The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-07
Berlin Appears Quiet


 A New York Worlds corresponden sends this from Germany:
 The first few days of the war, espe cially in the smaller cities and rura districts, there was an almost hys terical suspicion of all auslaende (foreigners) as being either spies O. enemies, intent on blowing up struc lures of military importance. Bu after those first few days the peo pie, notably in this city, have com. pletely calmed down. In fact stran. ger suddenly set down in Berlin could not for a moment suspect that an, such thing as war existed.
 In spite of the government requi- sitioning of automobiles fer military use. the streets are still full of taxi cabs The streets seem no more crowded than usual, and there are nc rushes to bulletin boards or demon strations of any kind. In spite of the vast mobilization which would be sup posed to have drained the city dry of its male population. there Is, strangely enough, no notable majority of women over men to be seen.
 True, women are working as street car conductors and ticket sellers. but there seem to be more than enough men about to fill these jobs. In fact, strangely enough, there is actually such large class of men out of em- ployment that the government which originally ordered the schools closed so that the children might assist in gathering the harvest, has now or dered the children back to school. so that work at harvesting may be found for the unemployed men.
 The serenity of Berlin--the self composed insularity of all overswollen cities is rather revolting. In the smaller city of Stuttgart, which I only left five days ago. the condition of war was ever present. The streets were full of columns of reservists march ing in their civilians clothes. keen ing time to the patriotic songs they were singing, waving hats and hand kerchiefs to cheering throngs of friends on the sidewalks.
 Stir of Mobilization
 Trains of three and four street cars loaded with singing, cheering recruits would whirl by on their way to the station. Regiments filled to their full war strength, dressed in their new light greenish gray waterproof war uniforms. their helmets covered with slip covers of the same material, their feet in the new, roughly dressed, un- polished tan top boots, their officers each with a litt's leather case full of war maps hanging on his chest would march by with band playing and tat tered old battle flag of 1870 bravely trying to flutter over them.
 Incidentally such is the marvellous organization and preparation of the Germans that the whole of their mill lions of men called out by the first order marched to the war fitted out from head to foot with brand new uniforms and accoutrements car rying brand new arms. taking brand new commissariat wagons. etc. and even lt Is said, accompanied by artillery con ststing of brand new guns
 The second hand uniforms, arms and equipments which the vast first army left behind are to be used for the and Landsturm, now being organized with the secondary and emergency armies.
 In Stuttgart, too, ones ears were ever full of the sorrowful music of hymns and chants coming from all he churches of the city. where serv- ces were constantly held for those gone to battle. There the call of war could be heard at first hand. In the barber shop out of three barbers one after the other left in the first five lays, till finally a 17-year- old boy had 10 do all the shaving and hair cutting IT the establishment
 Walters Went, Too
 Tn the dining room the familiar walters. one after another, dropped out ,f sight and their places were taken oy boys and men incapacitated for militia service. Incidentally the two young men who owned the hotel went to the front with the first batch of On the street one of the most pathetic sights I saw was a farmer bidding good-by to his farm horse, which was being taken from the shafts by a soldier.
 In Stuttgart, also, war was brought gery close to us by the preparations for It's victims. The big municipal hall was turned into the Red Cross headquarters and there many hundreds of women were busy all day long making and rolling oandages and all the other necessi- >itb oA tuc WOuuueus WHllG all over he city women were busy sewing ,heets. nightshirts and crocheting ,ocks. etc. for their use.
 All over the city space had been offered for taking in the wounded. Ill the way from the rich nobles who gave their castles down to the hum- olest citizen who offered one room ut of total of three. And the even ng before we left Stuttgart, al- though did not see them. the first patch of about 150 wounded from the battle of Muelhausen reached the city and were quietly taken to the hos pitfalls.
 Did Not Want War
 In . smaller city like Stuttgart 'ather than in metropolis like Ber- in could be seen the fact that this s beyond the slightest doubt . peo- ole's war on which the German na- ion has entered. The people wished 10 war, they hated the idea of 1t. They even now show no pugnacity. But they sincerely believe that this war has been thrust upon Germany oy . eonspiracy of her snemies; that t b war of self-defense-nay, more. ! war of self-preservation as far ls my observations have extended the whole people as one man has reluct- Antly. earnestly. solemnly determined hat the bad business must be gone