The State Department has sent to Mr. Uhl, the United States Ambassador to
Germany, directing him to make a demand on the German Government for the
release of an American citizen named Mayer, who has been wrongfully forced
to serve in the German army.

This matter is of interest to us, because it shows us our rights as
citizens.

The father of this Mayer was a German citizen who came to this country,
lived here for a good number of years, and returned to his native land
when his son was between eleven and twelve years old.

The elder Mayer never took out his naturalization papers, and therefore
remained a citizen of Germany.

The younger Mayer was nevertheless an American citizen because he was born
here, and this is the point that interests us.

According to our law, all persons who are born within the boundaries of
the United States are American citizens. The nationality of the parents
makes no difference whatever, nor does it signify whether the father was a
citizen or not. The mere fact of being born in this country is sufficient
to make a man an American citizen. The United States claims him, and
protects him if he needs protection.

When young Mayer's parents went hack to Germany they educated their boy in
German schools, and he grew up as a German boy.

When he came to be twenty-one years of age he was ordered to serve his