Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-20
GERMANS |MPR|SON
U. S. BOY 8 YEARS
Essington Youth Condemned to
Die Saved by Papers From
Washington
SERVED IN ARMY AND NAVY

After having been sentenced to death
IN Germany, Hugo Schaffer is back at
his home in Essington with thrilling
tale of his experiences of three and one
half years in German prison camp.
Only the Intervention of the State De
partment saved Schaffer from being shot
as an English spy.
Eight years ago Schaffcr's stepfathcr,
Adolph Won Erschcnbach. of Ln Grange
avenue, Essington, brought Hugo to
Philadelphia to teach him the art Of
painting. Won Erschenbnch is frcsco
painter of some note Hugo Vils very
unwilling to 'learn a trade and asked
his father to allow him to ship on some
vessel. This Won Erschcubarh refused
to do. He sent the boy back to his
mother in New York but Hugo did not
arrive until Sunday. when he tad COM
pieted voyage around the world daring
which he ran into the world war. He
shipped on a vessel bound from this
port for England. Returning. he went
TO Mexico. Before tho war started, in
1914. he shipped on vessel out of
yBuenos Aires, but war. was declared
while the. ship was at sea. A Hun sub
marine captured the vessel and took the
icrew prisoner. The mon were taken to
Hamburg and kept in confinement
Schaffer had been taken to Germany
when he was six years old and had
spent eight years there at a German
school. He speaks German 1ucntly. al
though he is an American citizen by
birth. Upon his capture he had no
citizenship papers or birth certificate y:
prove his American identity.
Given Brutal Treatment
The Germans held that he was neither
American nor German, but English,
having served for some years on Eng
lish ships. He was thrown into prison
at frst, accorded brutal treatment. His
appeal to his stepfathcr was the first
news Of Hugo since he had loft home.
Hugo asked ErsChcnbach TO got in
touch with the United States State
Department and forward papers proving
his American citizenship. Won Erschcn
bach Immediately had the necessary
papers sent to Germany through Am
bassador Gerard, American ambassador
at Berlin.
In the meantime Schafrcr had ap-
pealed to the American consul at Ham =
burg, for the United States had not yet
declared war on Germany. This was OF
no avail He was sentenced to be shot,
when the necessary papers arrived from
Washington, and ne was repricvCd. He
was, however. placed in the German
shipyards at Kiel. He worked here for
some time. and was then impressed into
the German navy. He spent some time
in the navy service. He tried to escape
at one time. but was caught and was
, transferred to the army service, aftcl
spending year in Jail at kiel. HI
was then placed in the aviation section
of the German army. Becoming des
perate, he planned to ingratiate him
self with the German aviators and tC
get one to take him alOft. Once in thu
air, he planned to kill the aviator ol
force him to fly over the Allied lines Sc
that he might escape.
Bribes German Guard
He managed to bribc German guarC
to deliver letter to friend in Hol
land, who sent it on to Won Erschcn
bach. His plan, howerE. failed, anc
the armistiCc was signed shortly after
ward. He was released on Novcmbc
13. 1917. and given n pass to Cologne
From Cologne he made his way TO Iu
rich, where he was found. ragged AM
Z covered with sores, by the Red Cross.
Schaffer's two brothers were i
France with the American forces. A