, for we were all +on the search for the Emden. When we heard that the schooner carried +the landing corps, not a man of us would believe it." + +"They wanted to treat me as a prize!" Mücke now continued. "I said, 'I +am a man of war,' and pointed to my four machine guns. The harbor +authorities demanded a certification for pennant and war flag, also +papers to prove that I was the commander of this warship. I answered, +for that I was only responsible to my superior officers. Now they +advised me the most insistently to allow ourselves to be interned +peacefully. They said it wasn't at all pleasant in the neighborhood. +We'd fall into the hands of the Japanese or the English. As a matter +of fact, we had again had great luck. On the day before a Japanese +warship had cruised around here. Naturally, I rejected all the +well-meant and kindly advice, and did this in presence of my +Lieutenants. I demanded provisions, water, sails, tackle, and +clothing. They replied we could take on board everything which we +formerly had on board, but nothing which would mean an increase in our +naval strength. First thing, I wanted to improve our wardrobe, for I +had only one sock, a pair of shoes, and one clean shirt, which had +become rather seedy. My comrades had even less. But the Master of the +Port declined to let us have not only charts, but also clothing and +toothbrushes, on the ground that these would be an increase of +armament. Nobody could come aboard, nobody could leave the ship +without permission. I requested that the Consul be allowed to come +aboard. This Consul, Herr Schild, as also the Brothers Bäumer, gave us +assistance in the friendliest fashion. From the German steamers boats +could come alongside and talk with us. Finally we were allowed to have +German papers. They were, to be sure, from August. Until March we saw +no more papers. + +"Hardly had we been towed out again after twenty-four hours, on the +evening of the 28th, when a searchlight appeared before us. I think: +'Better interned than prisoner.' I put out all lights and withdrew to +the shelter of the island. But they were Hollanders and didn't do +anything to us. Then for two weeks more we drifted around, lying still +for days. The weather was alternately still, rainy and blowy. At +length a ship comes in sight--a freighter. It sees us and makes a big +curve around us. I make everything hastily 'clear for battle.' Then +one of our officers recognizes her for the Choising. She shows the +German flag. I send up light rockets, although it was broad day, and +go with all sails set that were still setable, toward her. The +Choising is a coaster, from Hongkong for Siam. It was at Singapore +when the war broke out, then went to Batavia, was chartered loaded +with coal for the Emden, and had put into Padang in need, because the +coal in the hold had caught fire. There we had met her. + +"Great was our joy now. I had all my men come on deck and line up for +review. The fellows hadn't a rag on. Thus, in Nature's garb, we gave +three cheers for the German flag on the Choising. The men on the +Choising told us afterward 'we couldn't make out what that meant, +those stark naked fellows all cheering!' The sea was too high, and we +had to wait two days before we could board the Choising on Dec. 16. We +took very little with us; the schooner was taken in tow. In the +afternoon we sunk the Ayesha and we were all very sad. The good old +Ayesha had served us faithfully for six weeks. The log showed that we +had made 1,709 sea miles under sail since leaving Keeling. She wasn't +at all rotten and unseaworthy, as they had told me, but nice and white +and dry inside. I had grown fond of the ship, on which I could +practice my old sailing manoeuvres. The only trouble was that the +sails would go to pieces every now and then because they were so old. + +"But anyway she went down quite properly, didn't she?" Mücke turned to +the officer. "We had bored a hole in her; she filled slowly and then +all of a sudden plump disappeared! That was the saddest day of the +whole month. We gave her three cheers, and my next yacht at Kiel will +be named Ayesha, that's sure. + +"To the Captain of the Choising I had said, when I hailed him: 'I do +not know what will happen to the ship. The war situation may make it +necessary for me to strand it.' He did not want to undertake the +responsibility. I proposed that we work together, and I would take the +responsibility. Then we traveled together for three weeks, from +Padang to Hodeida. The Choising was some ninety meters long and had a +speed of nine miles, though sometimes only four. If she had not +accidentally arrived I had intended to cruise high along the west +coast of Sumatra to the region of the northern monsoon. I came about +six degrees north, then over Aden to the Arabian coast. In the Red Sea +the northeastern monsoon, which here blows southeast, could bring us +to Djidda. I had heard in Padang that Turkey is allied with us, so we +would be able to get safely through Arabia to Germany. + +"I next waited for information through ships, but the Choising did not +know anything definite, either. By way of the Luchs, the Königsberg, +and Kormoran the reports were uncertain. Besides, according to +newspapers at Aden, the Arabs were said to have fought with the +English. Therein there seemed to be offered an opportunity near at +hand to damage the enemy. I therefore sailed with the Choising in the +direction of Aden. Lieutenant Cordts of the Choising had heard that +the Arabian railway now already went almost to Hodeida, near the Perim +Strait. The ship's surgeon there, Docounlang, found confirmation of +this in Meyer's traveling handbook. This railway could not have been +taken over by the Englishmen, who always dreamed of it. By doing this +they would have further and completely wrought up the Mohammedans by +making more difficult the journey to Mecca. Best of all, we thought, +we'll simply step into the express train and whizz nicely away to the +North Sea. Certainly there would be safe journeying homeward through +Arabia. To be sure, we hadn't maps of the Red Sea; but it was the +shortest way to the foe, whether in Aden or in Germany. + +"Therefore, courage! Adenwards! + +"On the 7th of January, between 9 and 10 o'clock in the evening, we +sneaked through the Strait of Perim. That lay swarming full of +Englishmen. We steered along the African coast, close past an English +cable layer. That is my prettiest delight--how the Englishmen will be +vexed when they learn that we have passed smoothly by Perim. On the +next evening we saw on the coast a few lights upon the water. We +thought that must be the pier of Hodeida. But when we measured the +distance by night, 3,000 meters, I began to think that must be +something else. At dawn I made out two masts and four smokestacks; +that was an enemy ship, and, what is more, an armored French cruiser. +I therefore ordered the Choising to put to sea, and to return at +night. + +"The next day and night the same; then we put out four boats--these we +pulled to shore at sunrise under the eyes of the unsuspecting +Frenchmen. The sea reeds were thick. A few Arabs came close to us; +then there ensued a difficult negotiation with the Arabian Coast +Guards. For we did not even know whether Hodeida was in English or +French hands. We waved to them, laid aside our arms, and made signs to +them. The Arabs, gathering together, begin to rub two fingers +together; that means 'We are friends.' We thought that meant 'We are +going to rub against you and are hostile.' I therefore said: +'Boom-boom!' and pointed to the warship. At all events, I set up my +machine guns and made preparations for a skirmish. But, thank God! one +of the Arabs understood the word 'Germans'; that was good. + +"Soon a hundred Arabs came and helped us, and as we marched into +Hodeida the Turkish soldiers, who had been called out against us, +saluted us as allies and friends. To be sure, there was not a trace of +a railway, but we were received very well, and they assured us we +could get through by land. Therefore, I gave red-star signals at +night, telling the Choising to sail away, since the enemy was near by. +Inquiries and determination concerning a safe journey by land +proceeded. I also heard that in the interior, about six days' journey +away, there was healthy highland where our fever invalids could +recuperate. I therefore determined to journey next to Sana. On the +Kaiser's birthday we held a great parade in common with the Turkish +troops--all this under the noses of the Frenchmen. On the same day we +marched away from Hodeida to the highland." + + +A PATH OF TRIUMPH. + +DAMASCUS, May 10.--The Arabian railway was today transformed into a +German Via Triumphalis--military receptions, flowers, flags at the +stations, and a feast in the great rug-carpeted tent. Then once more +straight through the desert and in the midst of 1,000 curious glances +stood these cheerful and serious men and youths, unembarrassed, +friendly, plain; amid them always the tallest, Mücke, who conceals his +impatience to get to Germany behind every courteous phrase. The German +builder of the railway, the German Consul, the German bank director, +and officials came riding to meet them. Finally they had garlanded the +machine, decked with the Turkish and the Emden's flag. Thus the German +train rode into this splendid green and white oasis, into the old city +of Arabian fairy tales, Arabian weapons, Arabian powers, all of which +are no more fantastic than the adventures which the fifty homecomers +told on the journey. + +The Wali was waiting and the commanding General; militia by hundreds +stood in rows, presenting arms with white gloves; music played in +march time they well knew; softly howling Dervishes with their high +hats stood in orderly traditional rows and played their wild flute +notes, and the long man and his blond, young officers, all in their +fantastic Arab headdress, the aghal, came out first; they came with +their guns in their right hands. + +Now Mücke gave orders to the landing corps of S.M.S. Emden. They +marched in rhythmic step. The Turkish company took the Germans into +its midst, saw them marching in the dazzling sunlight, these blue-eyed +youths of yesteryear, now dressed in khaki and fez, many of them +yellow from the malaria from which they had recovered; and as, amid +the applause of the Turkish soldiers, they marched into the seraglio I +could understand the amazement of the crowd. I have seen men of +spirit and men of determination and courage, but I have found few at +the same time so modest, so uncorruptible by fame, as these German +soldiers. Can there be a greater temptation to lead young officers +astray than that of being gazed at with admiration as strange +adventurers celebrated as heroes, received as Princes? But not a face +changed its expression. If German heroes often lack the handsome +intoxication, they are, therefore, shielded also against the +seductions of fame. Grateful and well trained they quietly refused the +words of praise; and surrounded by the roar of applause, they thought +only of their bath for today and their return home for tomorrow. + +In the great hall Mücke sat in the centre, between the wall and the +Commander, then the officers, and around them the forty-four mates, +superior mates, sailors, firemen. At one pillar stood the color bearer +with his flag. They took dainty coffee cups into their big hands, and +told one another that the Turks were very good to them. None of them +wishes to extend the feasts that are everywhere being prepared for +them. All want to return to Germany; and when I saw them march away, +the German men beneath the Arabian sun, I saw fame and achievement +like shadows floating over them. I was seized by pity for those who +were at the goal, whose great hour was the way to the goal, and they +knew it not. Behind the little comfort company there floated three +figures--the three German soldiers whose bodies lie mouldering in the +desert. + + +A FIGHT WITH BEDOUINS. + +Damascus, May 11. + +Concerning his further experiences, Lieut. Capt. von Mücke told this +story: + +"Two months after our arrival at Hodeida we again put to sea. The time +spent in the highlands of Sana passed in lengthy inquiries and +discussions that finally resulted in our foregoing the journey by land +through Arabia, for religious reasons. But the time was not altogether +lost. The men who were sick with malaria had, for the most part, +recuperated in the highland air. + +"The Turkish Government placed at our disposal two 'sambuks' (sailing +ships) of about twenty-five tons, fifteen meters long and four meters +wide. But, in fear of English spies, we sailed from Jebaua, ten miles +north of Hodeida. That was on March 14. At first we sailed at a +considerable distance apart, so that we would not both go to pot if an +English gunboat caught us. Therefore, we always had to sail in coastal +water. That is full of coral reefs, however." + +"The Commander," Lieutenant Gerdts said, "had charge of the first +sambuk; I of the second, which was the larger of the two, for we had +four sick men aboard. At first everything went nicely for three days. +For the most part I could see the sails of the first ship ahead of +men. On the third day I received orders to draw nearer and to remain +in the vicinity of the first boat, because its pilot was sailing less +skillfully than mine. Suddenly, in the twilight, I felt a shock, then +another, and still another. The water poured in rapidly. I had run +upon the reef of a small island, where the smaller sambuk was able +barely to pass because it had a foot less draught than mine. Soon my +ship was quite full, listed over, and all of us--twenty-eight men--had +to sit on the uptilted edge of the boat. The little island lies at +Jesirat Marka, 200 miles north of Jebaua. To be sure, an Arab boat lay +near by, but they did not know us. Nobody could help us. If the +Commander had not changed the order a few hours before and asked us to +sail up closer, we would probably have drowned on this coral +reef--certainly would have died of thirst. Moreover, the waters +thereabouts are full of sharks, and the evening was so squally that +our stranded boat was raised and banged with every wave. We could +scarcely move, and the other boat was nowhere in sight. And now it +grew dark. At this stage I began to build a raft of spars and old +pieces of wood, that might at all events keep us afloat. + +"But soon the first boat came into sight again. The commander turned +about and sent over his little canoe; in this and in our own canoe, in +which two men could sit at each trip, we first transferred the sick. +Now the Arabs began to help us. But just then the tropical helmet of +our doctor suddenly appeared above the water in which he was standing +up to his ears. Thereupon the Arabs withdrew; we were Christians, and +they did not know that we were friends. Now the other sambuk was so +near that we could have swam to it in half an hour, but the seas were +too high. At each trip a good swimmer trailed along, hanging to the +painter of the canoe. When it became altogether dark we could not see +the boat any more, for over there they were prevented by the wind from +keeping any light burning. My men asked 'In what direction shall we +swim?' I answered: 'Swim in the direction of this or that star; that +must be about the direction of the boat.' Finally a torch flared up +over there--one of the torches that were still left from the Emden. +But we had suffered considerably through submersion. One sailor cried +out: 'Oh, pshaw! it's all up with us now; that's a searchlight.' The +man who held out best was Lieutenant Schmidt, who later lost his life. +About 10 o'clock we were all safe aboard, but one of our typhus +patients, Seaman Keil, wore himself out completely by the exertion; he +died a week later. On the next morning we went over again to the wreck +in order to seek the weapons that had fallen into the water. You see, +the Arabs dive so well; they fetched up a considerable lot--both +machine guns, all but ten of the rifles, though these were, to be +sure, all full of water. Later they frequently failed to go off when +they were used in firing. + +"Now we numbered, together with the Arabs, seventy men on the little +boat, until evening. Then we anchored before Konfida, and met Sami +Bey, who is still with us. He had shown himself useful even before in +the service of the Turkish Government, and has done good service as +guide in the last two months. He is an active man, thoroughly familiar +with the country. He procured for us a larger boat, of fifty-four +tons, and he himself, with his wife, sailed alongside on the little +sambuk. We sailed from the 20th to the 24th unmolested to Lith. There +Sami Bey announced that three English ships were cruising about in +order to intercept us. I therefore advised traveling a bit overland. I +disliked leaving the sea a second time, but it had to be done." + +"Lith is, to be sure, nothing but this," said Mücke, with a sweeping +gesture toward the desert through which we were traveling, "and +therefore it was very difficult to get up a caravan at once. We +remained aboard ship so long. We marched away on the 28th. We had only +a vague suspicion that the English might have agents here also. We +could travel only at night, and when we slept or camped around a +spring, there was only a tent for the sick men. Two days' march from +Jeddah, the Turkish Government, as soon as it is received news about +us, sent us sixteen good camels. + +"Suddenly, on the night of April 1, things became uneasy. I was riding +at the head of the column. All our shooting implements were cleared +for action, because there was danger of an attack by Bedouins, whom +the English here had bribed. When it began to grow a bit light, I +already thought: 'We're through for today'; for we were tired--had +been riding eighteen hours. Suddenly I saw a line flash up before me, +and shots whizzed over our heads. Down from the camels! Form a +fighting line! You know how quickly it becomes daylight here. The +whole space around the desert hillock was occupied. Now, up with your +bayonets! Rush 'em!... They fled, but returned again, this time from +all sides. Several of the gendarmes that had been given us as an +escort are wounded; the machine gun operator, Rademacher, falls, +killed by a shot through his heart; another is wounded; Lieutenant +Schmidt, in the rear guard, is mortally wounded--he has received a +bullet in his chest and abdomen. + +"Suddenly they waved white cloths. The Sheik, to whom a part of our +camels belonged, went over to them to negotiate, then Sami Bey and his +wife. In the interim we quickly built a sort of wagon barricade, a +circular camp of camel saddles, rice and coffee sacks, all of which +we filled with sand. We had no shovels, and had to dig with our +bayonets, plates, and hands. The whole barricade had a diameter of +about fifty meters. Behind it we dug trenches, which we deepened even +during the skirmish. The camels inside had to lie down, and thus +served very well as cover for the rear of the trenches. Then an inner +wall was constructed, behind which we carried the sick men. In the +very centre we buried two jars of water, to guard us against thirst. +In addition we had ten petroleum cans full of water; all told, a +supply for four days. Late in the evening Sami's wife came back from +the futile negotiations, alone. She had unveiled for the first and +only time on this day of the skirmish, had distributed cartridges, and +had conducted herself faultlessly. + +"Soon we were able to ascertain the number of the enemy. There were +about 300 men; we numbered fifty, with twenty-nine guns. In the night, +Lieutenant Schmidt died. We had to dig his grave with our hands and +with our bayonets, and to eliminate every trace above it, in order to +protect the body. Rademacher had been buried immediately after the +skirmish, both of them silently, with all honors. + +"The wounded had a hard time of it. We had lost our medicine chest in +the wreck; we had only little packages of bandages for skirmishes; but +no probing instrument, no scissors were at hand. On the next day our +men came up with thick tongues, feverish, and crying 'Water! water!' +But each one received only a little cupful three times a day. If our +water supply was exhausted, we would have to sally from our camp and +fight our way through. Then we should have gone to pot under superior +numbers. The Arab gendarmes simply cut the throats of those camels +that had been wounded by shots, and then drank the yellow water that +was contained in the stomachs. Those fellows can stand anything. At +night we always dragged out the dead camels that had served as cover, +and had been shot. The hyenas came, hunting for dead camels. I shot +one of these, taking it for an enemy in the darkness. + +"That continued about three days. On the third day there were new +negotiations. Now the Bedouins demanded arms no longer, but only +money. This time the negotiations took place across the camp wall. +When I declined, the Bedouin said: 'Beaucoup de combat,' (lots of +fight.) I replied: + +"'Please go to it!' + +"We had only a little ammunition left, and very little water. Now it +really looked as if we would soon be dispatched. The mood of the men +was pretty dismal. Suddenly, at about 10 o'clock in the morning, there +bobbed up in the north two riders on camels, waving white cloths. Soon +afterward there appeared, coming from the same direction, far back, a +long row of camel troops, about a hundred; they draw rapidly near by, +ride singing toward us, in a picturesque train. They were the +messengers and troops of the Emir of Mecca. + +"Sami Bey's wife, it developed, had, in the course of the first +negotiations, dispatched an Arab boy to Jeddah. From that place the +Governor had telegraphed to the Emir. The latter at once sent camel +troops, with his two sons and his personal surgeon; the elder, +Abdullah, conducted the negotiations; the surgeon acted as +interpreter, in French. Now things proceeded in one-two-three order, +and the whole Bedouin band speedily disappeared. From what I learned +later, I know definitely that they had been corrupted with bribes by +the English. They knew when and where we would pass and they had made +all preparations. Now our first act was a rush for water; then we +cleared up our camp, but had to harness our camels ourselves, for the +camel drivers had fled at the very beginning of the skirmish. More +than thirty camels were dead. The saddles did not fit, and my men know +how to rig up schooners, but not camels. Much baggage remained lying +in the sand for lack of pack animals. + +"Then, under the safe protection of Turkish troops, we got to Jeddah. +There the authorities and the populace received us very well. From +there we proceeded in nineteen days, without mischance, by sailing +boat to Elwesh, and under abundant guard with Suleiman Pasha in a +five-day caravan journey toward this place, to El Ula, and now we are +seated at last in the train and are riding toward Germany--into the +war at last!" + +"Was not the war you had enough?" I asked. + +"Not a bit of it," replied the youngest Lieutenant; "the Emden simply +captured ships each time; only a single time, at Penang, was it +engaged in battle, and I wasn't present on that occasion. War? No, +that is just to begin for us now." + +"My task since November," said Mücke, "has been to bring my men as +quickly as possible to Germany against the enemy. Now, at last, I can +do so." + +"And what do you desire for yourself?" I asked. + +"For myself," he laughed, and the blue eyes sparkled, "a command in +the North Sea." + + +CAPTAIN MUECKE'S REPORT. + +_The impressive scene when the intrepid survivors of the Emden crew +ended their long and perilous wanderings over the sea and through the +desert, and reported once more to their superior naval officer for +duty, is described in a dispatch from Constantinople, published in the +Berlinger Tageblatt of May 25. The account, written by Dr. Emil +Ludwig, the special correspondent whom the paper had sent to meet the +Emden men as they emerged from the desert, and filed under date of May +24, reads:_ + +Now the Emden men have at last reached Europe. The many feasts which +the German colonies and the Turkish authorities insisted on preparing +for the heroes on their way through Asia Minor, in Adana, Tarsus, +Bosanti, Konia, and Eskishehir, have improved the condition of the +crew, half of whom are still suffering from malaria or its +consequences. The officers, to be sure, pressed forward. When the +train today drew near to Constantinople, the cordiality and +enthusiasm waxed to a veritable Whitsuntide fraternizing with the +Turks. + +The Chief Mayors delivered addresses at every station, or children +recited poems amid the Turkish sounds of which only the words +"Allaman" (Germans) and "Emden" were intelligible to us. One little +child was specially courageous, and recited in German. The flags were +wreathed with laurel, and prettily dressed little children brought up +to the crew great baskets full of cherries and the first strawberries; +but the eyes of the sailors hung more fondly upon beer and tobacco, +which they received in large quantities. Even at those stations where +the train whizzed past without stopping, Oriental applause floated up +to us, and everywhere stood honorary reception committees. + +When we at last drew near Haidar-Pasha, the final station of the +railroad on the Asiatic side, the railway station seemed to be +transformed into a festive hall. Lieut. Capt. von Mücke ordered his +men, who had only now transformed themselves again into blue lads, +since navy uniforms had been sent to them on the way, to step up, and +he led them up to a group of navy officers who, with Admiral Souchon +at their head, remained quietly standing. + +Then this young "triumphator," who even a moment ago stood amid cheers +and a shower of acacia blossoms, bowing and shaking hands on the +platform, the man who for fourteen days has been the one man wherever +stopped, now steps up in military order to the little Admiral and +lowers his sword: + +"Beg to report most obediently, Herr Admiral, landing corps of the +Emden, 44 men, 4 officers, 1 surgeon." + +Admiral Souchon received the announcement just as a daily report. Only +then did he press the Lieutenant Captain's hand, bid him welcome, and +marched along the front of the company. + +No sooner had the column with the Emden flag appeared at the entrance +of the station than there burst from 10,000 throats a rousing +"Hurrah!" On a torpedo boat that had been waiting for them the crew +crossed the Bosporus, in which all ships had decked themselves with +flags, and landed on the wide park-like point of the seraglio. There, +surrounded by new countless crowds, were the Ministers Enver Pasha and +Talaat Bey, the German Ambassador, Freiherr von Wangenheim, and +Marshal von der Golz Pasha, the combined navy corps of officers, +General Bronsart von Schellendorf, all waiting their arrival. + +[Illustration: ENVER PASHA + +The All-Powerful Turkish Minister of War] + +[Illustration: PRINCE SAID HALIM + +The Grand Vizier of Turkey] + +Amid the strains of the German national anthem, played by the Turkish +military band, Lieut. Capt. von Mücke, together with the War Minister, +Enver Pasha, paced along the long German and Turkish fronts. Then he +led forth his forty-four men and marched, amid new ovations, all +through Stamboul, across the great bridge to Galata, to the deck of +the steamship General, at the head of his little band, now grown epic, +amid the cheers of Byzantium, on which he and his officers had never +set foot before--always in the clear blue and sunlight of this +war-heavy Whitsuntide day. + +But nothing stirred me more deeply on the whole journey than that cold +official report of the man who was being celebrated, before his +Admiral, and I saw in that lowered swordpoint the symbol of the old +and incorruptible Prussian spirit. + +[Illustration] + + + + +Civilization at the Breaking Point + +By H.G. Wells. + +[Copyright, 1915, by THE NEW YORK TIMES Company.] + + +The submarine and aircraft have put a new proposition before the +world. It is a proposition that will be stated here as plainly and +simply as possible. These two inventions present mankind with a choice +of two alternatives, or, to vary the phrase, they mark quite +definitely that we are at the parting of two ways; either mankind must +succeed within quite a brief period of years now in establishing a +world State, a world Government of some sort able to prevent war, or +civilization as we know it must break up into a system of warring +communities, perpetually on the warpath, perpetually insecure and +engaged in undying national vendettas. These consequences have been +latent in all the development of scientific warfare that has been +going on during the last century; they are inherent in the +characteristics of the aircraft and of the submarine for any one to +see. + +They are so manifestly inherent that even before this war speculative +minds had pointed out the direction to which these inventions pointed, +but now, after more than three-quarters of a year of war, it is +possible to approach this question, no longer as something as yet +fantastically outside the experience of mankind, but as something +supported by countless witnesses, something which the dullest, least +imaginative minds can receive and ponder. + +What the submarine and aircraft make manifest and convincing is this +point, which argument alone has never been able to hammer into the +mass of inattentive minds, that if the human intelligence is applied +continuously to the mechanism of war it will steadily develop +destructive powers, but that it will fail to develop any corresponding +power of decision and settlement, because the development of the +former is easy and obvious in comparison with the development of the +latter; it will therefore progressively make war more catastrophic and +less definitive. It will not make war impossible in the ordinary +meaning of the word, the bigger the gun and the viler the lethal +implement the more possible does war become, but it will make war +"impossible" in the slang use of five or six years ago, in the sense, +that is, of its being utterly useless and mischievous, the sense in +which Norman Angell employed it and so brought upon himself an +avalanche of quite unfair derision. No nation ever embarked upon so +fair a prospect of conquest and dominion as the victorious Germans +when, after 1871, they decided to continue to give themselves to the +development of overwhelming military power. And after exertions +unparalleled in the whole history of mankind their net conquests are +nothing; they have destroyed enormously and achieved no other single +thing, and today they repeat on a colossal scale the adventures of +Fort Chabrol and Sidney Street, and are no better than a nation of +murderous outcasts besieged by an outraged world. + +Now, among many delusions that this war has usefully dispelled is the +delusion that there can be a sort of legality about war, that you can +make war a little, but not make war altogether, that the civilized +world can look forward to a sort of tame war in the future, a war +crossed with peace, a lap-dog war that will bark but not bite. War is +war; it is the cessation of law and argument, it is outrage, and +Germany has demonstrated on the large scale what our British +suffragettes learned on a small one, that with every failure to +accomplish your end by violent means you are forced to further +outrages. Violence has no reserves but further violence. Each failure +of the violent is met by the desperate cry, the heroical scream: "We +will not be beaten. If you will not give in to us for this much, +then see! We will go further." Wars always do go further. Wars always +end more savagely than they begin. Even our war in South Africa, +certainly the most decently conducted war in all history, got to farm +burning and concentration camps. A side that hopes for victory fights +with conciliation in its mind. Victory and conciliation recede +together. When the German--who is really, one must remember, a human +being like the rest of us, at the worst just merely a little worse in +his upbringing--when he finds he cannot march gloriously into Paris or +Warsaw, then, and only then, does he begin to try to damage Paris and +Warsaw with bombs, when he finds he cannot beat the French Army and +the British fleet, then, and not till then, does he attack and murder +the slumbering civilians of Scarborough and Dunkirk, and lies in wait +for and sinks the Lusitania. If war by the rules will not bring +success, then harsher measures must be taken; let us suddenly torture +and murder our hated enemies with poison gas, let us poison the South +African wells, let us ill-treat prisoners and assassinate civilians. +Let us abolish the noncombatant and the neutral. These are no peculiar +German iniquities, though the Germans have brought them to an +unparalleled perfection; they are the natural psychological +consequences of aggressive war heroically conceived and bitterly +thwarted; they are "fierceness"; they are the logical necessary +outcome of going to war and being disappointed and getting hit hard +and repeatedly. Any military nation in a corner will play the savage, +the wildcat at bay, in this fashion, rather than confess itself done. +And since the prophetic Bloch has been justified and the long +inconclusiveness of modern war, with its intrenchments and +entanglements, has been more than completely demonstrated, this is the +way that every war in the future is likely to go. Fair and open +conquest becoming more and more out of the question, each side will +seek to cow, dismay, and subjugate the spirit of the other, and +particularly the spirit of the noncombatant masses, by more and more +horrible proceedings. "What do you think of that?" said the German +officer, with a grin, as he was led prisoner past one of our soldiers, +dying in agonies of asphyxiation. To that point war brings men. +Probably at the beginning of the war he was quite a decent man. But +once he was committed to war the fatal logic of our new resources in +science laid hold of him. And war is war. + +Now there does not appear the slightest hope of any invention that +will make war more conclusive or less destructive; there are, however, +the clearest prospects in many directions that it may be more +destructive and less conclusive. It will be dreadfuller and bitterer; +its horrors will be less and less forgivable; it will leave vast +sundering floods of hate. The submarine and the aircraft are quite +typical of the new order of things. You can sweep a visible fleet off +the seas, you can drive an invading army into its own country, but +while your enemy has a score of miles of coast line or a thousand +square miles of territory left him, you cannot, it seems, keep his +aircraft out of your borders, and still less can you keep his +submarines out of the sea. You can, of course, make reprisals, but you +can not hold him powerless as it was once possible to do. He can work +his bloody mischief on your civil life to the very end of the war, and +you must set your teeth and stick to your main attack. To that pitch +this war has come, and to that pitch every subsequent war will come. +The civil life will be treated as a hostage, and as it becomes more +and more accessible, as it will do, to the antagonist it will be more +and more destroyed. The sinking of the Lusitania is just a sign and a +sample of what war now becomes, its rich and ever richer opportunities +of unforgettable exasperation. Germany is resolved to hurt and destroy +to the utmost, every exasperated militarism will come naturally to +such resolves, and only by pain and destruction, by hurting, shaming +and damaging Germany to the point of breaking the German spirit can +this inflamed and war-mad people be made to relinquish their gigantic +aggression upon the world. Germany, that great camp of warriors, must +be broken as the Red Indians and the Zulus were broken, if +civilization is to have another chance, and its breaking cannot be +done without unparalleled resentments. War is war, and it is not the +Allies who have forced its logic to this bitter end. + +Unless this war does help to bring about a lasting peace in the world, +it is idle to pretend that it will have been anything else but a +monstrous experience of evil. If at the end of it we cannot bring +about some worldwide political synthesis, unanimous enough and +powerful enough to prohibit further wars by a stupendous array of +moral and material force, then all this terrible year of stress and +suffering has been no more than a waste of life, and our sons and +brothers and friends and allies have died in vain. If we cannot summon +enough good-will and wisdom in the world to establish a world alliance +and a world congress to control the clash of "legitimate national +aspirations" and "conflicting interests" and to abolish all the +forensic trickeries of diplomacy, then this will be neither the last +war, nor will it be the worst, and men must prepare themselves to face +a harsh and terrible future, to harden their spirits against +continuing and increasing adversity, and to steel their children to +cruelty and danger. Revenge will become the burden of history. That is +the price men will pay for clinging to their little separatist cults +and monarchies and complete independencies, now. The traffic and +wealth of our great and liberal age will diminish, the arts will +dwindle and learning fade, science will cease to advance, and the rude +and hard will inherit the earth. The Warpath or the World State; that +is the choice for mankind. + +This lesson of the submarine which destroys much and achieves nothing +has ample support in history. There never was so blind a superstition +as the belief that progress is inevitable. The world has seen the +great civilization of the Western empire give place to the warring +chaos of the baronial castles of the ninth and tenth centuries; it has +seen the Eastern empire for 500 years decay and retrogress under the +militarism of the Turk; it has watched the Red Indians, with rifles in +their hands, grimly engage in mutual extermination. Is it still a +blind world, doomed to blunder down again from such light and order +and hope as we were born to, toward such another millennium of +barbaric hates and aimless wars? That is no mere possibility; it is +the present probability unless men exert themselves to make it +impossible. It is quite conceivable that ours is the last generation +for many generations that will go freely about the world, that will +have abundance of leisure, and science and free speech and abundant +art and much beauty and many varied occupations. We stand about in our +old haunts and try to keep on with our old ways of living and +speculate when the war will be "over," and when we shall be able to go +back to everything just as it was before the war. This war and its +consequences will never be "over," and we have not even begun to +realize what it has cost us. + +The course of human history is downward and very dark, indeed, unless +our race can give mind and will now unreservedly in unprecedented +abundance to the stern necessities that follow logically from the +aircraft bomb and the poison gas and that silent, invisible, +unattainable murderer, the submarine. + +[Illustration] + + + + +"Human Beings and Germans" + +By Rudyard Kipling. + + Addressing 10,000 persons at a recruiting rally in + Southport, England, on June 21, 1915, Mr. Kipling spoke as + reported in the subjoined cable dispatch to THE NEW YORK + TIMES. + + +The German went into this war with a mind which had been carefully +trained out of the idea of every moral sense or obligation, private, +public, or international. He does not recognize the existence of any +law, least of all those he has subscribed to himself, in making war +against com-[Transcriber's Note: Text missing from original.] and +children. + +All mankind bears witness today that there is no crime, no cruelty, no +abomination that the mind of man can conceive which the German has not +perpetrated, is not perpetrating, and will not perpetrate if he is +allowed to go on. + +These horrors and perversions were not invented by him on the spur of +the moment. They were arranged beforehand. Their outlines are laid +down in the German war book. They are part of the system in which +Germany has been scientifically trained. It is the essence of that +system to make such a hell of countries where their armies set foot +that any terms she may offer will seem like heaven to the people whose +bodies she has defiled and whose minds she has broken of set purpose +and intention. + +So long as an unbroken Germany exists, so long will life on this +planet be intolerable, not only for us and for our allies, but for all +humanity. + +There are only two divisions in the world today, human beings and +Germans, and the German knows it. Human beings have long ago sickened +of him and everything connected with him, of all he does, says, +thinks, or believes. + +From the ends of earth to the ends of the earth they desire nothing +more greatly than that this unclean thing should be thrust out from +membership and memory of the nations. + +We have no reason to believe that Germany will break up suddenly and +dramatically. She took two generations to prepare herself in every +detail and through every fibre of her national being for this war. She +is playing for the highest stakes in the world--the dominion of the +world. It seems to me that she must either win or bleed to death +almost where her lines run today. + +Therefore, we and our allies must continue to pass our children +through fire to Moloch until Moloch perish. + +In Belgium at this hour several million Belgians are making war +material or fortifications for their conquerors. They receive enough +food to support life, as the German thinks it should be supported, (by +the way, I believe the United States of America supplies a large part +of that food.) In return they are compelled to work at the point of +the bayonet. If they object, they are shot. They have no more property +and no more rights than cattle, and they cannot lift a hand to protect +the honor of their women. + +There has been nothing like the horror of their fate in all history. + +If Germany is victorious, every refinement of outrage which is within +the compass of the German imagination will be inflicted on us in every +aspect of our lives. Realize, too, that if the Allies are beaten there +will be no spot on the globe where a soul can escape from the +domination of this enemy of mankind. + +There has been childish talk that the Western Hemisphere would offer a +refuge from oppression. Put that thought from your mind. If the Allies +were defeated Germany would not need to send a single battleship over +the Atlantic. She would issue an order, and it would be obeyed. + +Civilization would be bankrupt, and the Western world would be taken +over with the rest of the wreckage by Germany, the receiver. + +So you see that there is no retreat possible. There are no terms and +no retreat in this war. It must go forward, and with those men of +England, who are eligible for service but who have not yet offered +themselves, the decision of war rests. + +This is, for us, in truth a war to death against the power of darkness +with whom any peace except on our own terms would be more terrible +than any war. + + + + +Garibaldi's Promise. + +By KATHERINE DRAYTON MAYRANT SIMONS, JR. + + + _O Loveland of the Poets, + In the hour of your pain, + Does Garibaldi's promise + To your heroes hold again?_ + + There were fisher lads among them, + In the shirt of peasant red, + And mountaineers from Tyrol, + When Garibaldi said: + + "I have no prayer to make you, + For to God alone I kneel! + I have no price to pay you, + For your wage is Austrian steel! + + "There is naught of knightly emblem + For the honor of the brave, + And the only land I grant you + Will be length to mark your grave! + + "I promise cold and hunger + In the stead of drink and meat! + I promise death, my brothers, + Shall be yours before defeat!" + + _O Sweetheart of the Nations, + In the hour of your pain, + Does Garibaldi's promise + To Italia hold again?_ + + + + +The Uncivilizable Nation + +By Emile Verhaeren. + + The Belgian poet whom Maurice Maeterlinck preferred should + rank among the Immortals of the French Academy when that + honor was bestowed upon himself, has contributed to Les + Annales the following account of Germany and the German + people. The translation is that appearing on June 11 in The + Suffragette of England. + + +Life is not a means; life is an end. That is what we must tell +ourselves in order really to live in this world. Hence the obligation +to perfect life, to make it high and beautiful, to make a masterpiece +of it. Hence too our contempt and hatred for those who wish to tarnish +life, either by their thoughts or by their deeds. + +Germany behaves as though it were the most backward among nations. And +indeed it is in spite of appearances essentially feudal. There is +perhaps a German culture, but there is no German _civilization_. + +One may be well informed and yet be hardly civilized. A sense of duty +to humanity, a sense of pride, a sense of liberty are independent, +certainly not of intelligence, but are independent of mere knowledge +of accumulated facts. + +The German professor is a walking library. He collects, he arranges, +he comments. Arrangement and discipline with him take the place of +everything else, and they inculcate in him the spirit of dependence +and of servility. It is perhaps because he classifies so much that he +is so dully submissive. Everything according to his view is an +ascending or descending scale. Everything is in its compartment. + +How, then, can we be surprised if everything becomes materialized and +the mind of each Teuton can lay claim to be nothing more than a sort +of stiff and dingy compartment, in a sort of social chessboard. + +It has already been said: The German invents almost nothing. He works +upon the inventions of other people. In order to invent he would have +to possess the spirit of rebellion against that which is. He is +incapable of that spirit. He is a being who always accepts. + +But as soon as a new discovery has been made by others the German gets +hold of it. He examines it patiently. He turns and returns it this +way, that way, and every way. He, as it were, criticises it. He thus +succeeds in augmenting its power. Moreover, he wishes that it shall +serve a practical purpose and be classified accordingly, just as he +himself serves and is classified in life. + +Never have the Germans opened up a great road in science. They open up +only bypaths. Leibnitz and Kant joined their paths to the royal high +road of Descartes. Haeckel would hardly have existed if Darwin had not +existed. Koch and Behring are dependent upon the labors of Pasteur. + +This second-hand science is excellent as a means of attracting +mediocre minds. To work, each in his little corner, at solving some +secondary question, and to believe one's self a somebody when one is +hardly anybody, flatters the universal vanity. All the little +provincial universities of Germany can live in the illusion that they +are full of learned men--thanks to the German conception of what is +learned and serious! + +It is a system of regimenting in great barracks of laboratories. It is +the absolute negation of the spirit of initiative of spontaneity and +it is above all the negation of the spirit of protest and revolt. + +If the German people had been truly civilized they would never have +maintained silence before the assassination of Belgium. Even among +those whose ideas are contrary to the existing political order in +Germany, none has risen up against this crime admitted and proclaimed +at the beginning of the war in full Parliament by the Chancellor +Bethmann-Hollweg himself. The universal astonishment at such a silence +was so great that even today the world has not recovered from it. +Apart from Liebknecht the whole of German Social Democracy is +dishonored: it is desired to expel the German Socialists from the +International Socialist Movement. They excuse themselves; they +aggravate their fault. They say: + +"We should have been arrested and imprisoned." The world replies: + +"Are they then afraid of dying?" + +In the German Socialist Party everything has been reduced to method +and organized as in the German universities and the German Army. + +There were I know not how many Socialist electors; German Socialism +was thought to be already triumphant and invincible. People said: +"They _are_ Germany!" + +The German Socialists were held up as an example to all the +democracies of the earth. + +Those who swore by the German Socialists affirmed that they would +devour Kaiserism when it should become necessary. But last August in +one hour in the Reichstag it was the German Socialist Party that was +devoured! + +When recently certain German Socialists visited the _Maison du Peuple_ +of Brussels they expressed astonishment that the Socialists of Belgium +should attach so much importance to the invasion of their country. + +"When then binds you to your country?" they asked. + +"Honor," was the reply. + +"Honor! Honor! that is a very bourgeois ideal," interrupted the +Germans. + +Yet a true civilization has as its framework precisely honor. Honor is +not a bourgeois ideal, but an aristocratic ideal. It was slowly +created by the flower of humanity throughout the centuries. When force +becomes educated, force opposes itself. It limits and incloses itself. +It becomes intelligent and tempered by reserve and by tact. Brutal +force thus changes into moral force, power becomes justice. + +The more a nation lends itself to such a change, the more it rises +from the material plane toward the spiritual plane. The more it +enshrines in its institution respect for humanity as a whole, the +greater and more civilized it becomes. Such a nation remains faithful +to its pledged word; neither interest nor even necessity moves it to +commit felony. It loves to protect and not to oppress those who are +weaker than itself. It has at heart the work of propagating throughout +the world certain principles of social life which certainly are +utopian, but are yet beautiful to have before the eyes and in the +heart, in order to live not only for the present, but also for the +future. + +These admirable principles which may never be put wholly into +practice, but toward which we must try to grow always nearer, are the +expression of the deepest human generosity. They are the radical +negation of brutal and primitive force; they incline the world toward +a unanimous and serene peace. They have based on faith the infinite +perfectibility of conscience. Only a nation of a high degree of +civilization can conceive of relations so perfect between human beings +and cherish dreams so great. + +Germany was never capable of this. The individual German is the least +subtle and the least susceptible to education of any in the world. + +It has been my lot to take part in certain European capitals in a +number of reunions where English, French, Italians, and Germans came +together and conversed. They were all, I was assured, distinguished +people, of whom their respective nations might be proud. Now, the +German was rarely to be seen in an excellent attitude. He was at once +embarrassed and arrogant. He lacked refinement. His politeness was +clumsy. He was as though afraid of seeming not to know everything. The +most eccentric taste seemed to him the best taste. To him to be up to +date was to be up to the minute. He would have been wretched if any +one in his presence had claimed to be up to the second. + +As soon as he had the chance to speak and got a hearing, he +inaugurated, as it were, a course of lectures. Clearness was not at +all necessary to him. One rarely understood precisely what he meant. +The fastidiousness and subtlety which led others to seek perfection in +phrase and thought had little attraction for him. With what heaviness +the German diplomat discusses matters at the council table! With what +clumsiness the German conqueror plants himself in a conquered country! +While France, at the end of half a century, makes herself beloved in +Savoy, at Mentone, and at Nice, while in the space of two centuries +she assimilates Lille and Dunkirk and Strasburg and Alsace; while +England in a few decades unites to her Egypt and the Cape, Germany +remains detested in Poland, Schleswig, and in Alsace-Lorraine. Germany +is essentially the persona ingrata everywhere it presents itself. It +knows only the methods that divide, and not those which unite. Germany +makes proclamations that act upon the mind as the frost acts upon +plants. Germany knows neither how to attract nor how to charm nor how +to civilize, because she has no personal and profound moral force. + +Europe under the successive spiritual hegemonies of Athens, Rome, and +Paris remained the most admirable centre of human development that has +ever been. + +Under German hegemony Europe would move toward a sort of gloomy and +hard organization under which everything would be impeccable, arranged +only because everything would be tyrannized over from above. + +For the true Germany--we have today the sad but immovable conviction +of this--was never that of Goethe, of Beethoven, nor of Heine. It was +that of implacable Landgraves and fierce soldiers. + +For thousands of years Germany has let loose its hordes upon Europe; +Vandals, Visigoths, Alains, Franks, Herules. Germany continues to do +this at the present day. It is Germany's terrible and sinister +function. + +Only let us not deceive ourselves as to this point in future, Germany +is the dangerous nation because it is the uncivilizable nation, +because its castles, its fields, and its barracks have remained the +inexhausted, and perhaps the inexhaustible, reservoirs of human +ferocity. + +EMILE VERHAEREN. + + + + +Retreat in the Rain. + +By O.C.A. CHILD. + + + Those Uhlans now are working in too near, + Their carbines crackle louder every shot. + I say! our chaps a-plodding in the rear + Are getting it--and most uncommon hot! + It's not much fun retreating in the night, + Through all this mess of rain and reeking slime-- + It seems to me this boot's infernal tight! + I must have hurt me when I slipped that time. + Whew! that was close and there's a fellow gone! + I know too well that heavy, sickening thud; + It's bitter hard that we must keep right on + And leave our wounded helpless in the mud. + My foot hurts so that I can hardly see-- + I'll have to stop for just a breathing space. + What's that? It's blood!--those fiends have got me now! + It's double time and I can't stand the pace! + I'll use my rifle as a crutch. But, no! + I'll stand and fight; they have me sure as day! + It's death for death--then I will meet it so + And make a Uhlan pay the price I pay. + And here they come! Great God, they're coming fast-- + Are almost on me! Ah, I got that one! + Just one more shot--a good one for the last! + Those iron hoofs have crushed me--I am done! + + + + +War a Game for Love and Honor + +By Jerome K. Jerome + + The chivalrous spirit of the present conflict informs this + article, which appeared originally in The London Daily News + under the title "The Greatest Game of All: The True Spirit + of War," and is here reproduced by special permission of Mr. + Jerome. + + +War has been described as the greatest of games. I am not going to +quarrel with the definition. I am going to accept it. From that point +of view there is something to be said for it. As a game it can be +respectable; as a business it is contemptible. Wars for profit--for +gold mines, for mere extension of territory, for markets--degrade a +people. It is like playing cricket for money. A gentleman--man or +nation--does not do such things. But war for love--for love of the +barren hillside, for love of the tattered flag, for love of the +far-off dream--played for a hope, a vision, a faith, with life and +death as the stakes! Yes, there is something to be said for it. + +Looked at practically, what, after all, does it matter whether Germany +or Britannia rules the waves? Our tea and our 'baccy, one takes it, +would still be obtainable; one would pay for it in marks instead of +shillings. Our sailor men, instead of answering "Aye, aye, Sir," in +response to Captain's orders, would learn to grunt "Jawohl." Their +wages, their rations would be much the same. + +These peaceful Old World villages through which I love to wander with +my dogs; these old gray churches round which our dead have crept to +rest; these lonely farmsteads in quiet valleys musical with the sound +of mother creatures calling to their young; these old men with ruddy +faces; these maidens with quiet eyes who give me greeting as we pass +by in the winding lanes between the hedgerows; the gentle, patient +horses nodding gravely on their homeward way; these tiny cottages +behind their trim bright gardens; this lilliputian riot round the +schoolhouse door; the little timid things in fur and feather peering +anxious, bright-eyed from their hiding places! Suppose the miracle to +happen. Suppose the weather-beaten board nailed to the old beech tree +warning us in faded lettering as we pass beneath it of the penalties +awaiting trespassers were to be superseded by a notice headed +"Verboten!" What essential difference would there be--that a wise man +need vex his soul concerning? We should no longer call it England. +That would be all. The sweep of the hills would not be changed; the +path would still wind through the woodland. Yet just for a name we are +ready to face ruin and death. + +It certainly is not business. A business man would stop to weigh the +pros and cons. A German invasion! It would bring what so many of us +desire: Conscription, tariff reform. It might even get rid of Lloyd +George and the Insurance act. And yet that this thing shall not be, +Tory Squire and Laborer Hodge, looking forward to a lifelong wage of +twelve-and-six-pence a week, will fight shoulder to shoulder, die +together, if need be, in the same ditch. Just for a symbol, a faith we +call England. I should say Britain. + +Can we explain it even to ourselves? Thousands of Germans come over to +England to live. They prosper among us, take their pleasures with us, +adapt themselves to our English ways, and learn to prefer them. +Thousands of Englishmen make their homes in German cities; find German +ways of living, if anything, suit them better. Suddenly there arises +the question, shall English ways of life or German ways of life +prevail: English or German culture--which shall it be? And the English +who have lived contentedly in Germany for years hasten back to fight +for England, and the desire of every German in England is to break up +his pleasant home among us and fight to bring all Europe into German +ways of thinking. + +Clearly the definition is a right one. It is just a game. + +Just as all life is a game; joy and sorrow the zest of it, suffering +the strength-giving worth of it. Till Death rings his bell, and the +game is over--for the present. What have we learned from it? What have +we gained from it? Have we played it to our souls' salvation, learning +from it courage, manhood? Or has it broken us, teaching us mean fear +and hate? + +I quote from the letter of a young cavalry officer writing from the +trenches: + + Although I can't pretend to like this nightmare, I cannot + help realizing that it is doing something for those of us + who are going through it that we otherwise would have + missed; it brings out either the best or worst in a man. It + makes character. + +He speaks of a little black dog. They are living in two feet of water, +he and his men. The German lines are a hundred yards off; wounds, +disease, and death are around them. They are worried about this +wretched little dog. He has, it seems, lost his people, and is not to +be comforted. It is a curious picture. One sees the straggling line of +grimy, mud-stained men. They are there to kill; their own life hangs +on a thread. A nightmare of blood and dust and horror, and in the +midst of it, growing there as if the soil suited it, this flower of +pity for a little fellow-creature. + +I quote from another letter: + + I can assure you there is none of that insensate hatred that + one hears about out here. We are out to kill, and kill we do + at every opportunity. But when it is all over the splendid + universal soldier spirit comes over all the men. Just to + give you some idea of what I mean, the other night four + German snipers were shot on our wire. The next night our men + went out and brought one in who was near and getatable and + buried him. They did it with just the same reverence and + sadness as they do our own dear fellows. I went to look at + the grave next morning, and one of the most uncouth-looking + men in my company had placed a cross at the head of the + grave, and had written on it: + + Here lies a German, + We don't know his name, + He died bravely fighting + For his Fatherland. + + And under that "Got mitt uns," (sic,) that being the highest + effort of all the men at German. + +"Got mitt uns." One has the idea that He is--when the game is played +in that spirit. God with us both, shaping brotherhood out of enmity. + +Bernard Shaw in a moment of inspiration thinks that some way will have +to be found enabling England and Germany to live together peaceably +for the future. It is an idea that may possibly have occurred to +others. Well, perhaps this is the way. Shaw would not approve of it. +But then there is so much in human nature that Shaw does not approve +of. There are times when one is compelled to a great pity for Shaw. He +seems to have got into the wrong world. He is for ever thanking God +that he is not as we other men--we Englishmen and Germans, mere +publicans and sinners. It is a difficult world to understand, I admit, +my dear Shaw, full of inconsistencies and contradictions. Perhaps +there is a meaning in it somewhere that you have missed. + +Perhaps we have got to fight one another before we understand one +another. In the old Norse mythology Love is the wife of Strife; when +we come to consider the nature of man, not such an odd union as it +appears. + +So long as the law runs that in sorrow woman shall bring forth her +child; so long as the ground shall yield to the sons of Adam thorns +also and thistles, so long will there be strife between man and man. +So long, when the last word has been spoken and has failed, will there +be war between the nations. The only hope of civilization is to treat +it as a game. You cannot enforce a law without a policeman. You can +only appeal to a man's honor--to his sporting instincts. + +The mistake Germany is making is in not treating war as a game. To do +so would be weakness and frivolity. War must be ruthless, must be +frightful. It is not to be bound down by laws human or Divine. And +even then she is not logical. Two German officers interned in Holland +are released on parole. Taking their country at her word, they hasten +back to rejoin their regiments. The German Staff is shocked, sends +them back to be imprisoned. + +So there really are rules to the game. An officer and gentleman may +not lie. If a Sub-Lieutenant may not lie for the sake of his country, +then what argument gives the right to the German Government to tear up +its treaties, to the German Military Staff to disregard its +Ambassador's signature to The Hague Convention? + +Come, shade of Bismarck, and your disciples in Germany and other +countries, (including a few in my own,) make up your mind. To be +ruthless and frightful in a half-hearted, nervous, vacillating fashion +is ridiculous. You have either got to go back to the beginning of +things, and make war a battle of wild beasts, or you have got to go +forward and make it a game--a grim game, I grant you, but one that the +nations can play at and shake hands afterward. We have tried the +ruthless and frightful method. We used to slaughter the entire +population. To shoot a selected few is to court a maximum of contempt +for a minimum of advantage. We used to lay waste the land. We did not +content ourselves with knocking down a church spire and burning a +library. We left not one stone upon another. We sowed salt where the +cities had been. We tortured our prisoners before the ramparts. We did +not "leave them their eyes to weep with"; we burned them out with hot +irons; surely a much swifter means of striking terror! Why not return +to these methods? They sound most effective. + +They were not effective. God's chosen people--according to +themselves--did not annihilate the Philistines, not even with the help +of the Ark of the Covenant. The Philistines tightened their belts and +acquitted themselves like men. Today the heathen rules in Canaan. +Where Mohammed failed the shade of Bismarck is not likely to succeed. +Poland is still a sore in European politics. The whole force of the +Vatican could not suppress a handful of reformers. All the +bloodthirsty edicts of the Revolution could not annihilate a few +thousand aristocrats. These things cannot be done. War finishes +nothing, it only interrupts. A nation cannot be killed; it can only +die. This war is not going to be the end of all things either for +Germany or for us. Germany can be beaten to her knees, as she beat +France to her knees in 1870; as more than once before that France has +beaten her. Later on we have all got to live together in peace, for a +while. + +Come, gentlemen, let us make an honorable contest of it, that shall +leave as little of bitterness behind it as may be. Let us see if we +cannot make a fine game of it that we shall be all the better for +having played out to the end. From which we shall all come back home +cleaner minded, clearer seeing, made kinder to one another by +suffering. Come, gentlemen, you believe that God has called upon you +to spread German culture through the lands. You are ready to die for +your faith. And we believe God has a use for the thing called England. +Well, let us fight it out. There seems no other way. You for St. +Michael and we for St. George; and God be with us both. + +But do not let us lose our common humanity in the struggle. That were +the worst defeat of all--the only defeat that would really matter, +that would really be lasting. + +Let us call it a game. After all, what else is it? We have been +playing it since the dawn of creation; and it has settled nothing--but +the names of things. Its victories, its defeats! Time wipes them off +the slate, with a smile. + +I quote from a letter written by the officer who boarded the Emden. He +speaks of the German officers: "A thoroughly nice fellow"--"also a +good fellow." The order is given that there be no cheering from the +Sydney when entering the harbor with her prisoners. English sailormen +have fought with German sailormen; have killed a good many of them. It +is over. No crowing, gentlemen--over fellow-sailormen. Our writer +discusses the fight generally with Captain von Muller. "We agreed it +was our job to knock one another out. But there was no malice in it." + +We shall do better to regard war as a game--a game to be played for +love, for honor, without hatred, without malice. So only shall we +profit by it. + + + + +THE BELGIAN WAR MOTHERS + +[Illustration] + +By Charlotte Porter + + + I. + + _The Dominant Voice, shrieking:_ + Rancor unspeakable, white-hot wrath + Spring in your furrow, rise in your path! + Harvest you vengeance from Belgian dust, + Ye who have turnčd love unto lust! + + _Subdominant Voices, murmuring:_ + _Month of Mary, may ye breed + Vengers out of the August seed! + Nourish'd hate of father-foe-- + Grow, ye War-babes, grow, grow!_ + + + II. + + _The Dominant Voice:_ + Anger implacable, brand with fire, + Sear out the soul of the bestial sire! + Impotent render the insolent boor-- + Dead to the love and the life to endure! + + _Subdominant Voices:_ + _Month of Mary, ye shall breed + Vengers out of the August seed, + Cradled hate of father-foe-- + Grow, ye War-babes, grow, grow!_ + + + III. + + _The Dominant Voice:_ + Miracle-May-month, fathered in death, + Bred in corruption to breathe new breath + Into foul body-dregs, breathe thy life + Into the hate-sired babes of strife! + + _Subdominant Voices:_ + _Month of Mary, ye shall feed + Saviours from the Judas-deed-- + Gods of life to quell that woe. + Grow, ye War-babes, grow, grow!_ + + + IV. + + _The Dominant Voice:_ + Ruin the arrogant hate of love! + Ruin the haters, God above! + Bless Thou their harvest to quell their sin-- + Honor the sinned-against, God within! + + _All Voices:_ + _Warring nations, bleed, bleed, + But to let the leaders lead! + Springs to come from Falls to go, + Love's lords, Life's lords, show, show!_ + +[Illustration] + + + + +How England Prevented an Understanding With Germany + +By Dr. Th. Schiemann. + + The writings of Professor Schiemann of the University of + Berlin, who is also the leading editorial writer of the + Kreuz Zeitung, are regarded as inspired by the Kaiser's + Government, and in some degree by the Kaiser himself. Dr. + Schiemann is often spoken of as an intimate personal friend + of the Kaiser. The subjoined article was, in the original, + sent by Dr. Schiemann to Professor John Bates Clark of the + Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, with the special + request that it be translated and forwarded for publication + in THE NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY. + + +After the great crisis of the first world war, which terminated in the +Congress of Vienna, the relations of England to the German States were +fairly good. People lived in the protecting shade of the great +alliance; England was busy digesting the enormous prey which it had +seized at the expense of all the other powers that had taken part in +the war; Continental Europe was endeavoring, as best it could, to heal +the wounds and sores which had remained behind as mementos of +oppressive but, despite all, glorious years. France recuperated most +rapidly; by the Treaties of Paris there had been recovered from it +only part of the abundant harvest which it had gathered in consequence +of the victories and the coercive policy of Napoleon; the national +soil was still fertile and the national consciousness was still imbued +with the "gloire" which the Corsican General, with the help of his own +and of foreign troops, had won for the French name. The great +disturbances of world peace that marked the years 1830, 1854, and 1870 +were attributable to an incessant pursuit of new "gloire," to which +all other aims were subordinate. Parallel with this French striving +for new "gloire" was England's endeavor to keep the Continent in a +feverish condition; this was the policy of Lord Palmerston, and with +it was combined a hysterical fear of attack on the part of possible +enemies that were thought to exist in Russia, and especially in +France. At the same time an arrogant challenge was constantly held +forth to all the nations of the earth, and an almost uninterrupted war +was carried on against the small States adjoining England's colonies +in Asia and Africa. Between the years 1856 and 1900 England waged no +less than thirty-four such wars, and by so doing acquired 4,000,000 +square miles of land and 57,000,000 subjects. In Europe after the year +1815 England, for the most part, kept peace; the Crimean war, which +was a coalition war, constitutes an exception, and it was not +England's fault that Prussia, too, was not drawn into that war, which +concerned a specifically English interest. At that time English +threats were quite as numerous as they were in the year 1863, when The +Daily News declared King William I. an outlaw, and The Daily Mail +proclaimed for him the fate of Charles I. The cause of this, however, +was that in London it was looked upon as an interference with English +interests that Bismarck, by his attitude during the Polish +insurrection, had prevented the effectuation of a coalition directed +against Russia. During the war of 1864 over Schleswig-Holstein the +threats were renewed, and even then we began to hear the watchwords +with which public opinion in England for a decade has been mobilized +against us: A Germany organized on a military basis, and with a fleet +at its command besides, indicates that the goal of that State's +policy, even more than in the case of France, is world rule. At that +time, too, however, France and Russia were regarded by English war +makers as the country's real enemies, and this conviction, rather +than ideal considerations of any kind whatsoever, accounts for the +fact that in the years 1870 and 1871 English policy followed a neutral +course. England wished to see France weakened, had not foreseen +Germany's great success, and had reserved for future opportunities the +settlement of accounts with Russia, its very annoying rival in Asia. + +In other respects, however, Bismarck was by no means satisfied with +the way in which England pursued its policy of "neutrality." He had +expected, at least, that the English would condemn the war, begun, as +it was, in such a criminal manner, and not that they would carry on +with France a flourishing trade in weapons. "It is a surprising fact, +pregnant with warning," he wrote in May, 1874, "that Mr. Gladstone +succeeded so easily in holding the country to an attitude directly +opposed to the traditional hostility of the English masses toward +France." He had all the more reason to expect a different attitude in +view of the fact that, as was well known in England, it had been out +of regard for England that Bismarck in December, 1870, had refused an +offer of peace from Thiers, which rested on the condition that Belgium +should be united to France under the rule of King Leopold. After the +battle of Sedan Lord Odo Russell and Disraeli aroused the fears of the +English people over the possibility of a German invasion; but +Bismarck, nevertheless, was thinking of an English-German alliance, +which, on account of the blood relationship of the two dynasties, was +by no means impracticable, and which to Queen Victoria would have +seemed a natural combination. Subsequently, in the years 1873 and +1874, Bismarck negotiated with Lord Odo Russell in Berlin regarding a +German-English alliance, and through Münster he also took up the +matter with Disraeli, who denied very emphatically that he had French +sympathies. Nothing, he said, was more incorrect. The two peoples, he +alleged further, who alone could proceed hand in hand, and who must +become more and more cognizant of that fact, were Germany and +England. The power of France, he added, was on the wane, a fact +regarding which the demoralization of the empire, the decrease of +population, and the course of recent events left no room for doubt. +Notwithstanding Disraeli's views, however, the alliance with England, +as is well known, was never formed. The most serious obstacle was +created by the fact that party government in England rendered binding +obligations extraordinarily difficult. Then came all sorts of +pinpricks, as, for instance, Derby's advocacy in the year 1875 of +Gortchakoff's famous rescue campaign. But despite all Bismarck held +fast to the idea of bringing about closer relations with England, and +the formation of the alliance with Austria-Hungary confirmed him in +that purpose. "We shall have to adjust our attitude more and more," he +wrote to Schweinitz in March, 1880, "with the object of increasing the +security of our relations with Austria and England." It was this +political desire that prompted him to reject a Russian proposal to +unite the four Eastern powers in a common protest against England's +isolated procedure in connection with the occupation of Egypt. He +wished to prevent England from being humiliated by a prearranged +coalition. A letter from Bismarck to Salisbury (July 8, 1885) has been +preserved, which is very characteristic of this friendly attitude of +German policy. "As to politics," he writes, "I have not the slightest +doubt that the traditional friendly relations between the two +dynasties, as well as between the two nations, will give sufficient +security for settling every existing or arising question in a +conciliatory way." + +With respect to the question of the Egyptian loan that was being +discussed at that time, as well as with respect to the burning Afghan +question, Bismarck adhered tenaciously to this policy, and later on, +too, he was determined to spin the threads further. In the latter part +of the Autumn of 1887 an exchange of letters again took place between +Lord Salisbury and Prince Bismarck, wherein the latter gave expression +to the idea that Austria and England were the natural allies of +Germany. If they were opposed to an alliance it would be necessary for +Germany to alter its policy entirely and to think about establishing +more intimate relations with Russia. This, properly considered, was an +invitation to enter into negotiations regarding an alliance treaty. +But Salisbury, who hoped for a conflict of the Continental powers +which would insure England's position of power for another generation, +answered evasively, and Bismarck justly regarded his reply as a +rejection. But such a conflict did not arise. The menacing danger +brought about by Alexander III. was overcome by the publication of the +German-Austrian treaty of alliance. Even then, however, Bismarck did +not give up the idea of bringing about closer relations with England. +In December, 1888, he wrote: "The promotion of common feeling with +England is primo loco to be encouraged." If Bismarck had left behind a +political testament this sentence would in all probability be +contained in it. Such was also the attitude which our Emperor has +consistently maintained from his accession to the throne until the +outbreak of the present war. He was a favorite of the old Queen, and +the treaty signed on July 1, 1890, whereby we obtained possession of +Heligoland by relinquishing our claims to Witu and Zanzibar, was an +outward sign of an honest endeavor on the part of both nations to +bring about closer mutual relations. The mutual limitation of spheres +of interest in East and West Africa in the year 1893, and the friendly +adjustment of the conflict which Article III. of the British Agreement +with the Congo Free State of the year 1894 had threatened to bring +about, might be considered additional symptoms of this general +disposition or tendency. + +The year 1896, however, brought disturbances; the telegram which +Emperor William on Jan. 5 sent to President Kruger, after the +predatory invasion of Dr. Jameson had been fortunately repelled, was +received very unfavorably in England, and led to demonstrations on +the part of the British fleet, which, although they had a very +provocative character, remained finally without lasting effect. The +impression was created, however, that public opinion in England was +very easily excited; it saw itself disturbed in the execution of a +thoroughly considered political plan, and, as it were, caught in +flagranti. But the fact that there were still deeper reasons for a +gradually increasing mistrust of Germany is brought to light by +Wilson's book, published in 1896, which, under the title "Made in +Germany," developed a program of battle against Germany's rapidly +growing economic power. Since then all steps taken by Germany in the +pursuit of its internal as well as its external policy have been +viewed with extraordinary disapprobation on the part of England. The +adoption of our Naval bill by the Reichstag on March 28, 1898, the +foundation of the Naval League two days later, the new East-Asiatic +policy of Germany, which in the leasing of Kiao-Chau was exemplified +in a manner not at all to the liking of the English politicians, the +Emperor's trip to the Orient, which led to friendly relations between +Turkey and Germany--all this was looked upon with the more displeasure +in view of the fact that Emperor William in the Summer of 1895 had +emphatically rejected a plan, proposed to him by Lord Salisbury, to +divide up Turkey. In August, 1898, nevertheless, when the Fashoda +crisis had strained the relations of England and France to the utmost, +and when, at the same time, English-Russian relations were becoming +critical in the Far East, an understanding between Germany and +England, which might perhaps have the character of an alliance, seemed +to be quite possible. Secretary of State von Bülow and the English +Ambassador, Sir Frank Lascelles, took up the matter very earnestly, +but it was impossible to secure from England the assurance that the +entire English Government and Parliament would sanction an alliance. +Russia warded off the menacing danger of a war with England by means +of the well-known proposal which on May 18, 1899, led to the holding +of the Disarmament Conference in The Hague, and Delcassé on Jan. 20, +1899, began, with reference to the Fashoda affair, the policy of +retreat, which excluded France from the Nile territory. Then came +England's war against the Boers. It is well known how the German +Government during this war scrupulously maintained its neutrality (not +according to the English method) despite the fact that all the +sympathies of the German people were with the Boers in their struggle +for freedom. It is not so well known, on the other hand, that the +Imperial Government rejected a Russian proposal to form an alliance +against England. That, too, was a service for which England has not +thanked us. Of the tragedy in South Africa it has retained in mind +only one incident, the so-called "Kruger Message," which it regarded +as an interference with its right to do violence to a weaker power, +figuratively speaking, as a slap in the face. + +In the course of the war the old Queen died, and Edward VII. entered +upon his fateful reign. Emperor William had gone over to London to +attend the funeral of his grandmother, and Prince Henry had +accompanied him, so that the dynastic relationship was made most +conspicuous. After that the political relations of the two States +seemed about to shape themselves most propitiously. Of the fact that +the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, concluded on Jan. 30, 1902, was directed +against Russia, there was never for a moment any doubt; indeed it was +Japan, not England, which took the initiative in bringing it about. On +the other hand, the co-operation of English and German war vessels in +adjusting the difficulties which both powers had with Venezuela was in +complete harmony with the political wishes and convictions of Emperor +William, who, like Bismarck at an earlier date, was of the opinion +that the interests of the two nations could readily be reconciled. But +in England that co-operation resulted in an excited anti-German +campaign on the part of the press. The Times, The National Review, The +Daily News, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express, and other +newspapers vehemently attacked the Government for acting conjointly +with us, and there can be no doubt that in so doing they gave +expression, not to the ideas of the Balfour Ministry, but to the +sentiments which, as was well known in those journalistic circles, +were held by King Edward. Balfour, in an address which he delivered in +Liverpool on Feb. 13, 1903, had opposed with great emphasis the +arousing of English public opinion against Germany. "We wish," he +said, "to bear in mind an old ideal, namely, that all the nations +which stand in the front ranks of civilization should learn to work +together in the interest of the whole, and that nothing any longer +stands in the way of the realization of this high ideal save those +national bitternesses, jealousies, and hostilities.... As far as +Venezuela is concerned, that is passing over ... but with respect to +the future it fills me with anxiety when I think how easy it is to +stir up the fire of international jealousy, and how hard it is to +quench it." It was all the harder in view of the fact that the King, +from the very beginning of his reign, adhered tenaciously to the +political idea of using the old French revanche notion as the cardinal +point of English policy. + +In April, 1903, the King began a series of political trips to +Portugal, Spain, France, and Austria, while Berlin, very strangely, +was not visited by him. Each one of these visits resulted in political +agreements, into which Vienna alone declined to enter, and which, +after a return visit on the part of Loubet, at that time President of +the French Republic, and after a surprising visit in Paris on the part +of certain members of the English Parliament, led to the significant +English-French agreement of April 8, 1904, a treaty which culminated +in the balancing of Morocco against Egypt and made it possible for the +English Government, as soon as it chose, to regulate the Morocco +question in such a way that it would necessarily bring about a +conflict between France and isolated Germany. The ally of King Edward +was the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Delcassé, who, on the +basis of the agreements made with England, had likewise concluded +treaties with Spain and Italy, which, as he confidently assumed, +insured the pénétration pacifique, i.e., the conquest, unhindered by +Europe, of Morocco. How this plan presently fell through and how +Delcassé was overthrown shall not be related here; on the other hand, +attention should be called to the intimidating efforts to which +England resorted for the purpose of exerting pressure upon Germany. +The first effort of this nature took the form of an address delivered +on Feb. 3, 1905, by Arthur Lee, a Civil Lord of the English Admiralty, +who threatened the German fleet with destruction; the second effort +came after Emperor William had landed in Tangier on March 31 and after +Delcassé had been overthrown, and took the form of an appearance of an +English fleet before Swinemünde, on which occasion it was officially +asserted that the resolution had been adopted back in May, that is, at +a time when the intrigues of Delcassé were culminating and when a war +between Germany and France seemed likely to break out at any time. For +even after Delcassé's overthrow England did not give up the game as +lost; it declined to take part in a conference regarding Morocco and +considered in all seriousness the question of an invasion. England's +naval superiority was so great that the success of such an invasion +could not seem doubtful, and in London it was thought that they could +even do without the support of France. These plans were finally given +up; for some time it was not known very well in London what decisions +had been reached in the meeting between the Czar and Emperor William +at Bjorkö, and there was a feeling of uncertainty. Accordingly, +England also sent delegates to the conference at Algeciras, wherein we +were obliged to deal solely, except for the Austrian delegates, with +friends of the English-French combination. + +The result, therefore, could only be a vague understanding, wherein +was concealed the germ of subsequent conflicts. The first consequence, +nevertheless, was a relaxation of German-English relations. In +December, 1905, a Liberal Ministry had taken the helm, and the idea +was conceived of diverting Germany by other means from the pursuit of +a "world policy." Sir Edward Grey championed the contention that more +intimate relations between England and Germany were, to be sure, +desirable, but could only be effected if we swallowed France's Morocco +policy unflinchingly, like bitter medicine. For this event Mr. +Haldane, the new Minister of War, proposed an understanding between us +similar to that which England had reached with France. This +constituted the preliminary step toward an endeavor to effect more +intimate relations, an endeavor which at first had a non-official +character. German Burgomasters visited the City of London and were +cordially received by King Edward himself. This was followed, in +August, 1906, by a meeting between the King and his imperial nephew, +in Homburg vor der Höhe, which, as was to be expected, passed off in a +satisfactory manner. It should, nevertheless, be recalled to mind that +the King expressed himself very ironically on the subject of The Hague +Conference, which, he asserted, was a humbug. And Sir Charles +Hardinge, who entered into negotiations with Secretary of State von +Tschirschky, also voiced the opinion that the conference should offer +no opportunity for serious interference with England's naval policy. +On this point English and German views concurred, though from +different motives. In the following September the English Minister of +War, Mr. Haldane, was our guest. He came for the purpose of studying +German military organization, and every conceivable courtesy was +extended to him. In the addresses which he delivered after his return +to England he referred many times to his sojourn in Berlin. He also +made the assertion that the relations of England to France were closer +and more intimate than ever before, that to Russia they were friendly, +and that to Germany they were better than they recently had been. We +now know--a fact which the Liberté also divulged at that time--that an +English-French military convention had then been signed with reference +to future possibilities. This fact was immediately denied, but it +was merely a question of word quibbling. No convention, to be sure, +was actually signed by the Government, but the "inner circle" of the +Cabinet undoubtedly agreed that "conversations" between the military +authorities of the two nations should take place, and these military +conversations were held regularly, just as if a secret alliance +existed, until the outbreak of the present war. Parallel with these +political preparations were efforts that stood in sharp contrast to +the irritating activities carried on without interruption by the +above-mentioned anti-German press, which we embrace under the name +"Pearson and Harmsworth Press." In England, as well as in Germany, +societies were organized with the object of mitigating and, if +possible, entirely abolishing the differences and antagonisms which +existed between the two nations; these were the so-called "Friendship +Committees." In England the Duke of Argyll and Lord Avebury were at +the head of such a committee, and a visit made to London by +representatives of our press initiated a well-meant movement which +found enthusiastic representatives on both sides. English and German +clergymen traveled back and forth between England and Germany, +representatives of the English press paid a return visit to Germany, +English and German workingmen's representatives endeavored to cement +feelings of friendship by making personal observations and +acquaintances, and in a similar way representatives of the +Parliamentary groups of both countries thought and acted, while the +leaders of science were working together at congresses held in Berlin +and London. In this way were formed a number of valuable personal +relations which led to political friendships and resulted in a +conscious co-operation toward an honest English-German understanding. + +These efforts continued until shortly before the month of August, +1914. One may safely say, moreover, that nobody has interceded more +zealously and more constantly for English-German friendship and +co-operation and for the removal of the difficulties that are ever +cropping up anew than our Emperor. The enthusiasm with which Emperor +William was always received in England on occasion of his numerous +visits, especially in November and December, 1907, again in 1910, when +he went to London to attend the funeral of Edward VII., and again in +1911, when he visited King George, would be absolutely inconceivable +hypocrisy, which we regard as out of the question, had it not been the +spontaneous expression of popular sentiment. Official English policy, +however, followed other channels. As early as the year 1907 Sir Edward +Grey had succeeded in securing from Russia an agreement which united +England and Russia in co-operation at the expense of Persia, but +which, indirectly, also affected German interests, the injury to which +was later happily warded off by the Treaty of Potsdam. It soon became +evident, moreover, that England, in concluding the agreement relating +to Persia, was in reality less concerned about protecting its Asiatic +interests than it was about including Russia in that coalition by +means of which it expected to put a stop to the "world policy" of +Germany and to check the further development of the German fleet. This +became very distinctly evident on June 9, 1908, when a meeting took +place at Reval between Edward VII. and Nicholas II. At that time it +was agreed and decided between Hardinge and Iswolski, not officially, +but in an oral exchange of views, that Russia would be ready to +proceed hand in hand with England in European affairs (i.e., in the +policy directed against Germany) as soon as it had sufficiently +recovered from the after-effects of the war with Japan and the +revolution. It was thought that this regeneration of Russia's military +power would take six or eight years. The scope of this agreement is +very obvious. Whereas Germany, during the persistent danger of a war +with France over Morocco, had hitherto considered it highly probable +that England would maintain a neutral attitude, it was obliged, as +soon as England drew nearer to the Dual Alliance, to figure at all +events upon a malevolent neutrality and very likely indeed upon open +hostility. Sir Edward Grey, to be sure, who had not yet escaped from +the anxiety with which English friends of peace were following the +King's trip to Russia, in order to cover up his game, on July 7 had +declared in the lower house, in reply to a question directed to the +Government, that the visit of the King by no means had any diplomatic +significance which might lead to an alliance or to an agreement or to +any kind of a convention; no negotiations were being entered into, he +asserted, for the purpose of concluding a treaty or a convention with +Russia, nor would any such treaty or convention be concluded during +the King's visit. But he went on to say that the visit would have some +political effect, and it was very true that political effect was +desired. "We wish that the visit shall exert a beneficent influence +upon the mutual relations of both empires." Public opinion in England +allowed itself to be satisfied with this equivocal, oracular +statement. In other countries, however, a keener insight was +displayed. THE NEW YORK TIMES judged the situation correctly when it +said: "It is always a mistake to force a warm friend, who is at the +same time a business friend, a blood relative, out of intimate and +useful friendship into bitter antagonism, and this mistake, according +to the judgment of all non-partisan observers of contemporary history, +has been committed by King Edward." When Edward VII. acceded to the +throne, it went on to say, England was a warm friend of Germany and of +the German Emperor, who had given numerous proofs of his friendship, +and was not only willing but anxious to become England's ally; now, +however, the guns of the two nations were, so to speak, pointed at +each other. + +[Illustration: H.M. GEORGE V. + +King of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions Beyond +the Seas, Emperor of India + +(_Photo from W. & D. Downey_)] + +[Illustration: H.I.M. NICHOLAS II. + +Czar of All the Russias, and the Grand Duke Alexis Nicholaievitch, the +Heir Apparent + +(_Photo from Underwood & Underwood_)] + +Such, indeed, was the actual case; a determined malevolence on the +part of the King, the English statesmen, and that newspaper trust +organized by Pearson and Harmsworth, began to mobilize Europe against +Germany, and to incense, by means of cable and telegraph, the judgment +of the world against our Emperor and against the German policy. No +means seemed too infamous if it served this purpose. Over a private +letter which Emperor William had sent to Admiral Lord Tweedmouth for +the purpose of checking false rumors that were maliciously being +spread abroad regarding our naval policy, The Times made a terrible +fuss in order to disseminate the notion that Emperor William was +interfering with the internal policy of Great Britain with a view to +injuring English military power. The excitement of public opinion in +England was then utilized by the press for the purpose of creating a +sentiment in favor of a concentration of the British fleet in the +North Sea. That, however, was certainly done at the instigation of the +Government, which was fond of attributing resolutions it had already +adopted to the pressure of public opinion throughout the country. The +naval manoeuvres which in July, 1908, were carried out in the North +Sea, close to our coastline, were participated in by a combination of +the canal fleet and the so-called home fleet, and they bore a very +provocative and demonstrative character. At this time, moreover, +appeared that widely read book by Percival A. Hislam, entitled "The +Admiralty of the Atlantic," the expositions of which culminated in the +statement that a war between England and Germany was unavoidable, and +that the sooner it broke out the shorter it would be and the less +money and blood it would cost. All this, however, is rendered easily +intelligible by the fact that the Balkan crisis, in consequence of the +annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had at that time assumed a very +dangerous aspect, and was threatening to bring on a war between +Austria and Russia and perhaps a world war, wherein England expected +to gain its own particular ends. It was therefore a severe +disappointment to English statesmen that Nicholas II., despite the +vociferous protests of the Serbs, and despite the decidedly warlike +attitude of the Russian people on March 25, 1909, recognized the +annexation. The disappointment was all the more severe for the reason +that shortly before that time, despite the still menacing conflict +over Casablanca, the Morocco difficulties between Germany and France +were also settled. On Feb. 9, 1909, the day on which King Edward made +his first visit in Berlin, a German-French agreement regarding Morocco +was signed, and in the latter part of May the Casablanca conflict was +also adjusted by arbitration to the tolerable satisfaction of both +contestants. + +It is not too much to say that King Edward, in so far as he was able, +did his best to bring about another outcome, and in England this was +generally recognized. "There must be a definitive stopping of the +King's interference in foreign politics," declared Mr. Sidebotham, +M.P., in the Reform Club at Manchester during this crisis. His words +were loudly approved by his hearers, but his voice, as well as the +voice of other men in favor of establishing good relations with +Germany, was drowned without effect under the influence of the panic +which from the end of the year 1908 until well on into the Summer of +1909 kept all England in a state of excitement. Watchwords denoting +the necessity of taking immediate action against the German fleet, as +they were published in The Standard, The Morning Post, and in the +great monthly periodicals, The Nineteenth Century, the Fortnightly +Review, and The National Review, were echoed in the negotiations of +Parliament, and they dominated the Maritime Law Conference held in +London. The naval manoeuvres of July, 1909, brought together all three +English fleets, and the plan was conceived of summoning the fleets of +the larger colonies. A meeting of newspaper publishers, called in +London, was designed to carry on propaganda for these ideas, and the +Imperial Defense Conference, also held in London, proposed that +England should be supported by its large colonies, though, to be sure, +with certain reservations. In order to weaken the impression which +Russia's recognition of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina had +created, the Czar visited the English fleet at Spithead, and for the +same reason, probably, the Russian Army manoeuvres in the Fall were +considered a rehearsal of the measures that would be adopted to check +the advance of an enemy toward St. Petersburg. Finally, on Oct. 23, +agreements were made in Racconigi between Iswolski, who was +accompanying the Czar on a new trip abroad, and Tittoni, which +agreements were to make it possible for Russia, as a Russian newspaper +put it, "to liberate itself from the necessity of friendly relations +with Germany." + +During this excitement in the political atmosphere the Imperial +Chancellor, von Bethmann-Hollweg, endeavored to bring about a turn for +the better by effecting an understanding with England, in whose +attitude he correctly recognized the real cause of the political +insecurity. At this point attention must be called to the fundamental +difficulty with which all negotiations at that time, and subsequently, +were confronted, and necessarily confronted. In Germany it was seen +very clearly from the start that the probability of a combined +French-Russian attack, for which influential political groups in St. +Petersburg, as well as in Paris, were working, was very slight, so +long as England's entrance into this anti-German combination could be +left out of consideration. What we hoped to insure, therefore, was +England's neutrality in the event of war, inasmuch as a German-English +alliance, which might have definitely insured world peace, could not +be effected. In order to win England over to the idea of neutrality, +the Imperial Chancellor declared his willingness to decrease the rate +at which our war vessels were being constructed. Both nations, +moreover, were to give assurances that neither intended to attack the +other, nor actually would make an attack. A second clause in the +German proposal formulated the neutrality obligation. These +negotiations continued until the Autumn of the year 1909, and were +accompanied by the threatening chorus of the English anti-German +press: "German dreadnoughts must not be built." [Black and White--"The +Writing on the Wall."] The positive refusal on the part of Germany to +abandon the naval program adopted by the Reichstag, and the fixed idea +designedly fostered by the British Government that we were cherishing +the intention of attacking France, gave England a pretext for +rejecting the German efforts to effect an understanding between the +two countries. But it is impossible to believe in the honesty of these +arguments, which were recently defended, in dialectic perversion of +the truth, by Sir Edward Cook in an article entitled "How Britain +Strove for Peace." England's aggressive tendency is clearly shown by +its above-mentioned agreements with France and Russia, which are today +publici juris. Regarding that point there was no self-deception in +those English circles which did not belong to the conspiracy; Edward +Dicey, one of the most eminent of English publicists, expressed it in +point-blank form in February, 1910, when he wrote in The Empire +Review: "If England and Germany are friends, the peace of Europe is +assured; but if the two nations fall apart, it will be a very +unfortunate day for humanity." At that time, when Delcassé tendencies +were again asserting themselves in France and a new political storm +was brewing in the Balkan countries, King Edward died, on May 6. The +hope could now be cherished, the leader of the anti-German policy of +England being gone, that the moment had come when it would be possible +to effect an understanding. + +Dicey again began to argue for peace, the English-German Friendship +Committee, the Albert Committee, the Archbishop of Canterbury, The +Manchester Guardian, and The Economist advocated this idea, and Prime +Minister Asquith found it profitable under these circumstances to +strike the note of peace in a report which he submitted to the lower +house regarding the frustrated German-English negotiations. But he +included in this report false and disquieting statements regarding the +German fleet. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg replied to these statements in +the Reichstag, and this led to the resumption of negotiations +regarding a permanent political agreement on the basis of the existing +German naval program, provided we would decrease our rate of building +war vessels, as we had already offered to do. It soon became evident, +however, with what little sincerity these negotiations were entered +into on the part of England. With the direct encouragement of +England, which renewed its promises regarding its attitude in the +event of war, France, in the latter part of April, and in outright +violation of the treaty, began its advance again Fez; and at the same +time, as if it was desired that no doubt should arise regarding the +solidarity of England and France, The Fleet Annual published an +illustration representing the German high sea fleet under full steam, +and under it were printed the words "The Enemy." As a sign of our +disapproval of the French violation of the treaty we sent the Panther +to Agadir, and in place of German-English negotiations German-French +negotiations were commenced. Meanwhile England, cherishing the hope +that a German-French war would now break out with certainty, armed +itself against us in August and September with might and main. This +fact was placed beyond all doubt by the well-known disclosures of +Captain Faber, (before his electors in Andover.) The Times said later +on that the year 1911 had brought three German-English crises, the +first in the third week of July, the second in the week ending on Aug. +19, (that was the time of the enormous and very disillusioning labor +strikes,) and the third in September. It is amazing that Sir Edward +Cook dared to assert under these circumstances that Great Britain had +facilitated the conclusion of the French-German Morocco agreement, +which was ratified on March 12, 1912. In the "Open Letter on Foreign +Policy," which on Nov. 24, 1911, was submitted to the members of the +English Parliament, and was signed with the initials E.D.M. and +F.W.H., (which is to be resolved into Edmund D. Morel and Francis W. +Hirst,) it is expressly stated by these esteemed and honorable +politicians: + +"Our attitude was determined exclusively by the ostensible interests +of France, which were directly opposed to the interests of British +commerce and of British enterprise.... From this it follows that +alliances, nay, even political agreements, with Continental powers, +which may coerce us to take steps that are, at a given moment, harmful +to our national interests, should be avoided." + +Sir Edward Grey took pains to conceal these facts from the lower house +and passed lightly over the disclosures of Faber--when the Imperial +Chancellor vigorously opposed him--with skillful legerdemain. In the +upper house Grey's policy also met with severe criticism, and from his +declarations, as well as from those of Lloyd George made at the same +time, only one conclusion could be drawn--that official England was +determined to remain steadfast in the form of its political +co-operation with France and Russia. Precisely to this was to be +attributed the insecurity of the European situation. It has not become +publicly known but has been reliably ascertained that the English +Naval Attaché in Rome at that time pointed out that England, in the +event of a war, which he expected to come, would have to occupy either +Belgium or Copenhagen. That, he added, was very brutal, to be sure, +but at the same time was rendered necessary by historic developments +and by circumstances. + +In view of all this we cannot deceive ourselves into believing that +the mission which brought Lord Haldane to Berlin in February, 1912, +had any other purpose than that of satisfying the voices in England +which were calling with ever-increasing vigor for an understanding +with Germany. The proposals which he submitted to us, after a +discussion with Sir Edward Grey, were formulated by the English +Cabinet as follows: "Inasmuch as both powers naturally wish to +maintain relations of peace and friendship with each other, England +declares that it will neither make an unprovoked attack upon Germany, +nor support any other power in making such an attack. To attack +Germany is neither the direct nor the indirect object of any treaty, +understanding, or combination to which England is now a party, nor +will England make itself a party to anything that has such an object." +This carefully excogitated statement embraced in its Machiavellian +wording neither those "oral conversations" at Reval nor the "innocent +discussions" engaged in by the English and French General +Staffs--discussions which were always revived on occasion of every +political crisis. It was only natural, therefore, that we, since these +relations between the General Staffs of the powers belonging to the +Entente were no secret to us, demanded greater security and a +declaration of neutrality on the part of England before consenting to +enter into any general understanding. + +This was all the more necessary in view of the fact that Poincaré, the +French President, while the negotiations, commenced by Haldane, +between Berlin and London were being carried on, had undertaken, in +August, 1912, that trip to St. Petersburg, from which he brought back +to France the system of three years' compulsory military service; and +at the same time Hartwig, the Russian Ambassador in Belgrade, +organized that Balkan Conference, the purpose of which was, first, to +break the backbone of Turkey, and, secondly, to serve as a tool for +the overthrow of Austria. The introduction and adoption of the German +military program made it evident to all the world that we had +recognized correctly, and betimes, the dangers which threatened the +peace of the world, and in particular the peace of Germany. +Furthermore, in a conversation with Prince Lichnowski, Lord Haldane +said in so many words that England, in the event of a general war, +would have to place itself on the side of France "in order to prevent +Germany from becoming too powerful." We must not neglect to mention +that during this critical year, as well as in the year 1913, +negotiations were again entered into regarding the carrying out of the +treaty concluded between England and Germany in the days of Caprivi +with respect to an economic penetration of the Portuguese colonies in +East and West Africa. The refusal of Sir Edward Grey to give these +negotiations the secure form of a treaty, which could be laid before +the English Parliament and the German Reichstag, here again shows that +he was desirous of effecting only the appearance of an understanding. +Both he and France were resolved to postpone their action against +Germany until Russia, which was preparing itself with prodigious +exertion, had finished its preparations, which in August, 1913, were +critically inspected by General Joffre, and among which is to be +included the construction of railways to run through Poland to the +Austrian and Prussian frontiers. This consideration also accounts for +England's attitude during the Balkan confusion of 1912 and 1913. At +the London Conference we were able to co-operate with Sir Edward Grey +in settling the great difficulties brought about by the war of the +Balkan nations against Turkey, and subsequently their war inter se and +the overthrow of Bulgaria. Under the impression created by this +political co-operation the peace party in England also seemed to gain +ground. On Feb. 18, 1913, Charles Trevelyan, M.P., paid me a visit and +assured me with great positiveness that England would under no +circumstances wage war. A Ministry which undertook to make +preparations for war, he said, would at once be deposed. An +inclination to bring about an understanding with Germany, he added, +prevailed in all industrial circles. My impression that such was +actually the case was confirmed during a sojourn in London in the +months of March and April, 1914. On occasion of a political supper ŕ +deux with Lord Haldane the latter gave expression to the view that the +present grouping of the powers offered the best guarantee of peace, +that Sir Edward Grey was holding Russia in check and we were holding +Austria-Hungary in check, in saying which he emphasized the fact that +England had implicit confidence in the German Imperial Chancellor. I +replied, saying that in consequence of the existing combination Paris +and St. Petersburg would certainly count upon England's help in the +event of a war, and would thus bring on the war. We then discussed the +situation between England and Germany, and remarked how the present +plan, adopted by both Governments, of fortifying both sides of the +North Sea was detrimental to the real interests of both. The following +letter, which I received from Lord Haldane in Berlin on April 17, is +an echo of this conversation: + +"It was a great pleasure to see you and have had the full and +unreserved talk we had together. My ambition is, like yours, to bring +Germany into relations of ever closer intimacy and friendship. Our two +countries have a common work to do for the world as well as for +themselves, and each of them can bring to bear on this work special +endowments and qualities. May the co-operation, which I believe to be +now beginning, become closer and closer. Of this I am sure, the more +wide and unselfish the nations and the groups questions make her +supreme purposes of their policies, the more will friction disappear +and the sooner will the relations that are normal and healthy +reappear. Something of this good work has now come into existence +between our two peoples. We must see to it that the chance of growth +is given."[5] + +[Footnote 5: This passage from a letter of Lord Haldane is quoted in +the original English by Professor Schiemann and is here copied +verbatim.--TRANSLATOR.] + +It is difficult to believe in the sincerity of the sentiments here +expressed, when we consider that Lord Haldane belonged to the inner +circle of the Cabinet and therefore must have known the secret +chess-moves of Grey's policy. Furthermore, he did not resign, as did +three other members of the Cabinet--Lord Morley, Burns, and Charles +Trevelyan--when, on Aug. 4, Sir Edward's false game was shown up and +when treaties grew out of those "conversations" and alliances out of +those ententes, which had until then existed under counterfeit names. +Even as late as June 13 Sir Edward Grey denied that he had entered +into any binding obligations. Six weeks after that, however, England +confronted Germany with the fait accompli of a life-and-death +struggle. Grey had consciously uttered a falsehood before Parliament, +and, as was ascertained from a Russian source, had not only accepted a +Russian proposal to conclude a naval agreement, but had expressly +given his approval that the deliberations regarding the effectuation +of this agreement should be participated in by the Naval Staffs of +both countries. In so doing he expressly counted upon a war between +the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, and upon the complete +alliance of England. England, at the proper time, was to send +merchantmen to Russian ports on the Baltic Sea for the purpose of +landing Russian troops in Pomerania, and to send as many ships to the +Mediterranean Sea as seemed necessary to insure the ascendency of +France. With the help of French money it was intended to overthrow the +Ministry of Rodoslawow in Bulgaria and, with the assistance of the +Russophile, Malinow, to win over that country to the combination, +which was to attack Austria in the rear. All this, which took place +before the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, was the political plan of +battle adopted by the conspiring powers, which subsequently found an +excuse for their behavior in the alleged coercion of Serbia. The +hypocrisy with which the intrigue was carried out is without +precedent. The palm rests, probably, on the friendly visit of the +English squadron, under Admiral Beatty, in Kiel. Two days after the +assassination of the Archduke the squadron started on its way home, +through the Emperor William Canal, for the purpose of joining the +concentration of the entire English fleet, which lay, ready for war, +off Spithead. That England afterward made common cause with Russia and +France for the murderers of the Archduke, and with moral indignation +rose against the satisfaction demanded of Serbia by Austria, is all +part of the system of the frivolous use of any pretext which might +bring England closer to its longed-for goal--the deposition of Germany +from her position in the world. Such was England's rôle in the +preparation of this wantonly prearranged war. + + + + +Germany Free! + +By BEATRICE BARRY. + + + Deeds that have startled the civilized world + Blot her escutcheon, brand her with shame; + But though the German flag there be unfurled, + Do Germans know what is done in their name? + If not, the final accounting may see-- + Germany free! + + Germany, free from the canker of self-- + Free from the lusting for prestige and power; + Purged of her passion for place and for pelf-- + Shall she not rise to great heights in that hour? + God speed its coming, for fain would we see-- + Germany free! + + Free from the militant few who have ruled + Seventy millions with sabre of steel; + Free from the doctrine in which they are schooled-- + "Might shall prevail!" All the rancor we feel + Strikes at that dogma, from which we would see-- + Germany free! + + Much in her national life we admire, + Much we recoil from, or needs must dispute; + Germany needs her baptism of fire, + But you will find us the first to salute-- + (God speed the "Day" the awakening shall be) + Germany FREE! + + + + +Chronology of the War + +Showing Progress of Campaigns on All Fronts and Collateral Events from +April 30, 1915, Up to and Including June 15, 1915. + + +CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN EUROPE + +May 1--Germans advance in their invasion of the Russian Baltic +provinces, a Russian force retreating toward Mitau; fighting is being +renewed along the East Prussian frontier and in Central Poland; +Russians gain ground in their campaign for the Uzsok Pass; Germans +defeat Russians near Szawle, in Kovno; Austrians repulse Russian +attacks against the heights of the Orawa and Opor Valleys. + +May 2--A great battle is developing in the plain of Rawa, Central +Poland; Russians are taking the offensive; Austrians have opened an +offensive in the region of Ciezkowice. + +May 3--German and Austrian armies, under General von Mackensen, win a +victory in West Galicia, breaking the Russian centre for miles, and +gaining ground across practically the whole western tip of Galicia, +from near the Hungarian border to the junction of the River Dunajec +with the Vistula; the Teutonic allies take 30,000 prisoners, 22 +cannon, and 64 machine guns; the Austrians gain ground in the Beskid +region, and repulse Russians north of Osmaloda; the German advance in +the Russian Baltic provinces continues unchecked along a 100-mile +front, extending from the Baltic Sea, near Libau, southeast to the +northern tributaries of the River Niemen. + +May 4--Russians claim that the Austro-German drive in West Galicia is +being checked; Germans hold positions on the right bank of the +Dunajec; a fierce battle is raging in the direction of Stry; Germans +make further progress in the Russian Baltic provinces. + +May 5--Russians are retreating at points along the Galician line from +the Vistula to the Carpathians, and are in retreat from positions they +occupied on the Hungarian slopes of the Carpathians; the third line of +Russian fortifications has been pierced; Austro-German Army captures +the town of Gorlice. + +May 6--Austro-German armies continue to advance in West Galicia; the +northern wing has captured Tarnow; southern wing has crossed the +Wisloka River and Russians are retreating east of the Lupkow Pass; +Austro-Germans take the last Russian positions on the heights east of +the Dunajec and Biala Rivers; Jaslo and Dukla have been taken from the +Russians; Russians admit partial retreat in West Galicia. + +May 7--Austro-German army is pursuing retreating Russians in West +Galicia; Austrians take more prisoners, stores, and guns; in the +eastern sector of the Carpathian front Russian attacks are repulsed by +Austrians; Russian attacks in Southeast Galicia are repulsed; in +Poland there is severe fighting. + +May 8--Germans capture Libau, taking 1,600 prisoners, 18 cannon, and +much war material; severe fighting continues in West Galicia, where +General von Mackensen's army is pursuing the Russians; a Russian +division surrounded near Dukla cuts its way through the surrounding +troops and gets to the main Russian lines; all the passes in the +Beskid Mountains, except Lupkow, are in the hands of Austro-German +forces; Russians take the offensive southwest of Mitau. + +May 9--Russians are retreating in Galicia along a front of 124 miles, +from the Uzsok Pass to the Vistula; Austro-German forces have passed +the line of the Uzsok Pass, Komanoza, Krosno, Debica, and Szezucin; in +Southeast Galicia violent battles are developing; Austrians are +pursuing Russians across the Dniester; Vienna reports that Hungary is +now clear of Russians; German advance northeast of Kovno; Russian +attacks on German positions on the Pilica are repulsed; Russians make +progress southwest of Mitau. + +May 10--Russian Embassy at Washington says that the Russians have +retreated thirty miles in Galicia, but that only one division has +withdrawn from Hungary; the first stage of the battle in West Galicia +has been practically concluded; General von Mackensen's army is +reforming for a new offensive; Germans have met a severe check west of +Mitau. + +May 11--Austro-German troops are still advancing in West Galicia; +Russians are attacking in East Galicia and along the eastern section +of the Carpathians; Russians have success in Bukowina, taking +prisoners and guns; Austrians force Russian south wing in Russian +Poland to retreat; Austrians repulse Russian attacks near Baligrod; +advance Austrian troops have crossed the San near Dvornik. + +May 12--Russians state that their counter-offensive has checked the +Austro-Germans in West Galicia, while the Germans and Austrians state +that their drive continues successfully; Austro-German troops have +occupied Brozozow, Dynow, Sanok, and Lisko; there is severe fighting +in the central Carpathians and Southeast Galicia, where the Russians +are advancing on a forty-mile front; Austrians are repulsed in the +direction of the Uzsok Pass and the Stry River. + +May 13--Heavy fighting is in progress east of Tarnow; north of the +Vistula the Austrians have forced the Nida line; Russians make +progress on the right bank of the Dniester; Russians repulse Germans +in the region of Shavli. + +May 14--Russians break the Austrian line at various places on a +ninety-four-mile front, driving the Austrians from Bukowina positions +and forcing them over the Pruth River; Russians check the +Austro-German advance in Galicia, and are concentrating on the line of +the River San, with the object of occupying a shorter front; the +advance guards of General Mackensen's armies are before Przemysl; the +Teutonic allies are advancing in Russian Poland. + +May 15--The Austro-German troops have now driven the Russians +completely from Jaroslau, which they hold firmly, as well as all the +towns on the west bank of the San River; the Austrian Tenth Army is +now before Przemysl, its native stronghold; the rapid advance of the +Teutonic allies is endangering the position of the Russians in the +Carpathians; credit for the stiff and ceaseless pursuit of the +Russians in the great West Galicia drive is being given by the +Austrians to Field Marshal Baron Conrad von Hötzendorf, Chief of the +Austrian General Staff; the Russian counter-drive to the east +continues, and the Czar's armies in Bukowina force back the +Austro-German lines for twenty miles. + +May 16--Russians continue to withdraw in West Galicia; they are +massing at the San River for a stand; in Bukowina and East Galicia the +Russian cavalry is pursuing retreating Austrians; the Austrians are +retiring behind the Pruth, evacuating strongly fortified positions; +Hungarian cavalry has made sacrifices of large bodies to enable the +infantry to retreat in good order; in Russian Poland the Teutonic +allies continue to push back the Russians; Russians win success +against the Germans in the Baltic provinces. + +May 17--Austro-German armies continue their advance in West Galicia; +Austrians have captured Drohobycz, in Central Galicia, forty miles +southwest of Lemberg; fighting is in progress around Przemysl; +Russians repulse Germans at Shavli; Russians have made advances on the +West Niemen; Russian official statement says that the West Galician +defeat has been offset by successes in Bukowina against the +Austrians. + +May 18--Austro-German troops are bombarding the western forts of +Przemysl; the Teutonic allies have a firm foothold on the eastern bank +of the San River; Russians are making vigorous attacks on the Germans +in South Poland; Russians have driven the Austro-German forces back +from the Dniester to the Pruth in East Galicia, and are making strong +attacks in Bukowina; heavy fighting is in progress in the Russian +Baltic Provinces and along the East Prussian frontier; Austrian +official statement declares that 174,000 Russian prisoners, 128 guns, +and 308 machine guns have been taken since the beginning of May as a +result of the West Galicia drive; unofficial dispatch from Petrograd +says Russians have been beaten back on a 200-mile front in West +Galicia. + +May 19--The Russian lines along the San River are in danger, the +Austro-Germans having crossed the river on a wide front; the Russians +are attempting to reform their lines north and south of Przemysl; +Teutonic Allies occupy Sieniawa; in Bukowina the Russians have broken +the extreme Austrian right; it is stated from Petrograd that the +Germans and Austrians are using between thirty and forty army corps on +a 200-mile front from Opatow, in Poland, to Kolomea, Eastern Galicia. + +May 20--Russians are fighting desperately to save the remains of their +West Galicia army, now in new positions along the San River; +Austro-German forces are attacking with tremendous artillery fire, the +shells being followed by a close phalanx of 150,000 men; the Russians +hold both banks of the San south of Jaroslau. + +May 21--Russians are rallying along the San River; a desperate battle +is in progress below Przemysl; Russians are taking a strong offensive +in Poland; official Austrian announcements state that Russian +prisoners now in Austrian hands, as a result of the recent fighting, +are 194,000; the German official announcement says that General +Mackensen's army, since May 1, has taken 104,000 prisoners, 72 cannon, +and 253 machine guns; official Russian statement says that on four +recent days the losses of the Austro-Germans were 10,000 a day, and on +seventeen other recent days were much heavier, and adds that the +Austro-Germans have used between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 shells during +the recent fighting; Russian reports state that 3,000,000 men, +including both sides, are now daily attacking and counter-attacking +along the whole front, from Opatow to Kolomea; the Kaiser is stated to +be personally directing operations at Jaroslau. + +May 22--Stubborn fighting continues along the San, while severe +fighting is in progress in the Russian Baltic Provinces and near the +East Prussian frontier; on the left bank of the lower San the Russians +have taken the offensive and captured the villages of Krawce, Biercza, +Przyszow, and Kamerale; Russians repulse counter attacks in the +direction of Nisko; Germans repulse Russians at Shavli; in Central +Galicia the Austrians have gained some ground; east of Czernowitz +Austrians repulse Russians; the right wing of the Austrian Army in +Bukowina is falling back toward the Carpathians. + +May 23--Russians, with strong reinforcements, have crossed the San at +the junction of that river with the Vistula, and are advancing +southward in an effort to outflank the Germany Army, which crossed the +San in the vicinity of Jaroslau; Russians continue their offensive in +Bukowina, and in the Opatow region; Germans defeat Russian northern +wing near Shavli, and repulse Russian attacks from the Dubysa and +Niemen Rivers; Russians are massing strong forces in the vicinity of +Warsaw, Ivangrod, and Lublin. + +May 24--Russians claim that they have definitely checked the German +drive on the upper San River; a Russian movement upon Nisko, and the +occupation of Ulanoff, Rudnik, Kraftza, Bourgny, and Shushav to the +westward of the upper San, threatens the German position east of the +river; General von Mackensen is drawing in his wings to protect his +centre from attack; furious German assaults to the south of Przemysl +continue without definite result; in the region of Shavli, the Russian +troops now occupy a very extended front on the line of the Rivers +Visdala, Venta, Dubysa, and Siup. + +May 25--General von Mackensen renews his offensive against the +Russians north of Przemysl, and takes six fortified villages, 21,000 +prisoners, 39 cannon, and 40 machine guns; Austrians are advancing +southeast of Przemysl; on the left bank of the upper Vistula, in the +Opatow region, Russians repulse attacks and make counter-attacks. + +May 26--Between Przemysl and Jaroslau, east of Radymno, Germans force +a passage of the San River; Mackensen's army is making progress on +both banks of the San in a southeasterly direction; southeast of +Przemysl the Austro-German forces are progressing toward strong +Russian positions; Russians repulse German attack near Ossowitz. + +May 27--Austro-German forces continue to batter at the Russian lines +northeast and southeast of Przemysl, and it is reported that they have +severed communications between Przemysl and Lemberg; the Germans have +forced another crossing of the San, eleven miles north of Przemysl, +and are extending by several miles the zone held by them east of the +San; Austro-German troops break through the Russian front line +southeast of Drohobycz and near Stry, and force the Russians to fall +back; Russians repulse attacks on the Upper Vistula; Russians have +success in the region of the Dniester marshes. + +May 28--Russians throw back the German force which crossed the San +River and established itself at Sieniawa, fifty miles north of +Przemysl; the Germans have retreated to the west bank of the San, with +the loss of twelve guns; further south, between Jarislau and Przemysl, +the Austro-German forces gain more ground on both banks of the San; +Austrians reach Medyka, eight miles due east of Przemysl, leaving a +gap of but twelve miles between the northern and eastern forces which +are trying to encircle the fortress. + +May 29--Germans and Austrians continue to fight fiercely to encircle +Przemysl; in the Russian Baltic provinces heavy fighting is in +progress; Russians are sending larger forces to meet the Germans in +these provinces. + +May 30--Fierce fighting is raging around Przemysl, the Austro-German +forces striving to cut off the fortress; the Russians are bringing up +huge reinforcements; north of Przemysl the Russians are making some +progress, but to the southeast the Austro-German forces are making +further headway, now commanding with their artillery the railway +between Przemysl and Grodek; Russian attempts to cross the San near +Sieniawa fail; in the Russian Baltic provinces German cavalry drives +back Russian cavalry southeast of Libau. + +May 31--Russians are beginning to assume the offensive at certain +points along the San River, where severe fighting continues; near Stry +the Austrians take several Russian positions. + +June 1--The Serbians are resuming military activity against Austria; +Austro-German forces are storming three of the outer forts of +Przemysl; north and southeast of Przemysl the Austro-German forces are +advancing; they have taken Stry. + +June 2--Furious fighting continues around Przemysl; Austro-German +troops take two fortifications on the north front of Przemysl; German +official report states that during May the Teutonic allies took 863 +Russian officers prisoners and 268,869 men, as well as capturing 251 +cannon and 576 machine guns. + +June 3--Austro-German troops, after a siege of twenty days, capture +Przemysl, which has been in Russian possession since March 22, the +present conquerors entering after storming the northern forts; +Austro-Germans are driving back Russians north of Stry. + +June 4--Severe fighting is in progress along the whole Galician front, +Austro-Germans seeking to end the Russian campaign in Galicia; +Russians are in position at Medyka Heights, ten miles east of +Przemysl; they saved their batteries in evacuating Przemysl and claim +to have removed all war material captured from the Austrians. + +June 5--Austro-Germans are attempting an encircling movement against +Lemberg; they are making progress from the southwest, but their left +wing is checked by the Russians on the lower reaches of the San River; +Austro-German extreme right in East Galicia and Bukowina is pounded by +the Russians. + +June 6--Battles over a wide area are in progress in Galicia; Russians +are making considerable advances on the lower reaches of the San; +southwest of Lemberg the Austro-Germans are advancing. + +June 7--Austro-German armies are making progress in attempt to +encircle Lemberg; Russians are being pressed back from their line on +the San; Teutonic allies cross the Dniester; Germans advance in their +invasion of the Baltic provinces of Russia. + +June 8--Austro-Germans, having crossed the Dniester south of Lemberg, +are assuming the offensive further to the south and are pushing back +the Russians between Kolomea and Kalusz in East Galicia. + +June 9--Austro-Germans take Stanislau, throwing the Russian left back +to the Dniester River; in East Galicia, along the rest of the line, +the Russians are holding their own and are counter-attacking. + +June 10--Russians take offensive in their Baltic provinces, where they +force the Germans to retreat to avoid being cut off; Russians advance +again in Galicia; they attack Mackensen's forces, menacing Lemberg and +Linsingen's forces on the Dniester; the Austro-German army of Bukowina +crosses the Pruth and effects junction with Galician troops. + +June 11--Russians win a series of successes against Germans and +Austrians in East Galicia; they repulse Mackensen's troops with heavy +loss and hurl Linsingen's army back across the Dniester; Russians take +17 guns and 49 machine guns; Germans are developing an offensive north +of the Pilitza in Poland; Serbians are marching across Northern +Albania toward the port of Durazzo, while Montenegrins are making for +the port of Alessio. + +June 12--A battle is raging along the Dniester, Austrians making gains +on the lower reaches, while the Russians have success further up +stream; Russians leave Bukowina, giving up their last positions on the +Pruth and retreating across the frontier. + +June 13--Austro-Germans commence an attack on the Russians on the +River San north of Przemysl, and along the Dniester in Southeast +Galicia; Germans are attacking Russian centre on the River Rawka, west +of Warsaw; severe fighting continues in the Russian Baltic provinces. + +June 14--Mackensen's army attacks Russian positions in Middle Galicia +along a forty-three-mile front, and breaks the line, taking 16,000 +prisoners; Austrians have successes on the Dniester. + +June 15--Austro-Germans are renewing the drive in Galicia and +advancing on a wide front; they capture Mosciska, thirty-seven miles +from Lemberg, after a week's fight; Russian counter-attacks to protect +Lemberg from the south are repulsed. + + +CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EUROPE. + +May 1--Germans continue the bombardment of Dunkirk with a huge gun or +guns, doing considerable damage and killing several persons; Germans +make further gains on the west bank of the Ypres Canal; French repulse +Germans in the Argonne, near Bagatelle; French take trenches in the +Forest of Le Prętre; French artillery bombards fortifications of +Altkirch, in Upper Alsace. + +May 2--French have been bombarding for two days the southern +fortifications of Metz; British and French attack the new German +positions northeast of Ypres, but are beaten back; Germans make +progress in the Argonne; German General Staff in Belgium admits a loss +of 12,000 dead in the battle of Ypres. + +May 3--Germans renew assaults near Ypres, the British lines being +pounded north and south of that place, and Germans gain ground +southeast of St. Julien; Germans damage French positions in Champagne +at Ourchen, Sopain, and Perthes; French repulse an attack in the +Forest of Le Prętre. + +May 4--Germans gain more ground northeast of Ypres, and take the +villages of Zonnebeke, Zevecote, and Westhoek, and the Forest of +Polygonous and Nonnebosschen; French gain in the region of +Steenstraete. + +May 5--Germans gain ground northeast of Ypres, British losing four +positions and being forced to retire; Hill 60 is again menaced by the +Germans, who, the British state, have obtained a footing there through +the use of gases; French check one German attack near Perthes, and +another at Four de Paris; French take two lines of German trenches in +the Mortmare Wood; French gain ground on the north bank of the Fecht +River, in Alsace. + +May 6--Germans make further gains near Ypres, taking two positions +from the Allies; British recapture some of the trenches at Hill 60, +recently lost; French repulse a German night attack near Steenstraete; +Germans repulse French near Flirey; Germans advance west of Combres; +Germans take French positions in the Ailly Wood, capturing 2,000 men. + +May 7--Germans make more gains near Ypres; there is severe fighting +for Hill 60; German artillery checks a French attack near Steinbrück, +in the valley of the Fecht; French repulse German attacks at Frise, +west of Peronne, and in Champagne, around the Fort of Beauséjour. + +May 8--French capture a German position west of Lens; French check +three attacks in the Forest of Le Prętre; French advance two-thirds of +a mile along a mile front on the right bank of the Fecht River; +British repulse a daybreak attack near St. Julien; British recapture a +further section of recently lost trenches at Hill 60. + +May 9--British repulse German attack east of Ypres; British gain +ground toward Fromelles, after a vigorous attack on the German line; +Germans capture the villages of Fresenburg and Terleranhoek; French +make gains north of Arras; south of Carency the French make an advance +by which they capture two lines of trenches over a front of 4-1/3 +miles; French take the village of La Targette and half of the village +of Neuville-St. Vaast. + +May 10--The Allies are attacking along a front of twenty-six miles in +the direction of Carency and Souchez; Allies repulse German attacks +near Ypres; Germans make gains near Nieuport, and renew the +bombardment of Dunkirk; French repulse Germans at the Forest of Le +Prętre and at Berry-au-Bac. + +May 11--A strong French offensive against the German lines north of +Arras is being pushed; the French carry the German trenches guarding +the road from Loos to Vermelles; French take a strongly fortified +position on Lorette Heights; French make gains at Souchez and Carency; +Germans shell the town of Bergues, near Dunkirk; Germans heavily +bombard British trenches east of Ypres. + +May 12--Severe fighting is now raging over the whole front from Ypres +to Arras, the Allies taking the offensive; to the north the British +centre has Lille for its objective, while to the south the French +centre is aiming at Lens; French repulse counter attacks at +Neuville-St. Vaast, and between Carency and Ablain; French make gains +in the wood east of Carency, and take three successive lines of +trenches bordering the wood to the north of Carency; French take +another portion of the village of Carency; French lose some of the +ground they captured near Loos; Germans take a hill east of Ypres; +Germans bombard Dunkirk. + +May 13--The French are in complete possession of Carency, having +captured the last German position there; French take large stores of +German ammunition, twenty big guns and many machine guns; French also +make progress north of Carency, where they have established themselves +at Ablain-St. Nazaire; French have also taken all of the Forest of Le +Prętre, although Germans retain positions on the north and south +slopes adjacent; Germans are making fierce assaults on the British +positions east of Ypres, piercing the line at one point; Belgians +repulse an attack on the right bank of the Yser; French now hold the +forest at Notre Dame de Lorette. + +May 14--French offensive is continued by the capture of German +positions southeast of Angres, while they also make progress on the +southern and eastern slopes of the Lorette hills, and at Neuville-St. +Vaast; British attacks near Ypres are unsuccessful; Germans gain in +the direction of Hooge; French artillery levels German trenches in the +Valley of the Aisne. + +May 15--French continue to advance near Carency; French also gain +north of Ypres; they take several trenches in front of Het Sase, and +occupy part of Steenstraete; French extend their attack southeast of +Notre Dame de Lorette; Germans make progress on the St. Julien-Ypres +road against the British; Germans state that they have taken since +April 22 in the Ypres region 5,560 unwounded officers and men; +artillery fighting is in progress southwest of Lille. + +May 16--The first British army breaks the German line over most of a +two-mile front northwest of La Bassée, and wins nearly a mile of +territory; French repulse a counter-attack at Steenstraete; French +make gains north of Arras; lively fighting in Champagne; Germans +repulse French at Het Sase; British attack Germans south of Lille. + +May 17--British make further advances northwest of La Bassée and carry +additional German trenches, all trenches on a two-mile front now being +in hands of the British; French and Belgians force Germans to evacuate +positions they held west of the Yser Canal; French maintain gains on +the east bank; French repulse German counter-attacks on the slopes of +Lorette. + +May 18--Heavy rains and mists hamper operations in Northern France; +the French have consolidated the positions recently occupied by them +to the east of the Yser Canal; French make gains near Ablain; an +almost constant artillery duel is in progress north of Arras; Germans +repulse British south of Neuve Chapelle. + +May 19--Germans capture trenches from the French on the heights of +Lorette; Germans repulse British attacks near Neuve Chapelle. + +May 20--Recent heavy rains have made the ground in Flanders unsuited +to infantry attacks and there is a lull, but artillery engagements are +in progress; French make advances in Champagne by mining; French take +trenches near Bagatelle, in the Argonne; fierce artillery duels +between the Meuse and Moselle. + +May 21--French drive Germans from the last of their positions on the +heights of Lorette; The French now hold the entire Lorette Hill and +the lesser ridges, which the Germans had defended for six months; +French repulse German attack to the east of the Yser Canal; Canadians +capture a German position to the north of Ypres after the British +Guards fail twice. + +May 22--British repulse attacks north of La Bassée; French make gains +north of Arras; Germans repulse British and French attacks southwest +of Neuve Chapelle; German official report states that the Allies, +southwest of Lille and in the Argonne, are using mines charged with +poisonous gases. + +May 23--British advance east of Festubert; French gain ground +northeast of Notre Dame de Lorette and near Neuville-St. Vaast; +Germans are repulsed east of the Yser Canal. + +May 24--Before attacking the British northeast of Ypres, the Germans +roll a huge cloud of asphyxiating gas toward them, the volume of fumes +being forty feet high along a six-mile front; because of the use of +respirators, few British succumb; fighting in progress north of Arras. + +May 26--British make further gains in their offensive against La +Bassée, and it is officially announced that the net result of their +operations in the territory to the west of that town since May 1 is +the capture of a total front of more than three miles, along a +considerable part of which two lines of German trenches have been +taken; in the district north of Arras there is desperate fighting near +Angres, the Germans attempting to regain ground lost yesterday. + +May 27--French make further gains north of Arras; artillery +engagements along the Yser Canal; Belgians repulse two German infantry +attacks near Dixmude; artillery duels in the Vosges; French fail in +attempt to break German lines between Vermelles and Lorette Hills. + +May 28--British make further gains toward La Bassée; fierce fighting +occurs north of Arras; French advance in Alsace on the mountain of +Schepfenrieth; Germans repulse French attacks southeast of Lorette +Ridge. + +May 29--The village of Ablain-St. Nazaire, for which fighting has been +in progress for three weeks, is now in the hands of the French, the +Germans evacuating their last position this morning. + +May 30--French gain ground at four points--near Neuville-St. Vaast, on +the Yser, at Le Prętre Forest, and in Alsace at Schnepfenriethkopf; +British make small gains at Festubert; Belgian and German artillery +are fighting a duel north and south of Dixmude. + +May 31--Severe fighting continues in the region north of Arras, +Germans acting, for the most part, on the defensive; French gain +ground on the road from Souchez to Carency; artillery fighting at the +Forest of La Prętre. + +June 1--French gain more ground at Souchez, where violent fighting is +in progress, and also gain southeast of Neuville; French lose trenches +on the outskirts of Le Prętre Forest. + +June 2--Germans recapture from the French the sugar refinery at +Souchez, which has changed hands four times in twenty-four hours; +British, by a bayonet charge, take Château Hooge, in the Ypres region; +French make further progress north of Arras, taking trenches in "the +labyrinth," as the system of intrenchments in that region is termed; +Rheims is again bombarded. + +June 3--Fierce fighting continues north of Arras; French and Germans +still battle for possession of the sugar refinery at Souchez. + +June 4--In consequence of the successes in the Galician campaign, the +Germans are sending reinforcements to the Western line; Germans retake +some of trenches northeast of Givenchy captured by the British; +Germans take the village and Château of Hooge; French bombard the +southern front of the intrenched camp of Metz. + +June 5--French make important gains in the area north of Arras where +desperate fighting has so long been in progress; they have taken +two-thirds of the village of Neuville-St. Vaast; they advance a +quarter of a mile in the northern part of the labyrinth; they hold the +sugar refinery at Souchez, where 3,000 Germans have been killed. + +June 6--French capture two-thirds of a mile of trenches in a new zone +of activity, near Tracy-le-Mont, north of the Aisne; they take more of +Neuville-St. Vaast; they capture more trenches in the labyrinth, of +which they now hold two-thirds; they gain ground at Souchez; Germans +repulse French attacks on the eastern slopes of Lorette. + +June 7--French make further gains at Neuville-St. Vaast, and in the +labyrinth; near Hebuterne, east of Doullers, two lines of German +trenches are carried by the French; French repulse a fierce attack at +Tracy-le-Mont, retaining their recent gain; at Vauquois, in Champagne, +the French spray flaming liquid on the German trenches, "by way of +reprisal," their statement says. + +June 8--French advance on a three-quarters of a mile front south of +Arras, near Hebuterne, taking two lines of trenches; French make +slight gains at Lorette, Neuville-St. Vaast, and in the labyrinth. + +June 9--French make gains at Neuville-St. Vaast, in the labyrinth, at +Hebuterne, and in the Forest of Le Prętre. + +June 10--French hold substantially all their recent gains; artillery +fighting is in progress north of Arras and on the heights of the +Meuse; Germans take French trenches near Souvain and Les Mesnil, west +of the Argonne. + +June 11--French are organizing the positions recently won from the +Germans north and south of Arras; in the Neuville-St. Vaast positions +the French find 800,000 cartridges, three field and fifteen machine +guns. + +June 12--Germans regain some of the ground they lost at Ecurie, north +of Arras; Germans repulse attacks northeast of Ypres, east of Lorette +Heights, and in the Souchez district. + +June 13--French take a strongly fortified ridge near Souchez and three +trenches near Hebuterne; Germans bombard Soissons and the military +works around Lunéville. + +June 14--Germans regain some of the trenches at Souchez recently lost; +Germans repulse heavy French attacks on both sides of the Lorette +Hills and on the Neuville-Rochincourt line. + +June 15--Severe fighting continues north and south of Arras, both +sides claiming successes. + + +ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. + +May 23--A clash, regarded in Rome as being the first skirmish of the +war, occurs between Italian and Austrian troops at Forcellini di +Montozzo, in the pass between Pont di Legno and Pejo; an Austrian +patrol crosses the frontier, but is driven back over the border by +Italian Alpine Chasseurs; Lieut. Gen. Cadorna, Chief of the Italian +General Staff, starts for the front. + +May 24--Austrian artillery shells Italian outposts on the Adige in +front of Rivoli; there are clashes at other points, including a +skirmish of border forces in the Isonzo Valley on the eastern +frontier; a general forward movement by the Italians begins; Austrians +are massing for defense. + +May 25--Italians are advancing on a 67-mile front, their line having +as extreme points Caporetto on the north and the Gulf of Trieste on +the south; in three lines they sweep across the frontier for four +miles; Italians occupy Caporetto, the heights between the Idria and +Isonzo Rivers, Cormons, Corvignano, and Terzo; Austrians withdraw, +destroying bridges and burning houses. + +May 26.--Italians occupy Austrian territory all along the frontier +from Switzerland to the Adriatic; Italians have seized various towns +in the Trentino and forced their way through mountain passes; King +Victor Emmanuel has assumed supreme command of the Italian army and +navy, and has gone to the front. + +May 27--Italian armies make rapid progress in the invasion of Austria, +part of the forces having crossed the Isonzo River; another force, +which penetrated further north in the Crownland of Goritz and +Gradisca, has repaired the railroad beyond Cormons and is marching on +Goritz, the capital; sharp fighting has occurred on the Tyrol-Trentino +border, where the Austrians are being driven back in advance guard +engagements; a battle is raging around Ploken and also west of the +Praedil Pass in Austria. + +[Transcriber's Note: Text missing from original.] tinues in Austrian +territory, the Austrians not making any determined resistance; they +are laying waste large areas as they retreat; in the Provinces of +Trentino and Friuli the Italians are pushing forward fast; the +Austrians fall back in the direction of Trent; Italians are occupying +the heights of Monte Baldo, overlooking the Valley of the Adige and +commanding the railway from Verona to Trent; Italians have crossed the +Venetian Alps, and among the lower spurs of the Dolomites are in touch +with the left wing of the Austrian force thrown forward for the +defense of Trent; in Carinthia the Italians have taken three passes +and fourteen villages. + +May 29--A large Italian army is trying to cross the Isonzo River; +bayonet fighting is in progress south of Goritz, the Austrians slowly +falling back; Italian forces are at Gradisca, eighteen miles from +Trieste; Austrians repulse Italians at Caporetto and near Plava; +Italians are penetrating from Tonale Pass into the Virmiglio Valley, +with an objective north of Trent, in an attempt to place that city +between two Italian armies; Italians capture the town of Storo and are +bombarding Riva; the headquarters of the Austrian commander, Field +Marshal Baron von Hötzendorf, are established at Trent. + +May 30--Italian advance in Friuli encounters strong opposition at the +Isonzo defenses, where progress is also being impeded because the +river is swollen; Italian artillery destroys the fort of Luserna, on +the Asiago plateau; in Cadore the Italians take several positions; a +battle along the Adige River has been in progress, the Italians taking +the village of Pilcante; artillery duels are in progress on the +frontier in Tyrol and Trentino; Austrians repulse Italians at Cortina. + +May 31--The Italian invasion of the Province of Trent is progressing +from the south along the Adige and Chiese Rivers, from the west across +the Tonale Pass, and from the east by way of the Lavaronne Plateau; +the Italian attack is continuing all along the zigzag frontier, up to +the highest point north, where they have occupied the Ampezzo Valley, +together with the town of Cortina; Italians now are in possession of +Monte Baldo, which dominates Lake Garda; to the east of Caporetto the +Italians make a vain attempt to climb the slopes of the Kern; a great +Austrian army is being massed in Tyrol. + +June 1--Thirty-seven villages surrounding Cortina in the Ampazzo +Valley are in Italian hands; the whole high plateau of Lavarone is in +the hands of the Italian force advancing into the Trentino from the +east. + +June 2--In Friule the Italians are now established firmly on the Monte +Nero ridge across the Isonzo River; on the Carnia front an artillery +duel is in progress; to check Italians who are advancing from the +border northeast of Trent, Austrians are massing troops behind Monte +Croce Pass. + +June 3--Italians repulse Austrian attempts to dislodge them from the +Monte Nero ridge; Austrians repulse Italians at several points on the +Tyrolian and Carinthian frontiers. + +June 4--It is officially announced that Italian mobilization is +complete: in the operations against Rovereto, the Italians occupy +Mattassone and Val Morbia in the Val Arsa; Italian artillery silences +the forts of Luserna and Spitzverle; on the middle Isonzo fierce +fighting is in progress; Italians hold the summit and slopes of +Monterno. + +June 5--A battle is raging on the western bank of the Isonzo River, in +front of Tolmino, the key to the railway and main highway to Trieste; +Italians are making steady though slow progress in Southern Tyrol. + +June 6--Austrians are making a desperate defense at Tolmino; Italians +fail in an attempt to cross the Isonzo River near Sagrado; viewing the +situation as a whole, the Italians are making progress along a +150-mile front, smashing Austrian defenses at many points with +artillery fire. + +June 7--Desperate fighting continues for Tolmino; Italians are making +a general advance across the Isonzo River from Caporetto to the sea, a +distance of forty miles; Austrians recapture Freikofel. + +June 8--Fierce fighting is in progress at the Isonzo River; severe +fighting also is going on in the Friulian sector. + +June 9--Italians take Monfalcone, sixteen miles northwest of Trieste; +a fierce artillery duel is in progress at Tolmino; fighting continues +at the Isonzo River. + +June 10--Italians are in full possession of Monfalcone; Italians +occupy Podestagno, north of Cortina; fighting continues along the +Isonzo. + +June 11--Italians take Ploeken, imperiling communications to Laibach; +fierce fighting is in progress for Goritz, Austrians still holding the +city; fighting continues along the Isonzo. + +June 12--Italians push their advance almost to Rovereto thirteen miles +southwest of Trent, and to Mori, eighteen miles southwest of Trent; +Italians are advancing from Monfalcone toward Trieste; at points on +the Carinthian frontier Austrians repulse Italians. + +June 13--Italian artillery is bombarding the fortifications defending +Goritz, capital of the crownland of Goritz and Gradisca, twenty-two +miles northwest of Trieste; severe fighting is in progress on Monte +Paralba; in the last few days Austrians have brought up 45,000 troops +and 64 batteries along the Isonzo River. + +June 14--Italians in Carnia occupy Valentina; all the positions +captured by Italians in Trentino are held against repeated assaults by +Austrians; the Italian Eastern Army is pushing forward along the Gulf +of Trieste toward the City of Trieste. + +June 15--Italians repulse Austrian attack at Monfalcone. + + +TURKISH CAMPAIGN. + +May 1--French Senegalese troops occupy Yeni Shehr on the Asiatic side +of the Dardanelles. + +May 2--French troops lose ground on the Asiatic side of the +Dardanelles; Allies make further advances on the Gallipoli Peninsula; +Allies now hold Gaba Tepe; the Australian contingent has lost heavily. + +May 4--Allies repulse Turks and are on the active offensive on +Gallipoli; Turks win success near Avi Burnu. + +May 5--Turks check attempt of Allies to advance at Sedd-el-Bahr; Turks +check Allies near Avi Burnu. + +May 6--Russians have defeated a Turkish army corps in the Caucasus, +routing it and taking many prisoners; desperate fighting is in +progress on the Gallipoli Peninsula, the advance of the Allies being +met by stubborn resistance; Allies have captured the heights facing +Souain Dere Fort, four miles west of Kilid Bahr. + +May 7--Severe fighting at Avi Burnu and at Sedd-el-Bahr, at the latter +place the Turks capturing ten British machine guns. + +May 10--Russians drive Turks from their positions in the direction of +Olti; Russians drive Turks from the South Pass near Tabriz and occupy +villages; 8,000 Turkish wounded have arrived at Constantinople from +the Dardanelles. + +May 13--The Gallipoli coast line is now in Allies' possession. + +May 15--Turks repulse Allies near Avi Burnu. + +May 16--Allies make progress in hills behind Kilid Bahr and Maidos; +Turks have been attacking for three days British positions on the +Gallipoli Peninsula, but have been repulsed with heavy loss. + +May 18--Counter-attack by Allies near Sedd-el-Bahr is repulsed. + +May 19--Turks drive back Allies from their advanced positions near +Kara Burun; Allies are being reinforced daily. + +May 20--Allies are reported to have occupied Maidos after fierce +fighting; French troops have been landed at Sedd-el-Bahr, and are +fighting around the Turkish positions at Krithia; British forces which +debarked at Gaba Tepe are also directing their action toward Krithia, +with the object of surrounding the Turks; the Allies are attacking the +fortified position at Atchi Baba. + +May 22--Official announcement is made in London that the Allies have +gained further ground on the southern end of the Gallipoli Peninsula. + +May 23--Turks repulse Allies near Sedd-el-Bahr; it is estimated that +the British and French now have 90,000 troops along the Dardanelles. + +May 24--Turkish troops attack allied camp near Goritza and capture +five sailing vessels with provisions; Italian troops have landed on +the Turkish Island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea; Turks capture two +British positions near Kurna, Mesopotamia. + +May 25--Allies are advancing steadily on the Gallipoli Peninsula; +thousands of Turkish wounded are arriving at Constantinople. + +May 27--Allies carry five lines of Turkish trenches by the bayonet; +German estimates show that the Allies have lost 30,000 men in killed, +wounded, and missing during land operations at the Dardanelles; it is +admitted by the British that the Australians have lost heavily. + +May 28--The Russian Army in the Caucasus reports further gains in the +Van region, including the occupation of Baslan, and announces that in +the capture of Van the Russians took twenty-six guns, large stores of +war material and provisions, and the Government treasury. + +May 29--Turkish forces defending the Gallipoli Peninsula against +Allies now number 80,000 men; reinforcements are being sent from +Syria; in the Caucasus the Turks are remaining on the defensive. + +May 30--An official French statement, reviewing recent operations on +the Gallipoli Peninsula, pays tribute to the bravery and coolness of +the Turkish troops; Turks take allied trenches at Avi Burnu with the +bayonet; Turks make gains at Sedd-el-Bahr. + +May 31--Heavy fighting is in progress on the Gallipoli Peninsula, the +Turks being driven back at several points; Turks still hold trenches +captured from the Allies near Avi Burnu; it is reported from +Constantinople that the Turkish casualties thus far are 40,000. + +June 1--British repulse a severe attack at Gaba Tepe. + +June 2--Heavy fighting continues on Gallipoli Peninsula; all the Turks +who recently broke the allied line between Gaba Tepe and Krithia have +been either killed or captured. + +June 4--A combined general assault on Turkish Gallipoli positions is +in progress. + +June 6--Official British announcement states that during the last week +the Allies have made considerable gains in the southern area of +Gallipoli Peninsula; British win a 500-yard strip three miles long; +French take trenches; Turks offer spirited resistance, and lose +heavily; it is officially announced in London that on the Tigris, +Asiatic Turkey, the British have made important gains, and have +received the surrender of the Governor of Amara, with 700 soldiers. + +June 7--Turks repulse the Allies near Sedd-el-Bahr. + +June 9--Allies are landing more troops at Sedd-el-Bahr under cover of +the fleet's guns. + +June 11--The advance guard of the Allies is fighting near the town of +Gallipoli; severe fighting is in progress near Maidos. + +June 13--In the Caucasus the Russians are pushing back the Turks in +the direction of Olti, on the frontier, and are occupying Turkish +positions; a counter-attack by Turks at Zinatcher has been repulsed. + +June 14--Reports from Athens declare that the position of the Allies +on the Gallipoli Peninsula continues to improve steadily; the Turks +still occupy Krithia, and the British are engaging them. + + +CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA. + +May 1--Official statement issued at Cape Town announces that the +British have inflicted a defeat on the Germans near Gibeon, German +Southwest Africa; British captured a railroad train, transport wagons, +two field guns, Maxims, and 200 prisoners. + +May 5--British Secretary for the Colonies issues a statement saying +that when General Botha, commander of the forces of the Union of South +Africa, occupied Swakopmund he discovered that six wells had been +poisoned by the Germans with arsenical cattle wash; Botha says the +German commander told him he was acting under orders. + +May 11--A French column captures the post of Esoka, in the German +colony of Kamerun. + +May 13--On official statement made public at Cape Town states that +Windhoek, capital of German Southwest Africa, was captured yesterday +without resistance by Union of South Africa forces under General +Botha; German Southwest Africa is declared now to be practically in +the hands of the British. + +June 11--Garua, an important station on the Benue River, Kamerun, +German West Africa, surrenders unconditionally to an Anglo-French +force. + + +LUSITANIA. + +May 1--Cunarder Lusitania sails from New York for Liverpool; no +passenger bookings are canceled, although discussion is aroused by a +newspaper advertisement inserted by the German Embassy at Washington +stating that "travelers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great +Britain or her allies do so at their own risk." + +May 7--Lusitania is sunk ten miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, +Ireland, by either one or two torpedoes discharged without warning by +a German submarine, stated to be the U-39; the Cunarder is hit about +2:05 P.M., and sinks in about eighteen minutes; 1,154 persons, +including many women and children, are drowned, or are killed by +explosions, while among the saved are 47 injured passengers; among the +dead are 102 Americans; the saved total 764, among whom are 86 +Americans; of the saved 462 are passengers and 302 belong to the crew; +Captain William T. Turner of the Lusitania is saved by clinging to a +bit of wreckage for two hours after remaining on the bridge until his +ship sank; the ship was valued at $10,000,000, and the 1,500 tons of +cargo, among which were munitions of war, at $735,000; official +Washington and the nation generally, as well as other neutral and +allied nations, are profoundly stirred by the news; President Wilson +receives bulletins at the White House; London is astounded, and there +are criticisms of the Admiralty for not having convoyed the Lusitania; +panic conditions prevail on the New York Stock Exchange for thirty +minutes after the first news is received, but the market closes with a +rally. + +May 8--Secretary Tumulty, after a conference with President Wilson, +states that the Chief Executive "is considering very earnestly, but +very calmly, the right course of action to pursue"; Secretary Bryan +directs Ambassadors Gerard and Page to make full reports; an official +communication issued in Berlin states that the Lusitania "was +naturally armed with guns," that "she had large quantities of war +material in her cargo," that her owners are responsible for the +sinking, and that Germany gave full warning of the danger; the British +Government announces that the statement that the Lusitania was armed +"is wholly false"; American newspapers strongly condemn the sinking, +many referring to it as murder; there is talk of war by many private +citizens of the United States; there is rejoicing in Germany, where +towns are hung with flags and children in Southern Germany are given a +half-holiday, so reports state; Berlin newspapers acclaim the sinking, +while hundreds of telegrams of congratulation are received by Admiral +von Tirpitz, Minister of Marine; Dr. Bernhard Dernburg, former German +Colonial Secretary, in a statement in Cleveland, argues that the +sinking was justified. + +May 9--Dudley Field Malone, Collector of the Port of New York, makes +an official denial that the Lusitania was armed when she sailed; +President Wilson has not yet consulted his Cabinet on the situation, +but is studying the problem alone; Theodore Roosevelt terms the +sinking "an act of simple piracy," and declares we should act at once; +survivors criticise the British Admiralty for not supplying a convoy, +and also criticise the handling of the Lusitania; newspapers in Vienna +rejoice over the torpedoing. + +May 10--In a speech at Philadelphia, President Wilson declares that +"there is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight; there is +such a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to +convince others by force that it is right"; Coroner's jury at Kinsale, +which investigated five deaths resulting from the torpedoing of the +Lusitania, in returning its verdict charges the Emperor and Government +of Germany, and the officers of the submarine, "with the crime of +wholesale murder before the tribunal of the civilized world"; a spirit +of vengeance is springing up in England; the German Foreign Office +sends to the German Embassy at Washington, which communicates it to +the State Department, a message of sympathy at the loss of lives, but +says the blame rests with England for her "starvation plan" and for +her having armed merchantmen; telegrams are pouring in by the hundred +to the White House and the Department of State, but the majority +advise against the use of force; there is a fifteen-minute panic on +the New York Stock Exchange on the rumor of the assassination of +President Wilson, prices falling from 4 to 15 points; British +exchanges bar German members; the National Security League issues an +open letter in New York, declaring that the army, navy, and coast +defenses are inadequate, and urging support for a military efficiency +program; various State Legislatures pledge their support to President +Wilson. + +May 11--Secretary Bryan receives an official circular issued by the +German Government which declares that there is no intention of +attacking, either by submarine or aircraft, neutral ships in the war +zone, and that if such attacks occur through mistake damages will be +paid; President Wilson is at work on his communication to Berlin; +American Line announces it will not hereafter carry contraband of war; +Navy League of the United States passes a resolution asking President +Wilson to call an extra session of Congress to authorize a bond issue +of $500,000,000 for a bigger navy; riots occur all over England, +demonstrations being made against Germans and German shops; former +President Roosevelt states that the United States should act promptly +and should forbid all commerce with Germany, while former President +Taft states that delay can do no harm and that the United States +should not hurry into war; President Wilson's Philadelphia speech +results in a rise in prices on the New York Stock Exchange; the +Committee of Mercy issues a country-wide appeal for help for destitute +survivors of the Lusitania; customs guard on German ships at Boston is +doubled; Cunard Line cancels intended sailing of the Mauretania from +Liverpool; extra police guards are placed over the German ships at +Hoboken. + +May 12--Postponement is made until tomorrow of the sending of the +American note to Germany; German Embassy discontinues its +advertisement warning the public not to sail on British or allied +ships: anti-alien rioting continues in England; seventy customs men, +on orders from Washington, search German ships at Hoboken for +explosives, none being found. + +May 13--The text of the American note to Germany is made public at +Washington; besides the Lusitania, it mentions the Falaba, Cushing, +and Gulflight cases; it states that the United States Government +expects a disavowal of the acts of the German commanders, reparation +for the injuries, and a prevention of such acts in the future; it +indicates that submarine warfare should be given up; it refers to the +"surprising irregularity" of the German Embassy's advertisement +warning Americans to keep off British ships, and states that notice of +an unlawful act cannot be an excuse for its commission; it states that +Germany will not expect the United States "to omit any word or any +act" necessary to maintain American rights. + +May 14--The American note to Germany has been delayed in transmission, +and is not presented yet; President Wilson and the Cabinet are pleased +with the response of the country to the note, which is praised +generally by newspapers and public men: damage in anti-German rioting +in South Africa is reported from Cape Town to exceed $5,000,000. + +May 15--Ambassador Gerard hands the American note to the German +Foreign Office; newspapers in England and France praise the note; Dr. +Dernburg, who has for months been in the United States as unofficial +spokesman for Germany, expresses a desire to go home, this being due, +it is understood in Washington, to the criticisms resulting from his +defense of the sinking of the Lusitania; German-American newspapers +and prominent German-American individuals are going on record as being +for the United States as against Germany in event of war. + +May 16--New York clergymen from their pulpits praise President +Wilson's note to Germany as a powerful instrument for the +preservation of peace in this country; the loss of the Lusitania is +proving a stimulus to recruiting in Great Britain. + +May 17--The American note has not yet been published in Berlin, and +most of the newspapers, under confidential orders from the Government, +have refrained from comment. + +May 18--Statements made by the officers of the British tank steamer +Narragansett and of the British steamship Etonian, on arriving at New +York and Boston, respectively, show that these ships and a third were +prevented from going to the rescue of the Lusitania's passengers by +German submarines; a torpedo was fired at the Narragansett. + +May 19--Several leading German newspapers join in an attack on the +United States, demanding that Germany refuse to yield to the American +protest, the text of the note having been made known. + +May 30--Full text of the German reply to the American note arrives in +Washington and is made public; as to the Cushing and the Gulflight it +is declared that the German Government has no intention of attacking +neutral vessels by submarine or aircraft, and where it is proved that +the attacked ship is not to blame is willing to offer regrets and pay +indemnity, it being added that both the cases mentioned are now under +investigation, which inquiry can be supplemented by reference to The +Hague: as to the Falaba, it is declared that the persons on board were +given twenty-three minutes to get off, and it is indicated that the +passengers and crew would have had fuller opportunity to leave had the +ship not tried to escape and had she not signaled for help by rockets: +as to the Lusitania, it is declared she was built as an auxiliary +cruiser and so carried on the British navy list, that Germany +understands she was armed with cannon, that she carried war material +and Canadian troops, while, in addition, the British Admiralty has +instructed merchantmen to ram submarines; thus the sinking of the +Lusitania was a measure of "justified self-defense"; it is also +declared that the Cunard Company is "wantonly guilty" of the deaths, +in allowing passengers to embark under the conditions cited; +unofficial expressions of opinion from public men at Washington show +there is disappointment and dissatisfaction over the note, which is +held to be evasive; German Foreign Secretary von Jagow, in an +interview given to The Associated Press correspondent in Berlin, +declares that the note is not a final one because the German +Government considers it essential "to establish a common basis of fact +before entering into a discussion of the issues involved." + +May 31--American press as a whole finds the German reply +unsatisfactory, declaring that it is evasive and fails to meet the +issue; London newspapers find the reply to be a "weak evasion"; +German-American press as a whole supports the reply; Governors of +States and other public men generally agree in condemning the note, +but many of them suggest the need for caution; Berlin newspapers hold +that the reply is complete. + +June 1--President Wilson brings the German note before the Cabinet, +which has a long conference. + +June 2--A conference is held at the White House between President +Wilson and Ambassador von Bernstorff, at the latter's request; +Ambassador von Bernstorff arranges to send through the State +Department a report to his Government of his talk with the President +and of the condition of public opinion in this country; von Bernstorff +tells the President that he has been given affidavits that the +Lusitania was armed; these affidavits are given to the American +Department of State for investigation. + +June 3--Ambassador von Bernstorff is arranging to send an emissary, +Dr. Anton Meyer-Gerhard, to Berlin to explain the position of the +American Government and the state of public opinion; the affidavits +that the Lusitania was armed are under official investigation; +newspaper investigations throw doubt on their authenticity. + +June 5--British Ambassador transmits a note from his Government to the +United States Government assuring this country that the Lusitania was +unarmed. + +June 8--Secretary of State Bryan resigns because he cannot join in the +new note to Germany, so he states in a letter to President Wilson, +without violating what he deems his duty to the country and without +being unfair "to the cause which is nearest my heart, namely, the +prevention of war"; President Wilson's letter accepting the +resignation expresses "deep regret" and "personal sorrow"; Counselor +Robert Lansing is Acting Secretary of State; newspapers generally +welcome Mr. Bryan's resignation; the note to Germany is read at a +Cabinet meeting and finally decided upon. + +June 9--Acting Secretary of State Lansing signs the note to Germany +and sends it to Ambassador Gerard; Mr. Bryan's resignation causes +interest in England and Germany; Mr. Bryan says that he favors inquiry +by an international commission into the points at issue between the +United States and Germany, and that Americans should be warned not to +travel on belligerent ships; German-American press praises Mr. Bryan. + +June 10--President Wilson's answer to the German note is made public +at Washington; it "asks for assurances" that Germany will safeguard +American lives and American ships; the German Government is assured +that it has been misinformed as to the alleged arming of the +Lusitania; it is stated that the United States is contending for the +rights of humanity, on which principle "the United States must stand"; +Mr. Bryan issues a statement to the public, explaining his views; +Gustav Stahl, said to be a former German soldier, who made an +affidavit that he saw four guns on the Lusitania, is arrested by +Federal officers on a charge of perjury. + +June 11--The pacific nature of the American note causes satisfaction +in Germany; Mr. Bryan issues a statement to German-Americans; Colonel +Roosevelt, in a statement, upholds President Wilson. + +June 12--Mr. Bryan issues a third statement; some German-American +newspapers criticise his statement addressed to German-Americans. + +June 13--Newspapers of Germany today contain columns of comment on the +last American note, the general tone being milder, the friendly tenor +of the note being welcomed. + +June 15--Court of inquiry opens in London; Captain Turner swears on +the stand that his ship was not armed. + + +NAVAL RECORD--GENERAL. + +May 1--Four British torpedo boat destroyers sink two German torpedo +boats in the North Sea, after a fifth British destroyer is sunk by a +German submarine; Russian Black Sea fleet bombards Bosporus forts; +allied fleet bombards Nagara, on the Dardanelles. + +May 3--The ships of the allied fleet are now working in shifts at the +bombardment of the Dardanelles, which is maintained twenty-four hours +a day; French battleship Henri IV. and British battleship Vengeance +are damaged by fire of the forts. + +May 4--Bombardment of Turkish forts on the Gulf of Smyrna is resumed +by an allied squadron; British warship Agamemnon is damaged by forts +at the Dardanelles. + +May 6--Heavy bombardment of the Dardanelles is continued by the +allied fleet; during the last three days a number of villages and +forts have been set on fire by shells; British superdreadnought Queen +Elizabeth is taking a prominent part in the bombardment. + +May 8--British torpedo boat destroyer Crusader is sunk by a mine off +Zeebrugge and the crew taken prisoners by the Germans. + +May 9--Russians sink six Turkish transports off the Bosporus and two +in the Sea of Marmora. + +May 12--Turkish destroyers in the Dardanelles torpedo and sink the +British pre-dreadnought Goliath, 500 men being lost; allied fleet +bombards the forts at Kilid Bahr, Chanak Kalessi, and Nagara; Italian +steamer Astrea sinks near Taranto, it being believed that she hit a +mine. + +May 15--Russian Black Sea fleet destroys four Turkish steamers and +twenty sailing vessels; the fleet bombards Keffen, Eregli, and +Kilimali. + +May 16--For three days the allied fleet has been bombarding Turkish +troop positions on the Dardanelles; shell fire is stated to have +smashed whole trenches filled with Turkish soldiers. + +May 17--Parliamentary Secretary of the British Admiralty announces in +House of Commons that 460,628 tons of British shipping, other than +warships, have been sunk or captured by the German Navy since the +beginning of the war; that the number of persons killed in connection +with the sinkings is 1,556; that the tonnage of German shipping, not +warships, sunk or captured by the British Navy is 314,465, no lives +being lost, so far as is known. + +May 20--Bombardment of Nagara by the allied fleet continues night and +day; British battleship Queen Elizabeth is supporting the allied +troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula with the fire of her big guns from +the Gulf of Saros; a new bombardment of the Turkish encampments on the +Gulf of Smyrna is under way by ships of Allies. + +May 24--Small naval units of Austria, especially destroyers and +torpedo boats, bombard the Italian portions of the Adriatic coast; +they are attacked by Italian torpedo boats and withdraw after a brief +cannonade; the value of German and Austrian ships now in Italian +ports, which have become prizes of war, is estimated at $20,000,000. + +May 25--American steamer Nebraskan, en route from Liverpool to +Delaware Breakwater, without cargo, is struck by either a torpedo or a +mine forty miles off the south coast of Ireland; the ship is not +seriously damaged and starts for Liverpool at reduced speed; Italy +declares a blockade of the Austrian and Albanian coasts; allied +warships bombard Adalia, Makri, Kakava, and other places along the +coast of Asia Minor, destroying Government buildings and public works; +Austrian ships sink an Italian destroyer near Barletta. + +May 27--Captain Greene of the Nebraskan, which arrives at Liverpool, +states that he thinks his ship was hit by a torpedo; the American flag +had been hauled down shortly before she was struck, but the ship's +name and nationality were plainly painted on her sides; British +auxiliary ship Princess Irene is blown to pieces off Sheerness, 321 +men being killed; it is presumed that careless handling of explosives +caused the disaster. + +May 28--Austrians sink an Italian torpedo boat destroyer, while the +Italians sink an Austrian submarine. Danish steamer Ely is sunk by a +mine off Stockholm, crew being saved. + +May 29--Statement from the German Foreign Office is transmitted to +Washington through Ambassador Gerard, urging that American shipping +circles be again warned against traversing the waters around the +British Isles incautiously, and especially that they make their +neutral markings on the vessels very plain, and that they light them +promptly and sufficiently at night: American naval experts find the +facts to indicate that the Nebraskan was torpedoed and not struck by a +mine, so Ambassador Page reports to Washington; British Admiralty puts +stricter rules in force for navigation in the war zone. + +May 30--British Legation at Athens issues a notice that, beginning on +June 2, a blockade will be established off the coast of Asia Minor +between the Dardanelles and the Strait of Samos. + +May 31--An Admiralty statement shows that since the beginning of the +war 130 British merchant ships and fishing vessels, with a tonnage of +471,000, have been sunk. + +June 2--Two Italian torpedo boats sink two Austrian merchant vessels +in the Gulf of Trieste and damage an auxiliary cruiser. + +June 4--German transports, torpedo boats, and submarines seek to enter +the Gulf of Riga, but sheer off on perceiving the Russian fleet; three +German transports are sunk by mines. + +June 5--A strong German fleet has appeared in the middle Baltic and +has exchanged shots with the Russian fleet near the Gulf of Riga; +Winston Churchill, in a speech at Dundee, declares that the British +Navy is growing at an amazing rate, and is much stronger, both +actually and relatively, than at the beginning of the war; Greek +steamer Virginia is blown up by a floating mine while heading for the +Gulf of Trieste, her crew being killed. + +June 6--Italian warships are destroying cables and lighthouses on the +Adriatic; Italian warships bombard the railway between Cattaro and +Ragusa, and shell Monfalcone. + +June 11--Turkish cruiser Midullu sinks a Russian torpedo boat +destroyer in the Black Sea. + +June 14--British steamship Arndale sinks from striking a mine in the +White Sea. + +June 15--Official announcement states that the total loss from all +causes in the British Navy up to May 31 was 13,547 officers and men. + + +NAVAL RECORD--SUBMARINES. + +May 1--The Gulflight, an American oil steamer owned by the Gulf +Refining Company, is torpedoed off the Scilly Islands, but does not +sink, and is towed to an anchorage in Crow Sound, Scilly Islands; the +Captain dies of heart failure, and two men jump overboard and are +drowned; she was flying the American flag; French steamer Europe is +torpedoed by a German submarine, crew being rescued; British steamer +Fulgent is torpedoed by a German submarine; some of the crew are +missing; British steamer Edale is sunk by a German submarine off the +Scilly Islands, crew being saved; Russian steamer Svorono is sunk by a +German submarine off the Blasket Islands, crew being saved; British +trawler Colombia is sunk by a German submarine, seventeen of the crew +being lost. + +May 3--In the last forty-eight hours one Swedish steamer and three +Norwegian steamers have been sunk by German submarines; British +steamer Minterne is sunk by a German submarine off the Scilly Islands, +two of crew being killed. + +May 4--Ten British trawlers have been sunk by German submarines in the +last forty-eight hours; the submarine which caused the most damage has +an iron cross painted on her conning tower. + +May 5--Danish steamer Cathay is sunk by a German submarine in the +North Sea; passengers and crew saved. + +May 6--British steamers Candidate and Centurion are sunk off the Irish +coast by German submarines, crews being saved; British schooner Earl +of Latham is sunk by a German submarine; two British trawlers are sunk +by German submarines. + +May 8--British steamer Queen Wilhelmina is sunk by a German submarine +in the North Sea, crew being given time to take to the boats. + +May 12--British submarine E-14 has penetrated to the Sea of Marmora +and has sunk two Turkish gunboats and five Turkish transports. + +May 15--German submarine sinks without warning the Danish steamer +Martha in Aberdeen Bay, Scotland; crew escapes. + +May 19--German submarines sink British steamers Drumcree and Dumfries +and British trawler Lucerne; no lives lost. + +May 20--French steam trawler is blown to pieces by German submarine +near Dartmouth; thirteen of crew killed; British trawlers Chrysolite +and Crimond are sunk by German submarines; crews saved. + +May 21--German submarine, with thirty-nine shots from her gun, sinks +British sailing ship Glenholm off Irish coast; crew saved. + +May 22--German submarine sinks Norwegian steamer Minerva; crew saved. + +May 23--Repeated reports keep coming from Copenhagen that the German +naval authorities admit the loss of seventeen submarines since the +opening of the war. + +May 24--An allied submarine sinks Turkish gunboat Pelenk-i-Deria. + +May 25--British battleship Triumph is sunk in the Dardanelles by a +German submarine, going down in seven minutes; 56 men are lost; the +Triumph was built in 1904 and cost $4,750,000. + +May 26--A British submarine has sunk a Turkish gunboat in the Sea of +Marmora within sight of Constantinople. + +May 27--German submarine torpedoes and sinks British battleship +Majestic off Sedd-el-Bahr; 49 men are lost; Majestic was completed in +1895 and belonged to the oldest type of battleship in commission in +British Navy; British Admiralty announces that submarine E-11 has sunk +a large Turkish munition ship, while she caused a small storeship to +run ashore; also that E-11 entered Constantinople harbor and +discharged a torpedo at a transport alongside the arsenal; British +steamer Cadeby is sunk off the Scilly Islands by gunfire from a German +submarine; crew saved. + +May 28--The torpedoing of the American tanker Gulflight is now +established in Germany as having been due to a German submarine, the +report of the submarine's Captain having been received by the German +Admiralty; he reports that when he saw the Gulflight she was being +convoyed by two patrol boats, and he concluded she must be British or +was carrying contraband; British steamer Spennymoor is sunk by a +German submarine off the Orkney Islands, six men being drowned; +British steamer Tullochmoor is shelled and sunk by a German submarine, +crew being saved; British steamer Glenlee is sunk by a German +submarine, crew being saved; Portuguese steamer Cysne is sunk by a +German submarine off Cape Finisterre, crew being saved; German +submarine U-24 sinks British steamer Ethiope in the English Channel; +fifteen of crew are missing. + +May 29--British steamer Dixiana is sunk by a German submarine, which +is disguised with sails; crew saved. + +May 31--Danish steamer Soborg is sunk by a German submarine in the +English Channel; crew saved. + +June 1--British steamer Saidieh, carrying passengers, is torpedoed +without warning in the North Sea by a German submarine and sinks in +fifteen minutes; seven of the crew, including a stewardess, are lost; +Welsh trawler Victoria is sunk by a German submarine, several of the +crew being killed by shell fire. + +June 2--British submarine torpedoes a large German transport in the +Sea of Marmora; German submarines sink the Norwegian steamer Cubano +and the Welsh trawler Hiorld, the crews being saved; Danish schooner +Salvador is sunk by a German submarine, crew saved. + +June 3--Swedish steamer Lapland is sunk by a German submarine off +Scotland, crew being saved; Danish steamer Cyrus is sunk by a German +submarine off Scotland, crew being saved; British steamer Iona is sunk +by a German submarine, crew being shelled while taking to the boats +and four men being wounded; British fishing steamer Chrysophrasus is +sunk by a German submarine, crew being shelled while taking to the +boats; Portugal is aroused over recent sinking of two Portuguese ships +by German submarines; French steamer Penfeld is sunk by a German +submarine, crew saved. + +June 4--British trawler Ebenezer is sunk by shell fire from a German +submarine, crew escaping; British steamer Inkum is sunk by a German +submarine, crew escaping; steam drifter Edna May, trawler Strathbran, +sailing ship George and Mary, steam fishing vessels Cortes, Kathleen, +and Evening Star, steamer Sunnet Head, trawlers Horace and Economy, +all British, have been sunk by German submarines; Russian mine layer +is sunk by a submarine near the Gulf of Riga. + +June 5--German submarine U-51 arrives at Constantinople from +Wilhelmshaven, after a voyage of forty-two days, during which she sunk +the British battleships Triumph and Majestic. + +June 6--Five more British trawlers have been sunk by German +submarines, all the crews being saved. + +June 7--The trawler Arctic, bark Sunlight, steamer Star of the West, +and the trawler Dromio, all British, have been sunk by German +submarines; four of the Arctic's crew were killed by shell fire from +the submarine; Russian schooner Afold has been sunk by a German +submarine. + +June 8--German submarines sink Belgian steamer Menapier, Norwegian +steamer Trudvang, Norwegian bark Superb, Norwegian steamer +Glittertind, British trawlers Pentland and Saturn; sixteen die on the +Menapier. + +June 9--British sink a German submarine and capture her crew; First +Lord of the Admiralty Balfour states that hereafter submarine crews +will be treated like other prisoners of war; German submarine sinks +British steamer Lady Salisbury; one of the crew is killed and two are +missing; official Austrian statement declares that submarine No. 4 +torpedoed and sank a small British cruiser off the Albanian coast; +British statement says the ship is now safe in harbor, not seriously +damaged. + +June 10--British torpedo boats Nos. 10 and 12 are sunk off the east +coast of England by a German submarine; twenty-nine seamen are +missing; German submarines sink steamers Strathcarron and Erna Boldt, +and the trawlers Letty, Tunisian, Castor, Nottingham, Velocity, +Cardiff, Qui Vive, and Edward, all British; German submarines sink +Russian bark Thomasina, Russian steamer Dania, and Swedish steamer +Otago, crews being saved. + +June 12--German submarines sink British steamer Leuctra and trawlers +James Leyman, Britannia, and Waago, crews being saved. + +June 13--German submarine U-35 sinks British bark Crown of India and +Norwegian bark Bellglade off Milford Haven, crews escaping; German +submarine sinks British trawler Plymouth, crew escaping. + +June 14--German submarines sink British steamer Hopemount and French +schooner Diamant, crews being saved; German submarine burns the Danish +schooner Cocos Merstal, crew being saved. + +June 15--German submarine sinks British trawler Argyll, seven of crew +being drowned; German submarine sinks Norwegian steamer Duranger; crew +saved. + + +AERIAL RECORD. + +May 1--Germans bring down three aeroplanes of the Allies on the +western line. + +May 2--German aeroplanes bombard towns in Eastern France; twenty +incendiary bombs are dropped on Epinal. + +May 3--Germans state that they have sunk a British submarine in the +North Sea by dropping a bomb on it from an airship; this is denied by +the British Admiralty; a German aeroplane is driven off from Dover by +gunfire. + +May 4--Two Austrian aeroplanes throw incendiary bombs near Mamaligia, +in Bessarabia. + +May 5--An official French note states that on March 22 French aviators +damaged Briey, Conflans, and Metz; that on April 15 French aviators +destroyed 150 railroad cars at St. Quentin, twenty-four soldiers being +killed; that on April 28 French aviators destroyed a Zeppelin at +Friedrichshaven; two Turkish aeroplanes are brought down by shells +from the allied fleet at the Dardanelles. + +May 7--Three Russian aviators drop bombs on Constantinople. + +May 9--British airmen bombard the St. André railway junction near +Lille, the canal bridge at Dok, and also Furnes, Herlies, Illies, +Marquelles, and La Bassée. + +May 10--Zeppelins drop bombs on Westcliffe-on-Sea and Southend, +seaside resorts in Essex; slight damage. + +May 11--French aviator bombards airship hangar at Maubeuge; German +aviator bombards railroad station at Doullens; Germans bring down a +British aviator, and British bring down two German aviators. + +May 13--A Zeppelin falls in the Gierlesche woods in Belgium, is badly +damaged, and is dismantled by the crew, being taken away in sections. + +May 17--Two Zeppelins drop bombs on Ramsgate, damaging buildings and +wounding three persons; it is reported from Rotterdam that a fight +recently occurred in the region of the Yser between a Zeppelin and +twenty-seven allied aeroplanes, the Zeppelin being sent crashing to +earth with sixty men, while two aeroplanes were wrecked and their +pilots killed by machine gun fire from the Zeppelin; British +aeroplanes drop proclamations on the town of Gallipoli announcing an +approaching bombardment and advising the population to leave. + +May 18--London reports that two Zeppelins have been destroyed, one +falling within the allied lines at Dunkirk, and the other falling into +the sea as the result of shell fire from a French torpedo boat +destroyer. + +May 20--Squadrons of Austro-German aeroplanes are bombarding Przemysl. + +May 21--Turkish aeroplanes are aiding their troops on the Gallipoli +Peninsula; British bring down a German aeroplane near Ypres; Germans +bring down an allied aeroplane at Fresnoy. + +May 22--German aviators, in an aeroplane disguised as a French +machine, drop eight bombs on Paris, two persons being slightly +injured; because of the disguise the French air patrol allowed the +German machine to pass. + +May 23--German aviator bombards the town of Château Thiery. + +May 24--Austrian aeroplanes drop bombs on Venice, Porto Corsini, +Ancona, Gesi, Potenza Picena, the Tremiti Islands, and Barletta; a +German Taube drops bombs in the northern suburbs of Paris; no one +injured. + +May 25--Six French aeroplanes drive off two German machines which seek +to raid Paris; French aeroplanes are active along the entire front and +drop 205 projectiles upon German positions. + +May 26--A Zeppelin drops fifty bombs on Southend; one woman is killed +and several persons injured; the property damage is slight; this +Zeppelin later is reported as having fallen into the sea near +Heligoland, having been struck by a shell while over England; French +airmen bring down a German aeroplane which attacked the suburbs of +Paris yesterday, the two German aviators being killed; allied airmen +drop nineteen bombs on the aerodrome at Gontrode, southeast of Ghent, +destroying the greater part of the aerodrome, killing forty-four +soldiers, and wounding thirty; Italian aviators bombard railroad +station at Monfalcone. + +May 27--Eighteen French aeroplanes, each carrying 110 pounds of +projectiles, bombard an important German manufactory of explosives at +Ludwigshafen, on the Rhine, starting fires in several of the factory +buildings, and killing eleven civilians; fifty German soldiers are +killed at Ostend by a bomb dropped by allied aeroplane; Italian and +Austrian aeroplane squadrons are active in the operations of the +armies, doing much scouting and some bombarding; squadron of Italian +hydro-aeroplanes throws bombs on the Trieste-Nabresina Railroad; +allied aeroplane squadron flies over the Dardanelles and subjects +Turkish position to heavy bombardment. + +May 28--Experts estimate that orders amounting to $16,000,000 have +been placed in the United States for aeroplanes for the Allies. + +May 29--Austrian aeroplane squadron drops bombs on Venice, causing +several fires; a French and a German aeroplane fight a duel at 9,000 +feet near Fismes, the French machine, by its gunfire, shooting down +the German from a height of 6,000 feet. + +May 30--A Zeppelin drops bombs on Helsingfors, destroying cotton sheds +and setting fire to a passenger ship; British bring down a German +aeroplane near Courtrai; Turkish aviators drop bombs on the allied +trenches at Sedd-el-Bahr. + +May 31--Zeppelins drop ninety incendiary bombs on London in a night +raid; four civilians are killed and several others wounded; numerous +fires are started, but none prove serious; Berlin announces that the +attack is a reprisal for the aerial attack on Ludwigshafen; Italian +dirigible makes a raid on the Austrian naval base of Pola, damaging +the railroad station and arsenal. + +June 2--Germans shoot down a British aeroplane at Bixschoote. + +June 3--Twenty-nine French aeroplanes aim 178 shells and several +thousand darts at the headquarters of the German Crown Prince, killing +several soldiers. + +June 4--Zeppelins drop bombs on the east and southeast coasts of +England; little damage is done and casualties are few. + +June 5--A Taube drops bombs on Calais, killing one person and doing +slight property damage. + +June 6--Ten Zeppelins of a new type are reported from Copenhagen to +have been completed, these machines having greater speed than the old +ships; they are stated to be fitted with appliances for dropping +poisonous gas bombs; German aeroplanes drop bombs on Calais and on the +aviation grounds at Lunéville; a Zeppelin drops bombs on the east +coast of England, five persons being killed and forty injured. + +June 7--Sub-Lieutenant Warneford of the British Flying Corps fights a +duel with a Zeppelin at a height of 6,000 feet; with incendiary bombs +he explodes the airship, which falls near Ghent, the twenty-eight men +on board being killed; Warneford returns safely to the British lines; +Italian dirigible bombards Pola. + +June 8--King George sends a warmly congratulatory telegram to +Sub-Lieutenant Warneford and confers upon him the Victoria Cross; +Austrian aeroplane bombards Venice; Austrian aeroplane destroys an +Italian airship. + +June 12--Austrian aeroplanes drop bombs on the breakwater of Bari, on +Polignano, where a woman is killed, and on Monopoli. + +June 13--Italian airship seriously damages the arsenal at the naval +station of Pola. + +June 15--Twenty-three allied aeroplanes bombard the town of Karlsruhe, +killing eleven and injuring six civilians. + + +AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. + +May 23--Emperor Francis Joseph, in a manifesto to his troops, +denounces Italy, and declares that his former ally's perfidy has no +parallel in history. + +May 25--The Foreign Ministry publishes documents presenting Austria's +side of the controversy with Italy; it is contended that Italy, from +the beginning, sought to evade her obligations by artificial +interpretation of the Triple Alliance treaty. + + +BELGIUM. + +May 24--The German Government has published a "White Book" charging +Belgian civilians with many forms of attacks on German troops; German +measures at Louvain and elsewhere are declared to have been only for +the purpose of stopping these attacks. + +June 6--Belgian Legation at Washington gives out a statement answering +the German White Book recently issued at Berlin making accusations +against the Belgian civilian population; reply denounces allegations +of franc-tireur warfare as false and unsupported; Belgian Government, +instead of encouraging civilian resistance, warned the population +against it. + + +CANADA. + +May 3--Official statement places Canadian casualties in the battle of +Langemarck, as the recent fighting near Ypres is now officially +termed, at 6,000 killed, wounded, and missing; total Canadian +casualties in the entire war to date are 6,584. + +May 17--Canadian losses since the battle of Langemarck total 4,792, +made up of 680 killed, 3,208 wounded, and 904 missing. + +June 10--Nine camps have been opened, at intervals from Nova Scotia to +British Columbia, for training troops; plans provide for training +100,000 recruits this Summer. + +June 11--Every battalion of the second Canadian division is now in +France. + + +FRANCE. + +May 10--General Gouraud, it is announced, will relieve General d'Amade +in command of the expeditionary force to the Orient; General d'Amade +has been summoned back to France for a Governmental mission. + +May 19--The Minister of Finance introduces a bill in the Chamber of +Deputies providing for a $220,000,000 appropriation for the first six +months of 1915 in addition to the $1,700,000,000 which has been +already voted. + +May 22--Captain Thery, a prominent economist, estimates that the cost +of the first year of the war, including the expenses of all +combatants, will be about $2,000,000 an hour. + +May 29--A great demonstration is held in the Sorbonne amphitheatre, +attended by the President, and the notables of political and artistic +France, to express the appreciation of the French people for the +sympathy and help of Americans during the war. + + +GERMANY. + +May 2--The last of the Landsturm is called to the colors. + +May 4--Lübeck, on the Baltic Sea, formerly a port of relatively small +importance, has become a great port, and dozens of ships are there +discharging vast quantities of foodstuffs and other supplies; +twenty-three Socialist members of the Reichstag opposed the voting of +the full war credit last asked by the Government, according to a +report from Berlin. + +May 7--The Germans state that they and the Austrians now hold 46,000 +square miles of Russian territory, containing a population of more +than 5,000,000. + +May 12--Typhus has appeared in some of the German prison camps. + +May 14--Lieutenant von Muecke and fifty men of the Emden's crew, who +escaped when that cruiser was sunk in November, have arrived at +Damascus, after six months of adventurous wanderings. + +May 18--The London Chronicle, on the basis of statistics which it has +received, estimates the total German losses in the war to be +2,050,000. + +May 24--Germany asks Switzerland to take over German diplomatic +affairs in Rome; this action is regarded in Washington as a slap at +the United States. + +May 26--Prince von Bülow, recently Ambassador to Italy, arrives in +Berlin; Germany and Italy are still theoretically allies, war not +having been declared between them. + +May 28--Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg, speaking in the Reichstag, +declares that the Teutonic allies are waging war in "holy anger" and +will fight until they have made it certain that no enemy "will dare +again a trial of arms"; he makes a scathing attack on Italy, and says +that "her violation of good faith" is written in "letters of blood." + +May 30--Americans are leaving Germany by the score, declaring the hate +for Americans is so intense as to make life unbearable. + +June 2--Officers and men on furlough in Berlin are forbidden to visit +cafés and restaurants. + +June 4--Prussian losses alone have reached a total of 1,388,000. + +June 5--There are now 900,000 prisoners of war held in Germany, in 247 +prison camps. + +June 7--An extensive exodus of Americans from Germany is in progress, +many going to Italy; refugees declare the Germans now hate Americans +as bitterly as they do the British. + +June 14--Germany discontinues her exceptional treatment of 39 British +officers, put into effect as reprisal for England's exceptional +treatment of German submarine crews, now ended. + + +GREAT BRITAIN. + +May 2--Lord Kitchener is becoming the storm centre of the Cabinet +upheaval; attacks on him by the Northcliffe newspapers are resented by +other newspapers and by many of the public; a "White Paper," +containing reports from firms and officers throughout the country, +shows that drink is having a serious effect on repairs to warships and +transports and on the output of munitions. + +May 4--Since the beginning of the war the British Army has had 2,246 +officers killed, 4,177 wounded and 762 missing; Chancellor Lloyd +George, in a budget speech in Parliament, places the expenditure for +the next six months at $10,500,000 a day. + +May 7--Government abandons the plan to place extra taxes on spirits +and instead substitutes a complete prohibition of the sale of spirits +less than three years old. + +May 12--The Committee on Alleged German Atrocities, headed by Viscount +Bryce, appointed by Premier Asquith, makes public its report, which +contains an account of hundreds of cases investigated; the report +finds that there were in many parts of Belgium "systematically +organized massacres of the civil population"; that in the general +conduct of the war innocent civilians, men and women "were murdered in +large number, women violated, and children murdered"; that "looting, +house burning, and the wanton destruction of property were ordered" by +German officers; that "the rules and usages of war were frequently +broken," civilians, including women and children, being used as a +shield for troops, and that the Red Cross and white flag were +frequently abused. + +May 13--Premier Asquith announces in the house of Commons the new +policy of the Government with reference to alien enemies now resident +in Great Britain; those of military age will be interned, while those +not of military age, and women and children will be deported; King +George orders the names of the German and Austrian Emperors, and of +five German Kings and Princes stricken from the rolls of the Order of +the Garter. + +May 18--Premier Asquith is forming a "National Cabinet," or coalition +government, in which some of the Cabinet posts at present occupied by +Liberals will go to Unionist and Labor Party leaders; the crisis is +the result of the resignation of Lord Fisher as First Sea Lord of the +Admiralty, due to differences between him and Winston Churchill, First +Lord of the Admiralty; Churchill has been much criticised, +particularly for the fiasco at Antwerp and the policy pursued in the +Dardanelles, while the loss of the Lusitania has further stirred his +opponents. + +May 19--The Northcliffe newspapers state that there has been +difficulty over high explosives for the army, those in charge at the +War Office not having awakened in time to the need for such explosives +in large quantities; these papers criticise Lord Kitchener's conduct +of the War Office; racing will be stopped after this week for the +duration of the war, except at Newmarket. + +May 25--The make-up of the new coalition Cabinet is announced; it is +headed by Mr. Asquith and contains twelve Liberals, eight Unionists, +one Laborite, and one non-partisan, Lord Kitchener; Arthur J. Balfour +becomes First Lord of the Admiralty; John Redmond refuses a place in +the Cabinet; Liberal newspapers criticise the entry into the Cabinet +of Sir Edward Carson, who becomes Attorney General. + +May 27--Admiral Sir Henry Jackson is appointed First Sea Lord of the +Admiralty in the place of Admiral Lord Fisher. + +June 3--Premier Asquith ends a visit of four days at the British +front, during which he consulted with Field Marshal French and General +Joffre; Minister of Munitions Lloyd George, in a speech at Manchester, +declares that England must have more munitions and that the fate of +the nation rests on the workshops. + +June 8--House of Commons passes the Munitions bill on third reading; +the measure establishes a new department to handle munitions. + +June 9--Premier Asquith announces in the House of Commons that the +total British casualties up to May 31 were 50,342 killed, 153,980 +wounded, and 53,747 missing. + +June 15--House of Commons votes a war credit of $1,250,000,000, making +a total of $4,310,000,000 thus far voted; Asquith says expenditure +will be not less than $15,000,000 a day. + + +GREECE. + +June 15--Returns of the general election show that the party of former +Premier Venizelos, who has been in favor of entering the war on the +side of the Allies, has a considerable majority in Parliament. + + +HOLLAND. + +May 19--A bill is being prepared providing for universal compulsory +military service; the measure will increase the army approximately to +1,000,000 men. + + +ITALY. + +May 10--Italy calls to the colors all classes of reserves back to the +class of 1876; an Italian army of 600,000 is concentrated at Verona. + +May 12--Government receives what is believed to be the final proposal +of Austria for territorial concessions; ex-Premier Giolitti, one of +the most influential men in Italy, is against war; war demonstrations +are being held all over Italy. + +May 14--The Cabinet tenders its resignation to the King because of the +strength of the anti-war party, led by former Premier Giolitti; the +entire country is in a turmoil, there being much indignation over the +fall of the Cabinet. + +May 15--Signor Marcora having refused to form a Cabinet, and a similar +refusal having been made by Paolo Carcano, the King asks Salandra to +resume the Premiership; Salandra consents; the people and press are +furious with Giolitti; the country is on the verge of revolt; troops +save the Austrian Embassy from attack. + +May 16--There is general rejoicing throughout the country over the +retention of office by Salandra; it is reported that Italy now has +1,700,000 men mobilized and equipped. + +May 19--Italy issues a Green Book, tracing the course of events +between Italy and Austria, from the Italian standpoint, during recent +months; Italy holds that Austria has violated Article VII. of the +Triple Alliance, which bound Austria to refrain from occupation of +Balkan territory without agreement with Italy and due compensation; in +the invasion of Serbia and occupation of her cities, Italy claims that +Austria has broken faith, and the negotiations between the two +countries have been concerned chiefly with compensation, Austria not +meeting Italian demands. + +May 20--Chamber of Deputies, amid wild enthusiasm, adopts, by a vote +of 407 to 74, a bill conferring full power upon the Government to make +war; Premier Salandra denounces Austria in a speech which is +tremendously acclaimed; he says she broke her alliance, and was false +to the treaty in its substance, form and spirit; he declares that +Italy has long been for peace and strove to find a compromise which +would restore agreement's reason for being. + +May 21--By a vote of 262 to 2 the Senate passes the bill granting +plenary powers to the Government; there is great enthusiasm in the +Chamber; Italian and Austrian troops continue to mass at the border; +all Italy is aflame with enthusiasm. + +May 22--General mobilization of the army and navy is ordered; martial +law is proclaimed, beginning May 23, in Northeastern Italy; the King +signs the bill giving full power to the Salandra Ministry in the +present emergency and for "the duration of the war." + +May 23--Duke of Avarna, Italian Ambassador at Austria, presents to +Baron von Burian, Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, a declaration of +war by Italy, dated May 23, but not to take effect until tomorrow; the +declaration states that the treaty of alliance between Italy and +Austria has been violated by Austria; estimates put the total Italian +war strength at 3,300,000 when all reservists are called. + +May 24--Italy has given her adhesion to the agreement, already signed +by the allied powers, not to conclude a separate peace. + +May 25--Italy sends a note to the United States Government explaining +her break with Austria; Italy states that she was forced into +hostilities, cites a long list of grievances, and declares that, +despite warnings, the ultimatum was sent to Serbia without +notification to Rome; this ultimatum, so sent, declares Italy, +violated Article I. of the Triple Alliance treaty, which provided that +none of the contracting parties had the right to undertake, without a +previous agreement, any step whose consequences might impose a duty +upon the other signatories arising out of the alliance, or which would +in any way encroach upon their vital interests; Italy further states +that the Triple Alliance was essentially defensive; similar notes are +sent by Italy to all important neutral countries. + +May 28--The Pope declines an invitation from Spain to make his +headquarters at the Palace of the Escurial. + +June 13--Official journal publishes decree for seizing merchant ships +of Italy's enemies in the ports of the kingdom and colonies. + + +RUMANIA. + +June 1--Rumania has 1,000,000 fully equipped men ready for battle +against Austria on a 600-mile front; a note to Austria containing +Rumania's demands is now before the Austrian Government. + +June 6--A great demonstration is held in Bucharest in favor of +Rumania's joining the war with the Allies; speakers eulogize Italy for +entering the war. + + +RUSSIA. + +May 10--Figures made public in Petrograd show that the total number of +prisoners taken by Russian armies and interned in Russia up to April 1 +was 10,734 officers and 605,378 men; in addition, the statement says +that large numbers of Galician prisoners have been given their liberty +and sent home. + + +SAN MARINO. + +June 3--The Republic of San Marino officially approves of the Italian +attitude toward Austria and declares war. + + +SERBIA. + +May 24--The Serbian Army has been reorganized; Great Britain and +France have supplied it abundantly with artillery and ammunition. + + +SWEDEN. + +June 6--Stockholm reports that a treaty has been ratified between +Sweden and Russia, mutually acknowledging the financial, commercial, +and industrial interests of the respective countries. + + +TURKEY. + +May 23--A joint official statement issued by Great Britain, France, +and Russia states that for the past month Kurds and the Turkish +population of Armenia have been massacring Armenians, with "the +connivance and help of the Ottoman authorities"; that the inhabitants +of 100 villages near Van were all assassinated; that massacres have +taken place at Erzerum, Dertshau, Moush, Zeitun, and in all Cilicia; +that the allied Governments announce publicly to the Sublime Porte +that "they will hold all members of the Government, as well as such of +their agents as are implicated, personally responsible for such +massacres." + +June 6--The Krupps have established a large ammunition factory near +Constantinople. + + +UNITED STATES. + +May 3--Government is obtaining official reports on the sinking of the +Gulflight from Ambassadors Page and Gerard. + +May 5--State Department makes public the text of its reply to the +German note in the William P. Frye case, which was forwarded on April +28; the reply declines the suggestion that a German prize court pass +on the legality of the destruction and amount of indemnity; it +suggests that the German Embassy at Washington be authorized to deal +with the matter; it states that unquestionably the destruction of the +vessel was a violation of old treaties between the United States and +Prussia. + +May 6--The State Department has replied to the German complaint that +the German steamer Odenwald was "attacked" when she attempted to leave +San Juan, Porto Rico, without clearance papers; text not made public. + +May 19--American tank steamer Cushing arrives in Philadelphia, and +Captain Herland tells the details of the attack made by a German +aeroplane on April 28, while the ship was in the North Sea; he states +that the aviator manoeuvred to drop a bomb into the funnel, from a +height of 300 feet, but the three bombs thrown missed the ship; he +says the attack took place at 7 P.M., but there was ample light for +the aviator to see the ship's name in eight-foot letters, and the +American flags at the masthead and the taffrail; Secretary Bryan has +cabled to Ambassador Gerard, asking whether the action of the German +Government in placing the William P. Frye case in a prize court is the +reply to the American note stating that the United States did not +regard prize court proceedings with favor. + +May 21--Recent orders from the British Government bring up to +$100,000,000 the total contracts for munitions of war given to the +Bethlehem Steel Company since hostilities began. + +May 22--The French Line has chartered thirty-seven freight steamships +to aid in transporting the huge quantities of munitions of war waiting +shipment from the United States to the allied countries. + +May 24--Italy asks the United States to take over Italian diplomatic +affairs at Vienna, and the United States consents; Germany, through +Ambassador Gerard, explains that her action of sending the William P. +Frye case to a prize court is not intended as an answer to the +American note on the matter, but is a necessary procedure under German +law. + +May 25--United States issues a proclamation of neutrality, under date +of May 24, covering the entry of Italy into the war. + +May 29--Federal Court at Milwaukee dismisses the action brought by +General Samuel Pearson, former Boer commander, in which he sought to +restrain the Allis-Chalmers Company and others from manufacturing +shrapnel shells, which, it was alleged, were being shipped to the +Allies; the court holds that the relief sought by the plaintiff is +political rather than legal. + +June 2--The Allies have assured the State Department that Dr. Dernburg +will be given safe conduct if he wishes to return to Germany. + +June 4--Germany in a note expresses regret for the torpedoing of the +Gulflight, which is stated to have been due to a mistake, and offers +to pay for the damage. + +June 5--German war bonds are being sold in this country, and +German-Americans are buying them readily. + +June 8--There are persistent rumors that German interests are trying +to buy American ammunition factories so as to stop shipments to the +Allies. + +June 10--In a new note on the William P. Frye case Germany insists +that the case go before a prize court, and puts forth the contention +that she has the right to destroy any American ship carrying +contraband, the contention being based on the American-Prussian Treaty +of 1799. + +June 12--Dr. Dernburg sails for Bergen on the Norwegian America liner +Bergensfjord. + + +RELIEF. + +May 15--A national Polish relief association is being organized in the +United States; Paderewski, now in New York in the interests of +relief, estimates the losses of his compatriots by the war at +$2,500,000,000; he says that an area has been laid waste equal in size +to New York and Pennsylvania; that 7,500 villages have been completely +ruined; that thousands of persons are hiding in the woods and feeding +on roots. + +May 16--The American Commission for Relief in Belgium has now got a +financial system working in Belgium by which the great bulk of food +needed is being supplied indirectly by the Belgians themselves through +their own energies and resources; 75 per cent. of the Belgian people +are being supplied with food through the arrangements made by the +commission, without recourse to charity. + +May 20--England has asked American surgeons to man her newest and +largest field hospital; as a result, the medical schools of Harvard, +Columbia, and Johns Hopkins will send thirty-two surgeons and +physicians and seventy-five nurses; the universities will bear the +expenses of the corps. + +May 21--Carleton Gibson of the Commission for relief of Poland sends a +report to New York stating that in that part of Russian Poland within +the Austro-German lines conditions are much worse than in the worst +parts of Belgium and France, and that the population is now actually +starving. + +May 22--The Commission for Relief in Belgium states that about +1,500,000 persons are now destitute in Belgium through unemployment; +the monthly food requirements of the Belgians involve an expenditure +of between $7,000,000 and $8,000,000. + + + + +To the Captain of the U----. + +By HARRY VARLEY. + + + You have drunk your toast to "the Day" that came; + The Cross is won, for you did not fail. + Do you thrill with joy at your deathless fame? + Your hand is trembling, your lips are pale! + Ah! you drink again--but the wine is spilled, + A crimson stain on the snowy white. + Is it wine--or blood of the children killed? + Captain! what of the night? + + When the black night comes and the Day is done, + You sleep, and dream of the things that float + In a misty sea where a blood-red sun + Lights up the dead in a drifting boat. + Will you see a face in the waves that swell-- + A baby's face that is cold and white? + Will your sleep be sweet or a glimpse of Hell? + Captain! what of the night? + + Will you see the stare of the small blue eyes, + The tiny fingers of whitest wax + That will point at you, or the wound that lies, + A clot of red in her fairy flax? + Will the beads that burst on your brows be hot + As mothers' tears that are newly shed? + Will each sear and burn like a blazing dot + That eats its way through your tortured head? + + Will you see the ship as it onward sped-- + The Thing that flew at your fatal word? + Will the dripping ghosts be around your bed-- + The screams of the dying still be heard? + When the Big Night calls--and you must obey-- + Will _your_ soul shrink in its awful fright? + You have lived your life, you have had your Day, + But, Captain! what of the night? + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY; THE +EUROPEAN WAR, VOL 2, NO. 4, JULY, 1915*** + + +******* This file should be named 26377-8.txt or 26377-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/3/7/26377 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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