The Lamar register., 1918-09-11

seen this consequence and had sent
me the postal as an intimation that
he wanted me to remain In Berlin
nevertheless.
When the Germans sank the Lusi-
tania. living and practicing in Ger
many lost many of their attractions
for me. made up my mind then that
l would rather return home and com.
mence my professional career all over
again, If necessary. than remain In "a
country which could sanction such a
hideous form of warfare-the wanton
destruction of women and children. To
that end, l went to New York In the
summer Of 1915 to investigate the re-
luirements for the practice OF my pro-
fession In that state. l had an Illinois
license, but / wanted to be in posi-
ton to practice in New York. and the
following year / went to New York
again and took the state dental exam
nation. l returned to Germany late in
the autumn of 1915 and later learned
that my certificate had been granted.
Then commenced active preparations
to dispose of my German practice and
return home.
NV second reason for wanting TO get
out of Germany as soon as possible
was the fact that food conditions In
Germany were becoming more pre-
carlous every day. My wife and 1
feared that our child. who was two
years old might suffer from lack OF
proper nourishment II We remained
and | determined that no matter how
long II might be necessary for me to
remain In Berlin. my wife and child
ut any rate should leave ut the earliest
possible moment
My third reason. however. was by
far the most insistent OF all.
l had become convinced that what I
knew of the kaiser and his plans, now
that we were ut war. ought 10 be com
municated to America without delay
and that the only way TO do that ade-
quately would be to get home as soon
as l possibly could. NO mNter what
personal sacrifice might be involved In
abandoning my European practice and
interests.
1t is true that in the early years OF
my relationship with the kaiser our
conversations naturally embraced only
the most general of subjects. but In
later years. when he came TO know me
better. he cast aside all reserve and
talked to me on whatever was upper
most In his mind at the time. After
the war started that. OF course, formed
the principal subject OF our discus
sions and the part that America was
playing In the conflict was frequently
brought up because OF the fact that I
was an American.
One memorable interview had had
with him Influenced nae perhaps more
than any other single factor to hasten
the settlement OF my European affairs
and return home.
It was In the fall Of 1916. The kali
Ser had come to me for professional
attention. and after my work was COM
pieted he remained to discuss some
OF the aspects OF the war. Perhaps the
fact that | had Just returned from
visit TO America made him more than
usually eager for chat with me.
We had discussed various phases Of
the war. when the kaiser changed the
subject abruptly with the question:
Davis. what's the matter with your
countryi"
"In what respect. your majestyT' l
asked.
"why Is It that your country Is so
unfair to Germany1 Why do you per-
sist in supplying munitions and money
to the allles7 why doesn't your pres
ident treat the European warning ma
lions the same as he treated Mexico
by putting an embargo on munitions
and letting US fight this thing out our
selvesf You do not ship munitions to
us. why do you ship them to the other
slider"
was on such terms with the kaiser
that did not hesitate to answer his
question with another.
81 have always understood. your
majesty. that during the Russian-Jap.
anese war. Germany continually sup
piled munitions to Russia. Why was
that any more justlfable than America
supplying munitions to the allies1
Then again. In the Spanish-American
="
Davis, you surprise mel" the kali
ser interrupted. rising from the oper-
ating chair. In which he had remained.
walking towards me, throwing back
his shoulders and rising to his full
height. 1.-THE cases are entirely differ
ent. When we helped Russia against
boil