New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-30
Telephone Official in
Rome Tells of Feeling at
AuStria's Policy.
DRAFTED WORKMEN
CRIPPLE SYSTEMS
OminOuS Calm Succeeds Excite.
ment Through Europe as
War Was Declared.


news arrived Of the assassination Of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sara
yevo, the attitude Of Italy when Aus
tria declared war on Servia. the war
like aspect Of Paris, the determined
preparations Belgium took even before
war was declared by Germany. and the
stern temper Of England's people when
Great Britain declared herself AT war
with Germany all made strong impress
SionS on Gerard Swope. OF the Bell
Telephone Company, who has Just re-
turned TO New York after an interest
| ing six weeks i'm Europe
Berlin was on fire when the news
Of the assassination reached the city,
said Mr.. Swope yesterday. "Specula
| tons on business. politics and future
policies Immediately became rife. An
ominous calm followed a calm which
made every American think hard.
81 went south about the middle Of
July. and found the same unrest while
passing through Austria. Just as
reached Rome the demand of Austria
upon Servia was published. and Italian
papers all said that Austria should not
be allowed to seize more territory.
That showed the possible breaking Of
the Triple Alliance right then.
clared war on Servia. "a the answer OF
the small nation had been so mild
every one fancied the conflict had been
sverted. ! was on my way to Paris
through Milan when the declaration
was made. and when ] reached the
French capital found war talk every
where. The idea was that the fight
would be between Austria and Servia.
but the Frenchmen said with flashing
eyes, If II spreads. France will be
ready You know what that meant.
Saw Belgians Modelling.
AT Antwerp. on July o. continued
Mr. Swope, "the Belgians were already
preparing. Soldiers were hurrying
everywhere and the troops seemed seri-
GUS The small field guns. mounted on
bicycle wheels and drawn by dogs.
looked ready for hard and immediate
service.
I'VE telephone people began TO feel
the war. for every day more reserves
were called out. and on Friday our
factory was partly empty and partly
filled by soldiers, as the government
had requistioned space for hoWing
500 troops. We couldn't do any bust
ness, because trumpet blasts and the
entrance Of officers with clanking
swords broke up all conferences. Some
Of our employees went TO London that
night, but we remained over Saturday.
Late Friday evening all telephone
communication between Belgium and
Germany ceased. as well as all trains
across the frontier. ] had an appoint
ment 70 meet men from st. Petersburg
and Berlin in London the following
Tuesday, but | have never heard Of
either party since. Saturday we went
TO Dover in an old boat. as all the tur-
bine ships had been taken by the Bel
Cian government. We had rough
passage. were crowded, and the boat
was stopped by the French fortress at
Dunkirk At Dover there were so many
refugees we had to drive TO Folkestone
TO get accommodations Next day we
went TO London, where there was much
excitement as 10 whether England
would ioin the allies or remain neutral.
Finally war was declared. and the peo-
pie settled down with grim determina-
ton TO face the seriousness OF IT,.
Morkmen Leave for War.
Mr. Swope said that on account OF
the impossibility Of getting currency
from the banks to pay the workmen
the factories of tho Bell Telephone
Manufacturing Company III +AHN"N' -
and lie Materiel Telephonlque, IN
Paris, closed down completely, but
later the factories opened, as plans
were made to secure the necessary
cash. The government was asked 10
help by paying its accounts, the banks
10 give out mere currency. and, ~
necessary. it was decided TO give work
mer small checks and TO assure shop
keepers that as soon as possible the
companies and banks would redeem
them al face value. In many cases,
where the man of the family went TO
war, his wife, mother, sister or daugh-
ter was given employment. and thus
the want and distress of war was some
what relieved.
Communication with Antwerp and
Paris is still open. but much delayed
II is hoped that as mobilization pro
ceeds il will be improved, but 1t VIII:
Of course. be affected by movements OF
the armies. The factory Of the west
ern Electric Company. Limited, IN Eng
land is operating under nearly Norman
conditions. but many OF the men nave
gone &c the front.