The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-29
EUROPE FEARS WAR MAY LAST DECADE, SAYS MIR. FREEDMAN Tuscaloosa Business Man Gives Impressions After Touring War Zone SAYS GERMANS BEST
 SOLDIERS IN WORLD Believes Business Will Adjust Itself
 in Short While Although Now
 Europe Would Not Buy Our Cotton

most prominent citizens. was here yes- terday in conference with several To- cal cotton men after hurried and in teresting escape from troubled Europe And from him The Age-Herald was able to secure statements which may help clarfy in the minds of some local persons the absorbing question of why the Germans or overwhelming the all lied armies of Great Britain. France and Belgium.
 "The German trops are commanded by the nobles of the German empire. and the first citizens, said MT. Fried man. They are we'll groomed, stall wart' ambitious men. They are we'll trained troopers and are wildly enthu- siastic over their country and their army. The call for arms was answered first of all by the best men of Ger many, which obviously places that ar my's personnel up to a high standard. On the other hand, the mobilization of the British troops is answered by the riff-raff. The idle men and the lower clssses answer the first calls, and on the second and third calls the
 more prominent men answer It is practically the same situation as would Germany and France
 Of the latter the mobilization is an- swered by the entire country. How ever, the French army is composed of small men, and they are not well trained. And in the opinion of men who have seen them recently, the idea is general that one German can whip three Frenchmen. That may not be the result, but is is the general opinion among most men with whom talked in Europe on the question. The regu- lars of England are fine looking men, and no finer body of fellows have l ever seen than three regiments that saw off for the front in England However, even they do not exceed In statute or zeal the German soldiers.
 In Paris and London
 T left Berlin just few days before war was declared on France, and reached Paris In Berlin the best in- formed men there did not think a gen eral European war possible. I was in conference with many cotton men about the situation. The men engaged in the cotton business abroad are well informed, and exceedingly wealthy, and are leaders in many first movements
 Even this class of well posted men did not believe this terrible situation possible. Practically all the cotton men that l know In Bremen are now at the front. The German Emperor says that it is a fight for life of the German empire. England and France both say 1t Is fight to protect the peace of Europe, and as all great countries ex- cepting America are engaged In the war, l can no end for It. It may be that the Germans will overthrow the allies and get within d few miles of Paris. and there camp until the French government makes a proposi-
 ton to settle the war. If that is done the whole matter may be cleared up soon. But if l gathered the correct opinion in Europe the situation Is for 10 years unless, in the meantime, the allies whip the Germans, world without end.
 .T reached London Just as war was de- clared in that country against Germany, and being anxious to get home I went
 down to Liverpool and secured the one remaining berth for home. The Ameri- cans were exceedingly anxious to get home. and l was told when I left Lon don to pay $500 above the market for a berth home. That was the average that would have been gladly paid by Amer clans for passages on the first ships that left for America. However. it is differ ent now. and l am sure the Americans abroad are getting more calm and in bet ter spirits. At first, however almost any price would have been paid for steamer berths
 Eventful Voyage
 Our ship was not chased on the way across. The officers were absolutely mute. They would not talk and they ob- served strictly the orders of the British
 admiralty about operations. We went north one day and in another direction we did not know at any time whether we
 would lock in New York or Halifax or Boston. We cruised for 4S hours beyond our time for landing. Our officers had orders to enter port only at night. When we left Liverpool the ship was painted and the Norwegian colors were placed on the tunnels. Our ship did not fly any flag We were stopped f2 hours at one
 time on account of the fog, not stirring mile.
 "In Berlin there was not much excite |sinent over the war on account suppose, of the fact that none of the better in- formed persons thought it would coma to
 pass. However, in Paris the situation
 was well known when I reached there. The crowds in the cafes and the boule-
 wards were dense. They raced cavalry
 up and down the streets until ? o'clocF every morning. exciting the people and
 working up their enthusiasm. The French well knew the war was on and they were anxious to take a rap at their hereditary enemy, who secured Alsace and Lorraine Business in Europe
 "Business in Europe is at standstill The banks will not pay out any money as they do not want it to leave that country. They would not buy our cotton at cents now. However. the women and children have no work and England has nothing except her mills, so it would ap- pear that they will need some of our cot ton within a reasonable length of time I believe the business situation will clear uD speedily and that at least large part of our cotton crop will be handled advan- tageously by the government and the
 bankers of this country. England and France want most of all things something to eat. as does Germany. so believe our grain markets will be well patronized Sby | the European nations
 l Mir Friedman said that he, was not an! l noyed in any way by officials in getting away from Europe. He said he left every | point just day ahead Of the last declara- ] tions, which called for sorffe inconvenieni i, measures aimed at those who wanted tc i leave. He spoke generally of the confisca- l ton of automobiles and other propertiei l by the Germans. He said tbat on th<