Mr. White to Mr. Sherman.

No. 112.]

Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 17, of June 30 last, I have the honor to append hereto a memorandum report of certain military cases, more particularly mentioned below, to which as yet no reference has been made by the embassy in its correspondence with the Department, and am, sir, etc.,

And. D. White.
[Page 203]
[Inclosure in No. 112.]

Military case report.

1.
Julian A. Jehl brought his case to the attention of the embassy in a letter written from New York, which was received on June 14 last. He was born in Alsace-Lorraine in June, 1868, and had emigrated, after having obtained a release from German allegiance, to the United States in 1883, and he desired to revisit his former home. The embassy instructed him to make application to the proper authorities, and subsequently, upon his own request, permission was granted him to visit his home at Oberehnheim, and to remain there until August 2. On July 14 a second letter was received from him, in which he asked that the embassy would obtain for him an extension, so that he might remain in Germany for another month. The embassy, on the same day, addressed the foreign office on the subject (F. O. 26), and on the 23d of the same month a reply was received, in which it was stated that Jehl might continue his visit until the 10th of September.
2.
Ernest Theodore and Karl Kegel, sons of Dr. August Herman Kegel, of Shelby, Iowa, who was born in St. Ulrich, Prussia, in 1844, and who emigrated to the United States in 1891, and who subsequently became naturalized as an American citizen—were born in Potsdam in 1875 and 1876, respectively, and had emigrated with their father to America. The older son became an American citizen through his own naturalization on October 30, 1896, and the younger son, being still a minor, became a citizen through the naturalization of his father on the same day. Acting upon the request of Dr. Kegel, the embassy addressed the foreign office in behalf of his sons on April 26 last (F. O. 218), and upon July 27 a reply was received, in which it was stated that their names had been removed from the list of those liable to be called upon for military service in Germany.
3.
Johann Heinrich Tietjen was born in Prussia in 1864, and emigrated to the United States in 1882, where he became naturalized as a citizen on January 4, 1895. In November last he returned on a visit to his native place, and soon after his arrival he was arrested, and, in order to avoid imprisonment, was compelled to pay a fine of 250 marks, on account of his not having performed military service. His case was brought to the attention of the embassy on December 14 last, and a communication was at once (F. O. 132) addressed to the foreign office in regard to it. On August 3 a note was received in reply, in which the sum of 246.90 marks was inclosed (charges for postage having, it was said, amounted to .60, and 3.10 marks having been paid to Tietjen’s father), which was sent by the embassy to Mr. Tietjen, who had in the meantime finished his visit without further molestation, and had returned to his home in New York.
4.
Joseph Haag was born in Alsace-Lorraine, and when about 15 years of age emigrated to the United States, where he duly became naturalized as a citizen. In July last he returned to his home, and on the fourth day after his arrival he was taken by the police from the house of an uncle, with whom he was stopping, and in spite of his protest as an American citizen and his presenting evidence of the fact that his emigration had been with the consent of the German authorities, he was conducted by force across the border into France. On August 15 last a letter was received from him by the embassy, in which he stated that the object of his return to Alsace was to see his relatives and to collect an inheritance which had come to him, and in which he asked that the embassy might endeavor to obtain for him permission to return and finish his business. The embassy at once addressed the foreign office on the subject (F. O. 52), and on the 8th ultimo a reply was received, in which it was stated that as Haag’s only relative in Alsace was an uncle, as his brothers and sisters live in America, where his parents died, and as he sold at auction, for cash, the farm land which had belonged to him on July 5 last, and had no other business interests at his former home in Morlenbach, there appeared to be no reason why he should be permitted to remain in that place, and consequently the “Statthalter” of Alsace-Lorraine declined to give him permission to return there.
5.
Henry Kopcke was born in Germany, and emigrated to the United States, where he became naturalized as a citizen, at Chicago, on September 24, 1896. He subsequently informed the local authorities at his former home of this fact, and requested that his name be removed from the military lists and that a formal release from German allegiance be issued to him. In reply he was informed that his military leave of absence had been prolonged for two years. He thereupon brought his case to the attention of the embassy, and in a reply to a note which was addressed by it to the foreign office on June 28 last (F. O. 11), it was informed on the 27th ultimo that Kopcke’s name had been stricken from the list of those liable to be called upon for military service in Germany.
6.
George Hey, in a letter dated August 16 last, informed the embassy that he had been impressed into German military service. In this letter he stated that he had been born in Germany, but had emigrated to the United States and had there become naturalized as an American citizen, and that his impressment had taken place while he was visiting his former home. As no evidence of American citizenship [Page 204] accompanied his letter, however, it was referred to the acting consul-general at Frankfort, who sent it to the consul at Mayence, near which place Hey was serving. As the officers of the regiment said that nothing could be done in the case until after the maneuvers, and as letters to Hey remained unanswered, the embassy brought the case to the attention of the foreign office on the 17th ultimo (F. O. 77), and although no reply has as yet been received to this note, it has been learned that Hey was released from military service on the 29th ultimo.
J. B. J.