American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-10-18
CHAPTER ~.

hAA*A4t1s
Realizing that Il would probably be
several months before l could finally
settle up my affairs. and that my child.
who Was anemic. ought 20 be taken
cot o. Germany with n little delay as
possible because food conditions were
fast going from bad 10 worse. I ap-
piled 10 the ommhndantur for leave TO
have my wife and child 20 20 Mon
freux. on Lake Geneva. Switzerland.
where ] hoped TO Join them az the
earliest possible moment aud accom-.
psny them home. I did not relish the
idea Of their going across the ocean
without me.
That vas In May. 1877. Weeks
passed while our application was going
fron q oticiai 10 another. lying. per
hnpe for days az . time under a pile OF
other applications OF a similar char
scter or awaiting the investigation OF
our personal histories. and II was not
until the end OF June that We received
any word regarding Il. Then we
learned that II had been denied.
ra@ was my nrst intlmation that we
might have dlmculty In getting out "
Germany.
A day or two later the kaiser called
on me professionally and told him OF
cur plight. hoping that he would inter
cede for "a. II WAS the only favor Of n
personal character I had ever asked OF
him
MY child Is aiiing, your majesty" I
said. ~and I feel that she needs n
change Of climate. l applied 10 the
aommandantur for leave for my wife
and child 10 40 10 Montreux. but l have
tnst heard that II has been refused 70
Davis. | viii see what l can do In
the matter" he replied rsassuringly.
and as he vas leaving my once he
turned TO ms and said In the presence
q his two adJutants Regarding that
nasfter you spoke ". leave II TO mo
and will see what I can do I"
Tue kaiser's influence would readily
solve our problem. I thought. and 1
was very much relieved. Two days
later. however. I received a letter
from Count o Moltke. one OF the kali
scrs adjutants. shifting that the kali
ser had spoken 10 him regarding the
Switzerland project. but. under the
circumstances. II was out OF the Quee-
ton. IL, however. my chlld's condition
we're such a. TO make a change of eli.
mate really necessary. he added. tho
kaiser suggested hat a trip 10 the
Austrian Tyrol might perhaps b. ar
ranged. as the climate there was Just
~ good aa that of Switzerland, but be-
fore permission would be granted for
that trip Il would be necessary to oh
tain a certificate from the district doc
tor stating that Il was necessary.
A. the food situation la Austria was
just a. bad as Il was In Germany. n
not worse, that Idea didn't appeal to
me ~ ell. and I went Immediately 20
ths ~kommandnntur aud explained the
situation 90 them.
When they saw Count Won Moltke's
letter the officer Ia charge threw up
his hands.
That's hnai." he declared. THAT
comes from a higher authority than
oura Il "a useless 20 pursue the mat
Ter any further. We received a com
municution from his majesty regard.
ing your ease. but the matter was left
entirely 10 our discretion. Il was not
a command. only a request from his
majesty A command. OF course. would
lave been different"
Then ! applied FOR n pass FOR my
wife. child and myself o. eu % Amer
lea. They pointed out az the komman.
dnntur that as my wife's application
90 leave Berlin preceded mine. Il was
possible she would be allowed to leave
before me told the officer mat that
would suit me admirably. as | wanted
b pass Tor Mrs Davis and the child
granted az the earliest possible mo-
ment regardless % what action might
b taken Oh my own application.
Again there followed a long period
OF anxious waiting while the German
red tape slowly unwOund. but eventu.
ally. In September. we received word
that Mrs. Davis aud the child might
leave Berlin for Copenhagen between
October 10 and II. They left on the
tenth.
A day or two later commenced the
German offensive against Riga. ON the
Baltic. Within three or four days the
Germans captured successfully the
Oesel. Runo. Obro and Moon islands
In the Gulf OF Riga and then carried
their Invasion 20 the mainland. Their
apparent objective was Petrograd and
on October 10 the Russians nnounce
that the seat OF the government would
be removed from Petrograd TO Mos
cow.
These successes on the Baltic failed
10 overcome the depression In Germany
caused by the serious internal situa-
ton In Austria at this period. NUM-
tion factories were being wrecked by
hunger-crazed and war-weary strikers
and the populace was being shot down
In great numbers In the food riots
which davolonQd in variOuS partS of