The Washington times., 1914-09-01
PICTURES BERLIN AS
WAR CLOUD BREAKS
Washington Man in Consular
Service Writes of Trip
Through Germany.

A graphic pen picture Of troops leav-
ing Berlin, excited and merry" amid
cheers from women and children. in
striking contrast to the present grue-
some fighting in a frenzied effort to
reach Paris. is given in letter OF Al
fred r. Thomson, retiring vice consul
general to Berlin. written TO his pa
rents in Washington.
Mr.. Thomson also gives a vivid pen
picture of his trip to Salonika, to take
UP his new duties as vice consul
there. On his way he encountered
hundreds of Russians. Turks, Bulgar-
ians, and others fleeing from Europe
The war spirit was manifest on every
side.
assurance DR.. and Mrs. l.. B. Thomson
have had of Mr.. Thomson's safety.
Thomson is widely known in Washlng-
ton from his record as an athIete ana
cadet officer at Central Hlsn School'
versity. He has made brilliant rec
ord in the consular service. Now only
twenty-five years old, he goes to as
sumo a post where he Will be In sole
soie charge of the Berlin office for
many weeks. following the transfer OF
the consul general there, Robert Skin
ner. to London.
'NOll Will remember. ne bJSLiS' NlLoA
The consul wanted me to come to Sa-
lonika by August, in order TO learn the
new duties before he leaves on sep
tember l. CThomson's letter is dated
August 81
Gets Last Train From Berlin.
IT planned to leave by the Vienna
BaIdapest-B Belgrade route on July y.
but the war between Austria and Ser
via stopped that service l left Berlin
Sunday at $50 Had l waited until the
il:sO o. m. train I would not have been
able to leave Germany at all. as the
government had exclusive use of its
railroad system for the movement OF
troops since Monday.
This trip so far has been attended
hv considerable delay and inconveni-
ence. NV train was filled with Officers
and soldiers who were fastening to
Alsaoe-Lorraine. They were all ex-
cl.eered from Berlin to Strassburg, and
other cities in Alsace-Lorraine were
under martial Law. The railroad sta
tions and bridges were guarded by
soldiers from Berlin TO the Swiss
border. We had to show passports to
keep from being arrested as English
spies. The German trains were not
allowed TO cross the Swiss border, so
our trunks and selves had to be trans
ported for a long distance in wagons
Hundreds of people have been shot In
Germany as spies.
7 had a French letter from the am
hassador in Berlin which facilitated
things very much and exempted my
baggage from customs examination.
Sleep On Ships Deck.
The ship from Venice is crowded
and jammed with Russians, Turks, Bull
garians and other people fleeing from
Europe. The Austrian and German
ships are not running. Every state
room has extra beds. First class pas
sengers are sleeping on the decks.
The Princess of Wied (now Queen
Of Albanial and family will board this
steamer in Southern Italy tonight. The
smoking room is to be made into an
imperial suite for her majesty. This
is the only ship which is left for her
To take. and she will have to make the
hest of the poor Accommodations
Mr.. Thomson visited Washington
this spring. and had been in Berlin
only a few weeks when he was trans
ferred TO Salonika.