Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-10
THE KAISER AS I KNEW
HIM FOR FOURTEEN YEARS
N d.
I-"AMERICA
I-"AMERICA MUST BE PUNISHED"
By ARTHUR N. DAVIS. d. d.

GUMS neutrality. One scrap of
paper" more or less would never
have been allowed to interfere with
Germany's destiny"
Influential Germans who called to
see me professionally during that
period almost invariably expressed
the hope that 1 was not planning to
leave Berlin.
mo matter what happens, Doc
tor" they declared-''even if the
worst comes to the worst and the
war is declared between America
and Germany-you may feel quite
sure the Kaiser will never let any
one harm you!"
I had not let the matter rest
there, however. I had called at the
American Embassy, where it was
pointed out to me that, while diplo-
matte relations had been severed, it
was not at all certain that war would
result and there was, therefore, no
reason for me to leave Berlin pre-
cipitately.
Had the Kaiser been in Berlin
at the time, l might, of course, have
had an opportunity to put the oues-
fate might be If war were declared.
but he was away. The Court Cham
berlain had been appointed but a
short time before and I did not know
him personally, but his predecessor,
Count August Won Eulenburg, one of
the wisest and most respected men
IN Germany, was one of my Oldest
patients and I decided to discuss
the situation with him. Unfortunately
however, found him too ill to re-
celve me. He was eighty years old
and, although unusually we'll pre-
served, was in no condition on this
occasion to receive visitors.
Another influential patient of mine
whom l sought out at this time was
ex-Ambassador Won Sturm. Although
ne was now retired from Official life
ne mad formerly been a powerful
hgure in German state circles and
SUN Kept more or less in touch with
the new Court Chamberlain and
others in high office. His nephew
was Under Secretary of Foreign
Affairs. =
l found the ex-Ambassador at his
private apartment in the AdIon
Hotel.
What will happen to Ameri-
cans" I asked, 'ff my country de-
clares war against Germany
That, Doctor, will depend en-
t1rely upon how America treats our
subjects he replied, somewhat more
coldly than I had expected of him.
IFS America interns Germans, of
course, we shall undoubtedly treat
Americans the same way, and Won
could hardly expect any special con-
sideration, although, if you will
write a letter to the Court Cham
berlain. who is personal friend of
mine, I shall see that he gets it,
But, Excellenz," l replied. there
is a treaty between Germany and
America, I understand, which gives
the subjects or citizens of one
country who happen to be soiourn-
ing in the other when war is de-
clared nine months within which to
close up their affairs and leave
Would not that protect me?"
'Of course, Doctor" he answered
Germany will respect the treaty If
America does, and then there will be
no trouble. 1t seems to me Won
must await developments and. in the
meantime you have no cause for
worry"
Suppose some of your subjects in
America should act up and start
blowing up bridges or munition fac-
tories and should be lynched. which
they probably would be-" I suggested
what would Germany's course be
then?" "o
What Germany would do then
Doctor" he replied. slowly and
thougnttully, as though such a con-
shgency mad never occurred to him
pefore-"really, Doctor don't know
what we would dol"
This somewhat unsatisfactory in.
terview with Won. Sturm might have
worried me more, perhaps. had n
not been for visit received only n
day or two later from Prince Won
Pless, one of the Kaiser's cIosest
friends and advisors. who called an
me professionally. For a year and a
half the Kaiser had had his Great
Army Headquarters at the Princes
palace at Pless in Southeastern Ger
many, and / knew that he enIoved
his monarch's confidence.
When asked him regarding the
possible internment of Americans
he assured me that, Come what
might, I and my family had not the
slightest reason for alarm.
mo matter what may befau otbar
Americans, Doctor" he asserted in
confidential manner, ..the Kaiser
has gone on record to the effect tbat
you and your family are not to he
moleste d." w
Another incident which made me
feel that 1 could proceed with NV
preparations for leaving Berlin with