Into Berlin.
It seemed strange at the time that the Allies' forces were being kept
out of Berlin till the elections were decided. The wisdom of it was
afterwards ascertained, however.
The allied armies were kept out of Berlin because their presence there
would have given opportunity for tumult, and perhaps seriously
interrupted the course of events the Humanists were, perhaps
unconsciously, shaping in favor of the Allies.
The change in German politics cleared out the Hohenzollern regime,
deposed the Kaiser and his class, and as the chief policy doctrine of
the Humanists was disarmament, it suited the Allies to let the people do
the work for them.
The wisdom of this step was evident when news came through that the
Humanist movement was spreading across France and England.
In Belgium and France it met with more opposition than it did in
Germany. Strange to say the Belgian "Joan of Arc" was the leader. She
preached the cause of "the capitalist" with much vigor. I do not know
why she took up this political campaign. Maybe the wonderful response to
her appeals for financial aid for the starving Belgians won her sympathy
when she saw the capitalistic class that helped her in danger of being
destroyed.
Her eloquence, spiced by anecdote and parable, won many followers. She
pointed out that the doctrine of the Humanist in abolishing world
competition hit at the fundamental principle that made for initiative
and made man utilise thought and self-improvement.
"Abolish competition or distinction," she said, "and all men come under
the one rule, like so many animals."
She pointed to Joffre and Kitchener as successful examples of the old
and well-tried system.
She pointed to Belgium's King, Albert, who fought throughout the war in
the fighting line, sharing the lot of the soldier. She was joined in
her campaign by many of her own sex, even from Berlin, whence many had
departed, at the advent of the Humanist campaign which was spreading
throughout Germany.
When the Reichstag elections were decided, a force from each of the
Allied armies entrained for Berlin and, to my delight, my company was
among those favored.
It is difficult for one accustomed to plain writing to tell in fitting
phrases the wonderful enthusiasm that reigned as our troop-trains slowly
rolled into Berlin.
Along ten lines, crowded with continuous trains, we were conveyed to our
destination. Our trains were preceded by slow trains which dropped
guards at each bridge and station.
As our train steamed into the depot outside Berlin, I saw the wonderful
system of getting away troops. As soon as a train arrived columns poured
into a great park adjoining and took up allotted places.
As we passed along the streets the populace did not show any of the
fright and fear we fancied our presence would cause. They chatted,
smiled and pointed at us as if it were an ordinary parade of troops and
not the triumphant conquerors of their country.
Truth to tell, they were mighty sick of the war and the long
preparation, and our presence proved it was all over.
I remember, best of all, the frenzied welcome we received from the
Russian forces who had trained in from the south east.
They had kept the enemy busy on the east whilst we were moving up. It
was like the meeting of many friends who had come through adversity
together.
I can only picture one simile. I remember a story of two miners
imprisoned in a mine. They were cut off from all help and separated, but
began digging to meet one another. After many hours they cut through the
wall of clay that stood between them. Their hand-grip must have been as
ours was on that wonderful day in August.
It would take three days for all troops to detrain, so I sought the
earliest opportunity of finding Miss Goche. Nap came with me. The only
clue I had was that she had been removed to a concentration camp at
Berlin. I found that camp. A military officer who could speak English
saluted as we approached and informed us that all foreign military
prisoners had been transferred to Belgium and given their liberty.
"Was a Miss Goche among them?" I anxiously asked.
"I cannot say," he replied.
My heart sank. I felt that it was a difficult task for a stranger
unacquainted with German and a former enemy to attempt to trace the
information.
Nap tapped me on the shoulder, and in order to cheer me said: "You've
got a friend here, come and look him up."
There would be little difficulty in finding Wilbrid, he was now a public
character. So we took a car for the Humanist headquarters and there we
found him seated at a large desk in his shirt sleeves. On either side of
him were two dictaphones, and into the cylinders he was alternatively
dictating his correspondence. As one cylinder would fill it would
automatically ring, and he would turn to the other, an assistant
removing the filled cylinder.
We stood behind him at the end of the room afraid to interrupt, but he
turned and, seeing me, rose and came with outstretched hand.
"My brother Jefson," he said. "I know your first desire. You have been
to the concentration camp. I found your friend there. When I returned to
Cologne I found she had been arrested for assisting your escape. I
traced her to the camp, gave her your letter and saw much of her for
your sake. But she has gone--to Belgium. She was high-spirited. I talked
much to her of the Humanist creed, but she would have none of it: so on
her release she left for Belgium and she joined the woman called the
Belgian "Joan of Arc."