Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-09-06
The Kaiser as | Knew lin
for Fourteen Years
A
By ARTHUR N. DAVIS. D. D. S.


discuss the situation with him. I'm
however. found him too
ill to receive me- He was eighty years
old and, although unusually well pre-
served. was in no condition on this
occasion to receive visitors.
Another influential patient of mine
whom j sought out at this time was
ex-AmbassadOr Won Sturm. Although
he was now retired from official life,
he had formerly been a powerful fig
ure In German state circles and still
kept more or less in touch with the
new court chamberlain and others in
high office. : His nephew was under
secretary Of foreign affairs.
] found the ex-ambassadOr at his
private apartment in the Adlon hotel.
"What will happen to Americans"
l asked, "if my country declares war
against Germany?"
THAT, doctor, will depend entirely
upon how America treats our sub
jectS" he replied, somewhat more
coldly than had expected of him. If
America interns Germans, Of course.
we shall undoubtedly treat Americans
the same way, and you could hardly
expect any special consideration. al
though, II you will write letter to the
court chamberlain, who is personal
friend Of mine, shall see that he gets
it."
"But, excellency," replied, there il
4 treaty between Germany and Amer
lea, 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
and leave. Would not that protect
met"
''Of course, DOCTOR" he answered.
Germany will respect the treaty II
America does, and then there will be
no trouble. 1t 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-" l suggested,
"what would Germany's course be?"
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 dor
This somewhat unsatisfactory inter-
view with Won Sturm might have wor-
ried me more, perhaps, had it not been
for visit ! received only a 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 year and half the kaiser
had had his great army headquarters
at the princes palace at Pless, in
southeastern Germany, and l 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,
and my family had not the slightest
reason for alarm.
mo matter what may befall Other
Americans, DOCTOR" he asserted, il
confidential manner, 1.-THE kaiser hal
gone on record to the effect that yor
and your family are not to be mo
Tested"
Another incident which made M
feel that could proceed with my prep
arations for leaving Berlin without un
due haste was the receipt early In tn,
year of most extraordinary post car,
from the kaiser which, 1t occurred t,
me, was quite significant as to his In
tentions regarding my welfare. On on
side was his picture and on the other
, written and signed In English In hi
own handwriting, was the message !:
"Dear Doctor Davis:
: wishing you very good year 70
i 1917. WILLIAM /. r."
+. This was the first message Of It
kind that l had ever received from tn
: kaiser. Even In peace times, the pix
: ture p0stals which he had sent to m
from time to time and which wer
. autographed by him, were Away
signed In German. When, on Februar
, !, the Germans resumed their ruth
IeSS tAaVNV " hAS
D was Immediately followed by tn
E breaking of Of diplomatic relations
felt that the kaiser must have for,
seen this consequence and had ser
t me the postal as an intimation this
: he wanted me to remain in Berli
Y nevertheless.
r When the Germans sank the Lus
tania, living and practicing in &c
! many lost many Of their attraction
: for me. made up my mind then tn,
] l would rather return home and col
; mence my professional career all ov,
t again, If necessary, than remain in
I country which could sanction such
q hideous form Of warfare-the wantt
destruction of women and children.
{ that end. l went to New York in Il
d summer Of 1915 to investigate the r
O quirements for the practice Of my pr
t fessiOn in that state. ] had an Illino
a license, but l wanted to be in pc.
d ton to practice in New York, and Il
e following year ! went to New Yo
,, again and took the state dental exaI