The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-12-06

] where hoped to Join them at til
earliest possible moment and accon
pany them home. / did not relish th
, idea of their going across the ocea
! without me.
: That was in May, 1917. Week
passed while our application was goin
, from one official to another, lying, PEI
haps for days at time under pile O
other applications Of a similar chal
acter or awaiting the investigation o
our personal histories, and 1t was no
until the end Of June that we receives
any word regarding 1t. Then W
learned that It had been denied.
/ This was my hrst intimation that VI
might have difficulty in getting out o
Germany.
| A day or two later the kaiser callet
on me professionally and I told him O.
our plight, hoping that he would inter
cede for us. 1t was the only favor Of
personal character had ever asked Of
him.
MY child Is ailing. your majesty"
said, "and I feel that she needs 9
change Of climate. I applied to the
kommandantur for leave for my wife
and child to go to Montreu1, but have
just heard that 1t has been refused!"
"Davis, I will see what can do in
the matter" he replied reassuringly,
and as he was leaving my Office he
turned to me and said In the presence
of his two adjutants: Regarding that
matter you spoke Of, leave 1t to me
and I will see what can dol"
The kaiser's influence would readily
solve our problem, thought and I
was very much relieved. Two days
later, however. I received a letter
from Count Won Moltke, one Of the kali
ser's adjutants, stating that the kali
ser had spoken to him regarding the
Switzerland project, but, under the
circumstances, 1t was out Of the ques-
ton. If, however, my child's condition
were such as to make change Of ell
mate really necessary, he added, the
kaiser suggested that a trip to the
Austrian Tyrol might perhaps be ar
ranged, as the climate there was just
as good as that Of Switzerland, but be-
fore permission would be granted for
that trip 1t would be necessary to OBJ
tain certificate from the district doc
tor stating that it was necessary.
As the food situation in Austria was
just as bad as 1t was In Germany, If
not worse, that idea didn't appeal to
me at all, and I went Immediately to
the kommandantur and explained the
situation to them.
When they saw Count Won Moltke's
letter the officer in charge threw up
his hands.
That's final" he declared. 'sThat |
comes from a higher rauthority than
ours. 1t is useless to pursue the mat
ter any further. We received a COM
from his majesty regard
ing your case, but the matter was left
entirely to our discretion. 1t was not
4 command, only request from his
majesty. A command, Of course, would
nave been different"
Then applied for a pass for my
wife, child and myself to 60 to Amer
ca. They pointed out at the komman-
iantur that as my wife's application
o leave Berlin preceded mine, 1t was
,ossible she would be allowed to leave
'efore me. 1 told the officer that that
would suit me admirably, as 1 wanted
he pass for Mrs. Davis and the child
.ranted at the earliest possible mo-
nent regardless of what action might
e taken on my own application.
Again there followed a long period
t anxious waiting while the German
ed tape slowly unwound, but eventu-
lily, In September, we received word
hat Mrs. Davis and the child might
ave Berlin for Copenhagen between
october 16 and IL. They left on the
enth.
A day or two later commenced the I
erman offensive against Riga, on the
attic. Within three or four days the
ermans captured successfully the
esel, Runo, Obro and Moon islands
| the Gulf Of Riga and then carried q
leir invasion to the mainland. Their l
pparent objective was Petrograd and
I October 10 the Russians announced &
lat the seat Of the government would
, removed from Petrograd to Mos r
w. t
These successes on the Baltic failed 8
overcome the depression In Germany y
used by the serious internal situa- q
On In Austria at this period. NUM- v
IN factories were being wrecked by r
and war-weary strikers "
I'd the populace was being shot down e
great numbers In the food riots n
hich developed in various parts Of q
lstria. Not since the war began had Il
e outlook been so discouraging for t.
e Germans.
Then, on October "a, just as things II
J<~n1 II. -