The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-05

quietly, others were only stolid. some Try
ing to be gay, rich and poor alike with
nothing but what they could carry and
become Of them. Then we think Of the
strangeness of the German way of pro-
pagating culture" and bitterness fills ~
such as we never knew before that we
were capable Of. Then we wonder what
will happen to the woman trembling in
her cellar, too old to walk and no way
to go otherwise. Of the little girl crying
bitterly. lost from her family. We cannot
speak but get up and go on. new
tragedy before our eyes at every minute.
because we have met a friend with a
wagon, who takes our bags, SO we move
more quickly than the rest.
No Food for Them.
About we reached village on the
Holland frontier. Putte. The column
slowed up in passing the barriers erected
and sit down to rest. No food is to be
SO we must so on. The fields and woods
How will Holland ever be able to give
them all shelter even If many do reach
England finally. We reached Hooger-
heide the next town about 10 and found
finally cup of coffee in ono place and
then we find place where we can have
a loaf of bread which will be baked in a
quarter of an hour. little later 1t is
There is no place to sleep but we may sit
up in the church. We decided to do that
but later a soldier offers to take us to
at the chance because it is a town of 1900
an will have more resources than a viii
lage.
Our good luck continued. for a lawyer
there took all six of us into his house.
We there begin to learn something Of the
tremendous kindness of the Holland peo-
pie Everybody was busy, though 1t was
V11tHnfQhf d}RfPihnftnU tn n.
fortunate thousands. We had a good
nights rest and good food and the next
morning prepared to 60 on: The innumer,
there were miles Of it yet to come. There
IL railroad there and we made plans to
so on by rail. After lunch We went to
go at $3.50. After an hour We succeeded in
getting tickets, and in another hour we
got on the platform. but tho train passed.
trans but to lit little later we found out that
there was a military train leaving at $50.
By brides and strategy we secured places
in 1t.
-Four in One Room.
In six more hours we finished the hours
journey to Rotterdam and finally. with
difficulty, found place where four Of US
could sleep in one room. The two others
had f sS try to get
troubles, but the next morning We met
our two friends in Rotterdam. They had
been forced to come back for in Flushing
there Yves no chance to get a place on the
boat nor a place to sleep.
Too much can not be said in praise of
the Holland people-what they are doing
for the Belgian refugees is wonderful.
They are using up their limited food sup
ply with complete cheerfulness and no
ono knows what they can do finally with
such a mass of homeless and poverty
stricken people,
Belgium in Ruins.
Belgian is in ruins. Materially it has
passed away. Let US hope tLat its spirit
still lives for it was that OF an industrious.
contented and peace loving people. A
curse has fallen upon it and it is now in
agony. / believe that the spirit will be
set free to rise again and any nation
which takes part in that liberation should
he proud of 1t. I regret that the United
States will not have a part in it.
can not understand the Germans
method of attack for it seems more like
war on the civil population rather than
on the army. No doubt it is simply the
outcome Of their idea to gain their end
regardless Of means. Antwerp was sur
rounded by three rings Of forts. The Ger
man nlan was to reduce the outer forts
in one place to enable them to place their
long range guns In place to shell the
town. This they did and afterwards
ignored the other forts. They made the
town untenable with these long guns
shooting over the inner forts and then
forced the entrance leaving many of the
forts untouched and still garrisoned.
I am planning to return to Antwerp. II
possible, to look after the property of the
company and some of its employees. If 1
idea Of staying there longer than a few
days. Then I shall return to England for
further orders. I hope this will find you
all well and not worried. AS for me.
am as good as new and think that the
experience was worth while.
Your son, ABNER.