Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-01
NEWARKER HAD A
LIVELY TIME IN
THE WAR ZONE
Austen H. McGregor Tells Ex-
periences in Austria and
Germany.

Austen H. McGregor, the local
clothing merchant, arrived home to-
day on the Holland America liner
Ryndam after a lively trip through
the European war zone. He left New
York on July 4, with Samuel b. Ami
don, of Wichita Kan. They sailed
for Cherbourg, France, on the Hron-
prinzessin Ceci,ie, which is now tied
up at Bar Harbor, Me-, after having
successfully lodged a lot of British
warships during a trip early last
month.
In describing his stay on the con-
tinent Mr.. McGregor said:
Everything went well until we
landed in Vienna on July 81. Then the
order was given for the mobilization
of the Austrian troops, and the con-
fusion which resulted among the
tourists can only be imagined. We
realized that Germany was on the
verge of great war and made every
effort to get out of the country.
I'VE arrived in Nuremberg on Sat
urday August l, and there found the
German troops preparing for the war
The greatest confusion reigned. Tour
lists were puzzled as to the situation
when they tried to get information.
Everywhere that we went to obtain
some news concerning real conditions
we were refused 1t was this state
of not knowing what was to happen
that caused the greatest anxiety.
Windows Ordered Closed.
THAT Saturday night we left
Nrtir "a m mo
the trip we were compelled to keep
all windows in the train closed. 1t
was a very hot day and the close
ness of the cars was very irlSsome.
We learned that the order to keep
the windows closed was a precaution
taken to prevent anyone from throw
ing bombs on the bridges as we passed
over them. Weeheard that some pass
engers said they were forced to lie
down and keep their heads from
above the level of the window stills.
/ did not see any of that, however.
Everywhere the bridges in Germany
were guarded closely by soldiers.
I'VE had the greatest difficulty in
getting out of Hamburg" continued
Mr. McGregor. "because all trains
were being used for the mobilization
of German troops, and but few trains
could be obtained for general pas
senger traffic. Finally we got a train,
intending to go to Holland, so that we
could get steamer home. When the
train reached Bremen the officers
there made us get out. Our baggage
was again inspected, and we were
forced to stay in Bremen for ten days.
William T. Fee, the United States
consul at Bremen, did all in his power
to aid the stranded American tourists
He gave us our passports from the
city. but was unable to give us any
information concerning the true state
of affairs in Germany. In Vienna
and other places In Austria hundreds
of Americans were forced to leave
their trunks and heavy baggage, as
they could not get any conveyances to
remove them Nearly all of the pas
sengers on the boat which brought US
home had only hand baggage.
Even the Cooks offices in Ham
burg, Bremen and other cities We're
closed tight, and Americans with let
tiers of credit had considerable diff
Guilty. The banks and business houses
on which checks and drafts were held
refused to cash them, and gold and
silver were as scarce as in this coun-
try in times of panic. Storekeepers
in the German cities preferred to lose
sale rather than cash a bill for to
tourists This will give you an idea
of the scarcity of cash
Slow Trip to Port.
After we got our passports from
the consul at Bremen we succeeded in
getting train for Rotterdam. The
trip took eighteen hours, because we
proceeded with unusual care. Ordi-
narily the trip takes but eight hours.
Tourists complained that 1t took four
days to make a trip down the Rhine
that formerly only occupied but ten
hours under ordinary circumstances.
with little difficulty we secured
passage home on the Ryndam. They
told me that ordinarily this boat ac-
commodated about 800 first and Sec
ond class passengers. On this trip
there were $50 first end second class
passengers. and some third class pas
sengers besides.
"Well. I'm home again. however.
and none the worse for the expert
ence. ! had not intended arriving
home until August 25, so that I was
not delayed very much, in spite of
'the war;