20 ,M Pictorial Section EVENING LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1917 .. i HE NEXT 0 REPUBLIC f (3y CslfiZL W.ACKEFZMAN "President Wilson was at the end of his patience. Probably he began to doubt . .11 ji. 4 C A ixltnccnrinr tZtwnrrl tUni 41,...- "' whether no couiu rciy upon inu rcuuiib m i"- r T r r .,., u was a chance of the democratic forces in Germany coming out ahead of the military cagte Wilson showed his attitude plainly in the Sjsscx note. 1 1 J nrg 11 1 ran t mpan 77m All Was Not Well Willi the Organization of the German Government Was Made Manifest to Ackerman Early in His Experiences His Difficulties With the Von Hollzcmlorff Inter view Proved Enlightening The Chief Effect of the Sussex Note in Germany Was That It Forced the Kaiser to Choose Between the Conciliatory Policy of Von Beth-mann-Hollweg and the Unrelenting U-Boal Campaign Bached by the Navy The Sussex iXolc Is Received in (ivrmanu ON THE eighteenth of Apul I asked Adniual von HoKzcndoiir Chief of the Admiralty Staff, for his opinion about the Sussev Two dnvs later ho approved the interview, in which I quote him as saying: We did not sink the Sussex. 1 am as convinced of that as of anything which has happened in this war. If you read the definite instructions, the oxnet orders each submarine com mander has, oii would understand that the torpedoing of the Sussex was impossible. Many of oin submarines have icturned from lounding up Uritish vessels. They sighted scores of passenger ships going between England and America, but not one of those was touched. We have definitely agreed to warn the crews and passengers of passenger liners. We have lived up to that promise in ovei.v way. Wc arc not out to totpedo without warning neutial ship- bound for Kngland. Our submarines have icspected evoiv one of them so far. and they have met scores in the North Sea the Channel and the Atlantic. On the same day that Ambassador Geiard handed Von Jugow Secretary Lansing's note Under Secretary of State Zirrynermann approved the Von HoltzendorfT inteivfew. Zimmermnnn could not make himself believe that a Get man submarine was responsible and the Government had decided to disnvow all responsibility. But such convincing reports begnn to arrive from the United States nd from neutral countries which proved beyond a doubt that a German submarine was responsible, that the Government had to again bring up the submarine issue at gieat headquaiters. When the Von Holtzcndorff interview was published in the United States it caused a sensation iiecau.se if Germany main tained the attitude which the Chief of Jho Admiralty Staff had taken with the approval of the Foreign Oflicc, a bieak in diplomatic relations could not lie avoided. Secretary Lansing telegraphed Ambassador Geiard to inquho at the Foieign OITicc whether the tatements of Von HolUendoifl" represented the opinions of the German Government Gerard called me to the ICmbassy. but before I ariivcd Doctor Heckscher. of the Reichstag Foreign Relations Committee, came. Gerard i ailed me in in HockschorV presence to nsk mc if 1 knew that the Von lloltzendorff interview would bring About a break in diplomatic relations unless it was immediately disavowed. Ho told Doctor Heckscher to infotm Zinimermann that iftho Chief of the Admiialty Stan" was going to direct Germany's foreign policies he would ask his Government to accredit him to the naval authorities and not to the Foreign Office. Heckscher would not believe my statement that Zimmermann had approved the interview, and assured Gerard that within a very short time the Foreign Office would disavow Von HoltzendorfTs statements. When he arrived at the Foreign Office, however, Zimmermann not only refused to disavow the Admiral's statement, but informed Heckscher that he had the same opinions. President Wilson was at the end of his patience. Probabl.v he began to doubt whether he. could lcly upon the reports of .12...i. L. .ItJttn.tlfi, HliA nrmtr nn1 ,nr rnM f -i ilUJUSb IIIU UII1H.U1VJ. ..V- M4...JT ..111. .!, OU1U 111 CIIPM U1 can adjust It without stopping the submarine warfare and J?? mir hfnninff wiin inn uriiLiMi n nips, fin sn .' ". Kaiser Wilhelm Calls a Conference The latter part of April the Kaiser summoned all of his Min iJ and his leading generals to the French chateau which fc ,. 'v! his headquarters in Charlevllle. This city is one of the $ picturesque cities in the occupied districts of northern Franctfc is located on the banks of tho Meuso and contains many. hut.' old ruins. At one end of tho town is a largo stono castle rounded by a moat. This was made tho headquarters ott General Staff after tho Germans invaded this section of pr, Near tho railroad station there was a public park. Facine it a French chateau, a beautiful, comfortable home. This vru ft Kniser's lcsldence. All sticets leading in this direction were! i leaded and guarded by sentries. No one could pass without"' special written permit from tho chief of the General Staff, v Falkcnhnyn had his home nearby in another of the beautiful chatei" there. Tho chief of every department of tho General Staff W The latter part of April the Kaiser summoned all of his 'Ministers and his leading generals to his headquarters in Charlcville. Atnbassadoi Geiaid that there was a chance of the democratic forces in Geimany coming out ahead of the militaiy caste. Wilson showed his attitudo plainly in the Sussex nolo when ho said: "The Government of thu United States has been very patient. At every stage of this distressing experience of tragedy after tragedy it has sought to be governed by tho most thoughtful con siderations of tho extraordinary ciicumstances of an unprecedented war and to be guided by sentiments of very genuine friendship for tho people and the Government of Germany. It 1ms accepted the successive explanation and assurances of tho Imperial Govern ment as of couise given in entire sincerity and good faith, and has hoped even against hope that it would prove to bo possible for the Impel ial Government so to order and control tho acts of its naval commnnders as to squaic its policy with the recognized principles of humanity as embodied in tho law of nations, it has made every allowance for unprecedented conditions and has been willing to wait until the facts becamo unniistak ' Ic and were susceptible of only one interpretation. It now owes it to n just legard for its own rights to say to tho Imperial (.overnment that that time has come. It has become painfully evident to it that tho position which it took at tho very outset is inevitable; namely, that the use of submarines for tho destruction of enemy commerce is of necessity, because of tho very character of the vessels employed and the vciy methods of attack which their employment of course involves, utterly incompatible with tho principles of humanity, the long-established and incoiitiovcitible rights of neutrals nnd the sacred immunities of noncombatants. "If it is still the nuipusc of the Impel ial Government to piosc tute lelentless and indiscuminato warfare, against vessels of com- meice by the use of submarines without regard to what tho Govern ment of the t'nitcd States must consider tho sacred and indisputable rules of international law and tho universally recognized dictates of humanity, the Government of the United States is at last forced to the conciusion that there is but one course it can pursue. Unless tho Imperial Government should now immediately declares and effect an abandonment of its present methods of subrrarino vvarfaro against passenger and freight-carrying vessels, the Government of tho United States can have nq choice but to sever diplomatic rela tions Willi tho German Government altogether. "This action the Government of tho United States contemplates with the greatest reluctance, but feels consliained to take in behalf of humanity and the right of neutral nations." After Von Jagow read tho note tho Foreign Office Telegraph Bureau sent it to gieat headquarters, which at this timo was still located in Chaileville. France, for the infoi million of tho Kaiser and General von Falkenhayn. It was evident to every ono in Berlin that again not only tho submarine issue was to be debated at gieat headquaiteis, but that tho Kaiser was to bo forced again to decido between tho Chancellor and his demociatic supporters and Von Falkenhayn and the military party. Before tho conference convened general headquarteis sent inquiilcs to five Government departments, the Foreign Office, tho Navy, the Ministry of War, tho Treasury and Intel ior. The Ministers at tho head of these departments were asked to state whether in their opinion the controvcisy with America should be adjusted or whether tho sub maiine waifare should be continued. Dr. Kail Helffcrich, tho Vice Chancellor and Minister of Interior; Secretary of State von Jagow and Count von Rocdcrn, Minister of Finance, replied to lEjtle Ne're-0me. citt hi , note. .Ch.rjg h t$H i: KcvwIm 1570. wefus,SAVl W. . S ' Xielnt-Bsrlhtle;-J oZj "'if W The church near the Kaiser's headquarters in a -chateau at ChuleTiEi in princely fashion in houses which in peaco times were home!. for distinguished Frenchmen. Thero were left in Charlcville scarceWi a hundred French citizens, because, obviously, French people, vlo'i were enemies of Germany, could not bo permitted to go back anJJ forth in the city which was the center of German militarism. (CONTINUED TOMOIUIOW) PHILADELPHIA'S FIRST QUOTA FOR THE NATIONAL ARMY DEPARTS FOR TRAINING AT CAMP MEADE TEARFUL SCENES ATTEND LEAVE-TAKING IN TRAINSHED OF BALTIMOR E AND OHIO STATION, TWENTY-FOURTH AND CHESTNUT STREETS. AS RELATIVES OF DRAFTED MEN BID ADIEU TO INITIAL CONTINGENT BOUND , JJUK TUAININU (jUAUTUUii. i A. (4
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