BERLIN IN WAR TIME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 10 December 1914, Page 7

BERLIN IN WAR TIME.

TREATMENT OF FOREIGNERS. EXPERIENCES OF A NEW ZEALANDER. ROBBED AND STABBED. Christehurch, Sunday. There has just returned to Christchurch, after a thriling experience in Germany,'Mr G. 1). Watson, who went to Europe some time ago. The declaration of war between Great Britain and Germany, Mr Watson said,' to an interviewer, was received in Berlin whilst he was at breakfast with a German friend, at the hotel where he was staying. His friend advised him to get out of the country as speedily as possible, and as it was unsafe for him to travel alone, seeing that he did not speak German, his friend kindly offered to accompany him to Hamburg, a six or seven hours' railway journey from Berlin. By the time Mr Watson and hi* friend started for the railway station the city was in a state of great excitement and ferment. Whilst the pair were approaching the railway station a German soldier, without the.slightest provocation on Mr Watson's pari, tool; from him his portmanteau containing all his perj sonal belongings, and robbed him of his papers and of all his money. Mr WatI son was stopped by soldiers several ! times before the station was reached, but acting on the advice given at the outset by his friend, he allowed no resentment whatever, his friend telling him he could not be responsible for the consequences that might result from any protests made. j

Just as Mr Watson, with his friend, was stepping into the carriage ii soldier came up and stabbed Mr Watson in the thigh with his bayonet, the point of which pierced to the bone. The scar left by the wound is still apparent. Remembering his friend's advice, Mr Watson made no sign or sound, despite the pain of the wound, and got into the carriage as quickly as possible. Once inside he crouched down in a corner of the carriage and all the time he \va3 in the train he pretended to be absorbed in a newspaper, behind which he lay concealed to a great extent. By previous arrangement his friend addressed him once or twice in German, but Mr Watson pretended to be absorbed in the newspaper, and made a gesture of impatience, as if desirous of not being interrupted in his reading. His wound bled freely, but being in a dark corner the blood was not noticed by anyone, though when Hamburg was readied Mr Watson's clothes were quite still' with blood. He was fortunate in being able to get a passage on a steamer leaving for Leith, Scotland. On board his wound was dressed and he received every kindness from the captain and officers, despite the fact that he did not possess this wherewithal to pay his passage. Jiefore parting, liis German friend said, "Well, I have seen you safely on board ship, and now X am going to tell you that your country has played us Germans a ilirtv trick in declaring war against us." Mr 'Watson, who at that time was not in possession of the reasons for Great Britain's actions, said, "I cannot argue, the point, as I am not in possession of our side of the story, but 1 have to thank you in any case, for your gr<_at kindness in seeing me safely here.'' "Well," remarked his German friend, "I suppose I am your enemy, and may have to fight you, but when the war is over and better times come, I hope we may be friends again."