Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-18
ENCOUNTERED NO HARSH
TREATMENT IN GERMANY
Washington Woman Writes of Her
Experience in European
War Zone.

| A vigorous protest against the accu-
| sations made in some European dis
patches concerning the treatment ac-
| corded Americans in Germany Is con-
| tanned in a letter which has just been
received here from a young woman
| of Washington who was caught in the
| war zone when the hostilities began.
| She went from Lucerne, Switzerland,
to Munich, Germany, just before mo-
bilization blockaded the railroads and
| finally got through to Holland.
Her letter contains a most interest,"
ing account of those trying days:
"Our trip came to very sudden
close in Munich the first week in Aug
ust. Truly the realization that we
were in the midst of war came like a
bolt out of a clear sky. In Lucerne
we saw the last Paris papers and no
mention was made of the situation,
though we heard that Austria and
Servia were to fight things out.
Soldiers Crowded Trains.
That was on July 81 and August 1.
The latter was the Swiss national
holiday and there was not an indica-
ton of trouble in the city. We went
on the first to Neuhausen and realized
from the number of soldiers on the
train that more was happening than
we had been told. AT Neuhausen we
found the hotel deserted by guests
and Sunday morning, the I'd, 1t
was evident that the Swiss were mo-
bilizing their troops.
I'VE left Neuhausen the very next
morning for Munich, for it was the
last day for almost three weeks that
any one was allowed on the trains.
We were, however. treated with the
utmost respect and consideration on
the way by the railroad officials.
stayed in Munich in very military
like atmosphere; for our hotel was the
headquarters of the mobilization of the
Bavarian troops. On the second floor
into French Lorraine and across the
Alsatian border, where the Bayar1an
crown prince is now in command.
Indignation Aroused.
81 picked up a New York paper of
August 9, the last we had seen, and
it made me so furious that 1 did not
read it. 1t had long story to tell of
the indignities and harsh treatment to
which Americans were subjected In
Germany, etc, etc. In actual fact you
could not conceive OF more considerate
and friendly attitude. OF course, there
were some eNcepllOus, u Which Tie Ill
lies are making great capital, and yet
after you investigate you invariably
find the Americans themselves at fault.
For instance, one girl was arrested
three times in the Black forest. But
they don't tell you why She was there
sketching and after each arrest she
again went to work. Certainly they
took only legitimate precautionary
measures And then during mobiliza-
ton all Americans were asked to re-
main quietly where they were and were
told that at the earliest possible mo-
ment special trains would be furnished
them to take them to the nearest ports.
Some grew impatient and started.
They were found on the trains in
places needed for the soldiers, search
ed and made to destroy every bit of
writing in their possession and then
calmly assisted out of the train and
eft by the wayside. Those of US who
alter came by special train had every
possible comfort and the whole jour-
ney was as triumphal procession"