Once in the room, the travelers are not permitted to leave except
through one door, and that they pass only when their numbers are
called. Barred windows and armed sentries prevent any trifling with
this system. The numbers are called one by one except in the case of
husbands and wives, who are permitted to go through together--and when
this is reached, the traveler passes through into a second office,
where he is questioned as to his identity and the photographs on the
passports are verified.
While he is undergoing this questioning he is being overheard and
carefully watched by numbers of the _geheim-Polizei_ (secret police),
some of whom are in uniform and others of whom masquerade in civilian
attire as new arrivals. If there is any error in his papers it is
developed at this point, and he is at once turned about and sent back
to Copenhagen. But if it is a case of _alles in Ordnung_ (everything in
order), it is so reported, and he is ushered into another room, where,
having passed the first two inquisitorial chambers, he is submitted to
the grand ordeal, that of search.
And what a search it is! Unless one's credentials are exceptionally
strong, one is stripped and one's mouth, ears, nose, and other parts
of the body examined. One's fountain pen is emptied, every piece of
paper taken away, including visiting cards, and even match-boxes are
confiscated. Finger rings, umbrellas and canes are inspected. If
bandages are worn, these must be stripped off, too. No distinction is
drawn between men and women beyond the fact that women are of course
examined before female inspectors.
The bodily search having been completed, that of the clothing is begun.
Every article of apparel is felt over carefully and exposed to a
strong light for fear there may be writing on the lining. If there is
the slightest reason for suspicion, the travelers are given a sponge
bath of water with a large admixture of citric acid, which has the
effect of making apparent any writing on the body that may have been
done with invisible ink. The Germans say that these precautions have
been necessitated by the ingenious ruses employed by spies, whose
entrance into the country is considered a greater menace than is their
departure, since in entering they bring with them instructions to their
confederates already within the empire awaiting orders.
The next step is the examination of the baggage, and this is done in
a manner to make the American customs inspection seem childish. The
interior and exterior measurements of the trunks are taken to guard
against false sides, tops, and bottoms, and then one by one every
article the trunks contain is put through a separate inspection....
Every sort of liquid is confiscated. The perfumes of the women are
poured into a big tub, and such liquors as the men may be carrying are
treated in a similar manner. The contents of travelers' alcohol or
spirit lamps are carefully emptied into air-tight containers for later
use. The reason for the drastic regulation against taking any liquid,
however small the quantity, into Germany was the danger of the fact
that high explosives such as nitroglycerine can be carried in small
vessels. On several occasions, the Germans say, railroads and bridges
have been blown up by the enemy travelers who carried the means of
destruction in this way. In this connection the additional precaution
is taken by the authorities of prohibiting all travelers from putting
their heads out the windows of the coupés while crossing bridges.
All written or printed matter, such as books, newspapers, pamphlets,
magazines, is taken away. Upon request the traveler may have these
forwarded to his point of destination after they have been censored
and deleted. As every point on the German border is carefully guarded,
it is virtually impossible for any one to enter the country except at
stated points. All the roads are closed, and the border fields are
carefully patrolled.
Upon his arrival in Berlin, or wherever he may be bound, the traveler
must present himself in person at the nearest police station. There his
passport is again viséd, and he is given official permission to remain
for a given period. But every time he makes a trip he must report
himself going and coming....