Evening star., 1939-09-05
Boukhoge, Former Star Writer,
Broodcosting From Berlin
Reaches European
Post Only Week
After Order

A voice heard from Berlin broad
casting news of tense events of the
new European war over networks of
the National Broadcasting Co. is
familiar to Washington listeners. 1t
Is that of Hilmar Robert Baukhage,
former writer for The Evening Star
and well known in newspaper and
radio circles here.
Two weeks ago, as the war crisis
developed, Mr. Baukhage was Or
dered to Europe. His transfer came
with suddenness, in keeping with the
rapid march of events toward the
outbreak of war. On the night of
August %, as Mr.. Baukhage was pre-
pairing for a late evening news
broadcast, orders came from the
N. B. c. offices in New York for him
to leave at once for Europe. Thirty
eight hours later he was eastbound
across the Atlantic on the Dixie
Clipper.
Two and half days after leaving
Washington Mr.. Baukhage reached
Paris. Partial mobilization was un-
der way, each night there were
"blackoutS" and the cavalier atti-
tude of Partisan boulevardiers had
given way to the tragic expectancy
of war.
Reached Berlin in Week.
Mr.. Baukhage, ordered to Berlin,
found that all airlines had sus-
pended operations. He had to go
by train through Switzerland. On
the night of August 20, one week
after receiving his transfer orders
at his desk in Washington, Mr..
Baukhage was broadcasting from
Berlin.
Always the reporter, Mr.. Bauk-
mage gave a closeup human story
OF a country going to war. He
talked about the weather, the
crowds on the street, the price of
Vegetables-subjects he might have
discussed in his news broadcasts at
nome. He knew from his newspa-
per experience there was drama in
such everyday events at a time
ike this, no less than in the rumble
OF cannon through Berlin streets
and the roar of warplanes over
head.
Mr.. Baukhage is no stranger to
the atmosphere of war, nor to the
language of those whose participa-
tlon IN 1t he is reporting. He served
with the artillery in France during
the World War, being commissioned
q second lieutenant. He is a lin
gust, also, speaking English, Ger
man, French and some Russian,
HIS knowledge of German is indi-
Gated by his translation of Suder-
mann's Die Ehre" and other works
He is also the co-translator from
FTench versions to English of
Chekov's plays, The Boor" and
The Marriage Proposal"
Was Born in Illinois.
Mr.. Baukhage was born in La
sale, Ill, in 1889. His father,
Frederick Robert Baukhage, now a
resident of Washington, was born
In Posen, East Prussia, now a part
OF Polish territory for which Hitler
IS hghtlng. His mother, Alice Dakin
BLOOD, was of an old New England
family. She died two years ago.
Mr.. Baukhage was a high school
student in Buffalo, N. Y, with
David Lawrence, publisher of the
United States News. He was grad
uated from the University of Chi
cago and studied in Germany at
the University of Bonn-am-Rhein
and other schools.
Mr.. Baukhage has been a resident
OF washington since 1914 save for
period OF service in France during
the World War and afterwards two
years on the Pacific Coast with the
Consolidated Press. At one time he
wrote a column for The Star on
news and gossip in Washington. He
mas been connected at other times
with the Paris and WASHINGTON BILL
reaus OF the Associated Press and
recently with the North American
Newspaper Alliance as its Washing-
ton correspondent.
He has conducted the BIG Ma
tlonal Farm and Home Hour from
washington for the last five wears
more recently he has been doing a
late news broadcast and national
ana foreign commentary for the N
B. c. here.
Mr.. Baukhage lives here at 1725
new Hampshire avenue NV. Mrs
Baukhage, the former Margaret
Elizabeth Collins of Chicago, is now
the guest of friends in New Canaon "
Conn. O"iioaL'