Diary of Annie's War Read Online Free Page B

arranged to go to Hildesheim for a week or so, finish our business from there, and then go to Königswinter for the Christmas.
    We had been under police surveillance since the telephone was cut and all our letters came and went through them. Of course they must be opened.
    Arthur had business to attend to in Hildesheim on the 30 th of October so we decided to come in the town on that date. We settled up with Johanna. She had another situation to go to on the 1 st of November and left Woltershausen on the evening of the 29 th .
    Things were much better in Hildesheim though there was, and is still, a very bitter feeling against England. Many of the shops have notices saying not to ask for any English produce. We had hardly got there when we were put under notice of the police.
    We heard that the German prisoners were being very badly treated in England and some dreadful tales were told in the newspapers. Then we heard that Germany had sent word to England that if she did not release the Germans who were imprisoned then Germany would do the same with her English people. We awaited anxiously for the reply. We were very much surprised to read in the papers that England had only laughed at the message and said it was a German bluff and never answered at all.
Friday 6 th November 1914.
    By noon all the English people were arrested and imprisoned.
    I had been very uneasy all week but Arthur had laughed at me and remarked that we had no need to fear. I reminded him of the fix I should be in if he were taken. I insisted on him going to the bank and getting a certain sum of money. He was not in any hurry to do so as he did not think for one moment that the Englishmen would be arrested. He also remarked that even if they did arrest the Englishmen then they would give the people a few hours notice to get ready. I asked him how he knew that. I drew his attention to the fact that this war was different to any other. Therefore he must not rely on what had happened at other times.
    I was in a shop that morning and saw the police arrest a workman there. Belle was with me and we made enquiries. I learned he was an Englishman but had lived the best part of his life in Germany. In fact he could not speak English for he came here when he was only two-years-old. I felt very much alarmed and hurried back to the hotel. There they told me Arthur had not yet come in. I knew he had gone to meet a decorator at the house in Wörth Strasse so I awaited him. He came in about one o’clock and I at once said what I had seen. He said he did not think it would come to him but afterwards told me that a gentleman from the bank had spoken to him in the street. Arthur had replied that he must take his chance.
    At a quarter past one we went into the dining room and I noticed how very quickly the dinner was served. They scarcely waited until we had finished the soup when the next course was on the table. Just as we finished the meal the waiter came and told Arthur he was wanted in the hall. I thought at once that it was the police.
    Arthur came back in a few minutes and said that he must go away. I was not so much surprised. We went upstairs and hurriedly packed a few things. Herr Roeder, the proprietor, was very kind and told us what to pack and what to leave out. He said it was no use packing nightclothes but Arthur must have a couple of rugs and a pillow. These he found for us. In a quarter-of-an-hour Arthur was away. I just felt as if I was walking in a dream. I could not realise he was gone and I alone in a hotel. However, about three o’clock I went round to see Belle and after a chat I felt much more reconciled.
    I felt very indignant with England for not even having the manners to reply to Germany.
Saturday 7 th November.
    I heard that Arthur was in Hannover having gone there in an auto on the Friday night. He had asked permission of the police to go alone with an officer and it was granted. Belle and I went to the station about five o’clock