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Special War Edition
A JOURNAL FOR
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AMERICANS IN EUROPE
No. 1076. Vol. XXI. No.9.                   ROTTERDAM   LUCERNE    BERLIN    GENEVA  VIENNA  ROME            FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1915.
War News.
W.T.B. January 20th. Between the coast
and Lys only artillery fighting.  At Notre
1)ame de Lorette a trench of about 200 yards
length was captured; 2 machine guns and
several prisoners fell into German hands.
Several trenches were taken from the French
in the Argonnes.  For the last few days the
Gierman advance in these parts amounts to
about 550 yards. Hirzstein, near Sennheim
was conquered and 2 officers and 40 men
made prisoners.
W. T. B. January 21st. The trench captured
from the French at Notre Dame de Lorette
yesterday was lost again. The enemy made
repeated attacks along the road Arras-Lille,
but was repulsed.   Two   French trenches
were conquered at Berry-au-Bac.    French
attacks at St. Mihiel have been repulsed. At
Pont-a-Mousson part of the positions, cap-
tured by the French three days ago were
re-taken, 4 guns and several prisoners captured;
fighting for the other positions continues, as
also fightng in the Vosges.-An engagement
at Lipno (Poland) was successful. Several
hundreds of prisoners were   made.    The
German advance northeast of Borzimoff is
progressing satisfactorily. A Russian attack
at Lopuszno was repulsed.
W. T. B. January 20th.  During the night
of January 19th to January 20th., German
Naval  Airships  attacked  several  fortified
places on the English East Coast.  Several
bombs were thrown successfully. The Air-
ships were fired at, but returned undamaged.
This message is supplemented by reports
from London to the effect, that the airships
have  bombarded    Yarmouth, Sheringham,
Cromer, Kings Lynn and the Royal Resi-
dence, Sandringham, the latter place only a
few hours after the King and Queen had
left for London.  The damage amounts to
everal thousand pounds Sterling.
Vienna, January 20th   In  Poland  only
n;Ilfary, fighting  The Autro - Hungarin
artillery at the Dunajec River bombarded
parts of the Russian infantry entrenchments,
successfully and compelled the enemy to
evacuate a farm. An Austro-Hungarian de-
tachment pressed forward to the river, in-
flicted  strong losses  on  the  enemy and
destroyed a bridge built by the Russians.
Constantinople, January 20th  By a nght
attack on the English positions at he Shat
c1 Arab the enemy was completely taken by
surprise, losing about 100 men killed and
wounded. An English cavalry detachment
tried to attack Turkish infantry at Corna.
The enemy, who was supported by a gunboat,
was compelled to withdraw with severe losses.
Nicholas II for Peace.
For some time past, rumor has been busy
with the subject of the peace desires of the
Emperor of Russia   There is the best of
reason for stating that the Autocrat of all
the Russians, is inwardly convinced that peace
is the best thing for his much tried and
financially  embarassed  country.  Nicoai
Alexandrovitch, the Emperor is of one opinion,
hut Nicolai Nicolaivitch, the chief in command
of all the Russian armies, takes a quite op-
posite view and he wishes at all ri ks to
continue the war, as by so doing he has
everything to gain and nothing to lose  If
peace should now be made Nicolai Nicolai-
vitch stands stultified in the eyes of the world.
So he holds out fiercely, in the vague hope
that he may snatch victory out of the fire.
If -as is so exceedingly likely-lie loses
Warsaw, why he stands no worse off than
lie is at present. But if Warsaw falls, Nicolai
Alexandrovitch foresees all the possibilities
of the outbreak of a revolution which  has
long been simmering, the results of which
none can foretell. It has become a battle of
the little and big Nicolai. At present big
Nicolai appears to have the upper hand, but
may be little Nicolai's turn will come. Big
Nicolai is reputed to be quite willing to
sacrifice little Nicolai to his own ambitions,
and with the army at his command, big Ni-
colai just now looks difficult to tackle.
Adstro-Hungarian Heir-Apparent
in Berlin.
Archduke Charles Francis Ferdinand, the
heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, has
arrived in Berlin yesterday on his way
to the German Army Headquarters, where lie
intends to pay a visit to the German Emperor.
The Archduke and his suite have taken rooms
at the Hotel Adlon. Shortly after his arrival
His Imperial Highness called upon the Ger-
man Empress and upon Prince August
Wilhelm, who is at present staying here on
account of his illness. The Archduke's visit
has made a favourable impression in political
circles as well as among the population of
tBerlin in general.
Russias Dilemma.
Emperor Nicholas is convinced that a conclusion of peace is the best
policy for Russia.
Rasputins influence.
Nicolai Nicolaivitsch on the contrary wishes to risk all upon an effort
to retrieve the misfortunes of his armies.
There is none I know of, who can talk
in such an interesting way upon the subject
of Russia as Dr. Paul Rohrbach editor of
"Das Tossere Deutschiand". The reason   is
that he in an out and out expert upon the
subect of events in the Muscovite Empire
and you can learn more from him in half
.an hours talk about Russia than you might
otherwise get to know in years, in the
ordinary course of events.
Just now, there is no subject more discussed
than the situation in Russia. And there is
no rumor, which one hears more often re-
peated, than that which tells that Emperor
Nicholas II; godfather of the Hague Con-
ference; is in favour of the conclusion of peace.
An expert.
Therefore, it is particularly interesting at
such a time as this; when all thinking po-
liticians in this country ae fully aware that
the collapse of Russia would practically
mean, the termination of the war; to hear
what a man like Dr. Rohrbach; who has
information, in spite of cxsting conditions,
directly from Russia sources; has to say.
Well, in the first place, Dr. Paul Rohr-
bach has information to the effect that the
Tzar of Tzars wishes for peace!    That is
news of the highest interest to the world
at large.
And what is more Dr. Rohrbach, considers
the Russians to be in a' most parlous, yes,
in a truly perilous state. And I will give you
here the substance of what the Dr. has to
say, every word of which remains vividly in
my mind, although the interview was taken
under ever changing conditions, a bit of it
in an automobile, another part during a
smart walk through traffic stormed streets
and the end in the quiet of his bureau.  It
comes back to me about as follows.
Crops the factor.
To   understand  the  immediate  Russian
situation, it is necessary to go back a few
years. In the years 1909 and 1910 the grain
crops in Russia were quite unusually good.
As a result Russia gave out large orders
abroad of. It must be remembered that the
mainstay of the Russian Empire is her grain
riches and, so it comcs, that grain, in a way
is currency; that is to say its financial worth
form the means of payment by Russia abroad,
in return for those things whnch she cannot
supply herself.
Again, in 1912, a splendid harvest, and
once more, following on, large, over large
Russian orders and commitments abroad.
But 1913 came, and, with it a miserable har-
vest, imports enormous, exports small, con-
sequently a rotten state of trade. Long faces
in the commercial and financial world and
great hopes 1614 would come up trumps
and make up for the past bad year. But no
such thing took place! On the contrary the
spring of 1913 found Russia face to face with a
far worse sitution than any hitherto. Imports
again exaggerated, exports sunk away down.
As everyone knows, for even the peace
loving Emperor Nicholas in a fit of unusual
expansiveness had alluded to it openly; Russia
had proposed to be quite ready for a war,
which would surely end in her supremacy
ovcr c.1 Eurp, inVi U. tal, ii was reasoned,
by the Pan-Slav party of chauvinism, "if it
keeps on like this, thire will be no money
to make war with!" Horrible dilemma!
A forced situation.
So  the party  of war headed    by   the
tallest man in the Russian army, the Grand
Duke Nicolai Nicolaivitch, Commander in
Chief of the combined armies; backed by
Iswolski, Sasonow, the late Nicolai de Hart-
wig the Russian Minister to Belgrade; in
understanding with M. Delass, whoi had
not come to Petersburg as French Am-
bassador for nothing decided that, after all,
the present moment was perhaps propitious
for pushing on a war. It was true that the
proposed strategic railroads through Poland
hat not been finished, but they would risk it.
It was calculated in Russian Pro-Slav circles,
that Austro Hungary would be unable to
mobilise on account of differences with her
Slav populations. Also that Germany would
have to send all her troops against the French
and would therefore be unable to stop the
Russian military masses, designed to make
a victorious rush upon the German capital.
How seriously Russia was deceived in
both her military calculations, is known to
us all.  But what is not generally known,
and which Dr. Rohrbach pregnantly draws
attention to forms another point, namely that
there was a third and al important calculation
upon which the t   :.- ns had build their
hopes, n                    war would b
of short duratson.  ,  A ar.nte colossus-
of the north has    cen  doomed to bitter
disappointment. She calculated at the utmost
on a three to four months war and had
pictured to herself, well before that time had
come, that the triumphal entry into Berlin
would  have   been made at the latest at
Christmas.
Today, as everyone knows, Russia, as an
invading force, has ceased to exist.  Her
losses in officers, n.en and material have been
enormous and each day isees her beaten
further and further back and the united
armies are within sight of the walls of
Warsaw. Each day of battle makes it worse
for the Russians, bekiTe for her opponents,
for Russia has shot her bolt and she has no
recuperative power.  She fails in everything
needful for her armies and not only in material
of war, but also in ratlroad connections.
Meanwhile, the Emperor, who as everyone
knows, is anything but a descendent of Mars,
after making several flying and exceedingly
superficial visits to the seat of war, which he
was told were necessary to restore the vani-
shing faith of the Ru'ssian people in himself,
retired to Tzarskoe Selo, fully convinced that
great dangers thrcaten, not only on account
of the war, but of a revolutionary nature.
The Miracle worker.
Now the Emper-r Nicholas, has all his
life been supelsttitus, easily influenced by
fortune tellers,  pesons professing mystic
powers and th/e ik'  -r some years past
His Imperial Ma'cs ' a" much faith in
a Siberian peasant (I  Iame of Rasputin,
who claims to be a      ccomplish wonder-
ful feats of healin     ypnotism  and  is
also  a  clairvoyant.      hypnotised  the
youthful and   very      ate  heir to the
throne, and   is cr       with  having ac-
complished a cure tier y. In the Emperors
so frequent times of indecision or trouble in
late years, Rasputin has been called in and
so now. Rasputin wen consulted gave his
decision firmly and strongly as against war,
which he has assured his imperial client can
bring but evil to the Empire. And so, Emperor
Nicholas is against war.
He is for war.
But Nicolai Nicolaivitch is for war! In
spite of the multitudinous defeats of his
armies, 'he with characteristic recklessness of
the Russian, believes that he may still achieve
victory.  To him the losses of thousands
upon thousands of Russans, have no weight.
He considers that for such sacrifices the
R'ssian Moujik is born.
He calculates that if the war were stopped
now, his reputation would be badly damaged.
But that if it continues, he might win a
victory, and, if not, he would not be any the
worse off than he is. So he plays va banque,
in Russian fashion.
Meanwhile, the boasted Russian gold re-
serves are dwindling away, and the finances
of the country are in a very bad way. But
of that hereafter.
Interview -wit-JeR-arman    Imp eril-
Chancellor.
Mr. Conger, Berlin correspondent of the
American Associated Press had an interview
with Baron von Bethmann-Hollweg,theGerman
Imperial Chancellor when the latter was in
Berlin some time ago In the course of the
conversation the Chaicellor touched upon
several interesting subjects connected with
the war, for instance the American Action
for relief in Belgium, Belgium's neutrality,
the battle of Tannenberg, England's cable
censorship etc The Chancellor also declared
that Germany had a sufficient supply of
copper, oil, rubber arsd similar raw materials
in spite of England's blockade of German
oversea traffic. We intend to publish this
interview  in full in another issue of the
Conti :ental Times.
When the War will begin.
Lord Kitchener's View.
Hlavas. It is stated that an English officer
told the following story the other day at a
French officers' mess:
A lady recently asked Earl Kitchener when
the war was going to end.
"I don't know whn it will end," replied
the Secretary for War, "but I know when it
will begin, and that is in the month of May."
America beware!
Great Britains policy of crushing out her
political and commercial rivals.
Germany today, U. S. tomorrow!
Britains pact with Japan intended as a
weapon to draw the United-States into war.
To the Editor, Continental Times.
With great pleasure I have read your re-
cent editorials on the precent war and its
politicaL.consequences,  regarded from  an
American point of view.  Allow  me as an
American citizen to give and recall two inter-
esting conversation which I had with English
commercial representative, about three years
ago, in Central and South America.
At that time I served as a ship surgeon
on one of the large German liners and be-
came acquainted with officials, as well as
consuls and merchants at the different ports
we touched at. A particular English Consul,
aboard our ship one day, to my astonished
ears made the following statement, he taking
me for a German.
"Well, I tell you, it is about time that
England and Germany should get together
and between them divide the commerce of
the world."
My reply was, that such was easier said
than done, and that it was for the United
States to conquer the commerce of South
America, as natural, she being the nearest to it.
To crush America.
To that the English Consul replied:-"To
England it is a paramount issue to 'crumble'
the United States commercially as well as to
try and embarass her politically. Therefore
we have the pact with Japan, to keep the
States down, and, upon the first occasion,
draw her into war with Japan and England
would than be in command."
When I asked him "what about the Anglo-
Saxon friendship?" he replied "Rotten! There
does not exist any such friendship, for Eng-
land never would have true friendship with
the United-States".  Then he went on to
explain saying that that was a universal belief
in his country, also that the difference of
thought between an Englishman    and an
American  is so  great that there is no
possibility of bridging it over. Besides, he
claimed, the United States to be a nation of
"know nothings" whilst England is a wonder-
ful nation etc. etc. In conclusion he stfN
that it would be a great idea if England and
Japan got together and proceeded to wipe
the U. S. off the political map,
Noting my surprise, he said: "We were
very clever in getting hold of the Suez Canal
and the same of Egypt, so that we are able
to grow our own cotton so as to be in-
dependent of the United States. And, last but
not least, we will get hold of the Panama
Canal also, that is the Alpha and Omega of
British politics."
"What about the so much talked of English
American spiritual conformity of civilisation
Consul?" I asked.
"All nonsense" he replied" for you know
we always understood how to hide our true
feelings".
Such were the main points the gentleman
gave me on English politics. At the time
being I regarded his utterances as perhaps
merely those of a singular person. However
about six months later I heard migh of a
similar story from an English enginer who
was returning on our ship. But this latter
know me to be an American. One day he
i io; use
a German boat. Those d . . . Germans are
now everywhere England and the United-
States ought to join hands to destroy Ger-
many and her commerce. Englands policy is
to get other nations into war, stand aside and
laugh and when the end comes take as much
as possible".
A bad friend.
Since then I have made it my business to
try and find out the political ideas of the
English and all I have met have expressed
much the same ideas as those quoted above.
In the summer of 1913 I noticed in a Berlin
morning paper an article upon American
politics which I did not approve of, because
it ridiculed certain American governmental
ideas and talked of the Anglo-German friend-
ship. I called the attention of the newspaper
to the fact that Germany and the United
States, were, by paramount and political
reasons, forced to go hand in hand, as an
all powerful England can never be good for
the United States or Germany. For England
never has and never will stand a powerful
rival commercial or politieal. I warned the
paper against the English expressions of
friendship and advised it that it would be
better to seek the natural friendship of the
United States, I told the Editor that the time
would come when Germany would be scrry
for having listened to the false declarations
of friendship from  England-but never ex-
pected that proof would come so soon!
Will embroil the U.S.
My idea in publishing the above facts;
which I can verify at any time; is to show
what the United States has to expect from
the so called English friendship. I am quite
sure that upon the first opportunity England
will seek to embroil the United States in
troubles. Englands idea w in the first
place to get rid of her powerfu rival (jer-
many and then strike with both hands at
her other rival the United States.
Oh, how I do wish to warn our people
not to trust England, and, if I cannot, history
should do so. During 138 years of our
history, England has continuously striven, in
her own typical way, to get us into diffi-
culties, invariably professing friendship, but
really seeking to do us harm. That she has
not thrown the gauntlet down to us, is merely
because the time has not yet come. But
should she succeed, with the aid of her pre-
sent allies, in destroying Germany-which
providence, and the German army, may be,
will prevent-her next step would be to get
America out of her way.
It is impossible for me to understand how
our citizens, over home, can give their
sympathies to the allies. Besides I always
thought that it ought to be against American
ideas of fairness, that half a dozen foes
should attack one.  But I remember the
words of the great American Lincoln:-"You
can fool all the people some of the time,
some of the people all the time, but you
can't fool all the people all the time"
Berlin, Jan. 1915.  Otto Plutschow M.D.
Galician Nobles' Homage.
A deputation of representatives of the
Galician nobility has had an audience of
Emperor Francis Joseph.
In a loval address, Knight von Niezabi-
towsky, acting as spokesman, gave utteraiF
to the faithful and loving sentiments of the
Polish nobility living under the Emperor's
sway.  In the course of his speech the
nobleman said: "Our land (Galicia), which,
being the scene of the war feels its cruelty
most, fights with all its might under your
Majesty's standards, conscious of thereby
defending at the same time its faith and its
centuries old culture. We shall never forget
that under your Majesty's    sceptre  and
through the kindness of your Majesty's
fatherly heart we have obtained recognition
of our national life and the possibility of
its further development." Knight von Nieza-
bitowsky wound up his speech with the
pronunciation of the ancient loyal vow: "By
thy side, most gracious liege, we stand and
there we shall stand for ever."
The Emperor made a gracious reply ex-
expressing his warm   sympathy  with the
ordeals undergone by Galicia, as well his
ardent wish that a long period of honorably
secured peace might recompense the Galician
kingdom for its immeasurable sacrifice and
devotion.
What an American Diplomat has
seen in Germany.
Mr. Henry Dodge of Cleveland, who has
been attached to the American Embassy, Paris
during the war and also was at Berlin on a
special mission to Ambassador Gerard, has
now returned to Cleveland and has told in-
terviewers about his experiences in Germany.
"During my slay in Paris," Mr. Dodge said,
"I only thought of the allies' victory as a
question of time, but since I have been in
Germany, I have changed my opinion. It
looks as if Germany would give the world
a surprise. Before I left France I was con-
vinced that Germany could not stand the
war longer than a year. Now I am sure, that
she will stand it four years. In France I
heard Germany was starving. I did not see
anything of this sort. I was told Germany
had not sufficient metals for the production
of guns and ammunition. But she has every-
thing she wants. I heard, she was in lack of
gasolene, but I saw she had an inexhaustible
supply from other oil districts. And I also
saw the Germans do not hate the French;
they are sorry to a certain extent that the
French should have allowed themselves to be
drawn into the fight.  But they hate the
English from the bottom of their hearts.
American Gift for Germany.
The Committee of the German Relief Fund
in New York has collected 652500 Marks.
Of this sum 200000 Marks are to go to the
German Red Cross, 200000 Marks to the
National Fund for fallen soldier's families
and 250000 Marks to relieve the distress cau-
sed in East Prussia through the war. 2500 Marks
are given to a private lazarett at Wiesbaden.
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