Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-12
LIFE UNDER SHADOW
Of EUROPEAN WAR
Member of American Colony in
Munich Tells of Condi-
lions There.
DIARY OF DAILY EVENTS
FOR PERIOD OF TEN DAYS
Formation of Committees to Aid
Red Cross Work-Distribution
of Food-Incidents.

of Food-1ncidents.
Details OF the thorouginess OF equip
nent with which the armies Of Germany
take the field. the anxiety felt all over the
empire in regard to the lack of news of
the first few days of fighting and the
situation and activities of the American
colony in Munich are all outlined in a
dfary-Ietter written by a Washington
woman now In that Bavarian city to
relatives here The events from the first
looming of the war cloud up to August 8
We're contained in the first installment
of her letters home. which were published
in The Star some days ago. The second
portion. recently arrived, covers the
events from August 8 up to and including
August II.
The letter-journal. in part. follows:
August s. and TO- Munich is quiet
as far as one can see. Enormous NUM-.
bers of soldiers have been sent off-10. 600
every night. And all is done so quietly
and in such perfect order that people In
our part of town hardly realize what is
taking place
Library Is Gathering Place.
'.The library of the American church is
Americans Three committees have been
formed which meet there daily. One is
to investigate the chances and oppor-
tunities of getting back to the United
States So far their investigations have
not ben encouraging. but there is rumor
that the United States government Is
sending over steamers for the Americans
in Europe. There are $4,000 Americans
waiting to get home.
"A second committee is for the Red
Cross work. There have been splendid
contributions for the work; $4,000
marks Cor S11,000) already has been
collected. There is great hope of get
ting assistance from the Red Cross So
ciety in the United States The plan is
for the Americans to establish here
co;valescent hospital for the soldiers.
The third committee is one on the
distribution of food to poor children.
The plan is to take one of the school,
houses and fit it up as day nursery,
where 4o0 children can be taken care
of and be fed each day. This charity
is especially appealing. There are so
many, many cases of women and chill
dren left absolutely destitute. One SOL
der tried to give away his FIVE little
children at the railroad station just as
he was being sent off with the army.
His wife had recently died, and he
knew of no place to put the children;
suffering.
Little authentic news of the fighting
has come since the taking OF Liege.
1t Is said the bloodshed was terrible,
in that 10000 Germans fell A skirmish
has taken place in the southern part of
known as yet. One thinks every day:
Perhaps there is a terrible conflict rag
ing this very hour A great battle is
expected soon at Sedan. near the French
armies are evidently making toward
that point. 1t will soon be time for
the wounded to reach here. Then we
shall indeed feel we are in the midst
of war
The husband of our cook has had to
go. She went to the barracks yester-
day to say goodbye to him. Her ac-
count of what she saw there was most
interesting, especially the field kitchen.
1t is wonderful how we'll these soldiers
are cared for-and think of the vast
number to be provided for. They are
guaranteed one good, sustaining meal
day. 1t consists of 4 strong soup, 4
large portion of meat {more than
pound to man), with potatoes or some
other vegetable. and plenty of army
bread. This bread is made of rye -four,
mixed with bran, and is immensely
nourishing.
In the morning 4 generous allow
ance of strong coffee rs given, with
sugar in it, no milk, and a good por-
ton of bread. This morning bread is
rye bread like that used in every Ger
man household. The evening meal is
ar uncertain one If the army. is
marching they go without food at night,
but in camp or on the railroad a .por-
ton of meat and bread is given and
they also buy things when there is op-
portunity. Each man carries in his
Snapsack two cans of emergency
ration, which is a preparation of meat,
Hour and potatoes.
Only Used in Extremity.
These are only to be used in preat
extremity. if soldier is lost or if he
gets separated from his company and
has no immediate prospect of finding
food He must be without food three
days before using this ration. When
the army is in the -enemy's country
and cannot obtain fresh supplies of
meat, etc, then the field kitchen uses
its emergency ration supply. A Ger
man officer has told us that the army
has enough conserven' tas they are
called to feed these vast numbers for
Two years. Think of the brains that
have planned for and equipped 600 OOC
men. Think of mobilizing such a num-
Der SO that in one week all are ready
for action. II another cali comes for
volunteers 100000 more will be in
readiness. Many of them are already
in barracks and under military train:
1NS. IN All lV.UoO,NO men. We are
most profoundly impressed. Such
strength, such efficiency, such unity
has never been seen before
Two letters from the United State.
reached Us today. the first we have had
in twelve days. They We're dated July
- and both were registered Thew
came unopened and We're stamped with
the word 'Freigegeben' in big letters
Member Of Party Leaves.
August 1I-One of our schoolboys
has left us today. His family are in
Switzerland and have sent for him
He went through some red tape in
getting passport into Switzerland
from the Swiss consul here His train
left at 500 this morning and he will
not reach Lindau. the border station
until o'clock this evening. Twelve
hours to go to Lindau, when ordinarily
IL is journey of four hoursi
Few trains are running in Germany
and none are express trains; stor
must be made at every station We
are told that there are 12o between
Munich and Lindau / put I'D enough
lunch for the boy to last him the
twelve hours, and also gave him a sup
ply of cold tea in a canteen can. He
will have no opportunity to get food
or drink the entire way We also
near that there is almost food famine
in Switzerland; they are cut off there
oil course, from any supplies from Ger.
h n