_HOMEWARD BOUND_
Henceforth our journey was free from danger of any kind. We traveled by
rail over Damascus and Aleppo through Asia Minor to Constantinople. At
two points on our journey we had to leave the railroad and travel by
wagon, or afoot, as the railroad had not been completed at these places.
Everywhere we were entertained most cordially and hospitably by our
German countrymen and by the Turkish authorities. At the railway
stations large crowds were always assembled to greet us. There were
bands playing and flags flying to welcome us, and roses with which
to decorate ourselves. Gifts were showered upon us as we sat in our
carriages. New clothing was provided for us, and we shed no tears when
we parted from our old rags and their numerous inhabitants.
My men enjoyed the unprecedented distinction of dining with great
dignitaries and men high in authority. Costly presents were bestowed
upon us, and our baggage car, that at one time had held nothing but
rags and our munitions, now filled up more and more. At some of the way
stations at which our train stopped only on our account, large numbers
of Bedouins had gathered to see us. They raced along beside our train,
and when it stopped, they gave us an exhibition of fancy riding. Many a
social glass was drained in the company of our German compatriots.
At last, in Aleppo, we received news from home, the first in ten
months. Letters from loved ones and the Iron Cross! What more could the
heart desire? There were two large mail bags full, and we devoted the
next few days to our mail from home, to reading the many letters and
verses that had been sent us, to writing autographs, and to making
away with the cigars, chocolates, and other good things that had been
given us.
During the afternoon of Whitsunday our train pulled into the station at
Haider Pasha, the Asiatic terminus of the railway. Here my men received
their long-wished-for German uniforms, which had been forwarded to
them. The officers also had succeeded in procuring for themselves an
outfit conforming, in a measure at least, to the demands made by the
European civilization to which we were returning.
The chief of our Mediterranean Division, who was also chief of the
Turkish fleet, Admiral Souchon, had honored us by coming with his staff
to meet us at Haider Pasha. My men quickly fell in line. Our flag,
which we had followed for ten months, was flying at our right wing.
A few brief commands, the execution of which proved that the brigand
existence we had led for months had not destroyed our military trim,
and my sword was lowered before my superior officer:
"I report the landing squad from the _Emden_, five officers, seven
petty officers, and thirty men strong."
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Group of coral islands. [A coral island consisting of a ring-shaped
reef enclosing a lagoon, OED.]
[2] "Ayesha is not an English but an Arabic name, and is pronounced
Â-ee-sha. Âyesha is the name of the favorite wife of the Prophet
Mohammet.
[3] Oriental water pipes. [Oriental tobacco-pipe in which the smoke
passes through water before reaching the mouth, OED.]
[4] A depth of about 131 feet, and a temperature of 86 degrees
Fahrenheit. Translator.
Transcriber's Notes
Hyphenation has been standardised.
'his Majesty' has been changed to 'His Majesty' throughout.
A number of minor spelling errors have been corrected without note.
The names of ships have been italicised (except title pages); they are
delineated by quotation marks in original print. These marks have been
removed.
Additional text enclosed within [ ] has been added to two of the above
footnotes in order to forestall any confusion.
The oe ligatures have been replaced with "oe".