"We have only come to see that the English don't threaten you."
The Germans left no stones unturned to influence the Dutch in their favor. They deluged the newspaper offices with free propaganda, telegraphed at great expense from Berlin, and supplied free copies of the Berlin Journals. Everything possible was to spread distrust of the English, who were constantly accused of having designs on the integrity of Holland and of desiring to take possession of the Scheldt. This was carried so far that a panic was created on March 31, 1916, by the report of landing of the Entente forces in Zeeland. The report, which was without any foundation, was circulated by the Germans and spread like wild fire around the country.
The Times History of the War.
