New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-01-29
Can interview with Mrs. Elise Traut
of New Britain.>

of New Brittany
my life and my loyalty belong to
this country" said Mrs. J. A. Traut of
New Britain in answer to- the question,
What should be the true attitude to-
ward the war of an American citizen
born in Germany?' Mrs. Traut was
born in Gotha, Thuringia, Germany.
She came to this country when sho
was four years old, stayed here until
she was 10, returned to Germany for
five years, then came to this country.
She has lived in New Britain for
thirty years and is active in Connect
cut, New Britain and New York, in
Guiding the Red Cross and the War
Relief club Of New Britain.
Mrs. Traut said in part;
II know what the attitude Of the
American citizen born in Germany
ought to be toward this country, if
he has made his home here, supported
himself here or was supported here
by the head Of his family. He should
under all conditions stand by the land
Of his adoption, because he left his
Fatherland to improve his life in q
country which affirms in the Declara-
ton Of Independence: we would hold
these truths to be self-evident that
all men are born equal
TT Is this chance Of equal oppor-
tunity because Of affirmed equal birth
that draws not only the German, but
people of other nations to these
shores.
Another reason is, or has been, his
revolt against enforced and despotic
mi1itarisrn of Prussianism on the other
side. Transplanted into new soil,
adopted by new pcople-one with
citizenship and kinship of ambition
and willingness to work to attain sue
cess it would be unnatural for a man
or woman to throw overheard, as
ballast, the memories of the Father
land or a feeling of attachment for it.
No persons OF whatever nationality
would or could respect such a trans
planted migrate. True patriotism, a
readiness to defeat right against
wrong, has always been the attitude
Of the just minded American citizen
born in Germany as history discloses.
America has harbored dreams of be-
coming the country to bring to other
countries Il state Of lasting peace; but
behind this dream has lain the deter
mination to fight to the finish against
wrongs imposed on humanity This
time is here!
"It seems a cruel fatalisn that, en-
quilted in war with Germany, the
American citizen, born in Germany,
united with the interests Of this coun-
try, yet torn asunder as was the
NortheTner and Southerner in the Civil
War, brother oft against brother
must take up arms against those of
the country of his birth
I'VE say that blood is thicker than
water, but we are also convinced that
right must prevail over kinship when
a point in the worlds history is
reached where no one people, no one
nation shall act upon the time-worn
adage, all is fair in love and war.
characterization steps in to check
such an antiouated acceptance.
War is, and war, for one reason
or another, I fear, always will be- Ma
ture itself is at war for the recon
Struction and good of the Cosmos.
Death turks in renewal. To live and
to die for the cause Of justice is the
question that confronts the American
citizen OF today, born In Germany ana
he Will and must enter the ranks TO
fight against the method or warfare
invented and praoticed by the German
government, tho like OF which mas
n never Il, the annals OF history, been
en,ploved by any people, let alone "A
nation processing the Christian
religion.
Born with a sense of justice to