The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-23
Saw Demonstration In Ira falgar Square When
 News Came
EVENTFUL VOYAGE
 ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Escorted By Three British Warships, Receiving Orders From Them Every l2 Hours-Prayer Be-
 fore and After Dances

With Dr. D. F. Talley of this city, at tended the clinical conference of the sur- geons Of North America. held in Lon don the latter part of July, returned to Birmingham yesterday afternoon from New York.
 He reached New York aboard the La trip across the Atlantic consuming eight days.
 Dr. Rountree sailed with Dr. -Talley on June 13 for tour of the continent pre- vious 10 attending the medieal congress. They travelled through France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria before returning to London. Being in a hurry to get home, Dr. Talley left pr. Rountree in London and sailed from Liverpool on August 6, reaching Birmingham early last week.
 Dr. Rountree booked to sail on the Aquitania on August 15, and then started on a tour of Scotland, Wales and Ire- fever reached it's height and he hurried back to London. From there he went to Liverpool to see about passage home, but found that the Aquitania had been re- quisitioned by the British government.
 Learning that the Laconia was being prepared for voyage to New York. he rushed to the office of the steamship and waited eight hours in line to apply for passage. Finally by virtue of having been booked on the Aquitania. and after much persuasion he secured a stateroom and also made reservations for friends The rooms were the only ones that remained.
 Tells of Experience
 Last night pr. Rountree told of his experiences in London and on the way home.
 London is War mad" he stated, and at times the mob spirit rules supreme. All of the people, the common, middle class and the royalty appear in favor of war. They believe that it was bound to come sooner or later, and that now is the best time. For years the various na- tons have been quietly preparng for gi- gantie struggle and the poorer class of people have been burdoned with tremen- dous taxes. The poorer classes frankly state that this is the best solution of the problem. It Is evident that something must be done. they being almost unable 10 meet with the tax demands.
 moislei mass meetings are held at all times of the day in Trafalgar square by men and women. and patriotic demon sfrations occur. One day. while watching one of tiese meetings, news came that a British ship had been sunk. Almost i'm nedlately little Frenchman waving q f.rs Hrench banner, shouted and started ~~hrd Buckingham palace in token of the loyalty of the French government Following closely at his heels rushed mon children. Pell mell they sped up the great boulevard until they arrived at the gates or the palace. Here they stopped and called for the King. Both he and the queen came out on balcony and made a short speech, after which the crowd d'spersed apparently satisfied
 One hardly knows that feeling that is produced by seeing a great crowd of 40- eo people rushing up an avenue singing and shouting national anthems. It pro- dnces thrill that is not easy to dis pell.
 Troops Constantly On Move
 Troop movements continue incessa ntly throughout each day and at the various stations one may see soldiers bidding fearful farewells to their wives and chil- dren.
 American tourists are having bitter time over there. Hardly any of them were prepared for the crisis, so suddenly did it arise, and they are now suffering untold hardships The embassies in Lon doh and other towns are being besieged bN thousands of our stranded co,lntrv- men but little can be done by consuls and other representatives. They have no gold to distribute and the best they can do IS 10 advise the tourists to make sur- engagements to return home as soon as possible, However, Ambassador Page and his 4SSiStantg ara 1 alleviate the sufferings of those in really dire need
 The government has taken charge of almost everything and war necessities are placed ahead of personal ones Be- cause of this the friends for whom I se- cured passage on the Aquitania came near losing their reservations. I made arrangements for sailing late on August : and was told by officials that my friends, who were then in London must be on hand early the next morning or thelr passage would be turned over to others. After considerable trouble and worry l reached them by wire and they prepared to start for Liverpool train left at o'clock that evening and the people were at the station in waiting. When the train pulled in the gates enclos- Ing the tracks were locked and with out notifying any of the waiting passen- gers, a body of troopers took possession of the train and it pulled out Fortu- nately another train left at 12 o'clock and my friends reached Liverpool just in time.
 ''The trip home proved lively for every one concerned Before sailing the La conia S steerage were hurriedly made over into first-c1ass cabins and much of the furniture belonging to the Aquitania which had been dismantled for war pur- poses, was transferred to the ship. Before leaving the harbor the wireless outfit of the Laconia was taken down and we sailed under sealed orders. After get ting clear of the harbor the wireless. mast was again replaced. An escort oi three British warships accompanied us and sailing instructions were received from them
 Vessel Painted Red
 Hardly had we left the harbor wher . double crew of painters were put tt work painting the ship a dull red thii being the color of the neutral Scandina vian vessels. The battleships continued to escort us nearly all the way acros. and every 12 hours the captain of tho Laconia received new orders. No one or board the ship, not even the captain knew where 1t was bound and not unti the very last did the captain receive in formation that he was to put in at New York instead of Halifax, as did the Mau retania
 "The first night every porthole and opening on the ship was covered witt canvas and all lights turned off IT abis condition the ship continued tt New York. Tn midoceAn we ran into , both stiff gale and a fog. The gale blew for nearly eight hours and caused { everyone much inconvenience.