New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-02

this means much, for France is a coun-
try Of centimes.
The run on the banks has been t-e-
mendous. Small depositors crowded to
the tellers' windows, and in many in
stances 100000 an hour was paid out
before the closing hour of noon. A.
the central Office an immense crowd
collected by the time the doors were
opened at 9 o'clock this morning, and
100000 was paid out in small de-
posts. No attempt was made by the
administration TO shield itself behind
the clauses Of safety which the gov
eminent possesses, TO stop q too rapid
exodus of funds, and applicants were
paid smilingly as the procession filed
past the windows.
France is sound. and, thanks 10 the
foresight and administrative prudence
of its management, the Bank Of France
holds in it's vaults $4,000 900 either
in bar gold or in coins. Small drafts
are always theoretically in circulation
in France, and have been ready FOR
use, just as they are in Germany or IN
Austria, but they have not been in
actual use since 1870, because Of the
enormous facility of France IN sup
plying the mint with all the metal re-
quired 10 stamp coin. After Monday
il will be easy for the commercial
world and for small traders TO conf
plete in small notes the money they
now have TO return TO customers in
exchange for larger drafts.
Thus trade will not be hampered in
any such degree as might be feared.
Whatever may happen, France stancs
firm and solvent. Armed with a mar
vellous money resource and holding the
second agricultural position in the
world, after the United States, she
has a population Of less than half that
Of the United States to feed. Great
Britain, however, may draw on her for
food
The steamship situation is the only
thing so far which has really alarmed
the Americans here. Every berth On
transatlantic steamers up to SepteEi-
Der 10 is already booked, and many
thousands Of Americans have become
panicky One of them gave 81 900 to-
day for a Storage ticket An Official
OF the New York Office of the Hamburg
American Line, who had booked on the
Imperator, was able 10 obtain nothing
better than an inside berth on the
Potsdam.
At the hotels the news of the order
ing of the mobilization caused the
greatest commotion. Visitors began to
leave the hostleries en- masse, but found
it difficult to secure conveyance. Cab
men offered the service of their We
hicles at auction, accepting as fares
the highest bidders. They did profit
able business.
At o'clock a report that the gates
of the Northern Railroad had been
closed caused CONSERVATION among the
throngs of persons eager to leave Paris.
1t was impossible to get into telephone
communication with the station, and
when the long files of cabs and other
conveyances arrived there great excite
ment prevailed.
No porters were obtainable; no en-
ployees were visible. Every man had
stopped work, not to strike but to
defend his country. The approaches
to the platform where the Brussels
express usually leaves were packed
with a seething mass of humanity, con-
sisting mostly of Germans, Russians
and Dutch, perspiring under heavy
loads of luggage. There was no GER
tainty whether the train would actu-
ally start and eight soldiers, with
fixed bayonets, drawn up on the plat
form, was not a resssuring spectacle
TO the would-be travellers.
At last, however, the barrier was
opened and there was a wild rush by
the throng to board the train, women
and children being ignored in the
stampede along the platform. The
train was filed to overlooking in
moment. There were many heartrend-
ing scenes in the station, women with
tears streaming down their cheeks bid
ding goodbye to husband and out
bursts of grief over family partings.
To add to the gloom Of the journey
there was no dining car attached to
the train, all the attendants having
gone to join their regiments. Hence
there was no prospect of food on the
journey.
An experienced military authority
familiar with the armies Of France,
Russia, Germany and Austria, has de-
clared to The Tribune correspondent
that the present moment finds France
better prepared for war than at any
period in her history.
The three-year service law has had
time to have an important effect in
mobilization. OF course, France must
withstand a terrific first shock of the
German armies and hold them until
the comparatively slow mobilization of
Russia enables the Russian armies to
deal sledge hammer blows on Germany
and Austrial with the largest forces
ever put into the field in modern his
tory.
Thus Germany, fenced in by Russia
and France and the British fleet, has
only half the fighting strength of
Austro- Hungary TO count on, the other
half of Germany's ally being engaged
in Servia and Montenegro, with the
whole Slav population of Austria eager
TO cast off the Austrian yoke on the
first possible occasion.
II is now absolutely assured that
Italy will remain neutral. Trust
worthy advices from Rome clearly in
dicate that any attempt of the Italian
government to make the Italian army
cooperate with Austria would precipl-
tate a revolution and the proclama-
ton of an Italian republic.
According to the best informed and
impartial observers here the coming
war must lead to eventual victory for
France and Russia and the disintegra-
ton of the Austrian Empire.