Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-28
REFUGEES ABOARD
LINER DOMINION
TELL TROUBLES
Steamship Docks at Wash
ington Avenue Wharf Af-
ter Uneventful Voyage
From Liverpool.

With hundreds of passengers from all
parts of the European war zone on board
the American Line steampship Dominion
landed at the Washington avenue wharf
from Liverpool this morning. The liner
arrived after an uneventful voyage, on
which no obstacles were encountered,
not even German cruiser" as Captain
w. E, Ingham put it,
But If the voyage of the ship was un-
eventful the experiences encountered by
many of the passengers on the continent
were different Many of the passengers,
and particularly the women, have ex-
periences of ell sorts to relate
graphic story of the occupation Of
Brussels by the German forces was told
by Miss Elizabeth Doerr, of this city.
VINO left Brussels a day after the arriva!
OF the German army there.
Il shall never forget the sight" said
Miss Doerr zone million men, like
great rolling cloud, passed through the
city 1t took them three days and three
nights to do it, and when they got through
Brussels was foraEed There was hardly
milk could be gotten. All the food stores
and warehouses were emptied by the
Germans and tho palace and public
houses were occupied by the new Ger
man garrison left behind by the main
army.
ut was on August 20 early in the morn
ing when we received orders that all flags
must be removed from sight. A short
time after the receipt Of this order the
first German officer. riding on a bicycle,
entered the city. We saw him. for, en-
Couraged by the report from the American
legation that the city would be sur
rendered without resistance, we took
chance and went out for a promenade.
Behind the officer came 40 cavalry men
with rifles ready TO shoot If any sign OF
snlplng should appear. And then came
the real sight. One million men, one huge,
endless 2oud of humanity entered the
city. 1t seems strange but all of them
looked tired. MANY Of them seemed 10
be doing on their horses, and every now
and them reused by some noise and sound,
would huriedly open their eyes and look
about them.
PRAISE FOR BRAND WHITLOCK.
Great credit is due to Brand Whitlock,
the American Minister to Belgium, don't
know what the Americans in Brussels
would have done without his valuable
aid, But that is not all The fact that
Brussels was saved from the fate of
Iouvain is due directly TO the efforts of
Mr. Whitl0ck On the eve of the arrival
OF the German army a meeting, at which
the city authorities and Mr., Whltlock
were pre- sent, was held in the City Hall.
II was at first suggested that the Bel
gians defend the city to the very last
man, but MIR. Whtlock prevailed upon the
civil and military authorities To surTen-
der the city, saying that 1t would he use
less u make an" resistance since il
would be overcome and would only re-
suit in great loss of life and property.
II am glad TO say continued Miss
Doerr, that al the art treasures OF
Brussels have tesn saved from seizure
by the Germans, because they had all
5een previously removed to England"
Miss Docrr said that after leaving Brus-
sells il tool, her 70 hours to get TO Ostend
whereas the trip should not take more
than two hours she LETT Philadelphia i'm
July and went TO BRUSSELS to complete a
course IN music.
PRAISES GERMAN METHODS.
Great admiration for the efficiency OF
German mobilization was expressed by
Captain Frank F. Avery. H. s. A. re-
tired who arrived from Vienna and
Munich.
Captain Avery, who resides in Wash /
ington. and IS a veteran Of the Spanish .
American war. ssd that the speed. eff
cheney and marvellous precision of the
German mobilization was the admiration
of every man who knew anything abnut
military science, The people in Vienna
and In Munich and all Austrian and Ger
man towns We passed are simply crazy
for war The patriotic frenzy that has
been aroused among the population Is
nothing sort OF religious enthusiasm. IN
Vienna hundreds Of women were clamor-
ing 10 go 10 war ana wanted 10 join the
army"