New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-13
WAR CASTS SPELL
ON JUDGE GARY
Steel Financier Fascinated
by Big Conflict at
Paris Gates.
PRAISES HERRICK
FOR AID TO MANY
Says Cost of Struggle Will
Stagger World-FrownS on
u. S. Red Cross Ship.

Judge Ebert II. Gary, chairman of
the board OF directors of the United
States Steel Corporation, arrived here
last night from Hsvre with Mrs. Gary
on the French liner France. lie had
been in Paris from July IA to Septem-
her /. and declared that he had hard
work to tear himself away from the
French capital.
81 was intensely interested in the
situation" he said. "The war is ter
rife thing, but | must admit there was
a certain fascination in being there
and having the feeling that great
armies were trying to approach and
take the city"
The France passed by the Hamburg
American liner Hamburg, now Red
Cross vessel, anchored in Gravescnd
Bay, and Judge Gary expressed disap-
prevail of sending her across the At
/ lantic.
81 believe il is great mistake TO
send that vessel over TO the ports OF
the warning nations he said. This
I is a fight between different nations in
Europe and the United States should
maintain the strictest kind of neutral
ity. She should keep her hands off en-.
tirely. aud should avoid any subject oil
question that may lead to a contro-
versy between these nations at war"
Judge Gary remarked the French at
titude toward all foreigners as hos
20
he praise Ambassador Herrick and
Consul General Thackara and their
subordinates. OF the Ambassador Judge
Gary said;
"liis acquaintance with all the pub
lie officials Of France and their con-
fdence in him. together with his 2bil-
ity and experience and familiarity with
the questions involved enabled him to
overcome every difficulty, to meet
every emergency and to secure as
sistance for Americans abroad where
and as they needed it,"
In a statement prepared on shore
later in the day Judge Gary described
in detail his observations as affected
by the war. In part he said:
"The terror and awful consequences
Of the war seemed to be fully realized
by the French people. Day by day. as
the fighting forces have been drawing
nearer and nearer the gates of Paris
those remaining in the city have shown
signs OF fear and distress. Thousands
are leaving. Houses have been closed
from time to time and the general APP
pcarsnce is sad and distressing. When
il was decided 10 remove the seat of
government to Bordeaux there was a
feeling of despair. Still. all that have
seen were reSolute and determined.
Sunday. August 30. in company with
another. | rode by motor car about two
hundred miles in a semi-circle on the
north and east OF Paris, going within
ten or fifteen miles of the line of
battle
~ was forcbly impressed first with
the horrors OF war and secondly with
its enormous cost. ! saw everything
pertaining to war except actual fight
ing--large numbers Of reinforcementS
going to the front and many wounded
returning to hospitals; troops of all
kinds and armament, ammunition, sup
plies, facilities Of every kind for Of
fence and defence, engineer corps, aero
plane corps, etc. etc. Thousands Of
refugees were fleeing from their homes
TO places Of supposed safety. The next
day much Of the territory traversed
wa, occupied by the forces engaged IN
deadly conflict.
"The instruments Of destruction, The
methods OF using them and the tac,li-
ties for moving armies have great
~ changed, and therefore as the de
StructiOn of life will be so large and
rapid it would seem as though the war
must necessarily be sooner ended than
IN former times and under different
conditions. saw temporary hospitals
in private houses. under the control 81
Red Cross societies. on every hand. and
many ambulances in use.
statistics have been published show
ing the actual expenditures of the war
amount 10 S40,000,000 daily, and this IS
perhaps conservative. And the unfavor-
able effect upOn the economic condl-
lions OF other nations, which vii! be
realized sooner or later, IS OF great
magnitude. The destruction of proper
ty aggregating billions of dollars IN
value will be felt throughout the entire
world. Add to this the consequences
of the awful destruction Of human me-
and it is understood how much we as
Americans arc interested IN. speedy
termination of the wal. O.,
1T is 10 be expected. because usually
in times Of war there VIII be gross
Misrepresentation concerning the con-
duct of contending armies. Sometimes
statements are made that are fictitious
and, again, representations with some
basis of truth are enlarged beyond the
actual facts. We should, | think, wait
for thorough inquiry and positive proof
before reaching conclusions. ,
From the beginning of the war until
we sailed we were in constant receipt
of the widest rumors, and as the lines
of battle showing the advance Of ;he
offensive army from time to time were
generally published some days after
fbey were established, it was impossl-
bic to determine at all times what to
accept and what to reject. However,
on the whole, we were pretty well adj
..;.oJ or tho -ituatiOn'