The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-17

Professor julius Frelin has returned
to Minneapolis. The former Mankato
student and newspaper reporter, reach
ed the flour city yesterday morning.
none the worse for his thrilling eX-
perience in France recently. The Min
neapolis Journal tells the story in tins
interesting style:
| Weather beaten but smiling, late
from French handouts, gruff gen
darmies and bread and water diet, and
consequently hungry for Minnesota air
and American freedom, Professor julius
Frein, head of the French department
of the University of Minnesota, ar
rived in Minneapolis today and told the
story of his arrest by the French gov
eminent for failing to report for mil
tary duty, his three weeks imprison-
ment and his final escape from the red
tape of Gallo officialdom.
Then Mr.. Frelin heaved a long sigh,
stretched out his arms luxuriously and
/, calculated, Il am glad to get back
home."
The subject of threatened interna"
tional complications got from Calais to
Dover, and sailed from Liverpool Sept.
| on the Lake Manitoba, coming by
way of Quebec and Montreal, the first
Minneapolis person who welcomed him
was Mayor James c. Haynes.
"Well, brigadier?" smiled the mayor.
Don't you call me that" cried Mr..
| Frelin.
Tells His Interesting Story.
Mr.. Frelin subsequently narrated the
story of his experiences.
81 was born" he said, ''in Alsace,
| in the contested territory. 1t was be
fore the war. In 1872 the people there
were given the choice whether they
would be German or French. My
father was French, but he did not go
away she was required to, and | am
myself now citizen of three nations,
France, Germany and the United
States.
81 have been going for several years
back to our old home in the village OF
Petit Croix | never suspected any
/, trouble, but two years ago l heard that
the authorities were looking for me on
the ground that | had not reported for
military service. | hid. For two days
| hid in neighboring village, and then
lit all seemed to blow over.
He Was Between Two Fires.
"Well, this year l was at the sta
ton, preparing to 60 to my uncle's
place in Germany, at Romagny, when
all of a sudden a gendarme came up
and arrested me on that same old
charge. l suppose it is good thing
that I did not go, because they would
have got me in Germany for the same
thing.
"The gendarme asked if | was
Julius Frelin and | said | was. Then
he took me to the gendarmery, and
from there they took me to Belfort, to
the recruiting office. l tried to explain.
l told them I was forty years old,
for a man is not due for military
service after he is thirty three. | told
them / had served in the United States
army in the Spanish American war.
They were very polite. They said they
were sorry, but nothing could be done
for me.
Was Given Bread and Water.
"Then l was lodged in jail. They
were not very good to me at Belfort
[ had bread and water. Two days Y
was in prison there, but once [ did
have good dinner with the brigadier.
latter that / was taken on the train,
handcuffed and guarded by two gen
darmes, to Bezancon, where 1 expected
to be courtmartialed. No, [ do not
know what the maximum punishment
might have been. But it was not long
before they found that after they had
got me they did not know what to do
with me- Some of the authorities were
very kind. They let me communicate
with the American ambassador and
with the consul, but | had to write all
my letters in French.
Placed on Conditional Liberty.
"Three weeks after my first arrest
was placed OH conditional liberty.
was free to go pretty much where I
pleased, but | had to let the authorities
know. Finally l got to England and
| then came across to Canada from Liv-
Continued Or Page Eight.