DISGUSTING CRUELTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1014, 6 November 1917, Page 7

DISGUSTING CRUELTY.

: AMERICANS': IN GERMANY. • WOMEN STRIPPED AND SEARCHED. . The. growing hutality of Germans toward,s Americans who had occasion to be in their country was a marked feature of the period which preceded the open rupture of the two countries. Some attention is devoted to the subject in an article written for,the Saturday Evening Posthy Carl W. Ackerniann, who refers to the tact that the reports of Mi; Gerard (the Ambassador) contains details of many amazing cases. One case which i.s quoted in the article is astonishing enough;—“At Warhemunde, where several American Consuls and their wives were insulted, there are two main examination rooms. Sceptical women matrons take charge of the women" travellers, while soldiers do tlie searching of the men here, as they do at Bentheim. Again I passed the examination, and was comfortably seated in the Berlin train, waiting on a siding, under heavy guard. Among my fellow travelling companions were a young American business man and his wife, who reside in Berlin. The husband had reached the train with little difficulty. He was in his compartment reading when he heard the shrieks of a woman. Looking out of the car window he saw his wife emerging from a shod door, in a hysterical condition, supported by two German soldiers. Ho brought her into the compartment. It was a painful experience to see this woman, who a little while before had been enthusiastic and cheerful, now in a- state of collapse, hair down her hack, dress partially buttoned, shoes untied—weeping and moaning. An American physician in the party gave her a narcotic, and she slept until we reached Berlin. For ten days afterwards she was under the care of physicians.

The story ' that this American .husband reported to the Embassy the next day is so revolting that decency forbids a publication of bis entire report. It is one of many instances officially .reported to the State Department 'where German Government officials mere indecent: :

■ The woman had entered the searching; room and was ordered to undress. Being thirsty, she asked for a drink, but before she was permitted to touch the glass the huge woman official asked her to open her mouth. Every filling in her teeth was examined to see if any were loose. Her throat was probed! The inspector tint her fingers in the woman’s month and felt round the gums, Then the surprised American was told that she could drink! j As the traveller sat naked ,on the bench she watched the examiner rip the lining of her coat. She saw that_ the roses that she wore pulled to pieces, petal by petal. . Every inch of her clothing was held up before strong electric light and examined. Some parts of . her hat were unsown!., Her silver wrist watch was taken 'apart, , and then the inspector couldn’t get it together again. A lemon hath was given, and then the woman’s scalp, toes and fingers were examined. ' The wives of three American Consuls had this experience, according to data in possession of the State Department. . | By this time it was quite evident the traveller was under suspicion, hut she could not understand why. . 1 In some cases the physical examination ended here—but not in all. This traveller was ordered to submit to an examination of such a nature, that she refused. Then two other inspectors were called in, and the three ol them, 1 standing at the open door-, of the shed room, shouted at her, questioned her. criticised her, condemned her, and abused her until she broke down and cried for help. She asked.for her husband, but the inspector said men could not come in. She wanted the attention of a physician, but it was refused. For j nearly an hour she sat there under the gruelling fire and pitiless eyes ok the three Prussians. , 1

When she persisted iu her refusal the inspectors .closed the door for a conference. The soldiers were called to help her to tho train, where the frantic husband met her. This is the -sort of treatment that Germany gave certain American travellers several months before diplomatic relations were broken. An investigation by United States officials showed that these practices were directed against Americans. Ambassador Gerard cabled full details to tho Secretary of State.