The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-04

gentleman, resembling Jim Hill. The
crowd cried, 'Hoch, Hoch! Hoch! %
many times, waved hats and hand
kerchiefs and sang watch on
Rhine" Deutschland. Deutschland.
ueber alles." and others. You can
not imagine the enthusiasm OF the
men. Many OF the women were in
tears and ! confess TO having diff
flculty myself in keeping them back.
when 7 thought OF what il really
meant to them.
Eager for Russia's Answer.
Tonight we four and two young
men from Minneapolis, the Brucholtz
brothers, went down town, The
biggest crowd had gathered I'm front
of the newspaper offices, Swhere a
curtain had been placed to throw
out news, which all were tensely
a waiting. Russia's answer. No doubt
you have learned through the papers
of the situation here, but. IL may be
radically different from what we
learn on the ground.
So far the situation is this: After
the break came between Austria
and Servia, Russian soldiers blew
up a bridge on Austrian territory.
The car was asked for an apology.
and given until 12 a. m. today.
August 1. The time afterwards was
extended until p. m. II was this
answer we were waiting for so long,
and finally. as one of the party
was so tired, we all went back to
pension, instead of following up the
crowd. which, moved by some in
formation or perhaps only impulse,
had started down the street to-
wards the palace. Wish you could
have heard them singing their ma
tional airs and shouting. "Hochl
Hoch! Hoch!" Some of the songs
were in minor key and sounded
so sad. The crowd was n grave
one, even we Americans felt H..
and 1t seemed almost sacreiigious to
laugh, even at Susan's Remarks,
such as. They began mobilizing
troops yesterday and today they are
rushing sausages to the front" and
the response of one of the party
that The German soldiers wouldn't
do a thing to the rushin' CRussian)
sausages."
Marie and we're ready to accept
the boys invitation to go back and
look ON the scene of action. but the
other two thought we had better not
Awfully sorry we did not act on
the impulse and go. for since there
has been much commotion, and Il
was chance of a lifetime. Twice,
I've left my letter to watch from
my window the crowds marching and
singing in the street.
Tomorrow we will know the deei
sion and be able to decide on our
next move. We have been told we
probably could not get very far as
cars are all in service and we may
be detained some days. Hamburg
and Austrian ships have cancelled
sailings, causing much anxiety for
those having tickets that way.
v. s. Is The Only Safe Place.
The countries OF Switzerland, Bel
GUM and France, as well as Austria,
Servia, Russia and Germany, are all
modifying. and England, we are told,
has closed Southampton for all but
warships. 1t looks as IL the good
u. s., were the only safe
place. Japan, so last advises say,
has troops all ready under way. I'm
glad to be here, provided we can
get out safely, in due time. Hope
you do not know enough about
the situation here to be worried
about us. Good night and love un-
measured for each and all.
10 a. m, Aug 2.-Just finished
breakfast. Morning paper says
Kaiser has given order for mobiliza-
ton of troops at once and that
paper money is refused everywhere.
We four cashed $40 yesterday and
so have more on hand than we
wish for. VIII see the American
consul today IL possible. All stores
were ordered open today, Sunday,
so purchases could be made for sol
diers. We will leave as soon as
we can and by whatever route
possible. Today we will spend some
time in the galley, II the excite
ment does not seem too great to
be missed, even for masterpieces.
BY the time you get this letter
We will no doubt be on our way
to the steamer from London. Wish
| could see the light In which an
American paper places this situa.
tion. Above all things, | hope none
OF you are worrying about us. We
would not miss this for anything.
provided We are able to get out
OF II without being delayed.
Sunday, p. m, Chinese Tower,
English Garden.-Just another chap
ter. Guess the whole book will be
finished before any mail can go of.
We saw no gallaries this morning,
but spent the time on the streets,
following the crowd here and there,
and stopping to read each new
bulletin posted. At twelve we were
In the grandest crowd i'm the
Feldherrenhalle, when military band
played. We wormed and squirmed
our way through and got over half
mas - a =