The shortest trip from Berlin to Warsaw is by way of Bromberg and
Thorn, but I chose the route going through Breslau-Oppeln-Czestochowa,
the last mentioned town being in Russia, which takes the traveler
through Skierniewice and enters Warsaw from the south-west. In
returning, I chose the route Skierniewice-Alexandrowa, which, in
Germany, is the line Thorn-Bromberg-Schneidemühle-Berlin.
This route permits the traveler to see much of the farming districts in
eastern Germany and a large part of Poland, which, by the way, is no
mean ambition in the time of war. Here as nowhere else is exemplified
the great faith the Germans had in the soil as a mainstay of success.
They had gone into partnership with nature to work out their salvation.
My entrance into the Polish capital was without formality. I went at
once to Hotel Rom, where I left my hand baggage, and then reported at
the police station. The fact that I had announced myself as a literary
writer (Schriftsteller) seemed to entitle me to more than ordinary
courtesies.
In the afternoon of my first day in the city, while near the main
building of the university, I met a young man who was walking
leisurely. He was holding a cane and was resting his chin upon his
right hand.
Not long afterward, in an angular street near by, I saw a person who
reminded me of the young man I had met shortly before. His pants seemed
to be made of the same kind of woolen goods, but his hat and coat
appeared different.
The following day I met the same person and took the liberty to speak
to him. In the course of time I learned that he was a secret service
man and had been detailed to watch a number of strangers who were
sojourning in the city. Those who were under surveillance, I learned
soon after, included me as well as several guests at Hotel Rom.
This young man had a coat with two sides suitable for outside wear.
When one was exposed, he looked like a student, and in the other he
had the appearance of a newspaper seller. He was one of many secret
service men in civilian clothes who were doing police duty and
detective work.