Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-01
RED TAPE BLOCKS
AMERICANS NOW
LIVING IN BERLIN
DR.. Davis, kaiser's Dentist, Sur
prised at Freedom Given
Germans Here.
WARNS OF TEUTON HATE


Drawing a striking comparison he
tween restrictions placed upon Amcri-
cans unable to leave Germany and the
freedom accorded To the kalScr's sub
lccts IN this country, DIR \. y. Davis,
the american dentist who numbered the
German Emperor among his patients,
asserted last night that the full hatred
of the German people has not vet been
directed against America because of AN
adroit. systematic. government directed
campaign which has led the German
people to believe that America is not
wholehcartcdly in the war.
Eventually, Or Davis predicted, and
when Germany begins 10 feel the pres
sure of American military strength, Bcr-
Inns war party will foster an anti-Amerl-
can propaganda that will produce a hatred
Of America beyond ANYTHING the Germans
now feel against Great Britain.
DR.. Davis declared Germany is not
n the end Of her rope in SO far rs the
food situation Is concerned. Instead
he said. there apparently is plenty of
food in Germany but that the Kaiser is
facing n grave problem OF distribution.
The doctor arrived in this country
about two weeks ago, after having lived
bcen close observer Of war conditions
within the German lines, and is among
the best qualified To discuss the situa-
tion OF the Americans who STAYED in
Germany after Ambassador James W.
Gerard left there upon the entry of this
country into the European conflict.
An inspired press, DR. Davis said, while
telling the Germans nothing at all of
what America really is doing in a military
WY, is feeding the kaiscr's subjects with
news that President Wilson speaks as
n sort Of detached person
The Berlin newspapers print the
President war addresses, DR. Davis
said, hut they take care To conceal from
the people the fact that the Presidents
words represent the determination of the
american people 10 WIN the war.
"Every effort is being made To hclittlc
america, Dr Davis said. Even the
highest officials arc attempting 10 convey
the impression that Germany has little
To fear from the United States
Not until Germany begins to feel the
military pressure Of the United States
will the people realize the new conditions
that confront them, DR. Davis CON
tinucd Then | predict that the foster
cd enmitv toward England will be as
nothing To the hatred that viii bc poured
ont hy the inspired press against America
The American business men who took
advantage of the nine months treaty
between the United States and Germany
10 wind UP business affairs a. far ~
possible were kept under the closest
surveillance 10y the police At sll time
and were not permitted to leave the city
without a special permit To go to
race meeting ten miles out OF Berlin it il
necessary 10 apply for permit AT least
a month in advance
The thing that has impressed me
most since my rcturn 70 America Is the
freedom We accord to German subjects
over here Ii seems To me a. If no
restrictions were upon them whatever
IT, Germany "vcrv time some new rcglla-
t.uu Was adopted rcc3 r,iing the Americans
The excuse wa given that tho United
states was 'reatlng Germans harShlv
and there must bc some retaliation
Nou can imagine my surprise TO get
home and find German subjects free 10
travel about the country at will, just %
they do not actually 20 within gwen
distance Of certain establishments
CONTRAST IN CONDITIONS.
"And. this, too, in the face Of the
fact that not since the war started has
a single overt act been charged against
an American IN Germany, whereas here
IN the United States we have had TO put
IN with all sorts Of admitted crimes bv
German residents.
Il have inquired as 10 this Ieniency
toward Germans IN the I nIted States
and have been told that the country is
too big and there are too many Germans
here 10 make it feasible 70 adopt the
restrictive measures in force in Germany
can assure YOU the German government
would not be deferred by the size OF the
task
The German people themselves are
restricted IN their movements, and no
person is allowed 10 travel without a
special identification pass which may be
demanded as many as five times during
5 short journey
'"rhe slightest little thing will result
N q curtailment Of sn Americans priv
lcres A friend OF mine criticised mildly
an article in Berlin paper He thought
only friends were about Next dav he
was sent for, admonlshed, and required to
report 70 the police twice daily and to
rcmain IN his quarters from O'Clock
IN the evening until 6 IN the morning
virtual confinement The most privileged
americans must report 10 the Berlin
police twice weekly and have their papers
stamped. These papers show Just what
the bearer of them Is permitted 20 do,
what hours nc must keep and where be Is
permitted 70 60
There are not halt 3 dozen Americans
" Berlin who are not ANXIOUS 10 get
home MANY Of them arc having trouble
10 get permission. first applied to
leave last August, but va refused some
time later managed 10 ohtqln D permit
for my wife and child and they came to
America long before | was pc rmItted to
leave
u had about made up my mind / was
10 be kept in Germany for the duration Of
the waT when received word my request
lad been granted ! did not take the
risk of Informing even my closest friends
that Va, leaving was afraid UP to
thu last minute that something might
b. said against me some anonymous
letter might reach the police and result
n d revocation Of my permit
-. A IN