Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-09-20
CHAPTER |.

"America Must Be PunishedI"
When war broke out between the
United States and Germany, on April
6, 1917, was in Berlin. 1 had lived
and practiced my profession as dent
list there for IA years, and the kaiser
had been one of my patients during
all that time.
I 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 an hour
and half to discuss the topics of the
hour with me.
When we declared war against Ger
many, therefore, while 1 was still an
American citizen-as patriotic an
American, believe, as might be found
anywhere had lived in Germany so
long, had developed so many profess
sional friendships in Germany's most
favored circles and was SO generally
1CEdl 0Cd do q pa ttNoidl L1fVhAhC VI
the kaiser himself. that found it hard
to realize that nevertheless I had be-
come an alien enemy.
The same day the breaking off 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.
"This treaty" the newspapers point
ed out, "was 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repealed.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 it seemed most improbable
that Germany would adopt any harsh
measures toward Americans and
thereby invite reprisals.
Had the situation been reversed. of
the Germans would undoubt-
eddy have thought it expedient to in
tern Americans no matter what hap
pened to their own countrymen In
and, In that event, this an
cient treaty would have shared the
late of that which guaranteed Bel
GUMS neutrality. One ''scrap of pa
per" more or less would never have |
,een allowed to interfere with Ger
nany's destiny"
Influential Germans who called to
lee me professionally during that pc
iod almost invariably expressed the |
rope that l was not planning to leave
Berlin. ol S
mo matter what happens, DOCTOR" 1
hey declared-"even if the worst /
ONES to the worst and war is de- 4
Jared between America and Germany
you may feel quite sure the kaiser t
7ill never let anyone harm you" u
/ had not let the matter rest there, f
owever. l had called at the Ameri- /
an embassy. where it was pointed II
ut to me that, while diplomatic re- a
ltions had been severed, it was not c.
t all certain that war would result h
nd there was, therefore, no reason d
,r me to leave Berlin precipitately. IL
Had the kaiser been in Berlin at 81
lie time, might, of course, have had q
a opportunity to put the question to fe
IN squarely as to what my fate might III
: if war were declared, but he was ii
way. The court chamberlain had fo
zen appointed but short time before as
I'd ! did not know him personally, in
It his predecessor, Count August Won til
ulenburg, one Of the wisest and most tn
spected men i'll Germany. was one II