GERMAN PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1915, Page 6

GERMAN PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

WIKKLKSS MK,S,SAGKS TO SHIPS.

A New York correspondent writes: An interesting incident, showing how pre|iared Germany was for the wur, recently came to light among the evidence adduced in Boston, in suits against the German steamer Kronprinzessin Cecilie for failure to.deliver goods entrusted to her. It will 'he remembered that this ship put back to Bar Harbor, Maine, on her voyage to Bremen from New York, and was eventually interned at Boston. Captain Pollak stated that on July 2!> lie received a wireless message: "Eiberhard has suffered an attack of Siegfried." Upon this, he opened a sealed letter that | had been given him two years previously by the North German Lloyd Co., when |he took command of the ship in lfll?, and which was not to be opened until he received a wireless message signed 'Siegfried." The scaled letter said: "Gcrhiany is at war with Great Britain. France, and Russia. Put back to port." It will be noted; lihat. the wireless message was days before Britain severed diplomatic relations with Germany. The incident recalls the fact that another ship of the same line, the Kaiser Wilhelin der- ! Gr'osse, which loft New York on .Inly 24, was never again publicly heard from until reported sunk off the' coast of Africa by the British cruirei' Highflyer, being then equipped with guns and' armament as a regular auxiliary cruiser. Not only preparations, but 'deliberate intention of war with Britain j are thus pro Yen to have/existed for years 'previous to the outbreak. It will be reiinembered that when the Imperator came .)iit I wrote you the opinion that fler- | ni&ny would lrave a war on her hands as soon'as her sister-ship, the VaterlanJ, was completed. Had it not been for the quick action taken by Britain last Aug- ' ust 1 these ships, 'and many others, would have l>eeii among the German Navy. '