Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1914-09-18
AWAIT ITALY To ENTER WAR:
RESULT OF GREAT BATTLE IN
FRANCE STILL UNDECIDED
WILL
FIGHT To END,
SAYS BENTON n

England will continue the fight
against the militarism of Germany
until the bitter end, according to
Cleveland f. Benton, who arrived at
home yesterday afternoon, after hav-
ing landed in Montreal, Can, on the
Royal George, which left Avonmouth
docks, Bristol, England, September
Z. Mr.. Benton arrived in Canada
Tuesday, and spent the night in Mon
treal, and started home Wednesday
morning, coming by way of New
York. Mr.. Benton has travelled
through Europe since he left here on
the steamer Patria, of the Faber line
May 16.
After touring Italy, Mr.. Benton
made his way to Switzerland, and
was at Interlaken when war was de-
clared on France by Germany. He
saw notices of orders issued for the
Swiss soldiers to mobilize posted in
prominent places, and decided that 1t
was high time for him to get out of
the country He tried to cash a
check at the bank in Interlaken
but was told to return later. Mr..
Benton saw that developments in
Switzerland were bringing about
acute financial situations, and decid-
ed to leave for Paris at once. where
he thought he would find it less diff
cult to secure money.
Mr.. Benton witnessed the general
stir in Switzerland and saw soldiers
hurrying to their homes to get their
muskets and uniforms. In that
country the reserves keep their uni
forms and gun at home instead of at
an arsenal. When he left Interlaken
the cars were crowded with reserv-
lists rushing to report. The cars were
crowded when he reached the
French frontier, because then they
were not only filled with soldiers,
but also with refugees fleeing to
Paris.
Mp Benton was required to sit in
the corridor of a car on his Valise,
from the frontier to Paris. He arriv-
ed in Paris Sunday morning, Au-
gust 2. 81 never saw Paris more
calm," he said. They did not want
war there. They were afraid of
Germany, as the latter country could
raise twice as big army as France" "
He said that the omnibuses disap-
peared from Paris as if suddenly
scooped up by whirlwind, as that
they were requisitiOned for use by
the government in transporting sup
plies Americans were treated with
the greatest of respect" he said.
''The Morgan and Thomas Cook &
Son banking houses were most kind
in cashing checks whether they were
on their institutions or not" Mr..
Benton was unable to get his trunk
from the station for five or six days
because there was such a congestion.
He thought ten thousand trunks
we're at the depot. Trunks of refu-
gees from all parts of Europe had
been shipped to the French metrop
oils.
Mr.. Benton said that the cafes in
Paris were closed at 8 o'clock and
that very little whiskey was allowed
to be sold, following the outbreak of
hostilities. Mr.. Benton's familiarity
with French aided him in passing
through the military lines that had
blocked entrance and egress to and
from his hotel
From Paris Mr.. Benton went to
London to await an opportunity to
get boat home. London was as
quiet as Paris, but the determined
British were planning with every
effort all the while to aid against
Germany England was the last ma
ton to get into the war" said Mr..
Benton, "but the British are going
to the very end if it takes three
years. When | was in London 500,
600 young recruits had already en-
listed" He said that England had
not resorted to conscription then, as
the patriotism stirred up by the
newspapers, had sent thousands and
thousands of civilians to proffer their
services. THE Kaiser is going to
get licked, as sure as >nything," he
continued. "The English are sorry
for the German people, but are down
on the militarism, the Kaiser and
other high officials responsible for
the war"
BY speaking French fuently, Mr..
~ was able to assist a number
of refugees in Paris who could not
speak that tongue.
Early in June Mr.. Benton arrived
in Florence, Italy, where he found
general railroad strike. Trains were
irregular and the tracks guarded by
soldiers. Several strikers were kill
pl in alterations between them and
the soldiers.