CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9] — Page 228

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Enclosure 1.

Original

COPY.

Detension Camp,

Hongkong, 9th March, 1916.

To the General Officer Commanding, Hongkong.

Most honored Sir,

Praying your forgiveness for intruding on

your time, I beg permission, to put the situation, in which I

again before you, asking, most honoured Sir, your kind

consideration.

am

r

I am borne 1870, 30 of June, in Strassburg,

Elsass, by French parents. Four days after my birth the

Franco Prussian war started. My father was fighting on the

french side through the whole war, and got four French medals

for brave deeds. Shortly before Christmas 1870 my mother and

me were relieved from the Prussian siege of Strassburg by a

Suisse deputation, and were brought to Switzerland. After

conclusion of peace, when Alsace became Prussian, our whole

family moved to Beaumont in France. To save a bit of property

my father had to become German. In autumn 1871 however he was

imprisoned again because he was accused by the Prussians, that

he was agitating in favour of France, and only released on

condition, that he moved a thousand Kilometer away from our

homeland into Prussian Territory. He did so, and moved to a

place, called Budingen, Obergessen. A small farm was given

there to him by the Government. After scarcely 3 months however

he returned this farm, and moved with us all to Chicago. Since

that time we considered Chicago our home. I was living there

with my parents until I was 15 years, when my father died.

Shortly after his death my mother, I and two younger brothera

returned