Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-08-28
The Kaiser as | knewH Him
for Fourteen Years
E1
By ARTHUR N. DAVIS. D. D. S.


high Office. His nephew was under
secretary Of foreign affairs.
I found the ex-ambassador at hia
private apartment in the Adlon hotel
"What will happen to Americans
I asked, III my country declares wal
against Germany"
That, doctor, will depend entirely
upon how America treats our sub
jects," he replied. somewhat more
coldly than had expected Of him. II
America interns Germans, Of course,
we shall undoubtedly treat Americans
the same way, and you could hardly
expect, any special consideration. al
though, If you will write letter to the
court chamberlain, who Is personal
friend Of mine, shall see that he gets
it"
"But, excellency," replied, there Is
a treaty between Germany and Amer
lea, l understand, which gives the sub
jects or citizens Of one country who
happen to be sojourning in the other
when war Is declared nine months
within which to close up their affairs
ands leave. Would not that protect
me!s .
"Of course, DOCTOR" he answered.
Germany will respect the treaty If
America does, and then there will be
no trouble. It seems to me you must
await developments and, in the mean
time you have no cause for worry"
Suppose some Of your subjects in
America should act up and start
blowing up bridges or munitiOn fac
tories and should be lynched, which
they probably would be-" suggested,
"what would Germany's course beT'
'What Germany would do then,
DOCTOR" he replied, slowly and
thoughtfully, as though such contin-
gency had never occurred to him be-
fore-''really, doctor, don't know
what we would dol"
This somewhat unsatisfactory inter-
view with Won Sturln might have wor-
ried me more, perhaps, had it not been
for visit l received only day or
two later from Prince Won Pless, one
of the kaiser's closest friends and ad-
viSors, who called on me profession
ally. For q year and half the kaiser
had had hts great army headquarters
at the princes palace at Pless, in
southeastern Germany, and I knew
that he enjoyed his monarch's conf
dence.
When I asked him regarding the
possible internment Of Americans, he
assured me that, come what might, I
and my family had not the slightest
reason for alarm.
"No matter what may befall other
Americans, DOCTOR" he asserted. in
q confidential manner, ''the kaiser has
gone on record to the effect that you
and your family are not to be mo-
lested."
Another incident which made me
feel that could proceed with my prep
arations for leaving Berlin without un.
due haste was the receipt early In the
year Of most extraordinary post card
from the kaiser which, it occurred to
me, was quite significant as to his in.
tenuons regarding my welfare. On one
side was his picture and on the other,
written and signed in English in his
own handwriting, was the message:
Dear Doctor Davis:
wishing You a very good year for
1917. WILLIAM l. r."
This was the first message of its
kind that had ever received from the
kaiser. Even in peace times, the pic
ture postals which he had sent to me
from time to time and which were
autographed by him, were always
signed in German. When, on February
l, the Germans resumed their ruth
less submarine warfare-a move which
was Immediately followed by the
breaking Off Of diplomatic relations--I
felt that the kaiser must have fore
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 pracuclng in Ger
many lost many Of their attractions
for me. I made up my mind then that
I would rather return home and COM
mence my professional career all over
again. II necessary. than remain in a
country which could sanction such
hideous form Of warfare-the wanton
destruction Of women and children. To
that end, I went to New York In the
summer Of 1915 to investigate the re-
Qulrements for the practice Of my pro-
fession In that state. had an Illinois
license, but I wanted to be in pdsi-
ton to practice In New York. and the
following year I went to New York
again and took the state dental exam
nation. I returned to Germany late in
the autumn Of 1916 and later learned
that my certificate had been granted.
Then l commenced active preparations
to dispose of my German practice and
return home.
Ny second reason for wanting to get
out OF Germany as soon as possible
was the fact that food conditions in
Germany We're becoming more pre-
carious every Cay. My wife and
feared that our child, who was two
years old, might suffer from lack of
proper nourishment if we remained
and l determined that no matter how
long it might be necessary for me to
remain in Berlin, my wife and child
at any rate should leave at the earliest
possible moment.