popular battle shout in Germany. The von Tirpitz blockade announcement
made this battlecry real. It made him the national hero. The German
press, which at that time was under three different censors, turned its
entire support over night to the von Tirpitz plan. The Navy
Department, which even then was not only anti-British but
anti-American, wanted to sink every ship on the high seas. When the
United States lodged its protests on February 12th the German Navy
wanted to ignore it. The Foreign Office was inclined to listen to
President Wilson's arguments. Even the people, while they were
enthusiastic for a submarine war, did not want to estrange America if
they could prevent it. The von Tirpitz press bureau, which knew that
public opposition to its plan could be overcome by raising the cry that
America was not neutral in aiding the Allies with supplies, launched an
anti-American campaign. It came to a climax one night when Ambassador
Gerard was attending a theatre party. As he entered the box he was
recognised by a group of Germans who shouted insulting remarks because
he spoke English. Then some one else remarked that America was not
neutral by shipping arms and ammunition.

The Foreign Office apologised the next day but the Navy did not. And,
instead of listening to the advice of Secretary of State von Jagow, the
Navy sent columns of inspired articles to the newspapers attacking
President Wilson and telling the German people that the United States
had joined the Entente in spirit if not in action.




CHAPTER III