GERMAN PLOTS IN AMERICA

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14698, 1 September 1915, Page 3

GERMAN PLOTS IN AMERICA

MYSTERIOUS FIRES ON STEAMERS. ' ■ LONDON, August 31. A .message from New York says that seven men, of whom Jive are Germans, have been .arrested in connection with numerous ' wholesale robberies of cargoes on steamships bound for Allied seaports. It is believed they wore also responsible for mysterious fires aboard steamers. The authorities expect to make further arrests. THREAT TO DESTROY CANADIAN CROPS. NEW YORK, August 31. As the result of a German threat to destroy by fire the Canadian prairies grain * crops, the international boundary along Minnesota and North Dakota is guarded by armed sentries. MUNITIONS FOR THE ALLIES. ATTEMPT TO PREVENT SHIPMENT. NEW YORK, August,3l. Attempts to interfere with the shipment of munitions to the Allies arc reported. The glazing mills of UnAmerican Powder Company have been blown up, with the result that orders foi Europe will he delayed several weeks. Two workmen were killed at Wilmington, where two black powder mills of the Dupont Company were blown tip. A mysterious lire damaged the plant of tlie Baltimore Machinists’ Company, which recently obtained an order for shrapnel casings.

America’s greatest difficulty, if 'she were to be drawn into the war, would come from the “hyphenated 'Americans’’ —those American 'citizens ■ who regard themselves as German or Austrian as well, even though they ought profess to put America first. Their influence is dis-‘ proportionately great, by reason of the very thorough Germany-subsidised, campaign which they have been able to carry on, and by reason of the fact that German-Americans are practically, all organised into societies. The National German-Ameriean League is said to have .'),d(H.1,000 members. Counting as Anslro-Gorman all those who were born in Germany, or both of whose parents were German born, there is one of them to every ton white men in America. The' actual figures, from the 1910 census, arc as follow, giving on It the round numbers;— White population, of America, 82X00,0111): Americans born in Germany or Austria-Hungary, ■1,100,000; both parents so bom, 4 ,800.000: one parent so hern, 2,000,000. This gives a total o! nearly 11,000,000 Austro-Gcrinans -taking the word in the widest possible sense, and nearly 9,000,000 Austro-Ger-mau born or of. an Auslro-German father and mother.' But. according to the Sphere, many of the individual American States are almost wholly dominated bv the “hvplienatcs,” and particularly Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, in which the Germans have a far greater control of affairs than even their numbers warrant. They are able to bring pressure to bear on weaker parties, and can stand in a solid body for the achievement of their ends, and some towns, for instance, Milwaukee in Wisconsin, are practically German towns. At least, half of Milwaukee’s inhabitants are German by birth or descent. The administration of the town is carried out by men bearing typical German names,; and in the stores and streets'perhaps more German than English is spoken. GERMANY’S LATEST MOVE. . WASHINGTON, August 31. The general impression of Germany's altered attitude regarding submarines; is that it is intended to clear the way preparatory to peace negotiations upon her part. The New York Sun says that Germany is trying to rchabitate herself in the eyes of neutrals in order that when peace is being discussed, she will have larger support and sympathy from the neutrals. GERMAN TRADE WITH RUSSIA. A CRUSHING BLOW. LONDON,. August 3L .The Daily Chronicle’s Petrograd correspondent says Prince Shahovki, Minister of Commerce, in an interview, said the war had dealt German trade with 'Russia. a crushing blow. If public opinion had its way Germany would never bo allowed to recover her former position. “Mo. should particularly welcome the co-operation of Englishmen in the industrial sphere. All mills and factories in Warsaw tliat were directly useful to the State have been transferred to the interior. Many of these were Russian, hut the propinquity of the frontier made tl’em susceptible to German influence. The opening of he Dardanelles will mean the .steady gravitation of Russian industry to the Black Sea basin.

CROPS IN ASIA MINOR. A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. MITYLENU, August 31. Unseasonable rains and locusts have damaged the crops in Asia Minor. The acreage sown was sixty per cent, of the average, and scarcity of la.boilr provents garnering all. the existing crops. Should tne war last till, December the sowings will be still more scanty and famine is in sight.