Six Weeks with the Enemy

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

Six Weeks with the Enemy: Enthusiasm for the Blockade is an article published in The New-York Times on 18 february 1915.

Arthur Conan Doyle about the German enthusiasm for a blockade as inspired by himself in his short story Danger! (july 1914).


Editions

  • in The Times (18 february 1915 [UK]) as Six Weeks with the Enemy
  • in The New-York Times (18 february 1915 [US]) as Say Conan Doyle Book Inspired Blockade


Six Weeks with the Enemy

The Times (18 february 1915, p. 9)

IV. — Enthusism For The "Blockade."

National Confidence in the Navy.

(By A Neutral Observer)

Two weeks ago to-day I was staying in one of the chief cities in the " Rhineland." Though no great distance from the Western battle-line, one saw fewer signs of war, more apparent indifference and unconcern, than in any other city in all Germany. I had occasion to visit a neighbouring town, so left the city early in the morning.

On returning at nightfall I noticed a complete change. The somnolence had given way febrile to febrile, suppressed excitement. Small groups were gathered about the kiosks and shop windows, where little white, square posters announced the latest news. These official and semi-official bulletins issued by the newspapers are posted on the walls, hoardings &c. in every city in the land, and here the "man in the street," the soldier, the broker, the shop-girl get the latest news of the war. In many ways it is very satisfactory, as all kinds of people are brought in close personal contact, and even the most taciturn seem to dare venture a comment, whereas the better informed are apt to make short, explanatory remarks in regard to the often obscure wording of the bulletins.

I stepped to a bulletin board and read the headlines:—

Die Blockade Englands
(The Blockade of England).

Every German's heart welled with pride and delight as he read the official communiqué announcing "that on and after February 18 every British merchant ship entering British water would be destroyed, &c., &c." Jetzt wird's ernst (Now it's getting serious) seemed to be the more mature opinion. "Das ist aber schön. "That's lovely" was a feminine comment.

Pride in the Fleet.

For in Germany the Fleet is a fetish. The most intelligent men in the country have the firm conviction that in efficiency, armament, and personnel it is second to none. A living symbol of world power, a bond that unites the whole people, it is the one Imperial idea that causes them to forget their Saxon, Prussian, Bavarian, or grand-ducal allegiance. It must be remembered that probably five-sixths of the population never have seen even a gun-boat, except in the cinema, and naval affairs are not within the realm of understanding of many.

The Fleet is looked upon as a sort of "spoiled child," and, as far as I could gather from conversations, nothing was impossible for it to accomplish ; but what is more curious, any mistakes it might make, any disasters, were forgiven in advance. The loss of the Blücher in the recent engagement off the Dogger Bank to have been considered of little more importance than the loss of an outpost trench.

This absence of a critical attitude toward the Navy, though it may to some extent make for adventure, rather than a desire to secure substantial advantages, leaves a wide latitude of independence to its commanders, which is of decided value. Some one remarked to me:— "Our Navy is the creation of one man, Grand Admiral von Tirpitz ; he has made our Fleet what it is to-day ; he is still with us to direct it ; we have full confidence." As I endeavoured to point out in a previous article, the "one-man rule" has been in the past of untold strength to Germany, so that it would seem that this confidence is not wholly misplaced.

"What will happen on February 18? Will Germany carry out its threat, or is it mere bravado?" I inquired of several well-informed Germans. "What about German submarines?"

An English Writer's Story.

"We had the idea ready-made for us in England," came the quick reply. "Conan Doyle suggested the outlines of a plan which every German has hoped would be used. His story, 'Danger,' will tell you far better than I can what we intend to do, for we have the submarines now, and as England is attempting to starve us, we must show her that two can play at that game." This was said to me with all seriousness, and I heard Conan Doyle's story referred to repeatedly in defence of the blockade.

That submarines will change naval warfare, that they will free the world from the burden of maintaining navies, and, above all, will bring about a new Völkerseerecht (international maritime law), placing private property at sea beyond the reach of predatory enemies, was the fervent hope expressed by all thinking men. This is the task entrusted by the German people to their Navy.

That such a pre-eminently practical people as the Germans should feel as they do in regard to their Navy must not be taken to mean that they do not expect victories, or that a complete failure of the plans announced with such a flourish would not react most unfavourably. On the contrary, the bold language of the Berlin Decree of February 4 raised the expectations and hopes of the nation to a degree of confidence which success alone can gratify.

Attitude to Neutrals.

That the measure is aimed at neutral states almost as much as against England seemed to be the cause of much satisfaction. For in Germany they seem reconciled to the notion that they are standing alone against the world. Their idea of neutrality, and the rights of neutrals, in as far as I could determine from casual reference in conversation, is, "Those who are not with us, are, or may be, against us." As an elderly official expressed it:— "We have no capacity for making friends; we know it, so we must be on our guard. We are the parvenus of Europe; no wonder other nations are jealous of our success," he added.

Withal I found no bitterness against any neutral country, except perhaps the United States. "American shrapnel is killing many of our bravest soldiers; can Americans expect us to buy their typewriters after the war?" a German importer remarked.

At the beginning of the war Germany counted on the moral support of the United States, because of the large and influential German-American population, the numbers of Americans residing in Germany, the similarity of industrial expansion, and the widespread belief that the friendship of the United States for England was not sincere. That the Unites States Government took no firm stand in the matter of shipping foodstuffs to Germany, the sending of gold to Canada, the selling of arms and munitions to the Allies, and other palpably unfriendly acts, according to the German point of view, have been construed, not as mere breaches of international comity, but of neutrality.

That February 18 and the days following will see the squaring of accounts is the ardent hope of the German people.


Say Conan Doyle Book Inspired Blockade

The New-York Times (18 february 1915, p. 2)

Germans Pay Tribute to Novelist's Idea About Use of Submarines.

Special Cable to The New York Times.

London, Thursday, Feb. 18. — A "Neutral Observer" in a fourth article in The Times tells of the reception given in Germany to the official announcement of the intention to blockade England. He says:

"In Germany the fleet is a fetich. The most intelligent men in the country have the firm conviction that in efficiency, armament, and personnel it is second to none. As far as I could gather from conversations, nothing was impossible for it to accomplish, but what is more curious any mistakes it might make and any disasters were forgiven in advance.

"'What will happen on Feb. 18. Will Germany carry out its threat or is it mere bravado?' I inquired of several well-informed Germans," What about the German submarines?'

"'We had the idea ready-made for us in England,' came the quick reply. 'Conan Doyle suggested outlines of a plan which every German has hoped would be used. His story, "Danger," will tell you far better than I can what we intend to do, for we have submarines now, and as England is attempting to starve us, we must show her that two can play at that game."

"This was said to me with all seriousness and I heard the Conan Doyle story referred to repeatedly in defense of the blockade.

"That the measure is aimed at neutral States almost as much as against England, seemed to be the cause of much satisfaction, for in Germany they are reconciled to the notion that they are standing alone against the world. Their idea of neutrality and the rights of neutrals, in so far as I could determine from casual references in conversation, is: 'Those who are not with us are or may be against us.'

"The loss of the Blücher in the recent engagement off the Dogger Bank seemed to have been considered of little more importance than the loss of an outpost trench. This absence of a critical attitude toward the navy, though it may to some extent make for adventure rather than a desire to secure substantial advantages, leaves a wide latitude of independence to its commanders, which is of decided value.

"Withal I found no bitterness against any neutral country except, perhaps, the United States.

"American shrapnel is killing many of our bravest soldiers. Can Americans expect us to buy their typewriters after the war?" a German importer remarked.

"At the beginning of the war Germany counted on the moral support of the United States because of the large and influential German-American population, the numbers of Americans residing in Germany, the similarity of industrial expansion, and the wide-spread belief that the friendship of the United States for England was not sincere.

"That the United States Government took no firm stand in the matter of shipping foodstuffs to Germany, the sending of gold to Canada, the selling of arms and munitions to the Allies and other unfriendly acts, according to the German point of view, have been construed not as mere breaches of international comity but of neutrality.

"That Feb. 18 and the days following will see a squaring of accounts is the ardent hope of the German people."