South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-02
HAS EXCITING TIME
QUITTING WAR ZONE
Mrs. Mary KOener, Back From
Europe, Tells of Experiences
in Leaving Country.

Mrs Mary KOener. 1913 w. Lasalle
av., has Just returned to South Bend
from Europe where she encountered
many difficulties in securing passage
home and was compelled to undergo
numerous hardshipS on account of
the continental war Several times
Mrs. KOener and her brother, John
NJ. Koener. of Altoona, Pa, who was
with her. were subjected to danger
and underwent a number of exciting
experiences which also proved dis
agreeable
The South Bend woman and her
brother left New York on June 90 for
Clervaux in the grand duchy of Lux
emberg, to visit their father. Lux
emberg is now the very heart of the
European strife. Late in July Mrs.
Koener and her brother went to
Paris to visit relatives. The first real
news of the war came while they
were seated at breakfast with two
cousins both officers in the French
army who were summoned 20 serv-
ice
Immediately following upon this
the ultimatum was issued and the
KOeners started back 10 ClervauX
When they attempted to get passage
at the Paris station many difficulties
were encountered. due to mObs of
Germans who were also anxious to
get away from the country, and the
fact that the French were utilizing
the trains for the transportation of
soldiers. They left Paris at 1:55 p.
m. July 81. and arrived in Longwy
"a frontier town, at o'clock the next
morning. A crowd of passengers in
Guiding seven Americans. were forced
out of the depot by the employees.
soldiers occupying the building and
the passengers were forced TO stay in
the streets until morning
An order was issued to the Koen-
ers and others in the morning to
cross the frontier at once and as all
vehicles had been confscated by the
military authorizes ii was necessary
TO walk three and half hours to get
into Germany. They arrived in RO-
DANCE. Luxembourg. and were forced
10 pass before the mayor in order to
get passes. Bayonets were used by
the soldiers in hurrying the people
along as they were given but a short
time until they were placed under
arrest.
The Koeners finally reached Cler-
vaux which was occupied by the
German soldiers who were barricad-
ing the town. The American consul
urged the South Bend woman and
went 10 Antwerp. All along the way
the Belgian soldiers shouted ION to
Berlin"
At Dinant Mr.. KOener was arrested
as a German spy by the Belgians.
who dragged him from the railway
train. searched his baggage and that
OF Mrs. Koener before freeing them
An exhibition Of his passports. a dis
charge from the United States army
and other papers secured his release.
Two German spies were arrested on
the same train with the Koeners. as
they released two carrier pigeons
with valuable military messages for
the Teutons.
Stirring scenes were witnessed in
Antwerp. where the Belgians destroy
ed German homes The KOeners were
compelled TO leave their hotel at
O'Clock in the morning when the
building was reserved for the Bel
gi5n soldiers. The Koeners had pas
sage on the Lapland. but as the boat
was held at Southampton IL was
necessary TO go in the Finland While
passing through the English channel
which was said To be mined by the
Germans. the Finland passengers saw
many ships searching for mines with
huge screens. The passage was very
dangerous and several ships were
sunk i'm this vicinity.