The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1916-08-21
GERMANS HAVE RIGID
GUARD AGAINST SPIES
Travellers Departing for Den
mark Are Stripped
and Inspected.
NONE ARE EXCUSED
Wives of High Officials Are
Not Exempt-Examin-
ers Are Courteous.
By CARL w. ACKERMAN

United Press staff Correspondent
COPENHAGEN, Aug. 21.-Everyone
who leaves Germany today via War.
nemuende for Denmark is stripped tC
the skin. Ears, nose, teeth and toes
are examined to see that no informa.
tion or plans for the enemy are being
carried out Reichstag members
wives of officials, correspondents and
! laborers are treated the same
An American crossing the border
yesterday remarked that before long
it would be necessary for the inspec-
tion station to be built into the Baltic
sea so that the travellers could I'M
dress on the German border. walk
into the water and swim to waiting
station near the ferry and wait for
the clothes and baggage to be exam
ined and forwarded by canoe.
When travellers leave the train they
enter small wooden shed. resemb-
ling in many respects a temporary
bath house at an American beach.
Here the passports are taken away
and showed into an enclosed room
where they are examined The hold
ers are given numbers
When the passport of a traveller is
finished he is called to another room
where he is questioned about the
objects of his journey. From here the
wayfarer goes to large room when
the baggage is examined while de-
tectives stand in front and in back to
see that nothing is slipped by. Every
scrap of paper or card board is taken
away. even wrappings and paper lin
ing of boxes. Cotton is removed from
medicine bottles. Cigars are exam
ined, some are cut open, chocolate in
sealed packages is opened. the wrap
ping destroyed and half the chocolate
broken up into bits to see that moth
ing is hidden Shoes with a new half
sole are opened. The searcher feels
everything. examined canes to see
whether they are hollow. opens UNI
brellas. holds every collar up to the
light to see that nothing is written
on the lining
after the baggage is examined"
said an American woman who cross
ed the border yesterday. 'the men
and women are taken into separate
compartments, about the size of a
large individual bath house and there
every bit of clothing is removed. Wo-
men are examined by women, men by
men. The searcher went through ev-
cry piece of my clothes. examined the
border of my underwear and held al
most every inch of my clothes up to
the light. Eve nthe roses I wore,
were examined petal by petal. My
wrist watch was opened back and
front: so also my shoes, umbrella and
hat l had to take down my hair and
my scalp was examined thoroughly
/ suppose to see that | didn't have a
map of Metz concealed thereon. Then
my ears, teeth. hands, toes and back
were examined. but fortunately I was
not suspected woman, because I
hn1 in oil 10
there were any concealed maps drawn
on my skin. The alcohol and a basin
of water with towels were there and
on a shelf | noticed a bottle of aro-
matte spirits of ammonia and drink /
ing water for those who might faint
under examination. In every way the .
women were courteous and gentle"
After that was over the passengers
were permitted to board the ship but
there they soon encountered a score /
of spies who watched for every move
and who listened to every remark. /
The Germans take no chances with /
anyone.
Articles which are taken away dur I
ing the examination are wrapped up
before the eyes of the traveller and .
posted back to an address he gives .
Of any friends in Berlin. Only sus-
picious articles are confiscated.
At present no rubber goods of any |
kind can be taken out no matter if |
it is the most necessary article. Not
an ounce of rubber leaves Germany
today.