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

discuss the situation with him. I'm
fortunately, however, I found him too
III 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 I sought out at this time was
cx-Ambassador o Sturm. Although
he was now retired from official life,
he had formerly been a powerful ng-
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 -as under
secretary Of foreign affairs.
/ found the ex-ambassador ut his
private apartment In the Adlon hotel.
"What will happen to Americans"
I asked. III my country declares war
against Germany
'That. doctor. viii depend entirely
upon how America treats our SUBJ
jects," he replied, somewhat more
coldly than I had expected Of him. III
America interns Germans, Of course,
we shall undoubtedly trea. Americans
the same way, and you could hardly
expect any special consideration, al
though. II you will write q letter to the
court chamberlain. who IL q personal
friend Of mine. ! shall e that he gets
It."
"But, excellency," I replied. -there In
Q treaty between Germany and Amer
lea. / understand. which gives the sub
jects or citizens Of one country who
happen to be s%ojourning In the other
when wal 10 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. 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-"reallys doctor. I don't know
what We would DOR
This somewhat unsatisfactory inter-
view with Won Sturm might have wor-
ried me more. perhaps. had 1t not been
for q visit I received only q day or
two later from Prince Won Pless. one
Of the kaiser's closest friends and ad-
visors, who called on me profession
sry. For q year and q 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, In
a confidential manner, "the kaiser has
gone ON record to the effect that you
and your family are not to be mo.
Tested"
Another Incident which made me
feel that 1 could proceed with my prep
arations for leaving Berlin without un'
due haste was the receipt early In the
year of a most extraordinary post card
from the kaiser which. II occurred t.
me, was quite significant Al ~ his In
tentions regarding my welfa g On one
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 FOL
1917. WILLIAM /. R."
This wal the FIRST message Of III
kind that l had ever received from thu
kaiser. Even In peace times, the pic
ture postals which he had sent to me
from time to time and which wers
autographed by him, were always
signed In German. When, on Februar,
i, the Germans resumed their ruth
less submarine warfare-a o which
was Immediately followed by thu
breaking of Of diplomatic relations
felt that the kaiser must have fore
seen this consequence and had sen
me the postal M IN intimation tina
he wanted me to remain In Berlll
nevertheless.
When the Germans sank the Lusi
tania, living and practicing In Ger
many lost many Of their attraction
for me. I made up my mind then tina
l would rather return home and CON
mence my professional career all owe
again. II necessary. than remain In
country which could sanction such
hideous form of warfare--the wantol
destruction Of women and children. Il
49, A. ~ vi - "a