Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-05

\S0PyE'Nu, ISib ~
1t was when startedsto come home
that I realized fully the attitude OF
Germans toward Americans and the
horrors Of German militarism as ap
piled to peaceful citizens.
May 10, OF this year, sent q cable
gram home to Pittsburgh, asking my
people to send me money to return.
also applied for my passports.
Then | waited; and waited and
waited. Week after week passed un-
til six had gone. When asked for
my passport, Of course l had to an
swer great number of questions, and
to tell why I wanted to come home.
Then l had to write out my applica-
ton, and I had to be very humble
about 1t. II beg to be permitted to re-
turn to my home was the way IN
which this application had to be word
ed.
sENsELEss RULES.
Friday, June 30, received the an
swer to my cablegram, telling me the
money had been sent-$500. All my
news, cablegrams, letters and every
SS~~N~
the Spanish embassy.
l went to the embassy but they
would not give me my money until
had my passports ready to go. That
is rule. l do not understand 1t, for
one would think that Germany would
be glad to have all the money spent
within it's borders possible. But that
is only one of the seemingly sense
less rules which are of vital impor-
lance over there.
SHOWS ANGER At AMERICANS.
l waited until Monday, then went
to the kommandatore and asked how
soon l could get my passports. He
Grossly told me to go home and wait,
and that, when they were ready, he
would let me know. waited until
Wednesday and although I was
frightened, went back again, as
wanted to get away that week.
Well since l can remember any
thing never received such a calling
down" as the kommandatore gave me.
'What do you mean" he fairly
howIed, Coming around bothering
me?
"That is the way with you Ameri.
cans; you think you can run every
thing over here. Well show you you
can't. and, before we're through with
you, you will know how to treat US
Germans. Go back and wait until
you're sent for, or Il will be the
worse for you"
THINKS TAUscHER INNOCENT.
I was stunned-but what could
do? did not dare resent his words
or answer him back. ! only sat there
and cried-then went back home.
Fortunately that day I met Capt.
Tauscher, the husband Of Nine. Jo-
hanna Gadski whom had known be-
fore. l was almost frantic by that
time. as | began to be afraid that my
passports would be held back alto
gether. But he was most kind to me.
He got in touch with the foreign
Office and asked them to hurry up
the passports. AS a result, Saturday
I heard indirectly that could get
away the next week. BY the way,
Capt. Tauscher and had quite talk
about the conspiracy plot for which he
was tried and acquitted in the United
States and he assured me, with sin
cerity which l am certain was not
feigned, that he knew nothing about it
and was really absolutely innocent. !
hope so, for have very pleasant men,
cries Of his kindness.
GERMAN RED TAPE.
Tuesday, July 10, / received tele.
gram from the kommandatore. to
come to his Office Monday, July 9. to
get my passports. The telegram had
been sent on the ninth, and of course
l did not get it until the tenth. Also,
got it after the kommandatore's
Office had closed, and so l had to
wait until Wednesday. was brighten.
ed then, for was afraid would have
to go all through the whole proceed
ing again and get new passports.
But I went and showed him the
telegram. You can imagine what 1
got from him. He called me all the
names the German language possesses
for dolt and dunder-head and thick
witted numbskull And had to take
1t. OF course I was crying. But that
made no impression on him. Finally
land I am sure that this was because
he knew of Capt. Tauscher's interior
ence), the kommandatore said, very
ungraciously that he would let me have
the passports. He said l could have
them Friday, the 18th, and would have
until Monday, the 18th, to get out OF
Germany.
INsULTiNG" AN OFFICER.
Then, again I was frantic, for Sat
urday and Sunday would not be able
to do very much to get away and there
was so much red tape still to be gone
through with. But l did not protest.
Then / had to wait until the permits
sion actually was in my hands to go.
This came about s a. M, Friday. I'm.
til had this permission / could not get
my money. Friday received the tele-
gram that could go get my passports.
Then l had to go to the office where
they were and stand in line and wait.
The banks closed at and l knew If
did not get my money that day could
not get 1t Saturday and Sunday and,
maybe would have to stay over the
time allowed me and. perhaps be ar