The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-10-16
BRITISH WIVES
WITH PRUSSIAN
HUBbIES SUFFER
Many of Germans Deserted
Their Wives at Outbreak
Of War

by warfare, none are OF more marked
import than the sweeping clean OF the
social structure. At last Engand sees
its weak spots, its finer structures,
and its crying needs for reform
only when war sweeps clean away all
that has obstructed the clearest Views
of this nation.
SO much needs readjustrnent and
reform that some problems must be
placed Temporarily On one side while
more urgent needs receive first at
tention.
Among those problems the solution
Of which must be postponed. L. that
of the hardships of British wives un--
happily married to German husbands.
At present 1t remains entirely outside
the immediate province Of the Divorce
Law Reform Union, so that whatever
I say here regarding that subject is
to be read as voicing my individual
views, and not associated with the
league Of which am secretary.
Not long ago Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
wrote a letter to the Times, empha-
sizing the pathetic situation OF Brit
ish women. deprived Of their national
ity through marriages contracted
with Germans. Since that letter
have received numerous letters from
English women, who almost implore
release or alienation from unhappy
marriages with members Of the enemy
country.
Many. cases prove that the German
husband deserted his wife before hos
ti1ities commenced. Usually the wife
seeks release for reasons which she
states quite definitely. Letters point
out that British wives frequently have
never lived In Germany at any time:
know nothing Of the German Ian
guage; and that their children share
their ignorance of the Fatherland
and its native tongue.
Letters often go on to point out
that before the outbreak Of war the
writer's wore deserted, and left to pro-
vide for one or more children. Here
is a typical letter from an English
woman married to German and It
tells It's own tae without an explana-
tory note from me:
My own case, with but small vari-
| alton, voices. no doubt, that Of hun
dreds-perhaps thousands. Left to
the battle Of life before the hostile
| operations commenced, with no
means, except that Which earned for
myself and small child; left, too, to
and unequal struggle during these
past three years Of warfare. Looked
on with suspicion: not needed In posts
which / could ably fill; prosecuted
from Job to job-as soon as my Ger
man tie is discovered; deprived Of the
| privilege of nursing our wounded;
moving about on PERMIT; worse
than prisoner In my own native
country-that land which long to
serve. az SO many generations Of my
old military family have Loyalty done.
| My sense Of justice resents the posi-
! ton.
Surrey no law made by man should
have the power to rob one Of Brit
| ish right-that natural claim since
| the world began-to the land which
| gave existence. Once British, always
British. Once German, always Ger
| man, etc. Why do we strive with
gun and sword? LIS It not because no
low made by man can unite the
| Motheriand - cur Britain - to the
B'ataaer1aad of the Hun? Then, why
| are the unfortunate children Of these
| two SO irrevocably bound by their
marriage contract? In June last ]
wrote In. the subject OF divorce OF
separation to the Home Secretary. In
the reply Getter No. s01, 1850 it was
| suggested that I should seek legal
advice. How many In these days
could afford that course7 On behalf,
therefore, OF my fellow creatures in
bondage plead for Justice and de-
liverancs. or. at least. for the choice
of freedom from a union which at the
best could be but a bitter, error. a
bondage indeed though. no doubt
! Gas in my own case), realized too late
/ to avoid. But why too Late to mend !!
Because after the war-what?
Women placed as am will still bs
chained to Germans somewhere,
dragging out our lonely lives, who
might be happy wives and mothers.
in true co1nradeship If mated to
partners of our own nationality. And
If nothing is done to help US to be
free, what L. the alternative?
Return to Germany I shudder.
/ The weak (Heaven help them), worn
out with the unjust. bitter struggle.
broken in nerve and health under a
burden too heavy to bear. will sue.
eumb to their dreaded captivity
worse than death.
but the true British woman
strong Ia her love OF her country, will
hght ON, battling with the waves which
threaten to engulf her, determined &c
be free. or still striving to die In that
land which gave her birth. o. surely
surely, the future OF our British power
! demands without debate the considera-
ton of this subject in the highest
placesi
When war broke cut i1ardships OF
enemy nationality began to fall heav.
lily upon these deserted women, Nc
i English firm would offer employment
every one Stunned the women whe
bore the names of the enemy country
travelling about without permits be.
came Illegal; even the English priv.
ilege to tend cur wounded was de.
MED. Such conditions cause these
women to ask:
After the war what is to happen to
us?''
This eft-rePeated question draws
attention to the injustice incurred
through compelling every English
!. woman to lose her own natienalit,
when contracting marriage. Her in.
! dividuality remains. Why deprive
that woman Of the right to claim tina.
country which makes her what she
is