CO129-457 - Public Offices - 1919 — Page 239

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It was ovening, near 10 o'clock, when we boarded the

China" at Housing. Watching my luggage, I saw that the

three big trunks and trunk Ho. 4 were safely hoisted on

deck and stowed away to the luggage room. When the steward

showed us to our room, I gave him a fine doll. note telling

him, that my grip contained high values, and that he should

bring me to the paymaster, where I wanted to deposit that

grip. He went to see the paymaster, and came back, telling

me to wait till next morning, as the paymaster was just

now too busy.

Next moming, about 7 o'clock the "China" left the

harbour of Nousung, going to Nagasaki, About 9 o'clock

just when we were at breakfast, the "China" suddenly stopped

and we heard three shots coming over the sea. We left the

breakfast table and went to the upper deck, where we saW

that an auxiliary cruiser, flying the British flag, had

called the "China" to halt. In very short time a boat with

one British officer and about twenty soldiers - marines -

boarded the "China", occupied all passages and comanded

everybody to come and line up on deck, Nobody was allowed to go to his rooms. In the meantime, the British officer

enquired from each one nationality, name, nge etc. I told hia that I was Alsacian, bound for France, and showed him a private letter from Alsace, telling that 14 of my rolatives had gone to join the French army. Answering he stated, that no matter that I was born from French parentage at a time when Alsace was French, and further, no matter what my relatives did or had done, Alsace was a German province and I therefore was a German subject, if I wanted to protest against his decision, I could do so in Hongkong, where we would be brought to. The captain of the "China"

to hom I appealed, shrugged his shoulders and stated that he could do nothing,

After