The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-15

oscar Underwood, Jr.. Bir-
 mingham boy, now residing in
 Paris. today presents his second ar
 ticle on the scenes in France upon
 the outbreak of war Mir Under
 wood has accepted the assign
 ment of Age Herald correspon
 dent in Paris
 Ky OSCAR wIUNDERwooD. JR.
 Paris, August 24.--tspecinI.)--It Is remarkable how quickly the present disastrous situation developed in Eu- rope.
 The first intimation that received that 8 grave state of affairs wss devel- oping wns from young man here wh" Is connected with the Paris office of well known firm of New York bankcrs. Bankers and brokers always keep well posted on world news--it Is an essen- tisl part of their business.
 This young man and l had arranged to take luncheon together on this par ticuar day. He called me up on tho phone and stated that he would be unable to keep his appointment He said that the Austrian government had sent an ultimatum to Servia in connection With the murder of the heir apparent, that was practically unacceptable; that they were having q "bad day in New York, and also in Capcl court. as they call the stock exchange in London. He declared that his office was receiving cables from New York in rapid succession demanding news of the European situation, and that he would have to stay at his post and send on all the information he could gather.
 Keenly Alive to Situation
 The movements ofsstocks in Wall street was of no particular interest to me- and Servia was long way off, so l was dis posed to consider the matter as of no ten out on the streets, however. Ind talked with few people than l discov- cred how keenly alive to the situation were all the Parisians, regardless of their position in life With their keen racial intelligence each one had figured cut for himself possible chain of events which might throw France into war. Not that they wanted it. On the contrary, despite their hatred of the Germans, the hope for peace was practically unari- nous. The French know from exper- fence thet1lorrors of war, and am satis- fled that as nation they did everything they could to avert it.
 During the next three or four days the French people rested their hopes of peace on the chance that the Austro- -Servian quarrel would be. 'iocalized.' There were some rather serious anti-war manifesta- tions. practically amounting to riots. on the Grand boulevards after nightfall, but the great majority of the Parisians re mained calm.
 Left for Tours
 At this period l left Paris for Jours. to spend q quiet vacation for a week or so in the famous ''chauteau eour- try" of France
 On the train as we passed through the sunlit wheat fields of Touraine I feil into conversation with two men who happened to be in the same compartment. They were both married men and members Of the reserve corps of the French army They depl0red the idea of war but said they would gladly go to the front If l'leir country needed them, and they expressed belief in the efficiency of their army, which the whole nation seems to share. It was about 10 o'clock when reached Touri went to hotel and engaged q room, thinking to pass peaceful night. Tho manager explained that the hotel was.
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