SHATTERED ROMANCE

Evening Star, Issue 15513, 8 June 1914, Page 1

SHATTERED ROMANCE

To the London Alien Immigration Board there was revealed the other day the interesting story of a love romance ruined by wireless telegraphy. A penniless young German woman, whose landing was challenged by the authorities, claimed to be the sweetheart of an acrobat, one of a very well-known troupe which has returned* from a tour on the Continent to fill engagements in London. The girl, who was of attractive appearance, could ont speak any English. She explained through the 'interpreter that she had known the acrobat for some eight months, and that they were sweethearts. She intended to get a place as a housemaid until her lover could marry her. The man had been a lodger in her mother's house at Hamburg. Asked if she. knew that her sweetheart was married and had a family, she first indignantly denied it, and then anxiously inquired if it was true. An official said that when the man was taxed with having a family he declined to answer the question. The board refused to allow her to land. It was stated that the ship on which these and other aliens were travelling was certified as- having only 20 immigrants, and, therefore, not subject to inspection. The two sweethearts were travelling as " British subjects," but wireless messages ended in the boat being boarded by the authorities. The result has been that the man has been allowed to land, and the girl has to go back. A young German barber, who was stopped because of insufficient means, explained to the board that ho wanted to return to England to perfect his knowledge of the language. Then he proposed to go to France and on to Italy, because, he calmly observed, "one must know these languages to get a good job in Germany." The board granted his petition.