White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-10-04
LOWELL THOMAS
Copyright by
doubleday, Doran q Co.

we didn't know. The story, of course.
was not believed.
At first they kept rs at the gov.
ernor's rest house, fine place with
a garden. where visiting white people
often stopped. Our meals were borne
to us by coolies from the local hote!
The temporary c0mmandant of the
rest house was a Lieutenant Wode.
house, a fine fellow. After day OF
SO he was replaced by Lieutenant
Whitehouse, whom we didn't like SO
we'll. He was what the British them
selves would call "a bit Of an ass
y'know." Whenever he talked with me
he kept his hand on his pistol. He ap-
parently thought me sort of ogre, q
bad man sent to brighten nice young
lieutenants. Presently he came, hand
on pistol, and announced:
General Mackenzie wants to see
you, all of you"
"More questions, by joe" thought
Appearing before general was an
event of some moment. We felt we
had to look worthy OF the German
navy. We had our uniforms, which
were somewhat faded after the long
trip at sea. But we slicked them w.
as best we could and generally made
ourselves as presentable as possible
They loaded US into shrinking cattle
cars. For a visit to generali
Qurrel we thought. They led US to
stone building and ushered US In. II
was a jail
us this your General Mackenzie?"
sneered at Whitehouse. you're q
fine British officer"
He walked away. ashamed. himself,
Of the dodge he had used to get us to
the jail without the desperate attempts
he, In his stupid timidity, expected us
to make.
But the Jail was not so bad. We
got our meals from a restaurant. They
separated me from my men. which
did not like. Nor was II exactly mil.
itary ethics to confine prisoners OF
war In q common calaboose. But the
authorities were nervous. They be-
lieved the Seeadler was lurking some
where nearby, and they expected our
comrades to come raiding ashore and
try to rescue US. OF course, they kept
on trying to get US to tell them where
the SeeadIeI was, but they learned
nothing.
Lieutenant WhitehOuse was still our
jailer. Keeping good hold of his pis-
tol. he came up to me again. He spoke
very politely this time:
"a Japanese admiral wants to see
you, SIR"
laughed at him.
"First It was General Mackenzie.
and now II is the Japanese admiral
Hol Ho! What tricks are you up to
this timer"
mo, really, upon my word. really.
count, the Japanese admiral wunts to
see you"
"By Joe, lieutenant, was fool
enough to get all sicked up to see
your General Mackenzie. But I'll be
hanged If ri bulge an inch to see
your old Japanese admiral"
didn't know what kind of foolish
ness IT was this time, and intended to
protest and stall az long as could
He went away rather sheepishly. In
few minutes another lIeutenan,
showed up
"There is japanese admiral who
really does want to see you, Count
Luckner. you know" he said.
"Oh, since you say so, lieutenant, II
must he 3d." replied.
brushed. up my uniform and &C.
rompnnied him through the courtyard
to u pier. A splendid cruiser. the
Ysuma, lay out there at anchor In
the harbor. boat manned ny Jap
anese snilors WIS waiting there for
me at the landing. Aboard the cruis
er, the magnificent deck contrasting
with the dingy jail that now was m,
home. 1 felt like man who. long con
fined in darkness. suddenly walks into
sunlight.
My feelings changed to those of dis
comfort as the admiral welcomed me
He was a grave, courteous little man
clad in an immaculate white uniform
NV own uniform had once been white