The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-04-04

kaldenkirchen had plenty Of time to
review all that had happened.
How different everything was after
the first year Of the war! My home
town. once lively country settlement,
was now as calm as a graveyard. In
this town, which had a population be-
Tore the war of 5000 souls, more than
40 had been killed and many others
crippled. Food was very high with lit
tie to be had.
There was no enthusiasm for the war
manifest anywhere. The people were
downhearted. stunned.
1t was the same In other cities. The
longing for peace was universal yet no
one talked Of peace or expressed the
desire for it.
One word spoken, which displeased
the autocratic government. merited the
| severest punishment. That Is how It II
| to be explained that the German peo-
pie cannot force the Hohenxollerns into
peace because the government, with
assistance Of the military, smothered
every expression OF peace with blood.
even at that early date.
| The present Prussian government
will slaughter any German citizen to
further its own interests in the same
way that 1t attacked the innocent pop
ulation of Belgium without regard.
| With q cleaE conscience and clean
hands!
"Gott strafe England. Err ist strafs
esi"
Going through the streets this was
heard right and left as a comment and
a reply.
To me. fresh from the front, this
kind Of greeting was unknown.
Presently learned the reason Of
this modern form Of salutation. The
hatred within the German nation was
not 80 great toward France and Rus
sia.
The people quietly accepted the enor-
nous sacrifices which the war demand
ed from them in course Of time.
| But the government. which even
then. foresaw the unfavorable course
the war was taking. conceived the idea
Of setting England up as the arch
enemy which intended to destroy Ger
many entirely.
| The German war machine made use
Of the blockade which England drew
around Germany to such an extent.
playing upon child murder, so-called.
that the people developed an ever-in-
creasing hatred toward England.
| The French language was no longer
spoken anywhere. A large part of the
German people formerly used the
French word "adieu." as a farewell ex-
preston but that was stopped. Care
had to be taken In the use of this word
to avoid arrest on a charge Of high
treason.
I thought about these things as I
neared my temporary destination. I
was sufficiently acquainted with the
border so that when I arrived In Kali
denkirchen was able to reach 1t with
out asking any questions. The spot
which I had selected for crossing lay
In q forest. After a march Of two
hours I arrived near the border. It
was soon dark and decided to remain
in the woods over night.
The next morning at daylight I ven
tured on and without being seen by the
guards crossed into Dutch territory.
With q sigh of relief I arrived at the
next town, venlo. in Holland.
Everywhere I was received In q
friendly manner. I observed that the
Dutch people hated the German people
as much as did.
After passing several months in
Holland. where tens Of thousands more
German deserters lived. I made up my
mind to move farther away than that
from Germany for the arms of the Ger
man government are long and its spies
are everywhere in most cases con-
scienceless criminals.
Some of my Dutch friends made me
acquainted with sailors and these con-
sented to smuggle me to America on
their ship. When the ship departed I
was placed In the coal bunkers and ar
rived after IA days In New York. safe
and well.
The first thing that struck me on ar
rfving in the United States was the
wide latitude permitted German propa.
ganda.
Most Of the German papers pub
lished here were body and soul for the
kaiser and tried daily to Justify the
German fight for the German cause.
In this respect the government in
Washington certainly went too far un-
| til It was realised that no concessions
could be made to the Prussian govern
ment and that concessions made to
Washington were nothing but deceitful
talk, sustained only BY action when 1t
served its interests Of imperialism.
Tho promises which the German gov
ernment made to Washington concern
ing the Lusitania case. the U-boat war
fare and 10 forth, were nothing but de-
ceit on the part Of the Berlin govern
ment.
It was the desire to preserve peace
for the American people which i'm