The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-04
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
 SOON BE BROKEN
ItaIy's Seizure of TripOli
 Deeply Resented
PA,UPERS' SHELTERS
How Berlin's Poor People and Yagrants Are Sheltered-German Postoffice to Be Admired.
 The "Ten Commandments"
By MALCOLM CLARKE


 Berlin, February 3.-(Special )-The inn
 pression grows here that the days of the triple alliance are numbered. It is nc secret that both in Austria and Germany
 the seizure of Tripoli by Italy was deep- | 1y resented, as calculated to upset many | important plans of the first two coun- tries. The resentment is keener from the fact that Italy acted without either con srltation or notification of her allies
 It is regarded as highly probable that | Italy will drop out of the alliance and that her place will be taken by either Turkey or it may be Russia. If Italy can be weaned away frcn- the triple intent she would be welcomed by Germany and Russia. Such an all lance would be practically invincible on land in Europe and Asia and with Turkey included could also dominate Africa.
 Italy, it is held here, is of little use to Germanic alliance and a realignment of the powers is looked upon as practically assured.
 The mysterious fatalities which recently occurred at Paupers Shelter in Berlin have drawn swift and startling attention to those philanthropic institutions. The fact that 50 deaths should have taken place within a few hours is so dra- matic that it almost suggests some scan- dal but these deaths are in no wise to be laid at the door of the authorities.
 Nowhere else can the vagrants and homeless have such comfortable accom- modation entirely free of charge.
 I went to the monster shelter one aft ernoon and found everyone very busy pre- pairing for the influx of homeless folk who would arrive at in the afternoon. The superintendent, a white haired, kind ly looking man, most courteously left his work and came to show me everything.
 He told me how, long before the doors were opened, crowds of paupers assem- ble before the gates. These are care- fully inspected and the same people are not allowed to come in more than a cer- tain number of times a month.
 Directly the sheep and the goaps have been separated the chosen ones are led off to have a. bath, or at any rate, a good wash, their clothes being taken from them to be disinfected. If these are tat tered they are often replaced by new ones. but if the old ones are still possible to wear they are provided with thread and needles to mend them.
 The next thing is supper, which con- sists of soup and hunks of bread, and after supper any one who likes to read can have book from the circulating li- brary.
 At o'clock everybody is expected to go to bed
 The dormitories are heated to a consid- erable extent, for owing to the unclean nature of the vagrants, no coverings are used but such as can be washed every day. The beds consists of wife mat tresS a wire pillow, and a sheet, and the paupers usually sleep in their clothes.
 Nobody is questioned about his ante cedents or his name. and the police never enter the doors. The only thing ever asked are the age of the individual and the number of times he has been to the shelter during the month.
 At 6 in the morning a bell rings. when everyone has to turn out of bed, and, after good breakfast of coffee and bread, leaves his comfortable quarters again for the street.
 Then the hard work begins for the staff, which is very small, as the shelter is run on the most economical lines. The place is thoroughly scrubbed, all the linen
 washed, and the food prepared. Every thing is put into perfect order against the arrival of the next horde of invaders What struck me particularly in the shelter was the sympathetic, kindly at titude of the superintendent towards the paupers, who. after all. can hardly be the most attractive people in the world to deal with.