Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06
Miss Ellen Gericke Discusses
Her Experience in the
Kaiser's Country.
WITH PARTY IN MUNICH
WHEN BIG WAR BEGAN
Washington Teacher and Miss
Louise De Lane Return From
Europe Aboard the Ryndam.

Miss Elsie Gericke, who Is connected
with the Holton Arms School, and Miss
Louise De Lane have reached Washing
ton after interesting experiences In Ger
many during the war. They are en-.
thusiastic over the spirit of the Germans
and say all Americans they met from
all parts of Germany spoke in highest
appreciation of The unfailing courtesy
and kindness shown them in the kaiser
domain. They returned to the United
States from Rotterdam on the Ryndam'
which landed in New York Tuesday. On
the same ship was Mrs. Benjamin Har-
rison, widow of the former President.
When war was declared Miss Gericke
was in Munich and helped DR.. Sophie
Nordhoff- Jung of Washington, whose Of
fees are on Connecticut avenue. establish
a Red Cross school for first-aid nurses.
They soon had nearly 300, mostly Amer
leans, assisting. In organizing this nu-
manitarian work they were delayed by
the necessity of securing sanction ootn
from the. United States and the German
governments. The preparation OF nurses
for first-aid work in Munich is considered
very important, since Munich is to De
headquarters for the care OF all Wounoeo
of all nationalities within the German
border. There is a large corps OF meo-
was on her way to Rotterdam she saw
many trains bearing wounded soldiers
toward Munich.
Serves as Aid to Consul.
Miss Gericke also volunteered for work
at the American consulate and was well
coined, as her ability to speak and write
German was very valuable, because few
of the American refugees could speak
German at all. She made considerable
money writing post cards for refugees
and added the money to the relief fund.
This fund, she says. also prof1ted con-
siderably from the sale of an American
newspaper which was published IN
Munich for the American refugees and
which was in great demand.
Miss Gericke had quarters near the
reservists barracks and says all the
Americans spoke in commendation of the
cheerful spirit with which the troops
marched away to the war She says
they sang new patriotic marching song
and sung even on the boat coming across
the Atlantic to New York. The trains
that carried the German reservists to
their stations were decorated with flow
ers and heather.
Four or five wealthy American girls
who had planned walking tour through
Germany and Switzerland had trying
experience. They were just starting their
were advised to get out of the country
at once. They had to walk consider
able distance, carrying heavy satchels,
and reached Munich at ) am, where
night before AS they were dressed in
Alpine costume, they were at first de-
MED admission at some of the hotels and
were suspected of being English, but
when they had made it clear that they
were American tourists they were ac-
corded every courtesy.
Miss Gericke estimates that there
were about 1900 Americans In Munich
when war was declared, among them
being Judge Charles 3. Howry and
When arrangements were being made
to run special trains for the Ameri-,
can refugees from Munich to Rotter
dam she foresaw that that port would
be overcrowded and left the day be-
fore with another American woman.
H.. Have Tedious Journey.
til Wednesday night at II to reach
Rotterdam. being frequently obliged
to change cars, a trip that generally
takes less than twenty hours. But
they had the satisfaction of bringing
their trunks through with them,
which most of the tourists were IN
able to do.
Miss Gericke says that the refugees
in Munich had little difficulty in OBJ
tanning money, as American Express
Company checks were honored at
once and there was a delay of but
two days on letters of credit, with
only a small discount charged for
cashing them. The only stipulation
made was that the tourists should not
ash for any large amounts.
In coming through the English
channel the Ryndam was held up by a
British warship, which demanded that
the boat be searched at South Good
win, but when it was shown that it
was carrying only American refugees
it was allowed to pass with a merely
formal inspection.