Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-09
Lewis p. CIephane Tells of
Splendid Treatment to
U. S. Tourists.
PEOPLE SEEM OPPOSED
TO THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE
Steamship Companies Doing Every
thing Possible to Assist Refugees
to Return Home in Comfort.

The strongest sor- of testimony re-
garding the splendid treatment of
American tourists by Italians of all
occupations and positions in life and
by the regular steamship lines sailing
TOR America out of European ports il
: eorne by Lewis L. Clephane of Wash
sIngton. who was abroad with Mrs. Gle
iphane at the outbreak of the war. and
:+ho recently returned to this city
Il was very greatly impressed with
he courteous and heartily generous
treatment offered my countrymen by
he people of Italy Mr.. Ciephane told
4 reporter for The Star today, some
might think that this treatment had
IN undarcurrent of policy. and that
dea at first occurred 70 me. but l do
lot believe il now, / believe that the
far more than fair dealing OF the
italians comes from natural kiEdn esI
If nature, and is not in the least a hid
[or future American patronage, think
y-hey are doing more for us than we
would do Tor them were the case re-
aversed.
Mr. Clephane confessed he had small
patience with those travellers who, after
1ssieStns steamship companies for &C
sh ps incident to the voyage across the
ships incident to the voyages across the
Atlantic.
Making Trip Comfortable.
The Cunard company, he declared, had
put itself to the greatest trouble to make
the passage of its ships not only as
comfortable but as pleasant as possible.
On the ship he came over in. the Car
pathia. which carried eco persons instead
of its usual 81. the officials of the line
had by alterations created a large dane
q
osis steerage passengers. painted it up,
lighted il with electricity and given II
The services OF the ships orchestra, all
OF which 1t could easily have omitted had
t cared to do so. He declared that as
far as his experience goes all regular
steamship lines are not only charging
normal rates for accommodations but
going out OF their way to make their
patrons as comfortable as possible
Mr.. and Mrs. Clephane were on
tour In the Dolomitss, in Austria, when
the war opened, and at Cortina re-
ceiyed the first news of hostilities.
All was enthusiasm at first" he
says, especially as posters announced
that it would be short and easy
war, and the people of the Austrian
Tyrol would not be modified. Later,
there and elsewhere in the country
solemnity took the place of laughter
and celebra tons.
Ss&AoA " az NEWS
AT Botzen we received news of the
capture of Belgrade 1t wasn't until
we had gotten into Italy that we real
lied that practically all the war news
we had received in Austria was either
false or very incorrect. We were not
alarmed over our own safety after we
reached Riva, in Austria, for there we
were within sight of Italian land down
the lake. and knew if the worst came
we could hire skiff and row our
selves to safety.
Reservists came in by the wagon
toad from the surrounding country, all
trains were turned over to the military
Ind Austrians realized by then that
The town was depopulated and our ho-
tel closed before we left.
TN Venice all was confusion, and
naturally SO, but the Italians were
there, as everywhere. most reassuring
ana kindly. We dc dea 10 u Ma
pies, where we paid $500 for passage an
the Italian ship san Glotg4o before
she sailed, however, we were fortunate
enough to have our Cunard tickets
honored by the Carpathia. which came
INTO that port, and we got first-class
cabins.
Against the Germans.
''Phe sentiment in Italy is absolutely
against the triple alliance" said Mr.
Ciephane in conclusion. II interviewed
all the Italians / could, in every walk
Of life, and all agreed that it would
have been impossible for their king to
side with Germany and Austria There
would have been civil strite over the
question, they declared, for all Italians
army would simply have laid down its
rms