Evening star., 1916-07-27
CAPT. KOEN|G BARS
YOUTHFUL NURSE
Cannot Take Miss SherIing
Across on the Liner
Deutschland.
HER u. S. CITIZENSHIP
THE MAIN DIFFICULTY
Her Mother and Brother Killed on
Same Battlefield With German
Forces Last February.

Because MISS >. viola Sher1ng mas
become naturalized American citi-
zen. and 8 such cannot be allowed pas
sage on the submarine merchantmen
Deutschland, the Washington chapter
of the American Red Cross today has
an additional member. Miss Sherling
is very anxious to see the members of
her family. having come from Germany
six years ago. and was willing to trust
her life on the Deutschland. but Capt
Paul Koenig. her lifelong friend and
q schoolmate of her brother, explained
that he would be unable to give her
passage. as she is now an American
citizen. Miss Sherlings mother and
brother were both killed on the same
battlefield last February.
So Miss Sherling has Joined the Amer
lean Red Cross. She is a nurse by pro-
fession. but~hopes to become doctor.
as are the adult other members of her
family Although she graduated from
the II aiming school for nurses at Johns
Hopkins University, after a three and
a-ha1f-year course, she cannot be rec
ognized by the hospital boards of the
country as yet because she is but nine
teen years old, and the required age is
twenty-one
Miss Sherling's story is an interesting
one: she comes from an interesting
family. She graduated from a girls
school of the University of Berlin. Then,
through sthe system of exchanges be-
tween this and other countries. she
came to the United States and entered
the training school at Johns Hopkins
University.
Il Mother and Brother Killed.
Her brother Henry was coming to
this country to attend her graduation.
but a few days before it was to take
! place the great war broke OUT and he
volunteered his services to his father
land as a surgeon. Miss Sherling's s
father and mother did the same, both
being physicians.
! February % the brother and mother
4 were both killed while on battle
field on the Russian front. 1t was
not incumbent upon Mrs. Sherling to go
on the fields Of battle. but she had
done SO throughout the war. frequent
ly caring for as many as forty men
a day. Miss Sherling has received but
meager details of the double tragedy.
Sherling dropped the &C" from her
name after coming to America) Is one
Of the leading surgeons in Germany
and is at present in charge OF one OF
the base hospitals.
Her sixteen-year- sister, Miss
Lena Scherling, is in the German wal
office, where she has charge of the
land plats showing the ground gained
and lost by the German forces. Miss
Lena has charge of the office in which
she is detailed.
| Two younger children, one six years
old and the other five years of age, are
| being cared for by the German Rec
Cross.
Wishes to See Her Family.
Naturally, Miss Sherling wishes te
see the remaining members of her fam
lily. So when she learned that the
Deutschland had docked, and knowing
practically every man on 1t. most OF
them Intimately, she thought possibly
she could get back to Germany.
Sunday Capt. Paul Koenig came te
this city for a few hours to see Miss
Sherling on business. She made hei
request. but he explained that mas
| much as she is now full-f1edged citi-
zen of the United States she could
not be taken back on the submarine.
She had no fear-in fact, Miss sher-
The Deutschland made a wonderful
trip: her sister has won four iron
crosses; her family have dedicated
their lives to their fatherland: What
of it? Her attitude would lead one tc
think that these were all everyday
commonplaces She is modest and re.
luctant to talk about herself or those
near and dear to her.
Captain Visited Washington.
An interesting sidelight was the
visit Of Capt. Koenig to Washington
l to see her few days ago. Few per.
sons even knew he was in the city
When he arrived she asked him II hi
would like to go anywhere. He chose
| Mount Vernon and Marshall Hail. 81
\ they went and Capt. Koenig seemed
to enjoy himself immensely. But
| when. at the latter place, he invited
| Miss Sherling to go rowing she
= doubted the ability of the submarine
4 captain to handle so small a water
4 craft.
II Il am not too old to learn how te
\ row. am II" he asked with a laugh
n So she and Paul-he Is ever Paul
\ not Capt. Koenig, to her-went rowing
\ and he proved himself as skillful witt
the oars as in handling the big mer
H chant submarine.
II Yesterday Miss Sherling Joined tn,
Red Cross. going to the station which
I has been opened by the Washington
H Chapter at 1922 F street northwest
II When seen today she was working
H energetically and enthusiastically
II hon 40