Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-04
PROF. R. ". CROWELL'S ESCAPE
FROM GERMANY after WAR ocean

The arrival of Prof. Robert w
CroWell in Waterville yesterday morn
ing marks the return of a second AM
erican from the zone of European war
fare to our city In an interview.
kindly granted the Journal Prof Grow
ell told an extremely interesting mar
ratiVe of his experiences within and in
getting from war-engaged Germany.
Prof Crowell sailed for Europe i'm
mediately after his duties as professor
OF modern languages at Colby College
were completed for the year, on June
81, on the steamer Zealand from New
York. He was at the head ofta party of
four, consisting of three young lady
teachers of German and himself, who
reached Antwerp, July 7. From Ant
werp their itinerary took them to Par
is. through Switzerland. and thence
down the Rhine Valley to Freiburg. in
the state of Baden, Germany.
1t was here that the party intended
to pursue study of the German lam
guage in a summer school, but very
soon after their arrival came the last
OF June with it's declaration of war, by
Austria upon Servia and it's terrible
consequences. The summer school of
Baden was to open Aug. but the rap
idly increasing difficulties to which
foreigners would obviously be subject
determined the party to leave.
The surprise with which the appear
ance of war met the party is shown by
the fact that Prof. Crowell was the
only member of the party who was in
possession of a passport In ordinary
times OF peace passports would not
nave been necessary il this section of
Europe but the stress of deveIoDina
events made them at this time essential
They were consequently sought from
the American consul at Monheim but
could not be obtained. since the marty.
were not within the Jurisdiction of that
consuls territory.
Ifle parry left Baden, Aug. . and
reached Frankfort at about o,clorIt
III the afternoon. Upon the advice of
the American consul general. II. w
Harms, chey remained here for the
newt II days and during the time Sc
cured the passports which thew lad
been seeking. Within that II DAYS time
over 1000 Americans registered at fhe
American consulate for aid. and Prof
Crowell availed himself of the opnor-
tunity to lend assistance to both The
consuls and the Americans seeking in
formation and aid A part of the time
nc was helping filling out the blank
applications, and at other times he
had charge of the door of the consul
generals office and kept ii free from
intrusion.
On another occasion Prof. croveIl
was sought to translate a notice for
the German press calling a meeting OF
American ladies. for the purpose If
rendering what help they might be
able to the Germans. The result of
thus meeting was the gift of money
the knitting of garments, and similar
favors, To the Germans for the use of
their soldiers
While in Frankfort many COMMA MES
OF reserY1sts were witnessed narehine
to replace the regular soldiers in the
barracks, since the latter had been call
ed to the front. Few if any real hard
ships were encountered. Though let.
ters of credit in many instances be.
came Of little value, good paper. in tbe
form of recognized checks such as
those issued by the American Express
retained their accepta bility.