New Britain Herald Newspaper, March 1, 1917, Page 1

" GERMAN INTRIGUE TO CRIPPLE UNITED STATES . EXPOSED BY INVITATION TO MEXICO AND JAPAN! < s 2 i wwfrom New York for Bordeaux has |tion PRICE THREE CENTS. AIN HERALD NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, THURSDAY, MARCH 1,1917. —TEN PAGES. HERALD “ADS” Mi BETTER BUSINES} ESTABLISHED TO SEND INVADING ARMY ACROSS RIO GRANL Carranza Promised Financial Help and Restoration of New Mexico, Texas and Arizona If He Would Agree to Lend Stren ; to Berlin—Duplicity of Von Bernstorff and Hypocrisy of Von Bethmann-Hollweg Revealed By Astounding Document‘ O in Possession of President, Proving Beyond Question Hostility of Kaiser Toward America . GERMANS EVAGUATE |HOUSE IN DEBATE |CONGRESS RALLIES BAPAUME, GOAL OF | ON FLOOD MEASURE| TO WILSON'S SIDE ALLIES ON SOMME iParis Anticipates Fall of Town '+ Tnto Hands of Britsh s and French : DEFENSES DESTROVED < BY FLEEING TRUTONS Retirement But Secks to Minimise Importance r<\d Movement—Turks in Complete ., Rout, Making Full Speed to Bagdad 'With ‘British Shshing &t Their | *mimm Apparently éven the x strong hold on Bapaume is to be .. abadoned. 4 Paris military circles today reported #information that the fall of Bapaume- was 'imminent, the Germans already diaving fallen back behind the town. +,, 'Northwest of Kut-El-Amara, or the Tigris, the British still ve the ‘Turks in full retreat, acco: g to the latest official advices received in London. More prisoners and mate- have been captured. - The - American steamer - Rochester £ rmately afrived in French waters. “"A Geéerman airplane bombed Broad- stairs, on the island of Thanet, off the, N Kentish coast. The British report #ays one woman was injured. Teutonic submarine operations have resulted in the sinking of four more vessels, aggregating 8,796 tons. b L " Berlin today made-its expected an- evacuated, referring to this merely as * #g part of our advanced positions” on both sides of the Ancre. The defense { ‘it is stated has been transferred to ahother prepased line. { ‘The German war office reports the Tepuise of two British attacks, just to the south of evacuated ground, one . i, near Le Transloy and the other near {@ailly. The British appear to ve penetrated the German positions in ‘the latter case and to have estab- slished themselves in what Berlin al- ludes to as ‘riflemen’s nests” of local .importance only. ey Berlin Announces Retirement. Berlin, March 1, by Wireless to Say- it i “Ville.—German army headquarters to- day announced a voluntatry and . mystematic withdrawal of parts of the bi an advanced positions on both ;bjnka of the Ancre, on the Franco- $Belgian front. 3 Predict Fall of Bapaume. 5.-‘~ Paris, March' 1.—The Germans al- #eready have fallen back behind Ba- spaume and the fall of, that town is imminent, according to information . from the front which has reached military circles here. The new Ger- man line is said to run along the road ¥ [ "from Bapaume to Peronne and some distance in the rear of the formeér town, A During their retirement the Ger: mens have systematically destroyed their dugouts and provision depats and Sirendered their trenches useless. An & Australian patrol in one place found chain stretched across a ravine and iscovered in time that it was con- § 'mected with a mine at either end. The German artillery fire is said to have ‘been notably feeble during the recent » retreat, but heavy guns are reported ‘still in position at Bapaume, mounted i on rails, 1 Turkish Ranks Shattered. London, March 1.—The remnants £ the Turkish forces retreating from ut-El-Amara have ' been shatteréd pmpletely, according to information (Continued on Ninth Pue.? i Discussion on Bill to Empower Wilson to Arm Ships SENATE PLAN FAVORED m‘mvflu.llnolvm Cbhamber, to Give Him Fullest Au- thority Will Be Passed—Release of Cqnsuls Dgmanded. Washington, March 1)—Spurred by increasing menace from Germany, house leaders today planned to seek action before night on the bill au- thorizsing President Wilson to arm ships and rush it to the senate, where an agreement exists not to pass a sim- ilar measure before tomorrow. Oppo- sition dwindled rapidly as members of congress learned of the German plot to involve Mexico and Japan in war with the United States and additional reports came-in of the torpedoing of | the Laconia and the detention of folr American consuls in Germany. The house bill, which eontains no authorisation for thée president to, use “other instrumentalities” in defense of neutral rights and would. prohibit government war insurance for ships ammaunition, might reach a vote by four o'clock this afternoon un- der a special rule which Chairman Flood of the forelgn affairs commit- tee expected to prese today. It became known authoritatively today that the president endorses the senate bill which includes the “other | instrumentalities” clause and carries no insurance prohibition for ammuni- vessels. The aedministration plan is to substitute the senate bill for the house bill and try to force the lower body to accept the change. Ia Follette Stumbling' Block. Senator La Follette was the cause of uncertainty over the bill's fate. He started a fillbuster when an effort was made to bring up the measure at 1 o'clock this morning after the long night eession on the revenue bill, an@l finally desisted when it was agreed to put off action until tomorrow. He has not indicated whether he intends to filibuster then. The state department last night s sent to the Berlin government a re- { quest for immediate release of four American consuls held there pending of word that German consuls in the United States have been per- mitted to go to other posts in South and Central America, As a result of the increasing grav- ity of the German situation, the ad ministration is known to be giving ex- traordinary attention to preparedness measures, particularly to the question of universal military training, even though passage of & bill providing this seems unlikely at the present session, \ ‘While the policy of armed neutral- ity annouriced in the president’s last address to congress is to be continued, if possible, the administration is tak- ing into account the possibility of fur- ther aggression necessitating the most thorough preparedness: A special rule for immediate con- sideration of the Flood bill to em- power the president to arm and pro- tect ships nder United States reg- istry” was favorably reported today from the house rules commttee. ‘Without a roll call, the house adopted the rule and three hours gen- eral debate on the measure was be- gun immediately. The council of national defense to- day called on the bureau of forelgn and domestic commerce to aid in mobilizing the country’s resources in : event of war. More than a dozen rallroad heads met here today to approve plans for putting the country’s rail Hnes at the disposal of the government in an emergency. The railroad men form four departments upder the council of national defense. Great Britain has withirawn her objection and made known her per- mission for Hadfields Ltd, an Eng- lish munitions cpncern, to contract with the United States navy for ar- | mor piercing shells of the 14 and 16- ineh type, T T ~ Filbuster Breaking Up Under Crisis of New Gomplic&tions LANSING ISSUES STATEMENT Secretary of State Offers Opinion Germany’s Offcr Ncver Reached " Japan and Believes México Would Not Attack Unitcd States. -Washington, March 1.—Full official confirmation of Germany's intrigue to ally Mexico and Japan with her to make war on the United States, as revealed last night by The Associdted Press, was'given today at the White House, the ‘state department and in the senate. On the floor of the senate it announced that democratic senators had been authorized to state that the revelations, including the itext of the-} nstructions from'the German’ forelgn: minister, Zimmermann, to = German’ Minister Von Eckhardt at Mexico City ‘were correct. On motion of Senator Lodge the sen- ate at once took up a proposal to ask the president to communicate the facts to congress officially. After considerable discussion Sen- ator Hardwick -igsisted upon an ob- Jection to immediate consideration of the Lodge resolution, in order that there might be time for deliberation by the foreign relations committee. Launsing’s Statement. Secretary Lansing authorized this statement: *“‘We do not belleve® that’ Japan (has had any knowledge of this or that ghe would consider any proposition made by an enemy as to Mexico. “We have confidence that Mexico would hot be a party to any such agreement in view of the friendly re- lations existing between this govern- ment and the de facto government of Mexico.” Secretary Lansing took care, it will be noted, to exonerate both Japan and Mexico and said this government had no knowledge that the proposition had been conveyed through Mexico to Japan. In view of the fact that the plan was not to be presented until “it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States” it was not certain, Secretary Lansing said, that the matter had been official- 1y presented to General Carranza at all. was Trail Lost in Mexico. It is known definitely, officlals said, that Zimmermann's instructions had reached Count Von Bernstorff here in ‘Washington, that he forwarded them to Mexico City and that they reached the German minister there. "At this point the trail of official certainty is lost to view. 5 Secretary Lansing refused to give ny indication of how it ‘came into he possession of the United States government, on the ground that it would endanger the lives of those con- cerned. He refused to discuss the source in any way. Ambassador Sato of Japan was in- formed of the possession of the text of Germany’'s proposal by this gov- ernment yesterday afternoon when he called at the state department to see Counsellor Polk. Officlals here ex- pect Japan will welcome the oppor- tunity to reiterate her allegiance to the Entente alllance and that the oc- casion will be taken of cementing rela- tions between the United States and Japan. Evidences were on every hand in the senate today that the republican filibuster against defense legislation and the armed neutrality bill was rapidly breaking up. Several repub- lican senators, in the light of the in- ternational revelations, assured demo- cratic leaders that they would stand by the president. The effect of the situation on con- gress was almost instantaneous. Re- publican senators who had been fili- bustering against the proposal to em- power the president to arm ships and use other instrumentalities to deal (Continued on Second Pages) | eration of the Lodge resolution. THE EVIDENCE (Authentic u‘:opy of the German Foreign Minister's note to the Ger- man Minister in Mexico.) ‘Berlin, Jan. 19, 1917, On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it i8 our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. \ : If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and * togather make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlc- . ment. N You are instructed to inform above in the .greatest confildence as soon as it is certain that there the President of Mexico of the will be an outbreak of war with the United States, and suggest that the President of Mexico, municate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to .this plan. on his own initiative should com- At the same ‘time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan, Please cal]l to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to com- pel_England to make peace In a few months. i ZIMMERMANN. SENATE STIRRED ' BY REVELATIONS Passes Resolution By Sena- tor Lodge to Have Foreign Relations Committee Probe Authenticity of Zimmer- mann Letter. ) Washington, March 1.—The ‘com- munication of Germany to Mexico and Japan proposing nn alliance against the United States, us published today, was brought up-in the senate, when it convened, by Senator Lodge, who in- ‘troduced a resolution proposing that the.president inform the senate If the note signed “Zimmermann” §s au- thentic. ‘ Senator Swanson of Virginia said he was authorized to state that it is “substantially correct.” Senator Swanson informed Senator Lodge that the democratic senators had been au- thorized by the president to state that the account of the Zimmerman note as revealed by The assoclated Press was substantially correct. Senator LaKollette ‘said he would not object to the passage of the Lodge resolution, providing it was amended to ask the president to state when the Zimmermann note had come . into possession of the United States gov- ernment. Senator Lodge added to his resolu- tion a clause requiring that the sen- ate be supplied with all other in- formation regarding this matter If not incompatible with the public in- terest, ' “It is time,” said Senator T.aFol- lette, “that we should know how long the president of any branch of the government has had the document in ; his possession.” Senators Reed and Hardwick ob- jected to hasty prosecution of the, Lodge resolution and had it re-read. Senator Lodge declared that when “a great mews gathering association like the Associated Press put forward seriously and solemnly what purports | to be a despatch frem the secretary of foreign affuirs of Germany inviting Mexico and Japan to unite to make war on the United States, it was time | the congress and the people should be | informed of the matter.” While Senator Swanson was assur- ing Mr, Lodge that he was authorized to state that the Associated Press was correct full confirmation was being given officially: at the White House and state department. Senator Hardwick of Georgia, dem- ocrat, objected to immediate consid- Senator Works, republican of Cali- fornia argued that it should be adopt- { ed. “It is exceedingly important,” said WEATHER. Hartford, March 1.—For Hartford and vicinity: Gen- crally fair tonight and Fri- day. Not much change in temperature. s 1 he, “that wé Have explicit- informa- tion whether the president, at the time he asked congress to confer extraor- dinary powers upon him, knew of these condftions as ‘disclosed in the newspapers,. If the president had the information at that time, it was due congress and the people of the United States that he should lay before con- @ress all of ‘the circumstances ‘that might affect the action of congress. Congress is dealing with that situa- tion and we should; have all’the in- formation before taking any steps.” Senator Reed deplored what he said appeared to be criticism of the pres- ident, although Senator Lodge dis- claimed any intention to embarrass him. : “I hope that at this moment, which to me appears to be a very solemn one,” Senator Reed said, “we will not have any more manifestations of dis- positions to criticise the president. Let us criticise no one by any kind of inference. This Is .a time when Americans should close their ranks and face one way and respond to one sentiment. I hope that will be done.” . “I am very deeply impressed with the gravity of the situation,” said Senator Thomas, democrat, of Colo- rado. We're confronted with a crisis that may be very serious. It'is a co- incidence that The Associated Press publication ‘comes when the senate is considering the army and navy bills, “But if this letter from the Ger- man foreign minister is authentic, and it is said to be by the senator from Virginia, we should know it and know it now. I hope the resolution of the senator from Massachusetts will be accepted and I am sure tha president will- respond td it. There may be reasons for not giving the in- rormation, if incompatible with the public interests, “The fact is The Associated Press has given this entire story to the public. with what seems to be a most important Ydocument. It is probabiy authentte.” Senator Lodge said he cared little regarding the form of his resolution. “Nothing is further from my mind than to suggest criticism of the pres- ident,” said he. “We ought to have this information—the people ought to have it—to know whether the doc- ument is true or not. If we are to act together we ought to have that fact. I have every reason to believe that the inquiry is not distateful to the president. We must not act on newspaper report and we ought to have the official information. “The president is asking great power. For one, I think we ought to give it to him. And we ought to have this information in that connection.” Senator Pomerene, democrat, of Ohio, said that in addition to the As- sociated Press despatches the senato had the statement of nator Swan- son that the Zimme! an despatch as authenti ibstantially Senator Swanson. “If there is any to know that fact, Pomerene. The correct,” interjected rariance we ought returned Senator resolution amply Series of ‘Attempts to Stir Up Trouble in i \ ern Hemisphere Laid Positively at Door} Imperial Palace in Potsdam By Unif . States Secret Service Agents ‘Washington, March 1.—Reve tion# of how Germany, expect- ing war with the United tSates as the result of her submarine, campaign of ruthlessness, plotted to unite Mexico and Japan with her for an attack on the United States has stirred the capi- tal to its depths. 2 Members ' of cangress, many of whom have been hesitating before Prepident Wilson's request for full au- thorify to declare “armed neutrality against Germany in the present situa- tion, went to the capitol today read- ing documentary evidence of the in- trigue which proposed to separate Japan from her allies and add the United States to the Mst of nations which Germany hopes to see con- quered in her dream of world domina- tion. How Germany, confident that unre- structed submarine warfare is the in- strument by which she will bring (mn 'l.u;a to her Kknees, proposed a ple blow, is revealed 86t .of in structions 'tr_vm ot Gu&: Pardc; Minister Zimmerman' to German Minister Von' Hlekhardt, in Mexico City, which was transmitted through Count Von Bernstorff, late Germu\ ambassador here. At one sweep Germany proposed to weaken the entente alliancé by the defection of Japan, strike a crushing .blow at England’s naval power by cut- ting off the vital supply of Mexican fuel oil and thoroughly engage the at- tention of the United States by an in- vasion in which Japan was to be. in- vited to join and for which Mexico should be rewarded by recanquering’, her “lost provinces,” Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, Hypocrisy of German Government. ‘This astounding document, dated Berlin, January 19, 1917, contents of which have for some time been In possession aof the United States gov- ernment, shows plainly that Germany while making repeated protests to the United States that she had no inten- tions of resuming her sea campaign of ruthlessness; was making the final ar- rangements for i°s execution iwo weeks before it was announced, and had even gone s0 far in cansideration of the consequences that she proposed to meet them by the attack with Mexico and Japan upon the United States. - To American officlals the startiing disclosure throws new light on Ger- many’s real attitude toward the United States. It shows that while the ad- ministration has been going to utmost lengths to avold an armed clash with Germany, even to the extent of re- peatedly enduring flagrant violations of American rights on the sca and breach of neutrality on American soil, Germany, with the diplomacy sudden- Jv revealed by the outbreak of the European war, has been numbering the United States among her enemies and has made pravision tc meet such a situation. Proof Long in Hands of United States. The documentary proof of Ger- many’'s ,plot to unite Japan and Mexico against the United States has Dbeen in the hande of the United States. While German statesmen Have been pleading that President | Wilson's action in breaking off diplamatic re- lations was “brusque” and harsh, and that they were informed of no “au- thentic reasons” for his action and while the German chancellor, Dr, Von Bethmann-Hollweg, was making his speech in the Reichstag in which he deplored the break and protested that Germany had promoted and cherished the friendship af the United States, “‘as Bismark put it—* loom of Frederic the ‘Grea documentary evidence in the hands of ; officials here showed that Germany was plotting an attack on the United States by a trinle alliance. \ American officials wonder how, In the light of these disclosures, German | officials will reconcile their plea that| the United States put an interpreta-, tion on the new submarine orders “not intended by Germany” with the organized disabling of German mer- chant ships in American ports, at a pre-: iged signal from the German emba; me of them even before the break ‘was an accomplished fact. American ‘officials are equally inter- cn_teg in knowing what reception the startling disclosures wiil Germany and what will be the on the German people if they mitted to know about them. m Rejected By The evidence at hand is 't Mexico, as Germany B mitted to Japan the proposal;fi attack on the United States with a reception in Tokio ok quite contrary to what Berlin ha pected. 4y Observers here believe - thaf break down of the scheme & Japan was concerned was when the Mexican go quently reversed its attif nounced that it had no 1 cutting off the British' suj al fuel oil, as had p] cated in General g to make peace in E off exports ‘of food , and from neu i Berlin's Hand in Westchn Aside from the plan to ali pan from the Entente country against the United 8t plot to embroll Mexico, -mh:-t the United States, W} 10 have generil* Kbe t Germany, ‘commiands ehtef a because it is regarded as proof smouldering ' suspicions of activities to stir up trouble 'on the western hemisphere, . United Stdtes, by the Mon trine, \is morally obliged to y VR Y in the Gulf of Mexico; possible man Influences behind the up Cuba; répeated rumors that Ge influences were playing on all tionary factions in Mexico ) sole purpose of emb: United States; reports of resemt being stirred up against tho U States in. Coloinbia which aln y a grievance because of thé of Panama; the rocent purchase the United States of the Danish Wi Indics for the openly announced I son that the United States copld W afford to have them fail into’ hands of a hostile power—all/ things, in the opinion of offictaln take on a decidedly definite form the digclosure mado in German structions to her ministor in The investigation of American itary intelligence officers by the sorvice at the border have di many German activities thero Shit 4 'be assigned to their proper pl the sequence of events,’ A Blamed for Villa's Rald. At Columbus, N. M., it 1§ « that German influences wero sible for the Villa raid, with 1 Ject of forcing intervention hy United States, ‘which was e draw the attention of the Amesil military . forces ‘and munitiong g facturers and consequently: cut { the munitions exportéd to the & ‘The apipy. intelligence officers a1 possession of information which on to {mply' poysible connection ‘of Ths dore Kouck, ‘or Kouch, German Vit consul at Parrel, Mexico, with' the tack by Mexiean troops on the Am ican cavalry: under Msjor. Torapkin while in pursuit ot the Villa bandit Although American officers say the did not find Kock at Parral while the] .were there, thoy have received repo: that he upged an.attack on Americnf troops and prevented the capture Villa. fearing it would be followed revelations of the alleged Germ fluence behind the raid. One | army officer sald: “I am positive that Kock' ¢ L o . thing if not a great deal | the trouble at Parral.” \ From other sources informati . come to tho government. of othei : man activities and in 88 {n. co. Dr. Wrum Heller, & tive in Mexico many yoe r ed to be very close to G 3 za and active in condncting' man pro inda in Mexico. formution in the hands of th crnment intelligence officers Is Maximillan Klaus, a German, charge of the Carranza ordn! tories which have been _estal near Mexico City. None of thessy in itself is regarded as having &= rect relation to the proposal of & many to Mexico and Japan, but it (Continued on Secend Page.)