With the outbreak of the Great War the situation changed in one important particular. Heretofore, German activities had been part of a plan of attack upon the prestige of the United States. Now they became necessary as a measure of defense. Before two months had passed it became evident to the German Government that the United States _must_ be forced into a war with Mexico in order to prevent the shipment of munitions to Europe. So began the last stage of the German intrigue in Mexico—an intrigue which still continues. As a preliminary step, Germany had organized her own citizens in that country into a well-drilled military unit—a little matter which Captain von Papen had attended to during the spring of 1914. One can read much between the lines of the report sent to the Imperial Chancellor by Admiral von Hintze, commenting upon the work of Captain von Papen in this direction. The Admiral says in part: “He showed especial industry in organizing the Germany colony for purposes of self-defense, and out of this shy and factious material, unwilling to undertake any military activity, he obtained what there was to be got.” Von Hintze significantly recommends that the captain should be decorated with the fourth class of the Order of the Red Eagle. As I have stated elsewhere, I left Germany in October of 1914, with a detailed plan of campaign for the “American front,” as Dr. Albert once put it. My final instructions were simple and explicit. “There must be constant uprisings in Mexico,” I was told, in effect. “Villa, Carranza, must be reached. Zapata must continue his maraudings. It does not matter in the least how you produce these results. Merely produce them. All consuls have been instructed to furnish you with whatever sums you need—_and they will not ask you any questions_.” Rather complete, was it not? I left with every intention of carrying the instructions out—and in a little over a week was made _hors de combat_. It was then that von Rintelen, who had already planned to come over to the United States in order to inaugurate a vast blockade running system, undertook to add my undertaking to his own responsibilities.