U BOAT BLOCKADE

Evening Star, Issue 16547, 5 October 1917, Page 8

U BOAT BLOCKADE

No. V. Germany announced , on February 4, 1916, that on the coming February 18 the blockade of England through submarines would commence, writes Mr Gerard in li:s book ‘My Four Years in Germany.’ Some very peculiar and mysterious negotiations thereafter ensued. An American who .was very intimate with members of the General Staff came to me about February 8 with the statement that Germany desired peace and was readv to open negotiations to that end. It "was, however, to be made a condition of these peace _ negotiations that this particular American should go to Paris and Petrograd and inform the Governments there of the overwhelming strength of the German armies and their positions, which knowledge, it was said, he had obtained by personally, visiting both fronts. It was further intimated that Tirpitz Himself was anxious that peace should be concluded, possibly because of his fear, that the proposed blockade would not be successful. Of course, I informed the State Department of these mysterious manoeuvres. I was taken by back stairways to a meeting with Tirpitz at night in rooms in the Navy Department. When I was alone with Tirpitz, however, he had, nothing definite to say or offer. If there was’any opportunity at that time to make peace nothing came of it. It looked somewhat to me as if the whole idea had been to get this American to go to Paris and Petrogjad, certify from his personal observation to the strength of the German armies, and . position, ■ and thereby assist in enticing one or both of these countries to desert the Allies’ camp. All this took about 10 days before February 18. the time named for the announcement of the blockade of England. Medals were struck having the head of Tirpitz on one side and on the other the words: “ Gott Strafe England,” and a picture of a sort of Neptune rising from the sea to blockade the distant English coast.