Evening star., 1914-08-23
GERMANS MADE WAR
DECLARES TRAVELLER
Destruction of Travel and Eu-
ropean Domination Teu-
tonic Aspiration.
JOSEPH ALTSCHULER SAW
MANY STIRRING EVENTS
Newspapers Crowded With Accounts
of German Victories on Land and
Sea-Americans in Suspense.

SS8-AMcTlcdUS III 0uopSucS.
Special Cable DisEstsh TO- to The Star and Ns~
LONDON. August 22.-Joseph Alt
schuIer of New York reached London
rom Munich today after series of stir
ing adventures
The first indication I had of the i'm
lending war was a mysterious hint given
% me. July 25. by waiter in Berlin
restaurant. l said I was going to
Prague. The waiter whispered: Don't
30, you will run into war
Il paid little attention to his warning
There was no talk of war in the news
papers. At Leipzig. however. there was
great excitement over the rumored as
sassination of the car. and the threat
+ned declaration of war by AuStfla
against Servia.
"As we were again advised not to go
10 Prague, We went straight to vienna
There we found ourselves in trains
crowded with men going to join their
colors eight to ten instead of four IN
Zach compartment. Vast crowds as
sembled at every station cheering the
train.
Excitement in Vienna.
The streets of Vienna were thronged
with wildly excited crowds. At that
time they thought their only mission
was. as mauy said to me- to, 'extirpate
tfat nation of murderers, meaning the
-;ervians They were as gay and as
ishthearted as If celebrating a festival
Next day we saw the aged emperor
sitting in carriage. He was uproariously
.neered by the crowds. He looked
fairly strong and sat upright. bowling re-
peatedly, but with grave demeanor:
.Rumors of Russian mobilizing didn't
amp the Austrian enthusiasm. because
hey said Germany would help them.
'cney still talked of finishing up Servia
IN week.
we took the last train out of Vienna
for the west going to Salzburg. Among
.,ur companions was a young Austrian
1fficer who spoke English and French.
fe declared they would smash up the
.ussians and Servians with Austria s
!. 01u.0OO soldiers.
When I suggested France would get
nto it, he frowned. From many CONVEX
.,ltions 1t was made clear that the Aus
.ians were looking to smashing France.
~ well as Russia and Servia.
German Hatred of France.
German feeling was more bitter
against France than it was against Rus
ia. Everywhere the conviction was
orced home in our minds that this war
-as planned by Germany and Austria to
,iismember France.
'.Salzburg was swamped with Tyrolese
peasants being rnobilized and tramping
stolidly through the streets. 4 gloomy,
depressing scene. Next day we reached
Munich. The streets were crammed with
marching soldiers.
NO news was given out beyond the
fact that war had been declared. Ger
many. with mechanical thoroughness. had
put the lid down so tight that all news
vas shut off.
Nearly 2,U1 Americans found them
selves caught in Munich. absolutely iso-
lsted from the whole world, with no
means of communication allowed Of any
kind. For a week no foreigner was al
lowed to leave. Only post cards In Ger
man were permitted to be sent by mail
No one knew whether they were ever
forwarded.
Among the Americans there were
President Harry A. Garfield Of Williams
College, Prof. Morris Jastrow and Judge
Lahmar of New York, the widow Of for
mer President Harrison. Mrs. Eugene
Philbin and many others The Ameri-
IAN consulate organization. under st.
John Gafrney. raised $1,000 for needy
Americans.
German Claims Of Victories.
There was nothing in the German
papers except accounts Of German VIC
cries, reported assassination Of President
toincaire Of France, that Paris was in
flames, and that the German army was
slreSdy far into France and would be in
Paris in a week. According to these
tories the issue of war was already set
led
But even the most sanguine Germans
ere terribly surprised and dismayed
chen they heard that England had Joined
u the war. This was a far greater blow
han Italy's neutrality. However, they
onsolsd themselves by saying that on on
matter who came Germany was marching
steadily to victory.
NO word came Of anything but re-
rerses to England. France and Russia.
So the majority Of Americans sank into
leep depression. The Germans declared
40 boats could run between England and
america, that German torpedo boats and
submarines were threatening every port
II England. that Zeppalin had started
put to drop bombs all over London and
iestroy the city by fire. Suspense be-
-aIne terrible.
Finally we got the Bavarian govern.
ient to provide special trains for Hoi'
and. taking forty-eight hours to reach
tague. Tho Dutch border was guarded
ost tealously.
The Dutch were greatly fearful Of be.
-ng drawn into war. They had thrown
Up rortihcations and had mined all bridge.
nd railroads.
War Provoked by Germany.
We took half an hour crossing thu
Yssel. All windows were closed and tn,
blinds drawn. We all drew a deel
breath of relief. upon reaching Holland
70 learn that tales Of German victorie,
we're myths.
TT was obvious to any one travelling ii
Germany. as we were, in constant toucl
with the Germans. that they wanted thi
war and made it. They vaunted con
stantly their coming domination over tn
whole continent of Europe and the utte
destruction of the French republic.
The German army machine is so pow
erful II will take the utmost valor an,
skill Of the allies to beat back the kaiser
legions."