“Grave-Digger of Navy” Von Tirpitz Is Called By People of Germany
By DELT M. EDWARDS.
I. N. S. Staff Correspondent.
LONDON, March 23.—The German navy and everyone in it—except the U-boat men—is in disgrace. The people call von Tirpitz “the grave-digger of the German navy.”
Pamphlets decrying him are circulated by the thousands, together with thousands of others on the political situation.
Lieut. Comdr. Hugo W. Koehler, of the United States navy, who has just completed a tour of Germany, thus described the attitude of the German people toward the men of the navy.
“The one sure thing about the German navy is that it is finished finished far more effectively than If every officer and man and ship had been sunk,” said Commander Koehler.
“With the exception of U-boat men the navy and everyone in it is in disgrace. The U-boat men were loyal throughout the whole revolution, and are loyal to the central government today, but even they appear ashamed of the navy for many of them wear soldier uniforms. Hardly anywhere does anyone see a sailor in uniform. So thoroughly is the shame of the navy felt that the blue uniform is considered almost a badge of disgrace, and except for the uniforms of the men of the few ships still in commission one never sees any blue, although the streets are crowded with men in the forest gray of the infantry.
Persius Pamphlet Most Popular
“I spent about all of the first night in Wilhelmshaven in reading German newspapers and the placards and handbills distributed by the Workmen’s Council, the Socialists, and the civil government. I also got a number of the pamphlets with which every book shop and kiosk is packed. I asked which pamphlet had been the most popular and was informed that “Tirpitz, the Grave Digger of the German Navy,” by Captain Persius, had had an enormous sale. A refutation of this was on sale, but had not proved popular.
The Washington Times, March 23, 1919