Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-04

Ter may not even have coat to his
back. The state department has no
funds appropriated for the care OF
cases such as these, and therefore the
department requires that a deposit big
enough to take care of the discharged
recruit and pay his passage home shall
be made by whoever is interested IN
getting him out of the service, before
the case is brought to the attention OF
the British government.
Numerous naturalized Americans
are fighting in the German armies. A
number of German businesses in this
country are being managed by the
women of the family, while the hus-
band and father chases Russians or
argues with the English on the west
ern front. In Cincinnati, for instance,
there is a German bakery being run
by the lady of the house. Her husband
and her three sons are fighting for the
red. white and black. incidentally II
NAV be noted that she is making
success of the baking business.
There is treaty between Germany
and the United States providing that
German subjects who have become
citizens of this country shall be
recognized as such in Germany il they
have lived in the United States for nVe
wears. But if such a citizen emlgrated
after he was enrolled as recruit IN
the standing army, or while ne was o'l
,..va of absence during the regular
rv;ce neriod which every German
must render, or if he was III 'no
resarve service period which every
cerman must render, or if he was IN
the reserve. and left after his line
was warned or called on, he is haDie
to trial and punishment on his return
even if he has his American naturaEz'
alton papers.
Many Germans who returned to the
fatherland to fight have done so on
account of strong pressure exercised
nv the relatives they left behind them.
Turkey and Russia take a highly
severe attitude toward such of their
subjects as see fit to transfer their
allegiance. A Russian subject who
naturalizes under another government
has committed an offense for which
he can be arrested and punished on
his return to Russia. unless he first
gets permission to return from the
cars government The United States
dissents from Russia's position in the
matter, but former Russian citizen
who returns to Russian soil puts him
self within the jurisdiction of Russian
law. If he conceals the fact Of his
American naturalization, this govern
ment is under no obligation to protect
him while he is in his native land
The laws of Turkey also forbid
Turk who has naturalized in another
country to return to Turkey, under
penalty of arrest and Imprisonment, or
at best, expulsion. Here, too, the
United States dissents, but in the alb
sence of a treaty with Turkey cover
ing the point, cannot guarantee to its
naturalized Turkish citizens that they
will not be arrested or expelled when
they 60 home
The most interesting angle of the
situation from the American point of
view is the future status of all these
soldier citizens on their return to the
United States. Several such cases are
already before the courts. For in
stance, there is an American from De-
troit who served in the British army.
He came back to this country on the
promise of employment, and was ar
rested under the alien contract labor
Jaw, on the ground that his citizenship
was forfeited. His case is being
tried, and is attracting especial atten-
ton on account of the precedent it
will establish.
Taken in round numbers, small
army of Americans have enlisted un.
der various warning banners. But
compared with our whole population,
especially our total population of alien
birth. the number of these fighting
Americans is surprisingly small. It's
smallness is striking demonstration
of the rapidity with which our immi-
grants become genuine citizens in
heart as we'll as in name.
The coast guard service includes