New-York tribune., 1919-04-21
Mem .jnsl Released from
Parole Declare Their In.
tcntion to Make America
their Permanent Home
Treated W ell. They Say
Deny interest in Germany
Since Bolshc>ism Gained
Eoothold in Government,

Interviews with seven enemy aliens.
picked at random from among 500
such persons here released from bond
and parole by direction of Attorney
General Palmer on April 10. yesterday
developed these facts
Six of them purpose renounoinc
their allegiance to Germany and be
coming American citizens as quickly
as poss Bile.
The fear Of Polshevism. they as
serted, will prevent many enemy aliens
here from returning 20 Germany and
viii induce them to cast their lot with
the United States
Several of them were detained in
prisons near here for short per DDS.
but they declared they had been
treated with the utmost consideration
by Federal officials
The men interviewed were persons
who failed to register as enemy aliens
or violated some Of the minor regula-
tlons of the Presidents proclamation
of November -, 1917
Thought Registration Unnecessary
One Of those interviewed was Paul
L. Potters. of 200 Dyckman Street,
who came to this country from Ger.
many when he was nine years old
tie IS twenty7seven now, and when the
President ordered enemy aliens to reg
lister Potters failed to comply.
II thought that because of nv youth
when | came here | automaticallv be-
came citizen when reached my ma
Jority.' said Potters "I've ALWAYS
considered myself d loyal American. /
have brother who fought with our
boys in France. SO | didn't register
with the enemy Aliens
The first thing | knew some investi-
gators questioned me. was sum
moned to the Customs Building. and
then shot to the jail at Trenton. where
was detained for thirty days. Then
was released on parole.
VI course now | purpose getting
my papers and really becoming a Cit.
zen IN the eyes Of the law. thought
was all along, for that matter. But
oe'ter late than never. This country
mas been my home and want 10 be
one of its citizens"
-, frank Jobst, general utility man i'm
the apartment house at $50 West 10th
otreet, hrst came to this country from
Germany in 1894 He was an engineer
on on steam ships plying between here and
German ports.
Jobst Served On Transports
When the Spanish American war
broke out served on transports as an
engineer he said yesterday. But
mat dldn't make me a citizen, although
| had done my bit. I'd neglected to
take out my papers, and then | was ar
rested last year on the grounds of be
ing suspicious person, although
never knew what il was all about.
was interned for about three months
before they released me on parole.
"Ihls is my home, and although
ieel We had hard time am going to
become citizen. | took out my first
papers last December and | can't get
my formal citizenship papers too quick
| wouldn't think of going back to Ger
many. This is my home"
Walter De Witt, OF 939 West Fifty
!.lth Street, came pere in 1912. His
fscturers OF surgical instruments IN
''ermany lie opened an American
agency Tor has fathers finn here in
IVA He took out has first citizen
shlp papers in l9l6 Although he
registered as an enemy alien, he said
ne Mad failed To present himself for
the hngeT print Identification proee s,
peoauae OF Misunderstanding
American Factory His Plan
mean to get my second napers and
make this my homo, he aaid "lt b.
oN ultimate plan TO go into tho mAne.
lavture ot surgical Instruments here.
be'iovc this industry, which Germany
developed SO we'll hcforo the war, has
great future here"
Hans lohr. of asa Central Park Wet
whose father was Il major in the Ger.
man army passed four weeks in tho
trenton jail last year. Il purpose be-
coming an American citizen. for ! be
licVc that Germany may get as bad as
Russia because Of Bolshovism," he
said. They were good to me here.
even while | was IN Jail. and my Amer
ican friends treated me better than ny
own countrymen here
Arrested as Bomb Suspect
Gustav pohlmann, a sign painter. Of
929 Second Avenue, has been IN the
United States for fifteen years He
was arrested on suspicion that he wa
using acids for the manufacture Of
bombs in his establishment, in Second
Avenue, he declared yesterday.
81 used acids for making stencils, "
he explained, "but was IN Ludlow
Street Jail for four weeks before they
found | was innocent. | have my lirst
papers already and want the final docu-
ments as soon as | can get them |
shall never so back. to Germany. The
United States is my home"