El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-26
YOUTHS
PUT To WORK IN
GERMAN FIELDS
South African Statesman
Tells of Bitter Feeling in
Germany.
IMPRINT MADE OF
HIS FINGER TIPS

sfvewrirht. the South African
- statesman. has arrived in Eng
land after going through the exper-
fence of having his finger prints taken
in the city of Nuremberg. With him
is lady Sivewright. They declared that
Young Britons caught in Germany by
the outbreak Of war are being forced
to do field work. Sir James also said
that the circulation in Germany Of fic-
titious stories recounting the hardships
Of Germans in England is doing much
to increase the severity Of German
treatment Of English subjects
I'VE left Marienbad on August 3"
said Sir James. and, after much delay
reached Numerberg on August 1. In
view Of the prospect Of further delay
we decided to remain al Nuremberg
and put up at a hotel near the station,
where there were over 100 Americans
stranded like ourselves. Mobilization
was in full swing. Thousands Of troops
were streaming through the stations
and the greatest enthusiasm and ex-
element prevailed
Called on By Police.
Early on the morning Of August .,
I was informed that England and Ger
many were at war, and was told tnat
a police officer was waiting 10 see me
Half an hour later I was requested TO
proceed TO the criminal police station,
whittier owing TO my ignorance Of
German, I was accompanied by the
hotel proprietor, who acted as inter
prefer. 1 was miDutely cross exam
ined and told to return to my MOTEL
After proceeding 100 yard9 was
summoned back to the 'Rsth- Haus,'
told that my Interpreter would be re-
placed BY an official interpreter
whose knowledge Of English seemed !
attic where were assembled number
Of Russians and French
Finger Prints Taken.
There I was photographed, my /
my finger prints taken. I was then /
handed a permit and told that might /
walk about town During our en- |
forced stay of nearly three weeks, we /
were only stopped in the streets thrice !
and set free on production Of the per /
nit
"A week after our arrival We were \
told by Mr.. Winans, the American con- !
sui, who was untiring in his efforts, 4
that he had arranged If a train TO con- 4
Yey Americans to Amsterdam, and we /
were pressed by our friends TO go by !
this as Americans. This was, Of course, /
out Of the question, but the chief of /
staff TO the general commanding at /
Nuremberg. whose acquaintance 1 had
made. arranged that though a British .
subject being beyond the military age.
1 should travel by the American train.
a permit was drawn Up enjOining Z
on all not to modest US on German 4
territory. and all arrangements were
made for our departure.
Prohibit Departure
"On going TO the criminal police Of
flee for my passport two hours before
the train was to leave, I was told that
a hitch had occurred and an hour later
been received from headquarters that
under no circumstances was I TO be
allowed to travel by the American Z
train or to be permitted to cross into
and that the same order ap- |
piled to all British subjects.
4 was intensely disappointed al this I
Of the generals orders, I
and the utmost concession 1 could get
was to be allowed to cross into Switzer-
land where the train service was quite
unhinged. We left for Lindau on Au-
gust q, and in due course, reached /
Berne, where the British minister had I
just received news Of the HeligOland |
victory which cheered US very much"
Dealing with the situation in Ger
many, Sir James said. Although
was treated with politeness and court
esq I cannot say that this was the eX-
perience of all my countrymen, espec- !
tally those eligible for military ser
vice. The Germans have got spying on I
the brain, and all are regarded as spies, {
Americans as well as Britons. In my (
Judgement even for a time Of war I
young Britous are treated harshly,
demonstrated with the officials on this {
point, and was informed that Germans
were only following the example Of my
Statements Incense Germans.
4 was then shown statements by
one Geheimrath (privy COUNCILLOR
Bergman, who is a power, even in
Germany Interviews with this man
had appeared in two leading Berlin
papers, and had been distributed
broadcast through Germany. Nv as
surance that his statements were i'm
possible were strongly objected to. and
was told that no mans word had
greater weight in the country. Berg
mann declared that he and 90 Germans.
including women, on arriving at
were arrested. taken
under escort to Winchester prison, and
kept for four days in dirty cells. with
plank beds and bread and water.
Eventually, Bergman, through the
American consul secured his release.
and was allowed to proceed. The morn
ing after the publication Of this dan
gerous fabrication was warned not to
go into the streets and not to whisper
word of English
Z am perfectly certain that the pub
lcauon OF statements such as these
has done infinite harm Younger Eng
lishmen who have been released on
parole were arrested and again con-
signed 10 gaoL When left a number
Of these young Britons had been sent
put TO do field work with French priso-
ners."