The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-09-12
p l.
"America Must BE Punished!"

When war broke out between the
United States and Germany, on April
6, 1917, l was In Berlin. l had lived
and practiced my profession as a dent
list there for Ia years, and the kaiser
had been one of my patients during
all that time.
/ don't know exactly how many
visits the kaiser paid me profession
ally, but ! know l am safe In saying
they were not less than 100. and the
probabilities are they were closer to
$50. Almost invariably, after my work
was done, the kaiser remained any
where from ten minutes to IN hour
and a half to- discuss the topics of the
hour with me.
When we declared war against Ger
many, therefore, while l was still an
American citizen-as patriotic an
American, l believe, as might be found
anywhere had lived In Germany so
long. had developed so many profes.
sional friendships In Germany's most
favored circles and was so generally
regarded as a particular favorite Of
the kaiser himself, that l found 1t hard
to realize hat nevertheless / had be-
come an alien enemy.
The same day the breaking of Of
diplomatic relations was announced.
the German newspapers had published
the provisions Of an old treaty be-
tween Germany and the United States
which gave Americans In Germany
and Germans In America nine months
after a declaration Of war between the
two nations within which to settle
their affairs and leave the country.
'SThis treaty" the newspapers point.
ed out, twas made In the time of Fred
erick the Great. 1t has never been
repealed. Germany will respect It."
As there were so many more Germans
In America than there were Americans
In Germany, this prompt announce
ment of Germany's intentions regard
ing this treaty was quite understand
able and 1t seemed most improbable
that Germany would adopt any harsh
measures toward Americans and
thereby invite reprisals.
Had the situation been reversed, OF
course, the Germans would undoubt.
eddy have thought 1t expedient to In,
tern Americans no matter what hap
pened to their own countrymen In
America, and, In that event, this an
cient treaty would have shared tn,
fate of that which guaranteed Bel
GUMS neutrality. One "scrap Of pa
per" more or less would never hav,
been allowed to interfere with Ger
many's destiny"
Influential Germans who called t
see me professionally during that pc
Rod almost invariably expressed tn
hope that / was not planning % leav
Berlin.
"No matter what happens, doctor,
they declared-"even If the wors
comes to the worst and war is d.
clared between America and German
You may feel quite sure the kaise
win never let anyone harm you."
had not let the matter rest there
however. / had called at the Amer
can embassy, where 1t was pointe
ont to me that, while diplomatic r
lations had been severed, 1t was M
&C all certain that war would resu
and there was. therefore. no reaso
for me to leave Berlin precipitately.
Had the kaiser been in Berlin ,
TIE time, I might. Of course, have ha
an opportunity to put the question
him s~quarely a. to what my fate migl
bo = var were declared. but he W.
a1ay. Tho court chamberlain Ia
- appointed but : short time befoI
"a not know him PERSONAL
wv ~ PREDECESSORS. Count August y
~ - ~ Wissst aha NJ