The Raymer enterprise., 1918-10-03
CHAPTER xvIii-Continued.

OfNhbbtu W luf III kO
with me up to the Office. as had no
money with which to pay him. and
when he got to the consulate
told them that II they would pay the
taxi fare l would tell them who |
was and how happened to be there.
They knew at once that | was an
escaped prisoner and they readily
paid the chauffeur and invited me to
give some account of myself.
They treated me most cordially and
were Intensely interested In the brief
account I gave them Of my adyen-
lures. Word was sent to the consul
general and he Immediately sent for
me. When went In he shook hands
with me. greeting me very heartily
and Offering me a chair.
He then sat down, screwed a mon.
ocle on his eye and viewed me from
top to toe. could see that only good
breeding kept him from laughing at
the spectacle presented. / could see
he wanted to laugh In the worst way.
go ahead and laugh 70 said. "You
can't offend me the way l feel this
blessed day." and he needed no second
invitation. Incidentally 1t gave me q
chance to laugh at him. for was
about as much amused as he was.
After he had laughed himself about
sick he got up and slapped me on the
back and invited me to tell him my
story.
Lieutenant" he said when | had
concluded. "you can have anything
you want. | think your experience
antilles you to It."
"Well. consul" l replied. II would
like n bath, shave. haircut and
some civilized clothes about as badly
~ u man ever needed them. suppose,
but before that would like to get a
cable of to America to my mother
telling her that am safe and on my
way to EnglandW W'
The consul gave me the necessary
Information and ! had the satisfaction
Of knowing before | left the office that
the cable. with Its good tIdings. was
On its way 20 America.
Then bs sent for one Of the naval
men wuo had been lnterned there
since the beginning of the war and
who was able to speak Dutch and
told him to take good care of me.
After | had been bathed and shaved
aud had haircut | bought some new
clothes and had something to eat, and
felt like new man.
As I walked through the streets of
Rotterdam breathing the air OF free
dom again and realizing that there
was no longer any danger Of being
captured and taken back to prison,
1t was wonderful sensation.
don't believe there Will ever be a
country that will appear In my eyes
quite as good as Holland did then.
had TO be somewhat careful, however
because Holland was full Of German
spies and knew they would be keen
to learn all they possibly could about
my escape and my adventures so that
the authorities In Belgium could mete
out punishment TO everyone who was
In any respect to blame for 1t. As was
In Rotterdam only one day. they
didn't have very much opportunity tc
learn anything from me.
The naval officer who accompanied
me and acted as interpreter for me
introduced me to many other soldiers
and sailors who had escaped from Bel
GUM when the Germans took Ant
werp. and as they had arrived In Hol
land In uniferm and under arms, the
laws Of neutrality compelled their In
ternment ana they had been there ever
since.
The life Of man who is interned
In neutral county. learned. Is any
thing but satisfactory. He gets one
month gear to visit his home. II he
lives In England that is not so bad
but II he happens TO live farther
away, the time he has to spend with
his folks Is very short, as the months
leave does not take into consideration
the time consumed In travelling to and
from Holland.
The possibility of escape from Hol.
,and Is always there. but the British
authorities have an agreement with
the Dutch government TO send refu-
gees back Immediately. In this re-
spect, therefore, the position of a man
who Is interned is worse than that
of prisoner who, II he does succeed
In making his escape. Is naturally re.
ceiyed with open arms In his native
tand Apart from this restraint, how.
ever. internment, with all Its draw
backs. Is thousand times. yes, a mil.
lion times, better than being a prisoner
Of war in Germany.
II seems to me that when the war
Is over and the men who have been
imprisoned in Germany return home,
they should be given bigger and
greater reception than the most vic
torious army that ever marched into
city. for they will have suffered
and gone through more than the world
will ever be able to understand.
No doubt you will find In the Ger
man prison camps one or two faint.
hearted individuals with a pronounced
yellow streak who voluntarily gave
up the struggle and gave up their lib
arfv rafhep than risk their liyee or