Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-08-31

We are spending the summer in
Scotland. The drum beat of war is
across the North Sea. Defended by
the British fleet, we feel quite safe in
this old world village twelve miles
west of Edinburgh. And now that the
Atlantic lanes of travel are said to be
open II seems quite certain that we
can sail from Liverpool September z
on schedule time.
Outwardly we see few signs of the
titanic struggle. The country lie
moves on as usual-no flags. no troops,
no guns. The lovely rolling landscape,
with its burns and braes, covered with
an abundant harvest now being gar
nered, is wounded only by industry
where the shale mines have thrown
out vast hills of refuse. The weather,
with the mercury in the fifties and
sixties, is most invigorating. excepting
the frequent showers and dull DAYS
The great cities are quiet. During the
first week of the. war there were
crowds marching cheering and sing
ing, along the streets, at the railway
stations as the troops mobilized, and
in front of buckingham palace. But
that has quieted into silent and grim
determination. Our butcher expressed
the feeling the other day when he an
nounced, The British will see this
thing through"
The difference from times of peace
quiet but prompt and effective gath
ering of the navy and army and the
upheaval of commerce.
The war is on every ones mind and
tongue. 1t springs to expression in
every conversation. The first question
is for news. The people are a unit for
the honor and defense of the nation.
The deep popular distrust of Germany
needed only a clear presentation of
the wrongs of Belgium and the
Jeopardy of Britain to be turned into
conviction which rests on conscience
| and self preservation. From the man
| in the street to the diplomat. all feel
the force of these three motives in
varying degree-the hatred of Prussian
| aggression, the treaty obligation to
guarantee Belgiums neutrality and
the ultimate danger to the prosperity
| and even life of the British empire.
| The German invasion of Belgium and
Earl Grey's speech in the House of
| Commons solidified sentiment. Prac-
| tically all agree on the necessity and
righteousness of opposing sword to
| sword. The Commons voted f100,-
100000 and 100000 men. We see no
| light heartedness or boasting or count
ing of eggs before they are hatched,
as the Car seems to be doing in the
| case of Poland The Boer war was a
warning. Everywhere there is a sense
of the tragedy and cost of It all. 1T
is very depressing" remarked a gen.
tleman after he had spoken of the
great movement of troops south in
many special trains from Edinburgh
to join the eXpeditionary army. Crys-
| tai Palace is to be used as a hospital.
Houses are being offered for public
purposes. A school teacher near Dub
lin received notice that she need not
return from her holidays as the
schoolhouse would be turned into a
hospital, but later was asked to come
as a nurse. The women are organ
| izing into bands of aid to gather cloth
| ing, knit wooden socks, canvass for
| funds, and what not At a neighbor-
ing school the teachers are giving
outdoor lessons in knitting, the local
nobleman donating the wool. A large
sum, now a million and a half ster-
ling, is coming in for the Prince of
Wales relief fund. The Red Cross
| and other funds are rising. Even a
fund for the relief of Belgians is be-
| ing gathered.
The Irish question is dropped; in
dustrial disputes are patched up; the
dominions overseas send their help,
men, money. ships, provisions from
the end of the earth British Columbia,
Bengal, New Zealand. There is some
! thing thrilling in the quick sympathy
and swift accord of a mighty empire.
1t is like seeing giant crouch to
spring.
We know little of the movements
of fleet or army save that the army
| is in France and the fleet is on guard
| The newspapers with loyal self
restraint print nothing to aid the
enemy. But never has Britain been
better prepared. Statesmen foresaw
| the inevitable two years ago when
Germany tried to make trouble be-
tween France and England. A year
ago the authorities in this region listed
the horses. The review of the fleet in
July was really a mobilization. When
war came so suddenly all was ready.
Plans were put into effect as by the
turning on of a switch in a power
plant The fleet was ready in a day
and within ten days the army was in
France. The people have quiet con-
fidence in both arms of the service and
think 1t quite certain that the allies
will break the power of Prussia and
postpone indefinitely Nietzsche's dream
of the superman and the conquest of
the world.
Last Saturday, walking through a
strange village. | stopped a miner and
asked him the name and population
| of the hamlet and the use of a new
building. Returning in a few minutes
past group on the corner this miner
caught my eye and remarked quiz
ically: Are you a German spy?''
Many spies have been taken in and
many wild tales are afloat, such as
pressing a concealed button and drop
ping the Firth of Forth bridge on
the Germans If they pass under Lon
| don is said to he little nervous from
! fear of airships and bombs.
Commerce has had a heavy blow
already As England is "a nation OF
shopkeepers, she feels it. Those who
/ trade with the continent are hit the
hardest. During the first week the
panic was general. The bank rate
rose to 10 per cent. and our neighbor
| the farmers wife. nut UP. her eggs