Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-12-31
IS ANGEL or MERCY
Alfonso Of Spain Busiest Mon
arch in Europe.
He Conducts Clearing House for In
formation About the "mIssIna" In
the war--Every Inquiry Re
eelves Attention.

Madrid.-King Alfonso OF Spain is
perhaps the busiest sovereign of Eu
rope these days, although his country
is not at war. nor likely to change its
policy of neutrality as long as the war
lasts. That strict and continued neu
trality, without any political reasons
why either side OF the belligerents de
sires to have Spain change IL. gives
King Alfonso the privilege of appeal
ing to any country at war for news OF
soldier husbands. brothers or sweet
hearts. He is doing SO for all the
women OF Europe, receiving and re
plying to several hundred letters ey.
cry day. They come from French
countesses. English servant girls, from
Austrians. Germans. Russians and Bel.
gians. They are so numerous, mum.
bering altogether about $4,000, that
one whole floor in the royal palace in
Madrid has been given up to a post
office. where the king has installed
numerous secretaries familiar with the
various languages and adept at read
ing every variation of handwriting.
II all started some months ago,
when a young lady of France, ac-
qainted with the kings gallant char
acter. appealed to him to discover the
stood he had been made a prisoner of
war, but her own government could
give her no exact information. She
had written to the German govern
ment, but as her communication had
not passed through the proper chan
mel II. OF course. was never answered.
Sire: A desolate lady asks your
protection. Spain is the land of chiv-
airy, and your majesty is the greatest
Hidalgo OF CASTLE, and | feel certain
will hear me-" she wrote to King Al
fonso, relating the steps she had al
ready taken without success to learn
II her flance we're still in the land OF
the living.
The letter reached the eyes Of the
king. He was touched by it's appeal
and at once wrote to the Spanish Am
bassador in Berlin to see what could
be done. He was soon able to report
the good news that the soldier in
question was safely housed in prison
camp near Leipzig. The telegraph
carried the happy tidings to the royal
palace in Madrid, and from there to
Paris.
The whole investigation had taken
two weeks. and the grateful little
Parisienne was so wild with Joy that
she told everybody. Dozens, then hun
dreds. of other desolate ladies fol-
lowed her example, and their serv-
ants followed theirs; the story went
from country to country that anyone
could write to the gallant king of
| Spain and he would certainly discover
what was the address where letters
could be sent to the missing soldier.
Not long ago the wife of an English
private received long communication
from the king. written in reply to her
letter. His majesty took just as much
pains with this letter and sent It of
with Just as many indications on the
envelope that 1t had come from the
| royal palace as II he had been reply
ing to a royal princess. His secretary
wrote:
/ AhNhOhBA hio AhuJCoty % OmDaooy ~
Berlin is charged only with the inter-
ests of France and Russia. his majes-
ty. being desirous. nevertheless. Of
demonstrating his interest in British
subjects. has graciously acceded to
your request, and has communicated
with the Spanish ambassador in Ber-
lin. commanding him to communicate
with Great Britain's representative
thers-the United States ambassador
lin order that the necessary invosti-
cation may be made. His majesty
earnestly hopes that these inquiries
may be the means OF procuring salts
factory information for you"
In this case II was Ambassador Ge-
rard who served as the first cavalier
to the distressed English wife. passing
the news on to the Spanish ambassa-
dor that the husbands health was ex-
cellont and that he was safely intsrnsd
along with his comrades, not partiou-
larry enjoying war bread" but hop
ing for better times.
The king has thoroughly organised
this labor Of mercy. and every letter
received is Immediately acinowf-
edged.
Il