New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-17
Possibility of Defeat Is
Never Considered. De
ClareS Refugee.
AMERICANS WELL
TREATED IN BERLIN
Had TO Pin Stars and Stripes on
Coat So as Not To Be Taken
for English.

London, Aug 16.-Americans arc Re
ing we'll treated in Berlin There lie
little distress among them and no
cause for anxiety or the part OF their
friends, according 20 John Davis. Of
New York, the first American TO reach
here from Berlin
My. Davis was marooned there ten
days, and got out on Friday. with 300
other Americans, aboard the embassy
special to Holland. where all sailed on
the Noordam from Rotterdam, except
himself and one other who came to
London
"I never saw such enthusiasm m my
life as the Berlin war fever he says.
"The Germans don't think they are
going TO win they know IL. The pos
sibihty OF q reverse TO German arms
never enters their heads.
"The feeling against England rs IN
tense. The first few days after war
was declared Americans came in for
black looks. because Germans could
not tell the difference between Ameri-
cans and English. Then the consul
American flags Everybody hastily
acquired the Stars and Stripes, after
which there was no trouble. The War
Secretary issued Il special proclama-
ton that Americans be treated with
every consideration.
They are really remarkable PEG
pie They cheered US aboard the
special. waved baudkerchiefs and table
cloths. and called out, Come BACK
soon all along the line from berlin
10 the Holland border. Special tickets
for this train were sold at the embassy.
7 understood there was 10 be another
train ON the following day.
Germany has the most wonderful
military organization. Everything Us
worked out with marvellous detail
on the way our train was frequently
eidetrackcd 20 allow troop trains
mostly artillery 20 pass. The har-
ness and so forth were all new. The
guns had boxing still on them, as n
lust brought out of the storehouses.
1.-THE organization went so far that
the box cars used for transporting the
infantry were all equipped with hinged
cross seats. which looked as if they
had been i'm storage for years. No
bands were playing and no troops we're
parsding the streets.
Berlin lis nothing like New ork
was IN war time. Soldiers were splr-
tied away from town a. night Very
little war news is allowed 20 reach the
public.
1.-TWO American mass meetings were
held. One on Wednesday a. the City
Hall. presided over by the head bur
comaster. and he and other city Off
Il A al 10 Ia
laws they were. The other was held
on Thursday at Adlou. The principal
speakers were the secretary or the
American Chamber Of Commerce and
Professor Haruay.
"NO relief committee was organized.
All the relief work was done by the
American Chamber Of Commerce. Our
difficulties were chiefly financial. Only
one bank was honoriug letter, OF credit
while Cooks closed up shop the morn
ing before England declared war.
"They have the spy hunting fever
bad, as ono OF my own experiences
proves. have a pocket camera and
had taken some two hundred negatives
al over Europe As the time was
heavy on our hands at the hotel ]
thought I'd catalogue and index them,
and was standing at the open window
holding the negatives 20 light when !
heard d loud rap al my door and in
walked 4 police official, armed with an
automatic pistol, and followed by the
hotel porter The police Official an
nounced that il was thought ] was
Russian spy. The chambermaid across
the court had seen me and telephoned
for the police. produced an American
flag and my passport, whereupon the
police official politely apologized for
troubling me-