I thought that our troubles had finished, when shortly
afterwards Major von Rheinbaben came, rather embarrassed, to
inform me that the train would not proceed to the Danish
frontier if I did not pay the cost of this train. I
expressed my astonishment that I had not been made to pay at
Berlin and that at any rate I had not been forewarned of
this. I offered to pay by a cheque on one of the largest
Berlin banks. This facility was refused me. With the help of
my companions I was able to collect, in gold, the sum which
was required from me at once, and which amounted to 3,611
marks, 75 pfennig. This is about 5,000 francs in accordance
with the present rate of exchange.
After this last incident, I thought it necessary to ask
Major von Rheinbaben for his word of honor as an officer and
a gentleman that we should be taken to the Danish frontier.
He gave it to me, and I required that the policeman who was
with us should accompany us.
In this way we arrived at the first Danish station, where
the Danish Government had had a train made ready to take us
to Copenhagen.
I am assured that my British colleague and the Belgian
Minister, although they left Berlin after I did, traveled by
the direct route to Holland. I am struck by this difference
of treatment, and as Denmark and Norway are, at this moment,
infested with spies, if I succeed in embarking in Norway,
there is danger that I may be arrested at sea with the
officials who accompany me.
I do not wish to conclude this dispatch without notifying
your Excellency of the energy and devotion of which the
whole staff of the Embassy has given unceasing proof during
the course of this crisis. I shall be glad that account
should be taken of the services which on this occasion have
been rendered to the Government of the Republic, in
particular by the Secretaries of the Embassy and by the
Military and Naval Attaches.
JULES CAMBON.
APPENDIX III
HOW GERMANS ARE WAGING WAR
The French Government, as soon as it heard of the first German
atrocities, instituted a Commission of inquiry composed of three high
French magistrates: Mr. Georges Payelle, President of the Cour des
Comptes, Mr. Georges Maringer, Councilor of State, and Mr. Edmond
Paillot, Councilor of the Cour of Cassation. That Commission proceeded
to the spot where the atrocities had been perpetrated and heard
witnesses, who deposed under oath.
All evidence and proceedings have been printed and fill up ten heavy
volumes.
Among many depositions, the following one, taken the twenty-third of
October, 1915, at Paris, will give an idea of the horrors to which the
invaded regions of France were submitted.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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