South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-19
MAID FOILS THE
SECRET SERVICE
Interned AS German Spy Fl
nalIy Released and Comes
to MiShaWaka.

Miss Anna van Gerve. a cOmely
young Holland girl, arrived I'm
Mishawaka Monday after an excit-
ing trip from Amsterdam on board
the steamer New Amsterdam from
which $50 passengers, supposed
TO be German spies. were taken
by government officials at Ellis
Island Miss van Gerve's object in
coming 70 America was TO marry the
sweetheart of her youth who came
here four years ago. with the prim-
airy view Of establishing a home for
her.
The young man in question is
John Nolke, a baker with Jahnke.
who has an establishment in South
Bend as well as in Mishawaka. His
brother, Anthony c.. is a foreman at
the Dodge Manufacturing company,
and lives with his family at SIS w.
Third St. Mishawaka. 1t was here
that a News-Times representative
met Miss van Gerve and learned
from her the details of how she had
been taken for a German spy and
had suffered much inconvenience
and hardship before being allowed
to land in New York.
Submarines Make Search.
on the 10th Of January she board
ed the New Amsterdam in company
with 1900 other passengers. For
10 days the steamer lay at anchor
in the harbor, and on the morning
of the 18th steamed out of port.
The trip was made by way of Eng
land, the steamer being escorted by
number of Dutch warships. once
in English water British destrOyers
acted as a convoy until we'll out in
the Atlantic. Two days afterwards
couple Of German submarines
signalled the New Amsterdam to
stop which order was complied with
Officers from the under seas boat
came on board, went through the
ships papers and finally allowed her
! TO proceed.
American Family i'm Bad.
IL should be stated that imme-
diately after sailing from Amster-
| dam an American family consisting
! of husband, wife and two children,
took a great interest in Miss van
care of the children during the voy-
age. This same family is now in
the keeping of federal authorities
in New York, strongly guarded, and
under Investigation. To this cir
cumstance Miss van Gerve attrib
Utes her detention at Ellis Island.
No sooner had the steamer anchored
at this port than a score of govern
ment officers boaNed her and after
a thorough search of the luggage
compelled $50 of tbs passengers TO
20 ashore.
The heroine Of this tale protested
with all her might. Her sympathies
like those of all HOllanders were
with the allies heart and soul she
told the officers. This argument did
not avail. Her trunks were opened,
her letters and papers taken and for
warded 70 Washington, and she was
informed that she would have to
stay on the island indefinitely. She
says she was compelled to live on
bread and coffee and cabbage. and
10 sleep on an iron bed without mat
tress or blankets.
Love Laughs at LOcksmiths.
She also claims she was refused
permission to communicate with her
iiance or anyone else. but love laughs
at locksmiths. and she succeeded in
smuggling d telegram through the
barriers addressed TO her sweet
heart. \ few hours after receiving
the message John Nolke was enroute
for New York. After considerable
explaining he was allowed 10 go to
Ellis Island where he was met by a
strange young LADY who professed
great interest in him. She question
ed him closely as 20 his antecedenrs,
and he finally tumbled 10 the fact
that she was a secret service officer.
After he had given satisfactory as
surances that he was going TO marry
the young lady ne was allowed TO
depart in her company.
Miss van Gerve. as may he
imagined, was delighted 10 arrive
in Mishawaka and TO be among
friends She says there is much SUI
ferins among the poorer classes in
Holland, but that queen Wilhelmina
will never consent 10 going TO war,
having said she would sooner give
the country up than have one drop
OF the blood OF her people shed.
Prices OF everything are obnormally
high Eggs cost 20 cents each. BAG
on by the pound SIPS; spool OF
thread soc and so on. The caro-
rationing system is being used
throughout the country and the in
habitants given just enough food 20
keep life in their bodies.
Mr.. Nolke and Miss van Gerve
will be married within the next few
days The former is in the draft ana
| expects TO be called in the near tut