South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-03
SOUTH BEND GIRL
FIGHTS HER WAY
FROM WAR ZONE
Miss Helen Shafer Gees Sleep
less for Days During Mad
Rush of RefugeeS-CarrieS
Mail for British Soldiers.

After experiencing numerous hard
ships and being practically forced TO
fight her way from Switzerland TO
London Miss Helen Shafer. daughter
Of Mir. and Mrs. o. III. Shafer. 521
Michigan av.. has reached south Bend
from the heart OF the great European
war zone Miss Shafer passed through
Italy, Switzerland, France and Eng
land ON her way back to the United
States, and encountered many Difficult
ties on the trip, being compelled TO
go without sieep for several days at a
time ana living upon half ratiOns"
Miss SHAKER makes her home in
Great Falls. Mont, with her brother
and was accompanied on the trip TO
Europe 10y nine other people. The
party became separated after il reach
ed London on the return journey and
five members are in Glasgow Scotland,
with very little reason TO believe that
they will be able TO come home for
months.
When war was first declared the
party was in Rome Italy attending
an opera which was being produced in
the famous stadium. Plans were
made TO return 20 the United States
hut the party left for Vienna for a few
days before going to Berne. the capital
Of Switzerland, where they stayed for
three weeks. 1t was impossible 10 get
as thousands Of other Americans
who were in the country TO Sc
cure money as the banks refused
10 cash their travellers or express
checks. Gold was in demand as the
swiss would not accept Italian money
Americans spool" Cash.
The shortage of funds necessitated
the organization of relief societies and
Miss Shafer states that the American
business men in Switzerland at the
time performed wonders in the way
OF aiding their Countrymen. After
the ORGANIZATION of the relief societies
the money OF the Americans was
pooled, that is the gold and negotiable
paper, and was loaned 10 those who
were in need. Men with checks for
$500 and $500 were helpless, as none
could be found TO cash them.
Il Will always have warm spot in
my heart for the Swiss" declared Miss
ShafeT Thursday, "as they certainly
treated the Americans with every con
sideratiOn possible. Instead Of rails
ing the price OF food and accom- mOda-
tions the people of the little country
cut the cost of practically every ne
cessity in half. In Italy the cost of all
food and other things was increased
from 3 TO 10 times the ordinary
price. 1t cost travellers $40 a day TO
live in the Italian hotels after the war
started. while in Switzerland the price
was but little more than ST.
According To Miss Shafer the Swiss
are terrined lest the Italians make an
effort to enter their country from the
south Practically every man in
switzerland is guarding the northern
frontier. the women at home doing all
the work. An international eXpOsi-
ton being conducted in Berne at the
time the war broke out is completely
in the hands of the women. the men
having joined the armies. while the
Opera ton Of the shops and stores and
the harvesting is being accomplished
by the wives, mothers and daughters
of the soldiers who are at the front,
anticipating an attempt 20 invade their
country.
Gross Border To France.
The party OF which Miss Shafer was
a member. although warned by the
American consul at Berne not To leave
the country, succeeded in crossing the
switzerland border into France, after
they had secured passports and other
papers from the ambassadors and con-
suls. They were forced to fight for
an apartment on the train, which went
90 Dion, little town across the
French border. Here they were com
PEELED To change ears again. Crowds
OF Americans SWarmed about the
tracks waiting for the train and when
lt came In there was mad rush, many
of the people failing 10 get on. AL
though the party with Miss Shafer
were unable 10 get on at first they
finally discovered an apartment in
which there was room for about eight
persons. Eleven were crowded into the
small space.
Reaching Paris three DAYS after
they had left Switzerland. during
which time they had not had any
sleep with the exception of few mo-
ments snatched sitting down, the
party made inquiries regarding trains
To Boulogne On the English channel
Both the railway employees and the
consul stated that "a train leaving at
O'Clock that evening had been taken
of. The party spent a couple of
hours during the day riding about
Paris, which appeared practically de-
serted, business having been suspend
"a 10 a great extent
Upon returning 10 their hotel, they
were told by their landlady that the
o'clock train would 20 TO BOulogne
and they took their baggage 10 tke
station, arriving there about O'Clock
Being among the first ones at the gates
the party secured a third class apart
ment hut they were compelled 10 wait
for two hours in mob of frantic
tourists who fought like insane persons
TO secure q place on the train The
mob was packed SO tightly that when
Miss Shafer raised her arm above her
head 10 arrange her hat she was
compelled 90 hold it there for half an
hour before being able 10 get it down
at her side again.
Carries Letters From British.
The party went as far as Amiens
where they were compelled 20 change
trains again. There was another
struggle TO gain a place on the train.
Amiens is now in the hands of the
Germans but that time was occupied
Hr- he n
ShafeT saw "a troop OF British soldiers
there and says that they were the
trimmest looking military men she saw
while IN Europe. The men were kept
in the dark regarding their destina-
ton and were not permitted 20 write
home. Miss Shafer and other mem
bers Of the party took letters for some
Of the soldiers and mailed them home
10 their families when they reached
London.
Probably the most thrilling. at the
same time the most amusing incident