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"The year and' a half between the sinking of the Lusitania arid the severi
iwnntiV vninfintia trafl a nerind of terror for most Americans in Germnnv -r
who were so sympathetic with Germany that they were- anti-Americai
pleasant to live there."
Secret Preparations for a Break in Diplomatic
Relations or for War Were Made by the Ger-
man Government, While in Every Note-She
f Was Professing Her Friendship ' for the
', United Staies Encouraged Hatred Among
I the People Against President Wilson and the
Americans
rrmy Officers Continually Showed Their Con
tempt for American Military Observers and
; Correspondents and Insulted Them Ambas
sador Gerard Suppressed Anti-American
, Propaganda of League of Truth Only After
Severe Battle With Von Jagow and the
Foreign Office
TSHIILE Germany was professing her friendship for the United
1 States in every noto written following the sinking of tho Lusi
tr.nia, tho Government was secretly preparing the nation for a break
In diplomatic relations, or for war, in the event of a rupture. Gcr
xran officials realized that unless the people were made to suspect
J'r. Wilson and his motives, unless they were made to resent the
shipment of arms and ammunition to the Allies, there would be a
d. (ision in public opinion and the Government would not bo able to
c unt upon the united support of the people. Because the Govern
n mt docs the thinking for the people it has to tell them what to
tl ink before they have reached the point of debating an issue them
r.ives. A war with America or a break in diplomatic relations in
l'J15 would not have been an easy matter to explain if tho people had
Hit been encouraged to hato Wilson. So while Germany maintained
a propaganda bureau in America to interpret Germany and to main
tain good relations, she started in Germany an extensive propaganda
against Wilson, the American press, the United States Ambassador
'and Americans in general.
This step was not necessary in the army because among army
oHccrs tho bitterness and hatred of tho United States were deeper
a.:d more extensive than the hatred of any other belligerent. It was
hardly ever possible for the American correspondents to go to the
f.ont without being insulted. Even the American military attaches,
when they went to the -front, had to submit to tho insults of army
oncers. After the sinking of tho Arabic the six military observers
t.tached to the American embassy were invited by the General Staff
fc go to Russia to study the military operations of Field Marshal von
1'ackcnscn. They were escorted by Baron von Matzahn, former
Uache of the German embassy in Paris. At Lodz, one of the
1: rgest cities in Poland, they were taken to headquarters. Von
1 altzahn, who knew Mackensen personally, called at the field mar
hal's office, reported that he had escorted six American army officers
u ider orders of the General Staff, whom ho desired to present to the
c mmandcr-in-chief. Von Mackensen replied that he did not care to
ij set the Americans and told Von Maltzahn that the best thing he
euuld do would be to escort the obserrers back to Berlin.
As soon as the military attaches reached Berlin and reported
this to Washington they were recalled.
Contempt for United States Ever Present
But thi3 was not the only time Von Mackensen, or other army
eUcers, showed their contempt for the United States. After the fall
ci Warsaw a group of American correspondents were asked to go
to the headquarters of General von Besseler, afterward named Gov
ernor General of Poland. The General received them in the gardens
e the Polish castle which he had seized as his headquarters; shook
hands with tho Dutch, Danish, Swedish. Swiss and South American
mwspaper men, and then, before turning on his heels to go back
tu his Polish palace, turned to the Americans and said:
"As for you gentlemen, the best thing you can do is to tell your
country to stop shipping arms and ammunition."
During General Brussiloff's offensive I was invited, together
with other correspondents, to go to the Volhynian battlefields to
j see how the Germans had reorganized the Austrian front. In
j a little town near the Stokhod River we were invited to dinner
by Colonel von Luck. I sat opposite the Colonel, who was in
charge of the reorganization here. Throughout the meal he
made so many insulting remarks that the officer who was our
escort had to change the trend of the conversation. Before he
did so the Colonel said:
J "Tell me, do they insult you in Berlin like this?"
I replied that I seldom encountered such antagonism in
Berlin; that it was chiefly the army Which was anti-American.
Well, that's the difference between the diplomats and the
army. If the army was running the Government we would
: (jjfj
Mrs. Ncumann-Hofcr turned upon her former propagandiuts
and confessed.
probably have had war with America a long time ago, he con
cluded, Bmiling sarcastically.
Shortly after the sinking of the Lusitania tho naval propaganda
bureau had bronze medals cast and placed on sale at souvenir shops
throughout Germany. Ambassador Gerard received one day, in
exchanging some money, u fifty-mark bill, with the words stamped
in purple ink across the face: "God punish England and America."
For some weeks this rubber stamp was used very effectively.
The Navy Department realized, too, that another way to attack
America, and especially Americans in Berlin, was to arouse the sus
picion that every one who spoke English was an enemy. The result
was that most Americans had to bo exceedingly careful not to talk
aloud in public places. The American correspondents were even
warned at the General Staff not to speak English at the front.
Some of tho correspondents who did not speak German were not
taken to the battle areas because the Foreign Office desired to avoid
insults.
Woman Stabbed for Speaking English
The year and a half between the sinking of the Lusitania and
the severance of diplomatic relations was a period of terror for most
Americans in Germany. Only those who were so sympathetic with
Germany that they were anti-American found it pleasant to live
there.
One day one of the American girls employed in the confi
dential file room of the American embassy was slapped in the
face until she cried by a German in Chilian clothes, because she
was speaking English in the subway.
At another time the wife of a prominent American business
man was spit upon nnd chased out of a public bus because she
was speaking English. Then a group of women chased her down
the street.
Another American woman was stabbed by a soldier when
she was walking on Friedrichstrasse with a friend because she
was speaking English.
When the State Department instructed Ambassador Gerard to
bring the matter to the attention of the Foreign Office nnd to demand
an apology Wilhclmstrasso referred the matter to the General Staff
for investigation. The soldier was arrested and secretly examined.
After many weeks had elapsed thcrFtfrcign Office explained that the
man who had stabbed the woman was really not a soldier but a Red
Cross worker. It was explained that he had been wounded and was
not responsible for what ho did. Tho testimony of the woman, how
ever, and other witnesses showed that the man at the time ho
attacked the American was dressed in a soldier's uniform, which is
gray, and which could not be mistaken for the black uniform of a
Red Cross worker.
It was often said in Berlin, "Germany hates England, fights
France, fears Russin, but loathes America." No one, not dven
American officinls, questioned it.
The hato campaign was bearing fruit.
In January, 1010, there appeared in Berlin a publication called
Light and Truth. It was u twelve-page circular in English and Ger
man attacking President Wilson and tho United States. Copies were
sent by mail to all Americans and to hundreds of thousands of Ger
mans. It was edited and distributed by "The League of Truth." It
was the most sensational document printed in Germany since the
beginning of the war against a Power with whfeh Germany was
supposed to be at peace. Page C contained two illustrations under
the legend:
WILSON AND HIS PRESS IS NOT AMERICA
Underneath was this paragraph:
"An American Demonstration On the 27th of January, the
birthday of tho German Emperor, an immense laurel wreath, deco
rated with tho German and American flags, was placed by Ameri
cans 'at tho foot of the monument to Frederick the Great (In Ber
lin). Tho American flag was enshrouded in black crepe. Frederick
tho Great was tho first to recognize tho Independence of the young
republic, after it had won Its freedom from the yoke of England, nt
tho price of its very heart's blobd through years of struggle. His
successor, Wilhelm II, receives the gratitude of America in the form
of hypocritical phrases and war supplies to his mortal enemy."
One photograph was of the wreath itself. Tho other showed a
group of thirty-six persons, mostly boys, standing in front of the
statue after tho wreath had been placed.
Gerard Resents Insult to America
When Ambassador Gerard learned about the "demonstration"
he went to the statue and from there immediately to the Foreign
Office, where he saw Secretary of State von Jagow. Gerard
demanded instantaneous removal of the wreath. Von Jagow prom
ised an "investigation." Gerard meanwhile began a personal inves
tigation of tho League of Truth, which had purchased and placed
the insult there.
Days, weeks, even months passed. Von Jagow still refused to
have the wreath removed. Finally Gerard went to the Foreign
Office and told Von Jagow that unless It was taken away that day
he would get it himself and send it by courier to Washington. That
evening Gerard walked to the statue. The wreath had disappeared.
Week by week the leaguo continued its propaganda. Gerard
continued his investigation.
July 4, 1910, another circular was scattered broadcast. On
page 1 was a large black cross. Pages 2 and 3, the inside, contained
a reprint of the "Declaration of Independence," with tho imprint
across tho face of a bloody hand. Inclosed in a heavy black border
on page 4 were nine verses by John L. Stoddard, the lecturer, enti
tled "Blood-Traffickers."
BLOOD-TRAFFICKERS
Cowards, who kill three thousand miles away,
Sco tho Ion? lines of shrouded forms Increase!
yours is thl,i work, disguise it ns you may ;
But for your creed tho world were now at peace.
Month after month your countless chimneys roar,
Slaughter your object, and your motive gain;
Look at your money, it is wet with gore I
Nothing can cleanse it from tho loathsome stain.
Tou, who prolong this hideous hell on earth.
.Making a by-word of your native land,
Stripped of your wealth, how paltry Is your worth I
Sco how men shrink from contact with your hand
There Is pollution In your blood-smeared gold.
There Is corruption in your pact with Death.
There Is dishonor in the lie, oft-told,
Of your "Humanity"! 'Tis empty breath.
What shall it profit you to heap on high,
Makers of orphans! a few millions more,
When you must face them those you caused to die,
And God demands of you to pay your score?
He is not mocked ; His vengeance doth not sleep";
Is cup of wrath no lets you slowly fill;
What you bavo sown, that also shall you reap:
God's law 'is adamant, "Thou sbalt not kill" !
Think not to plead : "I did not net nlonc,"
"Custom allows it," and "My dead were few";
Each bath bis quota; yonder are your own!
See how their Dcshlcss Oncers point nt you, at yon !
You, to whose vaults this wholesale murder yields
Mere needless Increments of ghoulish gain,
Count up your corpses on these blood-soaked fields!
Hear . . . till your death . . . your victims' moans of pain!
Then, when at night yoo, sleepless, fear to pray,
Watch the thick, crimson stream draw near your bed.
And shriek with horror, till the dawn of day
Shall find you raving at your heaps of dead !
JOHN L. STODDARD.
w
Jul; 4th, 1916.
The League of Truth
Head Offices for Germany:
Berlin Vf
iO Fotsdamcr Str.
Printed by Barthe ft Co., Berlin W.
One of the American Girls emnloved In K ...
room of the American embassy was slapped fan
tint tl eliA atnl lp ? I, t.. ! If . fi
Ui,i.,t one hi uj a ui-wuuii in civilian clothes I
was spcaKing JMigitsh.
Fourth of July, 1770, nnd daring to barter awar Ik
of the white race. We want to see whetoerl
voices or ucrmnns and foreigners have not more"wi
the hired writers of editorials in the newsDanem. ..,
the words of men who are independent will not render!
EiDie ior u suDsiaizea press to conunue its destiucti
Gerard's Investigation showed that a groun of
cans in Berlin were financing the League of TrutV
named William F. Marten, who posed as an American, m
ana mat, me editors anu writers ot the publication Light u
were being assisted by the Foreign Offico Press Bureau
lecieu Dy me uenerai stair. An American dentist in
unaries Mueller, was chairman of the league. Mr i
mann-Hofer, the American-born wife of Neumann-Hoferi
Reichstag, was secretary. Gerard reported other nnw
State Department, and asked authority to take awnvrt.ia
of Americans who were assisting the German Governmrtl
propaganua. j
ine "league" heard about the Ambassador's i e
MM AtM . J iL.l UTt! Tl jit ... . .,,
uiuiuuiiteu mm a nig nerina issue would bo publij
oerard. lor several months the propagandists wort
data. One day Gerard decided to go to the league's oh
at tne people who were directing it.
... ..t vuuioc ml ma iciiiurns me rtmDassaclor sa
Foreign Office didn't do something to suppress the
diately he would burn down tho place. Tho next dav K
coworkers went to thek Royal Administration of the Suj
No. 1, in Berlin, and through his attorney lodged a crjl
of "threat of arson" against the Ambassador. fi
ine next day Uermany was flooded with letters!
.League ot Truth," saying: ?&
The undersigned committee of tho Leapun nt-
their deepest regret, feel compelled to inform the mfak
Ambassador Gerard -had become involved in a crinunl
involving threat of arson. All American citii
now asked whether an Ambassador who acts so, nnd!
the moment of a formal threat of a wholly unnecessuyii
to be considered worthy further to represent a country lM
unuea states.
End of the League of Truth
The league made an especial appeal to the "German-Americans."
Germany, as was pointed out in a previous article, counts
upon some German-Americans as her allies. One day Ambassador
Gerard received a circular entitled, "An Appeal to All Friends of
Truth." Tho same was sent in German and English to a mailing
list of many hundred thousands. Excerpts from this read:
If any one is called upon to raise his voice in foreign lands
for the cause of truth, it is the foreigner who was unable to
witness the unanimous rising of the German people at the out
break of the war, and their attitude during its continuance.
This applies especially to tho German-Amcrican.
As a citizen of two continents, in proportion as his character
has remained true to German principles, he finds both here and
there the right word to say.
Numberless millions of men are forced to look upon a loath
some spectacle. It is that of certain individuals in America, to
whom a great nation has temporarily intrusted its weal and woe,
supporting a few multimillionaires and their dependents,' set
ting at naught unpunished the revered document of the
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Were it not for the fact that at this time President WWl
trying to impress upon Germany the seriousness of her
disregard of American and neutral lives on the high seas, tM
inmg would have been too absurd to notice. But Germany
to create the impression among her people that President
was not speaking for America, and that the Ambassador!
insignificant to notice,
After this incident Gerard called nnon Von Jhmw u
demanded the immediate suppression of tho third numher'i
ano irutn. Before Von Jagow consented Mrs. Neumi
turned upon her former propagandists and confessed. I
confession is in the State Department, but this is what
Marten is a German and has never been called to
because the General Staff has delegated him to direct
American propaganda. (We were talking at the eml
uay nerore the Ambassador left.) Marten is supported
very nign omciais. He has letters of congratulation!
. nancenor, Oeneral von Falkenhayn, Count Zeppelin'
ior one oi nis propaganda books entitled "German B
I think the Crown Prince is one of his backers, but I
Deen ame to prove it.
Jl 4
(CONTINUED TOMOnilOW)
AMERICA'S ANSWER TO GERMAN DUPLICITY-AN ARMY AT THE FRONT AND .OTHERS COMIN(f
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ONE OF THE MANY TRAINING CAMPS FOR AMERICA'S OVERSEAS ARMIES
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the heart of the Kaiser If it were not contemplated to work his undoing. amgm
ROLLCALL OP AMRRirAM luont.u ,. .- rhoto froi
Section Commander North- V.u"":"?" w. vufcUWTKEBB IN FRANCE
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