Evening journal., 1914-08-14
EDITOR HILL Tells
OF united britain
Writes of Tense Situation in
London Leading Up to
War Declaration
FOUND SYMPATHY WAS
IN FAVOR OF ULSTER

LONDON, England, August 3.--As
you know full well Europe is rent and |
torn as never before in the history of |
the world. What / write tonight at /
the close of three most memorable |
days-only thus far, however, as even
far more memorable days are expected ]
will be old news by the time it reaches /
you. The "cloud in the Balkans" report |
ed for so many years in the papers
and made the subject of no end of witty |
paragraphs in the papers of the United
States, developed with marvellous rapid !
ity. When Austria demanded an apol- !
ogy from Servia it was in effect, as you
have learned long since, case of pulling
the tail feathers from the "white-winged
dove Of peace" with its European cote
in the special palace of arbitration at
The Hague. Then the frightened dove
flew TO England-the tight, little, bright
little island" and did its duty. 1t put
an end to the acrimonious dispute be-
tween Ulster and the Home government.
For four days the contending factions
had met in Buckingham Palace TO find
a way out. / watched the crowds in
front Of the palace and saw some of
the leading spirits as they came and
the conferences failed and the men in
volved agreed to disagree it began to
look as if civil war in Ireland must fol-
low.
The feeling was bitter and the SEN
timent here In England was all in
sympathy with Ulster. / have met a
number Of men and women from the
north of Ireland and they are all--or
were-for fight against the home rule
plan But when the Austrians as
sailed Servia, when the Russian bear
growled, and when Germany began to
show its hand, the question of home
rule was shelved, no doubt to the re-
lief of Asquith, who was no doubt
anxious to find an excuse to quit The
dove Of peace was happy, in spite of
the plucking It had received at the
hands Of Austria. Then came the
war-lord of Germany at last showing
his hand and at once disabusing the
minds of many folks of the idea that
he had a desire TO finish his reign
without a war. The advance on Rus
sia, the invasion Of Luxembourg,
France, Switzerland and Belgium re-
vealed the Kaiser as a man who had
evidently gone war mad. And today
Il stands that Germany has twisted
the neck of the dove of peace and
| thrown its crumpled body into the
audience chamber of what is now
looked upon as the farcical palace OF
arbitration at The Hague.
The situation here for several days
has been very critical. Great crowds
have met in Trafalgar Square, in
Whitehall, before Buckingham Pal
ace and elsewhere. England was for
peace for itself, but the report today
of Germanys seizure of two English
vessels at Kiel and its wanton breach
of all neutrality laws and solemn
treaties, has brought a demand for
return Of the blow.
The plight of tourists is a problem.
A gathering of 1900 Americans was
held today to organize for self-pro-
lection and to find ways and means
to get money or get out of the coun-
try. The demand for gold came with
a rush and five-pound notes were
substituted. Many travellers have
very little money on hand, their i've
] pound notes are not accepted and
the bank holiday" of today has been
extended until Thursday In order TO
give time TO print smaller notes.
! England's currency is gold and sill
yer, but silver is heavy and is not ac-
oeptable. The fve-pound notes are
too big.
II is hoped to Ak the matter in a
| few days-and you will know about
It before you get this. In the mean
time tourists from the continent are
crowding here. Lodgings are hard TO
get and money scarce. But the people
are making the best of 1t. They
laugh and they 60 about, but 1t Is
often a nervous laugh and a restless
wandering. The great problem is how
TO get the tourists home. Many
women who are travelling alone are
in the depths of despair. One wo-
man who lives in San Diego, Cali
fornia. came here from Germany last
week. She had left the bulk OF her
money in a German bank and LETT
most of her luggage behind. Fortu-
nately she has found friends.
A gentleman holding an official
position in Halifax, n. S., and his wife
left here for Paris last Friday, as
others did Now they are no doubt
tied up there. Families arc separated
and many stories of distress are To
be told. II is a situation never before
known here. New precedents are be-
ing made rapidly, notably the closing
OF the London Stock Exchange
There are thousands Of Germans here
and the German consulate, three min
utes' walk from where am now SIT
ting. is a busy spot. Frenchmen, Ger
mans. Austrians and Americans are
mingiing together and all have the
one desire-to get home.
L. Irving Handy and Mss Margaret
Handy and William F. Kurtz are IN
J London-at present on a short tour
J with friends, including Mrs, Berto-
lette, widow of Captain Calvin Berto'
lette. Of the United States Navy, and
, her sister. Miss Meigs, Of San Fran
! cisco. They have been living n
Paris. where their mother now Il
with Mrs. Bertolette's two little chill
dren. Paris is today reported In
state Of seige."
There are many situations OF the
= same sort, but those who are in tn
e worst position are the people In Ger
I many held back by the suspension o
{ the trips OF the German liners.
r Food prices are going up and foil
e will have TO cut out the luxuries
There are forty millions of people o
/ fhfu leland Their grain and DOfaf