The path of the torpedo, however, had been observed from the bridge of the Tubantia.

I remarked to one of my well-informed confidants among the Social Democratic politicians that although it is perfectly true that a rolling stone gathers no moss, it is equally true that a moving torpedo leaves no wake.

“Yes,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “our Foreign Office is well aware of that.  Have you not noticed the significance of the two dates, March 6, when the torpedo is said to have been fired, and March 16, when it struck?  Do you not see that our diplomats have still one more loop-hole in case they are pressed?  Is it not clear that they could find a way out of their absurd explanation by shifting the responsibility to the man or the men who jotted down the date and transferred it?  The question in my mind is:  Who lost the 1 from the 16?”

Be that as it may, little Holland, enraged at the wanton destruction of one of her largest vessels, was not in a position to enforce her demands.  Therefore Germany did not back down—­that is, not publicly.

My description of the return of the Prussian Guard to Potsdam naturally aroused the wrath of a Government which strives incessantly, to hide so much from its own people and the outside world.

Directly the article reached Germany the Government flashed a wireless to America that no members of the Potsdam Guard returned to Potsdam from Contalmaison.  This is a typical German denial trick.  I never mentioned the Potsdam Guard.

I had referred to the Prussian Guard.

If any reader of this chapter cares to look into the files of English newspapers at the time of the Contalmaison battle, for such it was, they will find confirmation of my statements as to the presence of the Prussian Guard in the English despatches published in the second week in July.

The Contalmaison article has in whole or in part been circulated in the United States, and also in the South-American Republics, and probably in other neutral countries.  This has now called forth a semi-official detailed denial, which I print herewith.

It is signed by the Head Staff Doctor at Potsdam, one Geronne, by name.  He divides his contradiction into ten clauses.  Each of the first nine contains an absolute untruth.

The last is a mere comment on a well-known, German statesman, who told me that as I was seeking the truth in Germany I had better go and find it at Potsdam.

I wish to deal with the denials one by one, as each is a revelation of German psychology.

  1.  The hospital train, This says “Hospital
  which reached Potsdam on train” (singular).  I
  August 4, and was there described hospital trains
  unloaded, brought wounded (plural).  It may be true
  men from various troop that one train did not
  divisions.  There were no