The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-16
Was in Zurich, Switzerland,
When the War Broke Out.
BOMB HURLING IN PARIS
John Kresie Saw German Air
ships Above the City.
Americans Well Treated but
Subjected to Hardships.

nue., returned Tuesday from Europe,
| where he had been since the first part
of June. He left Topeka June and
| was in Zurich. Switzerland, when the
war broke out. He travelled through
France a short time ago and was a
witness to several scenes which bear
out General Sherman's famous state
ment.
While in Paris, Mr. Kresie was pres
ent when German aeroplanes were
! lowering over the city and incidentally
hurting bombs down at the frightened
capital of France.
II never saw such terror in my life."
Mr.. Kresie declared upon his return,
the people of Paris were frantic. The
fear of the kaiser's airmen was great
and everyone in the city had good rea-
son to be afraid.
[ During my brief stay in Paris.
| there was one night when not a single
light was on. Paris, which a few
short weeks before had been the CEN
ter of gayety, was black and gloomy.
Business was paralyzed. Every man
and boy had been rushed to the front
and the women and little children,
along with the soldiers left for the de-
Tense of the city did not make a pleas
ant spectacle. 1t was an impressive
sight, however. and one that am not
likely to forget.
| The French soldier did not impress
1
The Germans were better disciplined
and from my observation Of all the
soldiers of Europe. the German SOL
der is superior to those OF any other
nation"
Mr.. Kresie was born in Switzerland.
but came to this country 81 years ago.
He went back this summer to visit
his relatives in the Alpine country and
| to also tour continental Europe. At
| the time the war broke out, he was in
l 0vrv> lob nd ovoif 0r mt Jnd
in that city. 1t looked for a while that
there would be a lot of financial diff
| ficulties to overcome in the little re-
public, but this trouble, according to
Mr.. Kresie, has nearly all been settled.
| 1t was useless to write to his family
here. because almost all OF the mail
sent was intercepted before it reached
America. AS result. his family
heard nothing from him until few
days ago, letter announcing his sail
ing to New York. He arrived in that
port last Saturday and reached here
at noon on Tuesday.
| Wear American Flags.
All of the Americans in France and
Switzerland wore little American flags.
which were respected. Although sub
jected to many hardships. the citizens
of this country did not fare as badly
as might be expected. The worst ex-
perience Mr.. Kresie had was on the
| railway train between Paris and
Havre. Here all of the passengers,
French and Americans alike, were
bundled into a train like cattle and
were without food or water for hours.
Arriving at Havre. he obtained pas
sage along with hundreds of other
Americans, upon a steamer. Accom-
mOdations were bad, but better than
many other Americans received. There
were several Frenchmen on board, at
present naturalized citizens of Ameri-
! ca, who threatened to throw overheard
the United States citizens Of German
nativity.
Passing through the country dis
tricts of France" Kresie said, 1T was
really pitiful to see the vast crops I'M
harvested. Great fields of grain could
be seen on every hand, all of it rotting
because of war. There was weeping
| and Wailing, but on the whole, the
| French seemed anxious to get to the
| 'front.'
Mr.. Kresie said that there was a
dearth Of news in Europe and that
people in Topeka have been getting
more accurate and definite movements
of the great armies than the people Of
Paris.
1.-The most glorious sight on my
trip" the Topekan said, "was in the
harbor Of Havre. The United States
battleship Tennessee was there and
taking passengers every other day to
Southampton, thus getting thousands
Of Americans out of the danger zone.
With the American eagle flying, this
great warship sent a thrill through
| every Yankee. And I felt a lot easier
when we came in view Of the Statue
of Liberty and when my feet again
rested upon peaceful soil"