The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-22
GERMAN CALM;
PEOPLE TRANQUIL
Continued from Page oneJ

N~----r--
just three inches from the outward
perimeter of my raincoat.
was taken to a little shack where
/ was informed the "kommandant"
would question" me.
The kommandant was a most regal
persona regular "Graustark" hero
with a long sweeping military cape
of pale gray broadcloth swinging inn
periously about him and just grazing
the sparkling spurs fixed upon his
elegant riding boots.
He spoke most excellent English
and said he was very sorry that the
language of America wasn't different
from the language of England as 1t
would avoid confusion"
He handed me back my passport,
my letters and the other documents
had given him to establish my iden-
tity and asked for something else"
! had an inspiration-at least came
to know later that ii was an inspira-
ton. had in my bag letter OF in.
PRODUCTION from Amos Pinchot of New
York TO Ambassador Gerard in Ber-
lin. i produced IL. The kommandant
took Ii and began to read aloud:
Honorable James W. Gerard,
American Ambassador to Ger
many,
Wilhelm Platz, Berlin.
Dear Jim
The kommandant dropped the let
ter "Mein Gott" he said. Your
friends calls Herr Gerard dear Jim
ia! you may GO.
had been the single object of sus-
pic.on in all those many coaches and
the minute l slammed my door, the
train started For an hour We rode
through the night and then we got of
at Vessel. The clock on the station
platform said il was 10 minutes past
a. IN. The train for Berlin--"der
zug mach Berlin"--I was told would
pass at $3.50 in the morning.
Three hundred people trooped into
the tiny waiting room and began to
talk-the first talk these people, prac-
tically. all OF whom were returning
to "the fatherland' from England, had
freely had since the war started.
The walters and the ticket agent
were cornered and made to tell 1.-The
truth about the war"
The German few so thick and fast
that | would have been left hopelessly
behind but for the slim blonde girl
who had been in the compartment
next to mine. She translated rapidly
for me, and then suddenly We discoy-
cred that all eyes were on us.
He speaks English" they all cried.
But the slim blonde girl told them
that was an American-that not only
had l been passed at Goch because
OF my excellent credentials but that
the kommandant had asked her to see
me through anod that, in addition, she
knew me for an American indisput-
ably because Of my accent.
Il have lived three years in New
Jersey" she said, land know the
Americans are our friends"
With that she took from her purse
clipping from the New York Stats
Ieitung, and, mounting a chair, began
TO read In German a poem by Ger
man-Amerfcan celebrating the broth
erhood OF the two nations.
When she had finished three cheers
were given for the Americans. And
for the rest OF the night ! was hero
instead Of pariahl
The $3.50 train that took me from
Vessel TO Muelheim-on-Puhr gave me
no glimpse or Germany--for l went u
Sleep A kindly guard pulled my foet
until l was awake and conducted me
acros sthe tracks to the platform
where ! was 10 wait for the "Schnell
zng mach Berlin"
An express train to Berlin. STAN
mered my amazement TO the guard as
J slipped him a mark. His loquacity
developed wonderfully under the eff
feet OF the 90 cents. I'VE have four
express trains every day from Cologne
20 Berlinl" he said proudly. "The war
mas had little effect with us Germans.
During the month of mobilization
things were put about a little. but
everything is practically normal
aeain.~
This was the second surprise | had
mad I'm about six hours OF Germany
began TO look about.
The beautiful new train platforms
Ieshloned OF steel and cement. were
ue<ziing In their cleanliness. Fully
W' persons were waiting there. bnt
mere was absolutely no confusion. A
4nard. who looked as though he would
make very good soldier. n soldiers
we're badly needed. went up 10 each
person. asked him which train no
wanted and told him which track 4,
would come In on
Then a sign was suddenly disp,aysd