The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-11-07
CHAPTER ..


sAmerlea Must Dc Punlshedi~
When war broke out between the
United States and Germany. ON April
9, 1917. I was In Berlin. I had lived
and %practiced my profession as a dent
tst there for II years. and the kaiser
had been q Of my patients during
all that time.
! don't know exactly how many
visits the kaiser paid me profession
ally, but ! know I 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. Sac
When we declared war against Ger
many, therefore. while I was still an
American c~itlxen-as patriotic an
American. I believe. as might be found
anywhere-I had lived In Germany SO
tong. had developed SO many profess
sional friendships In Germany's most
favored circles and was 90 generally
regarded as q particular fav0rite OF
the kaiser himself. that I found 1t hard
to realize that nevertheless I had be-
come an alien enemy.
The same day the breaking OF 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. twas made In the time Of Fred
erick the Great 1t has never been
repealed. Germany will respect It."
As there were 80 many more Germans
In America than there were Americans
In Germany. this prompt announce
ment of Germany's intentions regard
Eng this treaty was quite understand
able and 1t seemed most improbable
that Germany would adopt any harsh
measures toward Americans and
thereby invite reprisals.
Had the situation been reversed. of
course, the Germans would undoubt-
eddy have thought 1t e~xpedient to In
tern Americans no matter what hap
pened to their own countrymen In
America. and, In that event, this an.
Client treaty would have shared the
fate Of that which guaranteed Bel.
gums neutrality. One "scrap Of pa.
per" more or less would never have
been allowed TO interfere with Ger
many's destiny"
influential Germans who called ia
see me professionally during that pc
Rod almost invariably expressed the
hope that I was not planning to leave
Berlin.
"No matter what happens, DOCTOR
they declared-"even II the worst
comes to the worst and war is de
clared between America and Germany
You may feel quite sure the kaiser
will never let anyone harm you"
had not let the matter rest there
however. / had called at the Ameri
can embassy, where 1t was pointed
out to me that, while diplomatic re
lations had been severed. 1t was no
at all certain that war would result
and there was, therefore. no reason
for me to leave Berlin precipitately.
Had the kaiser been In Berlin a
the time. l might, of course. have hat
an opportunity to put the question Il
him squareiy as to whit my fate nigh
he II war were declared. but he wal
away. The court chamberlain hat
been appointed but q short time befor'
and I did not know him personally
but his predecessor, Count August vol
Dulenburg. One Of the wisest and mos
respected men In Germany. was on