Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-14
ANXIOUS TO FIGHT
TO UPHOLD FRANCE
$40
Alsatian.L oralners' Position
on Draft Explained by
Mr.. Blumenthal.
OPPRESSED FOR a. YEARS

UffNESSEU run tGHitS
Important light upon the question Of
Drafting aliens In the United states
particularly with reference to the posi-
tior of Observation-Disclosures In Anefi-
ca swho desire TO be considered F'rench-
men and not Germans. 10 given by HON
Daniel BlumenthaI, head of the Alsace-
Lorraine mission to America.
. Mr.. Blunenthal is n native OF Aisace,
He represented the town Of Colmar IN
the parliament OF Alsace-Lorraine, and
at the same time was representing tho
same community IN the reichstag. Be-
cause of his being lender OF those
whose love for France won the grudso
OF German rulers, he was prescribed
from his country. charged with high
treason, his properties confiscated and
himself driven into exile.
Tells of Cruelties.
In fulfillment of his mission to this
country to acquaint American lovers
of democracy with the cruelties and
expressions suffered by his country
men. Mr.. Blumenthal, in an interview
for The Star. said
Ever since the beginning of the
war the president Of the French re-
public. the presidents of the parlia-
ment, the house of deputies and the
senate have declared by various votes
in accordance with the assent OF the
whole French nation as was lately
confirmed by a message Of the presi-
dent of the republic in answer to
protestation OF the Sociate Gymnas-
tic ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of West Ho-
boken. that the government of the
French republic is firmly resolved to
obtain the unconditional return of AL
sace-Lorraine to the French father
land
Delicate Point Involved
a very delicate point was then 10
be solved: The treatment OF AIsatian-
lnrrainers who are technically of Ger
man nationality although they have
French sentiments.
Even IN France the solution of this
problem seemed. at the beginning OF the
war, very embarrassing, owing to the
net that it was rather difficult to dis
tfnguish the Acknowledgements of French
orgin and the German immigrants or
their descendants.
.-eHowever, with the cooperation of AL
sztian-Lorrainers from France and those
who had been able to escape from the
aSftENeu provinces tne beginning OF tne
var quick discrimination was made 10
classify the Observation-Disclosures This
classification has been made particularly
in the United States of America where
infrusted with the care of delivering cards
Of identity to the Observation-Disclosures of
French origin.
: Welcomed by France.
=.'It was only just and right that those
who had been for forty-four years the
Netims of German oppression. and whose
only crime was their love for France,
snould have been treated in the same man
ner as the French or the allies. This has
heen done in France, and the French
government is only too glad TO welcome
the Alsatian-L orrainers. the more SO that
the Eaters earnest wish is to be once
more technically of French nationality.
tsry duty, 1t is evident that Alsatian-
I<otEainers ought to be admitted in all
AIMED armies as well as in the armies
which are fighting against Germany, as
the United States is now doing
The Alsatian-Lorrainers who. like their
ancestors, possess remarkable military
qualities, although they have never cared
Tor nilitarisn. will fight with enthusi-
which Is their own and therefore ought
not to meet with any obstacle. but. on
the contrary. ought to be received every
where with open arms.
IF difficulties are being encountered by
Observation-Disclosures who are not techni-
caiiy OF American nationality and who
want TO join the American Army, this is
no doubt due to some misunderstanding,
and feel confident that If the attention
OF the authorities is called to this point
all difficulties will be cleared up and Al
satian-Lorrainers Of America will be al
lowed to serve their country and to fight
under the ever-glorious Stars and Stripes"
Born in Thanh, Alsace.
Mr. Blumenthal was born in Thanh
(Alsace) in 1860. where his father was
the city clergyman. He completed his
education at the College of Mulhouse
and at the Strassburg University. AS
young student he founded in Strass-
burg society of resistance against the
Germanization of the annexed prov
tnces. for which he was prosecuted
He became mayor OF the town of Coll
mar. and took a stand of courageous
Independence, greatly helped by his
talent OF speech and his juridicial
knowledge. His fellow-citizens dele
Alsace-Lorraine, first as deputy and
later as senator. and In this assembly
he Joined the protestators
At the same time he was also repre-
senttng the town of Colmar at the
reichstag, where his stand was not
less energetic
He made sensational disclosures in
Ahe AFFAIR of the factories of Grafen-
staden. where he diyuiged the seizure
OF Alsatian industries by the German
government. and won fame by plead
1ngs on behalf of the priest Wetterie OF
Hansi and of the brothers Samain.
whose name will forever stand as a
symbol In the history of the struggles
Of Alsace-Lorraine
In spite of a strict watch. Mr.. Blu
menthal was able at the outbreak Of
the war to escape TO France.
he has been devoting his time in
exile 10 the safeguarding of the inter
ests OF Alsace-Lorraine as indissolubly
bound to those of France