Morning Oregonian., September 06, 1917, Page 2, Image 2

THE 3IORXIXG OREGONIAX THURSDAY, SEPTE3IBER G, 1917.
GERMANS AIDED BY
GERARD AT START
American Embassy Looks
After Prisoners and Other
Teuton Interests.
; CIVIL AUTHORITY PASSES
"Willi Declaration of War Military
Takes Charge, and Is Not at All
Backward In Assuming
Full Authority.
BY JAMES VT. GERARD.
American Ambassador to the German Im
perial Court. July 23, 1913, to February 4,
1H17. (Copyright, 1917, by the public
Ledger Company.)
The interests of Germany In France,
England and Russia were placed with
our American Ambassadors in these
countries. This, of course, entailed
much more upon our embassy, because
we were the medium of communication
between the German government and
these Ambassadors. I found it neces
sary to establish a special department
to look after these matters.
At Its head was Barclay Rives, who
had been for many years in our diplo
matic service and who Joined my em
bassy at the beginning of the war.
First secretary of our embassy in Vienna
for 10 or 13 years, he spoke German
perfectly and was acquainted with
many Germans and Austrians. In
quiries about Germans who were pris
oners, negotiations relative to the
treatment of German prisoners, etc.,
came under this department.
German Officers Captured.
One example will show the nature
f this work. "When the Germans In
vaded France, a German cavalry patrol
with two officers. Von Schierstaedt and
Count Schwerin, and several men pene
trated as far as the forest of Fon
tainbleau, south of Paris. There they
got out of touch with the German
forces and wandered about for days in
the forest. In the course ot their wan
derings they requisitioned some food,
from the inhabitants and took, I be
lieve, an old coat for one of the offi
cers who had lost his and requisitioned
a wagon to carry a wounded man.
After their surrender to the French the
two officers were tried by a French
court-martial, charged with pillaging
and sentenced to be' degraded from
their rank and transported to Cayenne
(the Devil's Island of the Dreyfus
case).
The Germans made strong represen
tations, and our very skilled Ambas
sador in Paris, the Honorable William
C. Sharp, took up the matter with the
Foreign Office and succeeded in pre
venting the transportation of the offi
cers. The sending of the officers and
men, however, lntoi a military prison
where they were treated as convicts
caused great indignation throughout
Germany. The officers had many and
powerful connections In their own
country who took up their cause. There
were bitter articles In the German
press and caricatures and cartoons
were published.
Clever AVay Out Is Found.
I sent Mr. Rives to Paris and told
Jnlm not to leave until he had,, seen
these officers. He remained7 in Paris
some weeks, and, finally, through Mr.
Sharp obtained permission to visit the
officers in the military prison. Later
the French showed a tendency to be
lenient in this case, but It was harl to
find a way for the French government
to back down gracefully. Schierstaedt
having become insane in the meantime,
s very clever way out of the difficulty
was suggested, I believe, by Mr. Sharp.
Schierstaedt having been found to be
Insane was presumably insane at the
time of the patrol's wanderings in the
forest of Fontainbleau. As he was the
senior officer,, the other officer and thu
men. under him were not responsible
for obeying his commands. The re
sult was that Schwerin and the men
of the patrol were put In a regular
prison camp, and Schierstaedt was
very kindly sent by the French back
to Germany, where ho recovered his
reason sufficiently to be able to come
nd thank me for the efforts made on
bis behalf.
Gerard AM Germans.
I made every endeavor far. as It
lay in my power to oblige the Ger
mans. We helped them in the ex
change of prisoners and the care of
German property in enemy countries.
There were rumors m Berlin that
Germans taken as prisoners in German
African colonies were -forced to work
In the sun. watched and beaten by col
ored guards. This was taken up by
one of the Grand Uukes of Mecklen
burg, who had been Governor of Togo
land and who also took great interest
Irt sending clothes, etc, to theso pris
oners. Germany demanded that the
prisoners in Africa be sent to a. more
temperate climate.
Another royalty who was busied with
the prisoners' affairs was Prince Max,
of Raden He is heir to the throne of
Baden, although' not a son of the reign
ing Duke. He is very popular, and for
my part, I admired him greatly. He
travels with Kmerson's essays in his
pocket, and keeps up with the thought
and progress of all countries, Raden
will indeed be happy. in having such a
ruler.
Prince Max Humanitarian.
Prince Max whs a man so reason
able, so human, that I understand that
Von Jagow was In favor of putting
him at the head of a central depart
ment for prisoners of war. I agreed
with Von Jagow that in such case all
would go smoothly and humanely. Nat
urally Von Jagow could only mildly
liint at the .desirability of -this appolnt-
f
'
A Home Recipe for
Removing Wrinkles
ment. A Prince, heir to one of the
thrones of Germany, with the rank of
General In the army, he seemed Ideally
fitted for such a position, but, unfor
tunately, the opposition of the army,
and particularly of the representative
corps commanders,- was' so great that
Von Jagow told me the plan was im
possible of realization. I am sure If
Prince Max had been at the head of
such a department Germany would not
now be suffering from the odium of
mistreating its prisoners, and that the
2,006,000 prisoners of war in Germany
would not return to their homes im
bued with an undying hate..
Prince "Max was very helpful In the
organization of the American mission
to Russia for German prisoners, which
I had organized and which J. shall de
scribe in another chapter. '
Hatred Officially' Inspired.
AH complaints made by the Imperial
government with reference to the treat
ment of-German prisoners, etc, in ene
my countries were first given to me and
by our Embassy transmitted to the
American Ambassadors having charge
of German interests in enemy coun
tries. All'thlB with the correspondence
ensuing made a great, amount of cler
ical work. ,
I think that every flay I received one
or more Germans who-, were uaoxious
about prisoner friends, making inqui
ries and wishing to consult me on busi
ness matters in the United States. ' All
of these people showed gratitude for
what we were able to do for them, but
their gratitude -was only a drop in the
ocean of-.of f icially. inspired hatred of
America." ,
With the declaration of war the ulti
mate power in Germany was trans
ferred from the. civil to the military
authorities. -
Military Takes Charge.
At 5 o'clock on the afternoon of Frl-
dax and immediately after the declara
tion of a state of war, the guard of the
Guard Grenadier Regiment Kaiser Al
exander, under the command of a lieu
tenant with four drummers, took its
place before the monument of Freder
ick the-Great in the middle of the Unter
den Linden. The drummers sounded a
ruffle on their drums and the lieuten
ant read an order beginning with the
words, "By all highest order,' a stateof
war is proclaimed In Berlin and In -the
province of Brandenburg."
This order was signed by General
von Gessel as over-commander of the
Mark of Brandenburg, and stated that
the complete power was transferred to
him; that the civil officials might re
main in office, but must obey the or
ders and regulations of the over-commander;
that house searchings and ar
rests by officials thereto empowered
could take place at any time; that
strangers who could not show good
reason for remaining in Berlin had 24
hours In which to leave; that the sale
of weapons, powder and explosives to
civil persons was forbidden, and that
civil persons were forbidden to carry
weapons witnout permission of the
proper authorities.
Knickerbockers Are Forbidden.
The same transfer of authority took
place in each army corps, Bezirk, or
province or district in Germany, and in
each army corps, district or province
the commanding general took over the
ultimate power. In Berlin it was neces
sary to create a new officer, the over
commander of the Mark, because two
army corps, the Third and. the army
corps of the guards, had their head
quarters in Berlin.
These army corps commanders were
not at all bashful about the use of the
power thus transferred to them. Some
of them even prescribed the length of
the dresses to be worn by the women,
and many women have followed the
German sport custom of wearing
knickerbockers In the Winter' sport
resorts of Garmisch Partenklrchen. the
Gaeneralkomanndo; or headquarters for
jsavana. issued in .January. 1917. the
following order:
The appearance of - many women In
Garmisch Partenklrchen has excited
lively anger and indignation in the
population there'. This bitterness is
directed particularly against i; certain
women, not seldom of ripe age;-ho
do not engage in sports, but neverthe
less show themselves in public con
tinually clad in knickerbockers. It has
happened that women bo dressed have
visited churches during the service.
Such behavoir is a cruelty to the
earnest minds of the mountain popula
tion, anci, in consequence, there are
often many disagreeable occurrences in
the streets. Officials, priests and pri
vate citizens have turned to the Gen-
eralkommando with the request for
help and the -Generalkommando has,
therefore, empowered the district of
ficials in Garmisch Partenklrchen to
take energetic measures against this
misconduct; If necessary, with the aid
of the police.
Corps Commanders Arrogant.
I spent two days at Garnjlsch Par
tenklrchen in February, 1916. ; Some of
the German girls looked very . well in
their knickers," but I agree 'with the
Generalkommando that the appearance
of some of the older women was
"cruelty," not only to the "earnest
mountain population," but to any observer.
These corps commanders are appar
ently responsible direct to the Em
peror. Therefore, much of the diffi
culty that I had concerning the treat
ment of prisoners was due to this sys
tem, as each corps commander con
sidered himself supreme In his own
district, ' not only over the civil; and
military population, but over the prison
camps within his Jurisdiction.
(Contnu'ed Tomorrow.)
IRRIGATION PLAN GIVEN
CCNTRAIi ORECON COMPANY AP
PEARS BI2FORR BOARU.
Who will Mama th modern woman for
try ins to look as younK and attract! vq i
she reasonably ran ? TVfcy should she be
placed at & disadvantage la numerous ways
by wearing wrinkles. If she can avoid these
hateful marks of advancing; age ? Kew
women, however, know what to do to effec
tually rid themselves of wrinkles or saggi
ness. Most of the advertlseA preparations
are unsatisfactory and very expensive. But
a very simple and harmless home remedy,
which any woman can make, will work won
ders where all the patent preparations fail.
Buy an ounce of powdered saxolite at any
itruy a tore. IMssolve the whole ounce in a
half pint of witch haial and use aa a wash
lotion. The results are practically Instan
taneous. Marked Improvement is noticed
Immediately sfter the very 'first trial.
Wrinkles an sacrfnr are corrected and the
f fels o refreshed and smuB-Mke.
ELL-Aft3
Absolutely Removes
Indigestion. One package
proves it 25c at all druggists.;.
Settler Doubtless AMU Object to pro
posed Reorganisation, Says
Their Attorney.
SALEM, Or.. Sept. 5. (Special.)
Jesse Stearns and other representatives
of the Central Oregon Irrigation Com
pany today outlined to the Desert Land
Board the company's plan for reorgani
zation of the corporation to give the
settlers a hand in control of the affairs
of the organization. Air. Stearns stated
that the proposed corporation which he
would form would cover approximately
100,000 acres of land In the two segre
gations of the-company near Bend.
The settlers already are forming an
irrigation district, and Claude C. Mc
Colloch, Portland attorney, who was
present at the meeting today repre
senting the settlers, stated petitions
for such a district would be nled soon.
Mr. McColloch said that these set
tlers no doubt would have objections
to the plan of Mr. Stearns.
The plan of Mr. Stearns was turned
over to State Kngineer Lewis, Attorney-General
Brown and Assistant Sec
retary Cupper, of the board, for exam
ination. The board today alslo refused to re
turn to the company its bond of $23,000
given in 19ia for security for the en
largement of the Central Oregon canal
and the repairing of the Filot Butte
flume.
The board went on record aa being
in favor of the state appearing as a
party in the appeal from the decision
of Judge Bernard Daly in the matter
of the adjudication of the water rights,
of the Chewaucan River, in which the
Paisley project is involved.
CZAR'S MILITARISTS
BLAMED FOR WAR
Chancellor Michaelis Asserts
Russian Officials - Dis- '
obeyed Czar's Orders.
RULERS -SEEK FOR' PEACE
Declaration 'Made Russian. Treason
Trial , Discloses Facts About
"VVlilch.. America Is Ignorant.
French Influence Charged.
AMSTERDAM, Sept. 6. In an Inter
view with a representative of the press,
the German Chancellor, Dr. Georg
Michaelis, has made a statement in re
gard to disclosures at the trial in
Petrograd for high treason- of General
Soukhomllnoff , ex-Minister of War.
(Great prominence has. been given in
the German press recently to testi
mony said to have been taken at the
Soukhomlinoff trial tending to show
Russia's responsibility for the begin
ning of the war. Accounts of the trial
reaching this country have not con
tained such testimony.)
Chancellor Michaelis said:
"The statements of the former Rus
sian War Minister and the former
chief of the general staff. General
Januschkevitch. are of the greatest im
portance." They are calculated com
pletely o destroy the legend of Ger
many's guilt in starting the war. and
they will .force opinion, if the reports
are allowed to be published abroad,
to revise its Judgment on Germany.
America Wrongly "informed.
"The moment at which these dis
closures were made is the more fa
vorable, as we have Just had knowledge
of the American reply to the Pope's
note urging peace. In Secretary Lan
sing's answer the German government
is described as an irresponsible gov
ernment, which secretly planned to
domlna'te the world, which chose its
own time for the war and cruelly and
suddenly-, executed Its plan., which did
not heed legal barriers or truthfulness,
which flooded a great continent with
blood, not. only soldiers, but of inno
cent women and children, the helpless
and the poor. When adopting these
accusations from the entire factory of
calumnies, the American Government
obviously has no knowledge of the
course of the proceedings against Gen-,
eral Soukomlinof f. Otherwise its Judg
ment certainly would have been quite
different.
"It certainly Is now established ir
refutably," Dr. Michaelis said further,
"that it was not Germany which chose
the time for the war, but the military
party surrounding the Czar, who was
under the Influence . of France and
England.
j- "The Importance of the new dis
closures is that the Car, who had to
decide as to war or peace. In fact came
to the conviction, from the German Em
peror's efforts, that Germany did not
desire war. The consequence of this
conviction was his positive order to
cancel the- Russian mobilization, but a
couple of criminals who belied the
Czar - disregarded the order and
thwarted Its execution.
?V- .. C'ar'- Qrjl.ers Ilscarrled.; i i
"A consequence of the Emperor's ef
forts also was the Czar's order to Gen
eral' Januschkevitch to give the Ger
man Ambassador, Count von Pourtales,
assurances of Russia's desire for peace.
"The execution of this order was
frustrated by M. Sazonoff (then Rus
sian Foreign Minister), obviously in
fear that thfe German Ambassador, who
hitherto had. done good service In the
interest of peace, could perhaps take
further effective steps for the preven
tion of the threatening war. Who was
behind all these men? They certainly
did not of their, own. accord plan to
drive the great power of Russia,' then
Europe and finally the whole world
into a war of unparalleled terrlbleness.
"I need not remind you of the rela
tions between General Soukhomllnoff
and the French group of Chauvinists,
M. Poincare and his associates. It is
well known that the election of M.
Poincare to the Presidency was a sign
of an aggressive Franco-Russian al
liance against Germany, and that Gen
eral Soukhomlinoff was ordered to
Paris to play the Presidency of the
French . republic Into M. Tolncare's
hands."
'Regarainjr English Influence at
Petrograd during the critical days;
July 2!) and SO (1014), I only need to
refer to a telegram of the Renter cor
respondent at Petrograd and to the
well-known report of the Belgian
charge d'affaires, le L'Escaille, which
clearly show that the certainty of English-
support strengthened the deter
mination for war of the leading men
of Russia.
"While Russia prepared an aggres
sive -war andi secretly mobilized, not
only against Austria-Hungary buv
against Germany, attempts were made
to mislead and betray Germany in or
der to gain time for Russia to move her
troops to the frontiers.
"Germany was obliged to enter a
most serious fight for her existence
because she was threatened by her
neighbors, France and Russia, who
were eager for booty'and power, who
wanted to destroy her and who were
urged on hy the island empire beyond
the channel."
Naturalists are at a loss to explain
how the whale can descend to a depth
of 3000 feet, at which poln the pressure,
sh ould "be great enough to'-ciHish' K.-
PRESS AGENTS PROVIDED
All German Departments to Give
Out Information.
AMSTERDAM. Sept. 5. llereaf ti
every government department In Ger
many is to have its own press bureau.
The North German Gaaette, of Berlin,
the semi-official organ, in announcing
the plan, ?ay the object is to establish
close collaboration on a larger scale
between the government and the news
papers. The press, however, says the semi-
'Aerow
Collars
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DOWN IN AUGUST!
UP IN SEPTEMBER.
Aurmst is the auiet month, whpn frnimrl-flnor
clothiers cut prices to keep things moving.
September is the busy month, when ground
floor clothiers add on what they cut off in August.
NOW is wThen YOU pay the ground-floor
clothiers for the cut the other fellow got last
month!
We sell at the same price every day,
to everybody forever.
Open Satur
day Night
TAKE THE ELEVATOR AND SAVE $10
Alterations
Free
j Northwest BuHdino L J Washington and Sixth i
Through low rent, big buying power and
cash selling we can duplicate for $ 1 3 any
Suit value sold on ground level for $25
official organ, "notwithstanding the
new scheme for its enlightenment. Is
to maintain its right of free judgment,
which will be far greater in the new
Germany the Germany of world poli
tics and international recognition."
FORT ROCK JFIRE SUBSIDING
Fifteen Thousand Aerea Swept by
Flames Near Bend.
BEND, Or., Sept. 6. (Special.) Al
though the fire in the Fort Rock dis
trict is still raging-, it is expected to be
undr control within 12 hours. The fire
destroyed the forest service telephone
line yesterday.
Fifteen thousand acres have, been
covered by the flames, making the fire
one of the most destructive ever known
in this district.
C. J. Buck, assistant district forester,
of Portland, has gone to the scene of
the fire.
County Officials to Meet.
VASCOUVER, -vVash.. Sept. 5. (Spe
cial. ) bounty Commissioners Carson,
Miller and Kiggins, of Clarke County,
left tonight for Spokane, where they
will attend a. meeting of Washington
County Commissioners. More than 100
official are expected to nttend this
meeting, which will be devoted largely
to a olKcustilon of road work. The ses
sion will last until next Tuesday.
STATE FEELS HIGH COST
Expense at Girls' School and Peni
tentiary Higher Titan Kslimated.
SALEjr. Or., Sept. 6. (Special.) The
per capita cost at the Girls' Industrial
School was shown to bo J37 for last
month, according to a report submitted
by Mrs. Minnie TJarst. superintendent of
that school, and Secretary Goodin war
Instructed to make en investigation of
the reason for the high cost. Tho T-cg-IslMture
made provision for a per capita
cost of but 3 per month.
Tho per capita cost at tho Slate
Penitentiary was shown to bo $28.
per month, a per capita cost much
larger than thut contemplated by the
Legislature. The averace number of
prisoners at tho Penitentiary last
month was shown to bo 351.
Of the KngUsh women who have re
cently been Instructed in carpentry at
Byfleet. Kngland, 20 are now ail to bo
in France, helping in tho erection ot
hut for .tho soldiers. French and l?cl
giar: women are also engnged ill work
or this anrt.
Oxford Gray Suits
The Smartest Thing for Fall
While navy blue seemed to hold sway during the Summer months,
Oxford gray is coming in strong for Fall. Always first to show the
new things, we have a very lovely assortment of Oxford Gray Suits
selling as low as $32.50. One especially striking model is designed on
strict military lines with light gray velvet facing the high collar. Then
there are those clever tailored styles with large buttons, novel pockets
edged with braid, and braid edging the collar, lapels and cuffs. Many
are quite plain, others have pleated backs and belts. Really, we have
a very complete assortment, and you are sure to find a suit to your liking.
'1
'4 J'Ww ...s-r
1 iar-""1- 1
Time to Buy Fall Hats
The chic styles we are showing for street and dress
wear are.clever, indeed. The new clam-shell model
is very pretty and girlish in rich black velvet. A
lovely line of Fisk tailored velvet and beaver
sailors is now in, as well as a splendid assortment
of large velvet and hatters' plush shapes. You will
find our hats very moderately priced.
Many New Waists
Are in
Society o a t 1 n eeems to lead for
tailored wear. Some pretty models
in flesh and white have just made
their appearance. They have con
vertible collars and long eleeves.
White and Flesh Georgette, lace
trimmed and cut on new lines also
promise to he popular. We woulrl
like very much to show you the new
tylea we are receiving daily.
' L: V I
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Your
Charge
Account
Solicited
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WASHINGTON STREET AT TENTH
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