The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-08-27

uStei VI uWa'tilS tue lnNcStlSatlOn or
our personal histories, and it was not
until ii. end of Jure that we received
any word regard lg it. Then We
learned that it had been denied.
This was my Grst intimation that we
might have difficulty in getting out of
Germany.
A day or two later the kaiser called
on me professionally and told him of
our plight. hoping thlt he would inter
cede for us. 1t was the only favor Of q
personal character had ever asked OF
him.
MY child is al!ing. your majesty"
said, "and l feel that she needs
change of climate. l applied to the
kommandantur for leave for my wife
and child to go to Montreux, but have
just heard that 1T has been refusedw
Davis, / will see what can do In
the matter" he replied reassuringly,
and as he was leaving my office he
turned to me and said in the presence
of his two adjutants: "Regarding that
matter you spoke of, leave 1t to me
and will see what can dor
The kaiser's influence would readily
solve our problem, l thought, and 1
was very much relieved. Two DAYS
later. however, I received letter
from Count Won Moltke, one Of the kai-
ser's adjutants, stating that the kali
Ser had spoken to him regarding the
Switzerland project, but, under the
circumstances 1t was out OF the Ques-
tion. If, however my child's condition
were such as to make a change Of cli-
mate really necessary. he added. the
kaiser suggested that trip to the
Austrian Tyrol might perhaps be ar
ranged. as the climate there was Just
as good as that of Switzerland. but be-
fore permission would be granted for
that trip 1t would be necessary to OBJ
tain certificate from the district doc
tor stating that 1t was necessary.
AS the food situation In Austria was
Just as bad as 1t was I'm Germany, IL
not worse. that idea didn't appeal to
me at all. and 1 went Immediately to
the kommandantur and explained the
situation to them.
When they saw Count Won Moltke's
letter the officer In charge threw up
his hands.
1iia' iic ueCldTeN. lnut
comes from higher authority than
ours. 1t is useless to pursue the mat.
ter any further. We received ii COM
munication from his majesty regard
ing your case. but the matter was left
entirely to our discretion. 1t was not
command, only a request from his
majesty. A command, Of course. would
have been different"
Then I applied for a pass for my
| wife, child and myself to go to Amer
lea. They pointed out at the komman-
dantur that as my wife's application
to leave Berlin preceded mine, 1t was
possible she would be allowed to leave
before me. 1 told he officer that that
would suit me admirably, as 1 wanted
the pass for Mrs. Davis and the child
granted at the earliest possible mo-
ment regardless of what action might
be taken on my own application.
Again there followed long period
| of anxious waiting while the German
red tape slowly unwound, but eventu-
! ally, In September, we received word
that Mrs. Davis and the child might
leave Berlin for Copenhagen between
October 10 and II. They left on the
tenth.
A day or two later commenced the
German offensive against Riga, on the
Baltic. Within three or four days the
Germans captured successively the
| Oesel, RunO, Obro and Moon islands
In the Gulf Of Riga and then carried
/ their invasion to the mainland Their
| apparent objective was Petrograd and
! on October 10 the Russians announced
| that the seat of the government would
| be removed from Petrograd to Mos
! COW.
These successes on the Baltic failed
to overcome the depression in Germany
caused by the serious internal situa-
tion in Austria at this period. NUM-
tion factories were being wrecked by
! hungercraZed and war-weary strikers
| and the populace was being shot Gown
| In great numbers in the food riots
which developed in various parts OF
| Austria. Not since the war began had
| the outlook been so diScouraging for
| the Germans.
Then, on October "a, just as things
were looking their blackest, the great
! German-AustrO offensive against the
| Italians was started. In three days the
| Italians were swept out of Austria and
the TeutOns pressed forward to the
| passes west of the IsOnZo river leading
to the Venetian plains. BY the end OF
October the Italian armies were in full
| retreat. Before this offensive was over
| the Germans captured, they claimed,
no less than 900 600 risnners and Cow