INTERNED IN GERMANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16295, 30 January 1915, Page 14

INTERNED IN GERMANY.

NEW ZEALAND GIRL'S EXPERIENCES. {From Oce Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 28. The Misse6 Arndt (formerly of Dunedin) have just returned to Wellington after some very interesting experiences during their internment in Germany as the result of the war. Miss Hermina Arndt, the artist, was studying in Germany when the war broke out. I have had the nleasure of seeing some of her exquisite work, and learn that she has received an important commission to do 12 drawings of the heads of old Maoris for a firm in England. She has exhibited on several occasions in the salon. She intends to set up a studio in Wellington, and has a wealth of treasures to decorate it with—copper plates, zinc plates, paintings, and a set of 30 exquisite etchings, the work of her Berlin master, Hermann Struck, whose name is well known in the art world for brilliance and strength, and whose wonderful studio is one of the art centres of Berlin.

Miss Arndt and Miss Mina Arndt, who aro sisters of Mrs Phil Nathan, and daughters of Mrs Arndt, of Wellington, have been away from New Zealand for eight years, years that have held few idle hours, for Miss Ardnt takes a deep interest in musio, and Miss Mina Arndt has worked hard at her art. For some years thoy lived at Cornwall, Mies Mina making studies of tho fisher folk, and both making friends with these quaint primitive people, who cherish their superstitions. They went in and out of their houses, and even minded their babies' ailments, for the Connish fisher mother is ignorant and conservative.

In Berlin last May Miss Mina began to work in Hermann Struck's studio. Of her master's brilliant powers she cannot speak enough. When they first went to Berlin the city was normal, prosperous, gay, full of restless life, the cafes full, the women overdressed, and the atmosphere charged with that ioie de vivre that is so Continental. The Servian assassination came like an electric shock on the city, and there were many signs of unrest and disquiet. Five weeks later there was a marked difference, troops of soldiers marching through the streets, ammunition wagons, the casernas packed with men, all the disquieting symptoms of war. At first the sisters went quietly on wth their work, living as usual, never dreaming that their solid, peaceful England would be affected by th.'s outburst, but at last the signs grew too ominous, and they sought the EngFsh embassy, only to find the doors locked and a policeman on guard. On being questioned whore the British Ambns6ador was the man said there was no longer any ambassador. He had ..left Germany—which was not true — and the American Embassy was to look after the English in Berlin, so thither they went and formed a queue of 400 English and colonials waiting from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., when they reached the presence of the Ambassador. After asking why they were in Berlin and what wag their monetary position ho advised them to remain quietly in the city, adding that if they wished to depart the very last train between Berlin and Flushing left in an hour and a-half. They took his advice and went home, only to be wakened in the night by a tumult of cheers, shouting and singing, and to realise that, as the Germans put it, England had declared war against Germany. They were now prisoners of war, and obliged to report themselves to the police every three days. A friend of theirs visited the camp of British prisoners at Doerbritz, where the Scots Greys, other soldiers, and some civilians (including Mr Horace Hunt, the Wellington inusic;un) were interned. The prisoners were being well treated. For a fortnight before war was declared with Britain no English newspapers were allowed in Berlin, and letters written in Berlin tr> English friends 10 days before were returned. Finally the Misses Arndt went to England with 500 others, the American Embassy having made the arrangements. It was a roundabout and exoiting journey for them. They had to take their own food with them and rugs for sleeping under. Two American attaches went with them on the train, and the passengers could not say enuogh in praise of the American Embassy and the arrangements they had made for their journey back to England. On the way they noted new military railways being made by the Germans. They also passed the British prisoners' camp, not far from Berlin, and the whole train load waved and cheered and yelled frantically to the interned. They also passed a camp in which Russian prisoners were interned. Finally they reached friendly territory, and a load was lifted from their minds.