Gilpin observer., 1918-09-26
CHAPTER xvmi-continued.


-12-
beckoned to the chauffeur to &c
with me up to the Office, as l had nc
money with which to pay him. and
when he got to the consulate
told them that If they would pay the
taxi fare I would tell them who !
was and how happened to be there.
They knew at once that I was an
escaped prisoner and they readily
paid the chauffeur and invited me to
give some account of myself.
They treated me most cordially and
were intensely interested in the brief
account 1 gave them of my adven-
lures. Word was sent to the consul
general and he Immediately sent for
me. When 1 went in he shook hands
with me, greeting me very heartily
and offering me chair.
He then sat down, screwed a mon
ocle on his eye and viewed me from
top to toe. could see that only good
breeding kept him from laughing at
the spectacle / presented. l could see
he wanted to laugh in the worst way.
go ahead and laugh !" I said. "You
can't offend me the way I feel this
blessed day!" and he needed no second
invitation. Incidentally it gave me
chance to laugh at him, for / was
about as much amused as he was.
After he had laughed himself about
sick he got up and slapped me on the
story.
Lieutenant" he said when 1 had
concluded, you can have anything
you want. I think your experience
entities you to it,
"Well, consul" I replied, Il would
ike bath, shave, haircut and
some civilized clothes about as badly
a. a man ever needed them, / suppose,
but before that would like to get a
cable off to America to my mother
telling her that am safe and on my
way to Englandi"
The consul gave me the necessary
information and / had the satisfaction
Of knowing before I left the office that
the cable: with its good tidings, was
on Its way 20 America.
Then b. sent for one of the naval
men wftn had been interned there
since the beginning of the war and
who was able to speak Dutch and
told him to take good care of me.
After ! had been bathed and shaved
and had haircut bought some new
clothes and had something to eat, and
felt like a new man.
As ! walked through the streets of
Rotterdam breathing the air of free
dom again and realizing that there
was no longer any danger Of being
captured and taken back to prison,
1t was a wonderful sensation.
don't believe there will ever be a
country that will appear in my eyes
quite as good as Holland did then. l
had 10 be somewhat careful, however,
because Holland was full of German
spies and / knew they would be keen
to learn all they possibly could about
my escape and my adventures so that
the authorities In Belgium could mete
out punishment to everyone who was
In any respect to blame for 1t. AS was
In Rotterdam only one day, they
didn't have very much opportunity TO
learn anything from me.
The naval officer who accompanied
me and acted as Interpreter for me
introduced me 10 many other soldiers
and sailors who had escaped from Bel
gium when the Germans took Ant
werp, and as they had arrived in Hol-
land In uniform and under arms, the
laws of neutrality compelled their in
ternment ana they had been there ever
since.
The life OF man who is interned
in neutral county, learned, Is any
thing but satisfactory. He gets one
month year TO visit his home. If he
lives in England that is not so bad,
but II he happens to live farther
away. the time he has to spend with
his FOLKS Is very short, as the month'sa
leave does not take into consideration
the time consumed in travelling to and
from Holland.
The possibility of escape from Hol-
,and is always there. but the British
authorities have an agreement with
the Dutch government TO send refu-
gees back Immediately. In this re-
spect, therefore. the position of n man
who Is interned is worse than that
Of prisoner who. II he does succeed
In making his escape. is naturally re-
ceived with open arms in his native
land. Apart from this restraint, how
ever, internment, with all its draw
backs, is "A thousand times, yes. mil
lion times, better than being prisoner
of war In Germany.
1t seems to me that when the war
Is over and the men who have been
imprisoned in Germany return home,
they should be given a bigger and
greater reception than the most VIC
torious army that ever marched into
n citv for fhey will hova oufyarad