Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-30
Minister Stovall. at Bern. telephoned
to say that he indorses all the above
JULIUS HARTMANN,
:. 4 American Consular Agent.

peal from Luzerne was in the same vein
as that from Zurich
Appeals at the American consulate and
to members of the committee that a.
ranged the American mass meeting, IN
dicated there was big work to be
done among Americans in Luzerne While
awaiting opportunity to get nome
Stories of real distress. of empty stom.
achs and lack of lodgings were related
not infrequently.
One woman from America had had
only coffee and rolls for three days. Sew
eral women were in Luzerne with only
franc co cents or two in cash lhes
had paid for their entire trip, transpor-
tation and hotels. in advance. NOW tney
could not use their railroad tickets and
could not get to the hotels where thelf
stay had been arranged for. Women
with children were moving from notes
to low-priced pensions to make the httle
cash they had go as far as possible.
Girl Separated From Parents.
There was a girl in her teens at one OF
the big hotels, lost from her parents
She had stayed over in Lucerne, expect.
ing to join them in Munich or Austria
within couple of days. In those two
days the train service was stopped, ex'
cept for military purposes. and she was
left alone in Lucerne with little money
and absolutely cut off from communica-
ton with her parents.
Two girls at the same hotel were cut
off from the remainder of their party OF
a chaperon and six other girls, in a SINH
lar way. And the chaperon had beer
the treasurer of the entire party. In
stances of this kind were not rare.
And to add to troubles of many, trunks
and other baggage had not come through
on the crowded trains. Many there were
who had only the clothes they wore and
a limited number of toilet articles In
small bag. Trunks and big suit cases
were lost
With telegraph lines used for military
purposes most of the time, it was almost
impossible to trace them. That scarce
to be husbanded to pay
for board and lodging, leaving little
available for new raiment.
While tales of distress of this kind were
frequent not all Americans were so bad
ly off. The general committee that hao
arranged the American mass meeting de-
cided. with true American enterprise tc
effect an organization for relief. To tina,
end. another American mass meeting was
called by notices posted in hotels ano
shops. 1t brought out about 1000 Amer
leans.
AS a result of that meeting. the or
ganiZation was completed by appointment,
of the following committees: For better
postal and telegraph communication WITH
the United States: on banking: on pub
licity; on suggestions: on general relief
of distress: on ladies' relief to ladies'; or
consular representation: on transporta-
ton; on young man workers.
Headquarters of these committees
were established at the restaurant
where the American consular office was
ori1N fa1 IN r.
men and members were there for long
hours each day, working voluntarily for
the common veal.
The women's relief committee re-
dollars with which to start their work.
They aimed to furnish money to Amer
lean women in financial straits. Nu-
merous were the appeals made to it.
Emergency Relief.
All this work, it was explained, was
relief in anticipation that the
United States would take over the task.
1t could be temporary at best in view of
the inability of individuals to get cash
from the United States and the serious
financial condition faced even by neu-
trail Switzerland.
In Lucerne war conditions were
evident. although the coun-
try aimed to be neutral. There was an
almost continuous stream of soldiers
through the streets to battalion and
regimental mobilization camps on the
outskirts of the city. Schoolhouses and
other large public buildings and adioin-
ing yards took on military appearance.
Travellers on railroads into Lucerne re-
ported the lines guarded by soldiers At
each bridge and at each tunnel-and in
Switzerland they are nu-
or more blue uniformed
men were stationed. Soldiers were doing
tours of duty around many important
railroad stations. At Lucerne bayonet
arrested entrance to the station until the
visit was proven to be on business.
This mobilization took men from all
walks of life. At some hotels the
kitchens were practically deserted of
cooks and chefs. and dining rooms of
walters. Women were hurriedly hired
to take vacant places. The number of
courses was cut down to make 1t pos
sible for available help to do the work.
did practically no bust
ness: visiting Americans. usually good
spenders. either had no cash or felt
to squeeze tight any they
had.
demonstrating Abandoned.
Americans, in fact, gave up usual
pleasures under depression of their
situation. A daily call at the consular
office for scraps of information was a
part of the routine; the rest involved,
chiefly. the strictest economy.
The show window of the temporary
American consulate was made the
American bulletin board. There was
a crowd before it at all hours of the
day and early evening.
Lucerne's leading newspaper was
to by the publicity committee,
in behalf of the large English speak :
ing colony. The paper gave space each
day to announcements from the Amer
lean committee regarding relief and
printed bulletins in English of the
chief news events.
Word has come that Switzerland, to
preserve it's neutrality. has torn up the
railway tracks at the borders touch
ing France, Germany and Austria. This
would make impossible the running of
any through trains except to Italy, and
close the route to the north-to Eng
land, Holland and German ports.
Americans who sought Switzerland
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES