victory, and the
bold exploits of the U-boats have assured to My Navy glory and
admiration for all time.

You are victorious on all theatres of war, ashore as well as afloat!

With unshaken trust and proud confidence the grateful Fatherland
regards you. The incomparable warlike spirit dwelling in your ranks,
your tenacious, untiring will to victory, your love for the Fatherland
are guaranties to Me that victory will remain with our colours in the
new year also.

God will be with us further!

Main Headquarters, Dec. 31, 1916.

WILHELM.

THE KAISER'S NEW YEAR ORDER TO THE ARMY AND NAVY

* * * * * * * *

Ambassador Gerard warned the State Department in September that Germany
would start her submarine war before the Spring of 1917 so the United
States must have known several months before the official announcement
came. But Washington probably was under the impression that the
Chancellor would not break his word. Uncle Sam at that time trusted
von Bethmann-Hollweg.

[Illustration: SCHWAB TO MR. WILSON--"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, GREAT LITTLE
LEADER, THE WHOLE PLACE WILL BLOW UP IF YOU SMOKE HERE!"]

Diplomatic relations were broken on February 1st. Ambassador Gerard
departed February 10th. Upon his arrival in Switzerland several German
citizens, living in that country because they could not endure
conditions at home, asked the Ambassador upon his arrival in Washington
to urge President Wilson if he asked Congress to declare war to say
that the United States did not desire to go to war with the German
people but with the German Government. One of these citizens was a
Prussian nobleman by birth but he had been one of the leaders of the
democratic forces in Germany and exiled himself in order to help the
Liberal movement among the people by working in Switzerland. This
suggestion was followed by the President. When he spoke to the joint
session of Congress on February 1st he declared the United States would
wage war against the Government and not against the people. In this
historic address the President said:

"I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there
are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made
immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.

"On the 3rd of February last I officially laid before you the
extraordinary announcement